PIONEER
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Worship
via Blog 10th Sunday after Pentecost August
9, 2020
~~~~~~~~~~
WELCOME AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to Pioneer’s blog worship
service. Though we are accessing this remotely and unable to look each other in
the eye, we are still 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 pandemic.
Pioneer offers worship in several modes:
a)
The
blog.
b)
The
blog service mailed through US Postal service.
c)
Sermons
only, mailed to those who so request.
d)
Zoom
services at 10:00 Sunday mornings.
d) Facebook posting of Zoom service, posted the Tuesday following the service. https://www.facebook.com/100050946663006/videos/163070122067876/?t=5
e)
We
can now allow up to 40 people in worship. A six-foot distancing will be
maintained. Masks are mandated. There can be congregational singing with masks,
but no passing the peace, hugs, handshakes, or coffee hour.
A congregational meeting will follow
worship to elect a new elder to complete Vicki Keeney’s term and a new elder to
replace Vicki on the Nominating Committee.
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
Through the storm, Christ comes to us.
Do not fear to meet Christ where you
are.
We
have heard the invitation.
Our
hopes have brought us to this time of worship.
The storms of life do not have the last
word.
Our faith keeps us from sinking.
Our
doubts lead to greater faith.
Our
losses open us to greater possibilities.
Let us call on God’s name and give
thanks.
Let the hearts of all who seek God
rejoice.
We
will sing of God’s wonderful works.
We
will share with others God’s marvelous deeds.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
We seek your presence, Holy God. Break
through all our pretenses that we might know ourselves to be personally loved.
How amazing are all the miracles of life that surround us! We praise you. We
thank you. We bow in awe before you. In this hour, we pray that our faith may
be enlivened, our trust deepened, our commitment expanded to meet the
challenges of our times. Amen.
OPENING
SONG: “Lord of All”
CALL TO CONFESSION
We profess our faith in God, yet we rely
more heavily on our own ingenuity. We say we believe, but our lives seldom show
confident trust. We want to care as Jesus did, but too often disdain those with
whom we disagree. Who can save us from ourselves?
PRAYER OF CONFESSION
God,
we confess that we are dreamers more intent on our own importance than on your
vision for us. We like our favored position on this earth, and we are jealous
of those who have even more than we. We want to walk on water before we have even
learned to stand upright on the land. We want to rise above others rather than
reaching out with helping hands, that all might be uplifted by you. We pray for
pardon, for greater insight, for another chance to live and serve with
faithfulness.
(Let us continue our prayers in silence ………….) Amen.
ASSURANCE OF PARDON
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 one another.
GLORY
BE TO THE FATHER
TIME
WITH CHILDREN
Good morning Zoey and Fiona. It’s been
really, really hot hasn’t it? When it’s hot it’s fun to be in the water. I know
you both have been around, if not in, the water. Zoey has been over at the
ocean. Fiona has been fishing with her daddy. So did either of you walk on
water while you were playing in it? No? Why not? Oh, because you would sink.
Well today I want to tell you a story about Jesus when he walked on water.
It happened after Jesus fed all those
people with just 5 little loaves of bread and two fish. He sent the disciples
on across the lake in their boat and he
stayed to pray for awhile. During the night a strong wind came up on the lake
and the disciples were a long way from land. So Jesus walked across the water
to the boat. At first the disciples were afraid that he was a ghost, but Jesus
told them it was him so they weren’t afraid anymore.
Peter wanted to come walk with Jesus
on the water so Jesus told him to come. Peter jumped out of the boat and was
actually doing it until he started looking at the big waves and feeling the
strong wind. Then he was afraid and started sinking. Jesus reached out and
caught him and helped him to the boat.
We probably aren’t going to try to
walk on water but we can learn from Peter. When we get scared or worried, we
can ask Jesus to help us. Then we don’t have to be scared. Let’s pray.
Dear Jesus, it’s really cool that you
were able to walk on water. It’s also cool that you helped Peter when he got
scared. Whenever we get scared, please help us, too. 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.
SCRIPTURE 1: Romans
10:5-15
Moses writes that
the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by
it. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart,
"Who will ascend into heaven?" (that is, to bring Christ down) or
"Who will descend into the abyss?" (that is, to bring Christ up from
the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your
heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess
with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is
justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved. The scripture says,
"No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no
distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and bestows his
riches upon all who call upon him. For, "everyone who calls upon the name
of the Lord will be saved." But how are men to call upon him in whom they
have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never
heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach
unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of
those who preach good news!"
