WEBVTT 00:02:38.960 --> 00:02:40.240 Good morning, everybody. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:44.560 My name is Sean Steele, and I am a priest. 00:02:45.840 --> 00:02:49.919 And I have the pleasure of worshiping with you this morning. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:53.439 Mike invited me to come, and I'm really glad to be here. 00:02:54.879 --> 00:02:58.319 Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:03:00.719 --> 00:03:01.919 Now and forever. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:03.039 Amen. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:16.080 Almighty God, and to whom all hearts are open, all desires know, and from whom no secret lends the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit. 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:09.040 The Lord be with you. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:12.319 Let us pray. 00:05:14.720 --> 00:05:18.800 Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:29.600 For as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:36.079 Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 00:05:36.399 --> 00:05:36.879 Amen. 00:06:08.879 --> 00:06:15.920 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity, and the rod of anger will fail. 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:19.519 The rich and the poor have this in common. 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:21.839 The Lord is the maker of all. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:28.000 Those who are generous are blessed, for they share the bread with the poor. 00:06:28.560 --> 00:06:34.399 Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:41.680 For the Lord pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them. 00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:45.439 The word of the Lord. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:05.040 Those who have trusted the Lord are like Mount Zion. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:13.360 The hills stand around Jerusalem. 00:07:20.560 --> 00:07:26.160 The scepter of the wicked shall not hold sway over the land allotted to the just. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:28.960 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point, has become accountable for all of it. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:34.960 For the one who said, You shall not commit adultery, but also said you shall not murder. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:41.440 Now if you do not commit adultery, but if you murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 00:09:41.759 --> 00:09:46.559 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. 00:09:46.879 --> 00:09:53.919 For judgment will be without mercy, but to anyone who has shown no mercy, mercy triumphs over judgment. 00:09:54.480 --> 00:10:01.759 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, that if you say you have faith, but you do not have works, can faith save you? 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:14.720 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, I go in peace, I keep your work and eat your fill, and yet I do not supply their bodily needs. 00:10:14.960 --> 00:10:16.240 What is the good of that? 00:10:16.559 --> 00:10:21.279 So faith by itself, it is has if it has no works, it is dead. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:23.120 The word of the Lord. 00:12:26.320 --> 00:12:30.159 Jesus set out and went away to the region of Tyre. 00:12:31.039 --> 00:12:38.399 He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there, yet he could not escape notice. 00:12:39.200 --> 00:12:49.360 But a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came, and she bowed down at his feet. 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:53.440 Now the woman was a Gentile of Syrophoenician origin. 00:12:54.159 --> 00:13:06.399 She begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter, and he said to her, Let the children be fed first, for it is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs. 00:13:07.600 --> 00:13:13.360 But she answered him, Sir, leave the dogs under the table, eat the children's crumbs. 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:20.320 Then he said to her, For saying that you may go, the demon has left your daughter. 00:13:20.960 --> 00:13:25.919 So she went home and found the child lying in the bed and the demon gone. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:34.159 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and he went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:41.679 And they brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech, and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:50.559 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and he put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 00:13:51.279 --> 00:13:58.000 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, Ephatha, let us be opened. 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:04.960 And immediately his ears were opened, and his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:12.639 Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one, but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:17.840 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, He has done everything well. 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:21.919 He even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak. 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:24.399 This is the gospel of the Lord. 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:54.480 Mike check. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:54.799 Ah. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:15:00.480 So I'm gonna hold this cup of coffee because if I don't, I might fly away. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:03.200 You're gonna see that I have a lot of hand gestures. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:04.240 Some of you might like that. 00:15:04.399 --> 00:15:05.840 This will center me. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.039 I'll be here. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:09.200 I'm really excited to be here, y'all. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:11.279 Um, for a lot of reasons. 00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:16.000 One, Mike is an exceptional priest, and I just adore him. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:24.000 And this community that he talks about, um, I've so far experienced, is so welcoming and kind, and y'all are just incredible. 00:15:24.080 --> 00:15:25.519 So thank you for being you. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:27.440 And we have some history here. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:40.000 My wife, actually, her grandfather and grandmother were some charter founding members of this parish, uh, the Machel family, Reg and Nancy Machel, so it's kind of fun to be back and to see the community that they helped found. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:42.320 Now I've already created some disruption. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:50.559 Um, Mike's sitting over there, and I was thinking, it's um having the rector sit in the congregation when you preach. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.559 I was sitting up there thinking, like, what is this like? 00:15:55.120 --> 00:15:58.399 I've decided it's like driving with the cop behind you. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:04.159 It's like, I'm not doing anything wrong, but like at any moment I might get a ticket. 00:16:04.320 --> 00:16:04.799 I'm not sure. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.639 It's like, is my registration current? 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:08.399 Like, do I have my license with me? 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:19.200 Like, do I you guys have been going through the lectionary, uh, the women's lectionary, which I think is so cool, but and Mike told me that a couple of months ago, and then I promptly forgot. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:25.519 Um, and so I, when we talked earlier this week, I'm like, well, Mike, I kind of prepared a sermon for the other reading. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:30.720 He's like, ah, fine, we'll just change it, because that's how welcoming y'all are as a community. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:34.879 So you might have noticed that this isn't the John reading that y'all have been marching through. 00:16:35.120 --> 00:16:38.960 This is um, well, a really awkward reading, isn't it? 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:46.240 This is uh from the Gospel of Mark, and it's the kind of reading that we most of the time just sort of like glance over. 00:16:46.639 --> 00:16:50.799 We're like, yeah, we're not gonna put that in our uh stories of Jesus file. 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:54.480 You know, that story where he calls that woman a dog. 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:59.039 This is a hard reading, y'all. 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:04.640 Now, I'm not what you would call a romantic priest, so I love these readings. 00:17:04.960 --> 00:17:14.799 I actually think it's these readings that give us uh some of the best windows into what it means to follow this Jesus moving in the world. 00:17:16.480 --> 00:17:22.240 As an aside, I will say that I love the Gospel of John Jesus. 00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:30.480 I need to have a God that I can believe understands and comprehends even when I don't. 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:35.920 I need to have a God that is underneath the ground of all being in the midst of my great suffering. 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:40.960 I need to know and believe that the ark is bending towards justice and that it's all going to be okay. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:42.160 I need that. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:44.720 But I don't always need that. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:48.880 See, I need the Jesus of the reading today. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:53.200 I need the Jesus and helps me understand what it means to be a human being. 00:17:53.440 --> 00:17:59.759 What it means to struggle with the muck and the reality of my own limitedness and my own brokenness and beauty. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:02.319 And I think that's what we get here today. 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:13.839 We get a real fantastic story that's gonna help us better understand what it means to be human beings, what it means to be those that are following actively Jesus in the world. 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:19.359 So, since you haven't been reading the Gospel of Mark, I'm gonna kind of give you a little context here. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.799 You guys have been reading John. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:34.559 So, where we are in the Gospel of Mark, right, Jesus has just finished having a pretty contentious interaction with the Pharisees, the scribes, the leaders of the sort of the power brokers of the religious system. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:42.640 And he just had an interaction where he essentially said, they were getting on Jesus' case because his disciples weren't washing their hands appropriately. 00:18:42.720 --> 00:18:45.279 They weren't doing the appropriate ritual washings. 00:18:46.319 --> 00:18:48.720 Pretty valid criticism of a rabbi. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:57.920 And so Jesus responds to them and he essentially says, y'all are misunderstanding, like, the whole religious system here. 00:18:58.160 --> 00:19:03.680 It's not what comes from outside that is defiling you, it's what comes from inside that is defiling you. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:18.799 Essentially, you're getting too worked up about the rules, and you're not seeing the God of transformation that is behind that, the God that he was revealing, the God that desires to be so close, that God desires to feed you and transform you from the inside out. 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:22.480 And so he's trying to reveal this God, just make it bigger, right? 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:27.440 He's trying to show them something about themselves that they're not seeing, or maybe that they have forgotten. 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:30.720 And this is exhausting work. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:32.079 He's tired. 00:19:32.640 --> 00:19:33.359 It says that. 00:19:33.519 --> 00:19:41.680 It's so exhausting that he has to escape to a different region, tire inside, right? 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:44.720 Lebanon, modern day. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:47.519 And these weren't just any cities. 00:19:47.599 --> 00:19:51.279 There was a lot of Gentile cities that Jesus probably could escape to. 00:19:51.839 --> 00:19:56.319 But these are really important cities for Gentile people, right? 00:19:56.720 --> 00:19:59.440 These are UNESCO World Heritage sites. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:05.839 Genuinely, these, I mean, so much of Western civilization has been influenced by these two cities. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:06.960 This is a big deal. 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:16.000 And not only was it a big, big deal, these were folks that weren't particularly fond, according to Josephus and some other historians, of Jewish people. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:21.200 So he didn't only go to a Gentile territory, he went to a hostile Gentile territory. 00:20:21.359 --> 00:20:23.599 This is somebody that doesn't want to be bothered. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:28.000 This is somebody that is trying to take a break and make sense of things. 00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:31.519 And then we have this beautiful story this morning. 00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:38.240 This uh woman, this beautiful woman who I think probably changed Western civilization in some ways. 00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:39.279 We don't know her name. 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:43.119 But she finds out that Jesus is there and she has a sick daughter. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:48.480 And so at great risk, she finds him and she prostrates herself and she begs. 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.880 She begs him. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:56.319 And then we have this really critical moment. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:02.480 This uh, I was thinking, I'm calling this the do as I say, not as I do moment. 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:05.359 Any of you who are parents know what I'm talking about? 00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:08.160 I mean genuinely. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:19.359 We have this beautiful moment where Jesus responds pretty authentically, what probably any good rabbi would have done, saying, hey, listen, I'm the Messiah for the people of Israel. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:21.039 I'm the Jewish Messiah. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:21.920 Right? 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:25.680 Calls for a dog, y'all. 00:21:26.400 --> 00:21:29.359 Now, we have a beautiful dog running around here. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:31.119 Right, or further. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.000 I love my dog. 00:21:32.160 --> 00:21:33.359 So many of you love your dogs. 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.640 I love my dog. 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:40.799 But he was not saying this is a term of adherent. 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:47.839 The dogs were mongrels, flea, kind of scavengers. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:53.039 He reacts and she says, Really, Jesus? 00:21:54.880 --> 00:21:59.839 Are you you're this guy who is telling all the Jewish people that they're getting too wrapped up in the law and the ritual? 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.720 The tradition. 00:22:01.119 --> 00:22:02.640 And he has this moment. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:10.960 Now we have this beautiful invitation where Jesus, right, has an opportunity to better understand the mission he was called to. 00:22:11.119 --> 00:22:12.960 He has an opportunity to grow. 00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:20.640 It has exposed the gap between who God was calling and fully revealing Jesus to be and how he was understanding the world. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.519 And he made a choice. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:34.000 From this point on, he goes, he goes over to Galilee, and the process of the gap is he heals another Gentile and then he feeds 4,000 Gentiles. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:39.039 From this moment on, his entire ministry changes in the Gospel of Mark. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:52.960 And I love this story because I think one of the things that separates me from the dog that I love so much is the fact that I have an understanding that I'm going to exist in the future. 