READING: Romans 10:5-15 and Matthew 14:22-33
SERMON : "Stepping Out - Taking The Risk"
Rev. Richard J. Fairchild
a-or19sm 499000
The following is a more or less complete liturgy and sermon
for the upcoming Sunday. Hymn numbers, designated as VU are
found in the United Church of Canada Hymnal "Voices United".
SFPG is "Songs For A Gospel People", also available from the UCC.
The Prayers of The People and The Prayer of Dedication are
taken and extensively modified from John Maynard's
(maynard@SYMPAC.COM.AU) "Prayers and Litanies for Ordinary
19" as sent to the PRCL-List, August 1999).
GATHERING AND MUSICAL PRELUDE (* = please stand)
* ENTRANCE & CANDLE LIGHTING
* WORDS OF WELCOME AND CALL TO WORSHIP (based on Psalm 85:8-13)
L The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
P And also with you.
L Let us hear what God will speak, for he will speak peace to
his faithful people, to those who turn to him in their
hearts.
P Salvation is near for those who fear God,
God's glory will dwell in our land.
L Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will embrace one other.
P Faithfulness will spring up from the earth,
and righteousness will look down from heaven.
L God will give what is good,
our land will yield its harvest.
P Righteousness will go before the Lord,
peace will make a path for his steps.
* INTROIT: "Spirit of The Living God" (VU-376)
* PRAYER OF INVOCATION:
Most loving and gracious God - in the name of Christ we gather
before you and pray for your presence to empower us. We ask that
your Spirit would fill us and make this time a holy time that is
pleasing to you. We ask that you would help us to do that which
you call us to do - and to make us a people whose praise and
devotion bring unto you the everlasting glory that is due to your
most wonderful name. Breath into us this day that we may bring
your life and your light to all whom we meet. Amen.
* HYMN: "Will Your Anchor Hold" - VU 675
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND SHARING JOYS AND CONCERNS
Gathering in of prayer joys and concerns.
INTROIT For The Word of God (please stay seated):
Open my ears, that I may hear voices of truth thou sendest clear;
and while the wave notes fall on my ear, everything false will disappear.
Silently now I wait for thee, ready, my God, thy will to see.
Open my ears, illumine me, Spirit divine! (VU 371 v.2 & refrain)
A READING FROM ROMANS 10:5-15
(NRSV) Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes
from the law, that "the person who does these things will
live by them." {6} But the righteousness that comes from
faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into
heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) {7} "or 'Who will
descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from
the dead). {8} But what does it say? "The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith
that we proclaim); {9} because if you confess with your lips
that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised
him from the dead, you will be saved. {10} For one believes
with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with
the mouth and so is saved. {11} The scripture says, "No one
who believes in him will be put to shame." {12} For there is
no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord
of all and is generous to all who call on him. {13} For,
"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
{14} But how are they to call on one in whom they have not
believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they
have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to
proclaim him? {15} And how are they to proclaim him unless
they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet
of those who bring good news!"
L This is the word of the Lord.
P Thanks be to God.
HYMN: "Jesus, Saviour, Pilot Me" - VU 637
RESPONSIVE READING: Psalm 105:1-11 (VU 828, Part One) and Sung
Refrain
A READING FROM MATTHEW 14:22-33
(NRSV) Immediately he made the disciples get into the
boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed
the crowds. {23} And after he had dismissed the crowds, he
went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening
came, he was there alone, {24} but by this time the boat,
battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind
was against them. {25} And early in the morning he came
walking toward them on the sea. {26} But when the
disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified,
saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out in fear. {27}
But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, "Take heart,
it is I; do not be afraid." {28} Peter answered him,
"Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the
water." {29} He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the
boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus.
{30} But when he noticed the strong wind, he became
frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord,
save me!" {31} Jesus immediately reached out his hand and
caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did
you doubt?" {32} When they got into the boat, the wind
ceased. {33} And those in the boat worshipped him, saying,
"Truly you are the Son of God."
L This is the gospel of our Risen Lord.
P Praise be to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
* HYMN: "Eternal Father, Strong To Save - VU 659
SERMON: "Stepping Out - Taking The Risk"
Let us Pray: Breathe on us, O God, that we may be filled
with your Spirit - and led by your living word - Jesus
Christ our Lord. Bless the word of my lips and the
meditations of our hearts. We ask it in his name. Amen.
There are two levels to the story in our Gospel today -
- the level in which we see Jesus as the stiller of the storm;
as the one who brings peace to those who sail through life in
the boat called the church -
- and the level in which we see Jesus as the one who bestows
power; as the one who calls to his followers - to those who
are willing to step out of the safety of the boat - "come to
me" - and who supports them when they do so.
It is this second level to the story that I want us to think
about today - the level at which we see Jesus as the giver of
power to those who, as a part of his church - are willing take a
chance.
Think with me on the whole episode of Peter and his trip out upon
the water. Think with me of how he was willing to risk all on
the word of his master.
