Home Church,19th Sunday after Pentecost, October 3, 2021,Rev. Karen Hollis

Home Church,19th Sunday after Pentecost, October 3, 2021,Rev. Karen Hollis

We acknowledge these lands upon which we worship are the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.

Preparing the Space Around Us

Whoever you are and wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here! Welcome if you are gathering on zoom or if you are worshipping at home with the bulletin. We are one community and all part of the body of Christ. I invite you to prepare the space around you so that for the next hour you can be fully in this worship experience, not to keep out the realities of the world, rather to focus us in the midst of it all on God. If you need to go and get something or shift something around you, feel free. This Sunday we are beginning the Season of Creation and will continue for a total of 4 weeks. This year we will be exploring the book of Job and listening for its wisdom on creation. We will journey with Job as he expands his awareness of his identity as a part of God's creation.

Preparing the Space within Us

Let us prepare now the space within us for a time of worship. I invite you to sit quietly, perhaps with feet on the floor, taking a couple of deep breaths and bring yourself into this moment. Open yourself to the presence of God who is with us and within us . . . as you intentionally open yourself to God, open yourself also to what you need from this time of worship. 

Greeting                                                         
One:  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, 

          and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

All:    And also with you       

Opening Words   -  Earth Gospel, edited

One:  Love all God’s creation, the whole and every grain of sand in it.

All:    Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light.

One:  Love the animals, love the plants, love everything.

All:    When we love everything, we perceive the divine mystery in things.

One:  Once we perceive it, we comprehend it better every day.

All:    And we will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.

Opening Prayer  - Christian Conference of Asia, edited

Loving God, with our senses open to creation, we come to you this morning in a posture of worship and praise. Meet us where we are and breathe your life into us. You gave us the gift of life; you placed us on this earth with its minerals and waters, flowers and fruits, living creatures of grace and beauty. Teach us, Creator God of Love, that the earth and all its fullness is yours, the world and all who dwell in it. We praise you and all of your creation.  Amen.

Hymn: All Things Bright and Beautiful   - VU #291

[Refrain:]

All things bright and beautiful,

all creatures great and small,

all things wise and wonderful:

in love, God made them all.

1 Each little flower that opens,

each little bird that sings,

God made their glowing colours,

God made their tiny wings: [Refrain]

2 The purple-headed mountain,

the river running by,

the sunset, and the morning

that brightens up the sky:

3 The cold wind in the winter,

the pleasant summer sun,

the ripe fruits in the garden,

God made them every one. [Refrain]

4 The rocky mountain splendour,

the lone wolf's haunting call,

the great lakes and the prairies,

the forest in the fall;

5 God gave us eyes to see them,

and lips that we might tell

how great is God our maker,

who has made all things well. [Refrain]

Prayer of Confession  -  U.N. Environmental Sabbath, edited

Gracious God, 

who made the covenant promise with our ancestors, 

we gather here today a rebellious people. 

We want to act out your intentions for us, 

but we keep getting mixed up

with all the glitter of the world that looks like nourishment. 

You tell us to honour creation, 

and we use other people and animals and plant life 

to meet our wants. 

You offer daily bread to every living creature, 

and our way of life steals from others. 

You call us forward with promises of new life, 

and we shrink back from it in fear. 

Heal us, God, lest we destroy ourselves.

We need your presence among us. Amen

Silent prayer of confession

Assurance of Grace                                                            

 Earth Gospel Forgiven and set free by the risen Christ, may his life flow through you – body, mind, and spirit – so that you may be an agent of life, life abundant, here in this place, now in this day. Thanks be to God!

Peace of Christ 

Please unmute your microphones so we can pass the peace to one another. Jesus came to bring God’s message of wholeness to all of creation. Let us practice and celebrate this wholeness by sharing Christ’s peace with one another! 

            N-Z: The Peace of Christ be with you!

            A-M: And also with you!

