MORRIS-ROSENFELD ECUMENICAL SHARED MINISTRY
ORDER OF SERVICE FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2024
TWENTY FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
CREATION TIME 6
THANKSGIVING SUNDAY
Due to copyright limitations, we are unable to print the words to many of the songs. However, our musicians have chosen music to fit the scriptures. We invite you to look up the words in your worship book and ponder them. If you do not have a worship book, ponder the words of one of your favourite hymns and listen for God’s voice. Those who have the internet may find the songs on YouTube.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.
~William Arthur Ward
Before we worship, we reflect…
Thanksgiving can be abundant in connections to creation— tables laden with turkey, squash, potatoes, cranberries, corn, green beans, and more. But we need not even get beyond the first half-verse of our first reading: “Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice”. It is a Thanksgiving proclamation directed to the soil. Soils are not just “dirt” but loam or sand or clay: Arriving from glacial deposits or floodplains. With 10 billion microorganisms per gram. Composting and regenerating. The adamah that brought forth Adam, a human from the humus. As you give thanks, you might also observe what your soil has to fear currently: erosion or poisoning or exhaustion. What can human beings do to lend credibility to the encouragement “Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice”?
LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT & PRAYER
We acknowledge we gather and worship on Treaty 1 Territory, the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Anishininew, Dakota, and Dene peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.
Creator God we live and love imperfectly. You called us to love our neighbour as ourselves but collectively we have not, and individually we fall short. We say all people reflect your image but our actions betray what we say. For those of us living with pain or grief caused by racism and colonialism, we ask you for healing and strength. For those of us living with privilege and wondering what to do, we ask for the strength to learn, to listen, and to work to end systems that oppress. As you came to set captives free, free us all from those ways of thinking, speaking and acting that belittle or harm any of your beloved creations and show us again how to live in your love. Let us work for reconciliation. Amen.[1]
CALL TO WORSHIP
This morning, God of grace,
we want everything to be for your glory.
We want our thoughts,
our words, our songs,
our church, our community,
our resources, our time, our lives: all to be for you.
Everything ours is yours,
and we come together to declare this to be so,
on this holy day of thanksgiving.
Bless our time together with your holy presence. Amen.[2]
GATHERING SONG: More Voices 127 I Saw The Rich Ones
CENTERING PRAYER
Almighty God, your generous goodness comes to us new every day. By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
CANADIAN LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF – Church Resources | Working together in mission
We are so grateful for all the messages we’ve been receiving from congregations about how much they’re enjoyed using the various church resources we’ve been developing.
The placemats, featuring a world map with CLWR’s projects in different countries highlighted, have been a particular hit. “They are very informative of the work that CLWR is doing. Jesus wants us to love our neighbour at home and abroad. God bless your ministry,” wrote Ardith Pollex of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, St. Thomas, ON.
We are thrilled to see that these resources have not only informed and entertained, but also acted as a great springboard for conversations, presentations, and fundraisers to support our shared mission. Linda Fenske, of Grace Lutheran Church in Port Alberni, BC, recently used the placemats during their pancake supper as a launchpad for her presentation on water access in Tigray, Ethiopia—the event raised over $170 for CLWR.
We are continuously adding new and different resources for various occasions such as Advent, VBS, World Refugee Day, etc. so please keep checking clwr.org/resources for prayers, Bible studies, word games, children’s activities, videos, and more. And if you have any suggestions or feedback, please email Heidi, our church relations manager at heidi@clwr.org.
CHILDREN’S CHAT
Many years ago, I lived for a year in the city of Toledo, in the state of Ohio in the United States. It was a holiday weekend and there was going to be an outdoor celebration and fireworks downtown at the waterfront. I hopped on my bike, and off I peddled!
While the celebrations were going on, I looked around me at the people in attendance. In the back, standing along a building wall, were a group of people who were homeless. Some had shopping carts with their belongings in them, others had their belongings in green garbage bags, still others, no belongings at all.
