{"id":411,"date":"2020-05-22T15:26:31","date_gmt":"2020-05-22T15:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/?p=411"},"modified":"2020-05-22T15:26:31","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T15:26:31","slug":"easter-vii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/22\/easter-vii\/","title":{"rendered":"Easter VII"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/579\/23536378619_947b14d9bb_c.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption>Photo by SandeepaChetan, Creative Commons, BY-NC-ND 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>During this time of physical isolation, we look for ways to share words of comfort and hope in the face of uncertainty and fear. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy.  Special thanks this week to Margaret &#8220;Bunny&#8221; Todman, our guest preacher and liturgist.  Thanks too to Jenny, Bob, and Heather!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRELUDE: (Scottish traditional tune)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/scottishtrad.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>CENTRING POEM: &#8220;Rio&#8217;s Messiah&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Overlooking the lush playground of Rio<br \/>\nStands an open-armed Messiah<br \/>\nWelcoming everyone<br \/>\nUnder his protective wings<br \/>\nReady to embrace the world<br \/>\nWith all its misgivings.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>OPENING PRAYER<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Dear Lord:<br \/>\nWe are all your children <br \/>\nand we are all children of this earth.  <br \/>\nHelp us reach a calm within ourselves <br \/>\nto face the strange and unfamiliar happenings of these days.  <br \/>\nGive us the strength to go toward what lies ahead <br \/>\nwith confidence and conviction; <br \/>\nknowing that you are with us <br \/>\nand all will be well.  Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN OF PRAISE: \u201cSeek ye first the kingdom of God\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/seekyefirst.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>Seek ye first the kingdom of God<br \/> and God&#8217;s righteousness,<br \/> and all these things shall be added unto you.<br \/> Hallelu, hallelujah.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Ask and it shall be given unto you;<br \/> seek and you shall find;<br \/> knock and the door shall be opened unto you.<br \/> Hallelu, hallelujah.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>We do not live by bread alone,<br \/> but by every word<br \/> that proceeds from the mouth of God.<br \/> Hallelu, hallelujah.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>PRAYER OF CONFESSION<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Dear God:<br \/>\nWe ask you to help us forgive those who have wronged us\u2026<br \/>\nbut we don\u2019t always ask for forgiveness <br \/>\nfor the wrongs we have done to others.  <br \/>\nLook into our hearts and help us to forgive.  <br \/>\nWe are all part of this earth <br \/>\nand should live in harmony.  <br \/>\nThank you, Lord.     <br \/>\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>ASSURANCE OF PARDON<\/p>\n\n\n<p>God listens and makes available <br \/>\neverything we need for the future <br \/>\nand forgives our foolish ways of the past.  <br \/>\nThank you God.<br \/>\nAmen.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/9\/97\/Peter_Paul_Rubens_-_Christ_on_the_Sea_of_Galilee.jpg\/800px-Peter_Paul_Rubens_-_Christ_on_the_Sea_of_Galilee.jpg\" alt=\"File:Peter Paul Rubens - Christ on the Sea of Galilee.jpg\"\/><figcaption>Peter Paul Rubens, Christ on the Sea of Galilee, c. 1611. Gem\u00e4ldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>SPECIAL MUSIC: &#8220;Better Than a Hallelujah&#8221; (Hart\/Hartford)<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Better-Than-a-Hallelujah.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>FIRST READING: Psalm 91.9-16<\/p>\n\n\n<p>If you say, \u201cThe Lord is my refuge,\u201d<br \/>\n    and you make the Most High your dwelling,<br \/>\nno harm will overtake you,<br \/>\n    no disaster will come near your tent.<br \/>\nFor he will command his angels concerning you<br \/>\n    to guard you in all your ways;<br \/>\nthey will lift you up in their hands,<br \/>\n    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.<br \/>\nYou will tread on the lion and the cobra;<br \/>\n    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>\u201cBecause he loves me,\u201d says the Lord, \u201cI will rescue him;<br \/>\n    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.<br \/>\nHe will call on me, and I will answer him;<br \/>\n    I will be with him in trouble,<br \/>\n    I will deliver him and honour him.<br \/>\nWith long life I will satisfy him<br \/>\n    and show him my salvation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>SECOND READING: Matthew 8.23-26<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/matt8reading.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, \u201cLord, save us! We\u2019re going to drown!\u201d<br \/>\n26 He replied, \u201cYou of little faith, why are you so afraid?