We hear in the gospel story that the disciples have been
commanded by Jesus to take a boat and go before him to the other
side of the Sea of Galilee while Jesus stays behind to dismiss
the crowds that had gathered to listen to him.
By evening Jesus was alone - praying - and the disciples were far
from shore, being battered by wind and waves. They struggle
almost all night against the storm that is crashing down against
them, and they struggle successfully, until near dawn they see an
apparition - they see someone or something - walking across the
water towards them - and they are terrified and quite naturally
given the circumstances, they cry out in fear.
Immediately Jesus, for it is he who is walking upon the water,
responds to the disciple's fear with the words - "Take heart, it
is I, do not be afraid."
Peter answers Jesus first - saying
"Lord - if it is you - command me to come to you on the water."
And Jesus answers by saying "Come". And Peter climbs over the
edge of the boat and puts his feet upon the water, and begins to
walk towards Jesus.
Now some people dismiss the miracles recorded in the bible as
simply tall tales. They claim that the stories of healing and of
resurrection and of walking on water are but symbols for other
things.
I don't agree with these people at all - I don't agree that these
things never happened because I know that miracles occur, that
people do get healed, that the dead are raised; and that many
other marvellous, unexplainable things occur when people call
upon the Lord.
Even so - most of the miracle stories in the bible are symbolic in that
they teach us things about life and about faith even as they tell us
about the marvellous things that Jesus and the disciples did.
And the story of Peter walking upon the water towards Jesus is
one of these.
It shows us what can happen when we respond to the call of Jesus,
it shows us how we can triumph over the forces of chaos and
meaninglessness,
it shows us how, when we take chance on the word of Jesus,
his power lifts us up and allows us to weather the storms
of life and do something new.
Think about it - Peter did not need to get out of the boat.
He did not need to venture forth upon the stormy waters. He
could have simply stayed where he was and waited for the Lord to
come to him. He could have sheltered himself in the safety of
the boat in the knowledge that everything would be okay now that
the Lord was coming to him and the other disciples
But he did not.
Instead Peter took a chance.
He asked the Lord to bid him to come to him,
He asked the Lord for the power to meet him in the middle of the
sea.
Here is courage indeed -
The courage to venture forth into danger and to do what the Lord
has said can be done; the courage to risk taking a step that does
not really need to be taken, simply because the Lord tells him it
can be taken.
Most people suffer from a lack of boldness,
a lack of courage - even Christians suffer in this way.
Given the choice between continuing in a situation where,
despite the burdens and the dangers that are all around,
there is a reasonable degree of safety,
and venturing out into a new and unknown situation,
where the dangers seem even greater and where there is no
apparent safety net,
most people will elect to stay put - to stay where they are.
Thus it is that women will stay in a home where they and their
children are being abused
rather than walk out and try to find a new life.
Thus it is that men will work for years in a job that is slowly
destroying their health and happiness - rather than risk their
homes and their security by returning to school or starting their
own businesses.
Thus it is that teenagers will not speak to someone whom they are
attracted to because they are afraid of botching up - afraid of
being laughed at and rejected.
Thus it is that people who have had dreams of travelling around
the world or of doing something else very special will stay where
they are and allow their dreams to wither and die.
What have we been afraid to do?
What have we postponed because we dreaded the possible
consequences?
Who have we have avoided because we did not know what to say to
them?
Where have we refused to go because we feared what might happen
there?
What goal have we hid from because we have felt inadequate?
What dream have we let wither and die?
Sometime we need to get out of the safety of boat. We need to
say to the Lord, "Lord, if it is you - bid me come to you."
I am not saying here today to go out and take a wild chance on
the first thing that comes along - but I am saying - if you have
a dream - or if you are in a situation where wholeness and
happiness are elusive - and you hear the master calling to you to
take a chance - if you see that you can do something to help
someone else - or simply feel that God is calling you to change
something in your life that seems unchangeable - risk it.
Some of you know that on the inside of Charlene's and my wedding
bands are engraved the hebrew word "L'Chaim". - life.
We had those words engraved their because to us our marriage
represented a choice -
- the choice to either elect a new kind of life, a life
together in which we sought wholeness,
- or to stay in our old lives - to stay apart - with the old
ways still dominating us.
Our marriage, like the marriage of most people - was a risk
a risk that we did not have to take - but we chose it -
we chose it with the prayer that God will do something wonderful
for us - and indeed for others - through it.
Peter - though he did not need to - in the absolute sense of the
word need - got out of the boat - and - upon the bidding of the
Lord - walked upon the sea.
And he did well - his faith held him up - the power of Christ
held him up,
and he continued to do well until he forget about that power that
he had called upon,
he did well until he focussed upon the danger he was in,
till he looked at the strong wind and the waves - and became
afraid.
Then he began to sink..
When we take a risk - when we venture out upon the bidding of the
Lord to do something new, or simply to fulfil what we believe our
calling is - it is very important that we remember to stay
focussed on our goal - to trust that God will see us through
despite what is happening all around us.
A helicopter pilot who flew from an aircraft carrier in the
Pacific told this story.
