Acts 3: 12-19

Prayer for Understanding

God of Word and Wisdom, when the Risen Christ interpreted the scripture to his friends, their hearts burned with excitement. Send us your Holy Spirit to open the scriptures for us today, revealing truth and love that will fill our hearts and change our lives, too.

Last week in Acts we read about the new community of Christ followers who were in Jerusalem.

We read “Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. ³³ With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. ³⁴ There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. ³⁵ They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

The way the early believers lived caught the attention of those who lived around them

They were of one heart and soul and they were a living testament to Jesus

In today’s reading we have Peter, one of the early leaders of the first believers, giving an address at the temple in Jerusalem

Peter and John had healed a man who was unable to walk, and Peter was ensuring that those who had witnessed the miracle knew that this was the work of God

This God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was the one who empowered the apostles to bring gospel love to their world

God who had led the people for generations was still active in the lives of the people

God motivated them, loved them, inspired them

God gave them the gift of community, and God gave them the reason to worship, which was foundational to their community

 

There are communities that are based on things other than God

There are professional associations such as teaching and nursing federations

There are trade guilds

There are student body organizations

And there are associations of retired people to name a few

These organizations are centred on a common goal or purpose, and in the mixing of those who meet to conduct business and promote a cause there is camaraderie and even friendship

These organizations are important

But if they ceased to exit their members would still have purpose in their lives

Faith communities differ from other organizations in that they are founded on God,

In faith communities we hope to find our purpose as God’s people lived out

The community of believers described in Acts was one founded on God just like the congregations of God’s people found all over the world

They were a motley crew who were united in faith in God who had sent the Messiah

What are the similarities between us and that early congregation of believes?

We see that the early believers gathered for worship, they cared for each other and they were witnesses to Jesus

The same things can be said of us

Worship is the central thing that we do

We gather weekly to praise God in word, and now thankfully in song, and in the offering of ourselves to

God’s service

Our worship continues as we go from a place of meeting into God’s world where we share what we know of God

A few weeks ago, we had a session meeting and I asked the elders what they thought the story of their church was

How would they describe this group of God followers and worshippers to someone outside of this community?

These are the things that I heard

This is a place where we come together to worship God and to hear the word of God so that we are equipped for the week to come

Worship is directed to God and worship also invigorates

It is important to our session members that worship is founded on scripture, and that the preacher follows the discipline of the lectionary

In worship we hear how the teachings of God’s word speaks to our day to day living

For some the solitude of a small setting is soul satisfying

This is also a place where holy friendship is shared

People care about one another in this charge

There is interest shown in each other’s lives

Prayers are said for each other

Cards are sent as expressions of caring

We support causes in our community to give the help that is within our ability to give

We worship and serve as a community of believers

Like the early believers we care for each other, and like the early believers we are witnesses to Jesus

The folks here may not be the sort who talk at length about what they believe, and who are ready to go on at length to others about who Jesus is at the drop of a hat

But folks here have a faith that sustains them through the path of life

I have walked with you through times of illness and grief

I have seen grace and courage as challenges have been met

I have heard stories of endurance in the face of addiction, long-term illness and accidents

I hear the concern you have for close friends and extended family as you ask for prayer

I have seen the response to help when there is a need in the community

 

Those who are connected with this community of faith are those who care about the world around them

We have compassion for those how are troubled

We think today of the Queen and the Royal family as the grieve the death of Prince Philip

We think of those in Nova Scotia we have reached the one year milestone of the horrific shooting that happened in 2020

We think of these tragedies, and of others that may not be so well known, that are brought to our attention, and we know that sometimes there are no words

And so we bring our concerns to our compassionate God, trusting that grace will be given as people need it

 

As well as the similarities with the early Church, there is a lot that is different in the way a congregation is organized today

Most modern congregations have a dedicated building

We are recognized by the government as an institution that has rights and privileges in the community

Still, the essential way that we define a congregation of the people of God is by the fact that they are the people of God

We worship and serve God in thought, word, and deed

 

In the days to come there will be time to evaluate your ministry and how you will continue to be a congregation of God’s people

In spite of what we have going for us there are expressions of anxiety

We wonder about the future of the pastoral charge

We wonder about the ability to pay bills

We wonder about being heard as a witness to Jesus in an increasingly secular world

How might we be about ourselves if we looked to what we have rather than what we are lacking?

Firstly, we have genuine faith

As we look about us, we see that those with a vibrant faith are able to find new ways to be a community of faith

Having to handle the pandemic has had us use technology more than we may have otherwise

Congregations that are sharing their worship services on line are discovering that there is more response to the sharing of worship videos than could be imagined

There is also an absence of caustic comments which is a good thing too

People have a need to share in worship experience, and only the church is able to fulfill that need

Congregations across the country are finding that it is in being flexible that continuity is found

This doesn’t mean the need to throw out all tradition and order

It does mean that church building need not be confused with the church, and that those who need such space for a variety of uses can be welcomed

It has become more expensive and difficult for community groups to use schools for meetings and churches can help fill this need

Those who are here today bear witness to how we continue to be the people of God in spite of the unexpected

 

Another thing that we have in common with the early church is that we are counter cultural

Our first loyalty it to God, loving and serving God and sharing that love with our world

Those in the early church were usually able to look at someone on the fringes of society and see an opportunity to share the love of God

We are able to do the same

In whatever we do, we do it to God’s glory

I read a story this week about a talented carpenter who after a long career was ready to retire

His boss asked him to build one more house

Reluctantly he agreed

As the story goes, he was so burned out that he did the shabbiest job ever, cutting corners and using shoddy material

When he finished the house, his boss told him that it was for him as a thank you for all of his work

Upon hearing this the carpenter was to have said “If I had known it was for me I would have done a better job.”

