The first face of CHRIST belongs to a Ukrainian Father who is struggling to say good-bye to his young daughter. Father's Day Service Outline and Ideas. The BASILEIA ton THEON may not yet be the world we live in, but the BASILEIA ton THEON is already here. Resist the empires to which we have lost the justice which has the power to create peace. To which Jesus responded, From the cup I drink of, you will drink; the baptism I am immersed in, you will share. But on this autumn day St. Francis words provide warmth and peace. //jQuery('#submit-action').attr('href','/paupress/?rel=contact&pau_form=contact_form'); Here at this table your promise of life is made tangible. If you have not donated yet, please do so today. So, I invite you to see for yourselves. And so, with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, Send us your: ResourceEventNewsIdeasnow Leader: Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord has prepared this table for all who love him and trust in him alone for their salvation. She scooped the vase and her little girl up into her arms and carried them to the kitchen sink. Ive got to say that even though we shared the same weight class for most of our childhood, when it came to world class wrestling holds, I had him beat. Amen. Only a fool would welcome home with joy and abandon a wayward child who had used, rejected, dishonoured, and then returned only to try to use them again. Remember, should you have to choose between them in the strife, You covenanted with your people and gave them Law that showed the way of Lifea path of peace, justice, mercy, reverence, love. The response is Alithos Aneste! You placed within us and within each plant and animal of your creation amazing abilities to form and nurture new life, so that your creation might be renewed, reborn, season by season, child by child. It was quite a beginning to what promises to be an exciting journey. We love you, God, more than any chocolate, candy or toy. As we prepare for todays celebration, let us express our regret for the limits we have put on Gods Spirit at work in us. Justice will exact our tears. Somehow, the flight of the billionaire Bezos phallic Blue Horizon thrusting its five privileged passengers across our screens will capture more attention from those of us who are wealthy enough to own screens, than the roughly one and a half billion men, women, and children who are consigned to live in poverty. Surly, even Putin will come to his senses. Alleluia! ], [The Communion elements are distributed. As a result of this splendid isolation, we spent several weeks as the only family camped in this idyllic bay. We know that humans were not created as perfectly formed creatures who fell into sin. } By J. Wayne Pratt. Resist the illusion that finding what we have lost will be a sweet, harmless, story. I remember flying out of there in a hot rage. Later, at work, Anna sat down with me in the lunchroom to explain that their pastor had explained to them that he suspected that I didnt believe that God sent Jesus to die for my sins. Let us be LOVE in the world. TODAY! Let us affirm the resurrection by living as Jesus lived, embodying the LOVE which IS the DIVINE MYSTERY. And we give you thanks. Standing beneath a clear blue sky, looking out towards the horizon, I tried to breath in some of the vastness which stretched before me. If I could, I would comfort the young woman I was by reassuring her that whatever the MYSTERY which we call God is, it is not a vengeful murderer whose thirst for a blood sacrifice, compelled Him and I do mean him, to come up with a plan which required violence, torture, and a slow, painful death. } Amen. and to the one in the 1789 English Moravian Hymnal. Because when you look at the shepherd, the woman, and the father in these parables, they come do come off as reckless fools, unless they are risking all that they have for the sake of something worth risking everything for. Invitation This knowledge has to change the way in which we see our relationship with the MYSTERY that lies at the very source of our being; our Creator if you will. It can all tend to become a nice "show" or a good academic exercise, but with little impact on us as we seek to follow this Jesus. This communion liturgy seeks to be worshipful, educational and inspirational. We remember on the night when Jesus and the disciples I do deny the resurrection and Im guessing that you do too! As we recall the trusting of impotent rocket ships escaping for mere moments the confines of the empires we thrive in, do we have the courage to see our own hypocrisy? These parables cant just be about a lamb, or a coin, or even a couple of squabbling children. After the wind there was an earthquakebut YHWH was not in the earthquake. Frame 11: When life hands you a lemon make lemonade!*. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. stream
I suspect that even offering all you have to a wastrel and a scoundrel is worth a shot if it means finding peace. 3:4 Everyone who commits sin is guilty of lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. He . Through his resurrection Life you gave birth to your church, Today, it is Easter Sunday for orthodox Christians. February 19, 2023 - Transfiguration Sunday Majestic Lord, transfigure our simple gifts in a way that will inspire all people to proclaim your everlasting message of love. If you have not donated yet, please do so today. Welcome to the liturgy of The Namaste Church! While greasing her childs wrist like a cake pan, she asked the obvious mother question. How in the world did you do this, child? Crystal carefully explained that she had dropped candy down into the vase to see if she could still see it when it was at the very bottom. Followers of the Way are called to reject the myth of redemptive violence. Perhaps Jesus sensed that even their anger was a type of jockeying for position, when he insisted that, Anyone among you who aspires to greatness must serve the rest; whoever wants to rank first among you must serve the needs of all. Assurance of Pardon, Call to Confession, Confession, Easter, Easter Sunday, Year C. confession, easter, easter sunday, year c, call to confession, prayer of confession, assurance of pardon, resurrection. Repent: Metanoia: to think new thoughts Let us repent, metanoia Let us think new thoughts. Michelle L. Torigian. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. When humankind struggles, we all struggle together. by our lack of courage to say yes to the Voice within. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words we would like to share a slideshow with you that gives life both visually and in its various messages. For GOD is not safely ensconced in the Heavens and we do not need saving from our own depravity by a human sacrifice because there simply is no Hell below us. Some of these messages convey ways we might experience subtle resurrections and deaths in our everyday lives. For he is risen, and nothing separates us from Gods love! Winter, with its cold and dark days has gone, just as Good Friday has passed to Easter and beyond. To believe in the historicity of the resurrection is one thing. He is risen indeed! Nor were they trying to teach us to live as reckless fools. We have rested in the depth of your love; Then he said to them, Today, in your hearing, this scripture passage is fulfilled., Words 2004 Hope Publishing Company; LiscenSing 1975, When It Comes to Resurrection, We Look For What We Have Been Conditioned to See! Faith and EthicsKaren Armstrong is amongst a group of religious scholars who have noted that the essential teaching of each of the major religions usually includes some version of "love your neighbour". Easter is the sky that encloses the broken egg. It is the vison of the foolish who are prepared to risk it all for the sake of what we have lost, the SHALOM we long for. Whilst many were written for specific purposes or occasions, many are adaptable to suit others. History should have taught us by now that that justice and not violence is the way to peace. The EMPIRE OF DIVINITY is not yet here. Sign up for our FREE monthly eNewsletter! I just knew that if God really did come up with such a barbaric bargain, then God must be in league with the Devil himself. Just like Thomas, who had the good sense to doubt the resurrection, most of us have been conditioned to look for the physical resuscitation of a corpse; a bonified, pardon the pun, a bonified, actual physical body, complete with wounds and all. Easter is the festival of the irrepressible God whom not even death can contain. Forget about the rude remarks. 'It is always Springtime in the heart that loves God.'. So, I waved and was gifted by their own energetic response. Resurrection is a statement of how reality works. and we bless the earth and all that fills it. Psalm 25:1-10. What could possibly compel Jesus friends and neighbours to consider homicide? *Leader: Congregation of Jesus Christ, since the Lord has blessed us with his Word (and Holy Supper), let us praise his name with thanksgiving. For Christ is risen! Can we ever learn to see the face of CHRIST in one such as him? I do know that the followers of Jesus held dear their vison of Jesus, in whom they saw the CHRIST. God is with you! If you have already donated, thank you! Practicing resurrection happens when we empower one another to rise.Practicing resurrection happens when we build communities of compassion that live fully, love extravagantly, and empower people to be all that they were created to be. Pray deeply, reverently, and then fast-forward to the music. Dont try to see yourself as a character in the story. Unlike our ancestors who succeeded the writers of the bible and went on to develop the theology of the church, we dont believe that the round earth is the center of the universe. Once again, I struggled to keep a straight face. For those of you preaching on the text fromGenesis 32:3-31: You may not be able to tell from looking at me. A reading from 1st Corinthians chapter 13: When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child. Would leave ninety-nine sheep to look for one lost sheep. Last week, I compiled a list of online video resources for worship. The basileia ton THEON, the Empire of GOD, the GOD which Jesus knew as ABBA, a LOVING PARENT, the basileia ton THEON, the Reign of the GOD that IS LOVE, where justice and not violence creates the kind of peace in which everyone has enough to live the abundant life Jesus insisted he came to give to the world. accept our lives as holy offerings to you, There is so much more we can do and offer our readership with your support! At the time, I didnt know what the word countenance meant. Heavenly bodies have a beauty of their own, and earthly bodies have a beauty of their own. delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made us a new people. Try as I might, I could never convince either of them that I was saved by grace. As for that little Ukrainian family, what do we do in the wake of their tears? If we begin with what is actually happening in these parables, we will have to confess that these parables of the lost and the found are simply outrageous. Gracious God, I know it is much easier to poke fun at billionaires and lay the blame for suffering at the feet of self-serving fools. When he placed his hand on my forehead, I stiffened my entire being, because there was no way I was going down. Alas, if only. 2014-04-20 liturgy [Easter sunrise] Author: Mike Farley Not if it means risking all that we have for the sake of Jesus vision of peace through justice. Lectionary sermon for 2 October 2022 on Luke 17: 5-10. //jQuery('#submit-action').attr('href','/paupress/?rel=pauContent&pau_type='+thisact); Lent is observed in the Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian, Oriental . and out of the death of the old comes the birth of the new. At every opportunity that our busy schedules allowed us, Anna and Steve did their level best to save me from my wicked ways. Even though we may be worshiping in individual spaces, Through the Spirit, we are forever united. Amen. Lectionary, study and worship resources from Faith Futures Jesus Then & Now. with the Son, God the Father praising;"Alleluia!" Even our ancient Greek forebearers, they understood that if horses had gods those gods would be horses. Their pastor had warned them that my countenance was putting us all in danger. Office for Worship, Doctrine and Artistic Matters, Church of Scotland, 2017. Jesus Way of being in the world rejects the myth of redemptive violence. I will only attempt to take you where this story took me out there on the ice of Lake Simcoe. The followers of Jesus were lifted up from a crouching or cowering position as they boldly proclaimed what they had learned from Jesus. We know that humans have been evolving over millennia. Pachena Bay is by far one of the most beautiful places in all of creation. Welcome to Contemporary Liturgy website. Frame 8: When you make the biggest mistake ever,something good comes from it.