John H. Westerhoff, III - Service of the Lord's Supper: Communion Meditation (December 30, 1984)

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	(soft music)	0:07
	(choir singing foreign language)	0:18
	(soft music)	2:33
	♪ I heard the bells on Christmas Day ♪	2:42
	♪ Their old familiar carols play ♪	2:50
	♪ And mild and sweet their words repeat ♪	2:59
	♪ Of peace on earth good will to men ♪	3:08
	♪ I thought as how this day had come ♪	3:18
	♪ The belfries of all Christendom ♪	3:26
	♪ Had rolled along the unbroken song ♪	3:35
	♪ Of peace on earth, good will to men ♪	3:44
	♪ And in despair I bowed my head ♪	4:05
	♪ There is no peace on earth, I said ♪	4:12
	♪ For hate is strong and mocks the song ♪	4:21
	♪ Of peace on earth, good will to men ♪	4:29
	♪ Then pealed the bells more loud and deep ♪	4:40
	♪ God is not dead, nor doth he sleep ♪	4:48
	♪ The wrong shall fail, the right prevail ♪	4:57
	♪ With peace on earth, good will to men ♪	5:06
	♪ Good will to men ♪	5:31
	(singing in foreign language)	6:14
	♪ Jesus Christ was born ♪	6:32
	(choir singing)	6:46
	(singing in foreign language)	8:27
	♪ Jesus Christ was born ♪	8:47
	♪ Hark how the bells ♪	9:10
	♪ Sweet silver bells ♪	9:12
	♪ All seem to say ♪	9:13
	♪ Throw cares away ♪	9:14
	♪ Christmas is here ♪	9:15
	♪ Bringing good cheer ♪	9:16
	♪ To young and old ♪	9:17
	♪ Meek and the bold ♪	9:18
	♪ Ding dong ding dong ♪	9:20
	♪ That is their song ♪	9:21
	♪ With joyful ring ♪	9:22
	♪ All caroling ♪	9:24
	♪ One seems to hear ♪	9:25
	♪ Words of good cheer ♪	9:26
	♪ From everywhere ♪	9:27
	♪ Filling the air ♪	9:28
	♪ Oh how they pound ♪	9:29
	♪ Raising the sound ♪	9:31
	♪ O'er hill and dale ♪	9:32
	♪ Telling their tale ♪	9:33
	♪ Gaily they ring ♪	9:35
	♪ While people sing ♪	9:36
	♪ Songs of good cheer ♪	9:37
	♪ Christmas is here ♪	9:38
	♪ Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas ♪	9:39
	♪ Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas ♪	9:41
	♪ On on they send ♪	9:44
	♪ On without end ♪	9:45
	♪ Their joyful tone ♪	9:46
	♪ To every home ♪	9:48
	♪ Hark how the bells ♪	9:49
	♪ Sweet silver bells ♪	9:50
	♪ All seem to say ♪	9:51
	♪ Throw cares away ♪	9:52
	♪ Christmas is here ♪	9:54
	♪ Bringing good cheer ♪	9:55
	♪ To young and old ♪	9:56
	♪ Meek and the bold ♪	9:57
	♪ Ding dong, ding dong ♪	9:58
	♪ That is their song ♪	9:59
	♪ With joyful ring ♪	10:01
	♪ All caroling ♪	10:02
	♪ One seems to hear ♪	10:03
	♪ Words of good cheer ♪	10:04
	♪ From everywhere ♪	10:05
	♪ Filling the air ♪	10:06
	♪ Oh how they pound ♪	10:07
	♪ Raising the sound ♪	10:08
	♪ O'er hill and dale ♪	10:09
	♪ Telling their tale ♪	10:10
	♪ Gaily they ring ♪	10:11
	♪ While people sing ♪	10:12
	♪ Songs of good cheer ♪	10:14
	♪ Christmas is here ♪	10:15
	♪ Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas ♪	10:16
	♪ Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas ♪	10:18
	♪ On on they send ♪	10:20
	♪ On without end ♪	10:21
	♪ Their joyful tone ♪	10:22
	♪ To every home ♪	10:24
	♪ On on they send ♪	10:25
	♪ On without end ♪	10:26
	♪ Their joyful tone ♪	10:28
	♪ To every home ♪	10:29
	♪ Ding dong ding dong dong ♪	10:34
	(soft music)	11:21
-	Good morning and welcome to this service of worship	14:50
	at Duke University Chapel.	14:54
	It is a pleasure to welcome to our pulpit today	14:57
	Dr. John Westerhoff, who is Professor of Religious Education	14:59
	at Duke University Divinity School.	15:03
	Dr. Westerhoff is a beloved figure,	15:06
	not only here at Duke, but throughout the world	15:08
	where he is well known as an author,	15:11
	as a teacher, and as a retreat leader.	15:14
	Dr. Westerhoff, we extend a warm welcome to you today.	15:17
	We are also privileged to honor as our guest choir today,	15:21
	the Raleigh Boy Choir under the direction	15:24
	of conductor Thomas Sibley.	15:26
	This very fine choir has assisted us	15:29
	in the leadership of worship before,	15:32
	and we are truly delighted to have them back	15:35
	with us again today.	15:37
	And now let us join our hearts as one as we worship God.	15:40
	Grace and peace to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.	15:46
	Come, let us worship the Lord who established	15:52
	a new covenant through His son, Jesus Christ.	15:55
	(congregation speaking)	15:59
	("O Come All Ye Faithfull")	16:05
	♪ O Come All Ye Faithful ♪	16:47
	♪ Joyful and triumphant ♪	16:52
	♪ O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem ♪	16:56
	♪ Come and behold Him ♪	17:06
	♪ Born the King of Angels ♪	17:10
	♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪	17:14
	♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪	17:18
	♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪	17:23
	♪ Christ the Lord ♪	17:28
	♪ O Sing, choirs of angels ♪	17:35
	♪ Sing in exultation ♪	17:39
	♪ Sing all ye citizens of heaven above ♪	17:43
	♪ Glory to God ♪	17:53
	♪ Glory in the highest ♪	17:57
	♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪	18:01
	♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪	18:06
	♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪	18:10
	♪ Christ the Lord ♪	18:16
	♪ Hail Lord, we greet Thee ♪	19:46
	♪ Born this happy morning ♪	19:50
	♪ Jesus for evermore be Thy name adored ♪	19:54
	♪ Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing ♪	20:04
	♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪	20:12
	♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪	20:17
	♪ O come, let us adore Him ♪	20:21
	♪ Christ the Lord ♪	20:27
	Let us pray.	20:51
	Let us worship our creator, the God of love.	20:55
	God continually preserves and sustains us.	20:59
	We have been loved with an everlasting love.	21:03
	Through Jesus Christ we have been given	21:07
	complete knowledge of God's glory.	21:09
	(congregation speaking)	21:12
	Let us glory at the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.	21:18
	Though He was rich, for our sakes He became poor.	21:22
	He was tempted in all points as we are,	21:26
	but He was without sin.	21:30
	He went about doing good and preaching the Gospel	21:32
	of the kingdom.	21:35
	He accepted death, death on a cross.	21:37
	He was dead, and is alive forever.	21:40
	He has opened the kingdom of heaven	21:44
	to all who trust in Him.	21:46
	He sits in glory at the right hand of God.	21:49
	He will come again to be our judge.	21:52
	(congregation speaking)	21:56
	Let us rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.	21:59
	The Lord, the giver of life.	22:03
	Through the Spirit we are born into the family of God.	22:06
	And made members of the body of Christ.	22:09
	The witness of the Spirit confirms us.	22:13
	The wisdom teaches us.	22:16
	The power enables us.	22:18
	The Spirit will do far more for us than we ask or think.	22:20
	All praise to you, Holy Spirit.	22:26
	You may be seated.	22:29
-	Let us say together in unison.	22:42
	Open our hearts and minds, oh God.	22:46
	By the power of your Holy Spirit.	22:49
	So that as the word is read and proclaimed	22:52
	we might hear with joy what you say to us this day.	22:55
	Amen.	23:01
	The first lesson is taken from Isaiah chapter 61,	23:03
	verse 10 and chapter 62, verse three.	23:08
	I will greatly rejoice in the Lord.	23:14
	My soul shall exalt in my God.	23:18
	For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation.	23:22
	He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.	23:26
	As a bride groomed ex himself with a garland.	23:29
	And the bride adorns herself with her jewels.	23:33
	For as the earth brings forth its shoes,	23:37
	and as the guarding causes what is sown in it to spring up,	23:41
	so the Lord God will cause righteousness,	23:45
	and pray to spring forth before all the nations.	23:47
	For Zion's sake I will not keep silent.	23:51
	And for Jerusalem's sake, I will not rest.	23:55
	Until heard of indication goes forth as brightness	23:58
	and her salvation as a burning torch.	24:01
	The nations shall be called by a new name.	24:05
	Which the mouth of the Lord will give.	24:08
	You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord.	24:11
	And a royal diadem in the hand of your God.	24:14
	This ends the reading of the first lesson.	24:19
	(soft music)	24:28
	♪ Lord, now let us-- ♪	24:35
	(muffled singing)	24:44
	♪ Glory be the father and to the son ♪	25:14
	♪ And to the Holy Ghost ♪	25:19
	♪ As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be ♪	25:24
	♪ World without end, amen ♪	25:31
	The second lesson is taken from Galatians chapter four,	25:53
	verses four through seven.	25:58
	But when the time had fully come	26:02
	God sent forth His son, born of woman, born under the law.	26:05
	To redeem those who were under the law	26:11
	so that we might receive adoption as sons.	26:16
	And because you are sons, God has sent the spirit	26:20
	of His son into your hearts, crying abba father.	26:24
	So through God you are no longer a slave, but a son.	26:29
	And if a son, then an heir.	26:33
	This ends the reading of the second lesson.	26:36
	(soft music)	26:50
	(choir singing)	26:59
-	In respect for the Gospel, let us rise.	32:59
	The holy Gospel of the Lord according to Saint Luke.	33:08
	And when the day came for Mary and Joseph	33:14
	to be purified as laid down by the law of Moses,	33:16
	they took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord,	33:20
	observing what stands written in the law of the Lord.	33:25
	Every first born male must be consecrated to the Lord.	33:28
	And also to offer in sacrifice in accordance	33:33
	with what is said in the law of the Lord.	33:36
	A pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.	33:39
	Now in Jerusalem, there was a man named Simeon.	33:43
	He was an upright and devout man.	33:47
	He looked forward to Israel's comforting	33:50
	and the Holy Spirit rested on him.	33:52
	It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit	33:56
	that he would not see death until his eyes	33:59
	had set on Christ the Lord.	34:02
	Prompted by the Spirit he came to the temple.	34:06
