BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
14TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUMMER WORSHIP SERVICE
September 6, 2020
The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104
Gathering: When Peace Like a River – arr. Mark Hayes
Acknowledgement of Territory
We begin our worship service by acknowledging the territory where most of us gather and where I am located. We acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded traditional territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe First Nation. We pay respect to the elders past and present and honour all indigenous people’s reverence of this land throughout the ages. May we live in peace and friendship to sustain the earth and all its people. Thank you for permitting us to live and work on this land.
Welcome & Announcements
Good day everyone! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, wherever you are, in today’s worship service. Thank you for joining us. In the next few Sundays including today, we are going to reflect on the stories in the Gospel according to Matthew. Today, a difficult text is presented to us but with a word of hope at the end – that famous line, “where two or three are gathered in my name, I am in their midst.”
During this time when only a limited number of people are able to worship in the church sanctuary, please know that BCUC offers worship service in a number of ways. Check our website at bcuc.org, for our worship service in audio, video and text formats along with the weekly announcements, online meetings, events and other updates. You can also listen to the service via telephone by dialing 613-820-8104. Please continue to reach out by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.
Here are some announcements:
As we slowly reopen the building, there is an opportunity to gather again in the sanctuary for a modified virtual worship service on Sept. 13th at 10 am. A maximum number of 28 people excluding the staff and ushers are invited to gather. To save a spot, you are required to register online or by calling the office. Deadline to register is September 9th. Full information on procedures and safety measures are posted on our website. We are also in need of ushers for September 13. Please call the office if you are interested.
Copies of the Book of Memories Volume 2 are now available for purchase. Please contact the office to place an order.
Join us for a spontaneous Prayer Circle every Wednesday at 8 pm. Wherever you are, say a prayer for the world, your community including the congregation, your family, and yourself.
David’s Flowers are still available drive-through style every Saturday from 10:30 to 11:30 am at BCUC. The flowers will be displayed on tables outside the main entrance, and everyone is asked to remain in their car, and follow instructions of volunteers. Thank you for your support!
And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11: 30 am. Link has been emailed to you or call the office for more information.
For other announcements, please check your email or the church website.
Friends, in the quiet of this moment, in the stillness of our hearts, I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of God who calls us to gather in Spirit and in truth. Let us gather in worship.
Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Noah & Nicholas Berard
"No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in can see the light.” (Luke 8:16)
Christ’s light shines on!
Call to Worship:[1] Erin Berard
We gather in the love of God to worship,
hoping to find some new way of knowing our God.
We come seeking you, Creator God.
We gather in the love and fellowship of one another,
offering our friendship, care, and support, ready to serve.
We come seeking you, Jesus the Christ.
We gather in awe of a Holy, loving presence,
yearning for an experience beyond ourselves.
We come seeking you, Holy Spirit.
Come now, worship and experience the holy,
alive in the presence of God, working in Christ Jesus
and living in the mystery of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer of Approach
God of summer sunshine and sweltering heat,
God of gentle rains and thundering storms,
God of lakes and rivers, fields and pastures,
Come be with us in this place.
May we be attentive to the rhythm of life that beats within us.
May we see this day and all days as spaces of hope,
open and yearning for your life-giving presence. Amen.
Hymn: Come, Let Us Sing of a Wonderful Love – Voices United #574
1 Come let us sing of a wonderful love,
tender and true, tender and true,
out of the heart of the Father above,
streaming to me and to you:
wonderful love, wonderful love
dwells in the heart of the Father above.
2 Jesus, the Saviour, this gospel to tell,
joyfully came, joyfully came,
came with the helpless and hopeless to dwell, sharing their sorrow and shame,
seeking the lost, seeking the lost,
saving, redeeming at measureless cost.
3 Jesus is seeking the wanderers yet;
why do they roam? why do they roam?
Love only waits to forgive and forget;
home, weary wanderers, home!
Wonderful love, wonderful love
dwells in the heart of the Father above.
4 Come to my heart, O thou wonderful love!
Come and abide, come and abide,
lifting my life till it rises above
envy and falsehood and pride:
seeking to be, seeking to be
lowly and humble, a learner of thee
Words: Robert Walmsley, 1900, Music: Adam Watson
Song #27554 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Storytime for the Young at Heart: Erin Berard
(Sounds of children arguing and yelling…)
It’s hard to get along sometimes, isn’t it?
In today’s Bible passage, Jesus is giving his followers advice on dealing with disagreements. It finishes with Him saying, “where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I am there with them.”
That might be familiar to those of you who have been in my Sunday School class before. That’s usually what I say as we light the candle to remind us that as we come together to learn, Jesus is there, too.
