WEBVTT

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(organ music)

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<v ->Good morning and welcome to this service of worship</v>

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here at Duke Chapel.

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We remind those of you who are locals

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that we have over a dozen different worship services

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every week here in the chapel.

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Among them are noon prayer every weekday in Memorial Chapel.

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Also every Thursday at 5:15 is a service of Choral Vespers

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in Memorial Chapel that is having increasing popularity

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with many in our community.

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And this Wednesday is another in our series

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of lunch time chamber concerts at 12:30 here in the chapel.

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We're glad to have you with us.

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Let us continue our worship.

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♪ Beautiful Savior ♪

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♪ Lord of all nations ♪

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♪ Son of God and Son of Man ♪

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♪ Glory and honor ♪

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♪ Praise, adoration ♪

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♪ Now and forevermore be thine ♪

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♪ Now and forevermore be thine ♪

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(organ music)

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♪ All creatures of our God and king ♪

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♪ Lift up your voice and with us sing ♪

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♪ Alleluia, alleluia ♪

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♪ Thou, burning sun with golden beam ♪

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♪ Thou, silver moon with softer gleam ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, Oh praise him ♪

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♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia ♪

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♪ Thou rushing wind that art so strong ♪

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♪ Ye clouds that sail in heaven along ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, alleluia ♪

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♪ Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice ♪

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♪ Ye lights of evening find a voice ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, oh praise him ♪

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♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia ♪

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♪ Thou flowing water, pure and clear ♪

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♪ Make music for thy Lord to hear ♪

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♪ Alleluia, alleluia ♪

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♪ Thou fire so masterful and bright ♪

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♪ That givest man both warmth and light ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, oh praise him ♪

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♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia ♪

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♪ Dear mother earth, who day by day ♪

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♪ Unfoldest blessings on our way ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, alleluia ♪

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♪ The flowers and fruits that in thee grow ♪

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♪ Let them his glory also show ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, oh praise him ♪

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♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia ♪

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♪ And all ye men of tender heart ♪

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♪ Forgiving others, take your part ♪

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♪ Oh sing ye, alleluia ♪

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♪ Ye who long pain and sorrow bear ♪

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♪ Praise God and on him cast your care ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, oh praise him ♪

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♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia ♪

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♪ And thou most kind and gentle death ♪

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♪ Waiting to hush our latest breath ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, alleluia ♪

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♪ Thou leadest home the child of God ♪

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♪ And Christ our Lord the way hath trod ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, oh praise him ♪

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♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia ♪

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♪ Let all things their creator bless ♪

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♪ And worship him in humbleness ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, alleluia ♪

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♪ Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son ♪

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♪ And praise the Spirit, Three in One ♪

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♪ Oh praise him, oh praise him ♪

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♪ Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia ♪

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<v ->Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready</v>

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to hear than we to pray, and to give more

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than either we desire or deserve.

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Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,

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forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,

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and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy

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to ask except through the merits and mediation

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of Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you

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and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.

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Amen.

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<v ->Let us pray.</v>

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<v All>Open our hearts and minds, oh God,</v>

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by the power of your Holy Spirit

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so that is the word is read and proclaimed

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we might hear with joy what you say to us this day.

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Amen.

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<v ->The first lesson is taken from the Book of Isaiah.</v>

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Oh Lord, thou art my God.

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I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name

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for thou has done wonderful things,

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plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

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For thou has made the city a heap,

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the fortified city a ruin,

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the palace of aliens is a city no more.

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It will never be rebuilt.

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Therefore, strong peoples will glorify thee,

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cities of ruthless nations will fear thee,

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for thou has been a stronghold to the poor,

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a stronghold to the needy in their distress,

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a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.

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For the blast of the ruthless

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is like a storm against a wall,

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like heat in a dry place.

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Thou dost subdue the noise of the aliens

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as heat by the shade of a cloud

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so the song of the ruthless is stilled.

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On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will make for all

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peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees,

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of fat things full of marrow,

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of wine on the lees well refined.

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And God will destroy on this mountain

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the covering that is cast over all peoples,

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the veil that is spread over all nations.

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The Lord will swallow up death forever

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and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.

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And the reproach of God's people,

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the Lord will take away from all the earth.

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For the Lord has spoken.

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It will be said on that day, lo, this is our God.

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We have waited for God that he might save us.

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This is the Lord, we have waited for him.

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Let us be glad and rejoice in God's salvation

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for the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain.