SCRIPTURE 2: Matthew 14:22-33
Then he made the
disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he
dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the
mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the
boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves;
for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to
them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,
they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for
fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying, "Take heart, it is I; have
no fear." And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to
you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat
and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was
afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus
immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of
little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the
wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are
the Son of God."
SERMON:
“Doubt and Do It Anyway” Rev. Jean Hurst
This
passage picks up from last week’s text on Jesus feeding the 5,000. Following
that amazing event, the people are just too close to trying to declare Jesus
king. Jesus knows that’s not a good thing.
He
also knows that what the crowds want is too close to what the disciples want.
They’re looking for Jesus to fulfill the role of the Messiah who restores
Israel to power and they want to be part of that power. In fact, they vie among
themselves for the positions of honor within that perceived kingdom.
So
Jesus sends them out across the lake while he stays behind to pray. Remember
that he’d come there in the first place because he was grieving the death of
his cousin John the Baptist at the hands of Herod. He needed some private time.
But when he saw the crowds who’d come to intercept him, he had compassion on
them and set aside his own needs in order to tend to theirs.
Now
it’s his turn. Apparently, he’s at prayer for hours, on into the night. Then he
sets out across the water ... on foot. The boatload of disciples is far out in
the lake and a storm has arisen. The wind and waves are high. Those sudden lake
storms can be dangerous. The disciples are probably getting worried and wishing
Jesus was with them and wondering what he’s up to.
Then
they see it. A figure is coming across the lake right through the rough waves
and right toward them. At first they think it’s a ghost and cry out in fear.
Jesus knows their fear and calls out to them, “Take heart, it is I; do not be
afraid.” Those words, ‘take heart, it is I’ are in Greek ‘ego eimi’, the divine name revealed to Moses at the burning bush:
“I Am.”1 The great I AM came to them across the stormy waters in the
darkest hour of the night.
Jesus gets into
the boat and the storm is suddenly calmed. Those in the boat worship Jesus and
declare, “Surely, you are the Son of God.” Only the power of God could control
the weather. Only the power of God could enable someone to walk on water. Jesus
exhibited that power. Walking on water and calming the storm are proof of his
divinity.
There
is a story within the story which is included in Matthew’s narrative but not
that of the other gospels. Peter. Repeatedly we see Peter portrayed as
passionate, bold, and a bit reckless in what he says. He loves Jesus fiercely
and is totally loyal. He will soon proclaim his willingness to die for Jesus
and then will deny even knowing him. Peter is a mix of doubt and faith, love
and fear—much like us. In Matthew’s gospel, Peter is declared the rock on whom
Jesus will build his church. Peter gets special attention.
As
soon as he understands it is Jesus out there on the water and as he is
witnessing this miraculous scene of water walking, Peter wants to be part of
it. He tells Jesus, “If it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
What in the world is Peter thinking? First, he’s saying “If it is you.”
If? Is he doubting Jesus’ voice, the validity
of what is before him? Or is it a challenge to Jesus? If so, Jesus accepts the
challenge. “Come.”
You’ve
got to give it to Peter, he doesn’t hesitate. He’s over the side of that boat
before the next wave hits. Impetuous. Can you imagine the high he was on? He’s
likely saying to himself, “Wow! Look at me. I’m walking on water!” Then he
realizes the truth of that. “Whoa! I’m walking on water. I’m not supposed to be
able to walk on water.” Now he’s seeing the rough water tossed by the wind and
he sinks like a rock. In panic he calls out, “Lord, save me!” And Jesus does,
gently chiding him, “You of little faith. Why did you doubt?”
“Why
did you doubt?” Indeed, why do we
doubt? Few of us are as impetuous as Peter. We have the common sense to look
around us, assess the situation, and conclude it’s not possible. We’re not
plunging into the deep, even if we are passionate and enthusiastic. Sure, Jesus
might be right there, but it’s just as clear that he’s Jesus and we’re not. We
doubt. And that’s okay. Doubt is honest. It’s real.
Doubt
but do it anyway. Huh? Yeah, that’s what I said. Doubt, but do it anyway. Don’t
let your doubts stop you and don’t feel guilty for the doubting. Let’s go back
to the boat for a minute. What do you think about all those disciples still in
the boat, clinging to the sides with
their mouths hanging open. When Peter called out to Jesus and Jesus said
‘come’, did they think this was an exclusive event for Peter? Did they doubt
that Jesus could be calling them as well? Did they doubt it was possible to
walk to Jesus on the water? Yes! What if others had hopped over the side for a water walk? Would Jesus have turned
them back? I don’t think so.
