Joan Salmon-Campbell - "Come On, Let's Party" (June 6, 1988)
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Transcript
Transcripts may contain inaccuracies.
(organ music) | 0:00 | |
- | May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. | 3:18 |
I am Margaret Via, presiding minister this morning | 3:22 | |
and pastor of Duke University Chapel Congregation. | 3:26 | |
I welcome you to this service of worship at Duke Chapel. | 3:31 | |
Worshiping with us in celebration of Employee Sunday | 3:35 | |
are many employees of Duke University | 3:39 | |
including the Duke Employee Choir | 3:41 | |
who join with our Summer Chapel Choir | 3:44 | |
in our music ministry this morning. | 3:47 | |
Also worshiping with us are students and families | 3:50 | |
who are here for Duke's Talent Identification Program. | 3:56 | |
Our guest preacher this morning | 4:02 | |
is the Reverend Mrs. Joan Salmon-Campbell, | 4:04 | |
a nationally-acclaimed preacher | 4:07 | |
who is the Associate Director for the Mission Program Office | 4:09 | |
of the Philadelphia Presbytery. | 4:14 | |
We welcome her again to this pulpit. | 4:17 | |
And now may we continue our worshiping together. | 4:21 | |
(muffled singing) | 4:32 | |
(organ music) | 5:50 | |
(organ music drowns out congregation singing) | 6:31 | |
(organ music) | 8:47 | |
(organ music drowns out congregation singing) | 10:13 | |
- | May we pray. | 11:04 |
Oh loving God, renew our spirits | 11:06 | |
and draw our hearts to thyself | 11:09 | |
that our work may not be to us a burden | 11:12 | |
but a delight. | 11:16 | |
And giveth such love to thee | 11:18 | |
as may sweeten all our obedience. | 11:20 | |
Help us that we may serve thee | 11:24 | |
with cheerfulness and gladness | 11:26 | |
delighting ourselves in thee and rejoicing in all that is | 11:29 | |
to the honor of thy name through Christ our Lord. | 11:34 | |
Amen. | 11:39 | |
- | Let us pray together the Prayer for Illumination. | 12:04 |
All | Open our hearts and minds, O God, | 12:09 |
by the power of your Holy Spirit, | 12:13 | |
so that as the word is read and proclaimed, | 12:15 | |
we might hear with joy what you say to us this day. | 12:19 | |
Amen. | 12:24 | |
- | The first lesson is taken from Genesis. | 12:26 |
Now the Lord said to Abram, | 12:29 | |
"Go from your country and your kindred | 12:32 | |
"and your father's house to the land that I will show you. | 12:35 | |
"And I will make of you a great nation, | 12:40 | |
"and I will bless you and make your name great, | 12:42 | |
"so that you will be a blessing. | 12:46 | |
"I will bless those who bless you, | 12:49 | |
"and him who curses you I will curse, | 12:52 | |
"and by you all the families of the earth | 12:56 | |
"shall bless themselves." | 12:59 | |
This ends the reading of the first lesson. | 13:02 | |
- | Will you read responsibly Psalms 57 number 572 | 13:16 |
in the hymnal. | 13:23 | |
Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me. | 13:34 | |
Congregation | For in thee my soul takes refuge. | 13:39 |
- | In the shadow of thy wings I will take refuge. | 13:42 |
Congregation | Till the storms of destruction pass by. | 13:46 |
- | I cry to God Most High. | 13:49 |
Congregation | To God who fulfills his purpose for me. | 13:52 |
Pastor | He will send from heaven and save me. | 13:55 |
Congregation | God will send forth his steadfast love | 13:59 |
and his faithfulness. | 14:02 | |
Pastor | Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. | 14:04 |
Congregation | Let thy glory be over all the earth. | 14:07 |
- | My heart is steadfast, O God, | 14:10 |
my heart is steadfast. | 14:13 | |
Congregation | I will sing and make melody. | 14:15 |
- | I will give thanks to thee, O Lord, among the peoples. | 14:19 |
Congregation | I will sing praises to thee | 14:23 |
among the nations. | 14:25 | |
- | For thy steadfast love is great to the heavens. | 14:26 |
Congregation | Thy faithfulness to the clouds. | 14:30 |
- | Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. | 14:33 |
Congregation | Let thy glory be over all the earth. | 14:37 |
(organ music) | 14:41 | |
♪ Glory be to our creator ♪ | 14:50 | |
♪ Praise to our redeemer Lord ♪ | 14:57 | |
♪ Glory be to our sustainer ♪ | 15:04 | |