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:56.319 That's why I don't eat every bit of food that I have right in front of me. 00:22:57.119 --> 00:23:07.519 I have an understanding that I'm going to exist and I can get out of myself and I can look back on myself and I can say, I'm not behaving the way that I feel called to behave. 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:13.359 There's a gap between who I am and who I feel called to be, who I want to be. 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:18.000 And in this story, we get a role model. 00:23:18.880 --> 00:23:23.599 We get Jesus showing us how to engage this gap, this beautiful gap. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:28.880 I mean, we come here proclaiming, worshiping God, saying we want to follow this risen Lord. 00:23:29.039 --> 00:23:30.400 We want to be Christians. 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:35.839 We want to leave here, but we need a captive image in our head about what that wants to be. 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:38.160 How do I want to be as a Christian husband? 00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:40.160 How do I want to be as a Christian father? 00:23:40.319 --> 00:23:43.039 How do I want to be as a Christian friend or a member of St. 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:44.240 Thomas the Apostle? 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:48.480 And we have this ability to see ourselves differently. 00:23:49.279 --> 00:23:54.319 And then unfortunately, we have this ability to see how we're not that all of the time. 00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:57.039 We start seeing the gaps. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:01.599 And so what do we do with that gap? 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:06.240 Well, most of the times I ignore it. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:07.680 I do. 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:11.119 Well, I look for the little gaps. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:12.799 I look for the small ones. 00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:14.960 I don't want to see the big gaps, right? 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:22.160 But I think the invitation we get here is what does it mean for us to be faithful and engaging that? 00:24:22.480 --> 00:24:25.200 This isn't Jesus failing. 00:24:26.720 --> 00:24:35.759 This is Jesus growing and living more deeply into his relationship with God and understanding more fully what it means. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:38.559 This large thing that is unfolding and happening. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:42.640 And, friends, this doesn't take away from that God I was talking about earlier. 00:24:42.799 --> 00:24:44.319 The Gospel of John God. 00:24:45.039 --> 00:24:48.160 They're not in competition, they're just in tension. 00:24:48.799 --> 00:24:51.519 We can hold both of them at the same time. 00:24:52.400 --> 00:25:03.839 We can believe in the God that is there and understands that is perfect and beautiful, and we can also hold up to Jesus that role models for us how we live into the gap between who we are and who we want to be. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:15.039 And the thing that is so beautiful about this is he didn't blame, he didn't get angry, he just changed. 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:19.440 I imagine he apologized, and that didn't make it in the story. 00:25:19.839 --> 00:25:24.880 I mean, I imagine that, at least in my head, he was like, yeah, I'm really sorry. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:28.880 That was a little impulsive. 00:25:29.680 --> 00:25:31.200 Sort of tried to get away. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:34.559 But he he changed. 00:25:34.640 --> 00:25:35.920 He made a choice. 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:37.920 He took the information in. 00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:41.759 And so, how do we do more of that? 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:47.279 That's this whole long, all these words of talking, this is where I want to get to. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.039 How do we do more of that? 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:54.960 And I think the answer is the same answer that I come to all of the time. 00:25:55.200 --> 00:25:57.039 We start with grace. 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:05.759 So my current definition of grace, because it's changed many times, and I hold this up to St. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:06.640 Brene Brown. 00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.720 I know that you guys like Brene here, so St. 00:26:08.880 --> 00:26:10.720 Brene Brown, I'm going to hold her up. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:18.480 Is grace's permission to never change the question to am I worthy of love again? 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:24.160 You see, the problem is when we engage this gap between who we are and who we want to be, right? 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:24.960 It's a painful gap. 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:28.640 Am I the only one that knows this gap and knows how painful it is? 00:26:28.799 --> 00:26:30.960 Raise your hand if you know this gap and you know how painful it is. 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:31.359 Okay. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:32.160 Good. 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.839 I'll just talk to myself. 