Music as the Community Gathers – Sam Hirst
Words of Welcome & Announcements
The Lighting of the Candles
Invitation to Worship
This morning we gather as a community of faith to mark and to celebrate the 227th Anniversary of our Picton United Church congregation.
We gather to offer heartfelt thanks to our Gracious God – Holy Mystery who is Wholly Love – Creator, Christ and Spirit, One.
We are profoundly grateful for the heritage we have received – bequeathed to us by the faithful people who have worshipped here since the latter years of the 18th Century of the Common Era.
We gather to encounter anew the Living God – Kind Creator, Compassionate Friend, Ever-Present Spirit – that we might be empowered and enabled to go from this place when our worship ends, to love the world in Jesus name.
Let us worship God.
Opening Prayer
Holy One, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Opening Hymn VU#808 “On Eagle’s Wings”
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You who dwell in the shelter of our God, who abide in this shadow for life; say to the Lord, ‘My Refuge, my Rock in whom I trust!’
Refrain: “And I will raise you up on eagle’s wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of my hand.”
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The snare of the fowler will never capture you, and famine will bring you no fear; under God’s wings your refuge, God’s faithfulness your shield.
Refrain:
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You need not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day; though thousands fall about you, near you it shall not come.
Refrain:
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For to God’s angels is given a command to guard you in all your ways; upon their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Refrain:
Bible Reading: Matthew 25.14-30 (Paraphrased)
“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to their ability. Then he went away.
The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.
After a long time, the master of those servants came to settle accounts with them.
Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ The master said to them, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy servant; you have been trustworthy over a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’
In the same way, the one who had received the two talents brought forward the two more talents. Again, their Master was delighted and promised to reward the trustworthy stewardship of resources.
Then the one who had received the one talent came forward. This last servant said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so, I took your money and buried it in the ground. Here it is, I return it now to you.’
The Master of that servant was angry and responded: ‘You wicked and lazy servant! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return, I would have received what was my own with interest.’
So, the Master took away that Servant’s talent and gave it to the one who had received the five talents. He dismissed the servant from his employ without any letter of recommendation!”
Investing in the Future
Jesus loved to tell stories. Here in the twenty-fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew we have three great stories that he told. Today we’ll be considering the story of the servants, or stewards, who were given authority over portions of their master’s resources.
Next Sunday – on the Festival of the Reign of Christ – we’ll be reading and considering Jesus’ story about the “Last Judgement”
In today’s story the focus is on three servants. One is given five talents – one two talents – and one is given only one talent. By-the-way, it is helpful, I think, to recognize how much money we are talking about here.
One talent was the equivalent of 100 denarii. A denarius was a day’s pay for a worker. If we were 
going to convert that into our own day – depending on whether the worker was a skilled craftsman or a labourer – the day’s pay could be quite varied. For a worker being paid minimum wage in Ontario – a day’s pay could be as little as 114.00. A Journeyman Carpenter could make as much as $42.00 per hour – or a daily wage of about $336.00. Let’s say the average worker would make a daily wage of $250.00. A talent is equivalent to 100 days pay. That means it was $25,000.00
So, to understand Jesus’ story – One servant received $125,000. One received $50,000.00. And one received $25,000.
The one who received the $125K invested and doubled the master’s money.
The one who received the $50K also invested and doubled the master’s money.
The one who received $25K did not invest the money. Did not even put the money in the bank. This servant, acting out of fear of the master, dug a hole in the ground and buried the money. Perhaps this one talent guy had experienced hyper-inflation, as happened in Germany after World War I – when suddenly it took that entire amount to buy one loaf of bread? Perhaps this person had experienced the Stock Market crash of 1929 when suddenly, investors lost everything? Maybe this person had previously trusted someone like Bernie Madoff and found out too late that the seemingly smart advisor was a crook? Whatever the reason, this one-talent person was afraid. In response to receiving responsibility over this considerable resource – they buried the money. This way, they reasoned, when they needed it, they would know exactly where it was and could easily recover the full amount.
When the master returned to settle accounts – the two prudent and wise servants were praised and rewarded for their diligence – given additional responsibility.
The fearful and imprudent servant was berated by the master and their money and responsibility were taken away. They were dismissed from their employment without even a letter of reference.
So, what does this story have to say to us here at Picton United Church on this our 227th Anniversary? How do we fit into this story?
