{"id":1222,"date":"2021-01-02T21:49:49","date_gmt":"2021-01-02T21:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=1222"},"modified":"2021-01-02T21:49:49","modified_gmt":"2021-01-02T21:49:49","slug":"christmas-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2021\/01\/02\/christmas-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas II"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/image.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1228\"\/><figcaption>Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night, 1889, The Museum of Modern Art, New York. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Gathered through the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with gladness. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Prayers in this service are adapted from Celebrate God\u2019s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Cor and Heather!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRELUDE: \u201cRing A Bell for Peace&#8221; (Collibole\/Jacquet)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Prelude_-Ring-A-Bell-for-Peace-Collibole-Jacquet.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>OPENING PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Arise, shine, for your light has come,<br \/>     <strong>and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.<\/strong><br \/> See, darkness covers the earth<br \/>     <strong>and thick darkness is over the peoples,<\/strong><br \/> but the Lord rises upon you<br \/>     <strong>and the glory of the Lord appears over you.  Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cArise, your light is come!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/VU-79-Arise-Your-Light-Has-Come.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Arise, your light is come!<br \/> The Spirit&#8217;s call obey;<br \/> show forth the glory of your God,<br \/> which shines on you today.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Arise, your light is come!<br \/> Fling wide the prison door;<br \/> proclaim the captive&#8217;s liberty,<br \/> good tidings to the poor.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Arise, your light is come!<br \/> All you in sorrow born,<br \/> bind up the broken-hearted ones<br \/> and comfort those who mourn.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Arise, your light is come!<br \/> The mountains burst in song!<br \/> Rise up like eagles on the wing;<br \/> God&#8217;s power will make us strong.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRAYER OF CONFESSION<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Lord of All,<br \/>\nYou claim each of us, and name us<br \/>\ncitizens of your heavenly realm.<br \/>\nYet we resist, imagining instead <br \/>\nthat we belong to this world.<br \/>\nFree us, God, to see our allegiance to you<br \/>\nand our place in your Kingdom, <br \/>\nnow and ever. <br \/>\nAmen.    <\/p>\n\n\n<p>ASSURANCE OF PARDON<\/p>\n\n\n<p>God will give us what we need:<br \/> strength for today,<br \/> hope for tomorrow,<br \/> and forgiveness<br \/> for all that is past.<br \/> Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>SPECIAL MUSIC: \u201cTwas in the Moon of Wintertime\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/13-Twas-in-the-Moon-of-Wintertime.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>FIRST READING: Psalm 147<\/p>\n\n\n<p>How good it is to sing praises to God,<br \/>     <strong>how pleasant to laud the Most High.<\/strong><br \/> You are building Jerusalem, O God,<br \/> and gathering the scattered exiles of Israel.<br \/>     <strong>You are healing the broken-hearted,<br \/>     and binding up their wounds.<\/strong><br \/> You count the number of the stars,<br \/> and call them all by their names.<br \/>     <strong>Great are you, O God, and mighty your power;<br \/>     yes, and your wisdom is infinite.<\/strong><br \/> You raise up the lowly,<br \/>     <strong>and bring down the wicked to dust.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Sing to God in thanksgiving;<br \/> make music on the harp to our God,<br \/>     <strong>who covers the sky with clouds, <br \/>     who prepares rain for the earth, <br \/>     who makes the hills green with grass.<\/strong><br \/> You give the cattle their food,<br \/> and the young ravens when they cry.<br \/>     <strong>You set no store by the power of a horse,<br \/>     nor by the strength of a warrior&#8217;s thighs.<\/strong><br \/> But your delight is in those who revere you,<br \/>     <strong>in those who rely on your mercy.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>Hallelujah, O Jerusalem!<br \/>     <strong>Zion, praise your God.<\/strong><br \/> For God has strengthened the bars of your gates,<br \/> and blessed your children within you.<br \/>     <strong>God has established peace within your borders,<br \/>     and filled you with the finest wheat.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>You send your word to the earth, O God;<br \/> your command runs swiftly.<br \/>     <strong>You give snow like wool,<br \/>     and sprinkle hoar-frost like ashes.<\/strong><br \/> You scatter hailstones like bread-crumbs;<br \/> you send the cold, and the waters stand frozen.<br \/>     <strong>You utter your word and the ice melts;<br \/>     you blow with your wind and the waters flow.<\/strong><br \/> You make known your word to Jacob,<br \/> your statutes and decrees to Israel.<br \/>     <strong>You have not done this for any other nation,<br \/>     nor have you taught them your laws. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n<p>SECOND READING: Ephesians 1.3-14<\/p>\n\n\n<p>3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 just as he chose us in Christ[a] before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance,[b] having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14 this[c] is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God\u2019s own people, to the praise of his glory.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/image-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1231\"\/><figcaption>Artist unknown, Blazing Star, c. 1880, International Quilt Study Center &amp; Museum, Lincoln, NE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cWhen heaven&#8217;s bright with mystery\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/VU-93-When-Heavens-Bright-with-Mystery.