"I was flying the helicopter back to the ship when a
blinding fog rolled in. Flying at a low altitude, I knew
that a single mistake would plunge me and my crew into the
ocean. Worse yet, I was experiencing a complete loss of
balance - which is common for pilots flying by
instruments. This loss of balance - known as vertigo -
was so bad that despite the instrument readings I was
certain that I was lying on my side. For 15 minutes I
flew the helicopter by its instruments, fighting the urge
to turn it according to my feeling. When we finally broke
safely through the fog, I was deeply thankful I had being
trained to rely upon my instruments rather than on my
feelings.
That is what people who live by faith do - they remember that
feelings can be misleading, but the truths in God's word are
reliable, trustworthy, and consistent.
When we believe and act on these truths, we eventually break
through the fog and experience the fulfilment of divine promise.
Peter - when he is overcome by fear, when he starts to walk
according to his feelings instead of by the instruments of faith
- begins to sink. His risk looks as if it has failed - but, as
our story shows - it does not fail.
Pete sinks - but as he sinks Peter remembers from whence his help
comes - and he cries out - "Lord! Save me!"
And Jesus reaches out his hand and catches him.
That is what the Lord does when we risk as well; it is what he
does when he bids us come to him over the dangerous waters.
When we step out,
when we take a risk to come closer to God, and then falter...
the hand of Jesus reaches out to us and lifts us up.
All we have to do is remember - and focus on him once again.
Jesus says to Peter after reaching out to him to save him,
he says, and I believe he says it gently - he says "You of
little faith, why did you doubt?"
When we take a risk for the Lord,
when we dare to do what is right,
when we decide to go an extra mile - a mile that we need not walk
- but which Jesus tells us we can walk - he is near to us to help us.
We do not need to doubt the outcome.
We do not need to fear the adversity we encounter on the way.
All we need to do is keep focussed on Jesus, to look to where our
help comes from. All we need to do is ask for the help we need
and trust that it will come.
Like Peter who stepped out of the boat and walked on the water
towards the Lord who had called him - we too can step out,
and we really ought to step out,
to respond to the Lord who bids us come to him.
When we do power flows,
When we do marvellous things happen,
When we do we discover new things about ourselves and our world.
We can risk,
because we have a powerful Lord watching over us,
We can trust,
because we have a forgiving God caring for us,
We can step out
because we have a God who is sure to save.
Blessed be God - day by day. Amen
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray: O God, when trials beset us it is natural to fear.
You call us to be courageous, but we often find our faith
lacking. When asked to take risks, we often take the easy way
out. And when unfair things happen to other people, we are often
too timid to speak out. But you, O Lord, are the God of justice
and compassion; you are to be trusted! Have mercy on us.
Forgive us our sin. Lead us forward even when the way seems
dangerous... Lord, hear our prayer...
Lord God - help us all to take risks in your name - to do that
which others think impossible - to do that which we think
impossible. Help us to dream and to do, to plan and to execute,
to start and to finish, secure in the knowledge that from you
comes salvation, from you comes the power that we need... Lord
hear our Prayer...
Saving God, we remember before you today nations and communities
with cause to despair: we hold before those countries at war; and
those which are divided and living in conflict....
We remember before You:
- the oppressed and the persecuted; especially our brothers
and sisters in India and Indonesia who suffer for your name.
We remember before you
- the poor and the needy; especially the children of Rwanda
and those who live on the streets in the cities of our land
and lands beyond our borders.
We remember too those who discriminated against;
- and communities where law and order, morality and respect,
have broken down.
And lastly this day, as a community and family of faith, we
remember before you those who we have named this morning: those
who grieve, those who are sick, those with chronic illness, and
those who are entering hospital. We hold before you:
-
-
We ask you to hear all our prayers, O God, in the name of the one
who taught us to pray to you as one family, saying... OUR FATHER
* HYMN: "Walk With Me" - VU 649
* SHARING GOD'S BLESSINGS: As the Offering is presented all stand
for the Doxology (Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow - VU
541) and Prayer of Dedication
Father of grace and power, your son Jesus gives victory
over life's most violent storms. We pray you, bless and
strengthen our faith as we commit ourselves to the path
you have called us upon. Accept our gifts - our time, our
talent, our treasure - and bear us up before you and
before all to whom you send us - so that everlasting
praise and glory may be ascribed to you through Christ's
most excellent name. Amen
* DEPARTING HYMN: "I Feel The Winds of God" - VU 625
* COMMISSIONING (Unison): In the power of the Holy Spirit we now
go forth into the world, to fulfil our calling as the people
of God, the body of Christ.
* BENEDICTION AND THREEFOLD AMEN
Go in peace,
knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of God.
- And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ uplift you,
- the love of God embrace you,
- and the power of the Holy Spirit sustain and support you;
both now and forevermore. Amen.
* THREEFOLD AMEN & CHORAL BLESSING: "Go Now In Peace" - VU 964
copyright - Rev. Richard J. Fairchild 1999 - 2005
please acknowledge the appropriate author if citing these sermons.
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