G. Robert McKenzie, Jr. - "Called by Name" (July 26, 1970)
MP3
Loading the media player...
Transcript
- Download transcript as:
-
Text
-
PDF
-
WebVTT (includes timecodes)
Transcripts may contain inaccuracies.
| (choir singing) | 0:07 | |
| (organ playing) | 1:47 | |
| (choirs singing) | 2:42 | |
| Priest | Beloved, we have assembled here | 5:59 |
| in this place of worship, | 6:01 | |
| to commune with the Lord Jesus Christ, | 6:04 | |
| who has invited us to come | 6:08 | |
| symbolically to his table. | 6:10 | |
| To prepare our hearts for the feast, | 6:13 | |
| which he has ready for us. | 6:16 | |
| Let us hear some of the verses of scripture, | 6:19 | |
| which help us to understand what we are about. | 6:23 | |
| Behold said, Jesus, | 6:28 | |
| I stand at the door and knock. | 6:30 | |
| If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, | 6:33 | |
| I will come into him and eat with him, | 6:38 | |
| and he with me. | 6:42 | |
| Again, Jesus said, | 6:45 | |
| I am the living bread, | 6:47 | |
| which came down from heaven. | 6:50 | |
| If anyone eats of this bread, | 6:53 | |
| he will live forever. | 6:56 | |
| And the bread which I shall give him | 6:58 | |
| is the bread for the life of the world, | 7:02 | |
| and is my flesh. | 7:07 | |
| The apostle Paul writing about this said, | 7:10 | |
| The cup of blessing, which we bless, | 7:15 | |
| is it not a participation | 7:20 | |
| in the blood of Christ? | 7:22 | |
| the bread which we break | 7:24 | |
| is it not a participation | 7:27 | |
| in the body of Christ? | 7:29 | |
| Because there is one loaf, | 7:32 | |
| we who are many, are one body. | 7:35 | |
| For we all partake of the same loaf. | 7:39 | |
| Again, Paul writing, | 7:44 | |
| What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, | 7:46 | |
| nor the heart of man can see | 7:50 | |
| what God has prepared for those who love him. | 7:53 | |
| God has revealed to us through the spirit. | 7:57 | |
| For the spirit searches everything, | 8:00 | |
| even the depths of God. | 8:03 | |
| The Lord be with you. | 8:08 | |
| Congregation | And also with you. | 8:12 |
| Let us pray our prayer for purity, | 8:13 | |
| uniting our hearts and our voice. | 8:16 | |
| All mighty God | 8:21 | |
| unto whom all hearts are open, | 8:22 | |
| all desires known | 8:25 | |
| and from whom no secrets are hid. | 8:27 | |
| Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts | 8:30 | |
| by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, | 8:32 | |
| that we may perfectly love thee | 8:35 | |
| and worthily magnify thy holy name | 8:37 | |
| through Christ, our Lord, Amen. | 8:40 | |
| Our father who art in heaven, | 8:44 | |
| hallowed be thy name, | 8:46 | |
| thy kingdom come. | 8:48 | |
| Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. | 8:50 | |
| Give us this day our daily bread | 8:54 | |
| and forgive us our trespasses, | 8:57 | |
| as we forgive those who trespass against us | 8:59 | |
| and lead us not into temptation, | 9:03 | |
| but deliver us from evil. | 9:05 | |
| For thine is the kingdom | 9:08 | |
| and the power and the glory, | 9:09 | |
| forever, Amen. | 9:11 | |
| (organ playing) | 9:14 | |
| (choir singing) | 9:24 | |
| Truly and earnestly repent of your sins | 11:05 | |
| and are in love and charity with your neighbors | 11:07 | |
| and intend to lead a new life, | 11:10 | |
| following the commandments of God | 11:13 | |
| and walking from henceforth in his holy ways, | 11:15 | |
| draw near with faith | 11:18 | |
| and take this holy sacrament | 11:20 | |
| to your comfort, make your humble confession, | 11:21 | |
| to all mighty God. | 11:24 | |
| And may we now make our humble confession | 11:32 | |
| to almighty God in our unison prayer. | 11:34 | |
| - | Almighty God, | 11:38 |
| father of our Lord Jesus Christ. | 11:39 | |
| Maker of all things, | 11:42 | |
| judge of all men. | 11:44 | |
| We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins, | 11:46 | |
| and wickedness, which we from time to time, | 11:49 | |
| most grievously have committed | 11:52 | |
| by thought word and deed | 11:54 | |
| against thy divine majesty. | 11:56 | |
| We do earnestly repent and are heartedly | 11:59 | |
