Who is he August 23 2020 Rev Dolson Knox Bayfield
Section 1
Greetings to my church family and friends. May the grace of God be with you.
Announcements
Gayle and Courtney express appreciation for our prayers. Kyla is thriving!
Mission Moment – World Humanitarian Day
Somalia has been ravaged by almost three decades of conflict and multiple droughts. The people suffer from chronic food insecurity, lack access to basic necessities, and many are vulnerable to disease and malnutrition. In response, Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D) and Canadian Foodgrains Bank provide humanitarian assistance. Pregnant and lactating women and children are screened for malnutrition and receive food. The project is empowering vulnerable women with tools and knowledge. PWS&D supports food security and nutrition
Do you have food to share? Residents of Bayfield and surrounding area are in need. Take your food donations to the outside bin at Trinity St James Church. Are you dealing with food insecurity? Reach out to the Bayfield Area Food Bank if you are struggling to put food on your table. Make a confidential call to: 519 955-7444 (area manager) Help is available!
Session will be meet on Zoom – Monday August 31st. There was an informal Presbytery meeting last week where the issues around re-opening were discussed. It was a fruitful discussion where concerns, information, and plans were shared. More details will be shared after the Session meeting a week Monday.
This worship service is on our website https://pccweb.ca/knoxbayfieldpc/ and on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTYgIPqvkMsDNal0b1gCiPg
We are thankful to Jean Walker, organist, for her efforts in performing the hymns for the YouTube video. Remember to go to the end of the printed material for the lyrics to the hymns.
Income and Expense Update
The following chart illustrates the July income $5,566 and expenses $4,266. The year-to-date deficit is $4,400. You are encouraged to share your questions and concerns with your elder.
Section 2
CALL TO WORSHIP Romans 12
You, who are many, are transformed to become one in Christ. We, who are many, are called to worship God, the Three in One. Let us worship God.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
Friends in Christ… hear the good news! Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.
The old life has gone and a new life has begun
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven and set free by God’s generous grace. So let us make a fresh start today!
# 528 Jesus calls us here to meet him
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION Psalm 138:2b, Isaiah 51:4, Roman 12:2
O holy God, your name and your word are glorious above everything. We are listening for your word; we are looking for your light. By the power of the Holy Spirit, renew our minds and hearts. May we discern your will and respond in faith. We pray in the name of your Son, our Savior. Amen.
READINGS: Exodus 1:8–2:10, Psalm 138, Romans 12:1–8, Matthew 16:13–20
Did you know the bible is free online! https://www.biblegateway.com/
Exodus 1:8–2:10
Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. The king said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. They built supply cities, Pithom and Rameses, for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. The Egyptians became ruthless imposing tasks on the Israelites, and made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and brick and in every kind of field labor. They were ruthless in all the tasks that they imposed on them.
The Pharaoh said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.”
But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live.
So the Pharaoh summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?”
The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every boy that is born to the Hebrews you shall throw into the Nile, but you shall let every girl live.”
Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.
The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and the Pharaoh’s daughter took pity on him. “This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,” she said.
Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?”
Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Yes.” So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.” So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, “because,” she said, “I drew him out of the water.”
Matthew 16:13–20
Now when he came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And the disciples said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. l will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
May God bless our understanding of this god’s holy word.
# 314 God is love come heaven adoring
MESSAGE “Who is He?”
The message today reflects on who is he? In his book Run with Horses, Eugene Peterson addresses the ways in which we can become de-personalized and degraded. Too often, we become a number which seems to de-humanize. Perhaps you have experienced a sense of being valued for what you do, not for who you are. In our families, people often take on roles that fulfill duties or provide the family income. When they become identified in this narrow description a sense of the whole complex person is lost. Peterson has written a wonderful reminder of how our worth and value are inherent within our very being as a beloved child of God. In this way, our given names remind us of our significance and in part help to shape our identities.
