God's Investment Plan

September 25, 2022 Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15 God’s Investment Plan 16th Sunday After Pentecost Year C Opening Song Welcome Call to Worship Come to this place and time of promise. We are becoming the house of hope, the field of sunflowers, the vineyard of great caring. Come to a shared commitment to abundance possible for all people. We are an earthenware jar, to keep safe the tomorrow of children. Our security question is – the word of God, and our password is love. Invocation God, we give you thanks that you make us redeemers, not just receivers of redemption. You bring us among friends and then ask for each one of our signatures to change your world. We hold the earthenware jar you call the church and fill it with all your promises. amen. (Rev. Maren Tirabassi, United Church of Christ Worship Ways) Song God will take Care of You UMH 130 Children’s Sermon Leah Pittsinger – Ministry to Children It’s hard to be the bearer of bad news, but sometimes God asks us to do challenging things as a part of his plan. In “The Story of Jeremiah for Kids,” children will learn that Jeremiah obeyed God and shared a message of impending judgment (even though the message was not welcome and Jeremiah himself didn’t escape the consequences of the message). Life can be tough, but God promises that we can trust his methods and his will. So, will we obey the Lord even when it’s difficult? Reiterate to the class that even though Jeremiah was obedient to God, he experienced some hard things (such as being taken to Egypt and having to share bad news with God’s people). Comment, “We’ve all experienced some hard, heart-breaking, and frustrating things because we are God’s children. So, we’re going to make a craft to remind us that the Lord is greater than anything bad we could ever experience.” Give each child at least three stones and ask them to carefully write the name of something that has challenged their faith on each stone (e.g. sadness, loss, death, insecurity). Then give each child a plastic favor bag and help them write, “GOD IS GREATER!” on the bag. Help the class understand that placing the stones inside the bags (and sealing the bags with a tie or knot) symbolize our trust in God to take care of even the deepest hurts. Say, “The Lord knows we have these ‘heavy’ stones in our hearts! But he asks us to trust him anyway and make the choice to serve him, like Jeremiah did, even when things are hard.” Conclusion (5 minutes) RECAP: Jeremiah obeyed God even when it was hard and God protected him. We can trust that God will help us when we experience a challenge, especially when we are seeking to obey him! CLOSING PRAYER: “Lord, give us the desire to obey you know matter what. And please help us trust your plan for our lives. Amen.” Prayer of Illumination God, your holy word invites us to place our trust in you. May the words we hear here today, take root in our lives. May the words we receive in our hearts, strengthen us to live more boldly in faith, that we may trust you in disaster and boon, in good times and bad, in death and in life. “The word of the LORD came to me.” I know this is the word of the Lord. (Amy Hunter, United Methodist Ministry Matters) Scripture Jeremiah 32:1-3,6-15 Sermon God’s Investment Plan I was listening to a lecture on leadership by Dr Ron Heifetz, where he says that people can only take so much bad news. We can only handle so much. If we are in darkness and can see no light at the end of the tunnel – then we lose hope and no longer thrive. If we are asked to change and to do something different – the only way we can move forward, is if there is something that remains the same that we can relate to. Our world has gone through a very stressful time within the last few years. The pandemic has changed so much of our everyday lives. It has even changed the way that we do church. Every year, there are more and more churches that are closing, because of the changes of the pandemic. In our lives, in many ways we are looking for that light at the end of the tunnel. I and many people thought that it was interesting that the president declared that the pandemic has ended. I did not get a chance to listen to his speech, I just heard about the headlines. I hope that we are entering into a time of healing and moving forward from all of this. But we all know that the virus is still out there. And not only does it affect the lives of people, it’s still defines our life. Where do we look for the light at the end of the tunnel? What role does our faith play? The book of Jeremiah is actually a genius in giving us advice at how to find hope in the midst of despair. The book of Jeremiah is kinda like a book of sayings from an old uncle. It has no rhyme or reason, the stories are not really in order of time, and it is a story of how the nation that he was trying to help rejected him. And yet the book remains in the bible generations after it was written, because it tells us how our faith can help us to see the light at the end of the tunnel. God is our light. Cynthia stood before a church group in a neighboring town. She had been invited to share the story of her faith in her successful struggle against death. She stood before the group with a candle in one hand and a pocket lighter in the other. She began, "Three years ago I went to the hospital for a series of tests and I was told that I had malignant cancer. I was also told that, although it was possible for me to take chemotherapy treatments, the chance of them offering any help at all was very slim. My doctors said treatments would most likely only bring misery to my final days. This was, of course, very bad news for me. I fell into a deep despair. I was ready to give up. All I could see was darkness. "As I lay in this dark despair in my hospital bed, I started reading a Bible that was in my room. I happened to turn to the book of Jeremiah. What I read there changed my life. It also literally gave me life. "In the darkest moment of my life, I read about the dark times that Jeremiah and the nation of Judah experienced. Following directions that he had received from God, Jeremiah prophesied for 12 years that Jerusalem would be destroyed. Finally, having angered the king by saying such things, Jeremiah was sitting in prison watching his prediction of doom come true. The Judean nation was on the brink of destruction. Her enemies were making their final assault upon the city. The Judeans who had already been killed lay unburied and those who were still alive suffered from famine and pestilence. The end was very near. Soon the enemy would break through and drag the survivors from their homeland into a captivity in a foreign land. It was a very dark time for them. As I read, it was easy for me to relate to the despair of their situation. "In the midst of this hopeless and despairing situation, God led Jeremiah to do an incredibly hopeful thing. At the moment when things looked the worst, God led Jeremiah to purchase a field. He bought land in a country that was about to be taken over by the enemy. In this action Jeremiah was making an investment in the future. In the midst of a very bad time, he looked with hope to a better future of better times. Jeremiah knew that the hard times of exile were about to come upon the people of Judah, but God also led the prophet to symbolically proclaim that things would eventually get better and that God would return the people to their home. In faith Jeremiah saw that future. As a symbol of hope, he invested himself in that future by buying a piece of land." Cynthia said, "When I read about Jeremiah's purchase of the field, it was as if God had suddenly brought a light into my darkness." At this point in her story Cynthia lit the candle she was holding. She continued, "I had a candle brought into my hospital room and I lit it that day as a sign of my hope -- a sign that I was going to trust God like Jeremiah and invest in the future. Cynthia continued, "Against the recommendation of my doctors I took chemotherapy treatments. In the process I got very sick and I came quite close to death. But, as I stand before you today, my cancer is in total remission." She raised the lit candle in front of her. "God gave me hope during my darkest times, during my bad times. Like Jeremiah, I put my faith in God and invested in the future. Now I praise God and celebrate the good times of health that the future has brought me." At this point in her talk everyone in the group broke into spontaneous applause. Everyone, that is, except for a quiet man in the back row. After a moment he raised his hand and asked to speak. He said, "Your story sounds similar in many ways to a story that was a part of my life. It is very similar, but only up to a point. My wife also had cancer. She too had hope that God would move her through the dark times into better times. She invested in that future. She trusted God as the light to see her through her darkness. She took all kinds of treatments and she too got very sick. Together we hoped, together we prayed, and then she died." He said, "Please don't get me wrong. I am very glad that the future in which you invested turned out to have good times in it for you. But as you stand there holding that candle, I have to ask you -- what do you think Jeremiah's hopeful action of purchasing a field has to say for my wife?" All eyes were upon Cynthia. It was very quiet as they waited for her response. She also waited for her response, and then, discovering that she did not have one, told the man that she was sorry for his loss, blew out her candle, and sat down. How are we to make sense of the man's question? Cynthia did understand this story correctly, didn't she? The purchase is a symbol of hope, is it not? The small plot of land that Jeremiah bought is a symbol of the whole land and the prophet is a symbol of all who will own property in the new age when Yahweh will restore the fortunes of Israel. Cynthia heard the story saying that we can make it through even the very worst times by focusing on the future -- the time when God will finally set things right. Jeremiah's symbolic action seems to proclaim that there will be better times ahead. So, how do we respond to the man in the back row whose wife lit a candle in her darkness only to have it snuffed out by unsuccessful cancer treatments and finally by death? What can be said to the people who join Jeremiah in hoping for those better times, but then never experience any better times? Pamela's pastor went to see her in the hospital. The pastor took Pamela's hand and said, "I'm so sorry. Is there anything that you would like me to do for you?" Pamela said, "Yes, there is." The pastor said, "Just name it." Pamela said, "I would like a candle." The pastor was considerably surprised by the request, but said, "Fine, I'll be sure to bring one when I come next time." Pamela said, "No. I want one now." The pastor said, "Don't you even want to talk a little bit first?" Pamela shot back, "If you really want to do something for me ...." The pastor interrupted, "Okay. I see that it is important to you. I'll go get one right now." It was a 15-minute drive back to