Karen Westerfield Tucker - Sermon Untitled (March 19, 1995)
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Transcript
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- | Who is assistant professor of liturgics | 0:00 |
at Duke Divinity School as our guest preacher today. | 0:02 | |
We also express our gratitude to | 0:06 | |
The Raleigh Ringers and their director | 0:07 | |
doctor David Harris for their musical leadership | 0:10 | |
in the service of worship. | 0:13 | |
Let us continue our worship together | 0:14 | |
as you stand for the greeting. | 0:16 | |
Create in me a clean heart oh God. | 0:25 | |
Congregation | And renew a right spirit within me. | 0:28 |
Open my lips oh Lord. | 0:31 | |
Congregation | And my mouth shall bring forth praise. | 0:34 |
(organ playing) | 0:38 | |
(congregation in unison singing) | 1:13 | |
♪ When I survey the wondrous cross ♪ | 1:18 | |
♪ On which the Prince of glory died ♪ | 1:27 | |
♪ My richest gain I count but loss ♪ | 1:37 | |
♪ And pour contempt on all my pride ♪ | 1:48 | |
♪ Forbid it Lord that I should boast ♪ | 1:59 | |
♪ Save in the death of Christ my God ♪ | 2:08 | |
♪ All the vain things that charm me most ♪ | 2:19 | |
♪ I sacrifice them to his blood ♪ | 2:30 | |
♪ See from his head, his hands, his feet ♪ | 2:41 | |
♪ Sorrow and love flow mingled down ♪ | 2:52 | |
♪ Did ever such love and sorrow meet ♪ | 3:02 | |
♪ Or thorns compose so rich a crown ♪ | 3:13 | |
♪ His dying crimson like a robe ♪ | 3:26 | |
♪ Spreads over his body on the tree ♪ | 3:35 | |
♪ And all the globe is dead to me ♪ | 3:42 | |
♪ Were the whole realm of nature mine ♪ | 3:47 | |
♪ That were a present far too small ♪ | 3:51 | |
♪ Love so amazing so divine ♪ | 3:56 | |
♪ Demands my soul, my life, my all ♪ | 4:01 | |
- | Let us pray. | 4:16 |
God of all glory on this first day you began creation | 4:20 | |
bringing light out of darkness. | 4:25 | |
On this first day you began your new creation | 4:28 | |
raising Jesus Christ out of the darkness of death. | 4:33 | |
On this Lord's day grant that we | 4:37 | |
the people you create by water and the spirit | 4:41 | |
maybe joined with all your works | 4:45 | |
and praising you for your great glory. | 4:47 | |
Through Jesus Christ in union with the Holy Spirit | 4:51 | |
we praise you now and forever, Amen. | 4:55 | |
You may be seated. | 5:01 | |
- | Let us join together in the Prayer for Illumination. | 5:14 |
Everybody | Open our hearts and minds oh God | 5:19 |
by the power of your Holy Spirit, | 5:23 | |
so that as the word is read and proclaimed | 5:26 | |
we may hear your message to us this Lenten season, Amen. | 5:30 | |
Our Old Testament lesson and the text | 5:38 | |
for the sermon this morning is | 5:40 | |
from Isaiah chapter 55 verses 1-13. | 5:42 | |
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters | 5:50 | |
and you that have no money come buy and eat. | 5:54 | |
Come buy wine and milk without money and without price. | 5:59 | |
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread | 6:04 | |
and your labor for that which does not satisfy? | 6:08 | |
Listen carefully to me and eat what is good | 6:12 | |
and delight yourselves in rich food. | 6:16 | |
Incline your ear and come to me, | 6:19 | |
listen so that you may live. | 6:22 | |
I will make with you an everlasting covenant | 6:25 | |
my steadfast sure love for David, | 6:29 | |
see I made him a witness to the peoples, | 6:33 | |
a leader and commander for the peoples. | 6:36 | |
See, you shall call nations that you do not know | 6:39 | |
and nations that do not know you | 6:43 | |
shall run to you because of the Lord your God, | 6:45 | |
the Holy one of Israel, for he has glorified you. | 6:49 | |
Seek the Lord while he maybe found | 6:55 | |
call upon him while he is near, | 6:59 | |
let the wicked forsake their way | 7:02 | |
and the unrighteous their thoughts. | 7:04 | |
Let them return to the Lord | 7:07 | |
that he may have mercy upon them | 7:09 | |
and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. | 7:12 | |
For my thoughts are not your thoughts | 7:17 | |
nor are my ways your ways, says the Lord. | 7:20 | |
