Service Sunday October 6, 2024
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All are Welcome!
Watch a video recording of the whole service using YouTube below.
The Gathering
Welcome and Announcements.
Focusing Moment.
Acknowledgement of Land
We give thanks for the First Peoples who welcomed our ancestors to this land with hospitality, and we acknowledge that we are on the traditional territory of the Michi-Saagig and Anishinaabeg peoples. We give thanks for the ancestors, the elders, and our Indigenous siblings, who helped us to live in this part of our world, and we thank them for their care of creation. Our spirits are gathered, our hearts and minds are ready! Let us worship God!
Call to Worship:
One: Come to rejoice, celebrating the abundance flowing from God’s grace at this table.
ALL: Knowing we are blessed, we come to give joyful thanks and praise.
One: Come as a people offering our very selves for Christ’s harvest of life.
ALL: Dancing in delight, the spirit frees us from scarcity’s bondage.
One: Open to possibility and to transformation, come to embrace God’s reign in prayer.
ALL: Generous God, whose bounty is shared so we may share in return, turn our understanding upside down, open our hearts with your challenge to create grace-full community, feed us that we may taste Christ’s living bread, and enflame us with the Spirit’s passion for justice. Amen.
Written by Gord Dunbar, Kincardine P.C., Kincardine, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2024, p.44. Used with permission.
OPENING PRAYER: Spoken in Unison
Gracious and loving God, the love you show us, through bread and cup, strengthen us for the journey. Come and be with us today as we gather to worship you. You are the light for our path, the bread to our bellies, the living water that quenches our thirst. May this time together help us to recentre ourselves and encourage us to live as you call us to live in this world. Hold our mistakes and our misdeeds in you hands. Blow your breath upon them so that they may be removed from the weight of our living.
Then, filled with your Spirit and connected with our Christian siblings worldwide, we will serve you day by day. Amen.
Written by Eric Hebert-Daly, Executive Minister, Eastern Ontario Outaouais Regional Council
Gathering, Pentecost 2024, p.44. Used with permission.
Hymn: “We Gather Here” VU #469
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: Spoken in Unison
We come to you this morning, Lord God, confessing the sins of our hearts and our minds, the sins that make for broken fellowship in this family of faith. You have called us to communion within your church throughout the world, and you command that we live out the grace of forgiveness. You charge us to be perfect and we respond. Some of us strive to be perfect, correct, and true in all we do and express. Some of us work to make others perfect through criticism, judgement, or discipline. Most of us fail to grasp that your idea of perfection is for us to love one another, live peacefully, be considerate of each other, and be filled with thanks for the life we share in Christ. Forgive us, we pray, when our efforts at perfection directly oppose your own. By your Holy Spirit, turn our minds and hearts to you so that we may know, desire, and do your will. Amen.
Written by Carol E. Bayma, Royster Memorial Presbyterian Church, Norfolk, Virginia
Gathering, Pentecost 2 2024, p.44. Used with permission.
WORDS OF ASSURANCE
One: On the journey, we seek a spirit of discernment and wisdom. On the journey, we move toward relationship with God. So follow Jesus and know new life. Seek the Spirit and know new insight. Move toward God and know grace. You are forgiven. Amen
Written by Eric Hebert-Daly, Executive Minister, Eastern Ontario
Gathering, Lent-Easter 2024, p.34. Used with permission.
MINISTRY OF MUSIC:
LEARNING TOGETHER:
HYMN: “Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ” VU #468
1 Let us talents and tongues employ,
reaching out with a shout of joy:
bread is broken, the wine is poured,
Christ is spoken and seen and heard.
Refrain
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
Jesus lives again, earth can breathe again,
pass the Word around: loaves abound!
2 Christ is able to make us one,
at the table he sets the tone,
teaching people to live to bless,
love in word and in deed express. Refrain
3 Jesus calls us in, sends us out,
bearing fruit in a world of doubt,
gives us love to tell, bread to share:
God (Immanuel) everywhere! Refrain
THE WORD
Scripture: Mark 10:2-16
Leader: Hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church.
ALL: Thanks be to God.
MESSAGE
“Divorce and a Child’s Faith”
Listen to an audio recording of the Message below or read the whole message below.
OUR RESPONSE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken VU #921)
COMMUNION HYMN: “One Bread, One Body” VU #467 vs 1 & 2
Refrain
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless;
and we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
1 Gentile or Jew, servant or free,
woman or man, no more. Refrain
2 Many the gifts, many the works,
one in the Lord of all. Refrain
SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION
Jesus said: “I am the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry;
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Prayer
God of all, we give you thanks and praise,
that when we were still far off
you met us in your Son and brought us home.
