Second Sunday after Epiphany

Transcription

1 Second Sunday after Epiphany Second Sunday after Epiphany 20 January 2019 The Mission and Discipleship ouncil would like to thank the hurch of Scotland Ecumenical Relations committee for their thoughts on the second Sunday after Epiphany and the Week of Prayer for hristian Unity. Introduction... 2 Deuteronomy 16: Romans 12: Luke 4: Sermon ideas... 4 Time with children... 4 Prayers... 5 Musical suggestions... 9

2 Introduction Justice and only justice you shall pursue (Deuteronomy 16:18-20) The Octave of Prayer for hristian Unity is traditionally held between the 18th and 25th January. Some churches celebrate 18 January as the Feast Day of St Peter the Feast Day of the onversion of St Paul on 25 January. So the Octave is bookended by the feasts of the two greatest apostles. Each year, a different part of the world is invited to produce material, which is then offered for local adaptation. This year, the material has been produced by hristians in Indonesia. The theme they have chosen is taken from Deuteronomy 16:20: Justice and justice only you shall pursue. More about the Indonesian context, reflections for each of the eight days and an Ecumenical Service can be found here: Where there is no opportunity for an ecumenical service to be held locally, the Ecumenical Service can usefully be used in morning worship. In addition to recalling the links of baptism that bind us to hristians around the world, with a specific reference to one country each year, marking the Week of Prayer for hristian Unity also affords us the opportunity to think about who worships with us how many different denominations are represented in our congregation? We are invited to re-focus on our common calling, as sisters and brothers in hrist, acknowledging that there is no more urgent a theme for hristians today to address together than the injustices that victimise the most vulnerable while the gap between rich and poor forever widens. Deuteronomy 16:11-20 This passage describes two of the three festivals that were to be kept by the tribes of Israel: the festival of weeks and the festival of booths. Each of these is to be inclusive of all the people in the community parents and children, slaves, priests, strangers, orphans and widows; in short, everyone. (It is interesting to note that the focus of the reflection for the third day of the Octave (the 20th) is Matthew chapter 1 the genealogy of Jesus, drawing attention to the fact that included in the list are two women who were Gentiles (Ruth and Rehab) and some others (including David) who were remembered as much for their sinfulness as their greatness.) In Deuteronomy, the description of the festivals is followed, perhaps surprisingly, by an account of the appointment of judges who are to ensure that justice, and only justice, is

3 pursued. But hristians in Indonesia know about the link between festivities and justice. Once a rich and diverse country, living albeit in a fragile harmony, with a motto that translates as Unity in Diversity, Indonesia has become a divided society with rifts along religious and ethnic lines. Greed and corruption have led to a widening gap between rich and poor. In that context the churches come to a renewed awareness of their calling to unity in hrist, to the need to address together the injustices that damage both the environment and the harmony across communities. They are also mindful of the way in which the church is complicit in the attitudes that feed injustice. There is no room for selfrighteousness. Romans 12:1-13 Here Paul asks the Roman hristians to do what they can to transform their minds so that they can discern what the will of God is. Humility is key, not to think more highly of oneself than one ought, and to understand how it is the varied gifts shared within the community that matter most. It is no accident that genuine love and respect should not be reserved only for members of the community but should issue in extending hospitality to strangers (v.13). Luke 4:14-21 Jesus begins His ministry in the synagogues of Galilee where His reputation grew. But on returning to His home town of Nazareth, Jesus takes the scroll of Isaiah and reads out the well-known passage: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. (v.18). The text puts the spotlight on categories of people who are pushed to the margins of society poor people, people with disabilities, people in prison, and people trapped and disadvantaged by the attitudes and policies of the rich and powerful. Read on beyond verse 21 and Jesus gives examples from the Hebrew Scriptures where Elijah and Elisha had been sent to help a widow and a leper respectively from outside the community of Israel, i.e. strangers. The implied criticism was not lost on His hearers. The result was that the crowds turned on Jesus and ran Him out of the town with murderous intent.

