{"id":2040,"date":"2021-07-24T21:55:52","date_gmt":"2021-07-24T21:55:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=2040"},"modified":"2021-07-24T21:55:52","modified_gmt":"2021-07-24T21:55:52","slug":"ninth-after-pentecost-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2021\/07\/24\/ninth-after-pentecost-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Ninth after Pentecost"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/2423\/5834681650_040b6fc75b_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/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: \u201cFriends\u201d (Smith)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Friends-MD-Smith.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>OPENING PRAYER:<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Holy God, we come to worship this morning <br \/>\nbrought together by your Spirit.  <br \/>\nIt is your Spirit who teaches us to pray <br \/>\nand helps us be your faithful ones. <br \/>\nWe ask now for the presence of your Holy Spirit: <br \/>\nopen our hearts to your mercy,<br \/>\nremind us of the blessing of years past,<br \/>\nand help us move forward <br \/>\ntrusting in your goodness.<br \/>\nSpeak to each of us today\u2014 <br \/>\nbless us and make us a blessing.<br \/>\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cPraise to the Lord, the Almighty\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/VU-220-Praise-to-the-Lord-the-Almighty.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, who rules all creation;<br \/>O my soul, praise him, at all times your health and salvation.<br \/>Come, all who hear:<br \/>brothers and sisters draw near,<br \/>joining in glad adoration.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Praise to the Lord, above all things so mightily reigning,<br \/>keeping us safe at his side, and so gently sustaining.<br \/>Have you not seen<br \/>how all you needed has been<br \/>met by God\u2019s gracious ordaining?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Praise to the Lord who will prosper our work and defend us;<br \/>surely his goodness and mercy will daily attend us:<br \/>ponder anew<br \/>what the Almighty can do,<br \/>who out of love will befriend us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!<br \/>All that has life and breath come now with praises before him!<br \/>Let the Amen<br \/>sound from God\u2019s people again:<br \/>gladly with praise we adore him.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRAYER OF CONFESSION<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Let us confess our shortcomings, <br \/> recalling the words of Christ:<br \/> Jesus said, \u201cPeace be with you.\u201d<br \/> <strong>Yet sometimes we sow discord, <br \/> neglecting to make peace with our sisters and brothers.<\/strong><br \/> Jesus said, \u201cAs God has sent me, so I send you.\u201d<br \/> <strong>Yet sometimes we refuse to go, fearing to follow <br \/> unknown paths of faith.<\/strong><br \/> Jesus said, \u201cReceive the Holy Spirit.\u201d<br \/> <strong>But we turn away, rejecting the gifts of the Spirit.<br \/> Forgive us, blessed God, <br \/> in the name of Jesus Christ we pray.  Amen.<\/strong><\/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: \u201cAsk Me What Great Thing I Know\/Just As I Am\u201d (Malan\/Bradbury)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/ask-me-medley.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>FIRST READING: Psalm 145<\/p>\n\n\n<p>All your works praise you, Lord;<br \/>     <strong>your faithful people extol you.<\/strong><br \/> They tell of the glory of your kingdom<br \/>     <strong>and speak of your might,<\/strong><br \/> so that all people may know of your mighty acts<br \/>     <strong>and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.<\/strong><br \/> Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,<br \/>     <strong>and your dominion endures through all generations.<\/strong><br \/> The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises<br \/>     <strong>and faithful in all he does.<\/strong><br \/> The Lord upholds all who fall<br \/>     <strong>and lifts up all who are bowed down.<\/strong><br \/> The eyes of all look to you,<br \/>     <strong>and you give them their food at the proper time.<\/strong><br \/> You open your hand<br \/>     <strong>and satisfy the desires of every living thing.<\/strong><br \/> The Lord is righteous in all his ways<br \/>     <strong>and faithful in all he does.<\/strong><br \/> The Lord is near to all who call on him,<br \/>     <strong>to all who call on him in truth.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p>SECOND READING: Ephesians 3.14-21<\/p>\n\n\n<p>14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord\u2019s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge\u2014that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cJesus, you have come to the lakeshore\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/jesusyouhavecome.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Jesus, you have come to the lakeshore<br \/>looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones;<br \/>you only asked me to follow humbly.<br \/>O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,<br \/>and while smiling, have spoken my name;<br \/>now my boat\u2019s left on the shoreline behind me;<br \/>by your side I will seek other seas.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>You know so well my possessions;<br \/>my boat carries no gold and no weapons;<br \/>you will find there my nets and labour.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,<br \/>and while smiling, have spoken my name;<br \/>now my boat\u2019s left on the shoreline behind me;<br \/>by your side I will seek other seas.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>You need my hands, full of caring<br \/>through my labours to give others rest,<br \/>and constant love that keeps on loving.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,<br \/>and while smiling, have spoken my name;<br \/>now my boat\u2019s left on the shoreline behind me;<br \/>by your side I will seek other seas.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>You, who have fished other oceans,<br \/>ever longed for by souls who are waiting,<br \/>my loving friend, as thus you call me.&nbsp;&nbsp;<br \/>O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me,<br \/>and while smiling, have spoken my name;<br \/>now my boat\u2019s left on the shoreline behind me;<br \/>by your side I will seek other seas.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/1832\/30194179128_bf43d03cce_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/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\/07\/july25homily.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Everything I know about saying goodbye I learned from the movies.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>My first instinct was to recreate the end of the Salzburg Folk Festival, where Max says \u201cthe highest musical honour in the Ostmark goes to the family Von Trapp\u201d (applause, spotlight in an empty entrance). The family Von Trapp\u2026\u201d Then someone shouts \u201cThey\u2019re gone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>The other option, of course, was to rewind the tape and sing to you:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Regretfully they tell us<br \/> But firmly they compel us<br \/> To say goodbye to you.