October 27th, 2024

Reformation Sunday

 

Lighting the Christ Candle

Welcome and Announcements

 

Call to Worship (Psalm 34: 1-6)
I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.                                                                                          I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.   

Hymn:  500 Open my eyes that I may see

 

Prayer of Adoration

Lord God, Loving and gracious God,

we gather as your servants,

shaped by the faithfulness of those who went before us,

those who taught us the name of Jesus.

In Christ, you call us together to praise your name

and serve your world in his name.

With your kindness Holy Spirit,

feed the roots of our faith,

and renew our vision to reflect your vision for the church in this generation.

Fill us with courage and confidence to reach out to others

with your mercy and grace,

for you are our God, ever faithful to your people.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit guide our worship this morning, be present in our prayers, our hymns of praise, the spoken word and the Holy Scriptures. Bless this hour to your honour and glory and hear us now as we bring our prayer of confession to you saying:

Prayer of Confession:

Lord of love and mercy,

you are the source of every good and perfect gift,

but we confess our gifts to you are less than perfect.

We honour you when it fits into our schedules.

We forget that your love should set our priorities,

and we pursue our own desires.  

Lord, forgive our wavering hearts

and reawaken our commitment to you.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in whose name we pray. Amen!

Assurance of Pardon

Friends, we are promised that those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.

Claim your hope in this Good News: God’s perfect love abides in you through Jesus Christ our Lord. Thanks be to God for such great mercy, for in Christ we are forgiven.

 

Passing the Peace: May the peace of Christ be with you.

Please share a sign of the peace with each other.

Hymn:  645 Follow me the Master said

Scripture:

Psalm 1                   page 843
Psalm 90                page 929

Prayer for understanding

O God, as we hear your Word read and interpreted today, touch us with its healing power, so that we are able to follow your Son, Jesus the Christ, our Saviour and Friend. Amen.

 

 

Sermon:  “Speak to one another with Psalms”

I love the Psalms. How many here love the Psalms? Have you heard the term, “you’re preaching to the choir”? Well, today that is what I am going to do; you aren’t going to hear anything you don’t know or haven’t heard before. You can be sure that what I present won’t be done with a depth of knowledge or wisdom, or an eloquence for that matter that is simply going to blow you away. I just pray that God will guide the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts for His glory, in the lives of His people.

I want to “Shout with joy to God,” I want to “sing to the glory of His name and make His praise glorious!” I want to say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!” “So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you; they sing praise to your name.”

“Praise awaits you O God of Zion; to you our vows will be fulfilled. O you who hears prayer, to you all men will come. When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.”

How can we not love the Psalms? They can put words to our thoughts and meditations, they can put voice to our prayers of adoration, confession, supplication and thanksgiving.

The Psalms are relevant and timeless to our situations, they speak words of hope and salvation and bring us joy in our communion with God. This has been my experience whenever I have spent time reading in the Psalms.

As we go about our days there are times when we get beat up; there are times when we are overwhelmed, overwhelmed by grief, overwhelmed by the circumstances of life, and even at times, overwhelmed by joy. But at the end of the day when we calm our hearts and come before God, it is the Psalms that can be used to express our thoughts and the meditations of our hearts to God and His thoughts and His meditations to us.

Matthew Henry made this statement about the book of Psalms: “The history of Israel led us to camps and counsel-boards and there instructed us in the knowledge of God. The book of Job brought us into the schools and treated us with disputations concerning God and His providence. But this book (the Psalms) brings us into the sanctuary, draws us off from converse with the politicians, philosophers, or disputers of this world, and directs us into communion with God, lifting up and letting out our hearts towards Him. Thus, may we be in the mount with God.” So says Matthew Henry. “In the mount with God”, what a great place to be, if only we could remain there.

