{"id":3578,"date":"2020-10-09T13:38:47","date_gmt":"2020-10-09T02:38:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3578"},"modified":"2020-10-09T13:41:53","modified_gmt":"2020-10-09T02:41:53","slug":"sunday-sermon-09-10-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?p=3578","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Sermon 11-10-2020"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Service and sermon<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span> October 11, 2020, Leighmoor Uniting Church<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-Rev Barbara Allen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><i>Suggested Hymns<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>TIS 703: As the deer pants for the water<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>TIS 134: Praise my soul, the King of Heaven<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>TIS 675: Lord, the light of your love is shining (Shine, Jesus, shine)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>TIS 474: Here in this place new light is streaming<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>TIS 416: Great God, your Spirit, like the wind<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>TIS 544: Since the world was young<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>TIS 545: Shout for joy!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>TIS 242: I danced in the morning<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>TIS 585: I heard the voice of Jesus say<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>TIS 755: You shall go out with joy<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><i>Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>O God, our Loving Parent in Christ,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>we thank you for the gift of life.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Although we cannot share our lives face to face with many others, we are grateful for the people in our lives-be it face-to-face, or via zoom, the internet, the phone, or written letter.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We thank you for your wonderful creation, which we delight in.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>For the bright spring flowers,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>the refreshing spring rains,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>watching the winds sway and bend during the strong winds,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>to be able to inhale the fragrance of the season,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>and to delight in the warmer days and nights.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We give you thanks.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We thank you that during these difficult times, there are still many signs of hope.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We thank you for newborns, and for the newly pregnant.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We thank you that charities are still undertaking their important work, that people are still trying to save endangered species, and that patients are recovering from illnesses, including covid-19.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>As we remember and give thanks for your many gifts and blessings to us, we realize that at times we have left the way you commanded us to follow, following<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>instead our own wills.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Forgive us.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Forgive us when pride in our human successes has kept us absorbed in ourselves, so that we have neglected to fully respond to your invitation to live differently, to live for others.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Forgive us when we put human obligation ahead of heavenly opportunity.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We make excuses as to why we cannot commit or follow right now, yet we presume to judge who should be invited to your table, and who doesn\u2019t warrant an invitation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Forgive us.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Forgive us our tendency to procrastinate, rather than to participate.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>And in a time of silence, we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>(silence)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>God is love.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Through Christ our sins are forgiven.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>(Thanks be to God)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Take hold of this forgiveness and live your life in the power of the Spirit.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Amen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><i>Bible Readings<\/i>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Exodus 32: 1-14<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Psalm 106: 1-6, 19-23<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Philippians 4:1-9<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Matthew 22: 1-14<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><i>Sermon<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u2018Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: \u201cThe kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.\u201d (Matthew 22: 1-2)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Parties.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Wedding banquets<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Celebrations.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We are missing them, aren\u2019t we?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Most of us love parties, especially if they\u2019re celebrating a wonderful event, such as a wedding, an engagement, a baptism, an anniversary, a graduation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We do like to celebrate!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Sometimes we forget how often Jesus not only talks about parties- but GOES to parties.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Read any gospel (preferably Luke or Matthew) and note how often Jesus is at somebody\u2019s party<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-at someone\u2019s celebration.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>John\u2019s Gospel, chapter 2, opens with the account of Jesus\u2019 earthly ministry-and where is he?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-at a wedding reception-turning water into wine.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-preventing embarrassment \u2013allowing the wedding reception to continue.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-he goes to parties<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>(\u2018this man eats and drinks with sinners\u201d-he parties with sinners).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>He speaks of celebrations: the large party the father organised for the return of the prodigal son.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>There was the Last Supper<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-a foretaste (as were the other celebrations)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>of the great, final, most splendid party of all-the Heavenly Banquet.