Dying and living, he declared your love,
gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we, who share Christ’s body, live his risen life;
we, who drink this cup, bring life to others,
we, whom the Spirit lights, give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us,
so that we and all your children shall be set free,
and the whole earth live to praise your name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Communion
According to Luke, when our risen Lord ate with his disciples at Emmaus, he took bread, and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him in the breaking of bread.
The body of Christ.
Thanks be to God for the bread of life.
The blood of Christ.
Thanks be to God for the cup of blessing.
Prayer after Communion – In Unison
For these symbols of God’s bounty and love, the bread and wine we have taken, we give God thanks. May they nourish us and strengthen us for the journey, so putting their mark upon us that our lives may be love in action. Amen.
COMMUNION HYMN: “One Bread, One Body” VU #467 vs 3
Refrain
One bread, one body, one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless;
and we, though many, throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.
3 Grain for the fields, scattered and grown,
gathered to one, for all. Refrain
PRESENTATION OF OUR OFFERINGS
OFFERTORY PRAYER:
Redeeming God, at this table, we have found peace and communion with your blessed Spirit. What a gift! May these offerings ensure that your church continues to be a place of renewal and sacredness, here and around the world. We humbly share, in Jesus’ name. Amen
Written by Laura Turnbull, Pentiction, B.C.
Gathering, Pentecost 2, 2024, p.45. Used with permission.
SUNG BLESSING: MV #150 v 4
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. ©
Sending Forth:
One: Just as we have been welcomed to the table of Christ, let us now go and reach out to our neighbours, welcoming them in God’s love to our tables.
ALL: Amen!
Written by George Allan, Chatham, Ont.
Gathering, Pentecost 2, 2024, p.45. Used with permission.
A Time of Fellowship
© Music Reproduced with permission under License number A-605748, Valid for: 26/10/2023 - 25/10/2024; One License - Copyright Cleared Music for Churches.
Sermon 6 October 2024
“Divorce and a Child’s Faith”
Mark 10:2-16
Gracious God, be with us today in this place, in the Scriptures and in our words.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts praise your Holy name. Amen.
Jesus said, “What God has brought together let no one separate.”(Mark 10:9)
Then Jesus told his disciples, “Whoever divorces ... and marries another commits adultery.”(Mark 10:11-12)
These words burn in our ears.
Many of God’s children have been divorced and then remarried.
And those who haven't know someone who has.
Often times we know there was good reason for divorce.
Perhaps the spouse was unfaithful or uncaring.
Perhaps the spouse was even abusive.
And we want our divorced friends to find happiness in a new marriage in which they can experience a loving caring relationship.
So we wrestle with these difficult words of Jesus.
But let me put these words in context.
These sayings of Jesus were in response to a question posed by Pharisees to test Jesus.
They were trying to draw Jesus into a current argument among the Pharisees and possibly trip him up.
The debate involved an interpretation of God’s Law.
The Law of God allowed for a man to divorce his wife by signing a divorce certificate thus allowing both of them to remarry.
But the Law said that he could do that only if she had done something “shameful.”
The rabbis argued over what “shameful” meant.
Did it refer only to adultery, or to lesser things?
Some rabbis went as far as to say that a man could divorce his wife because she had burned his toast or because another woman was more beautiful to him.
Jesus knew what was going on when the Pharisees asked him this question and he refused to play their little game.
Instead of joining the argument over legal definitions, Jesus chose to teach them about the nature and meaning of marriage.
From the beginning it was God's plan that men and women join together and become one. (Mark 10:6-7)
And once they were made one it was God's intentions that they stay that way. (Mark 10:8)
That's what God intended, but people don’t always follow through on God’s intentions, so God’s Law made provision for dissolving a marriage when necessary. (Mark 10:5)
Later, in private, the disciples asked Jesus about this.
It’s then that Jesus told them that if a man divorced his wife and married another he commits adultery.
And if a woman divorces her husband and marries another she commits adultery.
By the way, the laws of Moses say nothing about a woman divorcing her husband but Jesus does.
So, how should Christians respond to these words from our Lord?
Christians have responded in many differing ways.
Some churches do not recognize divorces at all.
Some churches will recognize a divorce but they will not remarry.
Some blame the divorced person for not keeping their vows.
Some churches refuse to allow divorced people to hold positions of leadership.
Some will not allow divorced ministers to continue preaching.
Some churches even say that a divorced person must return to their first spouse to be saved, while others argue that any divorces that take place before salvation are null and void.
They are forgiven.
Some theologians argue that the modern sociological situation is different and that Jesus’ words do not apply to modern marriages.
What is the United Church's position on divorce?
Let me summarize it for you.