It used to be that in our house we tended not to watch the news however I have taken it up again, Janet not so much. It seems to me the only news that is reported is bad news. In order to be good news, it must be bad news, especially the American networks. Sorry to you who are American news fans out there. We hear about the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, about other nations interfering in elections and killing citizens of other nations. As Remembrance Day approaches, I recall ten years ago already, how two members of the Canadian armed Forces were gunned down while serving as an Honour Guard at the war memorial in Ottawa. I remember how appalled I was that our men and women in the Armed Forces were being told not to wear their uniforms in public. The very people who have fought for our freedoms, even the freedoms of others in distant lands, were being told to distance themselves from the very tools, means, and symbols by which those freedoms have been reached and maintained. For several year after that the RCMP has provided heavily armed security at our local Remembrance Day parade. Do you remember that?

Often, I find myself exclaiming; “What a world we live in!” Events such as these can make us feel isolated and alone if we let them. Living in a world full of people yet all alone. What was it Rev. Ena said a few weeks ago? “When we keep our eyes on the world, uncertainty is all we can know.” The truth is we are not alone, we are never alone. God is with us! Psalm 19: 1-4 tells us, “The heavens declare the glory of God, day after day they pour forth speech; there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.”

The presence of God is being proclaimed loud and clear in His creation, you need only open your eyes and ears. We can see God all around us in the beauty of His creation. Janet and I just spent three weeks in the mountains around Panorama and marveled at the splendor of the fall colours and the majesty of the Purcell and Rocky Mountains. We have watched, as have many of you, ocean waves violently crashing on the rocky shore and been in awe of the calming, peaceful, presence of God in His creation.

As I look around at the beauty of God’s creation, I am reminded that, “my soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and salvation; he is my fortress; I will never be shaken.”

Having said that however, I must confess there are times when I question my identity. Times when I wonder who I am, and more importantly whose I am. Psalm 1 speaks of the progressive nature of the ungodly, concluding that they will be blown away like chaff, they will not stand in the judgement, nor in the assembly of the righteous. The psalmist associates three characters to the evildoers; the NIV says the wicked, sinners and mockers, the King James version uses the terms ungodly, sinners, and scoffers.

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly.” The ungodly have lost all fear of God and have turned away. Having turned away, laying aside any Godly practice they become sinners. The psalmist says we are not to “Stand in the way of sinners”. As one commentator said, “sinners openly rebel against God”. The psalmist also instructs us “not to sit in the seat of scoffers and mockers”, for it is scoffers and mockers that defy all that is holy, scoff at religion and make a joke of their sins because of their hardened hearts.

Do you follow that progression of sin that the psalmist points out? First you are walking, then you are standing, and lastly you are sitting. What scares me is that I sometimes feel like I fall into this pattern. I listen to the ungodly and find myself walking in their counsel; I succumb to temptation. Then having succumb to temptation I stand in the way of sinners; I openly rebel against God. I know this action is sinful, but I choose to do it anyway. At that point I have hardened my heart and find myself seated with the scoffers, telling myself that, I really am not at the beck and call of every lust and temptation because after all what I am doing isn’t that bad anyway. Who am I, whose am I?

I ask myself these questions from time to time and in the very asking lies the proof of my adoption into the family of God. Because God by His Spirit does not allow me to continue to walk, stand, and sit in the counsel of the ungodly, the sinner, and the scoffer. God by his Spirit, His grace, and His Word says, “No, we are going to deal with your sin, we are going to deal with your unbelief, and we are going to get you turned around and on the righteous path, through the power in the redeeming blood of Christ.”

The ungodly, the sinner, and the scoffer, they find no delight in the Word of God, unless God chooses to allow them too. Do you find delight in the Word of God? That is evidence of whose you are! The Psalmist wrote these words, “Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and keeps our feet from slipping. For you O God tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought to a place of abundance.” “May God arise, may his enemies be scattered, may his foes flee before him, as smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.”

What are we to do know? We live in a world where we have so many forces pulling us this way and that, so many choices and decisions to be made each day, so many band wagons to hop on or off. How do we know what is right, how do we know which way to turn? Some of you may be thinking; “well, duh John, that’s pretty obvious, isn’t it? We just do what God would have us do, we follow in his will, we follow where Christ and the Spirit lead.”