4 Sermon ideas For the preacher there are clear themes related to justice to be drawn from these passages. Each of the passages highlights the nature of community as inclusive of people with different backgrounds, status and beliefs. At a time when there are so many examples of xenophobia and racism shaping attitudes across the world, including in our own country; when people who have made their homes among us for decades are made to feel unwelcome and are taunted in the streets and told to go home, it is important that the church speaks out. It is also important that we acknowledge our own complicity. hurch members are not immune from sharing attitudes that would other those who are perceived as different. Silence in the face of a growing hostile environment is complicity. Our faith demands more of us. Each passage to some extent, and the Gospel passage most vividly, invites us to reflect on the ways in which austerity measures have a disproportionate effect on those who are weakest and most vulnerable in our society. Silence in the face of policies that make poor people poorer is complicity. And again, our faith demands more of us. And, of course, this is the Week of Prayer for hristian Unity, so it is an opportunity to point out that the injustices that polarise rich and poor across society are injustices that cause division in the church. Divisions in the church are fed by attitudes that exclude. Anathemas and disagreements, sometimes voiced centuries ago, are remembered to this day as broken communion remains unhealed. The Indonesian hristians remind us that the hurch is called to be a foretaste of the kingdom of heaven. Healing our divisions matters, for only then can we speak out with integrity against the injustices that feed the divisions within our society and between the nations of the world. With forgiveness and reconciliation at the heart of our faith, ecumenical co-operation is not and optional extra; it is vital if justice, and only justice is to be pursued in the world. The Indonesian hristians see a link between this and the importance of festivals activities that vividly display what a healed community would look like. Time with children All age material written for the Week of Prayer for hristian Unity, written by ROOTS for churches, can be found here:

5 Prayers The WPU Ecumenical Service (which can be found here: ), offers a ommitment to Justice, Mercy and Unity, which some may find helpful to use or adapt. There is also an activity to make individual commitments to work for justice concrete, which may work in some congregations. Here are the words of the ommitment. It is suggested that this is used after the sermon and before the offering. L Jesus hrist prays for the unity of his disciples. The gift of his life is justice for the world. As members of the body of hrist, we are called to walk humbly and act justly. Let us hear his calling. Holy Spirit, unite us in our prayers. As members of the body of hrist, we are called to speak out against injustice. Let our word be Yes, Yes or No, No. Holy Spirit, unite us in our words. As members of the body of hrist, we are called to lavish God s grace and mercy on all. Let us break through barriers of ethnicity, religion and culture. Holy Spirit, unite us in our humanity. As members of the body of hrist, we are called to keep our lives free from the love of money, and be content with what we have. Let us break the cycle of greed and live in simplicity. Holy Spirit, unite us in our weakness. As members the body of hrist, we are called to bring good news to the poor. Let us condemn exploitation and the systems that perpetuate it. Holy Spirit, unite us in our anger toward injustice. As members of the body of hrist, we are called to care for the whole creation. Let us protect the life and beauty of all that God has made. Holy Spirit, heal us and restore us.

6 R As members of the body of hrist, we are called to treat all people with dignity. Let us recognise discrimination, oppression and abuse. Holy Spirit, open our ears to the cries of injustice As members of the body of hrist, we are called to bring hope to others. Let us be salt and light. Holy Spirit, unite us in hope for justice. Scripture sentences: How very good and pleasant it is when kindred Iive together in unity! (Ps 133:1) What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8) Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8) Prayer of adoration If separate from the first hymn, a prayer of adoration might focus on the universality of God s creativity and love. It would be important to hold together creation, environment and the place of humanity as the ones gifted to give voice to the whole creation s praise of God. Prayer of repentance The Ecumenical Service (which can be found here: ) suggests a prayer of repentance which could be used or adapted. The prayer is in three parts: i) confession of the way we prioritise those who are closest to us or who have a higher social status, thus ignoring those who are socially marginalised; ii) confession of how we have looked on other hristian denominations as rivals, been slow to forgive and have ignored the needs of others, excluding those who do not share our point of view, and iii) confession of our failure to love without discrimination, disrespecting our neighbours and spreading falsehoods, helping to create a climate where justice cannot thrive. A declaration of forgiveness could follow. Response: Rise up, O God, judge of the earth

