May 30, 2021
Memorial Day/Trinity Sunday Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song America the Beautiful U.S. Navy Band https://youtu.be/NSqVkuTegxY Announcements Thursday, 7:00 PM Zoom Bible Study Here is your invitation: Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Bible Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Call to Worship This is a day for remembering those men and women who gave their lives in times of war for the sake of others. We remember their sacrifice and honor their service. We pray for their families who are grieving their loss, whether recent or long ago. We pray for their comrades, who fought bravely beside them and had to return home without them. May we always appreciate the freedoms we enjoy, and remember that freedom is never free. Song Last Full Measure of Devotion Christopher Jackson https://youtu.be/dxuOh39W2Do Opening Prayer Gracious God, Your Son Jesus said that there is no greater love than to give one’s life for one’s friends. Today we honor those who gave their lives for us, so that we might continue to enjoy our freedom. May their souls rest in eternal peace. And may the day come when there is no longer any war, no longer any need for such sacrifice, a day when weapons will be turned into tools of peace. Amen. Special Music Hymn to the Fallen John Williams https://youtu.be/Omd9_FJnerY Hearing the Word Sermon Understanding the Mystery of the Trinity I have heard all kinds of metaphors used to try and explain the Holy Trinity. Some have said that the Trinity is like an egg, that is made up of a hard shell, the egg white, and the yolk. Others say that the Trinity is kind of like an apple, which has a skin, the flesh, and the seeds. And still others compare the Trinity to water, which can exist as a solid, a liquid or a gas. I have always thought that part of the difficultly is in using the word “person.” As Marcus Borg points out in his book, Speaking Christian, using the word “person” in modern English suggests a distinct center of personality or a distinct being. It makes God seem like a committee of three people. But in Greek or Latin the word “person” means something different. “Persona” (Latin) or “prosopon” (Greek) refer to the mask worn by actors in the theater; they wore masks to play different roles. So the one God plays three different roles: Father, Son, and Spirit. The fact of the matter is, it’s hard to explain the mystery of the Trinity. The Trinity is the word that refers to the Christian doctrine that God is a unity of three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The first difficulty comes up when you realize that the word never even occurs in the Bible. As a matter of fact, it was first used to refer to God by the early church father Tertullian, who lived from around 145 to 220. The doctrine of the Trinity wasn’t formally defined until the great Church councils that took place in the 4th and 5th centuries. So where does the idea of the Trinity come from? Well, it does come from the Bible, even though the word “Trinity” cannot be found there. There are three types of New Testament texts which are relevant to our understanding of the concept of the Trinity. The first type of text refers to the Incarnation, and describes a particularly close relationship between Jesus and God. There are a number of passages which make clear distinctions between God and Christ, and which imply the subordination of the Son to the Father. But there are also other texts which stress the unity of the Father and the Son. The second type of text depicts a similarly close relationship between Jesus and the Holy Spirit. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God was understood to be the agency of God’s power and presence with individuals and communities. In the New Testament, Jesus is understood to be the recipient of this Spirit in a unique manner. You remember that the Spirit of God descended on Jesus in bodily form after his baptism. In other New Testament passages, Jesus is seen as a mediator of the activity of the Spirit, and is identified with the Spirit (the Spirit of the Lord, or the Spirit of Christ.) The third type of text includes passages in which all three persons of the Trinity are mentioned. There is the Apostolic Benediction written by Paul in 2 Corinthians 13:13, which is the earliest trinitarian formula known: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” And there is the baptismal formula of Matthew 28:19, part of the Great Commission that Jesus gave to his disciples: “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Since the Trinity involves God’s three roles - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – like any good United Methodist, I consulted The Book of Discipline to see how we understand those roles. I looked at The Articles of Religion of The Methodist Church and The Confession of Faith of the Evangelical United Brethren Church (our foundational documents), and this is what I found out: What do we believe about God the Father? God is first and foremost the Creator. God is the maker and preserver of all things. God is everlasting and has infinite power, wisdom, goodness, justice, and love. God is holy and sovereign. God rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of humankind. God chooses to reveal Godself as the Trinity, distinct but inseparable, one in substance, in power, and in essence. What do we believe about Jesus? The primary role of Jesus is Savior. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit. The heart of the gospel is the incarnation of God in Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus is of one substance with the Father. In Jesus, human nature and divine nature were joined together in one person. Jesus was, therefore, both truly God and truly man. Jesus suffered, was crucified, died, and was buried. He reconciled us to God and his death was a sacrifice for the sins of humankind. He rose from the dead on the third day and ascended into heaven. He will sit there until he returns to judge all people on the last day. What do we believe about the Holy Spirit? The main role of the Holy Spirit is as Redeemer. The Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son. The Spirit is of one substance with the Father and the Son. The Holy Spirit convinces the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, and leads people through their faithful response to the gospel into the fellowship of the Church. The Spirit comforts, sustains, and empowers the faithful, guiding them into the true faith. Still struggling to get it? I do too! So let’s try another metaphor. I am one person with at least three different roles. I am a daughter. I am a partner. And I am a pastor. But I am still only one person. I perform those roles in different ways, and I am perceived in different ways in each of those roles, but I am never anyone besides who I am. I am always me. I know that this is hard. It’s one of the most difficult concepts to explain about the Christian faith. There are those outside the faith and those of other faiths who cannot understand that we don’t worship three different gods. It’s a strange, complex, difficult, mysterious thing to grasp. And yet, it’s also kind of simple. God is God. And God shows who God is in different ways. The three main ways are as Father (Creator), Son (Savior), and Holy Spirit (Redeemer). In the Bible, there are many other ways that God is described: fire, cloud, wind, rock, king, shepherd, mother. And yet, there is only one God. Those are just ways of describing what God does. God is so big, so beyond our comprehension, that is hard to explain God, to describe God, in terms that we can understand. The best that can be done is to try and give us clues about God’s nature. And God has revealed God’s own self to us in at least these three ways: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The mystery of the Holy Trinity. And on this Trinity Sunday, we celebrate the mystery. Song Holy, Holy, Holy Audrey Assad https://youtu.be/AgHrNNM23p8 Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer Holy and mysterious God, we human beings are limited in our understanding of you. We only know what you have revealed about yourself to us. You are the Creator of all that is: the heavens and the earth, and all that is in them. You are incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth, and so you understand what it is to be fully human. You have laughed and you have cried, you have suffered, you have been beaten, and you have died. And you have risen again from the dead. You have entered into human beings through your Holy Spirit to witness to us, to comfort us, and to guide us. We try to understand how all of this works, but we can’t. We can only believe and accept it. And be grateful for it. Teach us to appreciate all of the ways you reveal yourself to us. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught his disciples to pray: The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication O Lord, we bring to you these gifts, asking that you use them to your purpose. Bless them and make them a blessing to others. We pray in your holy name. Amen. Song The Battle Hymn of the Republic The U.S. Army Field Band Benediction May the love of God fill your hearts and souls. May the peace of Christ give you rest. And may the joy of the Spirit carry you all the day long. Amen. Special Music Taps for Memorial Day https://youtu.be/afO3rEtup1o
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May 23, 2021
Pentecost Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song Revival Third Day https://youtu.be/WoIAcom2zAk Announcements Thursday, 7:00 PM Zoom Bible Study Here is your invitation: Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Bible Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Call to Worship Today we celebrate the birthday of the Church, the day of the coming of the Holy Spirit. That Spirit empowered the apostles and the early Christians to carry the gospel to the world. Through the Holy Spirit, ordinary men and women were empowered to do extraordinary things. May we be filled with the Holy Spirit today! Song Holy Spirit Francesca Battistelli https://youtu.be/2zEiiZi2DKk Opening Prayer Magnificent and powerful God, you sent your Spirit in flames of fire that touched those early Christians. They were immediately filled with power and spoke of all you have done. The Holy Spirit brought energy and power to a small group of believers and sent them out into the world. May we also be filled with the Spirit and energy, so that we may go into the world with the message of the gospel. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Song Holy Spirit, Breathe on Me Anne Jernigan https://youtu.be/eScVk6zRIAs Hearing the Word Scripture Acts 16:11-15, 40 (NRSV) We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us. After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed. Sermon Women of the Bible Lydia: Leader of the Early Church We often talk about how the crowds who followed Jesus were mostly made up of the poor and outcast, the sinners and the ones left out of acceptability. And for the most part, that is true even of the apostles. But there were exceptions. Matthew the tax collector was probably well-to-do. And it is thought that James and John came from a flourishing fishing business. There were a few who followed Jesus who came from the wealthy class. And among those who became part of the early church, there were also members of the upper class. One of those people was a woman named Lydia. Paul had made the decision to go west to Europe, and he arrived there in about the year 50, accompanied by Silas, Timothy and Luke. They first traveled to the Roman colony of Philippi, one of the most important cities in Macedonia. It was located on a major commercial and military highway, the second most important one in the Roman Empire. Paul made it his practice to select urban centers along busy highways for his missionary efforts, and had great success. He had hopes of doing the same thing in Philippi. Paul typically went to the synagogue to begin his missionary work, but there was no synagogue in Philippi. This meant that there were very few Jews in the city, because it only required ten men to establish a synagogue. So Paul and his companions went outside the city to a river, where they thought they might find a place of prayer. And they did come across a group of women there, including some Gentiles known as worshipers of God, people who were attracted to the Jewish faith and who attended services but were not yet converts. One of them was a woman named Lydia. Lydia had come from Thyatira, in western Asia Minor, and was a dealer in purple cloth. Only members of the royalty and other wealthy people could afford this cloth, because the dye was so expensive to make, and so it was a prosperous trade. Lydia was most likely a wealth woman herself, which gave her the independence to be the head of her own household. Her household may have included family members, servants, and hired laborers. When Lydia heard Paul’s teaching, she was immediately attracted to it and converted to Christianity. (As an unmarried Gentile woman, she had been prevented by Jewish law from becoming a convert to Judaism.) She and her entire household were baptized, as was the custom in those days. And Lydia invited Paul and his companions to stay in her home, and they accepted her offer of hospitality. Her house became the first house church in Europe. Even after Paul and Silas were arrested, Lydia did not become too afraid to have the Christians meet in her home. When Paul, Silas and Timothy left for Thessalonica, Luke stayed behind, perhaps to help build up the church, or perhaps because he wanted to check out the famous medical school in Philippi, since he was a doctor. Paul would visit Philippi several times and write a letter to the church there. There are several things I would like to point out about Lydia. First, she was in a posture to receive the gospel. She was already a person open to the word of God, a worshiper of God. And when Paul came and spoke about Jesus, she eagerly listened to his message. It’s possible to come to church and listen to a sermon and not even hear what is said. I know, because it has happened to me, too. Maybe you get distracted. Or you’re put off by the sermon title. Or you don’t like the scripture passage that is being talked about. Or you’re thinking about something else. Or you just don’t care about the topic. But it’s also possible to come and get a lot out of the sermon because you listen eagerly, expecting to hear something that is meaningful or new or challenging. That was how Lydia listened. She was prepared to hear what Paul had to say. And it changed her life. Second, Lydia was a bright woman who knew how to manage an organization. She ran a successful business and supervised a work force. She established her business in a foreign country. She would have been a good person to help organize a church because she knew how to manage people, how to get them to work toward a common goal. She would have been a great co-worker with Paul and his companions. Third, Lydia was a courageous woman. She left her home country and established her business in Philippi, in a different country, even on a different continent. She was not afraid to set out on her own and make a successful company. And when Paul and Silas, who were staying in her home and teaching about a new religion, were arrested and put in jail, she did not put the church out of her home, but continued to host these men and the church that had begun meeting there. She was not afraid to take chances. And finally, Lydia may have been a missionary herself. It is possible that she returned to Thyatira and helped start a church there. In the