Sermons

Service June 21, 2020 Leighmoor UC Possible hymns: TIS 130: We plough the seed and scatter TIS 474: Here in this place TIS 473: Community of Christ TIS 585:  I heard the voice of Jesus say TIS 629: When I needed a neighbour  Bible Readings: Genesis 21: 8-21 Psalm 86: 1-10, 16-17 Romans 6: 1b-11 Matthew 10: 24-39 Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession. God of the desert, you reach out in compassion toward all who cry to you in their need. Those who have been called ‘forgotten’, you name ‘beloved.’ Those who have been cast out, you gather to yourself. Those who have been reviled, you bless. Fashion us after your own heart, so that we may love as you love, and care as you care. Without you, life is like a desert, but with you, life can be like the country after abundant rain. You have blessed us in so many rich and wonderful ways-through family, home, and friends, with shelter, gardens, pets, food, and with laughter. We thank you that you are out there-in the wilderness of street and prison, hearing the voices of the poor and the needy. We thank you that you show no partiality, but love the whole human family. And yet, to you, our merciful and loving God-we confess that sometimes our ways are unjust. We who enjoy the blessing of family and friends, sometimes limit caring for those in the deserts of loneliness, isolation, or illness. Forgive us. We confess that we have turned away from oppression, we have distanced ourselves from scenes of pain, shut ourselves off from the cries of the homeless. Forgive us. Forgive us when we separate ourselves from you, from the rest of the human family, whom you love. God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven. (Thanks be to God). Take hold of this forgiveness and live your life in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Sermon  ‘The teacher sat around a blazing fire with a small number of students, late at night. The teacher asked a question: “How can we know when the night has ended and the day has begun?” Eagerly one young man answered- “You know the night is over and the day has begun when you can look off in the distance and determine which animal is your dog and which is the sheep.  Is that the right answer, teacher?” “It is a good answer,” the teacher said slowly, “but it is not the answer I would give,” he said. After several minutes of discussion, a second student ventured a guess. “You know the night is over and the day has begun when light falls on the leaves and you can tell whether it is a palm tree or a fig tree.” Once again the teacher shook his head.   “That was a fine answer, but it is not the answer I see,” he said gently. Immediately the students began to argue with one another.  Finally, one of them begged the teacher, “Answer your own question, Teacher, for we cannot think of another response.” The teacher looked intently at the eager young faces before he began to speak.   “When you look into the eyes of a human being and see a brother or sister, you know that it is morning.  If you cannot see a sister or brother, you will know that it will always be night.” -if you cannot see a sister or brother, you will know that it will always be night. ‘But Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, playing with her son Isaac.  So she said to Abraham, “Cast out this slave woman with her son; for the son of this slave woman shall not inherit along with my son Isaac.’” (Gen 21:9-10) Last Sunday I chose to deviate from the lectionary.  If we had followed it we would have heard the promise to Abraham and Sarah-and the fulfilment of that promise through the birth of Isaac. -God’s blessing to a family. But Genesis is also a story about another family- the whole human family outside the family of Abraham. -a reminder that the God of Israel is also the God of other families, like that of Hagar and Ishmael. The past two weeks have dealt with God’s covenant relationship with Abraham, Sarah and Isaac. Abram shown the stars and being told his descendants will be more numerous than those heavenly bodies. A familiar story.   A visit by three angels who promise that Sarah will give birth in her old age. She laughs.  When the baby is born she names him Isaac ‘he who laughs/rejoices’ Today we hear about God’s covenant relationship with Abraham, Hagar and Ishmael. Let’s go back a step, to when Sarah was childless-in her eighties. They had been promised by God that they would be parents of a great nation. But time went by- and still no child. Life was not easy for Sarah. -to be barren, without child-made her a victim of ridicule and contempt. -survival depended on children. It was the woman who was blamed for infertility, so she was viewed as worthless. So, what does Sarah do? She’s tired of waiting, time’s running out (she is in her eighties!), not getting any younger! She doesn’t wait for God to act. -she doesn’t wait for God to act. She’s TIRED of waiting. So she takes matters into her own hands. She suggests that Abraham take her Egyptian slave Hagar as a wife -to bear an heir. So Abraham fathers a child through the maid, Hagar. Back in chapter 16 we read of Sarai (before she is blessed with the name Sarah ‘princess’ and Abram becomes Abraham-‘father of many/a multitude’) suggesting this to Abram. It appears that there was a law or custom that allowed for this to take place.  In certain Mesopotamian documents it sets out this kind of law and practice. If a wife provided her husband with a

Leighmoor UC.  June 14. 2020 Call to Worship Come, let us welcome the Sabbath in joy and peace! It brings comfort to our hearts, workday cares are set aside. On the Sabbath we remember our blessings from God, and our anxieties and heartache are softened. Come, let us worship our loving God, who modelled rest for us! Prayer of Adoration and Confession God of life, you brought all into being. In you, we are part of the glory of creation. In you, we receive the mystery of grace. In you, we find the wisdom of community. God of all glory, on this first day, you began creation, bringing light out of darkness. On this day you began your new creation raising Jesus Christ out of the darkness of death. On this Lord’s day, may our hearts praise you as we remember, and are thankful,  for all your blessings, including the precious treasure of the Sabbath. We are aware that we have misused your gifts of creation. We have not been faithful or careful stewards. Forgive us for neglecting your planet, by polluting its waters and habitats, for allowing species to become extinct or endangered. Forgive us when we have neglected our brothers and sisters, of different races, colours, religions. Forgive us when we have been indifferent to the plight of our indigenous brothers and sisters, for turning away from reports we hear of cruelty in police custody, or about lower life spans, poorer health, and harder access to good education, housing, and job opportunities. (in a