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Here ends the first lesson.

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(organ music)

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(congregation singing)

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(organ music)

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(congregation singing)

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<v ->A reading from the gospel according to Saint Matthew.</v>

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And again, Jesus spoke to them in parables saying,

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the realm of heaven may be compared to a king

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who gave a marriage feast for his son

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and sent his servants to call those who were invited

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to the marriage feast, but they would not come,

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Again, he sent other servants saying,

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tell those who are invited behold,

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I have made ready my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves

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are killed and everything is ready.

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Come to the marriage feast.

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But they made light of it and went off, one to a farm,

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another to business, while the rest seized his servants,

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treated them shamefully and killed them.

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The king was angry and he sent his troops

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and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

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Then he said to his servants, the wedding is ready

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but those invited were not worthy.

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Go therefore to the thoroughfares

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and invite to the marriage feast as many as you find.

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And those servants went out into the streets

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and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good,

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so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

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But when the king came in to look at the guests,

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he saw there someone who had no wedding garment

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and he said to the guest, friend,

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how did you get in here without a wedding garment?

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And the guest was speechless.

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Then the king said to the attendants,

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bind this one hand and foot and cast this person

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into the outer darkness.

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There, men and women will weep and gnash their teeth

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for many are called, but few are chosen.

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Here ends the gospel.

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(organ music)

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(choir singing)

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<v ->The lesson from Paul's letter to the Philippians.</v>

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I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length

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you have revived your concern for me.

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You were indeed concerned for me,

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but you had no opportunity.

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Not that I complain of want for I have learned

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in whatever state I am to be content.

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I know how to be abased and I know how to abound.

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In any and all circumstances, I have learned the secret

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of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want,

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I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

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Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble,

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and you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning

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of the gospel when I left Macedonia,

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no church entered into partnership with me

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except only you, for even in Thessalonica,

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you sent me help once and again.

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Not that I seek the gift,

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but I seek the fruit which increases to your credit.

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I have already received full payment and more.

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I am filled having received from Epaphroditus

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the gifts which you sent, and my God will supply

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every need of yours according to his riches

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in glory in Christ Jesus.

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To our God and Father be glory, for ever and ever.

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Amen.

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Frankly, I didn't want to be at the meeting that night.

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I detest meetings, even church meetings.

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Especially church meetings.

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But as the representative to the board

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from the Commission on Ecumenical Basketball,

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I felt that I should be there at the monthly meeting

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of the board.

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We met in the Seekers Sunday School classroom.

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We sat in rows of fold out metal chairs.

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There was prayer,

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and then the minutes of last month's meeting were read.

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And the chairman rose and said, I call to order this meeting

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of the board of First Church Philippi.

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Paul, as many of you know,

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someone who's meant a great deal to our church, is in jail.

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Caesar's got him.

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Oh, he might've been free, but Paul wanted a trial in Rome

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and so now he's in Rome awaiting a fate there

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which from all accounts can't be good.

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And later in this meeting, I want you to know

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that we'll have prayer for Paul and then we'll receive

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a love offering which we will send to him

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to strengthen him in his time of trouble.

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Oh, what happened to the last love offering we sent Paul,

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said a voice toward the rear of the room.

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There was muffled, mumbling.

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Well, if you'll just let me finish, Gladys,

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I was trying to tell you that tonight we have received

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a letter from Paul, written in his own hand,

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straight from prison,

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a letter smuggled out by Epaphroditus.

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You remember, we sent Epaphroditus to Rome

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to take Paul the cookies and the check,

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the love offering which we received,

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and Epaphroditus has brought a letter from Paul

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expressing no doubt, Paul's gratitude for what we sent him.

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Now knowing what a good letter Paul can write

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and how he's been on our minds constantly,

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let's disperse with the other business

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and I'll get on with reading the letter.

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And I'll skip over the details and just share

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the important things with you.

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Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

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et cetera, grace and peace to you from God.

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I want you to know that what has happened to me

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has really served to advance the gospel

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so that it has become known throughout the whole

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Praetorian Guard and all the rest

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that my imprisonment is for Christ.

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He's in prison because he ran afoul of Felix

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and Agrippa on the law actually, chirped up Gladys.

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Well, we know that Gladys, but you know Paul,

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he's probably trying to put the best face on things.

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Power of positive thinking, stiff upper lip and all, right.

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Would you allow me to continue, please?