“If I am frequently and authoritatively treated impersonally, I begin to think of myself the same way. I consider myself in terms of how I fit into the statistical norms; I evaluate myself in terms of my usefulness; I assess my worth in response to how much others want me or don’t want me. In the process of going along with such procedures I find myself defined by a label, squeezed into a role, functioning at the level of my social security number. It requires assertive, lifelong effort to keep our names in front…No one can assess my significance by looking at the work that I do. No one can determine my worth by deciding the salary they will pay me. No one can know what is going on in my mind by examining my school transcripts. No one can know me by measuring me or weighing me or analyzing me. Call my name.”
In our passage today, Jesus asked his disciples two questions. The first: “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And the second: “But who do you say that I am?” The disciples answer the first question by naming prophets from the past; John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. Simon, son of Jonah, then spoke out as the others were silent… he answered the second question: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
I wonder how each of you might respond to his questions. I also wonder how you might respond to the same questions about your own identity. Who are we? Who were the Hebrew and Egyptian people? How do we identify ourselves and others? These intriguing and ancient questions linger within each of us. Who are we as a church? When you are speaking with others how do you identify with your faith community? So many questions arise from the one… Who do we say Jesus is? Do we believe that the shape and context of our lives bear witness to our understanding of the living Christ? Let’s keep these questions in mind as we consider the passages for this morning.
When we read the scriptures, it is important to remember that we read through the lens of history. Questions of identity are at the center of the Gospels as they weave the tapestry of understanding about Jesus. His way shapes peoples and communities in light of his actions and teachings. It is worthwhile for us to reflect on these questions of identity. Why are you here watching this video or reading the printed copy? Why are you on this path? Perhaps you are following in your family faith traditions. Our family histories, our genealogies, are not simply a list of names and dates accounting for our ancestors. Genealogies create identity and the ways in which we relate to our past and present.
In the last couple of weeks we have taken in the genealogy that led to Joseph to be a leader in Egypt and provider for his extended family during a famine. So now, let’s pause for a moment to consider the shift that occurred. Initially the Israelites were welcomed into Egypt as refugees fleeing a famine. When did they shift from being refugees, people seeking assistance, to a people enslaved by the Egyptians? Since June, our readings have taken us through the book of Genesis. Today, we begin the book of Exodus. This new account begins with a new pharaoh who does not recognize Joseph’s significant role in Egypt’s recent history. This pharaoh leads with fear. Fear of the potential threat from an oppressed people. Fear of their growing population, their potential strength, especially if they join with enemies of Egypt.
Although the narrator of Exodus compressed this time of slavery and suffering into a few verses with few details, the Israelites were enslaved and oppressed for a long period of time. This new pharaoh – probably Ramses 2 – about 1200 BCE – was shifting Egypt’s strategic center to the eastern Delta of the Nile. His efforts required a significant labor force for extensive building projects. Perhaps the directive to enslave the Hebrews was a strategic effort to protect the eastern border from a possible Asian invasion. It is important to understand that the Israelites were not subject to private ownership or domestic slavery. They were conscripted by the governing powers …. Conscripted for compulsory unpaid labor on public works projects for indefinite periods – they were enslaved as a source of forced labour.
If you are familiar with Canadian history from the early 20th century … you may be aware that our Canadian government conscripted citizens during the world wars. Conscription was used to force certain groups into Canadian internment camps … those affected were the Chinese, Japanese, Austrian, Bulgarian, Turkish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and German peoples. They were perceived as potential threats. While in the Canadian internment camps, many of the detainees were forced to provide labour – often on farms.
Despite his efforts to control the growing Israelite population, the new pharaoh was fearful. In an effort to further control the perceived threat, the pharaoh spoke directly to the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah…they were told to kill all male Hebrew babies at birth. It has been suggested that the two women mentioned in the passage were the leaders within the midwife community. It seems unlikely that two women would care for all births within the growing Israelite community. The story unfolds with the conflict faced by the women. They were forced to choose between the laws of God and those of the pharaoh. Their defiance of the tyranny imposed by the pharaoh resulted in an act of civil disobedience. When the Hebrews continue to give birth to healthy boys, the midwives convinced the Pharaoh of their inability to influence the births.
