Silent Witness Bible Study

Silent Witness

With thanks to Trinity Anglican Church Sarnia, and Rev. Peter Leonard, the Silent Witness Lenten study will be offered on our Upcoming Events page. Each of the Studies listed in the poster below will become available on successive Wednesday’s. Check out the links on our Upcoming Events page under heading Bible Study.

Better yet. Come out and participate in the study in person. Rev. Peter will be conducting the Silent Witness program each Tuesday during Lent.

Click here to go to Silent Witness Epiphany

 

Epiphany Service for March 19, 2023

The flowers in the Sanctuary today are to the Glory of God and in memory of Jan’s parents Donald and Mildred McColl and special aunt Marion Lyons, given by Jan and Ron and family.

*St. Patrick’s Day. Help needed for the clean up after church.  Thank all who contributed and supported this fundraiser.

*Mint smoothies Sandra $3.

*Meat Pie available. 5$.   Veg &meat. 

*Garage/Rummage/Bake Sale.  Sat. May 6.  Sorry we can not store items ahead.  9 till 12.  Set up Friday at 1 p.m. 

*Put your records on with Denise Pelley.  Denise Pelley and Stephen Holowitz and Adam at Epiphany.  Sunday May 7.  2 p.m. 20$  Church fundraiser..

*Penny Social.  Date Change.  May 26.  1:00 set up.  Help very much needed.  Doors at 6:30.  Calling or Drawing at 7:30. Baking and nice little prizes gladly received.

*Epiphany Emporium.  Manor Park Community Market/Crafters Show and Sale. Saturday June 17. Pop Up Sale.  Set Up Friday June 16.  10 a.m. till 3 p.m.

*Jeremy Smith in Concert.  John Denver.  Sunday July 30 at 2:00  ! 10$

*Cancelled stamps. Gloria Thompson.

*Food Cupboard.  Thank you everyone! Butch. 519-615-9106.

*The Church Website http://www.thechurchofepiphany.com/

*Please Like Our PAGE on   Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/11Briscoe

*Crafts Club.  Join the fun.  The 3rd Sat 10 a..m.

*Three Ways help our church.  Pray-all can do this.  Help with events as you are able.  Give as you are able.  Thank you.

*Rinsed empty drink containers for Keanna

 

 

*If you wish, our regular weekly donations or special donations may be sent to our Envelope Secretary:

 

Barb Smallman

4860 Whiteoak Road

London, Ontario

N6E 3Y8

 

519-680-0649

Bible Readings for March 19 2023

• 1 Samuel 16:1-13  

• Psalm 23   

• Ephesians 5:8-14   

• John 9:1-41

Audio Service for March 19 2023 

 

 

Opening: 

 

Almighty God,

 to you all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from you no secrets are hidden.

Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. Amen

 

 

Thematic Prayer:

God of wilderness and water,
your Son was baptized and tempted as we are.
Guide us through this season,
that we may not avoid struggle,
but open ourselves to blessing,
through the cleansing depths of repentance
and the heaven-rending words of the Spirit. Amen.

 

Reading Psalm 23

23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;

23:3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff– they comfort me.

23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

 

Sermon

Theory of One.

What the Wind said to Thajir

Once upon a time there was a little boy whose name was Thajir.

Thajir liked the sunshine, and he especially liked the grass and trees.

But his favourite thing in all the world was wind.

Whenever there was wind, Thajir would run to get his hat and coat and then when he was all bundled up he would go for a walk.

 

One day when Thajir was out walking, the wind said hello to him.

Naturally he was very surprised.

He had heard the wind many times before.

But it had never said hello to him.

Thajir pulled up the ear flaps on his fuzzy hat and sat down beside a fir tree to listen.

This is what the wind said:

 

Thajir, you are my friend.

I would like to tell you something important.

Please listen carefully and try to remember what I say.

Regardless of what anyone else may ever tell you,

Regardless even of what your own experience may lead you to believe,

Everything that is, is good.

At the Centre of things, life belongs to life.

Do you think you can remember that Thajir?”

The little boy nodded his head.

