24th. January. 2021. Service.
January 24th 2021
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Prelude: “O for a closer walk with God”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wWVpafJX8A
Let us Worship God
Hymn “Jesus calls us here to meet him”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ModYoPReYYw
The Collect for today
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Saviour Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvellous works, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn: “O Jesus I have promised to serve thee to the end”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trs17OEHe7E
God alone is our rock and our salvation.
We will not be shaken!
Trust in God at all times, O people.
We will pour out our hearts to God, our refuge.
In this time of worship, let us turn our lives to God and receive the good news.
We will listen for Christ’s call and follow him.
Prayer of Adoration and Confession
Lord Jesus Christ, you have called us together to be your people.
You have called us your friends and invited us to follow you.
Your church has grown from scattered homes in ancient times—to a worldwide community, embracing men and women, old and young, from many nations and cultures.
In our worship today, inspire us with the miracle of your church.
Remind us of the privilege that is ours as we are among your people across the ages and across the continents.
Your love draws us to you and to each other as we worship and praise you with millions of people who a gather in your name today.
God of the ages, week by week we meet in your name waiting quietly in your presence. We confess that it is not easy to hear your voice because we are sometimes distracted by what is happening around us. Sometimes guilt about who we have been or what we have done prevents us from coming closes to you. There are times when we resist your word because it challenges us, and we do not want you to turn our lives around when we think we already know where we’re going.
Lord, have mercy upon us.
Assurance of Pardon
Your word assures us of the constancy of your love for us.
Help us trust and accept the forgiveness that you offer in Jesus Christ that we may be at peace with you, ourselves and with each other, in the name of Christ our Lord.
Prayer for Understanding.
God of new life speak to us through the rich, ancient words of scripture.
Give us grace to leave our old ways behind us
and follow Jesus Christ, your Living Word. Amen.
The Lords Prayer (in the words familiar to you)
Hymn “My life flows on in endless song”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BifkC92nT8
Invitation to the Offering
Jesus asked his first disciples to answer his call with their lives. Our offering is one way we answer his call and carry forward his ministry in the world. Consider what Christ can accomplish through the gifts you offer today.
Prayer of Dedication
Lord Jesus, you called ordinary men and women to follow you and join in the work of God’s reign on earth. We offer you our gifts to share in the work you began through them. Bless what we bring and continue to work through us, that the world may know your love and grace is still active among us all. Amen.
The Readings
Jonah 3:1-5,10
3 Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: 2 ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.’
3 Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. 4 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, ‘Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.’ 5 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened. Amen.
Mark 1:14-20
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’ Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17 ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ 18 At once they left their nets and followed him.
19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. Amen.
Psalm 62:5–12
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honour depend on God[a];
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.
9 Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion
or put vain hope in stolen goods;
though your riches increase,
do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken,
two things I have heard:
‘Power belongs to you, God,
12 and with you, Lord, is unfailing love’;
and, ‘You reward everyone
according to what they have done.’ Amen.
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. Amen. This is the Word of the Lord, to Him be all praise and glory.
Hymn: “Jesus calls us o’er the tumult”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idAoS7at3nQ
Sermon
“A Call to Obedience”.
“Then the word of God came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that immense city, and preach to it the message that I give you.” Jonah 3: 1-2
“Walking by Lake Galilee, Jesus saw the fishermen, Simon and Andrew casting a net. He said to them: “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Instantly they left their nets and followed Jesus. A little farther on, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in their boat mending their nets. Immediately he called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the paid men and followed Jesus.” Mark 1: 16-20)
The call of God to Jonah, and the call of God through Christ to the fishermen, were calls to radical obedience.
The idea of obedience is not popular nowadays and, as I have discovered in preparing this sermon, it is fraught with difficulties. I looked the word up in the Cambridge Dictionary and came us with theses definitions one of which caused me to laugh. Obedience:
“the fact that people or animals do what they are told to do.”
“Ministers in conflict with their parishioners were quick to insist on the obligations of unconditional obedience.”
“The basic political assumption implicit in non-violent action is that governments are ultimately dependent on the fearful obedience and compliance of the people.”
