Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 16 April 2017

Easter Day in the year of Matthew

Gathering God’s People

A LARGE LIT CANDLE IS PROCESSED IN:

The candle is placed on the table with these words:

 Alleluia! Christ is risen!

         Christ is risen indeed!

This is the day that the Lord has made

        Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Call to Worship - (Abingdon 2013)

Praise the Lord! God has defeated death.

Praise the Lord! Sing the Easter song.

It is the first day of the week. God Almighty is with us.

Peace be with us.

It is the first day of the week. Jesus is here.

Peace be with us.

It is the first day of the week. The Holy Spirit is upon us.

Peace be with us.

Praise God in this sanctuary. Praise God for salvation in days gone by.

Praise God for salvation here today. Praise God’s surpassing greatness with music.

Bless God’s holy name with life and breath.

Hymn TIS 362: “Jesus Christ is risen today”  

Having made these declarations, sung this hymn and shouted in exultation, the theme for today's service was established and we entered into a very special time together.

Opening prayer

Our Lord and our God, like doubting Thomas so long ago,

it is sometimes difficult for us to believe in new life and

Resurrection. We ask you to turn our doubts into vibrant

faith. We have not seen, but help us believe. Amen.

For those of us who know the hand of God upon us, the difficulty isn't in

believing in new life but in the details of the story. We know Jesus lives. We do not doubt that for a second.

A Prayer of Confession 

 God of life and love, we rejoice in our own salvation, but find it hard to forgive those who have hurt us.

You call us to seek the paths of peace and blessing, to be your face to everyone we meet, but it is easier sticking to well-travelled streets of anger and resentment. We yearn to live in ease in heaven, but too often make life hard for people around us.

You call us to spread your word of resurrection, to witness to your love and grace for the world, but our lips remain silent.

Forgive us, Holy One, when we hold on to what we have, rather than share your gifts with the world.

Declaration of Forgiveness

The One whom the prophets foretold, and of whom the Gospels testify, lives among us today. In the love of the Creator; in the life, death, and resurrection of Christ; and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we are forgiven. Alleluia! Amen.

Thanks, be to God!

There is so much anger in the world. It is present between countries,

between organizations and between and in families. And it's so hard to let go of the anger and seek justice at the same time.

 The Peace

Rejoicing in Christ’s life among us, let us share signs of peace.

The peace of Christ be with you.

The peace of Christ be with you always.

In stretching out our hands to each other, the tension eases and we allow humility to kick in, soothing troubled soul

Offering Prayer

 God of love and grace, for the love and life that you give us in Christ, we offer you these signs of our gratitude; for the compassion and mercy that you give us in the Holy Spirit, we offer you our thankfulness and praise. Receive these gifts in your holy name. Amen.

So often we look to what is happening "outside": our gifts of time and energy and goods. But if we offered our inner life to God and through him to others, that inner humility and love, even without words, would make its mark.

Hymn TIS 390: "Alleluia, alleluia, give thanks …"
                   

The Service of the Word

The Readings:  Acts 10: 34-43.  Colossians 3: 1-4.  Matthew 28:1-10.

These readings all focussed on the risen Jesus but the theme that was touching me from the very start was best expressed in Colossians: So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Preaching of the Word

There are many truths of which the full meaning cannot be realized until personal experience has brought it home. John Stuart Mill

True. I just couldn't believe my friend really knew there was a living God until the day he confronted me. John described many occasions "when you just had to be there" but there's one I share with a few of my friends: the thrill of an elegant solution to an algebra problem. You may wonder what I'm talking about but those of us who have known the experience have been enriched by it.

John explained to us:

It's not too hard to visualize some doubt on the part of a modern-day people. Some things just need to be experienced to be believed. Perhaps it wasn't that Thomas doubted his friends' honesty, or doubted the power that Jesus had. Several Disciples just weren't there. What a tragedy that absence was. A life-shaping moment happened, and some weren’t there to experience it with the tightly-knit band of which he was a part.

In his book A Community of Character, Stanley Hauerwas uses an example of the power of shared experience. He points to the development of a community of rabbits in Richard Adams' popular book, Watership Down. Hauerwas says that, "what we seek is not power, or security, or equality, or even dignity, but a sense of worth gained from participation and contribution to a common sense of adventure." He continues, "Indeed, our dignity derives exactly from our sense of having played a part in such a story."...

In the story of Watership Down, it is the shared adventures of the rabbits which create the bond of community. In the Christian story, it is the experience of being with Jesus that draws his followers together...

 If we expect others to believe us, to eagerly join us on this adventure, we've got to find a way to help them experience the presence of God in our midst. Our worship and our fellowship need to be open in order to experience the full power of God-in-community.

