Worship Service for May 12, 2024

May 12, 2024 – Seventh Sunday of Easter

Introit

Prelude

Lighting of the Christ Candle

This is the Christ Candle. We light the candle to help us remember that Jesus Christ, the light of the world, is with us in every place and every time.

Call to Worship

(based on Ephesians 3)

One: We gather in the presence of God, through whom all families on earth receive their life and their name.
All: We wish to be strengthened in our inner selves, that Christ may dwell in our hearts.

One: We seek to be rooted and grounded in God’s love and in the love of Christ which surpasses understanding.
All: We come to worship and to praise the source of love and peace.

All: Glory be to God in the church and in Jesus Christ to all generations forever and ever.

Opening Hymn

“God is love: come heaven, adoring” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 314). Words (1922) by English clergyman Timothy Rees (1874–1939). Music (1941; tune “Abbot’s Leigh”) by English clergyman Cyril Vincent Taylor (1907–1991). Words copyright © The Presbyterian Church in Canada, 1997. Music copyright © 1942, renewed 1970 Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

Prayers of Approach and Confession, & Lord’s Prayer (sins)

God of promise and purpose, we praise with thankful hearts. As the beauty of the seasons change the beauty of your world lifts our hearts in praise. You lifted up Jesus to be by your side, and so we know he is always by our side as the future opens before us. Show us the promise and purpose in our own lives – how we can unfurl with new life, and move into the future empowered by the Holy Spirit, embraced by the love of Christ our Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, you called your followers to carry the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness to the ends of the earth. Yet we confess we cannot always find the words to tell others of our faith. We try to act out your love. but it’s hard to tell others why we do what we do for you. Forgive us. Give us the courage to speak openly of our commitment to you.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
Amen.

Declaration of Pardon

Friends, remember the promise the Apostle Paul declares: What will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship? Distress? Peril or sword? Neither death nor life, nor things present nor things to come can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Let us rejoice that, no matter what is happening around us, no matter what we have done, God’s deep love will never let us go.
All: Thanks be to God!

The Peace

One: The Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
All: And also with you.

The Life and Work of the Church (Announcements)

GCPC Senior Choir presents

“The Lord’s Prayer”. Music by Paul R. Isensee. This choral arrangement (1981) by American composer and arranger Jack Schrader (1942–). Words public domain. Arrangement copyright © 1981 Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

Fun with the Young at Heart (children’s story)

We sing verse 1 of “Jesus loves me this I know”.

“Jesus loves me, this I know” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 373). Words (1859 or 1860) by American writer Anna Bartlett Warner (1827–1915). Revisions to v2 and v3 by Canadian Anglican priest David Rutherford McGuire (1929–1971). Music (1862; tune: “Jesus loves me”) by American musician William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868). Words, revisions, and music in the public domain.

Scripture Readings

1 Peter 2: 2–10  <– these link to on-line texts of the NRSV bible
John 2: 1–12

Click here for additional scripture readings from today’s lectionary. Links courtesy of the Revised Common Lectionary, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.

Sermon

Water Into Wine — Changing the Ordinary into the Extraordinary

Jesus attended a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, and before he left, he performed a miracle. He changed water into wine.

Most of the miracles recorded in the gospels have to do with sickness. They show Jesus as healer, as alleviator of suffering. The miracles are for helping others, not sensationalism, not to prove anything. Jesus himself makes a point of toning them down. So what about this miracle? It sounds pretty sensational. It doesn’t really alleviate suffering. I really don’t think anybody was going to die if they didn’t get any wine. Maybe the host would be a little embarrassed. None of the other gospels record this miracle. Why does John include it? Why, 70 years after it happened, does he remember it and think it important enough to write down?

For John, miracles are not just events in themselves but signs that point to greater truths. The miracles recorded in John’s gospel signify something. He doesn’t use the word miracle, but rather, the word sign.

