{"id":1715,"date":"2021-05-01T21:14:25","date_gmt":"2021-05-01T21:14:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=1715"},"modified":"2021-05-01T21:14:25","modified_gmt":"2021-05-01T21:14:25","slug":"easter-v-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2021\/05\/01\/easter-v-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Easter V"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image-9.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1721\"\/><figcaption>Ivan Generali\u0107, Dancing in the Vineyards, 1968. Gallery of Naive Art, Hlebine, Croatia<\/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. Thanks this week to Carmen, Cor, and Heather!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRELUDE: &#8220;Jesus Calls Us Here to Meet Him&#8221; (Iona Community)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/prelude-Jesus-Calls-Us-Here-to-Meet-Him-Gaelic-Melody-adaptation-Iona-Community-Scotland.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>OPENING PRAYER: <\/p>\n\n\n<p>You are the vine, Lord, and we are the branches.<br \/>\nThough apart, we are connected\u2013one to another\u2013<br \/>\nby your presence: <br \/>\nliving vine<br \/>\ncup of blessing<br \/>\nshepherd of the sheep.<br \/>\nDraw our hearts together, Lord<br \/>\nso that even in these troubled times<br \/>\nwe will share the love you give.<br \/>\nSpeak to us, today:<br \/>\nThrough word and song<br \/>\nprayer and praise.<br \/>\nWe trust we are never far apart <br \/>\nwhen we abide in your love. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cLike the murmur of the dove&#8217;s song\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/murmur.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Like the murmur of the dove\u2019s song, <br \/> like the challenge of her flight, <br \/> like the vigour of the wind\u2019s rush, <br \/> like the new flame\u2019s eager might: <br \/> come, Holy Spirit, come.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>To the members of Christ\u2019s body, <br \/> to the branches of the Vine, <br \/> to the church in faith assembled, <br \/> to our midst as gift and sign: <br \/> come, Holy Spirit, come.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>With the healing of division, <br \/> with the ceaseless voice of prayer, <br \/> with the power to love and witness, <br \/> with the peace beyond compare: <br \/> come, Holy Spirit, come.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRAYER OF CONFESSION<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Hear us, God as we pray:<br \/> We confess we have too much of some things<br \/> and too little of others.<br \/> We could use less worry, less news, <br \/> less judgement, less self-justification.<br \/> We could use more calm, more quiet,<br \/> more compassion, more understanding.<br \/> Help us find a balance,<br \/> help us find the middle path.<br \/> help as we pray. Amen.<\/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: &#8220;Precious Lord, Take My Hand&#8221; (Dorsey)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/take-my-hand.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>FIRST READING: Psalm 22<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/ps22carmen.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;<br \/>\n     before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.<br \/>\n The poor will eat and be satisfied;<br \/>\n     those who seek the Lord will praise him\u2014<br \/>\n     may your hearts live forever!<br \/>\n All the ends of the earth<br \/>\n     will remember and turn to the Lord,<br \/>\n and all the families of the nations<br \/>\n     will bow down before him,<br \/>\n for dominion belongs to the Lord<br \/>\n     and he rules over the nations.<br \/>\n All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;<br \/>\n     all who go down to the dust will kneel before him\u2014<br \/>\n     those who cannot keep themselves alive.<br \/>\n Posterity will serve him;<br \/>\n     future generations will be told about the Lord.<br \/>\n They will proclaim his righteousness,<br \/>\n     declaring to a people yet unborn:<br \/>\n     He has done it!<\/p>\n\n\n<p>SECOND READING: John 15.1-8<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cI am&nbsp;the true vine,&nbsp;and my Father is the gardener.&nbsp;<sup>2&nbsp;<\/sup>He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,&nbsp;while every branch that does bear fruit&nbsp;he prunes<sup>[<a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblegateway.com\/passage\/?search=John%2015%3A1-8&amp;version=NIV#fen-NIV-26702a\">a<\/a>]<\/sup>&nbsp;so that it will be even more fruitful.<sup>3&nbsp;<\/sup>You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.<sup>4&nbsp;<\/sup>Remain in me, as I also remain in you.&nbsp;No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.<\/p>\n\n\n<p><sup>5&nbsp;<\/sup>\u201cI am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;&nbsp;apart from me you can do nothing.<sup>6&nbsp;<\/sup>If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.&nbsp;<sup>7&nbsp;<\/sup>If you remain in me&nbsp;and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.&nbsp;<sup>8&nbsp;<\/sup>This is to my Father\u2019s glory,&nbsp;that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cWe have this ministry\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/VU-510-We-Have-This-Ministry.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>We have this ministry, and we are not discouraged,<br \/> It is by God&#8217;s own power that we may live and serve <br \/> Openly we share God&#8217;s word, speaking truth as we believe <br \/> Praying that the shadowed world may healing light receive. <br \/> We have this ministry, O God receive our living.