And he embraced him (Communion)

Order of Service: Prestongrange Church

Time of Year: Seventh Sunday After Epiphany

Date: 23 Febuary 2025

Reading: Genesis 33: 1-16

Elders Gather 10:40 for Prayers and Preparation

Light Reflective Music

Bible Enters (Organ)

Welcome / Intimation (Rev. Bosch)

I greet you in the Name of God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe - in the care of Christ Jesus.May it be that we receive mercy, peace and love.

Join our Watsup Prayer Group

Tuesday, Ladies Home Group, 07:15

26th Of February, Prayer Workshop, 19:00

Board meeting, 3 March

12th of March, Wednesday Reflective Service, 19:00

Last week, we spoke about Jacob fleeing because his brother wanted to kill him. Understandable, because Jocob wasn't very nice to him. We then read about Jacob's dream and we tried to make sense of the passage for ourselves. The theology was that the rock on which Jocob slept simpolised God's stability. The same rock later became a becone of God's faithfulness. The though we explored was the church, our homes and our bodies functioning as such symbol displaying the faithfulness of God. The obvious problem still was that Jocob and his brother had issues with one another. Even though God gave Jacob hope, it did not resolve the "issues" between  him and Esua. The reading today will be about how Jocob and Esua resolved their issues. It is a beautiful story to unpact and will form part of todays communion. 

Let us approach God for Worship:

Call to Worship: 

Minister: Bless the Lord!

All: Holy is his name!

Minister: Bless the Lord!

All: Holy is his name!

Let us worship God!

Hymn: CH154 Oh Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder

Declaration:

Blessed be the name of the Lord now and evermore.From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Lord’s name be praised. Let us pray:

Prayer of Approach and Confession (Rev. Bosch) The Lords Prayer is during Communion.

Lord, to enter the presence of the living God is the most powerful experience we can ever know; to offer worship to the Lord of all creation is the highest task to which we can ever attain; to allow you to speak and for us to listen to your voice can be the most awe-inspiring moment of our lives.

Father, we praise you that you are in our lives. We praise you that though you see us as we really are you still have time for us. You are the God of grace and it is because of your undeserved love that it remains your will that we should be mirrors of your goodness. You are the master builder of all things and the architect of all that was, and is, and will be. You are the Father of creation and nothing and no one can escape the gaze of your might. You are our amazing God your mercy makes it possible for us to be in your presence.

Spirit You alone can heal the brokenness within. You do not measure our lives by the standards of your fallen world but by the life of Christ—crucified, risen, and ascended.

Therefore, we bring freely our sins to you asking for forgiveness.

Forgive when we do no forgive ourselves or others.

Forgive if we do no even attempt to bring about peace and harmony.

Forgive if our conciouns are wreaked with guilt. Your grace alone can liberate us from our earthly shackles, that we might live the new life - a portal to the heavens. Amen.

Hymn: Blessed be your name

(Children enter.)

Children’s Address: A BIG Hug! Measuring tape!

Hymn: CH564 - Jesus loves me this I know

(Children exit.)

Reading: Genesis 33: 1-16

Sermon: (Rev. Bosch)

The tension was visable. Jacob is about to meet his older brother. In a normal situation meeting a relative would have been a joyful occation. Not in the case between Jacob and Esua. Jacob munipulated and stole the birth right and blessing from Esua. Esua, consequently, wanted to kill his younger brother. Jacob afraid distanced himself for many years from Esua. The time as finally arrived for the brothers to meet. What will happen? Jacob didn't know eather. 

The tension was clear in that Jacob didn't know how his brother will reacted. Will Esua kill him, or will he be gracious? Jacob didn't know. It is for this reason that Jacob structures his property and family in a way that it buffered against the possible wrath of Esau.  

So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 

Bowing down seven in front of his brother and four hundred men, Jacob demonstrates his sincere respect and humility. He asks with his whole body for mercy and forgiveness. The cards was at that moment in Esau's hands. 

What will Esua do?  Esau, for me, is the star of the narritive. He had a excellent opportunity to destroy Jacob totally. His wrath could have spilt over on to his younger brother. Yet, he did not do it, rather the following happened. 

"But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept." 

The emotional embrace signified reconciliation , peace and forgiveness. After many years of strive the brothers settled their differences.  

The story is an example of the difficulty and uncertainty of forgiveness. Forgiveness is difficult because a lot can be at stake. It was certainly the case for Jacob. 

The issue with forgiveness is the question of trust. Can I trust that person again after so and so happend?

True forgiveness is not a superficial act of forgetting. To  understand forgiveness as an act of forgetting is to be very naivity. Rather, forgiveness is the task of redefining yourself against the situation or person that caused you harm. 

Part of forgiveness is to test to make sure you can trust again.  

Forgiveness will look very different between a person you can trust and a person that you can not trust.

A wise person once told me the importance of knowing who you can trust what with. You can not trust a painter to do the accounts of the church. You can not trust a cabinitmaker to be a good plastic surgent. 

The question of trust is the underlining issue between the brothers in the story. 

Can Jacob trust his brother after he has done those terrible things? 

The tension was there, because Jacob did not know. It was for that reason that Jacob send endless gifts to Esau to sooth his anger. He even bowed down seven times to gain the trust of his older brother.  

The story reveals that "Yes, Jacob can trust Esau. He can trust his brother to embrace him. 

Esau's as well was able to trust Jacob because he showed respect to Esau.  

The forgiveness that we see in the embrace, between the brothers, was a unique expression of them redefining their relationship.

There relationship will never be the same again, but at least it is not drenched in wrath and bitterness. They made peace. 

