ST ANDREW’S  CHURCH

JANUARY  30th 2022           HOLY COMMUNION

 

LIGHTING OF THE CHRIST CANDLE

 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

St. Andrew’s welcomes you to this worship service and prays that God will bless you and prepare you for the week ahead.
Thank you Rev. Shirley Cochrane for leading our worship today. We will be celebrating Communion so please prepare your elements, the bread and wine, prior to beginning the service. It is our intention to video record the Communion service as well as the Sermon; they will be posted in the late afternoon.

 

CALL TO WORSHIP

O Lord, in you we find refuge;

Let us never be put to shame.
Turn your ear to us, O God, and save us.
For you are our rock and our fortress.

God has been our hope and our trust from our earliest days.

God has been with us since we were born from our mother’s womb.

Let us sing out our praise of God’s steadfast love.
We will offer God all glory and honour this day and always!

 

HYMN                638   Take time to be holy

Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.

Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
And run not before Him, whatever betide.
In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.

Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

 

PRAYER  OF ADORATION

Almighty and everlasting One, your power is incomparable, your majesty infinite, and your love beyond our imagining. You are hidden in mystery, and yet so present. In a hectic world, you are peace and rest.  In a harsh world, you are tenderness and mercy.  In the cold and dark of winter, you are light and comfort, and so we bring you our worship, for you are the One who created us, the One who redeems us, and the One who gives us life, our one and only God, to whom we offer all love and loyalty, now and always Lord hear us as  we confess together ….

 

UNISON PRAYER OF CONFESSION

God, whose name is love,

we confess our faults and failings,

knowing you know us through and through.

You tell us love is patient and kind,

and you know when our patience and kindness fell short.

You tell us love is never rude or selfish,

and you see the times we insisted on our own way.

Forgive us the excuses we make to ourselves when our love falters.

Strengthen us by your Spirit so that our love is genuine and reliable.

 

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is God’s love; as far as the east is from the west, so far has God removed our sins. Thanks be to God whose love and forgiveness are steadfast. May we be steadfast in our forgiveness of one another.

 

THE PEACE

 

HYMN                767 Lord, speak to me

 

Lord, speak to me, that I may speak
in living echoes of your tone;
as you have sought, so let me seek
your erring children lost and lone.2. Oh lead me, Lord, that I may lead
the wandering and the wavering feet;
oh feed me, Lord, that I may feed
your hungering ones with manna sweet.3. Oh teach me, Lord, that I may teach
the precious truths that you impart,
and wing my words, that they may reach
the hidden depths of many a heart.4. Oh fill me with your fullness, Lord,
until my heart shall overflow
in kindling thought and glowing word,
your love to tell, your praise to show.5. Oh use me, Lord, use even me
just as you will, and when, and where,
until at last your face I see,
your rest, your joy, your glory share.

 

SCRIPTURE READINGS

 

 

Psalm 71:1-6

1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;     let me never be put to shame.
2 In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;  turn your ear to me and save me.
3 Be my rock of refuge,  to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,  for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

5 For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,   my confidence since my youth.
6 From birth I have relied on you;   you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.

 

Luke 4:21-30

21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy[a] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

SERMON

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy |Spirit

 

Today’s reading is a signature story in the Gospel of Luke.  Last week we read Jesus publicly announcing that the Isaiah prophecy (Isaiah 61:1–2; 58:6) is fulfilled in his deeds, teachings, and ministry, Today the writer continues the story inside the synagogue.  Jesus takes the next step beyond simply reading the Isaiah scroll. Jesus connects what he reads to the current moment of the community. Jesus interprets the meaning and significance of the prophesy, pointing them towards where to look.

Jesus interprets the prophecy toward himself. His listeners appear be astonished by it: “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.” They appear to share the expectation of promise and fulfillment expressed in reading Isaiah 61.

He sits among them to answer the questions that follow. In short, an important model established in today’s passage is reading and interpreting scripture in community and with community. As Jesus reads and interprets the prophecy as fulfilled, his listeners approve his message and want to understand more about it and him.

Immediately following this affirmation, however, a question arises: “Is not this Joseph’s son?  The matter here is not what Jesus says, but who Jesus is.

It appears there is immediately a double-reaction: some are amazed at his “gracious” speech. But that question seems to cut two ways, Jesus’ subsequent words indicate his awareness of this. The question “Isn’t this Joseph’s son” can be a source of genuine wonder and appreciation—look how far our local boy has come! But it’s not difficult to see that the same question can be asked with a real edge to it, with a sneer, with derision. “Joseph’s kid? Good grief. He was a nobody back in the day and he’s a nobody from a no-account family now. Forget him!” As the son of a modest artisan, should Jesus be teaching with such authority, honor, and influence?

 

This is a moment of recognition. Jesus realizes they can not handle the truth of who He is or what He says.  Jesus recites popular wisdom when he says: “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum’” (Luke 4:23). From his statements, Jesus appears to know and is aware of the gossip already circulating about him. He uses this knowledge rhetorically.