Thus, the feeding of the 5,000 points to Jesus as the supplier of our needs. And it is followed by the passage about Jesus as the Bread of Life. We read a section about Jesus being the Light of the World, and then John records the sign of the giving of sight to the man born blind. Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead and this leads into a discourse on Christ as the resurrection and the life. In John’s gospel the miracles are signs, telling us something about Jesus and what he does for us.

Turning water into wine, we are told, was the first of the signs and wonders he performed, and as such it is significant because it sets the pattern of Jesus’ whole ministry.

It is the sign of transformation, of taking the ordinary and changing it into the extraordinary, of taking something dull and making it shine with brilliance, of taking something poor and making it rich.

This passage of scripture from John was read at my wedding. I remember a friend of mine, who knew it was going to be a dry, non-alcoholic reception, remarking that when she heard the scriptures about Jesus turning the water into wine, she couldn’t help but hope that lightning would strike twice. It didn’t. At least not in a literal sense. The water stayed H₂O. Yet there is a sense in which Jesus can take ordinary people living together in families and turn that into something extraordinary, take the stuff of how this world operates, and turn it into material fit for the family of God.

It’s Mother’s Day, in the church, Christian Family Sunday. Families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. No family is more “Christian” in God’s eyes because of its make-up, you know, 2 parents, 1.8 children. No family is immune from the forces assaulting it from without and within. The Rev. Charlotte Stuart ministered at St. John’s on Broadview for 27 years, 1982 – 2009. She died two weeks ago at the age of 84. Here’s Charlotte, speaking about Christian Family Sunday: “During the years that I have had the privilege of leading worship I have looked over congregations and seen many families. I see single parent families and two parent families, I see families without children. I see widows and widowers, and people who have never married, couples whose children once went to church, but no longer do. I see families in disarray. I see grief and pain, joys and celebrations, tensions, anger and unfaithfulness.”

How can Jesus Christ make a difference? How does that transforming power that changes water into wine work in our families? What gifts does Jesus bring to us individually that make such a difference in our families?”

The passage we read from 1 Peter can help us here. First of all, Christ brings us the gift of acceptance into an even larger family, into the family of God, and that acceptance filters down through every human relationship of which we are a part. All those wonderful phrases from the passage: “a chosen race, a holy nation, God’s own people, Once you were a nobody, but because of what God has done in Christ you are a somebody, loved, accepted by God.” It can be a mean, lonely world out there, a world of fast change and fierce competition. It’s good to be wanted, accepted, to belong.

Tony Campolo says God is like your grandmother. God has a wallet full of photos, loves to take them out and say: “have you seen my Billy!” God is crazy about us.

Campolo tells another story about a time when he was asked to pray at an Assembly at the college where he taught. In his churchiest voice he began: “Almighty God, holy, omnipotent, ruler of the universe, we your worthless servants” and the President of the college called out: “hold it, we are not worthless. Unworthy yes, but not worthless. God loves us, we are not worthless, now go on with your prayer.”

If we can get a handle on this acceptance, then maybe we can accept ourselves, love ourselves, feel comfortable with ourselves, not in a complacent way where we refuse to be challenged but more a healthy self-esteem. God loves me, I am not worthless.

When we don’t feel comfortable with ourselves, don’t like who we are, we are always bringing our garbage into every relationship we attempt, trying to live through somebody else, or dumping our expectations on them.

Or when we are unsure of ourselves, as parents, as children, as spouses, we say what we don’t mean, or make a hasty judgement or take the easy, inconsistent way out. It’s like when my brother umpired baseball games. When he was sure of a call, he calmly, firmly made it, despite the ranting of coaches, fans, players. When he was unsure, he joined the ranting, became dogmatic. When we are out of balance, it is the people closest to us, our families, who suffer.

When we are at ease with ourselves, we can forget ourselves and put our energy into our relationships. Maybe that’s a little bit of what Jesus meant when he said whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.