It also makes me think of the summer camp I worked at for many years. On the first day of every new week of camp, we discussed that verse in our God Chat time. With all the campers and counsellors gathered on the picnic tables under the trees, in the sunshine, it was easy to feel the uplifting presence of Jesus there with us. We were filled with the excitement of possibilities for the week ahead – new friends, fun activities, being outdoors. It was a maybe little more difficult to have a feeling of positive presence as the week wore on - people were maybe annoyed with cabin mates who snored, or there were disagreements over the rules for the sports games, and so on. But “where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, I am there” – not just when people are getting along, but when we’re trying to work out disagreements, too.
Think about some times when you and your friends or family members have argued. Would knowing Jesus is there make a difference? Would you be willing let Him help? What might Jesus say as you’re trying to work things out? How would His loving kindness support everyone involved in problem-solving for a solution?
Let’s look, listen, and feel for Jesus being with us as we spend time with others this week – both in the happy times and when we’re trying to work out any differences.
Hymn: Where Two or Three Are Gathered - More Voices #14 (Round)
Where two or three are gathered in my name,
I am there, I am there.
Words and Music © 2004 Bruce Harding evensong.ca French © 2006 David Fines
Song #127055 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214 All rights reserved
Prayer for Illumination Reader: Ross Mutton
God of joy and delight, open our hearts to receive the good news of your Word. May we hear your Word anew and give us hope as your people. Amen.
The Reading: Matthew 18: 15-20 (NRSV)
“Where Two or Three Are Gathered”
15 “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one.
16 But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
17 If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.
18 Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
19 Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
May we find ourselves renewed by this story of faith. Thanks be to God!
Sermon: “This Thing Called Community” Rev. Kim Vidal
On a Sunday such as this when we begin a new season in our church life, when we are preparing for a long weekend, when we are confronted by the uncertainty of the schools re-opening in this COVID time, the words of Jesus come to us through one of the difficult teachings of Matthew and his community, instructing us what to do when someone wronged or offended us. Matthew’s words are harsher – he says: when someone sins against us. This Matthean passage was originally written to the new followers of Jesus Christ, around 85-95 CE, who took their corporate life very seriously and was struggling to stay alive in the midst of hostile surroundings. According to Matthew, we are to take the necessary steps to confront those who sin against us and seek reconciliation and justice within the community.
I'm not exactly sure what bugs me so much about this passage. Maybe it's the way too many people easily "wag their fingers at someone and point out their faults”. Or maybe it's the reference to treating the one who sinned as "a Gentile and a tax collector" which I find discriminating. Or maybe this all goes back to Fr. Rick Morley’s probe of the text in today’s church life. In his article he titled, “before you un-friend”, here’s what Fr. Morley wrote: “If another member of the church sins against you…just talk about them behind their back. If another member of the church sins against you…just call a bunch of people in the church to complain about them. You may even want to start a letter-writing campaign against them. If another member of the church sins against you…just send them a nasty email. Copy the clergy to make it more exciting. If another member of the church sins against you…don’t say anything. Just avoid them. Un-friend them on Facebook. And, if you can’t avoid them on Sundays, then just leave the church”. Sounds familiar? But this is not just about church life. We experience these in our personal life, at our workplaces the political world, or in our neighbourhood. The more I ponder on this text, the more I see big words that jump at me: conflict resolution / anger management / disagreements / discipline and reprimand/ reconciliation.
This reminds me of a funny story. There was once a church where the minister and the music director were not getting along. As time went by, their conflict began to spill over into the worship service. The first week the minister preached on commitment and how people should dedicate themselves to the service of God. The music director led the song, "I Shall Not Be Moved." The second week the minister preached on stewardship and how people should gladly give to the work and mission of the church. The music director conducted the song, "Jesus Paid it All." The third week the minister preached on gossiping and how people should watch their tongues. Guess what hymn the music director picked? "I Love to Tell the Story." With all this going on, the minister became very upset over the situation and the following Sunday told the congregation that he was considering resigning. The music director picked the hymn, "Oh, Why Not Tonight?" As it came to pass, the minister did indeed resign. The next week he informed the church that it was Jesus who led him there and it was Jesus who was taking him away. And the music director asked the congregation to sing "What a Friend We Have in Jesus."
