BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
CREATION TIME 2
September 19, 2021
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 Music: “O Beautiful Gaia” MV41
(Words & Music: Carolyn McDade; Arr., Lydia Pedersen, 2006)
Refrain:
O beautiful Gaia, O Gaia,
calling us home.
O beautiful Gaia,
calling us on.
1. Soil yielding its harvest,
O Gaia, calling us home.
Soil yielding its harvest,
calling us on. R
2. Waves crashing on granite,
O Gaia, calling us home.
Waves crashing on granite
calling us on. R
3. Pine bending in windstorm,
O Gaia, calling us home.
Pine bending in windstorm
calling us on. R
4. Loon nesting in marshland,
O Gaia, calling us home.
Loon nesting in marshland,
calling us on. R
Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Lorrie Lowes
Good morning and welcome to this service of worship at Bells Corners United Church on this second Sunday in the Season of Creation. At this time, we continue to offer our Sunday services through, video and audio on our website, and by telephone. The church is also open for modified in-person worship each week and we are happy to see people in the pews on Sunday morning. The Public Health folks warn that we still need to follow precautions as the new Covid 19 variants are still with us so we take distancing, masking, and sanitizing very seriously. While we are doing our best to avoid transmission of the virus, please remember that getting vaccinated is one of the best protections you can give yourself and those around you. If you are not comfortable gathering in this space or you feel unwell, the best precaution is still to take part in worship from home.
As we settle in to the routines of life that September brings, let’s not forget to enjoy the wonder this time of year holds for us – cool nights for sleeping, days that are not too hot or too cold, the changing colours of nature, and the opportunities to reconnect with friends and colleagues. This year, we are also celebrating the gradual re-opening of the church building and the rhythm of Sunday morning worship that so many of us have missed over the past year and a half of the pandemic. Let us think of this time of year – especially this year – as a season of hope and refreshing renewal. Now let us centre ourselves for worship with the lighting of the Christ candle.
Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: The Berard Family
(Scott Martin, Pentecost 2 2021, p 30. Used with permission.)
There once was a wonderful man who did wonderful things and they said, “He is the light of the world.” In his light, the light of Christ, we gather.
Call to Gather & Opening Prayer (Based on Psalm 19: 1-6) Rev. Kim Vidal
(Rod Sykes, Gathering Pentecost 2 2015, p30. Used with permission)
Honour the child.
The child within,
the spirit that echoes from our youth,
yearns to dance in the light.
Honour the child.
The child in our midst,
the silent one who dares not speak,
longs to sing a song of praise.
Honour the child.
The Child of God, Jesus the Anointed One,
touches our spirit, welcomes little ones,
leads us all to worship our God.
Opening Prayer
(Richard Bott, Gathering Pentecost 2 2015, p26. Used with permission)
In the rush of the wind, in the laugh of a child,
in the beat of our hearts, speak to us, God.
In the purr of a kitten, in the lap of the waves,
in the warmth of our hands, speak to us, Christ.
In the cry of the moment, in the dance of our feet,
in the crackle of the flame, speak to us Holy Spirit.
We are listening. Amen.
Hymn: “It’s a Song of Praise to the Maker” MV30
(Words: Ruth Duck, 1992; Music: Ron Klusmeier, 1992)
1. It’s a song of praise to the Maker,
The thrush sings high in the tree.
It’s a song of praise to the Maker,
The gray whale sings in the sea.
Refrain:
And by the Spirit, you and I
Can join our voice to the holy cry
And sing, sing, sing to the Maker too.
2. It’s a call of life to the Giver
When waves and waterfalls roar.
It’s a call of life to the Giver
When high tides break on the shore. R
3. It’s a hymn of love to the Lover;
The bumble bees hum along.
It’s a hymn of love to the Lover;
The summer breeze joins the song. R
4. It’s the chorus of all creation;
It’s sung by all living things.