church from the hospital, but the pastor made the round trip and returned to Pamela's room with a candle in hand. Approaching her bed the pastor asked, "Do you want me to light it for you?" Pamela said, "Oh, no. Just hand it to me." She took the candle in her hands gripping it tightly. She then clutched the candle against her and said, "During these last months I have often thought of myself as a candle about to go out. I thought that everything I am is tied up in being able to see. I expected that when blackness came then there would be nothingness." She then said, "Now I'm blind. It's dark." She held the candle tightly. "But the candle is still here. I'm still here. I'm still me. God is still God. It's going to be okay somehow." Perhaps in her blindness Pamela was able to see something in her candle that eluded Cynthia when she held up her lit candle before the group. Cynthia saw the flame of her candle as a symbol of hope. The flame was the symbol of light in darkness -- God helping us out of bad situations. This can be a powerful symbol for people who have passed through darkness on the way to better times. But it did not speak to the man in the back row. And there may be times when this will not speak to us either. Pamela, however, experienced the candle in a different way. She discovered that a candle is more than a fragile light. Flames come and go on candles. But, as Pamela discovered, a flame doesn't make a candle. It's the candle itself that makes a candle a candle. For her, the candle proper was a symbol of hope, because, regardless of whether there is a flame or not, her hope came in the promise of candleness itself. She came to realize that hope is not grounded in what will happen to us, but in who we are. Each of us have our own terrible times. You know what yours have been. Perhaps you are in the middle of some pretty bad times right now. Yet, when things go badly for us that is not a time to despair, but a time to invest ourselves in the future. When Jeremiah bought the plot of land, he invested in the future. In the middle of terrible times he made a symbolic purchase -- a statement of hope grounded in God. Yet, ultimately, Judah's hope did not rest in whether or not good things would happen to them, but in who they were, a people grounded in a covenant with their God. Yes, the land was an important issue, but its importance lay in the fact that it was a part of the covenant promise. Their hope came not in what would happen to them, but in who God had made them to be -- a people of the covenant. We, like Jeremiah, are called to invest in the future. We do so not because we are certain that God has something better in store for us, but because we know who God has made us to be. Like Pamela, we can think of ourselves as a candle. We have good times and we have bad times. The flame may come and the flame may go. Ultimately it does not matter. Our hope is not grounded in the promise of good things happening to us. Our hope is grounded in the fact that we have become children of God. The hope we receive from God is not a promise of a constant and steady flame that will take away all the dark times. Our hope comes in the promise of candleness itself. Our hope comes at the core of who our God has created us to be. We are a people washed in the waters of divine forgiveness and acceptance. We are a people who live in and live through the church -- a community based in love and service and justice. That is the very essence of who we are. Our identity is in Jesus Christ and his church. That is the core of who we are. That is our candleness. That means that even in the worst of times we can invest in the future, for in the love of Jesus Christ, God has invested everything in us. CSS Publishing Company, Stepping Inside, by Thomas G. Rogers For me, Jeremiah in all of its imperfections, is the place that I go to find the light at the end of the tunnel. Jeremiah was put in jail, because he told people that things were not going to get better. He gave them bad news, when they were looking for good. But he reminded them that God was there on the journey with them. This story shows how he gave them hope in the midst of despair. Jeremiah was actually sent to Egypt and never returned. And yet the day came when Jerusalem was free and life went on. Jeremiah never had any children of his own, but the land that belonged to his family was still in the family name. And his family was able to reclaim the land that they had lost – because of Jeremiah’s act of redemption. Jeremiah’s message to us, that in the midst of despair, God is our redeemer. Christ came to be the light at the end of the tunnel. Sometimes if we don’t claim the future – it wont happen. Sometimes hope for the future is bigger than our pain. Where are the fields of faith that we need to reclaim and redeem. How do we pass that hope on to the next generation? Let us move forward in faith. Amen Song A Charge to Keep I Have UMH 413 Prayer Holy One, our world moves at a rapid pace of work, school, care of loved ones, paying bills, and all the other things that are important but can overwhelm us. Help us to find the holy in the midst of it all: the brief moments of quiet, the time to read a chapter of a book, the sunshine breaking through the clouds, the task of watering plants. Wherever we find a bit of Sabbath rest, O God, may we find it a holy moment. Whenever we find a bit of good, O God, nurture that goodness in us. May we seek the holy in our daily lives, for it escapes us in the world that pursues values away from You. May we find the holy moments already among us. Amen. (Rev-o-lution Resources by Rev. Mindi Welton-Mitchell) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment We so often look to scripture for words of encouragement or comfort. It seems few of us look deeply into the words of the Bible for counsel about how to live our lives as daily followers of Jesus, especially if it would mean making big changes. But occasionally we find a particular text which speaks directly to us. I had that happen when reading I Timothy 6:17-18 (NRSV), and want to share that today as we prepare to receive our morning offering. “As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty, or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but rather on God who richly provide us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.” Friends, that’s US! How grateful I am to know we have a fine opportunity this very moment to step into alignment with this teaching. Setting our hopes on God, let us take this time to do good, to be generous, and to share a portion of what we identify as “ours”. Prayer of Thanksgiving Merciful God, It’s not easy to hear some parts of the teaching of Jesus, especially when we’re directed to let go and share our finances. Renew in us a sense of gratitude for Jesus, for the lives he impacted in the flesh and for our lives, which we (at least sometimes) want Jesus to impact on a daily basis. We pray you will bless these gifts, bless each one who has made a gift, and strengthen us to follow more clearly the Way of Jesus, AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook May you be as blessed as Jeremiah – with a word-of-God whisper when you are waiting, a glimpse of freedom when you are confined, a friend to show you the way forward, an earthenware jar of God’s love in which your signature is precious. (Maren Tirabassi, United Church of Christ Worship Ways) Community Time Benediction Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Live boldly, trusting God with everything you are and everything you have. Take hold of the life to which God calls you. Go forth, rejoicing in God. Thanks be to God! (Amy Hunter, United Methodist Ministry Matters) Additional Illustrations For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile. — Jeremiah 29:11-14 In the tiny town of Flushing, Ohio, amidst the coalfields of Belmont County, stands a brick building which used to house the Citizens' National Bank. Like a lot of community financial institutions of its day, this bank specialized in small loans made to local farmers, sheepherders, and working-class folks in the nearby area and harbored the hard-earned dollars of their working-class neighbors. Their capital was fortified with investments of some local coal tycoons and a congressman from the area; and for nearly two generations, it served the community well until it was swallowed up by a much larger financial institution from a much larger city. Instead of the local farmers and businessmen who originally constituted the board of directors, financiers who have likely never set foot in the town, and probably couldn't even find it on the map, now operate the bank. The story of this little bank is not much different from a lot of community banks in lots of small towns across the country that have similarly been bought by larger financial corporations. But what is most noticeable about this bank was its founding date — smack in the middle of the Great Depression! One has to ask — who would invest money in a financial institution at a time when banks were going belly up and in a place where cash money was so scarce? Yet, that is precisely what this group of farmers, shepherds, and small-business operators did. And, for nearly two generations they succeeded in providing the capital that built homes, purchased equipment, expanded businesses, and paid college tuition for folks in that tiny town. But you have to wonder — in 1931 was it optimism or insanity that inspired the investors? For the founders of that little bank in that little town, investing their hard-earned cash money in the future of their community proved to be a good deal despite the economic climate of the Great Depression. But God offers us so much more. In Christ, we are given the strength to stand on hope when others are bailing out. In faith, we sign the deed to our lives over to him in full view of a skeptical public just as Jeremiah did so long ago. In confidence, we lay his claim on us out for all to see, even as he takes us unto himself to preserve us safe and secure for all eternity. CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Sermons for Sundays after Pentecost (Middle Third): The Hard Task of Truth-telling, by Lee Ann Dunlap The weekend is shot (almost). Tomorrow it is back to the “real” world, back to the grind, at least for most of us. Where will God be in all that? Be honest with me: Do you feel God’s Presence on the job, as you go through the usual Monday routine? Is God directing you as you attend to your e-mail, run through your voice mail, review the reports, or check your assignment? Let us be frank with each other. The businesses which employ most of us are part of the “secular” realm, not of the “sacred” realm that concerns God. That is the way most Americans see it. Religion is one thing; business is another. Our commitment to the principle of separating church and state has led to a “culture of disbelief,” one in which it is all right to be religious in private, but not publicly when we are on the job.1 But that is not the way that the Bible views the world of business! This morning’s First Lesson makes that clear.