 

Although we have not as of yet been told directly by Luke of any particular work Jesus did in Capernaum, apparently, he’s been there and done some amazing things. However, Jesus makes it clear he’s not going to do any such thing in Nazareth. Worse, he inflames people still more by saying that with the attitudes some are harboring in their hearts at that very moment, the Nazarethan populace is not worthy of a divine working. Instead, as in the sub-spiritual days of Elijah and Elisha, God will work his wonders elsewhere, outside Israel. In short, the offense that sparks rage and violent backlash is Jesus’ refusal to act on his authority and power in his hometown.  The issue here is deeds, not belief.

On first reading, it appears the Jews in the synagogue turn on Jesus when he cites Elijah’s interactions with the non-Israelite widow at Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8-16) and Elisha’s interaction with the non-Israelite leper, Naaman of Syria.

Some might read their fiery response as evidence of a particularly ethnocentric orientation. The folks in the story appear to be enraged by the idea that the Isaiah messianic figure carries a positive and inclusive message for non-Jews. But that interpretation is incorrect.  Jews in general, have quite positive relations with Gentiles, as witnessed by the Court of the Gentiles in the Jerusalem Temple, Gentiles as patrons of synagogues (7:1-10), and Gentiles as God-fearers” (Acts 10;)

What changes between verses 22 and 28, prompting the shift from amazement and acceptance to anger? Before Jesus cites his two prophetic precedents in the stories of Elijah and Elisha, Jesus shows his hand—he does not plan to offer any of the prophetic and messianic deeds of power and blessings to these folks that he does elsewhere!

 

Leveraging the popular wisdom and gossip circles of his people, Jesus counters the impending character attack. This story reflects the problem of the honor-shame code when it meets God’s prophetic disclosures and intentions. The prophetic word and messianic power rise up from below the social caste system rather than trickling down from above.

Jesus lived on the margins and moved the margins to include all people, and hence invited hostile crowds to want to edge him out of existence.

In his ministry he dragged the marginal boundaries of race, creed, and color to include all people. He dragged the marginal boundaries when he shared and gave a common meal, which we have made a holy meal symbolic of his inclusive love for all people. That is why he upset people so much

Jesus knows He is no longer at home – He is, in fact, too close to home with the message. Jesus is dragged to the edge of a cliff to be put out of the lives of his townspeople because no one wants the margins of daily living to be inclusive of strangers. Divinely, He is able to escape with his life

Disclosure and recognition in Luke, involves identifying the between what God is doing and what God already accomplished through earlier prophets. Today’s passage is an invitation to follow Jesus’ example and to rehearse the prophets of our cultures and traditions that extend Jesus’ liberating message of freedom, provision, care, and recovery (4:18-19).

Whether we admit it or not, WE are captives: we are captive to our comfort zone, captive to fear of failure, and captive to religious and social boundaries. This text shows that the fulfillment of scripture is challenging and frightening to those who are incapable of including and identifying with the marginalized outsider.

This morning Jesus is looking at us and knows our hearts and minds. I wonder, is Jesus too familiar to us ? Many of us have lived with Jesus for so long that we’re comfortable with Him, we’re sure we know His every word; we’re convinced we’ve heard all His sermons; we’ve been comforted by Him so many times that we almost take Him for granted. Is there anything new we can hear and learn from Him?

Follow me to the Table of our Lord. Come close to Jesus. Let Him come close to you. Come – face up to the truth. Let the truth change you. Confess your sin and discover that the truth makes you free. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  AMEN

 

OFFERING

The Apostle Paul reminds us that the greatest of gifts is love. The blessings we enjoy in life speak of God’s love for us. What we offer to God speaks of our love for the One who has reached out to us in Jesus. May our gifts share that love with God’s world.

 

DOXOLOGY

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;

Praise him all creatures here below

Praise him above ye heavenly host.

Praise Father Son and Holy Ghost

 

OFFERTORY PRAYER

God of life and love, we are grateful for all you have given us in Christ and in creation, in community and in the Church that bears Jesus’ name. We offer our gifts to you in love, trusting you will bless them and us. May all that we offer become tangible expressions of your love at work in the world for Christ’s sake. Amen.

 

HOLY COMMUNION

 

INVITATION

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I invite to this table

All who are members in full communion

With any branch of the holy catholic church

This is the Lord’s table and belongs by right

To all his people. All who have been baptized

Into the membership of the church – the body of Christ- are lovingly urged to come to the table which he has prepared.

O taste and see that the Lord id good

 

HYMN                534  All who hunger gather gladly

 

1 All who hunger, gather gladly; holy manna is our bread.

Come from wilderness and wand’ring. Here in truth, we will be fed.

You that yearn for days of fullness, all around us is our food.

Taste and see the grace eternal, taste and see that God is good.

 

All who hunger, never strangers, seeker, be a welcome guest.

Come from restlessness and roaming. Here in joy we keep the feast.

We that once were lost and scattered, in communion’s love have stood.

Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.

 

3 All who hunger, sing together; Jesus Christ is living bread.

Come from loneliness and longing. Here in peace, we have been led.

