Connie Davidson

May 8, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - May 9, 2021

Connie Davidson

May 8, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

6th SUNDAY OF EASTER / CHRISTIAN FAMILY SUNDAY

May 9, 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

Longing – Cornelius Gurlitt – piano: Noah Berard

À la claire Fontaine. - Gerhard Wuensch – piano duet: Monica & Samantha

(Family Photo Slides)

Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! In the name of Jesus Christ and on behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you as we celebrate Christian Family Sunday. Our parent God invites us into right relationship with each other as sisters and brothers, mothers and fathers, grandpas and grandmas, cousins and relatives in the name of Love. Families come in all sizes, shapes and colours, and no matter what kind of a family one belongs, we are all part of the human family and the whole of creation. We take inspiration from our indigenous friends’ who taught us this wonderful teaching: “all my relations.” It reinforces that everyone and everything has a purpose, is worthy of respect and caring, and has a place in the grand scheme of life. Remember, we all live together in our home called the Mother Earth. So let us celebrate our kinship with each other and all of creation.

Today is also Mothers’ Day. This is a day to pay respect and honour all mothers, nurturers and life givers, past or present. Not every woman is a mother but all of us have mothers and some of us are mother-like figures who tend, protect, care, love, nourish and give life to others including animals and other living things. So, take a moment today and greet or remember your mother. Show how grateful you are for her unconditional love, devotion, kindness, wisdom and her presence.

Let us now centre ourselves in the presence of God, our Parent who loves us unconditionally like a mother or a father – one who embraces us with a joyful, “Welcome home my beloved!” Come, let us worship together!

Lighting of Christ Candle Acolytes: Monica, Samantha & Dave Jones

As we light this Christ candle on this Christian Family Sunday, may these words from
1John 4:7-8 be our guiding words: “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

***Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958*** BCUC choir

Halle, halle, hallelujah! (3X)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Call to Gather[1] Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Sisters, brothers, children, welcome to this place!
Mothers, fathers, sing praises to God.
Grandmas, grandpas, share the story.
Aunts, uncles, dance with joy.
Family by love, Christ’s own body.
Family by Spirit, God calls us as one.
As one family, we come to worship our God.

Prayer of Approach[2]

God, creator of us all, we gather to worship you.
We come as individuals, we come in family units,
we come as neighbours and friends.
We come here where we are known by name,
welcomed with all our fragilities and strengths.
We gather with kindred spirits who long
to live faithful to your calling.
Guide us, inspire us, challenge us,
comfort us, and nurture us in this time of worship
so that we might be enabled to return
to our daily lives ready to engage fully
with all of your creation. We pray. Amen.

Hymn: We Are One - Voices United #402

1- We are one as we come, as we come, joyful to be here,
in the praise on our lips there’s a sense that God is near.
We are one as we sing, as we seek we are found,
and we come needful of God’s grace as we meet together in this place.

2- We are one as we share, as we share brokenness and fear,
in the touch of a hand there’s a sense that God is near.
We are one as we care, as we heal, we are healed,
and we share warmth in God’s embrace as we pray together in this place.

3- We are one as we feast, as we feast, peace becomes the sign,
in the bread and the wine, there’s a sense of love divine.
We are one as we come, as we feed, we are fed,
and we feel God’s refreshing grace as we meet at table in this place.

4- We are one as we hear, as we hear heart and hand unite,
in the word we receive there’s a sense that God is light.
We are one as we leave, as we love, we are loved;
and we seek justice in God’s ways as we move together from this place.

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Did you make breakfast for your Mom this morning? Or give her a card and a hug? That’s right! This is the day we usually celebrate our Mothers, but you might have noticed that, in the church, today is called “Christian Family Sunday”, not “Mother’s Day”. Did that make you wonder a bit?

I think that it makes a lot of sense when you think about all the different kinds of families there are in this world. Some families don’t have someone who is specifically called “Mom” or “Mother” or “Mama” but that doesn’t mean the people in that family don’t have someone who loves and cares for them in the way a good mother would. It might be an aunt or a grandmother, or a friend; it might be a father or grandfather or uncle! In fact, I hope that everyone has at least one person who loves them like that. There are also lots of women in our world who might not have any children of their own but still love other children in that way, people who become part of our family through their love rather than their birth. I guess the point is that we want to include everyone who should be honoured on this day. When we call it Christian Family Sunday, we get to include all of those caring and loving folks. It’s a reminder that there are many different kinds of families and that every one of them includes people who care for each other like a mother would, the kind of people that make you feel that you are loved and safe and at home with them.

In today’s scripture reading, Jesus talks about this kind of love. He tells his followers to love each other the way he loves them, to make themselves at home in that love. The way he describes this love sounds a lot like being a mother – but he calls them friends. This reminded me of a memory I have from when I was very little – when I was around 3 or 4 years old. I remember being out shopping with my mom. We were crossing the street so she took my hand and I was so filled with love at that moment that I needed a way to tell her. So, I said, “We’re best friends, aren’t we Mom?” It was a way of telling her that I knew she would do everything she could to make sure I felt cared for, protected, secure, and happy – and that I would do everything I could to make sure she felt that way too. It is the kind of love that goes both ways. I think this is the kind of love that Jesus was talking about too… and I think this is the kind of love that we want to celebrate today.

I hope you let your Mom know how special she is to you today and I hope you also remember to celebrate all the people in your life who fill that role for you – in your family and in the world of people who are like family to you, today and every day.

Let’s say a short prayer:

Thank you, God, for family and friends who love us and help us grow. Today I especially ask you to bless my mother and help me to be a blessing. Amen

Hymn: Come In, Come In and Sit Down - Voices United #395 Kim-guitar, Erin-flute

Refrain:

Come in come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.

1 You know the reason why you came,
yet no reason can explain,
so share in the laughter and cry in the pain,
for we are a part of the family. R

2 God is with us in this place,
like a mother's warm embrace.
We're all forgiven by God's grace,
for we are a part of the family. R

3 There's life to be shared
in the bread and the wine,
we are the branches Christ is the vine.
This is God's temple, it's not yours or mine,
but we are a part of the family. R

4 There's rest for the weary
and health for us all,
there's a yoke that is easy,
and a burden that's small.
So come in and worship and answer the call, for we are a part of the family. R

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Barbara Bole

Embracing God, continue to surprise us and breathe your spirit freshly upon us as your church family; that renewed in faith, we may know your wisdom through your Living Word. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: John 15:9-17 (The Message) - Love One Another

9-10 “I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.
11-15 “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.
16 “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.
17 “But remember the root command: Love one another.

May the love of Jesus Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Jesus: A Family Friend” Rev. Kim Vidal

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” These are the words of Jane Howard, author and actress.

Over the years, the meaning of family has taken a different spin. There used to be a time when a nuclear family is defined as the basic unit of a society which includes a father, a mother and children. Nowadays we have so many family configurations and definitions. Some belong to a blended family or an extended family. Others might have a single mom or a solo dad who look after their family. You might even know someone who has two moms or two dads, or those raised by their grandparents or foster parents. We also have couples who don’t have any children but looks after pets who become part of their family!

What keeps a family together? What makes a family a shelter from the storm? Well, one simple answer is LOVE. A loving family sticks together through thick or thin. Rudyard Kipling writes: “A family shares things like dreams, hopes, possessions, memories, smiles, frowns, and gladness...A family is a clan held together with the glue of love and the cement of mutual respect. When there is love and mutual respect, a family becomes a shelter from the storm, a friendly port when the waves of life become too wild. No person is ever alone who is a member of a loving family” (from Fingertip Facts).

The church family is another kind of family to which we belong. It is like our spiritual home where relationships are treasured and nurtured. We become siblings in faith and treat each other as kin. We encourage each other in love and offers that love to the wider community. This church family is a haven of friendship– a place of prayer for kindred souls, a safe space for learning, nurturing and growing, where friends, young and old alike have a place to call it their second home.

An elderly woman was interviewed by reporters on her 102nd birthday. When asked about the benefits of living past 100 years, the woman answered, “No peer pressure! All of my friends were gone! So let’s talk about “friends.” In our lectionary group this past Tuesday, the members came up with words that best describe what true friendship means. Let me share some of these words: reciprocal relationship, equal footing, trust, counting on each other, give and take, non-judgemental, being present, selfless love, always on call, being a good listener. What about you? What kind of friends do you have? Why do you call them friends? What makes you stick with each other? A middle school teacher asked her class to write imaginative definitions of a friend. These were the descriptions she received:
“A friend is a pair of open arms in a society of armless people.”
“A friend is a warm bed on a cold and frosty night.”
“A friend is a mug of hot coffee on a damp cloudy day.”
“A friend is a beautiful orchard in the middle of the desert.”
“A friend is a hot bath after you have walked 20 miles on a dusty road.”

Today’s reading in John portrays Jesus calling his disciples 'friends.' One of the most common verbs for “love” in Greek is phileō and the Greek word for friend, philos, comes from this verb. In the first century world, a “friend” is immediately understood as “one who loves.” This fundamental connection between love and friendship is an essential starting point for reclaiming friendship as a resource of faith and ethics for us today. Jesus, a model of wonderful friendship, speaks of his disciples as 'friends' not followers, not servants, not subordinates, not second-class citizens. Just simply friends. He called them "friends" because everything he has learned about God, Jesus has "made known" to them. Friendship for Jesus is a word of intimacy and depth. What Jesus has "made known" to the disciples is the very heart of God, which is self-giving and unconditional love. For philosophers like Plato, friendship was a key social relationship. In the Symposium, Plato writes, “Only those who love – those called friends wish to give their lives for others.”

Two dimensions of friendship in the first century Mediterranean world— the gift of one’s life for one’s friends and the use of frank and open speech—informed the way that the Gospel of John and its readers understood the language of friendship. To be considered a friend was to be in a position of honour. Being a friend meant being treated as kin –they now become part of one family. To be a friend meant to look out for the welfare of the other, to put the other's needs on an equal footing. Friendship implied reciprocity -- to consider someone a friend meant counting on that person to return that level of concern and care. When John’s Jesus calls his disciples "friends" he is investing them with this kind of concern. He has shared with them what God has revealed to him, and he has given them the task of going out and sharing this revelation with the world. Jesus relates to his followers in an egalitarian way. He had rejected the word "servants" in favour of "beloved friends"-- a relationship of equality. In the foot washing episode which is a story unique in the Gospel of John, Jesus offers himself completely to his disciples, assuming the social role of a beloved friend, in order to give a tangible shape to his love. Friends, not masters, wash the feet of guests, and in the foot washing, Jesus makes the ultimate act of hospitality and friendship. Kris Lewis says “Jesus calls his disciples friends and in doing so, he upsets the usual teacher-pupil relationship, he breaks boundaries, and he brings a new dimension to the bond he has with his disciples. No longer are they master and servant. Rather, they are ‘friends’ with all that entails.”

This gospel reading in John is part of Jesus’ farewell discourse. Jesus, in his final speech, prepares his disciples, as best as he is able, for his ultimate departure. He tells them many times and, in many ways, how much he loves them. He taught them and mandated them to love one another as he and God, his Father have loved them. Jesus knows the struggles they will face without him. But they will need to rely on each other, trust each other, look out for each other, reprove each other, and forgive each other. In other words, they will need to be more than a group of people who love and follow Jesus. They will need to think of each other as friends. Jesus’ definition of love and friendship in John is summed up in this familiar verse: "No one has greater love than this, than to lay down one's life for one's friends" (Jn. 15:13). There are several ways how to understand this verse. Eugene Peterson translates this in a more modern way: “This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.” But the best one I picked so far is a contemporary reading of this verse offered by the Listening Hermit, Peter Woods: “There is no greater unconditional love than when someone gets their ego out of the way for another.”

Our day-to-day choices are not likely to lead to martyrdom or literally dying for others, but each day we have to decide how we will spend our time, our resources, our talents, our lives. How do we do this? Getting your ego out of the way could mean walking the extra mile, standing with the people who are being put down, doing acts of kindness that will receive no applause, building partnership with people in Chipembi and other places in the world that needs our care, treating the marginalized, people with addictions and the physically and mentally challenged as friends, shopping for someone else’s groceries, reading stories to someone else’s children, taking flowers to someone who’s not a bosom friend, visiting someone else’s mother in the nursing home, talking about faith when we would rather be silent, doing good for people who will do not good to us in return, praying not for an easier life but for strength to give our lives away. I could go on and on... And what do we get in return? Nothing fancy – perhaps a word of thanks and a murmur of appreciation or maybe just a dose of tremendous comfort and peace of mind knowing that we have made a difference in someone’s life. But – we might also gain a friend or two or more and we become a family!

To think of Jesus as a family friend means that we can find Jesus in our human friendships and connections. We are able to see the face of Jesus in the faces of those not only who we care for but also those who are ignored by society or those who felt lost, scared or anxious. By being friends, we create a family. Let me close with a paraphrase of Psalm 8 entitled “Friendship flowers” written by Rev, James Taylor in his book Everyday Psalms:

O God, what glorious gifts you have given.
Above the marvels of nature rises the miracle of friendship.

Friends take time for each other. They put their lives in each other’s hands.

Stars and nebulas are far away, but friends are near at hand.
Friendship flowers unpredictably.
The desert blooms, the ice melts, the distance disappears.

Friendship has no parallel in the world.
Envy and jealousy dissolve.
Fear and suspicion evaporate.
This is how God meant the world to be.
Nothing compares with the wonder of friendship.

O God, our God, what a glorious gift you have given! Amen.

Sources:

BCUC Lectionary Group, Alyce Mackenzie, patheos.org., Gail R. O’Day, “I Have Called You My Friends”
Lynne M. Dolan, “Friendship”, James Taylor, Everyday Psalms

Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Today, O God, on this Christian Family Sunday we pray for all households
created and blessed by your love. We give thanks and pray for our families.
We thank you for families rooted in love, where character is formed and values are learned,
where lives are filled with hopefulness and laughter.
We acknowledge that families often disappoint us.
People fight; people hurt one another. Forgive us, gracious God.
Where there is pain, resentment, or bitterness, enter with your healing love.
Open our hearts to families who suffer abuse and violence.
Increase our compassion towards all with painful memories.
We pray with hope that all families may be a source of blessing and abundant life.

Today, O God, we pray for our faith family. We give thanks for the love and support our
members give to each other, especially through this past difficult year of pandemic. We pray
that this sense of caring community remains strong. Give us patience and resilience to see this
hard time through. We pray with hope for the day that we can gather again as your children.

Today, O God, we pray for all those whose lives are especially difficult due to illness or injury,
loneliness and isolation, grief, worry and stress. We pray that they feel your presence and find
the strength and support they need to cope with the present and feel hope for the future. Keep
our hearts open to the needs of our neighbours near and far that we may be part of that
strength and support. We pray with hope that your message of love will be enacted and felt.

Today, O God, we pray for this planet we call home; all of its inhabitants, and all of its
resources. We pray that we can be good stewards of this world and that we pay attention to
how our way of life affects it. We pray with hope for the healing of the earth.
All these things we pray in the words that Jesus taught those he called friends and family:

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

God has blessed our lives with relationships—joy inspiring and challenging.

In response to God’s blessings in our lives, let us joyfully share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our 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 mail slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer[3]

Creator God, you have blessed our lives with relationships that both inspire and challenge.
We offer these gifts so that we might continue to build relationships with one another and with your whole creation. Bless these gifts that they may bring wholeness and life abundance to all your people. We pray. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

God gives life. God renews life. God is life.
We celebrate the life within us and let it overflow to enliven the world.
May the faithfulness of mothers, fathers, sons and daughters be affirmed and celebrated.
May God’s gift of love, Christ’s abiding peace, and the Spirit’s wisdom
bless all families this day and in the days to come. Amen.

Opening Hymn: Would You Bless our Homes and Families - Voices United #556

“In celebration of our families” (Sue & Rick Morrison)

1 Would you bless our homes and families,
Source of life who calls us here,
in our world of stress and tension,
teach us love that conquers fear.
Help us learn to love each other
with a love that constant stays;
teach us when we face our troubles,
love’s expressed in many ways.

2 When our way is un-demanding,
let us use the time that’s ours.
To delight in simple pleasures,
sharing joys in gentle hours.
When our way is anxious walking
and a heavy path we plod.
Teach us trust in one another
and in you, our gracious God.
3 From the homes in which we’re nurtured,
with the love that shapes us there,
teach us God, to claim as family
everyone whose life we share.
And through all that life may offer,
may we in your love remain,
may the love we share in families
be alive to praise your name.

4 Let us reach beyond the boundaries
of our daily thought and care
till the family you have chosen,
spills its love out everywhere.
Help us learn to love each other
with a love that constant stays;
teach us when we face our troubles
love’s expressed in many ways.

Departing Music

Ashokan Farewell – violin: Amelia Baynes

O Pastorzinho – a British folk tune – violin duet: Georgia & Amelia

Zoom Fellowship – 11 am

[1] Seasons of the Spirit, 2015.

[2] Jackie Harper, “Kin to One Another”, united-church.ca

[3] Jackie Harper, “Kin to One Another”, united-church.ca

Connie Davidson

May 1, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - May 2, 2021

Connie Davidson

May 1, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

5th SUNDAY OF EASTER / BCUC 170TH ANNIVERSARY

May 2, 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: Church in the Wildwood – Dr. William Savage Pitts (yes really)

(Announcement Slides) (old church piano style, out of tune and clunky)

Acknowledgement of Territory Rev. Lorrie Lowes

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 & Centering for Worship Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ as we worship together on this 5th Sunday of Easter. From the comforts of your homes or wherever you are, and whatever time of the day, we are so glad you have joined us in our virtual worship service! Today we are celebrating 170 years of ministry at Bells Corners United Church. We give thanks for the many ways God nurtures and feeds us, guides our roots to sink deep, and with God’s grace and blessing, bears fruits of love, justice, kindness and wisdom. Happy birthday BCUC!

Let us now centre ourselves in the presence of God who made us witnesses in the world and called us to be a loving faith community. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle Acolytes: Kim Family

On this anniversary Sunday, we light this Christ candle to honour and to celebrate who we are as a community of faith. We do so by giving thanks for the varieties of gifts that we share and of the love that bind us together. May the light of Christ be our guide today and in the years to come.

***Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958*** BCUC choir

Halle, halle, hallelujah! (3X)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

People of God, welcome.
We are part of God’s household,
a caring community of worship,
learning, sharing, and serving.
We are here to celebrate
the precious memories of loved ones,
for relationships that grow dearer with time,
and the stories that bind us together.
God never stops creating, redeeming,
and sustaining within us,
among us, and throughout the whole of creation.
May the Spirit of Christ be present in our gathering
and accompany us in our scattering.
May we come to worship the God who transforms all life.

Prayer of Approach[1]

Loving God, Your Spirit calls us to be church.
With the faithful who went before and those who will come after,
you offer us the gifts needed to be the Body of Christ,
people of God, co-creators of your new world.
Remind us to listen to your voice when our ears are closed to your call,
to pay attention when our eyes lose sight of self-giving,
to have a grateful heart when we misuse your generosity.
Be present with us in the midst of our joy and sorrow, pain and healing, despair and hope.
We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus, the head of this church. Amen.

Hymn: How Firm A Foundation – Voices United #660 - BCUC Quartet

1 How firm a foundation, you servants of God,
is laid for your faith in his excellent word!
What more can be said than to you has been said,
to you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2 "Fear not, I am with you; O be not dismayed!
For I am your God and will still give you aid;
I'll strengthen and help you, and cause you to stand,
upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand.

3 "When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress.

4 "When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply:
the flame shall not hurt you, I only design
your dross to consume, and your gold to refine.

5 "The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not -- I will not desert to his foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,
I'll never -- no, never -- no, never forsake!"

Words: “K” in John Rippon’s A Selection of Hymns, 1787; Music: Welsh Folk Melody
Song Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

I think it’s finally spring! The grass is getting green again, leaves are popping out on the trees, and plants are poking up in the garden. I even saw dandelions adding their cheery yellow to the neighbourhood this week!

When I was a little girl, I lived in the Niagara region of southern Ontario. It’s a little bit warmer there than here in Ottawa and so it has longer summers – and one the great things about that is that it’s a perfect place for growing fruit. Niagara in the springtime is full of blossoms – pink ones on cherry and peach trees, white ones on apples and pears. The orchards are beautiful with row after row of flowering trees. The thing I always found amazing is that every single one of those blossoms has the potential of becoming a fruit.

Sometimes my mom would cut a few branches of those blossoms and bring them home so we could enjoy them in the house. They were beautiful and smelled really good, but you know what? No matter how much we cared for those branches, none of those blossoms turned into a cherry, or apple, or peach, or pear. Once they were cut away from the tree, they didn’t get the nutrients they needed to develop any further.

In our Bible reading today, Jesus talks about another fruit that grows in Niagara, and around here too – grapes! Jesus says, “I am the vine and you are the branches, and God is the gardener who helps them grow.” Grapes are a fruit that grows really well in the area of the world where Jesus lived and so it makes sense that he would choose this fruit for his story. The people listening would have known a lot about how grapes grow, so they would understand what he was talking about.

So, let’s think about grapes… Like all plants, the first thing you need to grow a grape vine is a seed. You need to plant the seed in good soil that has the right nutrients in it to help the plant grow and to develop good roots to keep it strong and stable in the ground. A grape seed doesn’t grow into a tree; it grows into a vine and branches grow off that vine. Those branches are where the grapes will grow but, just like the fruit trees I talked about, the branches need to stay attached to the vine in order to grow fruit. The vine brings up the water and nutrients from the soil that are needed to make good juicy grapes. A grape vine with all its branches can’t stand up by itself like a tree can, it needs something to attach to, like trees or bushes or a fence. The branches have little tendrils that wrap tightly around other things to help them climb up so they can reach the other important thing they need to grow – sunlight and rain.

Wild grapes climb their way up whatever is nearby. They can choke out other plants in their hurry to get up to the sunlight. Wild grapes are not really good for eating, unless you are a bird. They are tiny and pretty sour. The kind of grapes we eat are grown in a vineyard. A gardener takes care of them, making sure they have the right nutrients in the soil and fertilizer. They also make sure the grapes have a fence to climb so that they can spread out and reach the sunlight and rain without having to climb above trees. They can use their energy to produce sweet juicy fruit instead.

So, then what did Jesus want us to understand when he said, “I am the vine and you are the branches, and God is the gardener”? What do we need to grow into good followers of Jesus?

First, we need seeds. I think these are maybe the lessons that Jesus taught about how to love your neighbour and all of creation…

We can think of these seeds need as the environment we grow and live in – our family and friends, the books we read, the games we play, even the movies and television we watch. We can surround ourselves with good influences or poor ones, can’t we?

Jesus says he is the vine. I think that means he is there to support us as we grow. He gives us the strong roots that are grounded in God’s dream for us and the world. He gives us things we need to know to grow strong and stable, just like the grapevine carries nutrients and water to its branches. Jesus doesn’t mention the fence. Maybe he knew that his listeners would already make than connection because it is so important to growing grapes. I think we need a kind of fence too – something that works along with Jesus that we can wrap ourselves tightly along to give us strength and stability. For me, that would be our faith family and our community.

We are the branches that Jesus says need to stay attached to that vine. If we cut ourselves off then we can’t continue to grow and develop. If we stay connected, then we will have the energy to do the kind of work that Jesus wants us to do – kindness, justice, love. I think that’s the kind of fruit we produce – and then that fruit goes on to nurture others, it passes on the nutrients to help the world flourish.

If we think of God as our gardener, then we know that we are being taken care of in a loving way. God provides the nutrients we need and trims some of the extra wild stuff away so we can us our energy to produce that good fruit in a strong and healthy way.

It’s a nice way to think about who we are as followers of Jesus – he is the vine, we are the branches, and God is our caring gardener!

Let’s finish with a prayer: Thank you, God, for Jesus who invites us to connect with him to receive the things we need to grow strong and healthy and loving. Help us to share those gifts with others. Amen.

Hymn: Many Are the Lightbeams - Voices United #588 - CGS/Bell Canto - Erin

2. Many are the branches of the one tree.
Our one tree is Jesus.
Many are the branches of the one tree;
We are one in Christ.

3. Many are the gifts given, love is all one.
Love’s the gift of Jesus.
Many are the gifts given, love is all one;
We are one in Christ.

4. Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one,
Servant spirit of Jesus.
Many ways to serve God, the Spirit is one;
We are one in Christ.

5. Many are the members, the body is one,
Members all of Jesus.
Many are the members, the body is one;
We are one in Christ.

Words: Cyprian of Carthage, 252, Swedish para., Anders Frostenson, 1972. English trans. © David Lewis, 1983; Music © Olle Widestrand, 1974, arr. by Leonard Lythgoe , 1995.
Song # 01706 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Rev. Karen Boivin

God, our sure foundation, open the scripture to us
and open us to the scripture so that we can hear your message
of love in songs, in word and in prayers. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8 (Common English Bible) The True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper.2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything. 6 If you don’t remain in me, you will be like a branch that is thrown out and dries up. Those branches are gathered up, thrown into a fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified when you produce much fruit and, in this way, prove that you are my disciples.

May we find ourselves renewed in this Gospel reading. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Jesus: A True Vine” Rev. Kim Vidal

When I was young, my father planted a lone grapevine in our front yard. I saw him constantly checking the vine – watering it, making sure no bugs are around to pester it, trims and prunes the branches, making them shorter so they will not grow so wild and all over the place. He once said that the fruits are produced closest to the vine because that’s where the nutrients are most concentrated. If the vine is healthy, you are sure that the trimmed branches remain healthy as well. I think my dad was right based on what I have read about an owner of a vineyard who talked about how he takes care of his grapevines. He said that he often prunes and trims the branches from his vines because by having shorter branches, it allows for more minerals and nutrients to go to the grapes on the remaining branches, thus making better wine. After a year or so, the grapevine in our front yard bore fruits. You can tell from my father’s face how delighted he was over the first bunch of red small grapes even though I must say they are the sourest grapes I’ve ever tasted!

Today’s reading in John portrays Jesus as a True Vine. But this is not the only metaphor fleshed out in this text. We also read God as the vine grower, the one who removes and trims unfruitful and healthy branches. And who are the branches? John says, we are! The Lutheran Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber expresses her reflection on today’s Gospel lesson. She writes: “…What I wish Jesus said is: “I am whatever you want me to be. And you can be whatever you want to be: vine, pruner, branch, soil...knock yourself out.” What Jesus actually said is: “I am the vine. My Father is the vine grower. You are the branches. Dang. The casting has already been finalized. Vines, and branches off of vines, are all tangled and messy and it’s just too hard to know what is what... Not only are we dependent on Jesus, but our lives are uncomfortably tangled up together. The Christian life is a vine-y, branch-y, jumbled mess of us and Jesus and others. Christianity is a lousy religion for the “do it yourself!” set.[2] It seems to me that Bolz-Weber’s point makes sense. Nowhere in this passage does John’s Jesus teaches that we are not independent or do-it-yourself folks - that we cannot do it alone, that we cannot pull ourselves up when life puts us down – that we need to be connected to the vine, portrayed by Jesus, in order to be productive and strong and resilient.

For those who are hardcore gardeners, you would probably agree that growing vines don’t care about personal space. It’s a messy, twisty, jumbly thing. It stretches, it spreads, and it invades. It grows in all kinds of tangled up directions, and its densely interwoven branches are just about vague from each other. Rev. Debie Thomas said that like grapevines, “our spiritual lives are meant to be tangled up together. We are meant to live lives of profound interdependence, growing into, around, and out of each other. We cause pain and loss when we hold ourselves apart, because the fate of each individual branch affects the vine as a whole.”

But there are words in this passage that gives me discomfort. They sound like words of judgment: cleansed, cut off, remove, thrown away, burned, trimmed, pruned! They tell me that we need to undergo a painful transformation – that we need to experience sufferings or pain or stresses in life or to cut us off from something, in order to be healthy and strong and to bear more fruits. But in John’s theology and faith, these are necessary– the branches are trimmed or pruned in order to produce even more luscious, delicious, healthy fruit. Attentive, careful trimming and pruning of living and dead branches would truly bring forth more abundant leaves, or flowers or fruits. The use of the vine metaphor speaks about our lives as followers of Jesus and our relationship with him, even though we might want to argue about it.

At last Tuesday’s Lectionary group, we have discussed the meaning of pruning and trimming. Both words were used in translating the Greek word kathairie, which literally means to purge, to cleanse, or to cut off. Peggy Aitchison commented that trimming is a more gentle, loving way of cutting off leaves and branches and twigs whereas pruning is a more tedious and harsher way of tending to the plants and trees. A horticulturist once explained that pruning is needed to prevent loose or dead branches from harming other plants and it allows flowers and fruit to flourish. Pruning is not meant to stunt growth, but to stimulate the plant or tree. On the other hand, trimming is a way of tidying up a plant or a tree by removing overgrown branches. Excessive overgrowth is harmful since it reduces the amount of moisture and light a plant or tree receives, so trimming is also an important process. Pruning and trimming are both necessary in the growth of a plant or tree.

Trimming is a word that we often do in our lives whether we are aware of this consciously or unconsciously. A good example is weight. There’s a funny little prayer in my sister’s bathroom that I cannot forget. It says “Dear God if you cannot make me skinny, make my friends fat!” When we gain weight–we do all kinds of things to shed off those extra weight - treadmill, aerobics, power walking, hot yoga, diet…yes- we go the extra mile and sweat it out. Another thing that we trim is our age. Don’t we all like to have our wrinkles stretched or our skin looking fabulous? Cosmetics or surgeries will do the trick! There’s a radio commercial about a senior’s day at The Bay that entitles those 60 years or over for a nice chunk of discount all over the store. Towards the end of the commercial, you can hear this line: “oh by the way – since 40 is the new 60, we would like to see ID, please!”

There is another word that I think we need to trim: that word is “distraction”. We live in a society full of distractions. They most certainly can detract us from our growth, focus, and happiness, as well as sidetrack us from other new ideas or opportunities. We need to be careful not to let things or people take time away from areas where we could better use our time, focus, and energy. A quick survey shows that 59% of iphone users check email the second it arrives, 83% check it while on vacation, and 53% even check it when they are in the bathroom. Some of us are distracted by work that we do not have quality time anymore with our children. And it's not just our children who are busy—simultaneously doing their online schooling, listening to music, playing video games and talking on the phone. It's also us, the grown ups who are unable to concentrate and stay focused as we suffer through one interruption after another.

As a faith community, there are lots of things that needs trimming or pruning in order to find our home in Jesus, the vine and God the vinegrower. There are resentments and anger and indifferences that need to be cut off; inappropriate and hurtful words that should be eliminated; a “holier–than-thou attitude” that needs letting go or the “I am always right and you’re not” behaviour that affects relationships. Jan Pound commented that as a faith community, we need to trim the old ways of doing things and to embrace a newer process that makes us refocus our energy. We need to let go of our old ways of having only the adults run the church and letting the younger ones be a part of the show. And how do we keep the young branches stay connected to the vine? One way to do this is to engage and integrate the children, youth and young adults in the life of the church. We need to listen to them and to give them opportunities to share their talents and gifts and to encourage them to create a space for their creativity and leadership to shine.

Strange as it seems, rather than this John passage being harsh, they are, in the long run, words of comfort and hope for us as we celebrate our church anniversary. They are words of wisdom to keep us on the right track. I think John used the metaphors of the vine, the vinegrower and the branches to remind us of what would actually happen when we are not connected to Jesus and his way of life. John would say - we end up cut off, withered, useless, like the branches and dead twigs that we clean up from our yard and thrown away or burn. But cutting away the dead growth is necessary for new life to take place. And being a follower of Jesus apparently doesn't spare us in the process. We are trimmed and pruned so that we may stay close to Jesus’ agenda of love, justice and kindness, not wandering too far away like wild trailing branches, attaching ourselves to unnecessary things and resulting in a tangled mess of a life.

If Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, what do these metaphors mean for us? Debie Thomas says: we have only one task: to abide. To hang in there for the long haul. To abide is to stay rooted in place. But it is also to grow, to change, and to multiply. If we abide, we’ll get trimmed. We’ll get pruned. If we abide, we’ll bear fruit. If we abide, we’ll have to accept nourishment that is not of our own making. If we abide, we will have to coexist with the other branches. We will have to live a life that is messy, crowded, tangled, and twisty. A life that’s deeply rooted and also wildly fertile.

Abiding in Jesus the vine means admitting that we are not only independent, do-it-yourself people who can boast “I did it my way.” Abiding in Jesus means accepting that we are also dependent on the vine, the vinegrower and the other branches. It means graciously receiving the nourishment the vine offers us but also consenting to being pruned by the vinegrower: to letting go of the things that hinder our growth, things like fear and hatred, greed and jealousy, grudges and resentment, shame and guilt, and all the other vine-y, branch-y tangly things that messes us up. By being tangled up and connected with the branches, we are able to connect with each other, in the words of Eugene Peterson, to become “intimate and organic”. Do we see our congregational life as abiding in Jesus, the vine and God as the vinegrower? Do we even know or think about what abiding would look like? And maybe that's the place to start – to what do we feel connected?

On this Anniversary Sunday, Jesus invites us to be real, to be honest about who and what we are, even if that means admitting that we need trimming or pruning to make us bear good fruit. We are not called to quietly continue as an insignificant wandering branches, moving steadily through the seasons of our life but failing to thrive or to increase our growth. The one who shapes our lives, God as a vinegrower, wills us to flourish and grow and to feed others from the strength we get from our relationship with Jesus, the true vine. Yet there are more challenges and even opportunities to be revealed to each of us on this remarkable journey of faith.

May we continue to think freely and talk openly about who we are and how we are called to be. May we continue building a community that has love as its highest aim above personal gratification. May we follow in the steps of those who have given us a great beginning; the founders and foreparents of this congregation, who believed there was an exciting ministry to be had in this place and in this community. May God lead us into the future and give us the faith to serve. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” Let these words of Jesus inspire our living and being on this 170th anniversary year of BCUC and in the years to come. We have certainly come a long way! Amen.

Other sources that helped me in this sermon:

BCUC Lectionary Group
Debie Thomas, “Abide” Sermon on John 15: 1-8, 2018.
Rev. Dr. Ritva H. Williams, “I am the Vine, You are the Branches”, sermon on John 15: 1-8, 2015.

Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

O God our help in ages past our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.

We offer our prayers today as we mark another year in the life and ministry of our congregation here at Bells Corners United Church. We pray that your Holy Spirit may continue to inspire us in our call to serve others, as we offer vibrant worship services and as we commit ourselves into a loving community following the example of Jesus, a true vine and with your guidance as our vinegrower.

May we continue to pass on our faith, hope and love to succeeding generations; that we may serve the communities in which we live and the wider world with commitment, vision and enthusiasm. Use us to be your heart and your hands, as we comfort the sorrowful, offer strength for the anxious, compassion for the sick, and concern and love for all.

We pray for all who hold positions of responsibility in worship, teaching, caring, social outreach or administration; and for each member and adherent, young and old alike, with their diverse gifts; that together we may fulfill our call eagerly, conscientiously, and with imagination, strengthened by your Spirit and upheld by one another’s prayers.

God of Healing, we pray for those whom the world is dark especially in this time of pandemic. We pray for those dealing with pain and suffering, loneliness, homelessness, poverty, disability, hunger, addictions, and broken relationships. We pray for those who are ill, at home or in hospital; those who are housebound; those who are grieving the loss of loved ones; and those who are worried or depressed;

We ask for your guidance and blessings upon the essential workers and healthcare people who make our lives easier as we live through the challenges of COVID-19. We pray for the many countries in the world who are struggling in saving the lives of people affected by the virus particularly in India, Brazil, the UK and other European countries and here in Canada.

Spirit of Life, as we celebrate this anniversary time, we cannot only look backwards at our history but we must also celebrate the present and look forward with optimism. Walk with us into the coming years in the life of this church. May we who this day celebrate and remember who we are as people of faith in our constant walk with you, may go forward in hope and in joy.

You, who journey with us, hold our lives together in the thread of your amazing grace. We rejoice with hope and great joy, remembering Jesus Christ, the mover and shaker of our faith as we abide in his love now and in the years to come.

All these things we ask in the name of Jesus Christ who holds us together in love and taught his disciples and friends this prayer:

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

The God of yesterday, today and tomorrow holds each one of us in tender love and care. God is gracious and good, and no one is insignificant in God’s eyes. So we respond to everything God is doing in the life of this faith community and the world by offering a portion of the bounty we have received. Let us joyfully share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our 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 mail slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer[3]

Creator God, take these gifts that represent the fruits of our love for you, for our community and for ourselves. Use these gifts, as you use us, to spread your message of love throughout the world. Amen.

Sending Forth[4] Rev. Kim Vidal

Live wholeheartedly;
God calls us to make every minute count.
Live adventurously;
God calls us to uncharted places and challenging situations.
Live faithfully;
God calls us to remember where our true allegiance lies.
Live compassionately;
God calls us to notice and to work alongside those ignored or forgotten.
As we go from this time of worship, may we be inspired to live as God calls us to live.
May we go knowing that God goes with us in this adventure called life. Amen.

Hymn: “Deep in Our Hearts” - More Voices #154 - BCUC Quartet

1. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
Deep in our hearts there is a common song;
Deep in our hearts there is a common story,
Telling Creation that we are one.

2. Deep in our hearts there is a core is a common purpose;
Deep in our hearts there is a common goal;
Deep in our hearts there is a sacred message,
Justice and peace in harmony.

3. Deep in our hearts there is a common longing;
Deep in our hearts there is a common theme;
Deep in our hearts there is a common current,
Flowing to freedom like a stream.

4. Deep in our hearts there is a common vision;
Deep in our hearts there is a common song;
Deep in our hearts there is a common story,
Telling Creation that we are one.

Departing Music: March – Occasional Oratorio – Handel organ

Zoom Fellowship – 11 am

[1] Inspired by a prayer posted in www.united-church.ca

[2] Nadia Bolz-Weber in her sermon, “Vine and Branches: I Want to be a Sunflower for Jesus” (2015).

[3] Deborah Ambridge-Fisher, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2021, Year B. Used with permission.

[4] David Sparks, Gathering, Pentecost 2 – 2020 Year A. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

April 24, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - April 25, 2021

Connie Davidson

April 24, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – Good Shepherd Sunday

April 25, 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: Sheep May Safely Graze - Bach organ 2 minute version

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Welcome, everyone! It is wonderful to greet you this morning on behalf of Bells Corners United Church. We are so pleased that you are joining us from wherever you are in these days when we are unable to gather in the church sanctuary.

The work of the church continues during this time of lockdown and so there are many announcements on our website today. I will just highlight a few:

The Interfaith Committee invites you to take part in a joint outreach project to thank the workers in the Environmental Department of the Queensway Carleton Hospital. These 170 folks who do the necessary work to keep our hospital clean and sanitized are often overlooked and deserve our recognition. If you would like to sew scrub caps, please contact Alison Bridgewater for more information. We are also collecting donations of store-bought, individually packaged, nut-free snacks and drink boxes or cash donations to allow us to purchase these items. Again, please contact Alison for further details.
The Service, Outreach, and Social Action committee (SOSA) held the first in a series of free gardening workshops this week. We hosted close to 20 people and the information was appreciated by all. Don’t forget that, in conjunction with this “Veg-Out” program, we are also offering rain barrels, composters, and accessories for sale though rainbarrel.ca/bcuc/ The proceeds from this sale will go to Famsac, our local foodbank.
You can still request hymns in memory of loved ones or in celebration of a joyful occasion. Requests can be made for a suggested minimum donation of $30 by contacting the church office, and will be featured in an upcoming worship service between now and the end of May.

For more details, and more announcements, please visit our website.

Now, let us prepare our hearts and minds for worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle Acolytes: Norm and Jan Pound

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we light this candle to remind us that we do not face the challenges of life alone. God is with us and cares for us like a good shepherd cares for the flock. Let the light and warmth of this small flame remind us of the guidance and comfort of that loving care.

***Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958*** BCUC choir

Halle, halle, hallelujah! (3X)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

The Lord is our shepherd.
We shall not lack for anything.
Our Lord gives us rest, and revives our spirits.
We follow in right pathways because we belong to God.
Even when we endure hardship and suffering, our God is never far from us.
Let us celebrate our God, whose love for us shows no bounds.
We praise God who keeps our lives.[1]

Prayer of Approach

Shepherd, enfold us into that place you call home.
May we learn to express your work through our actions.
We come seeking. Fill us with a great awe and unconditional understanding.
May this time together refresh us and renew us, this day and always. Amen[2]

***Hymn: God, We Praise You for the Morning - Voices United #415*** Susan, Mary & Bram

1. God we praise you for the morning;
Hope springs for with each new day,
New beginning, prayer and promise,
Joy in work and in play.

2. God, we praise you for creation,
Mountains, seas, and prairie land.
Waking souls find joy and healing
In your bountiful hand.

3. God, we praise you for compassion,
All the loving that you show;
Human touching, tears, and laughter,
Help your children to grow.

4. God, we praise you for your Spirit,
Comforter and daily friend,
Restless searcher, gentle teacher,
Strength and courage you send.

5. God, we praise you for the Saviour,
Come that we may know your ways.
In his loving, dying, rising,
Christ is Lord of our days.

6. Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Christ is Lord of our days!

Storytime Erin Berard

In today's Bible passage, Jesus compares himself to a good shepherd. I don't actually know any shepherds - do you? - but we sure do hear a lot about them in the Bible! Many people in the place where Jesus was were shepherds (and there still are nowadays in lots of places in the world… just not here in Bells Corners!). They were or knew about shepherds, so the people Jesus was talking to would understand the connection he was trying to make. He wanted to explain that he was trying to do for people, what a good shepherd would do for the sheep. A good shepherd would be someone who makes sure their animals are well-fed and healthy, someone who is willing to protect the sheep from predators and go after the ones who get lost. Jesus explains that the sheep would know a good shepherd's voice and respond to it, and that good shepherds would know the voices of their sheep, too.

In this week's Sunday School materials, I posted some links to videos of shepherds calling to their sheep. Check them out! It's so neat to watch them come running from over the hills when they hear that familiar voice. There's also a video of random people trying to call the sheep, and the sheep don't move a muscle! When the real shepherd speaks though, all the heads pop up immediately to see where that familiar voice is calling from!

Do you listen and come when your parents call?

When I call Ainsley there's a good chance she'll respond: "Be there in a minute!" She learned that from hearing the book Hurry Up, Franklin many, many times…

So… mostly, right?

Do you hear Jesus' shepherding voice calling you?

Perhaps we're still learning to hear and to recognize Jesus' voice. I think that maybe it's that voice inside of us which is helping us make good choices, reminding us to be generous or kind, encouraging us to use our skills and strengths.

Where else do we hear Jesus' voice of love? Maybe it's not even in actual words! Maybe we 'hear' it in the actions of people feeding and caring for us, encouraging us and teaching us.

We don't always listen when we're called or follow instructions, though do we? The good news is that even if we miss the Good Shepherd's guiding voice and make missteps - just like a sheep getting lost or hurt - God is there to love us, forgive us, and set us on the right path again.

Let us pray: Thank you God for your constant love that we can hear in caring words and see in the loving actions of our parents, teachers, and friends. Help us to be like shepherds to those around us, too. Amen

***Hymn: Are You A Shepherd? - More Voices #126*** Mary Schmieder

1. Are you a shepherd, good shepherd who leads us
Safely through danger while calming our fears?
Are you a father who shelters and feeds us,
Shares in our laughter and tears.

          Refrain:
          Yes, you are shepherd, parent, and teacher
          But you are greater than all that we know.
          Holy and living, loving and giving,
          God, you are with us, wherever we go.

2. Are you a mother, good mother who bears us,
Comforts, protects us and helps us to rest?
Are you a teacher who daily prepares us,
Challenging students to offer their best? Ref

3. Great, gentle shepherd, forever beside us,
Lead all your children through paths that are right.
Great, loving parent, wise teacher, you guide us.
We want to love you and bring you delight. Ref

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Jordan Berard

Loving God, we pray that you will open our hearts and minds to hear your message of love in song and word. Amen

The Reading: John 10:11-18

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

May we find ourselves renewed in this ancient reading. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: Jesus - A Good Shepherd – but not the Only Shepherd Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Shepherd. It’s an image we hear throughout the Bible, in both the Old and the New Testaments. And although we are not as familiar with this occupation today, it is an image that was very familiar to our ancestors. The job was not one that many aspired to, perhaps, but it was vital to the lives of the people in ancient times. They depended on sheep for food and for clothing and even for religious rites. The shepherd image was used often to describe a good leader who both guided and cared for his people. Moses was a shepherd; David was as well – quite literally before they took on their God-given roles and responsibilities. It seems that God knew that the attributes of a good shepherd were just the kind of attributes that would make for a good leader or a good ruler. A good shepherd knew the terrain, was willing to travel far and in difficult circumstances to ensure that the flock entrusted to him was well-fed and protected from predators. A good shepherd knew his sheep well, recognizing them even when they were mixed in with other flocks, paying close attention to each one, checking them over for signs of injury or illness or distress. A good shepherd was more concerned with the well-being of his charges than with his own need for the comforts of a sheltered home and a warm bed. He wasn’t usually the owner of the flock but cared for them like a parent would care for his children. He knew that they needed the community of the flock to be safe, that a sheep lost and alone was easy prey for the wild animals that shared the mountains and valleys. He would risk his own safety to bring them back into the fold. He built a relationship of trust with his flock. This wasn’t just a job; it was a calling.

When God needed someone to guide, protect, and care for humankind, a shepherd was the right kind of person for the job. A good shepherd was someone that God could trust, and that others would trust enough to follow.

I think we would all agree that Jesus was this kind of a leader too. Unlike Moses and David, he wasn’t plucked from the actual role of shepherd and given this new responsibility. According to our faith stories, he was chosen for the task from before his birth and developed the attributes of a good shepherd leader as he grew. He loved God’s flock. He cared enough about each one to watch for signs of injury, illness, and distress and to do something about it when he found them. He drew them into community where they could nurture and protect each other. He lived with them in the same difficult conditions that they faced in the world. He was committed to his calling, even to the point that he would risk his own safety to stand up for the rights and needs of the flock. He instilled a sense of trust, a sense of comfort, and a sense of being cared for in the hearts of his followers.

When we think of good shepherds, especially in the context of the Bible, the scripture that first comes to mind for many of us is the 23rd Psalm. Most of us – at least in my generation, know this one by heart… “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…” If I pause here, I bet many of you will continue with the rest of the words in your mind, if not out loud! Psalm 23 is arguably the most familiar Bible passage in the world. Even non-churchgoers are familiar with it. We use it whenever comfort is needed – at funerals, or in times of grave illness or trouble. We like the serene images of green pastures and clear, quiet streams. It promises care and protection, sustenance and security. It gives us the assurance of God’s presence and care – a care that is abundant, with overflowing cups and lavish banquets!

The psalm doesn’t claim that God will erase all evil and suffering. It acknowledges the reality that life isn’t always easy and that there will be some really difficult and scary times. In the 23rd Psalm, there is no promise that belonging to God’s flock will mean that all the nasty stuff will go away. What it does promise is that we can trust that God will always be with us and will sustain us, even at the scariest of times. We are safe, in good hands.

Psalm 23 is easy to love. It gives us the loving care of a shepherd without telling us we are simply sheep. The images change from sunny pastures to banquets in the midst of battle. No matter the situation, our shepherd God takes care of us.

But today, we heard another shepherd analogy, from the book of John. It gives us a very different set of images. Wolves are coming and those hired to help care for the sheep run for their own safety, leaving the sheep vulnerable and unprotected. The good shepherd not only stays but actually lays down his life for the sheep.

On the surface, this good shepherd is a metaphor for Jesus who was willing to sacrifice himself for us (some would say for our sins) but I wonder if it’s that simple. I do think a good shepherd would be willing to jump up and fight for what was most important to him – his sheep – but then, what happens if the wolves overcome that shepherd? Where would that leave those vulnerable sheep? Following this metaphor, it would seem that our shepherd Jesus would certainly be our champion and protector as long as he was alive but that his followers would be on their own if he was killed in the action.