The moral of the story is something along the lines of how people will try to get away with as little as possible and we should strive to do better

There are some things wrong with this story

For starters, I know a number of tradespeople and none of them would ever do a substandard job

In fact, one wood worker that I know thought he would play a trick on me

I had asked him to make a wooden coat rack that would be short enough to fit in he corner of the kitchen in the St Stephen house

It had to be short to fit under a cup rack and towel bar

He promised to get it done right away

A week or so later when I came to church there was a spindly coat rack wanna be sitting the hall

My friend was waiting for me to pitch a fit

I looked at it, and thought that I hadn’t been clear about what I needed and I didn’t want to hurt his feelings, so I said thank you and decided to try to figure out what to do later

One thing I did notice though, was that even though the support bar was too thin for the job and the hooks to hang the coats were just nails, the feet that were made to hold the coat rack up were perfectly square

A good worker is not capable of messing up

After seeing that he was not going to get the reaction he was hoping for he gave me the real one he had made

When I realized what he had been up to I told him what my real reaction had been and he got a bit of a chuckle

The love of Jesus helps us to bring the best of who we are to whatever we do

The world encourages us to look at a problem and try to see who is at fault

Jesus teaches us to look at a problem and try to see how to glorify God

At a certain moment in Nietzsche's life, the idea came to him of what he called 'the love of your fate.' Whatever your fate is, whatever the heck happens, you say, "This is what I need." It may look like a wreck, but go at it as though it were an opportunity, a challenge.

If you bring love to that moment - not discouragement - you will find the strength is there. Any disaster that you can survive is an improvement in your character, your stature, and your life. What a privilege! This is when the spontaneity of your own nature will have a chance to flow. Then, when looking back at your life, you will see that the moments which seemed to be great failures followed by wreckage were the incidents that shaped the life you have now. You'll see that this is really true.

Nothing can happen to you that is not positive. Even though it looks and feels at the moment like a negative crisis, it is not. (Joseph Campbell. Inspiration Peak)

The stories we read of the early church tell us of a group of people who were servants of God

The same God who touched their lives touches ours

Jesus said to the disciples “why are you frightened and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

That group of nervous followers were sent to be witnesses of the things that Jesus said and did

In the same way this group of nervous witnesses are equipped by Jesus to worship and share the gospel.

Invitation to the Offering

Our lives overflow with blessing and goodness in Christ and in creation. Out of the bounty with which God has blessed us, let us present to God our offering with overflowing thankfulness.

Prayer of Dedication

God our Maker, you have given us life in a world filled with so much abundance. In Christ you have given us new life and abundant hope. We offer our gifts to you, knowing they are part of your abundance. Bless them and bless us, that we may bring hope and new life in Christ’s name to a world that so badly needs these gifts. Amen.

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

God our Maker,

Source of Easter power and hope,

You have walked with your faithful people through many generations,

people facing challenge and uncertainty,

people seeking your purpose and promise.

We still face challenges and uncertainty, even with Easter in our hearts.

Walk with us and with those for whom we pray for this day,

so that your resurrecting power may lead us in lives of faithfulness.

In the name of Christ our Risen Lord,

All: Hear our prayer.

We pray for children and young people

who must think about the future in uncertain times

facing threats new to this generation like the pandemic and climate change.

Give them hope rooted in the knowledge that their lives matter to you.

Show them how to make a difference in the world,

whatever threats they face as they grow.

In the name of Christ our Risen Lord,

All: Hear our prayer.

We pray for people for whom age or experience, illness or disability

create barriers to full participation in your world.

Surround each one in pain or despair with your comfort

and renew in each one a sense of dignity and purpose.

Show them how much they matter to you and to us.

In the name of Christ our Risen Lord,

All: Hear our prayer.

We pray for all those facing grief and loss in these difficult days

when it is still so hard to gather for support.

Stay with those who must rearrange their lives without their beloved.

Give them strength and comfort through your promise of resurrection.

We pray for communities challenged by forces beyond their control—

natural disaster, political strife and the economic consequence of the pandemic.

Give courage to those facing challenges, and wisdom to those who lead,

so that well-being may be restored soon

and hope for the future prevail.

We think today of the members of the Royal family, especially her majesty Queen Elizabeth who mourns the death of her husband

We think too of those in Nova Scotia who are remembering the events of last year when they were subject to the actions of a heartless shooter who took the lives of many

We pray now for those we know who grieve who we name in our hearts…

In the name of Christ our Risen Lord,

All: Hear our prayer.

 

As Earth Day approaches this week,

we remember before you the struggles within your creation,

creatures losing habitat, unique species dying out, oceans filled with plastic,

the climate warming and the havoc that results for all of us.

Jesus, you are the firstborn of all creation;

Help us to honour you by caring for the earth and its fragile balances

in the ways we live and the priorities we set.

In these ways, too, we would be your disciples

and so we pray the words you taught us:

 

The Lord’s Prayer