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>In Revelation 19: 9: \u2018And the angel said to me&#8230;Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>In Jesus-the whole world is invited to a party.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The kingdom of heaven is like a party.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>God, the King, isn\u2019t upset at anybody<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-doesn\u2019t bear a grudge<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-isn\u2019t in the business of striking anyone off the guest list because his son is here.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>God wants everyone to come to the party.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Because God\u2019s happy-God wants everyone to be happy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u2018And he sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Now, some knowledge of wedding customs is helpful to aid our understanding of this story.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>In biblical times, when the invitation to a feast was sent out, the time was not stated<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-but when the feast was ready, servants were sent out with a final summons to the banquet.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>So-you would know the day and date-just not the time.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>When the cooking was finished, THEN all was ready.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-servants would call on you.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>So, in this parable, with all the comings and goings, we needn\u2019t be concerned about the food being over cooked or being left out for too long.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>But things aren\u2019t always that easy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Jesus said that those who were invited to the wedding party wouldn\u2019t come.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The world, says Jesus, is full of people who can\u2019t seem to recognise a good thing when they hear about it, who will not accept<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-free grace<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-dying love<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Total acceptance.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Are we more likely to accept an angry God, than a loving, accepting one?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Are we?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Jesus hasn\u2019t finished telling the parable.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The king, undeterred from his desire to throw a party for his son, sends out more servants.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u201cTell the uninvited, behold the feast is ready; come to the marriage party.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The guests \u2018made light of it\u2019- made light of the renewed invitation-the Greek translates into something quite harsh, more along the lines of<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u2018don\u2019t give a\u2026\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Moreover, they not only make light of the invitation, they kill the kings\u2019 servants.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Such behaviour seems excessive.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>They don\u2019t just \u2018forget\u2019 to RSVP.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>They also murder the postmen.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Now follows a blood bath.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u2018The king was angry\u2019 says Jesus.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u2018He sent his soldiers and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>This is crossing them off your guest list forever.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>But before we become too tough on the king\u2019s response to the guests\u2019 rejection, let\u2019s ask the question<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Who were they?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The \u2018right kind\u2019 of people.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>But they lacked one thing- trust.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>They preferred their own agenda, to spending an evening at the king\u2019s mansion.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>And so, trusting their way of doing things, rather than the king\u2019s way, they join Jesus\u2019 long list, growing longer with each parable<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-of right people who end up wrong<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-winners who lose<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-they are the good religious, who went through the roof when a sinful woman came in and let down her hair and made a fuss over Jesus.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>They are you, and they are me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-you, and me.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>They are all of us who believe that our good deeds and clean looks are enough to get us unto the king\u2019s house, should we ever have an evening free to go (and if we are allowed out of lockdown!)-and that the king is so good-natured and senile that he will not take offence if we don\u2019t show up.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Jesus makes the king\u2019s response so awful and violent-to show us that we are wrong to trust either ourselves and our goodness, or the king\u2019s forbearance to get us out of the consequences of rejection of the king\u2019s invitation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The parable seems to say that a great deal is at stake.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-life-or death.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Salvation is not by works.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The king\u2019s feast is not optional.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Since God works only through grace (gift) and asks of us only trust (faith)-outside this free party there is nothing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Which is why Jesus says that king moved on to Plan B.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u2018Then the king said to his servants, \u201cThe wedding party is ready, but those invited were not worthy ( ie they relied on their own worth)- go, therefore into the streets of the city and invite to the feast anybody you find.\u201d And they went into the streets and invited both bad and good.\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Jesus goes out of his way to make winners of life\u2019s losers.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The problem isn\u2019t the \u2018bad\u2019 people.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The problem is non acceptance of the invitation given to both the undeniably bad and the allegedly good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>He doesn\u2019t invite only the good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>He invited all.