Into this remarkable story comes the birth of Moses. He is adopted by the royal household, creating a connection between the Israelites and the Pharaoh. At a time when the male slave children were killed, Moses escaped that fate. The more the Pharaoh worked to control a segment of the population, the more his intentions are subverted and defied.
This passage invites us to consider the journey we share, the journey that transcends several thousand years. In the text there are crises, questions, concerns, celebrations, insights, and accomplishments. These elements are part of the life we experience. They are common components of the journey we share. The story begins with the declaration, “Now a new Pharaoh arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph”. In an instant, lives can change dramatically. With a shift in political leadership, with the appearance of a tiny virus… stability may be lost. With one phone call, one e-mail, one conversation, our well-being can be threatened. One pharaoh followed another. The Prime Minister is followed by another. The President south of the border will change. The pandemic will become manageable, in one way or another. It is in the midst of these events that we can better discover who we are.
It is important to look deeply into historical events to understand the people and their situations. History tells of communities in turmoil, stories of crisis, change, and challenge. Each of these stories involve many individuals and the challenges they faced with insurmountable odds. Stories that illustrate the presence of the divine Spirit and God’s loving care in the midst of pain and chaos. Each of you in this congregation knows about simple announcements and the profound changes they can bring. We are often reminded that there is little under our personal control … yet our actions have the ability to impact how we encounter the challenge.
The new king was threatened by the Hebrew people. They are used as scapegoats… they are declared a threat to security, they are an internal menace. Does this seem familiar? Scapegoats … are found throughout history … there are similarities between the text and our lives. Have you experienced the role of scapegoat? Do you know what it is to be unfairly blamed. Or perhaps you have unfairly blamed others … in times of tension and turmoil. It is usually those with less or little power and prestige who are blamed. To read the story of the blame heaped on the Hebrews is to be given the opportunity to ask, “When has this happened to us?” and “When have we done this to others?” It is to be given the opportunity to consider the ways in which a host of leaders—Moses, Miriam, Joshua, Elijah, Jeremiah, Amos, John, and Jesus — worked to ease the burden on scapegoats of their time.
How we live speaks louder, more truthfully, and more effectively than the words we speak. Do we focus on our love of God, a life that loves the other as much as self? Paul encourages us to develop a perspective that is outside the norms of our culture by recognizing that our day-to-day actions express our love of God and our desire to do God’s will.
In closing, we are reminded of our need for one another—and of the ways in which our gifts are to be used not for the health of the community—for God’s creation. A life lived in pursuit of such faithful service may be your response to that awe-inspiring question posed by Jesus: Who do you say that I am? There is the gift of discovering who we are, a gift in our awareness of difference and the strangeness between ourselves and others, …there is the gift of discovering and knowing Jesus Christ and walking in His way in this journey of our lives.
Praise be to God. Amen
# 637 Take my life and let it be consecrated
THE OFFERING OF OUR LIFE AND LABOUR TO THE LORD
QUOTE: The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Proverbs 22:9
The Letter to the Romans reminds us that we all have gifts to share. When we give, we give generously. When we feel compassion for those in need, we give cheerfully. Let us share what we have to offer to God generously and cheerfully, so that God’s good work may continue.
Your donations to the church are greatly appreciated. The expenses for our faith community continue even though we are not gathering in the church building, the work of the church continues in so many ways. Let us give as God has so abundantly given to us.
BLESSING OF GIFTS *
Gracious Lord, you have given us more mercy than we could imagine. Receive these gifts as a token of our gratitude to you, that your mercy may be multiplied. May your blessings abound to embrace all those in need. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE Psalm 138, Isaiah 51, Romans 12
You are encouraged to share your concerns and celebrations with the congregation. Your requests will be shared in the prayers of the people and kept in my daily prayers and the prayers of our congregation. Let us pray for all people and all of God’s creation. There will be a time of silence for you to lift up your prayers …
Steadfast God, your love and faithfulness are with us always. We give thanks that with you there is no end to our hope. By your power, all exiles will come to an end, all things will be restored.
