Sunday service for 9 January 2022
9 January 2022
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by the Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse phone: 632143
Email: tpeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk
To hear the audio recording of this service, please phone 01475 270037. It’s a local landline number so minutes should be included in your phone plan.
Prelude Music
Welcome and Announcements
Call to Worship
One: Come, all you who are curious,
Come, all you who wonder,
Come, if you’ve just met Jesus a few days ago, or known him all your life,
Come to the celebration!
All: We’re not sure how we got an invitation,
but we are here to see what God can do.
Prayer
Your works reveal your glory, Holy One,
right in front of our eyes and yet hidden from view.
Your abundance surprises us every time,
in the everyday sustenance
and the once-in-a-lifetime celebration
and every in-between moment,
filled to the brim with your grace when we weren’t looking.
Your kingdom unfolds before us —
give us eyes to see your signs.
God of grace and glory,
you work all things together for your good purpose,
whatever the situation.
We confess that we like a timeline, a blueprint, a schedule, a plan…
and we will wait until everything is in place, perfectly aligned,
before we take the first steps.
We admit that we sometimes use planning and preparation,
committees and studies,
as a way to put off taking the risk of following you.
Forgive us when we distance ourselves from your messengers
and let opportunities pass us by because we don’t feel ready.
Forgive us, fill us to overflowing once again with your abundant life,
and empower us to work on your task,
even if we cannot see the moment of the miracle ourselves. Amen.
Online Hymn 336: Christ Is Our Light (words: Leith Fisher; tune: Highland Cathedral)
Christ is our light!
the bright and morning star
covering with radiance all from near and far. Christ be our light,
shine on, shine on we pray
into our hearts, into our world today.
Christ is our love!
baptised that we may know
the love of God among us, swooping low. Christ be our love, bring us to turn our face and see in you
the light of heaven’s embrace.
Christ is our joy!
transforming wedding guest!
Through water turned to wine the feast was blessed.
Christ be our joy; your glory let us see,
as your disciples did in Galilee.
Renewal of the Baptismal Covenant
In the waters of baptism,
we are born anew to live in God’s ongoing re-creation,
day by day growing in grace.
And we are forced to admit that we don’t understand any of it —
the mystery is always just below the surface, just behind the veil.
Yet the good news is this: That Jesus was born, and lived among us;
he taught and healed, he enabled celebration and defied shame,
he sat at table with sinners and strangers,
he poured water and wine, he broke bread,
and he spoke new things into being;
he suffered the worst the world could do,
and he broke the power of death by rising to new life…
all this he did for us, though we do not understand yet.
And so the scripture is fulfilled: we love because God first loved us.
We may not understand how miracles happen.
We may not know exactly where the sign points us to go.
We may not untangle the mysteries of life and love and faith.
But we may get a glimpse of glory, in water —
carried from one place to another,
set aside from a common to a sacred use,
transformed for a new celebration.
And we may hear Christ’s call again, in water —
to take up the task,
to set out on the path,
to be a part of something we don’t yet see or understand, a miracle in the making.
So we come to be renewed as God’s covenant people,
surrounded and upheld by the weight of God’s glory
and committing ourselves to continue in Christ’s way.
Do you renew your commitment, with God’s help,
to live before all God’s children in a kindly and Christian way,
and to share with them the knowledge and love of Christ?
If so, please say “I do” and use the water to make the sign of the cross on the palm of your hand.
All of us are called to model God’s grace in all that we do,
whether our interactions are with friends or strangers,
children or peers or elders,
church members or not.
Today we particularly promise to this young family, but the promise extends to all of us.
Will you take up this call to build up Christ’s body,
nurturing one another in faith,
upholding one another in prayer,
and encouraging one another in service?
If so, please say “I will” as you use water to make the sign of the cross on your other palm.
You belong to Christ, in whom you have been baptised, alleluia alleluia alleluia.
Reading: John 2.1-11 (New Revised Standard Version)
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
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: Because I Said So
Can I just ask: has anyone here ever used the phrase “because I said so”? My parents used to use it when I wanted to know why I had to clean my room, or get my shoes on, or watch my brother. My teachers used to use it when I wanted to know why I had to write an outline first instead of just writing the essay, or why I had to show my work rather than just getting the right answer on a maths test. And then one day, when I was teaching in Egypt, I heard myself say these words to a class of P1 girls who were just starting to learn English, and neither my Arabic nor my patience was up to the task of explaining to thirty 5 year olds why they could not run inside the library. A few years later I found myself saying it to a youth group full of cheeky suburban 13 year olds who wanted to know why they had to turn the lights out and go to bed at 1am on a retreat, as that’s hardly the time of day to try to reason with a hyper teenager.
“Because I said so” is the last resort of parents and teachers everywhere. It seems that the mother of Jesus had taken it to the next level, though — she didn’t even technically ask Jesus to do anything, yet when he resisted getting involved, she just gave him a look and said to the servants “do whatever he tells you.” It is pretty impressive to be able to say “because I said so” without even actually saying the words, and to have it work on her 30 year old son!
But far more impressive, I think, is that when Jesus instructed that over 150 gallons of water should be brought in from the well, no one batted an eye. They just all picked up their buckets and walked to the well and carried the water. Back and forth they went, until the jars were filled to the brim. No “why?”, no moaning, no questions, no excuses about how they were in the middle of a wedding and very busy serving guests who were just now realising the bar was closed…they just carried water, because Jesus said so. They had no idea what he was going to do with it, or what all this water had to do with the problem at hand. They’d filled those jars not long before, for the rituals at the start of the wedding ceremony, and now here they were doing it again and they didn’t know why, only that Jesus had told them to do it.
And somewhere along the way, a miracle happened. Scarcity was transformed into abundance, fear and shame were transformed into celebration.
The people carrying the water didn’t see exactly what happened. No one did, in fact. And all that labour: taking the buckets to the well, pulling water up, filling the buckets, carrying them back, lifting them to pour it into the jars, repeat…all of that is glossed over. It just says “Jesus said to fill the jars with water, and they filled them up to the brim.” Depending on how far away the well was, and how many people were doing it, we’re likely talking about an hour or two or more of hard work…with growing anxiety and pressure as the guests sobered up, the gossip was flying around the party, the groom and his family were getting more and more embarrassed, and the other servants were finding it harder and harder to cover. People surely saw them scurrying about, though no one understood what was going on.
But God was at work. We don’t know when, exactly. No one does. But when the first cup was placed under the spout, those people who had spent the entire afternoon running back and forth with buckets of water knew. They knew Jesus had done something amazing, that the God was a God of abundance and goodness and celebration of love. And they knew it couldn’t have happened without them — even though no one else did, and no one thanked them or recognised their work. But though they did not know it while they were doing it, afterward they knew they had participated in a miracle.
Sometimes the Christian life feels like that, doesn’t it? Like we’re just going about these tasks, carrying bucket after bucket of water with no idea why or what it’s for, with no one really noticing, just doing what Jesus said even though it feels silly, or unproductive, or like it might not matter, or it’s just the same small thing over and over…but doing it anyway because Jesus said to…whether that’s cleaning the church every week, or moving chairs, or delivering flowers, or praying for people we don’t even know, or standing at the door as a friendly face week after week, or coming to join our hearts and voices in worship, or phoning people who never seem phone us back, or making the millionth powerpoint hymn, or adding another starter packs item to our shopping trolley, or opening packet after packet of snacks for our youngest youth organisation members, or writing yet another email to our elected officials holding them accountable to our highest ideals, or giving a little extra to the mission we do…whatever that small task, however repetitive it seems, whether you know exactly how God is using it or not…doing it faithfully simply because Jesus said so is the stuff of miracles, though we do not know it yet. When it’s filled to the brim, we will see that Jesus has done something amazing we couldn’t have imagined before.
All those small everyday prayerful acts of love and faithfulness add up. Through our lives lived in response to Jesus’ instruction, even when we do not understand it yet, God’s kingdom unfolds right in front of us, in hospitality and celebration and abundance and grace — more than enough of the best wine for everyone. Because Jesus said so.
May it be so. Amen.
Online Hymn: God of All Comfort (by Resound Worship)
Prayer & Lord’s Prayer
Loving God, your care extends to even the smallest situation,
and you know our need.
In the moments that make up our lives, you are present.
We give you thanks that when we don’t quite know how to ask,
still you answer.
And so we bring you our prayers this day,
for the needs at the forefront of our minds,
and the ones we keep hidden, ashamed even to ask for help.
We bring the prayers we don’t even have words for,
the uncertain and faltering and inarticulate hopes, fears, dreams, longings.
…
We bring ourselves, just as you invited us,
however uncertain we are of our belonging,
and offer our whole selves to the work of your unfolding kingdom.
You are the giver of every good gift.
As you ensured the celebration at Cana,
we pray too you would gladden our hearts with the abundance of your blessing,
confirm us in your way,
and strengthen our spirits to serve you as you call.
We ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord,
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.
Benediction
Friends, go into your week to carry water…to live faithfully in every action, doing as Jesus asks, knowing that in the living of each day is the stuff of miracles, though we may not know it yet. 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.
Announcements
* This winter our theme is “Seeing Jesus.” Where do you see Jesus? What is he up to in your life, and in our community’s life?
*You are invited to join in reading the Bible in a year for 2022 — immersing ourselves in God’s word throughout the year. Click here to find a reading plan that’s five days a week (leaving a couple of days for catch up each week!). Watch this space for information about a Bible study as we go through the scriptures together!
* All worship is online (or on the phone at 01475 270037, or in print) and we also meet in person, subject to the usual protocols for distancing, hand hygiene, mask wearing. We can now welcome up to 85-100 people for worship with 1m distancing between households. No booking is required. Masks are required at all times inside the building, including while singing. 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.
* Tonight we will gather with Christians across the nation for evening prayer on the Connect Facebook Page, led tonight by Jonathan. Log on at 6:58pm to join in.
* 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 stay 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 and/or Westminster Wednesdays 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!
* Update from Venda:
We commenced with the 4th term of school on the 11th of October 2021. The lockdown level fluctuated until the 15 of September 2021, and we are now on Level 1 which means children can do some physical activities like dancing, subject to COVID-19 compliance. It has been very hard to not hug the children, although all staff members got vaccines we don’t want to risk. Children need love and we have missed hugging our children. Now children from the age of 12 years old are also getting vaccines. And there are lots of campaigns encouraging people to get vaccines as most people are still skeptical about it.