\u201d Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.<br \/>\n27 The men were amazed and asked, \u201cWhat kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>HYMN: \u201cO worship the king\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/oworship.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>O worship the King, all glorious above,<br \/> O gratefully sing God&#8217;s power and God&#8217;s love;<br \/> our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,<br \/> pavilioned in splendour, and girded with praise.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>O tell of God&#8217;s might, O sing of God&#8217;s grace,<br \/> whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,<br \/> whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,<br \/> and broad is God&#8217;s path on the wings of the storm.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>The earth with its store of wonders untold,<br \/> Almighty, your power has founded of old;<br \/> has stablished it fast by a changeless decree,<br \/> and round it has cast, like a mantle, the sea.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Your bountiful care, what tongue can recite?<br \/> It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;<br \/> it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,<br \/> and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,<br \/> in you do we trust, nor find you to fail;<br \/> your mercies how tender, how firm to the end,<br \/> our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>REFLECTION: &#8220;Out of Service&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/bunny24may.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>Isn\u2019t it annoying when you dial a telephone number and you hear a voice tell you that that number is \u201cOut of Service?\u201d  And you know  &#8220;Out of Service&#8221; means it\u2019s not working, not functioning, broken or currently unavailable.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Telephones and telephone numbers can be \u201cOut of Service.&#8221;  Subways and buses can be \u201cOut of Service\u201d.  ATM machines can be  \u201cOut of Service\u201d   Yes, all of these things can be \u201cOut of Service\u201d whether temporarily or permanently.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Something that\u2019s always available and never &#8220;Out of Service,&#8221; though, is our direct line to God.  God is always with us and will listen to us whether we\u2019re getting in touch to ask for help, to complain or to say &#8220;thank you.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Yes, our direct line to God is often used in prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>As Psalm 27: verses 7-8  say: Hear me as I pray, O Lord.  Be merciful and answer me!  My heart has heard you say, \u201cCome and talk with me.\u201d  And my heart responds, \u201cLord, I am coming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<p>All people ask for help.  One of our readings today told us about the disciples waking Jesus during a storm on the lake.  They asked  for his help because they were frightened of the storm.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Many people today call on God for help.  Yes, we all need help at one time or another\u2014it could be because we are ill or in pain.  We could be needing forgiveness.  We could be looking for guidance.  We could be searching for peace.  Whatever the reason, we all should stay in touch with God through our prayers.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Yes, many of us pray to God; and David, who is considered the traditional author of many psalms, was no exception. The psalms call upon the Lord, in prayer, for many reasons. Let\u2019s see how the psalms were used to communicate with God whether to ask God for help, whether to ask God questions or whether to give God praise and thanks.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>First let\u2019s hear some of the psalms that asked God for HELP.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>In Psalm 5, Verses 1 and 2  say: O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning.  Listen to me cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>In Psalm 17, verse 1  says: O Lord, hear my plea for justice.  Listen to my cry for help.  Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Yes, these psalms ask God to hear their pleas for help.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Then, in another psalm, the writer admits that the Lord did hear his pleas for help.  Yes, in Psalm 40, verse 1 it says: I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Now let\u2019s hear how the psalms COMPLAINED and asked questions of the Lord.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>In Psalm 10, verse 1  says: O Lord, why do you stand so far away?  Why do you hide when I am in trouble? <\/p>\n\n\n<p>And then in Psalm 13, verses 1 and 2  say: O Lord, how long will you forget me?  Forever?  How long will you look the other way?  How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?  How long will my enemy have the upper hand?