Call To Worship

Take this moment sign and space

Take my friends around

Here among us make the place

Where your love is found me

(Iona Abbey Music book pg 122)

Call To worship

 One: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Sovereign Jesus Christ.       

All: We hear God naming our names and calling us to join the company of the saints.                     

One: We are God’s chosen ones, valued in our uniqueness and commissioned for service to all. 

All: We will turn to God for the strength we need.

Our Story tells us John, with some of his followers, where in town and as they stood they saw Jesus in the market    Jesus walks by  and John exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”  The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 

I wonder if they knew where they were going to?

 When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him,  Teacher.  “Where are you staying?”   He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.   One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew. Andrew went and got his   brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed

I wonder if they knew where they were going to?

He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas (which is translated Peter⁾.

This is the first of several call stories. The Story of everyday people who in the everyday life   Kind of , yes , well maybe knew where they were going to.   Then they meet this guy in the market. Granted the person they were being taught by gave a rather glowing endorsement and they followed to learn more. 

Now did they right there that night over coffee and baklava decided we are going with you?  Did they say “thanks for the evening”  and go out in the night air look up at the stars and think.  Do we know where you're going to? Do we like the things that life is showing us? Where are we going to? Do we know?  What are we hoping for. 

Where are we going to, what are we doing what do we hope to do what is our direction?    Sometimes an easy answer sometime a standing out looking at the stars seeking that direction.   In a moment we make that choice.    Peter and Andrew, be it a decision in the moment with Jesus, or coming back the next morning for eggs bene (made with thin sliced grilled lamb) they made a decision. They didn’t second guess they said “yes”  and moved forward.   There is that moment when the question Do you know where you are going to?” gets that finite definite answer “yes.”   And you look back and the door to the past has closed.   That journey has ended and the new journey has begun. 

This is the Christian story, our story our journey. It is made up of the moment of decision and then commitment.  No second guessing.  Why is this?  Well, it’s because although  it is true that we are an Easter People   more importantly we are People of the Pentecost.   In the Early Church Pentecost was actually a larger festival than Easter.   Pentecost is that moment when we are giving the Guide.  The Pentecost event marks the creation of the Faith, the Christian fellowship of Faith

If We believe in God, if we claim to be students of Jesus then we must accept that it is the action of the Holy Spirit that guides us and informs our lives.   The Holy Spirit is the Divine that speaks to the divine in our core and inspires us to say “yes.  I know where I am going to. “   

It begins with that commitment.   In 1885  A proposal for discussion on church union in Canada originates from the Church of England ) Anglican), with a conference on the subject held in 1886.  They acted on the Holy Spirit. Did they know where they were going to ?    Yes (to be asked with a question mark, )  maybe, not sure.

 1902 Formal union discussions begin among Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian churches.  They acted on the Holy Spirit. Did they know where they were going to?    Yes (to be asked with a question mark, )  maybe, not sure.

Twenty three years later 1925 Lead by the Holy Spirit a moment in time set a new direction.  They left what they knew and struck out in a new journey. Just like the Disciples saying yes to Jesus.  They Said Yes to God.   

At any time, any one at the table could have said we are walking away. I am confident if you search records you will find that discussion right here.   The Presbyterian’s of Strabane could have said “no “ like the ones at Kirkwall or Waterdown But they didn’t

 They answered the Call of the Spirit.  They said yes to God known in Jesus and lead by the Holy Spirit.

The wind blows where the wind blows. We do not know where it comes from where it goes and yet we feel it in its passing and it will touch us.  The Holy Spirit moves as the wind.  It touches us. 

Do you know where you are going to?  The door to the past is closed the door to future is open and in this moment, we are left looking for that direction. 

 The past is written. The future is left for us to write. And we have powerful tools. Openness,  optimism,  the spirt of curiosity.   Those that don’t honour the past but cling to the past fail to see that what they are holding on to is their fear and fear is the great destroyer. It holds us in place. Static trapped.  It creates doubt and second guessing. Fear is the cotton in our ears that prevents us from hearing God. 

Today we are standing in the Market with all that we know, and Jesus walks by and the Holy Spirit whispers in our ear “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”  Here in this place Jesus stops and looks back at us and says “Are you coming, I know where we going to   I am going to give you hope.  You are going to be bold in what you do.  You are going to know deep spirituality.  You in your way are going daring in what you do.  There is no looking back just forward. “

Do you know where you are going to? Yes,  for we are going forward with the Holy Spirit as our guide, with the wisdom of Jesus to rely on and most of all with the Love of God. 

Do you know where you are going to” Yes, we are going forward united as brothers and sister in Christ.    How do you know this?  We know this for we believe in God who has created and is creating who reminds us again and again that we are not alone.  Thanks be to God. 

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     

O God we offer you all the gifts we have for we know that they are an outpouring that you have given us. We offer and give ourselves and our substance to you to fulfil your coming kingdom. May all that we dedicate here, accomplish much good and bring healing to our troubled world Amen 

Sending Forth and Blessing.

One: In humility and with confidence go out to witness to your faith     

All: We pray for the insight and strength to live up to that faith.                   

One: You are supported and strengthened by God’s love and by the family of faith of which you are a part. 

amen amen amen