FREELTON STRABANE UNITED CHURCH 


To Live Our Discipleship With Integrity And Grace

 

Horseshoe Falls Regional Council  

Reign of Christ

November 20   2022

 

Rev. Will Wheeler BA M. Div. E-mail: [email protected]

Organist : Joan Simpson

 

 All: (sung) In God we live and move and have our story.

 In love God lives in us and makes us whole

O Jesus may we hear the Word that calls us near.

Your story makes a home within our soul.

Your story makes a home within our soul


Epistle Colossians 1:11-20

Gospel Luke 23:33-43

 

One The word of God for the People of God

All Thanks be to God. 


 

Prayer
Lord as we ponder your words open our hearts that we may understand and know you. Amen  
Sermon   

 It is the beginning of a season of lists. A time of here there and everywhere.   
Of opening of touts that hold the family treasure of the pending season. Breaking out the tissue. (it can be emotional) I am suspecting that this year more than other years it will even more emotional. So much has changed in a year. There is always Soooo, much to do. 
 
We must never rush time, for it is precious and fleeting. Wisdom instructs us to stay in the moment. (I struggle with this) We must own that it is not Christmas it is not Advent. Today is a time of in between.   

It’s the last Sunday of the Liturgical year. Reign of Christ An in-between time ending and a beginning. A time of anticipation of what will come. The journey ends and yet the journey begins. 

  We have travelled from the Cradle to Cross and beyond and now we begin our journey towards the Cradle once more knowing that it will lead to a cross, and an empty tomb.   
 
Today’s can be a difficult Gospel to hear because it causes us to reflect on our own actions. But, in it, is great hope, in it we find yet once again what we are called to do. What we need for the journey. 

  

In it we find that it is the small things that count in our lives that make the difference. 

What Jesus can be saying here is Take care of my people. Even if it is in small ways.

Here at the ending and the beginning ask yourselves this, for this is the question to explore to ponder in this ending and beginning. “How have you taken care of others?  How have you been taken care of?  How have you taken care of yourself?    Which of your gifts have you shared? Whose gifts have you empowered and nurtured. . Small actions, at times insignificant but can bring change.

As our journey of faith begins again, it begins in the lengthening darkness of the year. 

Now the night is long, and will grow longer. Yet  into the night even now,  even in this in-between times the light of Christ is beginning to break in.  Something bigger is coming something we are still trying to understand on this journey, in this ending, and beginning in this in between times. 


 I was told about this old comedy sketch about an interview with a 2000 year old man. He was asked did he always believe in God.  He said “No. For a long time we believed in Phil.  Phil was this really big mean guy who could break someone in two with his bare hands. 

The interviewer asked “Did you Pray to Phil ?“

“O yes” says the old man . “Prayers like. O please Phil don’t break us in Half Amen.  O please Phil don’t squish us. “

“What happened?” the old man was Asked

“Well “ says the old man “one day Phil got hit by lightning and was killed. We all stood around looking at Phil And then we realized that there was something bigger than Phil.” 

 

Phil is anything or anyone that prevents us from seeing that in breaking of the light, that Keeps us from knowing God’s great love for us. Phil is anything that prevents us from taking care of God’s people. 

The Phil’s of this time will pass away. They must. 

There is something bigger coming. .  God continues.  God continues at the ending, at the beginning in the in between time.   

God continues in Each of the small acts of kindness in our life.  All are part of the bigger in breaking of God in Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit 


 We are living in a time of great social stress, of fear and polarized ideas. A time of sorrow, grief and worry.  We are longing for the light. 

Here at this beginning, here in the season of your list making may there be  included on your list.

Time for prayer

Time for reflection

Time for setting right that which is wrong. 

Time for the in breaking of God’s light. 

And in your list making In the in breaking in of God’s light may there be time for the hungry, thirsty, homeless, lost, and broken. Those that cry for justice.

May there be time to say thank you, for all that you have done for us, for me.

And in your list making may there be time

To realize there is something bigger yet to come

That the light is coming into the world again as it has,  is now,  and will come again.

That on that list there is you and you and you and you all that you may have to offer. for we are not alone Thanks be to God. 


Prayers of the people


Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God.

 

Prayers


God of all time and space, we come to you in this moment to asks that you quiet our souls so that we may be with you. In this moment help us to reflect on how we have cared for those in need, but also how we have nurtured our relationship with and with in ourselves.   We know that we at times have a tendency to wonder but you are always waiting for us to find our way home to you.   We take great comfort in knowing that you are always there for us.

As you have been for us we offer you prayers for those who we will never know.  The marginalized the dis enfranchised people of the world. We offer prayers for those that we do know and ask that you continue to walk with them.. Give us courage and wisdom to speak the truths that will keep us in that relationship with ourselves  and others. 

 

Finally we  give thanks for the many ways that you have walked with us, not just in sorrow but also in joy.  Help us to answer your call to service and worked toward being an open and accepting community. Lord hear our own personal prayers.     We trust that in your time and in your way they shall be answered. Amen 


 

Offering


We give thee but thy own.   The work of the Church continues and there are three ways you can continue to support that work.   Consider using PAR, use the donate button on our Web Site or drop your gift at the Manse.   Let us make our offering and give thanks.       

  One: Praise God who from all Blessing flow

 

   Prayer      Blessed God for all times you have been the God who has given to us. Here in this time we bring you our gifts and offer the to you for the continued work of your Church in all places and times. Amen.                                         

Sending Forth and Blessing.

 

One: The holiness of God shines upon you and empowers your witness and service.                           

 

All: We will meet God in prayer and walk with god in places of human need.                           

 

One: In all times and places God blesses us. We go now to be channels of Gods blessing                                                     

                                       

Blessing



One:  May God the one who brings us comfort surround you, May Christ our Joy walk with you. May the Continued presence of The Holy Spirit illuminate our path and keep us safe until we can gather again in community. Amen 


Go now in Peace

Amen Amen Amen 

Join me now for coffee/tea and of course visiting.   Now that you have finished reading the service I encourage  you to call someone and wish them well for the day.   

Yesterday
we honour our heritage.

Today
we know that we are not alone,
that we live in God's world.

Tomorrow
with God,
we will discover
the undiscovered country.

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