For as the Heavens are higher than the Earth | 7:24 | |
so are my ways higher than your ways | 7:27 | |
and my thoughts than your thoughts. | 7:30 | |
For as the rain and the snow come down from Heaven | 7:34 | |
and do not return there until they have watered the Earth | 7:38 | |
making it bring forth and sprout, | 7:41 | |
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater | 7:44 | |
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth. | 7:48 | |
It shall not return to me empty | 7:52 | |
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose | 7:55 | |
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. | 7:58 | |
For you shall go out in joy and be lead back in peace | 8:01 | |
the mountains and the hills before you | 8:06 | |
shall burst into song and all the trees of | 8:08 | |
the field shall clap their hands. | 8:12 | |
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress | 8:14 | |
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle | 8:18 | |
and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial | 8:22 | |
for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. | 8:25 | |
This is the word of the Lord. | 8:29 | |
Congregation | (unison) Thanks be to God. | 8:31 |
Will you please rise as we join together in Psalm | 8:37 | |
number 63 which is found on page 788 of the hymnal. | 8:39 | |
Let us read responsively. | 8:48 | |
Oh God you are my God I seek you | 8:52 | |
my soul thirst for you, my flesh faints for you | 8:56 | |
as in a dry and weary land where no water is. | 9:00 | |
Congregation | So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary | 9:04 |
beholding your power and glory. | 9:08 | |
- | Because your steadfast love is better than life | 9:10 |
my lips will praise you. | 9:13 | |
Congregation | So I will bless you as long as I live | 9:15 |
in your name I will lift up my hands. | 9:19 | |
- | My soul is feasted as with marrow and fat | 9:23 |
and my mouth praises you with joyful lips | 9:27 | |
when I think of you upon my bed | 9:30 | |
and meditate on you in the watches of the night. | 9:33 | |
Congregation | For you have been my help | 9:36 |
and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy, | 9:39 | |
my soul clings to you, your right hand upholds me. | 9:43 | |
- | But those who seek to destroy my life | 9:48 |
shall go down into the depths of the earth. | 9:51 | |
Congregation | They shall be given over | 9:54 |
to the power of swords, they shall be a portion for jackals. | 9:58 | |
- | But the king shall rejoice in God. | 10:01 |
Congregation | All who swear by him shall exalt | 10:04 |
for the mouths of liars will be stopped. | 10:08 | |
(organ music playing) | 10:12 | |
♪ Glory be to our Creator ♪ | 10:21 | |
♪ Praise to our Redeemer, Lord ♪ | 10:28 | |
♪ Glory be to our Sustainer ♪ | 10:36 | |
♪ Ever three and ever one ♪ | 10:44 | |
♪ As it was in the beginning ♪ | 10:52 | |
♪ Ever shall be ♪ | 11:00 | |
- | Please be seated. | 11:12 |
- | Our epistle lesson this morning | 11:23 |
is from First Corinthians chapter 10 verses 1-13. | 11:26 | |
I do not want you to be unaware brothers and sisters | 11:33 | |
that our ancestors were all under the cloud | 11:37 | |
and all passed through the sea | 11:40 | |
and all were baptized into Moses | 11:43 | |
in the cloud and in the sea. | 11:45 | |
And all ate the same spiritual food | 11:47 | |
and all drank the same spiritual drink. | 11:50 | |
For they drank from the spiritual rock | 11:54 | |
that followed them and the rock was Christ. | 11:56 | |
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them | 12:00 | |
and they were struck down in the wilderness. | 12:04 | |
Now these things occurred as examples for us | 12:07 | |
so that we might not desire evil as they did. | 12:10 | |
Do not become idolaters as some of them did. | 12:14 | |
As it is written the people sat down to eat | 12:18 | |
and drink and they rose up to play. | 12:21 | |
We must not indulge in sexual immorality | 12:25 | |
as some of them did and 23, 000 fell in a day. | 12:28 | |
We must not put Christ to the test | 12:34 | |
