Thursday, October 21, 2021

Learning About Hebrews: Rest - God's Orders


Twenty-Second Sunday After Pentecost

**Please note this service is based on the format of the Anglican Church of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) and the hymns from the Book of Common Praise (BCP). Other hymns and prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.

 

**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.

 

Opening Prayer

Let us pray

Hear us, Lord, when we cry to you. Calm our bodies and minds with the peace which passes understanding, and make us radiant with the knowledge of your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

 

Opening Hymn – God the Creator

            Listen Here

 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

 

Collect for Purity

            Listen Here

 

The Gloria

          Listen Here

 

Collect of the Day (p.388)

Let us pray.

Lord God our redeemer, who heard the cry of your people and sent your servant Moses

to lead them out of slavery, free us from the tyranny of sin and death, and by the leading of your Spirit bring us to our promised land; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

 

The Readings

A reading from the Book of Job 42:1-6, 10-17

Then Job answered the Lord:

 

“I know that you can do all things,

    and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,

    things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

‘Hear, and I will speak;

    I will question you, and you declare to me.’

I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

    but now my eye sees you;

therefore I despise myself,

    and repent in dust and ashes.”

 

And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends; and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then there came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and they ate bread with him in his house; they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him; and each of them gave him a piece of money and a gold ring. The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; and he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named the first Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. In all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job’s daughters; and their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children, and his children’s children, four generations. And Job died, old and full of days.

 

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be the God.

 

Psalm 34:1-8, 19-22

            Listen Here

 

I will bless the Lord at all times;

    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast in the Lord;

    let the humble hear and be glad.

O magnify the Lord with me,

    and let us exalt his name together.

I sought the Lord, and he answered me,

    and delivered me from all my fears.

Look to him, and be radiant;

    so your faces shall never be ashamed.

This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord,

    and was saved from every trouble.

The angel of the Lord encamps

    around those who fear him, and delivers them.

O taste and see that the Lord is good;

    happy are those who take refuge in him.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous,

    but the Lord rescues them from them all.

He keeps all their bones;

    not one of them will be broken.

Evil brings death to the wicked,

    and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

The Lord redeems the life of his servants;

    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

 

A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews 7:23-28

Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

 

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

 

Gradual Hymn – Your Hands, O Lord, in Days of Old (BCP #293)

            Listen Here

 

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

 

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark 10: 46-52

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.

 

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Sermon

May only truth be spoken and truth heard. Amen.

Over the last few weeks, we have talked about some of the lessons that we gain from reading the Letter to the Hebrews.

 

First we talked about the superiority of Christianity over Judaism, and I gave you my opinion on that matter.

 

Next we discussed some Christology found in the letter, things like the fact that Jesus was both the divine son of God and a flesh and blood human, just like the rest of us. Hebrews tells us that Jesus has three messianic functions:  as Prophet (he himself is the divine Word), as Priest (he made purification for our sins), and as King (he is enthroned in glory).

 

And last week, we learned that God appointed Jesus as high priest through the Davidic line, a priest in the order of Melchizedek, despite the priesthood historically being based on the house of Levi. As well, Jesus is not only priest, but also the ultimate sacrifice, offering his own sinless blood for the salvation of humanity.

 

Today, we are going to talk about something that many of us in the buzzing reality of the 21st century often struggle with….rest.

 

Let me read to you a different excerpt from Hebrews than we heard this morning, Hebrews 4:1-11:

 

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,

 

“As in my anger I swore,

‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

 

though his works were finished at the foundation of the world. For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” And again in this place it says, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day – “today” – saying through David much later, in the words already quoted,

 

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts.”

 

For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.

 

“God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” Genesis 2:2-3 God rested from all this work he had done in creation and blessed the day and made it sacred.

 

God even made it one of the commandments, “Honor the Lord by resting on the seventh day of the week.”

 

Seems to me that God thinks resting is important, that rest is holy and sacred and should be observed for at least one day a week.

 

I think we all struggle with resting. To take time for ourselves, to unplug, to just stay home and not be running errands, or doing housework, or driving children to hockey practice, and the list goes on.

 

We are very busy people, always something to do, places to see, people to visit.

 

So to assign one day devoted only to resting, to sabbath, is quite rare nowadays.

 

But in the time of the early Christians, coming from Jewish backgrounds, that day of sabbath was extremely important. And it went beyond sitting around and doing nothing (or grabbing an extra nap or two).

 

In the beginning, here is God, doing a new thing, creating this new world. And Sunday was the first day of creation, so that is the day Christians decided would be the day they would gather.

 

And these gatherings would include breaking bread and sharing wine (which we now call the Eucharist) and they would tell stories. They would tell the story of Christ’s life and death, and this story would be told week after week, the same story over and over.

 

Eventually, these early Christians declared Sunday to be a holy day, a day where they would do this gathering to eat, drink, and tell stories together. This process, this ritual, after several hundred years, began to form into formal worship.

 

And on those Sundays, for almost 2000 years, doors would be closed, store windows shuttered, all children kept inside, and everyone would go to worship, to eat, drink, pray, and tell stories.

