NEWCASTLE UNITED CHURCHMay 24, 2020 10:30 a.m.

The Season of Easter“As followers of Christ, we are called to be a worshipping and learning, receiving and giving community of

faith, hope and love.” – Newcastle United Church Mission Statement

Surely God is in this place. Help me notice.We Approach God

Lighting The Christ Candle

A Time of Centring – “Hey Now! Singing Hallelujah!” (chorus) MV # 121(Words & Music Copyright 1998 Borealis Music, www.LinneaGood.com)

Hey now! Singing hallelujah! Hey now! The morning has come!Hey now! Singing hallelujah! The tomb was empty at the rising sun.

Call to Worship (Responsive) In the comfort of our homes, we gather to worship. We come to this service to find serenity, warmth, and community.We come seeking connection to the Divine and to one another.We have found a new place to be our sacred space.We yearn for holy mystery in our lives, wherever it may be found.Praise be! Let us worship together.

Hymn of Praise “As Comes The Breath of Spring” # 373As comes the breath of spring with light and mirth and song, so does your Spirit bring new days brave, free, and strong. You come with thrill of life to chase hence winter’s breath, to hush to peace the strife of sin that ends in death.You breathe and there is health; you move and there is power; you whisper, there is wealth of love, your richest dower. Your presence is to us like summer in the soul; your joy shines forth and then life blossoms to its goal.

A Reminder for all those who join us on Zoom for worship and other activities. By May 30th

we all need to have upgraded. This upgrade is to both fix a few bugs and to increase the level of security. When asked by Zoom if you want to upgrade please say yes so you don’t

miss out on all our activities. Below is the service I have created for this Sunday. I hope this is something you can use for personal/family worship. We are all worshiping together, no matter where we are. If you are joining us online this week then please have this resource with you so you have the words

to the responses and hymns at your fingertips in case you can’t see the screen.Rev. Mary-Jane

The words provided for the hymns are done with permission under One License # A-727596.

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Prayer of Approach (Unison)On Easter morning, the disciples observed nothing when they peered into the empty tomb. On the road to Emmaus, the disciples heard your voice, but were unable to perceive that it was you. When you ascended to heaven, they were bereft, unaware that your Holy Spirit would fill their lives. Grant us your grace, we pray, so that we can notice and perceive, and be filled with your Holy Spirit during this time of worship and always. Amen.(Written by Fern Gibbard, Gathering L/E 2020, p. 45. Used with permission.)

We Hear God’s WordHymn “We Are One” # 402(Words copyright 1988 Doreen Lankshear-Smith)

We are one as we come, as we come, joyful to be here, in the praise on our lips there’s a sense that God is near. We are one as we sing, as we seek, we are found; and we come needful of God’s grace as we meet, together in this place.We are one as hear, as we hear, heart and hand unite; in the word we receive there’s a sense that God is light. We are one as we leave, as we love, we are loved; and we seek justice in God’s ways as we move together from this place.

A Time To Be ChildrenToday is the last Sunday of the season of Easter in the church year. The white cloths would have been on the pulpit, lectern and communion table until now. We would be having to change them all to red for next Sunday, Pentecost Sunday. During this last week of Easter, the day of the Ascension of Christ happens. We don’t celebrate it much in the United Church, but many other denominations do. They would have even had special services on Thursday for it. But what does ascension mean? It means going up or rising. I would have had a helium filled balloon in the box (well, probably behind the pulpit since it wouldn’t like fit in the box) this week. Helium filled balloons are always trying to ascend.That is just what Jesus is said to have done, he ascended. After his resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples at different times for about a month. He told them that he would be going to heaven, returning to God, and that the Holy Spirit would come to them.If we let go of a helium filled balloon it will rise up, won’t it? Will it ever come back down? Eventually, it will. You know the old saying, “What goes up must come down.” The helium inside eventually seeps out and the balloon comes back down. If we let it go does anyone know when it will drift back down again? No, we don’t know for sure.Jesus told his disciples that he would be back someday. He didn’t tell them when, but he promised to return.Have you ever lost a balloon, or seen someone let go of one? They’ll stand there watching the balloon go up and up until they can’t see it anymore. If it’s a little child who has lost the balloon, there may be some tears as well.

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When Jesus went up into heaven, his disciples were watching. They watched him disappear into a cloud and they all just stood there, looking up, staring at the sky, until two angels appeared and told them that Jesus would come back some day. The disciples were probably very sad to see Jesus go, and I’m sure they couldn’t help standing there, staring for awhile. Do you think they were supposed to just stay there, looking up, waiting for Jesus to come back? No, there was plenty to do while they waited for Jesus to return. The world was waiting to hear the good news, that Jesus was alive!Next time you look at a balloon, remember that while we wait for Jesus to return, we can tell people the good news.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.Thy kingdom come, thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those that trespass against us.And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen.