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>When heaven&#8217;s bright with mystery<br \/> and science searches nature&#8217;s art,<br \/> when all creation yearns for peace<br \/> and hope sinks deep in human hearts,<br \/>     appear to us, O Holy Light;<br \/>     lift from our eyes the shades of night.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>When Herod barters power and lives<br \/> and Rachel&#8217;s weeping fills the night,<br \/> when suffering&#8217;s mask marks every face,<br \/> and Love&#8217;s a refugee in flight,<br \/>     reveal to us your word of grace<br \/>     and make us witness to your peace.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>When fragile faith, like desert wind,<br \/> blows dry and empty, hope erased,<br \/> when withered grass and fading flower<br \/> proclaim again our day&#8217;s brief space,<br \/>     breathe on the clay of our despair<br \/>     and work a new creation there.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>When heaven&#8217;s bright with mystery<br \/> and stars still lead an unknown way,<br \/> when love still lights a gentle path<br \/> where courts of power can hold no sway,<br \/>     there with the Magi, let us kneel,<br \/>     our gifts to share, God&#8217;s world to heal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>REFLECTION<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/jan3sermon.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Ironically, one of my favourite films begins with the news that the theatres have been closed on account of the plague.  Henslowe, the owner of the Rose Theatre, has just been accosted by Mr. Fennyman, the producer (aka \u201cthe money\u201d).  Demanding to know what will happen to the play he is paying for, we get this exchange:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Henslowe: Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain about the theatre business. The natural condition is one of insurmountable obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.<br \/> Fennyman: So what do we do?<br \/> Henslowe: Nothing. Strangely enough, it all turns out well.<br \/> Fennyman: How?<br \/> Henslowe: I don&#8217;t know. It&#8217;s a mystery.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a mystery\u201d becomes a touchstone throughout the film, as we get a highly fictionalized account of how a young Shakespeare transforms \u201cRomeo and Ethel, the Pirate&#8217;s Daughter\u201d into the play we know and love.  Does anything in this account resemble what really happened?  I don\u2019t know, it\u2019s a mystery.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>I share all this because of my love for romantic comedies set in Elizabethan England, and because of one critical verse in our reading:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ\u2014which is to fulfill his own good plan.  And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together in Christ\u2014everything in heaven and on earth.*<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>So often with St. Paul, we get the answer to the question without actually getting the question.  Sometimes the question appears earlier in the text, and sometimes the question may have come in the half of the correspondence we did not see, and sometimes the question is just a question someone might ask.  In this case, it seems to be the last one, the kind of question that lives all around us: what is God\u2019s plan?<\/p>\n\n\n<p>This is not the micro \u201cplan for your life\u201d question, although we are certainly part of God\u2019s larger plan.  This is a larger question, like \u2018what is it all for?\u2019  What is God\u2019s plan for creation and creature, the work of God\u2019s hands.  And where does Christ come in, aside from in the present season?<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Maybe that\u2019s too many questions, so we\u2019ll stick with \u2018what\u2019s the plan?\u2019  Imagine that something as simple as \u2018what\u2019s the plan\u2019 inspired Paul to write.  And further imagine that Paul is addressing an audience that understands the troubles of this life.  There is the obvious \u201cnasty, brutish, and short\u201d nature of life at the time, and then there are the universal constants of loss, heartache, and a quest for some semblance of meaning.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>What is the plan?  For much of time, the answer would be \u201cit\u2019s a mystery.\u201d  Seasons of life and faith unfolded, and God would chide and bless in good measure, sending prophets and people of goodwill to communicate God\u2019s desire for our lives.  Being human, we found ways to enjoy the blessing and ignore the guidance, often finding trouble even before trouble could find us.  God needed a new plan.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>God being God decided to take the bold step of entering our world.  And since the plan called for experiencing all of human life, an obvious part of the plan was to enter our world as a child.  The details are well known to us.  And upon entering our world, there would need to be a sign, some manifestation of the unfolding before us.  In time, we would come to call this Epiphany, which we mark on January 6\u2014the season of light.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>At Epiphany, we celebrate the first light of God\u2019s plan.  All the signs come together, the star of Bethlehem and the Light of the World, the Word made flesh and the light that shines in the darkness, the very light that the darkness shall never overcome.  \u2018The time was right,\u2019 as Paul tells us, because \u201cat the right time he will bring everything together in Christ\u2014everything in heaven and on earth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Just now you might be thinking \u2018ah, yes, but the trouble remains.\u2019  And that would be true.  The coming of the light didn\u2019t take away our trouble, it simply began a process that continues to this day.  