Basically, when a married couple can nolonger live together and they are beyond reconciliation, divorce is a regrettable alternative in the midst of brokenness.
Divorce does not preclude a new marriage.
Also, the church encourages an intentional commitment of the Church and society to minister compassionately to those in the process of divorce, as well as members of divorced and remarried families, in a community of faith where God's grace is shared by all.
Jesus appears, at least on the surface, to be disallowing divorce and remarriage, yet our church recognizes divorce.
We see it as regrettable, it is always a last resort when marriage partners are estranged beyond reconciliation, but we recognize it none the less as well as the divorced person’s right to remarry.
United churches for the most part are open to including divorced and remarried individuals as full and active members.
We have tried and often succeeded in ministering to and with divorced and remarried people.
Does that mean that we United church people are simply disregarding Jesus’ words on this matter?
Not at all.
We are not disregarding anything Jesus said, but rather we are trying to be true to everything Jesus said and did.
I believe that the United church's openness to divorced people is an attempt to be true to the larger message of the Gospel.
How is this so?
As I pointed out before Jesus’ words are not an attempt to lay down legislation but rather an attempt to explain God’s intention.
It is God’s intention that people who marry should marry only once and remain married “until death do us part.”
But the truth of the matter is we humans sometimes have trouble follow God’s intentions.
Sometimes through acts of unfaithfulness, hateful abuse, or even neglect a marriage dies.
It is killed by the actions or inaction of one or both of the partners.
The trust is betrayed.
Sometimes through prayer and counselling the damage can be mended, but sometimes the partners won't be reconciled.
God knows this about us so God made provision for the Israelites to divorce.
It’s not what God wants but as Jesus said God has made this provision because of the hardness of the human heart. (Mark 10:5)
And that provision included the possibility of remarriage.
After all, the purpose of the certificate was to properly dissolve the first marriage so that another marriage could take place if desired. (Deuteronomy 24:1-4)
What do we do with Jesus’ words that appear to label remarriage as adultery?
Once again, Jesus is not laying down laws but principles.
As I noted before, one prominent rabbi stated that a man could divorce his wife because he thought another woman was more beautiful.
Looking at another in that way is adultery.
Jesus was responding to the loose morals of his age, and the attitude that a small matter, like burning the toast, was proper grounds for dissolving a union ordained by God.
That I believe is the attitude to which Jesus is responding.
If Jesus were saying that God's people could not divorce and remarry he would be contradicting God’s law given to Moses.
And Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law.”(Matthew 5:17)
So he must be explaining God’s intention behind it.
But let’s look deeper.
Consider who it is that is saying this.
It’s Jesus who came into the world to offer forgiveness, healing, and new life to all.
Jesus offers to wipe away our past and give us a new beginning.
That is what Jesus offers all people including those who have been divorced.
Jesus offers to forgive, or wipe away and heal the past, and to be at work in us all to create a new beginning.
Sometimes that new beginning may include a new spouse with whom one can experience anew what it means to love and be loved.
This is where Jesus’ blessing of the children comes in.
It’s no accident that this cute story falls right on the heels of this discussion about divorce.
We United Church people are most familiar with this passage as the Biblical basis for infant baptism, but it is much more than that.
It is an explanation of the proper relationship with God.
Jesus says we must receive the kingdom as a child.
A child is one who trusts and depends on the parent for guidance.
A child looks to the parent as an example and tries to imitate the parent.
Much of a child’s play is simply copying the parents’ actions; playing house.
That is how we should be.
We should trust and depend upon God and try to imitate God’s actions.
Instead of spending our time making rules about divorce and remarriage, and then arguing over them like the Pharisees, we should trust and depend on God to show us how to reach out in love as Christ did.
One day Jesus met a woman who had been married to five husbands.
He didn’t expound on the laws of Moses and apply them to her life like the Pharisees.
Instead he reached out in love.
He showed mercy and grace to her.
Yes, it is regrettable that people get divorced.
Divorce is a painful thing.
It is a result of our human frailty for we all fall short of God’s intentions for us.
But instead of condemning, let us be loving.
Instead of inflicting pain and discomfort on people who are in a very painful situation already, let’s offer comfort and help.
That is why I believe that the United Church’s response to divorce and remarriage is faithful to the Gospel.
It’s a response that offers forgiveness and healing.
It’s a response that offers a new beginning through the power of Christ’s resurrection.
Like children of God, let us depend upon God to show us how to live grace and forgiveness.
Instead of trying to keep the divorced away from Jesus as the disciples tried to keep the children away, let us lead them to Jesus.
And just as Jesus picked up and blessed the children, he will pick them up and bless them too.
Thanks be to God. Amen.