time of silence we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness) Forgive us for superficial worship, and if our prayers have been of a selfish nature. Amen Words of Assurance. This is the best of all, when we are empty, God fill us, when we are disheartened, God is compassionate, when we are wounded, God brings healing, when we confess our sins, God forgives us. In Christ, through Christ, and because of Christ, Our sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Amen Bible Readings:  Exodus 20: 8-11                              Matthew 12: 9-13 Today I am departing from my usual practice of following the lectionary readings set for this week. Genesis is one of my favourite books in the Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, but we have nine more weeks when we can explore those readings, so I am taking this opportunity to address something some of us may be struggling with a little. The Sabbath. How to observe the Sabbath, and to keep it special, during this time of lock down. Do you remember the film, ‘Chariots of Fire’?  I noticed it was showing on tv the other night-but by then it was half over.  When it came out, back in 1981 (yes, that long ago!) I was very moved by it.   In the movie, Eric Liddell, a Scottish Presbyterian preacher and former Scotland rugby player, is chosen to run in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris. His sister Jenny fears that running is diverting Eric from his calling to be a missionary in China. (that has never been a problem for me…if I take up running I have lost the plot!) Eric tells Jenny that his vocation is unchanged, but that he believes it is also part of God’s purpose for him to run.  He says to Jenny, “God made me fast, and when I run I feel his pleasure.” “when I run I feel his pleasure.” Does that happen for you?  Not in terms of running, but is there a time or activity when you sense God’s pleasure, God’s delight-when you are doing God’s will? When Liddell, a strict observer of the Sabbath, discovers that his Olympic 100m heat is on a Sunday, he refuses to take part. Entered instead-at short notice-for the 400 m, Liddell goes on to win a gold medal. How many runners would have refused to run on a Sunday? How many sportsmen and sportswomen refuse to take part in sporting activities held on a Sunday? The reading from Exodus is a familiar one.  ‘Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy.’(Exodus 20:8) What is the Sabbath? The word ‘Sabbath’ comes from the Hebrew word Shabbat, which means to pause, to cease, and to be still. It is the opportunity to get off the treadmill of life and to reflect on our values and priorities. Lock down has given us that opportunity, hasn’t it? To reflect, to pause, to out aside activities. In their book Balance *, Robert Warren and Sue Mayfield write that the Sabbath encompasses six things: Stillness: to pause, to be still. Rhythm: the pattern of resting one day in seven imitates the rhythm of creation in Genesis 1 where God worked creatively for 6 days and then paused to rest and enjoy all that He had made (NOT that God needed to rest-God was modelling right practice-humans need some rest and re creation) Receiving: Sabbath is a gift from God, a gift of grace, a reminder that all we have comes from God’s creative love. ‘We do not so much practice Sabbath as receive it.’ Refreshment: it is more than stopping work-it is about restoration, creativity and play. Freedom: it is about liberation, wholeness, and well-being. Holy: God calls it holy and exhorts us to do the same. Joy Davidman wrote: ‘How do you make a day holy?  By seeing that it is holy already, and behaving accordingly.’ Let’s explore the Sabbath in Scripture. As I said earlier, it is that wonderful rhythm from Genesis 1: ‘In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth…’ ‘So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all the work that he had done in creation.’ It is sharing God’s enjoyment of creation (a return to Eden from the curses in Chapter 3 when Adam and Eve were evicted from the garden-so it is

Trinity Sunday June 7th, 2020 Leighmoor UC. Possible Hymns: TIS 100: ‘All creatures of our God and King TIS 132: ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty’ TIS 478: ‘I bind unto myself today’ TIS 447: ‘Lord, your almighty word’ Prayers of Adoration and Confession Most blessed, most holy God, before the brightness of your presence the angels and archangels veil their faces. We worship you, eternal Trinity. You are God, the Creator, God beyond us, we adore you. You have created all that has come into being. You are the depth of all that is. When we gaze into the universe-we marvel at your handiwork. You are God the Son, God beside us. In you we see divine love and human greatness combined. You mirror what human life should be…what love can be. God the Spirit, God around us, we adore you. You draw us to the Creator, and to Christ. You are the power within us, making us the people you want us to be. Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we adore you. We thank you for all your gifts, great and small. For the gift of your nearness to us in the things that happen in our lives-and for the gift of your distance from us, in the mystery and wonder of life. When we are tired, worn down, when our commitment has grown cold, you come and warm our hearts. When our faith seems dry and dead, you breathe upon us and give us life. Yet we come before you, seeking forgiveness. We have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not loved our neighbour as ourselves. Forgive us. We like things tidy and explainable, but you defy our understanding. We are tempted to live closed to the spiritual world, but you touch us with dreams and visions. When we lose faith in the goodness of creation, in the father-like love of our Creator: forgive us. When we lose faith in Jesus as the true reflection of your suffering, conquering, redeeming love: forgive us. When we lose faith in your Spirit’s presence among us: forgive us. God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven  (thanks be to God). Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your life in the power of the Spirit. Amen Bible Readings Genesis 1: 1-2:4a Psalm 8 2 Corinthians 13: 11-13 Matthew 28: 16-20 Sermon: Keep your distance! Today is Trinity Sunday -the first Sunday after Pentecost, when we celebrated the third person of the Trinity-the Holy Spirit. Trinity Sunday is a transitional Sunday: -we move out of the 50 days of the Easter Season, out of Pentecost, into the ordinary time of the Church year. -no great feasts or celebrations, with the exception of next Saturday, which is the anniversary of the forming of the Uniting Church,  until November 1st-All Saints Day. Trinity Sunday. The English preacher, Colin Morris, said that any preacher with good sense would call in sick on Trinity Sunday. Last year, in my previous parish, a retired minister came up to me and thanked me for preaching-saying he had to do it most years! I can understand that sentiment. -trying to get across the concept of the Trinity, the central Christian doctrine-that the One God exists in Three Persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and one substance. The notion of one God who is three persons is mystery Yet-it is not altogether beyond us. -we can grasp something of what ‘Trinity’ means. In its barest outline, the doctrine contains 4 truths: In the one divine nature, there are 3 Persons, the father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Each is wholly himself The Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God They are not three Gods, but one God. One substance, or nature. 