♪ Ever three and ever one ♪ | 15:12 | |
♪ As it was in the beginning ♪ | 15:20 | |
♪ Now and ever more shall be ♪ | 15:28 | |
(organ music) | 16:07 | |
♪ O pray for the peace of Jerusalem ♪ | 16:14 | |
♪ They shall prosper that love thee ♪ | 16:28 | |
♪ O pray for the peace of Jerusalem ♪ | 16:38 | |
♪ They shall prosper that love thee ♪ | 16:55 | |
♪ O pray for the peace of Jerusalem ♪ | 17:13 | |
♪ They shall prosper that love thee ♪ | 17:28 | |
♪ They shall prosper that love thee ♪ | 17:43 | |
♪ Peace be within thy walls ♪ | 18:18 | |
♪ And plenteousness within thy palaces ♪ | 18:37 | |
♪ Peace be within thy walls ♪ | 18:58 | |
♪ Peace be within thy walls ♪ | 19:18 | |
♪ And plenteousness within thy palaces ♪ | 19:36 | |
♪ Peace be within thy walls ♪ | 20:13 | |
♪ And plenteousness within thy palaces ♪ | 20:35 | |
♪ O pray for the peace of Jerusalem ♪ | 21:05 | |
♪ They shall prosper that love thee ♪ | 21:21 | |
♪ O pray for the peace of Jerusalem ♪ | 21:33 | |
♪ They shall prosper that love thee ♪ | 21:49 | |
♪ O pray for the peace of Jerusalem ♪ | 22:09 | |
♪ They shall prosper that love thee ♪ | 22:24 | |
♪ They shall prosper that love thee ♪ | 22:37 | |
- | Good morning. | 23:48 |
Good morning. | 23:51 | |
Congregation | Good morning. | 23:52 |
- | I'm going to need you to talk back to me this morning. | 23:54 |
Then I know you're out there. | 23:56 | |
Let us prepare to hear the word of the gospel | 23:58 | |
as it comes from the Gospel of Luke 14:15-24. | 24:02 | |
Hear the word of the Lord. | 24:12 | |
When one of those who was sitting at table | 24:15 | |
with Jesus heard this, he said, | 24:17 | |
"Happy is the man who eats bread in the kingdom of God." | 24:21 | |
Jesus said to him, "There was a man who made a great banquet | 24:25 | |
"and invited many people to it. | 24:31 | |
"At the time of the banquet he sent his servants | 24:33 | |
"to say to those who had been invited, | 24:36 | |
"'Come, because everything is now ready.' | 24:39 | |
"With one accord, they all began to make excuses. | 24:43 | |
"The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, | 24:48 | |
"'and I must go out to see it. | 24:51 | |
"'Please have me excused.' | 24:53 | |
"Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, | 24:56 | |
"'and I am on my way to try them out. | 25:00 | |
"'Please have me excused.' | 25:03 | |
"Another said, 'I have married a wife, | 25:06 | |
"'and therefore I cannot come.' | 25:09 | |
"So, the servant came and told his master these things. | 25:12 | |
"The master of the house was enraged | 25:16 | |
"and said to his servant, | 25:18 | |
"'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the town | 25:20 | |
"'and bring here the poor and the maimed | 25:25 | |
"'and the blind and the lame.' | 25:28 | |
"The servant said, 'Sir, your orders have been carried out, | 25:32 | |
"'and there is still room.' | 25:36 | |
"So, the master said to his servant, | 25:39 | |
"'Go out to the roads and to the hedges | 25:41 | |
"'and compel them to come in so that my house may be filled | 25:45 | |
"'for I tell you that none of these who were invited | 25:49 | |
"'shall taste my banquet.'" | 25:53 | |
Here ends the reading of God's words, dear friends. | 25:56 | |
Take it and use it. | 25:59 | |
I welcome you to this very special party | 26:02 | |
that has been prepared for you | 26:06 | |
in this holy space here in Duke Chapel. | 26:08 | |
My, you are a somber crowd this morning to be partying. | 26:12 | |
I hope you do something about your faces | 26:16 | |
before we get finished. | 26:18 | |
And to do that I'm going to ask that as we go to any party | 26:20 | |
usually we are eager to find out who is there | 26:24 | |
and we are eager to be welcomed. | 26:28 | |
I'm going to dare to do something, | 26:30 | |
and I hope the Lord and the Holy Spirit will anoint you | 26:32 | |
to join me in welcoming each other here | 26:36 | |
to this place this morning. | 26:39 | |
Would you turn to somebody behind you, | 26:40 | |
not on either side of you, and say, | 26:43 | |
"God loves you, and so do I." | 26:46 | |
Right now. | 26:48 | |
(congregation chatters) | 26:49 | |
Mmm mmm mmm, doesn't that feel good? | 26:58 | |
You see, my grandma would say, | 27:02 | |