God sends his son, shows us he loves us. His acceptance of us, just because we exist is the first step in our gaining the self-confidence, the self-forgetfulness that transforms family living, that moves us, in Peter’s words, out of darkness, into his marvelous light.

A second gift Christ brings to us, closely connected with acceptance, and so essential for family living is the gift of forgiveness. How many rifts are there between brother/sister, parent/child, husband/wife because of the difficult task of forgiveness?

A friend of mine has 8 children. I have fond memories of visiting with her while she was still in her own home, sitting at her table, drinking tea and eating her chocolate chip cookies. She would talk about the old days: “10 meals, 3 times a day, 7 days a week, and that’s not playing ping pong.” she would say. She is now 95 years old. She lives in a nursing home. Only one of her eight children visits her. They all live close by. She said to me one day: “When I die, I want a closed casket. They don’t come to see me when I am alive. They won’t see me when I’m dead.” Now that’s a tragedy. I don’t know what has happened to cause this rift but whatever it is, it isn’t worth such pain. Nothing is. Life is too short. Somewhere, somehow, forgiveness is needed.

It is a great gift Jesus brings to our families, forgiveness. Peter writes: “Once we had not received mercy, now we have received mercy.” How many times do we mess up as parents, children, siblings? How many times do we need the gift of forgiveness? I have always loved that part of the Explorer prayer: “Forgive us when we fail and give us courage to try again.” And God does, over and over again.

If we can get a handle on the fact that God in Jesus Christ offers forgiveness, that God Almighty offers us another opportunity, then maybe we can “not think of ourselves more highly than we ought”, but in humility offer forgiveness, love and support to those who have wronged us. It doesn’t mean we let our kids get away with murder. That is not a loving response. Discipline in the true sense of the word means direction in love. It doesn’t mean that no marriage will ever break up, but perhaps that ex-spouses can treat each other with dignity and respect. It does mean that bitterness will not work away at our own souls with its deadly poison, stifling the fullness of life Christ offers us.

And, from Peter, a third gift Christ brings to us: a sense of direction, of purpose: “We are God’s own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God who called us out of darkness into his own marvelous light.” This purpose gives us a measuring stick for making decisions within our families, from what we will do on vacation to what we will purchase at the store. What we say and do makes a statement about what we believe, about what makes us tick. There are so many decisions to be made today, so many different directions in which we can go. Knowing which is the best way is not always easy or clear cut. Christ tells us to seek first God’s kingdom, and declares that then everything else will fall into place. He helps us put things in priority by asking us to give God top priority. Our primary task is to proclaim in word and deed the wonderful acts of God.

I remember back about the time that Noah was coming off the ark, Bob and I were expecting our first child. We were at a pre-natal class. The instructor, speaking to the men, said, “If you want to be good fathers to your children, love your children’s mother.” In a similar vein, if you want to be good members of a family, love God. Peter, using what might well be parts of the baptismal liturgy of the early church, describes for us the family of God: “God’s people, accepted, forgiven, challenged.” It is these gifts to each one of us that can transform our family living today, whether the nuclear family be made up of 1 member or 25.

There is an old expression in my family: “Where 2 or 3 are gathered together, one of them will spill their milk.” Now, you know the real quote is Jesus’ words: Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” In our church family, in our individual families, Christ is there in the midst of us, with his transforming presence, accepting us, forgiving us, giving us direction and purpose.

Jesus attended a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee and turned water into wine. By his grace, we receive from him today no less a miracle.

Hymn

“This is my commandment” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 694). Words John 15:11–12. Music (tune: “This Is My Commandment”) anonymous. Words and music public domain.

Offering

As Jesus gave himself for us, let us return to God the offerings of our life and the gifts of the earth.

