Music as the Community Gathers
Words of Welcome Announcements
The National Anthem – “O Canada” – Please stand as you are able for the playing of O Canada. We listen while affirming the words in our hearts.
The Lighting of the Christ Candle
As our worship begins each week, we light the Christ Candle. This flame of this candle reminds us of God’s Presence with us as we worship this morning, and Jesus’ promise: “I am with you always, to the close of the age.”
Invitation to Worship
As we gather for worship this morning, we have mixed emotions. We are grateful to once again be meeting together in this sacred place. We are grateful for the great gift of living here in Canada – richly blessed in so many ways. Yet we feel too the anxiety, worry and stress of these special circumstances as we, and all humanity, are threatened by this deadly virus. We have undertaken extreme measures to try to stop its spread. Even our worship is affected – we can’t see each other smile – we can’t sing – we can’t touch one another even to exchange a hand shake. We are masked and separated to safe social distance.
Our kind, compassionate, present God invites us to bring all of those feelings and thoughts to worship. As the author of the Letter to the Hebrews wrote 1900 years ago:
“Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.”
Opening Prayer
Let us worship God. Let us Pray
Encounter us now, Holy Mystery who is Wholly Love, as we worship. Make us aware of your love that encircles us, closer than our breathing. Bless us with your sustaining Presence; as we are surrounded by your grace. Draw us ‘round your living Word, and bind us to one another, empowered by the Spirit, that we might love the world in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Opening Hymn
– “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” – VU#288 – With the ears of our hearts open to the voice of the Spirit, we listen as a group of young men sing this favourite old hymn.
Bible Readings
Romans 7. Selected Verses (Paraphrase)
Here, in his Letter to the Church at Rome, St. Paul speaks of his own inability to do the good that he intends. (I have taken the liberty to paraphrase Paul’s words – so that we, today, can understand his point.)
In this and all our readings this morning, listen for the word of God:
I do not understand what I do; for I don’t do what I intend to do; but instead I end up doing the very thing I want to avoid.
This can be explained by the truth that it isn’t really my true self – my best self – that does these things – but they are the result of the brokenness of the world.
My innermost being – God’s light shining in my heart – delights in God’s way of compassion. But I’m often not able to follow the direction of this light – blinded by mixed motives.
This makes me so unhappy! Who can rescue me from this situation?
Thanks be to God who has acted in Christ our Lord to defeat the brokenness of the world and to restore the original blessedness – the Eden where God declared that everything that was made was very good.
The full reality of God’s reign is still a work in progress. Each time we are able to do the good we intend – we build toward the healing and restoration of the whole cosmos.
Matthew 11.28-30
From the Gospel of Matthew, this morning, we read Jesus’ words of invitation. This morning we read from the New Revised Standard Version:
11.28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Psalm 72.1-8
The Book of Psalms is likely the oldest songbook in continuous use in the world. The poems and hymns contained here have been a meaningful part of worship among Jews and Christians for about 3,000 and 2,000 years respectively. Today we read from Psalm 72:
72.1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to a king’s son. 2 May your anointed judge your people with righteousness and your poor with justice. 3 May the mountains yield prosperity for the people. 4 May your anointed defend the cause of the poor of your people, give deliverance to the needy, and crush the oppressor. 5 May your anointed live while the sun endures and as long as the moon throughout all generations. 6 May your anointed be like rain than falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth. 7 In the days of the chosen one may righteousness flourish and peace abound until the moon is no more. 8 May they have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
“True Patriot Love?”
Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, the Psalmist has said that your words is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. As we ponder the Bible readings this morning, move among us and within us that we might be empowered and enabled to live as faithful disciples of Jesus. Amen.
Within the last ten days, we have witnessed the marking of three “national holidays”.
The first was “Fete Nationale” on St. Jean Baptiste day, June 24, in Quebec, in Acadia (New Brunswick and parts of Nova Scotia) and in communities across North America and the world, where there is a significant French-speaking population. This is, since 1925, an official holiday in Quebec.