♪ There's plenty good room ♪ | 27:05 | |
♪ Plenty good room ♪ | 27:08 | |
♪ Good room in my father's kingdom ♪ | 27:11 | |
♪ Plenty good room ♪ | 27:15 | |
♪ Plenty good room ♪ | 27:17 | |
♪ Just choose your seat and sit down ♪ | 27:19 | |
♪ I would not be a liar ♪ | 27:23 | |
♪ I'll tell you the reason why ♪ | 27:27 | |
♪ 'Cause if my Lord should call on me, child ♪ | 27:31 | |
♪ I wouldn't be ready to die ♪ | 27:36 | |
♪ Oh, plenty good room ♪ | 27:39 | |
♪ There's plenty good room ♪ | 27:42 | |
♪ Good room in my father's kingdom ♪ | 27:45 | |
♪ Plenty good room ♪ | 27:48 | |
♪ Plenty good room ♪ | 27:51 | |
♪ Just choose your seat and sit down ♪ | 27:52 | |
♪ I would not be a backslider ♪ | 27:56 | |
♪ I'll tell you the reason why ♪ | 28:00 | |
♪ 'Cause if my Lord should call on me ♪ | 28:04 | |
♪ I wouldn't be ready to die ♪ | 28:09 | |
♪ Oh, there's plenty good room ♪ | 28:12 | |
♪ Plenty good room ♪ | 28:16 | |
♪ Good room in my father's kingdom ♪ | 28:19 | |
♪ Plenty good room ♪ | 28:22 | |
♪ Plenty good room ♪ | 28:25 | |
♪ Just choose your seat and sit down ♪ | 28:26 | |
Well, you've chosen your seats already. | 28:31 | |
Let's get on with the party. | 28:33 | |
What is the party? | 28:35 | |
It is life of all humankind. | 28:37 | |
Who is the host? | 28:42 | |
God is the host. | 28:44 | |
And who are the guests? | 28:47 | |
You and I and all of humanity wherever they might be, | 28:49 | |
whatever their predicament in life, | 28:55 | |
anyone who acknowledges that | 28:58 | |
God is creator. | 29:01 | |
From the beginning of salvation history, | 29:05 | |
God extended an invitation to this party of life. | 29:10 | |
And he said to humans, namely Adam and Eve, | 29:15 | |
"You're to have a ball, Adam and Eve. | 29:20 | |
"For I'm going to sit you inside of paradise. | 29:23 | |
"And there you shall have no want. | 29:27 | |
"There you will have dominion, not domination over, | 29:31 | |
"but dominion over all that I have created. | 29:36 | |
"But there is only one thing that you must not do. | 29:41 | |
"You must not eat from the tree of knowledge." | 29:45 | |
Adam and Eve being just like you and me, | 29:52 | |
you know it's like that room off the party room | 29:55 | |
where the door is closed and you wonder, | 29:59 | |
"I wonder what's behind there | 30:01 | |
"and why the hostess didn't leave that open | 30:02 | |
"so we could go in there also." | 30:05 | |
Curious as they were, they just had to taste that apple. | 30:08 | |
And they took a bite. | 30:13 | |
And can you imagine what life must have been like | 30:15 | |
prior to that bite? | 30:19 | |
Can you imagine what your life and my life | 30:21 | |
might have been like if in fact by faith we believed | 30:24 | |
that God intended that ours was to be a life | 30:29 | |
filled with joy? | 30:33 | |
A life filled with possibility for good living. | 30:35 | |
A sense of wholeness and satisfaction. | 30:40 | |
A joy capable of a peace within that passes understanding. | 30:43 | |
That was God's invitation, and in reality it still is | 30:49 | |
God's invitation to you and me. | 30:54 | |
We know for a fact that Adam and Eve were not alone | 30:58 | |
for Lot's wife also just had to make her own choice. | 31:00 | |
She just had to look back | 31:06 | |
when she had an invitation to get on with the party. | 31:09 | |
She just had to look behind her. | 31:13 | |
Esau missed the party also because he was hungry, | 31:15 | |
and he would rather have a bowl of porridge instead. | 31:20 | |
But when we think of Abram and Noah | 31:25 | |
and a few others within salvation history, | 31:29 | |
we know that there are a few even as there are today | 31:32 | |
who can in fact participate completely in the party | 31:36 | |
which God has prepared for us, | 31:41 | |
who respond completely to the invitation | 31:44 | |
that God extends to us. | 31:47 | |
For we know that because Abram was obedient | 31:50 | |
that he was able to go, | 31:55 | |
not even knowing what the party was going to be like. | 31:58 | |
He just heard that it was going to be a party. | 32:01 | |
Go from your country, | 32:04 | |
and I will show you where it's going to be. | 32:06 | |
And on pure faith and trust in who the host was, | 32:10 | |
