John 3: 1-17

In our gospel lesson today we heard the well known story of Nicodemus going to visit Jesus at night

Nicodemus was full of questions about his faith journey

You might think that he would be past the question asking stage

He was after all a Pharisee, a leader of the Jews

Surely by the time a person got to that place in life the questions would be over, and the faith journey would be complete

Experience shows us that those who grow in faith, and who are in close touch with God, are those who are continually open to questions and growth

They are those who recognize that God is bigger than we could imagine, and who are open to new experiences of faith

Nicodemus had achieved a place of respect in his faith community

And when he heard Jesus, Nicodemus recognized someone who had been sent by God

Up to this point Nicodemus would have lived with respect for the law of God

He would know that there was a beauty in the prayers and readings that were a part of his daily life

He would love God as creator of the world, and as the God who gave order and purpose to life

When he went through his rituals, they would be reminders of the presence of God in all things

We may be skeptical of the value of the rites of the ancient Jewish people

But the rites did not distance them from God, they were the directors to God

Nicodemus came to Jesus full of questions and he was given answers that made him think

As a result of this night time conversation with Jesus Nicodemus had his scope broadened

The walk of faith is one that takes us through our entire life

 

From time to time, we meet people who are not content to rest in their faith, but who greet the day looking for what new thing God may have in store

One such woman was Dr Margaret Kennedy who was a missionary of the PCC with the Bhil people in India

Margaret was a member of the Order of Diaconal Ministries, and someone I came to know fairly well when I was a student

A few years after graduation I was part of a committee planning a retreat for members of the order, as was Margaret

When we were trying to decide what the subject matter for our gathering might be, Margaret suggested a book she had read “Creative Ministry” by Henri Nouwen.

Those of us who were members of the order were those with a strong faith and a proven calling to ministry

However the way we were taught came down heavier on the side of programming than spirituality, much in keeping with the traditions of our congregations (This distinction was not absolute, but it was there – it was also in keeping with the expectations of congregations that looked to diaconal ministers to lead study groups and run children’s programs)

“Creative Ministry” was a departure from program based ministry, and Margaret was excited about this new insight

In this book Nouwen suggests that every Christians is a minister, and that ministry whether it be expressed as teaching, preaching, counseling, organizing, or celebrating, is inextricably tied to the minister’s spiritual life.

“There is today a great hunger for a new spirituality,” observes Nouwen, a hunger that requires new and creative forms of ministry.

When Margaret suggested this book to her colleagues and friends, she was well into her retirement years, at a place where she could get away with resting on what she had already learned and practised, but her faith was alive and vital, and she was open to new expressions of what she had been given by God

Such a journey of faith is one that can be exciting or it can create some anxiety

For example, growing in faith could be a stretch for those in the African American community in the late 1800’s as this story shows

Some freed slaves had settled in a community in Kansas that they called Nicodemus, because they could relate to Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night

They too had to come to Jesus at night in their slave days

It was forbidden to them to read the Bible, lest they uncover the message that Scripture had about slavery so they read scripture at night

Like Nicodemus they came to Jesus at night, and like Nicodemus they found light and life

(Daniel Burke. Washington Post)

When Nicodemus came to Jesus, he asked the kinds of questions that we might ask

He recognized that Jesus was sent from God, and even though Nicodemus was a religious leader he did not understand Jesus’s symbolic answers

He wanted to know about God in human terms

But God is not black and white, and neither is the kingdom of God

Jesus said to Nicodemus that he must be born from above

They talk about what this means and what it means to be born again

Then Jesus tells Nicodemus that he is speaking of earthly things

And most importantly he tells Nicodemus that he, Jesus, did not come to the world to condemn the world but to save it

One thing we can take from this is that Jesus is not giving Nicodemus symbolic answers to trick him

He is not trying to make Nicodemus feel bad that he doesn’t understand the symbols

He is using symbols because that is how we understand God, and Jesus will be the way to bring people into God’s presence

There is light and life for Nicodemus through Jesus

The song that we heard just before the sermon invites us to wait with God like those who have gone before us

Mary was being asked to do something different and frightening

She was a young woman in a community with strict rules for morality, and she was with child

Later when she and Joseph married, they were to go on a journey to Bethlehem because the authorities said so

She was on a journey whose destination was unknown

For her waiting with God meant trust

Joseph waited in confusion

We are told he was a righteous man

When Mary was found to be with child, he could have called for a harsh consequence for her, but he was going to quietly end the betrothal

He may have been asking “why me?”