as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents. | 12:36 | |
And do not complain as some of them did | 12:40 | |
and were destroyed by the destroyer. | 12:44 | |
These things happened to serve as an example | 12:47 | |
and they were written down to instruct us | 12:51 | |
on whom the ends of the ages have come. | 12:53 | |
So if you think you are standing | 12:57 | |
watch out that you do not fall, | 13:00 | |
no testing has over taken you | 13:03 | |
that is not common to everyone. | 13:06 | |
God is faithful and he will not | 13:09 | |
let you be tested beyond your strength | 13:12 | |
but with the testing he will also provide the way out, | 13:15 | |
so that you may be able to endure it. | 13:19 | |
This is the word of the Lord. | 13:22 | |
Congregation | (unison) Thanks be to God. | 13:24 |
(angelic bell playing) | 13:49 | |
- | Our gospel lesson is from Luke chapter 13 verses 1-9. | 16:04 |
At that very time there were some present | 16:11 | |
who told him about the Galileans | 16:14 | |
whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. | 16:16 | |
He asked them, do you think that because | 16:20 | |
these Galileans suffered in this way | 16:23 | |
they were worse sinners then all other Galileans? | 16:25 | |
No, I tell you, | 16:29 | |
but unless you repent you will all perish as they did. | 16:31 | |
Or those 18 who were killed when | 16:36 | |
the tower of Siloam fell on them. | 16:38 | |
Do you think that they were worse offenders | 16:40 | |
than all the others living in Jerusalem? | 16:43 | |
No, I tell you, but unless you repent | 16:45 | |
you will all perish just as they did. | 16:49 | |
Then he told this parable, | 16:53 | |
a man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard | 16:56 | |
and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. | 16:59 | |
He said to the gardener, see here | 17:03 | |
for three years I have come looking or fruit | 17:06 | |
on this fig tree and still I find none, cut it down. | 17:09 | |
Why should it be wasting the soil? | 17:15 | |
He replied, sir let it alone for one more year | 17:18 | |
until I dig around it and put manure on it. | 17:23 | |
If it bears fruit next year well and good | 17:26 | |
but if not you can cut it down. | 17:30 | |
This is the word of the Lord. | 17:33 | |
Congregation | (unison) Thanks be to God. | 17:35 |
- | Come to the waters, | 17:48 |
buy without money and without price, | 17:51 | |
hearken diligently, incline your ear and come. | 17:55 | |
Seek the Lord, call upon the Lord, return to the Lord, | 18:00 | |
go out in joy, be led forth in peace. | 18:08 | |
These words of the prophet Isaiah in chapter 55 | 18:16 | |
practically shout themselves off the page. | 18:20 | |
They demand that we stop and listen | 18:23 | |
that we harken and incline our ears. | 18:28 | |
These words come from no mealy-mouthed preacher, | 18:34 | |
no conformer to the status quo | 18:38 | |
but from a man of fire and conviction. | 18:41 | |
This is a prophet who is compelled to speak | 18:45 | |
about a God who acts, about a God | 18:49 | |
who still moves among his people though often unrecognized. | 18:52 | |
This prophet commanded the attention | 18:58 | |
of the people of Israel around 550 B.C., | 19:00 | |
who awaited return from exile in Babylon | 19:04 | |
and he demands our attention today. | 19:08 | |
Isaiah calls to a complacent people | 19:13 | |
many of whom have turned from the God | 19:16 | |
of their ancestors and accepted | 19:18 | |
the persuasive gods of the popular culture. | 19:21 | |
He compels those whose faith has dimmed | 19:25 | |
or is dimming to reconsider the true source | 19:28 | |
and fountainhead of all of life. | 19:32 | |
He challenges his hearers to avoid the assumption | 19:36 | |
that Gods work is only something of the past | 19:40 | |
and that God is unlikely to do something new in the future. | 19:44 | |
Do not rest on your laurels he says. | 19:49 | |
Do not dwell solely on the past | 19:52 | |
for the day of return is coming | 19:56 | |
and now is the time for you to act. | 19:59 | |
The urgency of Isaiah's message has not faded over time, | 20:06 | |