3 in 1. If we asked ‘Who are you?’ each of the three would give His own answer-Father, Son or Holy Spirit. BUT if we asked ‘What are you? ’each would answer God. Each contains the same divine nature or substance. 1 in 3  3 in 1. If the idea of God as both 3 and 1 is confusing, Frederick Buechner suggests the following: -look in a mirror There is  The interior life-known only to yourself and those you choose to communicate it to (the Father) The visible face which is some way reflects your inner life (the Son) The invisible power that you have in order to communicate that interior life in such a way that others do not merely know about it, but know it in the sense of its becoming part of who they are (Holy Spirit). Yet what you are looking at in the mirror is clearly, and unable to be divided-the one and only YOU. Father, Son and Holy Spirit- may seem a mystery of mathematics (and most mathematics is a mystery to me!) -we may try to explain it or understand it by looking at water -as water droplets, ice and steam-3 in 1-all water, but in 3 ways Or be like St Patrick, who used a shamrock to illustrate the 3 persons (the 3 leaves)- as being part of the whole. (the substance, or nature) BUT, in the end, The Trinity is about distance and closeness Distance, and closeness. The Trinity is the result of a debate about who God really is. Knowing we will never know-but wrestling with that anyway. Isn’t that one reason we attend  church today?  We are trying to understand something of the nature of God, a God who has touched our lives-and is still active in our lives. Let’s travel back to the 4th century and meet two individuals who were passionate about God-and instrumental behind what is a human construct-the Trinity.  Arius: a priest in charge of twelve parishes. A persuasive preacher, a writer of verse and song, And Athanasius-secretary to the bishop of Alexandria. He is one of the giants of Christian history because of his part in defining

Pentecost.  May 31, 2020.  Leighmoor UC Suggested Hymns: TIS 572: O thou who camest from above TIS 398: Come down, O Love divine, TIS 675: Lord, the light of your love is shining TIS 407: Breathe on me, breath of God TIS 416: Great God, your Spirit, like the wind TIS 418: She sits like a bird, brooding on the waters TIS 421: Where the Spirit is, there’s freedom The mood of Pentecost is one of great energy. Images of fire, wind, breath and flowing water. Colour, sound, movement. Let us open ourselves to the moving of the Holy Spirit of God in our midst, in our lives. Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving, and Confession O God of glory, You created the earth by your power, you save the human race by your mercy and you make all new by your grace. We give thanks for your Spirit. -active in creation. The Spirit of Jesus, Spirit of love -present in the church. We rejoice in your presence around us and in us, like wind in our faces and breath in our lungs. Your Spirit gives us life. We give thanks that in your power, by your Spirit you give new birth and new life, Like fire, warmth and radiance, like life in dormant bulbs which burst forth in spring. We rejoice that you seek us, accept us, treasure us, with love older than the mountains you created, older than the distant stars you set in the heavens. Your love is old…yet new every morning. We thank you Creator Spirit, Life-giving Spirit, Nurturing Spirit, Spirit of love. And yet, you who created us for life together, We confess that we have turned from your way. We have not loved you with all our heart; we have not loved one another as you commanded. We have been quick to claim our own rights, but have been careless of the rights of others. We have taken much and given little. Forgive us. We confess that we have tried to relegate your movement as Spirit, to our command and understanding. (in a time of silence, we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness). God is love Through Christ our sins are forgiven (thanks be to God). Take hold of this forgiveness And live your live in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen Bible Readings Acts 2: 1-21 Psalm 104: 24-34, 35b 1 Corinthians 12: 3b-13 John 7: 37-39 Sermon: A strange gift. What is the strangest gift you have ever received?  A wedding present, unused?  We received a unique wedding present-a set of long handled filigree forks and a matching spoon-an exotic item that one uses to dip figs in honey!-well-I don’t like figs-and I don’t eat honey- so-needless to say-perhaps like wedding presents you received-it has never been used! Perhaps your unusual gift was a birthday present, maybe an item of clothing, hiding at the back of your wardrobe, never seeing the light! Today is Pentecost, a day when we remember the gift of the Holy Spirit, and the birthday of the church.’ It is important to remember that Pentecost doesn’t celebrate the Spirit coming into being.  Sometimes Christians speak about Pentecost as being the ‘coming’ of the Holy Spirit.  No The Spirit, God’s Spirit, has been active from before creation; today’s psalm, Psalm 104 speaks of God’s spirit being active in every age and generation-and for all species.   What WE celebrate at Pentecost is a moment of new openness and receptivity to this Spirit which gave birth to the church.  In a sense, we ‘see’ the gift of the holy Spirit with new eyes. A strange gift, the Spirit.  Imagine wrapping it up…and giving it to a child to open. A box full of nothing…and everything! The Spirit-symbolized by fire, breath, the dove, and wind. Our Uniting Church logo has the dove, and the red flame. Fire Living in bush fire prone Australia, we fear the hot summer, for we know that a fire burns more brightly with a strong wind.  We know that so well from last summer, don’t we? Fire and Wind. 1.Wind can be violent, or destructive.  It can force us, or push us, to change direction. Think of how hard it is to walk when there’s a strong head wind!  At times, we may feel like autumn leaves-tossed about, buffeted by the wind-having no real control over our movements. We think of the power of cyclones, hurricanes and tornados. When we lived in Canada, we visited the equivalent of the mid-west, which was prairie country.  