It’s the chorus of all creation;
A song the universe sings. R
Storytime Rev. Kim
Who among you wants to be the best? I do, sometimes. I want to have the best marks in school, win at competitive games or look my best. Admit it – we love to win. We love to be on top of everything. We want to be the greatest. We want to be the best. But how do you know who is the best or the greatest? Do we always have to aim for the best? What would happen if we fail?
Let me share a story that I learned when I was young. This is an indigenous story about the legend of the Rainbow written by Anne Hope in 1976.[1]
“Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel: all claimed that they were the best, the most important, the most useful, the favourite.
Green said: “Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, leaves, trees–without me, all animals would die. Look out over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.”
Blue interrupted: “You only think about the Earth, but consider the sky and sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing.”
Yellow chuckled. “You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth to the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me, there would be no fun.”
Orange started next to blow her trumpet. “I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges and mangos. don’t hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you.”
Red could stand it no longer. He shouted out: “I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood! Life’s blood. I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire to the blood! I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poppy and the poinsettia. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon!”
Violet rose up to his full height. He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: “I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am a sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me. They obey.”
Finally, Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others but with just as much determination: “think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me, you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.”
And so all the colors went on boasting and quarreling, each convinced of their own superiority. Soon, their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening! Thunder rolled and boomed! Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, Rain began to speak: “You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me.”
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands. The rain continued: “From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of colors as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow.”
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world and a rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another”.
In our Gospel story today, Jesus heard the disciples arguing about which one of them was the best. So, Jesus stepped in to end the argument. Jesus tells his disciples that if they want to be the best, they have to think of others first before themselves. They have to help others and serve those in need. Likewise, Jesus wants us to put others first before ourselves. Greatness or being the best according Jesus, is about loving and welcoming others and showing them that we care. It is not about competition. Greatness is about encouraging others and making them feel special. Jesus wants us to win at helping others.
I’m sure it was a hard lesson to learn for the disciples, so it will be difficult for us too. But just like learning anything else, we have to put what we have learned to action. Look for ways to serve others in your own simple way. And even though you won’t get an award, a prize or a round of applause, God will be cheering you on, and that’s better than any reward you could ever get. Imagine how the world will be like if we do just that!
Let me close with a prayer:
Dear God, thank you for Jesus who taught us about the meaning of being great. Help us to remember that to be the greatest, we must be willing to love and welcome others. Amen.
Hymn: “There is Room For All” MV62
(Words & Music: Bruce Harding, 2004; French Trans., David Fines, 2006)
English:
There is room for all in the shadow of God’s wing;
There is room for all, sheltered in God’s love.
And I rejoice and sing, “My refuge and my rock, in whom I trust.”
There is room for all, there is room for all.
French:
Chacun a sa place a l’abri sous l’aile de Dieu;
Chacun a sa place en l’amour de Dieu.
De joie, je chanterais: “Mon refuge en lequel je me confie.”
Chacun a sa place, chacun a sa place.
Prayer for Illumination Reader: Keith Bailey
Creator God, let your words speak in each heart.
Let the truth set each one free.
Let the gospel story inspire us for justice.
Let the Spirit’s presence fill us with joy. Amen.
The Gospel Reading: Mark 9 :30-37 (NRSV)
Jesus Again Foretells His Death and Resurrection
30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him.
Who Is the Greatest?
33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”
May we find ourselves renewed through this story of faith. Thanks be to God!
Sermon: “How to Be First: A Christian’s Guide to Greatness” Rev. Lorrie
There once was an anthropologist who was studying a tribe in Africa. One day, he called the children together and told them they were going to play a game. He showed them a big basket of fruit and then hung that basket from a tree at the other end of the meadow. “When I say, ‘go’ everybody run to that tree,” he told them. “The first one to get there wins the basket of fruit!” The children were very excited. He had them all stand up in a line… “Ready… Set… GO!”
With glee, the children all joined hands and ran to that tree together and then sat down to share the fruit. Well, this surprised the anthropologist! “Why would you do that? You could have had that whole basket of fruit for yourself!”
The children were confused. “How can we be happy if one of us is sad?” they asked.
