Proper 21 (3)

CALL TO WORSHIP

Come, for all are invited. Come, praise and worship the one who accepts us all. Come, for all are welcome, all are valued, all are called.

HYMN

66: The steadfast Love of the lord never ceases

GATHERING PRAYER

Inclusive God, we gather together.

Welcoming God, we come to you.

Valuing God, we see our worth in you.

Challenging God, open our ears to your words,

open our minds to explore our ways,

open our hearts to receive all that you offer.

Loving God, we come to you.

Amen.

A prayer of approach

Lord God, you call us to live our best lives

– for you, with you, in you.

We may sometimes pause to smell the coffee or the roses,

but we are often too busy to take time to be aware of you

– that you are with us, in us, and in those around us.

Quieten our hearts now to recognise you in this place today.

Help us to reach out to one another with love, care and compassion,

so that we can all live our best life for you.

Amen.

PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

For the times I don’t live my best life,

or even recognise what that might be:

I’m sorry, Lord, please forgive me.

For the times I have the sulks because I think my nose is out of

joint, and I’m too blinkered to see you in others:

I’m sorry, Lord, please forgive me.

Sometimes I just don’t understand your word;

when I haven’t the patience to work out what it really means:

I’m sorry, Lord, please forgive me.

For the times when I try and water down your Gospel

because I don’t like what it is saying to me:

I’m sorry, Lord, please forgive me.

Sometimes I judge others harshly, and try to stop them

because I don’t agree with what they are doing

– even though it may be for good:

I’m sorry, Lord, please forgive me.

Amen.

Assurance of forgiveness

Loving Lord God,

You care so much for each one of us.

You are there for us whenever we turn to you.

When we are truly sorry,

and intend to move forward, to live our best life,

you graciously forgive us all our sins.

We gratefully and humbly accept

your forgiveness and peace.

Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

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,

Forever and ever Amen.

HYMN

83: Praise my soul the King of Heaven

READING 1

Numbers 11: 16-29

16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

18 “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. 19 You will not eat it for just one day, or two days, or five, ten or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month—until it comes out of your nostrils and you loathe it—because you have rejected the Lord, who is among you, and have wailed before him, saying, “Why did we ever leave Egypt?”’”

21 But Moses said, “Here I am among six hundred thousand men on foot, and you say, ‘I will give them meat to eat for a whole month!’ 22 Would they have enough if flocks and herds were slaughtered for them? Would they have enough if all the fish in the sea were caught for them?”

23 The Lord answered Moses, “Is the Lord’s arm too short? Now you will see whether or not what I say will come true for you.”

24 So Moses went out and told the people what the Lord had said. He brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around the tent. 25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but did not do so again.

26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

READING 2

Mark 9: 38-50

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”

39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.

Causing to Stumble

42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck, and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44] [a] 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46] [b] 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where:

“‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’[c]

49 Everyone will be salted with fire.

50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves and be at peace with each other.”

HYMN

628: Faithful one

SERMON

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer.

When I was at school. I remember we changed to a different building and moved from an all-boys school to a mixed school, just at the wrong time when our hormones were going wild.

One morning as I walked into a new class, I was very distracted by the smile from a young girl, I fell completely flat on the floor. I looked up very embarrassed and saw my two stumbling blocks, two of my so-called friends laughed as they moved their legs back into the desk.

I still remember, from my days at work, the names and faces of a couple of people who always seemed to be stumbling blocks when planning the work that needed to be done. At least that’s how I saw them.

I can too easily name and too quickly blame people, events, and circumstances that have tripped me up, interfered in my life, or kept me from getting what I wanted. Stumbling blocks.

My guess is that every one of you could tell stories about the stumbling blocks in your life. And I could ask who or what have been stumbling blocks for you? How did they get in the way and cause you to stumble or fall?

Today’s gospel (Mark 9:38-50) tells a story about John and the other disciples running into a stumbling block, an outsider who, as John tells Jesus, “Was not following us.”

John does not say that this chap is interfering with the disciples’ work, that he had a different purpose, or that he opposed them.

No John simply says, “He was not following us.” Never mind that he was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. He was not one of them, and that seems to be their stumbling point.

There is a note of frustration in John’s comment. The disciples had tried, apparently without success, to stop the man who was casting out demons. A part of their frustration may have come from their earlier failure to perform an exorcism themselves needing Jesus to do it.

Now these “certified” disciples, still smarting from that failure, fail to stop an “uncertified” but successful exorcist who is using Jesus’ name without authorization.

John is concerned here, not only with protecting the sanctity of Jesus’ name, but also with protecting the disciples’ unique status.

If Jesus commissioned the twelve (6:7-13), he must intend for them to do the work that’s done in his name—or so John imagines.

We saw a similar situation within our reading from Numbers. When two men Eldad and Medad didn’t go up with the others to Moses, but the Spirit rested on them. And it says:

27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”

28 Joshua, son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”

29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!”

I don’t know if or what concerns John and the others most, but I know that today it often means

the other does not look or dress like us,

the other does not speak or act like us,

the other does not think or believe like us,

the other does not do it our way. He or she is not following us.

Whatever it was for John and the disciples, they felt threatened by this man. He was casting out demons, offering a new life, all in the name of their Jesus.

Last week I spoke of the disciples arguing among themselves about who is the greatest (Mark 9:30-37). This week (Mark 9:38-50) they are complaining about this other person, this stumbling block to their status, power, and recognition.

I wonder if this might not be a variation on last week’s sermon. It ended with Jesus taking a child into his arms and saying, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” I brought out the meaning was that the child is a symbol of vulnerability, powerlessness, and dependency on another and it’s not just children that are of concern but any vulnerable person.

Today’s gospel (Mark 9:38-50) is a continuation of last week’s story (Mark 9:30-37). It’s actually one story told over two weeks. Jesus and the disciples are still in the same house as last week, the child is still with Jesus, and Jesus is still deepening and moving the conversation inward.

John, however, wants to make the conversation all about this other person, this stumbling block. “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”

Isn’t that what we often do or want to do with our stumbling blocks? We draw lines in the sand, divide into us and them, and try to stop them. I see that happening all over the world today. I read it in the news. And I’ve done it. I’ve been John, I’m sure at times you have.

Jesus, however, takes a different approach. He rubs out the line and enlarges the circle. He isn’t so concerned about another who causes us to stumble. His concern is focused on us, not the other:

Firstly. we have to ask have we become a stumbling block to another, “to one of these little ones,” to the child sitting on his lap, and Second, whether we have become a stumbling block to ourselves.

Jesus is once again asking us to look at ourselves, to be self-reflective. It’s as if he saying to John, “Don’t you worry about that other person.

“You worry about yourself.” And he’s asking us to look within.

The greatest stumbling blocks are not outside us but within us: anger and revenge, the judgments we make of others, prejudice, our desire to get ahead be number one, the need to be right, our unwillingness to listen, the assumption that we know more and better than another,

living as if our way is the only and right way, pride, fear, exclusion of others, our busyness, our lies, gossip, our desire for power and control. These, and a thousand other things like them, are what cause others and us to fall.

In what ways have you and I become stumbling blocks to another or to ourselves?

That’s the unspoken question in today’s gospel. When have we caused another to trip and fall? When have we tripped and stumbled over our own two feet, in our own life?

And it’s not only looking at ourselves as individual stumbling blocks. The greater stumbling blocks are within our system.

In what ways is the legal system a stumbling block to justice for all? In what ways has patriotism become a stumbling block to another’s freedom?

In what ways is the Church a stumbling block to Jesus and the life he offers the world? And in what ways have you and I participated in those stumbling blocks?

This is neither an easy nor comfortable conversation and I don’t like it any more than do you.

It’s hard work. But it’s this work that is very important to Jesus. You can hear that in the images he uses:

Drowning by millstone, the amputation of hand or foot, the torn-out eyeball, the unquenchable fire, hell, the worm that never dies.

Thankfully we don’t need to take those literally, otherwise most of us would be hopping around with one eye and one hand.

But we do need to take them seriously.

Jesus uses those images four times to talk about our betterment. “It is better for you…,” he says. That’s what this work is about.

He wants us to be better. I don’t want to be a stumbling block to another or to myself.

And I don’t think you do either. I want us, as Jesus said, to “be at peace with one another,” don’t you? That begins with looking at ourselves, not each other.

