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Twenty Sixth 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 Absolution
00:00 / 00:18

The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):

The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul.

The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):

O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Our first reading for today:

(click the 'play' button below to listen)

Numbers 11:4-6,10-16,24-29
00:00 / 02:40

Our second reading for today:

(click the 'play' button below to listen)

James 5:13-20
00:00 / 01:37

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.

Mark 9:38-50
00:00 / 01:56

Listen to David speak to this gospel.

Stumbling Blocks!
00:00 / 13:34

or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:

Sermon for Ordinary 26, Sunday, 29th 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>

One of my all-time favourite actors is the Englishman Paul Eddington (1927-1995) who is, perhaps, best-remembered for his role as politician ‘Jim Hacker’ in the British TV series “Yes, Minister” and “Yes, Prime Minister”. Five days before his death from cancer, Paul made an immensely moving appearance on the TV program “Face to Face”, where he discussed his life, career and his battle with lymphoma. He said in that program:

"A journalist once asked me what I would like my epitaph to be and I said I think I would like it to be 'He did very little harm'. And that's not easy. Most people seem to me to do a great deal of harm. If I could be remembered as having done very little, that would suit me.” <PAUSE>

I’m sure we can all recall people that we felt (rightly or wrongly) have ‘tripped us up’, interfered in our lives, or kept us from doing what we felt needed to be done. The ‘Stumbling blocks’ we have met.

Today’s gospel (Mark 9:38-50) tells a story about John and the other disciples running into a stumbling block, an outsider who, as John tells Jesus, “Was not following us.”

John does not say that this person interfered with the disciples’ work, that he had a different purpose, or that he opposed them. He simply says, “He was not following us.”

Never mind that the person was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. He was not one of them, and that seems to be the disciples ‘stumbling block’.

Clearly, the he or she who was “not following us” made John and the disciples, feel threatened. <PAUSE>

Last week the disciples argued among themselves about who among them was the greatest! This week they are complaining about this other person, this ‘stumbling block’ to their group status, power, and recognition.

I wonder if this might not be a variation on last week’s argument. You remember that that ended with Jesus taking a child into his arms and saying, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” You may also remember that, in my message, I said that the child is a symbol of vulnerability, powerlessness, and dependency.

Today’s gospel is a continuation. This is actually one story told to us over two weeks. Jesus and the disciples are still in the same house as last week, the child is still on Jesus’ lap, and Jesus is still deepening and moving our reflection, inward, to look inside ourselves.

John, however, wants to change the conversation and make it about this other person, this ‘stumbling block’ whom they tried to stop, because he was “not following us”. Isn’t that what we often do or want to do with our ‘stumbling blocks’? We draw lines in the sand, circle the wagons, divide into us and them, and try to stop them. I see that happening in the world today and I’m sure you do as well. <PAUSE>

However, once again, Jesus, points us to our better selves and takes a different approach.

Jesus isn’t so concerned about another who causes us to stumble; His concern is focused on us, not that other person, and it’s twofold:

First, whether WE have become a stumbling block to another, “to one of these little ones,” to the child sitting on His lap, and

Second, whether we have become a stumbling block to ourselves.

Jesus is once again asking us to look at ourselves, to be self-reflective. It’s as if He saying to John, “Don’t you worry about that other person. You worry about yourself.” The greatest stumbling blocks are not outside us but within us: anger and revenge, the judgments we make of others, prejudices, our desire to get ahead and be number one, the need to be right, our unwillingness to listen, the assumption that we know more and better than another, living as if our way is the only and right way.

These, and all the things like them, are what cause us and others to stumble and fall. <PAUSE>

These are neither easy nor comfortable conversations to have with oneself and others. It’s hard work, but it’s work about which Jesus is ABSOLUTELY adamant. You can hear that stress and focus in the images Jesus uses: drowning by millstone, the amputation of hand or foot, the torn out eyeball, the unquenchable fire, hell, the worm that never dies.

We don’t need to take those images literally, but do we need to take them seriously.

Jesus uses those images four times to talk about us becoming our “better selves”. “It is better for you …” He says. That’s what Jesus wants - He wants us to be better, and THAT begins with looking at ourselves, not at those other people.

What might we need to change or give up in order to step into our better selves? <PAUSE>

So here’s what I wonder. What if our focus was, “Do no harm” ?

What if we made that the guiding principle for what we would say and do?

What if we committed to help one another live into our better selves?

What if we were more concerned about another’s success than our own?

What if John had offered that other person an open heart and a word of encouragement?

Maybe, just maybe, we would start to recognise ourselves as BUILDING BLOCKS rather than STUMBLING BLOCKS.

Anyway, wouldn’t you rather build up than tear down?

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":

apostles_creed_pic02.jpg
Image by Allef Vinicius

... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.

​Let us pray aloud, and together:

In the power of the Holy Spirit, and in union with Christ, let us pray to our Father. Father in heaven, by His blood, Your Christ has ransomed us to you, and has made us a kingdom and priests to you our God. As the angels minister to you in heaven, strengthen your people to serve you here on earth.

(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

Father in heaven, as we remember St. Michael and all the angels, let us recall that when the angels greeted the birth of Your Son they sang for joy ‘Glory to God and peace on earth’. Bless with Christ’s peace all the nations of the world.

(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer

Father in heaven, Your Son has promised to us, Your children, the care of the guardian angels who look upon Your face. Protect by Your mercy all our neighbours, families and friends.

(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer

Father in heaven, You give Your angels charge over those who trust in you to guard them in all their ways. Be with those who are troubles in body, mind, or spirit, heal them and show them Your salvation.

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

Father in heaven, your angel declares ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.’ ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘for they may rest from their labours, for they take with them the record of their deeds.’ Enfold in your love all who come, in faith, to your presence and place in heaven.

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

Father in heaven, the angels sing by day and night around your throne: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty’ may we, also, give you glory, sing your praise, and exalt you in all that we say and do in the week ahead.

(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.

lord's_prayer_pic01_edited.jpg

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.

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