This story is a familiar way to illustrate the concept of “ubuntu”, a philosophy that is central to many African cultures.
I can’t help thinking that I don’t know many children in our culture who would have done the same thing – maybe a few individuals would consider the idea, but would they be able to convince a whole group to buy in? Would they be able to convince the fast runners, the ones with long legs, the hungriest?
Competition and the desire to be the best, the first, the richest, the most loved, the most beautiful, the fastest… seems to be ingrained in us. I wonder, is this concept of ubuntu particular to African cultures or is competitiveness something that is unique to western society? Is it innate or is it learned?
In our reading from the book of Mark this morning, Jesus is trying to find some private time with his disciples. He wants some time away from the crowds to teach them, to delve deeper into the things they have seen and heard.
In the verses preceding today’s passage, Jesus has taken Peter, James, and John up the mountain – it’s the story of the transfiguration, when these three disciples get a glimpse of who this man they follow really is. The others are left below, dealing with the crowds. A boy, possessed by a spirit is brought to them for healing but they are unsuccessful in casting the spirit out of him. An argument has ensued with the scribes, the crowd is not happy. Jesus calms the situation by healing the boy and then moves on with his disciples.
It seems that he is lost in his own thoughts on this trek. He has tried to bring up the topic of how bad things are going to get once more – that he will be betrayed into human hands and they will kill him, but that he will rise again. They don’t engage. They don’t understand and are afraid to ask him about it. Perhaps they just don’t want to have to deal with such a scary thought. So, it seems that Jesus moves apart from them. I imagine him thinking this through, looking for a way to get his friends to listen to the reality he sees coming, to plan next steps.
As they continue along the road, he can tell that they are arguing about something but he isn’t part of the conversation. Once they stop and are alone together in the house in Capernaum, he asks them, “What were you arguing about back there?” and they don’t want to tell him because they were arguing about who was the greatest.
Now here, I think is where our competitive North American mindset might influence our understanding – even without us noticing it! I would wager that most of us read that line and assume that the disciples were engaged in a battle of “I’m better than you!” I’m the favourite, …the oldest, the smartest, … any of a myriad of superlatives. It makes sense, of course. They wouldn’t want to tell Jesus that’s what they were arguing about because they knew it was something he wouldn’t like, something that wouldn’t please this man they had grown to know and love.
So, what if we turn off our western minds for a minute and look at this statement through a different lens… What if, rather than fighting for bragging rights, these men were holding each other up as examples of greatness? Maybe the argument would go like this…“I think it’s obvious, Peter, that you are the greatest. You are the one who can talk to him as an equal”… “Oh, no, not me! It’s obvious how much he loves you, John.” “But Andrew was the first one he called, I think he is the greatest.”…
Makes some sense, doesn’t it? After all, were these men following Jesus because he was famous? … Or was it because of his message and his way of being in the world? Would they really have left their lives behind and headed out into the unknown just to gain some fame and glory by hanging on his coat tails? Would they have stuck with him through the hard road and not considered heading home to family and comfort – especially when he keeps telling them that it’s going to get harder, that he facing rejection and danger, even death? Had they really not learned anything from him all this time? Did any one of them believe that he was capable of leading the others into this scary future?
Jesus seems to sense that this is what they were arguing about on the road. And so, he talks to them about what it means to be great when you are a follower of the Way.
“Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” It seems counter intuitive, doesn’t it? We know that Jesus teaches humility – but what can be gained in the work toward God’s kin-dom if we all allow ourselves to be humble servants? Would the corrupt powers of the world topple because they had obedient servants, ready to meet their every need or would they be strengthened because we all bowed to them?
I don’t think this is what Jesus had in mind. And I think the writer of Mark has left a lot out of Jesus’ lesson. Maybe that’s because we are expected, like the disciples, to understand, if we’ve been paying attention on this journey we’ve been on with Jesus, on the meaning of his ministry.
We know that Jesus was not the Messiah the people were expecting. He wasn’t there to raise a large angelic army who would beat the oppressors with violence. So, how did this humble man, a man who preached love, who healed the sick, who cared about everyone, even the outcasts of society… how did he think this could change the world?
