Epiphany Service for February 21 2021

Epiphany Service For February 21 2021

Image: The Edge of a Wood by Adriaen van de Velde 

The flowers in the Sanctuary today are to the Glory of God and in loving memory of a dear parents Mavis and Fred Aldington, and sister Tracey & given by Darrin.

*In London we are in Red. It is region by region. However in red we can not open for in person worship yet.  So let us recommit to worshipping by Website.  

*Would you like a copy of the Vestry Report? Just ask.

*Please remember to save your cancelled stamps.

*Meat/Veg Pies Thank You!  Some still available.  Only 4$ call Barb. 519-680-0649.

*Food Cupboard.     Butch. 519-615-9106. Here is an idea generator list from Butch: How about thingslike elbow or other shape macaroni; Jam, Nutella, Cheese Whiz; Laundry soap, Dish soap; Parmesan cheese, canned vegetables,  soup-hearty or chunky style, flakes of ham, chicken or turkey, cooked hams in tins, canned chilli if it is on sale; syrup.  We currently have lots of cereal, 8 boxes of pancake mix, lots of long spaghetti noodles, and enough sauce.  If you want to donate those things though, we will gladly receive them! Thank you everyone!

*Thank you for your generous love of Epiphany.  Our Church does much good, quietly, without fanfare.   Let’s all keep up our Good Work! Even while we are sheltering in our homes.

*Thank you Ron for posting our service on our website, Adam for recording our service To Anusha for the music.  Also Stephen.

 

Audio for February 21 service

 

Bible Readings for week of Feb 21 – 28

• Genesis 9:8-17  

• Psalm 25:1-10   

• 1 Peter 3:18-22  

• Mark 1:9-15

 

Opening:

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,

and the love of God,

 and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,

be with you all.

And also with you.

 

Artist of souls,

you sculpted a people for yourself

out of the rocks of wilderness and fasting.

Help us as we take up your invitation to prayer and simplicity,

that the discipline of these forty days

may sharpen our hunger for the feast of your holy friendship,

and whet our thirst for the living water you offer

through Jesus Christ. Amen.

_____________________

Mark 1:9-15

1:9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

1:10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.

1:11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

1:12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.

1:13 He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.

1:14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,

1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”

 

Mark 1:9-15

There is a posters that says, “Life is a test. It is only a test. Had this been a real life you would have been instructed where to go and what to do.” 

No matter what you think of this humorous bit of wisdom, it does make us wish someone did tell us what to do and where to go.

=

Sometimes life seems scary, lonely

In the Gospel we read that after his baptism, the Spirit drove Jesus into the wilderness, while there the wild animals and angels waited upon him.

Notice There were wild animals in the desert, but also there were ministering angels also.

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If we allow this story to be a parable of our life… we know in our life there are

 different wild animals that frighten us; 

 

But also during our time in the wilderness, there are angels who ministered to us. 

Angels, like all the folk along the way who help us. 

We don’t recognize them as angels while we are in the wilderness, but now in retrospect we see the Spirit was helping you through the various scary times, the various wildernesses on our way.

 

It is only when it is over that we see the purpose of God in sending us into wildernesses: in the wilderness we become mature, loving, understanding!

——-

In short in the wilderness we become leaders for our Lord.  Leaders in Love.  Angels along the way.  We often don’t realize we are leaders for God.  That others follow us, you and I.

 

Like a little story:

Two gas company service workers, a senior training supervisor and a young trainee, were out checking gas meters in a subdivision. They parked their truck at one end of the street and then worked their way to the other end, checking meters along the way. At the last house, a woman was looking out her kitchen window, watching the two workers as they checked her gas meter.

 

As they finished checking the meters, the senior supervisor challenged the young trainee to a race back to the truck, just to show the younger one what kind of shape he was in. So off they took. As they came running up to the truck, they realized the lady from the last house was huffing and puffing right behind them. They asked her what was wrong. Gasping for breath, she replied, “Well, when I see two gas workers running as hard as you two were, I figure I’d better run, too!”

 

See?  The point of this little story is, ….You may not think of yourself as a leader. You may not think of yourself as important. But you are. You are somebody’s role model. You are somebody’s hero. There are others: children, youth, your spouse, family, friends, coworkers and the like, who are watching you. And will follow in your footsteps. What you do and how you live your life is very important. 

