PIONEER
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Worship
via Blog 7th Sunday of Easter May 24,
2020
~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus
Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to Pioneer’s blog worship service.
Over the blocks or over the miles, we gather as the Pioneer faith community,
gathered as children of God to worship, to be spiritually fed, and to be
equipped to go out to serve in Christ’s name—though we do it differently during
this crisis.
The blog is one of our resources for
worship. We are now also worshiping by Zoom at our regular 10:00a.m. time on
Sundays. If you’d like to join Zoom worship please contact Pastor Jean or Jon.
The governor’s office has approved Harney
County to be part of the phased opening of Oregon. In view of that, Session
will be meeting to discuss what Pioneer does in response to that.
Now allow yourself a brief time of silence
as you open your hearts and feel God’s presence with you, right where you are.
BAPTISM: Friends, remember your baptism … and be thankful.
CALL TO WORSHIP
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Though the earth should change,
Though the mountains shake,
Though the waters roar and foam.
The
Lord of hosts is with us;
The
God of Jacob is our refuge.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Gracious God, you have been faithful to
your people from generation to generation. You send the rainbow after the storm
and promise to keep covenant with us. Replenish our strength and stir up our
hope as we look for signs of your coming reign. Fill us with the peace that
passes understanding—the deep peace of Jesus Christ our Savior, in whose holy
name we pray. Amen.
OPENING
PRAISE SONG: “Be Still and Know”
CALL
TO CONFESSION
Acknowledging the unity we have in Christ,
let us confess with open hearts both our fear and our hope, trusting in God’s
abundant mercy.
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God
of grace, in Jesus Christ you have broken down the divisions that separate us
and given us in love to one another. Yet we are reluctant to let go of our
differences and accept each other. Forgive us and set us free to accept each
other in your love. Let your love can
transform us, and free us for strong and joyful service. (personal prayers
of confession … ) Amen.
ASSURANCE OF FORGIVENESS
Anyone who is in Christ is a new creation.
The old life has gone; the new life has
begun.
Friends, believe the Good News!
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven and
restored to new life!
PASSING THE PEACE
May the peace of Christ be with you.
And also with you.
Let us extend the peace of Christ in heart
and prayer to God’s children everywhere. As you do, envision one person in
particular with whom peace is difficult and send prayers of peace their way.
GLORY
BE TO THE FATHER
TIME
WITH CHILDREN
Good morning Zoey and Fiona. Have you been
little angels this week? Should we ask mama and daddy? You received pictures of
angels to color this week. I hope you made them lots of pretty colors. I think
that’s better than just white. And I sent you a craft item to make your own
angel. Did you do that?
Do you know the Bible talks about angels?
There are lots of angels in the Bible. They were often sent by God to take
messages to people to help them. And angels watched over and protected people.
When people saw angels they usually looked like regular people and didn’t even
have wings! The Bible says God’s angels watch over us. We call them guardian
angels. Would you like that? Do you think you have a guardian angel? I hope I
do. And sometimes we’re supposed to be like angels in the Bible and bring
messages to people. What would be a good message? How about if we tell people
that Jesus loves them. That’s a good message and that makes us angels. Let’s
pray:
Dear Jesus, thank you that you love us and
watch over us. It makes us feel good. It would be really cool if we have an
angel helping you. We want to be angels, too, by telling people that you love
them. That’s a good message. Help us do that. Thank you. Amen
HYMN: “Jesus
Loves Me”
Jesus loves me,
this I know, for the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to him
belong, they are weak but he is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves
me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves
me. The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves each one of us just as much as
he loves Zoey and Fiona. Does that make you feel good?
SCRIPTURE
1: 1
Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11
Beloved, do not be
surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though
something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you share
Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is
revealed. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed,
because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
Humble yourselves
therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Cast
all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. Be sober, be watchful. Your
adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to
devour. Resist him, firm in your faith,
knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood
throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of
all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself
restore, establish, and strengthen you. To him be the dominion for ever and
ever. Amen.