Pray for Everyone (God Save the Queen)

September 18, 2022 15th Sunday of Pentecost 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Prayer for Everyone (God Save the Queen) Year C Opening Song Welcome Call to Worship One: Divine Parent, you feel what we feel. Many: Our joys and our pains are yours too. One: Divine Healer, you delight in our wholeness. Many: You are the balm for our heavy-laden hearts and souls. One: Giver of life, you are able to renew us Many: We open ourselves to you, have your way within us.( Rev. Tena Nock, United Church of Christ Worship Ways) Invocation Divine Nurturer, we are thankful that we can come to you any time. You have made it possible for us to come, as we are however, we are. We rejoice in knowing that you walk with us whether the road is rough or smooth. You are steadfast. Help us to nurture our relationship with you, ourselves, and each other so that we may be a balm when none can be found. Amen. ( Rev. Tena Nock, United Church of Christ Worship Ways) Song – O Master Let Me Walk with Thee UMH 430 Children’s Sermon 1Timothy 2:1-7 Learning to be Peaceful By Lois Parker Edstrom The Bible teaches us that we should pray and give thanks “… for all men: for kings and all who are in high places…” (2:1). We understand why we would pray and give thanks for our parents and other family members, our friends, teachers, doctors, and the leaders of our country. We are thankful for their care. We want the best for them and we ask that God would give them wisdom to do their work in the best possible way. It is difficult, however, to understand how to pray for those who hurt us. We know there are evil people who do evil things. We don’t give thanks for the evil things they do, but we can pray that they will accept God’s love and turn their lives around for the better. Why would we do this? The Bible teaches us that we do this so that “we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence” (2:2). When we pray for others we learn about respect. We understand that “there is one God” (2:5) and that God is in charge. We learn about how to be peaceful. Deer come into my fields and after they have had enough to eat, they lie down to rest. I wish you could see them. They are very quiet and still. They look so peaceful. There is much wisdom in the Bible. One of the reasons we pray for everyone, including ourselves, is that we learn about respect and we learn about having a peaceful life. Find time to be quiet and still. Think about God’s love and how good it feels to be peaceful. Scripture quotations from the World English Bible Copyright 2013, Richard Niell Donovan Prayer for Transformation and New Life Source of Wholeness, we confess that sometimes our goals don’t align with yours, and we get lost. At times, we have pursued power, knowledge, and wealth instead of you, who are the source of all. We know that you are the balm we need, and we turn ourselves towards you. You are steadfast in your love and justice. Help us to be the same, help us to be a balm to others as you are to us. Amen. Words of Grace The Divine one is steadfast in love, justice, and righteousness. Know that we are called and empowered to do the same. In a chaotic world, we can know peace, and in a chaotic world, we can be at peace. May God’s grace be a balm for us, and may we be a balm to and for others. Amen. (Rev. Tena Nock, United Church of Christ, Worship Ways) Scripture – 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Sermon Pray for Everyone (God Save the Queen) A brawny man stood in front of a painting by the great artist John Singer Sargent in an art gallery in New York City. He kept muttering to himself, “I’ve been given a place at last. I have a place at last.” Artist Robert Henri was standing nearby. Henri was mystified at the man’s words. “Are you in this sort of work?” he asked the man. “Oh, yes,” said the man, “but this is the first time I’ve been displayed like this.” Now Henri really was disturbed. “But I thought that this work was by the great painter Sargent,” he said. “That’s right,” said the man, “but it was me that made the frame.” St. Paul saw himself as the frame, but Christ was the painting. It was the power of the risen Christ working through him that was the source of his great accomplishments. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,” wrote St. Paul on one occasion, “but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Is that a truth too great for our little hearts? It is to say that if we will but surrender our lives, there is a source of power available to us—that can flow through us—and help us to accomplish more than we ever dreamed possible. This morning, we look at the second chapter of Timothy – the book written to help us to know what it means to be a church leader. And no matter what we do in church, we are all Christian leaders. I think the lectionary developers started last week with Timothy 1 and now skips to chapter 2 to help us to understand that prayer is the framework of our faith and what we do as Christians. No matter how much we talk about prayer, I think it is the one thing that we all struggle with in some way. When I talk with family and friends who don’t go to church and say I am praying for you – they look at me as if I have three heads. I try to pray in some way everyday – and yet I struggle with what it means. There are prayer that I have been praying for 15 years daily, and yet I feel like nothing changes. I always ask God what that means. My beautiful daughter, to whom this volume is dedicated, had a bedtime prayer one night when she was in kindergarten — having heard in school of the destruction of the Amazon rainforest and the danger it posed for the environment, she prayed, "Dear God, those people who are cutting down the rainforest, please kill them." If regime change is your heart's desire, then of course you can pray for it. Remember though, prayer is not a labor-saving device — no matter which way you are praying, your prayers commit you to working toward the end you have in mind. Prayer brings hope to every situation. Hope for the good of all. Paul sees every encounter as an opportunity to invite God into the situation. What a wonderful way to live. The truth is that everyone we know is either struggling to remain faithful to Christ or hasn't been introduced to him yet. Everyone we know is facing trials, and tests, looking for a route to happiness and meaning in life. Our text is short, but it is very rich with lots of lessons. But I want to talk about three of them: That we should pray for everyone, especially our leaders. That prayer is the foundation of our peace, and that Christ is our intecessor, who brings our prayers no matter what they are to God. If your look at the title of the sermon – it is – Pray for everyone (God Save the Queen). Since her funeral is tomorrow, I just thought that it would be appropriate to pray for her. She is not our queen, but she is a part of everyone. We can pray for our mayor, the city council, the governor, the legislators and all fo those seeking office. A friend of mine belonged to a prayer group that received permission to meet in city hall to pray for the city. They prayed for the mayor, the city council, the police and fire departments, the school board, teachers, and social workers. Not many of those people knew they were being prayed for but my friend said he saw things begin to happen in the city. He claims prayer made all the difference. Be assured that God uses them and opens doors for us to share our witness. Do you know what an intercessor is? It is a person who stands in the gap between the world and God. Paul says that is our role. We are to be praying for the deliverance and salvation of the people all around us. We have no idea how our prayers impact our workplaces, our city, our state, our country, or our world. Praying for others is called intercession. To intercede is to mediate on behalf of another. It is to represent another in the hour of need. It is to stand in the gap in the time of need and the moment of despair. Christ is our ultimate Intercessor. He is the Priest acting on our behalf. He is the living bridge between humanity and God. Because Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, he is our Mediator. This is why we pray in Jesus' name. We cannot cross the breach between God and us. But Jesus is God come to our side. He is united forever to our humanity, so we can speak to him and be heard, uniting us with his divinity. It is God made present in the hour of trouble. Timothy chapter 2 starts out by saying request, prayers, thankgiving, be made for all people. Pray for kings and everyone in authority so that we can have quiet and peace. If we read further one verse beyond our scripture – verse 8 says Therefore, I want men to pray everywhere by lifting up hands that are holy, without anger or argument. Most of our worship service is intended to be a prayer for God – we have all of those prayers included in our service. It is not a common practice for this congregation – but lifting our hands is a devotion to God. III. TO PRAY IS TO COMPLETELY SURRENDER Verse 8: “I want people everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." Henri Nouwen says we come to God with tightly clinched fists. So prayer at first is painful because we discover we do not want to let go of the things that hold us and bind us. We want to box with God over what is. If you are Almighty why do you seem so feeble? If You will our good, why is there so much bad? If You came to save the world, how come it isn't saved yet? Like Job, we reduce God to our perceptions then curse God for being