Worship October 30, 2020
Call to worship: From Psalm 40
I wait patiently for my Holy God;
And God turns to me and hears my cry.
God lifts me out of the slimy pit—
out of mud and mire;
God sets my feet on a rock
and gives me a firm place to stand.
God put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our Holy God.
So I come to worship my God.
For All the Saints
For all the saints who from their labors rest,
who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might,
Though, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Psalm 40, verses 4 and 5
Blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.[
Many, Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.
Scripture reading: Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
Reflection:
Mr. John was not one to stand out in a crowd by any means. Just an average man—although he was tall, even in his later years he seemed stand tall above a crowd. He was distinguished and well poised. He was always dressed like a farmer, never anything too fancy but always well put together. He had acquired some wealth over his eighty some years, but you never would have known it by looking at him or spending time with him for that matter. He had kind eyes that always held a twinkle. Warmth and kindness radiated from him. One of his hugs would leave you feeling loved for days. He was quiet but kind, gentle but strong. While he never flaunted his wealth, he always put it to good use. He loved to help others whenever he could, but he never wanted people to know it was him who had provided for the need. From paying for kids to go to church camp behind the scenes to buying the surprise new copier that just showed up at church office, he made it happen. He always made sure that no one was in want but did so with humility and grace. John loved his neighbor as himself and carried that out in word and deed.
Betty could cook like you would not believe. From homemade sourdough bread to cookies and cakes, whatever came out of her oven was always delicious. If you were to ask me what her secrete was, I would probably say that it was all the love that she poured into everything that she touched. I would also guess that she always prayed over everything as it cooked as well. To pray without ceasing, if anyone could do it, it would have been Betty. I know for sure that Betty was always the one to lead the family in the blessing over each and every meal she put on the family table, and her husband was smart enough to let her. Even in the early years of marriage she was the one would also ask the blessing of the meal that she had prepared for field hands that worked on their farm. As all the men would gather around the table that she put out to feed them, you better not speak out of turn while Mrs. Betty was praying or the men around you would let you know that you don’t speak during one of her prayers. She could pray with the best of them, every word heart felt and meaningful. There was something about the way she prayed, you knew God heard her and you knew she did it often.
Now neither of these people were ministers by trade, Mr. John or Betty, but they sure were ministers. These two individuals showed me what it was to not just talk the talk of faith, but to truly walk the walk of Christian faith in everyday life. They displayed in all their actions what it really meant to love your neighbor as yourself, to pray to God without ceasing, and to be a light of Christ in the world around you. They showed me firsthand what it looked like to act selflessly, generously, lovingly in all situations. They displayed before my very eyes what it meant to care for others no matter the circumstance.
That is probably why I think of them when I hear this Scripture. When I picture my cloud of witnesses—the group of people of faith who surround me each and every day as I walk this earthly path, it is their faces, their actions, their generosity of spirit that is always before me. Whenever I am uncertain of my next steps, uncertain of the journey that I am on, I think back on Mr. John and Betty, as well as other, to find my way forward.
I feel lucky that I have such strong pillars of faith to stand on. When I have found myself weary or about to lose heart, when I think of all the things that could have been but weren’t, that great cloud of witnesses whirls before me, Mr. John and Betty leading the way. Pastor Roy and Great Nana, Gene and Sue, and numerous others who have run this race before me and who now rest from their labors are there too. They are the ones who have led the way for me in life and in faith. They continue to guide me in my path, even though they are no longer here to walk beside me. It is in their stories I find hope, love and compassion. It is because of the time I spent with them, the lessons I learned in watching them and experiencing their love in my life, that I am who I am. It is because of that great cloud of witnesses that I find strength when I grow weary and courage when I lose heart. They are the ones who help me continue to run this race with perseverance, even in the midst of difficulty and strife, with the hope of brighter future in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Questions to think about!
Who were your Mr. Johns and Bettys?
Who helped to build you up in life and in faith? Was there a special Sunday School teacher who invested in you deeply? A preacher who spoke right to your soul? A teacher who believed in you when no one else did? A friend who always believed the best in you? Who makes up your cloud of witnesses?
What were the traits that these people possessed that speak to you, that qualities drew you to them?
How can you live those qualities out in your own life?
What is one thing you can do this week to work towards that quality?
Activity
Grab some paper, a pen or pencil, tape and some scissors. Draw some clouds.
Now, cut out some clouds, maybe 5-10.
On each cloud write the name of someone who influenced your faith development. This could be someone you knew personally or someone from the Bible. It could be an author that spoke to you or a speaker you heard at a conference that really got you thinking more deeply. Write down the names of those who have influenced your faith journey—your cloud of witnesses.
Now that the clouds are cut and have names on them. Grab some tape and post their clouds around your space, your bedroom, your closet, your apartment, somewhere you will see them this week. As you pass by your cloud of witnesses this week, give thanks for them and for their help along the way.
May you draw strength from their strength and feel their presence with you this week.
Closing Prayer
For all the saints who have gone before us,
those who taught us what it meant to be followers
of your Son, Christ Jesus,
in word and in deed—
we give you thanks.
For those who have walked beside us on our path,
giving us strength and courage to face the challenges of our lives,
we give you praise.
For all your faithful that have loved us on the way,
we give you thanks, great Creator.
For the cloud of witnesses through out time
who have contributed to our lives and showed us your
grace, peace, and joy through their lives,
we give you praise.
For all those who have run their race with perseverance and
who now rest from their labors with you,
may they now feel your loving arms around them.
May they rejoice in your glory and your splendor now and always.
Amen
Benediction
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you now and forever more.
AMEN