WEBVTT 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:24.560 Blessed be God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:32.400 There is one body and one spirit. 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:39.199 One Lord, one faith, one baptism. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:43.520 Let's pray together. 00:02:43.840 --> 00:02:52.479 Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:03:06.080 Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name through Christ our Lord. 00:03:06.400 --> 00:03:07.039 Amen. 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:09.599 Hear what our Lord Jesus Christ says. 00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:14.719 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:19.759 This is the first and greatest commitment, and the second is like unto it. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.400 You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 00:03:22.719 --> 00:03:26.400 On these two commitments hang all the law and the prophets. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:15.199 Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us and we in him, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:16.160 Amen. 00:04:16.639 --> 00:04:18.319 A prayer for peace. 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:23.040 God of the nations, whose sovereign rule brings justice and peace. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:26.240 Have compassion on our broken and divided world. 00:04:26.399 --> 00:04:38.639 Shed abroad your peace in the hearts of all, and banish from us the spirit that makes for war, that all races and peoples may learn to live as members of your family and in obedience to your way. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:41.439 Through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. 00:04:41.759 --> 00:04:42.399 Amen. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:46.240 As you're being seated, our children are invited to children's church with Mr. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:47.360 Alex in the back. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:18.800 And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. 00:05:19.120 --> 00:05:27.839 While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal, they kept the Passover in the evening on the 14th day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:34.240 On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land. 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:37.759 Unleavened cakes and parched grain. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:45.199 The manna ceased on that day, they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna. 00:05:46.000 --> 00:05:49.519 They ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year. 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:53.600 Hear what the Spirit is saying to God's people. 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:00.720 Psalm 32. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:09.680 Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:16.399 Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt. 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:24.000 While I held my tongue, my bones withered away. 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:39.199 Then I acknowledged my sin to you. 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:47.600 I said, I will not confess my transgressions to the Lord. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:53.439 I will confess. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:54.959 Excuse me. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:07:01.839 Then, okay, therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:09.680 You are my hiding place. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:11.839 You preserve me from trouble. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:15.360 You surround me to the house of deliverance. 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:20.079 I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:28.319 Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding. 00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:37.920 Great are the tribulations of the wicked. 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:31.120 Even though we want to do Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:35.600 If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation. 00:08:35.919 --> 00:08:37.759 Everything old has passed away. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:39.919 See, everything has become new. 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:49.360 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:09:02.960 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:06.320 So we are ambassadors for Christ. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:14.559 Since God is making his appeal through us, we entreat you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God. 00:09:15.600 --> 00:09:20.000 For our sake, he made him to be sin who knew no sin. 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:25.519 So that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 00:10:06.399 --> 00:10:08.639 Glory to you, Lord Christ. 00:10:08.960 --> 00:10:13.840 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:21.120 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them. 00:10:21.360 --> 00:10:23.360 So Jesus told them this parable. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:26.000 Now there was a man who had two sons. 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:32.960 The younger of them said to his father, Father, give me my share of the property that will belong to me. 00:10:33.279 --> 00:10:36.080 So the father divided the property between them. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:44.559 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property and dissolute living. 