Well, golly, here I am preaching to the choir. But guess what, for me it’s just not that easy and I suspect the same is true for all of you as well. I am proud to call myself a Christian, a follower of Christ, and often I speak from that perspective and feel confident in what I say and do, only to find that yes, my words and actions may be right, but my motives are not. Often, I find myself thinking about what I want first and what God wants later.

In Mathew Jesus says, “do not worry saying what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or what shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” It’s hard to check our motives at the door and seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. It sometimes begs the question; what does God want from us? The prophet Micah answers that in chapter 6 verse 8 saying; “He has showed you O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God; lets let those words wash over us and sink in like water on a dry and parched land.

The psalmist says, “the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.” “The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.”

“The Lord upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry.” (spiritual food as well, I might add)

“The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.”

“The lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow. The Lord builds up Jerusalem, (His Church) he gathers the exiles of Israel, He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.”

“He determines the number of stars and calls them each by name, just as He calls us by name. The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations.”

“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.”

Oh, how I love the Psalms, don’t you? Thanks be to God!

Amen.

Hymn:  650  He leadeth me

Offering and Doxology 830

Offertory Prayer

Good and gracious God, we bring our offering in gratitude for all that makes our lives good, even in uncertain times. Bless these gifts with your Spirit and use them through the ministry and mission of our Church to touch lives in need of your goodness, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Gathering Prayer Requests 
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession

Just and merciful God,

we turn to you in hope and gratitude.

When the world around us seems troubling,

we are grateful for your steadfast love.

Thank you for your Spirit at work in all times and places,

calling out the best in your people,

showing us when we must repent,

opening paths to reconciliation where we have offended.

With the proclamation of your prophets

and the compassion of Jesus in mind,

may we seek your justice and know your mercy day by day.

 

We pray for justice for the earth:

Protect those creatures and communities at risk,

from the effects of dramatic disasters and incremental changes in the climate..

Open our eyes to see how we can live more responsibly

and change our hearts to know we must.

(Hold silence for 10 seconds.)

We pray for justice among the nations:

Create more generous sharing of resources

between countries with good harvests and those depleted by famine.

Where resources are extracted for export,

protect brave advocates for fair wages and environmental protection.

And where there is aggression and intimidation between nations,

raise up the willingness to make peace and settle differences fairly.

(Hold silence for 10 seconds.).

 

We pray for justice in our court systems:

Guide those who judge, prosecute or defend to serve with integrity,

that those who are accused may receive fair trials,

and that those who have been wronged are restored to fullness of life.

Grant those who are convicted humane treatment

so that your Spirit may lead them to rehabilitated potential.

(Hold silence for 10 seconds.)

 

We pray for justice in the workplace:

May those who work for others be treated with dignity and earn a fair wage.

May all who create that work earn a fair return.

Create equity and respect between those of different backgrounds and identities

and guide young people to opportunities to develop their gifts.

(Hold silence for 10 seconds.)

 

God, we all need some kinds of healing in our lives:

We remember before you those struggling with illness of body, mind or spirit,

those waiting for diagnosis or treatment,

and all whose health challenges are invisible to others.

(hold silence for 10 seconds)

 Your Spirit prays within us, O God,

even when we cannot find the right words.

So, hear us this day and answer in ways that encourage our faith

and change the world for the good,

for the sake of Jesus Christ who taught us this prayer:

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen 

Hymn:  671  I heard the voice of Jesus say

Benediction:

Bless the Lord continually.

look to God and be radiant,

and let God’s praises flow through your lives.

 

And may the God who made you,

The Christ who mends you,

And the Spirit who brings you life

Bless and keep you now and always. Amen

 

Blessing Song:  Go now in peace

Go now in peace. Never be afraid.                                                                                          God will go with you each hour of every day.                                                                  Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.                                                                  Know He will guide you in all you do.                                                                             Go now in love, and show you believe.                                                                      Reach out to others so all the world can see.                                                            God will be there watching from above.                                                                        Go now in peace, in faith, and in love. Three-Fold Amen

Public Domain