| sorry for these our mis-doings. | 12:02 | |
| The remembrance of them is grievous unto us. | 12:04 | |
| Have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us, | 12:08 | |
| most merciful father for thy son, our Lord, | 12:11 | |
| Jesus Christ say, forgive us all of that is passed. | 12:14 | |
| And granted we may ever hear after | 12:19 | |
| serve and please thee in newness of life. | 12:21 | |
| Through the honor and glory of thy name, | 12:24 | |
| through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. | 12:27 | |
| Almighty God, our heavenly father, | 12:33 | |
| who of thy great mercy | 12:36 | |
| has promised forgiveness of sins, | 12:37 | |
| to all them that with hearty repentance | 12:40 | |
| and true faith turned to thee. | 12:43 | |
| Have mercy upon us. | 12:45 | |
| Pardon and deliver us from all our sins. | 12:48 | |
| Confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, | 12:52 | |
| and bring us to everlasting life | 12:55 | |
| through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen. | 12:57 | |
| Hear what comfortable words. | 13:04 | |
| The scripture say to all that truly turned to the Lord, | 13:06 | |
| Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden. | 13:10 | |
| And I will give you rest. | 13:14 | |
| If anyone sins, | 13:18 | |
| we have an advocate with the father, | 13:19 | |
| Jesus Christ, the righteous. | 13:22 | |
| And he is the expiation for our sins | 13:24 | |
| and not for ours only, | 13:30 | |
| but also for the sins of the whole world. | 13:31 | |
| Now let us pray for the whole state of Christ church | 13:37 | |
| using the Litany, page 13. | 13:42 | |
| Most merciful father, | 13:48 | |
| we humbly beseech thee | 13:49 | |
| to receive these our prayers | 13:50 | |
| for the universal church, | 13:52 | |
| that thou will confirm it in the truth of thy, holy faith. | 13:55 | |
| Inspire it with unity and concord | 13:59 | |
| and extend and prosper it throughout the world. | 14:02 | |
| We beseech thee also so to guide and strengthen | 14:07 | |
| the witness of the church | 14:10 | |
| to those in authority in all nations, | 14:11 | |
| that they may maintain the justice | 14:14 | |
| and welfare of all mankind. | 14:16 | |
| You have grace, so heavenly father to all ministers, | 14:23 | |
| of thy church that both by their life and doctrine, | 14:26 | |
| they may set forth dye true and lively word | 14:31 | |
| and faithfully administer thy holy sacraments | 14:36 | |
| and who all thy people give die heavenly grace, | 14:40 | |
| that with willing heart and due reverence, | 14:44 | |
| they made here and receive the holy word, | 14:47 | |
| truly serving thee and holiness and righteousness | 14:51 | |
| all the days of their lives. | 14:56 | |
| And we most humbly beseech of thy goodness, oh Lord, | 15:02 | |
| to support and strengthen all those | 15:06 | |
| who in this transitory life | 15:08 | |
| are in trouble, sorrow, need sickness, | 15:10 | |
| or any other adversity. | 15:15 | |
| We remember with Thanksgiving, | 15:21 | |
| those who have loved and served the entire church on earth, | 15:23 | |
| who now rest from their labors, | 15:26 | |
| especially those most dear to us, | 15:29 | |
| whom we name and our hearts before thee now. | 15:31 | |
| Keep us in fellowship with all thy saints | 15:45 | |
| and bring us at length to the joy | 15:49 | |
| of thy heavenly kingdom grant this oh father | 15:51 | |
| for the sake of Jesus Christ, | 15:55 | |
| our only mediator and advocate, Amen. | 15:58 | |
| The scripture lesson for today is bound in John's gospel | 16:04 | |
| verses from chapter 10, beginning with the first. | 16:10 | |
| The words of Jesus, truly, truly I say to you, | 16:15 | |
| he who does not enter the sheep bowl by the door, | 16:21 | |
| but climbs in by another way, | 16:25 | |
| that man is a thief and a robber, | 16:28 | |
| but he who enters by the door | 16:32 | |
| is the shepherd of the sheep. | 16:34 | |
| To him the gatekeeper open. | 16:37 | |
| The sheep, hear his voice | 16:39 | |
| and he calls his own sheep by name | 16:42 | |
| and leads them out. | 16:47 | |
| When he has brought out all his sheep, | 16:52 | |