In many ways, I think this is exactly what Jesus’ followers thought. They felt safe and strong in the company of their teacher but, after he was arrested and then executed, they scattered and tried to hide – just as the sheep would do if a wolf overcame the brave shepherd. Is that the end of the story? Does the metaphor fall apart here?

I can tell you that this week in our Lectionary Study, we struggled with this passage. It’s not as easy to love as the 23rd Psalm, for sure. It seems to tell us that Jesus’ role, like that of a good shepherd is full of danger and that to fill that role he would be required to lay down his life. To me, it seems to be missing the point somehow. For one thing, it doesn’t give any responsibility – or credit - to us sheep who follow him.

This train of thought led me to do some more reading and thinking about shepherds. Here is where my thoughts took me…

There are many stories about shepherds in the Bible, but I can’t think of a single one where there is just one shepherd wandering alone with his flock. They seem to travel in groups. Think about the Christmas narrative, for example. The multitude of angels came to proclaim the good news to shepherds tending their sheep.

My reading tells me that, most often, shepherds would travel together, each with his own flock, but together for safety and company. When they all headed out in the morning, each shepherd would call his own sheep and they would follow the right voice. They could mingle together all day – but when the shepherd called to settle them for the night or even to take them home, there was no confusion about which sheep belonged to which shepherd. They would follow the voice they knew and trusted. They knew that he was present. They knew that they could trust him in the day to find sustenance, and in the night to give them security and protection. But, if something happened to their shepherd, there were others to step in – to keep them on the right path, to give them what they needed to survive, to offer them security and protection, to lead them home.

In talking with my Midrash group this week, one colleague recalled a sermon entitled, “Jesus the Good Shepherd – but Not the Only Shepherd”. She didn’t tell us the content of that sermon but that title really got me thinking! What happens if we reframe the metaphor this way? … Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but not the only one.

I actually found that, by changing my perspective in this way, a whole lot more was opened up for me. Just as one shepherd would not put the health and safety of his flock in his own precarious hands without a contingency plan, Jesus didn’t put the future of the world and God’s dream for it solely on his own shoulders. He gathered a group of people around him who he could teach, people who would see the importance of that future, that dream, and would share in his passion for moving it forward. Jesus was the leader, but he left many competent leaders behind him. They may not have seen it in the first shock of his death, but we know that they were able to rally and to take on Jesus’ mission soon afterward… and we are proof that it didn’t end with them. Looking at it this way made me realize that, perhaps we are not just the sheep – an identity that is a bit uncomfortable for me at the best of times – maybe we aren’t expected to sit back and rely completely on God to make our lives safe and comfortable; perhaps there is a shepherding role here for us as well, a role that is not so passive, a role that takes commitment and courage, a role that gives us some of the responsibility. That makes a lot more sense to me.

In our Lectionary Study discussion, we also struggled with verse 16:

“I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice. So, there will be one flock, one shepherd.”

We worried that this is often taken to mean that, in order to be loved and cared for by God, you need to follow Jesus, otherwise you are out of luck. It makes it sound as though there is an exclusive club that you can only enter if you take Jesus as your leader. While some denominations would argue that this is exactly what this verse means, it doesn’t seem to fit with our United Church theology that understands God to love and care for all of humanity and all of creation.

I think this image of “Jesus as the Good Shepherd - but not the only shepherd”, can help us here as well. If we accept the understanding that several shepherds would travel together, each with their own flock, and that all of the shepherds felt responsibility for the entire group, that they pastured in the same places and drank from the same streams, then this exclusivity doesn’t make sense. One shepherd wouldn’t go around collecting sheep from the other shepherds’ flocks. He cares about them and will help them like his own, but he doesn’t need to steal them away from where they are safe and comfortable to do so.

Using this new twist to the metaphor I hear Jesus saying, “You are my flock, but I still have some responsibility for the other flocks too. I need to make sure they hear my voice and can recognize it as a voice they can follow safely as they mingle together in the pasture or on the hillside all day. They will follow their own shepherd at the end of the day, but we are all on the same journey to find sustenance and we are all guided by good shepherds leading us in the same direction. Most of the time we are all just one big flock.” To me that “voice” becomes the message of love that Jesus taught – one that is not so different from the messages of other faith leaders – to love one another, to work toward a fair distribution of the world’s resources for all, to care for creation so that it can thrive.

Jesus is our shepherd and a good one – but he’s not the only shepherd.

The end of this reading gives us one more piece to ponder…

“ …I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again.”

Rather than reading this as a prediction of his crucifixion, or as a confirmation that Jesus was put on this earth by God to die for our sins, I now hear this as contradiction of those beliefs. He states that he has the power to choose what to do with his life. He knew the danger in what he set out to do but felt that it was important enough to take the risk. In the end it was his choice, a choice given to him by God.

The two shepherd images – one in Psalm 23 and the other in the Gospel of John – give us two very different pictures, for sure, but I don’t think we have to choose between them. They serve different purposes. Psalm 23 gives us comfort in the knowledge that God is always with us, especially when we are most afraid and vulnerable. The difficult situation isn’t removed, but the support we need is there to get us though. There are times in our lives when this is the shepherd we need – the shepherd who makes us rest and offers sustenance and peace; a shepherd who allows us to be the sheep in need of care and comfort… The passage in John, on the other hand, gives us a shepherd who challenges us to follow in his footsteps – a shepherd who points out that the job is not an easy one but that it is one that is vital to the life of humanity and all of creation, a shepherd who reminds us that there are others on the same journey, and of the need to work together for the good of all. This shepherd gives us a choice. Which will we be? - a good shepherd, fully committed to the task? … a hired hand who sees it as a good job as long as it isn’t too uncomfortable… or maybe a sheep who learns which shepherd to trust?

Jesus is the ideal shepherd, and we’d all like to be that committed and courageous, of course, but sometimes we can only be the hired hand and sometimes we need to be the sheep.

The image of the shepherd is a good one, I think. I feel secure knowing that my shepherd God is always there to care for me. Jesus showed us this care in action - an ideal shepherd for this world. But I also like the reminder that he could not do it all alone…

Jesus is the Good Shepherd – but not the only one. Amen

Prayers of the People Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Gracious God,
you care for me; I need nothing more.
We confess that we colour our lives with want.
Some of us long for more possessions;
others strive for more privilege or power.
Some of us seek greater productivity and output;
others want their perspective to prevail.
Teach us the way of “I shall not want.”
You lead me into a haven of peace and rest.
Today, may we live as non-anxious presence,
may we reflect a prayerful engagement,
may our conversations and interactions be blessed with spirit-filled breathing.
You breathe new life into me and lead me in new ways.
Restore our souls.
Lift our vision.
Guide our lives.
You are with me, and comfort me,
even when the way of the world seems lost.
In the midst of reports from Myanmar and Mozambique, Ethiopia and Ukraine,
with the headlines composed of COVID variants and the St. Vincent volcano,
with the news detailing the horror and trauma of mass shootings and racial injustice,
with the numbing, painful reality of creation in crisis,
you call us to compassionate change and committed peace-making.
And so, we pray for the planet,
its leaders,
those on the frontlines,
those grieving,
those afraid,
those alone.
In the face of those who trouble me
you provide for me and pour out your blessings.
Grant us steady patience.
Grant us holy impatience.
Grant us the discernment to know when calm tolerance is the loving response,
and the wisdom to know when prophetic outrage is loving faithfulness.
God of justice and compassion you are with me always
and have promised to sustain me all my life.
Gratitude for all the blessings.
Appreciation for all that is sacred.[3]

We ask these things in words that express our present reality and in the familiar and comforting words shared by Jesus so long ago:

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. Lorrie Lowes

As the flock who are nurtured and led by the shepherd Jesus, we are called to share our gifts of time, talents and resources so that we may show the care and love of the shepherd to others. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mail slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

God, you are like a shepherd to us and you lead us in green pastures.

When our cup overflows, inspire our generosity, so that we may continue to change the world according to your will. Amen

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

As you face this new week, listen for the voice of the good shepherd, who was willing to lay down his life for the message the world needs to hear. Share his message by sharing his love, with courage and conviction, with open heart, open mind, open hands, and open arms for all the world. And as you go, be assured that God accompanies you on the journey. Amen.

***Hymn: Psalm 23 God is My Shepherd - Voices United #748*** Mary & Erin Berard (flute)

1. God is my shepherd, I'll not want,
I feed in pastures green.
God grants me rest and bids me drink
from waters calm and clean.
Through daily tasks, I'm blessed and led
by one I have not one seen.

2. Restored to life each morning new,
I rise up from the dust
to follow God whose presence gives
me confidence and trust.
I praise the name of God today;
in God I put my trust.

3. When I must pass through shadowed vale,
where loss and death await,
I will not fear for God is there,
my shepherd strong and great,
whose rod and staff will comfort me
and all my fears abate.

4. No enemy can overcome,
no power on earth defeat
the ones anointed by God's grace
and fed with manna sweet.
My cup is filled and overflows
as I my Savior greet.

5. Goodness and mercy all my days
will surely follow me;
and where God reigns in heaven and earth,
my dwelling place will be.
My shepherd blesses, cares, and leads
through all eternity.

Scottish Psalter, adapt © 1992 Lavon Bayler, Music: James L Macbeth Bain, harm © 1934 Gordon Jacob
Song # 87691, 05319 & 20515 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Departing Music: He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd - Handel organ
from the Messiah - (2 and a half minute version)

Zoom Fellowship – 11 am

[1] Wanda Winfield, Gathering L/E 2018, p41. Used with permission.

[2] From Jim McKean, Gathering L/E 2014, p43. Used with permission.

[3] Ted Dodd, for the Diaconal Community, April 2021. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

April 17, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - April 18, 2021

Connie Davidson

April 17, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

Third Sunday of EASTER – EARTH SUNDAY

April 18, 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: All Things Bright and Beautiful - Voices United #291 – Music team

In memory of our parents (Rev. Lorrie and Neil Lowes)

Refrain:
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful: in love, God made them all.

1. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,
God made their glowing colours, God made their tiny wings.

2. The purple-headed mountains, the river running by,
The sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky.

3. The cold wind in the winter, the pleasant summer sun,
The ripe fruits in the garden: God made them every one.

4. The rocky mountain splendour, the lone wolf’s haunting call,
The great lakes and the prairies, the forest in the fall.

5. God gave us eyes to see them, and lips that we might tell
How great is God our maker, who has made all things well.

Words 1848 Cecil Francis H. Alexander, alt. Music: Trad. English melody; adapt. 1915 by Martin Shaw
Song # 94233 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good Morning! On this Earth Sunday I welcome you to today’s service of worship from wherever you are on this amazing planet we call home. In the stories we share through song, scripture, reflection and prayer today, I hope you find whatever you need – inspiration, insight, connection, comfort or hope. We are so happy that you are joining us!

Although we are not able to meet in person these days, the work of the congregation at BCUC continues! There are many items in the announcements that are posted on the website and I will only highlight a few.

The Interfaith committee with members from both BCUC and the Jami Omar mosque invites you to take part in a joint outreach project to thank and recognize a group of frontline workers who are often overlooked but absolutely necessary to the health and safety of our local hospital. The Environmental department of the Queensway Carleton Hospital are the folks responsible for the cleaning and sanitizing so necessary to keep both patient and health care providers safe, especially in this time of pandemic. We hope to provide them with required scrub hats and with a treat to let them know that they are loved and appreciated. If you would like to sew some hats, Alison Bridgewater will be happy to provide you with the pattern and material if needed. As the hospital does not accept home-made goods at this time, we are looking for donations of store-bought, individually packaged, nut free snacks or small financial donations so we can purchase these in bulk. Contact Alison for more details.

Did you know that you can listen to the wonderful music of BCUC on YouTube? Abe has uploaded more than 60 of our recorded hymns to date. You can find the link in the announcements on the webpage.

The Service, Outreach, and Social Action Committee has embarked on a project to encourage back yard and balcony gardeners this summer with free workshops - beginning this Tuesday - from some of our wonderful experts here at the church, and an opportunity to purchase rain barrels, composters, and accessories with proceeds going to Famsac. Details can be found on the website and on our Facebook page. Here is Karen Boivin to tell you more about it!

SOSA Moment for Mother Earth Karen Boivin

(Karen is seen lying on her garden bench)

You may think I am vegging out on a beautiful spring day. But that’s not how we Veg Out at BCUC. Veg Out is an initiative to encourage everyone to grow more vegetables this summer for our homes and to share with neighbours and food programs.

Last summer with the pandemic providing more time on people’s hands and more concern about food security many people turned to vegetable growing for the first time or with more gusto.

(Rainbarrels in the background)

The 100 mile diet is great, but 20 ft is even better in reducing carbon emissions. And it’s wonderful knowing what has gone into our food.

To provide healthy, natural, free food and water for growing vegetables,

VEG Out includes the sale of a variety of rain barrels, and their accessories, plus composters with curbside delivery on May 15 th, just before the May long weekend planting. It’s recycling at its best; rain and plant material to make more veg! Rain barrels also prevent runoff and the flooding and pollution it can cause.

(View of the garden and public path)

At my house we also expanded our veg gardening last year into what I’ve jokingly referred to as Fiddlers Farm. There were some unexpected results. The Pandemic led a lot more walkers to use the public path behind our house. Wonderful conversations went on over the back fence with neighbours and newcomers to our area where garden tips and questions were shared, children were shown where their tomatoes came from and excess cucumbers were shared.

Now, I am not much of a farmer or a fiddler and I look forward to learning from the many experienced gardeners at BCUC. There is a VEG OUT Facebook page setup where novice to expert can share questions, tips, successes and challenges.

And a series of VEG OUT Zoom Workshops will unfold to match the gardening season with the first Apr 20th on constructing Raised Beds, Hoop Gardens, Cold Frames and Choosing Soil.

In Genesis God says, “I give you ever seed bearing plant on the face of the earth and every tree that has fruit with see in it. They will be yours for food.”

Let us encourage friends and neighbours to join us in growing this bounty to eat and to share. Please check out the details of the Veg Out Program in your bulletin.

Lighting of Christ Candle Acolytes: Clarke and Ellie Topp

In the very first book of the Bible, in the very first chapter, we read that God’s first act of creation was “Let there be light.” Just as God brings light out of darkness and chaos, we light this candle to acknowledge that holy presence with us - our very first step as we prepare our hearts and minds for worship.

Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958 – BCUC choir

Halle, halle, hallelujah! (3X)
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

As bees gather to collect the nectar of blossoms, we gather to be nourished by the love of the great Creator.

As turtles bask in the warmth of the sun, we long to soak in the warmth of God’s Spirit.

As parched plants stretch deep in search of water, we pray to the one who is the Living stream to keep us rooted and strong.

As all life is sustained by the delicate balance of our planet, we pray for the wisdom to protect and respect all that God has blessed us with.

Come, let us worship our Creating God.[1]

Prayer of Approach

O God, who cracks open the seed, the soil, and even the grave and brings forth new life, we praise you for your wondrous touch.

You, the one who stretches the daylight, warms the air, melts the shadows and cold within us, we praise you for your healing touch.

You, the one who sets birds singing and hearts laughing, we praise you for your renewing touch.

This day we bring everything to you, in us, in our lives, and in our world, that is wrapped in winter coldness. Work your wonder in us. Let patience and strength take root. Let hope bud where none seems possible. Let passion and a courage for what is right flower in us. May life rise out of empty hearts and broken places. Work your Easter wonder in us. All praise be yours. Amen.[2]

Hymn: Morning Has Broken - Voices United #409 - BCUC choir

1. Morning has broken like the first morning,
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.
Praise for the singing! Praise for the morning!
Praise for them springing fresh from the word.

2. Sweet the rain’s new fall sunlit from heaven,
Like the first dew-fall on the first grass.
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden,
Sprung in completeness where God’s feet pass.

3. Ours is the sunlight! Ours is the morning
Born of the one light Eden saw play!
Praise with elation, praise every morning,
God’s re-creation of the new day!

Storytime: “Rhythms of Creation” Karen Boivin

(Sound of Karen playing the djembe drum)

Hi! It’s Karen, back from the garden. Welcome to Story Time and a special welcome to the children and youth with us today. I am excited to be talking to you on Earth Day Sunday because my drum always makes me think of the earth and how to care for it.

Let me introduce you to my djembe drum. Can you guess what the body is made of? Right, it’s wood! In fact, its carved from one tree trunk. And what is the head of the drum made of? It’s the skin of a goat. The wood reminds me of all the vegetation on the planet: trees, shrubs, flowers, and all the other plants. And the top, of all the creatures the animals, reptiles, birds, fish and insects. Who is missing? The people! Playing it with human hands we add humanity! All living things are represented by the drum.

One more thing is needed for sound to come out. If you could put your hand inside the bottom you would feel a big rush of air coming out when I hit it that creates the music. In the book of Genesis, it talks about God’s Spirit coming like a big wind or a big breath to create everything on earth.

I am always very careful not to drop my drum or knock it over because the wood could crack. And I never wear jewelry when I’m playing in case it puts a hole in the skin. If either of those things happened, it wouldn’t play well anymore. And drummers tighten their hands when we play to bring our fingers and thumbs up so we don’t whack them on the wood edge which hurts a lot. Being careful around the drum is a reminder to be careful around all of creation; treating our bodies well and caring for all of nature; the creatures and vegetation, waters, earth and sky.

Did you notice these strings on the drum? They hold the skin on. Sometimes over time the skin stretches, and the drum goes from saying “BOOM BOOM” to “plop plop”. Then I have to weave more of these diamonds to tighten it. But not too many…because then what might happen? Pop! The skin tears and no more music. It’s about getting the balance right on how tight to make it. Caring for the earth is also about getting the balance right but this time it’s about how much we take from nature for our own use; not taking so much that nature can’t recover. Drummers treat their drums with great respect out of gratitude to the trees and animals that made them possible. It’s good to give thanks and respect to nature in gratitude for the food, housing, and good things that we get from the earth.

We play rhythms on drums. A rhythm is a pattern that repeats itself. The earth has lots of repeating patterns too. Can you think of some? The days and nights, the four seasons, the ocean tides, and our heartbeat and breath are some. Drum rhythms are usually played in a group with each person playing a different rhythm at the same time and yet it makes a beautiful song. Doesn’t that sound tricky! It works because 1) Everyone listens carefully to one another too hear how the rhythms go together. 2) Each person leaves space for the other person’s rhythm to fit in.

If I just wailed away on the drum everyone else in the group would think what’s the use trying to play and would go home. There are two hints as to how we can care for the Earth. Making sure everything and everyone has space to live comfortably and safely. And to listen closely to what nature and other people are telling us about what they need.

So, let’s play together. You can push the computer back and use the table top, or sit on the floor and use the seat of a hard chair, or put a book in your lap. Remember, keep your hands tight so thumbs and fingers are up. And you don’t need to hit hard to make music. We are going to hit near the edge of our drum with the pads just below our fingers. First our right hand and then our left. There is a saying “if you can say it you can play it” so say “Da….Da” as you hit the edge. Now we will hit further in on our drum with the heel of our palm “Boom….Boom”. Let’s put the two together “Da, Da, Boom….Boom” Let’s do the same thing but on the Boom Boom but this time make them a little closer together “Da, Da, Boom Boom”. Now we put those two patterns together “Da, Da, Boom….Boom / Da, Da Boom Boom. Now I will get you started with the rhythm and you keep playing it when I switch to another rhythm. This is where the listening comes in. The internet often causes a lag so you may have to adjust a bit to make them sound good together.

I bet that sounded awesome. Let’s offer a prayer now:

Holy God, we thank you for the rhythms of the earth and all the creatures that live on it. We ask you to help us to listen carefully to its needs and to help provide the right balance so everything on earth has the space it needs for abundant life. Amen.

Hymn: “O Beautiful Gaia” - More Voices #41 - Music team

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.

2. Waves crashing on granite, O Gaia, calling us home.
Waves crashing on granite, calling us on.

3. Pine bending in windstorm, O Gaia, calling us home.
Pine bending in windstorm, calling us on.

4. Loon nesting in marshland, O Gaia, calling us home.
Loon nesting in marshland, calling us on.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Ruth Howes

The light of Christ has entered this place. Now let the light enter our hearts, as we receive the words of scripture. Send your light, O God, like the first morning; send your Spirit like the first bird. Amen[3]

The Reading: Genesis 2: 4b-9, 15 Another Account of the Creation

In the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 when no plant of the field was yet in the earth and no herb of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no one to till the ground; 6 but a stream would rise from the earth, and water the whole face of the ground— 7 then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. 8 And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 9 Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.

May we find ourselves renewed and re-created in this ancient reading. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Which Story is True?”

Today in the church calendar we celebrate Earth Sunday. It’s a time to celebrate the wonder of this place we call home and a time to focus our attention on the effect our way of life has on it. It’s also a good time, I think, to look at the creation stories found in the Bible. Yes, I said “stories” because there are more than one. There is the beautiful poetry of Genesis 1 – “In the beginning…” where God creates the Earth over six days, adding more wonder each day and declaring at the end of each one, “And God saw that it was good.” Humans appear at the very end of the work on the sixth day – first come all the other creatures of the water, the sky, and the land. And then, humankind is created in the image of God, male and female.

“And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.’ God said, ‘See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.”

This was the end of God’s work week and on the next day God rested. God was satisfied with a job well done and a world functioning smoothly.

And then, just a few verses later, we read a different creation story, the one we heard Ruth read for us today. In this one, God creates humankind right at the beginning, as soon as there is dry land to stand on. In fact, this story tells us that “the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground.” God breathes life into him and then creates a garden from that same dust, with every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to till it and keep it.” After that God uses that same dust to form every animal of the field and bird of the air… and finally, a partner for man is created from his very body – the same body that was created from that same dust.

Of course, millennia have passed since these stories were first told. The world has progressed and science has added a lot of information and understanding about not only the beginnings of life on this planet but also on the context of this planet we call Earth in the vastness of the universe. Today we know much more about evolution and how living things adapt to the changes that have happened over the eons of time. We have a new creation story to add to our repertoire.

All of these stories have common elements but each one is unique. The problem for our modern minds is that they seem to be totally different stories… Which one are we supposed to believe? …Which one is true?

Thomas King is an award-winning author and scholar of Native descent. One of his areas of scholarship is aboriginal oral traditions and storytelling. In his Massey Lecture series for CBC, captured in his book, “The Truth About Stories”, he talks about how our view of the world is connected to the stories we hear and the stories we tell. “There are no truths,” he says, only stories.” We build our truths from the stories we hear, the stories we live, and the stories we tell. Each time a story is told, it changes slightly depending on who is doing the telling, or where, or when. It might change because of the mood of the storyteller or the reaction of the audience. When a story is passed from person to person, it can change to emphasize the things the teller found most important or what they think is most important for you to know. The story might change, but it always contains some element of the original.

Each lecture or chapter in King’s book begins with a creation story that he knows about the world being built on the back of a turtle. He’s heard the story many times and every telling is different, he says, but in every telling, the world never leaves the turtle’s back and the turtle never swims away. That’s the important part, the part we need to hear.

To me, that’s the place we find our truths. The way we learn about the world. I think of it like this: “I don’t know if it really happened this way, but I know this story is true.”

In our first creation story, humankind is created last. What does this tell us about our place in the evolution of the world? It certainly seems to fit with what Darwin and science have shown us, doesn’t it? Everything was in balance, all needs were addressed – food, air, water, companionship. It’s interesting that men and women arrive just when God is ready for a rest. God gives humans a job, puts them in charge, gives them dominion over it all, and then settles into a blessed and hallowed day of rest.

In the second, man is created first, then all of the other living things, both plant and animal, and finally woman. This time man is present to witness the wonder of creation, to marvel at the diversity of life that comes from the same dust, to see how each piece fits into the whole, to witness the intricate weaving of the needs and gifts of all living things, the interdependence built in to the whole amazing picture. Man was there to witness the beautiful choreography from the very beginning. And, once again, God gives man a job. Man is placed in the heart of it all, to till it and keep it. Up to this point, man is set apart from the other living things created by God. He is a separate entity, with all this incredible world in his hands. God brings each new living thing to man and asks him to name them. He is unique – one of a kind, in the same way God is unique – there is no other one. Man is given a role in creation by naming and categorizing each thing God creates. Man is given a responsibility to care for creation and to help it grow – to till it and keep it. But man is not God; he needs companionship, he needs a partner. When God sees this, woman is created – not as a new creation from the dust of the earth but out of the very man himself. She is the same, but unique in her own right. She is separate and yet part of the whole. Together they are given the gift of choice, the gift of free will.

I don’t know if it really happened this way, but I know the stories are true.

The first “truth” in the creation stories, for me, is that in creating this incredible world, humans are just one small part of that creation but an important part, unique and different from the rest. Whether we came at the very beginning or at the end, we humans were given special responsibility to maintain creation and to help it grow.

Another “truth” I hear in these stories is that we humans have a unique relationship with God. We are trusted with knowledge and insight into the workings of this amazing world – not just of our planet home but, more and more, of the universe itself.

Whether man and woman were created together or whether they are part of the same body, I hear the truth that they are equal in the eyes of the Creator and are meant to work together as partners in carrying out the responsibility they were given.

The truth in each of these stories – including the science that we now know – is that everything was created from the same elements, the same dust, the same “star dust” that was swirling about in that chaos before Creation.

The question, perhaps, is not “did things really happened this way?”, but rather “what do we do with these truths?”

Today, Earth Sunday, and Thursday on Earth Day, we are reminded to celebrate the beauty and complexity of the world, and our place in it. It is not a religious holiday, although the premise certainly fits with our beliefs and those of many other faiths. The message of this focus on the Earth is one that transcends religious beliefs. It is a vital call to all of us who inhabit this planet. It is a call to all of humanity to see, not only the beauty and bounty Earth has to offer us, but also the effect we are having on it – to remind us of our responsibility.

I recently watched a documentary by David Attenborough called “A Life on This Planet”. In it, he reflects on the changes that have happened to our natural world over the ninety years he has been alive. It’s very powerful and I highly recommend that you watch it. It features the incredible beauty of our world that we expect from David Attenborough, but it also lays out, in stark statistics and disturbing footage, the places and species that are wounded and dying. Underlying it all is the clear message that this devastation is happening because of us. We humans, the ones entrusted with the responsibility and the ability to “till and tend” Creation, have instead exploited the gifts it offers to the point where it is struggling to survive. Maybe we’ve been caught up in the power of that “dominion over” and of naming everything rather than the responsibility that came with them. He begins with a walk through the city of Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster. When it happened, 35 years ago, the city was evacuated. Because of the intensity of the radioactive fallout that will last for hundreds of years, it remains uninhabited. What we might expect to be a dry, burnt out place, is anything but. In the decades that have passed, nature has made a comeback. Plants have come up through the concrete, trees flourish – some even growing through buildings! Wild animals have come back and are multiplying. The truth that David Attenborough wants us to hear is that Creation will survive in spite of whatever disaster strikes – natural or man-made. It may not be the same, in fact it will likely be transformed, but life of some kind will rise again.

Spring is a perfect time to be reminded that the force of life is strong and resilient. After months of freezing temperatures, of ice and snow, of short hours of daylight, our gardens are coming alive! Forsythia bushes burst into bloom, flowers push their way up through the earth, buds appear on branches, birds and frogs begin to sing a chorus of love songs. Some of it happens because we have taken good care to protect the plants and to feed the wildlife through the hard months, and some of it happens in spite of us.

In this season of Easter, resurrection is the source of our celebrating and the source of our hope. We read last week about the disciples, huddled in a locked room after Jesus’ execution who found him once again among them. We read on Easter Sunday about how Mary, devastated by the loss of her teacher, encounters him again in the voice of a stranger in the garden outside the empty tomb. In the season of Easter, we encounter the story of the disciples meeting Jesus in a stranger on the road to Emmaus who shares a meal with them, and again on a beach sharing an unexpected bounty of fish. Jesus is resurrected over and over again in the weeks following his crucifixion. Most of the time he is not recognizable as the man they knew, even to those who loved him most – but he is alive again in words spoken, in meals shared, in the ordinary but amazing blessings of their lives. His body had been broken but his spirit and his dream lived on. For me, in many ways, he is that part of the creation story that never changes, the truths… use the gifts you have been given to care for creation, help it grow and flourish… there is enough here for all… there is wisdom and order in the diversity and complexity… life is eternal… We hear it all again in the stories of Jesus.

A meteor devastated the life on earth in the time of the dinosaur, but new life emerged from the dust. Chernobyl was poisoned but new life emerged from the rubble. Winter kills the green of our summer gardens but new life emerges every spring. The new may not look like the same as what was lost but the life that God breathed into the dust at the time of Creation continues to grow and evolve in new and sometimes even stronger ways. We are surrounded by resurrection.

What is humankind’s role today? Is it any different from the role given to the first humans in our creation stories?

The miracle of Creation is that it thrives on diversity and bio-diversity. Each living thing depends on others for life and provides the necessities of life to another. It is beautifully designed to provide enough for all. The world is designed to carry on living. We have the power to help it flourish or to exploit it to the point where it can’t sustain us anymore. It all depends on how we interpret our role of “dominion over every living thing” or “till and keep the garden”.

Two creation stories in our faith tradition and many more in the traditions of other faiths and cultures throughout the world… Many creation stories in our modern world, stories of our beginnings, stories of our past, and stories about what is to come. I believe there are truths in every one of them, lessons to be learned, lessons to warn us and guide us and lessons to help us remember the glorious miracle of this world we live in with all its beauty and complexity.

Some of the stories in Thomas King’s book are traditional tales; many are personal experiences. Like the stories in the Bible, the truths and the lessons aren’t spelled out for us in black and white. We are expected to find in them the truth we need to hear in our context, from our place in the world.

Thomas King begins each chapter of his book just the way the Bible begins, with a Creation Story. In both cases, this serves to ground us and prepare us for what is to come. At the end of each chapter, he reminds us of the power stories wield – all stories. Stories may change over time and over the telling – even the stories that convey the facts of science and history change as we gain new information and insight and understanding – but they are vital to who we are and who we will become. And so, on this Earth Sunday as we contemplate our own creation stories, I leave you with Thomas King’s parting words:

“Take this story; it’s yours. Do with it what you will. Cry over it. Get angry. Forget it. But don’t say in the years to come that you would have lived your life differently if only you had heard this story. You’ve heard it now.”

Prayers of the People Rev. Lorrie Lowes

(A prayer written by Pope Francis in 2015)

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.

Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.

O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes.

Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.

Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.

Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day.

Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.[4]

All these things we ask in the name of Jesus, who showed love for all creation in his actions and his teachings, and the words he taught his disciples:

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

On this Third Sunday of Easter, as we celebrate the gifts of new life and the beauty of creation, we are invited to share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our 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 mail slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

Your love, O God, is evident as we look around us: birds and flowers, sky and sea, animals and plants, all work together toward the perfection you intend for the world.

Help us, as we look upon your world, to live out our praise as we respond to you for your great self-giving love. Amen[5]

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

May we be blessed by air and water, by earth and fire, by land and sky.
May we be a blessing to all that blesses us.
May we go with the brightness of Earth in our blood, attuned to the sacredness of the world where we live, and listening for our parts in the healing of the planet.
May we go as kindred of tree and seal and dear, of moss and flower, eagle and orca, as kindred of all the living world.
May we go to love and serve the God of Creation.[6] Amen.

Hymn: Called By Earth and Sky More Voices #135 - BCUC Choir

Refrain:
Called by earth and sky,
promise of hope held high.
This is our sacred living trust,
treasure of life sanctified,
Called by earth and sky.

1. Precious these waters, endless seas,
Deep oceans dream,
Waters of healing, rivers of rain,
The wash of love again.

2. Precious this gift, the air we breathe;
Wind born and free.
Breath of the Spirit, blow through this place,
Our gathering and our grace.

3. Precious these mountains, ancient sands;
Vast fragile land.
Seeds of our wakening, rooted and strong,
Creation’s faithful song.

4. Precious the fire that lights our way,
Bright dawning day.
Fire of passion, sorrows undone,
Our faith and justice one.

Departing Music: All Things Bright and Beautiful – arr. Rutter Abe – synth sounds

Zoom Fellowship – 11 am

[1] Juanita Austin, Gathering L/E 2016, p46. Used with permission.

[2] Bill Steadman, Gathering L/E 2018, p48. Used with permission.

[3] Robin Wardlaw, Gathering L/E 2021, p47. Used with permission

[4] Pope Francis, https://catholicclimatemovement.global/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Aprayerforourearth.pdf with permission to share.

[5] Beth W. Johnston, Gathering L/E 2016, p47. Used with permission.

[6] Brian Day, Gathering L/E 2021, p52. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

April 10, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - April 11, 2021

Connie Davidson

April 10, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

April 11, 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: Tell Me The Stories of Jesus Voices United #357 - BCUC Choir

In celebration of those who love to tell stories (Chris Spence)

1 Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear;
things I would ask him to tell me if he were here; scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

2 First let me hear how the children stood round his knee; and I shall fancy his blessing resting
on me; words full of kindness, deeds full of grace, all in the love-light of Jesus' face.

3 Tell me, in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea, tossing the boat in a tempest on Galilee;
and how the Master, ready and kind,
chided the billows, and hushed the wind.

4 Into the city I'd follow the children's band,
waving a branch of the palm-tree high in my hand; one of his heralds, yes, I would sing
loudest hosannas! Jesus is King!

5 Show me that scene in the garden of bitter pain; and of the cross where my Saviour
for me was slain. Sad ones or bright ones,
so that they be stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

Words: 1885 William H. Parker; Music: 1903 Frederick Challinor © National Christian Ed Council
Song Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Acknowledgement of Territory Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of Bells Corners United Church, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this second Sunday of Easter also known as Low Sunday. After a spiritually intense and emotionally draining week particularly the celebration of Easter Sunday, we are so ready for a low-key Sunday. Thank you for joining us in today’s service.

In this time of provincial stay-at-home order when we cannot gather physically in the church building, please remember to reach out through emails, phone calls, letters or cards, prayers or via Zoom.

We have exciting eco-friendly programs called Veg Out & Rainbarrel Fundraising hosted by the members of our Service, Outreach and Social Action Committee. Please note as well that the Hymn-Request is still ongoing until May 23rd. Details of these initiatives are posted on our website at bcuc.org or call the office for more information.

We offer our sincere condolences to the McDonald Family in the passing of Bill on March 25th. Please remember the family in your thoughts and prayers.

Friends, I now invite you to centre yourself in the presence of our welcoming God who calls us to gather with a joyful heart and alleluias. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle Acolytes: Mandy & Meighen Crow

The radiance of Christ’ light shines on us.
We are gathered together knowing that the Risen One is here among us.
With grateful hearts, let us welcome the light of Christ.

Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Hallelujah – Voices United #958 - BCUC Choir

Halle, halle, halle-lu-jah (3X)
Hallelujah, hallelujah1

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

The door to the upper room was shut and barred,
but the Risen Christ stood among them.
The entrance of our hearts may be sealed,
but the Spirit of Jesus embraced us all.
The gateways to our lives may be rusty and stiff,
but the love of Christ opens the gate and welcomes all who hunger for God.
Let us worship the Holy One and give praise to God.

Prayer of Approach[1]

Creator God, we bring our doubts and our questions,
and as you touch our second thoughts,
you turn them into adventures.
Come now, O spirit,
and create a moment of awakening
where we can sense you among us
and the world can witness in us
the good news that resurrection brings. Amen.

Hymn: Joy Comes with the Dawn – Voices United #166 - BCUC Choir

Refrain:
Joy comes with the dawn;
joy comes with the morning sun;
joy springs from the tomb
and scatters the night with her song,
joy comes with the dawn.

Weeping may come;
weeping may come in the night,
when dark shadows cloud our sight. R

Sorrow will turn,
sorrow will turn into song,
and God’s laughter make us strong. R

We will rejoice,
we will rejoice, and give praise,
to the One who brings us grace. R

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Do you ask a lot of questions? It’s a natural thing to do if you are a kid, especially when you are really young. The world is new to you and you are trying to make sense of it all, right?

What makes the wind blow?

How do birds know when it’s time to fly south or when it’s time to come back?

Why do worms come out after it rains?

When will I be able to ride a bike?

Who decides the speed limit?

Where does God live?

And lots of Why? Why? Why?

So many questions and so much to wonder about!

Sometimes we ask questions because we don’t know the answer, and sometimes we ask questions because we see or hear something new that makes us question what we thought before. We might ask an expert for an answer, or we might try to figure it out ourselves, we create a theory – a way to make sense of something new…

And the wonderful thing about asking questions is that it usually leads to new learning! And learning is a wonderful thing. Now, kids are expected to ask lots of questions, but it is just as important for all of us to keep asking questions no matter how grown up, or well-educated, we might be. If we stopped asking questions, the world would never change, new discoveries would never be made, new ways of curing or preventing diseases would never be found.

In today’s scripture reading we hear that Jesus’ disciples were very upset and scared after Jesus was arrested and crucified. They locked themselves in a room and were afraid to leave. They were sure that all the good work Jesus had done in his life was over and that all the promises of a better world would never happen. Jesus came to them and said, “Peace be with you.” I think that’s a way of saying, “Settle down, think this through. You can’t hide in this room forever.” One of the disciples, Thomas, was missing. We aren’t told where he was but we know that he had left that room for a while and when he came back, the others told him that Jesus had been with them. Well, that just didn’t make any sense to Thomas! From everything he knew about people who died, he was sure it was impossible for them to come back for a visit. He said, “I’ll believe it when I see it!” He is known as “Doubting Thomas” because he didn’t just believe what the others said. He needed proof; he needed some way to make it make sense in his mind. He had a lot of questions.

I often wonder what the conversation was like in that room when Thomas came back to join his friends. The story doesn’t say that the disciples made fun of him or that they kicked him out. I imagine that they talked and talked. They shared what the knew and they shared what they saw, and they shared what it all meant… and, eventually, Jesus came to Thomas too.

I think this story can teach us a lot. I think it tells us that when things get really hard or even scary, it helps to settle down and think things through. I think it tells us that it’s ok to be confused and to ask questions when something we hear doesn’t make sense. I think it tells us that sometimes it’s easier to figure things out when you are with people you know and trust, and can share your thoughts.

Some questions we have are easy to answer – you can find the answers in a book or look them up on Google – but some questions are never completely answered. I think questions about God and the Bible and faith fall into this category. Sometimes we think we know the answer but then something happens to make us wonder. Sometimes things happen that even make us doubt! Those are hard things to think about – they are hard to find quick answers to. But, you know what? I think these are some of the best questions to ask. I think they lead to new learning and understanding and even deeper faith. This is true for kids… and also for adults.

I will let you in on a little secret… Even ministers don’t know the answers to some of these questions! Even ministers have questions of their own! Even ministers are still learning about God and Jesus and the Bible. You might think we’d like to hide that, but the truth is, we learn a lot by asking questions and talking with others who have both understanding and questions of their own.

One of the things I love most about my work here in the church is the conversations I have with people where we can talk about those questions – just like Thomas and the other disciples were able to do in that room. The questions aren’t scary to me; they are ways to learn and understand even more. And I especially love the questions that come from the young members of our church family! You might have questions that I can answer right away, or questions I can find the answers to in a book, or even questions that I can’t answer. No matter what our questions are, I hope we can be brave enough to share them, like Thomas was, and open enough to think them through together like his disciple friends were. I have a feeling that Jesus will want to be there for the conversations too!

Hymn: Draw the Circle Wide – More Voices #145 - Erin Berard

Refrain
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.

1. God the still-point of the circle,
‘round whom all creation turns;
nothing lost, but held forever,
in God’s gracious arms. R

2. Let our hearts touch far horizons,
so encompass great and small;
let our loving know no borders,
faithful to God’s call. R

3. Let the dreams we dream be larger,
than we’ve ever dreamed before;
let the dream of Christ be in us,
open every door. R

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Rick Morrison

O God, like the disciple Thomas, we were not in that room when Jesus appeared among the disciples breathing peace. With your Word of Life, help us to understand that the Risen Christ is in our midst. May we carry the Good News of your love to the world. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: John 20:19-31 (NRSV) Jesus Appears to the Disciples

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Jesus and Thomas
24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

May we find ourselves renewed in this Eastertide story. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Jesus: A Welcoming Presence” Rev. Kim Vidal

Overwhelmed! The disciples were overwhelmed three days after Jesus died. There they were, huddled together in a room with locked doors, in their fear and confusion, not knowing where to turn or what to do next. They were grieving the death of Jesus -their leader and teacher – the one who had held them together. With Jesus dead, all their hopes, their visions, their sense of direction and purpose in life went in the tomb as well. They were left only with an overwhelming sense of failure, of loss, of fear and of shame. They knew they had deserted Jesus in his hour of need. And then, suddenly, according to our story, there he was, right there, in their midst, before their very eyes. Jesus appeared before them and the disciples experienced his presence.

How would you feel if you were one of those disciples in that room? Will you be scared? Will you run away? Will you panic or pass out? Now don't you think that maybe just for a moment some of the disciples might have been afraid that Jesus might be angry with them for abandoning him – and in Peter's case for even denying him three times? But John’s gospel told us what happened. There were no recriminations, no anger, no condemnation or judgment, not even an expression of disappointment and hurt. Instead, Jesus offered a gift: "Peace be with you." Jesus offered a welcoming presence – a gift of peace. After a while, Jesus offered them the gift of the Holy Spirit – doesn't just give it to them, but breathes the Spirit into them. It was the life-energy of one who tells them to go out and offer peace, offer forgiveness and spread love to others and the world.

But wait – where was Thomas? He was not with the other disciples in that locked room when Jesus first appeared. Where could Thomas be? The gospel writer John didn’t tell us. All we could do is to assume that he could have probably went to his own little niche grieving the loss of Jesus; or he might have been checking if the territory is safe again; or maybe he is trying to find out the truth why Jesus was killed; or a good guess would be that he was out and about getting on with his life, looking for food to sustain him and the other disciples for the long haul.

The name, Thomas, sounds very English but it is in fact a transliteration from an Aramaic word “toma” which simply means “twin”. In Greek, he was “Didymus” which also means “twin”. So in essence, we don’t really know Thomas’ real name at all. And we certainly have no idea who his twin was. In fact, we know very little about him. All we know for certain comes from John’s gospel and there Thomas makes his own voice heard only three times — all towards the very end of Jesus’ life on earth. It was him who said boldly at Lazarus’ death: “"Let us go and die with Jesus." What he’s saying is simply this: “If Jesus is going to die, I for one don’t want to go on living.” This was not a Gloomy Thomas, for me he was a Loyal, Allegiant Thomas.

The next time we meet Thomas is at the Last Supper. Jesus told the disciples about his Father’s house. “In it there are many rooms,” Jesus says. “I’m going to get some ready for you, and then I’ll come and take you there. Don’t worry; you know where I’m going.” All the other disciples nodded in agreement. But Thomas gave Jesus a “what-are-you-trying to tell us look”. “No I don’t get it,” Thomas says. “We haven’t the slightest idea where you are going. How can we know the way?” And we might be tempted to think: what an oddball! For all its worth, Thomas here expressed a very real concern that he honestly didn’t have a clue what Jesus was talking about. He was not oddball Thomas, he was Honest, Inquisitive Thomas.

And this morning, we meet Thomas for the third and final time. The disciples told Thomas about the appearance of Jesus. And Thomas’ reaction made him a realist, a practical and a concrete guy. "Except I see the mark of the nails in his hand and touch his side, I will not believe." He was plainspoken and straight to the point. He was not embarrassed to ask questions. He wanted plain answers so he could truly understand what was going on and be able to take the next steps. So while we do not know where he was that night – we know for sure he had left the house!

The sign in the novelty store says, “Pretty to look at, lovely to hold, but if you break it, consider it sold!” As clear as water. Makes sense but I don’t get it. How could I possibly buy something if I could not even touch it, smell it or scrutinize it? How do I know that what I am paying for is worth my money? How am I sure that something is authentic without even touching it or verifying its make? I need to see it, feel it, check it. A basic human instinct!

And Thomas was very much like that. I learned from Sunday School that we should not emulate him. We call him “the doubter” or the “bad seed”. Some would call him a “show-me disciple” because he needed to see proofs before jumping to conclusions. Is doubting too bad that it made Thomas carry this label for over 2000 years of Christianity? I wonder if Thomas was more of a questioner or a seeker rather than a doubter. I confess, I am a Thomas, too – or perhaps most of us – I think we are all his twin sisters or brothers! I wonder why we take part in dismissing Thomas so easily. Perhaps because we’ve often found ourselves in Christian communities where voicing one’s doubts or even questioning the Bible or some of the doctrines in the church were discouraged big time! We do not often talk about our uncertainties or failures because of fear that others might put us down or judge us as unbelievers or faithless people. And in churches that display mostly niceties, I’ve discovered all sorts of anxieties and resentments confronting people. I’ve talked and listened to a number struggling alone with deep questions because they were afraid of how others might react to their questions and skepticism. Doubting and raising questions sometime frighten us. That’s why we have easily rejected Thomas!

There was a time when, in the scientific world, the earth was considered flat and that the sun circled around it. The idea was accepted, but a few brave souls, Galileo in particular, bravely dared to doubt that theory. Deeper examination shows that every scientific advance started with doubt. Galileo was right when he called doubt as the father of discovery. Rev. Dr. William Self, a Baptist preacher, in one of his sermons, tells us that “half of us are like Thomas; we are afraid to believe. Half of every heart is a Thomas. Doubt does not overtake us in the night but, rather, it creeps up on us slowly, one step at a time.” And Rev. Self ended his sermon with these challenging yet wise words: “Doubt is like a front porch. All of us go through it before we get into the house of faith.”

When Jesus appeared the second time to his disciples in the closed room, Thomas was there. And far from rebuking or criticizing Thomas, Jesus offered to meet his conditions. "OK Thomas –you get what you want- put your fingers in my hands and touch my side.” It was through this personal encounter that Jesus was made real to Thomas. In fact, Thomas exclaimed: “My Lord and my God!” Thomas experienced the welcoming presence of Jesus. Through Thomas, we were given the “thumbs up” to question, to doubt, to quest, to seek. For that moment in time, Thomas becomes the, “real twin”, the alternate identity of every human being who loves to inquire, to explore, to seek answers. According to historical accounts, Thomas was regarded as the patron saint of the converted Christians in India. He was believed to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as the Malabar Coast which is in modern-day Kerala State of India.

Jesus himself was like Thomas. Jesus did not sit still. Jesus questioned the status quo. And in his questioning, he showed his true self as a welcoming presence for others. He questioned that violence was the best way to resolve conflicts, so he said, "Forgive one another." He questioned that long prayers and rigid dietary laws were essential to faith. Jesus preached about a compassionate and just faith. He questioned why Samaritans and Syrophoenicians and those deemed to be second class citizens such as the poor, the widows, women and children were inferior. He told parables lifting up these inferior people who according to him constitute God’s kin-dom. Jesus taught us that the capacity to question is the prelude to faith.

In Ontario, we were ordered to stay at home for about 4 weeks due to the climbing cases of the Covid-19 virus and its variants. How are we experiencing the welcoming presence of the Holy in our homes? Do you feel God’s presence in the ordinary, mundane events of your day-to-day life? What does this current situation mean for a questioning, doubting, questing people like you and I? Staying home for me is a wise act of faith in this time of pandemic. If we cannot meet in the church building for worship service, I believe that God is still working among us wherever and whenever we intentionally experience the presence of God. This could be in the form of gathering time or in ways of praying, loving, healing, caring actions for one another. It's true that Jesus asked for faith, but he did not ask for a blind faith that would entail jeopardizing our health and well-being. I am convinced that Jesus wants us to have an open-minded, well-informed faith. The poet Rainier Rilke offers this wisdom, "Live the questions now…you will eventually live into the answers."