Book of Revelation, Thyatira is one of the seven churches that is addressed as a center of Christianity. Maybe Lydia was responsible for helping to establish a congregation in her hometown. While it is true that Jesus seemed to have a fondness and special compassion for the poor, there is a place in the church for the wealthy. Lydia had a home large enough to accommodate not only Paul and his companions, but the gatherings of the new church established in Philippi. She probably gave of her own resources to help support its ministries. Without financial support, sometimes large contributions, the early church and the current church could not survive and grow. We can be grateful for the successful businessmen and women like Lydia who have supported the church over the centuries. Song Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God Keith and Kristy Getty https://youtu.be/kDYjn-YdnD4 Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer Loving and creative God, over these past weeks we have learned about many women in the Bible. We have remembered their faithfulness, their courage, their love for you, and their ingenuity. We have been challenged in our own faith as we have considered all that they have done and how they lived their lives. Today we have thought about Lydia, a businesswoman who was intelligent, organized, and successful. She opened her home to host a church and worked with Paul and his companions. Remind us that we need people like her in our own congregation, and that we need to appreciate their gifts and talents. On this day of Pentecost, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, we also celebrate the giving of spiritual gifts. Show us how to use our own gifts for your purposes and to your glory. Fill us with energy and enthusiasm, renew and revive us for your work. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught his disciples to pray: The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication O God, as you have freely given to us, we now freely give to you. Bless us and our gifts, and use them to your service. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Song The Mississippi Squirrel Revival Ray Stevens https://youtu.be/K16fG1sDagU Benediction When we need energy and power, God, send your Holy Spirit. When we need renewal and revival, God, send your Holy Spirit. Fill us with your Spirit today. Amen. May 9, 2021
Mother’s Day Welcome! We’re so glad you have joined us today! Gathering Gathering Song Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth Second Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN https://youtu.be/dTFRqctPYP8 Announcements Thursday, 7:00 PM Zoom Bible Study Here is your invitation: Elisabeth Smith is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Bible Study Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86066732644?pwd=emorNUc2RlJkWEN4UUdrZHJZY0o2Zz09 Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 One tap mobile +19292056099,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (New York) +13017158592,,86066732644#,,,,*762435# US (Washington DC) Dial by your location +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) Meeting ID: 860 6673 2644 Passcode: 762435 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kcyTFEtQFq Call to Worship On this day, we gather together to worship God, who tends us as a mother would do. We also come to honor our mothers, both those still living and those who are with the Lord. We enter the presence of God with thanksgiving in our hearts. We bring our praise to God, knowing that we will meet God in this place. Song Song of Mary Buryl Red, New Presbyterian Church https://youtu.be/1813iaQIrJo Opening Prayer Gracious and loving God, we bring you all glory and praise. On this day, we honor our mothers, both here on earth, and in heaven with you. We know that most of them did their best in raising us, providing for us, loving us, and nurturing us. We thank you for the sacrifices they made for us. We also remember today Mary, the mother of Jesus. As we think about her life, help us to honor her. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Song Breath of Heaven Amy Grant https://youtu.be/6RVTZDgcpqM Hearing the Word Scripture Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 2:1-52 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around the, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.” There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.” “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them. Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. John 19:25-27 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. Sermon Women of the Bible Mary: The Mother of Jesus Mary has been a person of great interest to Christians and Muslims since the days of early Christianity. She has been venerated by Catholics and Orthodox believers, and is considered by millions to be the most meritorious saint. She is said to have miraculously appeared to believers many times over the centuries. There is significant diversity among major religious traditions in their beliefs about Mary. For in-stance, the Catholic Church holds several distinctive Marian doctrines, including her immaculate conception, her perpetual virginity, and her assumption into heaven (without dying). Many Protestants minimize Mary’s role within Christianity, basing their argument on the lack of Biblical support for any beliefs other than the virgin birth of Jesus. In Islam, Mary has the highest position among all women. She is mentioned in the Quran more often than in the New Testament; two long chapters are devoted to Mary and her family. There have been many apocryphal stories about Mary through the ages. According to the Gospel of James, Mary was the daughter of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne. Before Mary’s conception, Anne had been barren and was an older woman. Mary was given as a consecrated virgin in the Temple in Jerusalem when she was three years old. According to other accounts, Mary was betrothed to Joseph at the age of 12-14 years old. According to ancient Jewish custom, she could have been betrothed at the age of 12. Another ancient writer, Hyppolitus of Thebes, said that Mary lived for 11 years after the death of her son. It is believed that she died in Ephesus, where she moved with John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. But no matter what else we know or think or believe about Mary, the one thing we can be sure of is that she was the mother of Jesus. Mary was a mother. And there are several things we can know about her as a mother from the stories about her in the New Testament. The first story took place while she was betrothed, or engaged to be married, to Joseph. The angel Gabriel came to tell her that God had chosen her to be the mother of his Son, the long-awaited Messiah. While Mary was confused about the logistics of how this could happen, since she was a virgin, she accepted the explanation of the an-gel and accepted God’s plan for her life. It’s quite interesting to think about what might have happened if Mary had said, “no.” I wonder what God’s plan B was! But I guess God knew Mary’s heart and soul well enough to know that he had chosen wisely and Mary was going to say yes. She exhibited so much courage, especially if she was as young as twelve or fourteen years old. What a huge responsibility she was agreeing to take on! To parent the child of God! Wow! And what humility she showed in the way that she responded. She didn’t say, “Yay, me! God must think I’m really great!” She said, “I will do this if God wills it.” The birth of Jesus did not happen as anyone might have planned or wanted it to, except perhaps God. I’m sure Mary expected to have that baby at home, with an experienced midwife on hand, or at least her mother or other female relative to get her through it. Instead, by circumstances beyond her control, she had her baby in a stable with only her husband to assist. What woman would want that setting as a delivery room? But Mary did the best that she could. She adapted to her situation. She made the most of her limited resources. And her love for her son was the same, no matter where he was born. After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took care to do all the things required by the Law. They had him circumcised on the eighth day. And they took him to be presented in the Temple in Jerusalem and to offer him to God as the firstborn. They made the required sacrifices. And they met up with some fascinating people who took a special interest in their son. Simeon was a devout believer who had been watching and waiting for the Messiah. He had been assured by God that he would not die before seeing the one he had been waiting for. And he was led to Mary and Joseph and their son. He also warned Mary that there was going to be pain ahead for her because of the work that her son was called to do. Next they met a prophet named Anna, an 84-year-old woman, who praised God and spoke about what Jesus was going to do. Then Mary and Joseph took Jesus home to Galilee. Mary made sure to bring Jesus up to know and live according to Jewish law and custom. For one thing, they took him every year to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. This was important for every Jew who lived close enough to make the trip. And it was important enough that Mary and Joseph did so every year. When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to Jerusalem as usual. But when they left to go back home, they assumed that Jesus was with their group. When they stopped for the night, they couldn’t find Jesus anywhere. He wasn’t with their relatives or friends. And they realized that he must have somehow gotten left behind in the city. This is a nightmare that every parent has: having a lost child. And it can happen so fast. Especially in a big city. Mary probably assumed that Joseph had made sure Jesus was with them; Joseph probably assumed Mary had brought him along. They both probably thought Jesus was with the other young people in their traveling group. It was no one’s fault. But the terror must have been choking. So Mary and Joseph rushed back to Jerusalem and started looking for their lost child. It took them three days to find him. And when they did, it was in the Temple. Jesus was there with the teachers of the law, listening to them and asking them questions. Mary was angry with him. Isn’t that always our first reaction when we have been afraid of the worst and find the child safe and sound? She let him have