| he goes before them, | 16:55 | |
| the sheep follow him for, they know his voice. | 16:57 | |
| And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. | 17:01 | |
| I must bring them also and they will hear my voice. | 17:06 | |
| So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. | 17:12 | |
| Let us pray. | 17:35 | |
| Let the words of my mouth and the meditations | 17:41 | |
| of all of our hearts be always acceptable | 17:44 | |
| in thy sight, oh Lord. | 17:49 | |
| Our strength and our redeemer, Amen. | 17:52 | |
| If sometimes a temptation | 18:00 | |
| when talking about the Lord's supper, | 18:04 | |
| to try to be very profound | 18:06 | |
| and thereby perhaps | 18:10 | |
| to lose the spirit of it all, | 18:12 | |
| actually there's nothing | 18:17 | |
| very profound about an itinerant preacher, | 18:19 | |
| wanting to spend the final evening | 18:23 | |
| together with his friends | 18:26 | |
| that this particular final evening took place | 18:29 | |
| during the Jewish Passover enhances its value, | 18:32 | |
| especially for those who appreciate the symbol | 18:37 | |
| and the symbolism between the two events. | 18:42 | |
| Here was a man who simply wanted to share | 18:46 | |
| some unheard moments with those | 18:50 | |
| who had been closest to it. | 18:54 | |
| Now, since that original last supper, | 18:57 | |
| the church has made it | 19:02 | |
| our greatest symbol of fellowship | 19:03 | |
| and communion with the risen Lord. | 19:07 | |
| But even from the beginning, | 19:11 | |
| it has held different meanings for different people. | 19:13 | |
| As no doubt, | 19:16 | |
| there are varying opinions represented here today | 19:18 | |
| in this congregation. | 19:21 | |
| Well, what does it mean? | 19:24 | |
| This service of the bread and the cup, | 19:27 | |
| many things really. | 19:32 | |
| So today let me try to witness | 19:35 | |
| to only one of its meanings for me. | 19:37 | |
| The sacrament of the Lord's supper is a reminder | 19:43 | |
| that Jesus Christ calls me by name. | 19:48 | |
| It is a reminder that Jesus Christ | 19:53 | |
| calls me by name name. | 19:55 | |
| Names were considered very important in biblical society. | 19:59 | |
| And the name is by which many of biblical characters | 20:04 | |
| are known reveal what they became. | 20:06 | |
| Remember Jacob, who had his name changed to Israel. | 20:11 | |
| Then he wrestled with God one night by the river Jabbok | 20:16 | |
| and in the New Testament, | 20:22 | |
| that was Simon became Peter, | 20:23 | |
| Saul who became Paul | 20:28 | |
| names are also important to us. | 20:32 | |
| There are a lot of us who don't like our names. | 20:37 | |
| I've never been very fond of my first name, George. | 20:41 | |
| if you like your first name, George, then good for you, | 20:47 | |
| but I've never been very fond of mine. | 20:51 | |
| Think of the number of people for a moment | 20:55 | |
| who have their names changed. | 20:56 | |
| But most importantly, | 21:01 | |
| think how much we love to hear the sound of our name. | 21:02 | |
| There is no more sweet of sound in all the world | 21:06 | |
| and the sound of one's own name. | 21:10 | |
| So perhaps in this context, | 21:13 | |
| we may disagree with Shakespeare's Juliet. | 21:15 | |
| When she says what's in the name, | 21:19 | |
| that which we call a rose by any other name | 21:23 | |
| would smell as sweet. | 21:26 | |
| Our names are important to us to each of us. | 21:29 | |
| A student taking a course in religion | 21:36 | |
| after much discussion | 21:37 | |
| about many theories that of his professor. | 21:39 | |
| What I really want to know is this, does God know my name? | 21:43 | |
| Does God know my name? | 21:50 | |
| That's the question, I think that makes the difference. | 21:53 | |
| We're curious about the universe. | 21:57 | |
| You and I, we want to know its origin. | 21:58 | |
| We want to know its operation and destiny, | 22:01 | |
| but for each one of us, | 22:06 | |
| the question becomes at last upon the personal one, | 22:07 | |
| is there in the universe. | 22:13 | |
| one who cares for me? | 22:16 | |
| Is there one who cares for me? | 22:20 | |