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u2018While we were yet sinners\u2026Christ died for us.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>At last the wedding hall was filled with guests<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>BUT the story is not over.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>There is the matter of the wedding guest who shows up without a wedding garment-and is shown in.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>This is a parable of judgement.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The person thrown from the banquet because they are not wearing the right garment, represents all those people who say \u2018yes\u2019 to God\u2019s invitation-and yet do not change their behaviour.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The wedding garment is an image for righteousness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We are clothed with salvation (Isaiah 61:10), and the fine linen garments are the righteous deeds of the saints (Revelation 19:8).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>In fact, we wear Christ (Galatians 3:27) and thereby we put on our new selves (Colossians 3:10).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The wedding robe indicates everything which makes us fit for the kingdom.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The guest does not wear the garment of righteousness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The king must have provided each of the guests with appropriate clothing, for there is not enough time between the invitation, and their appearance at the palace to allow them to go home and change-even if they owned the proper garments.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This means that the guest without the wedding robe has deliberately dressed inappropriately.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>He or she has refused to wear the offered clothing.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>This is not a poor man who has stumbled in off the streets\u2026rather, it is a man whose life was in no way changed by the invitation or by entering the wedding hall; he flaunts his old way of living in the face of the king and the other guests.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>This story can also be seen in another way.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The king represents God.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The wedding banquet of the son represents the Heavenly Banquet of the age to-come.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>The king\u2019s servants are the prophets and Christians who invite people to respond to the \u2018Good News\u2019 by living God\u2019s way.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Yet, when the time comes, the invitation is often turned down, sometimes even with violent behaviour.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Yet-the feast is still ready and waiting-and all can respond.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>For Matthew, the difficulty is with the people who respond to God\u2019s invitation-without changing their lives.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u2018Yes\u2019 without changing their way of living.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Do we wear these robes \u2013of righteousness, of peace, of justice, of compassion, of integrity?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Although this is a hard parable, one that is also about judgement-we must REMEMBER<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-all is ready<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-we have all been invited to the party-even during lockdown.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-the invitation has been sent<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-the servants of the king are calling, \u201cCome, come, come to the party!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>It wouldn\u2019t be the same without you!\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Amen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Let us pray:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Inviting God, in your desire to have us share your joy, you have invited us to your party.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Lead us to the wisdom which discerns your invitation amid the many invitations we are offered by the world.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Help us to put aside things which may appear more important or attractive to us.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Help us to prepare ourselves for the unexpected summons \u2013to your light.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Amen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><i>Prayers of the People<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>O Lord of the lost and lonely, you who seek out the most unlikely people to be with you, teach us to value all people.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We pray for all those who may not feel they belong to you, that they are not worthy of a place at your table, because life has beaten them down, or they are unemployed, or have low self-worth.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Grant them a sense of their own worth, their infinite value in your sight, because they are part of your family, created by you.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Infuse them with your love and encourage them, supported by others, to embrace life and faith in all its fullness and richness.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>We pray for the sick, those in the wider world, those within our church family, and those amongst our own family and friends.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>There are many places and situations in the world that need our prayers.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Alongside covid 19 concerns, we remember those in detention centres, those who had to flee their homelands and are now refugees (and we remember that the Holy Family were refugees), those who are unsafe in their homes and have to flee to refuges.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Be with all those who are hurting, all who are scared or frightened, hungry, or lonely.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>And in a time of silence we remember other issues and situations that weigh heavily on our own hearts\u2026<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>(silence).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Lord, as you have heard our prayers, we conclude with the one you taught your disciples and which has been prayed down the centuries:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>\u2018Our Father in heaven\u2026\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Amen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><i>Blessing<\/i><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>May the Lord Jesus Christ<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>who walks on wounded feet,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>walk with you to the end of the road.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>May the Lord Jesus,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>who serves with wounded hands,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>help you to serve each other.