Hymn TIS 380: "Yours be the glory"  

Music to lead us to prayer while we contemplate our inner life.

Intercessory Prayers

John prayed for the church world wide, in Australia and here at Marsden Road. He prayed for all those suffering in any way but particularly those needing new life that they will see it when it is offered to them. After this we joined in The Lord's Prayer

Hymn TIS 755: “You shall go out with joy” With our spirits raised.

Benediction

With Mary and the disciples and all those who live in Christ, let us rejoice that we have seen our Saviour, who is not dead, but lives. In the love of the Creator; in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; and the power of the Holy Spirit, let us go forth to love and serve the world.

Alleluia! Christ is risen!

         Christ is risen indeed!

This is the day that that the Lord has made

        Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Hymn 778: “Shalom to you”

To you my friend, every good thing.

Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 9 April 2107

Today I thought I would do something quite different and instead of reflecting on the service, I would look back at the bible studies, which the people from MRUC have explored during Lent.

Because my health is continuing to misbehave I wasn't in a group for many of them but I have read through and thought upon the matters they raise.

Of course, I cannot talk about many issues but there were a few that caught my attention.

The first thing I noticed was in the prayer in the first study, where we are led to ask for guidance to be the people God wants us to be. Some prayers which people offer are requests for God to help the people concerned to carry out their own plans. How this ever comes about is a mystery because, even without considering the biblical message or Jesus' own words, common sense should bring a person's attention to the flaw in that approach. The world is in the mess it's in because of people following their own plans. It is insanity to continue down the same path.

The next issue that caught my eye was in the same study and that was the issue of self-denial during Lent. The way this is implemented in Western countries really can't be called denial. We may eat more plainly or modify our lifestyle but it can hardly be called denial. So I think that to make this time one of meaning is to focus on the other side of denial.

Let us make it a time when, as it always should be, but unfortunately never is, we keep our eyes upon God and his will for us. Make it a time when we consider why Jesus was prepared to die. Let us think of our own inability to be as unflinchingly committed to the mission we have been given, and see its eternal value, as did Jesus. Let us deny our own selfishness.

Let us think of a time when we have given our all for someone, only for that person to turn on us and treat our gift or effort or time as nought. Jesus came and offered us his eternal love and we killed him for it.

The sharing of our meals(and anything else)was discussed. We sit back and expect what we see as our right. We don't see our many blessings and so we don't realise they are gifts that we need to share.

At Easter we always remember Jesus’ betrayal by Judas. Dreadful man! But what of the betrayal by the disciples, particularly Peter, after the crucifixion. We can easily find distance between ourselves and Judas but how many times (not necessarily by word) have we betrayed Jesus as the disciples did when we dishonour him with our behaviour? When have people seen us behaving in a selfish or cold way and judged Jesus badly because of our professed discipleship.

And what did Jesus do to those disciples who ran out on him? He not only loved  them but trusted his church to them. When we are tempted to be judgemental, this should give us pause.

Real victory doesn't look the way it does in the movies. What happened at Easter certainly didn't look like a victory. Think about that. A lot.

Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 2 April 2017

Dry Bones and Resurrection

Hymns today : 84; 242; 210; 684

I don't normally include John's heading but this one struck a chord. Life can become dry without warning. Sometimes a life that seems so bright and full of promise simply deflates into mere survival. It's not even that our sense of the presence of our maker disappears. We can be very aware of that, but it just doesn't seem to make very much difference.

And so by way of encouragement - to myself as much as anyone, I will include the words of John's "Call to Worship" - (Mary J Scifres, Abingdon 2016.)

In the midst of life, we are in death. But in the face of death, God’s Spirit comes to bring us life. Can dry bones live? Can life emerge from death? Only God knows. And yet, Christ promises just such a miracle through the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit, come.

 All who are dwindling and dying . . .

come forth to new life.

All who are lying in darkness and despair . . .

come out into the light.

All who feel separated and alone . . .

come to the presence of God, whose Spirit finds us here

After this John prayed "Come, Holy Spirit. Breathe new life into our lives and our worship. Create new possibilities, in our imaginations and in our dreams. Send the promise of your hope into our depression and our despair. Expand our hearts and our minds, as we enter your presence this day. Amen."

Our responsibility to turn to God for the solution to our dryness was presented in the confession.

Prayer of Confession

God of new life and emerging possibilities, forgive us when death and despair occupy our focus. Embolden our faith when your future feels out of reach. Strengthen our courage, that we might come forth into the light and life of your promises. In hope and trust, we pray. Amen.

And our confidence that, in God, our solution lies, was stated in the declaration of forgiveness.