00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:45.039 It's a painful moment, and I will have the temptation in the midst of that pain, right, to go even more deeply into the pain and say, well, this is just an example of why I'm not worthy of love. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:48.400 This is just an example of how I don't have a table to sit at a junior high. 00:26:48.559 --> 00:26:54.960 This is another example of why I'm always going to be like, you can turn this into, I am not worthy of love and belonging, I am no good. 00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:57.839 It is easy to do that, so we will avoid it. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:11.279 But if we start with grace, if if grace is permission to not do that, grace is God saying that nothing can separate you from the love of God, not height, nor depth, power, principality, nothing. 00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:14.640 You are worthy and lovely and made in the image of God. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:16.480 Don't change the question. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.519 You're loved. 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:21.359 Heart stop or none. 00:27:21.519 --> 00:27:23.119 That's what grace is. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:29.519 So if I know that, then I have permission to really lean into that space. 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:34.240 To really open myself up and say, well, where is that coming from? 00:27:34.319 --> 00:27:35.119 Why did I do that? 00:27:35.279 --> 00:27:36.720 What is the thing that I'm not knowing? 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:39.440 What's the hurt or pain here that needs to be healed? 00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:45.920 What's the choice that I can make now to move towards reconciliation to healing, to live more fully into that vision? 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:49.359 You can lean into that without shame. 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:54.799 We can all hold up that we are not only beings, we are becomings. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:00.799 And we are moving more deeply into the image God has called us to be. 00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.400 And that's okay. 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:04.720 And forgiveness reigns. 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:06.079 That's an aside. 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:11.599 This is why I think when they asked Jesus how many times you should forgive, he was like, yeah, that's the thing. 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.759 Always. 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:18.160 There can never be a moment where you don't forgive. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:25.039 And it's because of things like this where he role models and challenges us, because it might include you apologizing. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:26.480 It probably will. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:29.839 I mean, genuinely. 00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:33.920 So I want to be grateful this morning for that God. 00:28:34.400 --> 00:28:39.599 I want to be grateful for the God who role models that it's okay for us to be people who are becoming. 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:41.680 It's okay for us to have captive visions. 00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:43.759 Thanks be to God about who we want to be. 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:45.839 Thank you, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, for that. 00:28:45.920 --> 00:28:48.160 And it's also okay to be becoming that. 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:50.240 It's okay to fall short of that. 00:28:50.480 --> 00:28:53.599 And when those moments happen, you're gonna leave here. 00:28:53.839 --> 00:28:56.160 And this week, I today probably. 00:28:56.319 --> 00:29:03.599 Every day I have one of these moments, but for certain this week, you're going to have a moment where this is revealed to you. 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:06.640 The do as I say, not as I'm like, oh wow. 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:09.759 I'm not, I'm acting just like the Pharisees were. 00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:15.920 Jesus realized, I'm doing the exact same thing the Pharisees were doing. 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:20.559 I just was teaching them something else, and I'm doing it right now. 00:29:20.640 --> 00:29:21.359 And he changed. 00:29:21.519 --> 00:29:23.839 You're gonna have a moment where there's an inconsistency. 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:25.839 And I want you to not fear that moment. 00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:28.319 I want you to not let shame run into that moment. 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:30.720 I want you to lean into that moment. 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:37.680 I want you to invite yourself, invite God in, remind yourself that you're worthy of love and belonging. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:41.440 And then I want you to change. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:45.039 Even if it's just a little bit. 00:29:46.160 --> 00:29:46.960 Amen. 00:29:47.680 --> 00:29:48.319 Amen. 00:30:24.480 --> 00:30:32.880 We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. 00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:49.759 We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God for God, life for life, true God, true God, begotten not made, of one being with the Father. 00:30:50.000 --> 00:30:52.319 Through him all things were made. 