04 26 2020 Silver Lining
Morning.
life
different on the screen because we are trying to figure out how to do this or when we all come back together again. So this is our first attempt to learn how to do that. So I'll be hopefully everything will be fine. And we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus we continue to say to each other Christ is risen. He is risen indeed Alleluia first song.
Because Christ has triumphed we were able to gather in his present this morning in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit In Christ being raised from the dead will never die again. If that's no longer has dominion over him Christ has risen from the dead Hallelujah God. The father has crowned him with Glory and Honor. He has given him dominion over the works of his hands. He has put all things under his feet. Hallelujah. Hallelujah what these words are ringing in our ears than in our hearts and in our minds, let us not confess our sins to God our merciful father will begin with a few moments of quiet for personal confession.
And now that is pray and confess together. Almighty god father of my Lord Jesus Christ my Creator and preserver. I admits and confess my sinfulness. I am staying by Sin from my very beginning. I have sinned again and again in thought word and deed. I have not love my neighbors as myself. I have turned away from others in my thinking speaking and doing I have done the evil you forbid and have not done the good you demand. I do repent and I'm truly sorry for all of my many sins have mercy on me. Gracious father forgive me. All that is past. And by the power of the Holy Spirit direct my life so that I serve you in true faithfulness. Grant me victory over all that oppresses me and build your kingdom here through Jesus Christ my Lord, man.
Brothers and sisters and his bottomless mercy. God has promised forgiveness of sins to those who repent and turn to him for restoration at renewal. Therefore has a cold or an ordained servant of Christ. I forgive you all your sins in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit and God keep you in his grace by the Holy Spirit Grant you a life on Earth and within which you tell of his greatness through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Oh man. Thanks be to God for sure. No of God's forgiveness complete and total we are free to share with each other is peace as we say to each other the Peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you man, let us pray.
Oh God through the humiliation of your son. You raised up the Fallen World. Grant to your faithful people rescued from the Peril of everlasting desk perpetual gladness and eternal Joyce through Jesus Christ your son our Lord who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit as one God now and forever.
We're not continue our service with the reading of God's word.
First lesson for this third Sunday of Easter is from acts the second chapter. Then Peter stood up with the eleven raised his voice and address the crowd. Therefore let all Israel be assured of this. God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Messiah. When the people heard this they were cut to the heart said to Peter and the other Apostles Brothers. What shall we do? Peter replied repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the Forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit The Promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off for all whom the Lord Our God will call. With many other words he warned them and he pleaded with him save yourselves from this corrupt generation. Those who accepted his message were baptized and about 3,000. We're headed to their number that day. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
The New Testament reading is from 1st Peter the first chapter. Since you call on a father who judges each person's work and partially live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. Or you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty light way of life handed down to you from your ancestors. But with the precious blood of Christ a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God who raised him from the dead and glorify him and so your Faith and Hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other. Love one another deeply from the heart. But you have been born again. Not a perishable seed but if imperishable. And through the living and enduring word of God. All people are like grass and all their Glory like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever and this is the word that was preached to you. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
And the good news of Jesus for today is taken from the account of St. Luke in chapter 24 beginning at verse 13 Glory To You O Lord. We are back now on Easter afternoon last week. We were on Easter day plus the Sunday following for the starting Thomas today. We're back on Easter afternoon. That very day meaning Easter day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus about 7 miles from Jerusalem and they were talking but each other about all these things that happened while they were talking and discussing together Jesus himself Drew near and went with them but their eyes were kept from recognizing him and he said to them what is this conversation that you're holding with each other as you walk and they stood still looking sad then one of them named cleophus answered him. Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem what does not know the things that have happened there in these days? And he said to them what things? And they said to him concerning Jesus of Nazareth a man who was a prophet Mighty in deed and word before God and all the people and how are chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this it is not the third day since these things happened. Moreover some women of our company amazed us they were at the tomb early in the morning and when they did not find his body they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels. He said that he was alive. Some of those who are with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see. And he said to them or foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets of spoken was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory. So beginning with Moses and all the prophets he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
So they drew near to the Village through which they were going he acted as if you were going further, but they are still strongly saying stay with us for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent so he went in to stay with them. And when he was a table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them and their eyes were opened and they recognized him a vanished from this site. And they said to each other did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road while he open to us the scriptures. So they rose that same hour and return to Jerusalem and I found the 11 and those were with them gathered together saying the Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon then they told what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. This is the gospel of the Lord praise to you o Christ in response to the reading of God's word. We confess together now, they're starving Christian faith as we find it in the Nicene Creed and at that pivot point in the Creator's we have been accustomed. We will pause and Ponder the mystery of God becoming human. Let's confess together.
