Dermot, who was our minister for the day. He welcomed us with a Call to Worship, reminding us that even though humanity killed Jesus, Jesus did not turn away but reached out to those who harmed him or who were not strong enough to defend him. In this way Jesus reaches out to us and we are urged to respond to his call.
The
announcements for the day included one for next week's Pancake Day morning tea
(April 21) and the upcoming Lamington Drive (May 18). There was also news of
another bowls challenge.
Hymn AHB 303 "Thine be the glory,
risen, conquering Son". The next line is the crucial one for us:
"endless is the victory thou o'er death hast won." Endless not only
in time but also to the depths of all our flaws and weaknesses.
The kid's message about sharing God's goodness to us was
followed by another hymn.
Hymn AHB 261 "Were you there when they
crucified my Lord?" This was to be central to Dermot's message later in
the service. What would our part in the crucifixion have been? We certainly
were there, as every sort of goodness and evil was represented that day. What
would have been our part?
Prayer of Adoration,
Confession and Supplication. Dermot confessed on our behalf that as a mixed bunch, all
made in God's image and living in God's world we often failed to recognize Him
around us and in others. He acknowledged, for us, that we needed to know who we
are, and for needing relationship, our most fundamental one, with God. Dermot
asked for forgiveness for us all for turning away from this and asked for help
for us to open our hearts and minds.
Reading John 21:1-9. Norma read
the account of an everyday event. The
disciples had gone fishing and it appeared to them that Jesus was on the shore.
They ate fish with him. He could eat fish but they were unable to touch him.
The mystery and confusion raised by this is typical of our lack of
understanding of the whole God/ Humanity relationship. Knowledge is needed; as
is understanding; but when it comes to the crunch, we have to step out in
faith.
In this reading we hear Peter challenged three times by
Jesus with the question, "Do you love me?" Peter must have cringed
with the memory of his three denials but Jesus made it clear that Peter was forgiven as he
commissioned him to tend to the followers.
Message Dermot referred again to the
line of the hymn, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord?". He
pointed out that the answer to this question brings into focus all we are and
this moment when humanity collided with God happens again each day as we fail
to live the lives we were created for. Dermot saw himself as one of the crowd -
not doing anything to bring about that terrible event but not risking anything
to stop it. Most of us would fit into this category. The thing is that when we
are finally confronted with "Do you love me?", what will be our
answer? Jesus' responses to Peter in this reading and Thomas in last week's
reading reveal His ability to understand our weaknesses and sometimes outright
pathetic behaviour. In neither case was any criticism offered by Jesus, just
acceptance indicating forgiveness.
Hymn AHB 81 "the King of Love my
Shepherd is". Knowing that this first line is true, the next, "I
nothing lack if I am His" pretty much takes care of anything else.
After the Offering,
Prayers for the People were offered, asking for God's blessing and care
for those known to us. Dermot prayed for our own need for deep relationships
with others but most especially, with God.
Hymn AHB 14 "Now thank we all our
God, with hearts and hands and voices". Time to give thanks, knowing in
faith, that God will live up to His promises and that we can rely on Him as
long as we keep our eyes on Him.
With that, Dermot blessed us and sent us out to look to our
relationships with each other and with God, to grow us into the people we were
created to be.
AMEN. AMEN. AMEN.
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