impotent. It is not always easy to believe. Often we pray “God help our unbelief." Pain and suffering continue to be problems near and far. Questions leave us with clinched fists. We cling to our hurts. We still haven't gotten over the girl that rejected us or parents who ignored us. We are still jealous of the colleague who got promoted over us; disappointed that we didn't receive a letter; angry that we were ignored. Oh yes, we've learned to live with it. It is pushed back into the recesses of our heart. But there is something about prayer that opens the soul and makes you conscious of the pain that is inside. So, suddenly we are faced with these hurts of our lives and to pray is to face the hurt, the jealousy and the disappointment. We come to God with clinched fists when he invites us to come with open hands. We have treasures we do not want to part with. You know how it is. You have to get a grip on what is yours and hold your own against those who would take it from you. We make excuses. “That's just how it is with me," and we say it as if we have given up on the belief that there may be plenty for everyone. So here we stand, with balled-up fists trying to protect what time will ultimately take away. To pray is to open our hands. It is opening our hands to God's promises. We are not alone. We live in God's world. He will not leave us nor forsake us. When you pass through the waters, he will be with you. The rivers will not sweep over you. He is the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge God and he will direct your paths. We need to open our hands to our own weaknesses. A boy prayed: Dear God, please help me be a good boy and if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. A man prayed: please make me the kind of person my dog thinks I am. Open our hands to be led. Prayer is not a magic means by which we control God but a humble means by which God can release his power and purposes through us. Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, help me stand. I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm through the night, lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home. So let us pray. Let us be a church that really prays, that takes a request for prayer seriously. Let us pray for one another. Let us pray for ourselves. Let us pray that God's kingdom may come on earth as it is in heaven. Amen. ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Faith Breaks, by J. Howard Olds When we pray together in public it is a way for our minds, body and spirit to become centered in one place. When we lift our hands up – it centers everything else in our body. Did you know that your feet takes its cues on how to move from the hands. I learned that in my running club. That if you want to run faster, you don’t move your feet faster, you move your hands. When you are swimming and you just move your feet you don’t get very far. You have to move your hands and feet to move forward. When we pray with our hands lifted up open and welcoming the spirit of God in our lives, our actions and our hearts. The scripture says that we are to pray for others, especially our leaders so that we all can live a life of peace and quiet. If only peace in life was just that simple. In the time that this was written, it was leaders who were the biggest enemy of Christians and living a Christian life. And sometimes they are not always concerned about the peace and quiet of others. On my birthday I travelled to Evanston, where I went to school in search of peace and quiet. Coming from a chaotic family – one of the most important parts of my college experience was going to the library to study. Being in the quiet really helped me to collect my thoughts and to calm down. As an adult, every year I try to go back to the university library and just sit on fifth floor, where there is just quiet. This year I spent the whole day, walking into libraries, walking into churches, gardens, along the lake all in search of some peace and quiet. What I found was there is no such thing. Everyplace outside all you could here was crickets. Even inside of the library, I was not listening to silence, but always the air conditioner in the back ground. And not that I have come home, the crickets are moving inside my house, and they chirp at all hours of the night. Even if I come here in this sanctuary to pray – it is not quiet, because the ceiling fans are always running. And yet the peace that I feel when starting to pray – doesn’t mean that the noise goes away – it means to my focus us beyond it. The peace and quiet is in here and not out there. The Greek word for prayer means having an open conversation with God about whatever is on your heart. Trusting that God is a trusting, compassionate involved God who listens. The peace and quiet that we pray for is not just for us, it is for everyone in the world. That is the mission of every Christian to play a part in God bringing salvation to all of the world – everyone. In the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, a 26-year-old Briton by the name of Derek Redmond was favored to win the race. Halfway into his semifinal heat a torn hamstring sent fiery pain through his right leg, causing him to crumple to the track. As the medics came to his rescue, Derek scrambled to his feet hopping, pushing, in a crazed attempt to finish the race. That is when a big man pushed through the crowd toward the track. He wore a t-shirt with the question “Have you hugged your kid today?" He wore a cap that said, “Just do it!" The man was Jim Redmond, Derek's dad. When he got to his son he said, “Derek, you don't have to do this." Derek replied, “Yes I do." That is when big Jim put i True peace starts with a footstep . . . . a stride forward into God’s future. Or as Dante put it in one of the greatest quotes in the history of literature, “In his will is our peace.” ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Leonard Sweet Sermons, by Leonard Sweet We intercede for ourselves and others, because Christ is the great intercessor for us. • All means all - God in Christ erases the dividing lines and unites us, prayer practices and reinforces that belief (Thomas Oden, Interpretation: First and Second Timothy and Titus) : o All people should be prayed for (v.1) o All people should be saved (v. 4) o God is God of all people (v. 5) o Christ died as a ransom for all (v.6) o “Paul” proclaims this truth to all (v.7) One God, One mediator, One Christ It says that there is One God, One mediator, One Christ for all people. If there is one God for all people – then our hearts should be in one place. That is on the things of God. Prayer helps us to center our mind, body and spirit in that place. Amen. Song Take My Life and Let it Be UMH 399 Prayer Weeping God, we come to join in your tears for those people who are suffering. We weep for those fleeing from violence and oppression; for those falsely accused of rebellion, when only seeking for justice; for those searching for freedom to practice their faith; for those escaping from famine, flood, earthquake, or other natural disaster; for those seeking a better life, for all those looking for acceptance, hope and love in new places. Compassionate God, as we join with you in sorrow for these and other situations where fear, despair and danger are the ruling factors, show us how we can help. Guide us as we search for practical ways of offering assistance. Strengthen us in our fight against injustice and evil. Fill us with your Spirit of life, love and grace, so that we may become a part of your healing, comforting presence to those who need to find refuge and security. Amen ( Based on the Weeping God by ©Marjorie Dobson) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Invitation to the Offering (Luke 16) (don’t need to print) God, in Jesus Christ, has given us much to be faithful for. Our tithes, gifts, and offerings may seem little in comparison to God’s gifts to us, but we are called to be faithful over all that we have: our time, our talents, our gifts, and our service. When we give of ourselves, we practice the spiritual discipline of stewardship. When we are faithful over a few things in this life, in the life to come we may be faithful over much, much more. May God bless us in our giving, that God’s kingdom may be here with us on earth. Offering Prayer (Luke 16) Lord, we got up this morning, ate our breakfast, got dressed, and came to church— all to give you praise and thanksgiving. May these gifts be a blessing for those who had no bed this morning from which to arise; for those who had no breakfast and are hungry this day; for those who have no new clothes; for those who long to worship you but cannot. Take these gifts and use them as you will, O God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. (Erik Alsgaard, United Methodist Ministry Matters) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Be faithful with little. Be faithful with much. Be faithful with what belongs to another. Be faithful with what is your own. Serve only one master. There is one God. We will serve this God alone. And may the grace, mercy, and peace of the one God be with you. Amen. (Nancy Townley, United Methodist Ministry Matters) Community Time Benediction Friends, our worship continues even as we leave this moment. Friends, we have gathered in joy to sing and pray and hear God’s word. We have come as friends, called friends by the Christ we follow. And now we are sent out into the world, to make friends. Let us be about the business we have been given. Let us go with God. Amen. (Derek Weber, United Methodist Discipleship Ministries) Additional