*. So, Im trusting that it doesnt much matter whether or not you or I or anyone believes or doesnt believe in the physical resuscitation of Jesus corpse. Mortal tongues and angels say: Alleluia! Thank you. As we receive Communion, these words are said: You are the Bread of Life. Theologian Richard Rohr reminds us that the CHRIST is the Christian code word for REALITY. Easter offers meaning and hope to all people. Christianitys morbid preoccupation with Jesus violent death will not usher in the Kin-dom of DIVINITY which Jesus lived for. Especially when what was lost is restored. if ( thisact == "contact" ) { Let it go. Sure enough, the vase slipped off as smooth as silk. Try to hear the word ransom not with ears blocked by centuries of perverse theological atonement theories. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Christ is risen. Infused, inspired, and incarnating as CHRISTs body, as LOVE here and now in this place and in this time, we are anointed to this bring Good News to the poor and to free the captives! For all who are striving to form new governments, for thepeople of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine: that God will enlighten and inspiretheir leaders to build structures that will respect rights, promote life andhealth and establish educational and economic opportunities. Faced with the task of communicating the gospel, the early followers of the risen Christ, began to articulate experiences of the risen Christ in ways that the Greek influenced Roman Empire could understand giving rise (pardon the pun), giving rise to the question of a physical resurrection. Close with quote from Michael Morwood: In nature we see superb aspects of transformation in supernovas exploding and in their dying giving birth to new possibilities resurrection producing abundant life. A Communion Liturgy for the Whole People of God. Your coming we await with hope. Alleluia! May 23, 2022 | Father's Day, Uncategorized. A Liturgical and Devotional Guide for Lent When we face pain and suffering, we often feel like we become less than human. of our connectedness with God and with all people. We rejoice that Jesus lives on, as we all will, in the reality we call God. But lately, the news has encouraged us all to begin to emerge from our pandemic protocols. I had been watching the media reports for days, not really believing that war was imminent. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. But sometimes letting go is the only way to preserve the integrity of the heirloom. In the eating of this bread, as Christs body, and in the sharing of this cup, as Christs blood, Living as the Vine and Branches in the Era of COVID-19: A Worship Liturgy. Instead, I was blessed by two, I dont know if they were my brothers or my sisters or one of each. /* Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me.]. Nothing that exists is ever completely destroyed. The PROMISED ONE has come not to be served, but to serveto give one life in ransom for the many.. In this, the 21st century, there is a movement among progressive Christians that focuses more on who Jesus was and why he had such an impact on the world rather than his death. These tears will wash away our illusions of a quick fix and wipe away our delusions that by violently enforcing the status quo we can create peace. This week, two events stand in stark contrast to one another. Grandma sat little Crystal on her knee. Our parents were sound asleep when the whales arrived. Many: On this day, we celebrate resurrection in our lives. Metanoia is an invitation to think new thoughts. Let me attempt to be kinder than the Apostle, whose willingness to call his opponents stupid, I do not share. As the night lengthened, Jesus took a simple portion of bread. Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, Mass During the Day: O God, who on this day, through your Only Begotten . For more than a decade and a half churches around the world have been relying on Sacredise for prayers, liturgies, sermon starters, and devotional materials to help them create worship gatherings that draw people in and that connect them more deeply with God, themselves, others, and our world. Crystal was very upset and still very stuck. You would be correct to conclude that I do believe in resurrection. May the Spirit open our souls in order for us to see humanity, God and creation through the eyes of Jesus. What matters is that LOVE rises. Let it be so. The story I want to tell you comes from the Irish author Frank McCourts autobiography entitled Tis. /* The Timeless Psalms: Psalm 148, Easter 5C, Joan Stott, prayers and meditations based on lectionary Psalms, 2016. In Jesus they saw CHRIST. People: We praise you, Lord, for these gifts of bread and wine. Limitations which the evolving nature of our understanding of reality compel us to reject. Well, with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek let me blame it on a dog. So, it made it difficult for us to work up much speed. How double-dog dare I? Salvation is about making us whole, ONE with one another and ONE with the ONE who is as Jesus taught with his very life is the LOVE we call GOD. We have technology and access to wisdom. Repent: Metanoia: to think new thoughts Let us repent, metanoia Let us think new thoughts. Vladimir Putin created in the image of the DIVINE. } HOMILY: Resurrection Springing to New Life. February 11th, 2013. Lift up your hearts. We just knew what we knew. 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