Well folks – there can be little doubt that we are the servant who has been given the five talents. Just look at the resources we’ve been given!
We have been born into a democratic country that is wealthier than almost every other country in the world. The median wealth in US dollars in North America is almost triple that in Europe, and about twelve times more than the median wealth in Latin America or Asia.
Here in Canada we have a social safety net that is the envy of many other nations – we take for granted than when we are ill, we will be able to access care that will restore us to health and strength – and that this will occur without our having to sell our home to pay for it. (Not so for many of our friends south of the border.)
We have more fresh water than any other nation. Again, most of us take for granted that when we turn on the tap, we’ll have an unlimited supply to drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning.
Even though we live in a country with a cold climate – and soon we’ll be experiencing again the ice and snow of winter – we know that when we turn up the thermostat on a particularly cold night, we will hear a furnace kick-in and heat will pour from our registers.
We have food on the shelves of our grocery stores and in our pantries, fridges and freezers.
Our children and young people and adults have access to publicly funded education – to the post secondary level. Our communities have public libraries where we can borrow books to read.
Here in Southern Ontario – and here in Prince Edward County – we have farm land, wetland and forests. We have conservation areas and Provincial Parks. We have migratory birds passing through spring and fall –
And here in Picton – here at Picton United Church – we’ve been bequeathed with this amazing physical plant. We have an awesomely beautiful worship space.
So many gifts! So many talents! What are we doing with these resources that have been entrusted to us?
In just a few days the Council of the Corporation of Prince Edward County will be voting on a new Official Plan. (If you have a computer and internet connection you can find it on-line. If not, you can get a hard copy at Shire Hall.) This Plan will determine how the resources of our County will be developed. Will our farm land, wet lands and forests be protected as a precious and finite resource? Or will developers be allowed to do with these resources as they see fit? What kind of community will we be? It seems to me that it is imperative that we as citizens support the Council in adopting a Plan that will protect land and water for our children and grandchildren – and control the way development happens. This is one of the valuable “talents” that we’ve received. Will be bury it in the ground – based on fear – or will we invest it wisely?
Then there is this awesomely beautiful building that has been bequeathed to us by the generations who have worshipped here since the late eighteenth century. Another priceless talent that has been entrusted to us. Will we hold on tightly to this resource because we can – or will we find a way to invest this asset in a way that will benefit the entire community of our beloved Town of Picton? Will we find a way to turn this precious resource over to the benefit of all the people of Prince Edward County? Think of how this building served community needs in the past. On many Sundays it was filled to capacity. During the week I was used by a wide variety of people.
Even aside from our current malaise of COVID-19 – we know that our society has changed radically. Now only a few dozen worshipers gather on Sunday morning – and most of us are at least into our eighth decade of life. During the week, dedicated volunteers continue to operate the Picton United Church Food Bank – a vital resource to families and individuals unable to put food on their tables. But in what other ways can this resource be used – invested for the good of all the people?
How can we share the precious resource of our Sunday morning worship with the entire community? There are people out there beyond these walls, who have spiritual needs. Right now, many of them are living isolated and lonely lives? Can we find a way to invest in the technology that will allow us to live-stream our worship into the homes of those folk? We are told that COVID-19 is going to get much worse before it gets better. We are challenged to invest what we have to the benefit of those who need to hear the gospel – those who need hope.
We have received at least five “talents” from our master. Will we invest wisely and shepherd these resources so that they will increase and our community will thrive – as generations before us have done? Or will we, based on fear of possible negative outcomes, act to dig a hole and bury the resource so we’ll know where it is when we are called to account?
God help us to live with courage and determination and wisdom as did our forebearers who bequeathed all of this to us. So, may we too hear the words: “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter now into the joy of your Master.”
Happy 227th Anniversary Picton United Church.
Amen.
Acknowledgement of Gifts, Tithes and Offerings
Prayers of Gratitude & Concern
The Lord’s Prayer
Parting Hymn: VU#806 “O God Our Help in Ages Past”
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O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home:
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Under the shadow of thy throne thy saints have dwelt secure; sufficient is thine arm alone, and our defence is sure.
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Before the hills in order stood, or earth received its frame, from everlasting thou art God, to endless years the same.
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A thousand ages in thy sight are like an evening gone, short as the watch that ends the night before the rising sun.
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Time like an ever-rolling stream soon bears us all away; we fly forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day.
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O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, be thou our guard while troubles last, and our eternal home.