I believe his solution was to empower the oppressed, not to overpower the oppressors. How do you change the world as a Christian, a follower of Jesus? Can it change by exchanging an existing power with a new one, with a new victor who raises his sword over the dead and wounded bodies of his enemies and shouts, “I win! I am now the greatest!” Or do you change the world by ensuring that everyone – the weak, the sick, the poor, the oppressed, and even the enemy and the oppressor – that everyone has what they need, physically and emotionally, to face the world with dignity. Perhaps, as Jesus teaches, you change the world by opening eyes and hearts to lift the gaze from “me and mine” to care for each other in the spirit of ubuntu. Jesus wasn’t out to humiliate the powerful. He didn’t want to change places with them. He proposed a new world view where we acknowledge that each person has gifts from God – powers that can be used to make the world a better place.
If you want to be first, you need to be last, according to Jesus. You need to be moving those with the gifts needed at the moment, to the front of the line; you need to be willing to support from the back. This doesn’t just apply to the disciples. It doesn’t just apply to followers of Jesus. If we want the world to change in the way God dreams, everyone needs to be willing to take their place at the back. If we want to make the greatest change, we need to get rid of the notion that the line from first to last is fixed in place. It’s not about using our power to reach back and give someone else a hand up, we need to give them the space and the support to move up to join us.
And then Jesus brings a child into their circle. Is this a signal that he’s moving on to a new topic to ponder, or is this child connected to what he’s been saying? We know that children were not considered important members of society in Jesus’ time. They were loved, they were nurtured, they were taught – but they weren’t consulted when decisions needed making in the family or in the world. Remember the story I usually read at a child’s baptism? The disciples try to keep the children from bothering Jesus. They aren’t as important as adults. They don’t know or understand as much. But Jesus gathers the children in. He says we need to be more like them if we want to enter the kingdom of heaven. I wonder if he was thinking along the same lines as the children in our story about ubuntu…
So, here in this house in Capernaum, Jesus pulls a little child close. Right in the middle of this serious discussion with his disciples, in a moment when he finally has their undivided attention and can do some teaching, he puts the child among them.
“Whoever welcomes one such child in my name, welcomes me.” One such child… That word, “such” stands out to me… Jesus could have left it out: “Whoever welcomes one child in my name, welcomes me…” What made this child different? What made this child stand out? Why was this the child he wanted the disciples to pay attention to?
I think about all the pictures I’ve seen of Jesus with children. Think about it… They are always sitting quietly at his feet, listening intently or smiling as he hugs them. Sweet, well-behaved, quiet, engrossed in what Jesus is saying to the crowd… Is that realistic? For those of you who have any experience with kids, is this what you would expect? You might hope for it, of course. You might lecture them before Jesus arrives and tell them not to misbehave, and some would comply… for a little while, anyway.
“One such child …” This child caught Jesus’ attention in the middle of a serious discussion with his disciples, a teaching moment that he had been trying to organize for a while… I am imagining a child who has gotten tired of being quiet and still, a disruption but not because they were trying to be bad, just trying to be heard – and I think this child is an integral part of the lesson.
Jesus is offering a guide to greatness – be humble, don’t push your way to the front of the line, empower others to take the lead, … acknowledge that others have gifts to offer – not just the lovable ones but also the difficult, the troublemakers, the misfits, the down and out, the ones who are not even part of the line. Listen. Listen to the wisdom around you – even from someone as low and as helpless – even as disruptive as this child was in the society of that time.
Does this version of greatness ring true for you? Think about the “great” people you have known in your life. Where did their power lie? Were they the ones at the top of the ladder or the ones supporting it from the base?
If you were having an argument about who is the greatest, would you want to be the one at the top with the power to do what you want, or would you want to be the one empowering from below? Which position of power feels most dangerous and scary to you? Which seems harder? Which one do you think might continue to affect the world when you’re gone?