Everything  that is, is good,” he said.

“And at the Centre of things, life belongs to life.”

 

The wind whistled softly.

Thajir, you are my friend.

I have told you a great secret.

Would you like to hear more?”

 

Thajir smiled and hugged his knees.

Yes indeed! He said out loud.

He was glad that the wind was talking to him.

 

All right then, here is another secret that is almost as important as the first:

Regardless of what anyone else may ever tell you, regardless even of what our own experience may lead you to believe,

You are everyone who ever was and everyone who ever will be.  You are the whole of creation—past, present, and future.  Decisions that you make today, in what is called the here and the now, will validate or invalidate everything that has gone before, and make possible or impossible everything that is to come.  

Anything that hurts anyone, hurts you.  Anything that helps anyone, helps you.  It is not possible to gain from another’s loss or to lose form another’s gain.

Your life is immensely important.

Everything depends upon you.

Thajir, do you understand this, or is it too difficult?

 

Oh it is not difficult at all!”

The little boy replied.

You have said that I am everyone and everything.

And because this is true, Nothing can hurt anyone without hurting me, and nothing can help anyone without helping me.  It is not difficult to understand.  Please tell me more of your secrets!”

 

For a short time there was silence.  It was as if the boy had surprised the wind with his answer.

 

Thajir, you are my friend.  I forgot momentarily that you were a child, and it surprised me that you understood so quickly.  

I am not accustomed to such immediate insight.  

But then, usually I talk with grownups to understand what I have to say than it is for children.  

I am very pleased with you, Thajir.

It is indeed rewarding to talk with someone who does not find my secrets difficult to understand.”

Tajir smiled.

He liked the wind

What other wonderful things would he learn today?

 

There is something else” the wind went on, “something I have always hesitated to talk about with one so young.  But you have called my hesitance into question with your immediate comprehension of my most difficult secrets.

Therefore, let us continue.

Thajir, you are my friend.

I would like you to know the formula that correlates all of existence with the origin and aim of life.  It is my desire that you should grasp the most basic truth about historical existence, the principle of intentionality by means of which fate is transformed into meaningful destiny, despair is rendered powerless, and hopelessness is overcome by joy.

Thajir, regardless of what anyone else may ever tell you, regardless even of what your own experience may lead you to believe, it is in dying that one lives.

It is in losing one’s life that they find it.

You must never fear dying, my little friend, because fear of dying leads one to all sorts of futile and demonic attempts to preserve life.

And life simply cannot be preserved.

Meaning and purpose are the correlates of sacrificial love.

One is united with the origin and aim of life precisely as they expend themselves on behalf of the entire world.  It is a hard lesson to learn, but it is the most basic truth about historical existence.  

Is this clear?  Perhaps I have gone too fast? Thajir’s eyes were bright with excitement.

I couldn’t understand all the words, he said, but I think I know what you mean.

It is just as important as learning that everything that is, is good—that at the center of things, life belongs to life.

It is much the same as understanding that I am everyone who ever was and everyone who ever will be.

I do not know quite how to say it, but you have pointed out that I must not be afraid to die.

On the contrary, you have said that the very meaning and purpose of life is grasped in the process of dying on behalf of the world.

I suppose it it is something like dying in order to give myself life.

I mean, if I am everyone and everything—past present and future—then it is not others who will live as a result of my expending my life in history.

It is rather I myself who will live.

Such na expanded view of myself as you have presented in your second great secret makes the conclusion of this most recent insight inescapable.

 

Once again you have surprised me, Thajir, the wind whispered.

I am taken aback by your uncanny ability to seize upon the core of my teaching.

You are indeed a magnificent child.

But I wonder whether or not you will remember all of this when you are grown.

It is conceivable that you will soon forget what you have said.

 

Thajir smiled and hugged his knees.

Will you forget having talked with me? He asked?

No the wind replied, that would not be possible.

Then neither will it be possible for me to forget what you have said, The little boy concluded.

 

Thajir sat quietly beside the fir tree for a length of time.

When he was certain that the wind had gone, he pulled down the ear flaps on his fuzzy hat and started home.