Live into the answers. That would be the promise for all of us today. Because sometimes the demand to see and touch, the need to question and to seek answers, the call to be like Thomas, are not indications of a short-sighted faith. They are marks of true faith. Thanks be to God! Amen.

Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Let us gather our hearts in prayer.

Surprising God, like Thomas, we often find it difficult to see signs of your welcoming presence, to believe that your Spirit is alive among us. Open our eyes to receive your presence in our lives. Thank you for coming through the locked doors of pride and isolation when our fears overwhelm us. Thank you for revealing yourself to the disciples, when all they could think of was their grief and fear of the unknown. Thank you for your patience with Thomas and with us in our quest for proof and unanswered questions that we carry.

Like Thomas, we sometimes fail to experience the Spirit of Christ because we are not paying attention. Remind us that we experience him in the lives of those transformed by your grace. We have seen him in the faces of everyone whose love encourages us. Call us to bring healing to the scarred people and places of the world.

We thank you for all who are connected to us and who need care and compassion. We hold them in our hearts and pray for the healing of mind, body and soul. We pray for those awaiting medical test results and those who are facing treatments and surgeries. We pray for those who are alone, who are alienated from their families, those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. We pray for the McDonald family as they grieve the death of their father, Bill. We ask for your healing love and blessings for those who are in the hospitals. May your presence be felt by all those who are staying at home and for those who are fighting to survive from the ravages of this pandemic. Sustain us with courage and comfort us with your peace. Now in silence, hear the deepest concerns of our hearts.

Empowering God, may we live the Easter Spirit of renewal, greening and growth, this day and always. Give us peace and remind us of your welcoming presence. Help us to see you this week, to take note, to experience the beauty of this earth or hear your grace in the word that someone speaks to us. These we pray in the name of the Welcoming Christ who taught us this prayer long ago:

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

On this Second Sunday of Easter, as we celebrate the power of resurrection as a community of faith, we joyfully share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our 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 mail slot by the kitchen door of the church. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Prayer

Holy God, help us to share your power so that this offering is multiplied
and brings relief to those needing to know you, the Risen One. Amen.

Sending Forth[2] Rev. Lorrie Lowes

May the Risen Christ come through the locked doors of our hearts
and make his home deep within us and in our world.
May the Risen Christ find here hospitality and welcome,
justice and peace for all.
May the blessing of God be ours as we leave:
The blessing of doubt to be our guide;
The blessing of peace to calm our troubled spirits;
The blessing of friendship to be our companion.
Go in peace. Amen.

Hymn: We Shall Go Out with Hope of Resurrection – Voices United #586 - BCUC Choir

We shall go out with hope of resurrection;
We shall go out, from strength to strength go on;
We shall go out and tell our stories boldly;
Tales of a love, that will not let us go.
We’ll sing our songs of wrongs that can be righted;
We’ll dream our dreams of hurts that can be healed;
We’ll weave a cloth of all the world united
Within the vision of new life in Christ.

We’ll give a voice to those who have not spoken;
We’ll find the words for those whose lips are sealed;
We’ll make the tunes for those who sing no longer.
Expressing love alive in every heart.
We’ll share our joy with those who still are weeping.
Raise hymns of strength for hearts that break in grief,
We’ll leap and dance the resurrection story,
Including all in circles of our love.

Departing Music: I Have Called You by Your Name – More Voices #161 – BCUC Choir

In loving memory of Jonas Mitchell (Judith MacDonald)

1 I have called you by your name, you are mine;
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you; all my promises are true.
You are gifted, called, and chosen; you are mine.

2 I will help you learn my name as you go;
read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name, speak the word your soul can claim,
offer Jesus’ body given long ago.

3 I know you will need my touch as you go;
feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out, choosing faith in spite of doubt,
hold the hem of Jesus’ robe, then let it go.

4 I have given you a name, it is mine;
I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul, make my wounded children whole;
go and tell my precious people they are mine.

Zoom Fellowship – 11 am

[1] Inspired by the prayer of Peter Chynoweth, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2021, Year B.

[2] Bob Root, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2015.

Connie Davidson

April 3, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - April 4, 2021

Connie Davidson

April 3, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

EASTER SUNDAY

WORSHIP SERVICE & AGAPE MEAL

April 4, 2021

The video recording of this service at can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104

Gathering Music: Jesu Joy – Bach, arr. Craig Duncan - Violin: Leslie Wade

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ as we celebrate Easter with an Agape Meal!! Let this day fill you with joyful celebration and excitement as we proclaim that we are made alive in Christ and Christ is made alive through us!

In this time of provincial shutdown, we can still gather in the sanctuary for a modified worship service at 10 am with a maximum number of 22 people. The Public Health strongly recommends staying at home but if you wish to attend our service, please call the office to register and be reminded that the usual health protocols will be in place which include masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

We continue to offer our worship service in audio, video and text formats. Check our website at bcuc.org to access the worship service and the weekly announcements including Sunday School resources for your family. You can also listen to the service via telephone by dialing 613-820-8104. In this time of lockdown, please continue to reach out by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

Friends, on this Easter Sunday, let us remind ourselves that the Easter message of Jesus is all about love. To remember that now is the right time to put this love into action. So with hearts filled with alleluias, let us now gather in worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle: Acolytes: Wendy Morrell & Dan Lanoue

We are here on this Easter morning,
surrounded by the promises of faith.
We give thanks to God for light:
the light shed by the sun, moon and the stars,
the light that guides our way.
We light this Christ candle knowing that we are the body of Christ.
This is the light that we give each other as we share
our joy, our trust, our Easter hope.
We are risen in Christ and Christ is risen in us!
Hallelujah!

Anthem: Risen Up! – Lantz Soloist: Keith Bailey with BCUC choir – recorded live 2017

Call to Gather & Prayer of Approach:[1] Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Come to settle into the comfortable rituals of worship,
gathering from a physical distance or within a distance of time.
We come longing for the familiarity of life’s rhythms when so little is familiar.
Come to celebrate our faith story of resurrection
joy and of new life – of hope lived into a future
where the risen One blazes light into our gloom.
We come to breathe deeply the fresh air of
renewed faith welling within us.
Christ is risen!
Christ is risen indeed!
Hallelujah! God is good!

With trust in the Spirit’s leading and in the story we treasure, let us pray:
God who gathers us, who upholds us, and who
enlivens us, we praise you for your joy that springs out of despair;
we honour you as we humbly receive your healing loving-kindness;
we submit to your path of self-giving love
proclaimed in the Risen Christ.
In our separation, unite us.
In our isolation, connect us.
In our loneliness, embrace us.
Into the risen Christ’s light,
lead us into dance of possibility. Amen.

Hymn: This is the Day More Voices #122 - BCUC music team (remastered from 2020)

1 This is the day that God has made; we will rejoice and be glad! 2x
Singing hallelu, singing hallelu, singing hallelu!
We will rejoice and be glad! 2x

2 Voici le jour que Dieu a fait; nous le vivrons dans la joie. 2x
Chantant Al-le-lu! (3x); nous le vivrons dans la joie.
Chantant Al-le-lu! (3x); nous le vivrons dans la joie.

Repeat verse 1

Greetings from Chipembi (Rev. Lwao’s message)

Today we share the joy and hope of Easter with followers of Jesus around the world. We are reminded of this in this greeting from Rev. Lwao and our friends in the congregation of the United Church of Zambia in Chipembi.

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Happy Easter everyone! Do you have any plants in your house? Sometimes people have plants for a very long time. They can tell you stories about where this plant came from and how long it has been in their care. Sometimes those plants were a gift from someone or maybe they were started from a little cutting from someone else’s plant.

We have this Christmas cactus at our house. We used to have one that was enormous! It was given to Neil by an elderly lady named Thelma at our last church. We think it was about 50 years old! People were always amazed to see it when they came to visit. It grew and grew and sometimes, pieces would get broken off the long leaves. Neil would sprout those pieces and plant them in new pots. We could give our friends and family new plants that had come from Thelma’s original Christmas cactus. It was a nice way to spread the joy of that magnificent old plant far and wide.

When we moved into our new house in Almonte, we just couldn’t find a good place for that huge plant. The places that were big enough didn’t get enough light and the spots by the windows just couldn’t accommodate its size. So, we had to give it away. Our daughter, Sara, has it at her house now – and she loves it just as much as we did. A whole new group of people are seeing that beautiful plant and they are excited to take a cutting home to grow their own. Thelma’s cactus is still spreading joy – and cuttings are growing into new big plants, just as beautiful as the one Thelma gave to Neil.

We were sad to say goodbye to that old plant when we sent it to Sara’s house – but we know that it is still alive and thriving. We still have this smaller one with us. It started from a piece that broke off of Thelma’s Christmas cactus. You know, even if that huge old plant dies, it will continue to bring joy and beauty all over the place! All those new plants are carrying on the life of the original one – and so Thelma’s Christmas cactus will always be alive as long as we take care of those new ones, and as long as people keep telling the story and passing on new clippings.

This past week – Holy Week - is a difficult one in the life of the church. We remember that, after the big parade that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with palm branches and shouts of “hosanna”, things got dark and scary for Jesus and his followers. A few days later Jesus was arrested and at the end of the week he died on a cross. His friends and followers were scared and upset. They thought their time with Jesus was over forever and that all the good news and hope he preached was gone with him in the tomb. But on Easter Sunday, our stories tell us that that the tomb was empty and that Jesus was alive in the world!

I think the story of Jesus is a bit like the story of Thelma’s Christmas cactus. We don’t have that big plant with us anymore but we know that it continues to grow with every small cutting that someone plants and cares for… and as long as people continue to nourish those plants and tell the story, and share cuttings with others, Thelma’s Christmas cactus will live forever.

We don’t have Jesus, the man, with us today but he is still alive in the world. We meet him in every scripture story told, every prayer that we say, and most of all, in every act of hope and love that is done in the world. We keep Jesus alive by remembering the things he taught, by loving our neighbours and by taking care of each other and all of creation. As long as we continue to nourish those things and share his message, Jesus will continue to live and his love will grow in new places and in new hearts.

Won’t that make the world beautiful? That sounds to me like a good reason to shout, “Hallelujah!”

Hymn: Hey Now! Singing Hallelujah! - More Voices #121 (verses 1,3,5) – CGS/Bell Canto

Refrain:
Hey now! Singing hallelujah!
Hey now! The morning has come!
Hey now! Singing hallelujah!
The tomb was empty at the rising sun.

1. Jesus loved people and he made them friends,
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
He called to the children and the women and men.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. R

3. Jesus loved people and they said he was a king.
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
He turned all the tables on everything.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. R

5. Jesus loves people and he lives again!
Hey now, the tomb was empty.
Calls us disciples and he calls us his friends.
Hey now, the tomb was empty. R

Prayer for Illumination[2] Reader: Ellen Boynton

The light of Christ has entered this place. Now let the light enter our hearts, as we receive the words of scripture. Send your light, O God, like the first morning; send your spirit, like the first bird. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: The Resurrection of Jesus (John 20:1-18- NRSV)

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples returned to their homes.
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

May we find ourselves renewed in this Easter story. Thanks be to God!

Song: Sing Allelu! - Schram CGS & Bell Canto – Director Erin Berard

Sermon: “Jesus: A Wisdom Teacher” Rev. Kim Vidal

In modern Jerusalem, I was told, that if you walk beyond a place called the Damascus Gate for a block or so, you will see the Garden Tomb, a place, as tradition has it, where Jesus could have been buried. It is hard to miss. It is now a huge tourist attraction in Jerusalem. There are big tourist buses all around and a steady stream of pilgrims and tourists heading up the narrow alley to the ticket gate. Outside the garden, there are vendors of all kinds, selling everything from olive rosary beads to prayer shawls and artifacts. Before reaching the Garden Tomb, there are sellers of another kind, those who would have the tourists believe in the idea that Jesus’ tomb is right in the garden. There it is just off to the left as you enter, a deep cave carved out of a stone wall. An enormous rock is rolled to the side and inside, an outer room and an inner one. It is not hard to imagine that this is an ancient burial place where Jesus might have lain. But one finds it difficult to be gripped by terror and amazement, especially because the Garden Tomb Shop seems to be doing a bustling business, while dozens of tourists are busy taking selfies and pictures standing close to the boulder outside the tomb.

The Garden Tomb reminds me of the gospel writer John’s depiction of the first Easter filled with dramatic presentation. “Early in the morning, while it was still dark….” That’s where Easter really begins. It begins in darkness. It begins with fear, uncertainty, pain, death and a profound loss.

Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene, went to the tomb and discovered the unexpected. The stone covering the tomb was removed. In her panic, Mary rushed to tell Peter and the beloved disciples, John, about what happened! “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and I do not know where they have laid him!” In those days, tomb robbers were very common. Mary must have thought that someone stole Jesus’ body! Upon hearing Mary’s news, Peter and John sprang into action. They ran to investigate The Mystery of the Empty Tomb! The two disciples took off to verify that Mary’s announcements were true! You see, in those days, women’s words were not taken seriously. Women could not even stand as witnesses in a court. Peter and John must attest to her testimony and verify it with their very own eyes.

A little humour was included by the Gospel writer when John the beloved disciple outran Peter. It was like a marathon contest! John arrived at the tomb first and won the gold medal while Peter settled for silver. John bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there but did not go in. For John, that was enough proof that indeed, the body of Jesus was missing! But Peter was the better investigator. Or at least the more curious one. Peter entered the tomb. John quickly followed him inside and they confirmed Mary’s story: The stone rolled away? Check. Empty tomb? Check. Linen wrappings lying there? Check. Cloth from Jesus’ head rolled up and lying separately? Check. OK – everything’s in order. What Mary said was true. Nothing more to see here. It’s time to go home! Despite their anxious running and curious investigating, they just got up and leave. Peter and John’s role at that point was over.

In contrast to the two male disciples’ reactions, Mary stayed. She stood beside the entrance of the tomb and wept for the longest time in her life. The Good Friday event still lingered in her mind. Her beloved Jesus was crucified. He was dead and now his body was missing. What will happen next? Don’t we all have that moment when we all weep for something that was taken from us? or when someone we love dies? or when we have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness? In her distressed state, Mary bent down to look into the tomb and saw angels sitting where Jesus’ body was supposed to be lying and asked her: “Woman, why are you weeping?” Foolish angels! Don’t they know that people cry in graveyards to grieve someone’s death? Mary’s honest response was: “I am weeping because they have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him! Where will I find him now? Will I ever see him again? I’ve lost him forever!

In that weeping and wailing, meanwhile according to John’s account, Jesus was standing there, and asked Mary the same question, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Thinking that he was the gardener, Mary said: “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” For Mary, without the body, she is still living in a Good Friday world. Like Mary, we still live, as if it is always a Good Friday world; a world where violence, suffering, greed, and death reign with stubborn propensity. Our world is still stuck in the despair of Good Friday. Even this morning, I know that some of you are still grieving for lost loved ones or anxious because of illness or broken relationships; the world is still mourning the death of thousands of people due to COVID-19; fear looms large as we hear news of the pandemic shutdown in many parts of Canada; people are still put down or killed because of their racial ethnicity or religious beliefs; poverty and famine continue to affect third world countries. For many of us, it seems that every single day is endlessly Good Friday, with no hope in sight. But take heart. In every sadness, there is joy. In every Good Friday, there is Easter Sunday.

Then Mary heard her name being called. “Mary!” Jesus called her by name as he had done so many times before. “Mary!” Mary turned around and just what did she see? Did she see someone that looked like the Jesus she had followed? Was it the Jesus on the cover of Time Magazine? or the one painted on the stained-glass window? Had her tears or her grief so blinded her that she couldn't see well enough to recognize that familiar face or does a resurrected body somehow looked different with scars and wounds? He called her name again. “Mary!” as if saying: “Stop looking for a dead body! I am not there anymore – look at me with a new faith and a new hope.” Was it Mary’s imagination that told her that it was Jesus? Excitedly she called out to him: “Rabbouni! Teacher!” In that very moment, Mary claims her place as Jesus’ rabbinical student and disciple.

Mary looked up to Jesus as a wisdom teacher. In Ancient Near East, a “wisdom teacher” is a recognized spiritual leader. In addition to priests or prophets who have religious authority, there was also a third category called in Hebrew as a “moshel moshelim”, or wisdom teacher, a teacher of the transformation of a human being—in league with the authors of the Hebrew wisdom literature such as Ecclesiastes, Job, and Proverbs. Wisdom teachers may be the early precursors to the rabbi whose task it was to interpret the law and culture of Judaism. The hallmark of these wisdom teachers was their use of aphorisms, short sayings or riddles, and parables rather than prophetic pronouncements or divine decree. They spoke to people in the language that people understood, the language of story rather than law. Parables, such as the stories Jesus told, are a wisdom genre belonging to mashal, the Jewish branch of wisdom tradition. Jesus himself must have had an enlightenment experience. Jesus invites his hearers to leave conventional wisdom behind in order to live by an alternative wisdom.

In her joy, Mary ran to touch Jesus, her wisdom teacher, with every intent to embrace him. But Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.” “Mary, do not touch me. Stop holding onto me; stop clinging to me. Let me go. You can't keep me. It can't be like it was before. Things are different now. Let go of the details of my old self.” Jesus is free of the grave. His spirit, his memories, his wise words and teachings about love and justice are roaming at large in the world now. He will not be confined again – not even in the tomb where they have laid him at first. He asked Mary to tell others about him. Mary went back to her community and announced, “I have seen the Lord!”. I interpret Mary’s words like this: “I have experienced Jesus’ presence in my life!” To Mary and those first disciples, the risen Christ was more than a memory and more than a strong cause for justice. To them, he was a living memory that continues to shape their lives and gives them a sense of hope. This hope emanates in the lives of followers for generations every time they remembered Jesus in the breaking of the bread and in the sharing of the stories.

As a young girl, I literally believed that Jesus rose —physically, bodily from the dead. That’s what I was taught by the pastor of our church and my teachers in Sunday School. As long as I believed in that kind resurrection, I thought it was safe and I belong to the fold of believers. Later, as an adult, I began to question the true meaning of resurrection and through my seeking and questioning, I was able to discern that the story of resurrection was a metaphor, a parable - not as a literal, historical fact, but a powerful story of transformation, renewal, and rebirth. After reading some scholars’ works on the writings of Paul, followed by Mark, Mathew, Luke and John of their accounts on resurrection, I concluded that resurrection happened in the life of the first believers. Jesus’ friends and followers experienced Jesus’ continued presence even after he died and that became a profound meaning of resurrection for me.

The question that Easter asks of us is not, ‘Do you believe in the doctrine of the resurrection?’ but rather ‘how have you experienced the risen Christ? How have you encountered the risen Christ in the particulars of your own messy and beautiful lives? Carter Heyward says it beautifully: “resurrection was no longer “an event in the life of Jesus; resurrection happened in the life of his friends.” It happened to Mary. It happened to his first disciples. It happens to you and me. The power of resurrection is with us here and now. We are the body of Christ. We are the church. What does Jesus' resurrected body look like today? It may look a lot like you and I. Look around you, today. Look for the life of Christ in one another. Look. The faith community, both past and present, is Christ’s spiritual body. And through this resurrected body, we know where the Risen Christ lives: it lives in this body of believers. Seen this way, Easter becomes the resurrection of Jesus’ vision, values and hope, his message of love, freedom and justice through us - through those who follow in his way.

Easter calls us to gather in the traditions of love, freedom and justice that are critical in our time. Easter is Black Lives Matter. Easter is Against Asian Hate. Easter is embracing the LGBTQ and Two Spirit Community. Easter is Partnership with Chipembi. Easter is giving hope to people in this pandemic time. We follow the road to Easter as did the unridden colt, who carried Jesus into Jerusalem, not knowing where the road will lead, but remained faithful to the journey. Easter alleluias are not cheap acclamations that we can chant meaninglessly. Alleluias emerged from the courage of the broken, weeping hearts of Good Friday people who did not give up and looked forward to Easter hope.

On this Easter Sunday, as we break bread and share the cup of grace, may we celebrate the power of life over death, the strength of love over hatred, but also immense beauty in our brokenness and pain. May we experience Christ in the face of others, in places where love and healing is needed, and in every moment of joy and sorrow. May we declare with Mary, with Peter, with John and with the first followers of Jesus these powerful Easter words: “We are made alive in Christ!” and “Christ is made alive in us!” “Alleluia! Amen!”

Sources:
BCUC Lectionary Group
Nancy Rockwell, “Easter Visions”, patheos.org
Debie Thomas, “I Have Seen the Lord” April 14, 2019, journeywithjesus.net
Barbara Lundblad, Commentary on John 20: 1-18, workingpreacher.org
Cynthia Bourgeault, The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind—A New Perspective on Christ and His Message
(Shambhala: 2008), 23-24.
Marcus Borg, Jesus as Wisdom Teacher in Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time.

Prayers of the People: “A Prayer for Easter” by Ted Dodd Rev. Lorrie Lowes

God of Easter,
Roll away the stone of sadness, turn our mourning into dancing.

God of Resurrection,
Race with us to the site of new life, turn our crying into mirth.

God of the Empty Tomb,
Help us to see angels who make holy inquiry, turn our grief into joy.
In our world of pandemics, it can feel like we are in perpetual night.
COVID-19 continues despite denial and vaccines.
Violence rages in homes and on the streets.
Creation is groaning.

God of Easter, grant us hope and a sense of daylight.
In the face of the challenges of this year, so much is
confusing,
upsetting and
stressful.

God of Resurrection, grant us peace and a spirit of prayerfulness.
In this virus world of social isolation, a lot of us are weeping,
in grief,
in fear,
in anxiety.

God of the Empty Tomb, grant us reassurance and a willingness to see the world without despair.
Despite death and misunderstanding and tears,
Easter happened.
A stone was rolled away.
Angels appeared.
Jesus spoke Mary’s name.

God of the gospel good news,
speak each of our names, that we might know assurance and faith.

God of Easter,
roll away the stone of sadness, that we might be people of hope.

God of Resurrection,
race with us to the site of new life, that we might live in courage.

God of the Empty Tomb,
help us to see angels, that we might experience strength. Amen.

The Agape Meal Rev. Lorrie Lowes & Rev. Kim Vidal

“Agape” is the New Testament Greek word for “self-giving love”. The kind of love that comes from God and models God’s loving choice for our well-being and all of Creation. In the Christian tradition, agape is also the name for informal meals and times of togetherness and mutual sharing which remind us of all those meals Jesus shared with his friends and the unity that his Spirit continues to give us even today.

Hymn: We Gather Here – Voices United #469 – BCUC music team

We gather here in Jesus' name,
his love is burning in our hearts like living flame;
for through the loving son God fashions us as one:
Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come, share the Lord.

No one is a stranger here, - everyone belongs;
finding our forgiveness here, we in turn forgive all wrongs.

He joins us here, he breaks the bread,
the One who pours the cup is risen from the dead;
the One we love the most is now our gracious host:
Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come, share the Lord.

We are now a family of which Christ is the head;
though unseen he meets us here in the breaking of the bread.

We'll gather soon where angels sing;
we'll see the glory of our Lord and coming King;
now we anticipate the feast for which we wait:
Come take the bread, come drink the wine, come, share the Lord.

Proclamation (Kim)

We enter the story when a meal has been shared,
when prayers of thanksgiving have been spoken, when fellowship shared.
This is the place and this is the time.
Here and now, God waits to break into our experience.
We remember that when Jesus was with his friends, he took a piece of bread, and after blessing it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying: "Take, eat. This is my body, given for you. Whenever you eat this, remember me." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, passed it to his friends, saying: "Drink. This cup poured out for you is God’s eternal love, making a new covenant. Whenever you drink it, remember me."

Loving One of wondrous stories, we remember the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and we praise him for the love he poured out to all people of colour, race and creed. And so, recalling the spark and wonder of his life, the anguish of his death, and the hope of his resurrection, we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ reigns in our hearts.

Prayer of Consecration & the Lord’s Prayer (Lorrie)

Let us pray.
Loving friend and companion, we welcome your presence with us. May these gifts of bread and cup, nourish our bodies, hearts and minds. And may our spirits be refreshed as we live in the light of your presence, with us now, and at all times and places. Send now your Holy Spirit upon this bread and this cup, O God that they might be our remembrance and our proclamation of the presence of Jesus Christ with us, through us and in us. Let us now recite the prayer that Jesus taught his followers:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kin-dom come.
Thy will be done in 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,
For ever and ever. Amen.

The Sharing of the Bread and the Cup (Kim)

Let us now share and partake the bread and the cup reminding us of God’s unconditional love.
This is the bread – food for the journey. Take, eat and be nourished by God’s love.
This is the cup – drink for the journey. Take, drink and be sustained by God’s grace.

Prayer after the Meal (Lorrie)

We give you thanks, O God, for your gifts of hope, love and justice. With gratitude, we acknowledge that the broken bread and the cup poured out have brought us into unity with one another. In our common sharing of the feast this Easter, you have graced us by your presence, transforming us in the life and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Wisdom Teacher. Amen.

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

On this Easter Sunday, as we celebrate our unity as a community of faith, we joyfully share our gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of our 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. You can also send in your support through e-transfer or canadahelps.org. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.

Offertory Hymn: What Can I Do? - More Voices #191 - BCUC music team

What can I do? What can I bring?
What can I say? What can I sing?
I’ll sing with joy. I’ll say a prayer.
I’ll bring my love. I’ll do my share.

Offertory Prayer

Rejoicing! Celebrating! Giving thanks!
Gracious God, hope and new life are your amazing gifts to us.
As we offer our gifts back to you, remind us that we are Easter people
and you call us to sow seeds of love and justice in the world. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

Face your times of mourning and weeping;
God brings us face–to-face with the empty tomb.
Face your doubts and your fears.
We take courage from Jesus, Rabbouni, Wisdom Teacher.
Go forth this Easter Day filled with faith, hope and love.

May the blessing of God who is Love,
of Jesus Christ who is known in the breaking of the bread
and of the Spirit who gives us new life be with us all.
Hallelujah! we are risen in Christ!
Hallelujah! Christ is risen in us! Amen.

Hymn: Welcome, Happy Morning – Voices United #161

1. "Welcome, happy morning!" age to age shall say:
hell today is vanquished; heav'n is won today.
Come the, true and faithful, now fulfil your word;
This is your third morning: Rise O buried Lord!

Refrain: Welcome, happy morning! age to age shall say;
hell today is vanquished, heaven is won today!

2. Earth with joyful welcome clothes itself for spring;
Greets with life reviving our returning king:
Flowers in every pasture, leaves on every bough,
Speak of sorrows ended; Jesus triumphs now! Refrain.

3 Author and sustainer, source of life and breath;
You for our salvation trod the path of death:
Jesus Christ is living, God forevermore!
Now let all creation hail him and adore. Refrain.

Departing Music: Jesus Christ is Risen Today - Voices United #155

(slides - Easter Memorial Flowers) BCUC congregation recorded live 2017

Zoom Fellowship – 11 am

[1] Gord Dunbar, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2021 (Year B). Used with permission.

[2] Robin Wardlaw, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2021 (Year B), with words from Morning Has Broken. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

April 1, 2021

Worship services

Good Friday Service - April 2, 2021

Connie Davidson

April 1, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE

April 2, 2021

Moment of Reflection: Voices United #135 Beneath the Cross of Jesus – Violin: Leslie Wade

Opening Words:[1]

Dear friends, gather round
I have a story to tell
of one who reached inside himself
and took a handful of love
like a pile of stardust
and said: this is for you
it is all you need
it is all you will ever need
there is enough here
to change the whole world
take it

many laughed at him
mocked him
and ignored the invitation

but some dared to take it
and those who did
noticed something about this love
they found they could do what the gift-giver could do
they could stand with the lost
welcome the traveler
eat with the hungry
they found themselves doing what the man first did to them
give something of themselves to others
they became like the man
offering themselves
and as they offered themselves
others took the invitation
and many still do
and many still trust
it is enough to change the whole world.

Today I invite you to listen with your heart.
Through these words and music,
may we find our hearts warmed
by a love that is stronger than our fear,
and stronger even than the finality of death. Welcome to Good Friday.

Invitation to Gather and Opening Prayer[2]

I now invite you to gather in worship:

Surely God is in this time and place.
Help me notice.
Help me notice.
Help me notice.

Never do we notice God’s presence more than today – this day we call “Good”.
Nowhere do our hearts break more than today – this day we call “Good”.
Nowhere do we experience the power the power of love more than today –
this day we call “Good”.
We bless God that we can come to this place
in the sadness of our living,
and even here, find love,
as we wait with a dear one
for the kindness of death to arrive.
Come and let us worship God.

Let us pray. [3]

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
My Comforter, I have a need for your comforting presence.
In my troubled hours, you were always present.
Listen to my prayer.
Listen to my heart.
Holy God, you call us to walk the way of the cross,
but we choose the way that is easy,
or the one that promises us the best return.
Forgive us: open us to the faithful way,
the way of radical trust,
the way of true joy.
Journey with us as we take these final steps
of the Lenten journey.

(Moment of Silent Reflection)

On the cross, Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
That prayer is for us as well. We are loved, we are restored. Amen.

Music: Voices United #136 O Come and Mourn with Me – Choir 2017

Gospel Reading: “The Death of Jesus” Matthew 27: 45-50 (NRSV) Rev. Lorrie Lowes

45 From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last.

May these words of sorrow remind us that death is part of human condition. But God’s love assures us of life even in the midst of grief and fear. Amen.

Music: Panis Angelicus – Cesar Franck arr. Craig Duncan - Violin: Leslie Wade

Sermon: “The Forsaken One” Rev. Kim Vidal

And about three o’clock, Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli lama-sabachthani?’ that is ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ (Matthew 27:46)

I don’t understand why but sometimes life is a big disappointment. People we love die. Families fall apart. Friends betray us and we too often hurt those we love most. Life is not always a bed of roses. Or, as some would say, -- there are times when "Life sucks!" It sucks away our hopes and dreams; it steals away what is good and the beautiful; it robs us of joy and laughter; and even love itself seems to die. Life just doesn't 'live up' to our hopes and expectations. And sometimes it is agonizingly disappointing when the pain and suffering become nearly unbearable.

And here is Jesus hanging on the cross feeling abandoned and forsaken by his dear daddy, Abba! Father, God - Why oh why have you forsaken me?

During the six hours of his dying, he expressed the full range of human anguish—from the absence of water to the absence of God. “Eli, Eli, lama-sabachthani”. In the execution of a man whose only fault is to speak truth to power, the most heart-wrenching word of the dying Jesus to God is uttered. Sabachthani, forsaken: do you know what this means? It means "to abandon, to let go, to leave." It is awful to be forsaken. We like to say that no one is an island. It isn't natural for anyone to be totally alone. We long for companionship and we need others to go through our life’s journey. But when you are forsaken, you are on your own, you become an island in the flowing stream of humanity – lonely, isolated, alone. Jesus felt abandoned and forsaken by his disciples and friends. One betrayed him, another denied him, and who knows how many of them left in hiding afraid to be identified as his friends. To be forsaken means that no one is able or willing to help you. You are totally alone and helpless.

Some years ago, a famous scholar did a comparison of the death of Socrates and the death of Jesus. When the Greek philosopher Socrates was condemned to die, he drank a cup of hemlock poison with great serenity. In the face of death—with no god to call on—Socrates discussed the pros and cons of immortality with composure and reasonableness. He died the way we would like to die. Scholars call it “death with dignity.”

When we turn to the death of Jesus, we see it was nothing like the death of Socrates. In the Garden of Gethsemane Mark says he was trembling. Matthew says he threw himself to the ground, while Luke says he was sweating and his sweat fell like great drops of blood. He doesn’t want to drink the cup of death. He doesn’t want to be alone. Can’t you watch for just one hour? When the end comes he is not in control but is calling out desperately like a child abandoned by its parent.

"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?". Was not Jesus, the pious believer, simply reciting a verse he had known since childhood? After all, this was a verse quoted from Psalm 22. Dying people, amazingly, revert to prayers that formed them in their younger, healthier days—the way a person who hasn’t spoken for days may recite the Lord’s Prayer. "Now I lay me down to sleep," says the 90-year old in the nursing home, "I pray the Lord my soul to keep." O perhaps some would recite the ever-beautiful Psalm 23rd, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want…”

Was Jesus really forsaken by God or did he only feel abandoned? We have these moments ourselves. When we are plunged into a deep place and feel abandoned by God, we too, will cry out to God. We may feel we are praying—desperately, fervently, unknowingly—to an Absence, like believers left hanging in the dark. St. John of the Cross spoke of the believer’s dark night of soul. Luther spoke tremblingly of the hidden God. The German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that his generation might have to live as if there was no God but always in the presence of God.

Take heart. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” were spoken by Jesus to express his despair – a human emotion that is so real when one faces death. Jesus' friends knew it. His mother Mary agonizingly witnessed his son slowly dying. Can you feel it? They, too, were devastated. Their leader, their wisdom teacher, their beloved friend dies. He was supposed to be the one who would save them from their social, political and religious oppressions. Without him, their hopes die as well. And there is no one to replace him. Not in that moment of sorrow.

On this day, when death seems to take over our senses and our heart, Jesus affirms the truth about dying, of being abandoned and being forsaken by the God of love. But somehow, we forgot one thing. Others live with hope. There were the women and the beloved disciple at the foot of the cross. There was his mother who keeps on praying that he would no longer suffer. Yes, they held on to the painful disappointments of losing Jesus, but they lived to spread the good news of God’s love and his teachings to others. There was Joseph of Arimathea who came forward to wrap the body of Jesus with spices and lay it in a tomb. Deep in his heart, Joseph knew that Jesus deserves a burial fit for a decent, honourable man, And a stone is rolled in place to cover great sadness and disappointment.

When life is a painful disappointment, we do what we can. We wait. We sit on our agonizing loss and wait. It is all we can do to look at the stone in front of the tomb and to weep. Life may abandon us, forsaken us, crucify us but we are not alone. The women, the beloved disciple, mother Mary, those believers did not give up. They were with Jesus until his death. And did Jesus give up on God? I don’t think so. Jesus clung to God with all his might during the darkest hour of his life. And so must we.

On this Good Friday, we take all the unbearable failures and let-downs of our lives, wrap them up with spices and lay them in the tomb. And we wait as we cling to the God of hope. And God would seem to speak, but barely a silent whisper to those parts of our souls, a voice buried in the despair of the cross: “In this world of death, of violence, of hurts and pains, I will bring about something new. Just wait in hope. There is new life that awaits us at the tomb.” Amen.

The Dismissal

And now receive God’s blessings:
As we go into the growing shadows of this Good Friday
into the silent unknowing of Holy Saturday,
may we carry in our hearts, the crucified Christ.
May our hearts open like a waiting tomb, a tender womb,
and in the sheltered silence, may we cradle all that is wounded, all that is broken.
We go embracing all that is touched by pain and fear until we feel the pulse of new life begin to stir. For God is not done with us yet.
Go in peace and in love. Amen.

Blessing: May the Love of God Shine Through You – Choir 2017

[1] Roddy Hamilton, posted in Listening to the Stones blog.

[2] Bob Root, Gathering Lent/Easter 2021, Year B. Used with permission.

[3] Bev Ripley Hall & Beth W. Johnson, Gathering, LE 2017.

Connie Davidson

April 1, 2021

Worship services

Maundy Thursday Service - April 1, 2021

Connie Davidson

April 1, 2021

Worship services

Bells Corners United Church

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Text and Audio only

Adapted from a liturgy written by Doug Varey, while at Northminster U.C., North York, Ontario.

Maundy Thursday takes its name from the Latin ‘mandatum’, meaning commandment, in reference to the new commandment Jesus gives his disciples at the Last Supper: “I give you a new commandment that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13:34)

Please have the following prepared as you begin the service:

A jug of water and a basin
A towel
Bread
Wine or Juice
A lit candle

Prelude: Voices United #147 – What Wondrous Love is This

The Betrayal and Arrest

Sacred silence: filled.
Holy moment: overflowing.
Haunting seconds: brimming.

Tonight, too much happens
in the holy story to comprehend.
Too much fear and deceit, too many questions and confusion, too few words and too little space.
Heaven is teetering.
The basin is waiting.
The action is joined.
The holy one of God moves.
The darkness encroaches.
The light crumples.
Bread breaks,
and wine spills.

Sacred silence: filled.
Holy moment: overflowing.
Haunting seconds: brimming.

A questioning promise,
A broken covenant, a wondering band of followers, and a worried Messiah.
Won’t you wait here a while?
Won’t you wait here a while?
Long enough,
long enough, to grasp even a glimpse, and hold even a fraction, of a broken heaven.

(silence)

Prayer

Holy God, we come to worship in the gathering shadows of Jesus’ suffering and death. We come with his friends, the men and women who have followed him in every place and generation, to live once again this story of service and betrayal, of weakness and courage. We come to witness your love in action. Be with us, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn: Tell Me the Stories of Jesus – Voices United #357

1 Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear,
things I would ask him to tell me if he were here:
scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea,
stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

2 First let me hear how the children stood round his knee,
and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me;
words full of kindness, deeds full of grace,
all in the lovelight of Jesus' face.

3        Tell me, in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea
          tossing the boat in a tempest on Galilee!
          And how the Master, ready and kind,
          chided the billows and hushed the wind.

4        Into the city I'd follow the children's band,
waving a branch of the palm tree high in my hand;
          one of his heralds, yes, I would sing
          loudest hosannas! Jesus is king!

5        Show me that scene in the garden of bitter pain;
and of the cross where my Saviour for me was slain.
          Sad ones or bright ones, so that they be
          stories of Jesus, tell them to me.

Water of Forgiveness; Water of Baptism

(pour some of the water into the basin – you will do this 3 more times during the prayer)

Prayer:

Servant God, kneeling, bending, serving us. Take our dusty journeys, and wrap your hands around them. Every path we have trodden in life: every word that has taken us to hurtful locations, every thought that has moved us toward the shadows, every act that has led us into rough places, wash away the pain, as we confess, and you forgive.

(during a moment of silence, pour more water)

Take the wounds of our traveling and hold them in your healing hands: every journey of remembrance that holds too many memories, every burden we carry that weighs us with anger that we cannot let go, every place we have visited that holds too much pain. Wash away the lingering, as we let go and let you heal.

(during a moment of silence, pour more water)

Take the discomfort of our values, and wash and wipe and cleanse as you serve us:

every lesson about love we have not learned, every heavenly value we have not grasped, every truth of your Realm we have ignored. Wash away the hesitation, as we accept your love, and offer our love too.

(during a moment of silence, pour more water)

Jesus says: Come you who are weary, you who are heavy laden. Come, and let my hands refresh your living. Let me be your servant, and witness heaven on earth. (silence)

Sharing the Word

Psalm 116 Voices United #836

Refrain:
How can I repay you God, for all the goodness you show to me?

I love you, God, because you heard my voice
when I made supplication,
          because you turned your ear to me,
          when I called upon your name.
The cords of death entangled me,
and the pangs of the Grave laid hold on me;
          I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called upon the name of God:
          'O God, I pray, save my life.' Refrain

How can I repay you, God,
for all the good things you have done for me?
I will take up the cup of salvation,
and call upon the name of God.
I will pay my vows in the presence of all God's people. Refrain

Precious in the sight of God is the death of the saints.
          O God, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the child of your maidservant.
          You have freed me from my bonds.
I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving,
          and will call upon the name of God. Refrain
I will pay my vows to God in the presence of all God's people,
in the courts of the house of God, in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Gospel - John 13: 1-17

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father.

Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him.

And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.

Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet."

Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me."

Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"

Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you."

For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.

So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

(If you are following the audio version, you may want to pause it here)

Hand Washing – One by one, dip your hands in the water and have the next person dry them… the towel is passed to the next person while the one who dried dips their hands, until all have taken part.

Meditation

Footsteps could be heard running through the streets toward Caiaphas’ lodging, but few heard them as bitter herbs, radish, and celery were tasted.

Soldiers’ sandals sounded as they marched the alleyways out of the city as they always did, in tens, but this time with a purpose that was different.

No one’s attention was drawn to them as roast lamb with slices of garlic was cut to make the Passover feast.

At one table, a betrayer was accused. A holy man and his followers faced each other.

Only two of them knew who had done it, and one of them was soon to leave under the noise of the shouting.

He would walk the cobbled street under moonlight, passing menorahs in each window, slithering through wafts of roast lamb and turmeric and coriander toward a secret meeting place among the trees and shadows.

But not yet.

Round the table in an upper room voices fell silent, and Jesus took the unleavened bread and, with a face drawn and tired, ripped it. “This is my body,” he said. The followers looked at each other, foreheads furrowed. “Take it and eat it, all of you.”

Twigs snapped under the trees. The high priest’s door shut. Footsteps went scurrying.

And as they ate a piece each, chewing over silent questions, Jesus took the cup of wine that every Passover meal requires and staring into it said, “This is my cup, my life poured out for you, the sign of the new covenant. Drink of it, all of you.”

And as whispers were heard around the city and religious leaders moved by stealth to the meeting place, they did drink – all of them.

If they had listened maybe they would have heard what was happening in heaven and in the streets.

But their ears were filled with the back and forth of questions and silence.

The world was turning against them, and only one person in that room could hear it.

Here is that bread, broken.

Jesus said, “The bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.”

They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

He said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. And anyone who comes to me I will never drive away.”

Here is the cup, filled.

Agape Meal - Sharing the Bread and Wine

In remembrance of that night, tonight we take bread and share it. (share the bread at your table)

In remembrance of that night, we share the cup of grace, a symbol of the new covenant (share the wine or juice at your table)

Prayer after the Meal

God our saviour, power of loving service in the world, we thank you for Jesus, who on the night he was betrayed, gave himself to his friends in humble service, and in bread and wine. May we do the same for the whole world, as we follow his example. Amen

Living in the Shadows

God of anguish,
let us walk with you,
into the darkness.

God, who knows the shadow is coming, hold us as we walk into the world’s darkness.

God of passion,
we kneel with you, praying,
through the night,
while the world conspires against you and tries to put an end to love.

God, kneel with us, as we pray, too, through the night, and forces gather around us, and betray love’s future.

God of the day and night,
                    we follow,
                    holding your cup,
                    trusting your will,
                    the shadows seem so long.

God, who lives in us,
help us to keep trusting Jesus,
through the deep night. Amen.

Hymn – Stay With Us Through the Night # 182

1        Stay with us through the night.
          Stay with us through the pain.
                    Stay with us, blessed stranger
                    till the morning breaks again.

2        Stay with us through the night.
          Stay with us through the grief.
                    Stay with us, blessed stranger
                    till the morning brings relief.

3        Stay with us through the night.
          Stay with us through the dread.
                    Stay with us, blessed stranger
                    till the morning breaks new bread.

From the Upper Room to the World

Love has moved out. The room is silent.

The table is left: broken bread still sitting there, wine half finished, herbs and lamb scattered across the table.

In the distance you can hear footsteps moving through the olive grove, whose they are we do not know.

The room hangs, suspended in time, cushions scattered, crumbs across the floor, a basin and a towel sit by the door.

There is a rustle of leaves among the trees, a brushing of garments caught on branches, the sound of knees breaking twigs as they kneel.

The room is cold, full of questions.

The air is deep with the smell of betrayal and panic, of accusations and unfinished stories.

But something deeper is gone, and gone forever a presence, a hope.

Footsteps sound on their way past the house out of the city. The room is dull.

Shadows stretch across unfinished bread and half-drunk wine, a breeze from the empty window fills the space, and crumbs roll and tablecloth flutters as the wind searches and cools the wound of that room; a ghostly presence, filling the hole, haunting love.

There is a gathering of noise, shouts, and silence.

From the room all there is to hear is distant muttering. The trees capture the sounds and clasp the moment of betrayal.

Suddenly, all at once, the wind changes direction, the silence sinks, there is a cry somewhere in the city, and a kiss is traced on a carpenter’s cheek.

It is the moment of betrayal.

The night has truly arrived.

(pause and extinguish the candle)

Postlude: Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone

Connie Davidson

March 27, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - March 28, 2021

Connie Davidson

March 27, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

PALM SUNDAY Theme: “Jesus: A Movement Leader” [1]

March 28, 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: Bless the Lord, O My Soul - More Voices #46 - BCUC music team

(Photo Parade prepared by Rev. Lorrie Lowes)

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! I welcome and greet you wherever you are on this Palm Sunday. One year ago, on Palm Sunday last year, we posted our very first service on Youtube. So today is our first anniversary for our online worship service. I can’t believe how the year went by so quickly. And the gathering slides certainly showed us how our children have grown and some of us, older and wiser. If you were able to pick up a palm frond from the church, please make sure you use it as part of your worship centre. If not, you may use a piece of cloth or a leafy branch. Use them as symbols of Palm Sunday commemorating Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem. Join in the procession!

Since Ottawa is in the red zone, we are able to gather in the sanctuary for a modified worship service at 10 am with a maximum number of 28 people invited to gather. The Public Health strongly recommends staying at home but if you wish to attend, please call the office to register and be reminded that the usual health protocols will be in place which include masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

We continue to offer our worship service in audio, video and text formats with the weekly announcements, online meetings, events and other updates. Check our website at bcuc.org to access the service. 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.

I would like to highlight some announcements:

As we enter Holy Week in the coming days, please note that text of the service for Maundy Thursday on April 1st and Good Friday on April 2nd will be emailed to you and the audio recording will be posted on our website.
We will celebrate Easter Sunday on April 4th with an Agape Meal online and a communion during the modified onsite service.
If you would like your favourite hymn sung in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a joyful occasion, please let the office know. With a suggested minimum donation of $30, your hymn request will be featured in one of the Sunday services until May 23. Proceeds from this fundraising will help enhance our worship experience. Please send your name, hymn request and dedication to the office via email. Donations can be made by e-transfer, cash or cheque payable to BCUC with the note: “Hymn-Sing”. Thank you for supporting this initiative.
LENTEN APPEAL 2021: This year the SOSA committee has chosen to help people from the social housing neighbourhoods of West Ottawa to experience a weekend at Camp Otterdale.
Participants will be contributing but they will also need sponsorships of $50 per person. Please consider how you can help an individual or family to experience a much-needed break this summer. You can send in your donation via cash or by cheque payable to BCUC or by etransfer with the note: Lenten Appeal 2021. Please call the office for more details.
We are also receiving Memorial Flower Donations in memory of your passed loved ones. You may offer a minimum donation of $10 and a virtual flower display with your loved ones’ names will be included in the online version of the service on Easter Sunday. Some live flowers will be placed in the Sanctuary. Please send your donation including your memorial request to the Church Office by March 31. For payment options, please send in cash or cheque payable to BCUC with the note Easter Flowers.
I invite you to participate in the Prayer Circle every Wednesday at 8 pm. Wherever you are, light a candle and say a prayer for the world, your community including our congregation, your family, your friends and yourself.
And finally, Join us for a Zoom Fellowship today at 11 am.

For all other announcements, please check our website.

Despite continued physical distancing and self-isolation, we are indeed the church! On this Palm Sunday, know that we are all connected and embraced in God’s love. Pray for each other and take comfort and inspiration from the words of Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble.” Let us wave palms, branches or cloths, as we welcome Jesus, our movement leader. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of Christ Candle Acolytes: Wightman Family

We light this Christ candle to remind us of the light of truth.
May this light enflame our hearts with God’s grace;
keep us in the radiance of Christ’s presence;
and fill our hearts with the Spirit of hope.

Sung Response: Don’t Be Afraid – More Voices #90 - Susan TeGrotenhuis

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.

Opening Words Rev. Kim Vidal

There was a time when Lent was a dangerous time for Jews. There was a time and still a time when Christians were incited to hatred and violence against Jews. But there was a time before time, indeed the foundation of Christian time, when there were no Christians. At this time, a charismatic Jew named Yeshua also known as Jesus, came to celebrate the Passover. Jesus drew large crowds as he popularized the teachings of the liberal, Jewish school of thought. There was a time when Palm Sunday told a different story.