Tomorrow we are faced with choosing leaders for our country. It’s a time to look past our own greatness and to elect those who have the power to make our country great. It’s a hard decision for each one of us. Does it help to think in terms of ubuntu, to think about who can make life better for all of us rather than just ourselves or our small circle? Does Jesus give us any guidance here to help us choose who should be first?
These few short verses in our reading from Mark this morning give us so much to think about… Sometimes I wish the Bible or God would just give us a clear answer but Jesus warns us, over and over again, it’s just not that simple to follow him. Amen.
Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer: Rev. Lorrie
(With inspiration from Joe Milner, St. Louis University, https//liturgy.sluhostedsites.org)
God of us all, As the season changes once again and we move from summer freedom back to the regular routines of life – work, school, clubs, and committee meetings, help us to remember to look beyond our own busy-ness to both the beauty and the needs around us.
Jesus challenges us to look at the world with new eyes, to put our egos aside and consider the deeper meaning of greatness – the greatness to which you call each of us. As we strive to become the people you need us to be, in the world as you envisioned it:
We pray: For this church that we may be servants of one another, particularly of those in need, and that this church be an example of love lived out in the world.
We pray: For greater awareness, that we may recognize our common humanity in spite of differences in race or culture, or status, and that we strive to accompany one another along the journey of life.
We pray: For a spirit of humility, that we may recognize all our gifts as gifts from God, gifts to be used and shared. And we pray that we may recognize our need for one another in our quest to become our fullest selves.
We pray: For a clearer recognition of healthy and unhealthy ambitions, that we may be aware of the motivations that stir our hearts, and respond to those that lead us closer to God and toward greater wholeness in ourselves, our communities, and the world.
We pray: For the poor and powerless in our society, that we may hear their voices, understand their pain, and humbly walk alongside them through life’s challenges, that we use our privilege to empower others rather than to lift ourselves.
We pray: For all who have been impacted by hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or wildfires, that God will strengthen them, remove the obstacles which they encounter, and guide them to the assistance they need.
We pray: For healing and strength, that the Good News of Jesus may bring hope to the sick and strength to those who care for them. We pray especially for those in our faith family who are facing illness, injury, and grief. Let them feel the love with which we hold them.
We pray: For all of the burdens in our hearts, voiced or held in silent thought, and through these ancient words we repeat together with followers of Jesus throughout the world…
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
We are called to plant seeds of grace, hope, and justice; to wait for God’s mystery to work in the hearts and minds of others. The gifts we offer are seeds that reap a harvest beyond our imagining. I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and treasures as our response to God’s abundant love. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mailbox 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
(Kate Gregory, Pentecost 2, Gathering 2017, Year A)
Creator God, you gave us gifts and we have used them:
we offer them now to you in love and wonder.
Be pleased to accept our gifts in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie
(Jamie Miller, Gathering Pentecost 2 2021, p39. Used with permission.)
As Jesus called the children to come to him
and the disciples to follow him, we too have a calling,
a calling to live out the word,
to be the love and do the work of Christ’s church.
May you feel rooted by your faith in God,
inspired by the stories of Jesus,
and lifted by the Guiding Spirit along your way. Amen.
Hymn: “May the God of Hope” VU 424
(Words – v1 Alvin Schutmaat, 1984; v2 Fred Kaan, 1993; Music – Argentine Folk Melody)
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
Departing Hymn: This is God’s Wondrous World VU 296
(Words: Maltbie Davenport Babcock, 1904; Music: English traditional melody, adapt. Franklin L. Sheppard 1915; adapt. Stanley Oliver 1929.)
1 This is God's wondrous world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is God's wondrous world;
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
God's hand the wonders wrought.
2 This is God's wondrous world:
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker's praise.
This is God's wondrous world:
God shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass or mountain pass,
God's voice speaks everywhere.
3 This is God's wondrous world:
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is God's wondrous world:
why should my heart be sad?
Let voices sing, let the heavens ring:
God reigns, let earth be glad.
Zoom Fellowship – 11 am
[1] Based on an Indian Legend by Anne Hope – 1978