for June 15: Genesis 18.1-15

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, ‘My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.’

So they said, ‘Do as you have said.’ And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ And he said, ‘There, in the tent.’ Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?’

The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.’ But Sarah denied, saying, ‘I did not laugh’; for she was afraid. He said, ‘Oh yes, you did laugh.’

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What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture? What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "Relating to Hosea" - Trinity Anniversary Sunday

... Hosea was attributed as the first person to use the metaphor of marriage between God and Israel. All around him he saw the people of God as the unfaithful partner in the relationship, worshipping other gods, treating each other unfairly and unjustly. To further make his point, Hosea himself married a prostitute in an act of social symbolism.

Cheery stuff, isn’t it? Is it appropriate for an anniversary? After all, this is a time of remembering history through rose-coloured glasses, lauding the church’s achievements and praising its people. Which I may still do, once I figure out why Hosea’s message is so compelling to me.

Hosea imagines God is speaking to the northern kingdom, mockingly confessing repentance and renewed faithfulness, knowing full well that nothing was going to change. Here the people of Israel were caught in that not-so-unique place between knowing what the right thing to do is and actually doing it.

It’s a common theme in the Bible but consider in our own lives all the times we say the right things but actions or inactions speak louder. Our intent may be pure but the result is as permanent and lasting as morning dew. I do not offer this as a personal accusation aimed at anyone of us individually, but as a challenge to the wider church. How often do we initiate a program or attempt to make a change but revert to old ways at the first sign of resistance or setback?

In 1925, three denominations came together to form The United Church of Canada (although the many times I’ve typed “Untied” instead might mean more subconsciously than a simple slip of the fingers). A lot of political maneuvering had to be done for such a feat to occur with graciousness and cooperation from all parties needed to make this denominational marriage work.

Eighty-three years later, we’re facing declines in membership, energy and effectiveness. We’re trying to imagine our way to viability as an institution again by adopting the latest innovative strategies (like computer projection technology!) or public awareness campaigns when instead Hosea pinpoints the genuine plea of God: “I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me.” It is who we are that matters more than what we give or do.

I know of a minister in a big city church who unashamedly proclaims: “I don’t care if you ever come to church, just send your money.” Well, at least he’s honest. I would offer the exact opposite message, “I don’t care how much money you have to give to the church, just show up.” There is greater richness to be found in people gathering, if only for the fact that it offers hope and encouragement to everyone involved.
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So as we remember and pay tribute to 116 years of the God’s mission at work as Trinity United Church in Glencoe, we honour the relationships that link us together through our history and tradition. We look around us in the moment of right now to see what the future might bear, how we might better know ourselves and be the church.

It is not our sacrifices and offerings that God desires, it is our commitment to love, honour and cherish; yes, like marriage. As Hosea alludes to, being the community of faith requires dedication, patience, forgiveness, stubbornness, love and delight. May it be so.

for June 8 - Hosea 5:15-6:6

I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favour:

‘Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.’

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light.

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

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What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture? What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "The Church Is Sinking"

I ask the question, is our church built on a solid foundation? It seems that a great deal of energy and effort goes into maintaining the systems of governance and bureaucracy. We have a great commotion over the move to a new mandatory payroll service or the keeping of our church archives or who the President-Elect will be, while overlooking earthquakes in China, cyclones in Burma, the crystal meth drug crisis in Perth County, not to mention the increasing pressure put on decreasing numbers of church-goers in our communities.

Sometimes, often, as an organized religion we spend too much time worrying about ourselves rather than the world around us. Is our house built on the sands of self-preservation or the rock of service and action to which Christ calls us?

This is the point Christ is making when he challenges us with the notion that not everyone that calls on his name is known as a faithful follower. The core of our actions, the motivation needs to be rooted in humility and service, out of genuine concern for others and not for gloryseeking.

Again, what is the foundation of our faith? There have been times when swinging at my golfball stuck in a sandtrap, the ground seems quite hard and solid. So how do we know what we are standing on? It all comes to bear when we find ourselves in a time of storm and turmoil.

When life is raging all about us, what do we find under our feet? Is it sand, like God’s conditional favour, suddenly shifting, resettling, slipping away? Or are we planted firmly on a belief system of God’s eternal love that withstands the whims and fancies of the world?

The ritual of communion is built upon the ageless tradition of breaking bread with family and friends. Sharing a common meal is the foundation of our time together. It has been reduced to a single wafer or cube of bread and a shot of grape juice, but at its heart is a remembrance of a feast that Jesus shared with those closest to him.

I have a friend who once offered a communion service with pop and Doritos, which unnerved many people, including the youth for whom it was designed. But the intent was there – sharing a common meal with common food with common people. It was something that was special in the ordinariness of it. You’re likely relieved that this morning we celebrate the sacrament with traditional bread and grape juice. Regardless, it is in moments such as this, we find unchanging foundation of God’s love. For this we give thanks and praise. Amen.