Presbyterians Sharing Sunday September 26 2021 Knox Bayfield Rev Dolson
May the grace of Jesus Christ be with you … and also with you.
Welcome to worship at Knox Presbyterian Bayfield on the Sunday September 26th.
Announcements
Your patience and co-operation is appreciated as we navigate the changes in how we gather. COVID protocols require screening questions, masks, hand sanitizer, and a physical distance of 2 metres (6.5 feet). Unfortunately, we are not yet able to sing together. We are thankful for the ongoing efforts to ensure we are able to worship in-person. Many thanks to our COVID Safety Group – Brenda McLean, Deb Cosford, and Jim Knox. Thank you!
Our worship services are recorded for YouTube. Please speak with Brenda McLean, Deb Cosford, or Rev Lisa if you are interested in learning how to use the new equipment.
The Presbyterian Connection newspaper unites people across Canada with interviews, reflections, and articles that allow us to share and develop our faith. It is distributed four times per year, free of charge. Set up your free paper subscription with the National Church office 1-800-619-7301 ext 243 or https://presbyterian.ca/presbyterian-connection/
Mission Moment: Mission Moment: Sharing Hope
When we give to Presbyterians Sharing, we participate in God’s mission together, expressing our faith through our actions and decisions. Together, we build strong congregations, serve vulnerable people, walk with Indigenous people, seek justice and share Christ’s love around the world. We are there when a prisoner in Malawi discovers Christ’s love through Bible study, and when a congregation adapts to meet community needs in new ways. We are there when a child receives a healthy snack and after-school support from an inner-city ministry, and when theological students in Canada, Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana and Beirut graduate, ready to shine Christ’s light. On Presbyterians Sharing Sunday, we celebrate the mission and ministry we share together, as we proclaim God’s love, hope, faith and grace in the world God loves. When we put our gifts in God’s hands, God does remarkable things!
Your contributions to the church and its ongoing work are appreciated. Your regular offerings allow the church to continue its good work. The August financial reports show income $4,596 and expenses $4,862 with a year-to-date deficit of $7,509.
UPDATE – our book studies will be held via ZOOM. All are welcome. Unfortunately, our in-person gathering for the book studies will need to be delayed until pandemic-imposed challenges lessen. Contact Rev Lisa revlisa.knoxbayfield@icloud.com for the Zoom link
Tuesday at 2 pm
- Black Water, David A Robertson. [Sept 28 – Oct 25]
- The women of the bible speak, Shannon Bream [Nov]
Sunday at 9:30 am
- The Difficult Words of Jesus, Amy Jill Levine. [Oct & Nov]
Every Child Matters: Every year—on September 30—we are called to help build awareness of the inter-generational impacts of Residential Schools through the meaningful act of wearing an orange shirt. For this coming Orange Shirt Day, Vivian Ketchum has shared a video reflection about why she wears an orange shirt, and why it is important for members of the church to mark September 30.
https://presbyterian.ca/2021/09/08/video-message-for-orange-shirt-day/ Vivian Ketchum originates from the Wauzhushk Onigum Nation of Northern Ontario, and is a member of Place of Hope Presbyterian Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Signs: Why do birds fly south? It’s too far to walk … Have you noticed an interesting or amusing church sign or bulletin blooper? Share with the congregation by adding to our collection. Contact Rev Lisa.
The people of Knox Bayfield acknowledge that our community worships, lives, plays, and works on the traditional lands of the Anishinabewaki, Attiwonderonk (Neutral), and Mississauga peoples within Treaty 29, of 1827.
Hymn Let there be light #727
Call to Worship[1]
One: Upon this gathering of your people
All: Pour out your Spirit, O God
One: Be near to us and speak to us
All: And we will proclaim your glory
Prayer of Adoration and Assurance of Pardon
Ps. 19:12–14; Mark 9:43–47
Join me in prayer
God, our strength and savior, you know our faults, our secret sins.
Gracious God, we seek your grace and to be led in your holy way
of life and love and peace. We pray all this in the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. May the God of mercy, who forgives our sins, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life.
May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you.
Hymn When cross the crowded ways #760
Prayer For Illumination
Holy God, your Word is our salt; without it, we lose our being, our joy, and our ability to endure. Open our hearts and our minds to listen, to really listen, to your Word today. Amen.