<br \/> So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, good night.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>But I&#8217;m not going to sing, so that won\u2019t work.  This, then led to my perfect fantasy ending where a twister carries me off to some magical kingdom (maybe THE magical kingdom) and then I wake up only to discover that you\u2019re all still with me\u2014only now you\u2019re transformed into various farm hands and my Auntie Em.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>Sadly, I expect it will be more like the end of Casablanca, where you insist we get on the plane, remind us that we\u2019ll always have Paris, and say something like \u201cHere\u2019s looking at you, kid.\u201d  That might work.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Better yet, we might want to look to our dear friend St. Paul for some direction on saying goodbye.  It was my late mentor, the Rev. Doug Paterson, who once said \u201cdo you really think your preaching can improve on the words found in scripture?\u201d  He was talking about funeral homilies, but the point stands, because everything we need for learning, guidance, and inspiration is found in the pages of the Bible.  Case in point:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable\u2014if anything is excellent or praiseworthy\u2014think about such things. (Philippians 4)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.  Greet one another with a holy kiss. (2 Corinthians 13)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>But wait until the pandemic is over.  I think you can see that Paul is giving us the perfect balance of encouraging the faithful, praising their goodness, and highlighting what truly matters.  Now I\u2019m no St. Paul, but I hope that in our time together I have spent enough time encouraging you to be faithful, praising your goodness, and highlighting what truly matters\u2014the love and forgiveness found in our Lord Jesus Christ.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>But this sermon is not about me.  This sermon\u2014and hopefully every sermon\u2014is about what God can do through us, the grace and peace that we discover through Christ and share with others.  It is about lives transformed and communities renewed, it is about the power of work and prayer, and it is about remaining open to where the Spirit leads.  Paul captured this too, in our reading for today:<\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Now to God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>Glory in the church belongs to God alone, and we, as God\u2019s servants, get to share in that glory, to dwell in that reflected light, to participate in the next thing God will do in this place.  As one chapter closes and another begins, we trust in God\u2019s power to work within you and continue to write the remarkable story of this church.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>In a few moments I will stumble over more words, try to express more gratitude, and finally say \u201cauf wiedersehen, good night.\u201d  Whatever I say, and however haltingly I say it, the meaning is this: to serve here has been a great gift, a profound honour, and a blessing from God. Amen.  <\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/4324\/35196684934_abaed2175e_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Glory to you, Almighty God. <br \/>\nYou spoke, and light came out of darkness,<br \/>\norder rose from confusion.<br \/>\nGlory to you, Jesus Christ!<br \/>\nYou meet us in every age,<br \/>\nthe Word made flesh, born for us.<br \/>\nGlory to you, Holy Spirit!<br \/>\nYou brooded over chaos,<br \/>\nmothering and shaping God\u2019s new creation.<br \/>\nGlory to you, God, Three-in-One!<br \/>\nYou bless our endings and our beginnings,<br \/>\nand turn our sadness to gratitude.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Glory to you, Almighty God. <br \/>\nYou create and recreate,<br \/>\na never ending cycle of grace and renewal.<br \/>\nGlory to you, Jesus Christ!<br \/>\nYou show us with most vulnerable,<br \/>\nand name them our sisters and brothers.<br \/>\nGlory to you, Holy Spirit!<br \/>\nYou speak to us in very moment,<br \/>\nand invite us to listen.<br \/>\nGlory to you, God, Three-in-One!<br \/>\nYou make us, redeem us, <br \/>\nand blow through us still.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Glory to you, Almighty God. <br \/>\nYou surround us with the glory that is yours alone,<br \/>\nand compel us to reflect it too.<br \/>\nGlory to you, Jesus Christ!<br \/>\nYou heal the sick, tend the lonely,<br \/>\nand comfort those who mourn.<br \/>\nGlory to you, Holy Spirit!<br \/>\nYou give us words to speak, to challenge injustice,<br \/>\nand speak your truth in love.<br \/>\nGlory to you, God, Three-in-One!<br \/>\nIn every form, and in every age,<br \/>\nwe worship you. 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: \u201cRetell what Christ\u2019s great love has done\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/retellwhat.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Retell what Christ\u2019s great love has done,<br \/>how crib and cross the victory won:<br \/>God\u2019s call obeyed, temptations faced,<br \/>the good news preached, then death embraced.<br \/>Let us who share his Easter light<br \/>sing praise to God, our chief delight.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Recall the covenant of grace<br \/>in which you freely find your place:<br \/>with water washed, at table fed,<br \/>in Christ alive, to self now dead.<br \/>Then with your lives, by day and night,<br \/>sing praise to God, your chief delight.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Review the tapestry of saints,<br \/>that canvas which the Spirit paints:<br \/>a prophet scorned, a teacher famed,<br \/>a host unknown and unacclaimed,<br \/>yet one and all who fought the fight<br \/>sing praise to God, their chief delight.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Rehearse the chorus of the heart,<br \/>let all earth\u2019s hopes and fears take part:<br \/>the shouts of youth, the cries of age,<br \/>the prisoners\u2019 groans, the victims\u2019 rage.<br \/>And may each voice which seeks the right<br \/>sing praise to God, its chief delight.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Rejoice at what Christ yet will do,<br \/>intent on making all things new:<br \/>the hungry filled, the peaceful blessed,<br \/>the wounded healed, each heart at rest.<br \/>Then sing, till faith gives way to sight,<br \/>in praise of God, our chief delight.<\/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\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/4391\/36913305312_9ac9a4de63_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/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: \u201cFriends\u201d (Smith) OPENING PRAYER: Holy God, &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2021\/07\/24\/ninth-after-pentecost-2\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Ninth after Pentecost<\/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\/2040"}],"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=2040"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2040\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2040"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2040"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2040"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}