00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:50.799 When he'd spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:57.519 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:02.000 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:04.399 No one gave him anything. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:11.440 But when he came to himself, he said, Self, how many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and despair? 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:13.919 But here I am, dying of hunger. 00:11:14.159 --> 00:11:21.360 I will get up, go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:26.559 I am no longer worthy to be called your son, so treat me like one of your hired hands. 00:11:27.039 --> 00:11:29.840 So he set off and went to his father. 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:35.840 But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:39.840 He ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 00:11:39.919 --> 00:11:46.720 And then the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before you I am no longer worthy to be called your son. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:58.480 But the father said to his slaves, Quickly bring out a robe, the best one, and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, and get the fatted cap, and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:03.200 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again. 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:05.440 He was lost and is found. 00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:07.840 And they began to celebrate. 00:12:08.320 --> 00:12:11.039 Now his elder son was in the field. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:15.039 And when the elder son came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:17.759 He called one of the slaves and asked him what was going on. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:25.200 The slave replied, Oh, your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound. 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:29.919 Then the elder son became angry and refused to go in. 00:12:30.320 --> 00:12:41.039 His father came at him again to plead with him, but the son answered his father, Listen, for all these years I've been working like a slave for you, and I've never disobeyed your command. 00:12:41.279 --> 00:12:46.240 Yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 00:12:46.559 --> 00:12:55.519 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:13:03.360 Then the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:11.360 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:14.960 He was lost and has been found. 00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:18.000 The gospel of the Lord. 00:13:51.759 --> 00:13:52.240 Amen. 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:53.600 Please be seated. 00:13:55.679 --> 00:14:07.679 The fourth Sunday in Lent, like the third Sunday in Advent, is set apart as Rose Sunday, sometimes called Refreshment Sunday, and in Advent called Gaudete Sunday. 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:16.639 It's a reminder that this work that we're supposed to be doing in Lent is toward a purpose which is our communal joy. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:24.879 Sometimes we forget that and we say, oh, I'm gonna make myself miserable to please God. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:28.320 And Rose Sunday exists to correct that perception. 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:32.000 This is not about misery, it's about joy. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:37.440 And how joyful then to do something irregular. 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:42.960 Baptisms in Lent on Rose Sunday. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:50.879 And with, well, a little bit of an irregular reading, because you know the lectionary sometimes can be rather long-winded. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:54.399 And it's interesting when the lectionary chooses to cut. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:56.559 Today they chose to cut. 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:01.279 So if all we had was this reading, you've probably heard this story before. 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:06.879 You might call this the parable of the prodigal son. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:21.039 Well, I hope you will enter into uh suspending disbelief with me as I tell you the lectionary forgot the other two stories that are pretty important. 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:28.879 The lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost sons. 00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:33.600 So let me start with the let me start with the middle story. 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:39.600 Once upon a time there was a lady who had ten coins, and they were really valuable. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:42.320 And then she couldn't find one. 00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:50.000 What a worthless coin! Evil, lazy, sinful. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.720 How dare that coin leave her? 00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.799 What a jerk. 00:15:55.600 --> 00:15:57.519 Bet God hates that coin. 00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:00.320 Of course, that's not how the story goes. 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.639 Who lost that coin? 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:04.879 Well, she did. 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.879 So what did she do? 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:08.960 She didn't yell at the coin. 00:16:09.120 --> 00:16:11.039 Of course, it was valuable. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:13.279 She went looking for it. 