| The writer of the gospel of John | 22:25 | |
| has Jesus say he who does not enter | 22:27 | |
| by the sheep fold by other sheep by the door, | 22:31 | |
| but climbs in another way that man is a thief | 22:35 | |
| and a robber. | 22:39 | |
| But he who enters the door | 22:41 | |
| is the shepherd of the sheep to him | 22:43 | |
| the gatekeeper opens, | 22:46 | |
| the sheep hear his voice | 22:49 | |
| and he calls his own sheep by name | 22:52 | |
| and leads them out. | 22:55 | |
| My friends, | 22:59 | |
| each time we take part in the reading of this service, | 23:00 | |
| each time we handle the bread and the cup, | 23:04 | |
| we can renew the experience of being called by name. | 23:08 | |
| He who took young children in his arms and blessed them. | 23:15 | |
| He who fed the hungry, heal the sick and blessed the weary. | 23:17 | |
| It was he who said during the course of his last supper | 23:22 | |
| with his friends, | 23:25 | |
| do this in memory of me. | 23:27 | |
| Do this in memory of who I am or what I have done | 23:30 | |
| and continue to do and will do forever. | 23:33 | |
| So in all the bigness of life today | 23:39 | |
| in the midst of so much, | 23:42 | |
| that is impersonal and unkind and abrupt and rude. | 23:44 | |
| We all need the tangible reminder | 23:50 | |
| of our own importance and word. | 23:55 | |
| A man who was rescued after many days | 24:01 | |
| at sea alone on a rubber raft | 24:02 | |
| said to those who found him. | 24:05 | |
| My only hope, | 24:08 | |
| my only hope was that I knew I was being sought | 24:10 | |
| I thought too you depends on that. | 24:19 | |
| Is anyone looking for me? | 24:22 | |
| And the answer that comes to us from this service is yes. | 24:28 | |
| In the fullness of time, | 24:32 | |
| God sent forth his son to find us and call us by name. | 24:34 | |
| One of the best demonstrations of the value of a name | 24:43 | |
| or the importance of using the right name | 24:47 | |
| comes from the play, A Man of Lavante. | 24:50 | |
| Many of you are perhaps familiar with this play | 24:55 | |
| and you will recall that one scene | 24:57 | |
| shows Don Quixote seated at a table in an end, | 25:00 | |
| preparing for a meal. | 25:04 | |
| The waitress is named Al Danza. | 25:07 | |
| She's a prostitute. | 25:11 | |
| As she efforts to set the table, | 25:14 | |
| Don Quixote is stricken by her presence. | 25:15 | |
| He addresses her sweet lady. | 25:19 | |
| Tell me your name, Al Danza. | 25:24 | |
| She says roughly, | 25:28 | |
| but he calls her by another name | 25:29 | |
| Dulcinea, Dulcinea I see heaven. | 25:35 | |
| When I see the Dulcinea and I name | 25:41 | |
| is like a prayer on angel whispers. | 25:45 | |
| Dulcinea, Dulcinea at the end of the play. | 25:49 | |
| When Don Quixote is dying, | 25:54 | |
| Al dons comes to him, saying Dulcinea | 25:56 | |
| Dulcinea won't you please bring back the dream of Dulcinea | 26:03 | |
| won't you bring me back the bright and shining glory | 26:10 | |
| of Dulcinea, Dulcinea as James Montgomery has written. | 26:15 | |
| And when these failing lips grow dumb and mind | 26:24 | |
| and memory flee when thou shalt | 26:27 | |
| and die kingdom come then Lord remember me. | 26:31 | |
| It's a good thing for us to be here | 26:38 | |
| so we can hear him call us by our name, Amen. | 26:41 | |
| (organ playing) | 26:52 | |
| (choir sings) | 27:27 | |
| Lift up your hearts. | 37:44 | |
| let us to give thanks unto the Lord. | 37:49 | |
| It is very neat, right? | 37:58 | |
| And there are bounded and duty | 38:00 | |
| that we should at all times | 38:02 | |
| and in all places give thanks unto the Lord. | 38:04 | |
| Holy father, all night, he everlasting God. | 38:08 | |
| Therefore with angels and archangels | 38:13 | |
| with all the company of heaven, | 38:16 | |
| we Lord and magnify thy glorious name, | 38:18 | |
| evermore praising the and say... | 38:21 | |
| (choir sings) | 38:25 | |
| Our mighty God our heavenly father | 38:55 | |
| who abide tender mercy did give thy only son, | 38:58 | |
| Jesus Christ suffered death upon the cross | 39:02 | |
| for our redemption. | 39:06 | |