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:59.039 For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:30:59.279 --> 00:31:03.440 He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made man. 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:07.599 For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. 00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:09.759 He suffered death and was buried. 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:14.559 On the third day he rose again, according to the scriptures. 00:31:14.799 --> 00:31:19.359 He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:25.680 He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:33.200 We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:36.960 With the Father and the Son, He is worshipped and glorified. 00:31:37.279 --> 00:31:39.440 He has spoken through the prophets. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:43.440 We believe in one holy Catholic and apostolic church. 00:31:43.759 --> 00:31:47.279 We acknowledge one baptism, the forgiveness of sins. 00:31:47.519 --> 00:31:51.920 We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:52.880 Amen. 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:17.920 We are humbled by the good that you can do through us when we give ourselves over to you. 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:22.559 Keep us close to you that we may be unafraid to speak your truth. 00:32:23.039 --> 00:32:28.720 Make your church quick to listen for your voice as we move forward as doers of the word. 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:40.160 We pray for all bishops, priests, and deacons, for those who support your mission of mercy in the world, those who teach, and those who take your word into their hearts. 00:32:40.640 --> 00:32:42.000 Pray for the church. 00:32:45.119 --> 00:32:47.680 We are living on a vast and diverse planet. 00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:53.920 Guide those who guide others, that they may genuinely be concerned about the welfare of their people. 00:32:54.400 --> 00:33:05.920 Open our ears to the cries of your people who suffer in dark corners of this world, and open our hands to reach out to them with generous spirits and pray over the world. 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:15.200 We are burdened by illnesses, anxieties, addictions, and broken relationships. 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:18.240 Cover us with your grace and compassion. 00:33:18.640 --> 00:33:22.880 Drive far from us the fear which keeps us from trusting your goodness. 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:28.240 We ask you to heal those who suffer, especially those on our courage earnest. 00:33:29.039 --> 00:33:31.039 Pray for those who are suffering. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:46.480 We are grieved by the loss of those who have died, but give us confidence in your promise of endless life with you, surrounded by your glory and accompanied by your saints and angels. 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:49.119 Pray for those who have died. 00:33:52.480 --> 00:33:59.359 We are astounded beyond measure by your creative powers, O God, and celebrate the mystery of all your creation. 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:09.199 But most of all, we celebrate the mystery of your love and care for us, for the gift of your Son and the encouragement of your Holy Spirit. 00:34:28.239 --> 00:34:37.760 Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a consuming fire of judgment. 00:34:38.079 --> 00:34:45.119 Set us free from pasts that we cannot change, and open to us a future in which we can be changed. 00:34:45.360 --> 00:34:49.679 And grant us grace to grow more and more in your likeness and image. 00:34:49.920 --> 00:34:52.559 Through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. 00:34:52.880 --> 00:34:53.360 Amen. 00:34:53.440 --> 00:35:03.440 May the almighty and compassionate God grant you absolution and remission of all of your sin, true repentance, amendment of life, and the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit. 00:35:03.760 --> 00:35:04.320 Amen. 00:35:04.559 --> 00:35:07.280 My friends, the peace of our Lord be always with you. 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:17.760 So we have a record of your visit. 00:36:17.920 --> 00:36:19.599 And thanks for worshiping with us today. 00:36:19.840 --> 00:36:29.679 I'm not supposed to be here, but uh when the doctor tells you get up and walk, um that's all I needed to hear. 00:36:29.840 --> 00:36:35.679 So uh so uh but a special, a special thank you uh to John and Becky for coming down from Spring. 00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:45.760 Really appreciate your and I this means that I will be here next week, probably too, unless something goes bad. 00:36:45.920 --> 00:36:51.119 So I'm really grateful for your prayers from my surgery on Friday and everything so far. 00:36:51.440 --> 00:36:52.000 So good. 00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:54.800 Uh a few announcements I want to just call to your attention. 00:36:55.039 --> 00:37:04.480 Yesterday uh we had our uh regular food distribution here in the parking lot, and um really lovely weather was quite a gift uh for September. 00:37:04.639 --> 00:37:22.880 And as usual, we fed um more than 400 people in uh two hours, and so uh again, the the fact that we continue to set a new record or almost set a new record every month we do this is just confirmation for the need you're serving in this community. 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:29.360 So, whether you were here or not, thank you for supporting this beautiful ministry of sharing food with those in need. 00:37:29.519 --> 00:37:40.159 Uh, you'll see a little handout that was right next to the bulletins that will tell you some of the opportunities coming up, but there's a few that there aren't on there that I want to raise to you. 00:37:40.239 --> 00:37:48.880 Uh one is that uh Bishop Monterosso, our regional bishop, will be coming to do confirmation with us uh in the beginning of November. 