Declaration of Forgiveness

In God’s love, there is hope. In Christ’s forgiveness, there is peace. In the Spirit’s power, we are renewed and brought forth into life. Thanks, be to God!

The result of being at peace is that we can offer that to each other and open our hearts  to give-in all the ways giving can be done.

The announcements were an indication of the ways people of this congregation give to each other and to the community around us. They often pass as "housekeeping" but they are much more for anyone who is listening closely.

The service of communion followed. I always find this service most uplifting without knowing why. I think there are many reasons. It's a time when the whole congregation focusses on why we join together each week. There is the sense of being one with each other - not just those in the building in which we are celebrating the sacrament but also with all believers worldwide and through time. This is over and above the message that we are loved by our maker. The creator of everything that exists cares about each one of us and the lives we.

The readings, Ezekiel 37:1-14 and John 11:23-45 were delivered by Alan. In Ezekiel we are confronted with sight of a valley of dry bones. The message that jumped out at me was that dryness is all that this world offers. That was followed by the account of the raising of Lazarus. The connection is not difficult to make. A couple of people I know speak of God as that enlivening presence.

In his sermon John had this to say:

...We must walk with Ezekiel all around the valley, because a major part of witnessing the story of God’s redemption is seeing just how much we need it. Those of us who have been staring into the darkness of our souls during the Lenten season know that we really do need God’s resurrection. The second reason for hearing these stories at this point in the Christian calendar has nothing to do with us or our sin...

Purely external to us, it has everything to do with learning that it is God who brings life out of death and that God is the one acting for our redemption...

Part of the story shows us who we are, but the rest shows us who God is...

However, when faced with the reality of taking up our crosses to follow, we quickly realize there is nothing within that equips us to do it. At this point, the Lord gently reminds us that it is not about us. The spiritual work we do during Lent was never intended to be what sustains us and what brings us the new life we need...

 Rather, our spiritual work is meant only to help us clear the path so that we can see God’s work in and for us. It is God who will strengthen us to follow Jesus. It is God who will bring resurrection where there was only death and decay. It is God who can breathe new life into our mortal body.

In the Intercessory Prayers Laurel focussed on the many difficulties facing people near and far: those affected by the floods which have been so destructive, causing so much fear and heartbreak; those in other countries in Africa where there are no resources to meet the needs of the suffering people and those who will benefit from the donations of Lent Event. It's difficult to know why prayer works since God has his eye on those people regardless of whether we pray for them or not. Perhaps it's just that as we join with them in their difficulties, our strength is added to theirs giving them added life and in doing so we are changed.

Benediction

Let those who were languishing and dying rejoice.

We go forth with the promise of life.

Let those who have lain in the shadows of despair take heart.

We go forth with the promise of light.

Let those who have known the separation of loneliness feel union in life with the Spirit.

We go forth revived by the Spirit to proclaim the glory of God.

Hymn 780: “May light come into your eyes”

Sunday Service Marsden Road Unitng Church 19 March 2017

Call to Worship:  A Woman of no Distinction

This was a moving passage which highlighted the need of the woman at the well, and of all of us, to be seen as the people we are and valued for that. It is only the creator who can do that fully, but as people who have given ourselves to the service of others, we should do everything we can to let people know that they are valued - just as they are. This passage highlighted the need to share the love that has made us closer to what we should be, with others.

Hymn: "I heard the voice of Jesus say  -  TiS 585

"lay down, O weary one, lay down your head upon my breast."  What an invitation! - but sometimes we are just far too independent and proud to take it up. Show a little humility and admit you need help.

Prayer of Confession: Rowena confessed for us our doubts and fears: our inability to let go: our inability to take our troubles and fears to the Source of all Wisdom. We don't know how that works, so we turn to the world's wisdom. As a result we hurt others: we show contempt for people who we don't understand. Rowena asked that that rock-like facade we show the world be broken open and that we should offer ourselves to be forgiven. Amen

Declaration of Forgiveness:

The source of living, life-giving water offers forgiveness. All we need is to humbly accept it. Accepting forgiveness can be very difficult.

Offering Prayer:

We have been loved in overwhelming abundance and so we respond in kind. We complain about our lack or about how much people keep asking of us. Come on! Look at all you have.

Time with the Children:

Rowena use this time to show how we judge others and reject them for the most superfluous reasons. Look past the superfluous- see the real people. Guess what! We are all just people.

Hymn: Just as I am  -  TiS 584  verses 1, 2, 4, 5. The words of someone who has been able to humble themselves and admit their need.