he was able to not only find blessing for himself | 32:15 | |
but also blessing for all the families of the earth | 32:20 | |
who through him would bless themselves. | 32:25 | |
When we take a very close look at the guests | 32:29 | |
who came or were invited to this party | 32:33 | |
in this short parable of the king's feast, | 32:36 | |
we must note their choice | 32:40 | |
and the consequences because they refused. | 32:43 | |
And I ask you to hear it as more than a story | 32:47 | |
but rather compare their excuses to your own life | 32:50 | |
and the ways in which you too and I too | 32:55 | |
refuse to participate in this wonderful opportunity | 32:59 | |
called life that God has prepared | 33:03 | |
in the name of Jesus Christ. | 33:06 | |
The first man had bought a field and was off to see it. | 33:08 | |
Like you and me, we have a tendency | 33:12 | |
to be so immersed in this world | 33:15 | |
that we have no time to worship, no time to pray. | 33:18 | |
The pace is so busy in the course of a day | 33:24 | |
that we just don't pause and take time | 33:27 | |
to give God the glory. | 33:29 | |
The second bought five yoke of oxen | 33:32 | |
and wanted to try them out. | 33:36 | |
The claim of novelty tends to usurp our claim | 33:39 | |
or God's claim through Jesus Christ on our lives. | 33:44 | |
For many times when we have a new boat or a new car | 33:48 | |
or a new house which we've just finished, | 33:52 | |
it's much more important that we go there on a Sunday | 33:54 | |
than that we make sure that no matter what is new and novel | 33:58 | |
in our lives, that there is still room for the Christ. | 34:03 | |
New possessions seem to take up so much of our time | 34:08 | |
that again God is frequently overlooked. | 34:13 | |
The third man has married a wife, a reminder to us | 34:17 | |
that even good and purposeful things and duties | 34:22 | |
tend to crowd God out of our lives. | 34:26 | |
I happen to be married to a gorgeous 6'3" gray-eyed man | 34:31 | |
who has a very special way of letting me know | 34:37 | |
how much he loves me. | 34:40 | |
And sometimes we are so into each other | 34:42 | |
and we are so into our family and the many blessings therein | 34:45 | |
that I say, "Lord, this sure is good." | 34:50 | |
And I don't think about the Lord really at all, | 34:52 | |
that it is God's gift to us that we have one another. | 34:55 | |
We must not even let those whom we love so dearly | 34:59 | |
be loved more than God. | 35:04 | |
For we are told that our God is a jealous God, | 35:06 | |
and God does not want us to love anything or anybody | 35:10 | |
more than we love God, God's self. | 35:15 | |
And how is that we shall come to this party? | 35:19 | |
You can imagine that those people who came in | 35:24 | |
from the highways and the byways | 35:26 | |
didn't have on their best party clothes. | 35:28 | |
In fact, many of them might have been street people. | 35:30 | |
In fact, they were probably persons whose appearance | 35:34 | |
would not be considered proper to most of us gathered | 35:39 | |
in this holy place this morning. | 35:42 | |
But what we are to know is that God could care less | 35:44 | |
about the kind of clothes we wear externally. | 35:49 | |
It is more important that we come into the presence | 35:53 | |
of the living God with a contrite heart, | 35:56 | |
with clear intentions that we want God's will | 36:00 | |
to flow around us, to fill us up and flow through us, | 36:04 | |
with a complete commitment to experience the fullness | 36:10 | |
of the life abundant in Jesus name not in our | 36:14 | |
salaries or our CD notes or our pension plans | 36:19 | |
or all the things that humans tend to make | 36:24 | |
that describe and make for security. | 36:27 | |
I want to say to you this morning, my friends, | 36:31 | |
that the party is not over. | 36:33 | |
Oh, if I could wiggle my nose and have you claim of the joy | 36:36 | |
in being able to praise God this morning | 36:41 | |
together in this holy place. | 36:46 | |
I come to give you words of exhortation | 36:49 | |
as well as serve words of caution. | 36:52 | |
To those of us who are also members of the host's family | 36:56 | |
