We
Know. . . nothing.
Call
to Worship - (James Dollins, Abingdon 2016)
We are blessed to be a
blessing.
We
are called to go to places that we don’t know.
We look to the hills for
our strength.
Our
strength is in God, who always goes with us.
We walk in faith.
Come,
let us worship the God who calls us and who walks beside us throughout the
journey.
HYMN
TIS 76: "I to the hills will lift up my
eyes:" Taking my cue from the theme John offered us, I thought about
this hymn in the context of our knowing nothing. If we assume that we can solve
all our own problems, we run into a lot of problems. For anything of real
value, the answer is not around us but beyond.
Opening
prayer
Our
ever-present strength and help, we come this morning in response to a call we
have felt in the marrow of our bones. We may not be sure; we may even be full
of doubts and not fully understand how we got here, but we are here. Help us
listen with new ears and open hearts. Touch us during this time of worship,
that we may know your unconditional love— not just for the world as a whole,
but for us individually. It is for this that we long and for which we search.
Amen. The words that struck me here are "Help us listen with NEW ears
and OPEN hearts." We shouldn't
assume we know it all but be open to grow.
A
Prayer of Confession
Loving
and ever-present God, we confess that we are not always sure of you.
Our
doubts overwhelm us at times.
But we
continue to search and to yearn for reassurance of your presence with us, no
matter what is going on in our lives.
In
times of joy and in times of sorrows and challenges, help us feel your presence
with us.
Give
us a faith that looks to the hills, where we will find you, steadfast and sure.
Be
with us on our journey, the journey to which you call us, that we may walk in
your ways with you beside us. Amen.
Declaration
of Forgiveness
God so loved the world—
God so loved us— that God goes with us every step of the way. In this we are
blessed. Know that God hears, answers, and loves us— and in this loving,
understands and forgives us. Amen.
Thanks,
be to God! Our total absence of wisdom about things eternal, can be relieved
by God's generous willingness to lead us.
The
Peace
Choose
life, and you will find peace. Choose unity, and you will discover that our
differences make us stronger, not weaker. In unity and holy love, choose life
this day, as you share the peace of Christ with one another.
Invitation
to the Offering
Dear
God, Source of light and love, all things belong to you. You generously share
with us the blessings of home, food, friends, and life itself. May we offer a
portion of what you have given us in our morning’s offering. May our gifts and
joyful service strengthen your church, that we may share good news and
compassion with those in need. "Of course, our Faith counts for nothing
unless it makes a difference. Relieving the daily burden of others is an
outplaying of God's love around us.
We
have been blessed to be a blessing to the world. May the gifts we dedicate and
offer you this day, bless a world in need, not only with our material
resources, but with our very selves. Amen.
Hymn
TIS 242:
“I danced in the morning when the world
was begun” All about following the lead of the One who understands the
melody.
Readings:
Genesis
12: 1-4a. Romans 4:1-5,13-17. John 3:1-17
The
Genesis reading provided the base story of Abram having the faith to follow
God's instruction. It was a matter of believing that God had a plan, which
while being part of God's greater plan was also for the good of Abram and his
family. Romans and John both speak about that faith or utter belief that God's
plans are to bring us a life that is just not new but on a different level.
Look up Jeremiah 29:11 for an explicit statement of that intent.
Preaching
of the Word - We Know. . . Nothing - John 3:1-17
John
spoke about the reading from John. He made many cogent points but something
that resonated with me related to Nicodemus' statement : "Rabbi, we know
that you are a teacher who has come from God..." which I had always seen
as a sign of the man's insight but what he was really saying was that past that
introduction, Jesus mystified him. Rev. John reminded us - and most of us are
of advanced years and have been thinking over these issues all that time - if we find ourselves thinking we have it all
under control and we know what it's all about, we should stop right there.
My spin
on that is that we should open ourselves to hear the melody of the creator: we
should open ourselves to bring remade, even at this stage of our lives: we
should be willing to trust utterly in the path that is opened before us.
Hymn
TIS 155:
“O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder” God's authority to guide us through
an authentic existence stands right before us in his creation.
Intercessory
Prayers
Rev.
John prayed for all the created world which was made in an act of love and
which we have willfully destroyed and misused. This world where we have failed
to show care or creative thinking. Where we have failed to share with all
people. He prayed for all who are in terrible circumstances; all those who lack
the necessities of life: people with psychiatric illness or an addiction, that
each would find God. John prayed for peace between nations and that all will
turn to the Source of everything for Salvation. John asked for healing for the
sick, friendship for the lonely, and comfort for the dying and that we will
learn to love each other as we ought. After that we joined in the Lord’s Prayer.
Hymn
TIS 658:
“I the Lord of sea and sky,” God has only us to carry out his work here where
we live so hands up for the job ahead.
Benediction
Go
now in the sure knowledge that God goes with you every step of your journey. Go
to be a blessing to everyone you meet. Go, surrounded by the steadfast and
strengthening love of God. Go in faith to love and to serve God’s people
wherever you go. Amen.
Hymn
TIS 778:
“Shalom to you” To everyone who exists, I wish the very best of all that our
Lord has to offer. Amen.
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