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:16.000 She swept the floor. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:21.039 And when she found it, she did something highly irregular that I don't think any of us would do. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:24.080 She went around and knocked on her neighbor's doors. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:27.120 Now just imagine your neighbor knocks on your door. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:30.960 Ned, I lost a dollar. 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:34.159 And then I swept and I found it. 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:37.919 Come have a party at my house because I found a book. 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:42.320 Luck. 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:46.240 That's the story. 00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:49.360 The sheep one we usually get wrong. 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:52.159 That's why I wanted to start with the with the coin story. 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:55.360 The sheep one we usually get wrong because you've probably heard it before. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:04.319 Once upon a time there was a shepherd who had a hundred sheep, and one of them wandered away, and then the shepherd left 99 sheep and found a lost one and came back and had a party. 00:17:04.559 --> 00:17:07.680 Well, that one makes a little more sense to me than a buck. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:11.440 But you know what we usually get wrong is we blame the sheep. 00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:15.839 Or we say things like, sheep are so stupid. 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:20.319 Sheep are dumb, just like all those people who don't think and vote like I do. 00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:30.559 What we don't realize, of course, is that there's a difference between wild sheep and domesticated sheep. 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:34.160 And it's about the same difference there is between a wolf and a dog. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:36.720 They have different DNA. 00:17:36.799 --> 00:17:38.319 I don't know if you realize that. 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:42.400 Now you can tame a wild animal, but that doesn't make it domesticated. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:45.680 Domesticated animals rely on human beings. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.680 They need us to survive. 00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:50.000 And by the way, we made them that way. 00:17:50.319 --> 00:17:51.599 We did that. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:55.920 So let me tell you what a wild sheep will do when it smells a wolf. 00:17:56.160 --> 00:18:00.079 It'll be quiet, it'll run away. 00:18:00.400 --> 00:18:06.960 Wild sheep don't have as many lambs because that's harder to support. 00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:12.720 Wild sheep don't eat the blade of grass and then the root. 00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:16.319 Because if they did, there'd be no more grass. 00:18:16.720 --> 00:18:20.079 Wild sheep are able to look for their own water. 00:18:20.720 --> 00:18:23.920 Domesticated sheep are completely different. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:33.119 A domesticated sheep will eat the blade of grass and the root, which means if you don't move them, they will eat themselves to death. 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:36.640 Wild sheep do not look for their own water. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:38.319 I'm sorry, domesticated sheep. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:45.759 When a domesticated sheep smells a wolf, it will bleat because it wants you to help it. 00:18:46.160 --> 00:18:51.839 But you can understand it is telling the wolf exactly where to find it. 00:18:52.559 --> 00:18:57.599 Something we often forget when we hear the story of the lost sheep. 00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:01.039 Is that it's the shepherd's fault. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:07.599 The sheep trusts the shepherd to look for them. 00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.839 And we made them that way. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:16.640 Now I've always taken issue with the story because, quite frankly, I'm one of those 99 good sheep. 00:19:18.720 --> 00:19:20.720 Or maybe I'm just not bold enough. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:22.559 It depends how you consider it. 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:28.079 Instead of the sheep being the villain, don't you see? 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:35.759 This story is about a shepherd who goes looking for the lost sheep, and the sheep trust the shepherd to do it. 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:38.799 The shepherd made them that way. 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:48.799 And that sets the stage for this being about lost sons, plural, instead of prodigal ones. 00:19:49.119 --> 00:20:01.279 Now, if it helps you have a little bit of empathy, probably most of us in our lives have had one of those hinge moments where we saw this amazing opportunity that may not come again. 00:20:01.599 --> 00:20:05.279 This is my chance to get this job or go to this school. 00:20:05.519 --> 00:20:10.079 If I just had the resources to do it, I could do it. 00:20:11.119 --> 00:20:13.440 I don't know if you've had one of those moments. 00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:16.160 But what if that's what's happening in the story? 