7 God has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods He holds judgement: How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality of the wicked? Response: Rise up, O God, judge of the earth Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; Deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Response: Rise up, O God, judge of the earth They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk around in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. Response: Rise up, O God, judge of the earth I say, You are gods, children of the Most High all of you; nevertheless, you shall die like mortals, and fall like any prince. Rise up, O Good, judge of the earth; For all the nations belong to you! Response: Rise up, O God, judge of the earth Prayer of thanksgiving and intercession These might include: Thanksgiving God of all the earth, we give You thanks for the rich variety of colours, cultures and customs that are shared within our one, common humanity around the world; for the instinctive human response of generosity and compassion to those in need;

8 for people of all religions and none and humanitarian organisations that seek to work together; for a better, more just and peaceful world. In Your mercy, Lord, Hear our prayers. We remember now, those who suffer injustice and feel forgotten, without hope and without a voice; those who perpetuate injustice through the abuse of power, self-centeredness and greed; those who stand up for justice, speaking truth to power. In Your mercy, Lord, Hear our prayers. We pray for the hurch, the visible unity of the church as a means of addressing injustice, responding to the prayer of Jesus that all may be one and working together with churches across the world in ways that offer a glimpse of the kingdom come on earth ; that, in our differences, we may still be united by love that enables us to act together to affirm all that is life affirming. In Your mercy, Lord, Hear our prayers. And now, God of love, We take a moment to pray for ourselves, that we may draw strength from the community of faith in discerning together what is the will of God in our day; that we might fulfil our calling as members of the body of hrist, people with good news for the poor and marginalised. In Your mercy, Lord, Hear our prayers. Offering (Adapted from the printed text) Gracious God, You have shown us your compassion and care for all creation.

9 Your love inspires us [to offer these commitments] to act justly by loving others wholeheartedly, regardless of their cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Accept now our offerings and transform them into action for the unity of the hurch and the peace of the world. We ask this through your Son Jesus hrist, in the power of the Holy Spirit, who live as one God forever and ever. The Lord s Prayer Dismissal and blessing (From the Ecumenical Service, which can be found here: ): May God embrace you with love and make kindness flow out of you. May God ignite courage within you and transform you into agents of his justice and peace. May God grant you humility and give you perseverance to nurture unity. [Blessing of choice] Musical suggestions Psalm 82:1-8. The text of this Psalm can be read or sung between the Old Testament and New Testament readings. It can be read antiphonally or, as here, with a response. Hymns of Justice H4 172 Sing for God s glory that colours the dawn of creation H4 253 Inspired by love and anger H4 262 For the world and all its people H4 282 The voice of God goes out to all the world H4 360 Jesus hrist is waiting H4 706 For the healing of the nations H4 710 I have a dream, a man once said

10 Justice and Unity H4 456 hrist is the world s true light onfession H4 488 Teach us, O loving heart of hrist Hymns of the Holy Spirit and dedication H4 497 Humbly in your sight we come together, Lord H4 497 Almighty Father of all things that be H4 527 Lord, make us servants of your peace H4 584 Like fireworks inn the night the Holy Spirit came H4 594 ome, Holy Spirit, come! H4 656 I come with joy, a child of God You are free to download, project, print and circulate multiple copies of any of this material for use in worship services, bible studies, parish magazines, etc., but reproduction for commercial purposes is not permitted. Please note that the views expressed in these materials are those of the individual writer and not necessarily the official view of the hurch of Scotland, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly.