BELLS CORNERS UNITED CHURCH
7th SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY
February 20, 2022
The video recording of this service can be found here.
You can also dial-in by phone to listen to the audio recording at 613-820-8104
Gathering Music: Nobody Knows the Trouble/Angels Watching Over Me arr. Hayes
Welcome & Centering for Worship Rev. Kim Vidal
On behalf of BCUC, I greet and welcome you to our worship service in the name of Jesus Christ on this 7th Sunday after Epiphany. We are glad that you have joined us today.
We have reopened the sanctuary for in-person worship. If you wish to attend the service, you are more than welcome. As a faith community called to love and serve others, we highly recommend getting fully vaccinated as one of the best precautionary measures to protect yourself and others. Let us continue to be mindful of the health protocols such as masking, social distancing, hand sanitizing and staying home if you feel unwell. Please take note that our Sunday worship service continues to be offered via Youtube, by email and by telephone.
A friendly reminder to please take time to keep in touch with each other through prayers, phone calls, emails or via Zoom. Check also the many announcements on our website including Sunday School resources for your children at bcuc.org to keep you informed and give you opportunities to respond.
The BCUC Annual General Meeting will take place on Zoom on Sunday March 6th at 11:15 AM. The purpose of this meeting is to review and receive the 2021 Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements and to approve the 2022 Annual Activity Plan, Budget and Nominations Report, and various other items of importance.
To ensure the congregation is informed and ready to discuss, and that new business items are given an adequate amount of time for deliberation, members are encouraged to notify the Board of their intent to introduce any new items of business, or new motions (on topics outside of annual plans, budgets, nominations and items arising from the minutes of the previous meeting), by e-mailing Jordan Berard before noon on Friday February 25th. A mover and a seconder for motions, as well as any background material that can be distributed to the congregation at least one week before the meeting, will also be appreciated.
Friends, I now invite you to centre yourself in God’s presence as we gather in worship.
Lighting of the Christ Candle Acolyte: Angela Starchuk
(Fern Gibbard, Gathering, ACE 2021-2022, Year C. Used with permission.)
We light this Christ candle – the light that shines in the shadows of life.
The light that bursts like sunshine through clouds of sadness.
The light that changes gloom into gladness.
We light this Christ candle rejoicing that the presence of God is with us.
Call to Gather Rev. Lorrie Lowes
Friends, we gather once more at the feet of Wisdom;
we come to learn, we desire to be changed.
These are not easy teachings, for they would have us go
beyond familiar horizons of belief and action;
we come to be challenged, we desire to grow.
Come, then, let us journey on this road together,
open to new insight and willingness to enter
God’s vision for a renewed and just world.
We have come together, we desire to uplift others.
Come, let us worship God in spirit and in truth.
Prayer of Approach
Life-giving God, whose love knows no limits
and whose embrace extends to all,
stir within us a deepening thirst for the teachings of Jesus.
Make us aware that being in right relationship
pushes us to respect and honour others
without expecting much in return.
Bend our hearts to your teaching and not selfish gain;
renew us to your promise of love
when we move away from your healing presence.
In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
Hymn: Spirit, Open My Heart - More Voices #79 BCUC trio with violin: Leslie
Refrain
Spirit, open my heart
to the joy and pain of living.
As you love may I love,
in receiving and in giving,
Spirit, open my heart.
1. God, replace my stony heart
with a heart that’s kind and tender.
All my coldness and fear
to your grace I now surrender. R
2. Write your love upon my heart
as my law, my goal, my story.
In each thought, word, and deed,
may my living bring you glory. R
3. May I weep with those who weep,
share the joy of sister, brother.
In the welcome of Christ,
may we welcome one another. R
Words © 1996 Ruth Duck, arr. © 1997 Arthur Clyde The Pilgrim Press.
Song #20093 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved.
Storytime Rev. Lorrie
In our scripture reading this morning, there is a verse that probably sounds familiar to you:
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.”
I’m sure you’ve heard those words or something very similar before. This is something we call the “golden rule”. I have a book to share with you that talks about this:
“The Golden Rule” written by Ilene Cooper and Illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska
(In this story a young boy and his grandfather come across a billboard that quotes the golden rule and the boy asks what it says. The conversation that follows talks about why it is called “golden” – because it’s so valuable, that the idea is common in many different faiths and cultures, that it is a rule that applies to all people – grown-ups and kids alike. The boy wonders how to start practicing that rule and his grandfather tells him that it starts by imagining how another person might feel and imagining what you’d want someone to do for you if you were feeling that way. He also tells him to think of ways he doesn’t like to be treated and wonder what he could do to make sure he doesn’t make anyone feel that way. The boy comes to realize that following the golden rule can sometimes be hard but that it is a really big thing because if everyone actually behaved that way it could change the world. The final message in the book is that “it begins with you.”)
Hymn: Draw the Circle Wide – More Voices #145 - Erin Berard with choir members
Refrain
Draw the circle wide. Draw it wider still.
Let this be our song, no one stands alone,
standing side by side, draw the circle wide.
1. God the still-point of the circle,
‘round whom all creation turns;
nothing lost, but held forever,
in God’s gracious arms. R
2. Let our hearts touch far horizons,
so encompass great and small;
let our loving know no borders,
faithful to God’s call. R
3. Let the dreams we dream be larger,
than we’ve ever dreamed before;
let the dream of Christ be in us,
open every door. R
Words & Music © 1994 Gordon Light, Common Cup, arr © 1998 Michael Bloss, Wood Lake Books
Song # 117657 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Prayer for Illumination Reader: Marion Dugas
(Karen Boivin, Gathering, ACE 2018-2019, Year C. Used with permission.)
Here we are, once again, loving God, looking to locate Jesus in the pages of the Bible and then in the hours of our days. Your Spirit has shown us the honour and responsibility of being a follower. Now today, and in the weeks ahead, reveal to us the nuances of living as a disciple day by day. Amen.
The Gospel Reading: Luke 6: 27-38 (NRSV) Love for Enemies
27 “But I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt.
30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.
31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven;
38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
May the Light of Christ dwell where the Word is spoken. Thanks be to God!
Anthem: We Will Bring Your Peace into the World CGS - director : Erin Berard
Refrain
We will bring your peace into the world
With a loving hand do the best we can.
1. Jesus you ask us to be gentle, Jesus you ask us to be kind,
to take good care of each other, then your peace will be here for all to find.
2. Jesus, you ask us to be friendly. Jesus you ask us to be fair,
to take good care of each other, then your peace will be here for all to share.
Words © 1998 Maria Millward, Music © 1998 Damien Halloran, Willow Pub
Song #41651 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Sermon: “Jesus Wants Us to Do What?” Rev. Kim
Prayer: Let your spirit of wisdom flow through us, O God, as we reflect on this difficult teaching. Amen.
“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” I knew this verse since I was young. I tried my hardest to apply it in real life, but one thing I can say is this: these words from Jesus are more easily said than done!
Something happened one night in 1995. I was working in a retail store as my part time job to support my studies at St. Paul University. A drunk man came into the store and demanded me to sell one of the dresses. All he had was a few coins in his pocket and I politely told him that his money was not enough to buy the dress. To which he responded in a loud voice with his fingers pointing at me – “You little Chinese girl– I must have this dress and will not leave the store!” Then he lied down on the floor waiting for my next move. Fear crept in but I stood my ground and I told him that his behaviour was not acceptable and asked him to leave the store or else I’d call the police. As soon as he heard the word police, he became agitated and stood up in front of me and called me all kinds of offensive names. He was about 6 ft tall and a bulky man and I know that if I hurled back at him the way he treated me with offensive language and racial slurs, he might have hurt me, or worse, that could have been the end of my life. I called the store manager in the back room to come right away. When the manager came, the drunk man was again lying on the floor and he said he would not get up until we gave him the dress that he wanted. I called 911 and told the dispatcher about the incident. When the man heard that police officers were coming to the store, he got up, pointing his finger at me and left the store.
“Love your enemies…” Who are the enemies that Jesus talks about in this passage? I believe the “enemies” in this text relate to anyone that may cause someone harm, injury, or death in many ways. How could Jesus tell us not only to love them but also to pray for them and bless them? I don’t know about you, but this text doesn’t make sense to me at all. It runs against the normal way of human relationships.
“If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.”
"…if anyone takes away your coat give them also your shirt.
"… if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.
How could Jesus set forth a list of values that are so difficult or even unrealistic to strive for? I think that’s exactly the point of this text. To live by Jesus’ standards is to live above and beyond human standards! But in reality, there are enough bad and opportunistic people running loose out there who would take Jesus’ words literally and run-down on people. These words encourage the bullies of the world to abuse, hurt or put down people. They could be words of invitation to the non-stop ringing of the phone or knocking on your door from those wanting to ask for donations. These are words to justify being trampled and hated by those who do not know how to love. I am just overwhelmed beyond words that Jesus would suggest such things for good living. But is this really what the Lukan Jesus intends for us to hear?
How can we love our enemies? How can we bless them and pray for them when they are causing us harm? Jesus offers 3 illustrations that I think are relevant in the context of the first century world. The first illustration: “If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also.”
In the ancient Jewish culture, it was an offensive gesture to be slapped with the back of the right hand. The back of the hand was given by a master to a slave or by a husband to a wife or by a parent to a child or a Roman to a Jew in that period. The only way one could hit someone on the right cheek would be with the back of the hand. What Jesus was trying to tell his listeners is this: When someone tries to humiliate you and put you down, turn your other cheek. If you turned your head to the right, that person could no longer backhand you. Your nose is now in the way. By turning the other cheek, you are defiantly saying to the assailant, I refuse to be humiliated by you any longer. You have stood your ground courageously.
The second illustration: "…if anyone takes away your coat, also give your shirt." In those days, if a person had a loan, normally they would use animals or land as collateral, but the poor could use their coat or outer garment. It was the coat that they used to sleep in at night and used as an overcoat by day. For the debtor to give both his coat and shirt means a cold, sleepless night and worse, he could be totally naked. It is obvious that Jesus' audience is made up of very poor debtors. They are never going to win a case, since the law is mostly on the side of the wealthy. So, Jesus says to them, "Okay, you are not going to win the case. So, take the law into a point of absurdity. When your creditor sues you for your outer garment, give your undergarment as well. That meant taking off the only stitch of clothing you had left on you and standing literally naked, in court. The shame of nakedness fell not on the person who was naked, but on the person, who observed their nakedness. The creditor is being put in the position of being shamed by the nakedness of the debtor. Imagine the debtor leaving the courtroom, walking out the street and all of the people coming and seeing him in his nakedness and saying, "What happened to you?" He says, "That creditor has got all my clothes," and starts walking down to his house, with head held high. The debtor certainly has won the case.
The third illustration: “Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again.” Come on, folks, let's be realistic. If someone takes away all my goods without my permission, that for me is theft or robbery and the person who took my goods is legally accountable by law. However, these texts should be understood in the context from which they were drawn. These words were directed at the rich and wealthy among the crowd. You do not need any explanation to understand this. It is simply saying share what you have and do not demand back anything taken from you because you have more than enough.
Let’s admit it - loving your enemies by turning the other cheek, or gift-wrapping your coat and shirt, or giving unconditionally, will not make us get ahead in this world. Jesus knows too well the rules of this world where, most of the time, only the powerful and the fittest survive. Jesus isn’t trying to change the rules of the world. Rather, he’s starting a new movement by calling the rules of this world into question and offering an alternative - an entirely subversive or even a ridiculous way to relate to each other, inviting everyone into relationships governed not by the power to destroy but by the power to love. This is not just an ordinary kind of love. This is agape love in action. A love that is unconditional, self-giving, non-violent and life-giving!
This power of this agape love is echoed by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa who was remembered as a man of faith, social justice and wisdom who suffered under the violent regime of apartheid. His commitment to follow Jesus, particularly “loving one’s enemies”, can be found in some of his famous words:
“When we see others as the enemy, we risk becoming what we hate.”
“A person is a person through other persons; you can’t be human in isolation; you are human only in relationships.”
Sadly, the effects of the old order are still prominent in the world: poverty is still rampant, people still settle disputes with fists and firearms, wars are still out there, people still think with pride and seem intent on creating a world of division and discord. Some still practice the vengeful way of “an eye for an eye” and some communities are hotbeds of fear and violence.
What is the good news about this passage for us today? Jesus is not teaching us to be doormats. Jesus teaches that God’s love is unconditional. Therefore, we must also love unconditionally. Jesus is inviting us to stretch our boundaries, to raise our sights on creating a more compassionate world, and to create among us a true community of respect based on self-giving. Agape love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend because it has “creative” and “redemptive” power. Jesus is offering a way of life in which the victim and the powerless can act from a position of strength - to take an initiative which confronts the perpetrator and puts the wrongdoing into question. Jesus does not suggest that this is an easy option but a radical alternative. It is very easy to be kind to those who are nice to us - and to love those who love us in return. Jesus’ challenge is to go further. To love the unlovable, to notice and pay attention to the invisible, to give to the needy without expecting anything in return. Jesus paved the way for a new order that does not simply make the weak strong and the strong weak, but one that will transform the nature of a community.
What does it mean for you to be in this new community? Are you able to love your enemies? To bless them and pray for them? Jesus has said so far: you are to love as God loves - wholly, completely, consistently, unconditionally. That for sure is agape love! Difficult, yes - but not impossible. Acting on such love is quite a challenge, but it can change the world radically.
That unforgettable night in 1995, I have never felt so afraid in my life - but instead of succumbing to my fears and hating that man who insulted and offended me, I prayed. I prayed for that man – that whatever circumstances he had lived through, may he find his true inner self, transform his life and become a better person. I pray to myself that when things get rough, and when people put me down or harm me, may I remind myself that resisting creatively and non-violently is the way to peace. I prayed that God’s agape love would empower and strengthen me. And yes, and I thanked God that I was able to get home safe that night!
Thanks be to God. Amen.
Note: Thanks to the members of the BCUC Lectionary Group for their wisdom and insight shared in helping me craft this sermon.
Prayers of the People and the Lord’s Prayer Rev. Kim
I offer this prayer, some of which were parts of a prayer written by Rex Hunt and our Moderator Richard Bott, for strength and for hope and blessing these days. Let us pray.
This moment of quiet is an invitation to be calm in the midst of the noise of the world and our over-busy lives, to bring together thought and feeling, mind and spirit, and to find some center, some still point, of perspective and peace.
Holy God, we come to you with hope and promise. We thank you for the stories which have empowered your people through the ages and given them hope. You remind us that through the teachings of Jesus, the world will be transformed anew if we do our part to love unconditionally. May we know your promise of transformation, of hope and of your agape love among your people. May we know the promise of Jesus, whose spirit invites us to become people of the Way.
We draw near to each other in the presence of a Holy Weaver. That we may see afresh. That we may hear anew. That we may act again with vigour. May there be many new patterns woven among us: patterns of peace between strangers, patterns of love between friends, patterns of hope among the hopeless, patterns of joy among the sorrowful.
We pray, O, God, for those who seek to speak good news in a hostile world. We lift up those who are confronted with illness, grief, anxiety, fear and uncertainty. Help us to be resilient and hopeful. We continue to pray for those whom aging is a trial and a burden; for those who are lonely and those battling mental illness.
Let your agape love continue to guide us as we pray for the world where violence and persecution abound. Let our voices join those who have raised their voices to stop wars in all forms and other acts of injustice, violence and human sadness here in Canada and in many parts of the world.
In light of the ongoing truckers protest, may we echo the words of our Moderator, the Rt. Rev. Richard Bott: “Loving God…Protest I understand, even if I feel the reasons, are sometimes misguided and wrong.
Those symbols of White Supremacy, representations of a desire to enslave and eradicate— those flags of hatred's horror— they should never be flown in a way that honours them and the principles for which they stand.
God, help us to put those symbols in the places that will make us remember what they represent, with horror and grief, and fight against them ever being raised up as possibilities for the future.
God, help us to challenge the unthinking hatred, the fear and the greed that give it power, the anti-Semitic hatred, the idea that "White is Right."
God help us. Because we can't seem to do it on our own.”
All these we ask in the name of Jesus, who calls us to recite this prayer together.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kin-dom 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 kin-dom, the power and the glory, Forever and ever, Amen.
Invitation to Offer Rev. Lorrie
Jesus offered compassion for the people he met and taught us to do the same. This day, you and I are called to respond to Jesus’ example to offer healing, love and compassion as the need arises. Let us offer our gifts of time, talents and treasures so that the ministry of this church will be a growing, vibrant witness to God’s healing love. If you are not on PAR and wish to send in your offering and donations, you can drop them in the mailbox by the kitchen door of the church or mail them to BCUC. You can also send in your support through e-transfer. Thank you for your continued love and support to BCUC.
Offertory Prayer
(Karen Boivin, Gathering Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2021/22, p48. with permission.)
Gracious God, the desire of our hearts for these gifts today
is that they be a source of healing:
Bringing together what is broken,
Soothing what is painful,
And allowing people to move forward
in the abundance of life with which you bless us. Amen.
Sending Forth Rev. Kim
Our worship has ended and let us now go as God’s faithful people.
Go and be the compassion of God.
Go and be the love of Christ.
Go and be the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
Go and do God’s business in the world. Amen!
Hymn: Take My Life and Let it Be – Voices United #506 v1,2,5 BCUC Feb 25, 2018
1 Take my life and let it be
consecrated, all for thee;
take my moments and my days;
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2 Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love,
take my feet, and let them be
swift and purposeful for thee.
3 Take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
4 Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine;
take my heart, it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.
5 Take my love: and I will pour
at thy feet its treasure store;
take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.
Words 1874 Frances Ridley Havergal, Music: unknown, desc. © 1980 John T. Wilkinson
Song Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
Departing Music: Go Now in Peace – Besig/Price BCUC Choir Jan 27, 2019
Go now in peace, never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of ev’ry day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.
Know God will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love. Amen
Words © 1988 Besig & Price, Music © 1988 Besig
Song #78821 Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-733214. All rights reserved
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