I believe in one God the Father Almighty maker of heaven and Earth and of all things visible and invisible and in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God begotten of his father before all worlds God of God life of Lights. Very God of very God begotten not made being of one substance with the father by whom all things were made. Who for us then and for our Salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man.
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried and the third day he rose again according to the scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the father and he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead whose kingdom will have no end and I believe in the Holy Spirit the Lord and Giver of Life who proceeds from the father and the son who is the father and the son together is worship and glorify who spoke by the prophets and now I believe in one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.
What continue now with our next song?
That's it.
Bass Pro
call
Ruby
Grace mercy, and peace be to each of you from God our Father through Jesus Christ. His only son and Our Risen Lord and Savior a man. I'm sure you probably heard the phrase that goes something like this. Every storm cloud has a silver lining. I guess in meteorological reality if you look up if he's really big storm clouds from a certain angle. You can see silver in there are silver color. That's not what that's what that's getting at is that and every bad situation or circumstance something something good to come up there or something good has come out of it. That's that's Silver Lining thing. So now we are still very much in this storm cloud of covid-19 global storm cloud that has had and still continues to have a lot of bad consequences. But in the midst of all these bad consequences people are still finding good things. They're still finding positives in the midst of all these negative. So for example, there's a new or maybe people appreciation for medical folks in hospitals the doctors and the nurses and all those who work there. There was a new and deeper appreciation for what we are now calling essential workers run the grocery stores and and the truck drivers on the farmers and handlers and so on and so forth. The new or deeper appreciation for the First Responders are they are there a fire or police or the EMTs? Because I knew a deeper appreciation for teachers. As parents are finding out what their kids are really like. People are singing on balconies. Are there clapping on balconies they're putting online concerts on their making videos and posting them online chats. We're having online meetings would even finding some humor in the midst of all this. Which of course is readily available on the internet and every so often comes my way. So I'm just going to share some of this. Okay?
Tomorrow is national homeschool tornado drill day. Watch your kids in the basement until you give the all clear. You're welcome. I was so bored. I called Jake from State Farm just to talk to someone and he asked me what I was wearing. In 2019 did was stay away from negative people in 2020 and stay away from positive people.
The world is turned upside down old folks sneaking out of the house and their kids are yelling at them to stay indoors.
Yeah, you think it's bad now in 20 years our country will be will be run by people who I've been home schooled by day drinkers.
This virus is done. What no woman has been able to do cancel all sports shut down all bars and keep men at home.
Do not call the police on suspicious people in your neighborhood. Those are just your neighbors without makeup or hair extensions.
Century candy out now is the perfect time to get fit and stay healthy and trying to impress we have snacks. We have sweatpants.
Day 7 at home, and the dog is looking at me and saying see this is why I treat the furniture.
Does anyone know if we can take showers yet? Or should we just keep washing her hands?
I never thought the comment I wouldn't touch him with a six foot pole would become National policy. But here we are.
And there's a few others we can keep going, but I'll stop.
Does England not a Christian Silver Lining to this covid-19 thing to 19 stormcloud and that's exemplified in this next cartoon, which I don't know if we can zoom in real close, but let me read it to you anyway. So so there's a double on the left side saying with covid-19 and I close down your churches and there's God on the right side saying on the contrary. I just opened up one in every home.
Disappointed at cuz we're experiencing this Christian Silver Lining here in Good Shepherd. We are now live streaming our services for six weeks in a row. And after this is done we're going to go to the website and there's a whole lot of folks that are watching your live streaming or later on in the day on the on the website or on Facebook. We've been talking about this for 10 years give or take and here we are we doing it. I'm not sure if this whole Silver Lining concept, this is directly biblical but it does remind me that does smack a little bit of what God does say in Romans 8:28 some of your know there's something you should know this. We know that in all things. God works for the good of those who love him. In all things God works for the good of those who love him meaning Christians meaning even also during 19 is Coronavirus. and that's on an individual personal basis the Romans 8:28 what I love also on top of that is what it says in Ephesians 1 verse 22, which concerns all of us together as Christian Church where God says God has placed all things under Jesus's feet so picture of footstool, And Jesus on the throne. Any disappointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body. Okay, you follow that. Jesus Is Right what this means is that Jesus's resurrection leads inevitably to his Ascension And it's sitting at the right hand of God on the throne with a footstool and then as he is in Throne once again, as he is extended that leads to orchestrating everything to benefit the church.
Everything that happens in the world is orchestrated by Jesus at God's right hand for the benefit of the church and that includes this covid-19 thing. And one of the ways this is benefiting the church the way that God is orchestrating things for the benefit of the church is that a lot of churches are not using social media in ways they have never dreamed of or anyways, they talked about. Yeah. Yeah one day we'll get around to it. in fact back in March
the volume of churches that came online on that first weekend. I think it was March 22nd was so great that Facebook couldn't handle it. There are so many Christians churches on Facebook that Facebook was having glitches and problems and churches are reaching people. They have never reached before and that includes us. So all of you who are new to us and watching or viewing online live or later on in the day, welcome us. God is other words giving church as a ritual moment to connect with people in new ways. Including connecting with new people in new ways. And God is also not only giving us a reachable moment. He is giving us a teachable moment.
Concerning what what I've been mulling over in my head over the last couple of weeks is that God is getting us a teachable moment to show us how evolution is. The inviolability of evolution before like I'm going to do now. But I can't help it see it and maybe you see it. Also, maybe you'll see what I'm done. I know that there are right now more pressing issues that we have to deal with like on health and safety. Like our work and I didn't come like I was fooling around supplies in our house. I get that. What you know. Every once in awhile is good to take a break from chewing on the furniture.
And getting up on the balcony so to speak figuratively. I'm taking a look at the big picture. Seeing what God might be showing us and sends their what's the thing big thing that one of the big things that are going on and when the big things that I see that's going on. The big picture is that Evolution has been disproven before our eyes. It's been disproven right in front of us if we will only take a look. how what do ight mean? Let's quickly review Evolution without getting into the weeds. Basically in the beginning. There was a lifeless Earth how we got there right now is your relevant to the conversation, but there was this thing called we call Earth in and had no life on it. I'm somehow by accident unintentionally life emerged from not life life came from the lifeless. That in itself is a mind-boggling. Let's pretend that happened. That would mean that the initial life was very simple. Like maybe one cell. single cell life by accident later on and unintentionally this simple one cell life mutated into a multicellular life progress is made in evolution by by mutation. I miss multi. So life was somehow more fit to survive. Otherwise the Single Cell life would have continued and the multi-celled life would have died off at that whole natural selection thing. So multi. Still life was more fit to survive. That's the mechanism of evolution survival of the fittest by means of natural selection meaning Nature Select Hulu 2018. Well, it's kind of simple the more fit eat go that's fit. Meaning according to Revolution death and violence have always been a normal part of life.
Girl, lets friend in order to survive become more fit by mutations. So more fit eats the less fit it becomes more fit by mutating. So eventually this kind of simpler multi-cell life mutated all the way up into us We are the most complex life-form in the world. We are there for the most fit because the simplest is the less fit to survive in a more complex is more fit to survive. So here we are. Is Coronavirus season?
We are at the top of the evolutionary food chain. We have the most fit to survive because we are the most complex and here we are being taken out. Buy single cell not really living things that are the least fit to survive.
This is a contradiction. This is an evolutionary contradiction that the most fit to survive are being taken out by the waist fit. That just does not work that way. And if you know anything about a logic, you know that anything that is self-contradictory is false. Can you go outside not today? But your go outside our normal day and you say the sky is green. That is a false statement because it is self-contradictory.
So was this was my favorite when people run around and say there is no absolute truth. Anybody ever heard that? There is a patently false statement because that is patently self-contradictory. Why is it so contradictory? Because when you say there is no absolute truth. What have you just said? an absolute statement
when you say an absolute statement in the absolute statement is their last no absolutes. You're just contradicted yourself. You have said something that is false. And so it is a silver lining to me.
