Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 20 October 2013

 

Joan kindly and very capably looked after the blog today.

We were called to Worship by Dan this morning after being greeted at the door by Elaine, our official “welcomer” for the day and Phil & Laurel, our stewards.  I was secretly a little pleased to be handed the older Australian Hymn Book, hoping for some rousing old hymns.  We began well with …

Hymn AHB 85   To God be the Glory

To God be the glory, great things He hath done,

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life our redemption to win,

And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

This hymn was written in 1872 by Fanny Crosby, who was blind.  Fanny is quoted as saying; "Darkness may throw a shadow over my outer vision, but there is no cloud that can keep the sunlight of hope from a trustful soul."  It evolved that HOPE was the underlying theme of our service today so Fanny’s quote fits in well.

Prayer of Adoration and Confession:

“God our father, we worship you in wonder and in love.

Our minds cannot contain you, nor our words express you;

yet in Christ we see your glory, hear your word of truth and know your forgiving love.”

On this beautiful Sydney spring morning this prayer was the perfect way to clear our thoughts and open our hearts and minds to hear and accept the messages brought to us by the service today. 

 I couldn’t help thinking this would be a good prayer to say each morning before we face the day.

 

We reflected on our need for God’s forgiveness.  A moment to be quiet and “take stock” of our week!

Announcements were made and there was an air of excitement among those who had followed the congregation’s “Progressive Dinner” the previous night. 

Hymn AHB 92   God has spoken by his prophets

God has spoken by His prophets,

Spoken His unchanging Word …

Through the rise and fall of nations

One sure faith yet standing fast,

God is King, His Word unchanging,

God the first, and God the last.

This hymn, with words written by George W. Biggs is inspired by Hebrews 1: 1-2

“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.”

Before the Bible Readings, Dan showed us a map of the Babylonian Empire in 600 BC.  This ancient Empire was shown spreading across to the east from the Persian Gulf as a reddish pink blush of colour.  I am pretty sure I was not the only one who thought about the time of our own childhood when our school atlas depicted the British Empire in that same dramatic way.  It took my mind back to the last verse of the hymn we had just sung.  “Through the rise and fall of nations; One sure faith yet standing fast, God is King, His Word unchanging, God the first, and God the last.”

I will probably spend a long time this week, thinking about the rise and fall of many nations and the never ending love of God – thanks Dan.

Our Bible passages today were read by Joyce:  Luke 18 : 1 – 18           

I was struck by the parables in the Gospel readings.  Perhaps we are being directed to be the “dripping tap” of persistence, in demanding justice for those more “invisible” people in our community, by the story about the widow who was “a great nuisance” to the judge.  Perhaps in the second parable about the proud Pharisee and the repentant tax gatherer; comes the reminder to do everything with humility – even our good works.

As Joyce read on, I remembered that warm feeling when as I child, I was assured the “Kingdom of God” was always open to me.  It is good to recall that feeling of acceptance, while being reminded of the obligations we all now have as responsible adults.

Jeremiah 31 : 27 – 34   

Reflection:        God has a new covenant for us today

Dan told us that Jeremiah was a prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah about 627 to 586 BC.  He confronted the King and the country’s leaders who were “not in tune with God”, but they did not respond.  “So God brought justice on to them through the conquering Babylonian army and the King and his court were taken into exile to Babylon along with many of the skilled and wealthy people.”  

Exile taught the Jewish people that God can be worshipped anywhere.  It is not the building or the country that is important, rather it is learning to keep your Faith and learning to grow in Spirit wherever you are “planted”.  Although they thought that God had abandoned them, they discovered during their 70 year exile that God was still with them if they kept their Faith and were not overcome by the different cultural ideas of the Babylonians. 

Dan reminded us that Jeremiah sent a letter to the Jews exiled in Babylon to implore them to become a part of the community in which they were living.  They were exhorted to; “Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce.  Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage; that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there and do not decrease.  Seek the welfare of any city to which you are exiled and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” 

“Through Jeremiah, God told his people that in God’s time, Israel would be restored and one day the Messiah would come to establish a new covenant with God’s people.”  Hope of a new covenant.  Hope in the future and hope in the place you find yourself.  “Surely a message for all of us today,” said Dan as he challenged us to find these parallels.  We do need to live within the community as part of the community and we need to be part of a mission in bringing about God’s plans for a future with hope.  We need to be an accepting community which shares Grace and we need to be a thriving and motivated community. 

We need to be like the persistent widow in the parable and this persistence should include our prayers, our Faith and our relationships.  We need to be persistent in sharing God’s love with everyone around us.

Dan likened our circumstances in Australia today as Christians, to the situation of the Jews in exile.  We live in a post-Christian materialistic society where only 20% of people regularly go to Church.  Many around us recognise that God exists, without knowledge and experience of God’s Grace.   

We were asked a very personal question; one posed by a Canadian man, Thomas Bandy – a serious question which we should all go away and ponder. “What is it about your experience with Jesus that this community cannot live without?”

Dan finished by reminding us that we can have Hope through our faith in Jesus Christ.  If we put our trust in him and persevere, then we can have a future with hope, and that’s a message worth sharing.  

Hymn AHB 557             Lord of Creation

Lord of creation, to you be all praise!  Most mighty your working, most wondrous your ways!

You reign in a glory no tongue e'er can tell; you deign in the heart of the humble to dwell.

Offering:   I smiled as I noted the thoughtfulness that Grahame had given to his playing of the organ during the offering.  “Let There Be Peace on Earth and let it begin with me.  Let There Be Peace on Earth, the peace that was meant to be!  With God as our Father, brothers all are we.  Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony.

Prayers of the People:  During the prayers we remembered the anxiety and the grief that has come to many through the dreadful bush fires this week and expressed gratitude for the firefighters and all the volunteers in the community.   We prayed for the concerns we had written in the prayer books as they passed through the church during the service.

We also remembered our much loved former Minister, Rev. Les Pearson who died this week.  Les was a man who truly used his life well to do God’s work.  Habitat for Humanity was a great part of that inspirational work. 

                                                                  

Hymn:    Forward Together  -  This new hymn with words by Rev. Dr David Manton, sung to a familiar tune and followed by the Benediction, made a fitting end to thought provoking service.

Forward together, we will go,  Pilgrims of faith, to risk and dare.

Jesus you call us, we’ll go out, Off’ring to others love and care.