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:26.000 What if the younger son sees an opportunity that he thinks will never come again and he says, Dad, look, this is never gonna come my way again. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:30.000 I know you're saving like a college fund, and I know you've got some stuff. 00:20:30.160 --> 00:20:31.440 Could you just divide it now? 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:33.359 Because this won't come again. 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:38.720 Unlike me, the dad does this. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:41.680 Divests himself of everything he owns. 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:42.640 I want to be really clear. 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:44.559 The dad now owns nothing. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:52.160 The son goes off and squanders it in dissolute living, which could be playing the commodities market. 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:54.799 I don't know if any of y'all do that. 00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:57.359 I would discourage you from doing it if you do, right? 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:01.279 Because you can go to bed a millionaire and wake up and not own your shirt. 00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:05.599 We don't know how he loses the money. 00:21:05.839 --> 00:21:07.759 We just know it's gone. 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:10.640 And then he has this great idea. 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:13.839 I'll go back and work for my dad. 00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:20.160 It's really important, I think, to hear this. 00:21:20.480 --> 00:21:29.119 That the son is not wicked, the son is not evil, the son is not malignant. 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:31.200 He's lost. 00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:34.799 And he does what I tell my daughter to do. 00:21:35.599 --> 00:21:37.440 When you can't find us, right? 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:39.279 Go back to the safe place. 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:41.920 Now, dad probably doesn't know where to look for his son. 00:21:42.000 --> 00:21:42.880 The world's a big place. 00:21:42.960 --> 00:21:44.079 Where are you gonna go? 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:46.480 But dad has been looking. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:51.440 And sure enough, he sees a son while he's far away. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:53.440 And dad runs to him. 00:21:53.599 --> 00:21:57.519 And the son says this thing Oh, I'm not worthy to tell, I'm not worthy to be your son. 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:02.559 And the dad says, Hey, Go get some of his brother's stuff. 00:22:03.119 --> 00:22:05.039 Because dad doesn't own it anymore. 00:22:05.279 --> 00:22:07.759 Give him the best of his brother's stuff. 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:12.319 Give him that robe and that ring, and let's have a party. 00:22:12.480 --> 00:22:19.039 And this is really helpful to hear this language because the son was lost and now is found, is dead and is now alive. 00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:21.440 And of course, he wasn't actually dead. 00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:26.400 This is a reminder to us that the Bible uses language figuratively sometimes. 00:22:26.640 --> 00:22:30.000 And that, frankly, we're all going to die, and that's not the worry. 00:22:30.160 --> 00:22:32.799 The worry is that we're living in death with a capital D. 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:39.759 Like in a place where we long to be filled with the food of unclean animals, and we think our Father has written us off. 00:22:40.240 --> 00:22:41.599 Whoever that is. 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:45.519 So there's a party. 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:52.720 Then comes the older son who is also lost, don't you see? 00:22:53.200 --> 00:23:02.559 The older son is very mad and says, You didn't ever give me anything, and this kid spent a bunch of money on prostitutes. 00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:08.160 Freudian slip tells you what the older son really wanted to do, because the story didn't say that, right? 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:15.279 And he even does this thing that I sometimes do as a parent, maybe you've done too when I'm at my worst. 00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:18.559 When I tell my wife, I say, guess what your daughter did? 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:22.880 This son of yours. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:26.240 And notice how the dad answers that. 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:30.079 This brother of yours puts it right back. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:32.720 This is your brother. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:38.880 And the dad says, Look, you know, son, everything I have is yours. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:40.960 And by the way, that's true. 00:23:41.359 --> 00:23:43.440 He already divided the estate. 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:52.960 And we don't know if the elder son goes to the party. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:23:58.079 We don't know if he finds his way or if he stays lost. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:03.599 And see, what the older son has chosen to do is to be right instead of to being joyful. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:14.319 And if I have to say, the biggest danger in the Christian life I grew up in is choosing to be right instead of choosing to be joyful. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:22.880 Now look, the scriptures are not asking us to be chief enablers. 00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:25.200 You all know what that is. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:32.720 When somebody has an addiction, alcohol or drugs are the most notorious ones, the ones we disapprove of the most. 00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:36.240 We don't like to talk about work addictions, but they're just as real. 00:24:37.200 --> 00:24:40.960 The chief enabler is the one who enables them to stay there. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:43.519 The story isn't about that. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:54.880 And I think actually what this story does is it helps us understand what the whole gospel of Jesus Christ to me is about. 00:24:55.680 --> 00:25:05.440 See, when you look at somebody who's bothering you and you blame them or think they've chosen to be whatever, it's pretty hard to love them. 00:25:06.559 --> 00:25:09.200 On the other hand, what if they were lost? 00:25:10.480 --> 00:25:12.720 Any of y'all like being lost? 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:20.960 I've actually never met a person in my life who woke up and said, I'm planning on getting lost today. 00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:26.480 It's terrifying, meaning lost. 00:25:28.480 --> 00:25:31.920 I even remember playing hide and seek when I was a kid. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:36.000 Finding a really good hiding spot. 00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:40.480 So fun for a couple of minutes. 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:45.279 And then you start to worry they're not gonna find you. 00:25:45.680 --> 00:25:47.759 Or they're gonna give up looking. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:55.200 And I would do things like give them nonverbal cues so that they could find me. 00:25:55.759 --> 00:26:00.640 Because if they stop looking, the fun's over, don't you see? 00:26:01.440 --> 00:26:02.880 The fun's over. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:09.759 Now a lot of times we hear the story and we hear, oh, God's the shepherd. 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.759 God's the lady. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:20.319 Maybe, but maybe we're the shepherds, and maybe we're the lady, and maybe we're called to do what these people do, go looking for the lost. 00:26:20.640 --> 00:26:22.880 Looking for the lost. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:25.200 Put a different way. 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:34.720 Sometimes we're really judgmental at the burdens people carry instead of having curiosity and wonder about how it is they carry the burdens that they carry. 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:49.920 I think this is what Paul had in mind when he talks about all things being made new and having a human point of view or a divine point of view. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:57.359 And Paul believes we can trade the human point of view for the divine one. 00:26:58.640 --> 00:27:04.000 It's unlikely you hate your keys when you can't find them. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:08.000 They're just lost. 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:15.839 And I hate being lost. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:24.799 And what if we're called to play hide and seek together? 00:27:26.079 --> 00:27:36.640 See, the thing about the shepherd, and this is the thing about the incarnation, get rid of the idea that Jesus is like a person with a staff and everybody else is a lamb. 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:40.319 See, the incarnation says Jesus came as one of the lambs. 00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:46.319 And the way Jesus goes looking is he says, come on, there's food over here. 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:50.720 I once I was at this church, it was really interesting. 00:27:50.880 --> 00:28:00.720 They did this big event where they brought in a Montana cowboy, and he was going to tame a horse in front of a crowd for about four hours. 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:08.559 Now, look, I don't know a lot about horses, I don't, except I know that there's in general, and there's more than two, but there's kind of two approaches. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:11.200 One way is you break the horse. 00:28:11.680 --> 00:28:17.039 You put the saddle on and you sit on till it's done bucking and then it's submitted to your will. 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:19.279 Maybe you all are familiar with this. 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:22.000 You could train a dog like that too, by the way. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:24.720 Of course, the dog and the horse, they won't love you. 00:28:24.880 --> 00:28:26.640 They'll be afraid of you. 00:28:27.119 --> 00:28:29.599 They're just worried you'll punish them. 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:33.279 A lot of us think God acts that way. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:39.200 What the cowboy did though, this is quite interesting, is he did the Native American way. 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:43.440 And for four hours, he taught that horse to trust him. 00:28:44.400 --> 00:28:46.319 And the horse came to him. 00:28:47.839 --> 00:28:50.880 The horse accepted the saddle. 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:52.400 It didn't buck. 00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:56.160 And the cowboy said, that's how God is. 00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:04.640 God goes looking for us, tries to earn our trust, but is not interested in breaking us. 00:29:05.680 --> 00:29:19.680 See, it's not just that God wants us to do a certain thing, it's that God wants us to do a certain thing for a reason, which is our joy, not our fear. 00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:33.119 So it's great that it's Rose Sunday, because I ran into this, I think, rather lovely poem about roses that I want to read to you. 