The first gospel writer Mark, written about 20 years after the first Palm Sunday, gives us a sense that Jesus’ parade into Jerusalem was not a spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment event. Mark spends more time telling us about the preparations for Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem than about the event itself. My reading of the passage made me think that this parade was intended as a peasant protest against Rome, an organic movement that operates with secret codes and a network of Jesus supporters operating "under the radar." It would seem that Jesus and his peasant followers intentionally set themselves in stark contrast with the powerful display of Roman military. It was like a modern-day demonstration or an organized protest against the powers-that-be.

Based on historical probes by some NT scholars, like Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, particularly the political and religious atmosphere when Rome ruled Judea from 31 BCE to 37 CE, they tell us that there could well have been two processions on that day in Jerusalem, on what we now call Palm Sunday. The first one, we know so well, called “the peasant procession”– the one we commemorate today with the waving of palm and leafy branches and spreading cloaks on the road. Coming from the other direction into Jerusalem, according to Mark, we remember Jesus riding a colt, accompanied by his peasant followers and disciples shouting Hosanna which literally means, “God save us!”

But Borg and Crossan reason, that, with crowds of devout Jews flowing into Jerusalem to celebrate The Passover Festival, particularly their liberation from Egypt, the Roman military led by Governor Pilate would put on a display of force, of pomp and circumstance, to deter the Jews from getting any ideas about trying to fight for liberation from Rome. Pilate’s entrance to Jerusalem would have been impressive - a visible manifestation of Imperial Roman power, a show of strength designed to prevent any thoughts of insurgency or violent rebellion against Roman rule. There would have been the sound of marching soldiers on foot, cavalry on horses, leather armour, helmets, weapons, banners, golden eagles mounted on poles, and sun glinting on metal and gold. It would have been designed to make the people feel afraid and powerless.

Scene 1 – TeGrotenhuis Family

1: Did you hear? The Messiah is coming!

2: Coming here?

1: Yes – coming to Jerusalem, to celebrate the Festival of the Unleavened Bread!

2: Well, let’s grab some palm branches and wave them high! Let’s give the Messiah the best welcome we know!

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Jesus, a light of the world, bringing hope for the future;
one who will set us free.
Welcome Jesus! Hosanna!

Jesus, a bearer of justice,
one who will overturn oppressive rulers and colonial powers.
Welcome Jesus! Hosanna!

Jesus, a compassionate healer, who shares our pains,
who understands and comforts.

Welcome Jesus! Hosanna!

Jesus, a movement leader,
who wipes all tears away and ushers in a peaceful kin-dom.

Hosanna to Jesus! Blessed is the One who comes in the name of God!
Hosanna in the highest!

Prayer of Approach: (written by Ken Wotherspoon, Gathering, LEP, 1987.)

As the gates of the city swung open to welcome Jesus,
so may our hearts be opened to God’s Spirit among us.
As Jesus wept for the people, so may we weep for those
who suffer at the hands of those who have forgotten how to love.
Let our worship today express the joy and sorrow,
the laughter and weeping of that first Palm Sunday. Amen.

*** Hymn: Hosanna, Loud Hosanna - Voices United #123 – *BCUC music team***

1 Hosanna, loud hosanna
the happy children sang;
through pillared court and temple
the lovely anthem rang:
to Jesus, who had blessed them,
close folded to his breast,
the children sang their praises,
the simplest and the best.

2 From Olivet they followed
'mid an exultant crowd,
the victory palm-branch waving,
and singing clear and loud;
the Lord of earth and heaven
rode on in lowly state,
content that little children
should on his bidding wait.

3 "Hosanna in the highest!"
That ancient song we sing,
for Christ is our Redeemer;
earth, let your anthems ring.
O may we ever praise him
with heart and life and voice,
and in his humble presence
eternally rejoice.

Words 1873 Jennette Threlfall; Music trad 18th century German
Song # 97922 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Scene 2 - TeGrotenhuis Family

1: I don’t know about this. Something’s making me feel a bit uneasy.

2: Yeah – I know what you mean. There’s too much hype for my liking.

1: Something always goes wrong when crowds get too excited.

2: And they’re definitely too excited!

Scene 3 – Berard Family

1: Look at this guy – he’s attracting quite a following.

2: And have you heard about what he’s teaching?

1: A bit. What have you heard?

2: He’s shown blatant disregard for the Sabbath. He even encourages his disciples to work on the Sabbath.

3: I heard that he seems to mock the laws –it’s like making fun of Moses’ teachings.

4: He follows those liberal teachings of Hillel, you know.

3: Hillel?

4: You know – the Rabbi who summed up the whole Torah into one sentence.

3: Ha! Oh yeah – how did that go?

4: Hillel said, “What is hateful to you, do not do unto your neighbour. This is the entire Torah, all the rest is commentary.”

1: I think I heard this Jesus say something like that.

2: Darn right. Jesus is spreading the same liberal garbage and attracting hordes of people. And look at how they practically worship him. Talk about blasphemy!

1: It does seem to be getting pretty out of hand.

2: (Shouting) Hey, Rabbi! Order your disciples to stop!

4: Jesus said, “I tell you, if these people were silent, the stones would shout out. ”
(Luke 19:40)

1: Well, I guess he put you in your place.

2: No one makes fun of me like that and gets away with it. These people need to know what he’s really like. It’s the only way they’ll understand.

Hymn: Sanna Sannanina - Voices United #128 (An African Version of Hosanna)

Sanna, sannanina, sanna, sanna, sanna, (2x)
Sanna, sanna, sanna, sannanina, sanna, sanna, sanna (2x)

Scene 4 – Lorrie & Neil Lowes

1 – Lorrie: Someone just told me that Jesus said you should hate your family?

2 –Neil: What?

1: Yeah, apparently, he said to turn your back on your own family,

spit on the dust and shake your sandals and leave them

if they don’t give all they have to some beggar walking by.

2: I guess there’s another side to Jesus that isn’t so angelic!

Prayer for Illumination: Reader: Keith Bailey

God of the journey, whose Word silences the shouts of the mighty, quiet within us every voice but your own. Speak to us through your Word of hope and courage, that by the power of your Holy Spirit, we may welcome Jesus’ entrance into our hearts. Amen.

The Gospel Reading: Mark 11: 1-11 (NRSV) Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

11 When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples 2 and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3 If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4 They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5 some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6 They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9 Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! 10 Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11 Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

May these words renew us and give us assurance of hope in this time and in this place.

Thanks be to God!

Hymn: And On This Path - More Voices #8 - BCUC Music team

1. And on this path, the gates of holiness are open wide, (3X)
Open wide! (3X) The gates are open wide!

2. So enter in, the gates of holiness are open wide, (3X)
Open wide! (3X) The gates are open wide!

3. And on this path, the gates of holiness are open wide (3X)
Open wide! (3X) The gates are open wide!

Scene 5 – Lorrie & Neil

1: Jesus is running into some serious trouble. I don’t have a good feeling about this. He’s being constantly challenged by the scribes who are trying to discredit him and yet he’s giving incredible wise responses.

2: Yeah – today I heard Jesus sum up the Torah by saying, “Love God with your whole being, and love your neighbour as yourself.”

1: Ha! As long as that neighbour is not a scribe!

2: Maybe that was his point. How do we love someone we totally disagree with?

1: I don’t know, but he sure ticked them off at the temple yesterday. He actually sat there and watched who put how much into the treasury! I’m sure glad he didn’t watch what I put in. Anyway, all of these highfalutin professionals came up and made it fairly obvious how much money they were putting in. Then, this widow, who had nothing, came up and put a couple of coppers in. Jesus then called a bunch of us over and said, “You see that poor woman? She just gave more than the rest of them put together because she gave all she had.”

2: Gee, he’s gonna get himself killed. And I think he knows it. Wow! I’d give my life to stop that from happening.

1: Honestly, I don’t know if I can do that!

Prayers of the People Rev. Kim Vidal

God of all times and places, our Lenten journey brought us today to enter the Holy Week. As in Jesus’ time, the people waved palms and leafy branches and spread their cloaks on the road in praise of Jesus, the movement leader who entered Jerusalem in the name of God. Like stones that won’t be silenced, we see the crowds shouting hosanna! which was replaced a few days after with “crucify him!”

What would it be like if we were among the crowd that day? Will we offer our loud praises and recognize the leadership of Jesus? Will we offer our solidarity with the peasants and not be intimidated by the presence of political, religious and military powers? Or will we run away and hide in fear of being crucified or worst, get killed for our voices of protest? O God, help us to remember that Jesus entered Jerusalem bearing his teaching of non-violence, truth to power and love beyond the grave. Forgive us when we are lost in confusion and doubt. With the grace of Your spirit, enfold our daily lives with insight and clarity that we may know your presence within each of us. In this Holy season, help us to fast from resentment, hostility, and apathy and instead feast on love, peace and joy that you lavishly offer for our journey to Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

God of healing, gently touch the lives of those needing comfort and wholeness in distressed lives and souls, particularly those who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic especially those who lost their loved ones from this virus and from other diseases. With love and earnest concern, we pray for those carrying heavy burdens. Use us to comfort those who have suffered deep losses in their lives. Today, we remember Jean Watson and family in the death of her brother-in-law, Ken Watson this week. Heal those who are troubled and distressed. Assure those awaiting medical results with good news. Disturb us to afflict the comfortable and comfort those afflicted, particularly those who have felt discriminated, marginalized or ostracised because of the colour of their skin, or their ethnicity or religious beliefs. On a cheery note, we pray for those celebrating happy occasions and moments of joy. We ask for your blessing upon Rev. Lorrie Lowes and Nicole Beaudry who both celebrated their birthday on March 27. O God, teach us to be advocates of goodness and embrace us all with your unconditional love.

Passionate God, reach into our hearts and our minds and spark us into action. Move us to see the needs of your hurting world. Where there is poverty, help us to share our wealth. Where there is war and division, help us to share your peace. Where people grieve, help us to share your compassion. For it is in you, O God that we are changed. Through your light, we become light. Through your love, we are able to love. Through your generosity, we give.

Prepare us now to enter into the Holy Week with a heart willing to change and a heart ready to accept your forgiveness. And with grateful hearts, let us unite as we sing this prayer that Jesus taught us:

The Lord’s Prayer (Sung) - Voices United #959 - BCUC Choir

Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be your name.
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil,
for the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours, now and forever.

The Offering Invitation Lorrie

In times of stress, in times of angst, we do not know what to do.

In times of need within this world and this community, we feel overwhelmed.

In times of abundance, in times of poverty, we ask God how we can give to this church, to the wider community, to our family and friends and to the world.

I now invite you to offer your gifts of time, talents and resources as expressions of your gratitude to God’s blessings and your commitment to the work. 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:[2] (together)

Like palms of rejoicing, like cloaks on the ground,
we bring these gifts and offer them here.
Let both gifts and the givers be lifted up,
blessed, and sent forth to do your will. Amen.

Scene 6 – Berard Family

1 : He’s losing it! He’s done for.

2 : Yeah – I can’t believe he killed a fig tree. And just because it didn’t have any figs on it. It’s not even the season for figs!

1: And what he did in the temple! Whipping people and turning over their tables! They didn’t know what hit them!

2: What side of the bed did he get up on this morning?

Scene 7 – TeGrotenhuis Family

1: Jesus definitely had a bad day today.

2: You know, I think he’s going through huge stress right now. I heard him talking an awful lot about death and the end times. I think he knows that something terrible is about to happen.

1: Maybe he’s trying to warn us about something.

2: I don’t like how those temple leaders are talking. They really feel threatened by him, and I think they’re out to get him.

1: What can we do? I thought this was going to be a happy day!

2: Well, Jesus made his point. He told us to stay alert, to watch, to pray. Maybe that’s all we can do right now.

Closing Words Rev. Kim Vidal

The image of Pilate's procession of military power and imperial control might have given us a different perspective when we read the story of Jesus and his peasant followers entering Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. A procession of rag-tag group of peasants and common-folk waving branches and cheering on their leader who is doing his best to keep his seat on an unbroken colt. Could it have been more than a spontaneous welcome for a beloved leader?

What are we, 21st century Christians have to do with Palm Sunday? Why do we wave our palm fronds and shout our hosannas? Why do we continue with this tradition that started 2000 years ago? Like the first century peasants who followed Jesus’ way of life, we too must have felt the urge to join the Jesus Movement, perhaps joining a march of protest or a statement of some sort – a march offering our voice in many forms: voice against the evil of bigotry and hypocrisy of our culture; voice to question our obsession and greed for material goods; voice to advocate against hatred, injustice and violence we might inflict, or perhaps voice to support those who are affected by COVID-19 pandemic that held us helpless and isolated in many ways.

A good question to ask is this: Where is God’s grace in this Palm Sunday story? I think grace is found in the sense of freedom and liberation that Jesus offered to his first century followers that continue to inspire us today. Jesus points a way of being in the world that proclaims love in many forms– his calm, non-anxious presence that offered God’s grace to the people - his humility and his message of peace and non-violence that gave the people comfort and made them follow him.

Friends, on this Palm Sunday, Jesus, the movement leader is on his way to his death. He will be crucified few days after entering Jerusalem; after he encountered the powers-that-be; after he and his followers have voiced their protests against oppression and their “NO” to the status quo. This is why the story of Jesus riding into the center of power of his time has such resonance in our own time. The first Palm Sunday offers us a way to reshape our own stories that they may embody the same hope: hope of compassion, hope of healing, hope of genuine freedom and justice for all. In this one moment, we can make a way for Jesus, the movement leader. We can throw our cloaks on the ground with humility and sing our songs of hosannas and celebration, yes, even our songs of pain and protests. Palm Sunday allows us to entrust our uncertainties and our fears in God’s grace, in every circumstance and in every, holy week of our lives. May this Palm Sunday be one more act of witness, one more step in our journey of following Jesus’ Way—one that leads to healing and life for all. Thanks be to God. Amen.

*Thanks to the BCUC Lectionary Group for their invaluable insights and reflections on Palm Sunday and to Borg & Crossan’s book, The Last week.

**Hymn:* I Danced in the Morning - Voices United #352 - BCUC Music team

1 I danced in the morning when the world was begun, and I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun, and I came from heaven and I danced on the earth; at Bethlehem I had my birth.

Refrain:

Dance, then, wherever you may be;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he,
and I'll lead you all, wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the dance, said he.

2 I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee,
but they would not dance and they would not follow me; I danced for the fishermen, for James and John; they came with me and the dance went on. R

3 I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame; the holy people said it was a shame;
they whipped and they stripped and they hung me high, and left me there on a cross to die. R

4 I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black; it's hard to dance with the devil on your back; they buried my body and they thought I'd gone, but I am the dance and I still go on. R

5 They cut me down and I leap up high;
I am the life that will never, never die;
I'll live in you if you'll live in me;
I am the Lord of the dance, said he. R

Words © Sydney Carter 1963; Music: Shaker Melody adapt. and harm. © Sydney Carter 1963
Song # 01248 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

The God who rejoiced with Jesus
as he was acclaimed by the Palm Sunday crowd,
celebrates with we us we journey through the Holy Week.

The God who stayed with Jesus
as he endured agony and death on that dark hill,
will stand with us in the testing times of life.

Jesus, our leader, you are eternally faithful.
With open hands, we wait on you.
With open hearts, we receive you. Amen.

Departing Music: Sleepers, Wake - Voices United #711 - BCUC Choir

Written in the 16th century by Pastor Nicholai during a plague in Germany
Dedicated to all COVID-19 victims and sufferers (Bill McGee)

1 'Sleepers, wake!' the watch are calling,
their notes from Zion's watchtower falling:
'Awake, awake, Jerusalem!
Midnight comes, no longer slumber,
nor let dull sleep your senses cumber.
Wise virgins, haste, or do you dream?
The bridegroom draweth near!
Arise, your lamps show clear. Hallelujah.
Yourselves array this marriage day
to meet the bridegroom on his way.'

2 Zion hears the sentries singing,
her heart within for joy is springing,
she wakes, she speeds with glad surprise.
For her God comes down all glorious,
in grace most strong, in truth victorious,
her light is come, her star doth rise.
Welcome! thou worthy crown,
Lord Jesus, God's dear Son, hosanna!
We join the throng that streams along
and fills thy banquet hall with song.

3 Let all creatures sound thy praises,
now earth its voice with heaven raises,
with harps' and cymbals' joyful tone.
Gates of pearl swing wide before us,
thy guests who join that blessed chorus
of angels that surround thy throne.
No eye hath seen, nor ear
was yet so blest to hear such rejoicing!
Henceforth may we eternally
sing hallelujahs unto thee.

Words: Philip Nicolai 1598, trans, Jay Macpherson 1970 Music: Hans Sachs ca 1513, adapt. Philip Nicolai 1599, harm Johann Sebastian Bach 1731 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

11 am – ZOOM Fellowship

[1] The skits in today’s service is adapted from a liturgy written by Loraine Mackenzie Shepard published in the Gathering, Lent/Easter/Pentecost, 2007.

[2] Kate Crawford, Gathering Lent-Easter 2014.

Connie Davidson

March 20, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - March 21, 2021

Connie Davidson

March 20, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT – RACIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY

March 21, 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: Put Peace Into Each Other’s Hands – Voices United #173 – Erin Berard

In honour of Asian & Black Lives - Charles and Eithne Barker

1. Put Peace into each other’s hands
And like a treasure hold it,
Protect it like a candle flame,
With tenderness enfold it.

2. Put Peace into each other’s hands
With loving expectation;
Be gentle in your words and ways,
In touch with God’s creation.

3. Put Peace into each other’s hands
Like bread we break for sharing;
Look people warmly in the eye;
Our life is meant for caring.

4. Give thanks for strong yet tender hands,
Held out in trust and blessing.
Where words fall short, let hands speak out,
The heights of love expressing.

5. Reach out in friendship, stay with faith
In touch with those around you.
Put peace into each other’s hands;
The Peace that sought and found you.

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good Morning!

Since Ottawa is in the red zone, we are able to gather in the sanctuary for a modified worship service at 10 am with a maximum number of 28 people invited to gather. The Public Health strongly recommends to stay at home but if you wish to attend, please call the office to register and be reminded that the usual protocols will be in place which include masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

We continue to offer worship service in a number of ways. Check our website at bcuc.org for our worship service in audio, video and text formats 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.

If you would like your favourite hymn sung in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a joyful occasion, please let the office know. With a suggested minimum donation of $30, your hymn request will be featured in one of the Sunday services until May 23. Proceeds from this fundraising will help enhance our worship experience. Please send your name, hymn request and dedication to the office via email. Donations can be made by e-transfer, cash or cheque payable to BCUC with the note: “Hymn-Sing”. Thank you for supporting this initiative.

LENTEN APPEAL 2021: This year the SOSA committee has chosen to help people from the social housing neighbourhoods of West Ottawa to experience a weekend at Camp Otterdale.

Participants will be contributing but they will also need sponsorships of $50 per person. Please consider how you can help an individual or family to experience a much-needed break this summer. You can send in your donation via cash or by cheque payable to BCUC or by etransfer with the note: Lenten Appeal 2021. Please call the office for more details.

Memorial Flower Donations: To provide an opportunity for families to remember loved ones who have passed, we are providing a virtual Easter flowers memorial donation option for this year. Funds will be used to buy flowers for the sanctuary for Easter Sunday and to create a fund for sanctuary flowers throughout the year. As in the past, you may make a minimum donation of $10. A virtual flower display with the loved ones’ names and the memorial will be included in the online version of the service on Easter Sunday. Some live flowers will be placed in the Sanctuary. Please send your donation including your memorial request to the Church Office by March 31. For payment, the following are options:

Drop off your request with either cash or cheque through the mail slot at the kitchen door
Mail in your request with a cheque to the Church Office
Email your request to the Church Office, and pay via e-transfer – mark your transaction “Easter Flowers” in the message line of the e-transfer (not preferred since there is a charge/transaction)

I invite you to participate in the Prayer Circle every Wednesday at 8 pm. Wherever you are, light a candle and say a prayer for the world, your community including our congregation, your family, your friends and yourself.

There will be a Zoom Fellowship today at 11 am, so please join us if you are able.

For all other announcements, please check our website.

Centering for Worship: Let us prepare our hearts and minds for worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Lynda and Neville Reed

In this world where the news seems often dark and cold, we welcome the light and comfort of a candle flame.

Today we light this candle to remind us that we are not alone; Christ is always with us.

Let it also remind us of the many forms of light that he brought into the world –

The light of love…
The light of awareness…
The light of justice…
The light of peace…
The light of hope.

As we light this flame, let us also be reminded that we are asked to shed this light wherever we go and in whatever we say or do.

Sung Response: Don’t Be Afraid – More Voices #90 - Susan TeGrotenhuis

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

In this place, at this time, let God call out of us what is good.
In this place, at this time, let us surrender what does harm.
In this place, at this time, let us be filled with worship.
We are an offering to God. Let us present ourselves freely.[1]

Prayer of Confession & Words of Assurance Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Ever-Abundant God, we open our hearts to you this day, and offer these truths: Today we live in the fear that encompasses us. Today we live with the prejudice that is right in front of us. Today we live with the ignorance that dwells within us. Today we live with the doubt that holds us back. Help us, we pray, that we will find courage in unlikely places, discover the world with new and gracious understandings, move to those places where love is needed, and have faith that you are with us. This we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. (moment of silence)

Friends, hear the good news that God listens to our prayers, understands our concerns, and holds us close in this time of confession and truth-telling. Know that today we have been given the grace and the courage to go into the world and spread this good news. Amen.[2]

Hymn: In Christ There Is No East or West – Voices United #606 (tune Crimond)

1. In Christ there is no east or west,
in him no south or north,
But one great family of love
throughout the whole wide earth.

2. In him shall true hearts everywhere
Their high communion find;
His service is the golden cord
Close binding humankind.

3. Join hands, then, people of the faith,
Whate’er your race may be;
All children of the living God
Are surely kin to me.

4. In Christ now meet both east and west
In him meet south and north;
All Christ-like souls are one in him
Throughout the whole wide earth.

But one great family of love
throughout the whole wide earth.

Words 1908 John Oxenham, Music 1915 James Macbeth Bain, Harmony 1934 Gordon Jacob
Song # 84249 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Storytime Erin Berard

Sing with me if you remember this one:

The more we get together, together, together,
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be
‘Cause your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends,
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.

Now wait a minute, I know we’re into the Red Zone restrictions here in Ottawa! Please don’t think I’m encouraging anyone to go gather and socialize with all your friends!

That’s not what I’m getting at. Perhaps I need to change the action word in the song to get my meaning across… what about “The more we work together… or the more we support each other…”

That’s because today I’m thinking about what it means to be an ALLY. Have you heard that word before? Maybe you’ve heard about countries being allies as they work together to protect each other or solve a problem when there is conflict, or, I don’t know, something like a pandemic.

We use the word ally a lot nowadays to talk about being someone who might stand up for the rights of people of colour and Indigenous peoples, even though they are not actually part of those groups. We know these groups often have to face racism in their day to day lives and people who are allies want to do things to change that.

Jesus sets the example for us, doesn’t he, of how we should act? Standing up for poor travelers being cheated, eating with people who were considered ‘different’, listening and talking and including all people.

Now how do we work to become an ally?

Listen and learn! Does your class library or online reading website have books by diverse authors? If not, ask for them or seek them out. Do you feel like you’re learning about the viewpoints of different cultures in history class? If not, ask about it, or learn more on your own time. The more you know, a better ally you can be.

Listen and act! What if you see people being teased or hurt because of their skin colour or culture? If you’re not feeling comfortable stepping up and saying something in the moment, don’t just let it slide by – because that makes it seems like you agree – tell a grown-up what you saw and heard. That’s a way to be an ally.

So let’s sing that song again, but change some of the words:

The more we work together, together, together,
The more we support others, the stronger we’ll be
Diverse voices are important,
And I can be an ally
The more we learn and listen, the stronger we’ll be.

Hymn: Guide My Feet – trad. African-American - CGS/Bell Canto – Erin - director

1. Guide my feet while I run this race (x3)
For I don’t want to run this race alone.

2. Hold my hand while I run this race (x3)
For I don’t want to run this race alone.

3. Stand by me while I run this race (x3)
For I don’t want to run this race alone.

4. Search my heart while I run this race (x3)
For I don’t want to run this race alone.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Tamara Glanville

In the shadow of conflict, we gather as people seeking peace. You, O God, reach out inviting us to journey the path of reconciliation and justice. May your Word grant us courage and conviction. Amen[3]

The Reading: Psalm 51:1-10 NRSV

1 Have mercy on me, O God,
    according to your steadfast love;
according to your abundant mercy
    blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
    and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
    and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned,
    and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are justified in your sentence
    and blameless when you pass judgment.
5 Indeed, I was born guilty,
    a sinner when my mother conceived me.

6 You desire truth in the inward being;
    therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
    wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
    let the bones that you have crushed rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
    and blot out all my iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and put a new and right spirit within me.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: Create in Me a Clean Heart Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Today is Racial Justice Sunday, and I think it is fitting that it falls in the season of Lent. This is a season of confession and repentance and we take that seriously each week with our prayers of confession. We take stock of our lives and our actions; we think about how our actions move us away from God and God’s purpose; we ask for forgiveness, and we commit to turning our lives around. We are assured that God forgives us and loves us, and we put ourselves on a straighter path. All this is important. It’s good to take the time to be intentional about looking at our lives as Christians and to take stock of how they fit with God’s dream and Jesus’ example. Racial Justice is certainly an issue that needs examining in this process. It’s a bit trickier than most issues, however, because it is sometimes hard to recognize in our own lives. We, as predominantly white, privileged Canadians, often think of it as a problem “out there”, as something that doesn’t pertain to us.

The Psalm that Tamara read for us this morning is attributed to David. It is certainly full of confession and repentance. In order to understand it, we need to know the story of David and Bathsheba, and the prophet Nathan. So, in a nutshell, it goes like this…

By this time, David was King – chosen by God and anointed by Nathan. He was a great military leader and well-loved by his people. He lived a life of power and luxury. His life was a far cry from his beginnings as a shepherd boy, too low in the birth order of his family to ever expect to become the head of the family or to inherit much at all in the way of land or wealth. His life had taken an unexpected turn when God chose him to lead the people, and life was good beyond his imagination. One day, we’re told, he saw Bathsheba bathing on the roof of her house. She was beautiful! He sent his servants to bring her to the palace. She would be honoured to be noticed by the king! This was not to be a one-night stand, of course; David fell in love with her and wanted to take her as a wife. The problem was that she was already married and her husband was Uriah, one of his greatest generals, and also a friend. He wouldn’t cause Uriah to be disgraced. Uriah was away, fighting battles for the king. David decided to give Uriah a job that put him into a position on the front line, leading the assault – a dangerous but important role. Uriah was killed in the battle. David took the mourning widow, Bathsheba, as his wife. What he was doing seemed reasonable and admirable – in his own eyes as well as in the eyes of most around him. By marrying Bathsheba, he protected her honour and took care of his friend’s widow. God and Nathan didn’t quite see it that way, however. Nathan tells King David a story about a wealthy man with a huge flock of sheep who doesn’t want to give up one of his own sheep to serve his important guests, so he steals the one and only lamb of his poor neighbour instead. David reacts with outrage and says the man should be put to death! Nathan points out that David’s actions are exactly the same, and so we have David’s plea to God, his confession and his request for forgiveness.

So, how does this story relate to Racial Justice? Well, I think in some ways, we are much like King David. He didn’t see that what he was doing was wrong. In his mind, taking Bathsheba in the first place, he was giving her an incredible compliment – she had won the notice and the love of the king! He didn’t take her as a mistress but as a wife. By marrying her, he was elevating her status and her lifestyle, while saving her from the difficult position of widow. Uriah died in battle, but David didn’t kill him by his own hand, it was just one of the hazards of being a brave general in the King’s army, after all. He was really quite honourable in all of this – or so he thought, until he was shown the full brunt of his actions. His position as king gave him not only great responsibility but a lavish lifestyle and a great amount of privilege. He was a good man – history remembers him as a good ruler and beloved by God – but he was blind to the harmful effect his good deeds could have on those around him – even those he considered friends, even those he loved.

He had sent his servants to bring back the woman who caught his eye. Could they have spoken up to tell him that he shouldn’t do this, that she was the wife of a man he loved and depended on? He offered himself to Bathsheba. An honour, perhaps, but did she have any choice, any power to say no? If she had refused the advances of the king, what would the consequences be for her, for her husband and his position? He gave Uriah an order to lead his troops in battle – from the front line. Could Uriah, who was actually there on the battlefield, tell him that this particular battle was a bad idea? That he was putting, not just Uriah, but all of his soldiers in grave danger? So many questions… Questions that would never be asked of David because he held the power and the privilege of his position in that society. If any of those people had voiced their concerns or posed those questions, would he even have listened? Or would have said, “Don’t be ridiculous! Look what I’ve done for Bathsheba, out of love and honour…I didn’t rape her, I love her and she loves me!... Look at how I put Uriah into the responsible and honoured role of leader… Yes, some terrible things have happened - but I didn’t kill anyone. I didn’t hurt anybody… How can you put any blame on me? I am a good person.”

When it comes to racism, we tend to think of it as a problem “out there”. It’s not a problem in our community, and certainly not in our church. “I am not a racist!” is a statement that most of us in this congregation would be comfortable with. We have friends who have brown or black skin. We welcome people of all skin colours and cultures into our midst. We are friends with the people of the Jami Omar mosque. Horrific things are happening in the world, particularly to our brothers and sisters who don’t look like us, but we aren’t doing those things. We are good people.

Almost a year ago, a black man named George Floyd died at the hands – or rather the knee – of a police officer in Minneapolis. The footage of that knee on the neck of a restrained man for eight minutes was seen all over the world, igniting racial tensions and deeply held grief. His cry of, “I can’t breathe,” will haunt us forever. Just this past week, 6 people of Asian descent were murdered in Atlanta by a white gunman. These cities are a long way from Bells Corners and the racial strife in the United States is well-known and visible to the world. We look at what happens to people of colour to the south of us and condemn it. What does it have to do with us? We aren’t like that police officer. Things like that don’t happen here… Do they?

Or are we, like King David, seeing only from our position of privilege. Have we ever asked the people of those diverse groups that we welcome into our midst what their experience is? And if we do ask, are they comfortable enough to tell us the truth? Do we listen to understand or do we immediately go on the defense… I was only trying to help… It was only a joke… You are taking it the wrong way… Of course, I would never do something to hurt you, I care about you… You are reading more into this than is actually there… You are being overly sensitive…

We take offense at being labeled racist. Robin Diangelo, has written a book about it called “White Fragility”. For us, the term ‘racist’ comes with the connotation of wickedness. What we hear is ‘bad person’. We put up our defenses, we stop listening, we close our ears and our minds. Anne Bishop, a Canadian author, also tackles this in her book, “Becoming an Ally”. She tries to explain racism in a different way:

Remember that everyone in an oppressor group is part of the oppression. It is ridiculous to claim you are not sexist if you are a man or not racist if you are white, and so on… all members of this society grow up surrounded by oppressive attitudes; we are marinated in it. It runs in our veins; it is as invisible to us as the air we breathe… A white person never becomes “non-racist” but is always a “recovering racist.”

A “recovering racist”… Perhaps this is easier to understand. We are familiar with this concept in terms of addiction or alcoholism. I have a friend who has been sober for close to 40 years. We would say she has licked the problem – but she can never let her guard down. In her mind, she will always be a “recovering alcoholic”. Particularly in a culture where drinking is socially acceptable, even socially expected, it would be so easy for her to slip back into old habits… Anne Bishop says recovering racists are often referred to as “anti-racist” but I wonder if this is just another way to make ourselves feel that we have licked the problem and can let our guard down. That term still sounds to me like, “I’ve fixed my problem; I’m not a racist anymore, and so now I just get to call out other people’s racist behaviour.” The temptation might be to close our ears, our hearts, and our minds once more. I think we need to stop taking offence and start taking responsibility. We aren’t bad people, but we have a lot to learn and a lot to unlearn.

In our Lenten sermon series, Rev. Kim and I have been looking at some of the identities of Jesus. In choosing an Old Testament reading this week, I do not mean to stray from this theme. So, let’s take a look at Jesus in the context of his time and place in history. The first and perhaps most important thing to remember about Jesus, the man, is that he was a devout Jew. His mission wasn’t to destroy the Jewish religion, far from it. He wanted people to look at the sacred teachings and writings with new eyes. He wanted people to hear God’s message from a new perspective. When we examine the perspective of the people of his time, we see a culture with a long history of oppression. The way society works is tied to power – whoever is at the top, has power over everyone below. That power changes hands throughout the Old Testament and I’m sure this was the case for centuries before that. A conquering tribe takes possession of the land and control over all that is in it, including the people. Eventually, there might be an uprising and another war happens – sometimes turning that power structure upside down so that a new hierarchy is in place – but there is always a hierarchy. It is accepted as “the way the world works”. In Anne Bishop’s words, they were marinated in it. They couldn’t imagine anything different. Jesus’ mission was to change that dynamic, to bring peace on earth. What the Jewish people of his time interpreted that to mean was that the oppressor – Rome – would be destroyed and so they would be liberated. But then what? Without a whole new way of thinking about how the world works, the liberated, the “good guys” would then hold the power over and the control of everything. The cycle would continue. I don’t think this is what Jesus, or God, had in mind. This Messiah was not a conquering warlord but a social activist. His message to the people was not about who is good and who is bad. His message was about God’s love for all people and all of creation. Love your neighbour as you love yourself, love your enemy, love creation, love, love, love… Jesus’ mission wasn’t to put people who looked like him and worshipped like him in charge of the world. His mission was to break down the barriers that divide people, to replace “power over” others to “power with”. He showed over and over again that there is enough to go around – enough food, enough wealth, even enough wine for a good celebration – as long as we see each other as equal rather than in a hierarchy, as long as we see the world’s resources as gifts for all, rather than owned and controlled by the current mightiest. His message was one of change through love and peace, not through violence and fear. His social activism was new and creative. He didn’t use weapons or might to change things, he used stories that people could identify with. His message was one of relationship – of really knowing your neighbour, of listening with an open heart, of taking care of each other because we are all loved by God, not in spite of our differences but because of them.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God,” David implores, “and put a new and right spirit within me.”

His plea came after his eyes were opened to the problem with his actions, after he was able to hear God through the prophet Nathan, after he was willing to let down his defensiveness and admit that, even as a good person, he had a lot of work to do.

The way the world works hasn’t really changed that much over the 2000 years since Jesus walked among us. Slavery has been abolished, residential schools have been closed, apologies have been made – but still people who are different from us in some way – skin colour, sexuality, culture, faith, really anything other than white, straight, of European descent, able-bodied, and even male – are still disadvantaged. We can say we love them all and we can work toward changing that reality, but until we listen, really listen to what their experience is, until we acknowledge that we all still have work to do, the kind of change that Jesus preached may never happen.

There is so much more to say on this difficult topic of racial justice. A Sunday sermon can barely scratch the surface, but I will end here with my confession to you: I am a recovering racist. I don’t say this to apologize but to acknowledge that I have much to learn and unlearn. It is my fervent prayer that I will have the courage to open my ears and my mind to see where my life of privilege causes harm and that God will help me as I do the work to create a clean heart. I hope you will join me. Amen.

Sources:

Becoming an Ally: Breaking the Cycle of Oppression in People” (third edition) by Anne Bishop, Fernwood Publishing Co., Halifax and Winnipeg. 2015
“White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism” by Robin Diangelo, Beacon Press, Boston. 2018
Mission and Service, UCC, June 4, 2020.
Grateful for the reflections, input and wisdom of the BCUC Lectionary Group

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer

Holy One,

On this Racial Justice Sunday, we wish we could celebrate the work that has been done in the world to end racial discrimination but the news tells us that it is not yet time for such celebration. We read in the news every day, examples of the oppression of people who struggle in this world because of the importance that is placed on the tone of a thin layer of cells that are meant to protect us. This week we have been newly horrified by the murder of 6 Asian women at the hands of a white gunman. We pray for their families and their community. We pray for ourselves that we might open our eyes and our hearts to recognize our role in making the way forward so slow and difficult.

Creator of all races and peoples, who loves each of us for our uniqueness, we offer our prayers of petition:

We pray for an end to discrimination in all its forms…

We pray that each person may be respected and valued as a child of God

We pray that the church may be a witness and a universal sign of unity among all peoples…

We pray that each of us may acknowledge our part in mistakes and sins of the past pertaining to discrimination and racism…

We pray for a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation among peoples who share a history of mutual mistrust, hatred, or aggression…

We pray that the victims of prejudice may forgive those who persecute them, and that their persecutors may have a change of heart…

We pray that the church will continue to strive to make every element of human life correspond to the true dignity of the human person…

We pray for those who have struggled in the past, and continue to do so today, for civil rights, economic justice, and the elimination of discrimination based on race, nationality, sexuality, or religion…

We pray for the conversion of the hearts and minds of those who allow another’s race to influence their relationships and limit their openness…

We pray that we may work to influence the attitudes of others by expressly rejecting racial or ethnic stereotypes, slurs and jokes, and be affirming of the cultural contributions of every racial, ethnic, and religious group in our world…

We pray that we may make a personal commitment to abolish social structures which inhibit economic, educational and social advancement of the poor…

We pray that we may work for decent working conditions, adequate income, housing, education, and health care for all people…

Holy One, source of our life, we acknowledge you as Creator of all people of every race, language, and way of life. Help us to see each other as you see us: your sons and daughters loved into being, and sustained by your parental care. Keep watch over our hearts so that the evil of racism will find no home with us. Direct our spirits to work for justice and peace so that all barriers to your grace which oppress our brothers and sisters will be removed.[4]

All this we ask in the name of Jesus, our example in social activism, and in the words he shared with his followers:

Invitation to Offer

We know that social change can only come about with open hearts that receive God’s message, open eyes and ears to witness the places in our world where there has been a straying from that path, courageous voices open hands to offer help where needed. We also know that investment of our treasure is needed for much of this work to move forward.

Offertory Prayer

When you reach out, it means the world to us, O Christ. When we reach out to the world, that outreach gives meaning to your name. bless this offering, we pray, that it may touch many in the world. Amen.

Sending Forth

As we go forth from this time of worship, our loving and compassionate God is with us.
As we become aware of our need to change, God supports us.
As we find courage to walk the faithful path, God journeys with us.
When we are tempted to turn back, God renews our vision.
When we joyfully follow the way of Jesus, God celebrates with us!
As we make this Lenten journey, God’s courage and peace will be ours!
Thanks be to God! Amen.[5]

Hymn: My Soul Cries Out More Voices #120 - BCUC Choir, violin: Leslie Wade

1. My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain:
My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.

2. Though I am small, my God, my all, you work great things in me,
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn.

3. From the halls of power to the fortress tower, not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears every tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food they can never earn;
There are tables spread, every mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn.

4. Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound,
‘Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.

Departing Music: “I the Lord of Sea and Sky” – Voices United #509 – BCUC Choir

In loving memory of Gail (Ross Mutton) violin: Leslie Wade

1. I the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in deepest sin, my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send?

Refrain:
Here I am, Lord. Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

2. I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have heard my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of the; they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send?”

3. I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame,
I will set a feast for them; my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send?

11 am – ZOOM Fellowship

[1] Elaine Bidgood Sveet, Gathering Lent/Easter 2016, p28. Used with permission.

[2] Julie Hutton, Gathering Lent/Easter 2021, p35. Used with permission.

[3] Laura Turnbull, Gathering Lent/Easter 2018, p 34. Used with permission.

[4] Based on Prayers for the Elimination of Racism by the Augustinian Secretariate for Justice and Peace (midwestaugustinians.org). Used with permission.

[5] David Sparks, Gathering Lent/Easter 2020, p38. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

March 14, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - March 14, 2021

Connie Davidson

March 14, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

March 14, 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: I See a New Heaven – Voices United #713 (verses 1, 3, 4) – BCUC Choir

In loving memory of our parents (Rev. Angela & Keith Bailey)

Refrain:

I see a new heaven. I see a new earth
as the old one will pass away,
where the fountain of life flows
and without price goes
to all people who abide in the land.

1 There, there on the banks
of a river bright and free,
yielding her fruit, firm in her root,
the Tree of Life will be. R

3 There, there where the darkness
brings visions from above.
There where the night, bearing new light,
reveals the promise of love. R

4 There, there where we work
with the love of healing hands.
Labour we must, true to our trust
to build a promised new land. R

Words & Music © Carolyn McDade
Song # 117685 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this Fourth Sunday in Lent. About one year ago today, we made a big decision to close our building due to the declaration of COVID-19 as a world pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. So today, we remember all those who have been affected by this pandemic, particularly those who lost their loved ones. We also pay tribute to the many first responders, essential workers, health people and personal care workers, leaders in all sectors and all those who have been doing their part in supporting, promoting and implementing the health protocols.

Since Ottawa is in the orange zone, we are able to gather in the sanctuary for a modified worship service at 10 am with a maximum number of 28 people invited to gather. The Public Health strongly recommends to stay at home but if you wish to attend, please call the office to register and be reminded that the usual protocols will be in place which include masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

We continue to offer worship service in a number of ways. Check our website at bcuc.org, for our worship service in audio, video and text formats 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.

If you would like your favourite hymn sung in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a joyful occasion, please let the office know. With a suggested minimum donation of $30, your hymn request will be featured in one of the Sunday services from February 28 until May 23. Proceeds from this fundraising will help enhance our worship experience. Please send your name, hymn request and dedication to the office via email. Donations can be made by e-transfer, cash or cheque payable to BCUC with the note: “Hymn-Sing”. Thank you for supporting this initiative.

LENTEN APPEAL 2021: This year the SOSA committee has chosen to help people from the social housing neighbourhoods of West Ottawa to experience a weekend at Camp Otterdale.

There will be a Zoom Fellowship today at 11 am, so please join us if you are able.

For all other announcements, please visit the website.

Friends, in this season of Lent, we know what God desires of us:
To remind ourselves that the message of Jesus is love.
To remember that now is the right time to put love into action.
So with grateful hearts, let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Susan & George Young

We light this Christ candle as a sign of God's love at work in the world.
Through the warmth of this light, let us celebrate God’s presence among us.
And may the light of Christ shine through us as we brighten the world.

Sung Response: Don’t Be Afraid – More Voices #90 - Susan TeGrotenhuis

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.

Call to Gather [1] Rev. Lorrie Lowes

From darkness and despair,
from being lost and lonely,
God calls us home.
Even though we have been selfish
and let God down,
we are still called beloved.
Remember the welcoming love of God
which has been poured out for us.
Our hearts rejoice at the wondrous ways
in which God loves and cares for us.
Remember that in all your ways you can
trust in God’s compassion.
Let us gather in worship.

Prayer of Confession & Words of Assurance Rev. Kim Vidal

Holy God, who is Creator, Redeemer and Guide, we come before you
in prayer, in praise and in quietness. May we welcome your holy presence
among us and within us. Inspire our minds that we might hear your Word.
Lift our voices that we might praise you.
Quieten our souls that we might find you.
Forgive us the many times we listen to the noise and clamour of the
world above your voice; the times we complain rather than give you
thanks; the times we are too preoccupied to be still.
Holy One, grant us the wisdom to listen for your voice and to follow
in your Way. Amen. (Moment of Silence)

Hear now the words of God’s assurance:
As we walk with God, we are transformed day by day.

God’s never-ending love journeys with us,
making us new, again and again. Thanks be to God!

Hymn: Bathe Me in Your Light – More Voices #82 - BCUC Choir

1.       Bathe me in your light, O God of All, Creator;
          let it shine upon my soul with healing and with grace.
          Be to me a beacon bright through shadows of life’s wounding
          showing me the way to live in faith, in your embrace.

2.       Bathe me in your love, O Source of Awe and Wonder;
          help me walk the sacred path of harmony and peace
          May I be attentive to the musings of your presence,
          drinking from the well of hope that brings the heart release.

3.       Bathe me in your grace, O One of Spirit’s longing;
          teach me of your gentle ways that fill the soul with strength.
          Guide me on the pilgrimage that leads to truth and wholeness,
          Fill me with your promise of a love that knows no length.

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Hi Everyone! Well, today’s scripture reading sure gave me a lot to think about! It’s one of those readings in the Bible that we might call “problematic” because it is difficult to understand or because it is easy to misinterpret. It’s one of those passages that almost makes your head hurt when you try to figure it out!

I bet most of the adults in our congregation know parts of this reading by heart – maybe some of the kids too! We even see people holding up signs at big sporting events that read “John 3:16” Have you ever seen that and wondered what it was about? I know I did when I first saw one of those signs. So, I looked that verse up. It goes like this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

My first thought was, “What the heck does that have to do with baseball?” Once I realized that it has absolutely nothing to do with baseball, or any other sport for that matter, I guessed that those folks were Christians who just wanted to get Jesus’ message out to as many people as possible, and that a big sporting event is a great way to reach a lot of people.

But I wonder why they chose that particular verse. To me, it doesn’t really tell us the most important parts of what Jesus wanted people to hear. It doesn’t say anything about the changes we need to make so that the world is more like what God wants for creation, nothing about love or justice. If this was the only verse you ever heard from the Bible, it might sound like a magical promise: “If you believe in Jesus, you will live forever!” Is that what the writer of the book of John really meant?

When I was reading today’s scripture passage this week, this line reminded me of a book called, “Tuck Everlasting” by Natalie Babbitt. It’s a novel (written for kids about 10 or older) about a girl who meets a boy in the woods whose family has discovered that, if you drink the water from a particular spring on the property, you will live forever. She has to decide if she should drink from that spring or not. It may surprise you to hear that it wasn’t an easy decision!

When we read the whole story about Jesus, we know that he didn’t come to the world to wave a magic wand and make everything better. He came with a message about loving God, your neighbour and yourself, and living in a way that is good for everyone and everything in creation. He left us with a lot of work to do – and he didn’t give us forever to do it, just one human lifespan at a time. This makes me think that the author of John was talking about something totally different from what “Tuck Everlasting” means by eternal life.

In just a few weeks, it will be Easter and we will celebrate that, even though Jesus was put to death because of his teachings and the way he lived his life, he continues to live through us if we follow in his example! I am pretty sure none of us have met Jesus, the actual man who lived more than 2000 years ago, but I do think that we can meet him in the stories of the Bible and that we can also meet him in people who live in the way that Jesus taught – not only through Christians, but people who come from many different faiths and cultures. I wonder if this is what John was talking about? Maybe “believing in” Jesus means a whole lot more than just being sure he actually exists.

So much to think about! One verse in the Bible can’t tell us everything we need to know about God’s dream and our part in making it come true. I think we need to keep reading, and discussing, and living into, the whole story, don’t you?

Let’s say a short prayer together:

Challenging God,

We want to be the kind of people you can count on to make the world live up to your dream. Sometimes we wish it could be as easy as just making a wish or saying a magic word, but we know that there is a lot more you need us to do. Help us as we do our best to learn from the writings in our Bible and from the example and wisdom of those who love you. Amen.

Hymn: Lead Me, God – Voices United #662 - BCUC Choir

Lead me, God,
lead me in your righteousness;
Make your way plain before my face.
For it is you, and you, God only,
who makes me to dwell in safety.

Words based on Psalm 4 & 5; Music 1861 Samuel Wesley
Song # 126117 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Prayer for Illumination Reader: John Boivin

We come to your Word, O God, seeking inspiration, courage, and possibility.
Open our eyes to see the truth in your Word. Amen.

The Reading: John 3:14-21 (NRSV) “God So Loved the World”

14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Jesus: A Beacon of Love” Rev. Kim Vidal

The light at the opposite end of the street turned green and I crossed too hastily and almost bumped into a man at the street corner with a big poster attached to his body on front and back. The front screamed at me with the words JOHN 3: 16 in a supersized font and the back poster says “Jesus is coming! Are you saved?” I cringed! I always do when I see a poster like that! I’m fed up with one-liners that do not have any explanations at all especially when it is being fully broadcasted to the public. Even if I knew by heart the verse that I have memorized since I was 9 years old, the verse that says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life”, I still have a thousand and one questions to this poster man. Why did God give his only son? Do we really need someone to die for us in order to be saved? What is your understanding of salvation? What do you mean by eternal life? Who is this Jesus that is coming again? Why do you do this? Who made you do it? Have you fully thought about these questions yourself? Why here? What is the catch?