Acts 1:6-14 The ascension of Jesus. Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35 God makes a home for the poor. VU #787 Sung Response: God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor.

Arise, O God, and let your enemies be scattered; let those who hate you flee before you.

Like drifting smoke disperse them; like wax melting in the fire, let the wicked perish at your presence, O God.

But let the righteous be glad and exult before you; let them rejoice with exceeding joy.

Sing praises to God’s holy name; make a highway for the One who rides the clouds; be joyful and exult in God’s presence. R

Guardians of orphans, protector of widows, O God, in your holy dwelling,

you give the lonely a home in which to live; you lead the prisoners out to prosperity; but the rebels must live in a wasteland.

When you went out at the head of your people, when you marched through the wilderness,

the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain before you, God of Sinai, God of Israel.

You sent down a generous rain; you refreshed your heritage when it languished.

There your people found a home, which in your goodness you provided for the poor. R

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Sing to God, dominions of the earth; praise the One who has dominion,

the One who rides through the heavens, even the primal heavens, the One whose voice is the mighty thunder.

Acknowledge the power that is God’s, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.

You are awesome, O God, as you leave your sanctuary, bringing power and strength to your people.

Blessed are you, God of Israel.Blessed are you. R

John 17:1-11 Jesus prays that all may be one.This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn “Crown Him With Many Crowns” # 211Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne: hark, how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own! Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o’er the grave, and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save. His glories now we sing who died and rose on high, who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

Message

There are a lot of people who do not know how to live without excitement, without stimulation. Whether it comes from pleasure - or from crisis - they thrive on activity, on doing things - on solving problems - on adrenaline. The time that exists between one crisis or another, between one activity or another is regarded by them as dead time, as time that is lost - time that is unimportant, time that doesn’t count.

Even people who are not adrenalin junkies find it difficult sometimes, difficult to face a period of time in which they must wait for a promise to be fulfilled, for an event that they are looking forward to take place. Perhaps we can all relate to this better than ever now.

Today’s scripture reading from the Book of Acts tells us how the disciples found themselves in this kind of situation - how they found themselves having to face a period in which they would simply have to wait for Christ’s promise to them to come true.

After the resurrection Jesus visited with his disciples on several occasions. He taught them, he encouraged them, he commissioned them to do a job. Then, on the day of his ascension into heaven when they were anxiously asking him when his kingdom would be established, when the next installment of the divine plan would take place, he tells them that it is not for them to know the times or periods established by God, but that they should go back to

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Jerusalem and wait, wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit, wait for the power they would need to witness to him there, and in Judea and all of Samaria, and ultimately in all the world.

For many, waiting is a dreadful thing. Just ask any child. But it doesn’t have to be like this. Living between times, living between occasions in which all of our minds and hearts and energy are absorbed in affairs of significance can, in fact, be quite wonderful. It can be, for us, a pause that refreshes, a time in which we gain strength, a time in which we quietly grow and are prepared for that which will come next. It can be, a significant pause.

In life there are always “significant pauses” to fill our hours and days and weeks. We all know about this better than ever now, I think. There are times when we find ourselves waiting for something significant to happen, someone to call us, a project to be completed, a test to be taken, a medical report to be read, a baby to be born, an aged parent to die, the word that we can start living normally again. Times when reflection is not just encouraged, it is a necessary exercise through which our future course of action depends. Significant pauses are not just minor interruptions of our days, but moments of decision which, “When taken at the flood leads on to fortune, omitted, all the days of our lives are bound in shallows and in miseries.” (taken from Shakespeare, I think).

Shakespeare quoted fairly or not, the Bible is a better reporter of significant pauses when God’s people learned a great deal about their Creator, their brothers/sisters and neighbours, their enemies and especially themselves. Caught between war and peace or famine and plenty, or scandal and covenant, the “stars” in the Bible come out of their significant pauses better prepared to be God’s people in word and deed. That’s what I see in this week’s text from Acts. One of the most significant pauses in the faith is just about to happen.

The eleven disciples, the women and the other followers of Jesus, have been on a “trip” with him for up to three years. Their eyes have seen miracles of healing and their ears have heard words that cause their hearts to tremble. In the past month they have lived through extraordinary events as they accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem. It has seemingly ended with his death on a cross, but recent reports have convinced them that Jesus has risen from the dead. Jesus has appeared to some of them, from the Emmaus road experience to a cookout along the sea. And now he has gone on to heaven. But right on the threshold of his ascension, Jesus has promised that the Holy Spirit would come to them and, before that Spirit descends on the day of Pentecost, the faithful find themselves in a significant

pause. Now they must decide for themselves how to go on and what to do with the Gospel to which they have been entrusted. Luke tells us the pause does not paralyze them. They fill it with Jesus’ promises and their prayers.