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:38.319 It actually comes from a book called The Inner Game of Tennis, and it was written by Timothy Galway. 00:29:39.440 --> 00:29:44.720 When we plant a rose seed in the earth, we notice that it is small. 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:48.960 But we do not criticize it as rootless and stemless. 00:29:49.599 --> 00:29:55.279 We treat it as a seed, giving it the water and nourishment required of a seed. 00:29:55.519 --> 00:30:04.960 When it first shoots up out of the earth, we don't condemn it as immature and underdeveloped, nor do we criticize the buds for not opening when they appear. 00:30:05.279 --> 00:30:12.880 We stand in wonder at the process taking place and give the plant the care it needs at each stage of its development. 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:18.640 The rose is a rose from the time it is a seed to the time it dies. 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:24.799 Within it, at all times, it contains its whole potential. 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:28.720 It seems to be constantly in the process of change. 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:36.799 And yet at each state, at each moment, it is perfectly all right as it is. 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:40.480 And that's the gospel of Jesus Christ in a point. 00:30:42.880 --> 00:30:50.480 And we're invited, I put to you, to wear rose-colored glasses. 00:30:51.440 --> 00:30:53.599 Because that's how God looks at us. 00:30:57.759 --> 00:30:59.920 If you ask me, can you prove it? 00:31:01.440 --> 00:31:02.799 I don't think I can. 00:31:03.759 --> 00:31:09.519 But I can tell you, even if I'm wrong, life will be more joyful if we pretend. 00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:28.880 And here's the thing about living in God's rose garden, because I've done I've happened into a couple of books by accident this year, to talk about the secret life of plants, and it turns out plants aren't always competing with each other. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:36.640 Through things like microrhizal networks, when one plant needs water or sugar, the other one shares. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:50.160 Some roses just need a little more nourishment to bloom. 00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:53.920 And we get to join God in doing that. 00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:58.400 Now I have to tell you, my favorite Catholic nun story ever. 00:31:59.279 --> 00:32:01.119 And I told it to you last year. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:04.319 So you can tune out if you heard it. 00:32:04.640 --> 00:32:07.519 I used to work in a heart hospital with a bunch of modern nuns. 00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:11.279 Now they don't wear the habit anymore, but they do have some nun habits. 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:17.839 And one of the habits is giving out these prayer cards and saints' medallions, and that's lovely stuff I didn't grow up doing. 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:24.079 Well, one of the nuns one day gave me one of these prayer cards, and it looked like something my grandma would give me from my birthday. 00:32:24.160 --> 00:32:28.079 It had like scripty font, and there was a picture of these roses. 00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:31.200 I don't know if you all are familiar with those kind of cards. 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:32.720 It was real sweet. 00:32:32.960 --> 00:32:38.559 Well, I had to read it like more than once and more than four times, because see, I wanted to fill in the blank. 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:46.799 It said, God help me to accept the truth about myself no matter how blank it is. 00:32:47.359 --> 00:32:58.960 Well, I didn't even read it because we all know how to fill in that blank, no matter how hard it is, no matter how ugly it is, no matter how disappointing it is. 00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:08.240 Of course, what that card said was God help me to accept the truth about myself, no matter how beautiful it is. 00:33:09.359 --> 00:33:13.039 That's why we're gonna have Rose Sunday again next year. 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:17.279 And that's why we're in this together. 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:23.680 That's why we're getting ready to make some vows to some folk who are gonna be baptized. 00:33:24.160 --> 00:33:26.960 At least one of them probably ain't gonna remember. 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:34.640 But we will remember because we're gonna promise we're gonna remember you. 00:33:34.880 --> 00:33:45.839 And if we can support you through our mycorrhizal network, we as roses will lend what we can because we can do more together. 00:33:47.119 --> 00:33:56.960 And how fitting that we have this giant shell so that you can see the birth of Venus and you can see four pearls in God's oyster today. 00:33:57.519 --> 00:34:05.680 And if you're ever not sure what to do something with something that's irritating you, do the same thing as that oyster does and make it beautiful. 00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:09.760 Because that's what God is getting ready to do in our presence. 00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:15.360 So I'm gonna invite our families to come up here behind the shell. 