I bet you that if there is one particular verse in the Bible that has been overly recited, used, abused, misused, misinterpreted, or misunderstood, it is this verse in John 3:16. Over the years, we’ve seen it displayed at sports events; on posters during rallies & protests; on bumper stickers; on fridge magnets; on T-shirts; or even framed for wall decoration. But NT theologian Marcus Borg warns that, taken literally, “this verse turns Christianity into a religion of requirements and rewards, particularly in the afterlife. The reward is eternal life. The requirements, of belief or behaviour or both, are a means of reaping the reward. Christianity, understood this way, becomes contractual. To emphasize the afterlife as opposed to life here and now turns Christianity into a religion of self-preservation. It also divides people into saved and unsaved. The verse puts a mark on all non-Christians, even many Christians, who are suspected of being unsaved.”

But have we really thought why John wrote, not only this verse but the whole gospel of John that seemed to be at odds with Matthew, Mark and Luke? Have we thought about the danger of extracting one particular verse from a whole series of discourse without even knowing the context or the story behind it? I almost did not preach on this text today. Why? Because it made me very uncomfortable. I believe that this text not only divides or puts people off but it also reduces the real meaning of God’s love and Jesus’ message for us. It diminishes Christianity to a mere slogan, contract or formula that is divisive and offensive to people of other faiths and religions. It makes Christians blind followers of a religion that promotes triumphalism. John 3: 16 has become a sort of bad publicity: read this verse, believe in it and you will be saved. Easy-peasy. Done. But God cannot be reduced to a formula or an idol. This is my position and you don’t have to agree with me. John 3:16 is an insufficient guide for healing and salvation. The verse is not enough to form a fully mature Christian life. Instead, we need an authentic encounter with the Mysterious, Loving, Divine and Gracious Presence that we call God — and concrete actions transforming one’s life by following the message of Jesus which is love.

Written around 95-100 CE, almost 70 years after the crucifixion of Jesus, the writer John, whose readers and audience were primarily Greek Christians, had a different way of looking at the relationship of God and Jesus. He certainly believed that God and Jesus are cut from the same cloth. John declares that “Jesus and God are one.” Think about how John started his gospel, not by a birth narrative of Jesus but by his profound theology: “In the beginning was the logos, transliterated as the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John is the proponent of an “incarnational theology” which emphasizes that God became “human” with flesh and blood in the person of Jesus. John is also the master of dualism and irony. For John, there is no grey area. It’s either you are in the dark or in the light; either you are in the Jesus’ club or in the devil’s club. John wove his themes to opposite polarities: cosmic or worldly; heaven or hell; spirit or flesh. He divides the world between believers and non-believers, saved and unsaved, rewarded and punished. But this problem is not only with John 3:16. Most people still interpret a large portion of the Biblical texts literally without verifying their historical, social, religious, cultural or political contexts of the passage. We tend to attach meanings to individual words or the whole sentence that may have little to do with what it really means for the author and for his readers in a particular time and place.
     And here’s what we need to know. Most biblical scholars agree that today’s gospel reading is actually a continuation of the encounter of Nicodemus and Jesus. Not about a requirement for people to show off that they are better than others. It would be good to revisit this story so we can fully understand the meaning of today’s text. Nicodemus was identified as a Pharisee, a well-known leader in his religious community. But he was kind of torn between two worlds. He witnessed Jesus of Nazareth made some good points in his sermons and teachings, perhaps saw Jesus did some healing miracles. But for Nicodemus, Jesus was just too risky and a threat to the established powers. So he met Jesus at night for his questions to be answered. He met Jesus in the evening, in the dark, when no eyes can see nor ears can hear so he can keep his faith secret separated from the rest of his public life. This is the gospel writer John giving us a clue, because John borrows a lot from Isaiah contrasting darkness with light and proclaims Jesus as the light of the world.
     Nicodemus came from a place of confusion. He met Jesus with his assumptions and his proud knowledge of what he thought he knew was the truth. He has to hear first-hand from Jesus about his mind-boggling dilemma: “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus responds rather amusingly, without being distracted by his praise or his compliments. Nicodemus was surprised at Jesus’ recommendation. That he needed to start his life over - to undergo a “rebirthing process”. The original Greek word closest to the English translation is “born from above” but other versions translated it as “being born again!” Jesus’ response is direct to the point: “I’m introducing you to something that transcends your curiosity. You’ve come asking for a sign to help you control your life or to validate what you already know. I want to put you in touch with a whole new world. I want to turn your world upside down to where you will see reality as it really is. It is a world totally out of your control. You’ve got to be born again, anew from above, if you are to enter that new world.” Jesus here offers a whole new possibility. It requires a radical reorientation and transformation of his life.
     It is indeed ironic that some Christians have been brought up around Nicodemus’s defensive mis-hearing of Jesus in this passage. They have made it into a ritual of “receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour and you will be saved” that has very little to do with radical internal transformation and justice-oriented missiology. The “born again” brand of Christianity really does not require a change of name and identity. Peter Woods calls it “an arrogant label by which others who are not in the Jesus club are made to feel less than equal”. Jesus did not tell Nicodemus to be converted to Jesus’ way. Instead, Jesus told Nicodemus, "Check your heart Nicodemus. Is it God and what God stands for who’s in there – is it true love, compassion or justice consuming you or is it your own religious, political and social biases and affiliations that make you who you are?” Being born again is a breaking free of twisted beliefs to transformative grounding. It is a breaking free of restricted, prejudiced, judgmental life into life-giving, welcoming, abundant life preached and lived by Jesus.
     There’s another puzzle – a gap in today’s text, for it’s not at all clear that Nicodemus remains on the scene by the time we get to Jesus’ words in today’s reading. Verse 14 opens up with an ambiguous analogy between a bronze serpent being lifted up for the healing of the Israelites in the book of Numbers and Jesus being crucified, lifted up on a cross so that people will receive God’s love, forgiveness and healing. Traditional view of this kind of theology makes Jesus a scapegoat not only for the early followers’ wrongdoings but continues in this day and age. Not only this concept is problematic for me but also the big words that John uses in his gospel. Words like condemnation, judgment and punishment—words that exclude and divide. If interpreted literally, this passage requires people to believe in Jesus, otherwise, you will die and go to hell and those who believe in Jesus will be rewarded with eternal life. In addition to John’s favourite word, “love”, the verb “believe” appears more often in John than anywhere else in the New Testament, but it’s worth noting that the word “faith” never appears in John’s gospel. Believing for John is about relationship. It is not about making Jesus an idol but trusting that Jesus’ message of love is a way to transform people’s heart. Jesus for John is a beacon of love and light. If you believe in, if you trust Jesus, then you must live your life following the message of Jesus which is love.
     One way of thinking about this whole passage is to re-translate it to: “this is how God loves the world through the message and life Jesus”. God so loved the world—that God became human through Jesus, God’s message of love for the world. The passage offers us to reflect on our images of God. Is God a God of love or a condemning, judgmental, punishing God? Should we follow Jesus’ life-giving message? Or should we choose to follow those things that lead us to waywardness and death? And this thing about eternal life, I believe this is not a reward when we die. Eternal life is what we experience here and now if we live in God’s love.
     Dear friends, as we continue to witness the senseless deaths of millions of people due to COVID-19 pandemic, as we experience the rise of racism, homophobia, gun and domestic violence, the marginalization of the poor and the mentally-challenged, the treatment of immigrants and those who do not worship in the same way like us, we prevent ourselves, our institutions and our communal life from flourishing, from living an abundant life, from living into our full potential. God loves the world, God loves us. God offers us, as we follow Jesus’ message of love, justice and compassion, a different way, a different possibility for transformed living. John calls us to look up to the cross, not to see God’s judgment, condemnation and punishment but to see God’s love – a possible way to experience healing and hope. NT professor Lance Pape contends that this passage in John is about an encounter with Jesus that left Nicodemus scratching his head in bewilderment as he went back out into the darkness. This is a story about how any one of us might reject the light offered to us because of the way it exposes what is dark in us. To “believe” this Good News requires more than “believing;” it requires “trusting in Jesus” and to let our own lives be transformed by the Jesus we encounter in John.
     So the next time I run into the poster man again, I know I have several ways to answer his question, “are you saved?” But for sure, this is what I will respond to him: “Being saved is not about beliefs or doctrines or creeds. It is not about making Jesus an idol but it is about allowing his message of love to transform me through God’s grace and leading, in this life, here and now. So- yes, I am saved in many ways than I could ever imagine.” Thanks be to God. Amen.

Sources:

Grateful for the reflections, input and wisdom of the BCUC Lectionary Group
Jonathan Grieser’s sermon, This is How God Loves the World, March 11, 2018 https://jonathangrieser.com
Marcus Borg, Convictions, 2014, Harper One. Chapter 4: Salvation is More About This Life than an After Life
Rev. Carl Gregg, “John 3:16 — The Rest of the Story”, patheos.com
Lance Pape, workingpreacher.org.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Holy One,
It has been a year since the pandemic first took hold of us,
A year of masking and hand washing and isolating,
A year of missing the hugs, and handshakes, and uncovered smiles,
A year of virtual meetings and virtual school,
A year of losses – of loved ones and friends for many of us, of employment and security for some, of access to services, of the ability to both grieve and celebrate together.
We are tired.
Help us find hope in the lengthening days and the warmer temperatures.
Help us find hope in the promise of vaccines and the careful re-opening of businesses.
Give us the strength, the wisdom, and the patience to see us through this next phase of the journey safely.
Help us to turn our thoughts from the troubles this year has brought, to the blessings that have also been there – the reaching out of our community, the support of friends, the generosity of strangers, the creativity and the technology that have helped us connect, and the time to reflect on what is important.
Help us see reasons for gratitude, even in the reality of our struggle.

We know, even in the midst of pain and sorrow and frustration, there are many in the world and even in our local community for whom the pandemic has added just another layer to their struggle, and so we pray to you…

We pray for those who lack the bare necessities of life…
We pray for those who suffer from illness and injury
We pray for those who are isolated and for those who are lonely…
We pray for those who are faced with violence every day…
Help us find ways to be a blessing to those in need.

We pray for the world, our community and our leaders,
We pray for this faith family,
We pray for ourselves,
That we might see, in spring’s promise of rebirth, a glimpse of brighter days to come.

All this we ask in the words that Jesus gave to us so long ago:

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Seedtime and harvest, summer and winter, day and night, God’s love has always been abundant, in every age. We are grateful to a generous and loving God for every sign of new life.

On this winter morning, we come together to thank God and to offer our gifts so that the ministry of this church will continue to grow and be a blessing to the world.

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

God of great wonders, we join with you in the joy of giving.
You give us life and breath, you fill the world with beauty,
our hands with bounty, and our hearts with the desire to give.
Accept these gifts, and ourselves in your service. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

As you continue your Lenten journey,

look up, look down, look out, look all around,
seeking those who need love;
love that you may show them,
love by which they may know of God’s love.
We are called to be God’s people.
Let us follow in love, hope and trust.

Go in peace. Amen.

Hymn: Though Ancient Walls - Voices United #691 - BCUC Choir

1 Though ancient walls may still stand proud and racial strife be fact,
though boundaries may be lines of hate, proclaim God's saving act!

Refrain:
Walls that divide are broken down;
Christ is our unity!
Chains that enslave are thrown aside;
Christ is our liberty!

2 When vested power stands firm entrenched and breaks another's back,
when waste and want live side by side,
it's Gospel that we lack. R

3 The truth we seek in varied scheme,
the life that we pursue,
unites us in a common quest
for self and world made new. R

4 The church divided seeks that grace,
that newness we proclaim;
a unity of serving love
that lives praise to God's name! R

5 This broken world seeks lasting health and vital unity.
God's people by God's Word renewed, cast off all slavery! R

Departing Music: When Peace Like A River - BCUC Choir

In loving memory of Young Hoon Kim (Kim Family)

1 When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll;
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
"It is well, it is well with my soul."

Refrain:

It is well with my soul;
it is well, it is well with my soul.

2 Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come
Let this blest assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And has shed His own blood for my soul. R

3 O Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
the trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend;
even so, it is well with my soul. R

11 am – ZOOM Fellowship

[1] www.ministrymatters.com

Connie Davidson

February 27, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - February 28, 2021

Connie Davidson

February 27, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT

February 28, 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: Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah - Voices United #651 – BCUC choir & verse 2 by Valleymen 2002

In memory of Vernon Sulway - a dedicated husband , a loving family man, a powerful singer and "a pilgrim in this barren land"

1. Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty,
Hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more;
feed me till I want no more.

2. Open now the crystal fountain,
whence the healing stream doth flow;
let the fire and cloudy pillar
lead me all my journey through.

Strong deliverer, strong deliverer,
be thou still my strength and shield;
be thou still my strength and shield.

3. When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside;
death of death and hell’s Destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
songs of praises, songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee;
I will ever give to Thee.

Welsh: 1745 William Williams; trans. Peter & William Williams; Music: 1905 John Hughes,
Song # 97969 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this Second Sunday in Lent. Lent is an opportunity to reflect inwardly, a time of renewal, a time of cleansing. For some, it is a time of confession and repentance; for others a time of contemplative fasting or giving up of something; for all of us, I hope it is a time to reflect on the life and teachings of Jesus and their place in our lives today. We are grateful that you have joined us in this Lenten period.

This Sunday, we are able to gather in the sanctuary for a modified worship service at 10 am A maximum number of 28 people are invited to gather. The Public Health strongly recommends to stay at home but if you wish to attend, please call the office to register and be reminded that the usual protocols will be in place which include masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

We continue to offer worship services 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 on your telephone by dialing 613-820-8104. Please continue to reach out by connecting with each other through emails, phone calls and prayers.

Would you like your favourite hymn sung in memory of a loved one or in celebration of a joyful occasion? With a suggested minimum donation of $30, your hymn request will be featured in one of the Sunday services from February 28 until May 23. Proceeds from this fundraising will help enhance our worship experience. Please send your name, hymn request and dedication to the office via email. Donations can be made by e-transfer, cash or cheque payable to BCUC with the note: “Hymn-Sing”. Thank you for supporting this initiative.

This week we are saddened to share the news of the passing of Vernon Sulway. His death was an unexpected shock to us all and he will be missed by many, including all of us here at BCUC where Vernon was active in many capacities and so often shared his love of music and talent for singing. Please hold Desna, Nicola, Christopher, and their extended families in your thoughts and prayers this week as they mourn their incredible loss.

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11: 00 am. Link has been emailed to you or call the office for more information.

For all other announcements, please visit the website.

Let us now welcome Barbara with a reminder from SOSA about this year’s Lenten Appeal.

SOSA Lenten Appeal: Barbara Bole Stafford for Peggy Aitchison

It is almost a year since the corona virus started impacting our lives. Recently I have heard people talking about cabin fever. Have you?
According to the dictionary it is not a medical condition but the symptoms can include loneliness, restlessness, anxiety and even depression. Covid 19 has certainly increased the number of those suffering from this condition, particularly among those on low income who seldom have the chance to leave their homes and go for a drive in the country or visit a nearby town. OWECC is hoping to provide an antidote for this by offering a weekend at Camp Otterdale either in the summer or the fall depending on public health guidelines.
Two years ago the Chaplaincy organized an overnight at this camp which was greatly appreciated. In faith, we are planning a full weekend away this year so that a bus load of people from the social housing neighbourhoods of West Ottawa can enjoy a weekend of great food, boating, walks, sing songs and games in a relaxing beautiful setting.
Participants will contribute to the cost but each person will need an additional sponsorship of about $50. If you would like to give this rewarding experience to someone you can do so by writing a cheque to BCUC with Lenten Appeal on the memo line or put some cash in a clearly marked envelope and drop it through the slot in the door at the side entrance to the church. Any amount will be much appreciated.
Thank you.

Centering for Worship

Friends, as we gather today wherever we are, let us ask God’s presence to journey with us in this season of Lent. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Ian and Ruth Howes

Lent can be a journey, together and alone.
Lent can be temptation for each and every one.
Lent can be a challenge to see with more than eyes.
Lent can be a pathway, through sunset to sunrise.
We light this Christ candle to guide us on our Lenten journey.[1]

Sung Response: Don’t Be Afraid – More Voices #90 - Susan TeGrotenhuis

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.

Call to Gather Rev. Kim Vidal

Sarai… Sarah.
Abram… Abraham.
God… I Am.
What’s in a name?
Baptizer… Elijah… a Prophet… the Christ!
What’s in a name?
Christian, One of the Way, Jesus follower, Disciple.
What’s in a name?
Quite a bit: relationship… identity… promise.
Then, whatever you name yourself, whomever you may be,
Come to this place and meet the One who is both Nameless and Name-Above-All.
We come to worship God![2]

Prayer of Confession & Words of Assurance Rev. Kim Vidal

God of promise and hope, you call us to trust in your way and set before us paths of faithfulness. Sometimes we hesitate to follow you and to make changes in our lives.

Sometimes our priorities and commitments reflect personal interests more than your desire for our lives and world. Free us, O God, that we might be faithful to you.

In the name of the Christ, we pray. Amen[3]

As we walk with God, we are transformed day by day.

God’s never-ending love journeys with us,
making us new, again and again. Thanks be to God!

Hymn: “I Have Called You by Your Name” - More Voices #161 – BCUC choir

1.    I have called you by your name, you are mine;
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you; all my   promises are true.
          You are gifted, called, and chosen;
          you are mine.

2.    I will help you learn my name as you go;
read it written in my people, help   them grow.
          Pour the water in my name,
          speak the word your soul can claim,
          offer Jesus’ body given long ago

3.    I know you will need my touch as you go;
feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and   flow.
          Like the woman reaching out,
          choosing faith in spite of doubt,
          hold the hem of Jesus’ robe,
          then let it go.

4.    I have given you a name, it is mine;
I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
          With my wonder in your soul,
          make my wounded children whole;
          go and tell my precious people
          they are mine.

Storytime Rev. Kim Vidal

Good morning! Have you ever wondered where your name came from? Or why your mom and dad called you by that name or names? You all know that my first name is Kim. But being born in the Philippines where most of girls’ names were Spanish in origin like Maria or Candida or Barbara, my name stood out like a sore thumb. I learned later on that my dad named me after an American actress, Kim Novak. When I went to high school, my name was listed under the boys’ name which irritated me more. Naming me Kim was a total mistake! How could my Dad named me Kim when it could also be a boy’s name? But through the years, I learned that the name Kim from its English roots means “a leader or a chief or a royal fortress”. In Chinese or Korean language, it means “gold”. So, I learned to love my name - after all, Kim has good meanings. Over the years, I was described with many words: Kim, the teacher, the guitar player, the mom of Justin and Jacob, the preacher. I wonder if you know the meaning of your name? If not, go ask your mom or dad!

And all of these remind me of the classic movie, Wizard of Oz. There was a particular scene where Dorothy pulls back the curtain and unmasks the Wizard as an ordinary man using smoke and mirrors to deceive others. Remember that? And Dorothy discovered that the Wizard was a fake and called him a very bad man! And the wizard cried out, “No, I am a very good man, but I am a very bad wizard!” And then the Wizard proved he was a good man by helping the Scarecrow, the Lion and the Tin Man. The Scarecrow had no brains, he said, and the Wizard gave him a diploma and taught him to be confident. The Lion says he was a coward and the Wizard gave him a medal and encouraged him to be brave. The Tin Man says he lacks a heart, and the Wizard gave him a certificate of generosity so he can win people’s love. Everything ended well because the Wizard helped each of the characters find their dreams and made them come true.

In the Gospel stories, Jesus was known for giving people names. He called Simon, “Peter” from the Greek word petros meaning the “rock”. Jesus also called James and John, boanerges meaning “the Sons of Thunder. Jesus called Mary ‘Magdala’, which scholars now say means “the Tower” in Aramaic not the town where Mary came from because that town does not exist. It’s no wonder Jesus liked giving meaningful names, because he had received a number of them all his life. He was named “Jesus” by the angel meaning Saviour. He was also called Prince of Peace, The Anointed One, Son of God, Lamb of God, Emmanuel and many others.

One day, Jesus was traveling with his disciples, and while they walked, Jesus asked them, "Who do people say that I am?" Jesus knew that the crowd might be confused about him. Stories were getting around about Jesus--that he healed the sick; that he argued with the religious leaders; that he preached about things and told parables about God. The people must have been wondering, "Who is this Jesus, anyway?"

The disciples shared some of their guesses they had heard from others. "Some say you're John the Baptist. Others think you're Elijah and still others think you're one of the prophets." Then Jesus asked what he really wanted to know. "But who do you, my disciples and closest friends, say that I am?" Peter jumped in and said, "You are the Messiah sent from God."

Then Jesus told the disciples what it meant for him to be the Messiah. He told his friends that he would undergo some hardships and challenging stuff and that he might even be killed. Being a leader, being a Messiah was not an easy job! It wasn't all about healing and traveling and miracles and good times. There were going to be some really hard times ahead, too and lots of work involved.

What about you? Who do you say Jesus is? And your name is…?

Great name! And whatever other names you may have collected over the years, don’t forget one important name that God has given to all of us including Jesus. And that name is “Beloved.” Live up to that name!
Let us pray. Dear God, we thank you for Jesus and his willingness to spread your love to all. Help us to be true to our calling as followers of Jesus’ way. Give us the strength and courage to be his faithful disciples when it's easy and when it's not so easy, too. Thank you for naming us your beloved. Amen.

Hymn: O God, Send Out Your Spirit - More Voices #25 – Erin Berard & Abe

Refrain (2X)

O God, send out your Spirit;
Renew the face of the earth.

1. We bless you, O God, for you are so great.
Your Spirit uncovers hidden beauty and grace.
Though times we deny all the pain and the tears,
Your Spirit empowers us and soon we face our fears.R

2. Ev’ry prayer we pray, sacred word, sacred rite,
is for the ones who are left waiting outside.
Ev’ry sermon we preach, ev’ry Spirit-filled tune;
Love says, “Remember why we do the things we do.” R

3. Ev’ry time a person reaching out is turned away
by the racist prejudicial attitudes of hate,
we are called to break the silence, sanctioning the shame,
stepping cross the lines of this sometimes-unholy game. R

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Sue Morrison

Gracious God, be with us now as we turn to the pages of your Word.
We ask for your Spirit of Wisdom, to help us understand your will for us. Amen.

The Reading: Mark 8:27-38 NRSV

Peter’s Declaration about Jesus
27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they answered him, “John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 29 He asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Messiah.” 30 And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”
34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Jesus: A Radical Leader” Rev. Lorrie Lowes

“Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me!”

Do you remember this little sing-song phrase that we were taught to use as children when someone called us a mean name? Back in the 1950’s, when I was a child, this seemed like a good snappy comeback, but we know better now. We know that names can have a huge effect both immediately and in the long run. At their best, a label you give someone can encourage them or build up their confidence. We might call a child a good reader, a big help, or a hard worker, for instance. Labels like that can not only build self-esteem, they also set an expectation for future positive behaviour. On the other hand, labeling someone as useless, or careless, or stupid has the opposite effect of lowering self-esteem and might even keep someone from trying. These effects can last a lifetime. So, perhaps the phrase we used as children had it all wrong. Broken bones may hurt, it seems, but they have a better chance of healing than a broken spirit.

In today’s lectionary readings, names play a prominent role. The Old Testament reading is about how, when making a covenant with Abram and Sarai, God gives them new names. This elderly, childless couple have been told they will bear a child and will give rise to a multitude of generations – as numerous as the stars. Abram, which means “exalted ancestor”, becomes Abraham, “Father of Nations”. Sarai, meaning “my princess” becomes Sarah, or “the source of nations and kings”. God has given them the seemingly impossible promise of a child when they are in their 90’s and he has sealed this promise with new names that will match their legacy.

Name changes aren’t just something that happened in ancient times; we still have this practice today. Traditionally – and even presently, though not as often - a woman changes her name upon marriage. Education might lead someone to become “Doctor”, a vocation might give one the title of “Father” or “Reverend”. An endorsement by the electorate might make someone “President” or “Prime Minister”. Each of these titles changes the role of the person it is given to, and it changes our expectations of them as well. Each of those new names comes with added responsibilities and changes in the way, or even the place, where one lives. These are just a few examples. I know you can think of others.

In the New Testament, the changing of names comes up again. Simon, the fisherman, becomes Peter, the rock on whom Jesus will build his church. Jesus himself is known by many titles, right from the time of his conception. The angels call him the “Son of God” and “Prince of Peace”, God calls him “Beloved Son”, he is known to the people as “Rabbi”, “Teacher”, “Healer”, even “Lord”… and through it all, he remains unflustered – until this day when he asks, “Who do you say that I am?” When Peter calls him “Messiah”, everything changes.

“Don’t tell anyone this!” he tells them – sternly, we read in the book of Mark. Why is this such a bad thing?

“Messiah” is a title we are comfortable using in speaking of Jesus. In fact, it’s a title we would not usually think of using in any other context. Messiah is a word that means “saviour”, a word that is often interchanged with “Christ” by Jesus’ followers. It is a title reserved for him alone. When the word is used, Jesus is the first, and usually the only, example that comes into our minds. But what did that title mean to the people of that time? It wasn’t a new word, coined just for this man. The word, “Messiah” already had a definition – as “saviour” and it also had a connotation, especially to a people who were oppressed by a mighty military power.

All throughout the Bible, Old Testament and New, there are stories of war. Power is held by force. Power only changes hands through military might. If you are going to be in charge of the way the world works, you need the biggest army and the strongest weapons - first to win the battle, and then to keep people in line with your vision through fear and threat.

All the power in Jesus’ time was held by the mighty Roman Empire. They had won war after war. Their show of power and influence was so great at this point that fighting wasn’t even necessary. They proudly claimed a time of peace, the “Pax Romana”. But that peace was maintained by the constant threat of the incredible power the Romans held – politically, economically, and militarily. The people were hurting and the only hope of salvation they could imagine was to raise an army powerful enough to beat back the Romans. They needed a messiah, sent from God, who would be an amazing commander of a magnificent army.

So, when Jesus asks his disciples, “What are people saying about me? Who do they say I am?”, he seems ok with the comparisons to John the Baptist, Elijah, and the prophets – men who preached the importance of changing the way people conducted their lives, who warned people of the need to repent and start fresh. But then he asks them, “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter responds, “You are the Messiah.”

Jesus doesn’t rebuke him at that point, or deny the title. Perhaps he thinks that, coming on the heels of the comparison to John and the prophets and the messages of change, that his disciples are beginning to understand his message of using love instead of might to change the balance of power. He warns them, however, not to tell anyone else this. I think he knows that, until everyone understands his message, that title of Messiah will bring with it the expectation that he will overpower the Roman machine and take over the control of the land and its people. The expectation that it is something he can do on his own.

He begins to tell them that the road ahead will not be an easy one, that he will suffer, that he will be rejected not only by Rome but by their own religious leaders, even to the point of execution but that his death will not be the end of this story.

But Peter blows it by rebuking Jesus. “Don’t say such things! God forbid it! This must never happen to you!”

And Jesus realizes that the title “Messiah” still carries that more common connotation of the mighty saviour with a God-given power to destroy the enemy, to topple the Roman Empire and lead the nation in a way that turns that balance of power upside down with the Jews at the top and the Romans at their mercy – even to Peter, the one he called the Rock, the one on whom he placed his hopes of building a new, peaceful and just world for all. Even Peter expected God’s kingdom to prevail through conquering the enemy, through a leader empowered and protected from harm by God, a leader who would defeat the enemy and put the faithful in their rightful place of power over all.

And Jesus, who gave Simon the new and strong name of Peter, now calls him Satan. I can’t imagine anything more harsh. Why would Jesus equate his loyal friend with Satan?

Let’s think back to last week’s reading. Jesus was baptized by John, commissioned by God, and immediately sent out into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. In the gospel of Mark, we don’t hear the details of that temptation, but we know the story from Matthew and Luke. If you are the son of God, turn these rocks into bread. Jump from the highest tower and let the world see how God will save you from harm, or join your forces with me and you can have total power over the world to make it just the way you want. Was Satan suggesting that he do anything evil? Not really. He was giving him solutions to the very human problems of hunger, and pain or injury. He was telling him that he could have enough power of to force the world to change. These were called temptations because they were easy solutions, right at his fingertips, solutions that would make everything better immediately. He would no longer be hungry. The world would see that he would be saved by God and so they would worship him, and that he could make the laws that forced people to behave in the way he saw fit. They were tempting because they were a way of looking at the problems through the eyes of a human rather than through the perspective of God.

“Get behind me, Satan!” he shouts at Peter, “For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” He heard in Peter’s words, that same reasoning that Satan had used to tempt him in the wilderness: This doesn’t have to be a painful process! You can just march in there and tell them who’s boss! God will make sure you - and all of us – will come to no harm.

Tempting… there would be no war, no pain or injury, at least not to Jesus and his friends, and the brutal power of the Romans would be defeated. No fuss, no mess, just a smooth and glorious transition of power from Caesar to Jesus. But… was that what God was looking for? Was this the divine plan? Would the transformation that God was looking for follow? Or would the human desire for power and riches just go underground until the very human son of God came to the end of his life on earth?

Jesus was certainly a leader – but his style of leadership bore little resemblance to that of Caesar or any emperor, or king, or any leader the world had seen. He didn’t lead from the top, he empowered from the bottom, from the midst of the margins of society – in the company of the poor, the sick, the ostracized members of society. He had a large and growing following, but he didn’t attract them with promises of power and wealth, he used wisdom and insight. He was building a force that had the potential to destroy the Roman Empire, certainly, not with weapons of destruction or force however, but with love and justice for everyone – even the oppressors. He didn’t set out to destroy but to build in a new way. It was a radical way of looking at the suffering and inequities in the world. He wasn’t out to lead his followers in a bloody takeover, but to head them into the slow and difficult process of transformation, from seeing creation as something to own and control, to seeing creation as a gift and a responsibility. He wasn’t leading in hopes of a quick fix but in the vision of an entirely new way of relating to each other, to the world, and to God. He knew that he was on a divine mission, but he also knew that he was dealing with humans. God may have been able to say, “Let there be light” and make it so, but that same God had said, “Let there be people and let them have minds, and hearts, and free will.” Jesus’ style of leadership was radical for the time. I think it is still radical by today’s standards. Its power doesn’t lie in the speed of change but in the slow and thorough transformation of thinking. Jesus was a transformational leader.

What does this term mean? Well, a search through Google and the dictionary offered this:

A transformational leader is someone who:
- has a vision and articulates that vision clearly and appealingly,
- explains how to attain that vision,
- acts with confidence and optimism,
- expresses confidence in their followers,
- emphasizes values with symbolic actions,
- leads by example, and
- empowers followers to achieve the vision.

When I think of the most powerful transformational leaders of our time, I think of Martin Luther King, Jr. I think of Ghandi and Nelson Mandela. All inspirational men who began the process of change during their lifetimes – not change that had happened completely but a vision and an example that influence our thinking even today. Transformation is slow, it has to be if it is to be thorough and lasting.

When I checked with Google to see if I was on the right track and to add other examples to my list, these names were sometimes mentioned – but the first and most touted examples were men of power in the business world – Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, Elon Musk… MLK, Ghandi, and Mandela share a place on the more comprehensive lists – and so do Ivan the Terrible, Hitler, and Donald Trump. What does this say about the human mindset? The human understanding of successful change most often involves individual power.

Jesus’ understanding of leadership was radical for the time. It is still seen as radical today. He wasn’t the Messiah that the people thought they needed – and I daresay he isn’t the hero we wish would show up to fix the world today.

From the beginning of the creation story, Satan has always been there to offer temptation. It began with a piece of fruit and the power of knowledge to Eve and Adam. We humans find those temptations difficult to resist, perhaps because, just like Peter, we set our minds on human things rather than divine. We want change to happen quickly, without confrontation or pain. We want to see the results in our own place and in our own lifetime. We don’t want to love the opposition, we see them as our enemies and we want them to be silenced.

The mission of Jesus to transform the world didn’t fail. It is still a work in progress. It didn’t die with his death on the cross but rises again and again in the efforts of those who are willing to face the cost. Jesus understood fully the power of temptation over the human mind. He didn’t banish Peter from the group. He, later, even acknowledged that Peter would give into temptation again by denying that he even knew Jesus after his arrest, but he trusted him to carry on where he left off.

We all fall prey to temptation from time to time. It is part of being human. However, God loves us still; Jesus has faith in us to carry on the work, understanding full well the power of the temptations we face in this human existence. He knew it would be hard. He included it in the prayer his followers recite together all over the world: “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.” Perhaps we need to realize that Satan is not a being separate from ourselves, nor an outside enemy that needs to be beaten. Perhaps we need to see Satan as something that resides in each of us, in our human drive for survival and in our fears. Falling into temptation is not a reason to give up; it is a reminder to us all to say, “Get behind me Satan!” and then renew our efforts to bring God’s vision to fruition in the world. Perhaps only then, will we be able to love one another - even those we view as enemies – as we love ourselves. A radical vision from a radical, transformational leader! Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

God of many names, whose love surrounds all creation – thank you.

For this walk of life, and all we meet on it, for the days and the nights, and for your presence in it all – thank you.

Help us to share our burdens and our joys with you and with each other, knowing that you are our God and we are your people, forever.[4]

Today, in this season of Lent, we pray for transformational change in this suffering world.

We pray for all those in need, for those who suffer, for those who live with the results of the struggle for power and material possessions that permeate our world.

We pray for our leaders, that they might set their minds on your divine vision in spite of the human temptation to look inward.

We pray for ourselves, that we might recognize that temptation within us and that we have the will and the courage to put it behind us, that we might carry your vision in all that we do.

We pray for our community as we continue to struggle with the reality of the pandemic and with the changes it demands in our ability to reach out to one another. We pray for those who are isolated, those who are ill or injured, those who have lost employment, those who have lost loved ones. Today, we pray particularly for the family and friends of Vernon Sulway as we mourn his passing.

Help us to recognize your presence in the joys and in the struggles of our earthly lives. Help us to continue the divine mission Jesus began.

All these things we ask in the name of Jesus, a Radical, Transformational Leader who calls us to recite this prayer together.

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

For the love of the world, Jesus offered everything he had, even life itself. In response to this powerful gift of love, let us offer our gifts and our lives to God, as we share in our offering.[5]

Offertory Prayer

Caring God, may we offer not only our material gifts, but our whole selves, to you and to all those who need our support in the quest for justice.[6] We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ who led by radical example. Amen

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Child of God, Follower of Jesus, Christian,
Member of the Church…
these are your names.
Live fully into your identity.
Go with boldness into this new week,
knowing that God’s blessings,
the strength of Christ,
and the guidance of the Holy Spirit go with you. Amen.

Hymn: “Jesus Christ is Waiting” - Voices United #117 – BCUC choir

Jesus Christ is waiting, waiting in the streets;
No one is his neighbour, all alone he eats.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I am lonely too.
Make me, friend or stranger, fit to wait on you

Jesus Christ is raging, raging in the streets,
Where injustice spirals and real hope retreats.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I am angry too.
In the Kingdom’s causes let me rage with you.

Jesus Christ is healing, healing in the streets;
Curing those who suffer, touching those he greets.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I have pity too.
Let my care be active, healing just like you.

Jesus Christ is dancing, dancing in the streets,
Where each sign of hatred he, with love, defeats.
Listen, Lord Jesus, I should triumph too.
On suspicion’s graveyard let me dance with you.

Jesus Christ is calling, calling in the streets,
“Who will join my journey? I will guide their feet.”
Listen, Lord Jesus, let my fears be few.
Walk one step before me; I will follow you.

Departing Music: In the Bulb, there is A Flower Voices United #703 – BCUC choir

In loving memory of Ian & Ruth Howes’ parents.

In the bulb there is a flower;
in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise:
butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter
there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence,
seeking word and melody;
there's a dawn in every darkness
bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future;
what it holds, a mystery,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing;
in our life, eternity.
In our death, a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
unrevealed until its season,
something God alone can see.

Bonus Amens by the Valleymen 2002

Zoom Fellowship

[1] Walter Murray, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2018, p28. Used with permission.

[2] Richard Bott, Gathering, Lent/Easter 2018, p 29. Used with permission.

[3] Celebrate God’s Presence, p154. Used with permission.

[4] Richard Bott, Gathering Lent/Easter 2018, p 29. Used with permission.

[5] Frances Flook, Gathering Lent/Easter 2021, p37. Used with permission.

[6] Celebrate God’s Presence, p51. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

February 20, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - February 21, 2021

Connie Davidson

February 20, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT / AGAPE MEAL (COMMUNION)

February 21, 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: Silent and Soft and Slow Descends the Snow – Benjamin Abe:piano

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this First Sunday in Lent with an Agape Meal. We are in the Lenten season - that 40-day period named after an old English word meaning ‘lengthen’. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday until Holy Saturday. Lent is an opportunity to reflect inwardly, a time of renewal, a time of cleansing. For some, it is a time of confession and repentance; for others a time of contemplative fasting or giving up of something. I invite you join us in this Lenten period.

This Sunday, we are able to gather in the sanctuary for a modified worship service at 10 am including the celebration of communion. A maximum number of 28 people are invited to gather. The Public Health strongly recommends to stay at home but if you wish to attend, please call the office to register and be reminded that the usual protocols will be in place which include masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell.

Our Annual General Meeting will take place via Zoom on Sunday, March 7th at 11:00 AM. The purpose of this meeting is to review and receive the 2020 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements and to approve the 2021 Annual Activity Plan, Budget and Nominations Report, and various other items of importance. To ensure the congregation is informed, and that new business items are given an adequate amount of time for deliberation, please notify the Board of your intent to introduce any new items of business, or new motions by sending an e-mail to John MacFarlane before noon on Monday, February 22nd. A mover and a seconder for motions, as well as any background material that can be distributed to the congregation at least one week before the meeting, will also be appreciated. The proposed Agenda and other documents will be circulated to the congregation by Sunday February 28th. Link to the Zoom meeting will be emailed to the congregation few days prior to the AGM.

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11: 00 am. Link has been emailed to you or call the office for more information.

For all other announcements, please visit the website.

Friends, as we gather today wherever we are, let us ask God’s presence to journey with us in this season of Lent. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Katrina TeGrotenhuis

We give thanks for the light of Christ,
strong and unafraid, persistent and unrelenting.
May this light enflame our hearts with God’s grace.

Sung Response: Don’t Be Afraid - More Voices #90 - Susan TeGrotenhuis

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger, my love is stronger than your fear.
Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.

*Call to Gather[1] Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Here, at the outer limits of Lent, we are called to walk:
to the paper-thin edges which cut us to the soul;
to the workplaces which weary us;
to the people who confuse us;
to the faith which threatens us.
Here, at the corner of Steadfast Love and Faithfulness,

we are called to wait:
when our clenched stomachs awaken us;
in the moments of unbearable sorrow;
with the angels who would carry us.
Here, where time is fulfilled, where God's Kin-dom is as near to us
as our neighbour, we begin Lent:
with the Beloved, whose tears wash away our fears,
with the God who will not let go of our hands.

Come, let us worship and break bread.

Prayer of Confession Rev. Lorrie Lowes

God of all blessings, we turn toward you on this Lenten journey aware of our human frailties that tempt us from your path. Sometimes we worship you not with joyful hearts but in a spirit of obligation. Too often, we turn to our own selfish acts rather than reach out to others. In this hurting world, we sometimes forget to call on your Spirit in our times of trouble. Forgive us, O God and bless us with renewed resolve, purer intent and stronger faith. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Hymn: Jesus Tempted in the Desert - Voices United #115

Jesus, tempted in the desert;
lonely, hungry, filled with dread:
“Use your power,” the tempter tells him,
“Turn these barren rocks to bread!”
“Not alone by bread,” he answers,
“Can the human heart be filled.
Only by the Word that calls us
is our deepest hunger stilled!”

Jesus, tempted at the temple,
high above its ancient wall:
“Throw yourself from lofty turret,
angels wait to break your fall!”
Jesus shuns such empty marvels,
feats that fickle crowds request:
“God, whose grace protects, reserves us,
we must never vainly test.”

Jesus, tempted on the mountain
by the lure of vast domain:
“Fall before me! Be my servant!
Glory, fame, you’re sure to gain!”
Jesus sees the dazzling vision,
turns his eyes another way:
“God alone deserves our homage!
God alone will I obey!”

When we face temptations power,
lonely, struggling, filled with dread,
Christ, who knew the tempter’s hour,
come and be our living bread.
By your grace, protect, preserve us
lest we fall, your trust betray.
Yours, above all other voices,
be the Word we hear, obey.”

Storytime/Lenten Appeal Rev. Lorrie Lowes

We started a new season in the church this week! Did you notice? Maybe you had pancakes on Tuesday. Pancake Tuesday or “Shrove Tuesday” is the signal that the season of Epiphany is ending and the new season of Lent is about to begin.

Lent is a season that can be a tricky one for us to understand. It is kind of a dark and dreary season without any fun celebrations. It is a time to think and reflect on our relationship with Jesus. It lasts until Easter, when the light of Christ enters the world again. In many traditions, people give up something they like for the 40 days (plus Sundays) that make up the season of Lent. Some adults give up things like chocolate or coffee, some kids might give up candy or video games… It’s supposed to be something hard to give up. I think it is a way to remind us of the blessings we take for granted and how hard it might be for others who don’t have all the blessings we enjoy.

Here at BCUC, we like to turn that “giving up” into a way to give a blessing to someone in need. We call it our Lenten Appeal. This year we want to give a blessing to people living in social housing here in the west end of the city.

Have you ever been camping with your family or to a sleep away camp with other kids? It’s a fun activity for many of us in the summer. It’s a time to get out and enjoy nature, to get out of the busy-ness of the city and spend some time where the air is fresh and the beauty of creation is around us. It’s a chance for us to do new things like swimming in a lake or hiking in the woods. It might be a chance to be alone with your family, or maybe a chance to meet new friends. For many of us it is just the break we need to refresh after a long dark winter.

Did you ever think that there are families who never get to leave the city? Most of the families served by OWECC - the Ottawa West End Community Chaplaincy - could never afford to send their children to camp. Very few of them own a car, so not even the adults ever get the chance to leave their crowded neighbourhoods to spend even a few hours in nature.

A couple of years ago, OWECC teamed up with Camp Otterdale to give some of these folks a chance to get out of their apartments or small townhouses, to leave the city and spend some time at camp. They arrived on a schoolbus on Saturday afternoon and stayed in cabins overnight. They enjoyed campfires and games and crafts, and some wonderful meals. It was fall so they couldn’t swim in the lake but they were able to walk along the shore and follow the trails in the woods. They had time to relax, to chat, to sing, and to enjoy each other’s company in a safe and quiet setting. It was a treat that many of them had never experienced before and they are still talking about it!

One of my favourite stories from that trip was of a young girl whose family had recently come to Canada from Syria. She was about 12 years old and she had never been out of the city. We walked down to the farm area of the camp and she was amazed to see vegetables actually growing in the gardens! She was so excited to pick tomatoes and beans, squash and peppers right off the plants and then help cook them for our dinner. She even took home a big zucchini so she could show her class at school on Monday that she had picked “real food”! Can you imagine being 12 years old before you ever saw a vegetable growing in a garden?

This year, we are planning another trip to Camp Otterdale for our neighbours living in social housing – this time for a whole weekend - and we will use the money raised through our Lenten Appeal to help make this possible. This is a way to make “giving up” something for a few weeks less about depriving ourselves and more about giving someone else a gift to last a lifetime.

Your family can find more information about this Lenten Appeal in the announcements and there will be more stories and ideas of how you can help in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Hymn: O God, Send Out Your Spirit – More Voices #25

Refrain (2X)

O God, send out your Spirit;
Renew the face of the earth.

1. We bless you, O God, for you are so great.
Your Spirit uncovers hidden beauty and grace.
Though times we deny all the pain and the tears,
Your Spirit empowers us and soon we face our fears.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: John MacFarlane

Gracious God, be with us now as we turn to the pages of your Word.
We ask for your Spirit of Wisdom, to help us understand your will for us. Amen.

The Reading: Mark 1:9-15 (NRSV) The Baptism and Temptation of Jesus

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Jesus: A Spirit Person” Rev. Kim Vidal

We begin the journey of Lent with these words from Mark: “After his baptism, the Spirit immediately drove Jesus out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.” Was it just me or did you notice it too? That immediately after his baptism, Jesus was driven into the wilderness by the same Spirit that earlier had descended upon him at his baptism and installed him as God’s instrument of love.

Why wilderness? I think there is something in the “wilderness” that draws one closer to the holy and sacred. Surrounded by darkness at night and wild beasts roaming around, in the wilderness, we discover our own true selves. We discern who we really are when we go outside of our comfort zones, outside of our established routines, beyond the ease of what we know, in the hopes for us to appreciate the true meaning of life. In this story, Jesus went on a wilderness retreat, to contemplate on whatever call or mission he should be doing after his baptism. He commenced his journey through a very focused and intentional time of discernment where he fasted and prayed, and prepared his total full human self for what lays ahead. His wilderness experience opened the doors for him to be a spirit person.

This is the first Lenten sermon in the series of who Jesus is. This series has been significantly shaped by the late NT scholar Marcus Borg who described Jesus among other descriptions, as a spirit person, as a wisdom teacher, as a social prophet, and as a movement founder. You might have different views about Jesus but these characteristics offered by Borg shaped my own understanding of who Jesus was. It formed the bases of my Christian faith. Through Borg’s description of Jesus, I definitely gravitate to a faith that challenges the presence of evil and acts of injustice in the world: a faith that challenges damaging conventional traditions and prejudicial cultural values and social norms that reinforce an unjust society; a faith that challenges economic and political structures that oppress rather than offer life; a faith that is as much a movement as a way of life – a movement for change. Borg proposed that who Jesus was does in fact shape the Christian faith as a faith that challenges what is wrong in the world – and that Jesus calls you and I to be a part of that faith.

I am glad that the United Church of Canada where we belong, is consistent with what Borg defined Jesus to be. One might say, I don’t need religion like Christianity to understand who Jesus is or to experience transformation in my life. I just need to be spiritual. But I have a stake in this conversation not because I am a paid accountable minister and this is my bread and butter, but because I believe that practicing a religion, having a faith community that nurtures and sustains my spirituality is imperative in becoming a spiritual person. I am a follower of Jesus because I believe in his teachings and his sense of God’s presence in the world. I continue to practice my Christian faith because I am nourished by a faith community that supports and nurtures my spirituality. My religious experience gives me the language, the images, the rituals and the acts of life-giving needed for right relationships. My faith taught me how to relate to God, to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit through acts of love, justice and compassion for learning and to understand fully the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Some argue that a ‘Spirit-filled’ person has to be engaged in happy-clappy singing, shouting at the top of one’s voice, foot-stomping, body-swaying, head-bobbing, knees-shaking, amen-responding, speaking in tongues, candle-lighting, cross-signing, you name it. Notice that Jesus is “full of the Holy Spirit” and none of this happens. Borg used this phrase “spirit person” to mean a spirit-filled person, a person through whom the power of the Holy Spirit flows. As a spirit person, Jesus had an experiential awareness of the reality of God. Jesus was an advocate of spiritual practices. He often went off on his own, in a secluded place, away from the crowd and prayed. It is quite possible that he practiced both wordy and wordless prayers. He addressed God as Abba, his Daddy – a very intimate and personal way of relating to God. For Jesus, God was not just an outside source. God was in him and he lived his life connected to God. While wrestling with his own demons, Jesus spoke with authority that flowed from his spiritual experience. And he left the wilderness with renewed vigour and a sense of purpose. As a spirit person he lived to question the conventional wisdom of the world and taught people to be centered in life-giving endeavours. Jesus himself as a spirit person did not abandon his religion. He was a Jew until his death. Jesus as a Spirit person revolutionized a movement to transform lives. Marcus Borg said, “Jesus’ relationship to the Spirit of God was the central reality in his life, the source of all that he was.”