SCRIPTURE 2: Acts
1:1-14
In the first book, O
Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the
day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy
Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive
after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and
speaking of the kingdom of God. And while staying with them he charged them not
to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he
said, "you heard from me, for John baptized with water, but before many
days you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So when they had come
together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom
to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or
seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive
power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in
Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth." And
when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud
took him out of their sight.
And while they were
gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus,
who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him
go into heaven."
Then they returned to
Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath
day's journey away; and when they had entered, they went up to the upper room,
where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and
Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot
and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord devoted themselves to prayer,
together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
SERMON: “Telling
Stories?” Rev. Jean Hurst
Can you imagine what
those disciples were feeling the day Jesus ascended to heaven? With the
crucifixion they’d lost everything they believed in, everything they counted
on. Their hopes had been destroyed with Jesus’ death on the cross. They were
thrown into deep despair and fear.
Then
the most unbelievable thing happened. Jesus rose from the grave. He was alive!
Though they watched him die, watched his burial, he was alive. He met with
them. He talked with them. He ate with them.
They
wanted to pick up where they’d left off. In this passage we hear them asking
Jesus if now is the time he will restore the kingdom to Israel. Now
will Jesus finally overthrow the Roman occupation and restore the glory of
Israel? Now will Jesus reign with power and might? Now will they
be part of that power structure, important people who will participate with
Jesus in the rule of Israel?
It’s
not the answer they want. Jesus tells them they don’t get to know when God is
going to do what God will do. Jesus does tell them, though, that they do have a
role in the power stuff. But it’s what Jesus has told them before, back before
he was crucified. Jesus would send the Holy Spirit. They would be filled with
the power of the Spirit. Then their job would be to tell the story. It wasn’t
really the answer they were hoping for. They still couldn’t get their heads
around this kingdom stuff--God’s kingdom. All they could relate to was what
they knew--earthly kingdom, earthly power.
After
Jesus tells them they will be his witnesses throughout the world, Jesus is
lifted up to heaven, a cloud hiding him from view. All they can do is stare,
searching the skies for the Lord they have once again lost--watching and
waiting, longing; perhaps once again thrown into despair. Has Jesus abandoned
them? Now what?
That
question is answered by the appearance of two angels who say, “Why do you stand
there and gawk at the sky? Jesus will come back the same way he went up to
heaven.”
You
know, we do a lot of the same thing. Staring at the sky. Watching for Jesus.
Waiting for his return. Trying to interpret world events, weather events, the
pandemic as signs of his imminent return. Sometimes the inclination is to watch
and wait as if that were the most important thing for us, as believers, to be
doing. We want to keep our eyes on Jesus as if that were the proof of our
faith. Jesus said otherwise.
Jesus
said you will be witnesses. Your job is to tell the story. And that happens in
your own sphere of contact; admittedly less right now with the pandemic than
when life is ‘normal’. Social distancing doesn’t necessarily eliminate our
interaction with others—family, neighbors, work, organizations. It changes how we interact but it doesn’t keep us
from interacting.
Jesus
said, don’t stand around staring up at the sky, get out there and do something.
Jesus said, don’t act like this is some private thing between you and me, go
out and share it with the world. Tell them where you find hope and redemption.
Tell them why. Jesus said don’t think this power thing is about you and your
glory; it’s about God and what God is doing in the world and how God is doing
it in the world. It’s about God’s glory and God’s love and God’s grace.
Jesus
said something big is coming; you’re going to be part of it, baptized in the
Spirit. This isn’t going to be a dab on the forehead, this isn’t going to be a
gentle sprinkling, this is going under, it’s total immersion, it is life
changing, it’s world changing. Jesus said, you’re going to get power alright,
power like you’ve never imagined--power to do that witnessing, to tell your
story, to tell my story.
Anticipating
that kind of power is enough to throw us into a panic. We’d rather say, “Just a
little, thank you.” We don’t think we can handle that type of power. We
wouldn’t know how to use it. We’ve got too much on our plates already. We might
misuse the power. Our lives are in too much of a muddle, we’ve got too many of
our own struggles, even struggles with our faith, to be effective witnesses to
Christ in the world. With the promise of power, we throw up excuses.
As
you can imagine already, the biggest excuse right now is the pandemic. We are sheltering
in place, we are social distancing, we are unable to gather in our normal
groups and organizations, we have no one with whom to interact and share the
good news of the gospel. We may even feel there’s not much by way of good news
going on right now.