Musical Reflection

We remind everyone that we must continue to pay our bills; in the absence of being present at Sunday worship, you may sign up for pre-authorized remittance (PAR), donate online, or drop off your offering envelope in the mailbox at the church. Do not leave a cash donation unattended in the mailbox; instead, please call the office (416.261.4037) to ensure someone will be there to receive it. The building will be checked daily for mail and phone messages. If you are not comfortable leaving an envelope, you are welcome to contact the office (once again, 416.261.4037) and someone will pick up your offering.

Dedication of our Gifts

Our offering will now be received.

Doxology 306

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 306). Based on the tune “Old 100^th” with words (1989) by English hymnwriter Brian A. Wren (1936–). Words copyright © 1989 Hope Publishing Co.; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A. Music public domain.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise God all creatures high and low;
praise God in Jesus fully known,
Creator Word and Spirit One.

Prayer of dedication

Spirit of grace and power, bless the gifts we offer so that they may accomplish surprising things in Jesus’ name. Bless our lives, too, so that our words and actions bear witness to Jesus’ love and mercy each and every day.  Amen.

The Prayer of Thanksgiving and Hope

Generous God, for all the signs of love and goodness in the world we give you thanks and praise. We thank you for our families, for their place as vehicles of your love and compassion, for how in them we may have first learned of your love, and were taught to love, for the good times and bad, the joys and struggles that are lived out together in the mutual support and love that our families provide.

We pray for our families, that they would be all that you made them to be, that within them, love may be shared, encouragement given, that needs may be expressed and forgiveness offered. Help our homes to be holy places where all are loved and respected, where support and safety can be found, and where your name is honoured and glorified.

We pray for those whose home is not a happy place, but a place of emptiness, hatred, abuse. Enable us to work to change these situations. Work in the hearts and minds of all women, men and children, so that hurts may be overcome, love restored, relationships renewed, and wholeness regained through your love.

We pray for our church family here at Guildwood. Help it to be truly a supportive, caring community, where your word is heard and lived, where fellowship with one another is full of joy and caring, and where the good news of your love is spread out into the community.

On this day in which we honour mothers: For all the mothers who are still with us, and for those who have died we give thanks today.

For all those who mothered us, some in addition to our own mothers, some in place of absent mothers, we recognize them, and give thanks for them.

For all women who have been figures of grace and love in our lives, their example has been meaningful to us. We give thanks for them.

Compassionate God: Console those denied the chance to celebrate Mother’s Day, the abandoned, the separated, the disappointed; bring us all together as your family of faith. Sustain those who mourn loved ones; for whom today is a day of grief. Comfort us with the wellspring of our memories.

We pray for the global family. For those struggling for peace and freedom, Israel/Palestine, Ukraine. We pray for peace. For those who are hungry, homeless, lacking basic needs. The solutions to these problems are complex. Help us individually and as a nation to listen, to work together to help.

Loving God, who made all people of the world to be one human family, living together in harmony, grant that our homes, by their work and their witness help to hasten the day when your will is done on earth as it is in heaven; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord we pray, AMEN.

Closing Hymn

“Although I speak with angel’s tongue” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 695). Words (1995; paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13) by Canadian composer, church musician, and co-editor of the 1997 Book of Praise Andrew Donaldson (1951–). Music (tune: “She’s like the swallow”) Newfoundland traditional; arrangement (1995) also by Donaldson. Music public domain. Words paraphrase and arrangement copyright © 1995 Andrew Donaldson; used by permission of One License, license number 722141-A.

Changing the Light

Now, it is time to change the light. The light that was in one place can now be in every place and every time going with you wherever you go.

Benediction

May God, who gave birth to all creation, bless us:
may God, who became incarnate by an earthly mother, bless us:
may God, who broods as a mother over her children, bless us.
May almighty God bless us now and for ever.
AMEN.

Blessing

“Danish Amen” (Book of Praise 1997, Hymn 780). Words and music (tune: “Amen (Danish)”) traditional. Words and music public domain.

Postlude

Copyright © 2024 Guildwood Community Presbyterian Church

Last updated 2024-05-10 23:10 – First version.