Obedience is difficult because it involves the voluntary submission of our autonomy to another’s authority. A call to obedience is a call to loyalty to that authority, and at times we may discover we have conflicting loyalties. And every act of obedience involves the suspension of our freedom to act on our own volition. We may baulk at obedience for this very reason.
In the human sphere, our obedience may compromise our conscience if the commanding authority is evil or wrong in some way. Think of the hundreds of thousands who have died in war because they obeyed an incompetent commander; or of those who have died because they refused to obey a command that conflicted with their spiritual values. Sometimes blind obedience is demanded by authorities who are themselves blind to truth. It will be interesting to see if the defence, “I did it because my president told me to,” will stand up in America’s courts.
Some obedience is the demand of tyrants and manipulators. People have may have valid reason to be suspicious when we start using the word “obedience”.
However, when the call comes from God, issued by our unique preacher from Galilee, we are in the new territory of a different kind of obedience. I like to think of this as co-operative obedience.
The call from God to “trust and obey” may at first sound onerous, but it is different in a fundamental way. If we believe that God is love, and his every dealing with us is an expression of that love, then his call to obedience must be for our good. In Christ, the idea of lordship and obedience has been turned inside out. Here we are caught up in something completely new It is like a new-born world, a new kingdom, a new creation. Lordship and obedience are now the source of liberty and unrivalled happiness.
God’s call to obedience may be insistent but is never a demand. Never an imposition. Never the use of the raw power of an enforcer. Never a bully. Although the call of Christ comes with considerable spiritual impact, it never tries to override the freedom of the individual. It respects the integrity of the soul. The called person is able to say no. I suggest that God’s call to obedience is more, “Come with me, let us do this together and let my wisdom, goodness, love and strength help you”. In this way Jesus redefines the whole meaning of holy obedience.
The call of God is not asking us to do something that is foreign to our nature. It is not like a lion tamer forcing the beast to sit on a pedestal or leap through a hoop of fire. The call of God, the call to obedience, is more like calling a fish to swim, a bird to fly, or a child to play games. It is a call to be true to our own deepest, holiest nature.
Consider the story of Jonah. “Then the word of God came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that immense city, and preach to it the message that I give you.”
Jonah is not asked to do something that is foreign to his real nature. He is called to go to Nineveh and preach repentance and forgiveness to his enemies. To desire one’s enemies to undergo repentance and find forgiveness is surely not something alien to redeemed human nature.
We were made for love. In spite of the way the powerful, the manipulators, and the cynics have tried to brainwash us, compassion, not hatred, is nearer to our true nature. It is true that in our debased condition hatred may seem more natural than mercy. But that is not the core truth. Forgiveness is more truly natural for creatures who are, deep down, made in the spiritual likeness of God.
What the powerful try to make us inflict on our enemies is not natural. Jonah’s contempt for the people of Nineveh is the alien thing. It is the real perversion. Contempt and hatred are the way of perverted people, not the children of God.
In the case of Jesus calling disciples, the call is to fulfil this divine image within them, by letting go of the things that distort and pervert that image. There is nothing alien about a call to follow a leader whose friendship is the very breath of sanity, and whose commandments are the source of vibrant liberty and bubbling joy. To trust and obey is to recognise and follow the ultimate truth. It is the most natural thing possible.
Jesus means freedom. To quote the great hymn by Charles Wesley:
My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth and followed thee.
To continue…
He said to them: “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Instantly they left their nets and followed Jesus. A little farther on, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in their boat mending their nets. Immediately he called them. They left their father Zebedee in the boat with the paid men and followed Jesus.”
God’s call is to total commitment. It is all embracing. Nothing can be left outside it. No provisos. No escape clauses. It is complete obedience but remember in it we are co-operating with our Creator.
God was not ready to accept a half-hearted loyalty from the prophet Jonah. Neither Jonah nor Nineveh would be made whole by half measures. This story reminds us that if we say no, God’s love for us will persist in calling us, but not necessarily forever.
When they accepted his call, Jesus would not allow rival loyalties from his disciples. How could he without betraying his disciples by offering something second best?
Because of this we find those hard sayings of Jesus which offend some folk. No wavering: “If you put your hand to the plough and look back, you are not fit for the kingdom of God.” Even families must come second: “Don’t love mother and father more than me.” Your own physical life is on the line: “If you try to save your very life, you will lose it, but if you lose it for my sake, you will find it.”