these words spoken to a people whose bones | 20:11 | |
have long since turned to dust | 20:13 | |
are also words spoken directly to us | 20:16 | |
in our time and in our circumstances. | 20:20 | |
And it is appropriate that we hear again | 20:25 | |
these words during the season of Lent. | 20:27 | |
A time when we who are Christians recall | 20:30 | |
how often we have strayed from obedience | 20:33 | |
to God's will and from affirming God's | 20:36 | |
active presence in our world. | 20:39 | |
The content of Isaiah chapter 55 | 20:43 | |
focuses upon the change of heart God requires | 20:47 | |
for persons who wish to be faithful. | 20:50 | |
And the structure of the chapter itself | 20:54 | |
forms a model for the message. | 20:56 | |
There is a clear movement in this chapter, | 21:00 | |
a movement in which we can divide into three parts | 21:02 | |
and label thematically. | 21:07 | |
These parts can be identified as invitation, | 21:10 | |
exhortation and blessing. | 21:14 | |
Invitation, exhortation and blessing. | 21:18 | |
The first part is the invitation. | 21:25 | |
The prophet issues imperative verbs in rapid fire | 21:29 | |
inviting the listeners to hear his case | 21:33 | |
and to consider the poverty of their lives | 21:36 | |
compared to the richness of God's grace. | 21:39 | |
Ho, everyone who thirst come to the waters! | 21:42 | |
Though this is not a call to | 21:48 | |
spend spring break at Myrtle or Daytona | 21:49 | |
rather this is an invitation to seek life. | 21:53 | |
The prophet's commands to come to the waters, | 21:59 | |
come buy and eat, evoke images of a market | 22:01 | |
where stalls line a narrow street. | 22:06 | |
Shrill voices pierce the den of the crowd | 22:10 | |
as vendors cajole passersby into examining goods for sale | 22:13 | |
with promises of fine quality or for you a special price. | 22:18 | |
And is it not a myriad of voices | 22:26 | |
that call to us today in our global marketplace | 22:28 | |
with promises of material success, | 22:33 | |
fulfillment, contentment, we are constantly bombarded | 22:36 | |
with ways to improve ourselves. | 22:42 | |
Whether it be self help groups, dietary and exercise plans, | 22:44 | |
the latest computer software and electronic gadgetry | 22:50 | |
or even dialing 1-900 to receive a personal horoscope. | 22:55 | |
These tempt and tease. How is a person to choose? | 23:00 | |
Above all of this commotion and uncertainty | 23:08 | |
is heard the stern voice of the prophet, | 23:11 | |
listen attentively says the prophet. | 23:15 | |
Listen attentively and learn | 23:18 | |
incline your ear and hear that your soul may live. | 23:21 | |
Why spend your hard earned wages | 23:28 | |
for that which ultimately does no good | 23:31 | |
for your body or souls, says he? | 23:33 | |
Why should one be satisfied with | 23:36 | |
the stagnant or stale, the transient or ephemeral? | 23:38 | |
That which is essential to life you can not purchase | 23:44 | |
only God can provide water that truly | 23:49 | |
slakes that deep down body thirst. | 23:52 | |
Only God can bring forth food that nourishes the soul | 23:56 | |
and here the prophet essentially paraphrases | 24:02 | |
the sentiment of the psalmist who prayed | 24:06 | |
as a heart longs for the flowing streams | 24:09 | |
so longs my soul for thee of Lord. | 24:13 | |
My soul thirsts for God for the living God. | 24:17 | |
How then does one receive that which can truly satisfy? | 24:26 | |
How can one respond to the prophets invitation? | 24:31 | |
By seeking and returning, says the prophet. | 24:36 | |
And he exhorts those who would hear to repent | 24:41 | |
this is the second part of | 24:46 | |
the three fold movement, exhortation. | 24:48 | |
Seek the Lord while he may be found | 24:53 | |
call upon him while he is near. | 24:57 | |
Let the wicked forsake their way | 25:00 | |
and the unrighteous their thoughts. | 25:03 | |
Let them return to the Lord that he may have mercy on them | 25:06 | |
and to our God for he will abundantly pardon. | 25:11 | |
Lest the question should be raised | 25:17 | |
why one should repent the prophet continues, | 25:19 | |
