Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Mark.
Listen to David speak to this gospel.
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Ordinary 24, Sunday, 15th Sept 2024
MAY the words of my mouth and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. <Amen>
Time passes so quickly, it is almost 60 years since I first heard the protest song "Eve of Destruction" sung by Barry McGuire. Yes, that was 1965. The song references social issues of its time - including the Vietnam War, the drafting of young men into the army to fight, the threat of nuclear war, the Civil Rights Movement, turmoil in the Middle East, the American space program, religious hypocrisy, and more.
The media helped to make the song popular by using it as an example of everything that was wrong with the world culture of the time. It’s controversial, often depressing, lyrics even saw it banned by some radio stations. <PAUSE>
Current events around the world, misinformation on social media, emails that I receive have had me wondering if “Eve of Destruction” is still as relevant, highlighting peoples “disillusionment”, today as is was back in 1965!
Disillusionment seems to be everywhere. We may not agree on what people are disillusioned about but I do think it IS a common disease from which MANY are suffering.
There is disillusionment with our leaders, the political system, with lost economic opportunities, with violence in our communities, with prejudice and oppression, and yes … with religion.
Haven’t WE all had times of disillusionment, times when we recognised that life or the world wasn’t what we thought it was going to be?
Disillusionment happens when the story we’ve told ourselves, the story on which we have based our lives and beliefs, the story to which we committed ourselves, no longer makes sense, or is no longer relevant, or no longer works, or is no longer true.
Disillusionment, however, isn’t only about what’s going on around us. It begins within us. It’s a spiritual issue, and it’s one Simon Peter knows all too well. In today’s gospel (Mark 8:27-38) Peter is a vivid picture of disillusionment.
We hear Jesus ask, “Who do YOU say that I am ?”
Peter confessed Jesus as the Messiah. Peter has a particular understanding, a particular and personal story about who the Messiah is and what the Messiah should do and be. <PAUSE> Don’t we all? <PAUSE>
BUT - - - Jesus, is about to undo and rewrite Peter’s story. “The Son of Man,” he tells Peter, “must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”
An “Eve of Destruction” moment for Peter and definitely NOT the answer Peter expected nor what he wanted. So Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes him, as if he knows better. In Matthew’s version of this story we actually hear what Peter says to Jesus. “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (Matt. 16:22).
Can you see, can you hear, can you feel Peter’s disillusionment? What Peter expects, what Peter wants, Peter’s story for The Messiah … well, it’s not going to go that way.
We hear how Peter’s shock, his disillusionment at this change to his own story of Jesus becomes a rebuke to Christ, to the Son of God! Disillusionment, rebuke and what an arrogance to think that that his story is better than Jesus’. <PAUSE>
Today we see Peter’s humanity. <PAUSE> We see all our humanity. <PAUSE>
Our disillusionment/arrogance should NEVER be an excuse to be violent towards others, curse or rebuke others. Disillusionment/arrogance is NOT a basis for claiming we know more and better than another. It is NOT a reason to declare or treat another as less than ourselves when that other has been created and loved by the same God who created and loves us.
Jesus has no time for, or interest in, Peter’s human arrogant self-assertion. “Get behind me, Satan,” He says. Those are the same words Jesus spoke during his temptations in the wilderness. Jesus hears Peter’s rebuke as a temptation to be someone less than who He is and as a distraction from the work He is about.
Maybe this is also valid for you and me. Disillusionment tempts us to be less than who we truly are, tempts us to be arrogant and self-assertive, tempts us to lose sight of what we REALLY should be about - - - proclaiming God’s Kingdom and treating one another, whoever they may be, with the love of Christ, with respect, and with tolerance.
For THAT is who Jesus is and that is the people that Jesus calls us to be. <PAUSE>
Despite what we may see in our communities and around the globe, the world is not on “the eve of destruction”. It wasn’t for Peter on that road to Caesarea Philippi and it’s not for us today!
The truth is there are times when we don’t understand what is happening and we feel lost, scared, confused, and even angry. Our former story no longer fits.
We need to embrace is a different story and in our gospel today we see how Jesus gives Peter and us a new story - Jesus, is our new story.
This is a new story about about redefining ourselves, our priorities, and our beliefs to be more in line with those of Jesus? It is the story about loving our God, our neighbour, ourselves? It is a story that makes spaces and places for others and recognises their lives as important as and as sacred as ours. It is a story that allows us to come TRULY alive.
Finally, and without any doubt, the Jesus story is just the medicine for the disillusionment in our modern world.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit <AMEN>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
Heavenly Father hear our prayers and listen to the words of our mouths as we lay before You our hopes and fears, our joys and concerns and all the things for which we give thanks.
We pray for Your people throughout the world, and for all who call themselves Christians, that they may go forward in unity and strength.
Help us to respect the beliefs of others even if we do not share them, to celebrate what we have in common and to accept our differences.
Guide us all in our ministries as we live each day.
(LONGER pause for silent, personal reflection)
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Creator God , drive away despair from our politics, revive our dreams of justice and truth, and restore our passion for what is good and right. Establish Your just and gentle rule throughout the world especially where there is conflict; where peace seems so far away and so many have lost everything, even the faint hope of a peaceful future.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, help us always to remember that in life we are “Third” and that You and our neighbour come first and second. Help us always to practice unselfishness as we try to live out lives where we genuinely try to be the servant of all as our Lord commanded.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Heavenly Father you gave Your prophet Isaiah an “instructed tongue to know the word that sustains the weary” help us to comfort the weary and those who are ill with a call or a visit or or an email or through the post with a get-well-card. Help also to be constant in our prayer for friends and family in any kind of need.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Loving Father, we pray for those who have died alone, unnoticed and unloved. We pray for those who have committed suicide or died in accidents of their own making. We commend all the departed to your merciful love.
May all the faithful departed now rest in peace as they most surely have risen in glory.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your Mercy: Hear our prayer
In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do worthy of the life, death, and rising again of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Faithful God as we leave today, strengthen our faith, deepen our love for You and for our neighbours and open our eyes to the wonder of Your creation.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
