January 22, 2021
Let us worship!
Let us WORSHIP the God of all creation with joy and celebration.
Let us come before God with open hearts, yearning for communion.
Let us praise God with our whole being!
A prayer to center you
God of all that is, all that has been, and all that will be,
Bring us into your presence with open hearts and minds.
Whisper your words of peace and hope to us once again
And place our feet firmly on your solid ground. Amen
Holy Words from Jonah 3:1-10
3The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2“Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. 4Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”
5And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. 6When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. 8Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. 9Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.” 10When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.
Holy Words from Mark 1:14-20
14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
Reflection:
This morning’s Scriptures are both call stories yet again. But these two stories differ from one another.
They are both stories of men (people) being called to task amidst unknow futures. Both stories use those being called to bring people closer to God.
However, if you don’t remember, Jonah was not too excited to listen to God’s call on his life. So much so that God had to use a whale to get a kidnapped Jonah to go along with the plan—an event that did not leave Jonah too enamored with God. To call Jonah a hesitant participant in God’s plan would be an understatement. Jonah was not so willing! Once landing in Nineveh, Jonah was still not thrilled about the task ahead of him which was spreading God’s word of punishment and judgement to the people. No one likes to be the barrier of bad news. But with great reluctance, Jonah does what was asked of him. And in so doing, the hearts of the people where turned as was God’s will towards the people.
God called out to an unwilling and unsuspecting person and used him to save (and better) God’s people.
In the story from Mark, we hear the call story of several of the disciples; Simon and Andrew and then James and John. Jesus calls out to these men simply tell them follow him and they will become fishers of men. Unlike Jonah, they go. They could have no idea what their future would hold. They had no idea of the ministry that they were setting off on. Yet they drop everything and follow this man to be fisher of men—who even knows what that would mean.
I often think I most relate to Jonah over Simon, Andrew, James and John. I often think that it would take a whale to get me moving or even willing to consider doing something so big or scary as dropping everything and wondering off with a stranger. To speak repentance in the face of citizens who don’t want to hear it, to share God’s love with people who are cold and hateful. To face rejection and hatred. Put me in the Jonah boat please!
I can relate to Jonah. Poor man just wanted to live his life, be ordinary not extraordinary! He did not dream big dreams, he just want to not get stoned to death and go around yelling condemnation to a sinful people. I get it! I kind of like my quit life. I am busy folding laundry, cooking meals, driving people places, doing school from home with the kiddos, you know living life. I don’t know that I could handle one more hard task on plate. Life is hard enough some days...okay most days.
But then I think to myself, God does not always call us to the big tasks. I am reminded that living into God’s call doesn’t always require walking away from everything. Luckily, sometimes God’s call is as simple as answering the phone when a friend needs someone to listen them to them. Sometimes answering God’s call just requires us to slow down enough to see the opportunity that God has put right before us. Sometimes we answer God’s call by just making time for us to listen to God and be in God’s presence. And even sometimes God’s call is in the folding of laundry, cooking meals, the being with people as you drive them to and fro, the note to the teacher with words of appreciation, or the smile as the kids finish up school. Luckily God’s call looks different for everyone. Sometimes it takes a whale and sometimes it takes a whisper but God calls each of us to share God’s grace, peace and love in this world.
We can all be instruments of God if we just slow ourselves down enough to listen to God’s calling.
While the last year has been difficulties with new challenges around each turn, it has also provided us with a time to slow down and reevaluate our lives. I hope that you will take these last few months (hopefully) to evaluate where the spirit is calling you. May you find time to clear out space for you and God to work together through whispers and whales and may you find peace and strength in your calling. May you move forward making room for the journey that God has prepared for you!
Amen
What do you think…
*Where has God used you in the past?
*Spend a moment in prayer to just be with God.
*After you have sat quietly for a moment. Ask God what you can do today to share God’s peace, grace, or love?
Write it down, draw a picture, make a college to help you express what came to you.
*Do the thing!
Prayer of Sending
Holy God,
You call to us all.
Open our hearts and minds to your calling.
In big and small ways, you use us, your people.
Use me now that your kingdom may shine
That your light may be reflected
And that your grace may be abundant.
Amen
Going out.
Now, go out to love the Lord
and in all that you do, may the Lord our God guide you and uphold you
Let all God’s people say: AMEN
