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From Rev Tom Ringland : Sunday August 9
This week's readings are certainly full of drama -
In Genesis, Jacob's sons lose patience with the 'dreamer' - Joseph
while in Matthew, Jesus bids Peter leave the boat and walk on water!
The Ninth Sunday after Trinity
From todays psalm:-
Seek the Lord and his strength - seek his presence continually.
[Psalm 105:4]
Introduction
[opening sentences from the blue booklet: ‘Prayers during the coronavirus outbreak’, available from Christine Gard or Tom]
Opening Prayer
Eternal God, source of all blessing,
help us to worship you
with all our heart and mind and strength;
for you alone are God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Hymn (music }
1 As pants the hart for cooling streams
when heated in the chase,
so longs my soul, O God, for thee,
and thy refreshing grace.
2 For thee, my God, the living God,
my thirsty soul doth pine:
O when shall I behold thy face,
thou majesty divine?
3 Why restless, why cast down, my soul?
Hope still, and thou shalt sing
the praise of him who is thy God,
thy health's eternal spring.
4 To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
the God whom we adore,
be glory, as it was, is now,
and shall be evermore.
Invitation to Confession
Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God,
though we have rebelled against him.
Let us then renounce our wilfulness and ask his mercy
by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
cf Daniel 9.9
Confession
Lord God, our maker and our redeemer,
this is your world and we are your people:
come among us and save us.
Where we have wilfully misused your gifts of creation;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
Where we have seen the ill-treatment of others
and have not gone to their aid;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
Where we have condoned evil and dishonesty
and failed to strive for justice;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
Where we have heard the good news of Christ,
but have failed to share it with others;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
Where we have not loved you with all our heart,
nor our neighbours as ourselves;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
Absolution
May God who loved the world so much
that he sent his Son to be our Saviour
forgive us our sins
and make us holy to serve him in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Readings
The Psalm for the day is Psalm 105
Genesis 37:1-4,12-28 Joseph Is Sold by His Brothers
Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as an alien, the land of Canaan. 2 This is the story of the family of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a helper to the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he had made him a long robe with sleeves. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.
12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” He answered, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock; and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron.
He came to Shechem, 15 and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said; “tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 The man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers, and found them at Dothan. 18 They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they conspired to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the long robe with sleeves that he wore; 24 and they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying gum, balm, and resin, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers agreed. 28 When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. 25 And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Sermon – Tom
STORMS ….
There’s a Met office yellow weather warning for storms over the next couple of days –
And it’s just over a year since the devastating thunderstorm that flooded Swaledale along with Leyburn and area.
Storms were (and are) a commonplace over the sea of Galilee, and it sounds as though it was a rough night for the disciples as they were battered by headwinds trying to cross to the other shore.
Natural storms can be a picture for what we call the ‘storms of life’.
We may not have to row or sail by night in rough weather but there are times when we feel battered by waves – battered by the storms of life.
Relentless news broadcasts. Health problems. A bereavement. An unpleasantness that spoils a relationship with friend or neighbour. Just the difficulty of managing life in the pandemic. Some of us will be feeling battered at the moment.
We’ve just heard the stories of three people facing their own particular storms.
What can we learn that will help us?
Some approaches will be better than others … we probably have our natural ‘go to’ approach – as did the three in our readings … maybe God will inspire us to improve and develop our approach as the Bible stories challenge us.
The story of Joseph that begins here pretty much takes up the rest of Genesis. But it begins here in chapter 37. And things are going badly wrong. Sent out to check on his half-brothers – and he’s already filed a bad report – they set on him – he’s roughed up, thrown in a pit, but then taken out again to be sold to Ishmaelites bound for Egypt.
He probably felt it was a stormy day.
Joseph has probably not had to handle many storms – his father’s favourite – pampered with his fancy coat of many colours – doted on by his mother Rachel … his father’s first love …(Jacob’s love life if complicated to say the least!) he’s been accustomed to think of himself as number one.
The dreams God gave him only added to reinforce this view.
Joseph’s ‘go to’ would be to let Daddy sort it out.
But now he’s on his own – and the storms would last for years as gradually he came to think of others before himself.
It’s salutary to read how – whilst no suffering and injustice is good – God was able to redeem the suffering – and bring good from it
So that by the end of the story he is reconciled with his brothers but also able to ease the suffering of others through a great famine.