Readings
Scripture
Hebrew Bible Esther 7:1-10, 9:20-22 [B#448/W#495]
Responsive Psalm 124 [B# 572 /W# 633] [2]
Epistle James 5:13-20 [B#231 /W#249]
Gospel Mark 9:38-50 [B#45 /W# 46 ]
May God bless our understanding of this, God’s holy word. The Word of the Lord.
Presbyterians Sharing
Today is Presbyterian Sharing Sunday. It is a time to recognize the mission and ministry we do together. Presbyterians Sharing is a national fund of the Presbyterian Church that supports mission and ministry in Canada and around the world. Presbyterians across Canada share in a wide range of ministries as we build strong congregations, serve vulnerable people, walk with Indigenous people, seek justice and share God’s love around the world. Today we celebrate that our congregation is not alone in these efforts. We are part of a larger denomination that is connected by faith, governance, history and mission. Together we accomplish so much more than we ever could on our own.
The readings draw our attention to the importance of being attentive to the needs around us and the ways in which we might respond to God’s creation. James writes of the importance of seeking comfort and direction with prayer. The gospel of Mark tells of the confusion encountered by the disciples when they discover others doing work in his name. The book of Esther tells the story of young woman taking action to protect her people from the persecution of a long time enemy.
James reminds the reader that prayer is more than a conversation with the Divine. It is the action of moving into the presence and influence of God’s grace so that we might be transformed and in turn transform the world around us. Prayer and action are intertwined. The ways in which we pray will ultimately shape the ways we live. When we pray we are opened to the possibility of being shaped by God’s will.
In the Jewish tradition, Esther is one of the best known biblical books and it has deep roots in Jewish history. The Book of Esther tells of the events that lead Esther to have a central role in saving her people. The holiday Purim[pour-um] joyfully commemorates the Jewish people being saved from a massacre during the Persian period (539-330 BCE). The holiday is traditionally celebrated with wild abandon and with the giving of gifts to friends and the poor.
The story begins well before Esther’s time. The nation of Amalek were merciless in their attacks against the Israelites when they wandered in the wilderness in the 14th century BCE. The Amalekites attacked them from the rear, where the children and elderly were vulnerable. The book of Deuteronomy describes God’s anger with the cowardly Amalekites. God told the Hebrews to destroy them. Hundreds of years later King Saul defeated the Amalekites and did not execute their King Agag. Saul’s disobedience resulted in God replacing him with David. At times, the Amalekites were allowed to serve in the Israelite army, yet their hatred of the Jews persisted. Haman, a descendant of King Agag, organized a genocidal plot to wipe out the Jewish people.
Then a young Jewish woman, Esther, became Queen of Persia. With the help of her guardian Mordecai Esther developed an understanding of the complex political relationships. Initially, Esther’s Jewish identity was only known to Mordecai. He encouraged her to risk her life by revealing her identity and exposing the atrocities planned by Haman. Esther took the risk of approaching the king. She was only permitted access to the him when he gave a direct invitation. She prepared herself with fasting and prayer for three days. Esther then spoke out to King Ahasuerus about the true nature of Haram. The Jewish people were saved and their enemies were punished. This story is one of the most loved in the Jewish community because of the hope demonstrated in a hostile culture.
Hostility is also evident in the gospel of Mark. The gospel begins with the disciples reporting on the exorcism of demons. Today demons and evil can be more difficult to discuss. Many people prefer to describe demons as imaginative exaggerations. The disciples did not contradict the presence of demons. They objected to the exorcisms that were done in the name of Christ. They saw the problem as one of authority because those using the name of Christ were not part of the identified followers.
This raises the question: what is the significance of the name of Jesus Christ? We pray in the name of Christ. To act in the name of Jesus Christ is follow in ways that are consistent with his teachings. In this gospel account, the name of Jesus was used to cast out demons. Jesus helped the disciples to understand that this powerful act affected those involved in diverse ways beyond the exorcism. Jesus said, “No one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me”. He described the power of language and how it can change the speaker and shape the identity of the community.
Jesus also warned that when someone places a stumbling block in front of a believer, or when they stumble, it is better to take drastic measures than suffer the agony of hell. In the Greek text, hell is described as Gehenna. The “fiery furnace” that Abraham saw was Gehenna and is said to extend indefinitely below the earth. It was the place where children were sacrificed to the god Moloch and was originally in the “valley of the son of Hinnom,” which was south of Jerusalem. It was also called Tophet, or the valley of dead bones, a figurative “hell.” During the reign of Josiah the sacrifices were stopped when Josiah commanded that it become the dumping ground for sewage and garbage. King Josiah defiled the valley with the garbage and stopped the child sacrifices. Fires were created to destroy the garbage and a putrid smoke was continual. The name Gehenna became a symbol of punishment.