Illustrations The best illustration of the cross is a story told long ago by that great British preacher, Charles Hadley Spurgeon. The radio newscaster Paul Harvey tells this story each year before Easter. Spurgeon was walking the streets of London deep in thought when he saw a young street boy. The lad was carrying an old, bent birdcage. Inside was a tiny field sparrow. Spurgeon stopped the boy and asked him what he was going to do with the bird. "Well," the boy said, "I think I'll play with it for a while, and then when I'm tired of playing with it- I think I'll kill it." He made that last comment with a wicked grin. Moved with compassion for the bird, Spurgeon asked, "How much would you sell me that bird for?" "You don't want this bird, mister," the boy said with a chuckle. "It's just a bloody field sparrow." But then he saw that the old gentleman was serious. "You can have this bird for two pounds," he said slyly. Two pounds at that time would be worth more than a hundred dollars today--an astronomical price for a bird worth only pennies. Spurgeon paid the price, and let the bird go free. The next morning, Easter Sunday morning, an empty bird cage sat on the pulpit of the great Metropolitan Tabernacle where Spurgeon preached. "Let me tell you about this cage," Spurgeon said as he began the sermon. Then he recounted the story about the little boy and how he had purchased the bird from him at a high cost. Then with great seriousness Spurgeon said, "I tell you this story because that's just what Jesus did for us. You see, an evil specter called sin had us caged up and unable to escape. But then Jesus came up to sin and said, 'What are you going to do with those people in that cage?' "'These people?' sin answered with a laugh. 'I'm going to teach them to hate each other. Then I'll play with them until I'm tired of them--and then I'll kill them.' Jesus asked, "'How much would it cost to buy them back?' "with a sly grin, Sin said, 'You don't want these people, Jesus. They'll only hate you and spit on you. They'll even nail you to a cross. But if you do want to buy them, it'll cost you all your tears and all your blood--your very life!’” Spurgeon concluded, "That, ladies and gentlemen, is just what Jesus did for us on the cross. He paid the ultimate, immeasurable price for all who would believe, that we might be free from the inescapable penalty of death." You have just heard the heartbeat of the Gospel, the best news that has ever warmed the hearts of humanity. If you have never personally received the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, come down front in just a moment, kneel here, and whisper to Christ these words: "I a sinner receive you as Savior and will follow you as Lord." ChristianGlobe Networks, Inc., Collected Sermons, by Bill Bouknight The pastoral epistles to Timothy and Titus were not to be read as theological edicts on the nature of church structure. These letters were directed toward real faith communities wrestling with particular problems. Like that group of Separatists at Plymouth Rock, these congregations were seeking to forge a life of faith and obedience to Christ amidst unfamiliar and sometimes hostile territory. Since Christ had not returned to take his followers to heaven's realm, the church was forced to grapple with the very real challenges of establishing heaven's dominion in their earthly domain. Imagine you only have a short time to prepare your successor in ministry. In that time you can only share a few of your insights. What would you tell him or her? There is a story told about a group of seminary students that went to visit an old historic church they had heard a lot about. When they entered the huge building, they were met by a gray-bearded gentleman they thought was the janitor. He offered to lead them on a tour through the facilities and answer any questions they had. They walked through the sanctuary, stood in the pulpit, and looked down from the balcony. When they had seen just about everything and asked every conceivable question they could come up with, the old gentleman asked a strange question, "Would you like to see what fires up this church?" They weren't really interested in touring the basement and seeing the boiler, but just to humor their host, they followed. They went down a narrow stairway to an area beneath the pulpit. As the gentleman opened the door, he said, "Behind this door is the secret of this great church. Everything that happens upstairs starts down here. This is where the fire in the pulpit begins." The old man, actually C. H. Spurgeon, the great preacher himself, opened the door to reveal several dozen people on their knees in fervent prayer. Spurgeon would always insist that the secret of any church, big or small, was the prayers of the people. It was Spurgeon who said, "I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach." Ernest Hemingway wrote a story about a father and son who had a serious misunderstanding. In the story, the boy finally runs away from home. The father however, is not content to let his son go. In an effort to find the boy, the father puts an ad in the Madrid, Spain newspaper. It contained these words: Dear Paco, Meet me at the town square at noon on Sunday. All is forgiven...Your father That Sunday, 800 males by the name of Paco showed up at the town square. They all came seeking forgiveness from their fathers. Alexander Pope said, “To err is human, to forgive is divine." At the heart of the Christian faith lies the principle of forgiveness. Come let us take a closer look. A visit to Yellowstone Park discovered the only animal a bear would not fight for food is a skunk. With one swing of his powerful paw the bear could crush the skunk. So why does the bear allow the skunk to eat with him? Because he has discovered the high cost of getting even! When you check into a Sheraton hotel room these days you have a new message you can hang on your doorknob to keep the housekeeper away. Instead of “Do Not Disturb” the message now reads “Peace and Quiet.” The sign at Sheraton’s more upscale sister, The Westin, simply reads “Peace.” People are not just looking to keep disruptions and disturbances at bay. They are looking to find something positive. They are searching in life for some “peace and quiet.” Or if “quiet” is too much to ask, just some “Peace.” E. Stanley Jones, that great missionary/evangelist/writer once said that this is the great divide between Christianity and the world religions. Not that they do not have truth, not that they lack noble sentiments, gracious teaching, or gifted leaders. But in them, said Jones, the Word became word—a set of teachings, a morality, a religious framework. Only within Christianity does the Word become flesh. And it is that Word become flesh that offers human beings access to the Father. O Lord, our governor, your glory shines throughout the world. We commend our nation to your merciful care, that we may live securely in peace and may be guided by your providence. Give all in authority the wisdom and strength to know your will and to do it. Help them remember that they are called to serve the people as lovers of truth and justice; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[2]

The Work of Us all

September 11, 2022 14th Sunday After Pentecost 1 Timothy 1:12-17 The Work of us All Year C Opening Song Welcome Call to Worship Leader: We gather on a day of remembrance of 9/11. People: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Leader: We remember innocent lives lost and thoughts of revenge. People: And Jesus said: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Leader: We remember acts of courage and compassion by so many. People: No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Leader: We gather to remember but we also gather in hope, for as Jesus said: People: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. All: Together we will sing God’s praise! (Rev. Dr. Ronald M Patterson, United Church of Christ Worship Ways) Prayer O God of all the nations, we gather on this day of remembrance confessing that as your children, the events of twenty one years ago have not made us much wiser or enhanced our willingness to love one another without condition. Walls still divide, fear still separates, and strangers seem stranger than ever. Patient and loving God, look with mercy on your children gathered here today. Nudge us along the narrow way of Jesus, that we might be healed and become healers and helpers and leaven on this good earth you have given us to steward. Amen. (Rev. Dr. Ronald M Patterson, United Church of Christ Worship Ways) Song Just as I am Without One Plea UMH 357 Children’s Sermon I am sure that most of you have seen one of these ribbons. Many people are wearing these red, white and blue ribbons right now as a way to help them to remember what happened on September 11, 2001. These ribbons help us to remember the people who died in New York City, Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania during terrorist attacks against our nation and it reminds us to pray for their friends and families. It also reminds us to pray for those who are still working to clean up the sites of these terrible tragedies and recover the bodies of those who died there. The ribbon also reminds us to pray for our nation and for our President as he leads us. This ribbon is a very special way to help us to remember what happened on September 11th. Jesus has also given us a very special way to help us remember him and what he has done for us by his death on the cross. On the night before Jesus was betrayed, he met together with his disciples for a final meal. As