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>O Christ the tree of life, our end and our beginning<br \/> We grow to fullest flower when rooted in your love. <br \/> Brothers, sisters, clergy, lay, called to service by your grace <br \/> Different cultures, different gifts, the young and old a place. <br \/> We have this ministry, O God receive our giving.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>The yoke of Christ is ours, the whole world is our parish<br \/> We daily take the cross, the burden and the joy. <br \/> Bearing hurts of those we serve, wounded, bruised and bowed with pain<br \/> Holy Spirit, bread and wine, we die and rise again. <br \/> We have this ministry, O God receive our loving.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image-10-1024x307.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1722\"\/><figcaption>Decorative Inlay, 12th or 13th century, Pergamonmuseum, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\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\/05\/may2homily.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Any anxiety you feel about cleanliness likely comes from television.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Do you worry that your whites are not whiter than white?  Your colours are not brighter than bright?  Are your paper towels absorbent enough?  Does your broom reach those hard-to-reach places?  Do you need to dip your entire house in CLR?  Does it even work?<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Obviously, the Bible has a lot to say about being clean.  But before I give you my one-minute overview, I want to dispel a popular myth.  Nowhere in scripture does it say \u201ccleanliness is next to godliness.\u201d  These words come from one of John Wesley\u2019s sermons, given late in his life, and likely related to some sort of controversy around neatness and dress.  In effect, he tells his followers that God condemns neither the sloppy nor the well-dressed, but in general, cleanliness is next to godliness.  In other words, if you\u2019ve been wearing track-pants for the last 400 days that\u2019s okay, as long as they are clean.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>So, what does the Bible say about being clean?<\/p>\n\n\n<p>In Genesis, it\u2019s animals for sacrifice, clean and unclean.<br \/>\nIn Leviticus, it\u2019s food, disease, and even the mould in your house.<br \/>\nIn Numbers, it\u2019s about ritual, and being ceremonially clean.<br \/>\nIn the history books, it\u2019s about being rewarded and restored.<br \/>\nIn the wisdom books, it\u2019s about a clean heart and clean hands.<br \/>\nIn the prophets, it\u2019s about cleansing the sin of Israel as a nation.<br \/>\nFor Jesus, it\u2019s about making lepers clean, and being clean on the inside (and not just on the outside).<br \/>\nAnd in Acts, and the letters of Paul, it\u2019s about food, and declaring that nothing God has created can be named unclean.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>I share all this because I\u2019m interested in one of one of the most neglected lines in our passage about the vine and the branches.  Jesus said, \u201cYou are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.\u201d  There amid all the talk of fruitfulness, and all the connections, and all the potential pruning, we get this simple declarative statement: \u201cYou are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Following my summary, Jesus is all about being clean on the inside, and not the countless ways people are considered clean on the outside.  And I might go even a step further, to suggest that if we stumbled upon Jesus\u2019 dog-eared Bible, there is one page (from Psalm 51) where the corner would decidedly be turned down:  \u201cCreate in me a clean heart, O God,\u201d the psalmist said, \u201cand renew a steadfast spirit within me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Do I have more evidence?  Three other short verses, in fact.  One that echoes Psalm 51, one that makes these heart-sayings a little more tangible, and one that belongs on a t-shirt:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God (Matthew 5.8)<br \/>\nFor where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12.34) <br \/>\nFor the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6.45)<\/p>\n\n\n<p>I told you it belongs in a t-shirt.  Wear it to Mar-a-Lago, I dare you.  (Okay, enough of that).  But I think you see the progression here: Jesus blesses those rare ones among us who are pure in heart.  Then he warns us about the treasure store we\u2019re building up in life, and the extent to which it reflects the content of our hearts.  And then a little brutal honesty, which Jesus only seems to resort to when the twelve were being particularly thick in the head.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>And then he said \u201cYou are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.\u201d  The scripture he shared, the hymns they sang, the Word he gave them\u2014taken together these words made them clean.  Attend a master class in cleanliness given by the Master himself, and you will graduate with an honours in having a clean heart.  But then what?  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>In many ways, the \u201cthen what\u201d is the sum of Christian living.  We can align ourselves with the words, we can be cleansed by the words, we can even recite the words to others, but unless they remain within us, we\u2019ll soon find treasure elsewhere.  This is why the psalmist\u2019s prayer is twofold: \u201cCreate in me a clean heart, O God, <em>and<\/em> renew a steadfast spirit within me.\u201d  The most difficult part\u2014the clean heart\u2014has already been given, and given freely.  