The embrace is theologically very important. The importance is that the brothers became close  after many years of distance. This story reflect the teaching of Jesus who tell's of the importance of loving your neighbour. After the moment of closeness they redefined their relationship and went there seprate ways - in peace.

The distance they created between them this time was not grounded on fright or a grudge, but rather on an emotional embrace of love.

The embrace between them formed the foundation of their new relationship. 

16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 

How close can we come to the person or situation that has caused us harm? That which we struggle to forgive, how close can we go to it? 

Is it the case, that we need to prepare for years and have a support structure before approaching? (I have heard of situation were it is really a case of years...)

Or is it a case of going to bed knowing the next day you will be able to face the situation or person? 

It is clear, that Jacob and Esau was able and willing to forgive one another, but it took years. Jacob humbled himself showing respect to his brother.

Esau on the other hand was gracious and was willing to protect Jacob's property. 

Both of them showed to one another that they are trustworthy, although the relationship will never be the same. 

The embrace between Esau and Jacob is a demonstration of holy but difficult forgiveness. 

Who do we need to forgive? What do we need to forgive?

How will we go about reaching that forgiveness?

What are we willing to sacrifice to reach that forgiveness we long for? 

Can we face it? When can we face it?

Forgiveness is a spiritual activity in the sense that God forgives as well. In christ God has made forgiveness possible. As Esau embraced Jacob, so to God embraced us through the Lord Jesus. Christ sacrifice made it possible to experience the embracing love of God. 

When Christ was in the room with his dissiples he broke the bread and poored the wine so that they could remember the embracing love of God. God took our place and died for us and he rose to rhine for ever. If we are hesitant to approach God, due to uncertainty, the communion table reminds us of God's embracing love.

He acted through Christ for us. It is God's action that we are celebrating this morning. A action that emphises who God is our provider and caregiver. 

Many of us are or has struggled to forgive. It could be that some of us have experienced extreme trauma or dissapointment. In those circumstanses forgiveness seems to be impossible. The tension that Jacob experienced before meeting his brother might sound so fumuliur.

We could even ponder and asked: Can I ever trust that person or situation again? May be it is a Yes or a No.

Let us bring to the Lord's table our trueselves. Let us bring to the table our trauma, dissipointment, and uncertainty.   

Let us become open to God asking him to help us to start that difficult journey of forgiveness. 

It is holy forgiveness that we receive when we sencerely drink and eat the grace of God.

With God's help may we extend that same forgiveness to that person or situation. Amen.

Offering (The person at door duty brings the plate to the table.)

Hymn: CH450 - Christ is the World’s Redeemer

Communion

The table is prepared. The meal is ready. 

Call to the table:

The Lord offers us bread. The Lord offers us wine. 

His Body was broken. His Blood was shed. For Me. For you. For us. 

The table is prepared. The meal is ready. Jesus is here!  

(Action: The table is prepared and the tablecloth is removed in silence.)

The bread and wine are set apart:

As the Lord, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread, I take these elements of bread and wine,

to be set apart from all common uses, to this holy use and mystery, and as our Lord gave thanks and blessed, 

let us draw near to God in prayer. 

The Table Prayer with Lord's Prayer:

Holiness and mystery are surrounding us. We are grateful that we may praise you with your children's past, present and future. 

With the angels we sing and utter “Holy holy holy’. Hosanna in the highest. Truly you are great!

God the Father you have remember us. You did not turn your back on us.  

Jesus the Son you have revealed the love of the Father to us. You have made forgiveness of our sins possible.

Holy Spirit you are present among us,  and your comforting presence surrounds us.

Bless this meal that we will share in your presence.

This wine and the bread reminds us of the goodness and sweetness of your might. Make your presence be felt in this moment.

Let us pray together: 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

Breaking of Bread

According to the holy institution, example, and command of our Lord Jesus, and as a memorial of our Lord, we do the following:

on the night when he was betrayed, He took the bread 

(Minister takes the bread.) 

and when he had given thanks he broke it and said,

(Minister breaks the bread.)

“This is my body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

In the same way he took the cup saying,

(Minister raises the cup.)

“This cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood. 

Whenever you drink it, do it in memory of me.”  

Communion

Take this is the body of Christ which is broken for you. 

Eat and tast to remembering him. 

Action

This cup is the new covenant sealed by Christ’s blood, which was shed so that the sins of many might be forgiven. Drink from it, all of you.

Action

(When all have received, the vessels are returned to the Holy Table  and covered.)

Share the Peace: The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Prayer for Others:

Lord, we pray for those who seek to act as peacemakers and for those who work for harmony and understanding. Lord, in your wisdom teach us. Lord, we pray for those who try to be good Samaritans to their neighbours, and for those who continue to offer God’s grace in the face of misunderstandings. Lord, we pray for those who are ready to offer forgiveness to those who have hurt them most and for those who are prepared to take the initiative to bring reconciliation and healing. Lord, we pray for those whose hearts go out to the lost and the broken. Lord, we pray for those who offer compassion and dignity to those who no longer remember who they really are. Lord, we pray for those who have fought against injustice and have brought hope and purpose to those around them. Lord, we pray for those who take the name of Jesus on their lips speaking truth and goodness. Lord, we pray for ourselves asking for wisdom and decerment to know when to trust and how to trust. We bring our prayers in the name of Christ who has prepared this wonderful meal for us today. Amen.

Hymn: CH465 - Be thou my vision

Rethink and Blessing (Rev. Bosch)

Go home and start your journey of forgiveness. May God help us with that difficult task, with the knowledge that He has forgiven us first.

In the presence of the Holy Spirit, may the peace of God,  which is beyond all understanding,  guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Amen

Sing/Play Amen (Organ)

Bible Exits (Organ)