Sunday service for 6 November 2022

Sunday 6 November 2022, NL1-9 (moving God-ward 6)
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse: 632143 
Email: tpeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk

Prelude Music

Welcome/Announcements

Call to Worship
Leader: God is here, with and for us.
1: God’s wisdom is for all, not limited to those with letters after their name.
2: God’s healing is for all, not limited to those who can afford it.
3: God’s presence is for all, not limited to any place or time.
All: Whoever we are, however we got to this moment, wherever we find ourselves,
God is here, with and for us.

Hymn 623: Here In This Place

Prayer
You are the God of the great and the good, the small and the humble,
the top of the heap and the bottom rung of the ladder.
You speak your word in the voices of those we rarely listen to,
your invitation to abundant life comes through those who appear to have so little,
and we ask for ears to hear.
Teach us to lay aside our egos and enter into community,
sharing and learning and serving alongside each other,
trusting the guides you send us to show us the grace you have planted in this world.
For you, Holy God, have promised to meet us when we seek you.
We confess that we have expectations about what that will look and feel like.
We expect that being in the right building at the right time will make us holy.
We expect that saying the right words and doing the right moves are almost like magic,
forcing you to act.
We confess that we often continue our traditions
without asking whether they bring us closer to you.
We resist the idea that you might work differently than the way we’ve always done things,
or outside of our special holy place,
or beyond the borders of our approved people,
or without any payment or deals to be made.
Forgive us O God, for trapping you in our books of rules and rituals.
Forgive us for narrowing our spiritual lives to a place and time and order.
Forgive us for trying to channel your grace into our systems of control.
Disrupt our self-centred story
and lead us again to your waters that heal
that we may rise and walk in your way.
Amen.

Sanctuary Hymn 719: The One Who Longs to Make Us Whole (Tune: Resignation)

Prayer of the Season
The whole earth is yours, O God.
From the beginning of the story,
you have been drawing us toward you.
We give you thanks that you have brought us this far
even when we feel like we have to trudge every step.
Though we don’t know how to be your people,
still you coax, call, and carry us forward.
Show us again today what it means to be people who live close to your heart,
not through our own efforts, but yours. Amen.

Reading: 2 Kings 5.1-15a (Common English Bible)
After David and Solomon, the kings became increasingly more self-interested and less faithful, worshipping other gods and engaging in economic and social practices that were harmful to the community. The kingdom split apart into the northern kingdom of Israel, made up of the land of ten of the tribes, with the capital in Samaria, and the southern kingdom of Judah, made up of the land of two tribes, with the capital in Jerusalem. Each kingdom had their own kings who were mostly not good, with the occasional bright spot among them. God sent prophets to speak to the kings and the people, to try to bring them back to God’s way. Other prophets were in the royal court, paid to give the king the news he wanted to hear from the divine realms. In today’s story we hear about a prophet who was decidedly not welcome in the royal court, but who did have power from God. He lived and worked in the northern kingdom of Israel, which was particularly politically unstable and was also the first target of neighbouring empires with dreams of expansion. I am reading from the second book of Kings, chapter 5, in the Common English Bible.

Naaman, a general for the king of Aram, was a great man and highly regarded by his master, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. This man was a mighty warrior, but he had a skin disease. Now Aramean raiding parties had gone out and captured a young girl from the land of Israel. She served Naaman’s wife.
She said to her mistress, “I wish that my master could come before the prophet who lives in Samaria. He would cure him of his skin disease.” So Naaman went and told his master what the young girl from the land of Israel had said.
Then Aram’s king said, “Go ahead. I will send a letter to Israel’s king.”
So Naaman left. He took along ten kikkars of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. He brought the letter to Israel’s king. It read, “Along with this letter I’m sending you my servant Naaman so you can cure him of his skin disease.”
When the king of Israel read the letter, he ripped his clothes. He said, “What? Am I God to hand out death and life? But this king writes me, asking me to cure someone of his skin disease! You must realise that he wants to start a fight with me.”
When Elisha the man of God heard that Israel’s king had ripped his clothes, he sent word to the king: “Why did you rip your clothes? Let the man come to me. Then he’ll know that there’s a prophet in Israel.”
Naaman arrived with his horses and chariots. He stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent out a messenger who said, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored and become clean.”
But Naaman went away in anger. He said, “I thought for sure that he’d come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the bad spot, and cure the skin disease. Aren’t the rivers in Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all Israel’s waters? Couldn’t I wash in them and get clean?” So he turned away and proceeded to leave in anger.
Naaman’s servants came up to him and spoke to him: “Our father, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? All he said to you was, ‘Wash and become clean.’” So Naaman went down and bathed in the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said. His skin was restored like that of a young boy, and he became clean.
He returned to the man of God with all his attendants. He came and stood before Elisha, saying, “Now I know for certain that there’s no God anywhere on earth except in Israel.

For the word of God in scripture,
for the word of God among us,
for the word of God within us,
thanks be to God.