as well as guests attending this party of life, | 37:01 | |
we run the risk of becoming like Lot's wife, | 37:05 | |
looking back and continuously wishing for the things | 37:09 | |
and the unencumbered lifestyles that used to be. | 37:14 | |
Like Esau, we become more concerned | 37:19 | |
with the temporary satiating of the body's sincere desire | 37:22 | |
than the right to the tree of life, | 37:27 | |
no matter what the circumstances do | 37:29 | |
to our faith in a living God. | 37:32 | |
Or we become like that ruler in Acts | 37:35 | |
who through his power and position | 37:38 | |
and other folks' skills and hard labor | 37:40 | |
was able to feed God's children during a famine. | 37:43 | |
After they were fed, he boasted of what he had done | 37:47 | |
rather than of what the Lord had done. | 37:51 | |
And he fell dead and the Bible said, | 37:53 | |
"And worms consumed his body." | 37:55 | |
He was forgotten, but the Lord's name and purpose prevailed, | 37:58 | |
and believers grew in numbers. | 38:03 | |
There are many people, | 38:06 | |
even within this sanctuary at this moment, | 38:08 | |
who want to believe more deeply, more earnestly | 38:11 | |
that the good news is theirs | 38:14 | |
individually and corporately to possess. | 38:17 | |
Our challenge is to discern how do we participate | 38:20 | |
in God's party while we are at work, while we are at play, | 38:25 | |
as well as while we are gathered as the people of God. | 38:29 | |
There are some things I'd like for you | 38:34 | |
to take home with you from this party this morning. | 38:36 | |
As the body, members of this host's family, | 38:39 | |
I challenge and charge you to dare to go out of here | 38:42 | |
and continue the party by first of all remembering | 38:45 | |
that we must climb down from the perch | 38:49 | |
of our own kind of piety and holiness or competence | 38:52 | |
or whatever forms of delusion we offer ourselves | 38:57 | |
and simply accept the fact that we are human beings. | 39:01 | |
We all need as individuals to daily experience | 39:07 | |
some sort of conversion, an experience like the one | 39:12 | |
which stripped Saul of his pharisaic zeal | 39:17 | |
and turned him into a blind, frightened, and humbled man | 39:21 | |
who had to begin where we all must begin: | 39:26 | |
with the fact that he was a Saul, | 39:29 | |
nothing more and nothing less. | 39:32 | |
He was a human being just trying | 39:34 | |
to work out his soul salvation like every other human being. | 39:37 | |
Regardless of station in life or predicament in life, | 39:42 | |
we each must have that conversion encounter | 39:46 | |
day after day after day. | 39:50 | |
Not because we have to let the world know it, | 39:52 | |
but let God know that you have in fact | 39:56 | |
been attuned to God's will and God's use of your life. | 40:00 | |
The second need for the family is to remember | 40:06 | |
that God is the host of your life individually | 40:10 | |
and our life corporately. | 40:14 | |
You do not belong to yourself. | 40:16 | |
You do not belong to your parents, young people. | 40:20 | |
You do not belong to your spouses. | 40:24 | |
You do not belong to your jobs. | 40:27 | |
You are God's property. | 40:29 | |
We are created by a living God. | 40:32 | |
And the host of our life | 40:36 | |
is also the host of our enemies' lives, | 40:38 | |
of the street people's lives, of AIDS victims' lives, | 40:41 | |
of the gay community's lives, of alcoholics' lives, | 40:46 | |
of cancer victims' lives. | 40:50 | |
God is host of each of those person's lives, | 40:53 | |
and we are required to learn to how to accept | 40:58 | |
one another | 41:03 | |
and especially individually for the full dimension | 41:04 | |
of their humanity. | 41:08 | |
There must be an end of thinking that somehow | 41:10 | |
my life is a little bit better because I'm me | 41:13 | |
as I look at others who are very different from me. | 41:16 | |
We must find a way, dear friends, to acknowledge | 41:20 | |
that each of us are heirs to the kingdom | 41:24 | |
if we dare to call ourselves Christians. | 41:28 | |
Because Jesus made us friends, | 41:31 | |
therefore giving us full access to all | 41:33 | |
that his father God had given him. | 41:36 | |
