Listen and watch this service here.
Feb 7, 2021
ANNOUNCEMENTS
– Please continue to remember the Baltimore Food Pantry either through the Church or individual. St Michael’s gave over $4,000 in 2020!!! We super, super exceeded the challenge Trace gave us. It was so needed – what a trying year we had in 2020. You have made sure our community and neighbors have been able to eat when shelves were empty, food lines were long, jobs were cut, and benefits ran out. Meals, food, tie us together. Thank you.
– Ash Wednesday Service will be held at Thurston UMC at 7:30pm on Feb. 26; and also online.
CENTERING
Today, for centering, we’re going to adapt a meditation from our Catholic brothers and sisters. Once communion bread and wine are consecrated, and used for the Eucharist, our Catholic siblings call it the “Host.” This comes from hostia, meaning sacrificial victim, in Latin. But in English, a host is who welcomes you in. Catholics have a time to “Venerate the Host” which means to honor. It’s a time to contemplate communion, what it means, and to give the sacrament attention and honor. I invite us to do something similar – whether you identify with the food and drink as the host – God’s welcome to God’s table for all – or as the hosita – the lamb who takes away the sin of the world.
A table is set. There’s a feast. There’s over-flowing cups. A Thanksgiving Feast but larger. A Family Reunion but larger. A gathering of the Saints – with your grandma, and her grandpa, and his great-great-great grandma. A gathering of the Saints – your children, and great-great-grandchildren who you never met when alive on Earth. A gathering of the Saints – your neighbors, your friends, your childhood classmates. Each and every person has a table place set for them. A table that goes on and on and on and a Feast that does not end. A gathering that does not end. And here amends are possible. Here, on the way to take their place at the table, forgiveness is given. Forgiveness is begged. Apologies are made. A community is knitted together. A world wide, universe wide community. A community from the beginning of time to the end of time. A community of all languages, all genders, all peoples. A gathering of the Saints – even your childhood bullies, your enemies, your abuser, are invited to come and make amends and join the feast. It’s a humbling experience. The greatest people on earth sit with the worst people on earth. And each are call sister. Brother. Sibling. At the head of the table one would expect the Lord of All, the King of Kings, but instead – the smallest, weakest, most miserable person sits there in the place of honor. And our Messiah acts as the lowest servant – washing feet, tending wounds, pouring drinks, serving food. He is our Host.
On Earth, we had just a foretaste of this great meal. We had just a rememberance of Jesus. A sampling of what can be on Earth now and what shall be; and what is and is not yet already true.
Families are made around meals. Communities are made around meals. People date around meals. Friendships are made around meals. And, we, too, are made one around a meal. God’s meal.
Amen!
We have many current prayer requests. Please spend a bit of time reflecting, praying, and, if so moved, reaching out to the following to be support.
Current Prayer Requests are available online in our private group and also by telephoning Rev. Bruno
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah writes for tired and weary people. People who feel like they can’t handle any more.
Isaiah 40:21-31
Mark’s story continues. Jesus has just throw out the demon infesting a man in the synagogue. So we see Jesus has spiritual power, can heal males, in public places. Today he goes next door to the synagogue and proves he has power over physical ailments too, can heal women, and in private spaces. Therefore – all genders, all places, all ailments are under the command of this new rabbi. Truly people want to know who he is and how he has such expansive power! Mark 1:29-39
SERMON: Blessed Spaces Between Us
Why does Jesus leave Capernaum? It isn’t because he’s healed twice on the Sabbath – both the demon-possessed man and Simon’s mother in law. Although the town comes at night, after the Sabbath, they’re not upset in the least Jesus is healing on the day of rest. No – they want him to heal more now that the day of rest is over and now they can travel and work and get their sick to him. The whole city we’re told! And at dawn, everyone wants to speak with Jesus. Touch him. Be healed. His ministry is a huge success! Simon and the disciples hunt Jesus down when he isn’t in the house at dawn. Scour the city, and then out into the wilderness around the city. When they find him, they chastise him – come on! Everyone’s seeking you! Let’s go back and keep at it!
But Jesus has been out there in prayer. And he says no. It is time to move on. Time for the next town.
But things are great in Capernaum. Why give up the good, the known, for the unknown, and potentially bad?
Something in that prayer. Something God is speaking to Jesus’ ears.
I relate a lot to the situation described today. St. Michael’s is great. Everything is going well. Sans Covid, but you know? That’s everywhere. I cried last night speaking with my husband about today’s sermon. He wanted me specifically to share how much he loves y’all. So why? Why… leave?
It’s something in my prayers. In the still of the night, in the quiet of the morning, in the calm moments of listening for God. A tug and a whisper.
Got any kids about? Watch Frozen II and the song Into The Unknown. Elsa rails at that voice that keeps her awake and asks her to risk too much and leave the walls surrounding everyone she’s ever loved.
So Jesus goes. He leaves things undone in Capernaum. There’s still work to do. But he did the portion God wanted him to do, and now he trusts it into the hands of another and goes where God is calling next.