We pray with confidence to you who are above all things, knowing that you take notice of those who are bent low; that your strong arm takes hold of those who are in the midst of trouble.
To anyone in despair, send your deliverance. For those longing for home, return them to a place of safety and love. For those divided, we pray for reconciliation as a pathway to new beginnings. Loving God, you promise comfort to the one in sorrow and help to the one in trouble.
Help us and help the nations to learn your justice and to practice it. Before we turn your Eden into waste, correct our habits. We desire to be better caretakers of your creation.
We thank you for the gift of the church, for the diversity of gifts and perspectives you place among us. Help us to welcome the wonder of your design in ways that expand our witness in the world.
Almighty God, there are many within our church family in need of your care at this time. We lift up Ron, Sandy and their family as Ron continues his treatment. We lift up Jan’s sister, Peggy, as she slowly heals from extensive heart surgery. We lift up Betty Lou as she prepares for surgery. We lift up her daughter, Bonnie, as she enjoys the peace of remission. We lift up Jessie as she deals with chronic back pain. We lift up her daughter, Marlene, as she continues to heal. We lift up Rob, son of Jane and Jim. We lift up Jane as she prepares for surgery. We lift up Gayle’s granddaughter Courtney. Loving God, hear our prayer…
Gracious and merciful God, abounding in steadfast love, we join our voices with all that you have made in speaking your praises and blessing your name.
O Holy One, although we are apart and cannot lift our voices together, we speak the words aloud that Christ taught his disciples, 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.
# 635 Brother, sister, let me serve you
BENEDICTION Romans 12, Psalm 124
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed to live as the body of Christ in the world.
May the Lord who made heaven and earth, the Christ who lived and died for all, and the Spirit who renews our minds and hearts abide with you and all God’s people, now and forever.
CLOSING CHORUS
May the Lord, mighty God bless and keep you forever, Grant you peace, perfect peace, faith in every endeavor Lift your eyes and see His face, and His grace forever, May the Lord, mighty God bless and keep you forever.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
When have you succeeded in resisting the forces that seek to conform us
to the world? How has that felt like “spiritual worship”? What are the ways you most readily answer Jesus’ question: “Who do you say that I am?”
In Romans 12:1–8, Paul urges us not to be conformed to the world’s standards, but to be transformed and renewed by God’s will. Is there an area of your life that is in need of transformation and renewal? Reflect and pray this week, asking God to show what God wills for you in this area of your life. Paul goes on to name a variety of gifts that members of the church have been given, all of which contribute to the overall functioning of the body the church. Is there a gift in that list which you possess? Which one? How are you making use of that gift among God’s people? Is there someone in your church or in your life who shares a particular gift of the Spirit faithfully? This week, offer a prayer of thanksgiving for that person and for any others who use their gifts to enhance your life or the life of your worshiping community.
Section 3
Morning Prayer
Loving God, thank you for the gift of this new day. You have blessed me in so many ways in days that have come before. Today I will look and listen for signs of your joy and gladness present in my life, in the lives of others, and in the beautiful world you garden. As I begin this day, I pray that you will strengthen my soul and that whatever your purpose for me will be fulfilled in faithfulness and love. In Christ’s name I pray. Amen.
Evening Prayer
God of my salvation, preserve anyone in danger this night; reach out to anyone who is in trouble. Give us the quiet rest that comes from knowing you are above everything, watching over us with steadfast love. I pray that today, in some word I spoke in some act of care I offered, Christ was lifted up as Lord and Savior. Continue to transform me so that I may discern what you find good and acceptable and perfect. Help me to dream always your own vision of a world in full bloom, verdant with joy and gladness, teeming with thanksgiving and justice. At the close of this day, I entrust myself, and all those I love, to your care and keeping. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Daily Prayer Isa. 51:1–6
Even from a place of exile, from a position of despair, we trust, O God, in your power: to return and restore us, to enliven and empower us, to soothe and to save us. You can turn a desert into Eden, sorrow into joy, and silence into singing. The heavens may vanish above and the earth dissolve underneath, but your salvation is forever. We wait for you, O God, attentive and hopeful, for with you, deliverance is always possible. In Christ, we pray. Amen.