The third need is to accept the idea | 41:39 | |
that as the body of Christ we must work together. | 41:42 | |
We cannot be selfish with our inheritance. | 41:46 | |
We cannot as Methodists be in one corner | 41:51 | |
and Presbyterians in another corner | 41:53 | |
and Episcopalians in another corner | 41:56 | |
and people who have no label whatsoever | 41:59 | |
doing something else. | 42:01 | |
As black people or white people | 42:03 | |
or green people or polka dot people | 42:05 | |
each in their little niches doing their own little thing | 42:07 | |
taking of me and mine and our kind and not worrying. | 42:10 | |
We must become a koinonia. | 42:14 | |
We must truly become, if we call ourselves Christians, | 42:17 | |
the body of Christ anew in the world. | 42:21 | |
It means that we dare to take the time | 42:23 | |
even in church, y'all, to turn around and speak to somebody | 42:26 | |
and allow the love of God and the Christ in you | 42:31 | |
to bless somebody else even if they are a total stranger. | 42:34 | |
Because apparently, everyone gathered in this place | 42:38 | |
is Christian, a part of you and you are a part of them. | 42:41 | |
Make sure you meet the new part of yourself | 42:46 | |
before you leave this place today. | 42:49 | |
The koinonia is the place, you see, | 42:51 | |
to find support, to find affirmation. | 42:54 | |
It is the place where we pray with and for each other, | 42:57 | |
we weep with each other, we rejoice with each other, | 43:00 | |
and we keep each other human. | 43:04 | |
We are called to experience a love | 43:08 | |
that is so strong among us that everyone within reach | 43:10 | |
can accept the worst and the best about themselves. | 43:15 | |
The fourth need for the family of the host | 43:20 | |
is to seek to be more like Jesus Christ. | 43:24 | |
You see, Jesus accepted the limitation and the risk | 43:27 | |
of being human like you and like me. | 43:32 | |
Risking is living life and building relationships | 43:35 | |
without knowing the beginning from the ending. | 43:41 | |
It is giving a gift and stepping towards someone | 43:45 | |
without ever knowing for sure how that act will be received. | 43:49 | |
Rather than pouting or saying, | 43:55 | |
"I better not do that because I might offend," | 43:57 | |
you dare to reach out and love | 43:59 | |
anyway even if it is refused. | 44:02 | |
Someone has said that our culture has developed | 44:07 | |
the perfect gift culture. | 44:11 | |
We have washed the risk out of giving | 44:13 | |
even in our worship services. | 44:16 | |
It seems that the institutional church | 44:19 | |
we have allowed ourselves as the corporate body | 44:23 | |
to come close to insulting our host the living God, | 44:26 | |
the host of this banquet that is spread | 44:31 | |
and you are the food for the banquet. | 44:34 | |
For we are more preoccupied with efficiency | 44:38 | |
than we are with effectiveness. | 44:42 | |
We risk finding ourselves eliminating the opportunity | 44:45 | |
for unashamed adoration of God. | 44:50 | |
If somebody said amen in here, | 44:53 | |
the walls would probably shake | 44:55 | |
because they just couldn't keep still. | 44:57 | |
We do not give ourselves any opportunity | 45:01 | |
to taste the joy and the juice of being alive | 45:05 | |
in the power and the name of Jesus Christ | 45:10 | |
no matter how sophisticated or educated we might be. | 45:13 | |
Oh, how I pray the Holy Spirit would move in such a way | 45:16 | |
that you too who call yourselves Christians | 45:20 | |
this morning here would find yourselves | 45:23 | |
just a little bit different when you walk out | 45:25 | |
of this church today. | 45:27 | |
Jesus has extended anew the invitation | 45:29 | |
to you and me, friends. | 45:32 | |
No longer servants but friends | 45:33 | |
as he has taken away the curse and he has blessed us. | 45:36 | |
We have become a family of blessing, | 45:40 | |
both the recipient of and giver of blessings. | 45:44 | |
In closing, we must be reminded this Lord's day | 45:49 | |
that if you and I are to be | 45:54 | |
the body of Christ anew in the world, | 45:56 | |
we must remember that because God came, | 45:59 | |
became human in Jesus Christ, | 46:03 | |
