The flowers in the Church today are to the Glory of God and in loving memory of our Parents & Grandparents, John & Doreen Cresswell and Winnifred and Willis Lonsdale with love from Mike and Joan Cresswell and Family.
The flowers in the Church today are to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Edna and George Garrett , George and Vida Fredin given by Brian Garrett.
*Our food cupboard. Butch 519-615-9106.
*Come for lunch. The sign up sheet is available. Paper plates.
*Penny Social May 3 6:30 for 7:30. Set up at 1:00 p.m. Baking donations needed &Items. Drinks and chips.
*Masonic Visit. Sunday May 5. Lunch.
*Welcome Sunday. May 19. Lunch.
*Jazz Vespers. St. James. May 26. Afternoon.
*Craft Club. Third Saturday at 10 a.m. All welcome.
*Dinner. June 8. 5:30. 10$ Tickets. Meat or Veggie pies. Buns. Fresh Salad. Ice Cream and Strawberry topping. Silent Auction-baking, business doantions sought. Invite friends and family.
*Jeremy Smith. Sun. July 28. Afternoon.
*Meat and Veggie Pies. 5$ for a great meal.
*Mint smoothies Sandra $3
*Cancelled stamps. Gloria Thompson.
*Rinsed empty drink containers Dan Davies
*Apportionment. 2024 $19,571.00
*Sept. 22. Bishop Todd visits. Change!
*Slate Sisters by Adam C- H. Kydra R. Acting. Thank you to everyone who supported this project of our young people.
*There are three ways to support our church. Volunteering at events. Generosity. Prayer. Our church is a team
*If you wish, our regular weekly donations or special donations may be sent to our Envelope Secretary:
4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
4:9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
4:11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.
4:12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
4:13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.
4:15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God.
4:16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.
4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.
4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.
4:19 We love because he first loved us.
4:20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.
4:21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
Sermon
1 John 4:7-21
In the movie about the life of Mahatma Gandhi, when he lies almost dead from a hunger strike to stop the killings among the Muslims and Hindus, he shares, “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and LOVE has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they can seem invincible–but in the end they always fall. ALWAYS!”
You and I know the reason that the Christian faith is difficult is that we are called to love not only our family and friends, which is a great challenge in itself, but our enemies as well.
“The measure of our love is to love without measure.”
FIRST, THE MODEL FOR LOVING WITHOUT MEASURE COMES FROM GOD, NOT THE HUMAN FAMILY.
It is easy to hate. We are really good at hating people because of skin color, ethnic origins, language, and religious orientation. It is simply unnatural to love.
Will Durant was correct that if Jesus could teach and empower the members of the human race to love each other then it would make a great impact in the human drama.
For me personally, it is truly amazing that God loves us,. As the writer in I John makes perfectly clear, God took the initiative in declaring His love for us. It is not that we first loved God but that God first loved us–that God sought us, not that we sought him.
I shall never forget an incident that happened in Chester, Pa., about nine years ago. Our son, John, had ridden his tricycle from East 18th St. around the corner to Providence Avenue, which is really Route 320 in Delaware County. Being a concerned father, when John did not come back around the corner, I went looking for him. John had somehow gotten turned around and was unsure of his surroundings. When I turned the corner, there was John getting ready to let out a big cry. As I came upon the scene, John burst out in a big smile, and said, “Dad, I knew you would come looking for me.” That is exactly what the writer of I John is declaring in this lesson. The miracle is not that we love God–the miracle is that God loves us. God comes searching for us around the corners of our lives even when we are fleeing from His Holy presence.
Nowhere in the Bible do I find a verse which declares that God said, “Be good,” and I will love you. Rather, I John declares: Because I love you, you can become loving. I have provided the example and power.
SECOND, TO LOVE WITHOUT MEASURE IN OUR JOURNEY REQUIRES US TO REMAIN CONNECTED TO THE SOURCE OF THAT LOVE.