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>May the Lord Jesus<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>who loves with wounded heart,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>be your love forever.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Bless God wherever you go,<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>and may you see the face of Christ<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>in everyone you meet.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Amen<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>(Bishop Matthew\u2019s blessing).<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>-Rev Barbara Allen<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Service and sermon\u00a0 October 11, 2020, Leighmoor Uniting Church -Rev Barbara Allen Suggested Hymns TIS 703: As the deer pants for the water TIS 134: Praise my soul, the King of Heaven TIS 675: Lord, the light of your love is shining (Shine, Jesus, shine) TIS 474: Here in this place new light is streaming TIS 416: Great God, your Spirit, like the wind TIS 544: Since the world was young TIS 545: Shout for joy! TIS 242: I danced in the morning TIS 585: I heard the voice of Jesus say TIS 755: You shall go out with joy Prayers of Adoration, Thanksgiving and Confession O God, our Loving Parent in Christ, we thank you for the gift of life. Although we cannot share our lives face to face with many others, we are grateful for the people in our lives-be it face-to-face, or via zoom, the internet, the phone, or written letter. We thank you for your wonderful creation, which we delight in. For the bright spring flowers, the refreshing spring rains, watching the winds sway and bend during the strong winds, to be able to inhale the fragrance of the season, and to delight in the warmer days and nights. We give you thanks. We thank you that during these difficult times, there are still many signs of hope. We thank you for newborns, and for the newly pregnant. We thank you that charities are still undertaking their important work, that people are still trying to save endangered species, and that patients are recovering from illnesses, including covid-19. As we remember and give thanks for your many gifts and blessings to us, we realize that at times we have left the way you commanded us to follow, following\u00a0 instead our own wills. Forgive us. Forgive us when pride in our human successes has kept us absorbed in ourselves, so that we have neglected to fully respond to your invitation to live differently, to live for others. Forgive us when we put human obligation ahead of heavenly opportunity. We make excuses as to why we cannot commit or follow right now, yet we presume to judge who should be invited to your table, and who doesn\u2019t warrant an invitation. Forgive us. Forgive us our tendency to procrastinate, rather than to participate. And in a time of silence, we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness. (silence) 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: Exodus 32: 1-14 Psalm 106: 1-6, 19-23 Philippians 4:1-9 Matthew 22: 1-14 Sermon \u2018Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: \u201cThe kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.\u201d (Matthew 22: 1-2) Parties. Wedding banquets Celebrations. We are missing them, aren\u2019t we? Most of us love parties, especially if they\u2019re celebrating a wonderful event, such as a wedding, an engagement, a baptism, an anniversary, a graduation. We do like to celebrate! Sometimes we forget how often Jesus not only talks about parties- but GOES to parties. Read any gospel (preferably Luke or Matthew) and note how often Jesus is at somebody\u2019s party -at someone\u2019s celebration. John\u2019s Gospel, chapter 2, opens with the account of Jesus\u2019 earthly ministry-and where is he? -at a wedding reception-turning water into wine. -preventing embarrassment \u2013allowing the wedding reception to continue. -he goes to parties (\u2018this man eats and drinks with sinners\u201d-he parties with sinners). He speaks of celebrations: the large party the father organised for the return of the prodigal son. There was the Last Supper -a foretaste (as were the other celebrations) of the great, final, most splendid party of all-the Heavenly Banquet. In Revelation 19: 9: \u2018And the angel said to me&#8230;Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.\u2019 In Jesus-the whole world is invited to a party. The kingdom of heaven is like a party. God, the King, isn\u2019t upset at anybody -doesn\u2019t bear a grudge -isn\u2019t in the business of striking anyone off the guest list because his son is here. God wants everyone to come to the party. Because God\u2019s happy-God wants everyone to be happy. \u2018And he sent his servants to call those who were invited to the marriage feast.\u2019 Now, some knowledge of wedding customs is helpful to aid our understanding of this story. In biblical times, when the invitation to a feast was sent out, the time was not stated -but when the feast was ready, servants were sent out with a final summons to the banquet. So-you would know the day and date-just not the time. When the cooking was finished, THEN all was ready. -servants would call on you. So, in this parable, with all the comings and goings, we needn\u2019t be concerned about the food being over cooked or being left out for too long. But things aren\u2019t always that easy. Jesus said that those who were invited to the wedding party wouldn\u2019t come. The world, says Jesus, is full of people who can\u2019t seem to recognise a good thing when they hear about it, who will not accept -free grace -dying love Total acceptance. Are we more likely to accept an angry God, than a loving, accepting one? Are we? Jesus hasn\u2019t finished telling the parable. The king, undeterred from his desire to throw a party for his son, sends out more servants. \u201cTell the uninvited, behold the feast is ready; come to the marriage party.\u201d The guests \u2018made light of it\u2019- made light of the renewed invitation-the Greek translates into something quite harsh, more along the lines of\u00a0 \u2018don\u2019t give a\u2026\u2019 Moreover, they not only make light of the invitation, they kill the kings\u2019 servants. Such behaviour seems excessive. They don\u2019t just \u2018forget\u2019 to RSVP. They also murder the postmen. Now follows a blood bath. \u2018The king was angry\u2019 says Jesus. \u2018He sent his soldiers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center 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center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":null,"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Leighmoor.Master","author_link":"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/author\/leighmoor-master"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/www.leighmoorunitingchurch.org.au\/?cat=24\" rel=\"category\">Sermons<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Service and sermon\u00a0 October 11, 2020, Leighmoor Uniting Church -Rev Barbara Allen Suggested Hymns TIS 703: As the deer pants for the water TIS 134: Praise my soul, the King of Heaven TIS 675: Lord, the light of your love is shining (Shine, Jesus, shine) TIS 474: Here in this place new light is 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