In what ways have we caused ourselves or someone else to stumble? And what might we need to change or give up in order to step into our better selves?

As individuals, a nation, a church?

So, here’s what I wonder. What if our mantra this week was, “First, do no harm?” What if we made that the guiding principle for what we would say and do?

What if we committed to help one another live into our better selves? What if we were more concerned about another’s success than our own? What if John had offered that other man doing the healing a word of encouragement?

Maybe, just maybe, we would know ourselves to be building blocks rather than stumbling blocks. And wouldn’t you rather build than tear down?

That is question we need to ask ourselves; do we remain stumbling blocks or building blocks, that is the only way we will see or country and churches flourish,

May God give us the grace to face who we are and change ourselves rather than try to change those around us.

HYMN

518: Father, hear the prayer we offer

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Thank you, Lord, for all the people that are there for me. All who help me – and others – to live the best life, even in the hardest of times. Thank you for all the good things in the world that spur us on, day by day. Thank you for the ties of your love that bind us to each other, and to you. Amen.

Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life

Lord, thank you for last night’s sleep and thank you for today Help us to waste none of today’s hours and to miss none of today’s opportunities Thank you for the gifts you have given us – individually and collectively – and help us to use them to further your Kingdom here on earth • Eyes to see and perceive • Ears to hear and listen • Hands to work and create • Minds to think and innovate • Memories to remember and learn from • Hearts to love and worship

Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life

Lord, we confess that we have not always followed your words. There have been moments when we chose other options... We chose to join in the gossip and not to speak out on behalf of the misunderstood. We chose to take sides with the strong, because we feared the consequences of being found alongside the weak. We fired back a text in anger, We hit ‘send’ on an email in the heat of the moment, We spoke a harsh word of judgement and we regret the fact that what has been said can’t be taken back. We allowed pride to get the better of us. We ask for your forgiveness and mercy, Lord. We thank you that you do not treat us as our sins deserve, and Your love and your word permit a new start. As we move on from this place, may others see a difference in us, May we surprise others with the gift of forgiveness and our capacity to move on and make fresh starts. Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life

Lord God, we pray for our community: • For volunteers, carers and those who undertake work for which they are not paid. • For our church today and in the coming weeks as we discern your will, and welcome our new superintendent Kennedy Gondongwe. Lord, guide and inspire our community, in all we do this week and beyond. Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life

Lord we pray for all people who are in trouble and fear today: • For those who are sad because someone they have loved had died • For those who are anxious because someone is ill or in pain • For those who are lonely because someone they love is not there for them. Lord, bless: • Those who are tired because they have too much to do • Those who are struggling with finance or are facing the prospect of unemployment • Those who are unhappy because of an unkind word or action. Lord, surround those in need with your wisdom, your spirit, your healing and your life-giving peace. Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life

Lord, you call us to follow in your footsteps. Help us to know what this looks like in each situation where we find ourselves. Help us to know when following you means washing the feet of others, When it means turning over tables, When it means going to a party at the house of an outsider, When it means breaking down the barriers that divide people from each other in the homes where we live, the places we work, the communities where we worship. We grieve the fact that our world is divided and we ask that you work powerfully in our small lives and our big world to break down the walls that divide. Break down the walls between Jew and Gentile Between male and female Between weak and strong Between young and old Between rich and poor Between board member and worker Between conservatives and reactionaries Between creationists and scientists Between Protestant and Catholic Between Christian and Muslim Between Sunnis and Shiites. Break down the walls within our own lives, which hold us back from reaching out to others, Which prevent us from seeing the best in other people, in other cultures, Which stop your love getting in, and your blessing getting out. Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life

Lord, in gratitude, In deep gratitude for this moment, this place, this world We give ourselves to you. Take us out, , to live as changed people, because we have been touched by the living Lord, and cannot remain the same. Ask much of us, expect much of us Enable much by us, encourage many through us Living Lord, accept our lives and accept our prayers this day and every day You have the words of eternal life and in you we trust. Amen

HYMN

The Lord’s my shepherd

BLESSING

The Lord, bless us

And keep us

Make His face shine upon us

And be gracious to us

The Lord turn His face toward us

And give us peace