This rings true for those of us who know the presence of God in our lives. But beyond being a truth about Jesus, it is also an invitation to us - to make our relationship to the Spirit of God the central reality in our lives. God’s Spirit sustains and inspires us for whatever we might be and do. Christine Hassler author of Expectation Hangover, recently wrote: “Being a person of the spirit is a commitment to walking the spiritual path from the head to the heart. It’s a choice to free yourself from letting your ego take the lead in your life so you can surrender your ego’s attachments and instead, let your soul take the wheel. It’s the decision to choose love over fear — to withhold judgment of yourself or others, to stop labeling everything as “right” or “wrong,” to transition from a black and white “dualistic” world to a non-dual perspective that is comfortable with paradox. It’s the willingness to make your life an offering to the Divine in whatever form you resonate with a Higher Power, whether it’s God or some other deity or just the Divine within yourself which others call “inner light”.

A spirit person undergoes wilderness experience on a daily basis. As Jesus was put to test, we, too are not exempt from this reality. Wilderness could also be understood as a state of existence. Such discoveries only come after arduous wrestling with our own questions, our fears and moments of anxiety and uncertainty. We feel vulnerable and always on the alert; wondering if our life is in danger or worse, that we have been abandoned by God’s presence. This week, wilderness loomed over Ontario when more than 1000 positive cases of COVID-19 and the deaths of more people were reported on a daily basis. We are still in the wilderness of this pandemic and we remain cautious but hopeful.

Wilderness swept many states in the US after a deadly blast of winter this week that left millions without power and shivering in the cold. But the crisis was far from over, with thousands of people still in need of safe drinking water.

Wilderness captures the ongoing sentiments and struggles of indigenous people, the black communities, the Asians and other people of ethnic and religious backgrounds, the LGBTQ against racism, acts of violence and injustice.

Some of us here at BCUC are in wilderness these past few days due to illnesses and deaths that brought us anxiety, stress and grief.

For all the fear and terror – the uncertainty and hopelessness the wilderness can hold, I believe, that God's promised protection – God’s angels are there for us even when we feel hopeless, even in the face of death. We are not alone.

As we gather around God’s table of grace, as we share the broken bread and the cup of blessing, remember what Jesus as a Spirit person remind us: to keep our hearts open for the hope that comes in the wildernesses of our lives. Let these poetic words of spirit person Jan Richardson inspire us in our Lenten journey:

“I am not asking you/ to take this wilderness from me,/ to remove this place of starkness/ where I come to know/ the wildness within me, / where I learn to call the names/ of the ravenous beasts/ that pace inside me, /to finger the brambles/ that snake through my veins,/to taste the thirst/ that tugs at my tongue./ But send me tough angels,/ sweet wine,/ strong bread: just enough for the journey.” Amen.

Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery, “Full of Spirit”, February 14, 2016
Marcus Borg – Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time
Rev. Kelly Love, “Jesus’ Spirituality” February 1, 2015 , Davis United Methodist Church Jan Richardson, Desert Prayer.
Christine Hassler, Expectation Hangover.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

As we journey through Lent, I offer this prayer, some parts of which were parts of a prayer written by Rex Hunt - for strength and for hope and blessing from these days. Let us pray.

This moment of quiet is an invitation
to be calm in the midst of the noise of the world and our over-busy lives,
to bring together thought and feeling, mind and spirit,
and to find some center, some still point, of perspective and peace.

Holy God, we come to you with hope and promise. We thank you for the stories which have empowered your people through the ages and given them hope. You remind us that through the baptism and temptation of Jesus, the world will be transformed anew and cleansed by the waters of your grace. May we know your promise of transformation, of hope and of your everlasting love with your people. May we know the promise of Jesus, whose spirit invites us to become people of the Way.

We draw near to each other in the presence of a Holy Weaver.
That we may see afresh.
That we may hear anew.
That we may act again with vigour.

May there be many new patterns woven among us:
patterns of peace between strangers,
patterns of love between friends,
patterns of hope among the hopeless,
patterns of joy among the sorrowful.

We pray O, God, for all who live and work in the wilderness: for our congregation which seeks to speak good news in a hostile world. In this time of pandemic, when most people are beset with anxiety, fear and uncertainty, help us to be resilient and hopeful. We continue to pray for those whom aging is a trial and a burden; for those who suffer illness, loneliness, depression; for those who mourn the loss of loved ones. We pray for the Webster Family in the passing Allan and for the Ritcey family in the passing of Gord. Let your healing spirit flow through all of us that we may become a healing presence to others.

Let the symbol of the dove – symbol of the Holy Spirit continues to guide us as we pray for the world where violence and persecution abound. Let our voices join those who have raised their voices in outrage to demand action from lawmakers, political and religious leaders or from those with power who can do something to stop racism, human rights violations and other acts of injustice and human sadness here in Canada and many parts of the world.

And may we be brokers of a spirit of new hope with all people,
to the ways we cope with life,
to the ways we embrace the present,
and the ways we think about the future.

We long for peace.
We seek to work for peace.
We invite all to vote for peace.

In the deserts of war, in the streets, and in the homes,
may there be a growth of the human spirit
and all affirmations of goodness.

In the councils of the nations,
in bureaucracies and offices,
in universities and schools,
may there be a liberation of the human spirit
and all affirmations of tolerance.

May we all in our own small way, come to discover
there are resources within ourselves and beyond us
that are as hidden but as real
as our secret doubts and fears.

As we celebrate agape meal/communion together on your table of grace, may the symbolic elements of bread and wine strengthen our resolve this Lent. Build up our faith, renew our hope, defeat despair and lead us through this Lenten time with true generosity of your spirit. These we ask in the name of Jesus, a Spirit Person who call us to recite this prayer together.

Communion Hymn: Bread for the Journey - More Voices #202

Bread for the journey, food for the way.
Cup of God’s blessing, tomorrow today.

Pain pour la rou-te, pour nos che-mins.
De Dieu la cou-pe, au-jourd’-hui, de-main.

The Agape Meal Rev. Kim Vidal & Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Proclamation (inspired by 1 Corinthians 11:23-26). (Kim)

We enter the story when a meal has been shared,
when prayers of thanksgiving have been spoken, when fellowship shared.
This is the place and this is the time. Here and now,
God waits to break into our experience.
On the night when Jesus was betrayed, he took a loaf of bread,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said,
“This is my body broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, he took the cup, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup,
you proclaim Jesus who gives us Lenten hope.

Prayer of Consecration (Lorrie)

Loving friend and companion, we welcome your presence with us. May these gifts of bread and cup, nourish our bodies, hearts and minds. And may our spirits be refreshed as we live in the light of your presence, with us now, and at all times and places. Send now your Holy Spirit upon this bread and this cup, O God that they might be our remembrance and our proclamation of the presence of Jesus Christ with us, through us and in us. Amen.

The Sharing of the Bread and the Cup (Kim)

Prayer after the Meal (Lorrie)

For the bread we have eaten, for the wine we have tasted, for the life we have received, we thank you, loving God. Empower us to live as Jesus has lived, to bring new life to others and to give light to the world. Amen.

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

The Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus on his baptism is with us in amazing and powerful ways, bringing new hope and healing into the world. As we remember our own baptism, may we participate in the ministry of our church with that great hope, trusting in the promises of God. In our giving this morning, our love overflows in generosity.

Offertory Prayer

Through the generosity of your people, stones become bread O God.
We find the purpose of our lives through serving others.
We live faithfully through trusting and risking.
Receive now these gifts we offer. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

We have begun the Lenten journey.
May our eagerness to follow the cross keep us faithful
despite the temptations and distractions all around us.
And may our hearts be open
to the presence of God in wilderness places.
Accompanied by the Holy Spirit,
transformed by Jesus’ ways,
and blessed by God’s unconditional love,
Let us go in peace to serve and share God’s good news! Amen.

Hymn: Spirit God, Be Our Breath – More Voices #150

Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Our world seems inward, defensive, withdrawn.
Spirit God, be our song.

Patient God: soothe our pride, calm our fear.
Comfort us. When we know you are near
we grow more certain, our vision is clear.
Patient God, calm our fear.

Loving God: be our voice, be our prayer.
Reaching out, joining hands as we share,
we seek your guidance through friendship and care.
Loving God, be our prayer.

Spirit God: be our breath, be our song.
Blow through us, bringing strength to move on.
Through change, through challenge, we’ll greet the new dawn.
Spirit God, be our song.

Departing: Andante Op 5– Merkel Abe:organ - Zoom Fellowship

[1] Thom Shuman, http://lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.ca/

Connie Davidson

February 13, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - February 14, 2021

Connie Davidson

February 13, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY / ALL-AGES SERVICE

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February 14, 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: Hallelujah Time – Oscar Peterson Piano: Abe

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this All-Ages Transfiguration Sunday when we once again reflect on that story of Jesus being changed into a radiant form on top of a mountain. Today we are also celebrating Black History Month as we honour the legacy and contributions of black Canadians and their communities. This is also our way of showing our solidarity with all black peoples in their continuing struggles against racism.

Due to the provincial lockdown, we will not be offering in-person worship service until further notice but we will continue to offer 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.

Our Annual General Meeting will take place via Zoom on Sunday March 7th at 11:00 AM. The purpose of this meeting is to review and receive the 2020 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements and to approve the 2021 Annual Activity Plan, Budget and Nominations Report, and various other items of importance. To ensure the congregation is informed, and that new business items are given an adequate amount of time for deliberation, please notify the Board of your intent to introduce any new items of business, or new motions by sending an e-mail to John MacFarlane before noon on Monday February 22nd. A mover and a seconder for motions, as well as any background material that can be distributed to the congregation at least one week before the meeting, will also be appreciated. The proposed Agenda and other documents will be circulated to the congregation by Sunday February 28th. Link to the Zoom meeting will be emailed to the congregation few days prior to the AGM.

Today is the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany and we are entering the Season of Lent. I invite you to join us for an Ash Wednesday Service on Wednesday, Feb 17th at 6 pm or anytime after. The service will be offered in both text and audio formats. It will be posted on our website. And for the first Sunday in Lent on February 21, we will be celebrating an agape meal so join us for that service as well.

I invite you to participate in the Prayer Circle every Wednesday at 8 pm. Wherever you are, say a prayer for the world, your community including our congregation, your family, your friends and yourself.

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11: 00 am. Link has been emailed to you or call the office for more information.

For all other announcements, please visit the website.

Friends, as we gather today wherever we are, let us ask the Divine Presence to lead us into that radiant light, where God’s love is revealed to all who follow the transfigured Jesus, light of the world. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Calliyanna Fowler

The light of Christ shines on us and in us.
The light of Christ leads us.
The light of Christ transforms us.
We light this candle in the certainty
That Christ’s presence is with us.

Call to Gather Raven Miller

Who is Jesus for us?
The continuation of the covenant.
The promise of something new.
The presence of God’s love.
Who are we for him?
The continuation of the covenant.
The promise of something new.
The presence of God’s love.
In God’s love – Jesus was changed, transfigured, and transformed.
In God’s love – we are changed, given hope, made new.
As people changed and changing,
as followers of Jesus’ way,
we worship God![1]

Prayer in Movement: “I Wanna Be Ready!” Wendy Morrell & Sacred Dancers

Recorded live in February 2020

Hymn: A Light is Gleaming - Voices United #82 Erin, Abe, Kim: guitar

Refrain:
A light is gleaming,
spreading its arms throughout the night,
living in the light.
Come share its gladness,
God’s radiant love is burning bright,
living in the light.

1 When light comes pouring into the darkest place, it hurts our eyes to see the glow.
Sometimes a word of hope reminds us of our fears, our memories and tears. R

2 When night is round us and every shadow grows, a star is there to light our way.
It tells a story of Jesus who came near to say: “God’s light will ever stay.” R

3 And Jesus showed us a brighter path to walk. He showed us things we hadn’t seen.
Now we, like Jesus, can help creation shine,
and this will be a sign: R

4 So let us live in the brightness God has giv’n, and let us rise to see the dawn.
We trust that God is here a sparkle and a blaze, warming all our days. R

Storytime: Rev. Lorrie Lowes “The Big Orange Splot” by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

Mr. Plumbean lives on a street where all the houses look the same, and everyone likes it that way. Everything changes when a seagull splashes orange paint on Mr. Plumbean’s house. He decides to paint his house to reflect his colorful dreams. Although the neighbors are upset at first, one by one they talk to Mr. Plumbean. He convinces them to use their imaginations to transform their own houses to reflect their dreams.

This might seem like a strange story to read to you on Transfiguration Sunday, but I was trying to find a new way to explain that word “transfiguration”. It’s a little bit like “transformation”. Both mean that something changes. A caterpillar, for instance, transforms into a butterfly or maybe it makes you think of a toy transformer that can change from a car into a giant robot. Those are certainly big changes – big transformations. I think “transfiguration” is a little bit different though… to me it is more about changing the way something or someone is seen.

In our Bible reading today, three of the disciples are alone with Jesus on a mountain. Suddenly they see Jesus in a whole new way – shining with light and talking with Moses and Elijah – important men in our Old Testament scriptures who had died a long time before… Jesus looked totally different to the disciples in that moment and they heard God’s voice telling them that Jesus was God’s beloved son.

I wonder… Did Jesus really change?... or did the disciples change the way they saw and understood who Jesus was and what he was trying to tell the world.

Mr. Plumbean in our story certainly changed the way his house looked, didn’t he? It was a brand-new idea to the people on his street and they weren’t very comfortable with it. They thought he was a bit of a nuisance. But when each person got to really know him by talking with him, they saw him in a whole new way. He helped them realize what their own dreams were and they realized that they could change the whole street by sharing their dreams and listening to the dreams of others.

I don’t think Mr. Plumbean was the one who was transformed, do you?

I think it might have been the same with the disciples. We know that Jesus had a brand-new way of looking at the world. Some people were really uncomfortable with his new ideas – but those who really listened and really got to know Jesus, saw him in a whole new light. He was transfigured in front of them!

Just like Mr. Plumbean’s new and different way of painting his house transformed the street, Jesus’ new and different way of thinking began to change the world. Jesus’ dream was bigger than transforming his small group of friends. He knew that if we all learn to listen to each other and share our hopes and dreams, the people around us will be transfigured. We will see each other in a whole new light - and then, the whole world might be transformed! Do you think can we help make Jesus’ dream come true?

Children’s Song: The Light of God’s Love CGS/Bell Canto – Director: Erin Berard

Words & Music © Mark Burrows; This Little Light - traditional
Song Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Samantha Jones

In this time together, we invite you, O God,
to open our hearts as we receive your word of life.
And through these words, may we know your presence with us. Amen.

The Reading: Mark 9: 2-10 (The Message)

The Transfiguration of Jesus

2-4 Six days later, three of them did see it. Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain. His appearance changed from the inside out, right before their eyes. His clothes shimmered, glistening white, whiter than any bleach could make them. Elijah, along with Moses, came into view, in deep conversation with Jesus.

5-6 Peter interrupted, “Rabbi, this is a great moment! Let’s build three memorials—one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah.” He blurted this out without thinking, stunned as they all were by what they were seeing.

7 Just then a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and from deep in the cloud, a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love. Listen to him.”

8 The next minute the disciples were looking around, rubbing their eyes, seeing nothing but Jesus, only Jesus.

9-10 Coming down the mountain, Jesus swore them to secrecy. “Don’t tell a soul what you saw. After the Son of Man rises from the dead, you’re free to talk.” They puzzled over that, wondering what on earth “rising from the dead” meant.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Whose Transfiguration?” Rev. Kim Vidal

Every year, just before the beginning of Lent, the church goes mountain climbing. The congregation that gathered up on the mountain with Jesus that day was a small one. Only five were present. Peter, James and John were regulars. They never missed. Also present were two visitors who had not attended a worship service on earth in centuries. Neither Peter, James nor John had ever met these two men face to face before, but they had heard of them from their parents and grandparents. Even without the customary, "passing of the peace," they knew their names. Moses and Elijah - two giants of the Jewish faith - and they were talking with Jesus. Quite impressive. Mountains, you may well know, in Greek, Hebrew, Roman and Asian religious literatures, were believed to be places where the human could touch the divine. Sure enough, on top of that mountain, a wonderful thing happened. Jesus' appearance changed–his clothes became dazzling white and he actually glowed. I confess I have been puzzled over this transfiguration story and how to bring this particular story relevant for us today. This was something out of the ordinary.

On top of the mountain, Peter was so impressed by what he had seen. Peter was so awed by the radiant light emanated from Jesus. "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here." Peter exclaimed. Peter wants to stay there forever to immortalize such radiant moment. He didn't know where he was or what was happening but this much he knew, this moment was very good. He was in the ‘light’ and it was ‘good.’ The aura surrounding them – is it bursting from Peter’s heart? Peter is in pure bliss. And he wanted to build permanent booths or shrines and make an idol of the moment. Peter attempted to build dwellings for Moses, Elijah and Jesus - to capture that moment and immortalize it, hoping to make it last forever. I interpret this as Peter opting for a religion of temples, brick and mortar, institutions and shrines. And before Peter could even finish speaking, the voice of God coming through a mass of cloud interrupted and said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" These very words were the same pronouncements we heard at Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River. In the words of theologian Marcus Borg: “Jesus in that moment becomes a metaphor of God – he is the heart of God made flesh”.

The three disciples, fell to the ground and were overcome with fear. But I’m sure they saw Jesus in a new, different way. They were presented with a brand-new insight who Jesus really was -- dazzling, overwhelming, literally enlightening. If they were confused before, now they almost get it! This was a moment of epiphany – a revelation – an “aha” moment for the three disciples. Mark told this story to remind us that whatever else we think of Jesus, and no matter how we feel about these coming weeks of Lent, when we focus on his journey toward death, there was, in Jesus’ life, a radiant truth of his person and character; that Jesus is all about transforming lives!

A black teacher and activist from Montreal, Sabrina Jafralie, is inspiring her students to transform the world. Sabrina was one of the many black changemakers in Montreal featured in CBC Quebec this year highlighting people from the Black communities who are giving back, inspiring others and helping to shape the future. Born and raised in Montreal, Sabrina holds a doctorate degree in education and currently teaches at Westmount High School and a lecturer at McGill University in the faculty of education. She says she can almost see the raw, untapped potential radiating off her students the moment she walks into a classroom. She believes it is her job to “harness those potentials, to bring them out and to make sure that they just blossom in the world.” As a history teacher, Sabrina believes that most of her students don't connect with the material in Quebec's history curriculum, so she focuses on the stories that are under-represented — Black history, Indigenous culture, the stories of Asian people who came to Canada, for example. She was transformed at a young age and was introduced to the concepts of working for the community and giving back to transform others. She tells her students that if they want change to happen, they must get involved and be bold enough to push themselves beyond their comfort zones. She tries to ensure that when they leave high school, they're critical thinkers who are ready to make the world better, one step at a time. Sabrina said she is only a changemaker because her students help her make change.[2]

The story of Sabrina Jafralie made me think of the word transfiguration. Transfiguration –sounds like a lofty word. But really, it’s just another word for change or metamorphosis - to transform inwardly radiating into changed outward appearance, to morph into something. It is not a popular word we use these days. A block of ice is transfigured into a beautiful sculpture. A caterpillar morphs into a dazzling butterfly. A seed grows into a tree. A young person is transformed into a changemaker. Jesus was transfigured before his three disciples. His appearance was changed - transfigured in a blazing light, in a dream-like space talking with those who lived centuries before. Jesus turned from the ordinary Jewish man into someone who is extraordinarily special. He shone with the glory that caused old Moses to shine that day on Mount Sinai, when the 10 commandments were given to him. Jesus shone with the glory that carried old Elijah up in a chariot to heaven's heights - gone from this world - but alive in the memory of those who followed his teachings. The transfiguration of Jesus revealed God’s nature to his three disciples and to us. Jesus disclosed both the character and passion of God. In that moment, he became the Word of God, the Light of the World.

Some scholars understood that this transfiguration event is Mark's resurrection story, the only resurrection picture we have in this gospel because the risen Jesus did not appear at the end of Mark's story. Like the disciples who were dazzled by the transfigured form of Jesus, there is something in us that want us to stay up on the mountain forever where we can taste and touch and see and hear and even smell the presence of God. Have you ever had a transfiguration experience? Has a light entered the room and suddenly illuminated your life? Has a cloud descended upon you and wrapped you up and then released you and suddenly you know exactly what you are called to do? There are times when we feel lifted up, taken up to a place a little closer to God and God's glory. There are times when we feel we are hearing God speaking to us, telling us things, giving us direction, comfort, or joy.

I don’t know about you but my personal experience of transfiguration comes to me in discovering that the ordinary is laced with the sacred and that my daily ordinary rituals call me towards God. It is more like life on the plain than life on the mountaintop. I feel God’s presence here among us in the ordinary life on the plain. And I can proclaim too, down in this plain, it is good for us to be here! It could be those times when we listen to each other’s stories or when we are moved to put together ordinary pieces of cloth made into an exquisite quilt or weaving milk bags made into mats for the poor of Haiti and Africa. Through our hearts and hands, the hungry will be fed, the homeless will have roof over their heads, refugees will have a safe place to call home. In this time of pandemic, through our prayers and social distancing, love, safety and connection will be offered to our neighbours and friends, especially those who are lonely and those who are grieving. These are moments of grace that transfigure us day by day.

Transfiguration isn't just about a “shining moment” of going up the mountain, it is also a “shining moment” about Jesus coming down, all the way down into our brokenness, fear, grief and loss. Because below the mountain, reality awaits - the world is waiting. And some experiences are not pleasant at all. We might like to stay up on top of the mountain forever but life on the plain is as equally powerful and filled with meaning, surprise and the possibility of transfiguration as life on top of a mountain - for God’s presence surely is everywhere!

Just when the three disciples were enjoying their “peak” moments, Jesus brushed off the sleeves of his garment and said “Guys, it’s time to go. Roll up your sleeping bags. Our camping is over. Let’s get down to work!” Work? What work? Where? Jesus himself does not want to stay up on the mountain forever. He had to come back down to the plains. Jesus comes back down where real transformation takes place. Not in the high places but down in the plain. Down into the mundane nature of everyday life. Down into the nitty-gritty details of misunderstanding, squabbling, disbelieving people. Down into the religious and political quarrels of the day. Down into the jealousies and heartaches that colour our relationships. Down into the poverty and pain that are part and parcel of our life in this world. Down. Jesus came down. He asks his disciples to roll up their sleeves and get down to work. He showed them how to heal the sick. He led them down to the bottom of that mountain to the hurting people, unbelieving religious and political leaders, the bureaucratic institutions and the realities of suffering below. Through this puzzling event called transfiguration, Jesus has set the example that true religion is not about building temples and keeping shrines. It is about healing hurts, speaking for and being with the poor, the helpless, the voiceless and the forgotten who are at the silent bottom of every pinnacle, every hierarchy and every power. True religion, is not about transcending life; it is about transforming life.

Friends, as we follow the way of Jesus, remember that we are the transfigured people of God. We are the transfigured followers of Jesus. We, too, are to wear robes that shine with Jesus' presence in our lives. We are to wear robes of love and compassion, garments of justice and peace. Moments of transfiguration change us, sustain us, prepare us, encourage us, and guide us regardless of the circumstances we face. We are called to be changemakers - to transform people, situations and places and make the world a haven of shalom, healing, justice and love. Thanks to be to God. Amen.

*Thanks to the Lectionary Group for their insights, comments and reflections on Transfiguration.

Prayers of the People Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Radiant God,
It is good that we are here
It is indeed right and good that we give you thanks for the many blessings you bestow upon us.
We thank you for this amazingly diverse world with its kaleidoscope of colour and texture and culture. Open our minds to see how everything in Creation is interconnected according to your plan. Open our hearts to fuller understanding and our eyes to see Jesus in the many ways he comes to us – through people, known and unknown, familiar and different, near and far - through the beauty and abundance of Creation - through the love and generosity of others.
Give us the courage to radiate the beauty of the transfigured Jesus in all that we do.

God of Light,
We bring to you the week we’ve had with all of its mountain-top highs and deep valley lows.
We offer to you the week ahead with our excitement of anticipation as well as our fears and worries. We bring to you all those in our hearts who are suffering through these days in many ways and circumstances – named and nameless, expressed, and in the silence of our hearts.
Give us opportunities to be your hands, feet and heart in the world.
Give us the clarity to see that you are with us in all that we do and experience.

Illuminating God,
Help us to cope with the disturbing and sometimes frustrating events in our world.
Give us patience to deal with a pandemic that seems to go on forever.
Give us hope that the new vaccines will soon allow us back into community with each other.
Give us bravery to speak up for those whose voices are not heard and whose needs are great.
Give us the vision to see the places where your light shines in the darkness.
Help us to be that light for those around us.

All these things we ask in the name of the transfigured Jesus who helped the world to see the way to fulfill your dream for Creation, and who left us this ancient prayer which will be offered through a liturgical dance. Amen.

Dance Movements: “The Lord’s Prayer” Wendy Morrell & the Sacred Dancers

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

We, the United Church of Canada, have made a commitment to becoming an anti-racist denomination. Another way of saying this is that we are committed to developing healthy relationships with individuals and communities, especially those experiencing marginalization, because this was a focus of Jesus’ redemptive work. Thank you for being invested in this transformative work, and thank-you for being dedicated to living out this incredible vision for our community and the world. Your time, talents, and gifts make a huge difference, and we are forever grateful to see what God is doing in you and in our community.[3]

Offertory Prayer

Here is the work of our hands,
the love of our hearts,
our desire to make a better world.
Bless our gifts, our giving and our hopes
for a world in which your will is done. Amen.[4]

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

As we prepare to leave this time of worship,
May we be transformed so that we might embrace our calling:
To see with new eyes,
Reach out with gentle hands,
Imagine with transformed minds,
Be still with hallowed presence,
And be filled with grateful prayers,
Knowing that the wisdom of the Spirit,
the light of Christ, and the unending love of God
Bless us in our work each and every day.[5] Amen.

Hymn: Siyahamba (We Are Marching in the Light of God) - Voices United #646

We are marching in the light of God; (4X)
We are marching, marching,
we are marching, oooo -
we are marching in the light of (the light of) God. (2X)

Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos' (4X)
Siyahamba, hamba,
siyahamba, hamba, oooo -
siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwen(khanyen' kwen) khos'. (2X)

Nous marchons dans la lumière de Dieu (4X)
Oui, nous marchons, marchons;
oui, nous marchons, marchons; oooo-
nous marchons dans la lumière de (lumière de Dieu) Dieu. (2X)

Repeat verse 1

Departing Music: Hymn to Freedom – Oscar Peterson BCUC men

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

[1] Richard Bott, Gathering, ACE 2020-2021. Used with permission.

[2] Black Changemakers, cbc.ca, February 2021.

[3] Rev. Adam Kilner. Black History Month Service 2021, United Church of Canada website.

[4] Kate Crawford. Gathering, ACE 2017-2018. Used with permission.

[5] Based on Bruce Sanguin’s “Light Transfusion”, If Darwin Prayed.

Connie Davidson

February 6, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - February 7, 2021

Connie Davidson

February 6, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

5th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY / STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 3

Theme: “Expressing our Love – Living Generously”

FAMILY MINISTRY February 7, 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

Acknowledgement of Territory Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this 5th Sunday after Epiphany and the third and final Sunday of our Stewardship Campaign. Today, our Stewardship Focus is on Family Ministry and how we express our love and live generously. Your continued contributions and participation in the life and ministry of our faith community is very much appreciated. We will listen more about the wrapping up of our stewardship campaign and family ministry later in the service.

Join us for 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.

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11: 00 am. Link has been emailed to you or call the office for more information.

For all other announcements, please visit the website.

Let’s now hear from Bill McGee for a stewardship moment, followed by Erin Berard who will give us a highlight on Family Ministry.

Stewardship Moment Bill McGee

Good morning! My name is Bill McGee from the Stewardship Committee. I speak to you on behalf of the committee of Bob Boynton, Bob and Barb Noyes, and Ron Prince, assisted by Bill Johnson and our minister and the Office staff. If you have returned your Stewardship forms already, we thank you. If not, we encourage you to return the forms so that planning for the year's activities may be more complete. And it's never too late. If you have not yet received your Stewardship 2021 material, there are copies in the Office, 820-8103. Thank you!

Family Ministry Moment Erin Berard

The Family Ministry initiative was introduced 5 years ago to guide our vision and decision-making at BCUC as we strive to make our church a welcome and loving 'family'. Goals of this initiative include facilitating family-oriented worship, fostering intergenerational relationships, encouraging a family mindset within all the church committees, and experimenting with ways to connect and welcome others from the community into our BCUC family.

There is a lot to celebrate...

During the pandemic, the worship team has provided a weekly online video and audio service with wide-ranging appeal - hymns new and old, a Children's Time, thought-provoking sermons, and participation from congregants of all ages and stages. Along with these weekly family-oriented services, Sunday School materials that are directly aligned with the worship themes have been made available on our website. Similarly, family Advent resources were purchased from Illustrated Ministry and delivered to families at the end of November, an initiative that we plan to repeat for the Lenten season.

Not being able to gather freely over the past year due to the pandemic has put a hold on many of the usual activities that we enjoy together, and has delayed some of the plans we were making for family-oriented events. However many groups in the church have shifted their groups online and found other ways to connect with all our different families! Weekly 'Coffee time' after church, Men's Club gatherings, CGS and Bell Canto rehearsals are all continuing, albeit virtually.

Likewise, some of the intergenerational partners that were created during the Secret Pal project that started in the Fall of 2019 continue to keep in touch through cards, artwork, and e-mails!

As the pandemic continues, we encourage you to seek out new ways to connect with your church family. It is important that we recognize and celebrate the many ways that we support, work, and worship together, and to continue to ensure that Family Ministry is embedded in all we do at BCUC.

Centering in Worship

Friends, as we gather today wherever we are, remember these words from A Song of Faith as we reflect on our call to stewardship: “We sing of God’s good news lived out, a church with purpose: faith nurtured and hearts comforted, gifts shared for the good of all…” Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Berard Family

As a family of faith, we light this Christ Candle to remind us
that we are held together in God’s love.
And this love makes us courageous, resilient and hopeful
like a soaring eagle.
The prophet Isaiah wrote:
“those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31, NRSV)

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

When his disciples found Jesus, they said to him,
“Everyone is searching for you.”
Where shall we search for Jesus?
Jesus is with the needy ones, blessing them with good news.
Where shall we find this wonderful healer?
Jesus is with the broken ones, touching them with wholeness.
Where shall we encounter his power to liberate and make new?
Jesus is speaking to those whose spirits are fettered
Where can we find him?
Wherever there is prayer.
We come then, seeking him in worship,
as we turn again to God.[1]

Prayer of Approach

Here we are Jesus, eagerly seeking your healing touch.
We come with bruises and cuts, with weariness and fatigue,
with wounds hidden and aches concealed.
We come as broken people hoping for new life.
Reach out your hand, we pray, to fill us with wonder
that we may be renewed, recharged, re-formed.
We yearn for God’s presence to guide us and heal us.
In your name, we pray. Amen![2]

Hymn: Come In, Come In and Sit Down - Voices United #395 Kim-guitar, Erin-flute

Refrain:

Come in come in and sit down,
you are a part of the family.
We are lost and we are found,
and we are a part of the family.

1 You know the reason why you came,
yet no reason can explain,
so share in the laughter and cry in the pain,
for we are a part of the family. R

2 God is with us in this place,
like a mother's warm embrace.
We're all forgiven by God's grace,
for we are a part of the family. R

3 There's life to be shared in the bread and the wine, we are the branches Christ is the vine. This is God's temple, it's not yours or mine, but we are a part of the family. R

4 There's rest for the weary and health for us all, there's a yoke that is easy, and a burden that's small. So come in and worship and answer the call, for we are a part of the family. R

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Last Tuesday was Groundhog Day! Now, I know that a groundhog can’t really predict the coming of spring but you have to admit, it’s kind of fun to take part in this funny celebration. I think we all need something silly at this point in the winter, especially this year when it’s not just the winter that seems long but this pandemic and all of the necessary restrictions too. It just seems good to have something silly and fun like this right now.

One of the best things about it, I think is that it takes our mind of our worry, frustration, and sadness for a little bit. It turns our minds to hope – for warmer, sunny days, and for times when we can get out of the house - and our bubble - and just have fun with the people we love. It lifts our spirits, and that’s a good thing!

This week our scripture reading talks about Jesus healing several people – people who are sick, people who have mental health issues, people who seem to be possessed by unclean spirits, a whole variety of things. Wouldn’t it be amazing to have Jesus here now to heal all the things people are suffering from these days? The Bible stories make it seem that he could do it just by being present or by touching someone in a loving way.

We don’t have any magical powers to heal someone like that these days, but I think we do have some special healing power too. After all, if a groundhog can bring hope to people just by coming out of its winter bed, surely there are things we can do to lift spirits and bring hope too. And I think that is definitely a kind of healing!

I often talk to you about the things you can do to help others, and I think most of you are really good at doing those things, especially for the people you love; but this week our Lectionary Study group talked a lot about prayer as a way to help people heal. It made me think about how prayer was a part of my daily routine when I was a child. We even said the Lord’s Prayer every morning in school. It was part of the morning routine in schools all over Canada – O’ Canada, Lord’s Prayer, and announcements. I also had teachers who would have us say a prayer together at the end of the day before we left for home. We don’t do that anymore because we acknowledge that Canada is a diverse country that includes people of many faiths and cultures. What I have found, is that now that there is no formal time for prayer in our days, many Christian children are not encouraged to pray at all. Families have also let go of mealtime grace and bedtime prayers too. Is that a bad thing? Is it an old-fashioned idea? What is the point of prayer? Does it really help anybody?

Here’s what I think… and I’d be interested in your thoughts too.

I do believe that God hears us – even when we aren’t praying with our eyes shut and our hands folded. I believe that God hears us when we think about other people or wish for better times or are grateful for things that bless us. But I also believe that making a special time in the day to say a prayer reminds us to do all those things. It reminds us of people we love and what we hope for them. It reminds us that there are others around us who are struggling in some way, it reminds us that there, even when days seem difficult, there are so many wonderful things to be thankful for and that better times are coming. I think that when we make time to remember all those things, it reminds us to do the kinds of things that help others and make them feel good. And I think that’s a special healing power for the world, for our neighbours, and for ourselves.

If you aren’t used to praying every day, it might be a bit hard to start. If you aren’t used to taking a special time to talk to God, you might wonder how to even begin or what to talk about. I have a book in my office by Anne Lamott called “Help, Thanks, Wow!”. The author says these are the three essential prayers, the most important ones, and I think they give us a nice way of beginning that conversation between ourselves and God. “Here are the things that could use your help, God” … “Thanks for all the great things that happened today, and the blessings big and small in my life” … and, “Wow! This creation of yours is a pretty spectacular place!” It sounds to me like a great way to get ready to start a new day and a nice way to settle for a good night’s rest.

The great thing about prayer is that you can do it anywhere and anytime, you don’t need any special training or equipment, and it doesn’t matter how young or old you are when you start. I encourage you to give it a try. I think you will be amazed at the healing power it can give you!

So, let’s start right now with a little prayer together before we move into the rest of our day. I will leave some little spaces for you to add your own special thoughts… Let us pray:

Good morning, God!

There are some things that we’re worried about today and things that make us sad. We could really use your help. Each of us have our own list of people and things to tell you about…

We’d also like to say thank you for the many blessings in our lives – family, friends, this church family, all those who love us and take care of us, and the many advantages we have in our lives. We especially thank you for…

You, God, are amazing! You have created a beautiful world. Help us do our best to keep it beautiful, and to help others see that beauty too. Thanks for listening, God! We’ll talk to you again soon! Amen

Hymn: Jesus’ Hands Were Kind Hands – Voices United #570 - Kim-guitar, Erin

1 Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all,
healing pain and sickness, blessing children small,
washing tired feet, and saving those who fall;
Jesus’ hands were kind hands, doing good to all.

2 Take my hands, O Jesus, let them work for you,
make them strong and gentle, kind in all I do;
let me watch you, Jesus, till I’m gentle too,
till my hands are kind hands, quick to work for you.

Words © 1979 Margaret Cropper, Hope Pub; Old French melody (au clair de la lune),
harm © 1988 Carlton Young Song # 13235 & 34023
Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved

Prayer for Illumination Reader: David Stafford

Light of the world,
may your Word shine out from the deepest corners,
casting light upon our path, guiding our way,
that no matter the journey, we may abide in you. Amen.[3]

The Reading: Mark 1: 29-39 (NRSV)

Jesus Heals Many at Simon’s House and in Galilee

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighbouring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Whose Healing Power?” Rev. Kim Vidal

One of my passions in ministry is to offer pastoral and spiritual care or what I call the ministry of presence. Being present with those who need care in times of illness, loneliness or grief is a gift that I have developed over the course of my ministry. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I have had numerous opportunities visiting the residents in retirement and long-term care places, those in the hospitals and those who needed care in their homes. My office too was always opened to those who dropped-in for a chat or for a prayer. My heart gladly listened as we exchange a comfort hug or a hand shake, as we shared life stories together, as we lifted each other up in prayer, as words of inspiration from the Bible or other inspirational books were offered. During this pandemic time, when I cannot visit in person or offer a touch or a hug, I , together with our Pastoral & Spiritual Care Team, continue to offer care through phone calls, emails, greeting cards, or through prayers. I have gleaned from all of these experiences that offering care is incarnational. It is about being present even when we are socially distanced. Someone says to offer care is, “becoming Jesus” to others. It is also about interconnectedness-about fostering a connection that focuses on restorative, wholistic healing. Such healing transforms our relationships, so that we, in turn, become caregivers and healers for the other.

Jesus, too, was a caregiver and a healer. The unnamed woman Jesus healed in today’s gospel story was the mother-in-law of Simon. Mark tells us that she was suffering from high fever. But as soon as Jesus touched her, the fever left her. Mark did not elaborate how Jesus healed her. All we know for sure is that Jesus held out his hand to her and helped her get up. Jesus’ healing energy was offered to her, touched her and she was healed. In her healing, Jesus awakened the spirit that lay deep within her, waiting to be touched, waiting to be made whole. Jesus displayed what I call a hands-on ministry; it was incarnational and it comes with it, genuine human care. It was a moment of being present with the other. Jesus modeled for us a way how we can show care and healing to those in need. Even in this pandemic time, I know that we can still be agents of healing in so many ways. It could be in the form of words of comfort via telephone, or by email or through prayers. For some of us, it could be in the form of donations or financial help for those whose lives were affected by inhumane conditions or through letters and greetings that say “we care.” In this era of cyber space, if we are able to do so, if we have the means to reach out, let’s do it.

After she was healed, Mark says, Simon’s mother-in-law immediately went off to the kitchen and prepared food for the hungry Jesus and his disciples. Now stop there for a moment. I was shaking my head in disbelief when I read this part of the text. From bed to the kitchen. Simon’s mother-in-law got up from being sick and immediately went to prepare a meal. Modern understanding of this portion of the text might be seen in light of male chauvinism. We who are sensitive to how women were treated in both ancient and contemporary society might react negatively at her being restored to health only to serve the men. How could Jesus and the disciples allow this to happen? Didn’t they know Simon’s mother-in-law had just fully recovered from illness? Couldn’t they prepare a meal for themselves or even serve her food? In our lectionary group discussion this past Tuesday, we offered some possible interpretations of this particular episode. We could take this story as a metaphor to denote how Jesus himself will live and what following him may be called to do – to serve others. Or we could see Simon’s mother-in-law as another model of discipleship – that women in Jesus’ time were very much part of Jesus’ ministry. That women can be both leaders and servers at the same time against what we understood regarding the traditional way of discipleship – with men as leaders and women as servers. This unnamed woman could have been the first deaconess or diaconal minister who went to serve after she was healed, caring for all the people that were coming to the door of her house. Rev. Lorrie reminded the group that offering service is one of the main ministries of a diaconal minister – to serve others beyond the doors of the church; to offer healing and care to the community and the world. Another possible explanation according to Rev. Matt Skinner is that the woman’s service was a way of showing respect and gratitude to her healer. Maybe she was also serving God by doing what she does best – cooking! In that culture it would have been shameful for a woman in a household to neglect a guest. To feed Jesus would have honoured him, but it would also have restored the woman’s own honour and dignity. Healed, she could do what her society expected her to do and what her fever had prevented her from doing. She was set free! Another possible explanation was perhaps the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law showed a restoration to order. When she was ill, everything fell apart because she the main provider of hospitality in that household. Now that she had been healed, everything was back to its normal state and her house was bustling with good news and joy!

There is a big difference between being healed and being cured. In her book, Absolute Truths, author Susan Howitch clarifies the difference between a cure and a healing. She said: “A cure signified the banishment of physical illness, but a healing could mean not just a physical cure, but a repairing and strengthening of the mind and spirit to improve the quality of life even when no physical cure was possible.” Jesus was a healer. He went to many places to offer his power of healing not just physical healing but also spiritual, emotional, mental, social. The story of Henri Nouwen was a good example of healing. Henri Nouwen, renowned Dutch Catholic priest, writer and theologian, worked as a spiritual director at L’Arche Daybreak in the Greater Toronto Area from 1986 until his sudden death in 1996. L’Arche is a community of people with mental and physical challenges and their caregivers that create a home for one another. Nouwen’s life and ministry revolved around healing and recognized the Christ in suffering individuals and communities. He was fully convinced that everyone has wounds that needed healing, and that one’s woundedness can become instruments of healing for others. His deep-seated faith in Jesus Christ allowed him to care for those who were sometimes ignored by society – people with mental illnesses and challenges. It was his care and love for these people that Nouwen experienced his own woundedness claiming himself to be a “wounded healer”. He proclaimed that our “wounds allow us to enter into a deep and intimate solidarity with our wounded brothers and sisters. The main question, he said, is not “how can we hide our wounds? but “how can we put our woundedness to touch others?”[4]

All of us have wounds. We are wounded in so many ways beyond our imagination. Whether we come open or not, we need healing in many forms. We, too, are called to be healers. God touches us through people who perhaps have been wounded and become healers. A small act of kindness or love may spread like a wildfire making a big difference in people’s lives. The challenge now is for us to be cognizant of the woundedness of people and places and to offer healing through our acts of love, kindness and compassion.

There’s another way of touching lives – and that of being a healing community. Gerald May, a psychotherapist in Washington, DC writes of the importance of community in the healing process: “God’s grace through community involves something far greater than other people’s support and perspective. The power of grace is nowhere as brilliant nor as mystical as in communities of faith. Its power includes not just love that comes from people and through people but love that pours forth among people, as if through the very spaces between one person and next. Just to be in such atmosphere is to be bathed in healing power.”

At the end of the day, after healing so many people, Jesus was physically and mentally tired. Mark says, he went to a secluded place, away from the hustle and bustle of human activity and prayed for discernment. Prayer was one of Jesus’ spiritual practices. Jesus needed to be recharged, re-energized, rejuvenated for his next step of the journey. He did not stay in one place forever. Jesus moved on to offer his gift of healing reaching many people from different places. Here is also a call for each one of us as stewards of healing. We need to rejuvenate and recharge our spirits through spiritual practices like prayer and contemplation. And we need to move out from our comfort zones to heal others.

Friends, how are you being called to help restore wholeness where there is so much brokenness and affliction? How is the practice of praying giving you the strength that you need to be healers? We are called - not to be callous and indifferent, but to reach out, to touch the other by word or by action and to be touched by God’s grace. Each act of care is an attempt to heal woundedness in many forms. Each hand and heart that we offer on every pain or suffering- fearlessly, hopefully, sometimes unconsciously, is an attempt to heal the brokenness of the world. Like Simon’s mother-in-law, we were once ill, broken and wounded. Now we've been healed and we rise up – ready to go and serve the world. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Let us gather our hearts in prayer.

God-with-us, you are the One who called this world into being and we acknowledge your creative power. You want to share your power—your strength—with those who are powerless; you ache to heal the broken hearted and to bind up the wounds of the lost and rejected folks of this world. Such radical love leaves us speechless, but you gave it human form and shape in the person of Jesus, in whom your promises of healing and empowerment were fulfilled. We give you thanks and praise for blessing our lives in this way, and we pray that in Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit, we too can become radical lovers of the powerless, and passionate bearers of hope and healing to those whose lives are filled with despair and hopelessness.

And so our prayer today is that our family, our neighborhood, our city, our province our country and our world will know your healing touch and your forgiving heart. That those who have been hurt by insincere actions and damning words will hear your healing voice. That those whose lives are filled with dark thoughts, or unimaginable fears, will know your peace. Walk beside those who are close to giving up hope and where life seems to have no point;

We give thanks for all who have cared for us in times of weakness; for those who have uplifted our spirits and given us new hope. We pray for our friends and families, especially any who are finding life difficult at the moment. We pray for any in our community that may feel neglected or rejected. We pray for all who are in weakness of body, mind or spirit, all who have come to the end of life. We think of all who are losing their mobility or agility, those who are losing their memories, and all who have lost their grip on reality; of those who no longer trust in anyone, and those who doubt the love of God; we think of all who are caring for loved ones in illness. We pray for Vernon & Desna Sulway, for Rev. Camille Lipsett, for Cathy Dowsett, for Gord Ritcey, for Ruth Howes and for those who are recovering from treatment.

We now turn to the world in need of healing. We pray for the people in Myanmar who are again in the pangs of violence and political upheaval due to a military coup. We pray that peace will prevail in the land and that the government under elected president Aung san Suu Kyi be restored to power so that democracy will once again reign in Myanmar. We pray for those awaiting vaccinations in many parts of the world including Canada. We ask for your blessings upon those who hold the power to control the production of vaccines that they may be guided by universal love not greed.

O God, we ask that you heal us. Give us the strength, health, wisdom and knowledge that we need to become your healers. Send your life-giving Spirit so that we may live our lives with courage in the profound peace of your love. Come to us now with your healing presence as we recite together this ancient prayer that Jesus taught us…

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. Lorrie Lowes

Jesus draws us from the margins into a great feast; he draws us out of a crowd, to healing;

he draws us from hopelessness to new life. Each day, God finds the way that we need to be loved and challenged, and then calls us be stewards of warm hospitality, healing mercies, and the promise of abundant life. We respond to this marvelous call through our giving this day.

Offertory Prayer

Here is the work of our hands,
the love of our hearts,
our desire to make a better world.
Bless our gifts, our giving and our hopes
for a world in which your will is done. Amen.[5]

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

Faithful stewards of God, let us go into the world,
called to be healers knowing that we are healed.
Let us love one another as members of God’s family,
living our gratitude in the world,
called to radical hospitality,
and ever thankful that we have been blessed.
Go and be a blessing to all people and places.
Go and live your lives as God’s light and love. Amen!

Hymn: Who is My Mother? - More Voices #178 - Kim - guitar, Erin - flute

1 Who is my mother, who is my brother?
All those who gather round Jesus Christ:
Spirit blown people born from the Gospel
sit at the table, round Jesus Christ.

2 Differently abled, differently labelled,
widen the circle round Jesus Christ:
crutches and stigmas, culture’s enigmas,
all come together round Jesus Christ.

3 Love will relate us, colour or status
can’t segregate us round Jesus Christ:
family failings, human derailings
all are accepted round Jesus Christ.

4 Bound by one vision, met for one mission
we claim each other, round Jesus Christ:
here is my mother, here is my brother,
kindred in Spirit, through Jesus Christ.

Departing Music

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

[1] Rod Sykes, Gathering, ACE 2005-2006. Used with permission.

[2] Gord Dunbar, Gathering, ACE 2017-2018. Used with permission.

[3] Sheryl Spencer, Gathering, ACE 2017-2018

[4] Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey, 1985.