We do that in our lives. We raise our children. And then we have to trust them into the hands of others, into their own hands as adults. We inherit a faith cared for and planted by generations before us. We work a generation, and then we hand it off to the next. We entrust it on. Paul said it was one planting, another watering…. But God who makes it all grow. In China, there’s a proverb saying, “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” A pecan tree won’t produce well for 20 or 30 years. It takes… many hands. Our community, our faith, and ourselves…. We come together for a time, do the word God knows we best able to do, and then we part and trust another to continue it.
Because I believe so wholly that God is outside of time, outside of space, and therefore, connects us with all peoples, all places, all times… I feel reassured we are still community no matter where any of us wander following God’s –sometimes pestering—call. I feel confident we remain brothers and sisters. We stand solid in our faith. We are the Church – the Body of Christ – We are One.
And communion is a central piece of that to me. It is a promise of more. It is a promise of what was, and is, and will be. It is Jesus hosting us into his father’s house of many rooms and collapsing all the space, and time, between us.
We take a moment to come, and be fed by Christ. So when we step back into our spaces, back into our times, we take that blessing with us. And all the space and time among us is blessed.
God blesses us. And we in turn bless others. You have blessed me, St. Michael’s. I go to carry your blessing like precious seeds to bless others in kind. So we bless all the world with blessings atop blessings from our loving God.
Amen.
COMMUNION
Invitation
The Holy One asks: Why spend money on what does not satisfy? Why spend your wages and still be hungry? Listen to me and so what I say, and you will enjoy the best food of all. Listen now, my people, and come to me. Come to me and you will have life!
Where two or three gather in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Amen.
This table is open to all who confess Jesus as the Christ and seek to follow Christ’s way. Come to this sacred table not because you must, but because you may. Come not because you are fulfilled, but because in your emptiness you stand in need of God’s mercy and assurance. Come not to express an opinion but to seek a presence and to pray for a spirit.
Come to this table, then, sisters and brothers, as you are. Partake and share. It is spread for you and me that we might again know that God has come to us, shared our common lot, and invited us to join the people of God’s new age.
Let us come now to this holy meal. Before we partake, let us confess our sins to God.
Prayer of Confession
God of all mercy, we confess before you and each other that we have been unfaithful to you. We lack love for our neighbors, we waste opportunities to do good and we look the other way when you cry out to us in the suffering of our sisters and brothers in need. We are sincerely sorry for our sins, both those we commit deliberately and those that overtake us. We ask your forgiveness and pray for strength that we may follow in your way and love all your people with that perfect love which casts out all fear; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Hear these comforting words: If you repent and believe in God’s mercy, your sins are forgiven. Trust in God’s promises and begin anew your life with God and all people in the name of Jesus Christ.
Join me in our Communion Prayer
Pastor: God be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to God.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to God Most High.
People: It is right to give God thanks and praise.
Pastor: Holy God, we praise and bless you for creation and the gift of life and for your abiding love which brings us close to you, the source of all blessing. We thank you for revealing your will for us in the giving of the law and in the preaching of the prophets.
We thank you especially that in the fullness of time you sent Jesus, born of Mary, to live in our midst, to share in our suffering, and to accept the pain of death at the hands of those whom Jesus loved.
We rejoice that in a perfect victory over the grave you raised Christ with power to become sovereign of your realm.
We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to gather your church by which your work may be done in the world and through which we share the gift of eternal life.
With the faithful in every place and time we praise with joy your holy name:
All: Holy, holy, holy God of love and majesty the whole universe speaks of your glory, O God Most High. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of our God. Hosanna in the highest!
Pastor: We remember that on that night of betrayal and desertion,
Jesus took bread,
gave you thanks,
broke the bread,
and gave it to his disciples saying: “This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way, Jesus also took the cup, after supper, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
God, consecrate, therefore, by your Holy Spirit, these gifts of bread and wine, and bless us that as we receive them at this table, we may offer you our faith and praise, we may be united with Christ and with one another, and we may continue faithful in all things.
All: In the strength Christ gives us, we offer ourselves to you, eternal God, and give thanks that you have called us to serve you. Amen.
Pastor: Though the broken bread, we participate in the body of Christ.
Through the cup of blessing, we participate in a new life Christ gives us.
Sharing the elements
Come now, for all things are ready.
The body of Christ, the bread of life.
The blood of Christ, the cup of salvation.
Our Savior Jesus Christ keep and preserve you to everlasting life. Let us pray:
Prayer of Thanksgiving
All: Life-giving God, we give you thanks for the gift of our Savior’s presence in the simplicity and splendor of this holy meal. Unite us with all who are fed by the life of Christ that we may faithfully proclaim the Good News of your love and that your church may be a rainbow of hope in an uncertain world; Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen
Benediction
Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness, be of good courage, hold fast to that which is good, render to no one evil for evil, strengthen the fainthearted, support the weak, help the afflicted, honor all people, love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Whitney Bruno Sermons 