The obedience of love, our authentic, natural, spiritual journey, is placed ahead of everything else. Peter and Andrew left their nets. James and John left the father in the boat with his paid deck hands. Matthew left his highly lucrative profession.
The radical life-shift for any women disciples may have been even greater. The remarkable women, who dared to follow Jesus had to make all sorts of sacrifices, and put up with the soiling of their reputations, when they broke with respectable social conventions and travelled with Jesus. To trust and obey meant total commitment.
When we speak about total commitment, some may fear that we are sliding back into the situation of God as the bossy overlord and we as the bowing and scraping subjects. There is a deep sense in which this obedience is to yourself! It is not an external thing, but an internal commitment. The little ‘Christ’ within resonates with the call of the Christ without. Total commitment to God is truly coming home.
There are some Christians who refuse to use the word “Lord” for Christ Jesus. Their reasonable argument is that they believe the word “lord” is so laden with the arrogance of the powerful, that it cannot be expected to convey the grace of Christ. I sympathise with that. But for my part, I prefer to allow Jesus of Nazareth to completely redefine the word.
If we embrace the call, then using the name “Lord” for Jesus, takes a new shape in our mind. Lord no longer means the overlord, making demands for his benefit and glory, but the Lord who is the dearest, humblest Friend. It is the soul-mate Lord, the companion Lord, the at-one-with-us Lord, the servant Lord, the strong wise companion whose knowledge and power are perfect.
As with most things he touched, Jesus takes the word Lord and transforms it. This is the lord who washed the feet of his disciples.
Jesus conducted his ministry on earth without the trappings of earthly authority. He claimed no office or title. He went to dinner with social outcasts, kept close friendships with women who were the most powerless group in his community. He took time to love children who were supposed to be seen but not heard, he commended the faith of foreigners, and he touched lepers. He made his only triumphal procession seated on a donkey, looking like a peasant on the way to market, his feet almost dragging on the ground. This Lord allowed himself to be taken by night, dragged before earthly authority, and crucified so that others might be saved.
As has often been said, the only throne on earth Jesus ever ascended was the cross. The only crown he ever wore was one of thorns. This is the Christ who is “the same today, yesterday and forever.”
Jesus’ way is not to dominate, but to be with us and for us. Not to turn us into performing animals walking awkwardly on their hind legs to please their master, but to set us free to be our true selves as the Creator intended. Just before his death he said: “I no longer call your servants but friends; friends know that their master is on about.”
Jesus lordship equates to abundant life. Therefore, the call of God to obedience, is a call to freely embrace those things which result in a fulfilled life. That is what the Lordship of Christ bestows, abundant life. Life overflowing with new possibilities. The favourite term of St John, “eternal life” is similar. Eternal implies not mere longevity but life with no fixed limits; open life; wide open life!
The call to obedience is a call to the total commitment which is liberty. A call that resonates internally, Spirit to spirit; a call to revel in a new kind of Lordship where servants are friends. As we read the Word of God and Jesus’ dominical words for guidance, we are expected to use our minds, to discover what it means for us. The story of Jonah reminds us that we will certainly have to wrestle with God, to find out if our reluctance is born of ego and to recognise our prejudices and repent of them.
We do not have to do it all by ourselves. As we journey, we travel with the Spirit the Lord who calls us, liberates us, and equips us for all the practical issues of life, here today, tomorrow and to the end of the world. Amen.
God…you call us…and sometimes…we duck under the table…
hoping you didn’t notice us when you walked into the room.
You call us…and sometimes…we grab a stapler and a stack of papers…
trying to look too busy to be bothered at the moment.
You call us…and sometimes we just say, “No!”
We know that we aren’t expected to do everything…
but we often forget that you call us to be ourselves
in the places where our very self is what is most needed.
So give us the grace to say “Yes” to your call…
even now…as we offer our silent confessions…Rev’d Scott Cervas
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession
God of fishers and farmers and factory workers,
God of those serving in health care, hospitality and at home,
God of our offices and businesses, our shops, and our streets,
our schools and recreation centres, of emergency services and entertainers,
we thank you for the many ways we can serve your purposes.