| We made there by the one offering of himself, | 39:08 | |
| a full, perfect and sufficient sacrifice | 39:12 | |
| for the sins of the whole world | 39:15 | |
| and did institute and in his holy gospel, | 39:18 | |
| command us to continue a perpetual memory | 39:22 | |
| of his precious death until his coming again. | 39:26 | |
| Hear us so merciful father, we most humbly beseech thee, | 39:30 | |
| and granted we receiving these thy creatures | 39:34 | |
| with bread and wine. | 39:37 | |
| According to thy son, our savior Jesus Christ, | 39:39 | |
| holy institution in remembrance of his passion, | 39:41 | |
| death and resurrection may be partakers of the divine nature | 39:45 | |
| through him who in the same night that he was betrayed, | 39:51 | |
| took bread when he had given thanks. | 39:55 | |
| He broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, | 39:58 | |
| take eat this is my body, | 40:02 | |
| which is given for you do this in remembrance of me. | 40:07 | |
| Likewise, after supper, | 40:13 | |
| he took the cup when he had given thanks | 40:15 | |
| he gave it to them saying, | 40:17 | |
| drink ye all of this for this is my blood | 40:20 | |
| on the new covenant, which is shed for you. | 40:24 | |
| And for many, for the forgiveness of sin. | 40:28 | |
| Do this as often as you shall drink it | 40:32 | |
| in remembrance of me, Amen. | 40:34 | |
| We do not presume to come to this thy table, | 40:39 | |
| oh mercy Lord trusting in our own righteousness, | 40:43 | |
| but in thy manifold and grace mercy, | 40:47 | |
| we are not worthy so much | 40:50 | |
| as to gather up the crumbs under the table, | 40:51 | |
| but now are the same Lord whose property | 40:54 | |
| is always to have mercy. | 40:57 | |
| Grant us therefore gracious Lord. | 40:59 | |
| So to partake of this sacrament of thy son, Jesus Christ, | 41:02 | |
| that we may walk in newness of life, | 41:06 | |
| may grow into his likeness | 41:09 | |
| and they evermore dwell in him and he in us, Amen. | 41:11 | |
| (moment of silence) | 41:57 | |
| (organ playing) | 45:01 | |
| Jesus said I am the door. | 48:51 | |
| If anyone enters by me, | 48:55 | |
| he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture | 48:57 | |
| arise and go in peace, | 49:01 | |
| and in his service. | 49:03 | |
| May you find perfect freedom, Amen. | 49:05 | |
| Jesus said I am the light of the world. | 51:26 | |
| He who follows me will not walk in darkness, | 51:30 | |
| but will have the light of life rise and go in peace. | 51:33 | |
| And may the light of the world shine on your pathway | 51:38 | |
| and in your heart forever, Amen. | 51:40 | |
| Jesus said, I am the vine | 55:22 | |
| you are the branches. | 55:25 | |
| By this my father is glorified. | 55:27 | |
| That you bear much fruit | 55:29 | |
| and so prove to be my disciples. | 55:32 | |
| Arise and go in peace. | 55:36 | |
| And may the glory of your life | 55:38 | |
| with the fruits of the spirit, Amen. | 55:40 | |
| (moment of silence) | 55:45 | |
| Jesus said I am the good shepherd. | 57:47 | |
| I know my own and my own know me | 57:51 | |
| and I have other sheep that are not of this fold. | 57:56 | |
| I must bring them also. | 58:00 | |
| So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. | 58:03 | |
| Arise and go in peace | 58:08 | |
| and may the voice of the good shepherd | 58:11 | |
| be your comfort in sorrow | 58:13 | |
| and your guide and happiness, Amen. | 58:16 | |
| (organ playing) | 58:20 | |
| Jesus said I came that they may have life | 1:00:04 | |
| and have it abundantly. | 1:00:10 | |
| Arise and go in peace. | 1:00:12 | |
| And may your abundant life in Christ | 1:00:15 | |
| overflow in deeds of love and service, Amen. | 1:00:18 | |
| (organ playing) | 1:00:23 | |
| Jesus said you did not choose me, but I chose you. | 1:02:23 | |
| I had appointed you that you should go and bear fruit | 1:02:29 | |
| and that your fruit should abide. | 1:02:33 | |
| Arise and go in peace. | 1:02:36 | |
| And by your fruits. | 1:02:38 | |
| May all men know that you are disciples of our Lord, Amen. | 1:02:40 | |
| (organ playing) | 1:02:53 | |
| Jesus said you are the light of the world. | 1:04:42 |