If we read Matthew’s passage closely enough, we will soon realize that Matthew's deep concern in this text is the word community – “where two or more are gathered” honest-to-goodness, authentic community. Community, after all, is one of those “feel-good” words that draw us into comfortable zones -- we imagine something out of a social or a civic club, a place where we are accepted of who we are, where we are connected with like-minded people, and where, of course, almost everyone knows our name. But the really difficult thing about community is that it's made up of people – warm blooded sensitive human beings! Diverse, different, unique individuals. There are people who are honest, caring, loving, just and appreciative. And sometimes there are people who are difficult, challenging, tired, offensive and unreliable. Which means that usually when we're daydreaming about community, we’re often prompted to visualize a perfect gathering– a place where there is harmony and peace and compassion all the time. It sounds ideal but it doesn’t work always this way. It’s time to wake up, folks!
Here’s an example of a community life which sometimes confront many churches today. In a church committee meeting, someone made a negative comment or does something which is clearly destructive to the health and wholeness of the congregation. Nasty gossips follow, then false accusations. A self-serving decision was passed that promotes one aspect of the church’s life above another. What do we do in this situation? Well, Matthew suggests that—not there in public—but at the soonest possible moment, go privately and confront the person with their behaviour. Sounds good to me, although confronting the person privately or publicly entails courage and risks. We need witnesses to vouch for the confrontation that’s about to take place. Then, if they do not respond appropriately, Matthew recommends to return accompanied by two other church members, hoping that wise listening and mediation will do the trick. If that doesn’t work, you are supposed to stand up here on a Sunday morning and bring the controversy out into the open for the whole community to hear. "No way," we respond. Who are we to invade the privacy of another? Who are we to question the motives or the behaviour of others? Who says that we are right and they are wrong? After all, we are a tolerant, open-minded community where everyone is welcome and anything goes.
So, instead, we just let the controversy slide. We pretend the conflict, the offense, never happened. But that doesn’t mean we can’t go and find others who agree with us, thus padding ourselves against the problem, convincing ourselves that the community doesn’t agree with the transgressor, and that we don’t need that person anyway. Or maybe we mutter about the problem to anyone who will listen to us…in the parking lot or in the grocery store or through e-mail or on the phone. The one thing we are slow in doing is to bring the concern out into the open where the issue can be named and dealt with. But, my friends, if avoidance is our response, then there will be consequences; consequences for us individually, as well as for the whole community. Probably, affection for the community will begin to fade. And maybe the one who violated the community norms will be shunned, ignored, and allowed to disappear. Any way you look at it, the community is damaged, diminished, and possibly bruised forever.
My friends, we know better. We know that a community—whether it is home, work, family, neighborhood or church—is never served when we "play nice" all the time or when we sugarcoat conflicts. Susan Andrew offers this wisdom: “Community is never served when we build factions; perpetuate gossip, and let anger and frustration fester. Community is never served when inappropriate and destructive behavior is not held accountable. So maybe Matthew—with his difficult strategy, with his advice to stop the brooding and confront the destructive behavior early and cleanly—has got the right idea. When two or three gather together to confront differences and controversies squarely and lovingly, maybe that is when Christ is in the midst of them…and in the midst of us.”
Peculiar as it may sound, an authentic community is hard to come by. It demands a lot of work and involvement. But it's worth it. Because when you find it, it's like discovering heaven on earth; it is like experiencing the reality of God's communal fellowship and existence in our midst. And, as Jesus promises, when you gather this way -- with honesty and integrity, even when it's hard – even when there are only two or three of you, amazing things can happen because God’s spirit is in your midst, right there, forming and being formed by your communal sharing.
What kind of community do we want to be at Bells Corners United Church? Do we want something more meaningful or intimate? Do we want a place that can both encourage us and hold us accountable? Are we looking for a community we can be honest about our hopes and fears, dreams and anxieties? Do we want someplace we can just blend in or are we looking for a space where we can make a difference? Truth be known – a church community is far from being perfect but we certainly can make it happen.
Here’s my personal reflection. An authentic community calls for a listening heart between and among those who dwell in community, whether in conflict or in compassion. A listening asks us to be present, to be honest of who we are and to listen with integrity and compassion. In the midst of all our pre-occupations, the listening heart is exactly what is required between us and among us – in a gathering of two or three or more! In a time of great energy and excitement, it can be difficult to hear with a listening heart. In a church where so much is happening and the joy between us is profound, a listening heart and a discerning mind can be a powerful gift to us as we continue to develop and lay claim to our vision for who we are called to be as people of God in this time and this place.
A listening heart is required as we gather in worship and work together as a faith community, as we become Christ for each other in the world. Let us listen to our own hearts, attempting to discern God's promise and hope for each one, individually and within the community. And let us listen to the heart of God. Perhaps this is the most profound listening of all. God has a promise for all those who choose to live and learn and love in community. "For where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst." God promises presence and deep hope to those who dwell together and dare to cast a dream and a vision of justice, hope and love for all.