Sermon: Disrupted Assumptions
This week I was up at Clydeview chatting with some pupils about books we like to read, and in the course of the conversation I said that one of my least favourite types of book is the kind where the storyline would entirely fall apart if the characters had an actual conversation instead of just making assumptions about what the other person meant by something. When the whole story is based on people assuming things about the others, and then making decisions based on those assumptions, and obsessing about what the other person didn’t actually do or say but rather what they think the other person would do or say…I can’t stand it. I end up shouting at books that they really need to just grow up already.

The thing is, of course, we also do this, it isn’t just in books. Too many of us make assumptions rather than having an adult conversation, as if it was somehow less stressful to obsess about the various options and ideas we create while going round in our own minds about what another person meant by what they said or did, than it would be to just…speak to them about it. And when we act on what we assume someone else meant, rather than having a conversation, or at the very least clarifying, then we quickly get ourselves into trouble that it can be harder to get out of than just having that mildly uncomfortable conversation in the first place.

Today’s story is one of those where it would have gone so much quicker if there had been even one actual conversation at the start. Or even at any point along the way! At every turn this story builds on yet another assumption that’s based on misunderstanding that could so easily have been alleviated.

It starts off well, if strangely — the general with a skin disease taking the advice of a girl he has captured in war and enslaved to his wife. That bit is weird because of course high ranking military officials don’t normally take advice from…well…women, let alone young girls, let alone enslaved girls, let alone enslaved girls who were captured from another nation whom he has just defeated in battle. Many generals would have assumed she had an ulterior motive, perhaps hoping that if the household traveled to Israel then she could escape and return to her people. But that’s perhaps the one assumption Naaman doesn’t make!

The girl said he should see the prophet in Samaria — Samaria was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. Naaman took that piece of information and, rather than trying to find out who this prophet was or where they would be, he simply assumed the prophet would be in the employ of the king, as was the case in his own experience — isn’t that what we do, assume that our experience is the norm for everyone? So he went to his own king and got a letter. Then he further assumed that he would need to bribe the king of Israel, because after all Naaman had only just defeated them in battle so coming back so soon could be misinterpreted, so he loaded up a huge baggage train with gifts.

When they arrived at the palace in Samaria, the king assumed that this conquering general was arriving to parade his spoils of war and his retinue of soldiers and to intimidate them into further concessions, knowing that there was no further resistance the king could offer to the superior military force Naaman represented. Once he read the letter, he assumed that the other king was looking for a pretext to be angry and therefore justify his further raiding — what today we might call a “false flag” operation.

Remember, this all started because the lowest of the low person in the household said that Naaman should go see a prophet who could cure his disease, and now everyone else’s assumptions have brought us to the brink of war. Some of you might know the saying about what happens when we “ass-u-me”…

Luckily Elisha, the prophet the girl was talking about, who had a history of miracles that brought God’s power into everyday life, heard about the situation. Naaman arrived at his front door, with his entire parade of chariots and wealth and soldiers, assuming this prophet would come out and work some magic. He assumed there would be fancy rituals with foreign words and hand-waving and maybe some special substances. Instead, Elisha stayed in the house and sent a messenger to say it was all very simple: all he needed was to go into the water.

That shattering of his assumptions was the last straw for Naaman. He could not understand why this had all gone wrong, and now he wasn’t even seeing the actual prophet, just a messenger who gave a message he didn’t understand or want. After all, his own country had better rivers. And better prophets, apparently. And better everything. Why would he go into an inferior river in an inferior country on the instructions of an inferior prophet that wasn’t even in the palace and wouldn’t even come out of his hut to speak to the greatest military general in the whole middle east?

Finally there was one person in the story who knew how to have an adult conversation…and that one person was, once again, a slave, the lowest in the whole retinue. They were the only ones who have the courage to approach Naaman in mid-rage, and point out that he was acting on assumptions instead of reality. Through their calm and rational conversation, they disrupt the narrative Naaman had built up in his mind. That disruption turned the whole story round, because it had run away from the original simplicity of a slave girl’s advice and turned into a big expensive production that had to go through the highest official channels.

Naaman was pulled back to the simplicity of the water. It wasn’t special water, in fact it was just a small river compared to the rivers he had at home, and it was muddy and probably a lot less beautiful than his own. It was just…water, but water that the combination of Elisha’s prayer and Naaman’s action would set aside from a common to a sacred use. But to enter into it, to wash himself seven times no less, he had to leave everything else on the shore. He had to leave his baggage train, his wealth, his soldiers and colleagues, his clothes, his ego…and his assumptions! on the banks of the river. He had to shed his power to find shalom. 

Once Naaman had allowed the disruption of his own assumed story, he was able to finally move God-ward, to find the true story God had in mind for him — a story that wasn’t about looking a certain way or doing a special ritual in a special place. Instead it was a story that crossed boundaries, bringing together the smallest and the greatest, the young and the old, the powerful and the least, the insider and the outsider, all of whom had to trust each other enough to speak honestly even across divides, to listen with an open heart, to take each other seriously whatever the usual social roles might be…in other words, to have a conversation rather than acting only on assumptions. It was then, in the disruption of those traditional assumptions, through the simplicity of the water, that Naaman found, and we will find, healing for our God-ward journey.