First Reading: Job 1:1-12 (Transl. Robert Alter) -   Don Moser

A man there was in the land of Uz – Job, his name. And the man was blameless and upright and feared God and shunned evil. And seven sons were born to him, and three daughters. And his flocks came to seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels and five hundred yokes of cattle and five hundred she-asses and a great abundance of slaves. And that man was greater than all the Easterners. And his sons would go and hold a feast, in each one’s house on his set day, and they would call to their sister to eat and drink with them. And one day, the sons of God came to stand in attendance before the Lord, and the Adversary, too, came among them. And the Lord said to the Adversary, “From where do you come?” And the Adversary answered the Lord and said, “From roaming the earth and walking about in it.” And the lord said to the Adversary, “Have you paid heed to My servant Job, for there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and shuns evil?” And the Adversary answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not hedged him about and his household and all that he has all around? The work of his hands You have blessed, and his flocks have spread over the land. And yet, reach out Your hand, pray, and strike all he has. Will he not curse You to Your face?” And the Lord said to the Adversary, “Look, all that he has is in your hands. Only against him do not reach out your hand. “ And the Adversary went out from before the Lord’s presence.         

Second Reading: Job 1:13-22; 2:7-10 (Transl. Robert Alter)       Betty Schultze

And one day, his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine
in the house of their brother, the firstborn. And a messenger came to Job
and said, “The cattle were plowing and the she-asses grazing by them,
and Sabeans fell upon them and took them, and the lads they struck
down by the edge of the sword, and I alone escaped to tell you.” This one was still speaking when another came and said, “God’s fire fell from
the heavens and burned among the sheep and the lads and consumed
them, and I alone escaped to tell you.” This one was still speaking when
another came and said, “Chaldaeans set out in three bands and pounced
upon the camels and took them, and the lads they struck down by the
edge of the sword.” This one was still speaking when another came and
said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in the
house of their brother, the firstborn. And, look, a great wind came from
beyond the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it
fell on the young people, and they died. And I alone escaped to tell you.”
And Job rose and tore his garment and shaved his head and fell to the
earth and bowed down. And he said, “Naked I came out from my
mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there." And the Adversary went out from before the Lord’s presence. And he struck Job with a grievous burning rash from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. And he took a potsherd to scrape himself with, and he was sitting among the ashes. And his wife said to him, “Do you still cling to your innocence? Curse God and die.” And he said to her, “You speak as one of the base women would speak. Shall we accept good from God, too, and evil we shall not accept?" With all this, Job did not offend with his lips.

Gospel Reading    -  Betty Schultze One:  God be with you.           

All:    And also with you.

One:  The Good News of Jesus Christ according to Mark;

All:    Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 10:13-16 (NRSV)

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

One: This is the Gospel of Christ; 

All:   Praise be to Jesus Christ

Reflection:    (see attached)       

Silent Reflection

Hymn: Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise  - VU #264

1 Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

2 Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;

thy justice like mountains high soaring above

thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

3 To all, life thou givest, to both great and small;

in all life. thou livest, the true life of all;

we blossom and flourish, like leaves on the tree,

then wither and perish; but naught changeth thee.

4 Thou reignest in glory, thou rulest in light,

thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;

all laud we would render, O help us to see

'tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.

Apostle’s Creed 

Let us affirm our faith . . . 

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers of the People  -  Mona Smart (see attached)

One:  God of Compassion,

All:    Hear Our Prayer

Lord’s Prayer  -    Ecumenical Version

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, 

and the glory are yours

now and for ever. Amen.

Offering   - Brian Field                              

Offering Prayer 

Loving God, we give thanks this morning for opportunities to serve you by serving our community. Thank you for meeting us in our leadership roles, speaking in ways we can hear, and leading us forward in our shared ministry. Thank you for helping us live together in the deepest truth that we are one in Christ and profoundly loved by you. Amen.

Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation, in the Church and in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessing  - Iona Community

If you are with another person, you’re invited to bless each other, taking every other line.

One: The Creator’s blessing be yours on your road, on your journey, guiding you, cherishing you.

A-M:  The Son’s blessing be yours, wine and water, bread and stories,  feeding you, challenging you.

N-Z:   The Spirit’s blessing be yours, wind and fire, joy and wisdom, comforting you, disturbing you.

All:    The Angel’s blessing be yours, on your house, on your living,  guarding you, encouraging you. Let us walk together, a           community on a journey, sustained in God’s blessing. Amen!

One:  Let us go now in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All:    Thanks be to God! Alleluia!