Scripture Readings:                                                                                                                          Psalm 95. John 4: 5-42. John is all about finding ourselves to be of worth in the eyes of the only one who really knows us. The Psalm is exuberant praise from someone who can see all they have been blessed with.

Reflection:

Rowena spoke to us about Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan women at the well. Jesus often spoke to the multitudes but at other times to individuals and this conversation is the longest recorded on a one-to-one basis. The Jews despised the Samaritans and avoided them. This woman was avoided by her own community but here is Jesus, a Jew, talking with her - at length - about very personal issues. He was ready to ignore the rules to offer grace. (Notice, he didn't say she had to become a Jew, he simply offered her living water as a free gift.)

And in speaking to her, he revealed more of himself and her understanding of him increased. A lesson for us all: the more we spend time with that enlivening presence, the more we will understand him and the gift we are offered.

And the practical message: are we willing to be hospitable, in any way we can, to the lonely, the rejected, the people who are different from us?

Hymn: Come as you are  -  TiS 693

An invitation that is hard to resist. A thought that occurred to me was about  the "facade" Rowena referred to earlier. We really spend a lot of time pretending to the world about what "top" people we are. But why do we try to do that with God? Especially since he calls us - just as we are!

Prayers of Intercession:

Rowena prayed that having been refreshed by the Living Word, we should turn our attention to the world around us: we should be sensitive to the needs of those who hunger and thirst spiritually or physically. She prayed for those with health issues, naming people in our own community, and for anyone in crisis, including those whose crisis is a joyful one. She prayed for those who are looking for that living water but don't know where to find it, that they will know God's presence and through that, their sense of purpose. We then joined in The Lord's Prayer.

Hymn: I will sing the wondrous story  -  TiS 233

Do we?

Benediction:

We're sent forth to offer that living water to the world.

Closing Vesper:                                                                                                                       

Now unto him who is able to keep,

Able to keep you from falling. And to present you faultless

Before the presence of his glory With exceeding joy,

To the only wise a God our Saviour, Be glory and majesty,

Dominion and power, Both now and ever. Amen

v

Sunday Service Marsden Road Unitng Church 12 March 2017

 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.

Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 5 March 2107

I was unable to attend today's service but was fortunate to have John's notes, so I could enjoy the service at home and think on it.

Call to Worship - (Mary J Scifres, Abingdon 2016)

​​Vulnerable and naked, we came into this world. Vulnerable and naked, God came to us on that long-ago Christmas morn. Let us come into God’s presence, vulnerable and naked in spirit, knowing that we are safe and secure here.

​In the wilderness of life, we are not alone.

​God is with us, even in the midst of our loneliness.

​On the treacherous paths, God’s guidance is ours.

​We will walk in God’s ways of wisdom and truth.

​Come to hear. Come to learn. Come to the hiding place of God.

​Here we find grace. Here we find love. Here we will worship and pray.

I have copied The Call to Worship in full because I think it encapsulates much of our situation before God.

I'm also very aware of the details of the crucifixion at this time. God has always reached out in love to us but our response has often been unbelievably ungrateful and unappreciative. Sometimes we reject his offer outright and at other times we think that we can improve upon it. But when Jesus offered his whole life, to teach, to heal, to guide, to be an example to us in how to live a whole life: when he set us free from the shackles of "should" and "ought" into a life of freedom and liberty our response was not only unbelievable but also monstrous. We killed him! And if he came again today we would do it again. We are so blind and weak!

Hymn 119: “I sing the almighty power of God” stresses the almighty creative power, obvious in the environment around us: the same creative power which can transform us and lead us on a straight, steady path but instead of admitting our vulnerability and opening ourselves to the life-giving work of the Creator of everything, we become defensive, close down and prevent grace from entering in to heal and nurture.

John's Opening Prayer

"​Faithful God, strengthen us for the journey ahead. Guide us with your knowledge and your love. Send your Spirit to drive us and guide us where we need to go— ever-closer to you and to your ways through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord Amen."

Goes to the essence: 'closer to you'. That's where we find that peace that we search everywhere else for.

And what a world it would be if everyone who lived could admit their vulnerability, open themselves to be healed and draw close to one who is Light and Love, so that we could all say, every minute of every day:

As we have been loved faithfully, let us share this love with one another.

Peace be with you!

And also with you!        What  a world it would be!

Hymn 412: “God sends us his Spirit” speaks of the way we become aware of God with us. Through the Comforter. Stay still and quiet and you will know the presence which gives assurance that you are loved and cared for. And when it happens, the world changes.

These words in the Communion Service: "Are you hungry for God? Come to the bread of life. Are you in need of forgiveness? Come to the table of grace. Are you empty and alone? Come to the feast of love. Come, even when naked and vulnerable, for here we are covered with abundant grace and filled with the goodness of God." are an invitation that is not only true for the table to which all are invited but to the grace which is offered freely at all times to all people.