Yet,
the disruption and limitation of our lives by the pandemic challenges us to see
where God is, what God is doing, how we are growing spiritually or drawing
closer to God. It gives new meaning to Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I
am God.” It gives even more opportunity to share how God helps us through these
times. Instead of taking the pain or struggle or trouble or doubt or virus out
of our lives, God uses it to witness to what Jesus has done and is doing in the
midst of it. And that is accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit.
God
has this amazing ability to take us as we are and to see the potential of what
we can be and do. We can’t see it in ourselves. It takes God-eyes. It takes
God-heart. For whatever is going on in our lives, for whatever struggles or
pain or loss we face, for however we stumble and doubt in our faith, for
whatever life challenges throw us off balance, for whatever uncertainties we
have about our future, God infuses that with the power of the Holy Spirit and
uses it for the kingdom work.
Because
there are others out there just like us, going through the same sorts of
difficulties who need desperately to hear that God can work in the midst of it,
to know that they’re not alone, to believe that there can somehow be meaning to
what they’re going through, to have hope for tomorrow. Each needs an angel in
his or her life.
Are
you angel material? Angel has the same meaning in Old and New Testament. In the
Hebrew, malak; in the Greek angelos both mean messenger. To carry
the message of God’s grace and love is to witness. We don’t need special skills
and abilities to do that. It doesn’t require special training. We don’t need
public speaking skills. We don’t have to go to seminary. We simply have to be
authentically who we are and believe that God loves us as that and works in our
lives. We don’t even have to be people of exceptional faith. I think God works
best through those of us who question and doubt and struggle in our faith
because that’s real.
Look
at the witness material Jesus had to work with--a handful of followers who,
even after the miracle of the resurrection, didn’t get it. They were simple
folk, not well educated, if at all. They came from ordinary families. Some of
them came from questionable vocations. They were simple working class
folk.
There
were times their faith was strong and powerful. There were other times when it
failed them altogether. Times they were inspired, times they were
disinterested. Times they were courageous, times they slunk away in cowardice.
Times they spoke boldly and times they put their feet in their mouths. Times
they performed miracles and times in their ineptness they could do nothing.
There were times when they were very focused on kingdom work and times they
were only focused on their own self-interest. This is what Jesus had to
work with. Yet through the power of the Holy Spirit, this is the witness
that changed the world.
If
Jesus could work with this rag-tag lot, see in them the possibilities of how
they could touch the hearts and lives of those around them, see in them the
ability to get his message and work out to the world, imagine what he can do
through us. And it’s not about how wonderful we are, but how wonderful God
is and how powerful the work of the Holy Spirit.
The
Holy Spirit may be working in your heart right now, calling you into some type
of witness or kingdom work. If that is the case, it’s hard to dodge. The call
of the Spirit is irresistible and unrelenting. Most of us are called just where
we are, to witness through the living out of Jesus’ teachings, to simply tell
our story, the story of what God has done in our lives by the way we live. And
that is a powerful message.
Each
one of us has our own sphere of influence. There are particular people who are
in our lives now or who will come into our lives by virtue of the things we are
involved in, what we do on a day-to-day basis.
There
will be the person who can only hear the message when it comes from you and
your experience and your faith. And you interact with them in a way that calls,
not for a soapbox or a pulpit, but a word of encouragement, an act of kindness,
a living of the gospel, and when the time is right, a telling of what God does
in your life.
One
of our strongest ways to witness is to live our lives differently, to live as
children of the resurrection. People ‘hear’ more from how we live than from
what we say, how we react to the negative or painful events in our lives,
observing whether what we say we believe matches up to how we live.
The
disciples stood on the hillside, gazing up at the sky, watching Jesus disappear
from view and wondering what comes next. They were anxious for his return, but
they’d also received their instructions to wait for the Holy Spirit. They were
in an in-between time.