We noticed how strange the air was-and the sky-which was a yellow-brown colour.  It was so quiet.  That evening, as we sat in a restaurant-we marvelled at its strangeness, not knowing the reason.  The following morning we were told that the danger of the tornado had passed. We were babes in the wood! The destructive power of wind. 2 On the other hand, wind can be cooling, refreshing, life-giving. Think back to summer-the still, hot days-and then the most welcome evening breeze.  Wind can be life-giving.  If our lungs do not fill with air-we die. At the birth of a child, it is important to have the baby breathe-to scream is even better-better for its lungs, maybe not so for the new parents! The kiss of life-we can save lives with our own breath. Mouth to mouth can be life-to-life. Sadly, these days we are learning that our breath, or the breath of others, can be deadly. Wind. In Genesis: ‘then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being’(Gen 2:7) And in Psalm 104: ‘when you take away their breath, they die And return to their dust. When you send forth your spirit (or breath) they are created; And you renew the face of the ground.’(104: 29-30) Wind can be life-giving, the Spirit is life giving. Most of us have watched

Service Easter 7 May 24 2020 (Yr A) Leighmoor UC Possible hymns TIS 137: For the beauty of the earth TIS 675: Lord, the light of your love is shining (Shine Jesus shine) TIS 152: Joyful, joyful we adore you TIS 147: To God be the glory TIS 699: A new commandment TIS142: Glory be to God the Father TIS 755: You shall go out with joy Prayers of Adoration and Confession Glory-filled God, We come before your radiance in prayer. Your glory brought into being all of creation, Your glory was announced on the night of Jesus’ birth, Your glory was evident in Christ’s resurrection, and ascension. To you be all glory. We thank you for another day. In a world that is far from safe-may we never take a day, or hour, for granted. Thank you for the gift-and glory-of life. We thank you for the music of birdsong, Of the tinkling of laughter as children steer past on bikes and skate boards. And yet, we know we have let you down, we have let others down, and we have let ourselves down. Forgive us. Grant us a spirit of courage, of hope, of compassion. Help us to become the people you created us to be. (silence) God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Take hold of this forgiveness and live our lives in the power of the Spirit. Amen. Bible Readings Acts 1: 6-14 Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-35 1 Peter 4: 12-14, 5: 6-11 John 17: 1-11 Sermon: Love’s radiance (John 17: 1-11) In the story, The Whisper Test, Mary Ann Bird writes: ‘I grew up knowing I was different, and I hated it.  I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started school, my classmates made it clear to me how I looked to others: a little girl with a misshapen lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and garbled speech. When schoolmates asked “What happened to your lip?” I’d tell them I’d fallen and cut it on a piece of glass.  Somehow it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different.  I was convinced that no one outside my family could love me.’ There was, however, a teacher in the second grade whom we all adored- Mrs Leonard.  She was short, round, happy- a sparkling lady. Annually we had a hearing test.  Mrs Leonard gave the test to everyone in the class, and finally it was my turn.  I knew from past years that as we stood against the door and covered one ear, the teacher sitting at her desk would whisper something, and we would have to repeat it back-like ‘The sky is blue’ or “Do you have new shoes?’ I waited there for those words that God must have put into her mouth, those seven words that changed my life.  Mrs Leonard said, in her whisper, “I wish you were my little girl.” -I wish you were my little girl. In John 17, Jesus said, “I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.  So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.” Earlier, in John 13, Jesus, speaking about glory, said: “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him.” “…Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.”  God’s glory shines whenever we do loving things. -or God’s glory is revealed in acts of love. (repeat)  Glory and love are soul mates. Glory. We speak, indeed sing, of God’s glory, or ‘glory to God.’ But what is it? What does the word ’glory’ really mean? And what are we trying to get across when we give glory to God? According to the Oxford Dictionary to glorify-means to make glorious, invest with radiance, and with dignity. That’s part of what we ‘do’ We speak about something of God’s character and being. When we come to worship, to glorify God-to praise the Almighty, radiant God.  We honour God’s essential being. But what IS God’s glory? ‘Glory’ is one of those church words which many of us use over and over again without really understanding what we are saying. In both Old and New Testaments, there are many instances where the word ‘glory’ is used-in different ways. For example, in 1 Kings, Solomon builds a temple for God.  In vs 10: ‘And when the priests came out of the holy place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.’ -here it signifies the power, the presence, and the holiness of God. BUT in Jeremiah, Chapter 2 the meaning is quite different.  God pleads with Jeremiah to ask Israel to repent of her ways, to cease following false gods: ‘But my people have changed their glory for something that does not profit.’ So-from the previous, positive image of power and majesty- to the negative-the people are without honour, without dignity, without character-they have strayed from their true, authentic calling as God’s people.  Who can forget the Christmas story?  In Luke  ‘Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them’ And later, the multitude of angels sang ‘Glory to God in the highest…’ Majesty, power, radiance-and praise, It is a word rich in meaning. In the Old Testament, there are two important elements in the understanding of God’s glory: It is a visible manifestation of God’s majesty –we can see it In acts of power While God is invisible, from time to time, God manifests Himself to people by a striking action-which is his glory. Sometimes through the realm of nature-as in a thunderstorm, Or  as an incident in history-in their