[5] Kate Crawford. Gathering, ACE 2017-2018. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

January 30, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 31, 2021

Connie Davidson

January 30, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

4th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY / STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 2

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION SUNDAY

Theme: “Living Our Church Mission Day by Day”

January 31, 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: Ode to Joy Beethoven - arr. VanDyke & Joyce Jones

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good Morning, everyone! It is a pleasure to welcome you to this service of worship on the 4th Sunday after Epiphany and the second Sunday of our Stewardship campaign at Bells Corners United Church. This week our Stewardship Focus is on volunteers, the many people in our church family who enable us to offer the many programs and services that we both need and love. It is a day to both celebrate all of our wonderful volunteers, past and present, and to encourage you to give some thought as to how you can share your gifts in the church. All gifts of time and talent are celebrated today. There is no such thing as a gift too small. Remember that it only takes a candle flame to make a huge difference in the dark, and many small candles can produce a glorious light! In the same way, many small acts add up to a big difference in the life of our faith family. I have heard it said that “volunteers do not necessarily have the time… they have the heart.” I will call on Ellen Boynton now for a message from our Stewardship Committee.

Stewardship Moment Ellen Boynton

Thank you! It’s my job to express appreciation for all that volunteers do to keep BCUC alive and vibrant. It has been so heartwarming to see Stewardship returns coming in with many noting ‘no change’ to their previous commitments of Time & Talent. As the literature says, the church relies heavily on volunteer support to do its work and you are still there.

Over the past year, so many of those opportunities have not been available while dealing with the pandemic. We can only hope that before 2021 is over we can return to our regular activities, safely.

And yet, while onsite activities have been so reduced, many people have been called upon to support our online worship services and to keep basic functions operating smoothly. We still have to maintain the building and property, pay the bills, encourage support for outreach commitments, provide pastoral and spiritual care for members of the congregation who may be grieving, ill or lonely, plan and present Sunday services, look after staffing needs and ensure that the best possible communication is provided.

Someone suggested in a recent Sunday Zoom that once we are back to normal, we need a parade of all those who have worked behind the scenes to keep our church vibrant. It would be amazing to see how many people that would actually include.

Normally during our Stewardship Campaign we have a Sunday morning Committee Fair to provide information about what committees do and opportunities to ask questions and find new interests for members of the congregation. This year it is a virtual presentation and you will need to ask questions via e-mail or a telephone call. Please do!

We always need more volunteers to accept leadership roles, support committees and plan and hold social or fundraising events. If you can review the variety of ways that your time and talent can be shared and add items to your stewardship return, we will do our best to include you in the work of the church.

I have been part of this congregation for more than 50 years (yikes!) and can enthusiastically confirm that the joy of being part of it is in giving of my time and talent, often in ways that I did not even think possible, but others did. If you receive a call asking that you become more involved as we seek helpers for our work, please give it serious consideration. You will not be sorry that you joined the BCUC team in an active way. There is room for all!

Thank you for your support in the past and your continuing support to ensure a vibrant future!

Centering in Worship

As always, there are many announcements this week. They are posted in full on our website and I encourage you to take a look at them all. I will just highlight a few for you now:

- Due to the lockdown, we will not be offering in-person worship services until further notice but we will continue to offer them in other ways. Check our website for worship services in audio, video, and text formats. You can also listen to the service by telephone by dialing 613-820-8104.

- A learning event on the topic of Basic Income with economics professor Dr. Evelyn Forget is being offered via Zoom on Tuesday, February 2 at 7pm. You can find the link to this event on our website at bcuc.org

- Our website is where you will also find notice of meetings, opportunities to gather socially on Zoom and times to gather our hearts in prayer.

And now, as we prepare ourselves for worship, let us remember that Christ is among us with the lighting of the Christ Candle.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Bob & Ellen Boynton

Light is a wonderful gift.
It illuminates the space we are in.
We describe the actions of light in a variety of ways:
Light that clarifies;
Light that warns us of danger;
Light that guides our footsteps;
Light that reveals our future;
Light that calms our fears;
Light that offers insights.
As we gather in worship, we light this Christ candle.
Jesus Christ with us.[1]

Call to Gather Rev. Kim Vidal

Do you notice the voice of the Holy One?
Be open to the gentle nudgings of God’s Spirit!
Are you aware of the hand of the Mysterious One at work?
We are surrounded by hints of the Divine.
May we be open to God’s Presence and answer God’s call.[2]

Prayer of Approach

Holy One,
We aren’t always sure what it means to be part of your kin-dom.
We aren’t always sure that we have in us what you need.
But – you seem to be sure that we are who you want.
Help us to trust you in that, and with all our lives, God of all. Amen.[3]

Hymn: “Christ Has No Body Now But Yours” - More Voices #171 George, Lorrie, Keith

Refrain
Christ has no body now but yours,
no hands but yours.
Here on this earth, yours is the work,
to serve with the joy of compassion.

1.No hands but yours
to heal the wounded world,
no hands but yours
to soothe all its suffering,
no touch but yours
to bind the broken hope
of the people of God. R

2. No eyes but yours
to see as Christ would see,
to find the lost,
to gaze with compassion;
no eyes but yours
to glimpse the holy joy
of the city of God. R

3.No feet but yours
to journey with the poor,
to walk this world
with mercy and justice.
Yours are the steps
to build a lasting peace
for the children of God. R

4.Through ev’ry gift,
give back to those in need;
as Christ has blessed,
so now be his blessing,
with ev’ry gift
a benediction be,
to the people of God. R

Storytime Rev. Kim Vidal

Good morning! Do you have a favourite plush toy that you’d like to cuddle every minute of the day that even if it becomes dirty or smelly, you don’t want to part with it? What about a favourite blanket that you’d love to use and you get upset when Mommy washes it? I have a favourite green sweater that I love to wear. I wear it at home all throughout the year especially at bedtime. This sweater is like a second skin to me and I have to confess, I rarely wash it even though I know that it is dirty. The truth is, I’m afraid that it will shrink when I wash it and it won’t fit me anymore. I also love its smell even though sometimes it makes me sneeze.

This reminds me of a story called “Smelly Socks” by Robert Munsch. I’m sure many of you have read this funny story. It’s about a girl named Tina who wanted to have new socks. So, she went to this “big sock store” with her grandpa and found a yellow, green and red pair. She loved them so much that she vowed never to take them off ever. Tina wore them forever! The socks soon became so dirty and smelly that when she walked by, birds and other animals dropped to the ground. Even her friends in school could not stand the smell of her stinky, dirty socks. One day, her friends got fed up and couldn’t take it anymore. They carried Tina straight to a river, held her tight, took off her socks and washed them. Now the socks became clean and the stinky smell was gone. In the end, Tina was pleased with her clean socks and promised that from now on she would always wear clean socks.

What would happen if we never washed our dirty and smelly favourite plush toy or blanket or sweater or socks? I’m sure, we would live in filth and become miserable and maybe even get sick. Do you agree with me then that we need to wash our favourite stuff from time to time so that they will be sparkly clean and smell nice?

Not only toys or blankets or socks get dirty. We too get dirty and stinky from time to time. We need to take a shower or take a bath regularly to make us clean, smell nice, feel refreshed and yes – to be healthy. But there’s another meaning of dirt and stink that I’d like you to think about. You know sometimes, we do things that are not nice or not pleasant to others like being a bully, or not sharing something, or saying bad words when we’re angry or not telling the truth. These too, are dirt or stink that we need to get rid of.

In today’s gospel story, Jesus went to a synagogue, which is like our church building to teach people. I think the people who went to the synagogue that day had dirt and stink that they needed to get rid of. Some may have had worries or fear or anxiety and other health problems that needed healing They needed to hear a word of inspiration or a blessing that may help them remove those dirt and stink from their lives. They would have liked to change, get healed and become a better, healthy person.

The story says that a man with an “unclean spirit” shouted at Jesus in the middle of his teaching. What kind of illness or condition do you think this man had? Maybe he was mentally ill or perhaps he was very confused and needed help. The story says that Jesus scolded the man with these words: “Be quiet and come out of him!” Strange words indeed. But what happened next was unbelievable. The man squirmed on the floor and then he became silent. Everyone in the synagogue was amazed at Jesus. They saw Jesus as someone who has authority to teach and to help people. What do you think happened to the man after Jesus helped him become well? I think the man made a promise that he would do his best to change. Soon – he would feel all the dirt and stink that he had been carrying all his life had vanished and he was healed and had become a better person.

What do you think of this story? I think it is a good story to tell, don’t you? Did you know that many people today have dirt and stink that they carry around? Jesus wants everyone to be clean, smell nice and be changed to a better person. Jesus is asking each one of us to be his hand, his heart, his feet, his presence to help others. Jesus calls us to offer a kind word, or an act of love or a prayer of blessing. Will you be Jesus’ helper?

Let me close with a prayer: Dear God, thank you for the story about Jesus and how he taught about your love and helped those in need. Make us listen to his word and to follow his teachings. Use us as instruments of your blessing, healing, and peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Hymn: Kumbaya (Traditional) CGS/Bell Canto – Director & Flute: Erin Berard

Kumbaya, my Lord, kumbaya. (3X)
O Lord, kumbaya.

Someone’s crying Lord, kumbaya. (3X)
O Lord, kumbaya.

Someone’s hurting Lord, kumbaya. (3X)
O Lord, kumbaya.

Someone’s praying Lord, kumbaya. (3X)
O Lord, kumbaya.

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Monica Peck

God of Epiphany, open our ears to the call of your voice.
Open our eyes to see the wonders of your love.
Bless us as we hear your holy Word in fresh ways. Amen.

The Reading: Mark 1: 21-28 (NRSV)

The Man with an Unclean Spirit

21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Whose Authority?” Rev. Lorrie Lowes

I wonder what it was that Jesus said when he was teaching that day in the synagogue. What scripture was he reading? What were the words he used to inspire his listeners? Whatever he said, Mark tells us it left the people “astounded”! Apparently, it was delivered “as one with authority”. People were impressed! What an amazing sermon that must have been! Just the kind of sermon we’d all like to hear on a Sunday morning. Just the kind of sermon we, ministers, all wish we could deliver.

“He spoke as one with authority…” What does that word, authority, mean to you? We discussed it quite a bit in our Lectionary study this week. It was hard to come up with a clear and concise definition. It depends on where the authority comes from, and who is giving that authority, and how that person uses that authority, and how it is received by others… It seems to be related to power, and that adds a whole new dimension… power over who or what?... power to do what?... It’s a bit of an illusive concept, depending so much on the context.

According to the dictionary definition, authority is the power to make decisions that guide the actions of others – I don’t think Jesus had any decision-making power in the synagogue that day… but it is also defined as the ability to exert influence that has the ability to change the attitudes or behaviour of individuals or groups. This one makes more sense in this context… and the very fact that, for more than 2000 years and still today, Jesus still has that ability to change our attitudes and behaviours, speaks to the strength of that authority… but what gave him this influence, this perceived authority? What is it about him, throughout all those centuries and even now, that makes that authority relevant to so many?

Well, once again, there are several different kinds of authority and they all stem from different things. There is Legal Authority laid down in laws or rules. We might think here of judges, or police. There is Competence Authority that comes from training in a special skill or knowledge – a doctor perhaps or an electrician. There is Tradition Authority that comes from long-established customs, habits, or social structures, think parents, religious leaders, or scripture. These are all examples of authority that are familiar to us, and probably the first ones that come to mind when we think of this word. None of them seem to fit with Jesus’ position in the synagogue in Capernaum that day, though. He was a visitor to Capernaum, the people there didn’t know him as one of their local rabbis. It was at the beginning of his ministry and so it was unlikely that many had heard about him.

However, there are a couple of other types of authority that make more sense. Charismatic authority is one that we discussed in our Lectionary group. It’s the kind of authority that draws people in. It might be due to intelligence or integrity, or it might be in their ability to speak well or even their appearance. We can all think of charismatic people who fit that definition – John F. Kennedy, or Martin Luther King Jr., perhaps. Another characteristic of this kind of authority figure is that what they say and do aligns with the needs of the people they address. A person with charismatic authority tells you what you need to hear. And the last type of authority my research mentions is Acceptance Authority, where what the person is directing you to do is consistent with your own goals and personal views. What they are saying makes sense to you… it feels right.

Our reading today tells us that the people were “astounded at his teaching for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes”. Well, scribes certainly had authority in those days from what we’ve read. They were scholars who had studied the laws deeply – so they knew them better than most - and they were the ones who passed them on to the people along with instructions about how to keep those laws. They were academics, experts in their field. They had “Competence Authority”. There’s nothing wrong with that, of course, and they were rightly respected by the people, but I wonder how that was reflected in their teaching…

This contrast between the way the scribes taught and the way Jesus taught brings back memories of my school days. What makes a “great” teacher stand out from others? Teachers are all well trained. They all have expertise in the subjects they are teaching, and yet not all teachers have that same effect on a class. I am thinking about high school when this became really evident to me. I always struggled with Math – right from the beginning - but I managed to squeak by. When I was faced with calculus and trigonometry in Grade 12, though, I was in a bit of a panic. It was a foreign language to me. A new teacher arrived at the school that year and confessed on the first day. “I have lots of university credits in Math, but I’ve always been an English teacher. I’ve never taught this content before and so we will learn together.” He knew the math but he hadn’t had to teach it till now. He was confident that he could though. And, he was a great guy. His classes were fun – imagine! A fun Math class! And, in the end, we did learn, and we learned it well! Even I did! He wouldn’t let us use a formula until we could explain why it worked – in regular English. What a concept! It blew my mind to hear that it wasn’t about memorizing magic equations but that there was actually a reason behind each part! You might laugh – particularly if you were one of those who excelled at Math – but I was “astounded”. The best marks I have ever had in Math, were the marks I got in Grade 12. I began to think I might be good at Math after all. And then came Grade 13… That year, I found myself in the class taught by the Math Department Head. His major at university was Mathematics. He had taught Math for his whole career. He was an expert. I started the year full of confidence and I worked hard – but I couldn’t understand what we were doing and he couldn’t understand my questions. It was all perfectly clear to him and he was frustrated with me because I couldn’t follow what he was showing me. Just use the formula was his best advice in the end.

Both men were good teachers and well-respected. My Grade 13 teacher had Competence Authority. He was a smart man who really knew his stuff. Mathematics was exciting to him and he wanted us to be excited too – but what he was saying wasn’t getting through to me. I had trouble connecting it to the knowledge I had. Heaven knows, he tried to help, but he just couldn’t seem to figure out what I needed and I didn’t know what to ask. So, I did my best to memorize the formulas and got a slim pass. What had made the difference for me in Grade 12? The teacher had Charismatic Authority. He was someone we liked to spend time with. He made what we were learning relevant (well as relevant as calculus can be to an 18-year-old!). He connected the new information to the Math experience and learning we had up to that point. He told us what we needed to hear. Now it wasn’t all about personality and teaching style. He also had expertise in the subject – maybe not as much expertise as the Department Head, but enough study and training to know the subject well. He looked at it from a different perspective – one that was, perhaps more aligned with where we were. I think I will amend my statement that both men were good teachers and say that this man was a great teacher. More than 50 years have passed since my high school days and I remember him vividly.

I think it makes sense that the people in the sabbath congregation on that day were drawn to Jesus by his charisma. We certainly hear throughout the gospels that people felt drawn to him and were eager to hear what he had to say. I also believe it was the fact that he “got” them, he knew what their lives were like. He could connect with them on a real level, as one of them rather than the expert with all the academic answers – the “sage on the stage”. He not only understood them, he also connected their lived experience with the words of scripture. We know that he had a very thorough knowledge of the Bible. Throughout the gospel we hear him quote from scripture and use phrases or references that echo the words of the prophets or the wisdom found in Psalms and Proverbs. He may not have studied the ancient writings in the same depth as the scribes, but he had a lot of expertise. He never said that the words in the Bible were wrong; he made those same words relevant to his listeners personally. He didn’t tell them to disobey the laws or the commandments; he showed them how to interpret them in a way that made sense for their lives, for the times and the realities that they were facing. In a world where those scriptures contained literally hundreds of rules, he gave those rules a context for them. No one likes to follow a law that makes no sense. It’s hard to even remember a law if you don’t understand why it is there. That’s as true today as it was in Jesus’ time. Jesus changed the idea of how to be in right relationship with God from following a complicated list of tasks, to doing the kinds of things that make the world safer, more caring, and more sustainable. He told the people the kind of things they needed to hear. It was different. It made sense. It was fresh. It was, well, astounding!

There was at least one person in the congregation who wasn’t so impressed. We hear that he was a man with an unclean spirit. “You’ve come to destroy us! I know who you are!” he shouted. And Jesus answered by rebuking him and commanding the unclean spirit to come out of him. It worked! The unclean spirit did leave the man. It wasn’t pretty by any means. We hear of convulsions and loud voices crying out. But that unclean spirit left. And the people were amazed. Even unclean spirits bowed to the authority of Jesus!

This part of the story has always been a hard one for me – maybe because I find it hard to believe in evil spirits. I’ve certainly encountered some evil-spirited people, but I guess I have never considered that that the spirit was a separate entity, disconnected from the person. Perhaps I need to rethink that…

I have to admit that the reading this week brought up images of the political unrest in the United States with its loud voices and scenes of violence. It also made me think of people here and all over the world who are protesting loudly against the health protocols being put in place by government leaders, and the anti-vaxxers who shout that the vaccine is just a way for the government to get control of us or that it is dangerous to our health. “I know who you are! You’ve come to destroy us!” Sound familiar? To many of us, most I would hope, these are the cries of evil spirits in the world. But, just as certain as we are of what is true, they are certain of their truth. Are they evil people? Some of them are our friends and family! We know that isn’t the case. Are they possessed by an unclean spirit that makes them think and act out of character? If that is the case, how do we exorcise those beasts? Can we just command them to leave? Where is Jesus when we need him?

Well, folks, he is right here. He is among us as we worship. He accompanies us everywhere we go. He may not be able to stand in the pulpit and preach. He may not be able to shout commands to evil spirits personally… but he is our example and our guide. We need to be that voice and that wisdom that turns people’s thinking from conspiracy theories and self-comfort to what is right and good for the world. We have many authorities in our midst – Scientists and doctors with Competence Authority, many levels of people with Legal Authority in our justice system and in our government, and many with Tradition Authority such as cultural and faith leaders. They may not all be charismatic but certainly there is Charismatic Authority among them – in young people like Amanda Gorman and Malala, in government leaders past and present, people like Jacinda Ardern in New Zealand and Barak Obama, even in our media people like Rick Mercer and I’m sure you can name many, many more. Not everyone loves them. Not everyone wants to hear what they have to say… but perhaps more need to hear their words. Perhaps we need to have all the laws and directives and unpacked as to why we need to follow them… perhaps we need to be given a clearer sense of the “big picture”. Perhaps we need to encourage our charismatic authorities to speak a little louder, to stop being “nice”, to speak truth to power, even when it sounds harsh, even when it’s not pretty, to make it all make sense in the big picture. Perhaps that is what it takes to exorcise the unclean spirits. Locking them up or ignoring them doesn’t seem to work, after all.

Changing people’s opinions and thinking is hard. We talked about that last week. Not only is it difficult, it’s often not pretty. It’s often much like the convulsions and loud cries we read about today.

We need to remember that, for the most part, people can’t just give themselves authority – or if they do, the results are not often peaceful. We grant authority to others – by our votes, by our words, and by our actions. Who do you give authority to? How do you make that choice? Where do you place your confidence – in legality, in tradition, in competence, in charisma? When it comes to leading our country or stopping a pandemic, who do you listen to and why? Are the unclean spirits who haunt you frightening because they threaten your comfort or because they threaten the life of humanity and all of creation? Whose authority do you follow?

I wonder what astounding message the world needs to hear today. I wonder what it will take to get the world to listen.

Amen.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

This week, I was honoured to be one of the faith leaders taking part in an Interfaith Dua-Prayer for World-wide Relief from Covid-19. This was a wonderful initiative from the Seniors Group at the Jami Omar mosque. I would like to offer the prayer I shared as today’s Prayers of the People. Let us pray:

Holy One,

We thank you for this time to gather as your people and to share in prayer together.

We confess that the realities of the Covid-19 pandemic cause us fear and anxiety. We worry about our own health and the health of our families and friends. We listen to the recommendations of our leaders and are sometimes frozen by fear of infection, isolating ourselves in our homes. We are growing tired.

Help us to look beyond our fear.

Help us find hope and optimism in the knowledge that you are with us and that you are there to protect us and guide us through this difficult time. In connecting with you, help us gain the strength and stamina we need to continue the battle against this disease.

Help us to turn our thoughts from our own suffering to the suffering of others – in our family, in our community, in this country, and throughout the world.

We pray for all those who are sick.
We pray for those who live in fear.
We pray for those in parts of the world where war is still raging and violence is a daily occurrence.
We pray for those whose sense of peace is shattered by political unrest.
We pray for those who lack the security of income and the necessities of life – food, shelter, and love.
We pray for those who are grieving and those who are lonely.
We pray for all those who suffer from depression, anxiety, and mental illness.

Holy One, source of our hope and strength, we ask that you be with all those who are struggling in these dark times, to offer them strength, courage, and assurance that better days are possible.

We thank you, God, for all those who are working to keep us safe and healthy.

We pray for the medical personnel, doctors, nurses and support workers who face the reality of this virus every day, risking their own health to ensure the health of others.

We pray for the scientists and pharmaceutical companies who are working to find ways to both protect us now and to find an end to the spread of this disease.

We pray for all those who keep our economy going and help us safely get the supplies and services we need. – store workers, restaurant personnel, truck drivers, farmers, food processors, manufacturers, delivery people.

We pray for our children and for the teachers and caregivers who work to provide some sense of normalcy in their young lives.

We pray for those who keep us informed – journalists, newscasters, social media writers

We pray for our government leaders and our faith leaders who are doing their best to navigate us through this difficult and constantly changing situation.

Help us, loving God, to find ways to be your hands and feet and heart in the world, that we can alleviate the suffering of others. Give us opportunities to help, each in our own way and according to our own abilities. Help us see the comfort that helping others – in big ways and small - can bring to them and to ourselves. Help us to be examples of your love in the world.

All these things we ask in the name of the Jesus, our example and our companion on the journey and in the words he taught his disiples…

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

God has given so much to us: life, love, grace, and hope. Now let’s do something in return. Let us offer our gifts to help our church do God’s work in this congregation, in our community, and around the world.

Offertory Prayer

Holy One,

Please bless our offerings of time, talents, and treasure. Be with us in the midst of all our opportunities for giving, that we may learn to give fearlessly, boldly – ever more confident of your generous presence and grace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.[4]

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

As we journey into this new week, let us be determined to fill our hearts with the kind of love for the world and love for our neighbour that will drive unclean spirits away. And as you go, be assured that the love of God and the example of Jesus accompanies us, blessing us on each step of the journey. Amen.

Hymn: “Silence, Frenzied, Unclean Spirit” - Voices United #620 Solo: Keith Bailey

1."Silence! Frenzied, unclean spirit, "
cried God's healing, Holy One.
"Cease your ranting! Flesh can't bear it.
Flee as night before the sun."
At Christ's words the demon trembled,
from its victim madly rushed,
while the crowd that was assembled
stood in wonder, stunned and hushed.

2.Lord, the demons still are thriving
in the gray cells of the mind:
Tyrant voices shrill and driving,
twisted thoughts that grip and bind,
Doubts that stir the heart to panic,
fears distorting reason's sight,
Guilt that makes our loving frantic,
dreams that cloud the soul with fright.

3.Silence, Lord, the unclean spirit,
in our mind and in our heart.
Speak your word that,
when we hear it,
all our demons shall depart.
Clear our thought and calm our feeling,
still the fractured, warring soul.
By the power of your healing
make us faithful, true, and whole.

Departing Music: Voices United #620 – actual tune

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

[1] Bill Perry, Gathering A/C/E 2018/19, p45. Used with permission.

[2] Laura Turnbull, Gathering A/C/E 2020/21, p45. Used with permission.

[3] Richard Bott, Gathering A/C/E 2013/14, p42. Used with permission.

[4] From a prayer by Sheila McLeod, Gathering A/C/E 2011/12, p 46. Used with permission.

Connie Davidson

January 23, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 24, 2021

Connie Davidson

January 23, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

3rd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY / STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY 1

January 24, 2021

Theme: “Grateful for our Many Gifts – The Life of the Steward”

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: Come With Me Abe

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you in the name of Jesus Christ on this 3rd Sunday after Epiphany. It’s our annual stewardship campaign starting this Sunday until Feb 7th. Bill McGee will tell us more about it shortly. I offer to you my sincerest thanks and appreciation for your continued support in many ways to the life and ministry of BCUC.

There are a couple of learning events offered by several organizations and faith communities. I’d like to mention a couple here:

A presentation on Racism with social activist Howard J. Ross this afternoon at 2:30 pm
A presentation on Basic Income with economics professor Dr. Evelyn Forget on Feb 2nd at 7 pm.

For Zoom links to these events and other announcements, please check your email or the BCUC website.

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.

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11: 00 am. Link has been emailed to you or call the office for more information.

Stewardship Moment Bill McGee, Chair – Stewardship Team

Centering for Worship

Friends, as we gather today wherever we are, remember these words from Thomas Merton as we reflect on our call to stewardship: “To be grateful is to recognize the love of God in everything that we receive…. Every breath we draw is a gift of God’s love; every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from God.” Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Marion & Pierre Dugas

Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world;
those who follow me will not walk in the darkness,
but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12)

Call to Gather (David Sparks, Gathering, ACE 2020-21) Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Discipleship can be tiring,
God will give us tenacity for the rough days.
Discipleship can show us where we should place our trust.
God will enable us to sort out our faithful priorities.
Discipleship can be life-changing.
We will find authentic experience in the Christian life.
We gather today to find support and wisdom for our life as disciples.
Let us worship God.

Prayer of Approach (Helen Reed, Gathering, ACE 2020-21)

God of all people, you call our name, and we don’t listen.
You call our name, and we run in opposite direction.
You call our name, and we are afraid that we will be asked to change our plans.
Call us again, Gracious God.
Push and pull us out of our complacency.
Open our hearts to know your way.
Make us bold, make us strong, make us yours.
Call our name, once again, O God. Amen.

Hymn: I, the Lord of Sea and Sky – Voices United #509 - BCUC Choir, Leslie-violin

1. I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in deepest sin
my hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send? R

Refrain:
Here I am Lord.
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

2. I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them, they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send? R

3. I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them; my hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send? R

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good morning! Have you ever thought about what you want to be when you grow up? I’m sure people ask you that all the time. You might have dreams of cool things you’d like to be… maybe an astronaut, or a doctor, or a famous movie star, or a star athlete.

You might have even changed your mind about what you want to be as you grew – maybe even more than once – and that’s ok. In fact, you will probably change your mind lots of times throughout your life.

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a teacher… I also wanted to be a famous writer… and a stewardess…and I wanted to be a mom. As I grew older and learned more things, I had some different ideas too. I knew I really wanted to help people and so, when I started looking at going to university, I decided to study Social Work… but also French because I thought being a French teacher would be awesome too. I was really lucky that the adults around me gave me the freedom to explore all kinds of things and that I had the opportunity to study at university. I was also lucky that nobody told me that I had to do one thing in particular just because it was expected of me.

When you find something that you really care about – something you are so passionate about that you are willing to do anything to make it happen - people might say you are “being called” to follow that path.

Our Bible story today is one that most of you will be familiar with, I think. It is the story of Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John – all fishermen – to drop everything and follow him. He tells them he will make them “fishers of men”. In this story, Jesus actually called to these men from the shore. He told them to stop what they were doing and follow him.

Can you imagine having Jesus walk into whatever you are doing – working, going to school, helping out around the house – and telling you to just leave and follow him? Now, you might be tempted if a friend came by and asked you to drop what you were working on to go play for the rest of the day, but Jesus wasn’t asking these men to come with him for a couple of hours. He was asking them to leave everything behind… their jobs, their homes, their families and friends… just drop everything and start a whole new life, completely different from anything they had ever known. And they did! James and John left their father to finish mending the nets and just left! (I wonder what their father thought about that!)

Somehow, these four men knew that this was the right thing to do. Somehow, they were so sure of it that they were willing to give up everything and start on a whole new path in life. I’m sure it wasn’t an easy decision. It sure would have had a huge impact on their lives and the lives of those around them. They didn’t know exactly what Jesus was planning and they had to do a lot of learning along the way – but they felt so strongly about his message that they were ready to try. When we read the rest of the stories about Jesus and his disciples, we don’t hear about them giving up when things got hard. We don’t hear about them changing their minds and heading back home to the life they knew before. They were sure that this is what they needed to be doing and they didn’t look back. Even after Jesus died, they kept right on doing that work.

They were certainly called to the life of a disciple of Jesus – not just by his voice from the shore that day, but by the voice in their heads and their hearts that wouldn’t let them go because it was so important.

I did become a social worker… and a mom… and then a teacher… and all of those things felt like what I was being called to do. I was willing to put my whole heart and soul into them. I was willing to do the hard work to learn and become the best I could be in each of those careers. Then, just when I thought I had done everything I set out to do in my life and was ready for a rest… well, I heard another call, and here I am as a United Church Minister and it feels like the exactly right place for me to be.

Now, that doesn’t mean that those other things weren’t as important or that they were mistakes. It just means that I still have things I am so passionate about that I can’t help but follow through to make them happen.

Jesus told those fishermen that he would make them fishers of men. Jesus knew that the experience and skills they had developed to be good at catching fish would also be useful in their new calling. They had learned to work hard, to be patient, to watch for signs of good times and good places to cast their nets. They had learned to work as a team with others. They had learned that if you share with others on the days when you catch lots of fish, others will probably share with you on the days when you aren’t so lucky. These are all important things to be able to do if you are going to be a follower of Jesus.

I wonder what passions you will follow in your lifetime. What is your heart telling you need to do? I pray that you will have the opportunity to follow all of your dreams and passions in a way that gives you a fulfilling life – and in a way that makes the world a better place just because you are in it.

Hymn: Jesus Saw them Fishing - More Voices #113 – Erin & CGS/Bell Canto

1.Jesus saw them fishing by the shore of Galilee,
casting out their nets into the sea.
Simon Peter, Andrew and the sons of Zebedee,
waiting in their boats so patiently. R

Refrain
And Jesus said, “Oh, come and follow me.
Oh, leave behind your nets, I call you.
Oh, come and fish with me,
and your life will never be the same again.”

2.A rich young person came to Jesus looking for advice,
“How can I obtain eternal life?” Jesus told him,
“Honour the commandments of the Lord.
Then sell off all your riches for the poor.” R

3.“If you want to follow me, deny your very self.
Take up your cross and walk the walk with me.
This might seem a hardship, an impossibility,
but nothing is impossible with God.” R

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Chris Brown

God of Epiphany, open our ears to the call of your voice.
Open our eyes to see the wonders of your love.
Bless us as we hear your holy Word in fresh ways. Amen.

The Reading: Mark 1: 14-20 (NRSV) Jesus Calls the First Disciples

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Whose Calling?” Rev. Kim Vidal

Stewardship is our main topic for the next three Sundays. When it comes to defining stewardship, many of us think it is all about giving money or financial support to the church. That is why sometimes, ministers are scared to preach about this topic. Some of us understand, however, that stewardship is more than the offering of money or material resources. It is also the sharing of time, talents and intangible gifts like love, justice, peace, presence, to name a few. Stewardship stems from the basic biblical principle that all gifts come from God and that we are merely stewards or caretakers of the earth’s resources – not pillagers or abusers but as good managers. And because we are given such responsibility of being good stewards, we are challenged to take care of the resources to the best of our ability and to share what gifts we have or use our time and talents in ways that celebrate life. That is good stewardship.

I’ve had some stewardship moments this week as I turned to some inspiring stories. An article caught my attention posted by earthjustice.org, about ways we can help our community amid the COVID-19 crisis. These are not earth-shattering acts but small deeds of love and kindness – simple ways to show we care. The story urges us to be there for each other even when we are socially distanced. One woman said that every time she shops for grocery, she makes a $5 donation that goes to food banks. Another woman said that while walking in the neighbourhood, she makes sure she waves and says hello to the dogs and the dog-walkers. Still another woman is doing a mask drive by asking donations of N95 masks and delivering them to places and people in need of masks. Outside this article, I was inspired by Rev. Lorrie’s sharing about her son Petya of how he connects with the people in Carleton Place. He takes his job as a retail clerk seriously and makes sure he gives the best customer service to people inside or outside the store. He takes time listening to people, learning what’s happening in the community, and reaches out to help whenever he could. One day, Petya brought a homeless man to shopping for clothes and felt very happy when the homeless chap wore the clothes that he gave. Like the “earth justice” women and Petya’s stories, I’m sure there are many ways of doing good stewardship if we are willing to do so. The world in its beauty and pain, is calling us to be good stewards and the opportunities are never-ending. As theologian Frederick Buechner reminds us: “The place God calls you to/ is the place where your deep gladness /and the world's deep hunger meet.”

In today’s gospel story, we are given the opportunity to learn a different meaning of stewardship when Jesus calls the first disciples. Come and join me along the shores of Galilee where we meet Jesus and the four fishermen. I imagine the air smelled of salt, seaweed and fish as Jesus walked the shores of the Sea of Galilee that day. Jesus’ invitation to Simon, Andrew, James and John sounds like a spur-of-the-moment. “Follow me. Drop whatever else is occupying your time and come with me to a life full of adventure. Listen to what I have to say. Follow me and experience life in a different way. I will make you fishers not of fish but of men and women– you will become fishers of people.”

Immediately, (a favourite word of Mark) the four dropped everything and follow. There is a big gap in this story when Mark did not write about why the fishermen abandoned their fishing nets and followed Jesus right away. Had the fishing been really bad that day because their nets kept coming up empty? Was the net-mending especially tedious and boring? Or maybe the heat and humidity were all but unbearable? Were James and John desperate to get away from their family business? So that when Jesus invited them, they jumped at the chance to leave their monotonous life? Were they looking for a good excuse to stop being fishermen? Maybe they figured fishing was a dead-end job with little chance for advancement or extra income and Jesus came along at just the right time? Had they heard rumors or reports about Jesus, about his parables and healing power? Maybe they had met him themselves, even grew up with him and the thought of knowing him as a Rabbi, becoming one of his disciples, was irresistible? Or perhaps they were intrigued with the words, "I will make you fish for people!” A more popular translation of this line is “I will make you fishers of men!” Certainly – these words to some are problematic but they are quite intriguing to some extent!

"I will make you fish for people or fishers of men!” In our lectionary group this past Tuesday, several ideas were put forth as to what this verse means. Some agrees that the line –implies reeling in or catching people to join a church – like an altar call - a conversion tactic to introduce people to Jesus Christ and become a member or an adherent of the church. Another possible meaning suggests being in right relationships or transforming lives by serving others. There’s also the notion that Jesus was asking them to be “fish for people” as in food for the journey. The disciples are called to be instruments in giving abundant life for others like the symbolic miracle of feeding people with five loaves and two fish. Perhaps Jesus calls them to move and shake people especially when they are under a foreign occupation that exploits their resources and make them second class citizens. You might add a new perspective to these explanations.

Why should Simon, Andrew, James and John follow someone who uses such difficult metaphors? This immediate invitation and immediate response seem unlikely. They dropped what they were doing and headed off to God-knows-where; to lives they didn’t even have a clue. So the questions we might ask ourselves are these: why did the disciples follow Jesus on a whim? What kind of calling did Jesus offer? Some biblical scholars insist that Jesus had actually been living in Capernaum for a while and had known the four fishermen for some time. They could have been drinking buddies or hang out friends or maybe they have attended community events and sat at meals together. Perhaps this call was neither sudden nor abrupt but was the natural outcome of their friendship or moments of acquaintance. What is it about Jesus that hooked the four men?

Jesus’ leadership emulates both transformation and servanthood. No wonder Simon, Andrew, James and John dropped their fishing nets and followed him. Jesus as a leader begins with a vision of God’s dream for the world. He not only communicates the vision, but models it for others. He walked the talk. He came and announced this vision, which was the arrival and coming of a new reign of God that was unlike the Roman Empire. In the new reign, leaders and kings were servants and not lords; the poor were blessed and not cursed; women, children and slaves were included in the community and it operated from a platform of love, justice and compassion. Jesus sought to invest himself in the lives of the people so that, as a whole, the community is challenged to grow as welcoming and inclusive. The disciples followed Jesus' footsteps and were literally baptized into his life, death and resurrection. They became salt of the earth and light to the world.

Like the four fishermen, we too sometimes are faced with questions and speculations of our own calling and sense of direction. How is Jesus calling you? "Now hold it," you may say, “I’ve been a member of the Christian church for a long time - in fact I was baptized in this very same sanctuary. What do you mean, is Jesus calling me? I come to church regularly and take part in the sacraments. I volunteer my time and share my talents and treasures – is that not the same call coming from Jesus?” It sounds onerous at times, but Jesus’ call comes not just once but calls each of us over and over again. The calling comes in many forms. There are calls to a vocation, or change of careers. There are calls to a particular place, to a specific community. There are calls to a task, and there are calls to stop what you are doing and find renewal for your tired spirit. There are calls into and out of relationships. There are calls to healing and calls to let go of your worries. There are calls to regret what you have done, to repent and make amends for your wrongdoings. And there are calls to stop regretting, to accept the fact that you are forgiven, that you are healed, and get on with your life.

As the 46th US president was sworn into office on January 20th, the world watched and listened in awe as President Joe Biden calls for the American people to embrace the true meaning of democracy. In a symbolic ceremony attended by a mix of past US presidents and vice presidents, religious leaders from diverse faiths, dignitaries, common folks and celebrities from various backgrounds and ethnicity, President Biden reminds them that Americans are good people, but there is still a lot to be done. He calls everyone to share in the rebuilding of the nation because, and I quote: “there is still much to repair, much to restore, much to heal, much to build, and much to gain.” And these words were echoed by the inaugural poet, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman, when she wowed the audience with her heartfelt and moving poem, “The Hill We Climb.” In response to the President’s call for unity and healing, Gorman acknowledged the reasons why this call can be challenging. "Where can we find light in this never-ending shade?" she asked. And she continued: "And yet, the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow we do it. Somehow we weathered and witnessed a nation that isn't broken but simply unfinished."

Broken but simply unfinished. These are words we need to hear as good stewards as we respond to Jesus’ call to rebuild and transform the world. Do you ever wonder why some of us say “yes” to agreeing sitting on boards or committees, teaching Sunday School, greeting people by the door, singing in the choir, doing fund-raising or being a circuit messenger, to name a few? What could be our reason for stepping forward? I’m sure we did not literally hear Jesus calling us to be his follower. But I am certain that we have been inspired by the stories of his leadership – his parables of faith that might have impacted our lives and have been encouraged us in doing something worthwhile. Some of us might have felt compelled in sharing our time, our talents and our treasures because doing something for others becomes our living creed or a mantra in making our faith alive. Others recognize that this is part of our mandate as Christians, that we must walk in the steps of Jesus and emulate his way of life. And maybe the best reason for responding to Jesus’ call is because we believe in the power of love.

Jesus calls us to a world where opportunities are vast, where there are relationships to be mended, where people hungry and lonely are waiting for us to step up. On this first Sunday of our Stewardship Campaign, if you are pledging your time, your talents your resources, your intangibles gifts to achieve the visions and mission statement of this faith community, thank you! No amount given is too outrageous or too small; for surely our dreams and visions in this congregation and beyond are made possible by our faith in God through Jesus Christ who lavishly gives and blesses in return. To follow Jesus as our leader also means that we cannot predict what that decision will lead us to. We call it a “leap of faith”. The famous writer Joseph Campbell has pointed out that every great story, every great quest begins with a call to adventure. The hero is called to follow a path, meet a challenge or begin a quest that will forever change their identity. And for Jesus, all great adventures start with a call - for Simon, Andrew, James and John, for you and I. Jesus calls us to: “follow me, and let the adventure begin!” Let us confidently respond in the same manner as what the lyrics of the hymn we sang earlier: “Here, I am Lord. Is it I Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. Amen.

Sources I used for this sermon:

BCUC Lectionary Group
Melissa Bane Sevier, Left Behind, https://melissabanesevier.wordpress.com
McShane, S.L., Von Glinow, M.A. (2005). Organizational behavior 3d ed. McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. New York, NY.
Fritz Wendt, Politics of Inauguration and Surrender.
Linda Yates, Answering the Call of Duty”, Observer Jan 2017.
Inaugural Speech of Joe Biden and the Poem of Amanda Gorman, January 20, 2021.
Hymn, “Here I Am Lord”, Words and Music by Daniel Schutte.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Holy One, source of love and compassion, like the first four disciples called by Jesus to be fishers of people, you call us where we are as your followers. You call us to be good stewards entrusted with gifts of your abundance so we can share these gifts with others. You have given us the ability to make incredible things happen. Remind us again to listen to your call, to experience your holy presence in our lives. Help us to see You in the moment-by-moment possibilities - to live honestly, to act courageously, and to speak from the wisdom of our hearts.

Strengthen us in our calling. Where there is injustice, help us to offer healing and reconciliation. Where there is poverty, help us to reach out. Where there is grief, help us to give comfort. Where there is hopelessness, help us to bring hope. Where there is hunger, help us to provide. Where there is violence, help us to be advocates of truth and peace.

God of healing and comfort, you have called us to give a word of encouragement to those overcome with illness and grief and to those who face diverse trials in life. Through us, touch them with your healing love. Through our prayers, embrace them in your gentle love. May your blessings and healing touch be upon them and all those who have opened their hearts to pray for them. We continue to pray for our essential and health workers, for our leaders, as they continue to work hard in this pandemic time. We also pray for those families and individuals affected by COVID-19, particularly those grieving the death of loved ones.

Compassionate God, we pray that you might speak to the hearts of people in many places. We continue to pray for the American people under a new leadership as they work together for peace and healing in the land. May your light shine for those who are full of fear; for those who experience conflict, prejudice, hatred, persecution, and poverty. Through the warmth of your light may they sense justice, feel your love, and know peace.

May we follow Jesus as our leader. Speak to us, Spirit of Grace: of that hope which is our anchor; of that peace which is our rock; of that grace which is our refuge. Remind us to touch the lives of others by offering a kind word, a helping hand, a listening heart and a welcoming touch. All these we ask in Jesus’ name who calls us from where we are and taught us this prayer we now recite together in the language of your choice…

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Jesus calls us from the margins into a great feast; he calls us out of a crowd, to healing;

he calls us from our old self to new life. Each day, we are called to minister to others in warm hospitality, healing mercies, and the promise of new beginnings. We respond to these calls through our giving this day. 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

Generous God, for the gifts of time, talents and treasures delightfully given to us, we bring you our offering. May we use them to spread your love and hope for the world. Amen.

Sending Forth (Anna Atkinson, Gathering, ACE 2020-21) Rev. Kim Vidal

As we leave this time of worship, let us go forth
not to catch people, but to feed them.
We do this knowing that we are never alone,
that we journey together, fish together,
reach out together, and that our God,
who is Maker, Mender and Mover,
journeys with us as we go! Amen.

Hymn: Jesus You Have Come to the Lakeshore – Voices United #563 - Erin & flute

1.Jesus, you have come to the lakeshore
looking neither for wealthy nor wise ones.
You only asked me to follow humbly. R

Refrain
O Jesus, with your eyes you have searched me, and while smiling, have spoken my name; now my boat’s left on the shoreline behind me; by your side I will seek other seas.

You know so well my possessions;
my boat carries no gold and no weapons;
You will find there my nets and labour. R

You need my hands, full of caring,
through my labours to give others rest,
and constant love that keeps on loving. R

You, who have fished other oceans,
ever longed for by souls who are waiting,
my loving friend, as thus you call me. R

Words & Music © 1979 Cesáreo Gabaráin, trans. ©1987 Gertrude Suppe, George Lockwood, Raquel Gutiérrez-Achon, harmony © 1987 Skinner Chávez-Melo
Song #6905 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.

Departing Music: Day by Day Abe

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

Connie Davidson

January 16, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 17, 2021

Connie Davidson

January 16, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

2nd SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY

January 17, 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: Saviour Like a Shepherd Lead Us – Synth/piano: Abe

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you on this 2nd Sunday after Epiphany as we reflect on the story of Jesus calling Philip and Nathanael to follow him.

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.

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11: 00 am. Link has been emailed to you or call the office for more information.

For all other announcements, please check your email or the church website.

Friends, let us take a moment to reflect the meaning of Epiphany: to discover what “aha” moments are revealed to us as we follow Jesus, God’s gift of light. Let us now gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: David Stafford & Barbara Bole

As we light this Christ Candle,
may God refresh our perception
that we may discover God’s manifestation in Christ.
May epiphany be not just a word
but a gasp of wonder at the promise revealed.
(Cheryl Stenson, Gathering, ACE 2020-21)

Call to Gather (Richard Bott, Gathering, ACE 2020-21) Rev. Lorrie Lowes

As individuals, as a group, as a community of faith –
are gather in this place.
To listen. To communicate.
To worship. To pray.
To be with God.
Because we know –
It is out of God’s authority, it is out of God’s love,
that we live. Alleluia!

Prayer of Approach: (Gord Dunbar, Gathering, ACE 2020-21) Rev. Kim Vidal

Every time we answer your call, O God,
we meet you again as if for the first time.
Each moment is a revelation.
Each meeting leads to our hearts opening wider to you and to others.
Each encounter shines light onto the strength of relationships
fostered while following Jesus the Christ –
the one who invites and equips,
the one who is companion and guide,
the one who is Giver and Gift. Amen.

Hymn: I Am the Light of the World – Voices United #87 Guitar: Heidi

Refrain:
I am the light of the world!
You people come and follow me!
If you follow and love
you’ll learn the mystery
of what you were meant to do and be.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and the shepherds
have found their way home,
the work of Christmas is begun. R

To find the lost and lonely one,
to heal the broken soul with love,
to feed the hungry children
with warmth and good food,
to feel the earth below, the sky above! R.

To free the prisoner from all chains,
to make the powerful care,
to rebuild the nations with strength of good will,
to see God’s children everywhere! R

To bring hope to every task you do,
to dance at a baby’s new birth,
to make music in an old person’s heart,
and sing to the colours of the earth! R

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

I have a book here by Judith Viorst called “Alexander, Who’s Not (Do you hear me? I mean it!) Going to Move”. I will just read you the first few pages…

Boy, Alexander has his mind made up! His parents and his brothers try to make him see the good things about moving to a new place, but he is not going to change his mind. He doesn’t want to hear what they have to say and has all sorts of plans for how he can stay right where he is…

Have you ever tried to change someone’s mind? It can be really difficult! Often when someone has an opinion about something or a personal view, they don’t even want to hear what you have to say. Even when you know they are missing some important information, you can’t make someone listen to you if they already have their mind made up. That can be really frustrating!

Or… have you ever been like Alexander, refusing to listen when someone tries to make you change your mind?

I wonder what it is that makes it hard for us to change our thinking? For Alexander, he is happy with his life and comfortable in his home. Change must seem kind of scary to him...For some people, it might be that they heard something from someone they trust and so they think that if they change their mind, they are betraying that trust. It’s hard to think that someone you have trusted might have been wrong… Or sometimes we might worry that changing our mind means that we are weak or that people will think we are dumb. Whatever it is, we know that changing your mind can be difficult sometimes.

But, if we never change our minds about things, we never learn anything new and we stop growing in both knowledge and wisdom. I used to tell my math students that making a mistake and starting over is not a bad thing, it just means you’ve changed your thinking based on new information or more thought. Changing your thinking shows me that you are really paying attention to what you already know and to new ideas – and that’s a good thing!

In our Bible story today, we will hear about a man, Nathanael, who thinks Jesus couldn’t be anything special because he came from the small backwater town of Nazareth. He has made a judgement about Jesus without even meeting him! What I like about Nathanael though, is that he is willing to admit that his thinking was wrong and he is open to learning more.