	When the parents brought in the child Jesus,	34:08
	to do for him what the law required,	34:11
	he took Jesus into his arms and blessed God and said,	34:14
	now master, you can let your servant go in peace,	34:19
	just as you promised because my eyes have seen	34:23
	the salvation, which you have prepared	34:28
	for all the nations to see.	34:31
	A light to enlighten the pagans	34:34
	and the glory of your people, Israel.	34:36
	As the child's father and mother stood there	34:40
	wondering at the things that were being said about him,	34:43
	Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother,	34:47
	you see this child?	34:51
	He is destined for the fall and for the rising	34:54
	of many in Israel.	34:57
	Destined to be a sign that is rejected.	35:00
	And a sword will pierce your own soul too,	35:04
	so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.	35:08
	There was a prophetess also, Anna, the daughter.	35:13
	Of the tribe of Asher.	35:15
	She was well on in years, her days of girlhood over.	35:18
	She had been married for seven years	35:21
	before becoming a widow.	35:23
	She was now 84 years old and never left the temple,	35:25
	serving God night and day with fasting and prayer.	35:29
	She came by just at that moment and began to praise God	35:34
	and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward	35:38
	to the deliverance of Jerusalem.	35:41
	When they had done everything the law of the Lord	35:44
	required they went back to Galilee,	35:46
	to their own town of Nazareth.	35:49
	Meanwhile the child grew to maturity,	35:51
	and he was filled with wisdom and God's favor was with him.	35:54
	It is the Gospel of the Lord.	36:00
	Upon seeing the infant Jesus, Simeon exclaims,	36:14
	my eyes have seen the savior.	36:19
	Anna, looking on confirms Simeon's vision	36:24
	and offers thanks to God.	36:27
	On this first Sunday after the celebration of Christ's birth	36:32
	we gather to pray for the grace to see in His birth	36:38
	both the establishment of God's reign of peace	36:43
	and the possibility of its fulfillment in our lifetime.	36:48
	We pray for the grace of sight	36:55
	because God's gift of abundant, personal and social life	36:57
	is not self-evident.	37:02
	Either to those who are self-conscious	37:05
	or to those who watch the evening news.	37:08
	Indeed, if we are completely honest	37:13
	we might well confess that we gather to sing carols	37:15
	and retell the story, not because we see	37:20
	what Anna and Simeon saw.	37:23
	But because we wish we could.	37:27
	It is extremely difficult to maintain faith	37:31
	in the Gospel of God's presence and reign among us.	37:34
	We are nearing 2000 years of proclaiming	37:39
	the birth of a new humanity.	37:42
	And the establishment of God's reign in human history.	37:45
	For all these years, the faithful have waited	37:50
	and watched for war to end and peace to come.	37:53
	For inequality to end and justice to come.	37:59
	For estrangement to end and reconciliation to come.	38:05
	For oppression to end and freedom to come.	38:10
	For poverty, hunger, and sickness to end and health to come.	38:15
	For death to end and life to come.	38:21
	It is not easy to maintain faith in what	38:26
	never seems to come.	38:30
	It is difficult to keep trying to make	38:33
	the invisible, visible.	38:36
	Christmas is but four days passed,	38:41
	on that festival day the church represented	38:45
	the story of how God has entered into the poverty,	38:48
	brokenness, and incompleteness of our personal	38:52
	and social lives.	38:56
	Entered into them and transformed them.	38:58
	It was due to happen one day.	39:03
	For as Saint John reminds us in the beginning was the word	39:06
	and the word was with God, and the word was God.	39:10
	He was in the beginning with God,	39:15
	all things were made through Him.	39:17
	And without Him was not anything made.	39:19
	In Him was life and the life was the light of humanity.	39:24
	The light shines in the darkness	39:29
	and the darkness has not overcome it.	39:32
	And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us	39:36
	full of grace and truth.	39:40
	And so with Saint John at Christ's mass,	39:45
	the church gives thanks for the mystery	39:49
	of the saving power of God in our lives and history.	39:52
	Gives thanks for a candle in the dark.	39:58
	Gives thanks for the birth of possibilities.	40:03
	It is no longer doubtful how our human drama will end.	40:08
	Indeed it is now certain that our human tragedy	40:13
	is a divine comedy.	40:17
	God has taken the lead in this play called history	40:20
	and God will speak the decisive word.	40:25
	And so on this Sunday following the celebration	40:31
	of the eternal coming of Christ,	40:34
	the church retells the story of Simeon and Anna	40:38
	and reminds us of Simeon's faithful words,	40:41
	which are to become this day, our words of faith.	40:46
	My eyes have seen the salvation	40:51