Recall that Jesus prayed \u201cThy will be done (meaning God\u2019s plan), on earth as it is in heaven.\u201d  This tells me that the plan continues, with a beginning, a middle, and a future end.  And this is where we find ourselves.  In the very middle of God\u2019s plan, a plan that continues here in the heart of Epiphany.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how I know: \u201cYou are the light of the world,\u201d Jesus said, and then he said \u2018you must let your light shine for others, that they may see me in you, and in the God who made you\u2019 (Matthew 5 and John 14).  When we let our light shine for others, God is glorified, and the light is cast further and further in the shadow places of our world.  We don\u2019t make the light, we cast the light.  This is always God\u2019s work, the work that we share.  But in sharing this work, in casting the light of love and mercy, we see Christ in others and in ourselves.  And the plan continues, ever forward, to that final moment when heaven and earth are joined again.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>May the light of love and mercy surround you, as you surround others, Amen.     <\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">*New Living Translation, adapted.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/48146935316_1b251739cc_z.jpg\" alt=\"This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 48146935316_1b251739cc_z.jpg\"\/><figcaption><em>Peter Lupori, part of a series on Creation, 1981, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Blessed are you, gracious God: <br \/>\nyou have given us life and freedom <br \/>\nto be your people in the world.<br \/>\nBlessed are you, gracious God:<br \/>\nyou have called us into the church, <br \/>\nand into this community of faith, <br \/>\npilgrims together on the journey into new creation.<br \/>\nBlessed are you, gracious God: <br \/>\nyou have touched our hearts with hope, <br \/>\nso that we long to see the day of your salvation.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Help us to bless those you love:<br \/>\nthe poorest among us, both in material things<br \/>\nand in the spirit of comfort,<br \/>\nthe weakest among us, those who are ill<br \/>\nand those who live with pain of every sort,<br \/>\nthe most vulnerable among us,<br \/>\nwho lack some deep need,<br \/>\nand those given to grief, who have lost a loved one,<br \/>\nor lost some part of themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Help us to build your Kingdom:<br \/>\nto walk with those who seek justice,<br \/>\nto stand with those who are wronged,<br \/>\nto pause with those who have a story to tell,<br \/>\nto cry out with those who have no voice.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Your Kingdom come, Lord, your Kingdom come.<br \/>\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>THE LORD\u2019S PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/>\nhallowed be thy name.<br \/>\nThy kingdom come,<br \/>\nThy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.<br \/>\nGive us this day our daily bread;<br \/>\nand forgive us our trespasses<br \/>\nas we forgive those who trespass against us;<br \/>\nand lead us not into temptation<br \/>\nbut deliver us from evil.<br \/>\nFor thine is the kingdom,<br \/>\nand the power, and the glory,<br \/>\nfor ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cO splendour of God&#8217;s glory bright\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/VU-413-O-Splendour-of-Gods-Glory-Bright.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>O splendour of God&#8217;s glory bright,<br \/> from light eternal bringing light;<br \/> O light of life, light&#8217;s living spring,<br \/> true day, all days illumining:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>come, Holy Sun of heavenly love,<br \/> pour down your radiance from above,<br \/> and to our inward hearts convey<br \/> the Holy Spirit&#8217;s cloudless ray.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>O joyful be the passing day<br \/> with thoughts as clear as morning&#8217;s ray,<br \/> with faith like noontide shining bright,<br \/> our souls unshadowed by the night.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>O Christ, with each returning morn<br \/> your image to our hearts is born;<br \/> O may we ever see anew<br \/> our Saviour and our God in you!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>BLESSING<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way,<br \/>\nand may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless<br \/>\nuntil our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.<br \/>\n\u20141 Thessalonians 5:23<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/meetagainredux.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>God be with you till we meet again;<br \/> loving counsels guide, uphold you,<br \/> with a shepherd\u2019s care enfold you;<br \/> God be with you till we meet again.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/image-2.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1233\"\/><figcaption>Rico Lan\u00e1at\u2019 Worl, detail of Raven Story, USPS stamp to be released in 2021.  From the artist&#8217;s blog: &#8220;It was done based off the traditional Tlingit story: Raven and the Box of Daylight. In which Raven steals the Sun, the moon, and the stars and gives them to the world.&#8221;<br \/><br \/><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gathered through the power of the Holy Spirit, we worship God with gladness. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Prayers in this service are adapted from Celebrate God\u2019s Presence (UCPH). Thanks this week to Cor and Heather! PRELUDE: \u201cRing A Bell for Peace&#8221; (Collibole\/Jacquet) &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2021\/01\/02\/christmas-ii\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Christmas II<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1222"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1222"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1222\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}