Part of the sermon last week was talking about worship. The gospel lesson in John 12 depicted Mary anointing Jesus' feet with costly oil. She was worshiping. A number of people asked if I could include this part of the sermon in an email in order to read it. So, here it is, (also on the website). It is timely since we gather for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter.
Come and Worship
WE gather for worship to be with each other, hold each other up, and to gather together to thank and praise God. In our everyday life, we are pretty much in charge.
So, we gather to be reminded that God is in charge.
God is the creator of all: earth and stars, chocolate cake and steaks, daffodils and roses, doctors and teachers.
And we gather for worship to be reminded that WE are NOT the creator. We are the creatures. We are the recipients, and we give thanks to this God
We gather in worship to be reminded that God is the Savior. God saves with love and forgiveness and miracles of sun and warmth. God saves us through all of history.
And we gather worshiping to be reminded that we are NOT the saviors. We are the rescued. We do not rescue ourselves. God rescues us, and we give thanks
We gather to be reminded that God is the comforter. God listens to our cries, sends others to wipe our tears, grants hope and healings.
We gather to worship to be reminded that we are NOT the comforter . We are the comforted, and we give thanks to this God by sharing that comfort. Praise God from whom all blessings flow
We gather to worship to be reminded that we are NOT independent contractors that get to decide what benefits us without regard to others. God calls us to be STEWARDS and CAREGIVERS of each other and the world. We hear scripture that tells us that we are sister and brother to people we don’t like, and we don’t even know. And we give God thanks for this family of God in our worship.
We gather to worship in order to give extravagantly in thanksgiving for the work of God in the world. Our offering of our possessions is our version of Mary’s expensive oils for Jesus’ feet.
We are a nation that tries to fill up with whatever may make us feel better: alcohol, drugs, food, entertainments, sex and yet, for many, our hearts are still hungry. We gather for worship to be reminded that Jesus satisfies our hungry hearts with the gift of finest wheat. Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat. And we give you thanks and praise you
WE ache with burdens too hard to carry. We ache with bodies that crumble. We ache with worry, and aloneness. So, God asks us to drag ourselves to worship so that we can hear, ”Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your soul For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Today we learn that Jesus calls us to set aside time to gather to worship and adore. Then we disperse, to try to do God’s ministry in our world. We go in peace to serve the lord. We return again rhythmically to give thanks and worship the Creator, Savior and Comforter. Amen
Blessings to you and JOY,
Pastor Judy
Come and Worship
WE gather for worship to be with each other, hold each other up, and to gather together to thank and praise God. In our everyday life, we are pretty much in charge.
So, we gather to be reminded that God is in charge.
God is the creator of all: earth and stars, chocolate cake and steaks, daffodils and roses, doctors and teachers.
And we gather for worship to be reminded that WE are NOT the creator. We are the creatures. We are the recipients, and we give thanks to this God
We gather in worship to be reminded that God is the Savior. God saves with love and forgiveness and miracles of sun and warmth. God saves us through all of history.
And we gather worshiping to be reminded that we are NOT the saviors. We are the rescued. We do not rescue ourselves. God rescues us, and we give thanks
We gather to be reminded that God is the comforter. God listens to our cries, sends others to wipe our tears, grants hope and healings.
We gather to worship to be reminded that we are NOT the comforter . We are the comforted, and we give thanks to this God by sharing that comfort. Praise God from whom all blessings flow
We gather to worship to be reminded that we are NOT independent contractors that get to decide what benefits us without regard to others. God calls us to be STEWARDS and CAREGIVERS of each other and the world. We hear scripture that tells us that we are sister and brother to people we don’t like, and we don’t even know. And we give God thanks for this family of God in our worship.
We gather to worship in order to give extravagantly in thanksgiving for the work of God in the world. Our offering of our possessions is our version of Mary’s expensive oils for Jesus’ feet.
We are a nation that tries to fill up with whatever may make us feel better: alcohol, drugs, food, entertainments, sex and yet, for many, our hearts are still hungry. We gather for worship to be reminded that Jesus satisfies our hungry hearts with the gift of finest wheat. Come give to us, O saving Lord, the bread of life to eat. And we give you thanks and praise you
WE ache with burdens too hard to carry. We ache with bodies that crumble. We ache with worry, and aloneness. So, God asks us to drag ourselves to worship so that we can hear, ”Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your soul For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Today we learn that Jesus calls us to set aside time to gather to worship and adore. Then we disperse, to try to do God’s ministry in our world. We go in peace to serve the lord. We return again rhythmically to give thanks and worship the Creator, Savior and Comforter. Amen
Blessings to you and JOY,
Pastor Judy
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