	which God has prepared for all to see.	40:54
	We gather as the faithful have gathered	41:00
	for generations to tell the story	41:02
	and pray for the gift of faith.	41:04
	We come because in the world that makes faith difficult,	41:08
	we want to be able to proclaim in word	41:13
	and example the good news of God in Christ.	41:16
	The world, of course, is not much better	41:21
	since that first Christmas.	41:24
	The larger part of humanity does not suffer less.	41:27
	Peace is no more within easy grasp.	41:32
	To say we can see it is to be vulnerable	41:37
	to the charge of madness.	41:40
	To what can we point?	41:43
	What can we say to our children	41:47
	when children all over the world die	41:49
	of poverty, hunger, and war?	41:51
	While Christians worry about military preparedness.	41:55
	What can we say to the remnant of the Jews	42:00
	who survived the Holocaust in the land of Luther and Bach?	42:03
	What can we say to Japanese Buddhists	42:10
	who witnessed the fruits of a power developed	42:12
	and first used by those who call themselves Christians?	42:16
	Only Simeon and Anna have an adequate reply.	42:23
	The presence of salvation is a mystery.	42:30
	The mystery of a baby,	42:34
	a baby born to suffer and die.	42:37
	So that we might know the way to abundant life	42:41
	and world peace.	42:46
	At Christmas we celebrate the birth of possibility.	42:50
	Possibility manifested not in strength and independence.	42:54
	But in childlike weakness and dependence.	43:01
	Today's Gospel calls us to a rebirth of faith.	43:07
	Mary and Joseph bring Jesus their gift of new life	43:12
	as a sacrifice of thanksgiving.	43:16
	Old Simeon and Anna, who faithfully waited,	43:21
	prepared, and watched for God's revelation.	43:25
	See the baby Jesus and proclaim our eyes	43:31
	have seen God's saving power within our lives and history.	43:34
	And having seen it,	43:41
	they predict his suffering and death	43:44
	as the way to salvation.	43:48
	Today as the Duke Chapel celebrates the 200 year history	43:52
	of the founding of the Methodist Episcopal Church,	43:55
	our prayer is appropriate, the colic assigned	43:59
	by the Episcopal Church for the festival	44:02
	of John and Charles Wesley.	44:05
	Kindle in your church just ferver	44:08
	that those whose faith has cooled, may be warmed.	44:12
	And those who have not known Christ may turn to Him.	44:17
	Christian faith is a way of perceiving life in our lives.	44:24
	A way of being conscious to the world.	44:29
	A way of life, founded on the conviction	44:32
	that no matter how deep the world might fall,	44:35
	blessed are the eyes that see the mystery	44:39
	of a baby born to suffer and die	44:43
	as the way to salvation.	44:47
	In the Book of Common Prayer, the colic of this Sunday reads	44:52
	almighty God, you have poured upon us	44:56
	the light of your incarnate word.	44:58
	Grant that this light enkindled in our hearts	45:02
	may shine forth in our lives.	45:05
	If only we could see with the eyes of faith,	45:10
	we might be willing to give up our false notions	45:13
	that this is the best of all possible worlds.	45:17
	Give up our false notions that our life	45:22
	in this country is worth perpetuating	45:24
	and protecting at all cost.	45:27
	If only we could see with the eyes of faith,	45:32
	we might be willing to give up the false notion	45:34
	that the power of political, economic,	45:38
	and military might are the way to peace and justice.	45:41
	If only we could see with the eyes of faith,	45:47
	we might be willing to give up the false notion	45:49
	that it is our responsibility to make history	45:52
	come out right.	45:55
	It is difficult to see the divine child	45:59
	in the manger of poverty or the divine man	46:02
	on the cross of suffering.	46:05
	It is difficult to see that God conquers evil,	46:08
	only through the power of weakness.	46:13
	The power of non-violent resistance.	46:17
	To see that God establishes His reign	46:22
	of peace and justice through simple gestures	46:25
	of hospitality, feeding, compassion,	46:29
	reconciliation, caring, healing, and forgiving.	46:34
	Only the eyes of faith can make the invisible, visible.	46:40
	Only the eyes of faith can see through	46:44
	what the world calls reality to the truth.	46:47
	Only those who are willing to risk living	46:51
	as if faith were true, will ever know if it is.	46:53
	And so as we come to renew our covenant with God	46:59
	who comes to us in the mystery of a baby,	47:02
	and in the mystery of bread and wine,	47:06
	with Nicholas Herman, the 16th century Christian hymn writer	47:10
	in his Christmas tide eucharistic hymn put it	47:15
	that all together praise our God upon His lofty throne,	47:19
	for He uncloses heaven today and gives to us His son.	47:24
	Behold the wonderful exchange, our Lord with us doth make.	47:30
	Lo He assumes our flesh and blood,	47:35
	and we of heaven partake.	47:39
	Then let us come to this holy meal.	47:44
	Let us--	47:48

-	And which we offer, God will transform our lives,	0:03
	and give them back to us infused with the life of Christ,	0:08
	and with this gift of grace, will come the grace	0:14
	of faith to see God's presence and reign among us,	0:17
	in the mystery of a baby born to die.	0:22
	The grace of hope and the fulfillment of God's promises,	0:26
	and the grace of love to sustain us in our suffering.	0:31
	Come and pray for the grace	0:38
	of renewed faith and refreshed lives.	0:39
	Come and receive the gift of new sight and new life.	0:44
	Come and receive the courage and strength	0:49
	to witness to the birth of possibilities.	0:52
	Come, and through bread and wine,	0:57
	that your lives be infused with Christ's life.	0:59
	Come and become	1:05
	the birth of possibility,	1:08
	a sign of salvation for all to see	1:10
	that the world might yet believed	1:13
	and God's promises fulfilled.	1:17
	In the name of the Father and of the Son	1:21
	and of the Holy Spirit	1:23
	Amen.	1:25
	(organ music)	1:39
	(muffled singing)	2:05
-	The Lord be with you.	4:00
-	And also with you.	4:02
	_ Let us pray.	4:04
	Almighty and ever loving God,	4:18
	you have poured upon us the new light	4:22
	of the incarnate word	4:25
	which we celebrate this Christmas tide.	4:28
	As we behold the wonderful exchange you have made with us.	4:31
	We truly adore you with our praise.	4:36
	We offer now these prayers for others.	4:41
	Beseeching you gracious God to look with compassion	4:44
	on the entire human family.	4:48
	Look with pity, oh God	4:52
	upon the people in this land and abroad	4:54
	who live with injustice,	4:57
	terror, disease,	4:59
	and death as their constant companions.	5:02
	Have mercy upon us.	5:06
	Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors.	5:08
	And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion	5:13
	of the riches of this earth.	5:17
	We remember before you, most merciful God,	5:21
	all poor and neglected persons.	5:25
	The homeless, the destitute, the old and the sick.	5:29
	The hungry, all who have none to care for them.	5:35
	Empower us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit,	5:41
	and to somehow turn their sorrow into joy.	5:46
	Remember all prisoners and give them hope for their future.	5:51
	Grant us all the conviction to improve their lot.	5:56
	Remember those who work in such institutions.	6:00
	Keep them humane and compassionate	6:03
	and sustain them through the most trying times.	6:07
	We pray for all nations, eternal God.	6:12
	That you might take away the arrogance and the hatred	6:16
	which infect our hearts.	6:19
	Break down the walls that separate us.	6:22
	Unite us in the bonds of love.	6:25
	That in your good time, all nations and races	6:29
	may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne.	6:33
	These things we pray,	6:39
	in the name of Jesus Christ, the prince of peace	6:41
	in whose perfect kingdom, no sword is drawn,	6:45
	but the sword of righteousness.	6:48
	Amen.	6:51
	Let us humbly confess our sins to God.	6:55
	Oh God, you have shown us the way of life	7:00
	through your son Jesus Christ.	7:03
	We confess with shame our slowness to learn of Him.	7:06
	Our failure to follow Him.	7:10
	And our reluctance to bear the cross.	7:12
-	Have mercy on us Lord and forgive us.	7:16
-	We confess the poverty of our worship.	7:20
	Our neglective fellowship and of the means of grace,	7:24
	our hesitating witness for Christ,	7:28
	our evasion of responsibilities in our service,	7:32
	our imperfect stewardship of your gifts.	7:36
-	Have mercy on us Lord and forgive us.	7:40
-	Let each of us, in silence, make confession to God.	7:44
	Have mercy on us Lord and forgive us.	8:05
	Have mercy on me, oh God,	8:10
	according to your steadfast love	8:12
	in your abundant mercy,	8:15
	blot out my transgressions,	8:17
	thoroughly wash my iniquity from me	8:20
	and cleanse me from my sin.	8:22
	Create in me a clean heart, oh God.	8:25
	And put a new and right spirit within me.	8:28
	Now the message we have heard from God's son,	8:32
	and that we announce is this:	8:35
	God is light and there is no darkness in Him.	8:38
	When we live in the light and He is the light,	8:42
	then we have fellowship with one another	8:46
	and the blood of Jesus, His son, purifies us from every sin.	8:49
	If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.	8:54