Jesus used the symbolism of Gehenna to describe Hell as a place of everlasting punishment. In our passage today, Jesus said, ‘It is better for you to enter into life maimed, than having two hands, to go to Gehenna into the fire that shall never be quenched.[3] He referred to Gehenna 11 of the 12 times it is mentioned in the New Testament.
God loves the whole world and desires that all be saved. Daniel Migliore wrote, “hell is simply wanting to be oneself apart from God’s grace and in isolation from others…. Hell is self-destructive resistance to the eternal love of God.” The description of hell provoked the listener to clear the path for faithful living for self and community.
A community built on loving relationships enriches the lives of it people. When people are nurtured community provides protection and support. Jesus taught his disciples that in facing complex issues they would need to return to the premise of loving God and loving our neighbours as ourselves. He cautioned against creating stumbling blocks for others who were seeking to find their way toward faith. Perhaps this passage reminds us to consider how we might distort the way of Christ. Perhaps we are too quick to judge others and ourselves as we seek faithful living.
We are reminded to enter into prayer with the Divine. In this action of moving into the influence of God’s Spirit that we might be transformed and in turn transform the world around us. Prayer and action are intertwined. The ways in which we pray will ultimately shape the ways we live. When we pray we are opened to the possibility of being shaped by God’s will within us and our communities. Praise be to God.
Hymn A prophet woman broke a jar #588
The Offering Of Our Life And Labour To The Lord
Quote: Gratitude involves not only what we feel, but also what we do.
Diana Butler Bass (1959–), historian of Christianity, author
Every day there are signs of God’s grace and abundance and we know that there is suffering and need in the world[4]. Give freely of what you have been given, as a witness to God’s actions in the world. Today is Presbyterians Sharing Sunday. Through our offering, we join in an outreach of creative and compassionate service across our country and around the world. Our gifts combine with those of many others to build up the body of Christ and its mission of healing and wholeness in Jesus’ name.
Blessing Of Gifts & Prayers Of The People
Scripture promises[5] that prayer is powerful and effective. In this hope, we call on God’s name, saying. During the Prayers of the People, when you hear – Pour out your healing grace, O God. You respond with Send forth your Spirit to save us.
Join me in prayer:
For nations, steeped in conflict and war, Pour out your healing grace, O Lord;
send forth your Spirit to save us.
For neighbors, divided by fear and mistrust, Pour out your healing grace, O Lord;
send forth your Spirit to save us.
For the church, longing for renewal and rejuvenation. Pour out your healing grace, O Lord; send forth your Spirit to save us.
For those who are sick and suffering. Pour out your healing grace, O Lord;
send forth your Spirit to save us.
Ever faithful God, you have knit together your people from all times and places into the body of Christ. Keep us in communion with all your saints, those we have known and loved, as well as those known best to you. Inspire us to learn from the examples of their faith in action.
God of hope, we bring before you the names of people and places on our hearts this day, seeking the right gift only you can give them: Sandy and family; Judith; Rudy and Grace; Cesare and Lynn; Bonnie; Rob; Courtney and Kyla; Jordan, Sarah and Hazel; and, David and Sharon. We lift up all those who prefer to remain un-named as they face immense challenges of health and finances. We wait for you, Lord, in your word we hope.
Merciful God, accept our prayers, spoken and unspoken, and strengthen us to do your will through Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray, saying … Our Father who art in heaven, hallow’ed be thy name. Thy Kingdom 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Hymn This is my Father’s world # 328
Benediction
Mark 9:38–41; Numbers 11:25
Let the name of Christ be the word you speak, the grace you show, and the love you share. May the spirit of God rest upon you, the Word of God live within you, and the glory of God shine around you, this day and always.
Postlude #623 Holy, holy, holy
Knox Presbyterian Church, Bayfield
Box 565, 2 Bayfield Main St N, Bayfield, ON N0M 1G0
Website: www.pccweb.ca/knoxbayfieldpc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnoxBayfield/
Church Office: (519) 565-2913 [messages checked weekly]
Ministry of Music: Jean Walker and Betty Lou Norris
Session: Deb Cosford; Brenda McLean Clerk of Session
Minister: Rev. Lisa Dolson (519) 955-2158 [call/text] revlisa.knoxbayfield@icloud.com
Questions for Reflection
How is God an active presence in your life and in the life of others? How do you express your gratitude? Are you able to be grateful even in times of trouble, suffering, and hardship?