we can dare to be no more than ourselves. | 46:05 | |
Offering ourselves just as we are. | 46:10 | |
Daring to break ourselves off and give it away | 46:13 | |
to another human being just as Jesus gave his life | 46:17 | |
for you and me. | 46:21 | |
Because of Jesus' love and acceptance of us | 46:22 | |
we must begin even in fumbling ways | 46:25 | |
to accept others and to love even those who seem unlovable. | 46:28 | |
Because God through Jesus Christ is the host of their lives. | 46:33 | |
Because of Jesus Christ | 46:38 | |
the fellowship of sharing is possible. | 46:39 | |
The love, praises, interdependence, the suffering together, | 46:43 | |
rejoicing and celebrating, the risking are his gifts. | 46:48 | |
Because Jesus Christ hosted a party in which he himself | 46:52 | |
was the bread and wine and which he gave even the deniers | 46:56 | |
and the betrayers something to eat and drink, | 47:01 | |
you and I dare to have the courage to come to this party | 47:05 | |
and go into the party out in the world and give your life | 47:09 | |
as the bread and the wine that offers new hope, new life, | 47:15 | |
new possibility that others may claim Jesus | 47:20 | |
as their Lord and savior. | 47:24 | |
Come on, y'all, let's party. | 47:26 | |
Let us pray. | 47:29 | |
Holy God, we thank you for this day, | 47:31 | |
for the richness of the gift of your love. | 47:33 | |
We thank you that you have given us the opportunity | 47:37 | |
to be the presence of your son again in the world. | 47:39 | |
Oh God, loose the shackles that bind us. | 47:46 | |
Soften the muscles in our face, | 47:49 | |
and allow the smile of Christ to come through our eyes | 47:51 | |
and our faces and bless one another. | 47:55 | |
Teach us how to reach out, Lord, first and love each other | 47:58 | |
gathered in this holy place. | 48:02 | |
Lord, give us the courage to risk breaking our lives | 48:04 | |
for those close to us and far from us. | 48:08 | |
Not just for our sake but for your sake | 48:11 | |
and for your people's sake. | 48:14 | |
Not only in this place but all over your world. | 48:15 | |
In Jesus name we pray all of these things. | 48:19 | |
Let God's people say amen. | 48:22 | |
Congregation | Amen. | 48:24 |
(organ music) | 48:29 | |
♪ O God of earth and altar ♪ | 49:14 | |
♪ Bow down and hear our cry ♪ | 49:20 | |
♪ Our earthly rulers falter ♪ | 49:26 | |
♪ Our people drift and die ♪ | 49:31 | |
♪ The walls of gold entomb us ♪ | 49:37 | |
♪ The swords of scorn divide ♪ | 49:43 | |
♪ Take not thy thunder from us ♪ | 49:49 | |
♪ But take away our pride ♪ | 49:55 | |
♪ From all that terror teaches ♪ | 50:02 | |
♪ From lies of tongue and pen ♪ | 50:08 | |
♪ From all the easy speeches ♪ | 50:14 | |
♪ That comfort cruel men ♪ | 50:20 | |
♪ From sale and profanation ♪ | 50:26 | |
♪ Of honor and the sword ♪ | 50:32 | |
♪ From sleep and from damnation ♪ | 50:38 | |
♪ Deliver us, good Lord ♪ | 50:43 | |
♪ Tie in a living tether ♪ | 50:51 | |
♪ The prince and priest and thrall ♪ | 50:57 | |
♪ Bind all our lives together ♪ | 51:03 | |
♪ Smite us and save us all ♪ | 51:09 | |
♪ In ire and exultation ♪ | 51:15 | |
♪ Aflame with faith and free ♪ | 51:21 | |
♪ Lift up a living nation ♪ | 51:28 | |
♪ A single sword to thee ♪ | 51:34 | |
- | The Lord be with you. | 51:45 |
Congregation | And also with you. | 51:47 |
- | Let us pray. | 51:49 |
Eternal God, you are ever at work in the world | 52:03 | |
for us and for all humankind. | 52:07 | |
We offer our petitions unto you. | 52:11 | |
For those who work for this institution, | 52:15 | |
for those who keep the grounds and buildings, | 52:18 | |
for those who work in offices and stores, | 52:22 | |
for those who tend machinery, | 52:26 | |
we pray for them, O Lord. | 52:29 | |
For those who wait on the sick, | 52:33 | |
for those who feed the hungry, | 52:36 | |
for those who employ or instruct, | 52:39 | |
we pray for them, O Lord. | 52:42 | |
For these and all employees everywhere | 52:46 | |
we offer our thanks to you and ask your blessings upon them. | 52:50 | |
For all who labor without hope, | 52:57 | |
for all who labor without interest, | 53:00 | |
we pray for them your mercy and saving grace. | 53:03 | |