There was a man sitting on the sidewalk leaning his back against the building. He had no belongings and only one shoe. Another man, who had a few belongings in a shopping cart, stopped by the man with only one shoe, took a blanket out of his cart, and gave it to him. The seated man nodded his thanks, and the man with the cart carried on. Wow.
This is Thanksgiving Sunday. Today we give thanks for all that God has given us – and rightly so. It is also the day I think of the man with the shopping cart who gave, out of his few possessions, a blanket to a man who had no blanket and only one shoe.
Which leads me to wonder if those who have no home, who live on the street, are able to give thanks to God like we do. I would find it hard to do that. Unless…
Jesus tells us to care for each other. I would be thankful if it was cold out and someone gave me a blanket. I would be thankful if I was hungry and someone gave me food. I would be thankful if I was lonely and someone invited me to a place where people who had nothing could come together for a meal and meet other people – perhaps make a friend.
For all that I have, I am always aware that there are those who do not have. I thank God that I am able to help others, as I can, so that they know Jesus loves them.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit, illumine the sacred page, we pray, that our minds may be open to receive your Word, our hearts taught to love it, our wills strengthened to obey it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
READINGS AND PSALM
First Reading: Joel 2:21-27
The prophet Joel understood that a locust plague that ravaged the land of Judah was God’s judgment on the people, whom he then called to repentance. Today’s reading points beyond the judgment to a time when God will bless the land and cause it to produce food in abundance.
21Do not fear, O soil; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!
22Do not fear, you animals of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit, the fig tree and vine give their full yield.
3O children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he has given the early rain for your vindication, he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the later rain, as before.
24The threshing floors shall be full of grain, the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25I will repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent against you.
26You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
Psalm 126
1When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream.
2Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed.
4Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses of the Negeb.
5Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
6Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-7
Christians are encouraged to offer prayers and thanks for all people, including rulers. We offer such inclusive, far-reaching prayers because God desires to save all people.
1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6who gave himself a ransom for all
—this was attested at the right time.7For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Gospel: Matthew 6:25-33
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his disciples about the providence of God so that they would regard life with thanksgiving and trust rather than anxiety.
25“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
HYMN: Voices United 227 For The Fruit Of All Creation
SERMON
The novel is, To Green Angel Tower, by Tad Williams. Simon, a castle scullion, gets caught up in an epic battle between good and evil. After the side of good is victorious, with no small contribution from Simon, Simon learns that he is actually descended from royalty and will become the next king.
Yet Simon declines. He is a mere kitchen boy. Who is he to play at being king? His dear friend, the duke, tells him that the people believe in Simon, love him, need him to lead. Simon dismisses the people’s faith in him, in his connection to an ancestor long dead. The duke, being a wise man, sets Simon straight:
“…People need to believe something, whether you want them to or not. If you don’t give them things to believe, they will make things up….
“Right now, they are frightened of the future…. But your people need to believe in something, and they are cold and hurting and homeless.”[3]
Today’s text from Matthew is part of the “sermon on the mount”. Jesus is speaking to a large crowd of people who have followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and from beyond the Jordan.
And just who are these people? They are the ones Jesus has healed, family members who brought their loved ones to be healed, lost souls who connected with the good news of God’s new realm that Jesus proclaimed. A realm where people are equals, have worth, are loved, forgiven – for no other reason than because God chooses to do it, out of love.
The majority of these people are Jewish; God-fearing and devoted people, living under the fist of Roman occupation, surviving as best they can with very little, living in fear, anxious for their families, their lives and their future. They worship Yahweh, obey the Mosaic laws, yet are losing heart, and, perhaps, losing faith, with Rome at the helm.
Jesus comes along and turns their world upside down! They believed in God before, but now?! God’s power in Jesus left no room for doubt. Here was the anointed one!
While Jesus taught them with authority, I can’t help but wonder what thoughts were going through people’s minds as they heard these words from Matthew in today’s reading. If these people had received healing from Jesus, had been restored to participating fully in society, then trusting in God for everything might have been easier to do. But what about the cold, hurting and homeless ones? How long would this healing and good feeling last? Clearly, the Romans would not see the Jews as equals, let alone having worth. How would Jesus’ words, God’s new realm, translate in the long term in their present reality? Were these people believing in Jesus, or wanting to believe, because what Jesus offered was better than what they had?