Morning Prayer
May the first words in my mouth today be the sound of the name of Jesus. Lead me to reflect on his power as I seek to live my day, honoring the One who gave me salvation and new life. In his powerful name I pray. Amen.
Evening Prayer
God, was I an agent of hope and salvation to others as you have been to me? As the day winds down, help me to think about those times during the day when I lived in your grace and the times when I failed to be salt in your world. Keep working in my life, through the power of your Holy Spirit, so that I can become more like you want me to be. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Daily Prayer
Esther 7:3; Mark 9:30–37
God of courage, you gave Esther the strength to speak out with intelligence to save her people. Help us to believe that you are present and active in this world and that your grace remains as an everlasting force in our lives. In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
Scripture readings next week
Job 1:1, 2:1-10; Psalm 26; Hebrews 1:1-4, 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16
#727 Let there be light
Let there be light; let there be understanding; Let all the nations gather; let them be face to face. Open our lips; open our minds to ponder; Open the door of concord, opening into grace.
Perish the sword; perish the angry judgement; Perish the bombs and hunger; perish the fight for gain. Hallow our love; hallow the deaths of martyrs; Hallow their holy freedom; hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come; your spirit turn to language; Your people speak together; your spirit never fade. Let there be light; open our hearts to wonder; Perish the way of terror; hallow the world God made.
623 Holy, holy, holy Words: traditional Music: F Schubert
Refrain: Holy, holy, holy, God almighty Lord!
Holy, holy, holy, everywhere adored!
God without beginning, God eternal One
reigns and rules forever all beneath the sun Refrain
Power and love and wonder circling round God’s throne
Praise our God most holy, Lord of Life alone Refrain
328 This is my Father’s world
This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears All nature sings and round me rings
The music of the spheres. This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought; Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas God’s hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Maker’s world; the birds their carols raise; The morning light, the lily white,
declare the Maker’s praise. This is my Maker’s world; God shines in all that’s fair; In the rustling grass, God’s footsteps pass; God speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Saviour’s world; Oh let me not forget That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Saviour’s world; The battle is not done; Jesus, who died, shall be satisfied, And earth and heaven be one.
588 A Prophet woman broke a jar
A prophet-woman broke a jar by Love’s divine appointing. With rare perfume she filled the room presiding and anointing.
A prophet-woman broke a jar, the sneers of scorn defying. With rare perfume she filled the room, preparing Christ for dying.
A faithful woman left a tomb by love’s divine commission. She saw, she heard, she preached the Word, arising from submission.
A faithful woman left a tomb, with resurrection gospel; she saw, she heard, she preached the Word, apostle to apostles.
Though woman-wisdom, woman-truth, for centuries were hidden, unsung, unwritten and unheard, derided and forbidden,
the Spirit’s breath, the Spirit’s fire, on free and slave descending, can tumble our dividing walls, our shame and sadness mending.
The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls, by Love’s divine ordaining, the friends we need, to serve and lead, their powers and gifts unchanging.
The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls, from women, men and children, the friends we need, to serve and lead. Rejoice, and make them welcome!
760 When cross the crowded ways
Where cross the crowded ways of life, Where sound the cries of race and clan,
Above the noise of selfish strife, We hear your voice, O Son of Man.
In haunts of wretchedness and need, On shadowed thresholds, dark with fears,
From paths where hide the lures of greed, We catch the vision of your tears.
From tender childhood’s helplessness, From woman’s grief, man’s burdened toil,
From famished souls, from sorrow’s stress, Your heart has never known recoil.
The cup of water given for you Still holds the freshness of your grace;
Yet long these multitudes to view The sweet compassion of your face.
O Saviour, from the mountain side, Make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
Among these restless throngs abide, Oh tread the city’s streets again.
Till human hearts shall learn your love, And follow where your feet have trod;
Till glorious from your heaven above, Shall come the city of our God.
[1] PCC Worship Planner, 16th Sunday after Pentecost September 12, 2021 Year B
[2] Page numbers shown for pew bibles with Blue or White edged pages
[3] Mark 9:43
[4] Mark 9:38–41
[5] James 5:13–20