As we enter this new season of our community life and leadership in this pandemic time, let us listen with intent. Let's not get locked into our old, normal way routines, which can maximize excitement and minimize reflection. Let's not act as if a full calendar makes a fulfilled life and a deep community. In the midst of social distancing and minimized gathering, let us listen to our own longing and the longings of others and the reality of pain and hurts in the world. Listen to each other. Listen to our own hearts. Listen to the world. Listen to God. Wherever two or more are gathered, God is with us. Amen.
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal
In this moment, in this place, we have the opportunity to quiet our minds and open ourselves to God's presence among us. Let us gather our hearts in prayer:
Creator God, may we join with the whole of your creation, in praising you, through the fragrance and melody of our lives. As we welcome a new month in our midst, you invite us to look for more surprises in the faces of those around us, in the words of hymns and prayers, in the hopes and dreams of a world that longs for peace and compassion, in the beauty of the earth and all of creation, every creature, every plant, every rock and grain of sand proclaims your presence.
God of love, you are indeed good to us. Sometimes we get so caught up in ourselves, our routines and the need of the moment that we lose sight of the resources and gifts you bless us with. Thank you, God, for Bells Corners United Church, its staff, leaders and volunteers, members and adherents and those who share its common purpose. We pray for all students and learners as a new school year begins. We pray for wisdom and understanding for students and teachers in our public and private schools and in our colleges and universities. May they all be guided and enlightened by love and by your example.
On this Labour Day weekend, we pray for all who shoulder the tasks of human labour—in the farms, marketplaces, in factories and offices, in the professions, in schools and churches, health sector and in family living. We thank you, God, for the gift and opportunity of work; may our efforts always be pure of heart, for the good of others. We lift up to you all who long for just employment and those who work to defend the rights and needs of workers everywhere. May those of us who are now retired always remember that we still make a valuable contribution to community by our prayers, by our presence and acts of charity.
Loving God, comfort all who suffer sickness, sorrow, oppression, hunger and loneliness. Each of us is known and held by you, affirming our place in your heart. Extend your love to all those who are lifted up in our prayer circle and grant us compassion so that we too may extend our hands to comfort and heal. We hold up to you the Garvie and Watson families as they grieve the loss of Arthur Buss.
God of peace, we pray for the storms battering our communities in many forms; the wars and conflicts that never seem to reconcile; the continuing global economic fears because of this pandemic time, the racial strife in the many parts of the world particularly in Canada, the United States, France and Belarus. We feel afraid and powerless. And yet, you remind us that we are not alone in our desire for peace and justice, in the efforts we make in our families, with our friends, in our communities, and in our larger world. We are not alone for you, O God, are with us and with all of the peace-seekers and peacemakers.
Finally, I offer this prayer for all of us who seek to follow the ways of Jesus Christ.
I dare to pray: God, let the world be changed, let my life be changed,
For I long to bring hope where the Good News is needed.
In the strength of your spirit,
And inspired by your compassion,
I make this promise to work for change,
And wait confidently for the day
When you make all things new.
This world,
Your creation, rolled into a sphere, packaged in sunshine, gift-wrapped in love, given to us,
Thank you.
All these we ask in Jesus’ name who taught his disciples this ancient prayer we now recite together.
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom come, thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, And forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kin-dom, the power and the glory, Forever and ever, Amen.
Invitation to Offer: Rev. Kim Vidal
I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your gratitude to God’s blessings. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the slot by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Offertory Prayer
Receive our gifts, gracious God, which we offer in sincerity and as an act of trust: trust that they will contribute to your acts of love in the world, trust that we will become instruments of your will, and trust that you will bless the giving and the givers. Amen.
Sending Forth: Rev. Kim Vidal
Let us go from this place out into the world that waits for us.
Let us go with a faith as firm as the earth itself,
with a love as embracing as the presence of God,
with a hope as strong as the life of Jesus Christ,
and a peace as abiding as the winds of the Spirit.
Let us go and be a blessing
this day and in the days to come. Amen!
Hymn: May the God of Hope Go with Us - Voices United #424
1 May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope to every land and race.
Refrain:
Praying, let us work for peace,
singing, share our joy with all,
working for a world that's new,
faithful when we hear Christ's call.
2 May the God of healing free the earth from fear,
freeing us for peace, both treasured and pursued.
May the God of love keep our commitment clear,
to a world restored, to human life renewed. R
Words © v1 1984 Schutmaat, v2 1993 Kaan Hope Pub., Argentine Folk Melody
Song #78182 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Departing: Andante – Handel
Zoom Fellowship hosted by Lorrie at 11: 30 am. Link has been emailed. See you there!
[1] Heather McClure, Gathering-Pentecost 1 2017, Year A.