Blest are those who from this table live their lives in gratitude. T

aste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.

 

APOSTLES CREED    #    539

I believe in God, the Father Almighty

Creator of heaven and earth;
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, Our Lord,
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate

was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended to the dead;

On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father;

and He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body

and the life everlasting.   Amen.

 

GREAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING 

PAGE  564  Book of Praise

 

The Lord be with you

And with you also.

Lift up your hearts

We lift them to the Lord

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God

It is right to give God thanks and praise

 

Holy God Creator of heaven and earth, with joy we give you

thanks, and praise.  In your Son Jesus Christ, your Word became flesh, giving us a vision of you glory that all people might be brought out of darkness and into your light

You made us in your image to live with one another in love. You gave us the breath of life and freedom to choose your way. You set forth your purpose in commandments through Moses and called for justice through the cries of your prophets

For the power and mercy of your Word by which you chose common people forming your church to be the body of Christ in this world we give you thanks. Therefore  with all your faithful people  from every time and place,  we join with the whole creation to lift our hearts in joyful praise ………………..

 

Holy Holy  Holy, Lord  God of power and might

Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

Hosanna in the highest.

 

In the fullness of time, you sent your son Jesus Christ to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you the God and father of all.  He healed the sick, and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners.  He opened the eyes of the blind and proclaimed the good news of your kingdom to the poor and those in need. In all things he fulfilled your gracious will.

 

On the night he freely gave himself to death, our Lord Jesus took bread and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said “Take, eat this is my body which is given to you Do this in remembrance of me”

After supper he took the cup of wine and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them and said “Drink this, all of you:  this is my blood of the ne covenant which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, do this in remembrance of me”

Gracious God, his perfect sacrifice destroys the power of sin and death; by raising him to life you gave us life for evermore.

Therefore, we proclaim the mystery of faith ….

 

Christ has died, Christ is risen

Christ will come again

 

Eternal God, let your Holy Spirit move in power over us  and over these earthly gifts of bread and wine  that we may become one in Christ, and that his coming in glory may find us ever watchful in prayer, strong in love and  truth  and faithful in the breaking of bread.

Then at last all people will be free, all divisions healed, and with the whole creation will sing you praise through your son Jesus Christ. All glory and honour is yours almighty God for ever and ever   AMEN

 

Sharing of Bread and Wine

 

The body of Christ; the bread of heaven [ open top layer for tablet]

 

The blood of Christ – the cup of salvation [ open cup]

 

PRAYER

Eternal God: we give you thanks for this holy mystery in which you give yourself to us. Grant that we may go into the world in the strength of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory AMEN

 

HYMN               556 Now let us from this table rise

 

Now let us from this table rise

renewed in body, mind and soul;

with Christ we die and rise again,

his selfless love has made us whole.

 

With minds alert, upheld by grace,

to spread the Word in speech and deed,

we follow in the steps of Christ,

at one with all in hope and need.

 

To fill each human house with love,

it is the sacrament of care;

the work that Christ began to do

we humble pledge ourselves to share.

 

Then grant us grace, Companion-God,

to choose again the pilgrim way

and help us to accept with joy

the challenge of tomorrow’s day.

 

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

O God, your love is patient. We give you thanks for all those who have been patient with us, teaching us and caring for us in so many ways We pray for the patience to love others as you have loved us.  God of love, Hear our prayer.

O God, your love is kind. Thank you for every unexpected gesture of kindness we have received.  Give us the courage to be kind to others, serving those who seem unkind, rude, or difficult to love in these difficult days.  Remind us that each one we meet is your child, our sister or brother made in your image.
O God, your love is not arrogant, nor does it seek its own interests. Thank you for all who work to serve those who cannot fend for themselves. Strengthen those who have lost hope and confidence in their own value. Give us insight to speak the truth in love and to work for change that creates opportunities for those on the margins and respect for any who face discrimination.

 

O God, your love is not quick-tempered. Thank you for every occasion when someone spared us from their anger We pray for those who are filled with anger and for all around them who face or fear violence.  Raise up advocates for children and elders who are abused, and rescue those who are trapped in relationships that injure and harm.

O God, your love bears all things; it never fails. We thank you for those we have loved in this life and who now dwell in the peace and joy of your presence. Let your comfort settle on those who are bereaved or lonely this day.

 

We remember before you those with heavy burdens, cares, too much stress, and those who find too little comfort and help.  Open our eyes to those in need around us and show us how to offer support and companionship,

 

We humbly come before you with the concerns of our hearts …..

 

We give thanks and praise for the sake of Christ, our friend and savior, who taught us to pray together:.

 

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.  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. Amen.

 

HYMN      Salvation and immortal praise

Online: Give to our God immortal Praise

 

 

BENEDICTION

Go out into the world in peace;; hold fast to that which is good; strengthen the faint hearted, support the weak, Help the afflicted, honour all people, love and serve the Lord   May the grace of God, the love of Jesus and the comfort of the Holy Spirit  be with you always

 

CLOSING  SONG