	There is no truth in us.	8:58
	But if we confess our sins to God,	9:00
	He will keep His promise.	9:03
	He will forgive us all our wrongdoing.	9:05
	Amen.	9:09
	Thanks be to God.	9:10
	Let us pray.	9:14
	Father, you have appointed our Lord Jesus Christ	9:16
	as mediator of a new covenant.	9:20
	Give us grace to draw near with fullness of faith	9:23
	and join ourselves in a perpetual covenant with you,	9:26
	through Jesus Christ our Lord.	9:30
	Amen.	9:32
	In the old covenant, God chose Israel	9:36
	to be a special people and to obey the law.	9:39
	Our Lord Jesus Christ by His death and resurrection	9:44
	has made a new covenant with all who trust in Him.	9:47
	We stand within this covenant and we bear His name.	9:51
	On the one side, God promises	9:56
	to give us new life in Christ.	9:58
	On the other side, we are pledged to live not for ourselves,	10:02
	but for God.	10:06
	Today, therefore, we meet to renew this covenant	10:08
	that binds us to God.	10:12
	Would the congregation please rise?	10:15
	Friends, let us claim the covenant God has made	10:24
	with His people and accept the yoke of Christ.	10:27
	When we accept the yoke of Christ	10:30
	we allow Him to guide all that we do and all that we are	10:32
	and Christ Himself is our only reward.	10:37
	Christ has many ways for us to serve Him.	10:40
	Some are easy. Others are difficult.	10:43
	Some receive applause.	10:47
	Others bring only reproach.	10:48
	Some we desire to do because of our own interest.	10:51
	Others seem unnatural.	10:55
	Sometimes we please Christ and meet our own needs.	10:58
	And other times, we cannot please Christ	11:02
	unless we deny ourselves.	11:04
	Yet Christ strengthens us and gives us the power	11:07
	to do all these things.	11:11
	Therefore, let us make this covenant with God our own.	11:14
	Let us give ourselves completely to God.	11:18
	Trusting in His promises and relying on His grace.	11:21
	I give myself completely to you God.	11:26
	Assign me to my place in your creation.	11:30
	Let me suffer for you.	11:33
	Give me the work you would have me do.	11:35
	Give me many tasks or have me step aside	11:38
	while you call others.	11:41
	Put me forward or humble me.	11:43
	Give me riches or let me live in poverty.	11:46
	I freely give all that I am and all that I have to you.	11:49
	And now Holy God, creator, redeemer, Holy Spirit,	11:54
	you are mine and I am yours.	11:59
	So be it.	12:01
	May this covenant made on earth, continue for all eternity.	12:03
	Amen.	12:07
	Christ invites to His table all who love Him	12:10
	and who desire to live in peace with one another.	12:13
	Let us offer each other signs of God's peace and love.	12:17
	(muffled speaking) and ourselves to God.	12:50
	(soothing music plays)	12:55
	(vocalizing)	14:07
	("Doxology")	20:26
	♪ Praise God from whom all blessings flow ♪	20:44
	♪ Praise Him all creatures here below ♪	20:49
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	20:55
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	20:58
	♪ Praise Him above ye heavenly host ♪	21:03
	♪ Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost ♪	21:09
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	21:14
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	21:17
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	21:20
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	21:23
	♪ Hallelujah ♪	21:27
	♪ Amen ♪	21:35
-	The peace of the Lord be always with you.	21:48
-	And also with you.	21:50
-	Lift up your hearts.	21:53
-	We lift them up to the Lord.	21:54
-	Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.	21:56
-	It is right to give Him thanks and praise.	21:59
-	Eternal God, you have made covenants with your people	22:05
	through all generations.	22:09
	You have been faithful from the beginning of time,	22:11
	therefore we join with all your people everywhere	22:15
	as we give you thanks and praise.	22:18
	Holy, holy, holy Lord	22:22
	God of power and might.	22:25
	Heaven and earth are full of your glory	22:27
	Hosannah in the highest.	22:30
	Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.	22:32
	Hosannah in the highest.	22:35
	We remember with thanksgiving, Holy God	22:38
	that you sent your son Jesus a babe in a manger	22:41
	to establish a new covenant with us,	22:45
	through the shedding of blood on the cross.	22:48
	Before His death, He gathered a fellowship.	22:51