This leaves us with the desire for steadfast spirit, something that God will also freely give.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The desire for purity is something that never goes away.  Moralists on the right and activists on the left, everyone wants a particular kind of purity.  Everyone is seeking a purer form of the treasure they store.  But God seeks a pure heart, a heart made new through the grace of Jesus Christ, and a heart that desires constant renewal, renewal in love and mercy.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Brian Wren describes the way God found us, summed up with the simple words \u201cforgiven, loved and free.\u201d  All the bright colours and better brooms cannot compare to the purity that God gives, the purity within us, and the purity within others, when we truly see. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/image-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1724\"\/><figcaption>Richard Correll, Vineyard March, 1970, Smithsonian&#8217;s National Museum of American History<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>The Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Richard Bott, wrote this prayer at the beginning of the pandemic<\/em>\u2014<em>words that still resonate.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>In this time of COVID-19, we pray:<br \/>\nWhen we aren\u2019t sure, God,<br \/>\nhelp us be calm;<br \/>\nwhen information comes<br \/>\nfrom all sides, correct and not,<br \/>\nhelp us to discern;<br \/>\nwhen fear makes it hard to breathe,<br \/>\nand anxiety seems to be the order of the day,<br \/>\nslow us down, God;<br \/>\nhelp us to reach out with our hearts,<br \/>\nwhen we can\u2019t touch with our hands;<br \/>\nhelp us to be socially connected,<br \/>\nwhen we have to be socially distant;<br \/>\nhelp us to love as perfectly as we can,<br \/>\nknowing that \u201cperfect love casts out all fear.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>For the doctors, we pray,<br \/>\nfor the nurses, we pray,<br \/>\nfor the technicians and the janitors and the<br \/>\naides and the caregivers, we pray,<br \/>\nfor the researchers and theorists,<br \/>\nthe epidemiologists and investigators,<br \/>\nfor those who are sick,<br \/>\nand those who are grieving, we pray,<br \/>\nfor all who are affected,<br \/>\nall around the world\u2026<br \/>\nwe pray<br \/>\nfor safety,<br \/>\nfor health,<br \/>\nfor wholeness.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>May we feed the hungry,<br \/>\ngive drink to the thirsty,<br \/>\nclothe the naked and house those without homes;<br \/>\nmay we walk with those who feel they are alone,<br \/>\nand may we do all that we can to heal<br \/>\nthe sick\u2014<br \/>\nin spite of the epidemic,<br \/>\nin spite of the fear.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Help us, O God,<br \/>\nthat we might help each other.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>In the love of the Creator,<br \/>\nin the name of the Healer,<br \/>\nin the life of the Holy Spirit that is in all and with all,<br \/>\nwe pray.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>May it be so. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>THE LORD\u2019S PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Our Father who art in heaven,<br \/>hallowed be thy name.<br \/>Thy kingdom come,<br \/>Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.<br \/>Give us this day our daily bread;<br \/>and forgive us our trespasses<br \/>as we forgive those who trespass against us;<br \/>and lead us not into temptation<br \/>but deliver us from evil.<br \/>For thine is the kingdom,<br \/>and the power, and the glory,<br \/>for ever and ever. Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cIn loving partnership we come\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/VU603-In-Loving-Partnership-We-Come.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>In loving partnership we come,<br \/> seeking, O God, your will to do.<br \/> Our prayers and actions now receive;<br \/> we freely offer them to you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>We are the hands and feet of Christ,<br \/> serving by grace each other&#8217;s need.<br \/> We dare to risk and sacrifice<br \/> with truthful word and faithful deed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Loving community we seek;<br \/> your hope and strength within us move.<br \/> The poor and rich, the strong and weak<br \/> are brought together in your love.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>In loving partnership, O God,<br \/> help us your future to proclaim.<br \/> Justice and peace be our desire,<br \/> we humbly pray in Jesus&#8217; name.<\/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 \/>and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless<br \/>until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. Amen.<br \/>\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\/04\/image-12.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1726\"\/><figcaption>Win Vine Vineyards, LIFE Photo Collection<\/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. Thanks this week to Carmen, Cor, and Heather! PRELUDE: &#8220;Jesus Calls Us Here to Meet Him&#8221; (Iona Community) OPENING PRAYER: You are the vine, Lord, &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2021\/05\/01\/easter-v-2\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Easter V<\/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\/1715"}],"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=1715"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1715\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}