Home Church 24th Sunday after Pentecost November 15, 2020

Home Church 24th Sunday after Pentecost November 15, 2020

Guest Presider: Rev. John Bullas

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! If you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin, Welcome. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free.

Invitation (Candle lighting section from “Gathering,” written by Fern Gibbard)

Let us take a few moments to open our hearts and minds as we prepare ourselves to be at one and in communion with the Holy and Sacred. 

We light the Christ candle knowing that Christ’s love shines like a beacon for those of us who are troubled, who are anxious, who are unsure, welcoming us into the presence of our God, who loves us into fullness. (We light the Christ candle).

Let us pause and allow the Spirit of God to find its way into this time, space, and the place where we are.  Sit for a moment within your surroundings and allow them to embrace you with intention and peace.  As the flame of our collective faith takes hold, may it proclaim to all the world that justice, peace and harmony is our way.  Let us open ourselves to the One who is with us and within us.  Breathe in the Love that surrounds you.                         

Quiet Meditation

Greeting               

One:    The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

            and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:      And also with you                                        

Opening Prayer    

                            
One:    Source of All Goodness, you pour through us, in us, and around us. We pause to feel the power of life within. May we become aware of our own potential and may our imaginations be sparked against the flint of your belief in us until our world overflows with possibilities.

All:      When it comes to your love – there is no end. Gifted by this love, the sky is the limit to what we can become.

One:    We are the people of today. You call us to take risks, to trust in you and invest in your future. When we are afraid, fill our thoughts with your faithfulness and love.

All:      Help us to live boldly as your people. Amen.

Hymn: God We Praise You In The Morning    VU #415  

1 God, we praise you for the morning;

hope springs forth with each new day,

new beginning, prayer and promise,

joy in work and in play.

2 God, we praise you for creation,

mountains, seas and prairie land.

Waking souls find joy and healing

in your bountiful hand.

3 God, we praise you for compassion,

all the loving that you show;

human touching, tears and laughter,

help your children to grow.

4 God, we praise you for your Spirit,

Comforter and daily friend;

restless searcher, gentle teacher,

strength and courage you send.

5 God, we praise you for the Saviour,

come that we may know your ways.

In his loving, dying, rising,

Christ is Lord of our days.

6 Hallelujah, hallelujah,

Hallelujah, hallelujah!

Hallelujah, hallelujah!

Christ is Lord of our days!

Prayer of Confession

One:    We joyfully receive your abundant gifts, O God, and we look for      ways to invest them in order to increase the realm of love on             Earth;

All:     But when our circumstance and limitations rise up against us, we can allow them to cloud our vision for possibilities.

One:    Sometimes we think too little of ourselves.

All:      We can be weighed down with doubt and insecurity and we bury our preciousness under a diminished self-worth.

One:    We can allow indifference to have its way in us, growing numb to the world’s needs, neglecting our baptismal vocation,

All:      Despite the abundance of your love, a mindset of scarcity can creep into our community and we can give in to the thought that there is not enough to go around.

One:    Help us to invest in your ways, O God.

Silent Prayer of Confession

Assurance of Grace

One:    God wants only good things for all us and the world. Wherever we are and whoever we are, God is with us. God has destined us to be generous and free. Let us live in God’s forgiveness and power.

All:      Thanks be to God.  

Peace of Christ

Christ is with us and in the space between us. 

Let us share the peace he brings!

 

              The Peace of Christ be with you!

              And also with you!

First Reading: Judges 4:1-7  Alex McConnell

The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, after Ehud died. So the Lord sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly for twenty years.

At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah

and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came up

to her for judgement. She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, ‘The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, “Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.” ’

Gospel Reading                                   

One:      God be with you.       

All:        And also with you

One:      The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Matthew

All:        Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 25:14-30 Mona Smart

‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents,* to another two, to another one, to each according to his 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 slaves came and settled 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.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! 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 take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

 

                        One: This is the Gospel of Christ;

                        All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection:   Investing in God’s Future (sermon attached)                    

Silent Reflection

Hymn: Spirit of Gentleness   VU #375    [Refrain:]

 Spirit, spirit of gentleness,

blow through the wilderness, calling and free,

Spirit, spirit of restlessness,

stir me from placidness, wind, wind on the sea.

1You moved on the waters, you called to the deep,

then you coaxed up the mountains from the valleys of sleep;

and over the eons you called to each thing;

“Awake from your slumbers and rise on your wings.” [Refrain]

4You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes.

From the bondage of sorrow all the captives dream dreams;

our women see visions, our men clear their eyes.

With bold new decisions your people arise. [Refrain]

Apostle’s Creed: Let us affirm our faith . . .

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer   New Zealand Prayer Book – Jim Cotter

Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver, Source of all

that is and that shall be, Father and Mother of us all, Loving God,

in whom is heaven: The hallowing of your name echo through the universe! The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of

the world! Your heavenly will be done by all created beings! Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth. With the bread we need for today, feed us. In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us. In times of temptation and test, strengthen us. From trials too great to endure, spare us. From the grip of all that is evil, free us. For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and for ever. Amen

Offering Prayer

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn:  May the God of Hope VU #424   

1 May the God of hope go with us every day,

filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.

May the God of justice speed us on our way,

bringing light and hope to every land and race.

[Refrain:]

Praying, let us work for peace;

singing, share our joy with all;

working for a world that’s new,

faithful when we hear Christ’s call.

2 May the God of healing free the earth from fear,

freeing us for peace, both treasured and pursued.

May the God of love keep our commitment clear

to a world restored, to human life renewed. [Refrain]

Blessing

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One:      The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey,    guiding you, cherishing you.

First Name A-M:

              The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories feeding you, challenging you.

First Name N-Z:

              The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom, comforting you, disturbing you.

All:        The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living, guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:      Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:        Thanks be to God! Alleluia!