In other words, The love you learn in “the wilderness” matters.

—–

The kind of lives we live matters.  There are others watching what we do.  Like this meditation on Lent.

A twist on Giving up something for Lent:

 

Listen to these ideas:

Self Denial is about making a sacrifice that makes a difference, focusing on the Cross and reminding ourselves what Christ gave up in life for Love.

—

 

GIVE UP grumbling! Instead, “In everything give thanks.” Constructive criticism is OK, but “moaning, groaning, and complaining” are not Christian disciplines.

 

GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed! Instead, use that time in prayer, Bible study and personal devotion. A few minutes in prayer WILL keep you focused.

 

GIVE UP looking at other people’s worst attributes. Instead concentrate on their best points. We all have faults. It is a lot easier to have people overlook our shortcomings when we overlook theirs first.

 

GIVE UP speaking unkindly. Instead, let your speech be generous and understanding. It costs so little to say something kind and uplifting or to offer a smile. Why not check that sharp tongue at the door?

 

GIVE UP your hatred of anyone or anything! Instead, learn the discipline of love. “Love covers a multitude of sins.”

 

GIVE UP your worries and anxieties! They’re too heavy for you to carry anyway. Instead, trust God with them. Anxiety is spending emotional energy on something we can do nothing about: like tomorrow! Live today and let God’s grace be sufficient. In other words let the angels minister to you in the future.

 

GIVE UP screens one hour a day! Instead, call someone who’s lonely or sick. There are those who are isolated by illness or age. Why isolate yourself in front of the “tube?” Give someone a precious gift: your time!

 

GIVE UP buying anything but essentials for yourself! Instead, give the money to God. The money you would spend on the luxuries could help someone meet basic needs. We’re called to be sharers of God’s riches, not consumers.

 

GIVE UP judging others by appearances and by the standard of the world! Instead, learn to give up yourself to God. Jesus teaches us to judge not.

===

If we trust God, if we let angels minister or serve us in our life wildernesses….we will become a Humble Servant.  A servant of Love.

 

Like the story is told of Dr. Charles Mayo who, with his father and brother, founded the world-famous Mayo Clinic. 

A group of European medical experts were visiting the clinic.

They were staying as guests of Dr. Mayo at his home. In their own countries it was the custom of these gentlemen to place their shoes outside the bedroom doors for a servant to polish.

 

As Dr. Mayo was retiring he noticed shoes lined up outside the rooms of his guests, but it was too late to wake any of the servants. With a sigh he picked up all of the shoes, hauled them to the kitchen, and spent quite a while of the night polishing them. Dr. Charles Mayo was secure enough to be humble himself like that.

 

Jesus was secure enough in his relationship with his Father to humble himself to wash his disciples’ feet. He had no need to say to the world, “Look at me! I’m somebody great!” He had all of the approval he needed.

 

That is how it is when we are servants of Love, Servants of our Lord.   We travel in the wilderness of life, surrounded by scary wild beasts, yet waited up by Angles along the way.  Often kind servants of the Lord.  Servants of the Lord who have given up all negativity.

We are the leaders, the angels for others.  The humble Love we show is all that matters.  

 

Hymn: Lead Us

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
o’er the world’s tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
for we have no help but thee,
yet possessing every blessing
if our God our guide shall be.

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us,
all our weakness thou dost know;
thou didst tread this earth before us,
thou didst feel its keenest woe;
lone and dreary, faint and weary
through the desert thou didst go.

Spirit of our God descending,
fill our hearts with heavenly joy,
love with every passion blending,
pleasure that can never cloy;
thus provided, pardoned, guided
nothing can our peace destroy. 

 

Our Creed: All together.

We believe in one God,

the Father, the Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth,

of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,

the only Son of God,

eternally begotten of the Father,

God from God, Light from Light,

true God from true God,

begotten, not made,

of one being with the Father.

Through him all things were made.

For us and for our salvation

he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit

he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,

and was made man.

For our sake he was crucified

under Pontius Pilate;

he suffered death and was buried.

On the third day he rose again

in accordance with the scriptures;

he ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory

to judge the living and the dead,

and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,

the Lord, the giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father.

With the Father and the Son

he is worshipped and glorified.

He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic

and apostolic Church.

