November 24 2019 Gathered and Grateful Pastor Carol P. Taylor
Psalm 67
For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
6 The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
This is most likely composed by David the great king of the Hebrew people, ancestor of Jesus. It was a hymn of deep praise..remember the Psalms were written to be sung!
Note that it begins and ends with “Us” God Bless US...then moves to addressing God. it’s gathering the thoughts of the assembled people to remember their purpose..to worship and praise. “We gather together…”
Then we worship! The focus is now on God--The God of justice, mercy, and kindness, and bountiful harvest! Nations in the Psalm...means all people...it’s sometimes translated gathered nations...peoples brought together.
This is a recurring theme in the bible..one of the reasons that some of us pastors here in Beloit work to bring other churches together, through our work with organizations, and with our Community thanksgiving services that we began 5 or 6 years ago, and through the Lenten worship services. Real community happens when we begin to build relationships. We build relationships when we remember that each of us is a child of God. Sometimes on the surface we may not seem to be alike, but once we begin to get to know each other, we do have more in common than not.
This week some of us were talking about how one can feel close to God in nature. Seeing the beauty and variety of nature is deeply inspiring.
God loves and cares for all of God's creation, and provides abundantly!! To love means to give!
And so we remember and honor..and revere God so that all the peoples of the world may know, and worship God as well!
Psalms are also a model of prayer for us today :D
In our Sunday morning bible study we’ve been studying the Lord’s prayer, which Jesus taught us to pray.. This came about because in our discussions for several weeks in a row the topic of prayer came up. Over the years I have done many types of Bible study and discussion, including studies on prayer… and it’s a topic that nearly everyone can use more of! We all need prayer, we all can pray, and -if we’re honest with ourselves, we all feel that we could pray more effectively, more deeply. The Lords’ prayer, that we pray every Sunday is indeed a model prayer. Jesus modeled prayer in other ways too, especially in the Gospel of John chapter 17. I commend you to read this whole chapter...jesus prays first for himself, then for his disciples, then for all believers. Let’s look at that prayer for all….
John 17 Jesus Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
You see how Jesus’ prayer ‘spreads out?” himself, then the disciples, then those who come to believe through the message shared by the disciples! “That all may be one”
Jesus, God’s own son, God personified, here on earth in the flesh (Incarnate) prays for all believers throughout the world be ONE. to be united...the apostle paul likened the body of believers to the human body, that each of us is an essential part...a hand, an eye, an ear, each serving their very own purpose and working together with all the other parts.
Community and prayer--major themes in Scripture..
THis week some of us were talking about feeling close to God in nature…We seem to feel more connected...there’s science behind that...we actually do feel better due to fresh air, chemicals released by plants & trees into the air, the effect of natural light and even the scents of flowers, grass and so on. The sights of sky, patterns in clouds and water also stimulate areas of the brain in beneficial ways.
Nature inspires us, helps us to be one with God.
with the inspiration of nature, how God creates so much variety and it all works together. Variety-diversity in creation is important and necessary! When we look at the big picture of nature, we begin to understand that diversity is essential to God’s plan. God always sees the big picture!
God’s creative expression and love of variety extends to humans too.
But over history, we humans have struggled with that variety.
that was a self protection back when humans were first on the earth! But now with better understanding, we are learning that it takes diversity to make up a whole--in nature and in people!
So all peoples...all gathered nations are to be brought to know and love God through Jesus. And Jesus prays for us to be united--to be ONE as he and God are one.
This weekend is the debut of the new movie about Mr Rogers, starring Tom Hanks. Fred Rogers was an ordained Presbyterian minister, and collaborated with child psychologist Margaret McFarland. The program Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, was critically acclaimed for focusing on emphasized young children's social and emotional needs, handling topics such as death, sibling rivalry, school enrollment, and divorce.
Rogers TV work was his pulpit! he once said his ministry was the "broadcasting of grace throughout the land." He taught children (and the grownups who watched) that you are loved just the way you are. and that so is everyone else. He celebrated cultural diversity.
Rogers seldom spoke about his faith on air. He believed that teaching through example could be just as powerful as preaching.
I personally think it may be MORE powerful! Sharing gratitude, finding even one little thing we have in common at this moment..is building relationships, sharing love and compassion, that is a part of living out our faith.
Rogers also used the medium of television very well, speaking directly into the camera, so that he came across speaking directly to his young audience. Never speaking down to them, never proseltyzing, just saying ‘Isn’t this something special to share right now?” reaching out nicely, to make a connection, even thru the camera. He shared his values of kindness, and empathy and caring for others.
Rogers also used the medium of television very well, speaking directly into the camera, so that he came across speaking directly to his young audience. Never speaking down to them, never proseltyzing, just saying ‘Isn’t this something special to share right now?” reaching out nicely, to make a connection, even thru the camera. He shared his values of kindness, and empathy and caring for others.
Actor Tom Hanks, who portrays Mr Rogers, is also widely known as a nice person, he readily admits to not being perfect, but says…”I feel as though I am a joyful person. And I think if I'm nice, it's because I am trying to share a sense of joy that I find a natural commodity. And why not? Why not have a good time? Why not bring a little bit of joy from anything from a long plane ride, to a short elevator ride, to an exchange over an extra-large, venti-sized latte in line at your local coffee place? To me, it's the natural order of things”
Sharing Joy, by just being nice, can be a way of praising God, who is the source of our joy. It’s a way of connecting and sharing our faith...of telling others that they are accepted and even loved just as they are--through the Love of the God of all creation. We know this because of Jesus, and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
As we gather together, at our Community service this evening, or to assist with family promise, at our Thanksgiving tables...let us remember God’s love and beauty, for all of creation, and that God’s own son prays that we might be One.
In our Psalm, did you hear at the beginning the echo of the ‘blessing” or benediction? From the book of Numbers, chap 6..
Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.
The Psalm echoes this deliberately, this is a prayer of blessing from the time of Moses...Psalmist is sharing the history of the Hebrew people, reminding them that God ishas been with them always! And here’s a tidbit...the phrase translated ‘lift up his countenance..” has an image associated with it...of holding a baby up in the air with joy!!
We are ALL --every human on earth, every age, size, ethnicity, ability, every single one of us...God’s children, being held with joy! Let us remember, savor, and pray this love, so that we LIVE it, every day.
Let’s sing together For the Beauty of the Earth