As we face our storms – there may be little good about them – they may be deeply unfortunate – but in God’s hands there can be a redemption. Good can be brought to birth - look for flowers amidst the bombsites.
Peter’s story involves a literal storm. The boat, we read, was battered by the waves. Sent on ahead by Jesus, the disciples – many of them fishermen who knew the water – were in a familiar place. Because of it’s position between high hills to the east and west, wind can come down the slopes at speed and whip up the water.
Peter’s go-to was to trust his own strength. To rely on his own resources. To battle on using his experience and natural ability. In a sense he couldn’t see what else to do: they were alone on the water.
Sometimes we too can battle on alone. We don’t know how to ask for help. We’re in our own world of crisis and others have their own problems – maybe we don’t want to admit to weakness; maybe we don’t think people would be able to help – and we don’t want to be a burden … so we go it alone … “we’ll manage” - like the disciples on the sea in the dark with the wind and waves against them.
It turns out they are not alone – Jesus joins them … unnervingly, he’s walking on the water. Now they’re afraid as well as exhausted – but it leads to this extraordinary exchange as Peter says ‘Lord if it is you, bid me come …” … and Jesus says, “come”.
“Come – stop being preoccupied by your present difficulties … look to me – lock eyes on me – and other matters will seem less important …”
And for a while – Peter is able to rise above the crisis of the night and walk towards Jesus.
For a moment – and then we read how he is distracted again by the wind and the waves and he begins to sink.
Credit to Peter for committing to Jesus even in the midst of his experiences … well done Peter, for looking to Jesus and not to your own strength! It’s a start!
But while I give credit – Jesus shows himself a demanding teacher – he wants more … and he uses a bit of a teasing term of endearment … a nick name he has at times for all the apostles – oligopiste … you’re a “littlefaith”.
We can learn from Peter’s boldness – and begin to look to Jesus and let him raise us above our crises.
The old chorus goes, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face – and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace …”
The third person is Jesus himself.
His particular storm was hinted at last week. He had just learned of the killing by Herod of his cousin, John the Baptist.
So it was that he took the 12 to a lonely place apart – but was spotted and so ended up teaching and healing all day before feeding the 5000.
At the end of the day, he may have been buoyed up by the amazing demonstration of power.
He might have been on an adrenalin high –
Exhilarated by the experiences of the day.
At times success can look to be it’s own source of strength – to be enough.
What does Jesus do at the end of the day?
This is seemingly a relatively unimportant part of the reading … setting the scene for the dramatic events to follow – but I think it’s critical we notice how Jesus addressed his own storm.
It’s his ‘go-to’ that we see time and again in the Gospels
23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
It was essential for Jesus not to trust to himself – as in their own ways Joseph and Peter both did.
Son of God though he was – and is –
After dismissing the 5000 he looks for strength and direction from his Father.
As well he did, for aside from the death of John, the mood of the crowd who had witnessed the miracle was to proclaim him a popular king – and take his ministry in quite the wrong direction.
On the mountainside, Jesus found peace and renewed purpose – which contrasts with the disciples sweating out there on the lake in their own strength.
Would that we could learn to make quiet time with God the same priority!
It will stand us in good stead to handle both life’s storms – and life’s successes!
Confession of Faith
Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
All We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
All We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
All We believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the Church.
All This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
(led this week by Adrian or Bridget at 9.30
and at 10.30 by Cherie Miles,
also see ‘Prayers for use during the coronavirus outbreak’
Remember the free C of E phone line “Daily Hope” ...0800 804 8044.
Collect for the 9th Sunday after Trinity
Almighty God,
who sent your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of your Church:
open our hearts to the riches of your grace,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
The Lord’s Prayer
[see the blue booklet]
Hymn (music )
1 The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
His goodness restores my soul.
And I will trust in You alone,
and I will trust in You alone,
for Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.
DESCANT
I will trust, I will trust in You.
I will trust, I will trust in You.
Endless mercy follows me,
goodness will lead me home.
2 He guides my ways in righteousness,
and He anoints my head with oil,
and my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on His pure delights.
And I will trust . . .
3 And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
for You are with me, and Your rod and staff
are the comfort I need to know.
And I will trust . . .
Psalm 23
adapted Stuart Townend
© 1996 Thankyou Music
Used with permission - CCLI Licence number 2326066
Conclusion
[From the blue booklet]
Blessing
The God of all grace,
who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus,
establish, strengthen and settle you in the faith;
and the blessing …