You called Jesus’ first followers to change their livelihood and they did so.
Today we pray for all those whose work has changed without their choice because of COVID-19,
For those struggling with little or no work, whose businesses are in jeopardy,
or who fear for what this year may hold, give assurance of your love and grace.
Give us courage and perseverance our lives unfold during these difficult days.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of the churches who bear your Son’s name,
whichever denomination, perspective or tradition has shaped us,
we thank you for the fellowship we share and the gifts of the Spirit we receive.
We pray that the differences between us which seem so important to us
may not blunt our witness to Jesus and the healing and hope he offers.
Teach us to value diversity in our discipleship,
and honour all that unites us more than what divides us,
May the world see Jesus reflected in all our lives.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of our cities, towns and villages,
God of every nation and neighbourhood,
of all the clans and tribes, cultures and families that shape our identity,
you have created us for community, to find enjoyment and support, collaboration, and productivity.
We pray for people who suffer because others judge who they are,
their language or religion, their orientation or ethnicity, their social standing or their lack of resources.
Remind us of our common humanity and help us to find ways to learn from each other through our differences.
Help us to recognize the face of Christ in those who challenge our assumptions.
God, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.
God of all time and every situation, we bear on our hearts concerns for many around us, people whom we know and situations we care about, who suffer and face overwhelming challenges or griefs.
Hear us in this time of silence as we open our hearts and bring their needs to you:
(Keep silence for 30 seconds.)
Bind up the broken hearted, O God.
Bring justice to the vulnerable.
Send your Spirit of healing and hope to embrace those who need you.
We dare to ask all this because we trust in the name of Jesus, your Son, Amen.
Forth in thy Name O Lord, I go
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3K1QVyE_QA
Benediction
Go into God’s world, aware of God’s call in your life. Follow our Lord Jesus Christ who will lead you in paths of service and hope. Lean on the power of the Holy Spirit to give you courage and strength. May peace, joy and love flow through you to others, in God’s name. Amen
May God’s blessing surround you each day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_3O_N49GiU
Postlude: Just a closer walk with Thee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkYfg2AQaVA
For Children
Jonah was a prophet of God; he would listen to God and tell the people what God said. One day, God said to Jonah, “Go to the city of Nineveh and tell the people who live there that they are a very wicked people and that they need to change their ways.” Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh.
He didn’t like the people in that city, and maybe he was afraid of them. So, Jonah decided to run away and hide from God. He caught the first ship out of town and headed in the opposite direction from where God told him to go.
Jonah learned a very important lesson that day. He learned that you might run from God, but you cannot hide. Jonah got on that ship and hid way down deep inside. “Surely God won’t find me here,” Jonah thought.
But God sent a big storm and tossed that boat around so much that the other sailors thought they were going to drown. They found Jonah in the bottom of the ship and asked him, “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
Jonah answered, “I am a worshiper of the God of heaven, who made the land and the sea.” Jonah told the sailors that he was running from God because he didn’t want to go to Nineveh as God had told him to do.
When the sailors learned that Jonah was running from God, they were even more afraid. “What should we do to stop this terrible storm?” the sailors asked.
“Throw me overboard into the sea,” Jonah answered, “and the sea will become calm.” The sailors picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea and the storm stopped at once.
Did Jonah drown in the sea? No! God sent a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he was inside the fish for three days and three nights.
Spending all that time inside the great fish gave Jonah plenty of time to think. He prayed to the Lord from inside the fish. He confessed that he had been wrong to run from the Lord and promised to fulfil his promises to God.
God caused the fish to spit Jonah out onto the shore. Then the Lord spoke to Jonah again and said, “Get up and go to Nineveh and deliver the message that I have given you.”
This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh.
Just as God had something for Jonah to do, he has a plan for you and me. I hope we will learn a lesson from Jonah. When it comes to doing what God wants us to do, we might run, but we cannot hide from God!
Here is a video about Jonah.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVOq54XsWU4
Here is a chorus for you. Deep, deep, deep
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZhwagxWzOc&list=PL5NlNQJLqINyvoFsyEocBX17_8q4PhZc9
Intimations
There are no specific intimations this week. Please continue to keep in touch safely with each other and your neighbours and be prayerful during this challenging time.