	They ate at the same table with Him,	22:54
	and He taught them.	22:56
	You asked your son to give up His life for them and for us	22:58
	and He did.	23:02
	He called us also to take up our cross and to wear His yoke.	23:04
	He promised to comfort this fellowship in suffering	23:09
	and to be with it for eternity.	23:12
	On the night His followers deserted Him, he took bread,	23:16
	gave thanks, broke it, gave it to His disciples and said,	23:21
	"Take. Eat. This is my body, which is given for you."	23:25
	When supper was over, He took the cup.	23:33
	Gave thanks, gave it to His disciples and said,	23:36
	"Drink from this all of you.	23:39
	This is my blood of the new covenant poured our for you	23:42
	and for many for the forgiveness of sins."	23:45
	By dying, He freed us from unending death.	23:52
	By rising from the dead, He gave us everlasting life.	23:55
	When we eat this bread and drink from this cup,	24:00
	we experience anew the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.	24:03
	And we look forward to His coming in final victory.	24:08
	Christ has died.	24:12
	Christ is risen.	24:14
	Christ will come again.	24:15
	Holy Father, we have freely entered into a covenant with you	24:18
	and now we again commit ourselves to live in complete union	24:22
	with your son.	24:27
	Send your Holy Spirit on our fellowship.	24:28
	And on these gifts of bread and wine	24:31
	that as we join in this covenant,	24:34
	we will truly be the body of Christ.	24:36
	By the gift of your son, oh God	24:40
	you have established a new covenant.	24:43
	Through Him, with Him, in Him,	24:45
	in the unity of the Holy Spirit,	24:48
	all glory and honor is yours almighty father,	24:50
	now and forever. Amen.	24:54
	Our father, who art in heaven.	24:57
	Hallowed be thy name.	25:00
	Thy kingdom come.	25:02
	Thy will be done.	25:04
	On earth as it is in heaven.	25:05
	Give us this day our daily bread.	25:07
	And forgive us our trespasses,	25:10
	as we forgive those who trespass against us.	25:13
	And lead us not into temptation,	25:16
	but deliver us from evil.	25:18
	For thine is the kingdom, the power,	25:20
	and the glory forever.	25:23
	Amen.	25:25
	The gifts of God for the people of God.	25:42
	(soothing music plays)	25:52
	(singing in foreign language)	29:49
	(soothing organ music)	34:39
	(muffled singing)	34:40
	Let us give thanks to the Lord.	37:20
	Lord we give thanks for the gifts of this holy meal.	37:28
	We praise you for sending your son,	37:31
	that through Him we might be reconciled	37:34
	completely to you.	37:36
	Christ sacrificed Himself.	37:38
	We offer the sacrifice of our lives	37:41
	that all that we do be a response to the sacrifice	37:43
	Christ made for us.	37:47
	Amen.	37:49
	("Joy to the World")	37:51
	♪ Joy to the world, the Lord is come ♪	38:06
	♪ Let earth receive her King ♪	38:12
	♪ Let every heart ♪	38:19
	♪ prepare Him room ♪	38:22
	♪ And Heaven and nature sing ♪	38:25
	♪ And Heaven and nature sing ♪	38:28
	♪ And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing ♪	38:32
	♪ Joy to the World, the Savior reigns! ♪	38:41
	♪ Let men their songs employ ♪	38:47
	♪ While fields and floods, ♪	38:54
	♪ rocks, hills and plains ♪	38:57
	♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪	39:00
	♪ Repeat the sounding joy ♪	39:04
	♪ Repeat, repeat, ♪	39:07
	♪ the sounding joy ♪	39:11
	♪ No more let sins and sorrows grow ♪	39:17
	♪ Nor thorns infest the ground ♪	39:22
	♪ He comes to make ♪	39:29
	♪ His blessings flow ♪	39:33
	♪ Far as the curse is found, ♪	39:36
	♪ far as the curse is found ♪	39:39
	♪ Far as, far as the curse is found ♪	39:42
	♪ He rules the world with truth and grace ♪	39:52
	♪ And makes the nations prove ♪	39:58
	♪ The glories of ♪	40:05
	♪ His righteousness ♪	40:08
	♪ And wonders of His love, ♪	40:12
	♪ and wonders of His love ♪	40:15
	♪ And wonders, wonders of His love ♪	40:18
-	May the God who established a covenant	40:31
	with those who seek to enter the kingdom,	40:34
	be always present with you.	40:36
-	Amen.	40:39
	May Jesus Christ who sealed the new covenant	40:40
	with His sacrifice on the cross bring you peace.	40:43
-	Amen.	40:47
-	May God's Holy Spirit guide your life.	40:48
-	Amen.	40:51
-	Go in peace to serve God and your neighbor	40:53
	in all that you do.	40:56
-	Amen.	40:59
-	Thanks be to God.	41:00
	(upbeat music)	41:03