Hymns:
314 God is love come heaven adoring, 528 Jesus calls us here to meet him
635 Brother, sister, let me serve you, 637 Take my life and let it be consecrated
#314 God is love come heaven adoring
Author: Timothy Rees CR (1874-1939), Music: Cyril V Taylor (1907-1991)
1. God is Love, come heav’n adoring, God is Love: come earth rejoice
Come creation voices soaring, sing exalting with one voice
God who laid the earth’s foundation, God who spread the heav’ns above
God who breathes through all creation, God is love, eternal love
2. God is love, whose arms enfolding all the world in one embrace
with unfailing grasp he holding every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking under sorrow’s iron rod
All the sorrow all the aching wrings with pain the heart of God
3. God is love, and though with blindness sin afflicts all human love
God’s eternal loving-kindness guides us through all earthly strife
Sin and death and hell shall never o’er us final triumph gain;
God is love, so love for ever o’er the universe must reign.
#528 Jesus calls us here to meet him
Author/music: Iona Community (Scotland), Gaelic melody
1. Jesus calls us here to meet him as through word and song and prayer
we affirm God’s promised presence where his people live and care
Praise the God who keeps his promise, praise the Son who calls us friends
praise the Spirit who, among us, to our hopes and fears attends
2. Jesus calls us to confess him Word of Life and Lord of all
sharer of our flesh and frailness saving all who fail or fall
Tell his holy human story; tell his tales that all may hear
tell the world that Christ in glory came to earth to meet us here
3. Jesus calls us to each other, found in him are no divides
Race and class and sex and language- such are barriers he derides
Join the hand of friend and stranger; join the hands of age and youth
join the faithful and the doubter in their common search for truth
4. Jesus calls us to his table rooted firm in time and space
where the church in earth and heaven finds a common meeting place
Share the bread and wine, his body; share the love of which we sing
share the feast for saints and sinners hosted by our Lord and King
#637 Take my life and let it be consecrated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP-t4FxQIR4 Author: Frances Ridley Havergal
1. Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee
take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2. Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.
3. Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my King;
take my lips and let them be filled with messages from thee.
4. Take my silver and my gold not a mite would I withhold;
take my intellect, and use every power as thou shalt choose.
5. Take my will and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine;
take my heart: it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.
6. Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure store;
take myself and I wil be ever, only, all for thee.
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–1879) was born in Worcestershire, England. She was nicknamed “Little Quicksilver,” because she was bright quick and clever. She possessed gifted intelligence, reading at age three, and memorizing many books of the Bible. She was very active in the Y.W.C.A. and conducted weekly meetings. She wrote many devotional books and hundreds of hymns and poems. Favorite hymns of hers are “Who is on the Lord’s Side,” “Lord Speak to me,” “Truehearted Wholehearted,” “Like a River Glorious,” and “Take My Life and Let It Be.” (https://curiosmith.com/pages/frances-ridley-havergal-author-page)
#635 Brother, sister, let me serve you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qblqtb4jzL8 Words / Music: Richard Gillard
1. Brother, Sister, let me serve you. Let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I might have the grace to, let you be my servant, too
2. We are pilgrims on a journey and companions on the road
We are here to help each other, walk the miles and bear the load
3. I will hold the Christ-light for you in the nighttime of your fear
I will hold my hand out to you, speak the peace you long to hear
4. I will weep when you are weeping, when you laugh I’ll laugh with you
I will share your joys and sorrows till we’ve seen this journey through
5. When we sing to God in Heaven we shall find such harmony
Born of all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony
6. Brother, sister, let me serve you, let me be as Christ to you
Pray that I might have the grace to let you be my servant, too.