for my thoughts are not your thoughts | 25:24 | |
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. | 25:27 | |
For as the heavens are higher than the earth | 25:31 | |
so are my ways higher than your ways | 25:34 | |
and my thoughts than your thoughts. | 25:38 | |
Seeking and returning, | 25:43 | |
making an about-face back to God. | 25:47 | |
A person repents in recognition that we are | 25:52 | |
but creatures fashioned by the hand of, | 25:55 | |
yet in the likeness of a sovereign creator. | 25:58 | |
Repentance results from a realization | 26:04 | |
that in our desire to live we often rely | 26:06 | |
on our own devices, on our own best efforts | 26:10 | |
and on the seductive offers for fulfillment | 26:15 | |
that others extend to us. | 26:17 | |
The graciousness of God is often usurped | 26:21 | |
by the notion that we can do it all ourselves, | 26:24 | |
that we can pull ourselves up by our own boot straps. | 26:27 | |
Isaiah warns us that we must never | 26:33 | |
be so self assured so as to leave | 26:36 | |
no room for the work or the mercy of God. | 26:39 | |
This call to repentance exhorted by the prophet is echoed | 26:46 | |
in the two New Testament lessons read this morning. | 26:49 | |
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians | 26:54 | |
warns against spiritual complacency and self assurance. | 26:56 | |
So if you think you are standing, he says, | 27:01 | |
watch out that you do not fall. | 27:04 | |
The words of Jesus reported in the Gospel according to Luke | 27:09 | |
are much more incriminating and demanding, | 27:12 | |
unless you repent you will all perish. | 27:16 | |
Just as a fig tree that bears no fruit is cut down | 27:21 | |
lest it waste the good nutrients of the soil | 27:24 | |
so too, says Jesus, persons who do not bear | 27:27 | |
the fruits of repentance ultimately perish. | 27:31 | |
These are harsh words. | 27:36 | |
Words our 20th Century postmodern, | 27:38 | |
post-enlightenment ears simply do not want to hear | 27:41 | |
but yet they are basic to the life promised by God. | 27:46 | |
For those who repent and seek the Lord | 27:54 | |
comes the recognition that what | 27:57 | |
the Lord promises will be fulfilled. | 27:58 | |
Blessing comes to those who hear | 28:02 | |
who acknowledge the sovereignty of God | 28:05 | |
and who humble themselves before him. | 28:07 | |
And this is the third part of the structure, blessing. | 28:10 | |
The prophet says, that what goes forth | 28:16 | |
from the mouth of the Lord does not come back empty | 28:18 | |
but grows, flourishes to accomplish | 28:21 | |
that which the Lord intends. | 28:23 | |
And what does the Lord intend? | 28:26 | |
What are the blessings the Lord desires | 28:29 | |
that the penitent receive? | 28:31 | |
At least three blessing are indicated, | 28:35 | |
pardon, fruitfulness and joy. | 28:39 | |
Abundant pardon, | 28:46 | |
abundant pardon comes as a gift from God. | 28:48 | |
Though we are undeserving the richness | 28:52 | |
of God's mercy creates in us clean hearts | 28:55 | |
and renews a right spirit within us. | 28:58 | |
We are made right with God not through any of our own doing | 29:03 | |
but because of the depth of God's love. | 29:08 | |
Fruitfulness, | 29:14 | |
fruitfulness of for the penitent is akin | 29:17 | |
to the fruitfulness of God's word. | 29:19 | |
The prophet compares the sustaining power of God's word | 29:23 | |
to the productive germination and growth | 29:26 | |
of seeds following the rain | 29:28 | |
and yet the fruitfulness of the penitent | 29:31 | |
is not identified simply by growth | 29:34 | |
but by good and beneficial growth. | 29:38 | |
The prophet says, instead of the thorn | 29:44 | |
shall come up the cypress, instead of the brier | 29:47 | |
shall come up the myrtle, | 29:52 | |
the blessing of fruitfulness | 29:57 | |
is the blessing of faithfulness. | 30:00 | |
Joy, joy issues forth from the acknowledgment | 30:05 | |
of God's love and from thankfulness for the blessings of God | 30:09 | |
but this joy is not simply or solely | 30:16 | |
an individual or personal joy | 30:19 | |