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For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

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If it is to be life in the flesh,

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that means fruitful labor for me.

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Well, let's skip over this,

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there's a good deal of this and that.

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Do all things without grumbling or questioning.

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Be glad and rejoice with me.

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What does it say about the gifts,

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the cookies, the money?

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00:31:38.635 --> 00:31:40.610
Yeah, what did he say about the money we sent him?

257
00:31:40.610 --> 00:31:42.482
Well, let's see.

258
00:31:42.482 --> 00:31:46.470
Here he says, look out for the dogs,

259
00:31:46.470 --> 00:31:49.120
look out for evil doers,

260
00:31:49.120 --> 00:31:52.060
look out for those who mutilate the flesh.

261
00:31:52.060 --> 00:31:53.020
Mutilate what?

262
00:31:53.020 --> 00:31:54.086
Dogs, what?

263
00:31:54.086 --> 00:31:56.027
Well you know, Paul.

264
00:31:56.027 --> 00:31:58.480
For many of whom I have often told you,

265
00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:00.880
and now tell you even with tears,

266
00:32:00.880 --> 00:32:02.960
are enemies of the cross of Christ.

267
00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:05.330
Their god is their belly.

268
00:32:05.330 --> 00:32:06.163
Belly?

269
00:32:06.163 --> 00:32:09.392
What about the stuff we sent him?

270
00:32:09.392 --> 00:32:12.360
I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche

271
00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:16.085
to agree in the Lord.

272
00:32:16.085 --> 00:32:18.990
Now who told him about Euodia and Syntyche?

273
00:32:18.990 --> 00:32:20.409
Epaphroditus, we told you to just

274
00:32:20.409 --> 00:32:21.634
to take the package up there,

275
00:32:21.634 --> 00:32:25.594
not to go telling tales on Euodia and Syntyche.

276
00:32:25.594 --> 00:32:28.053
Well, things we're now in an uproar.

277
00:32:28.053 --> 00:32:30.587
The meeting was in danger of disintegrating.

278
00:32:30.587 --> 00:32:33.060
Might be worse than last year's board meeting

279
00:32:33.060 --> 00:32:35.360
when we had that big row over whether to invite

280
00:32:35.360 --> 00:32:39.370
the gospel dog act for Church School Rally Day.

281
00:32:39.370 --> 00:32:40.930
Oh wait, wait, said the chairman.

282
00:32:40.930 --> 00:32:42.948
Here it is, here it is.

283
00:32:42.948 --> 00:32:45.986
That's about time he mentioned the gifts, said Gladys.

284
00:32:45.986 --> 00:32:50.811
I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length

285
00:32:50.811 --> 00:32:54.023
you have revived your concern for me.

286
00:32:54.023 --> 00:32:56.339
What does he mean by "at length,"

287
00:32:56.339 --> 00:32:57.496
a voice said toward the rear.

288
00:32:57.496 --> 00:33:00.364
We got there as quick as we could.

289
00:33:00.364 --> 00:33:02.230
You were indeed concerned for me,

290
00:33:02.230 --> 00:33:04.540
but you had no opportunity.

291
00:33:04.540 --> 00:33:06.840
Not that I complain of want for I have learned

292
00:33:06.840 --> 00:33:09.908
in whatever state I am to be content.

293
00:33:09.908 --> 00:33:12.085
I know how to be abased.

294
00:33:12.085 --> 00:33:14.550
I know how to abound.

295
00:33:14.550 --> 00:33:16.210
In any and all circumstances,

296
00:33:16.210 --> 00:33:20.260
I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,

297
00:33:20.260 --> 00:33:21.350
abundance and want.

298
00:33:21.350 --> 00:33:25.840
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

299
00:33:25.840 --> 00:33:28.790
Yet it was kind of you to share in my trouble.

300
00:33:28.790 --> 00:33:31.520
Even in Thessalonica, you sent me.

301
00:33:31.520 --> 00:33:33.420
Not that I seek the gift,

302
00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:37.049
having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent

303
00:33:37.049 --> 00:33:39.530
and my God will supply every need of yours

304
00:33:39.530 --> 00:33:43.351
according to his riches in glory in Jesus Christ,

305
00:33:43.351 --> 00:33:48.320
to God our Father be glory forever and ever.

306
00:33:48.320 --> 00:33:50.353
Amen.

307
00:33:50.353 --> 00:33:55.300
And that's the end of his letter.

