Good Friday April 2020

ST. ANDREW’S, ST. LUKE’S, EMMANUEL UNITED CHURCHES OF CANADA

April 10th, 2020

Good Friday Service




Hebrew Reading:  Mark 15
ST. ANDREW’S, ST. LUKE’S, EMMANUEL
UNITED CHURCHES OF CANADA
Email: dmsminister@gmail.com
Designated Lay Minister: Barbara Creelman  
Phone: 613-333-9894
April 10th, 2020
Good Friday
 
WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD
Musical Prelude
We prepare our hearts for worship
Welcome – Lighting of the Christ Candle
Centring Prayer
 
 
WE HEAR GOD’S WORD FOR US
 
Story of Jesus:  Mark 15
 
25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two bandits, one on his right and one on his left.            
 
29 Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
 
Message:  What’s so good about Good Friday?
 
·         Good Friday also known as
·         God’s Friday
·         Long Friday
Good because the death of Jesus was the final sacrifice for all atonement needed
Feels like a Long Friday to me.  Dark day today; dark themes in our scripture; dark world we like in.
We have time today, as we shelter in place, in the sanctuary of our homes, to prayer, to meditate on what is being sacrificed today – the health of those who work to care for others, those who continue to supply our needs. 
 
 
The Death of Jesus
33 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land[f] until three in the afternoon. 34 At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” 36 And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he[h] breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”
 
It is finished (the candle is extinguished)
 
Music:  I know who holds tomorrow
              He giveth more grace
 
Our prayers for the world in turmoil, for our friends and family separated from us, for all who care for us.
 
Good Friday? Yes it is.  What good to you find in this day?
 
Hymn:  Jesus keep me near the cross
1 Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain;
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calv’ry’s mountain.
Refrain:
In the cross, in the cross
Be my glory ever,
Till my ransomed soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.
 
2 Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the Bright and Morning Star
Shed His beams around me. [Refrain]
 
3 Near the cross! O lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me. [Refrain]
 
4 Near the cross! I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever;
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river. [Refrain]
 
Public Domain 1869
*Benediction
Friday ends but Sunday is coming….
 
 

Good Friday?

*Benediction

Friday ends but Sunday is coming….

Palm Sunday or is it Psalm Sunday?

Message given – live worship service

Live Worship 5April2020 DMS Pastoral Charge, from the Manse in Denbigh, ON

Hebrew Reading:  Psalm 23

Point form of the message shared today followed by my Mind Map:

  • Palm Sunday but no palms, no parade
  • No grand celebrations
  • No one singing or shouting Hosannas – no one saying “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord
  • Perhaps we are still shouting, “Hosanna”
    • Save me, save us during this time of sheltering at home

In times of fear or distress, in times of needing comfort and hope we often turn to the 23rd Psalm.

  • Beautiful imagery
    • Green pastures
    • Calm still waters
  • The protection of the rod and staff
  • We can picture the table – filled with blessings
  • We can picture the over-flowing cup

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me – surely, for sure, for certain – our hope is steadfast in this knowledge.

Dwelling in God’s house forever.

  • the promise that Jesus gives us – in my Father’s house there are many rooms
  • We dwell in God’s house
    • At home
    • In our communities
    • Eventually in our church buildings once again

Regardless of our levels of fear, concern, or even boredom we have faith in the Good Shepherd who cares for us – always and forever.

Be confident in your Hosannas!

  • Not only today, Palm Sunday but every day
  • God hears our cries, our prayers both, in dark times but also in our joys.

So yes, Hosanna! Hosanna! Hosanna!

Amen.

Worship: Sunday, March 29, 2020

What, When, Why – The destruction of the temple

Worship from the Manse

I’m sharing the short form of my message as well as my mind map I created as I built this message.

Gospel Lesson:  Mark 13: 1-8 The Destruction of the temple foretold

  • Disciples point out the large stones of the building
  • Jesus tells them that the temple will be destroyed
  • WHEN? In fact – the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE

Perhaps Jesus was using the temple as a metaphor for himself?

  • 4 disciples questioned Jesus about when this will happen
    • Jesus tells them to beware – people who claim to be who they are not
    • Wars, rumours of wars
    • Earth quakes, famine

What about today? Birth pangs

  • Tear down to build up
  • Build up to create something new
  • Our bodies sometimes lay us low for a while.  We rest, we renew.  Then, we arise.  Refreshed and with new energy to face the dawn

What about us today?

  • We still ask why bad things happen to good people; why this virus, why now?
  • We ask when will it end?
  • We ask what is the reason, the purpose.

We may not know all the answers today.  Perhaps we’re not meant to fully understand.

However, look at what is accomplished, the new blessings we are seeing.

  • Found new ways to worship
  • Found new ways to reach out to people
  • The church, the people, have been mobilized in new and meaningful ways

There is hope!  This is what our faith brings for us. 

Will you find hope this week?  What are the blessings that you are seeing for the very first time?

How can you continue to grow and be the temple?

Amen.

Below is the Mind Map I created in preparation.  I use this tool most weeks.

You mean I can’t go out?

No one likes to be told to stay home. Our lives in general are about being with others; sharing each others joys, sorrows, and so much more. So how do we manage?

In reality fresh air and sunshine is a good thing even when we are staying away from others.

What does life look like right now? The stores are restocking but many people are buying up more than they need. There’s whining about our favorite restaurants being shut down with pick up or delivery only. There’s moments when we decide to go out because we are tired of being stuck at home. Resist the urge to go shopping. Resist the urge to meet up with friends.

So what do we do? There is so much richness in our Sabbath time – our time apart. More time to write, to plan the summer garden, to tidy up the back of the cupboard, to read, to paint, to craft, and so much more. Of course most people’s ideas of a stay-cation are not about being home. What if we re-framed those thoughts?

What does staying home look like to you?

Today I am:

  1. knitting and spinning
  2. playing piano
  3. watching some classic movies
  4. spending time with Nick
  5. taking care of the bunnies
  6. household chores

But wait – this is a normal Tuesday for me.

What’s on your list today?

Stay safe and well dear friends of the earth. God bless.

Worship: Sunday, March 15th

Mark 12:30 Bible Verse Printables - Christian Preschool Printables

In an effort to reach the community during this time of uncertainty I recorded yesterday’s service held at St. Andrews in Matawatchan. This audio recording has not been edited. (I currently don’t have the technology to do so).

If you want to hear the message only you can go to time stamp 16:35

For those who attended in Schutt or Denbigh you will hear the message a little differently. As a few know, my sermons are not identical from church to church.

I’m also adding the service bulletin.

ST. ANDREW’S, ST. LUKE’S, EMMANUEL UNITED CHURCHES OF CANADA Email: dmsminister@gmail.com Designated Lay Minister: Barbara Creelman Phone: 613-333-9894 March 15, 2020 LENT III

*Indicates an invitation to stand in body or spirit. Bold type indicates responses to be said or sung by all.

WE GATHER TO PRAISE GOD Musical Prelude We prepare our hearts for worship Welcome – Lighting of the Christ Candle Centering Prayer

Call to Worship: *Opening Hymn:

We share our blessings, celebrations, and community

WE HEAR GOD’S WORD FOR US

Special Music

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A1-9&version=NRSV

Gospel Lesson: Mark 12:1-9

We pray: May we hear the voice of the Spirit speaking to us through these words of Good News heard today. Amen.

Message: Righteous anger?

*Hymn: 378 Spirit of God descend upon my heart

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S WORD Community and world prayers, the Lord’s Prayer

We share our gifts and give thanks

*Offering Hymn: 543 We give thee but thine own What e’er the gift may be All that we have is thine alone, A trust, O God, from thee. Amen.

*Hymn: 343 I love to tell the story

WE GO FORTH TO LOVE AND TO SERVE *Benediction We sing: We are one as we walk this road together. We are one as we journey side by side. We are one, even though we may be different. We are one. We are one. (Sing twice) Barbara Creelman June 2015

To Ponder: When are you the angriest?

Next Week: LENT IV Mark 12:28-44