he sat at the table with his disciples, Jesus took a piece of bread and broke it. He said, "This is my body which is broken for you. Eat this in remembrance of me." Then he took a glass of wine and said, "This is my blood which is shed for you. Drink it in remembrance of me." We still use the bread and wine as a way to remember what Jesus did for us when he died on the cross. The Bible also tells us that when we do this, we are telling others about Jesus' death. Just as wearing a ribbon is a good way to tell others that we remember what happened on September 11th, the bread and wine are a good way to tell others about Jesus. Dear Jesus, we pause today to remember the tragic events of September 11th and to pray for the families of those who died. We also pause to remember your death on the cross which gives us life. (Sermons4kids.com) In Remembrance of September 11th Leader: Let us light a candle and remember. God of mercy, even in our worst moments your loving kindness surrounds us. In those tragic days a decade ago, our confident faith that you were with us enabled us to go on. We give you thanks for the ways in which you comforted us in those grim days through a deepened sense of community. We trace the movement of your grace through those among us who risked their lives to save others. We are comforted by those who offered kindness and succor and shelter to persons in distress, and by those who would not let hatred overcome love. For those whose witness to a deeper wisdom and faith comforted us, we give you thanks. All: For public officials, neighbors, friends and strangers who brought to our troubled lives solace and clarity of purpose, we give thanks. For the calm and reassuring voices of the wise who gave us comfort and strength, we give thanks. Leader: Let us light a candle in tribute to those persons and also those places which gave us comfort and for the words and deeds that restored to us peace Leader: O God, you have taught us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. We live by hope in the future you hold for us and the whole world. Grant us, we pray, hope for our children and our children’s children that they may not know or inflict the horror and terror we recall this day. Bolster our hope when it flags and teach us to strive in all that we do to realize the hope that is in your Word and witness. All: Eternal God, in you our hope is boundless. You renew hope in us through the promise of a future in which none shall be afraid or lift up sword against a neighbor. We pray in hope for the peace of the world among peoples and nations, religions and cultures, until we become a beloved community reconciled to one another under your sovereignty. Leader: Let us light a candle and give voice to our hopes for our lives in obedience to God. May these candles represent for us the light of our shared memories, the light of comfort and strength, and the light of our hope. In memory, comfort and hope God abides now and forever and unto ages of ages. Amen. (Presbyterian Mission Agency, Jerry Van Mater) Passing the Peace of Christ (1 Timothy 1) Like a waterfall that descends down the mountain, open your hearts to receive God’s faith and love, as they flow into our lives through Jesus the Christ. Turn and share this abundance with one another! (Karin Ellis, United Methodist Ministry Matters) Scripture 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Sermon The Work of us All Did you know…. The next time you drink Welch's grape juice, just remember that a Christian by the name of Welch, was looking for a way to develop a non-alcoholic drink made with grapes so that people could take the Lord's Supper, and so he invented Welch's grapejuice.3 Many of us eat pretzels. Has it ever occurred to you why the pretzel is twisted into that well-known shape? The pretzel was developed by a godly Christian monk in AD 610 to reward students who would say their prayers to Jesus. He shaped the snack in such a way as to reflect the crossing of the arms for prayers to the One who died on a cross.4 Today from Europe to Latin America, from Asia to Africa, from Australia to North America, restaurant is the universal word for an eating establishment. Did you know that the origin of the word restaurant goes back to a Bible verse taken out of context? The "rest" in restaurant comes from the promise of Jesus in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Prior to 1766, public places to eat were associated with inns or hotels. But in 1766 in Paris, an entrepreneur and chef named Boulanger opened an establishment to the public dedicated solely to eating food. He placed in bold letters outside of that first restaurant a paraphrase of this verse: "Come unto me all ye that are hungry, and I shall restore you."5 Robert Ripley writes, "From that word ‘restore' (in French restauri) the establishment became known as a ‘restaurant' and this name has since been applied to eateries all over the world."6 Now just think about it. Whether you go into a restaurant, eat a pretzel or drink grape juice, you cannot get away from Jesus. But did you know— Now Jesus came to save sinners. Did you know that we are all sinners, and that Jesus came to save us all? For the next 6 weeks, the lectionary includes 1 and 2 Timothy. I was surprised that as I chose the scriptures that I chose Timothy for at least 3 of the next 6 weeks. The books of Timothy and Titus are called the pastoral letters. These letters specifically spell out what it means to be a pastor. When I went to my fathers ordination service – the preacher used 1 Timothy as the text. The Pastoral letters are also the basis of the United Methodist book of Discipline and other books on church administration. But I thought it was important for us all to look at these letters this year – because the church is the the priesthood of all believers – so these lessons on church leadership are important to all of us. I don’t know if you have ever heard of the screwtape letters. This is a fictional account of the devil giving advice to a lesser demon on how to distract people away from their faith. Well the pastoral letters are the exact opposite – In Timothy. Paul gives advice to a young man, Timothy who wants to be a pastor. The book of Timothy is not quite fiction, but by the time these words were written Paul was dead, and Timothy had retired from being a bishop of the church. The intention of the book is to get us to think about our own lives and our own call to be faithful to Christ. It is a message about what it means to be a leader in the church – the message is for both clergy and lay people. Paul uses his own life to teach us two lessons – first everyone is a sinner, and in need of salvation, second Christ came into the world to save everyone, no matter who they are. I really think I told this story in this congregation, but I think that it fits here. There was a lady who had been invited to church. She came a few times before the lady who invited her asked her what she thought of the church. Her response was that she didn’t want to continue coming because she felt that all of the people in the church were hypocrites. She noticed that they seemed nice, but in the world they were all different. The lady was not sure she wanted to go to church with hypocrites. The lady who invited her, said I don’t see why not – it looks like you will fit right in with everyone else. In Timothy, Paul goes as far as to call himself a blasphemer, a persecutor, a man of violence. He probably wasn’t that bad – but it doesn’t matter, a big sin and a little sin is still a sin. Paul tells the congregation that if he can change, then anyone can change. Or more accurately, if God can change him, then God can change anyone. A colleague recently asked two questions – first is there anyone who is so bad that God cannot change them. And the question that is more appropriate to us here – are any of us so good that we don’t need God’s grace. God’s grace sustains us. In a Family Circus cartoon, Dolly is attending worship with her family. They are sitting on the front row and the congregation is standing and singing, as we did, America’s favorite hymn, “Amazing Grace”. Dolly looks up to her mother and asks, “Exactly what did Grace do that made her so amazing?” Every once in a while we ought to stop and remember what this unmerited, unearned, unconditional love of God has done for the likes of you and me. Grace hears our cry. Grace forgives our sins. Grace relieves our fears. Grace sets us free. Grace leads us home. It is God’s grace that qualifies us as a leader in the church. Leadership is not so much about serving on a committee( and yet this is a text on church structure and what we need to do to be a church) But church leadership is about being an example for others who are just learning about God to follow. Church leadership is about being able to face our own sins, church leadership is willing to be a disciple, it is about coming to Jesus for salvation. There was a beautiful lady years ago, who was playing the piano at a gathering of wealthy noble people at a lovely home. She sang like a mocking bird. She was the talk of the party. After the party was over, everybody went up to her to tell her how talented, beautiful and lovely she was. But a preacher by the name of Caesar Milan went up to this young lady and said, "Young lady, I don't mean to offend you, but I want to tell you that in the middle of all of this praise and adulation that you are receiving tonight, unless you are saved and born again, you are as lost as the most wicked harlot in London." What that preacher said went like a dart into the heart of that