The term “significant pause” was coined by theologian, Karl Barth. It is what he called the waiting time between the ascension of the Jesus and the day of Pentecost. A significant pause between the mighty acts of God. Barth said that the church’s task is to wait and pray. Both are vital to the forming of a faithful body of Christ. We have been in a world wide significant pause for the past couple of months. Did we use that time as church to wait and pray?

And as we wait, we remember the promises Christ made to the apostles before his ascension: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be

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my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Promises of power and of witness and of widening influence. These were the assurances given to the faithful during their significant pause. I wonder if I claim the same promises? When I’m thrown into a panic by events that seem to overwhelm me? How I answer this question is a reflection of my maturity in the faith. And how you answer it is a reflection of yours. Can you answer it even better now, after what we have been living? We are never left alone in our significant pauses by the Significant One who created us. If anything, we abandon the One who loves us most. What would have happened to the apostles in Jerusalem if they had forgotten the promises?

Secondly, the apostles prayed during this significant pause in their journey of faith. Luke tells us that while they were standing on the Mount of Olives looking up at Jesus ascending into Heaven, two men dressed in white stood suddenly beside them and asked them, “why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way (another promise!)... (Acts 1:11-12) And then, returning to Jerusalem, “All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers”. (Acts 1:14) Prayer became the vehicle through which their shared life could be encouraged and enriched.

I can’t say enough about the value of prayer in the journey of faith, at least in my journey. For me, it is the link that binds me with God. And in being linked with God and God’s son, I find myself bound up with God’s other children, my own family and neighbours and, yes, even my, if you will, enemies. Prayer is not an escape from reality, but an exercise of placing myself before God in the midst of reality.

What sustains you during significant pauses you pass through? Sometimes we rely on symptomatic remedies to help us along. And sometimes, these help lift us up to see our situation more closely. Sadly, too few of us use the time God gives us in the significant pauses to ponder his promises and pray for others and ourselves. Doing both did wonders for the apostles before Pentecost. Perhaps we ought to take their testimony to heart. After all, you never know when your next significant pause might present itself. (Although we would prefer not to pause again for a while, I assume.)

The Italian composer Giacomo Puccini gave us many beautiful pieces of music. In 1922, at the age of 64, he was diagnosed with cancer. In spite of his illness, he continued to work at the opera Turandot, which many people consider his best. Many people tried to convince him not to use all his remaining days on a piece he would not complete, but he could not be dissuaded.

Close to his death, Puccini wrote to his students, “If I don’t finish Turandot, I want you to finish it for me.” He did not complete the opera, but immediately following his death in 1924 his students gathered together all the scores, studied them with care and completed the opera.

The opening performance took place in 1926. Conducted by one of Puccini’s students, Arturo Toscanini, the orchestra began its performance. Reaching the place where Puccini had stopped writing, Toscanini put down his baton, turned to the audience and said to them, “Thus far the master wrote, and then he died.” No one moved and no one spoke for several minutes. Then Toscanini picked up his baton, turned to the audience, smiled through his tears and spoke again. “But his disciples have finished his work.”

We, too, are called to finish the work Jesus did not have time to complete. We, too, have the resources to be Christ-like in who we are. We need only to take the time of our significant pauses, and find out how. Amen.

We Respond To God’s Word

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Offering InvitationAs we go about our daily lives there are ways to share with others. This we are called to do. We share our monetary gifts with the church, with those meeting needs in our community, with those who reach out. We share our lives with those close to us, and those at a distance when we take the time to reach out. All of this is what God calls us to do, to offer. And so we give…

The Offertory (As we are not together, take a moment to think of all you can offer to God this week, even cooped up in your own home. Dedicate those things to God now.)

Hallelujah, hallelujah. Give thanks to the risen Christ;hallelujah, hallelujah! Give praise to God’s name.

(VU #179 Words & music copyright 1973 The Word of God Music)

Dedication Prayer (Unison)Loving and gracious God, in thankfulness for Christ’s life, death and resurrection which brought us fullness of life, we offer these gifts. May they show others how new life is possible in their lives and the world. Amen.