308
00:33:55.300 --> 00:33:58.540
Well, did I miss something, asked Gladys

309
00:33:58.540 --> 00:34:01.610
after an awkward silence.

310
00:34:01.610 --> 00:34:04.780
Well, Paul's just eaten up with gratitude isn't he,

311
00:34:04.780 --> 00:34:08.533
said some wag in the back of the room.

312
00:34:08.533 --> 00:34:12.160
It took him the whole letter to get around to saying thanks.

313
00:34:12.160 --> 00:34:17.002
Then he never really said thanks, said another.

314
00:34:17.002 --> 00:34:18.950
Well, that Paul's a good letter writer,

315
00:34:18.950 --> 00:34:21.560
but he sure doesn't know how to write a thank you note,

316
00:34:21.560 --> 00:34:23.945
said somebody else.

317
00:34:23.945 --> 00:34:28.360
Oh, sure, said Herbert Smeed, sure he preaches grace,

318
00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:31.490
but when it comes to accepting a little Philippian grace,

319
00:34:31.490 --> 00:34:33.730
he doesn't know what to do with it.

320
00:34:33.730 --> 00:34:38.730
And what did he mean by you had no opportunity and at length

321
00:34:39.220 --> 00:34:44.220
and not that I complain and not that I ever sought the gift.

322
00:34:45.010 --> 00:34:48.682
Well, said Myrtle, it just all goes to show

323
00:34:48.682 --> 00:34:51.482
that preachers are human too.

324
00:34:51.482 --> 00:34:55.823
Well Paul's a little too human for me, Herbert said.

325
00:34:55.823 --> 00:35:00.040
Look, said someone, show a little consideration.

326
00:35:00.040 --> 00:35:01.390
What you're reading there in that letter

327
00:35:01.390 --> 00:35:03.800
are the words of a man in prison.

328
00:35:03.800 --> 00:35:05.070
I know what it's like to be in prison,

329
00:35:05.070 --> 00:35:07.081
I was in prison during the last persecution

330
00:35:07.081 --> 00:35:08.790
four or five months.

331
00:35:08.790 --> 00:35:10.840
Starts to work on a man.

332
00:35:10.840 --> 00:35:12.080
You lose interest in things,

333
00:35:12.080 --> 00:35:14.780
you have to detach yourself from life.

334
00:35:14.780 --> 00:35:16.970
You do it in order to survive.

335
00:35:16.970 --> 00:35:19.410
You see what you're reading there is the indifference

336
00:35:19.410 --> 00:35:23.669
of a man who's trying to survive in jail.

337
00:35:23.669 --> 00:35:28.538
Perhaps, said Euodia, Paul really meant to say more

338
00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:31.240
and he didn't have time to finish the letter

339
00:35:31.240 --> 00:35:33.113
like he wanted to.

340
00:35:33.113 --> 00:35:34.660
Epaphroditus, are you sure you got here

341
00:35:34.660 --> 00:35:35.820
with a whole letter?

342
00:35:35.820 --> 00:35:38.995
You didn't lose something on the way maybe?

343
00:35:38.995 --> 00:35:41.830
Everybody turned around and looked over in the back corner

344
00:35:41.830 --> 00:35:46.422
where Epaphroditus had been sitting quietly until now.

345
00:35:46.422 --> 00:35:50.270
Slowly he rose to his feet.

346
00:35:50.270 --> 00:35:55.270
Well, he said, he was overjoyed.

347
00:35:55.767 --> 00:35:57.310
You should've seen him when I brought him

348
00:35:57.310 --> 00:36:00.350
the things that you sent him, he loved the cookies.

349
00:36:00.350 --> 00:36:03.870
But he quickly laid all that aside

350
00:36:03.870 --> 00:36:07.008
and then he started asking me about how you were doing,

351
00:36:07.008 --> 00:36:09.540
who was well, who was sick.

352
00:36:09.540 --> 00:36:12.300
I wish you could've been there.

353
00:36:12.300 --> 00:36:16.600
He really was grateful.

354
00:36:16.600 --> 00:36:21.140
But I think Paul just wants us to keep things

355
00:36:21.140 --> 00:36:23.730
in perspective.

356
00:36:23.730 --> 00:36:26.430
What things, said somebody.

357
00:36:26.430 --> 00:36:30.618
Well, just things, said Epaphroditus.

358
00:36:30.618 --> 00:36:34.450
Things a lot like, it's like Paul said earlier

359
00:36:34.450 --> 00:36:36.581
in the letter.