Joseph was fair and faithful and his world was falling apart

We may have felt that way this year

We are faced with limitations and worry about health outcomes that our behaviour does not seem to affect

To others unfair treatment because of gender, race or sexuality is experienced every day

Like Joseph, we wait in confusion for the wisdom and compassion of God to break through to us

 

John the baptizer was waiting at the river which was the place where he was told to go and preach and baptize

He was waiting for the coming Messiah, and he knew he was part of the way God would prepare the world for what was to come

Simeon and Anna had been faithful for generations, and in their old age they were given a glimpse of God’s plan

Their wait was long

 

In our faith journeys all of these things may be realized

We may be confused, on a mysterious journey, on the path of obedience, or on the path of patience

Today we are all at a place of transition

I will be going on to retirement

And you are beginning a time of dreaming, planning and searching

It may feel more like Mary’s journey with an unknown destination than the more confident one of John’s

But regardless of what your experience of your journey is

You do not go alone.

 

Nicodemus was on a faith journey

He had head knowledge

He had experience of the faith community

He knew the presence of God

He could identify Jesus as someone sent by God

He knew what God was like

Even with all this knowledge Nicodemus knew that he needed more

To find out more about his faith life he went to the one that he knew was sent by God

He stepped outside of traditions to find the answers he needed

This may be where the church of Jesus Christ finds itself today

Our traditions have been good for us

We have learned about God

We have learned how to worship

We have also received the respect of the community at large

As far as the community at large goes, who seen content to simply watch from a distance, how do we let people know that what we have is so much more than a group of well intentioned people who enjoy being together?

And so we journey

And so we wait

And we reflect upon how our faith can impact others

 

The idea is around that vibrant ministry happens with young people

In response to that I say that vibrant ministry happens with those who have a vibrant faith

My spiritual director is a woman with much experience behind her.

She has witnessed much change in her life

In spite of this she is not stuck in the faith of fifty years ago.

And she helps others to see and know God in new and vital ways

She has compassion for the down trodden

Her prayers are informed as she brings to God concerns for the conflicted parts of the world and for social justice

Increasingly the population is made up of those who are full of years (to use a phrase from the book of Job)

These are often the ones who have the chance to learn the lessons of compassion and patience

Their faith needs to be nurtured too, and through the media we are being made aware of the need of the community of the elderly

What would it be like if congregational worship was taken outside the walls of the sanctuary?

Would we be given life and joy by bringing community to others?

We see in the gospel story that Jesus was open to talking with those who are asking questions, and teaching truth that will help them to grow.

The truth that Jesus gives to Nicodemus; that he must be born from above, is the truth that we need as well.

This is not something that we have to hold over others,

Not a way of making us out to be better or closer to God,

But a way that the spirit is at work in our lives enabling us to be born of water and the spirit.

We are invited to be born from above or born anew.

When I asked the session members what was important or defining in our congregational life

I heard about a quiet place to meditate

I heard about faithfulness to scripture

I heard about caring for one another

While our sanctuaries are places of comfort to us

They are not needed to worship or to be a community of faith

When we encounter God, we become new people.

 

We are God’s people the chosen of the Lord

Born of the Spirit established by the Word

Our cornerstone is Christ alone, and strong in him we stand

Oh, let us live transparently and walk heart to heart and hand in hand.

 

Invitation to the OfferingTrinity Sunday proclaims the outpouring of love within God’s own being, for God’s very nature is love. May our gifts offer an outpouring of our love for God and our willingness to put that love into action in God’s world.

 

Prayer of DedicationGod of overflowing love, receive our gifts as signs of our love and commitment to live for you. Bless our gifts and our lives, that they may accomplish more than we can ask or imagine, as we follow Jesus, equipped by the Spirit to serve you well and wisely. Amen.

 

Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession

(Based on ancient liturgies of the church that mark celebrations of the Trinity)

Lord, our God,

whose power is beyond compare

with glory beyond our understanding;

whose mercy is boundless, and love for us is endless;

look upon us in your compassion.

 

For peace that calms our hearts and saves our souls,

and for peace in the whole world and throughout creation,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

 

For the stability of the church and the unity of this congregation,

for all who desire to follow you with faith and reverence,

and for the ministries of your church around the world

in these challenging times,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

 

For our country, our leaders, and all those in public service

(names may be added as you say this)

for this city, and for every city and nation,

and for all who offer themselves with diligence and compassion

as months of pandemic stretch on,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

 

For the Indigenous people in Canada,

for the nurturing of relationships between cultures and communities,

for healing of old hurts and for repentance and reconciliation,

for new and better ways to walk with one another in respect and care,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

 

For the safety of those who must travel by land, sea, and air,

for those who long to travel but cannot,

and for all those who are separated from those they love,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

 

For the sick, the suffering, and the isolated,

for victims of violence, refugees and captives,

and for our protection against all affliction, danger, and distress,

let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.

 

To you, Holy God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

belongs all glory, honour and worship,

now and forever, and to the ages of ages.

Hear us now as we pray in the words that Jesus taught us:

 

The Lord’s Prayer