Item Info

Title:

John H. Westerhoff, III - Service of the Lord's Supper: Communion Meditation (December 30, 1984)

Description:

Sermon start time: (Part 1): 36:14. Sermon end time: (Part 2) 01:28.
It is not easy to see the salvation of God in a world so full of war and injustice. We must pray to receive the gift of sight like Anna and Simeon to see in the suffering Christ the salvation of God. (Abstract created by Duke Divinity School staff.)
Key quotation: “The presence of salvation is a mystery, the mystery of a baby, a baby born to suffer and die, so that we might know the way to abundant life and world peace.”

Permalink:

https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/r4cc0v83n

Date:

December 30, 1984

Speaker:

Westerhoff, John H., III

Biblical Book:

Chapter and Verse:

Subject:

Contributor:

Duke University. Chapel

Identifier:

UA.17.01.0003 CS-0244
ref8009_plk
uachapelsermaud
duke:320297
dcrau001232
ark:/87924/r4cc0v83n
dc555e35-1025-4f3b-a974-d76b59c06deb

Digital Collection:

Duke Chapel Recordings

Source Collection:

Duke University Chapel recordings

Language:

English

Location:

United States
North Carolina
Durham (N.C.)

Format:

Provenance:

The Duke University Chapel Recordings were transferred to the Duke University Archives beginning in 1970.

Rights:

Limited Re-Use

Unknown Rights-Holder

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