<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Yes, like these psalms, we have a lot of questions for the Lord and sometimes don\u2019t see how the Lord is guiding us and answering us.  We lose patience with the Lord and don\u2019t understand why our prayers aren\u2019t answered immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>We all know that we all have crises in our lives and when those crises in our lives are over, we want to thank and PRAISE God. <\/p>\n\n\n<p>And, of course, the psalms also PRAISED God.  <\/p>\n\n\n<p>In Psalm 9, verse 1  says: I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvellous things you have done.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>And in Psalm 30, verse 1 says: I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.  You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>And, lastly, in Psalm 34, verse 1  says: I will praise the Lord at all times.  I will constantly speak his praises.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>So you see, some psalms certainly praised God a great deal and, like these psalms, we all have a lot to praise God for\u2014we should praise him for his forgiveness, we should praise him for his  guidance, and we certainly should praise him for his steadfast love.<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Yes, David, and many of the people in Biblical times, called on God many times and we too, can call on God to assist us in our lives,  and God WILL guide US as well.    <\/p>\n\n\n<p>We must never forget that God is always available to us\u2014any time, any place.  We always have a direct line and it\u2019s never \u201cOut of Service\u201d.     <\/p>\n\n\n<p>AMEN.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-12-1024x655.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-417\"\/><figcaption><em>Rembrandt van Rijn<\/em>, detail of The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, 1633.  Previously located at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Dear Lord:<br \/>\nWe all need your peace and comfort.  <br \/>\nAs you gave your disciples, <br \/>\ngive everyone around the world that peace <br \/>\nwhich is surely needed in this challenging and difficult time.  <br \/>\nGive us the knowledge that this, too, will pass <br \/>\nand we will, once again, be able to show our love <br \/>\nto family and friends face-to-face.  <br \/>\nThank you God for your understanding.  <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: \u201cWhat a friend we have in Jesus\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/whatafriend.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><em>What a friend we have in Jesus,<br \/>     all our sins and griefs to bear!<br \/> What a privilege to carry<br \/>     everything to God in prayer!<br \/> O what peace we often forfeit,<br \/>     O what needless pain we bear,<br \/> all because we do not carry<br \/>     everything to God in prayer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Have we trials and temptations?<br \/>     Is there trouble anywhere?<br \/> We should never be discouraged;<br \/>     take it to the Lord in prayer.<br \/> Can we find a friend so faithful,<br \/>     who will all our sorrows share?<br \/> Jesus knows our every weakness;<br \/>     take it to the Lord in prayer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p><em>Are we weak and heavy laden,<br \/>     cumbered with a load of care?<br \/> Christ the Saviour is our refuge;<br \/>     take it to the Lord in prayer.<br \/> Do our friends despise, forsake us?<br \/>     Are we tempted to despair?<br \/> Jesus&#8217; strength will shield our weakness,<br \/>     and we&#8217;ll find new courage there.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<p>BLESSING<\/p>\n\n\n<p>Remember we can go to God and ask for his guidance <br \/> and we can do this anytime, anywhere <br \/> because our direct line to God is never \u201cOut of Service\u201d   <br \/> Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/meetagainredux.m4a\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img src=\"http:\/\/oneking.ca\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/image-11.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-414\"\/><figcaption>Michael M\u00fcller IV, The Storm on the Sea of Galilee, 1667, Victoria and Albert Museum, London.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>During this time of physical isolation, we look for ways to share words of comfort and hope in the face of uncertainty and fear. We encourage you to pray over the words that follow, and follow the links within the liturgy. Special thanks this week to Margaret &#8220;Bunny&#8221; Todman, our guest preacher and liturgist. Thanks &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/2020\/05\/22\/easter-vii\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Easter VII<\/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\/411"}],"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=411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/411\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/michaelkooiman.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}