360
00:36:36.581 --> 00:36:40.880
Whether I live or I die, whether I'm in prison

361
00:36:40.880 --> 00:36:45.845
or I'm set free, it's enough.

362
00:36:45.845 --> 00:36:48.436
I'm content.

363
00:36:48.436 --> 00:36:51.870
If you read the whole letter, you'll find that it's a theme

364
00:36:51.870 --> 00:36:56.850
that crops up again and again throughout the letter.

365
00:36:58.000 --> 00:37:00.300
As Paul says, he believes that being in prison

366
00:37:00.300 --> 00:37:04.032
has actually served to help his work.

367
00:37:04.032 --> 00:37:05.680
He can't witness outside of jail,

368
00:37:05.680 --> 00:37:08.770
so now he's witnessing inside of jail.

369
00:37:08.770 --> 00:37:12.200
Whether by life or by death, whether he is in want

370
00:37:12.200 --> 00:37:15.750
or he is abounds, whether he's close to us or far away,

371
00:37:15.750 --> 00:37:18.165
he says it over and over again.

372
00:37:18.165 --> 00:37:21.620
The cause goes on.

373
00:37:21.620 --> 00:37:26.620
Whether or not Paul has material things or he has nothing,

374
00:37:26.804 --> 00:37:31.611
you see, I think Paul is free.

375
00:37:31.611 --> 00:37:36.611
He's free even though he's in jail.

376
00:37:36.920 --> 00:37:41.114
And he wrote that letter for us on the outside

377
00:37:41.114 --> 00:37:45.536
so that we might be free.

378
00:37:45.536 --> 00:37:48.673
And there was silence in the room.

379
00:37:48.673 --> 00:37:53.654
The silence of knowing that one has been addressed.

380
00:37:54.595 --> 00:37:59.012
The gospel Paul preached was not dependent

381
00:37:59.012 --> 00:38:04.012
on whether or not he was with us or far away.

382
00:38:04.227 --> 00:38:08.253
It wasn't dependent on whether he lived or he died.

383
00:38:08.253 --> 00:38:12.915
Paul had been paid in full.

384
00:38:12.915 --> 00:38:17.870
Our meeting had become a meeting.

385
00:38:18.880 --> 00:38:23.880
We were beginning to understand Paul was grateful,

386
00:38:24.994 --> 00:38:28.548
but at the same time, he wanted to tell us that he was free

387
00:38:28.548 --> 00:38:32.080
even of our gratitude, even of our gifts.

388
00:38:32.080 --> 00:38:34.460
He was free.

389
00:38:34.460 --> 00:38:37.510
If he got the gifts, Paul would serve God.

390
00:38:37.510 --> 00:38:40.430
If he didn't get the gifts and Epaphroditus

391
00:38:40.430 --> 00:38:45.380
had never gotten there, he would serve God.

392
00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:50.614
Now that may sound discourteous or even ungrateful,

393
00:38:50.614 --> 00:38:55.559
but Paul had to remind us even as he was thanking us

394
00:38:56.987 --> 00:39:00.682
that he had learned to be content.

395
00:39:00.682 --> 00:39:04.358
In hunger and want and riches and poverty,

396
00:39:04.358 --> 00:39:09.066
even if Caesar did not set him free,

397
00:39:09.066 --> 00:39:13.999
he was free.

398
00:39:15.650 --> 00:39:19.410
I was at a college where a man was being honored

399
00:39:19.410 --> 00:39:22.020
for giving $1 million to establish

400
00:39:22.020 --> 00:39:24.510
a chair of English literature.

401
00:39:24.510 --> 00:39:26.930
One speaker at the banquet got up after the other

402
00:39:26.930 --> 00:39:30.160
praising the man's success in business,

403
00:39:30.160 --> 00:39:33.160
praising the way he had lifted himself up from poverty

404
00:39:33.160 --> 00:39:37.235
by his initiative, praising his generosity,

405
00:39:37.235 --> 00:39:41.599
and when they got through, the man himself rose

406
00:39:41.599 --> 00:39:46.266
and all he said was, I gave this money to this college

407
00:39:47.730 --> 00:39:52.730
in the hopes that it will be used to help these students

408
00:39:53.010 --> 00:39:57.851
learn how unimportant money really is.

409
00:39:57.851 --> 00:40:01.510
Then he sat down.