00:37:49.039 --> 00:37:59.599 So if you have any interest in confirmation or reception or renewing your vows, remember this is one of the rites wherein we say this is the way of faith I'm claiming for myself. 00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:04.239 I intend to walk it with fidelity and energy and joy. 00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:11.679 Uh and if you would like to reclaim that or claim it for the first time with Christian Monterosso, well, that'll be November the 6th. 00:38:11.840 --> 00:38:17.599 Please email Alex or I, and we're setting up a confirmation class for those who are interested. 00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:26.400 And maybe you say, hey, I'm already confirmed, but I'd like to explore what's the history of the Episcopal Church and how do we use the Bible, and I have all these other questions. 00:38:26.480 --> 00:38:28.239 Um, this is a great opportunity for you. 00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:30.639 So email Alex or I about that. 00:38:30.800 --> 00:38:36.239 Uh the other opportunity I want to make sure you know of is that we're getting ready to do a read-through of N. 00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:36.559 T. 00:38:36.719 --> 00:38:38.800 Wright's biography of Paul. 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:41.440 It's a really long book, but don't worry. 00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:45.599 Uh we are going to take our time and we're going to go through all the Pauline letters, and N. 00:38:45.760 --> 00:38:45.840 T. 00:38:46.000 --> 00:38:51.440 Wright does an extraordinary way of uh opening a lens of the Paul. 00:38:51.519 --> 00:38:55.119 Maybe you've heard Paul doesn't like women, then this study would be good for you. 00:38:55.360 --> 00:38:59.679 Maybe you've heard that Paul uh, you know, just winks around telling other people what to do. 00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:01.039 This study would be good for you. 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:05.199 So that's where it's start at the end of the month, and I promise it will be life-giving. 00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:07.840 We'll do it on Sunday mornings in between services. 00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:17.679 Uh, so you'll see that in the e-news, but it didn't make the little announcement sheet, and I just want to raise your attention to it because I've enjoyed MT Rights work so much myself. 00:39:17.920 --> 00:39:32.239 Okay, uh really special thing we get to do today, and I'm really glad I'm here to do it because uh I know probably as well as anybody else in the building how much uh these these ladies of the order do for us and for the community. 00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:36.880 So we are going to have a service of admission for our new daughters of the king. 00:39:36.960 --> 00:39:45.679 So I'm going to ask all of our daughters, past present, to come on up to the rail, and we will have this service. 00:39:56.400 --> 00:40:00.559 As they're coming, uh, maybe you have not had a funeral in St. 00:40:00.719 --> 00:40:08.239 Thomas, but if you have, these are the women who put on incredible hospitality that is overly generous. 00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:14.400 Uh they greet you at the door, uh, they put on a reception without asking for anything in return. 00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:16.079 Maybe you've asked for prayers. 00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:24.320 These are the women who are praying for you without you knowing, but know that they are praying for you. 00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:28.800 And these are the women who gather each month to renew their commitment through study. 00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:35.920 So we'll hear more about the daughters and the service, but we really couldn't do what we do without you. 00:40:36.079 --> 00:40:38.320 So tremendous gratitude for the daughters. 00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:41.440 Uh Jane, as president, are you going to start as the presenter? 00:40:57.599 --> 00:41:04.480 We are gathered here in the sight of God and before this congregation to admit these women into the order of the daughters of the king. 00:41:04.719 --> 00:41:16.559 We commend them, congregation, to your earnest prayers, that they may have grace to fulfill the invitations of the order, that their labors may be to the glory of God and to the welfare of God's people. 00:41:16.800 --> 00:41:26.000 The Daughters of the King is an order for women whose mission is the extension of Christ's kingdom, especially among women and girls, through prayer, service, and evangelism. 00:41:26.320 --> 00:41:32.960 So I ask you, new daughters, but I ask you current daughters to renew your vows. 00:41:33.280 --> 00:41:37.360 Do you desire to become a member of the order of the daughters of the king? 00:41:38.880 --> 00:41:51.039 Do you promise to faithfully live into the two rules of the order, the rule of prayer and the rule of service, to offer your support to the clergy for the good of the parish and the extension of God's family? 00:41:53.599 --> 00:42:06.000 So, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, I receive and admit thee new members into the Order of the Daughters of the King and renew previous members. 00:42:06.079 --> 00:42:08.639 I renew your vows of service and commitment. 00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:12.559 Congregation, this is for you, and your answer is going to be we will. 00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:14.159 Please admit it. 00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:18.960 Will you support these women in their ministry of prayer and service? 