00:34:22.880 --> 00:34:25.840 And congregation, we're gonna follow along here. 00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:30.239 Please do bring your bulletins up, families, because we have a speaking part. 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.719 You okay right there? 00:34:58.480 --> 00:35:05.440 Okay, so I'm gonna ask you guys, this is your speaking part, to do these presentations. 00:35:05.760 --> 00:35:08.239 So you guys will go first. 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:12.480 The candidates for holy baptism will now be presented. 00:35:18.960 --> 00:35:23.039 Okay, parents, I'm gonna ask you to go one at a time and let's start with Edison. 00:35:29.760 --> 00:35:32.800 Edison, do you desire to be baptized? 00:35:34.719 --> 00:35:36.000 That counts as I do. 00:35:36.639 --> 00:35:36.960 Okay. 00:35:42.079 --> 00:35:44.880 Ainsley, do you desire to be baptized? 00:35:50.480 --> 00:35:52.880 Do you desire to be baptized? 00:35:53.199 --> 00:35:53.519 Okay. 00:35:54.000 --> 00:36:06.800 Now, parents and godparents who are watching in Oregon or wherever you are, will you be responsible for seeing that these children you present are brought up in the Christian faith and life? 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:14.639 Will you, by your prayers and witness, help them to grow into the full stature of Christ? 00:36:14.960 --> 00:36:16.400 I will with God's self. 00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:23.119 Now we're doing this together, so I'm going to ask y'all to do this with us here following. 00:36:23.599 --> 00:36:28.880 Do you all renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God? 00:36:29.599 --> 00:36:30.480 I renounce them. 00:36:30.880 --> 00:36:36.320 Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God? 00:36:36.960 --> 00:36:37.920 I renounce them. 00:36:38.320 --> 00:36:42.719 Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God? 00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:44.159 I renounce them. 00:36:44.639 --> 00:36:47.840 Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior? 00:36:48.320 --> 00:36:48.719 I do. 00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:52.239 Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love? 00:36:52.719 --> 00:36:53.199 I do. 00:36:53.519 --> 00:36:56.880 Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord? 00:36:57.199 --> 00:36:57.760 I do. 00:36:58.400 --> 00:37:10.719 Will you, like all y'all who witness these vows, do all in your power to support Sophia, Edison, Ainsley, and McKinley in their lives in Christ? 00:37:10.960 --> 00:37:11.519 We will. 00:37:12.159 --> 00:37:19.920 Then I'm going to invite you to stand as you're able and join as we commit ourselves to Christ and renew our own baptismal covenant. 00:37:21.199 --> 00:37:23.679 Do y'all believe in God the Father? 00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:28.480 I believe in God the Father, Almighty, creator of heaven. 00:37:29.199 --> 00:37:32.400 Do y'all believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God? 00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:36.559 I believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of our Lord. 00:37:37.039 --> 00:37:42.480 He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. 00:37:42.719 --> 00:37:47.920 He suffered under unto child, was crucified by God and spirit. 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:50.400 He descended to the dead. 00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:53.119 On the third day he rose again. 00:37:53.440 --> 00:37:58.400 He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 00:37:58.719 --> 00:38:01.679 He will come again to judge the living of the dead. 00:38:02.000 --> 00:38:04.719 Do y'all believe in God the Holy Spirit? 00:38:05.199 --> 00:38:17.119 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. 00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:23.119 Will y'all continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers? 00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:25.119 I will with God's help. 00:38:25.360 --> 00:38:27.679 Will y'all persevere in resisting evil? 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:31.599 And whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord. 00:38:32.000 --> 00:38:33.440 I will with God's help. 00:38:33.760 --> 00:38:37.920 Will y'all proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ? 00:38:38.320 --> 00:38:40.000 I will with God's help. 00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:45.840 Will y'all seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? 00:38:46.320 --> 00:38:47.920 I will with God's help. 00:38:48.239 --> 00:38:55.039 Will y'all strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being? 00:38:55.840 --> 00:38:57.920 I will with God's help. 00:39:04.159 --> 00:39:05.920 Prayers for the candidates. 00:39:06.159 --> 00:39:15.679 Let us now pray for Sophia, Edison, Ainsley, and McKinley, who are to receive the sacrament of new birth. 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:19.679 Deliver them, O Lord, from the way of sin and death. 00:39:20.320 --> 00:39:22.320 Lord, hear our prayer. 00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:25.840 Open their hearts to your grace and truth. 00:39:26.320 --> 00:39:28.320 Lord, hear our prayer. 00:39:28.719 --> 00:39:32.079 Fill them with your holy and life-giving spirit. 00:39:32.639 --> 00:39:34.480 Lord, hear our prayer. 00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:38.320 Keep them in the faith and communion of your holy church. 00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:40.559 Lord, hear our prayer. 00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:44.400 Teach them to love others in the power of the Spirit. 00:39:44.880 --> 00:39:46.800 Lord, hear our prayer. 00:39:47.119 --> 00:39:50.159 Send them into the world and witness to your love. 00:39:50.800 --> 00:39:52.800 Lord, hear our prayer. 00:39:53.119 --> 00:39:56.320 Bring them to the fullness of your peace and glory. 00:39:56.880 --> 00:39:58.639