For those who are underpaid, | 53:09 | |
for those who pay small wages, | 53:12 | |
give grace and mercy, O Lord. | 53:15 | |
For those watching and listening today | 53:19 | |
and those in the sanctuary, | 53:22 | |
we ask special blessings to suit their needs. | 53:25 | |
Grant courage to the sick and the dying. | 53:30 | |
May they be sustained by your loving redemptive power. | 53:34 | |
For peace in our world, we pray, O God. | 53:40 | |
May the hope of peace generated by our president | 53:44 | |
and the Soviet prime minster be not in vain. | 53:48 | |
May your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. | 53:53 | |
In the name of Christ our Lord we pray. | 53:58 | |
Amen. | 54:06 | |
God has given to us abundantly. | 54:09 | |
May we bring our gits as an offering of thanks | 54:12 | |
and appreciation for that divine love. | 54:15 | |
(organ music) | 54:40 | |
♪ Surely, the Lord is in this place ♪ | 54:57 | |
♪ This is none other than the house of God ♪ | 55:05 | |
♪ And this is the gate of heaven ♪ | 55:16 | |
♪ And this stone shall be God's house ♪ | 55:40 | |
♪ And this stone shall be God's house ♪ | 55:50 | |
♪ We hold up praise, O Lord ♪ | 56:15 | |
♪ All ye servants of the Lord ♪ | 56:26 | |
♪ Praise the Lord ♪ | 56:38 | |
♪ We hold up praise, O Lord ♪ | 56:39 | |
♪ Praise the Lord ♪ | 56:45 | |
♪ We hold up praise, O Lord ♪ | 56:46 | |
♪ Lift up your hands ♪ | 56:52 | |
♪ In the sanctuary, lift up your hands ♪ | 56:56 | |
♪ In the sanctuary, lift up your hands ♪ | 57:02 | |
♪ In the sanctuary, lift up your hands ♪ | 57:09 | |
♪ In the sanctuary ♪ | 57:15 | |
♪ And praise the Lord ♪ | 57:20 | |
♪ And praise the Lord ♪ | 57:27 | |
♪ Praise the Lord ♪ | 57:34 | |
(organ music) | 57:41 | |
♪ Blessed be the Lord God of Israel ♪ | 58:12 | |
♪ From everlasting and (muffled singing) ♪ | 58:20 | |
♪ And all the people say amen ♪ | 58:30 | |
♪ Alleluia ♪ | 58:44 | |
♪ Alleluia ♪ | 58:48 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 58:53 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 59:00 | |
(organ music) | 59:16 | |
(organ music drowns out congregation singing) | 59:36 | |
♪ Alleluia ♪ | 59:49 | |
♪ Alleluia ♪ | 59:53 | |
(organ music drowns out congregation singing) | 59:57 | |
♪ Alleluia ♪ | 1:00:10 | |
♪ Alleluia ♪ | 1:00:14 | |
♪ Alleluia ♪ | 1:00:17 | |
♪ Alleluia ♪ | 1:00:21 | |
♪ Alleluia ♪ | 1:00:24 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:00:33 | |
- | Oh mighty God, for all your multiple gifts | 1:00:46 |
we give you our thanks. | 1:00:49 | |
In you we have life, health, and strength. | 1:00:52 | |
And through your mercy, we are clothed and fed. | 1:00:56 | |
As we offer these gifts to you, | 1:01:01 | |
grant that we may offer our lives | 1:01:03 | |
anewed to service in your kingdom. | 1:01:05 | |
In the name of the one who gave his all for us, | 1:01:09 | |
Jesus the Christ, who taught us to pray saying: | 1:01:12 | |
All | Our Father who art in heaven, | 1:01:16 |
hallowed be thy Name, | 1:01:19 | |
thy kingdom come, | 1:01:22 | |
thy will be done, | 1:01:23 | |
on earth as it is in heaven. | 1:01:25 | |
Give us this day our daily bread. | 1:01:28 | |
And forgive us our trespasses, | 1:01:30 | |
as we forgive those who trespass against us. | 1:01:33 | |
And lead us not into temptation, | 1:01:36 | |
but deliver us from evil. | 1:01:39 | |
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, | 1:01:41 | |
and the glory, forever. | 1:01:44 | |
Amen. | 1:01:47 | |
(organ music) | 1:01:50 | |
(organ music drowns out congregation singing) | 1:02:38 | |
- | And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, | 1:06:05 |
the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit | 1:06:08 | |
rest and abide with you now and forever more. | 1:06:11 | |
Amen. | 1:06:15 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:06:20 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:06:25 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:06:31 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:06:37 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:06:46 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:06:55 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 1:07:10 | |
(organ music) | 1:07:30 |