Easter 6 Leighmoor UC 17.4.20 Possible Hymns: Be still, for the presence of the Lord TIS 121: God himself is present, let us now adore him. TIS 161: Tell out my soul TIS 233: I will sing the wondrous story TIS 245: We have a gospel to proclaim TIS 276: There’s a light upon the mountain [we have to be careful re copyright, so I am not listing possible youtube links.  Just type in the title, and if there is one on youtube, it should pop up.] Bible  Readings Acts 17: 22-31 Psalm 66: 8-20 1 Peter 3: 13-22 John 14: 15-21 Prayers of Praise and Confession Creator God, we your human creatures bow our heads and hearts before you, We acknowledge our utter dependence upon you for every breath. We praise you for the unique revelation of your love, sending Jesus the Christ into the world, Good news for a needy humanity. We worship you, O God, and we ask that you make us midwives, carrying your Word into the world, and laying it gently into the hearts and souls of those around us. And yet, we confess that we who bear your name, ‘Christian’, often fail to proclaim your presence and power in our own lives. We confess that we have many idols of wood and stone. We focus much upon what we build, and use much of our energy for the amassing of property, possessions, and successes, happy to talk about finances, scorecards, and fashion-but often leaving unspoken, words of witness to your goodness, kindness and mercy. Forgive us. We complain about what we feel life has not delivered to us, rather than attending to that which we can give to life. Forgive us and restore us, we pray. (in a time of silence, we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness). God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven. (thanks be to God). Take hold of this forgiveness And live your life in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Sermon May 17, 2020 Tell the story Acts 17: 22-31 According to an ancient story, there were four men walking through the woods.  Suddenly, they came across a high wall.  Intrigued, they built a ladder to see what was on the other side.  When the first man climbed to the top, he cried in delight, and jumped down.  The same thing happened with both the second and the third men.  When the fourth man reached the top, he smiled at what he saw: lush, green gardens with fruit trees of every kind, streams, teeming with fish, and animals, wild and tamed, in abundance.  Like the others, he was tempted to jump down.  But then he thought of his family, friends and neighbours, and went back to share with them the good news, that he had discovered. -he went back to share with them the good news he had discovered. Acts 17: ‘The Paul stood…and said- ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way…’ Sharing your faith. Do you find it hard to talk about your faith outside the church family? When was the last time you attempted to share your faith with someone else?  Let’s be honest. It’s tough to talk about these matters outside the church, and, even, sometimes within the church. We don’t want to come on too strong with others, we don’t want to be regarded as some kind of religious fanatic. -after all-this is the Uniting Church! William Buckley said that you may be able to mention religion at a dinner party once, but if you bring up the subject twice in one evening you will not be invited back. Besides, as we sometimes say- ‘I’d rather see a sermon than hear one’ or ‘actions speak louder than words.’ The best way to tell people about Jesus may be the lives we lead, rather than the words we speak ‘Be careful how you live your life…you may be the only Bible someone reads.’ BUT -our faith is a faith with words. -our faith is a faith with words. Certainly, actions are important. But there are times when we must use words, when we must speak. And how do we do this-in a world that is often very negative and misinformed about religion? How do we speak? How do we share our faith? Today’s Scripture, from the Book of Acts, may be of some help. -it may help us in our own struggles to talk about our faith. Paul goes to Athens, to the pinnacle of Greek culture, and there he tells people about Jesus. Up to this point in Luke’s Acts of the Apostles, we have seen the power of the gospel to reach rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female. But here comes another challenge-that of sophisticated intellectuals. Paul is in Athens, the heart of the very best of pagan culture, the town of Plato. Frankly-Paul is unimpressed. Paul sees Athens as little more than wasteland ‘full of idols.’(v.16) He argues with Jews, Epicureans and Stoics-with philosophers, pagans-who looked down at Paul: v.18: ‘Also some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers debated with him.  Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Now-Paul is a preacher who is eager to argue with anyone, in whatever world he finds himself. Here is the only speech in the book of Acts made to Gentiles by the missionary to the Gentiles (who seems to prefer debating with the Jews). Paul had said that was his mission-to go to the Gentiles, to the non-Jews, to share the good news-back in Acts 13. Today’s reading records an episode in the life of Paul. He is a masterful preacher-even in the face of opposition. He talks to them about the Christian faith. And, like a good debater, what does he do first? He flatters his audience! ‘Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way.’ Is this a compliment or a criticism? Throughout Acts, Gentiles

Easter 5, May 10th, 2020  Hymn suggestions TIS 703: As the deer pants for the water TIS 474: Here in this place TIS 647: Comfort, comfort, all my people TIS 599: Take my life and let it be TIS 254: O changeless Christ, for ever new TIS 581: Happy the home that welcomes you, Lord Jesus TIS 590: What a friend we have in Jesus  TIS 628: In faith and hope and love TIS 739:  Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten Call to Worship Gracious, Creative God, We give you thanks that we are awake, living today which is a fresh new day, never been here before, and never will be again! May we be nourished, inspired, equipped…and comforted, today and always Amen.   Prayer Holy, Creator God, on this autumn day, with the golden leaves falling and the crisp morning air invigorating our bodies, we come in the name of the risen Christ to worship you. We have every reason not to let our hearts be troubled, not to be afraid of anything in life or death. For we are your people, loved by you. During these days when we have been confined indoors, help us to be mindful of all your blessings to us. You are the God of seasons: of autumn with its blue skies, rich red and orange hues, Of winter, a time of rest, of chill, of rain. Of spring with new life: buds, blossom, perfume -such an overflowing abundance of bloom and greenery And of summer, with its heat and dust. You are the God of our own seasons: baby, toddler, child, teenager, adult, senior citizen…all within these bodies of ours. You are wonderful! Yet, sometimes we neglect to say ‘Thank you’ Sometimes we become so overwhelmed by world events, and worry, so that we forget to put our trust in you. Forgive us. Sometimes we become so caught up in the ‘what ifs’ that we neglect to look at the many blessings we have received-recently, and throughout all our lives. Forgive us. Sometimes we neglect the ministry of prayer, which is a gift to us, a way we can talk with and to you-without needing an internet connection, or wi-fi, or cable-just  to be. Forgive us, and in a time of silence we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness. God is love. Through Christ our sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God. Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your live in the power of the Holy Spirit, as forgiven people. Amen. Bible Readings: Acts 7: 55-60 Psalm 31: 1-5,15-16 1 Peter 2: 2-10 John 14: 1-14  Sermon: John 14: 1-14 Grand Designs What house did you dream about living in, when you were a child? In my fantasy, mine had turrets, and was very much castle like in design-but not in size.  It was small with turrets.  I loved the idea of a circular tower, sitting up there, a bit like Rapunzel. Now-I don’t fancy a circular room-too hard to get furniture to fit (except at exorbitant prices) and I don’t relish all the stairs in a tower (and not sure if a circular stair lift would work!) I don’t live in a castle, or a house with turrets  and that is fine-because it is my home, and HOME is where the heart is! Grand Designs. Ever watched the show?  My husband quite enjoys it (the UK version), but frankly, it annoys me and I usually walk away before the program is half over. I also mutter throughout-which is probably a bit annoying for David. If you haven’t seen the show, the premise is about a house being designed that is extra special.  I quite like the ones that are built to be ecofriendly, but some… Well, last week’s, as an example.  A couple sold their perfectly good house to make the 100 year old concrete water tower at the bottom of their garden into a home! I understand the need and desire to preserve something of history-but- a concrete water tower?-for an enormous amount of time and money? So…you can hear me, can’t you.  Mutter, mutter, mutter. “How much?  Why? What luxury when there are so many people who are homeless…” etc etc. Grand Designs.  Could be the title for today’s sermon. I will preface my sermon by stating that there are two dominant themes in today’s portion of Scripture.   One is to look at Jesus’ words of comfort: ‘In my Father’s house…’ Or ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ If I looked at both, you would need to schedule in a lunch break!  I have chosen to address the first one, ‘In my Father’s house…’ which, in a sense, follows on from last week. Last week one of the readings was Psalm 23.  In my sermon for Leighmoor Uniting Church, I spoke of it being ‘an old friend.’ -a source of comfort. Today we meet another source of comfort, a much loved portion of Scripture, used at many funeral services, and during the journey of dying: John 14. These are words spoken by Jesus, to his disciples after the Last Supper-words they needed to hear, to help them through the harrowing days ahead. These are words WE hear when we are upset ‘do not let your hearts be troubled.’ Words we hear when we start to doubt: ‘believe in God, believe also in me’ Words we hear when we need comforting whilst WE grieve…and when we fear death: ‘In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.  If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?’ Dwelling places: in the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) Mansions: in the King James Version (KJV) Rooms: in the Revised Standard Version (RSV) and in the New International Version (NIV) Grand Designs Words We hear when we are scared, fearful of dying: ‘And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and

Easter 4  Psalm 23: Shepherd Sunday Hymn Suggestions 703: As the deer pants for the water https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBppKZ0eJlQ or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5pZkLWZv-E (the first one is sung by Robin Mark, the second has gorgeous photography!) 107: Sing praise and thanksgiving, let all creatures living 10: The Lord’s my shepherd https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN4tPkX0MG0  (Stuart Townend) or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1HGlNcpdV4 (more traditional) 145: The king of love my shepherd is 233: I will sing the wondrous story https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDPCFbAysBc 588: In heavenly love abiding 624: Christ be my leader by night as by day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H79Z2EVGS98  (in this one there are masks against covid 19 virus!) Bible Readings: Acts 2: 42-47 Psalm 23 1 Peter 2: 19-25 John 10: 1-10 Prayer You come to us as Shepherd. Give us protection. You come to us as Shepherd. Give us our daily food. You come to us as Shepherd. Give us a safe place to rest. You come to us as Shepherd. Shepherd, we are glad to be your sheep! Amen Sermon: Psalm 23 The book ‘I Heard the Owl Call My Name’ is about a young Anglican vicar, sent by his bishop to minister to the Native American Indians of the parish of Kingcome, on the wild coast of British Columbia, Canada.  He is unaware the he has, at best, three years to live.  The bishop, knowing of the illness, sends him to this parish, so that Mark, in the short time available to him, may learn how to live DEEPLY, how to experience life in all its splendour, in all its pain.  As a man of faith Mark knows the meaning of life -he KNOWS it, in his head, but within this Indian community, his new parish, he learns to EXPERIENCE it, to FEEL it, within the depths of his being. “It has always been easier here, where only the fundamentals count, to learn what every man must learn in this world.” said the Bishop. “And that is?” “Enough of the meaning of life to be ready to die”, said the Bishop. Enough of the meaning of life to be ready to die.’ The fourth Sunday of Easter is known as ‘Shepherd Sunday.’ Today we greet our old, treasured, much-loved friend, Psalm 23. It is a psalm which comforts, reassures us. It is a psalm which expresses great confidence in the ability of God to protect, to guide, to feed, and to lead. We experience God as shepherd. We trust our Shepherd-hard image perhaps for suburban dwellers! Scholars do not know if David wrote this psalm but in a sense that doesn’t matter.  We have this psalm as part of our religious heritage, and even if David did not write it, we associate him with sheep.   David, a son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah, spent his early life as a shepherd in the Bethlehem area. He is chosen to be the next king.  When he wishes to be sent out to battle Goliath, and Saul protests that he is ‘just a boy’ David replies: ‘The Lord, who saved me from the paw of the lion, and from the paw of the bear, will save me from the hand of the Philistine.’ He trusts God-and has guts!  This verse also alerts us to the real dangers of being a shepherd in those days.  