 

Once worship was completed, they would go home and rest. Because it was the holy thing to do.

 

Because it was commanded by God that on this seventh day, the world would rest.

 

Rest is vital for better mental health, increased concentration and memory, a healthier immune system, reduced stress, improved mood and even a better metabolism.

 

It rejuvenates your body and mind, regulates your mood.

 

On the other hand, not getting enough rest can negatively affect your mood, immune system, memory, and stress level.

 

Physicians, athletes, philosophers, poets, religious leaders, and corporate leaders all tell us the same thing: take time to rest. It is absolutely essential for a balanced, healthy life.

 

Yet, when you ask people in today’s frenzied culture if they intentionally set aside time for rest, most will tell you they are too busy.

 

There are just too many things to get done, too many demands, too many responsibilities, too many bills, and too much urgency. Nobody can afford to waste time resting in today’s results-oriented world.

 

Somewhere along the way, we lost the essential practice of concentrated rest.

 

But we would be wise to reclaim the practice of resting one day each week. Consider the benefits of concentrated rest for your body, mind, and soul (credit to an article on “Becoming Minimalist” by Joshua Becker):

 

Healthier body. We each get one life and one body to live it in. Therefore, we eat healthy, we exercise, and we watch our bad habits. But then we allow our schedules to fill up from morning to evening. Rest is as essential to our physical health as the water we drink and the air we breathe.

 

Less stress. Stress is the perception that the situations we are facing are greater than the resources we have to deal with them – resources such as time, energy, ability, and help from others. Concentrated rest confronts stress in two ways. First, it reduces the demands of the situation. We have no demands on us as long as we have the ability to mentally let go of unfinished tasks. Secondly, rest reduces stress by increasing our resources, particularly energy.

 

Deeper relationships. A day set aside each week for rest allows relationships with people to deepen and be strengthened. When we aren’t rushing off to work or soccer practice, we are able to enjoy each other’s company and a healthy conversation. And long talks prove to be far more effective in building community than short ones on the ride to the mall.

 

Opportunity for reflection. Sometimes it is hard to see the forest through the trees. It is even more difficult to see the forest when we are running through the trees. Concentrated rest allows us to take a step back, to evaluate our lives, to identify our values, and determine if our life is being lived for them.

 

Balance. Taking one day of your week and dedicating it to rest will force you to have an identity outside of your occupation. It will foster relationships outside of your fellow employees. It will foster activities and hobbies outside work. It will give life and identity outside of your Monday-Friday occupation. Rather than defining your life by what you do, you can begin to define it by who you are.

 

Increased production. Just like resting physical muscles allows them opportunity to rejuvenate which leads to greater physical success, providing our minds with rest provides it opportunity to refocus and rejuvenate. More work is not better work. Smarter work is better work.

 

Reserve for life’s emergencies. Crisis hits everyone. Nobody who is alive is immune from the trials of life. By starting the discipline today of concentrated rest, you will build up reserves for when the unexpected emergencies of life strike and rest is no longer an option.

 

In the beginning of the pandemic, we were all forced to rest. As all our cars were parked and we stayed inside, you could even see the world come to a rest – less smog, less exhausted, less pollution.

 

We took up new hobbies, we read books that we didn’t have time for before, we talked to each other over the phone more because we lost the ability for human contact.

 

We were all scared and stressed and worried, there is no doubt about that, but there were glimpses of people realizing how much they needed that time of rest.

 

Now, while I agree that we are up to our necks in patience over this whole event, the pandemic really did bring to light the need for us to take time to rest, to take time to heal when we are sick, and to take stock of the fact that we do not need to be rushing through our lives at break-neck speed.

 

Even if you can’t take an entire day for Sabbath, as Christians before us have done, don’t let time for rest go by the wayside.

 

No matter what your schedule or task list may look like, resting and unplugging is vital to your long-term health.

 

God’s orders. 

 

Affirmation of Faith

Let us confess the faith of our baptism, as we say the Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again

to judge the living and the dead.

 

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

The Prayers of the People

Let us ask the Lord for a day of fulfillment and peace,

Lord have mercy.

 

Let us ask the Lord to teach us to love others as he has loved us,

Lord have mercy.

 

Let us ask the Lord for peace and justice in the world. This morning we pray for the people of Afghanistan, especially the women whose freedoms are being removed daily. We pray for the 17 members of a missionary team in Haiti who are being held for ransom, especially for the children in the group. May they all be brought home unharmed. 

Lord have mercy.

 

Let us ask the Lord to strengthen and relieve those who are in need.

Lord have mercy.

 

Let us ask the Lord to renew the Church through the power of his life-giving Spirit.

Lord have mercy.

 

This morning we offer prayers and congratulations for Helen Kennedy, the Rector from St. Georges Transcona, who was elected Bishop of Qu’Appelle in Saskatchewan on the weekend. We wish her a smooth transition from her church in Manitoba to her new position in Saskatchewan.  

 

This morning we pray for those who have asked our prayers. Please feel free to add your own petitions aloud or within your heart. 