We don't have to beg. God is generously offering all this and more. The readings:  ​​​Genesis 2: 15-17; 3:1-7:​​​ Romans 5: 12-21 and Matthew 4:1-11. All focus on sin, its introduction into the world, and Jesus dealing with it.

​I think about this a lot. Firstly, many so called sins are really a breach of some cultural rule about which God is not concerned. My thought is that God is not like we are - offended at the slightest thing - but saddened at the space that is put between us and that Love he is, by our attitudes that shape our behaviour. We don't seek forgiveness to avoid some penalty, we are asking to come back to that closeness with God that is our true place and which we forego through seeking our own selfish way.

In his sermon, John spoke clearly about this:

"This is the matter of our spiritual nature, of our soul, which is the essence of life. It is to this aspect of our human nature, which marks our relationship with our Creator, the Eternal One, that we honour and strive to keep alive. But there will be many occasions when body and soul make a journey into the wilderness.  From birth to the time of our return to God, we will have ample opportunities to experience a journey that will lead us into and, hopefully, out of life's wilderness.

We are called to view our journeys into the wilderness, or wilderness wanderings, as times of testing, as times in which God prepares us for a task. We may also view the wilderness as a place where the spiritual strength and stamina of our souls is refined and strengthened. Life’s wilderness experiences do test our faith. We are exhorted to resist temptation from the power of sin and evil forces that seek to dominate our lives.

More to the point, our faith is tested to see if we are anchored in God's authority and ultimate power. And as Christians, in the wilderness, we recognize the triumph of Jesus Christ over the power of sin and death-Jesus Christ who in human form experienced times of testing and temptation just like we do.

And later: "How do we find our way out of the wilderness? Jesus' experience in the wilderness is the key. Our Lord's experience demonstrates that there are spiritual tools available to us as we go through the wilderness. These tools are prayer, fasting, and scripture."

The last hymns : Hymn 569: “Guide me, O my great Redeemer" and Hymn 779: “May the feet of God walk with you” and the benediction all focused on the way to tread a true path: by staying close to that which is Love, Light and Peace.

.

.

Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 26 February 2017

The heading for today's service was "Shone like the Sun" and we were called to worship with the words: "Transfigured by light, Jesus was changed. James, John and Peter saw it and were changed. Come away to the mountaintop; be still, be yourself, be who God intends you to be. Be changed."

Of course there were other perspectives which were explored but the one that evoked the most unambiguous response in me was the image of God's holiness as untarnished, light: the Shekinah: God is present.

This shining presence was the focus of all three Bible Readings: the first from Exodus 24.12-18, where God appears to Moses in the cloud which was necessary to cover that glory so that Moses would survive. The next was from 2 Peter 1.16-21 referring to God's presence as Jesus was proclaimed the "Beloved". The last reading was from Matthew 17: 1-9 which describes how the  experience of God's presence manifested itself to Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration.

On all these occasions the experience for those whom it touched was well out of anything that they could easily cope with. When God is present it is unmistakable. It cannot be ignored. There must be an authentic response.

The hymns, too, reflected the same theme, with the first, Hymn 102, while not mentioning light, spoke of the formless nature of God, surging where it will. Hymn 675 was more specific, praying for God's radiant light of love to shine on us, while Hymn 602 also linked God's love with his light, asking that the blaze of God's light will restore the light we give to others. Hymn 268 continued the exuberant mood speaking of the joy that God's light brings with it and then Hymn 780 was a prayer bringing us to the logical conclusion that the light that we had thought about and rejoiced in through the service would become ours and show in our eyes. Amen to that.

When John delivered his sermon, the point that struck me was that when Jesus was declared the "Beloved", the significance was that we are to follow him. Jesus' light shone brightly and unmistakably.

In Jesus we are given more than a set of rules, we are offered a relationship with the individual true light,

I don't know if John said this, but I heard: Jesus’ light is such that we don't even have to open our eyes. That light is such that it penetrates out hearts and minds, even when our eyes are shut. That penetrating light assures us of God's love and that he is calling us to a new way of living. The question is: Do we want to see?

The Prayers of Intercession were pleas that we all will see: that we all will see the way of light and how to live it in community with each other.

At the conclusion of the service with the events which are recorded as having taken plan on the Mount of Transfiguration in mind, we were sent forth:

​Let us not linger too long on this mountaintop. Go and bear God’s light to a world that longs for peace. May God our Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter walk with us now and forevermore. May the blessing of that same God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you always. Amen.