That evolution is being disproven before our very eyes as the most fit most complex life-forms us. Are being taken out by the simplest least fit quasi life-forms cold a virus. second one even more gratifying as far as silver lining is concerned to this whole covid-19 storm cloud that we're facing is this That as a society. We do not really believe evolution.
We don't as a society.
even though we were taught in school as if it's a fact because here's the proof that if we did if we as a society really believe that Evolution, we would not be protecting the vulnerable. We would not be protecting the elderly we would not be protecting those with underlying health conditions or medical conditions. Because if we really believed we would let nature take its course. We will let nature select the vulnerable. The elderly and those with medical issues. They are clearly. Let's fit to survive. Then we are then the health among us then the younger Among Us and if we really believe in evolution, we don't let it go.
But we're not. We're not letting them go. We are social distancing. We are isolated. We are washing our hands we are wearing masks. We are building hospitals. We are coming up with treatments. We are coming up with vaccines and tests. Why are we doing all that? because we really don't believe that the death in the violence of evolution in the survival of the fittest of evolution are normal and right we believe life has value and meaning in and of itself not because it survived or a can survive but because it's alive
So regardless of what we're taught in school or how we are torrent. We are denying evolution by protecting the vulnerable. Again, it's kind of a self-contradiction. So then the question becomes If evolution is self-contradictory. If we are meeting at 5. Public policy. Why do so many people still embrace it? Why do we still keep teaching it? Why do so many people called believe in its notice how you have to believe in evolution?
Well, there's any number of reasons, I guess depending upon the person you talk to.
But I think the bottom line comes down to this foremost. Whether does admit it or not. Most of us many of us still believe in evolution because Evolution really means there is no God.
And therefore I am not accountable to him for my life.
I'm not accountable to anybody How I Live my lifestyle. Because there's nobody out there that I'm accountable to because this is all a big accident.
therefore a lot of people still believe in evolution what that means is I am the god of my life. I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my destiny. Remember girl blue eyes. I Did It My Way. I think it was blue eyes and if perchance there is a God Like I hear about in church, cuz a lot of people to come to church believe in evolution if perchance there is a God then his job is to Simply blessed me. So that I can be the god of my life in the master of my fate and the captain of my destiny.
folks this is a really empty way of life. This is a way of life that leads to a dead end. It is self-serving. It is puffed up. It is arrogant. It is ignorant and you still die.
And this is what Peter says we have been rescued from we have been renting from we have been redeemed from he says you are redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors. This Evolution things been going on for a hundred years generation after generation teacher after teacher. Even God forbid parents if the parents we have been rescued from this redeem from this Ransom from this emptiness.
with the precious blood of Christ
With the precious blood of Christ should on the cross in his suffering in his death and now we celebrate his resurrection. It is through the life and the death of the now living Jesus that God has claimed you for himself. He has ransomed you he has freed you he has set you free. He has broken the chains of such an empty hydrogen ignorant way of life to live life Meyer and just survival of the fittest then just what's on your table for what's in the bank or what's in the yard or what's in the garage?
He has ransomed you and rescued you and freed you to live a life of creativity a life of compassion a life of service. Just as Jesus did. And still does in you as a Christian because you are his body.
You are his body. You are his flesh and blood in this world. So the third and final Silver Lining to meet covid-19. Is this increased opportunity we have at three points and especially as Christians to live creatively and compassionately. The creativity is that image of God still inside of us that we are showing because God is our creator.
And it's compassion that we have as Christians is the image of Christ specifically. To walk among us. Still dwells Among Us. And what we know if his life on Earth, it was a life of compassion. The only people that did not get his compassion with the people who are arrogant.
Check it out. That's the life we have been cold to that's the life we have been redeemed for we have been redeemed from empty arrogant ignorant Lifestyles. We have been redeemed and free for a life of creativity and compassion following in the footsteps of Jesus and God did this by his suffering and by his death and by his resurrection, and now he has claimed you.
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and I pray he helps us and you live that freed ransomed redeemed life of creativity and compassion to his glory and to the benefit of our neighbor.