Would
they have sunk as well? If they paused long enough to doubt, they would have.
They might doubt that they, mere humans, could do such a thing. They might
doubt that Jesus was really there. They might doubt that Jesus would keep them
afloat. Any one of them might believe that Jesus would keep the others from sinking, but not him. Isn’t that what we do? We tend to
think that others are somehow more empowered, more worthy, more capable, have
stronger faith, etc. So we sit in the boat and witness someone else having the
profound experiences.
I
asked the opening question, “What are you afraid of?” I hope you’ve been
thinking about that during the last few minutes. I’ve been told that there are
two primary emotions: love and fear. From these come all other emotions. So if
fear is a basic emotion, perhaps doubt comes from fear.
Peter
had the good sense to fear just simply jumping in the water when Jesus told
them not to be afraid. Instead, he asked for Jesus’ call. He listened for
Jesus’ call. He responded to Jesus’ call. Knowing it was Jesus, he wasn’t
afraid to go over the side of the boat. When he took his eyes off of Jesus and
started looking at the wind-tossed waves, his fear kicked in. When he looked at
his own inadequacy and limits instead of what Jesus had extended to him, he
started to sink. Then Peter had the good sense to call to Jesus for help and
Jesus didn’t let him down.
Perhaps
some of the disciples on the boat were sniggering behind their beards at the
fact that Peter tried to walk on water and failed. It was awfully presumptuous
of him to think he could walk on water. And wouldn’t that make the rest of them
look bad or show them up? It’s a sad truth that sometimes people take pleasure
in other people’s failures. But did Peter really
fail?
Jesus
and Peter are the only ones reported who have walked on water. Peter did it as
he walked toward Jesus. He had his moment of fear, yes. He lost focus and he
started sinking. But he didn’t turn around and try to swim back to the boat. He
didn’t give up and go under. Instead he called out to Jesus who was right there
with him, lifting him up, restoring him, and then together they continued
walking on water to the boat. That doesn’t sound like failure to me.
John
Ortberg authored the book If You Want to
Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. He said walking on water
means facing your fears and choosing not to let fear have the last word. It
means discovering and embracing the unique calling of God on your life. It
means experiencing the power of God in your life to do something you would not
be capable of doing on your own.2 It sounds like water walking has
some benefits.
Let’s
say the boat is a metaphor. For the early Christians, a boat was a metaphor for
the church, tossed about on the stormy sea of persecution and struggles. Let’s
say for you that the boat represents your safe place. Yet even a safe place
isn’t totally safe. There’s a lot that can capsize a boat. So even in a safe
place, fear and faith co-exist, just as they did for the early church. When it
comes to our faith, sitting in the boat where it’s safe may be simply settling
for the minimal when there is so much more outside the boat.
It is there,
outside the boat, where we truly confront those twin experiences of doubt and
trust. Together, they lead us into a deeper relationship with the very Lord who
comes to us in the darkest hours of the night, in the overwhelming storms.
Jesus is most present to us, most real when we risk something and begin to sink
and cry out to him. He is there to lift us up.
Dietrich
Bonhoeffer suggests that “Peter had to leave the ship and risk his life on the
sea, in order to learn both his own weakness and the almighty power of his
Lord. If Peter had not taken the risk, he would never have learned the meaning
of faith.”3
What
is it you might need to learn—about yourself, about your faith, about other
people in a world gone awry, about what God can do in the midst of it all? How
is it that you might be stretched and grow beyond where you are right now?
There
is much in our world today that feels like the darkness and storm the disciples
faced. We can choose to remain in what feels like the safety of our little
boats or we can choose, even in our doubt and fear, to step out of the boat and
engage that world with the truth of God’s love and grace. Scarey? Perhaps. We
don’t know how much good it will do, how much will be accepted, how much will
be accomplished. But maybe a big piece of what is accomplished is the
strengthening of your own faith.
That
process for you might be risking to share what God has done in your life. It
might be to reach out in support of the disenfranchised, the lonely, the ill.
It could be speaking out and living out what is right or offering positive
attitudes and actions in the midst of negativity. It could mean being a healer
and bearer of love in the face of hate and degradation. What we do outside the
safety of the boat will depend on Jesus’ unique call to each of us.
Might
the world reject the message and demonstration of God’s love and grace? It’s
for certain, some of the world will. Will it seem like you’ve started something
you can’t finish? Inevitably. Will it feel like you’re failing, that you’re
sinking under the overwhelming tide of negativity? At times, yes. That is when
you call out for the Lord to save you.