410
00:40:01.510 --> 00:40:06.500
Paul was defined by neither wealth nor poverty,

411
00:40:07.690 --> 00:40:10.340
freedom or imprisonment, success or failure,

412
00:40:10.340 --> 00:40:13.196
even life or death.

413
00:40:13.196 --> 00:40:16.100
He was free, and thus Paul could say,

414
00:40:16.100 --> 00:40:18.280
in whatever state I find myself,

415
00:40:18.280 --> 00:40:21.563
I have learned to be content.

416
00:40:21.563 --> 00:40:25.030
Oh, we like to picture Paul in Rome pacing up and down

417
00:40:25.030 --> 00:40:28.100
in the cell every hour on the hour asking the guard,

418
00:40:28.100 --> 00:40:32.829
is there anything for Paul, Saint Paul, addressed,

419
00:40:32.829 --> 00:40:35.397
anything from Thessalonica?

420
00:40:35.397 --> 00:40:36.955
Nothing even from Galatia?

421
00:40:36.955 --> 00:40:39.560
I got myself beaten up for preaching to those people.

422
00:40:39.560 --> 00:40:44.559
Nothing even from the Galatians?

423
00:40:45.559 --> 00:40:48.875
But no, Paul was free.

424
00:40:48.875 --> 00:40:50.670
His relationship to other people,

425
00:40:50.670 --> 00:40:54.253
like the people at First Church Philippi,

426
00:40:54.253 --> 00:40:58.754
was based not on his need for gratitude or gifts.

427
00:40:58.754 --> 00:41:01.710
And so Paul could say in sincerity,

428
00:41:01.710 --> 00:41:06.301
I've already been paid in full, you don't owe me a thing.

429
00:41:06.301 --> 00:41:09.501
It was kind of you to share in my trouble,

430
00:41:09.501 --> 00:41:14.501
but I didn't have to have it.

431
00:41:15.260 --> 00:41:17.010
I talked to a man who spent his life

432
00:41:17.010 --> 00:41:20.600
teaching teachers how to teach.

433
00:41:20.600 --> 00:41:22.610
And he told me in his years of work,

434
00:41:22.610 --> 00:41:26.901
the one essential characteristic for a good teacher.

435
00:41:26.901 --> 00:41:29.820
And I bet this would apply to students, to doctors,

436
00:41:29.820 --> 00:41:32.970
to parents, to lots of people.

437
00:41:32.970 --> 00:41:36.280
The one essential characteristic for a good teacher

438
00:41:36.280 --> 00:41:39.490
is that a good teacher must be content

439
00:41:39.490 --> 00:41:44.446
with the sowing rather than the reaping.

440
00:41:44.446 --> 00:41:47.793
A good teacher has got to find enough satisfaction

441
00:41:47.793 --> 00:41:51.032
out of just planting the seed

442
00:41:51.032 --> 00:41:56.032
and doesn't have to be around for the harvest.

443
00:41:56.290 --> 00:41:59.690
It is rare, it is rare in this life

444
00:41:59.690 --> 00:42:04.470
to find a truly free person, a person who can say

445
00:42:04.470 --> 00:42:07.310
in all honesty, whether I live or I die,

446
00:42:07.310 --> 00:42:12.310
whether I'm in want or I abound, I succeed or I fail,

447
00:42:14.760 --> 00:42:19.760
it's enough, I'm content.

448
00:42:19.978 --> 00:42:22.450
We're not talking about stoic resignation

449
00:42:22.450 --> 00:42:26.500
or throwing up the hands or whatever will be will be

450
00:42:26.500 --> 00:42:27.400
kind of drivel.

451
00:42:27.400 --> 00:42:30.911
Paul knows nothing of such.

452
00:42:30.911 --> 00:42:33.730
We're just talking about those who find a means

453
00:42:33.730 --> 00:42:38.730
of rising above present circumstances,

454
00:42:38.740 --> 00:42:43.561
be those circumstances good or ill.

455
00:42:43.561 --> 00:42:46.230
I think this is what's meant in the gospels

456
00:42:46.230 --> 00:42:50.990
by Jesus' peace that passes all understanding.

457
00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:57.639
I think it belongs to those who are confident

458
00:42:57.639 --> 00:43:02.512
in the worth of that to which they have given their lives

459
00:43:02.512 --> 00:43:07.398
despite the validation or lack of it given by the world.