At this point in the service, we would continue with our offering mind everyone again of the opportunity that you have to give online on our website. Do you want to do that now. Be fine, or if you wanted to continue to mail in your offerings? That's fine. That's fine as well. And we're going to continue with the next song.
YouTube
Mario's home brother
Let us pray.
We pray for the whole church. The body of Christ in this world at the message of Salvation May. Joyfully be told throughout all the world needs to Victory of Jesus Christ be celebrated around the globe as people discover a life that they have been redeemed for and the life I have been rescued from and that they may live it to the glory of God of the benefit of their neighbor Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer. We pray for the nations of the world that the governments of all Nations be a source of blessing to those who are governed and that oppression in all forms be hindered. Lord in your mercy hear our prayer we pray for ourselves in this season of our looks great victory that we truly be Easter people all year long. Radiating the Light of Christ in our homes in our workplaces in our communities Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer. We pray for all those who serve us in their callings, especially for those who deal with special challenges or dangerous on a regular basis even especially at this time, including police fire and emergency personnel. Also remember at this time the military forces of our nation. It was it was stationed at home and abroad and was at first serve to defend our nation in challenging times. Lord and your mercy hear our prayer we pray for those with special concerns and needs this day those who were hospitalised those who grieve. Those who are ill. Those who are unemployed. Shut ins. Don't you care for them? We especially pray for those who are listed in our prayer list and for those who are near and dear to us in our hearts as we mentioned their names now either quietly or out loud.
Bless them with your presence gracious father and with your Redemption that they may have a sense of victory in their lives and that they may have strength and hope for each day as you give it to them Lord and your mercy hear our prayer. Merciful God will bless you for having placed into our lives faithful Christian people to guide us on this day. We remember those no longer. I'm on us on Earth who have completed their Earthly race and have won the final victory in Christ lead us to follow in their way that we may Rejoice together eternally at your table and in your mentions Lord and your mercy hear our prayer. All these things and all those things that we have not asked what we need to ask and all those things. We do not know how to ask. We commend into your hands Lord trusting in your mercy asking in the name of Jesus and for his sake that you be gracious to us and using the words. He himself taught us 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 who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But Deliver Us from Evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
I know the Lord bless you and keep you and the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you and the Lord look upon you with his favor and Grand to you his peace man. And after I closing song, they'll be a few announcements. This is the third time we're going to try this song. So hopefully it'll work.
Every Blessing
when the sunshine
on a roll
every player
Blessed be the name.
What I get for joining us again this morning or whenever you're going to be watching this. We have a couple of people actually sitting here too. It's kind of nice. We're all this time. So don't worry about it. April mission of the month kind of wraps up. Today is our last Sunday of April is today for st. Gregory's. I'm not sure what we're going to do from may we had hoped to get back together again, but obviously, we're not going to be for a while yet. So I'm not sure what the main mission of the month situation. For April 8th is Saint Gregory's Pantry as we're calling it even though it's closed and St. St. Marys is taking over the responsibilities. That's the host Church. They're obviously continuing to live stream and we're going to continue to live stream even when we get back together and we're all supposed to go to services on Facebook. Just want to make sure that everybody knows that that we do the portals of prayer yet. Okay, sorry about that. The poison spray around available. I have some funny one would like a copy. I'll be happy to mail it to you or you can stop by. Just call me first about that and then not sure how long we're going to be still a part. So when the creative things maybe we could do is if you folks want to send in some photos with their selfies or it's not a selfie like a photo of yourself on your family a little sign we miss you. We love you and we're okay. Hope to see you soon things like that and then during the announcements. I'll be happy to pop up on the screen. Okay? So send them to the Gathering team email, which is just the usual six letters g s p p & J and then Gathering team knows. Gathering tsp PNJ. Gathering team at gmail.com and we'll try to get some pictures up from some folks at the end of the service during announcements.
Or you can send them to me and I'll forward them together into the actress now that I know how to forward. Okay, Waze truly into the world for the week. But remember a couple of important things like who are you I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. Why are you here to know him and to make him known? That's the whole compassion thing and it where are you going? Compassion of Christ to people so they can live with hope and joy, that's what the image of Jesus in you looks like. So knowing and believing and living these things. Let us know go in peace and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.
30 Rock
Oh, that's why.