We
are in an in-between time. Certainly, we are waiting for this pandemic to be
over, waiting to get on with our lives. But we are also waiting for Jesus to
return; waiting for the final fulfillment of all that God has promised. But it
is not a time for star gazing. It is a time for faithfulness. While we are
waiting for the return of Jesus, we have been given a mission, a purpose. It is
a time to open ourselves to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It is a time to
turn from ourselves toward others, living and ministering in the power of the
Spirit. It is a time to stand as witness to the world of what God has done in
our lives. It is time to continue Jesus’ work until his return. Amen.
HYMN: “I
Love to Tell the Story”
PRAYERS
OF THE PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
As we are gathered in your presence, O
God, we proclaim your faithfulness and saving power. Baptize us anew with your
Spirit of Peace, drawing us together despite the differences and distances
between us. Gather us into unity in your church. Help us to encounter you in
new ways and stir us to an excitement that leads us to go out and tell others
so that they, too, might know your love and grace. When we would hold back in
the safety of the shadows, Lord, draw us out into your light.
O Lord, lay on our hearts a burden for
your people and a tenderness for them, even those we would call enemy. Lead us
to the action that follows prayer as we lift up to you the leaders of our
country and leaders around the world ……… the lives of your people who live in
poverty, hunger, and oppression ……….. those in prisons and hospitals ………….those
held captive by addictions and abusive relationships ………….those who are frail
in body, mind or spirit ……………. our health care providers and emergency
responders ……………. our veterans and especially those who suffer from PTSD ………….
all of us impacted by the pandemic, bring healing, O God, please bring healing.
We ask for your healing and presence for
those who especially need your care. We pray for John Matthews … Barbara Clark … Charlie Cagle …Sandy … Sandi … Trisha … Dave
… Jacob Cunningham … Linda … Joyce …
Jennifer … Chuck … and Courtney. Surround each with your love and peace. Grant
them strength and courage, healing and comfort, and the solid assurance of your
presence with them.
Lord, we entrust our cares to you, including those
still in our hearts, trusting in your love and compassion. We pray in the name
of Jesus who taught us to pray:
Our Father who art
in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as
it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as
we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
OFFERING
The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the
world and those who live in it. (Psalm 24:1) Let us present to God our lives
and offerings, grateful for the gifts we have been given.
DOXOLOGY
PRAYER OF
DEDICATION
Blessed are you, O
God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these
gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have
gathered, in feeding the world with your love; through the one who gave himself
for us, Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “Called
As Partners in Christ’s Service”
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
Your charge for the week is to think about your own
story. How has God acted in your life? How has it touched you and shaped you?
Can telling your story be a way to give hope in someone else’s life?
Now, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love
of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
CHORAL RESPONSE
May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and keep you forever.
Grant you peace, perfect peace, courage in every endeavor. Lift up your eyes
and see his face and his grace forever. May the Lord, Mighty God, bless and
keep you forever.
~~~~~~~~~~
LOOKING
AHEAD
Worship and church
activities are suspended until the coronavirus is contained and it is once
again safe to come together and worship. Use the church blog to access worship
and spiritual support articles and to keep up with what’s going on. If you have
trouble accessing or using the site, call Jean or Jon.
PPW Annual Sale will be held June 5th and 6th
assuming the virus restrictions have been lifted.
PPW Summer Outing will be June 12th to
Fort Rock and Lost Forest again assuming life is returning to normal.
PLEASE
KEEP THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE IN YOUR PRAYERS:
John Matthews
(cancer and pending surgery), Barbara Clark (Pendleton PW heart surgery 5/19), Charlie
Cagle (cancer), Sandy Cargill (aortic valve replacement), Sandi Posz
(lymphoma), Trisha Cagley (health problems), Dave Clark (kidney cancer), Jacob
Cunningham, Linda Kaesemeyer (knee surgery), Joyce Sahlberg (health issues),
Jennifer Schirm (Parkinson’s), Chuck VanHise (leg/walking rehab), and Courtney
Ziegler (Huntington’s).
LECTIONARY
FOR 5/31/20
Acts 2:1-21 or
Num. 11:24-30; Psalm 104:24-34, 35b;
1 Corinthians
12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21; John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39
1 comment:
Thank you for a wonderful service! Thank you, too, for everyone's hard work in bring this to us in many forms so when plan A doesn't work we can switch to plan B. Blessings to all! Rex and Laurie
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