Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Service of the Word
June 27, 2021
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GATHERING
A woman finds healing by touching Jesus’ cloak, and a girl is restored to life when he takes her by the hand. In both cases a boundary is crossed: in Jesus’ time the hemorrhaging woman was considered ritually unclean, polluting others by her touch, and anyone who touched a corpse also became unclean. In Mark’s gospel Jesus breaks down barriers, from his first meal at a tax collector’s house to his last breath on the cross as the temple curtain is torn in two. We dare to touch Jesus in our “uncleanness” and to live as a community that defines no one as an outsider.
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WELCOME
I figure I've welcomed folks to worship at Nativity over the years about 500 times; this one is different in that it's the final time I'll do so. But it's also no different than the thousands of times those words have been spoken on a Sunday morning here before I arrived and the many more occasions pastors will greet parishioners stretching into the future; all have been heartfelt and hopefully an expression of our affection for you and hospitality offered to all.
On the other hand, you can count on one hand the times pastors have said 'farewell' to Nativity; by my reckoning I'm the 4th to do in the past 5 decades. All have stayed long enough to establish deep relationships and try to make the most of opportunities in ministry...but not so long that we couldn't step aside and make way for the promise of meaningful change and growth. I do believe I'm the 1st to retire as your pastor...I guess I've simply run out of time!
I want you to know, in the words of the old time hymn: "It is well with my soul"...and I hope yours as well. Remember, traveling with Jesus guarantees safe and sound arrivals, even if the seas be a bit choppy along the way. Our fare has been paid on the cross, that truth and our faith frees us. The only item on the bill of fare that provides true tasty nourishment for us is love. That makes church into a ministry fair: go on a ride, play the games of skill and take a chance, the arts, produce, and livestock flourish, music is in the air, parade, exhibit, fireworks abound. Since we serve and are the Body of Christ, we are a carnival of sights and sounds that delight and can light up the darkest of nights. And may you encounter more than your fair share of fair weather and Sonny skies!
It has been said that life can be divided into three periods : Learning, Earning, and Yearning. I guess looking back I spent 25 years in the first part in preparation for 40 years of earning, not just a living but occasionally a bit of respect and the fruits of retirement. Now comes the yearning; being a fan of symmetry 25 years of that would be just fine with me! If you asked me what I yearn for, what I crave, long for, desire, the locus for my future passion, I can clearly answer: 'I don't know...yet'. There is but one yearning of which my heart is set on today: to see Nativity successful. There is no question for me as to your faithfulness; now I would wish all the gifts of God come your way so that you may achieve that which will be fulfilling for both congregation and community.
As for this day's Service of the Word, you should know that the songs are five of my all time favorites, especially the finale. Not only are the words perfect for this occasion, the tune makes me weep. "Oh Danny Boy" is often sung at an Irish wake; today is anything but funerial. It's more like a wedding...we are both married to a past of blessing and a future abundant in hope. There may be a tear shed, but it's one of true Joy. So let us celebrate, bringing our thanks for our yesterdays, tomorrows, and especially now the present of this most pleasant hour. PB
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Confession and Forgiveness
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
Blessed be the holy Trinity,☩ one God,
the God of manna,
the God of miracles,
the God of mercy.
Amen.
Drawn to Christ and seeking God’s abundance,
let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
God, our provider,
help us.
It is hard to believe there is enough to share.
We question your ways when they differ from the ways
of the world in which we live.
We turn to our own understanding
rather than trusting in you.
We take offense at your teachings and your ways.
Turn us again to you.
Where else can we turn?
Share with us the words of eternal life
and feed us for life in the world.
Amen.
Beloved people of God:
in Jesus, the manna from heaven,
you are fed and nourished.
By Jesus, the worker of miracles,
there is always more than enough.
Through Jesus, ☩ the bread of life,
you are shown God’s mercy:
you are forgiven and loved into abundant life.
Amen.
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GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Amen
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PRAYER OF THE DAY
Almighty and merciful God, we implore you to hear the prayers of your people. Be our strong defense against all harm and danger, that we may live and grow in faith and hope, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
WORD
First Reading: Lamentations 3:22-33
The book of Lamentations is one of our most important sources of information about the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 587 BCE. Though the people admit that God’s judgment was just, today’s reading declares a fervent trust that God will not leave them forever.
22The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
23they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
25The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
26It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
27It is good for one to bear
the yoke in youth,
28to sit alone in silence
when the Lord has imposed it,
29to put one’s mouth to the dust
(there may yet be hope),
30to give one’s cheek to the smiter,
and be filled with insults.
31For the Lord will not
reject forever.
32Although he causes grief, he will have compassion
according to the abundance of his steadfast love;
33for he does not willingly afflict
or grieve anyone.
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
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Psalm: Psalm 30
I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have lifted me up. (Ps. 30:1)
1I will exalt you, O Lord, because you have lifted me up
and have not let my enemies triumph over me.