 

God who created and is always creating, bringing order out of chaos, light to the darkness, life to the earth, Bring order to our chaotic lives, bring light to our spiritual darkness; bring life to our desolate days.

 

God who spoke through the prophets, insisting that we practice justice, calling people to repentance, announcing reasons for hope, we need to recognize ways we mistreat others, we need Your forgiveness for our sins; we need great expectations for our future.

 

God who came to the world in Jesus, teaching disciples to love and forgive, showing compassion to individuals and crowds, calling for a response of faith. Teach us what it means to be disciples, show us clear signs of Your compassion, call us to responses of faith we need to make.

 

God who formed the Church through Your Spirit, uniting believers in worship and witness, filling the forgiven with the fire of love, sending people into all the world to make You known. Unite us in this church and the universal church, fill us with Your grace and goodness; empower us to be in mission here and everywhere.

 

God who continues to act in our present world, entering our time and place, involving us in Your work, touching our lives with Your Spirit. Keep us aware of where You are at work, of what You are doing, of what You want us to be!

Amen

 

Confession and Absolution

Dear friends in Christ,

God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy;

God welcomes sinners and invites them to the table.

Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s forgiveness.

 

Most merciful God,

We confess that we have sinned against you

in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done,

and by what we have left undone.

We have not loved you with our whole heart;

we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.

We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.

for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us and forgive us,

that we may delight in your will,

and walk in your ways,

to the glory of your name. Amen.

 

As we speak the truth of our lives, God who is faithful and just, restores us and brings us home again and again.

 

Almighty God have mercy upon you,

pardon and deliver you from all your sins,

confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,

and keep you in eternal life;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

 

The Peace

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

And also with you.

 

Offertory Hymn – And Now, O Father, Mindful of the Love (BCP #66)

            Listen Here

 

Prayer over the Gifts (p. 389)

**Although not physically at our church buildings to share our offering together I would encourage you to set your offering of money aside so that it can be dropped off or placed in the church once services resume, to mail your offering to the church, or to make donations online. Please remember ministry is still taking place.

 

Let us pray.

God of constant love, you have guided your people in all times and ages. May we who offer you our praise today always be ready to follow where you lead; we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

This service was created for live worship on Zoom. For those worshiping on your own, you may either read the Eucharistic prayer, or skip ahead to the Lord's Prayer and then the Doxology.

 

Eucharistic Prayer 2 (p. 196)

 

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

 

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

 

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

 

We give you thanks and praise, almighty God,

through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ,

our Saviour and Redeemer.

He is your living Word,

through whom you have created all things.

 

By the power of the Holy Spirit

he took flesh of the Virgin Mary

and shared our human nature.

He lived and died as one of us,

to reconcile us to you,

the God and Father of all.

 

In fulfilment of your will

he stretched out his hands in suffering,

to bring release to those who place their hope in you;

and so he won for you a holy people.

 

He chose to bear our griefs and sorrows,

and to give up his life on the cross,

that he might shatter the chains of evil and death,

and banish the darkness of sin and despair.

By his resurrection

he brings us into the light of your presence.

 

Now with all creation we raise our voices

to proclaim the glory of your name.

 

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of power and might,

heaven and earth are full of your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

 

Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

 

Holy and gracious God,

accept our praise,

through your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ;

who on the night he was handed over

to suffering and death,

took bread and gave you thanks,

saying, “Take, and eat:

this is my body which is broken for you.”

In the same way he took the cup,

saying, “This is my blood which is shed for you.

When you do this, you do it in memory of me.”

 

Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection,

we offer you this bread and this cup,

giving thanks that you have made us worthy

to stand in your presence and serve you.

 

We ask you to send your Holy Spirit

upon the offering of your holy Church.

Gather into one

all who share in these sacred mysteries,

filling them with the Holy Spirit

and confirming their faith in the truth,

that together we may praise you

and give you glory

through your Servant, Jesus Christ.

 

All glory and honour are yours,

Father and Son,

with the Holy Spirit

in the holy Church,

now and for ever.

Amen.

 

And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us,

we are bold to pray,

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.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever. Amen.

 

Breaking of the Bread

This is the body of Christ.

Behold what you are.

Become what you receive.

Amen.

 

Communion

This is the table of Christ. It is made ready for those who love him, and for those who want to love him more. Come, whether you have much faith or little, have tried to follow, or are afraid that you have failed. Come. Because it is Christ's will that those who want to meet him, might meet him here.

 

These are the gifts of God for the People of God.

Thanks be to God.

 

Share in the Eucharist

Prayer After Communion (p. 389)

As we have feasted around the table, let us pray.

God our guide, you have fed us with bread from heaven as you fed the people of Israel.

May we who have been inwardly nourished be ready to follow you all our days; we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Doxology

As a congregation, we declare our doxology, as we say together,

Glory to God,

whose power, working in us,

can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine.

Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

 

Blessing

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of the Holy and Undivided Trinity be with you and remain with you always, in the Name of Love, the Glory of Love, and the Power of Love. Amen.

 

Closing Hymn – God of the Sparrow (BCP #414)

            Listen Here

 

Dismissal

Go forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.

Thanks be to God.

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