it. “Son, why in the world would you treat your father and me like this? We’ve been scared to death looking everywhere for you!” And Jesus answered calmly, “Why were you looking for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” Well, that seemed pretty cryptic. But Jesus went home with them, AND WAS OBEDIENT TO THEM. I just bet he was! Mary probably grounded him for like a year! But Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. And Mary treasured all these things in her heart. The last time we see Mary in the gospels is in John chapter 19, when she is with some other women at the foot of Jesus’ cross. I cannot even begin to imagine what it is like to lose a child to death, to have to watch the one you gave birth to die. And even worse, to watch that child die an agonizing death, suffering for hours, hanging on a cross. Mary must have had such incredible strength to be able to bear it. And yet, where else could she have been? There was nothing else for her to do, except be there with him to the end. I like the way that Frederick Buechner described this scene in his book, Peculiar Treasures: A Biblical Who’s Who: For all the sentimentalizing that their relationship has come in for since, there’s no place in the Gospels where he speaks some special, loving word or does some special, loving thing for the woman who gave him birth … No place, that is, except at the very end when, cross-eyed with pain, he looked down from where they’d nailed him and said something just for her … “Behold your son,” he said, indicating the disciple who was standing beside her, and then to the disciple, “Behold your mother.” It was his going-away present to her really, somebody to be the son to her that he had no way of being himself, what with a world to save, a death to die. He would be present in that disciple, he seemed to be saying, for her to live for, and to live for her. Beyond that, he would be present in generation after generation for her to mother, the Mater Dolorosa who seeks him always, and sorrowing, everywhere she goes. It is believed that, from that day, Mary went to live with John, the disciple that Jesus loved. And when John later moved to Ephesus to minister, Mary went with him. Maybe she needed to be with someone who had really understood her son, who he was and what he came to do, in a way that his own brothers never seemed to do (except perhaps for his brother James). Jesus knew that she would need comfort and a pur-pose after he was gone, and this was his solution. And Mary is mentioned in Acts as being with the other believers in the upper room, taking a role in the early church. Mary was quite a remarkable woman, quite a remarkable mother. She learned to make do when circumstances were less than ideal. She made sure to bring up her son according to her faith and to teach him to live by it as well. She didn’t let him get away with misbehaving, but made sure that he learned to be obedient. That came in handy later, when he had to choose to obey the will of God when it was a hard way to go. And Mary was committed to not leaving her son when he needed her most, when he was dying. She provided her support, her comfort, her presence, during his final moments. And she carried on his legacy after his death. No matter what else Mary might or might not have been, she was an incredible mother. Song Mary, Did You Know Clay Aiken https://youtu.be/bYe7odIJLF0 Praying Together Concerns and Celebrations: Please share any concerns or celebrations you may have with Pastor Elisabeth. Please note if you do not want this shared with this faith community. Pastoral Prayer Gracious God, what was it like to be the mother of your Son? Did the responsibility weigh on her heart and mind? Or did she truly enjoy the wonder of raising a little boy? We honor Mary for her courage, for her humility, and for her generous spirit. We praise her for the way that her parenting shaped the life and ministry of Jesus. We thank you for those whose parenting shaped our lives in positive ways, for mothers and grandmothers, aunts and cousins, and “adopted” family in church. Help us to remember our responsibility in shaping the lives of the children in our lives, and in our church. May they grow up to be faithful men and women who love you as we love them. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ, who taught his disciples to pray: The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. Responding Offertory: You may send your offerings to Grantham United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 152, Grantham, NH, 03753. Doxology UMH #95 Prayer of Dedication O God, we ask that you bless the gifts that we bring. May they be used to bless others. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. Song Hail Holy Queen Sister Act https://youtu.be/ctjG4MjJwEA Benediction As Mary accepted the role God planned for her with courage and humility, may we also be willing to serve as God directs us. As Mary was willing to let her Son go in order to do his work in the world, may we be willing to let go of things in order to accomplish God’s will. As Mary made the ultimate sacrifice of seeing her son die, may we be willing to sacrifice for the cause of Christ. Amen. |
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