young woman. She went home that night not being able to get out of her mind what Caesar Milan had said to her. At three o'clock in the morning she got out of her bed, knelt down, and gave her life to Jesus Christ. That young lady's name was Charlotte Elliott, and she wrote that night these words: Just as I am, without one plea, But that thy blood was shed for me, And that thou bidd'st me come to thee, Lamb of God, I come. The challenge for us is to take Paul and Timothy out of this story and to put ourselves in it. What is your story? Where is grace in that story? What does the church of today need? What does it need from us? How have we been saved by grace? How do you respond to God’s grace? Jesus came into this world to save us, so that we could save others. Do you understand that the only reason Jesus came was to save you and take you to heaven. He did not come to build an empire. He did not come to be a part of the rich and famous. He did not come to raise money. He did not come to write books. More books have been written about him than any other figure in human history, yet he never even wrote one sentence. But the reason he came was to save sinners. If our problem had been knowledge, God would have sent a teacher; if our problem had been technology, God would have sent a scientist; if our problem had been money, God would have sent a philanthropist; if our problem had been peace, God would have sent a diplomat; if our problem had been health, God would have sent a doctor. But our problem was sin, and God sent us a Savior. People don’t need our judgement, they need our grace. Everyday that we are alive, we face three challengers: the world, the flesh and the devil. And yet every day the grace of God is with us. Mr. Wesley’s last words on earth were these, “Best of all, God is with us.” I want to commend that statement to you. Wherever you are in the journey of life you can have the blessed assurance that you belong to God. You can know where you are going. You can live in the sure and certain confidence that God will see you through. “There is no fear in love,” says the New Testament, “for perfect love casts out fear.” You do not have to live in guilt, you do not have to live in fear. You can live in faith as a child of God. That is our belief. It is that presence of grace that makes us come here to celebrate and praise God. Amen. A Prayer for the Anniversary of September 11, 2001 God of Memory, it has been twenty-one years since that tragic, awful day, when so many lives were lost. We grieve with those who grieve. We lament with those who lament. We know that anger and frustration still comes from the aftermath of this day. Call us into repentance for the ways our responses, collectively or individually, may have led to hate of others, especially our Muslim neighbors. May our memories of this day challenge us to love our neighbor even more, to build up communities of hope and peace rather than hate and war. Call us into Your peacemaking ways, to pursue justice, to practice loving-kindness, and to live humbly as Your people, for You are our God. As memories fade, help us to pass on the lessons we have learned in twenty-one years so we may not repeat the mistakes of the past, but build a future of love, compassion, and peace. Amen. Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment Prayer of Thanksgiving For the stories of a joy-filled shepherd, a rejoicing woman, and a “focused on others” young girl, we give you thanks, God. For this opportunity to dig deep and find joy in our giving, we give you thanks. Now receive these gifts, and help us transform them to spread your JOY in a world so often over-run by all that is lost. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook Go forth, strengthened to do the work of Christ, sharing peace with justice, offering forgiveness building community; and inviting others to embark the journey into abundant life for all. Know that + the God who created you, the Christ who redeems you and the Spirit who empowers you will be with you this day and ever more. Amen. (Rev. Dr. Bob Cross, United Church of Christ Worship Ways) Community Time Benediction In God’s providence you were created and preserved unto to this day for purposes unafraid. Let memory now reside in you at peace. Let comfort companion you in all your days. Let hope spring forth in you by the power of the Holy Spirit. May you serve God in all that you do and say, witnessing to the reign and realm of God to come. Amen. (Presbyterian Mission Agency, Jerry Van Mater) Additional Illustrations Paul reminds Timothy that he is in a war, and we are in that same war today. That war will never be over until our Commander in Chief, the Lord Jesus Christ comes back and wins the final battle. So every day we face three enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Now if you want to fight the faithful fight and wage a winning war, you must have a good conscience. Otherwise, like some Paul spoke of in verse 19, you will shipwreck on the shores of sin. Did you know that if you are going to be saved, you must come to Jesus? Did you know that if you come to Jesus you'll have to come as a sinner? Did you know that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners like you and me? Wesley had an interesting question that he used to ask. “Are you not happy?” he would say. “Then you are not holy.” I find the wedding of happiness and holiness to be an interesting thing in twenty-first century America. Seldom do we think the two belong together. Happiness and holiness. In my background, some of the most unhappy people I have known have been people of holiness. But Wesley put the two together. “Are you not happy? It’s because you’re not holy,” he said.

At the Potter's Hand - repreach of 9/4/16

13th Sunday After Pentecost September 4, 2022 Jeremiah 18:1-11 At the Potter’s Hand Year C repreach of 2/4/16 Opening Song Welcome Call to Worship (Jeremiah 18, Psalm 139) We come with praise for the wonderful works of God. Even before we speak, God knows us completely. The Holy One knows us and sustains us, even in our moments of confusion and doubt. Who can count the thoughts of God? They are more than all the sands of the desert. Like clay in the hand of the potter, we are shaped into vessels of divine will. We come with praise for the wonderful works of God. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Deborah Sokolove) Opening Prayer (Jeremiah 18, Psalm 139) Boundless Shaper of people and nations, you are beyond our knowing, yet closer to us than our every breath. You are before us and behind us, surrounding us with your love, and fashioning all of creation in the secret depths of your heart. With every thought, with every song, and with every prayer, turn these fragile, earthen vessels of our lives, into the Spirit-filled body of Christ. Amen. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Deborah Sokolove) Song – I was there to Hear Your Borning Cry TFWS 2051 Children’s Sermon – Clay in the fire Passing the Peace of Christ (Philemon) Grace to you, and peace from God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. The peace of Christ be with you. The peace of Christ be also with you. (United Methodist Ministry Matters- Deborah Sokolove) Prayer for Transformation and New Life/ Words of Grace Unlike clay, we actively resist the diverse ways you shape us into what the world needs. We frequently struggle to trust in your vision for who we could become. We anxiously avoid facing the heat that protects and sustains us. We humbly confess to these and all our shortcomings. Moment of Silence God graciously chooses us despite our self-destructive ways. God repeatedly mends our broken places and unceasingly delivers us from harm toward wholeness. All thanks be to God! (United Church of Christ Worship Ways – Rev. Phiwa Langeni) Scripture – Jeremiah 18:1-11 Sermon – At the Potter’s Hand A waterbearer in India had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole, which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it. While the other pot was perfect, and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the mistress's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to her master's house. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream: "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your mistress's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in her compassion she said, "As we return to the mistress's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. “For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my mistress's table. Without you being just the way you are, she would not have this beauty to grace her house." Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. We've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. There's a lot of good out there. This story is a wonderful summary of both of our lessons for today. God’s word is amazing, because as I approach my 50th birthday, I felt that this was a wonderful reflection for today. If you didn’t know, the psalm lesson of the day is always a response to the Hebrew bible lesson. And today they fit the occasion perfectly. Jeremiah reminds us that God is the potter of our lives and we are the clay. As the creator of all things, God knows what the clay is capable of creating, because God created the clay. God shapes and molds our lives, God gives us a sense of purpose and God continues to lead us into that purpose. But the reality is that we are all cracked pots. No matter how hard we try, we are not perfect. Something in life has affected all of us. Ernest Hemingway said the world breaks everyone, but some of us are strong at the broken places. We are all broken pots, but some of us are strong at the broken places. In the times of Jeremiah, when a pot was broken, it was repaired with wax, and of course, when you put something hot in the pot, the wax would melt and leak. The definition of the word sincere, is without wax, solid. Sin means without, cere means wax. The Japanese would actually look forward to pots becoming cracked, they would fill the cracks with gold and call it a special pot. Some say that God fills the cracks of our lives with gold – that gold is called grace. We strive to be perfect, but the truth is, many of us would never know God if it was not for the cracks in our lives. It is our times of tribulation that God comes to us, ministers to us and shapes us into faithful people. And yet even though the cracked pot is the one that is much stronger and does the most good, we still strive to be the perfect pot. I think that is where we get into trouble and even get into a life of sin. We think that somewhere out there, there is the perfect life for us. One pastor puts it this way People sometimes ask me: "Bill, do you think that God has designed our lives so that there is only one right call for us to answer…..one right college for us to attend….one right career for us to choose….one right person for us to marry….one right home for the living, church for the going, and destiny for the finding?" And I say: "No." Because I think that such a philosophy limits both the potential in the clay and the imagination in the potter. Go back to the text. Even in the hand of God, stuff spoils…..life spoils….best laid plans spoil…..best made people spoil…. because in that wonderful dance between potter and clay that we call creation, stuff sometimes goes awry. We get into trouble because we don’t like change. No matter how much we know we are on a dead end street, we don’t want to move. We don’t want things to be different, we don’t want to change course unless we absolutely have to. And yet the scripture tells us that life is not intended to be permanent. Life is like clay, it should be pliable and willing to be molded, and shaped by God. If God does not like the way the pot is turning out, God can tear it down and reshape it all over again. God has reshaped and remolded my life so many times. I can truly understand God is the potter and I am the clay. We should be willing to ask God to shape us to remold us, to straighten our lives out again. If we are willing to be pliable, and shaped, the master creater will make us into a useful pot. The problem is some of us are silly putty. I never played with silly putty very much. But I do know that it is cool and very versatile. You can roll it into a ball, and even bounce the ball. You can roll it over the comics and it will pick up a copy of whatever is on the paper. It is very versatile, the problem is it is too versatile. You can shape it unto form. Make a bowl or a pot. The problem with silly putty is that minutes after you make your creation, it will melt into a blob of silly putty once again. It is able to shape a form, but it does not stay that way. Some people are like that with their faith. They listen to God, they are faithful, but only for the moment. Eventually they are back to the life that they started with. And then there is play doh. Play doh is a wonderful invention, of water, salt and flour. When I was a child there were only 4 colors of play doh- white, red,green and blue. Over the years there are many colors. Play doh is a great substitute for real clay. It is cheaper, easier to play with. The problem with clay do, is that unlike silly putty with is too pliable, after awhile, play do is too rigid. There is nothing more heart breaking then opening up a container of play doh and finding that it is as hard as a rock. And once it gets hard, there is nothing that you can do to soften it up. You can make wonderful pots with play doh, but eventually not only does it get too hard, it cracks. Some of us in the church are good for awhile, but after awhile we are so stuck in our ways, that you cant do anything with us. Now clay is a natural material. Clay is just a little dirt and water mixed together. Clay is soft enough to be shaped into something useful. But clay hard enough that it will stay into anything shape that you put it in. Potters have been using clay for years to make useful things, because it is so easy to work with. But the scripture says that clay has its problems. Sometimes it want to resist being shaped, sometimes it goes the wrong way. Sometimes it even has a mind of its own- sound like someone you know? When it gets out of hand, the potter has to ball it back up and start all over again. Reshaping, remolding, correcting, and making it anew. That’s our message for today. Allow god to mold our loves, let god mold us into what he wants us to be. There is God’s judgement for when we do wrong, but when we are forgiven- there is hope that we can begin again. We should welcome God’s guidance in our lives in order to be what God wants us to be. SERMON ILLUSTRATION God Won't Repent for You God will take nine steps toward us, but he will not take the tenth. He will incline us to repent, but he cannot do our repenting for us. Thomas Edison was a great, great man. When he was 67 years of age, he had a horrendous fire that burned up everything he owned in New Jersey. Every asset he had which at that time in 1914 was worth about $2 million dollars was totally uninsured. All of his experiments, all of his records, all of his equipment, all of his work, and all of his labor had gone up in smoke. He had a 24 year old son that came out to where the fire was roaring and burning up his entire life's work. The two of them tried to stop the fire, but they couldn't do it. The son were going up in flames." He said, "My dad was out there. The wind was blowing in his hair. His face was all red from the flames. He was pouring sweat and I didn't know what he was going to say to me." I couldn't believe what I heard. He said, "Son, go get your mother quick. She has never seen anything like this!" He went to get his mother just so she could see the fire. Later on this son said, "My dad was out there the next morning kicking through the embers and he said to me, 'Son, there is something wonderful about a fire like this.'" The son looked at him in amazement and said, "Dad, what in the world could be so wonderful about a fire like this?" He said, "Son, it just kind of seems to burn up all of your mistakes and failures and give you a brand new fresh start." Three months later that company presented to the world the first phonograph, because here was a man who didn't see his problems as the end, but simply a new start and a fresh beginning. This potter has nailed scarred hands, who can turn your scars into stars, your tears into triumph, your midnights into mornings and your darkness into daybreak if you will just let Him. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord. In all things he is the potter and I am the clay. My message on my 50th birthday is to bless god in all things. God knows me better than I know myself. God knows what lies ahead. God knows when I make a mistake, god knows best how to fix me and how to fix the situation. I am grateful for all that God has bought me through. I have learned to trust god totally with my life. Silly putty and play doh are fun to play with. But lord help me to be clay in your hands, shaped and formed to be useful to God. Amen. Song – Help Us Accept Each Other UMH 560 Pastoral Prayer We are broken vessels, O God. You have watched us. You have called to us. You have blessed us and yet we have chosen our own flawed ways. Throughout the ages you have sent your prophets to help us return to you. Some people heeded your call and turned again to lives of love and witness. But others chose not to listen. Please help us to tune our ears and our hearts to you, O God. Help us to seek peace and justice rather than greed and complacency. As we have gathered here this morning to listen to your word, to sing praise, to offer our prayers, help us to remember that you hold us dearly in your hands. You cherish our lives and listen to our cries. You respond to our needs. Enable us to place our trust in you totally, that we may faithfully serve you all of our days. In Jesus’ Name, we pray.AMEN. (United Methodist Ministry Matters, Nancy Townley) Lord’s Prayer Stewardship Moment – The Call of the Shofar Prayer of Thanksgiving Loving God, we give you thanks for the challenge of hard teachings. Help us continue to grow in our faith, and in our understanding, that we might be ever-growing disciples of Jesus Christ. Thank you, too, for this opportunity to share our gifts. Inspire us to look realistically at the abundance we have, and the needs of the world, so we might take daily steps to move more in line with the reality of standing out from the crowd and standing up as true disciples – followers of Jesus Christ. AMEN (Disciples of Christ Center for Faith and Giving) Communion UMH #13 Announcements Closing Prayer for Facebook God has set before us life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live. May the grace, hope, peace and love of God the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer be with us all. Amen. (Presbyterian Outlook, Rev. Teri McDowell Ott) Community Time Benediction Before your birth, you were wonderfully and fearfully formed. Like clay, may God continue to reform and reshape you into your truest self, now and every day after. Amen. (United Church of Christ Worship Ways, Rev. Phiwa Langeni) Additional Illustrations