it is a joy that shakes the foundation of the earth | 30:22 | |
and causes all of creation to shout and sing. | 30:25 | |
It is a joy that leads to a peace | 30:31 | |
that passes all understanding. | 30:34 | |
For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace | 30:38 | |
the mountains and the hills before you | 30:44 | |
shall break forth into singing | 30:46 | |
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. | 30:48 | |
Invitation, exhortation, blessing. | 30:57 | |
These are the ways God has acted | 31:05 | |
and continues to act toward us. | 31:08 | |
And this promise of action has been claimed | 31:12 | |
and continues to be claimed by the church. | 31:15 | |
As the last stanza of the hymn we will sing shortly states | 31:20 | |
in Isaiah's inspiration it is Jesus we have heard. | 31:24 | |
Indeed the church throughout the ages | 31:30 | |
has heard Isaiah's words as Jesus's words | 31:31 | |
and hence they have become the words of the church. | 31:36 | |
From the time of the early church | 31:41 | |
Isaiah 55 has been used as a reading during Lent | 31:43 | |
or on Holy Saturday. | 31:47 | |
Lent you may recall was the season | 31:50 | |
when baptismal candidates made their final preparations | 31:52 | |
before taking the plunge. | 31:55 | |
The three fold movement marked by Isaiah | 31:59 | |
was imitated in the ritual passage expected | 32:01 | |
of persons who anticipated taking upon themselves | 32:04 | |
the name and responsibility of Christian. | 32:08 | |
And this movement marks also the three fold discipline | 32:13 | |
of a fruitful Christian life. | 32:17 | |
First of all, God's word must be heard as an invitation | 32:22 | |
that word, the word that goes forth | 32:28 | |
and does not return empty is the dynamic | 32:31 | |
and powerful message of the Gospel. | 32:34 | |
And just as the word of God is active | 32:38 | |
and dynamic, so too our hearing is to be active and dynamic. | 32:40 | |
This is certainly clear by the word choice found | 32:49 | |
in Isaiah 55, | 32:52 | |
harken, incline, | 32:54 | |
behold, see, | 32:58 | |
such active hearing is not found | 33:04 | |
in the casual listening to a preacher on Sunday morning | 33:06 | |
or in the bedtime reading of the Bible. | 33:10 | |
Rather it is found in the inward digestion | 33:14 | |
and appropriation of the good news | 33:17 | |
that God so loved the world | 33:19 | |
that the only begotten Son was given for our redemption. | 33:22 | |
Hearing is followed by a second action, | 33:29 | |
exhortation to repentance. | 33:34 | |
From the work of the Herald of Christ, John the Baptist | 33:38 | |
to the ministry of the disciples in Acts | 33:42 | |
we hear again and again and again | 33:45 | |
the charge to repent and believe in the good news. | 33:49 | |
Repentance is not just a spiritual discipline of Lent | 33:56 | |
it is a characteristic of the entire Christian life. | 34:01 | |
Repentance leads us and leads us back | 34:06 | |
to the baptismal waters the waters pre-figured | 34:08 | |
in the invitation of Isaiah. | 34:12 | |
Repentance is more than a one time act | 34:15 | |
it is required through out our Christian journey. | 34:20 | |
During special seasons like Lent, | 34:23 | |
during the baptisms of other persons | 34:25 | |
and when we renew our own baptisms. | 34:29 | |
And it is necessary everyday as we face up | 34:33 | |
to the fact that our lives are not | 34:36 | |
truly lived in imitation of Jesus Christ. | 34:37 | |
The blessing, the third action, | 34:45 | |
comes through God's own bountiful sustenance | 34:48 | |
which is first given after baptism | 34:52 | |
and then continued throughout the Christian journey. | 34:55 | |
We partake of the bread which can satisfy | 34:59 | |
like no other which is the Body of Christ. | 35:02 | |
We take into ourselves the wine which no money can buy | 35:07 | |
which is the Blood of Christ. | 35:12 | |
These are gifts that equip us so that we like Gods word | 35:16 | |
may accomplish that which God purposes | 35:23 | |
and prosper in the things for which God sends us. | 35:27 | |
Come to the waters, incline your ear and come | 35:32 | |