Then, less than a week later, on Wednesday of this past week, we marked Canada Day – the 153rd Anniversary of Confederation – the formation on July 1, 1867, of The Dominion of Canada. (Though we know that at first it was just Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that formed the new nation.)
Yesterday, our cousins and friends in the United States marked 244th Independence Day – remembering the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the 13 colonies from Great Britain on July 4, 1776. (A date after which many of the United Empire Loyalists found themselves unwelcome in the place that had been home for generations.)
These traditional national holidays were quite different this year, weren’t they? In this first year of the COVID-19 Pandemic with so much suffering in the world.
We continued to isolate at home. Municipal parties and gatherings were cancelled. There were very few fire works.
Perhaps this year, more than ever before our national holidays were a time of sober reflection.
Who are we? Where have we been? What do we stand for?
Those questions asked against a backdrop of painful conversations about anti-black and anti-indigenous racism that appears to be continuing even in this year 2020.
We would all like to think that Canada is a nation that stands for equality of opportunity, and where we care for one another. We do have as a significant part of our Constitution, since 1982, the Charter of Rights & Freedoms – the highest law in the land.
But we need to acknowledge that we aren’t perfect. How do we honour our forbearers who built this country – those who were born here and those who came here from the United States, Britain, Ireland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or Asia. How do we honour the contributions of the Indigenous nations whose hospitality allowed settlers to survive and thrive on land they were willing to share?
It seems to me that the “true patriot love” of which our national anthem speaks, does not mean for us to whitewash the errors and evils of the past – but to find ways in these days and into the future – to make right the wrongs – and to correct the mistakes.
To “stand on guard” for Canada is to act with maturity – to accept responsibility to acknowledge where we failed to live up to our ideals.
We are human. As St. Paul wrote to the Church at Rome – the good that we wish to do, we sometimes fail to do. The evils that we wish very much to avoid – we end up doing. This is because of the brokenness of our world. God’s call to us is to do all that we can, every day, to live the kindness and compassion of Jesus. God’s call to us is to make a strong commitment to caring for the least of these our sisters and brothers – knowing that as we do so we will be caring for Christ.
So may justice flow like many waters, and right relationships thrive like an ever-flowing river.
God help us to be true to the values upon which our nation was founded – that our Canada might be a place where young and old thrive – and where every man, woman and child, has what they need – sufficient food, a supply of fresh water, appropriate clothing for each season, housing that protects from the elements, and medical care that guards against disease; and where the earth itself and all animals and plants are treasured and protected.
We can do this – the building of such a nation is within our grasp. Let’s get on with it.
Jesus’ words from Matthew give us the assurance that as we do this work, God labours with us, teaming with us to bear the yoke.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
Prayer of Dedication
This morning as you entered the Sanctuary you may have had opportunity to place your offering on the plate near the door. (If not, we invite you to do so as you leave at the end of the Service.) We now dedicate the offering:
Prayer: Gracious and Loving God, we give thanks that all of life is a gift from your generosity. We offer now these gifts of money from the substance of our lives – we would not offer these and withhold ourselves – but ask that you consecrate both gift and giver to the extension of your reign here in our own community and throughout the world. Amen.
Prayers of Gratitude and Concern
The Lord’s Prayer: You are invited to pray silently as Rev. Phil uses the traditional words.
Parting Hymn
– “Spirit Open My Heart” MV#79 – We listen as musicians from Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood, Alabama, sing this great hymn by Ruth Duck, written in 1994. Rev. Phil moves to the lower level near the Christ Candle.
Commissioning & Blessing
Extinguishing the Christ Candle
As our Service ends each week, we extinguish the candles on the Communion Table and the Christ Candle. But as we do so we remember Jesus’ words from St. Matthew, when he said to the disciples, “You are the Light of the World.” So it is that we are invited to take the light of Christ with us as we go from here to all the places where we do our living – and to look for the light of Christ in the faces of everyone we meet. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