460
00:43:08.280 --> 00:43:12.980
Paul told First Church Philippi

461
00:43:12.980 --> 00:43:15.021
if you need the praise

462
00:43:15.021 --> 00:43:19.950
or the validation or the adulation of the system

463
00:43:21.610 --> 00:43:26.576
or happiness or riches in life to make your life,

464
00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:31.830
there's a good chance you're gonna be miserable.

465
00:43:31.830 --> 00:43:36.487
What you need is some way to be content.

466
00:43:36.487 --> 00:43:41.487
Whether you abound, are abased, are in plenty or want,

467
00:43:41.997 --> 00:43:45.270
wherever you find yourself to be able to say,

468
00:43:45.270 --> 00:43:50.270
I've been paid in full.

469
00:43:51.860 --> 00:43:55.160
The reporters tracked her down early morning

470
00:43:55.160 --> 00:43:58.730
at her laboratory to tell her that the call

471
00:43:58.730 --> 00:44:00.270
had just come in from Stockholm.

472
00:44:00.270 --> 00:44:05.111
She had been awarded the Nobel Prize in botany.

473
00:44:05.111 --> 00:44:08.861
They crowded around the door when she came out.

474
00:44:08.861 --> 00:44:11.953
What are you gonna do with the money, somebody said.

475
00:44:11.953 --> 00:44:13.340
Is it good to see that your work

476
00:44:13.340 --> 00:44:15.990
has finally been recognized by your colleagues?

477
00:44:15.990 --> 00:44:19.673
Does it make a difference that you're a woman?

478
00:44:19.673 --> 00:44:23.380
She said, well, I hate that all of you

479
00:44:23.380 --> 00:44:26.825
have gotten up so early.

480
00:44:26.825 --> 00:44:28.753
I've got a lot to do.

481
00:44:28.753 --> 00:44:31.653
Thank you all for coming.

482
00:44:31.653 --> 00:44:33.270
Then she turned around and went right back

483
00:44:33.270 --> 00:44:37.746
in her laboratory.

484
00:44:37.746 --> 00:44:38.579
Amen.

485
00:44:44.955 --> 00:44:47.622
(organ playing)

486
00:45:09.692 --> 00:45:12.942
(congregation singing)

487
00:47:22.330 --> 00:47:24.158
<v ->The Lord be with you.</v>

488
00:47:24.158 --> 00:47:25.440
<v Congregation>And also with you.</v>

489
00:47:25.440 --> 00:47:26.393
<v ->Let us pray.</v>

490
00:47:38.840 --> 00:47:42.575
How can we pray to thee, thou holy and hidden God

491
00:47:42.575 --> 00:47:47.575
whose ways are not our ways, who reign us in mystery

492
00:47:48.040 --> 00:47:50.783
beyond the realm of time and space.

493
00:47:51.760 --> 00:47:55.742
Yet, how can we not pray to the eternal God

494
00:47:55.742 --> 00:48:00.630
who knowest what it is to be human because thou hast

495
00:48:00.630 --> 00:48:04.440
walked among us, breaking with us the bread

496
00:48:04.440 --> 00:48:09.203
of our affliction and drinking deep of the cup of despair.

497
00:48:11.110 --> 00:48:15.553
Hear us oh God, both in our words and in our silence.

498
00:48:17.000 --> 00:48:20.463
For it is often the silence that speaks better of our need.

499
00:48:21.850 --> 00:48:25.063
Speak thy joy unto our silence.

500
00:48:25.920 --> 00:48:29.253
Breathe thy life into our less than life.

501
00:48:30.620 --> 00:48:34.920
Not for our sakes only, but for the sake of those to whom

502
00:48:34.920 --> 00:48:39.900
with thy life in us, we may ourselves bring life.

503
00:48:41.743 --> 00:48:46.520
Hear now gracious God, the prayers of all thy children

504
00:48:46.520 --> 00:48:51.520
everywhere for forgiveness and healing, for courage,

505
00:48:53.163 --> 00:48:58.163
for faith, for hope in times of despair,

506
00:48:59.570 --> 00:49:01.933
for endurance in the midst of trial.