May it be so. Amen.

Hymn 259: Beauty for Brokenness

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
We do not know how your healing power works, O God.
We long for every need to be so simply healed —
for water to wash away pain and illness and loneliness and violence,
while replenishing dry spirits and parched earth, nourishing life and beauty.
We bring everything we’ve got as we ask for your help,
we lay our bargaining power aside,
coming to you with empty hands outstretched,
bearing only our prayers for healing for our community, nation, and world…
You are invited to speak or whisper your prayer concerns into this space
…
We offer our prayers for those who feel out of options,
whose treatment is a struggle and those who cannot access the care the need,
and for those for whom a cure is not forthcoming.
May they experience your wholeness in their spirit, mind, and body,
and may your miracles take many forms.
We lift up those who care for others, especially for health care workers who are so tired,
and for all who have poured their energy into helping.
Strengthen and encourage them, and inspire our society to care for them, too.
We hold in our hearts those who grieve,
who have said goodbye to loved ones, to opportunities, to futures that are no longer possible.
May they know your comfort surrounding and holding them.
We pray, too, for those who believe they can buy their way to well-being,
who have tried to barter for compassion rather than investing in relationships,
who use their power and status and wealth and yet find it doesn’t work that way.
May they be set free to experience love through your humble, vulnerable community way.
Let your healing water flow over us all,
washing away our egos and widening the banks of our vision,
and carrying us toward your fullness of life, even now.
We ask in the name of Christ whose healing hand reaches out to us all,
who taught us to pray together:
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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Sanctuary Hymn 511: Your Hand, O God, Has Guided

Benediction
As you go into your week, may you be blessed with the humility to seek, the openness to hear from unexpected voices, and the courage to act on what you find instead of on assumptions. And as you go, may the Spirit of God go above you to watch over you. May the Spirit of God go beside you to be your companion. May the Spirit of God go before you to show you the way, and behind you to push you into places you might not go alone. And may the Spirit of God go within you, to remind you that you are loved more deeply than you can possibly imagine. May the fire of God’s love burn brightly in you, and through you into the world. Go in peace. Amen.

Sung Benediction Response (John L Bell, tune Gourock St John’s)
Now may the Lord of all be blessed,
Now may Christ’s gospel be confessed,
Now may the Spirit when we meet
Bless sanctuary and street.

Postlude Music

Announcements
* You are invited to join in reading the Bible in a year for 2022 — immersing ourselves in God’s word throughout the year. We get together to discuss each week on Wednesday at 7:30pm in the manse at 6 Barrhill Road. All are welcome, no experience necessary! Feel free to invite a friend, too! Anyone who has ever wondered just what the Bible actually says and what it has to do with us is welcome.

* We worship in the sanctuary on Sundays at 11am, and all Sunday worship is also online (or on the phone at 01475 270037, or in print). If you are able, please enter by the front door in Bath street, and only those who need step-free access should use the back door. If you feel unwell, please worship online, to protect both yourself and others in our community.

* Did you know that it costs us about £10,500 per month to do the ministry we currently do at St. John’s? That includes heating and lighting the building and keeping it in good repair for church and community groups, programming and pastoral care for people of all ages, our contribution to minister’s stipends, and other ministry costs. The Kirk now has online giving! If you have not already set up a standing order in order to facilitate your spiritual discipline of giving, or if you would like to make an extra gift to support the ministry St. John’s does in our parish, you can give online by clicking here. If you would like to set up a standing order, please contact Peter Bennett, our treasurer, or Teri and she can give you his details. You can also send your envelopes to the church or the manse by post and we will ensure they are received. Remember: no one is coming to your door to collect your envelopes, so please be safe!

* Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Youtube, and to sign up for our email devotions! Midweek you can watch Wine and the Word on Youtube, pray with video devotions on Facebook, and consider a new angle on something with a devotional email. Feel free to share with your friends, too!

* Young Adult Bible Study meets in the manse on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 7pm for a meal and a study of the gospel according to John. If you’d like more information, for yourself, a family member, a friend, or neighbour who is in their 20s, please contact Teri for the dates/times and other information.

* The Contact Group is holding a fundraising concert by The Clydeside Singers on Sunday 13th November at 2.30pm. The concert will take place in the sanctuary and will be followed by tea, coffee and cakes. Tickets priced £8 (including refreshments) can be obtained from Contact Group Members.

* The next Bowl & Blether in St John’s is TOMORROW, Monday 7 November, and the next one in St Margaret’s is this Saturday 12 November. On both days, doors open at 11:30, and homemade soup is served from 12-1:30. Bring a friend or neighbour for a warm welcome, a delicious meal, and a friendly chat!

* Old Gourock and Ashton Parish Players Panto is coming up! This year it’s Jack and the Beanstalk and shows are from Wed 30th November to Sat 3rd December. Evening performances start at 7.30 on Wed, Thur and Fri. Tickets for these performance cost £9. The matinee on Saturday starts at 1pm and the early evening performance starts at 5pm. Tickets for these performances cost £6. If anyone is interested please contact Avril on 07713 625750.