2O Lord my God, I cried out to you,
and you restored me to health.
3You brought me up, O Lord, from the dead;
you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.
4Sing praise to the Lord, all you faithful;
give thanks in holy remembrance.
5God’s wrath is short; God’s favor lasts a lifetime.
Weeping spends the night, but joy comes in the morning.
6While I felt secure, I said,
“I shall never be disturbed.
7You, Lord, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains.”
Then you hid your face, and I was filled with fear.
8I cried to you, O Lord;
I pleaded with my Lord, saying,
9“What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?
10Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me;
O Lord, be my helper.”
11You have turned my wailing into dancing;
you have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
12Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing;
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:7-15
Paul encourages the Corinthians to honor their commitment to participate in the collection his churches are organizing for the Christians in Jerusalem. He presents Jesus as an example of selfless stewardship and reminds them that Christians have received abundantly so that they can share abundantly.
7Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.
8I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. 9For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. 10And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something—11now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. 12For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. 13I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between 14your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. 15As it is written,
“The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little.”
Word of God, word of life.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia. Our Savior Jesus Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Alleluia.
(2 Tim. 1:10)
The holy gospel according to Mark.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Gospel: Mark 5:21-43
Jairus, a respected leader, begs Jesus to heal his daughter. A woman with a hemorrhage was considered ritually unclean and treated as an outcast. Both Jairus and the unnamed woman come to Jesus in faith, believing in his power to heal and bring life out of death.
21When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24So he went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32He looked all around to see who had done it. 33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”
35While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
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SERMON
In the name the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
When my retirement was set some months ago for 1 July, making today a farewell Sunday, it was just that: a date on the calendar. Fixing the day was all we could do, given that no one could predict what would happen between then and now. As we navigated the journey week by week, questions were asked and answered, and along with a great deal of trust and patience, we've made it thus far by faith.
Maybe it's the Irish tune of our Sending Song today, but I'm feeling lucky; maybe 'blessed' is a better choice of words. For all I knew, everyone might again have been resigned to reading a goodbye sermon instead of listening to one; or if you did it might be huddled around your FM radio in the parking lot. Instead, we have been invited to return to our sanctuary, replete with organ, sound, and AC! I am sure I would have felt let down if I couldn't come full circle and return 'indoors' with you; now I am over the moon. The timing allowed me a month to properly welcome our neighbors from Messiah and be more engaged with our partners already on property as we together began preparing for a pastoral change. Retirement will be abnormal enough; I'm grateful to capture a glimpse of normality before I go.
The one thing I didn't do until just a week or two ago was check the texts from scripture that serve today's 5th Sunday after Pentecost; I wanted to know what readings I'd be working with for my last sermon with Nativity...and if I'm never invited by another congregation, then my career. I was fortunate again to have Pastor Erin from our Synod graciously assure us she would be with us for my last Sunday...it was a win/win for me. If the Gospel spoke to me and allowed for a decent message, I would welcome it gladly. On the off chance it befuddled me, I was going to ask her to preach! I am thankful for the work of the three pastors on the Synod Staff, Bishop Ortiz, Pastor Lamar, & Erin for their caring support and transformational leadership in this transitional time. Now I best get preaching..
One of the intentions and invitatories of Gospel accounts is found in finding yourself in the stories. Today's takes that to a whole new level, so when I read it anew I was smiling and well pleased, for this part of the 5th chapter of Mark leads me to conclude that, for the purposes of our proceedings this story is Nativity's story as well. Stay with me for a bit, and maybe at the end you will agree.
This is drama, Mark is good at it, so we might as well play it out. I would audition for the part of Jairus. There he goes again, trying to take center stage and hog the spotlight...maybe a little bit. But I'm well suited to play the character; leader of the synagogue, in former times for us you wouldn't address me as 'PB', instead it would have been 'FB': Father Brent. That's the point of contact and his reason for coming to Jesus, and I feel the same lightweight of parenthood. While I never had a daughter to raise, we have a new granddaughter born this week, when I meet her I will more than match Jairus' feeling for his with mine for mine...at least mine has a name: Sloane Elizabeth,.
But it's not in these things I find commonality with Jairus...he has only one line, and it's all about the begging. When I began as Pastor of Nativity, I did the same thing he did; needing all the help he could get, he begged Jesus to come along with him and maybe a healing can happen. And there hasn't been a day when I haven't pled, beseeched, or supplicated that Jesus accompany this poor pastor on a journey to wholeness, on behalf of the health of his children and my charge. And I heard Jesus say 'Yes' and felt him always at and on my side.