Even
when you can’t feel his presence, he is there beside you, reaching out a hand and
lifting you up. In the darkest hours, he is there as he has promised,
whispering to you the words you so desperately need to hear, “Take heart, it is
I; do not be afraid.”
1Feasting on the Gospels,
Matthew, Volume 2, Chapters 14-28, p. 17, Cynthia A. Jarvis and E. Elizabeth
Johnson, Eds., Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, 2013
2John
Ortberg, If You Want to Walk on Water You
Have to Get Out of the Boat, Zondervan Press, Grand Rapics, MI, 2003
3Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship,
rev. ed., trans. R. H. Fuller, Macmillan New York, 1959, p. 53.
HYMN: “Precious
Lord, Take My Hand”
PRAYERS OF THE
PEOPLE AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
God, we come before you in
thanksgiving. You have loved us and believed in us despite all the ways we have
failed to live up to your vision for us. Rather than give up on us, you took on
our form and came among us to show us the way. In Jesus you died for us and
then did the incredible—you conquered death so that we might live. Your
ultimate promise is that we will return to you, that we will come home, that we
will live with you. Our Creator and Redeemer, thank you.
Until that time of homecoming, empower
us by your Holy Spirit to live our discipleship in ways that will be pleasing
to you. Touch those places in us, tender God, that are lonely and anxious and
confused and uncertain. Lift us above our times of pettiness and resentment and
suspicion. Heal those wounded places within us that are so deep and so painful
we cannot even speak of them. Bring us into fullness and joy of life. Pour out
your love of the world through us and guide us in serving your people in ways that
bring light and hope to those in need.
We lift up to you those of our
congregation and community and families who need your presence, your peace, and
your healing touch: Virginia DesIlets … Judy’s
daughter Rosa … Darlene … John Matthews
… Margaret Dunbar … Evelyn Neasham … Sandi …Trisha … Dave … Jacob … Joyce …
Jennifer … Chuck … Courtney … Ethel … Helen. (Additional prayers …………)
We pray for our broken world, for all
the anger and hurt in our country, for those impacted by the Covid virus, for
those mired in poverty or violence, those struggling with addictions and
fragile relationships. Lord, for all of us who, in the midst of all the things
that are wrong in the world, simply don’t know how to respond, help us, guide
us, give us the right words and actions, give us hope.
We
entrust to you these prayers and those that remain yet in our hearts as we pray
the prayer Jesus taught: 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.
CALL TO OFFERING
We have been entrusted as stewards of
all with which God has blessed us—our time, our talents, our accumulated
treasures—life itself. Our offering is not just about tithes and gifts for the
church’s mission; it is about rededication of all of life in Christ’s service.
Pause and give thought to what you offer God in return for God’s blessings.
DOXOLOGY
PRAYER OF DEDICATION
God, we cannot deceive you with the appearance of
generosity. You know how we manage the wealth entrusted to our care. Help us to
know the joy of sharing from the abundance you provide. Help us to trust when
we feel we do not have enough. We give thanks that you enable us to be givers,
not just receivers. May what we offer provide a helpful ministry to many. May
what we offer to our families, friends and co-laborers tomorrow also be blessed
as ministry. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “I
Want Jesus to Walk with Me”
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
Jesus
will come to you through the storms of your life. He calls you to him. He will
lift you up. This week, see if, even once, you can be water walkers. Keep your
eyes on Jesus and trust him.
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 has
resumed under restricted conditions which include a 40-person limit, 6’
distancing, masks, and no physical contact. Reservations are on a first-come,
first-served basis. Contact Jon Zieber at the church office to get on the list.
Being on the list once does not automatically sign you up for subsequent
services. You need to register each time.
PRAYER
CARE:
John Heinzenger,
Virginia DesIlets (fall/injured ribs on 6/16), Margaret Dunbar (fall/broken tailbone), Judy’s
daughter Rosa Lester (retinal bleed), Darlene Wingfield (pulmonary fibrosis), John
Matthews (cancer), Sandi Posz (lymphoma), Trisha Cagley (health problems), Dave
Clark (kidney cancer), Jacob Cunningham, Joyce Sahlberg (health issues),
Jennifer Schirm (Parkinson’s), Chuck VanHise (leg/walking rehab), and Courtney
Ziegler (Huntington’s).
LECTIONARY
FOR 8/16/20
Genesis 45:1-15;
Psalm 133; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32;
Matthew
15:(10-20) 21-28
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