Seek the Lord, | 35:39 | |
bring forth and sprout new life, | 35:42 | |
go out in joy and be led forth in peace. | 35:47 | |
This is the invitation we have been offered. | 35:55 | |
This is the exhortation we must heed. | 35:59 | |
This is the blessing we have been promised. | 36:05 | |
Thanks be to God. | 36:11 | |
Congregation | (unison) Thanks be to God. | 36:13 |
(organ music playing) | 36:17 | |
(congregation singing) | 37:01 | |
♪ Seek the Lord who now is present ♪ | 37:03 | |
♪ Pray to One who is at hand ♪ | 37:07 | |
♪ Let the wicked cease from sinning ♪ | 37:13 | |
♪ Evildoers change their mind ♪ | 37:18 | |
♪ On the sinful God has pity ♪ | 37:24 | |
♪ Those returning God forgives ♪ | 37:30 | |
♪ This is what the Lord is saying ♪ | 37:36 | |
♪ To a world that disbeleives ♪ | 37:41 | |
♪ Judge me not by human standards ♪ | 37:49 | |
♪ As the vault of heaven soars ♪ | 37:55 | |
♪ High above the earth so higher ♪ | 38:01 | |
♪ Are my thoughts and ways than yours ♪ | 38:06 | |
♪ See how rain and snow from heaven ♪ | 38:13 | |
♪ Make earth blossom and bare fruit ♪ | 38:19 | |
♪ Giving you before returning ♪ | 38:25 | |
♪ Seed for sowing, bread to eat ♪ | 38:30 | |
♪ So My word returns not fruitless ♪ | 38:39 | |
♪ Does not from its labors cease ♪ | 38:44 | |
♪ Til it has achieved My purpose ♪ | 38:50 | |
♪ In a world of joy and peace ♪ | 38:56 | |
♪ God is love, how close the prophet ♪ | 39:03 | |
♪ To that vital gospel word ♪ | 39:09 | |
♪ In Isaiah's inspiration ♪ | 39:14 | |
♪ It is Jesus we have heard ♪ | 39:21 | |
- | The Lord be with you. | 39:32 |
Congregation | (unison) And also with you. | 39:34 |
- | Let us pray you may be seated. | 39:36 |
Oh Lord our God, the author and giver of all good things | 39:50 | |
we thank you for all your mercies | 39:57 | |
and for your loving care over all your creatures | 39:59 | |
we bless you for the gift of life | 40:03 | |
and the renewal of life. | 40:06 | |
We are especially grateful for those times | 40:09 | |
and places when your spirit has been | 40:12 | |
like a long drink of cool water | 40:15 | |
for our parched unquenchable thirst. | 40:19 | |
We give thanks for spiritual food | 40:23 | |
that satisfies when nothing else can touch our need. | 40:25 | |
We pray that your spirit might | 40:32 | |
touch us once again this morning, | 40:34 | |
wash over all of the dried out places of our lives | 40:37 | |
that we might be refreshed by your love. | 40:42 | |
Prune us of all that is dead | 40:46 | |
that new life you would give us might grow. | 40:50 | |
And feed us with your word that we might | 40:53 | |
flourish and be made strong in you. | 40:57 | |
Lord in your mercy | 41:01 | |
Everybody | (unison) hear our prayer. | 41:03 |
Almighty God, through your spirit you pray for us | 41:07 | |
and you teach us to pray for others, | 41:12 | |
show us your will for our lives | 41:16 | |
and give us the courage to obey with confidence | 41:19 | |
that in all things you desire our good. | 41:23 | |
Lord in your mercy | 41:29 | |
Everybody | (unison) hear our prayer. | 41:31 |
- | Reveal to us those in our lives who need our prayers. | 41:34 |
We pray that your will may be accomplished for them | 41:49 | |
and that we might faithfully respond to their need | 41:53 | |
in the ways that you show us. | 41:56 | |
Lord in your mercy | 42:00 | |
Everybody | (unison) hear our prayer. | 42:02 |
- | We pray especially for those who suffer trauma | 42:05 |
in body or mind that they may be healed. | 42:08 | |
Lord in your mercy | 42:14 | |
Everybody | (unison) hear our prayer. | 42:15 |
- | For those whose livelihood is insecure | 42:19 |
the over worked, the hungry, the homeless | 42:22 | |
and the destitute that they may know | 42:27 | |
security of body and mind. | 42:30 | |
Lord in your mercy | 42:34 | |
Everybody | (unison) hear our prayer. | 42:37 |
- | For children whose surroundings hide them | 42:39 |
from your love and beauty that they may be valued | 42:43 | |
as your own beloved children. | 42:47 | |
Lord in your mercy | 42:51 | |
Everybody | (unison) hear our prayer. | 42:53 |
- | For those who have to bare their burdens alone | 42:56 |