 

That night, Thajir’s mother read him a story about elephants.

After she had finished reading the story, she asked him what he remembered aobut it.

 

Thajir said it ws most important to remember tha t whatever hurt elephonts hurt him, and that whatever helped elephonts heled him.

 

He added that at the center of things, life belonged tolife, and this meant that he and elephants shared in the same experience and were somehow united with one another.

He went on to say that it was good to be an elephant, and it was good to be Thajir.

 

Thajir’s mother did not question what he had said.

It was not the answer she had expected, but it was a fine answer.

Being an exceedingly wise woman, she let it go at that, closed the book about elephants, and tucked Thajir into bed.

 

Hymn:  All Glory Laud and Honour

All glory, laud, and honor 

to you, Redeemer, King, 

to whom the lips of children 

made sweet hosannas ring. 

You are the King of Israel 

and David’s royal Son, 

now in the Lord’s name coming, 

the King and Blessed One. 

The company of angels 

is praising you on high; 

and we with all creation 

in chorus make reply. 

The people of the Hebrews 

with palms before you went; 

our praise and prayer and anthems 

before you we present. 

To you before your passion 

they sang their hymns of praise; 

to you, now high exalted, 

our melody we raise. 

As you received their praises, 

accept the prayers we bring, 

for you delight in goodness, 

O good and gracious King! 

 

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God,

the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again

to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Prayers:

My brothers and sisters:

reconciled to God by the mercy of Christ,

we pray with confidence for the needs of the church and the world.

 

 

Prayers: Elaine G.; Garfield; Eunice S.; Jean N.; Marilyn B.; Connie C.;  Jack and Julie. (Church)   Lisa G.; Sarah-Jane P.; Linda H.; Sharon D.; Philip D; Jacquie and Cam D.; Diana, Ian, Edna, Mathew & Annika;   Janice L & Darrin R;  Roland;  Helene.(Suzie D.)  Debbie H (Lorenz); Jay P.; Maddex; Randy; Rick W.; Shelley and Martin C.; Sharon;  Anne F.; Marcel D.; Tara; Jeff B.; Nicole; Shelley (Sandra); Walter; Joel; Melanie; Marlene H. Pam B. (Barb & George);  Ella D., Keanna, Nancy (Dan & Sue); Jan; Donna Mc.; (Ron and Jan); Diane; Norma A,;Dave F.; Peter T.;  Dan B.;. (Garfield & Diane);     Marilyn; Val ; Karen T.;Bill, Sheila, Jessica, Sonya, Jamie (Peter); Allan (Brian G.); Dori;  Belinda,;  Kim; Ross B., Francis & Bill W.; Jeff G. (Dori);  Jean (Bruce J.); Brian (Jeanne); 

 

Through Christ you make us a new creation, O God,

for with him we pass from sin to the new life of grace.

Accept our prayers in the warm embrace of your compassion,

and welcome all people to the festive banquet of your table,

where we may rejoice in your love

and celebrate the inheritance you have given to us.

We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.

 

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.

 

Prayer based on Scripture for today:

Discerner of hearts,

you look beneath our outward appearance

and see your image in each of us.

Banish in us the blindness

that prevents us from recognizing truth,

so we may see the world through your eyes

and with the compassion of Jesus Christ who redeems us. Amen.

 

Blessing from the Book of Common Prayer:

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. 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.

Food Cupboard Wish List

 

Here’s an updated wish list for our food cupboard

Brown Beans with or without pork,

Mushroom soup,

Vegetable soup and

Chicken noodle soup,

Canned vegetables except cream corn,

Uncle Bens Rice,

Sidekicks,

Minute Rice,

Pancake Mix (just add water kind),

Pancake Syrup,

Sugar,

Jam,

Cheese Whiz,

Canned fruit,

Any canned meat like Tuna, Flakes of Ham, Chicken or Turkey and luncheon meat.

Laundry soap,

Plus anything else you think of except tomato soup, toilet paper and instant coffee which we luckily have an abundance of.

Thank you  for your generous donations.