To be a good shepherd meant to put your life in jeopardy. There were always dangers. You had to protect yourself and protect and guard the lives of your sheep. This was not a quiet stress free occupation-we are not talking about the images we may associate with the book or film of Heidi, or travel brochures promoting Switzerland and the peace and quiet of the Swiss Alps. Shepherds would carry a rod or club-to defend himself against wild beasts or robbers.  He would carry a staff, which is like a crook.  This was used to catch and pull back straying sheep.  Bishops carry a crozier or crook, to remind them of their calling to shepherd their flock, to guide, to lead, to comfort them. The shepherd would also carry a sling.  When a shepherd needed to call back a straying sheep, he would sling a stone.  They were so skilled in this that it was possible for them to land a stone or pebble right in front of the sheep’s nose, warning it back.  There were no sheep dogs in Israel! But the sling shot was also useful when needing to defend the sheep from attack. David a good shepherd, a brave shepherd, a shepherd who trusted God.  Even if he did not write Psalm 23, we associate the life and dedication of a shepherd with David.  Such perseverance and hard work helped equip him for the duties of king.  Many of the qualities were the same: trust, hard work, thinking of others, courage, guiding, protecting. It is a psalm many of us link back to our childhood. I remember my Sunday School had a picture of Jesus as the good shepherd, and this psalm was written beneath it.  I do not remember ever NOT knowing it.   It is often the first portion of Scripture memorized. As I said earlier, for, me, Psalm 23 is an old friend.  I am sure many of you would be able to say this also. It is a psalm for children: it expresses a child-like trust in God’s ability to protect us, like a shepherd. So it is a psalm that may have been at, or near, the beginning of life. God has the qualities needed to be a good shepherd. Sheep are usually docile-the shepherd is not. The shepherd is actively guiding, seeking, leading, protecting. ‘He makes me lie down in green pastures.’ The shepherd finds the right spot for the sheep to rest, to be restored. We are led by God, we are restored by God. Our religious heritage shows us how God acts as shepherd.  During the Exodus-the wilderness wanderings. Psalm 100 :3: ‘Know that the Lord is God.  It is he that made

Easter 3, April 26, 2020.  Leighmoor UC. I am aware that if we had been meeting for worship this Sunday, the service would have included material for Anzac Day.  I have written a prayer, and I have also inserted one after the Sermon, which is from a resource written by Uniting Church chaplains serving in the Australian Defence Forces. Hymn Suggestions: 161: Tell out my soul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6ji4y9Q-K0&list=PL5DD548A5057D8327&index=3&t=0s 395: Alleluia, Christ is risen! 254: O changeless Christ, for ever new 514: Be known to us in breaking bread https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aOwYeG_jyU 595: O Jesus, I have promised 613: Lord of all hopefulness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8mti7VL3gg&list=RDb8mti7VL3gg&start_radio=1&t=0 47: Our God, our help in ages past [Anzac Day] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsHIwXTjAOU Bible Readings: Acts 2: 14a, 36-41 Psalm 116: 1-4, 12-19 1 Peter 1: 17-23 Luke 24: 13-35 Prayer O wonderful God, you who created the earth and the sky, you delight us too by your nearness. You astonish us through the ordinary ways you make yourself known to us. May our hearts be filled with gratitude-for you, our Creator, who fashioned this planet and the rest of the solar system, and who created each one of us. You place us on the road…to faith…to mission…meeting grace, goodness, and compassion, along the way. We remember today those who were and still are, involved in the bloodbaths of war. We pray for all affected by war…for war widows, for people who grew up minus a father, and for those who did not recognise the one who returned. Even though we are in lock down-our hearts are not. We continue to pray for our armed service men and women who are serving, and pray that one day, there will be no war, and all will live in peace, We pray this prayer in the name of our Prince of Peace, Amen Sermon The Journey to the Heart [Luke 24: 13-35] In the 1960’s, there was a very moving book-and later, a film, released -a story of three friends – 2 dogs and a cat, making their way through 400 kms of Canadian wilderness, to get back to their master. The Incredible Journey. I must have been about 6 years old when I saw the film-a Saturday matinee-and I cried, and cried and cried! -the story of the animals, making their way home. The Incredible Story. There has since been a remake: Homeward Bound,(1993) Another Incredible Story: ‘Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about 7 miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened.  While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them…’(Luke 24: 13-15) The Incredible Journey. -two disciples on the road to Emmaus that first Easter evening. -they are walking from Jerusalem after an unsettling weekend. -they carefully review the events of the past days. Cleopas and his unnamed companion (because often unnamed people in the Bible are women, some scholars suggest that the unnamed one is a female disciple), but it doesn’t matter -They were members of the larger circle of the disciples of Jesus-and they were very depressed. The promising adventures of these last years in which they had invested themselves, failed to show them the redemption of Israel: ‘But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.’(vs 21) Their incredible young leader, in whom they had such hope, was arrested, sentenced to death, and crucified. To be sure that morning there were stories circulating that the tomb of Jesus was empty, that He was alive! But such reports were not acceptable. Meanwhile, an unrecognized Traveller appeared and joined with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The stranger asked about their conversation. These depressed ones express surprise that the Stranger was unaware of the harassment, and death of the prophet of Nazareth. Then they shared their own bewilderment at the fact that on the third day when there should have been some glorious fulfilment, their hopes were only further crushed.  Even though the women had told them of an empty tomb and the vision of angels, they discounted this report. So what does the Risen Christ, seen as a ‘stranger ’do? HE TELLS THEM OFF! ‘Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!’ Let’s consider for a moment, what their encounter with the risen Christ tells us about their faith: The disciples show many of the traits we all show- In our faith-there is the initial enthusiasm, them disillusionment after the honeymoon period, then a rekindled fervour (later they said ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road…’) They worked through their disappointment in their sharing with Jesus. To have someone come and join in, as Jesus did, reminds us what a key element sharing faith is-even when we have doubts. Let’s keep these points at the front of our minds as we hear the rest of the story. What happens? They come near to the village, it’s almost evening, they urge him to stay with them. Why? The Biblical precepts of hospitality: it was very important to display hospitality and to extend that to strangers-as Abraham entertained angels, so too, may we…(maybe we have to wait until the end of lock down-or recognize those in our household as angels!) Also-they may have been eager to learn more from their travelling companion. THIS is the turning point for them. This is where they are changed from doubting and despairing disciples, into excited witnesses for their Lord. Their action-their invitation changes him from a stranger to a companion. Recognition of the risen Christ comes with the act of breaking bread and the sharing of a meal. The word ‘companion’ means ‘one who eats bread with another.’ We have all had those meals, haven’t we…perhaps with someone we don’t know very well-maybe even just met-and by the end of the meal, the time together, they have become

Easter 2, Year A, April 19th, 2020 Hymn suggestions: Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZugvUQ4m90U 398: Come down, O love divine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLQu6_Tjk9M 355: Man more than man 263: May daughters and my sons hear tell- 392: At the dawning of salvation 407: Breathe on me, breath of God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5keJHZdWYM 649: These things did Thomas count as real 691: Faith will not grow from words alone, Bible Readings: Acts 2: 14a, 22-32 Psalm 16 1 Peter 1: 3-9 John 20: 19-31 Prayer Loving, Easter God, We must stay behind shut doors, but our doors are always open to you, our Divine guest. There are no barriers for you…unless we erect them. Come into our hearts…come into our homes. May you be the key that unlocks the strength we crave, the soothing words we need to hear, to dissolve our fears. Amen Sermon: Break out or lock down? [John 20:19-31] When lock down becomes break out. When low mood becomes enthusiasm ‘Then she said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands.  Reach out your hand and put it in my side.  Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “MY Lord and my God.” In 1909, Paul Engle wrote these words: ‘You say you buried God (weeping you say it) And split the flesh to its essential parts. But you have left us bodies bright with flame, And buried God no deeper than our hearts.’ The Sunday after Easter Sunday. We are still in the Easter season, which concludes with the celebration of Pentecost, near the end of May. So…Easter…yet today is known in the church as ‘Low Sunday.’ -the Sunday after the outburst of Easter joy. Similar to the first Sunday after Christmas Day.  We feels a little flat. Some of the excitement has gone-in a way we have reached our goal -our Lenten journey has ended from darkness to the light of the empty tomb, seen at dawn. Now we are back-on the other side of the mountain-back in the valley. We have finished our Hot Cross buns We have consumed our chocolate quota for the year We have grieved and moved through to rejoicing. And now -we are left coping with the Easter victory, in our ordinary lives. Our Bible reading depicts a confused, dispirited group huddled behind locked doors on Easter morning. Yes, the women had said “We have seen the Lord” -but they were not believed. That’s typical isn’t it-women are sometimes blamed, or labelled as being too emotional, even hysterical, in times of grief. It is worth noting that in Jesus’ time (and this is still the case in some countries in the world today), women’s testimony did not count as reliable, or even legal witness. In western society, in our main-line churches, we could say we have known nothing but crucifixion, or death – slow decay -empty churches -decline in numbers -ageing congregations -absence of children and youth.  Think back to Sunday School numbers when you were young.  Sunday School picnics were wonderful occasions.  Church socials/events were often the places where young people met, fell in love…another wedding in the church. But now? Decline. Even Easter, the most important event in the Christian calendar, which makes it on to the secular calendar but:  if you only listened to secular society you’d think it was a 4 day holiday invented by confectionary manufacturers to honour something to do with bunnies! Sometimes we, the church, feel small, powerless, without the numbers. -seen as irrelevant in society. Even some politicians say that. The church may feel that it is dying -numbers are down-how can we become excited about the resurrection, when we see decay in our midst? Shouldn’t our numbers be larger as people of the resurrection? In the reading from John, it’s Sunday evening, 2 days after Jesus was crucified.  Ten disciples are hiding in an upper room.  Judas has taken his life, Thomas is somewhere else. That morning they had been told by the women that Jesus’ tomb was empty. They are scared. Would they be blamed for the theft of the body-an act that warranted capital punishment by the Romans? Huddled together, frightened. Then suddenly Jesus stood among them and greeted them with “Peace be with you.” He showed them the holes in his hands and side. And he gave them the gift of the Holy Spirit-a very different account from the one from Acts.  Here Jesus is depicted as breathing the Holy Spirit into the disciples in the same way that God breathed life and Spirit into the first human beings. Nothing more than a breath…but it blew open a securely locked door. The huddled, fearful disciples-behind locked, bolted doors -were broken into -breathed on -given the gift of the Spirit. Remember Aslan, the Christ figure, in C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe?  After Aslan has risen from the dead, Aslan brings the stone statues of the creatures of Narnia back to life by breathing on them.  He bounds up to a stone lion: ‘I expect you’ve seen someone put a lighted match to a bit of newspaper which is propped up in a grate against an unlit fire. And for a second nothing seems to have happened; and then you notice a tiny streak of flame creeping along the edge of the newspaper. It was like that now. For a second after Aslan had breathed upon him the stone lion looked just the same. Then a tiny streak of gold began to run along his white marble back—then it spread—then the color seemed to lick all over him as the flame licks all over a bit of paper—then, while his hindquarters were still obviously stone, the lion shook his mane and all the heavy, stone folds rippled into living hair. Then he opened a great red mouth, warm and living, and gave a prodigious yawn. And now his hind legs had come to life. He lifted one of