that they may know Christian fellowship | 42:59 | |
and the communion of your spirit. | 43:01 | |
Lord in your mercy | 43:05 | |
Everybody | (unison) hear our prayer. | 43:07 |
- | For those who have lost loved ones that they | 43:10 |
may be comforted and know the hope of eternal life. | 43:13 | |
Lord in your mercy | 43:18 | |
Everybody | (unison) hear our prayer. | 43:20 |
- | For those who are in doubt and anguish of soul | 43:24 |
that they may find peace. | 43:28 | |
Lord in your mercy | 43:30 | |
Everybody | (unison) hear our prayer. | 43:33 |
- | Come among us Lord, come that we might be filled | 43:37 |
with your spirit and bound with your love | 43:42 | |
make our thoughts your thoughts | 43:46 | |
and our ways your ways | 43:49 | |
change us from barren people | 43:54 | |
to people that bare fruit as your blessed children | 43:58 | |
in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. | 44:04 | |
Amen. | 44:07 | |
Let us offer ourselves and our gifts | 44:11 | |
(unison) in thanksgiving to the Lord. | 44:13 | |
(organ playing) | 44:19 | |
(angelic bell playing) | 46:14 | |
(organ playing) | 51:19 | |
♪ Praise God from whom all blessings flow ♪ | 51:55 | |
♪ Praise Him all creatures here below ♪ | 52:03 | |
♪ Praise Him above ye heavenly host ♪ | 52:12 | |
♪ Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost ♪ | 52:19 | |
- | Let us pray. | 52:33 |
Almighty God giver of every good and perfect gift | 52:35 | |
teach us to render to you all that we have | 52:40 | |
and all that we are that we may praise you | 52:43 | |
not with our lips only but with our whole lives. | 52:46 | |
Turning the duties, the sorrows and the joys | 52:50 | |
of all our days into a living sacrifice to you | 52:54 | |
through our savior Jesus Christ who taught us | 52:57 | |
to prayer together saying, | 53:01 | |
Everybody | (unison) Our Father, | 53:03 |
who art in Heaven hallowed be thy name | 53:05 | |
thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, | 53:10 | |
on Earth as it is in Heaven. | 53:13 | |
Give us this day our daily bread | 53:16 | |
and forgive us our trespasses | 53:19 | |
as we forgive those who trespass against us | 53:21 | |
and lead us not into temptation | 53:26 | |
but deliver us from evil. | 53:29 | |
For thine is the Kingdom | 53:32 | |
and the Power and the Glory forever. | 53:34 | |
Amen. | 53:37 | |
(organ playing) | 53:41 | |
♪ Jesus keep me near the cross ♪ | 54:10 | |
♪ There's a precious fountain ♪ | 54:17 | |
♪ Free to all a healing stream ♪ | 54:24 | |
♪ Flows from Calvary's mountain ♪ | 54:31 | |
♪ In the cross ♪ | 54:38 | |
♪ In the cross ♪ | 54:42 | |
♪ Be my glory ever ♪ | 54:45 | |
♪ Til my raptured soul shall find ♪ | 54:53 | |
♪ Rest beyond the river ♪ | 55:00 | |
♪ Near the cross a trembling soul ♪ | 55:09 | |
♪ Love and mercy found me ♪ | 55:17 | |
♪ There the bright and morning star ♪ | 55:24 | |
♪ Sheds its beams around me ♪ | 55:32 | |
♪ In the cross ♪ | 55:39 | |
♪ In the cross ♪ | 55:42 | |
♪ Be my glory ever ♪ | 55:46 | |
♪ Till my raptured soul shall find ♪ | 55:54 | |
♪ Rest beyond the river ♪ | 56:01 | |
♪ Near the cross Oh lamb of God ♪ | 56:11 | |
♪ Bring its scenes before me ♪ | 56:19 | |
♪ Help me walk from day to day ♪ | 56:26 | |
♪ With its shadow on me ♪ | 56:33 | |
♪ In the cross ♪ | 56:41 | |
♪ In the cross ♪ | 56:44 | |
♪ Be my glory ever ♪ | 56:48 | |
♪ Till my raptured soul shall find ♪ | 56:56 | |
♪ Rest beyond the river ♪ | 57:03 | |
♪ Near the cross I'll watch and wait ♪ | 57:14 | |
♪ Hoping, trusting ever ♪ | 57:22 | |
♪ Til I reach the golden strand ♪ | 57:29 | |
♪ Just beyond the river ♪ | 57:36 | |
♪ In the cross ♪ | 57:44 | |
♪ In the cross ♪ | 57:48 | |
♪ Be my glory ever ♪ | 57:52 | |
♪ Till my raptured soul shall find ♪ | 57:59 | |
♪ Rest beyond the river ♪ | 58:07 | |
- | Go forth in peace to serve God and your neighbor | 58:21 |
in all that you do may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, | 58:25 | |
the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit | 58:29 | |
be with you and keep you. | 58:32 | |
Amen. | 58:34 | |
(organ playing) | 58:37 |