00:42:20.079 --> 00:42:28.719 Now I'm going to bless these crosses because many of you know that our daughters wear a sign of the order that's a cross, either as a pen or a necklace. 00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:30.639 Bless the Lord these crosses. 00:42:30.800 --> 00:42:42.239 And grant to your servants now admitted into this order such an abundance of your grace that they may wear this sacred symbol in the spirit of humility and with devotion to the service of the King of Kings. 00:42:42.559 --> 00:42:43.199 Amen. 00:44:57.519 --> 00:45:12.400 May your love, O Lord, help the daughters live lives of love, and may your holiness lead them to be examples of virtue, that they, strengthened by your Holy Spirit, may pray and serve you all their days through Jesus Christ our Lord. 00:45:12.719 --> 00:45:13.280 Amen. 00:45:13.599 --> 00:45:19.760 The blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit be upon you this day and remain with you always. 00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:20.719 Amen. 00:45:21.039 --> 00:45:33.760 As members of the Order of the Daughters of the King, your duty this coming term is to cooperate with the officers you have chosen and to work together to fulfill the rules of prayer and service here in this congregation and beyond. 00:45:56.159 --> 00:46:04.320 And even as you richly bless us, may God richly bless you in all your efforts to the glory of God's family. 00:46:04.639 --> 00:46:05.280 Amen. 00:46:06.239 --> 00:46:08.000 Now continue to walk in love. 00:46:08.320 --> 00:46:13.519 As Christ first loved us and gave himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God. 00:49:27.360 --> 00:49:29.920 Lift up your heart. 00:49:37.039 --> 00:49:41.440 Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. 00:49:49.519 --> 00:50:00.480 It is very meatright in our founding duty that we should at all times and in all places give thanks unto thee, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty, everlasting God. 00:50:00.800 --> 00:50:23.360 Through Jesus Christ our Lord, according to whose promise the Holy Ghost came down from heaven, lighting upon the disciples to teach them and to lead them into all truth, uniting peoples of many tongues in the confession of one faith, and giving to thy church the power to serve thee as a royal priesthood, and to preach the gospel to all nations. 00:50:23.840 --> 00:50:32.880 Therefore, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name evermore praising thee and singing. 00:51:24.639 --> 00:51:34.639 And of thy tender mercy didst give thine only Son, Jesus Christ, to take our nature upon him, and to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption. 00:51:34.960 --> 00:51:49.599 He made there a full and perfect sacrifice for the whole world, and did institute, and in his holy gospel command us to continue a perpetual memory of that, his precious death and sacrifice, until his coming again. 00:51:50.079 --> 00:52:00.079 For on the night at which he was betrayed, he took bread, and when he had given thanks to thee, he broke it, and he gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat. 00:52:00.320 --> 00:52:02.719 This is my body which is given for you. 00:52:02.960 --> 00:52:05.440 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:52:17.760 --> 00:52:20.239 Likewise, after supper, he took the cup. 00:52:20.400 --> 00:52:30.960 And when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink this all of you, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for all for the remission of sins. 00:52:31.199 --> 00:52:34.960 Do this as oft as ye shall drink it, in remembrance of me. 00:52:45.360 --> 00:52:53.440 Wherefore, O Lord and Heavenly Father, we thy people do celebrate and make with these thy holy gifts, which we now offer unto thee. 00:52:53.679 --> 00:53:06.079 The memorial of thy son hath commanded us to make, having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death, his mighty resurrection and glorious ascension, and looking for his coming again with power and great glory. 00:53:06.239 --> 00:53:20.880 And we most humbly beseech thee, O merciful Father, to hear us, and with thy word and Holy Spirit to bless and sanctify these gifts of bread and wine, that they may be unto us the body and blood of thy dearly beloved Son, Jesus Christ. 00:53:21.119 --> 00:53:33.039 And we earnestly desire thy fatherly goodness to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, whereby we offer and present unto thee, O Lord, ourselves, our souls and bodies. 00:53:33.360 --> 00:53:45.519 Grant, we beseech thee that all who partake of this holy communion may worthily receive the most precious body and blood of thy Son, Jesus Christ, and be filled with thy grace and heavenly benediction. 00:53:45.679 --> 00:54:05.280 And also that we and all thy whole church may be made one body with him, that he may dwell in us, and we in him, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, for it is by whom and with whom and in whom, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, all honor and glory be unto thee, O Father Almighty, world without end. 00:54:05.679 --> 00:54:06.320 Amen. 00:54:06.639 --> 00:54:11.039 And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray. 00:54:11.519 --> 00:54:21.760 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 00:54:22.000 --> 00:54:35.039 Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trust, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 00:54:35.360 --> 00:54:38.880 Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory. 00:54:39.280 --> 00:54:40.400 Forever and ever. 00:54:40.880 --> 00:54:41.519 Amen. 00:54:44.639 --> 00:54:48.239 Hallelujah, Christ, our Passover is sacrificed for us. 00:54:48.480 --> 00:54:50.800 Therefore, let us keep the feast. 00:54:51.039 --> 00:54:52.000 Hallelujah. 00:54:52.320 --> 00:54:56.239