507
00:49:03.293 --> 00:49:07.780
Hear our prayers for the needs of others this day,

508
00:49:07.780 --> 00:49:12.780
for the homeless, the destitute, the sick and the dying,

509
00:49:15.445 --> 00:49:18.610
for the hungry and for those who seek to battle

510
00:49:18.610 --> 00:49:23.610
the causes of hunger, for victims of violence everywhere,

511
00:49:25.520 --> 00:49:29.013
and for those who know no other way than violence,

512
00:49:30.223 --> 00:49:34.030
for those who govern the nations of the world,

513
00:49:34.030 --> 00:49:36.653
especially those which are conflict torn,

514
00:49:38.350 --> 00:49:42.999
for women and men who suffer for the sake of conscience,

515
00:49:42.999 --> 00:49:47.003
for those who mourn the loss of loved ones,

516
00:49:48.870 --> 00:49:51.220
for this university that it may be a center

517
00:49:51.220 --> 00:49:53.683
for sound learning and the pursuit of wisdom,

518
00:49:54.875 --> 00:49:58.540
for the entire human family,

519
00:49:58.540 --> 00:50:02.903
that the walls which separate us may be broken down

520
00:50:02.903 --> 00:50:06.960
and that in thy good time, all nations and races

521
00:50:06.960 --> 00:50:11.133
may serve thee in harmony around thy heavenly throne.

522
00:50:13.244 --> 00:50:16.980
Deep beneath all our asking, oh God,

523
00:50:16.980 --> 00:50:20.730
hear the secret song of every human heart

524
00:50:20.730 --> 00:50:25.503
lauding and magnifying thy name for being what thou art.

525
00:50:26.740 --> 00:50:31.074
Make strong and clear this song of praise within each of us

526
00:50:31.074 --> 00:50:33.750
until it bursts forth at last

527
00:50:33.750 --> 00:50:37.283
to thy glory and our salvation.

528
00:50:38.708 --> 00:50:42.553
This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

529
00:50:43.670 --> 00:50:44.503
Amen.

530
00:50:47.690 --> 00:50:49.660
Now in the spirit of thanksgiving,

531
00:50:49.660 --> 00:50:52.877
let us offer our gifts and ourselves unto God.

532
00:50:59.501 --> 00:51:02.001
(organ music)

533
00:52:44.961 --> 00:52:47.292
(organ music)

534
00:52:47.292 --> 00:52:49.959
(choir singing)

535
00:56:11.619 --> 00:56:14.119
(organ music)

536
00:56:27.634 --> 00:56:30.884
(congregation singing)

537
00:57:32.100 --> 00:57:36.400
<v ->Almighty and most merciful God from whom commeth down</v>

538
00:57:36.400 --> 00:57:39.010
every good and perfect gift,

539
00:57:39.010 --> 00:57:42.213
we give thee praise and thanks for all thy mercies.

540
00:57:42.213 --> 00:57:47.213
Thy goodness hath created us, thy bounty hath sustained us,

541
00:57:47.920 --> 00:57:52.920
thy patience hath born with us, thy love hath redeemed us.

542
00:57:53.300 --> 00:57:56.020
Give us a heart to love and serve thee

543
00:57:56.020 --> 00:57:59.850
and enable us to show our thankfulness for all thy goodness

544
00:57:59.850 --> 00:58:04.780
and mercy by giving up ourselves unto thy service.

545
00:58:04.780 --> 00:58:06.960
This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ

546
00:58:06.960 --> 00:58:09.440
who taught us to pray with confidence.

547
00:58:09.440 --> 00:58:12.220
<v All>Our Father who art in heaven,</v>

548
00:58:12.220 --> 00:58:14.020
hallowed be thy name.

549
00:58:14.020 --> 00:58:17.060
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

550
00:58:17.060 --> 00:58:19.420
on earth as it is in heaven.

551
00:58:19.420 --> 00:58:21.990
Give us this day our daily bread

552
00:58:21.990 --> 00:58:25.460
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those

553
00:58:25.460 --> 00:58:27.660
who trespass against us.

554
00:58:27.660 --> 00:58:31.973
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

555
00:58:31.973 --> 00:58:36.804
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever.

556
00:58:36.804 --> 00:58:37.637
Amen.

557
00:58:39.659 --> 00:58:42.159
(organ music)

558
00:59:10.833 --> 00:59:14.083
(congregation singing)

559
01:02:25.180 --> 01:02:28.397
<v ->Now may the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,</v>

560
01:02:28.397 --> 01:02:31.610
the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

561
01:02:31.610 --> 01:02:34.067
be with you now and always.

562
01:02:44.446 --> 01:02:47.113
(choir singing)

563
01:03:53.885 --> 01:03:56.385
(organ music)