From the beautiful campus of Drew University comes a powerful story that I want to share with you. It seems that a winter storm hit the campus. The forceful gusts of wind knocked many limbs from the thousands of trees located on the Drew Campus known as the “Forest”. Because there were so many limbs to pick-up, some of the limbs were pushed off the walkways to be picked up in the spring. All winter long the students passed by these dead branches and limbs. However, in the first week of April, a strange phenomena happened to these branches. New buds and leaves began to sprout on these dead limbs. For about two weeks this happened. It seemed that there was enough energy left in the branches to allow the leaves to come forth. However, after two weeks the leaves began to fade, wither, and eventually die. Without sustained ties to the One who loves us, our love also fades, withers and dies. (1)
LOVE that connects you with the loving, living God of the universe will provide you with the source to love for the long term. To love, people need more than good intentions and sincerity. They need the Lord.
In a writing titled the ECHO OF HATE, there is the story about a little boy who was touring the Rockies with his mother. He had been naughty and she corrected him. He ran to the edge of a cliff and shouted, “I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!”
Back came an echo, “Hate you! Hate you! Hate you!”
The boy was frightened. He ran to his mother and sobbed, “There is a man over there who hates me.” The mother took her son by the hand and led him back to the edge of the cliff. Now, she said, “Call out, I love you! I love you!” The boy did. And sweet and clear, the words came back, “Love you! Love you!” “I hope,” said the wise mother, “that you have learned what you give, you get back.” (2)
I realize like the wee child it is easier to say hate you than it is to say love you, but the cross does point us to a more excellent way. If we are connected to the One who loves us, than we can respond in God”s love.
While the Bible drama clearly reveals that love can be crucified, it can never be defeated–thus, it is God”s desire for us to live out the reality of love. Love does return to us if we are willing to love without instant measurability. Remember what Gandhi said, that history has taught us that truth and love always win.
LASTLY, TO LOVE WITHOUT MEASURE REQUIRES COMMITMENT AND SACRIFICE.
This affirms what the writer declares in our scripture lesson: “If anyone says I LOVE GOD (the lips) but hates his brother, he is a liar (the heart), for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
The measure of our love is to love without measure.
May God Inspire us to do so
Hymn: They Will Know We are Christians
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
We are one int he Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.
Chorus: And they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love,
yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;
And together we’ll spread the news that God is in our land.
We Will work with each other, we will work side by side;
We will work with each other, we will work side by side;
And we’ll guard each man’s dignity and save each man’s pride.
All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;
And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.
And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.
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:
O God, your Son remained with his disciples after his resurrection,
teaching them to love all people as neighbors.
As his disciples in this age,
we offer our prayers on behalf of the universe
in which we are privileged to live
and our neighbors with whom we share it.
Prayers: Linda (Deb Mc.); Christine A.; Bob H.; Dori; Garfield; Eunice S.; Connie C.; (Church)Suzanne (Ron and Jan);Gloria A. (Carol); Belinda,; Ross B., Francis & Bill W.; Jeff G. (Dori); Kenny; Jim T.; Norma A,;Dave F.; Peter T.; Dan B.;. (Garfield & Diane); Gord T.;Amy W. ;Yvonne;Maryanne;Gus; Jay P.;; Rick W.;.; Sharon; Anne F.; Marcel D.; Jeff B.; (Sandra); Mike J.; Scott H.; Lisa (Keeling), Wendy;Eric P,; Sarah-Jane P.; Linda H.; Sharon D.; Philip D; Jacquie and Cam .; Janice & Darrin R; Roland; .(Suzie D.)
Open our hearts to your power moving
around us and between us and within us,
until your glory is revealed in our love of both friend and enemy,
in communities transformed by justice and compassion,
and in the healing of all that is broken. Amen.
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:
God,
you sent your Son into the world
that we might live through him.
May we abide in his risen life
so that we may bear the fruit of love for one another
and know the fullness of joy. 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,
