Dermot
led us in a service through which we were able to think about our relationship
with God and each other.
He Called
us to Worship by reminding us that all creation speaks of God and then
invited us to join with creation to reveal God through our worship and praise
of him.
For
this creation we praised God by singing the
Hymn
TIS 137 "For
the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies" expressing our
thanks and praise in a familiar way, known since childhood, for all that God
showers upon us.
In the
Prayer of Praise and Thanksgiving, Dermot kept our attention on God's
gift of creation, expressing our appreciation of all the minute details of
God's handiwork and confessing that we often miss the vibrancy of what is
directly in front of us. He continued, praising God for the way creation
touches every one of our senses but then confessed that even with such
opportunities, how we still miss God right beside us in created things.
Dermot
claimed the forgiveness that is offered to us and spoke of how our thanks
swells within us, blessing God's' name.
After
receiving the Offering, Dermot prayed that with God's blessing it will
do great and powerful things in His name.
With
the Scripture reading and Sermon to follow we asked for God's' hand upon us in
another familiar
Hymn
TIS 569 "Guide
me O Thou great Jehovah" We acknowledged our weaknesses and inability to
negotiate our way without God's wisdom and thanked him for his gift to us.
Scripture
Readings. Philippians
3: 17 - 4:1 The Philippians are being exhorted to stand firm in their faith and
are being assured that those that follow any other way are not going to end
well. This is not a threat, it is simply a reminder that if you don't follow
the maker's directions, the product won't work.
Luke
13: 31 - 35 Jesus is warned that he is in danger but is not intimidated and
says to tell openly what he is doing. The next section would have sounded very
confusing except in hindsight after the Passion. Then, Jesus predicts that they
will understand and Bless his name.
Sermon Dermot acknowledged
consulting the online help of Bill Loder for guidance in analyzing the text and
explained that Paul was frustrated in his attempts to guide the new Christians
in their faith. Many of the Christians were Jews and wanted to cling to their
Jewish rules, despite now being under the New Covenant. They shouldn't be
blamed for this because those rules had been their security for so long. At the
same time we can imagine Paul's frustration: Why did Jesus come? There was a
new way. A New Covenant. They were released from the old ways.
Many
of these old ways applied to dietary laws and other laws affecting the body,
which could be adhered to without a Temple and still cement their Jewishness.
This approach had grown out of their exile when there was no Temple and when
they were surrounded by other religions. So laws were stressed which would
prevent their merging with non -Jewish people. They would keep their
distinctness.
But
did these laws bring them closer to God? Did it make them a vibrantly
God-centred people? It seems not.
So
Jesus came to put an end to it and open the door to the New Covenant. And Paul
is taking a big stick to those who want to cling to the old ways.
Listen
up!
Then
in the words of the next hymn we asked that God would safeguard our adherence
to the new way.
Hymn
TIS 407 "Breathe
on me breathe of God" - "until this earthly part of me glows with thy
fire divine". Enough said.
We
began Prayers of the People with a time of contemplation, bringing our
own needs before God and then Dermot led us in praying for the personal
concerns of the congregation.
Our
final Hymn TIS 106 "Now thank we all our God" again we thanked
God and gave praise for all the multitude of blessings he gives us.
After
the Blessing we sang to each other
Now
unto him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless
before the presence of His Glory with exceeding joy. To the only wise God our
Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen
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