I am reminded of the words of a farmer who was reflecting on the realities of being a person of faith. He said, “You know, we give thanks to God when the harvest is good, but who do we blame when it’s bad?”
This is Thanksgiving Sunday. This is the day we give thanks to God for being who God is: loving, compassionate, generous, forgiving. I am guessing that all of us has a long list of reasons for being thankful. I am also guessing that all of us rely on God on a daily basis. While I appreciate Jesus’ words about the birds, the lilies and letting go of anxiety, I have come to realize that to achieve that ultimate trust takes work. Once again, we are back to our relationship with the source of our life. Maybe the author of Matthew wants to make certain we don’t miss the point. Nurturing our relationship with God helps us to let go of anxiety, fear and doubt. Nurturing our relationship with God gives us courage, strength and the ability to love others – the cold, hurting and homeless ones. The early Church was proof of the reality of God’s new realm. Communities came together and looked after each other. No one was left out. What a powerful statement of love and the living out of thanks for a gracious God.
How does one cultivate an attitude of gratitude? Gratitude goes beyond polite statements of thanks. Gratitude is profound thankfulness put into action. It is gratitude that keeps people fed, provides a bed on which to sleep, a listening ear, professional help for those who are hurting or recovering from addiction and trauma. When we all live out our gratitude to an awesome God, no one is ignored, everyone has worth, and love heals us in body, mind and soul.
I am grateful that the Spirit of Christ still pours into people and the Church, the body of Christ, is still here. The Church has much for which it must atone, to be sure. We are broken human being after all. We are also people who believe in Christ, who makes all things new, who loves us, forgives us, embraces us. Christ who has defeated death, who is faithful and trustworthy. Christ who calls us into community to gain strength, and who sends us out into the community to serve.
Truly, we can cease our worrying. It is as Jesus says, first and foremost, work on your relationship with God, and all the rest will fall into place. To God be the glory! Amen.
HYMN OF THE MONTH: Voices United 307 Touch The Earth Lightly
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Rooted in God’s abundant love for the world, let us pray for our neighbors, the church, and all of creation.
We praise you, O Lord, for you alone are God. Give to your church a holy curiosity to ask questions and build bridges across difference. Sustain ecumenical and interreligious partnerships, including the Morris Ministerial. On this day of Thanksgiving, commit us to respectful and faithful dialogue with Indigenous neighbors who find this day difficult. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
We praise you for green pastures and abundant harvests. Feed us with the fruit of the earth, the work of human hands. Bless those who labor in fields and factories for the food that nourishes and strengthens us. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
We praise you for leaders who seek justice and equity for all. For all elected officials, we pray. Guide them to prioritize the common good over narrow individualism. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
We praise you for your tender care. Be present with those who weep this day. Lead them through their sorrow and tears into shouts of joy. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
We praise you for our community of faith. You have brought us this far by faith. In times of worry and uncertainty, renew our trust in your abundance. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
We praise you for your saints who now feast at your eternal banquet. Sustain us by their faithful lives of gratitude until that day when we join them at your table. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
We offer our prayers to you, gracious God, trusting in your boundless love for all that you have made, through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
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 trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against
us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
SENDING SONG: Voices United 291 All Things Bright And Beautiful
BENEDICTION
Gracious God, continue to bless us as we respond to your call, share your abundance, and follow you. You called everyone who thirsts to come to the waters, multiplied loaves and fishes, and invited all of us to the banquet. We will go out in joy and be led back in peace. As we go out, help us remember that Christ has no body but ours. Amen.
Copyright © 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS011617.
© 2011 The United Church of Canada/L’Église Unie du Canada. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/byncsa/2.5/ca.
[1] 2022-05-22-Healing-Reconciliation-Prayer-Resource.
[2]Copyright Carol Penner www.leadinginworship.com
[3] Tad Williams, To Green Angel Tower, Part 2 (New York: Daw Books, Inc., 1993), 768.