Prayers of the PeopleWe give thanks to God who is so good, whose love endures forever.For the gift of faith that enables the friends of Christ to go on living boldly even in the face of enemies that attack us from both without and within;For the mercy which rebukes and the grace which forgives us when we have made shady deals with the enemies of the kingdom of heaven;For the spiritual courage that enables the ‘pure of heart’ to retain integrity when all around them appears to be two-faced and corrupt;For the good friends who in our personal hour of acute temptation are there beside us to listen, to clarify the issues, to steady us, and to lead us through by example;For the fellowship of the church where the Spirit of Christ is quietly working through ordinary people like us, leading towards that victory which cannot be denied; we give thanks to God, who is so good, whose love endures forever.Holy Friend, loving God and Saviour, we pray to you, both when we are at our wits end and on those days when we feel reasonably capable and competent. We ask you to bless our attempts to aid at least some of the lonely, suffering, bewildered, and grieving people on earth.Yet our efforts towards loving our neighbours, both individual and corporate, even at their best and most efficient are piecemeal. Sometimes, in spite of our good intentions, our endeavours may be ill advised and ill directed.Please, by the loving work of your Holy Spirit, do for our fellow human beings that which we cannot manage to do. May no child of earth, be they friend or stranger, ever face distress or calamity on their own.Please guide and bless those gifted people who seem to have the knack of loving others in appropriate, practical ways. Give each of us the commitment and wisdom to express our compassion more wisely and lovingly.Please hear now, the prayers which lay upon our hearts… Loving God, to you all persons are precious. No neighbour is a nuisance. No enemy is beyond the

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pale. Please teach us your ways. Let no person be forgotten, none neglected, none despised, and none judged as unworthy of the best care that is available.Bring the day nearer when your church on earth may become more truly a redeemed and redeeming community of grace, mercy and peace. Through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen(inspired by and adapted from Bruce Prewer and used with permission.)

Closing Hymn “Blessed Assurance” # 337

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of the Spirit, washed in Christ’s blood.

This is my story, this is my song, praising my saviour all the day long; this is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, all is at rest, I in my Saviour am happy and blessed; watching and waiting looking above, filled with God’s goodness, lost in Christ’s love. R

Commissioning and Benediction Christ is lifted up, above all other names, and is at God’s right hand;therefore, go out into the world in humility and peace,living with courage, not repaying wrong with wrong.support the weak and respect everyone,rejoicing as we serve the Lord Jesus.

 

And may the grace of Christ attend you, the love of God surround you, and the Holy Spirit keep each one of you, now and always. Amen.

Sung Blessing “I Am Walking A Path Of Peace MV #221(Words & Music copyright Janet Bauman Tissandier)

I am walking a path of JOY (3x) Lead me home, lead me home.

I am walking a path of HOPE (3x)Lead me home, lead me home.

And online we end together (wait for me to get your mics unmuted) And the people say:

Hallelujah and Amen!

Weekly Happenings:

Session Meeting on Monday, May 25th at 7 pm. Watch your email for agenda and meeting link.

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Next Sunday: May 31st is Pentecost Sunday. We will be celebrating communion together online (and at home) as we did on Palm Sunday. Please remember to have your ‘juice and bread’ with you when you come to worship.

Don’t forget: You need to update Zoom by May 30th.

While we are apart, we are still gathering together at various times, for different activities on Zoom. If you haven’t thought about joining any of the gatherings, please know you are welcome to join at any time. The link for each activity is sent out during the week so you can join with relative ease.Tuesday Tea & Talk on Tuesdays at 2 pm is a relaxed gathering where we start with a topic, but generally just wander wherever the conversation takes us. It is a great way to just gather with others from the church community and get to know one another and chat.

Bible Study is Wednesdays at 10 am. We have specific scriptures we look at each week, usually the ones we will encounter in worship that Sunday (these are listed with the link each week). This is not a group where you need a depth of biblical knowledge, it is where you can come to share what the scripture is staying to you, hear what it says to others, and learn a bit about the context in which things were written. It is a time of sharing what the

Spirit, through the scriptures, is bringing into our lives.

Music to Wash Dishes By is recorded by Joanne (with a little help from Rev. Mary-Jane with the technical stuff, certainly not with the piano playing!) each Thursday afternoon and then posted to the website by supper time so you can enjoy at your leisure, with or without dishes.

Official Board – stay tuned for information on our June 2nd

meeting.

Please note: During this time, and if you are able, please continue giving your church donations regularly. You can contact Lorna McSwan, our treasurer, at le.mcswan@bell.net or 905-987-3940. You can arrange for drop off or pick up of offering envelopes or to register for Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR) which can be cancelled at any time. You can mail your donations to the church at: 84 Mill St. South, Newcastle, ON L1B 1K2. You can donate via CanadaHelps: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/newcastle-unted-church/

through this link or the link on our website: www.newcastleunitedchurch.org “Donate” page.Thank you for considering these options. While we may not be gathering together, work is still being done and bills still have to be paid.

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Newcastle United Church