We acknowledge one baptism

for the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead,

and the life of the world to come. Amen

 

Prayers:

Sisters and brothers,

as Jesus, in the days before his passion,

offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears,

let us pray for those who suffer, those who are in need,

and those who seek reconciliation.

Prayers Connie C.;  Jim P. Jack B.; Jack and Julie.  Jim M; Mary B.;  Keanna,  Ella D.; Evelyn Mc; Marion R.; (Church)  Jade (Carol R.); Dori;  Belinda,;  Kim; Edie K., Ross B., Francis & Bill W.; Jeff G. (Dori & Jack); Pat P; Grant K; Kathy W. (Jack & Julie); Hope (Marilyn B.) ; Brian; Marcel De C and family; Tara; Jeff B.; Doug T.; Alex,  Gord, (Sandra);  Valerie (Carol F.); Helen, Debrah G.,and Regina G (Pat M.); Lori (Maya) Pat and Tony  (Marilyn B.); Henry (Katherine and Harold K); Melanie; Marlene H. Pam B. (Barb & George); Zaden; Kendra; (Gloria);  Bill, Sheila, Jessica, Sonya, Jamie (Peter);  Peter T.;  Mark Mc; Dan B.; Alanna R. (Garfield & Diane);  Lynda D . (Mary Beth & Paul); Linda; Allan; Aunt Frankie; (Brian G.); Diane (Garfield);  Jean (Bruce J.); Ola and Roman; Mildred Mc. (Jan & Ron); Brian (Jeanne); Lisa G.;Diana, Ian, Edna, Matthew & Annika;   David & Lyla & Joanna Mac;   Janice L & Darrin R;  Roland & Pansy V;  Rob P;  Pat B & her family;)Clark & Helene (Suzie D)

 

God of compassion,

you know our faults and yet you promised to forgive.

Keep us in your presence and give us your wisdom.

Open our hearts to gladness,

call dry bones to dance,

and restore to us the joy of your salvation. Amen.

 

As our Savior taught us, let us pray,

 

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,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

Closing:

 

Glory to God,

whose power, working in us,

can do infinitely more

than we can ask or imagine.

Glory to God from generation to generation,

in the Church and in Christ Jesus,

for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Our Parting Blessing Song:

May God’s blessing surround you each day

As you trust Him and walk in His way

May His presence within guard and keep you from sin,

Go in peace, go in joy, go in love.

Go in peace, go in joy, go in love.

 

World Day of Prayer

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR 2021

IS COMING MARCH 05

FOR DETAILS SEE POSTER ON

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER PAGE

Suspension of Services

In person Service Suspension

In Person Services Suspended

We are very sorry to have to convey this bad news, but as London moves into grey level restrictions, and based on the advice of Bishop Todd, The Church of the Epiphany is suspending in person services effective immediately. We invite everyone to join us for our online audio services, and continue to reach out to Rev. Teresa throughout the week.

In person services will remain suspended until London moves back to code orange restrictions and advice is received from the Bishop’s office to resume in person services.

On Friday Feb 12 we received the following notice from the diocese.

 

Reopening our Churches

Dear friends,
With the lifting of the State of Emergency in Ontario, the area covered by the Diocese of Huron will be transitioned into the Provincial COVID-19 Response Framework—or colour zones—on February 16th.  We expect to hear within a few days which zone each of the health units in our diocese will enter.  

Churches in the Diocese of Huron will remain closed for public worship until the 2nd Sunday of Lent, February 28th. At that time, parishes in the Orange, Yellow or Green zones may reopen for in-person worship according to the AMBER Stage guidelines.  Bishop Townshend recommends that parishes in the red zone suspend in-person worship.  Any parish in the red zone that wishes to hold in-person worship must receive permission from the bishop.  (Permission given previously remains valid.) Parishes in the Gray zone may not hold in-person worship and are to follow the RED Stage guidelines.  Please see the information and links below for more details.

No parish is required to hold in-person worship.  It is up to the leadership of each parish to determine if they feel comfortable doing so. You know best your people and your context.   

As always, please be in touch if you have any questions or concerns.

blessings,
Tanya+
The Ven. Tanya Phibbs
Archdeacon of Huron

 

The Colour Zone Chart may be found here
The AMBER Stage Guidelines may be found here
The RED Stage Guidelines may be found here