So it's Jairus and Jesus tooling along, on their way to a healing, until the inevitable distraction when Jesus is sidetracked by a suffering woman. The middle portion of this Gospel is worthy of comment, maybe another whole sermon. Uh, no...don't forget it's my last Sunday, so I have neither time or inclination to tackle it. But if I did, I'd note that this woman had hemorrhaged for exactly as long as Jairus' daughter had been alive; one recipient of healing is much like the other, and Jesus never has to choose....he will always accomplish both! And when he addresses her after the healing, he calls her by name: 'Daughter'.
These two disparate stories are really just one, when you realize the middle part only adds to the bookend account for Jairus. I can sympathize with him: just when you thought you were on your way, your tight window is smashed when Jesus stops, you are left tapping your foot, cooling your heels, and probably seething. And Jesus reminds us that he loves everyone and no one has dibs on the love of our Lord. In fact Jesus healed this woman for the sake of Jairus and his daughter by upping the ante, raising the stakes, and requiring even more belief, trust, faith from this father.
Before Jairus can get to Jesus' elbow, he is met with the gut punch news that his daughter had died while they were in a delayed transit...'oh if Jesus had only not dallied, this doom might have been prevented'. I know that feeling, maybe you, dear reader, do too. This was the moment of truth for both: Jesus looked Jairus in the eye and said 'Pay no attention to anyone except me and the love for your daughter and believe in both'. Jesus can heal, but his specialty is resurrection....and he's about to go to work.
I've invited you to find yourself in the story. Maybe you're a face in the crowd, consumed with weeping and wailing over the inevitability of failure and demise....quite a commotion. Or you may be part of the laughing throng, ridiculing the preposterous notion that death does not have the last word, or that believers could do anything to stop it. If you are, you'll never be there for the miracle; Jesus puts them out of the house and gathers his faithful followers, the ones who trust in him and he them; then he reaches out and takes the wee one by the hand and said to her "Get Up". And if you listen closely, Jesus is saying the same word to us here and now.
Nativity is facing the proposition of a rebirth, you too may need some time, like she did, to regain her balance. Take your time and be generous with yourself. Then, having been nourished by the grace of God, she began her life again all over again. I wonder what happened to this unnamed child of God; what was the rest of her life like? We don't know, but this I do; along with the great privilege of Easter comes great response ability! What you might accomplish for others will never remain unknown nor ever be forgotten.
The final line from Mark provides my last word. I've changed my mind about a lot of things, and in this case so has Jesus. Instead of instructing those who've witnessed resurrection to clam up and keep quiet, he now has changed his tune. Jesus would now like us to tell everyone we know about his life giving power; we do that best by living together and reaching out to others in love. But Jesus is sticking to the story in telling us that our part is to give as well something for the world to eat. Start building your menu now, but know if you start with the Bread of Life, then the sky's the limit.
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your heart and mind in + Christ Jesus our Lord.
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HYMN OF THE DAY WOV # 778 |
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APOSTLES' CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
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,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come 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.
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PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Let us come before the triune God in prayer.
A brief silence.
God of hope, the ministry of your church extends across borders, from nearby neighbors to far and distant countries. Accompany all those who labor eagerly in service of the gospel, that through your good news all might experience transformation. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Almighty God, we give you thanks for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the land that provides our food. Guard all species of plants and animals from harsh changes in climate and empower us to protect all you have made. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Righteous God, we pray for nations and their leaders. Give them a spirit of compassion and steer them towards a fair distribution of resources; that none among us would have too much or too little. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of healing, your touch has the power to make us whole. We pray for those suffering from physical or mental illness. Embrace those who are sick (especially). Surround them with your unwavering presence. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for this assembly and all those gathered together in worship. Revive our spirits, renew our relationships, and rekindle our faith, that we might experience resurrection in this community. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
We give thanks for the faithful ancestors in every age whose lives have pointed us towards you (especially). Envelop them in your love, that (with Cyril, Bishop of Alexandria, and all your saints) we may be reunited with one another in the last days. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your abiding grace.
Amen.
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PEACE
Call or text someone with whom you may ordinarily sit on Sundays, or a friend, family member, neighbor, or co-worker. Share the Peace of the Lord with them.
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OFFERING
Offer at this time to care for someone that may need you this week,,,and make a commitment to support Nativity in any way you are able.
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PRESENTATION OF GIFTS ELW 748 |
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PRAYER
Jesus, Bread of life,
you have set this table with your very self,
and called us to the feast of plenty.
Gather what has been sown among us,
and strengthen us in this meal.
Make us to be what we receive here,
your body for the life of the world.
Amen.
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LORD'S PRAYER
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 forever. Amen.
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BLESSING
The blessing of God,
who provides for us, feeds us, and journeys with us,
☩ be upon you now and forever.
Amen.
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DISMISSAL
Go in peace. You are the body of Christ.
Thanks be to God.
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NATIVITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
1300 COLLINGWOOD RD
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22301
Brent H. Thalacker, Pastor
Cell: 571-236-4976
bthalacker@cox.net
momwendel57@gmail.com
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