These days we are hearing a lot of different opinions about things like the lockdown measures for the pandemic and about the government officials who are making these rules. We are hearing about differences of opinion in the United States that have led to violence and breaking up of families. It’s hard to know, sometimes, what to believe and it can be downright scary. It makes adults worry and I think that makes kids worry too… The important thing to remember, is that you need to keep your ears and your mind open as you hear the thoughts of others. You need to find your own ways of figuring out what makes the most sense and which people have expertise and knowledge to back up their thinking. If you are confused or upset about what’s happening these days, make sure you ask questions and have discussions with people whose thinking you can trust and with experts. Share your thinking and listen to what others think too.

As a Christian, one of the experts I turn to is Jesus. What would Jesus say about what is happening in our world today? What understanding will help us show our love for our neighbours? What can we do in this situation to make the world closer to God’s dream for it? These are questions we’ve heard before and I think they are a really good place to start. Let’s be like Nathanael, with open minds and hearts. I believe that will help us though these tricky times.

Hymn: You Are Holy - More Voices #45 TeGrotenhuis family

1. You are holy, you show us the way. (4X)

Refrain:
You show us, you show us, you show us the way. (4X)

2. You are freedom, you show us the way (4X) R

3 You are justice, you show us the way (4X) R

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Angela Starchuk

Weave your Word into our lives, O God until they are part of the very fabric of our being, shaping our choices and our everyday living. Amen.

The Reading: John 1: 43-51 (NRSV)

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” 48 Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?” Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us! Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Whose Voice?” Rev. Kim Vidal

How many of you enjoy being cynical or being skeptic or doubtful, on occasion? Well, I do – from time to time. When the weather is a messy mix of freezing rain and snow just like in these past few days - can anything good come out from this nasty weather? When I hear horrible news about riots and protests or acts of terror or deadly accidents - can anything good come out from these tragic stories? When positive-tested cases of COVID-19 continue to surge that affect all of us – can anything good come out from this seemingly hopeless pandemic? Or if a political candidate I did not vote for won the election- can anything good come out from the leadership of this winning candidate? Nathanael asked a similar question in today’s gospel story: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth? There are times when we judge people from the place of their origin or where they live. If someone comes from a small unknown town, we easily assume that that someone has every potential to fail. We simply associate the word success to people who were born or were raised from well-known cities.

We live in a time defined by cynicism. Our era delights in discovering scandals, ulterior motives, and the secret double lives of famous people. And there’s nothing better than a scandal involving a politician or a celebrity or even a religious leader. Nathanael had plenty of reasons to be cynical himself when his friend Philip said that he had found the Messiah. First century Palestine was filled with all kinds of wannabe heroes, self-proclaimed prophets, going around claiming that they were the long-awaited Messiah, who would liberate the Jewish people from the Roman rulers. Sometimes these fake messiahs would organize revolts and rebellious protests that were quickly and brutally repressed by the Roman soldiers. Not only did Nathanael had second thoughts on this particular Messiah that Philip is talking about– but this Messiah is also someone from a small, infamous place called Nazareth.

Obviously in those days, Nazareth wasn’t a good place to put on your resume as your place of origin. In fact, if there was any social media back then, you wouldn’t acknowledge that you were from Nazareth. Nazareth was a like a no where’s land. It didn’t feature any wonders of the world. It wasn’t the seat of any power and no great families connected with it. It was a simple laid-back town with no great schools, no sports arena or a temple like that of Jerusalem. There was nothing exciting about Nazareth. Jesus came from Nazareth. Located in the region of Galilee, it was a particularly mischievous hotbed for radicals such as Judas of Galilee who led an armed uprising against the same Roman census that forced Joseph and Mary to travel to Bethlehem. Judas also founded the Zealots, a militant Jewish sect whose revolt years later would result in the complete destruction of Jerusalem in 70 CE. Nathanael had reasonable cause to question what good could possibly come out of Nazareth. Would this Jesus, son of Joseph be another fake messiah? Would he try to start something that would get Philip and Nathanael in trouble with the Roman authorities or even get killed? What good certainly could come out of Nazareth?

Philip knows his friend Nathanael by heart. He should have figured that Nathanael would scoff, or make fun of him, or ignore him all together. But Philip goes and tells his friend anyway about this cool guy, Jesus. This news was too good not to share, especially when Andrew and his brother Simon were over the moon about this guy. Surely, Philip needs to share this exciting news with a good friend like Nathanael. And I think what's even cooler is Philip's reaction to Nathanael's dismissive remark. Philip didn’t retort back, or get defensive, or walk away hurt or angry, vowing never to share anything with Nathanael again. Instead, Philip just took Nathanael’s remarks in stride and answers with more excitement - “Come and see”.

“Come and see”. Three words that would change Nathanael’s life. Three words that would shatter Nathanael’s cynical nature. Come and see. Such simple, open, and inviting words. Words, that sum up not only the heart of the Gospel of John but the whole Jesus movement. For this, according to John, the Evangelist, is the only fit response to having witnessed the grace and mercy of God taking shape among us, when we follow the ways of Jesus. Come and see the One whose voice may change one’s mindset and perspective. Come and see. These are the words we are invited to say to others who are truly seeking meaning from life.

When your child grabs your hand and says, “Come and see, Mommy, Daddy, look what I found!” it puts an end to whatever doubtful thoughts you might have had in your head. I think this is one of the reasons why Jesus says that we have to receive the kingdom of God like children, because we cannot enter God’s reality unless we allow ourselves to be overtaken by the innocent delight to grab our friends by the hand and tell them to come and see what God is doing in the world.

So Nathanael lets his friend Philip grabs him by the hand and took him to meet Jesus. I love the way that Jesus greets Nathanael. He could have said, “What’s happening in your little head, brother? I hear you’ve been saying stuff about my hometown!” But Jesus says instead, “Here is a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” For Jesus to call someone a “true Israelite” was a tremendous compliment. For him to say that Nathanael was someone “without deceit” is a positive spin on Nathanael’s cynicism. Jesus knows that Nathanael speaks openly and honestly from his heart. He appreciates Nathanael’s way of questioning and doubting without pretense or malice. Despite the stereotypical setbacks of Nazareth origin, Jesus has insight and perception of the best family, geography, status, wealth or education cannot give. Jesus has this innate ability to know people, their nature, their motivation and their desires. That is what drew him to Nathanael as Jesus saw him under the fig tree.

We have a fig tree in our church courtyard planted by Nicole and Gerry about 4 years ago. This fig tree is pretty small compared to the fig tree mentioned in our reading. A shorty like me can’t even squat under it. Standing or sitting under your own fig tree is a symbol of comfort and blessing in the language of the Hebrew Scripture. Again and again the prophets used the fig tree image to evoke feelings of longing for peace and comfort. To be under your fig tree was to come home and have arrived safe. Nathanael was standing in that safe space. He had this longing for peace and comfort. He was anticipating in that moment that someone like Jesus can see right through him. There are gaps in this story that were not accounted for by the gospel writer. I’m sure Philip must have explained who Jesus is in full lengths in order to convince Nathanael. Similarly, Jesus and Nathanael might have had a heart-to-heart talk about religion and theology or even the politics of the day that had Nathanael’s ears ringing in awe and his mind in wonder. When Nathanael finally came to his senses, after he have heard Jesus’ voice and realized who he was talking to, Nathanael professed his profound confession of faith: “Rabbi Jesus - you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel! You surpass any emperor like Augustus or any ruler like Herod. You are the beacon of love and compassion!”

Jesus pats Nathanael on his back: “Nate, my brother, are you saying this because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? That’s nothing! you will see greater things than these. You will see the heavens open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Some scholars interpret this verse as alluding to Jacob’s dream of a ladder full of angels ascending and descending on each step. But these words also capture something beautiful about the way that our eyes and mind can be opened when we allow ourselves to listen to Jesus’ voice and be converted from our own cynicism into a living faith. We too can see the heavens open when we look at the world in wonder and be transformed through the eyes of faith.

Nathanael is a second-hand disciple. Jesus didn’t call him - Philip did. If Jesus had called him, he probably wouldn’t have come. But that’s ok, too. Because that’s how many of us got into the Christian faith. We were skeptics and cynics first or just checking Christianity out as a favour to a friend or just to please our parents or to look for concrete proofs about the existence of God. Until we came and saw for ourselves and listened to Jesus’ voice through the inspired witnesses of faith – until we realized that Jesus’ way of radical love and hospitality, his agenda of inclusivity and justice, are the very values that we need in making a difference, then and only then are we able to profess our own faith experience. And talking about following the steps of Jesus, it would be difficult to see God’s angels all around us if we continuously hold on to cynicism. All that we’ll ever see when we look around are moments of negativity and pessimism: hopelessness in the midst of this pandemic, bickering and finger-wagging, gloom and doom of life or the stinky smell of unwashed floors. When we hear an invitation to come and see Jesus and accepts the invitation no matter what state of cynicism or questioning we are in, the Light of God comes when we are willing to be broken open to new possibilities.

Jesus doesn’t let Philip and Nathanael down. Philip accepted Jesus’ invitation to follow him and invited Nathanael to “come and see” --- soon the disciples tasted water turning into wine, watched in wonder as Jesus clears the temple, were disturbed when Jesus asked water from a Samaritan woman; listened with amazement when Jesus said to Nicodemus that the spirit of God blows wherever it wills. The disciples stumbled onto a new way of life they have never imagined. A gracious invitation is extended - one that comes with a promise.
Seek and you will find.
Knock and the door will be opened to you.
Ask and you will receive.
Come to me and I will give you rest.
“Come and see.”

Jesus’ voice is loud and clear. Come and see.

Will you listen and follow? Amen.

Note: Thanks to the members of the BCUC Lectionary Group for their insights, reflections and interpretation of the story.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

God of Wisdom, we seek your presence today in this time of turmoil and strife.

After almost a year of restrictions and fears about Covid-19, we are tired and frustrated and worried about the future. Help us in our struggles to balance our concerns about physical health, mental and emotional well-being, and economic responsibilities both personal and global with the call to love our neighbour and to keep them from harm.

Help us to find patience and hope in the rollout of the vaccine.

Help us express gratitude for the blessings that still surround us.

We pray for all those who are suffering illness, injury, or loss in this time when we can’t reach out with a hug or a helping hand. We pray for all the medical workers who are being asked to go above and beyond to care for us. We pray for all who are facing financial difficulties due to the restrictions, difficulties that affect life today and that have far-reaching consequences even as we look to a future without the pandemic.

We pray for all the essential workers in grocery stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and all the businesses that keep our world functioning.

We pray for those in the world facing this pandemic in the midst of war, natural disasters, and political unrest. We pray for our neighbours in the United States, for a peaceful transition of power and new resolve to find a way forward in harmony.

“Teach us
to set aside our prejudiced judgements,
to forego our narrow assumptions,
to unlock ourselves for new perspectives and new life.
Help us
to come and see,
to listen and learn,
to open ourselves to epiphany…

In these days
of polarities and pandemic pivoting,
of climate change and conflicts,
of tensions and turf wars,
we pray for our world.
May the heavens open.
May justice and compassion descend with the angels.
May our prayers for equity and peace ascend.
May hope and love abound for your kin-dom come.”[1]

All these things we ask as we repeat together this ancient prayer

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

We have seen the light of the world. We have been called to follow that light.
Like the Magi who brought gifts to the infant Jesus, let us bring our gifts to show our gratitude to God and bring the light to all the dark places in our community and our world.

Offertory Prayer

We hear your call upon our hearts, O God,
and we respond with our gifts as tokens and pledges of our gratitude.
May they be used to further your mission of love in the world. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

As we leave this time of worship, may we go with ears open to hear the wisdom of others, even when it comes from unlikely places, minds open to discern the truth, even when it seems to conflict with our beliefs, and hearts open to recognize the voice of God speaking to us in the people and events of our earthly lives; and as we go into this week let us remember that the God we long to find is also seeking to be with us. Amen.

Hymn: Will You Come and Follow Me? – Voices United #567 TeGrotenhuis family

Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean and do such as this unseen,
and admit to what I mean in you and you in me?

Will you love the "you" you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around,
through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?

Christ, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In Your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me.

Departing Music: Rise Up Shepherd and Follow – Synth/piano: Abe

Join us for Zoom Fellowship at 11:00 am

[1] excerpts from a “Prayer for January 17, 2021” by Ted Dodd for DOTAC (Diaconate of the Americas and the Caribbean.

Connie Davidson

January 9, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 10, 2021

Connie Davidson

January 9, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

BAPTISM OF JESUS SUNDAY

January 10, 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: Voices United #371 - Open My Eyes That I May See – Erin Berard: vocal & flute

1. Open my eyes that I may see, glimpses of truth thou hast for me,
Place in my hand the wonderful key, that shall unclasp and set me free

Chorus:
Silently now I wait for thee, ready my God thy will to see,
Open my eyes (ears, heart), illumine me Spirit divine.

2. Open my ears that I may hear, voices of truth thou sendest clear;
And while the wavenotes fall on my ear, everything else will disappear. Chorus

3. Open my mouth and let me bear gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare love with thy children thus to share. Chorus

Acknowledgement of Territory Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Kim Vidal

Good day everyone! On behalf of BCUC, I welcome and greet you on this Baptism of Jesus Sunday as we remember Jesus’ baptism at the Jordan River to install him for his earthly ministry and to remind ourselves the vows that we have professed at our baptism.

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.

And for those of you who are able to join us via Zoom, there will be zoom fellowship every Sunday at 11: 00 am. Link has been emailed to you or call the office for more information.

For all other announcements, please check your email or the church website.

Friends, as we welcome a New Year in our midst, let us take a moment to reflect and remember what the season of Epiphany means for us: to make way for God’s light to shine in our lives. Let us now gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolytes: Sue & Rick Morrison

As we light this Christ Candle, let us remember the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1b)

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

From the beginning of time God has been with us:
shining a light into the dark and cold places in our lives.
On this day when we celebrate the baptism of Jesus,
we thank God for new beginnings.
God calls us by name, and claims us in the waters of baptism.
Jesus, brother, friend, your baptism brings the promises of God
to us in ways that lead to new life.
Come; celebrate how God brings new surprises in our daily living.
Let us worship God!

Prayer of Approach

Creator God, you have fashioned and formed us in your image, calling us by name.
You fire in us a shining glaze that reflects your tender loving care.
We pray that sometimes we do not always see ourselves worthy of your attention,
and that at times we fail to turn to you when you call us by name.
We ask that you pour your love upon us, a refreshing, cleansing water
calling out all that is Christ in us, shining into our world. Amen.

Hymn: River – More Voices #3 Soloist: Sheryll Highstead

1 River, rush-a-down to the ocean blue,
River from a mountain high.
River, as you do what rivers do,
River, draw the Spirit nigh.

2 Spirit, come-a-down to the river-side,
Spirit, spark of wondrous thought.
Spirit, I am free for you to guide,
Spirit, pray that I be taught!

3 Water, let me drink of your healing pow’r,
Water, strength and life you give.
Water, as I travel with each hour,
Water, help my body live.

4 River, flow-a-down where you ran before,
River, source of clearer view.
River, as I walk your rocky shore,
River, see my journey through.
See my journey through…

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Good morning!

Here we are in lockdown once again and I can’t tell you how much I miss seeing all of you these days. Although we have had a few months of small gatherings in the sanctuary, most of the time it is only adults who attend. Believe me, I love seeing them, but these days I am really missing seeing the children and youth. Your energy energizes me and your questions really make me think!

On Christmas Eve, I was really excited to see a few of you – and Calliyanna had a question for me. It was a hard one to answer quickly on the spot. She asked why there are stories about Jesus’ birth but then it skips to him as an adult. Why don’t we hear stories about him as a child?

What a great question! I bet lots of you have wondered about that. And, today, as we celebrate the baptism of Jesus, is the perfect time to explore it.

Most of you probably don’t remember your baptism because, in the United Church and many other denominations, we practice infant baptism. Your parents and all the people in the congregation welcome you into our faith family and promise to love and care for you as you grow. We all have great hopes for you and promise to help you be the best you can be. Then, when you are a little older – often around 14 years old – you get to make your own statement that says you believe in what the church is teaching and you commit to continuing as a member of the faith family and as a follower of Jesus. We call that Confirmation.

In the case of Jesus, I think we can all say that Mary and Joseph – along with angels and shepherds and kings – all welcomed that little baby into the world. One of the coolest things about this particular welcome is that it wasn’t just into one faith but as a hope for all the faiths and people of the world.

Jesus grew up just like any child of his time and place. He was surrounded by all those people who had great hopes for him but no one expected a small child to suddenly change the world. He needed to learn and to experience what ordinary people faced every day. He needed to develop his own view of the world and of the lesson’s scripture held. He needed to be mature enough to be able to handle the huge responsibility that lay ahead.

I look at all of you and try to imagine what you will do with your lives. Some of you may grow up to be doctors or teachers or scientists. You might be farmers or airline pilots. You might be parents or grandparents. Maybe some of you will even be ministers! But, even if we had been told on the day you born what you were destined to be, we would never expect you to do it as an infant or a child or even a teenager. Imagine being expected to fly a plane or perform surgery just because it was obvious that you were destined to be a pilot or a doctor! There’s a lot of learning and experience that needs to happen first, isn’t there? And you also need to have the experience of growing up in the kind of environment that encourages that learning, that has confidence in you, and that lets you grow into a well-rounded human being. First, you need to be a kid. You need time to grow and learn and mature. You need to discover your path. No one can do that for you.

So, on the day that Jesus arrived the Jordan River to be baptized by John, he had had all those years to grow into the role that God had planned for him. He was already on the path chosen for him but, until that day, when he came back up out of the water, he wasn’t ready to give his whole life to it.

We are told that baptism is a fresh start, a time to leave behind what wasn’t working or wasn’t good in your past and to commit to a fresh new start in the direction that God wants you to go. I imagine that Jesus knew the world needed changing long before he arrived at the river that day but his baptism was the moment when it became clear to him what needed to be done – what he needed to do – what he was being called to do. And when he made that commitment, the heavens opened up for him and he knew that he was surrounded by God’s love and pride.

So, Calliyanna, I’m sure Mary and Joseph had lots of stories to tell about Jesus as a little boy. They were probably the same kind of stories that your family will tell about you when you get older. But the biggest part of your life story will happen when you discover who you are meant to be – and at that time, I hope you hear the message that God is giving to each of you every day: “You are my beloved child and I am so proud of you!”

Hymn: Behold, I Make All Things New - More Voices #115 Soloist: Erin Berard

Behold, (behold,) behold, (behold,)
I make all things new,
beginning with you and starting from today.
Behold, (behold,) behold, (behold,)
I make all things new,
my promises true,
for I am Christ the way.

Repeat

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Dan Lanoue

By the power of your Holy Spirit, God,
awaken in us a deep sense of appreciation
as we hear your word.
Touch us anew with both blessings and prodding
that we might be centred in the abundance of your grace. Amen.

The Reading: Mark 1:4-11 (NRSV)

John the Baptizer and the Baptism of Jesus

4 John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us! Thanks be to God!

Sermon: “Whose Baptism?” Rev. Kim Vidal

The curtain is up. The two main characters of the play are on the centre stage. One named John the Baptizer – who called everyone from all walks of life to repent and take a bath in the Jordan River. The other character is the grown-up adult Jesus, whose birth we celebrated at Christmas. Jesus came to be baptized as the Holy Spirit inaugurates him to his earthly ministry. According to the gospel of Luke, they are cousins—John and Jesus. Their mothers, Elizabeth and Mary, pregnant at the same time, were relatives and bosom friends. John and Jesus were close in birth, born just months apart. They grew up as vigorous, strong-minded young men, called to their own ministry. And they have reunited in this baptismal scene.

Let's go for a moment and witness this drama - to the banks of Jordan River where Jesus is being baptized. Here he makes his first public appearance on the stage of human history. The baptismal account of Jesus was the opening act in the book of Mark. Mark’s gospel introduces us to Jesus as a thirty-year-old something, and we don’t have a clue as to what happened prior to his baptism. But some scholars believed that Jesus grew up like any other boys in Nazareth under the guidance of his parents. One day the 30-year-old Jesus heads south and finds his cousin John the Baptizer, standing in the muddy Jordan River proclaiming a baptism of repentance. Jesus gets in line and waits his turn. He wades out into the water, right next to repentant baptizands. John and Jesus stand hip-deep in the river. Jesus leans back into the water believing that God is calling him to a different kind of life. When Jesus stands up, the waters of the Jordan dripping down his face, he saw the heavens torn apart. Torn apart! Mark uses a form of the Greek verb schitzo – the same root we find in the word schism and schizophrenia. It is a more violent and dramatic word than just the word “open”. Its message tells us that through Jesus’ baptism, God’s presence and power are on the loose in the world, nothing will be the same again. And Jesus is the one in whom that presence and power are operating. And tearing the heavens apart was not the only visible image in that particular event. There was also the Spirit descending like a dove that rested upon Jesus’ soggy head. The Spirit comes, not as an all-consuming fire of judgment, but in a form of a dove, with the flutter of hopeful, unfurled wings, the symbol of shalom – God’s vision of peace. And a voice from heaven addresses the crowd: “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.”

People in the first century have come to the water, intentionally, knowing they can’t live without it. From the beginning, water nourished their fields and crops, cleansed and refreshed their bodies, and satisfied their physical as well as spiritual thirst. The people who came to the water of the River Jordan had drunk deeply of the stories of their faith. They knew about the waters of creation. They knew about the dangerous waters of the flood. They knew about the waters of the Red Sea, which parted as the people of God escaped their bondage in Egypt towards freedom. They came filled with expectation that stepping into this water would wash them clean and be renewed again, and would somehow satisfy their thirst for God.

The waters of the Jordan River run through the land and history of biblical times, giving its waters a spiritual significance that sets it aside from other rivers. It is significant for Jews because the tribes of Israel under Joshua crossed this river to enter the Promised Land after years of wandering in the desert. The OT prophets Elijah and Elisha also crossed the river and the Syrian general Naaman was healed of leprosy after washing in the Jordan at Elisha’s direction. Modern Christians are still being immersed in the waters of Jordan River because they believe that in these waters of baptism they are connected to Jesus, to God, to their community, and to all of salvation history.

Today, water, whether taken from the tap or from the ocean or river, is used as a symbol of baptism - a symbol of cleansing, healing and renewal. Water, as we know, is one of the most powerful elements on the face of the earth. In 2020, in addition to the Covid-19 pandemic that swept the world, we also have witnessed the magnanimity of the bushfires that have engulfed many places in the world. Millions of people prayed for rain to come down and help snuff these fires that consumed forests, wildlife, people and billions of animals. Water is an essential element without which all creation will die. The human body weight is made up of about sixty percent water. Science and experience have shown us that a person can survive without food for about three weeks. But humans can only survive approximately three days without water. We need it for life. In celebrating the baptism of Jesus, we remember our own baptism and give thanks for the water that gives us life.

For most of us, one thing that brings us to church on Sunday is the fact that we were baptized through the symbol of water. But many people do not have a clue as to why baptism is an important sacrament that we still do. How many of us really understand the meaning of baptism? Some people believe that baptism is a necessary requirement in receiving God’s grace. I don’t think so. I believe that whether one is baptised or not, everyone is welcome in God’s love. Everyone is God’s beloved child. Deep in my heart, what I believe and strongly vouch for is that through baptism, we are provided with an opportunity to commit ourselves to live a life of being in right relationship with God, with others and with ourselves. Baptism offers us a choice to become a member of a faith community committed to follow the ways of Jesus Christ as a guide in making life’s decisions. Parents profess their faith on behalf of their children with the hope that their children will be grounded in values that will help them live a righteous life. I strongly believe that through the waters of baptism, we proclaim that our lives can be transformed and renewed over and over again. Water is the visible symbol of God’s grace reminding us that we are affirmed intimately in a relationship of love - a love that is not distant, but real, alive, tender and completely present in that very moment. The waters of baptism call us to look beneath and beyond the ordinary surfaces of our lives, and discover the extraordinary love of God.

In the United Church tradition, infant baptism is the primary baptismal practice, but we certainly encourage adult baptism as well which we sometimes call “believer’s baptism”. We sprinkle candidates with the baptismal water. Other traditions utilize pouring or immersion. I once read a facebook illustration entitled: “Babies’ Perspective on Baptism”. The photo shows a toddler on the phone talking to his friends. The toddler with his big “I’m not kidding you” eyes said: “So today at church, a man wearing a suit dunked me in the water trying to drown me! No! I am not joking! My family just stood there taking pictures!” While sprinkling is part of the United Church tradition, whatever the practice or mode, no matter how much water is used, and regardless of the location of the event -- the Spirit, like the dove descending on Jesus in Mark, is present in the act of baptism and infusing the baptized with the possibilities of a new beginning to follow Jesus and God’s will. And that is more powerful than any flowing water on the face of the Earth.

Dear friends, there is no magic when we practice baptism. The challenge is always before us. Look again. Look harder. See freshly. Cling to the possibility of surprise. Baptism calls us to deep waters — you can't stand on the shore and dip your toes in. You must take a breath and plunge. Baptism promises new life. Listen. We are marked as God's own. Even in the deepest water, or a sprinkle of water on our foreheads, we are immersed in grace. We are God’s beloved. Let me close with a poem by Andrew King he titles John Baptizes Jesus to help us remember Jesus’ baptism and ours:

He takes the light that dances on the flowing surface of the water…
He stands with the man whose words are pitchers of grace and light.
Stands with the man whose grace is like life, like a flowing river.
He fills his pitcher with the water, with the light, with the flow of life.
He pours it over the man waist deep with him in the water.
Grace descends, glittering, like wings unfurling in the air.
The air shimmers, it dances with sound, sounds of the river
flowing, the water pouring, the men breathing; the light glittering,
grace flooding, the wings beating, words surfacing: God’s son.
He hears, he sees, he is soaked in the sound and the light and the water.
He rejoices in the gift of it, he rejoices in the grace, in the one
who is standing there with him in the water.
For he knows that all of it is goodness. That all is a new beginning.
That all of it is part of God’s river of grace.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

Sources of my sermon:

Debbie Thomas, Thin Places, Deep Water. http://www.journeywithjesus.net/
Karyn Wiseman, workingoreacher.org
Rev. Dr. Scott Black-Johnston, Sermon “How’s the Water?” Day1.org.
Facebook illustration
Andrew King, “John Baptizes Jesus”, A Poetic Kind of Place.

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Let us gather our hearts in prayer.

Gracious God, your spirit moves over the waters of chaos to bring forth life. Your Spirit rains and pours and floods in rivers, in oceans, in baptismal fonts, cleansing, purifying, anointing all creation, to live your goodness and love.

God of John and Jesus, you have called us by our names and we respond with joy, knowing that we are your beloved children. We come to the river of your grace to celebrate and renew our covenant of baptism. Pour your Holy Spirit of oneness upon us, that we may be your faithful people, united in one Holy Communion, living the gospel of love made flesh. Open our hearts as we pray, and call us to a new faithfulness in our baptism. Inspire each one of us to show forth our loving kindness in our hurting world, and bring healing and peace to all your people.

O God, we pray for your church. Baptize us with the water of love, service and hospitality that we can be your bringers of good news to others. May our feet move in directions of service. May our hands seek to do the work of justice. May our hearts be shaped to see love and connection.

Healing God, baptize us with the waters of compassion and wholeness. We pray for those who seek healing and recovery from illnesses, from grief, from despair. We pray for those for those awaiting medical test results; for those who are recovering in hospitals and in home; bring comfort for those who are grieving the loss of loved ones. We pray for Frank Pope and family in the passing of Doreen and for David Donaldson and family in the passing of Dorothy. We pray for those in long-term care facilities and nursing homes, particularly those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the many of us who seek your healing grace. And now in silence, hear the deepest concerns of our hearts. (Moment of Silence)

O God of compassion, we pray for our communities, the neighbouring places, our city, our province and our country as a whole. Baptize us with the waters of justice so that the poor, the lonely and grieving, the homeless and all those pushed to society’s margins can once again be gathered into the heart of neighbourhood. We pray for the Americans as they are face once more the brunt of violence and political bigotry. May the true spirit of democracy continue to be our beacon of light towards peace and harmonious relationship. Baptize our world with the waters of compassion, hope and strength so that evil systems and acts of terror will come crashing down replacing them with systems of sharing, of peaceful endeavours and acts of grace. We continue to pray for peace in the world.

O God, affirm and baptize us with the water, spirit and fire of your peace, that we whom you call as your beloved may spread the good news of Jesus through our words and our actions. May our baptism rekindle hope, transform our ways and offer fresh possibilities. These we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, baptized in the waters of Jordan, who taught us this ancient prayer.

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

The Holy Spirit that came upon Jesus on his baptism is with us in amazing and powerful ways, bringing shining new hope into the world. As we remember our own baptism, may we participate in the ministry of our church with that great hope, trusting in the promises of God. In our giving this morning, our love overflows in generosity.

Offertory Prayer (Fern Gibbard, Gathering, ACE 2016-2017)

In baptism, we have received the gift of the Spirit;
in return we offer these gifts of gratitude
that they may become a source of light to those in need. Amen.

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

(Inspired by the prayers of Rev. Dawn Hutchings and Beth W. Johnson)

Let the waters of baptism sooth you, nourish you,
and sustain you for all the possibilities yet to come!
We are the beloved children of a Creator who rejoices with us!
Listen closely. Hear the flapping of the wings of a dove
as the Holy Spirit alights upon you.
We gladly receive the blessings of possibility!
Go forth as God’s baptized people,
knowing that the refreshing waters
will sustain you in your journey. Amen.

Hymn: I Have Called You by Your Name – More Voices #161 Soloist: Sheryll Highstead

1 I have called you by your name, you are mine;
I have gifted you and ask you now to shine.
I will not abandon you;
all my promises are true.
You are gifted, called, and chosen;
you are mine.

2 I will help you learn my name as you go;
read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name,
speak the word your soul can claim,
offer Jesus’ body given long ago.

3 I know you will need my touch as you go;
feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out,
choosing faith in spite of doubt,
hold the hem of Jesus’ robe,
then let it go.

4 I have given you a name, it is mine;
I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul,
make my wounded children whole;
go and tell my precious people
they are mine.

Departing: More Voices #144 – Like a Healing Stream Soloist: Erin Berard

1.       Like a healing stream in a barren desert,
          Spirit water bringing life to dusty earth,
          God is trickling through our lives
          as in a dream unfolding,
          promising revival and rebirth
          like a healing stream

2.       Like a gentle rain on a thirsty garden,
          Spirit water come to nourish tiny seed,
          God is bubbling through the soil
          to coax a new creation
          yearning for an end to want and need
          like a gentle rain.

3. Like a river strong with a restless current,
       Spirit water rushing on to distant shore,
          God is carving out a channel
          in a new direction,
          calling for an end to hate and war
          like a river strong.

4. Like a mighty sea reaching far horizons,
      Spirit water with a love both deep and wide,
          God is working in our hearts
          to shape a new tomorrow:
          God will always challenge and provide!
          Like a mighty sea, like a river strong,
          like a gentle rain, like a healing stream.

Zoom meeting -

Connie Davidson

January 1, 2021

Worship services

Sunday Worship Service - January 3, 2021

Connie Davidson

January 1, 2021

Worship services

BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH

EPIPHANY SUNDAY

January 3, 2021

Available in Text Format only

Ministers: Rev. Lorrie Lowes & Rev. Kim Vidal
Music Director: Abe TeGrotenhuis

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. Today, we celebrate Epiphany Sunday with the coming of the Magi.

During this time when we are not 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.

Note: No in-person worship service will be offered during the provincial lockdown. Video, audio, text and phone formats will resume on January 10, 2021.

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 the name of justice and love. Let us gather in worship.

Lighting of the Christ Candle (You may light a candle if you wish)

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1)

Call to Gather

Rejoice, this is the day that God has made!
This is a new day, a new year, a new beginning.
God calls us to continue our journey of faith.
We ask, “God, to what are you calling us at this time?”
We are called to allow God’s light to show us the way.
We come today seeking that light and praying
that we may be guided by that light all year.
We come today to place our lives under God’s will and call.

Prayer of Approach (Voices United 86)

Radiant God, light for all people and all places,
By the guidance of a star you led the Magi
to worship the Christ Child.
By the light of faith
Lead us to worship you in peace and love,
and guide us in your way.
We pray in the name of Christ,
Light of the world. Amen.

Carol (Sing on your own): The First Nowell (Words & Music: English traditional carol, ca. 17th century)

1 The first Nowell the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
in fields where they lay a-keeping their sheep on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

Refrain:
Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,
born is the King of Israel.

2 They looked up and saw a star,
shining in the east beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night. [Refrain]

3 And by the light of that same star
three wise men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went. [Refrain]

4 This star drew nigh to the northwest,
o'er Bethlehem it took its rest,
and there it did both stop and stay
right over the place where Jesus lay. [Refrain]

5 Then entered in those wise men three
full reverently upon their knee,
and offered there in his presence,
their gold and myrrh and frankincense. [Refrain]

6 Then let us all with one accord
sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
that hath made heaven and earth of nought,
and with his blood our life hath bought. [Refrain]

Prayer for Illumination

We praise you, Holy One, for visions of your loving ways.
With your life-giving Word,
stir our hope and fill us with courage
so we might journey with the Magi
in the path leading us to find the Christ child. Amen.

The Reading: Matthew 2: 1-12 (NRSV)

The Visit of the Wise Ones

2 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise ones from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” 3 When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to all of us! Thanks be to God!

Sermon Rev. Lorrie Lowes

This is Epiphany Sunday, the day when we hear the last part of the Christmas story that we began so may weeks ago in Advent. The visit of the Wise Men, the Kings, the Magi…

It’s a small story found only in the book of Matthew and not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. Three strangers show up, make a huge fuss over the new baby, drop off expensive, rather strange gifts and then disappear, never to be heard from again. A strange little story that has captured our imaginations for centuries.

The few verses we read this morning are all there is about this visit in the Bible and yet we are sure we’ve heard so many more details

… There were three of them…
… They have names: Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar…
… We can picture them, tall, riding on their camels, one with very black skin…
… They arrived at the stable after the shepherds, - didn’t they?

All details that were never in Matthew’s story but have grown from the imaginations of artists and storytellers over the centuries and have become an important part of our story, our tradition of Christmas.

It was obviously important to Matthew too or he wouldn’t have included it here. So… why did he write it? What meaning does it have for us?

Jesus was born at a dark time in Jewish history. The people were oppressed by a greedy and powerful empire. Any peace that existed was created by violent battles - a peace built on fear.

“Keep your head down, don’t call attention to yourself, and hope the tax collectors and the centurions will pass you by.”

Not my idea of a peaceful existence. No serene and comfortable life but just the absence of war.

Into this dark and fearful time, a baby was born who would grow up to challenge that system - not through violence or mighty battles but through a message of hope, a message of love. He would become a beacon of light for these dark times.

He may have been just what the Jewish people needed - but he certainly wasn’t what they were expecting. Surely, if God was to save them from the violent oppression of Rome, He would send a powerful army led by a mighty warrior - someone who could crush the empire.

A baby?

And this was not even a baby born to rich and powerful parents but a baby born among the poorest and most oppressed, in the lowest of circumstances. A baby born to young peasant parents, under suspicious circumstances, in an insignificant small town.

It was such a small event that no one in the area noticed. In his book, Luke tells us that a whole host of angels had to light up the sky to get the attention of the only other people awake - some shepherds out in a field. No need to wake up the whole town. There would be no miraculous coup that night. What was born in that stable was not an immediate solution to all their troubles.

What was born was Hope.

A glimmer, barely noticed at first but a light that would grow over time to conquer the darkness.

Well, the Jews and the Romans may not have noticed but someone did. A star appeared in the sky. Now this in itself is an curious choice of sign. It’s not a usual symbol for either Jews or Christians. Where else have we ever seen God use a star to send a message?

In the east - the direction from where dawn comes to end the darkness of night - some wise men noticed that star and they knew that something amazing was taking place, a birth so significant that they were certain it must be the birth of a great king. And they set out to find him and to pay homage.

That’s interesting, isn’t it? These wealthy, educated men left home to travel to another country to pay their respects to a king who would rule over people they had no attachment to. These men were not Jews but the birth of this king of the Jews was important enough to make them set out on this journey and to not give up until they had seen him with their own eyes and delivered their gifts.

They were foreigners
they were of a different faith
and they had no doubt that they would be welcome.

They went first to the palace in Jerusalem. It only made sense that a new king would be born there. They had no hesitation in telling Herod that they were coming to meet the newborn King of the Jews. This was good news! A baby who was destined to great works! A baby whose birth was so significant to the world that God himself sent a bright star as a birth announcement. An announcement that was important to the whole world. Surely, everyone would be rejoicing!

Imagine their surprise when King Herod had no idea what they were talking about.

Imagine their confusion when they saw the fear in the king’s eyes.

Not at all the reception they expected.

In one short sentence, Matthew tells us quite a bit about Herod’s reaction to the news of the learned strangers from the east. “He was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him.”

Yes, I imagine that was a scary time in the palace! Not only would Herod be upset by news of a king who would take his throne - but to hear it from strangers! The meeting he called with his own scribes and wise men would not have been a cordial one. They were supposed to know these things. They were supposed to keep him informed. He was not supposed to be surprised by foreigners who seemed to know more about the happenings in his kingdom than he did himself! They would have been scrambling to get him the information he needed. They would have been desperate to find a “fix” that would calm the king’s anger - an anger that put fear in all of Jerusalem. Just find that baby and get rid of him quickly.

“There is a light shining here in the darkness of your kingdom that will change this world forever!” the strangers had told him. “It shines so brightly that we have noticed it from as far away as our home. Such great news!”

Herod didn’t see it the same way. All light must shine on him alone. That is what makes him so powerful. And what do you do with something that threatens your power, your view of the world? You snuff it out. And just to be sure, you get rid of any others who might resemble it in any way. Restore the status quo with violence and fear. Show them who’s boss!

How wise were these strangers to pretend to play along with Herod’s game! Otherwise, they might not have escaped with their lives. But then they were wise men after all. I would have been surprised if they had fallen for Herod’s lies. So, off they went, continuing on their journey to find where this spark of light might lead.

And they found it in a small, humble home. Hope for the future of the world, manifest in a young peasant child.

Matthew tells us that they acknowledged the power of this child with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold for a king, frankincense for the sacred life of the temple, and myrrh to anoint his body at death. These gifts would have been lost on a child but Mary would have understood. These men were telling her that the power to change the world - the light that would lead the people out of the darkness - was here in her little son. He would rule - not by fierce battle but by teaching the Word of God and would be revered even in death.

These strange visitors saw so much hope in this small peasant child! Hope for the future of the world!

This story from Matthew would have been pretty powerful to his listeners. So many messages here! It told them -

… that others might see the hope in us before we recognize it ourselves

… that Jesus’ life and ministry was significant to the whole world - not just the Jewish people.

… that hope for the future must be nurtured in the children of the present

… that what seems like good news for humanity may not be well received by those addicted to power and greed

… that those hungry for power will stop at nothing to snuff out anything that might threaten that power - including (or maybe especially) the hope for justice and freedom

… that hope, help, and encouragement may come from unexpected places

Are these messages not still relevant today?

Where are our wise men?

Where are our Herods?

I am reminded of a young girl named Malala, who was shot in the head for daring to stand up for the right of girls to education. There must have been wise people who nurtured this in her as she grew - and the reaction of the Taliban was certainly worthy of Herod.

Are there other lights in this world being snuffed out by those in power?

Are we watching for them?

Are we nurturing them?

Or are we letting the Herods of this world crush them to maintain or grow their powerful hold?

I believe that hope is something more than a dream for a better future. Hope is born when that dream is put into action. It is not enough to dream of a better world, a more just society, peace and freedom. You have to take that dream and mount your camel. You need to risk the journey into unknown places and bear the gifts and resources that will turn that dream into hope.

Sometimes I have wondered why these powerful men didn’t stay to help raise this child. They seemed to have the resources and the knowledge to be able to help.

What trust they put in Mary and Joseph to nurture him and prepare him for his role!

But, they didn’t stay. Perhaps they knew that they would draw attention from the wrong quarter and would put the little family in danger. Or perhaps they could see that they were leaving things in good hands. Whatever the reason, they simply left their gifts and disappeared - back to their own country by another road. We never hear of them again.

They saw that star and they took the risk to follow it, to leave the comfort and familiarity of home and set out on a long and difficult journey. It wasn’t enough to dream about what that star could mean, they went into action.They took their resources - wisdom and riches - to Jesus. Then they left, knowing that they were leaving things safely in his hands. They took the kind of action that sets a dream onto the course of hope.

So, perhaps it was important that they didn’t stay. They didn’t set out to save the Jewish people from the Romans. They made the journey to ensure that the process would begin. They gave what they could but the real work belonged to Jesus.

Just as good mentors nurture proteges,

or good parents raise children,

or good teachers inspire students,

The wise men gave up some of their resources - and time out of their lives - to resource the work of Jesus in the world - the work of turning the dream of justice and freedom into real hope for the future.

They were watching the skies carefully and recognized the sign when it appeared. They sprang into action to make sure the dream it represented had the encouragement and resources it needed to grow into Hope - hope not just for the Jewish people but hope for a world in darkness.

On this Epiphany Sunday, may we be wise enough to watch for, and recognize, the signs of that hope in our world today. May we be brave enough to take the risk to leave our comfort zones long enough to nurture that hope. May we be selfless enough to share our resources to allow that hope to grow - not just here at home but anywhere in the world the signs may appear.

I believe it is what those wise men, and Jesus himself, would want us to do. Thanks be to God.

Amen

Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer (based on An Epiphany Prayer VU 88)

God of gold, we seek your glory:
          the richness that transforms drabness into colour,
          and brightens our dullness with vibrant light;
          your wonder and joy at the heart of all life.

Today we give thanks for the joys and celebrations we share…

God of incense, we offer you our prayer:
          our spoken and unspeakable longings,
          our questioning of truth,
          our searching for your mystery deep within.

Help us as we continue to work together as your people in this place. Help all those who step up to take on the difficult duties of being the church and bless them in their work. Help us in our meeting today to discern your will, knowing that we love this community of faith.

God of myrrh, we cry out to you in our suffering:
          the pain of all our rejections and bereavements,
          our baffled despair at undeserved suffering,
          our rage at continuing injustice.

Today we pray especially for…

In our wealth, in our yearning, in our anger and loss
we embrace you, God-with-us.

And we continue now in the words Jesus taught his followers:

Invitation to Offer

As strangers came from far away to offer gifts of hope and promise to the infant Jesus, we too want to share our riches to nurture hope in the world.

Offertory Prayer

O God, like the Magi, we too bring gifts –
ourselves, our time and our commitment.
Bless these gifts and use them
in compassionate service. AMEN

Sending Forth

Now receive God’s blessing:
As you go into this new year
May you go with eyes open to see the light of hope,
Ready to mount your camel and to encourage that light to shine.
And as you journey, know that God is your companion and guide. Amen.

Hymn (Sing on your own): I Am the Light of the World VU 87 (Words& Music: Jim Strathdee, 1986)

Refrain:
I am the Light of the World
You people come and follow me.
If you follow and love, you’ll learn the mystery
Of what you were meant to do and be.

1. When the song of the angels is stilled.
   When the star in the sky is gone.
   When the kings and the shepherds
   have found their way home.
   The work of Christmas is begun! R

2. To find the lost and lonely one,
   To heal that broken soul with love,
   To feed the hungry children
   with warmth and good food,
   To feel the earth below the sky above! R

3. To free the prisoner from all chains,
   To make the powerful care,
   To rebuild the nations with strength and
  goodwill, To see God’s children
  everywhere. R

4. To bring hope to every task you do,
   To dance at a baby's new birth,
   To make music in an old person’s heart,
   And sing to the colours of the earth! R

6th SUNDAY OF EASTER / CHRISTIAN FAMILY SUNDAY

Gathering Music

Longing – Cornelius Gurlitt – piano: Noah Berard

À la claire Fontaine. - Gerhard Wuensch – piano duet: Monica & Samantha

Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Kim Vidal

Lighting of Christ Candle Acolytes: Monica, Samantha & Dave Jones

Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958 BCUC choir

Call to Gather[1] Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Prayer of Approach[2]

Hymn: We Are One - Voices United #402

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Hymn: Come In, Come In and Sit Down - Voices United #395 Kim-guitar, Erin-flute

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Barbara Bole

The Gospel Reading: John 15:9-17 (The Message) - Love One Another

Sermon: “Jesus: A Family Friend” Rev. Kim Vidal

Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Invitation to Offer Rev. Kim Vidal

Offertory Prayer[3]

Sending Forth Rev. Kim Vidal

Opening Hymn: Would You Bless our Homes and Families - Voices United #556

Departing Music

Ashokan Farewell – violin: Amelia Baynes

O Pastorzinho – a British folk tune – violin duet: Georgia & Amelia

5th SUNDAY OF EASTER / BCUC 170TH ANNIVERSARY

Gathering Music: Church in the Wildwood – Dr. William Savage Pitts (yes really)

Acknowledgement of Territory Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Kim Vidal

Lighting of Christ Candle Acolytes: Kim Family

Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958 BCUC choir

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Prayer of Approach[1]

Hymn: How Firm A Foundation – Voices United #660 - BCUC Quartet

Storytime Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Hymn: Many Are the Lightbeams - Voices United #588 - CGS/Bell Canto - Erin

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Rev. Karen Boivin

The Gospel Reading: John 15:1-8 (Common English Bible) The True Vine

Sermon: “Jesus: A True Vine” Rev. Kim Vidal

Prayers of the People & the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim Vidal

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Offertory Prayer[3]

Sending Forth[4] Rev. Kim Vidal

Hymn: “Deep in Our Hearts” - More Voices #154 - BCUC Quartet

Departing Music: March – Occasional Oratorio – Handel organ

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER – Good Shepherd Sunday

Gathering Music: Sheep May Safely Graze - Bach organ 2 minute version

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Lighting of Christ Candle Acolytes: Norm and Jan Pound

Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958 BCUC choir

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Prayer of Approach

Hymn: God, We Praise You for the Morning - Voices United #415 Susan, Mary & Bram

Storytime Erin Berard

Hymn: Are You A Shepherd? - More Voices #126 Mary Schmieder

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Jordan Berard

The Reading: John 10:11-18

Sermon: Jesus - A Good Shepherd – but not the Only Shepherd Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Prayers of the People Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Offertory Prayer

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Hymn: Psalm 23 God is My Shepherd - Voices United #748 Mary & Erin Berard (flute)

Departing Music: He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd - Handel organfrom the Messiah - (2 and a half minute version)

Third Sunday of EASTER – EARTH SUNDAY

Gathering Music: All Things Bright and Beautiful - Voices United #291 – Music team

Welcome & Announcements Rev. Lorrie Lowes

SOSA Moment for Mother Earth Karen Boivin

Lighting of Christ Candle Acolytes: Clarke and Ellie Topp

Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958 – BCUC choir

Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Prayer of Approach

Hymn: Morning Has Broken - Voices United #409 - BCUC choir

Storytime: “Rhythms of Creation” Karen Boivin

Hymn: “O Beautiful Gaia” - More Voices #41 - Music team

Prayer for Illumination Reader: Ruth Howes

The Reading: Genesis 2: 4b-9, 15 Another Account of the Creation

Sermon: “Which Story is True?”

Prayers of the People Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie Lowes

Offertory Prayer

Sending Forth Rev. Lorrie Lowes

***Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958*** BCUC choir

***Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958*** BCUC choir

***Sung Response: Halle, Halle, Halle – Voices United #958*** BCUC choir

***Hymn: God, We Praise You for the Morning - Voices United #415*** Susan, Mary & Bram

***Hymn: Are You A Shepherd? - More Voices #126*** Mary Schmieder

***Hymn: Psalm 23 God is My Shepherd - Voices United #748*** Mary & Erin Berard (flute)

Departing Music: He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd - Handel organ
from the Messiah - (2 and a half minute version)