As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional, unceded lands
of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People. 
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.     

Call to Worship:

  Our Saviour Jesus Christ
has abolished death, & 
brought life & immortality
to light through the gospel.

2Timothy 1. 10

O Come. Let Us Worship. 

 Gathering

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. 

Collect for Today

Almighty God,
you have taught us through your Son
that love fulfils the law.
May we love you with all our heart,
all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength,
and may we love our neighbour as ourselves;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

Mark 5. 21-43

Sermon:  The Ven.  Brian Evans

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord.  Amen.

       “ Excelling in Faith"         

Don’t we all love miracles?

Don’t’ we all, at the same time, love the tremendous amount of faith that we experience in the world? And, so today, I have titled my remarks, ‘Excelling in Faith.’

On Wednesday of this week, we read from 2 Kings 22.8-13. In part, we read:

“Hilkiah, the high priest said to Shaphan, the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord…”

This time was a period in history when the record of God’s Law appeared to have been lost. Josiah wishes for the community to have a religious reform introduced throughout the region. And so, just at this time, the Book of the Law comes back into the presence of the people, and they are able to begin this reformation time.

It’s sort of like us thinking about Vatican II, and the reformation that happened around it. And then, in our own Anglican Church of Canada, when the introduction of The Book of Alterative Services (BAS) was introduced. I remember that quite well—I rather not talk about some of the politics around that.

Also, at the same time, we must not forget the Protestant Reformation of the 16^th Century.         

The commentators in the Life Application Bible write:

“When God’s Word was found, drastic changes had to be made to bring the kingdom in line with God’s commands. Today you/we have God’s Word at our fingertips.

How much change must we make in order to bring our life into line with God’s Word?”

A challenging question, for sure!

As is traditional in the Church (and rightfully so), our lessons today are about true faith, or as I have chosen for a title today about: Excelling in Faith.         

Recently, a friend of mine quoted a colleague who remarked in a sermon, ‘The Bible requires us to love everyone, even those who annoy us.’

Such was the case with David and Saul.

In the lesson today, we read Saul and his son, Jonathon, were killed.

Even though Saul and David did not have a fondness towards each other, David still mourns over the death of Saul. So much, (that) David created one of the greatest laments ever written—it is worth our reading.         

As we are often reminded, it is not ours to look at the bad—but the good—in a person’s life. It takes courage to lay aside hatred and hurt, and to respect the positive in the other. This was a life lesson I learned at the feet of my father. It is a lesson that we learn in the Gospels. It takes courage to excel in faith.         

As the Psalmist writes in Psalm 130:

'If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand? 
But with you there is forgiveness. 
Therefore, you are feared.

Or,

As we share in the liturgy of Holy Communion, and as we heard in our 'Collect for this week', in the Summary of the Law: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’          

Those five words are filled with a sense of truth, as well as commandment.          

The question, ‘What does it mean, then, to live with excellence in faith? or as my title for today, as a people ‘excelling in faith?’         

The gospel today is about the healing—physical healing, in the life of the person—or is it something greater?

Recently, Flo and I encountered a friend who has recently been diagnosed with a very rapid growing cancer tumor.

When we said that we would be praying for her healing, her response back to us was so phenomenal! And she said,

“Yes. You need to pray for my healing, but your prayers mean far more than healing my cancer. They are prayers that give me courage, and strength to carry on.”

Today’s miracles in Mark’s gospel are so much more than the physical healing. The woman was not only healed; she has her dignity restored. She can now rejoin the community of faith.

Imagine! Being shut out from the community of faith because of an illness that you may have, and in that day and age, that often happened. Thankfully, not to us.          

For myself, I am mindful of a person who, following release from 'Corrections', was welcomed into our parish. At one point, his mother was visiting the city, and came to worship with her son. She shared how much the 'community' meant to her, in how he was made a part of a 'community without judgement'—a family without judgement. Her prayers of thanksgiving were filled with emotion!         

Rightfully so.

We often pray for healing for our physical bodies, but the ‘good news’ is even greater!

Often, it is those moments that re-creation happens within us. We are restored, and reconciliation brings us into a greater relationship with our Lord, and within the larger community!         

When we survey our regular prayers in the church, we note a significant theme.

We are encouraged to lift up the spiritual, the relational, the political, and the social aspects—for healing, as well as our personal healing.

So often, when Jesus’ miracles are shared through the writings of the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, the healing or miracle is just one aspect. On the periphery are all the aspects of the political and religious climate of the day.         

Certainly, this is experienced in the two miracles we have witnessed today.         

We love miracle stories—not only in the scriptures! These are the everyday miracles we have each witnessed in our lives.

At the same time, we often ask, where is my miracle?

In life, we all have moments of sharing grief, frustration, and yes, even moments of anger with God, while at the same time, we witness--not only medical, but spiritual miracles in our lives!         

I am mindful of one of my clergy-mentors when, fresh out of seminary in conversation with me (a lay person at the time). We were sharing thoughts about receptions following funeral services.          

His comment was that he observed was that of a small amount of questioning the value of such gatherings.

Then, after a short while, seeing the value he said, ‘I am convinced there is more pastoral healing in the social gathering following the service or following whatever I may preach, that I can deliver from the pulpit.’          

For it is in the moment of ‘social function’—in the midst of grief—we find healing, reconciliation, and new life!     

It is here, we find ‘faith being poured out in excellence!’

For it is here, that we find community—a community in which there is no outsider—

Yet, another miracle—Excelling in faith!

Thanks be to God!

Let Us Pray

One in the communion of saints and in the power of the Holy Spirit, we join our voices in prayer.

God of abundance,
you fill your church with a multitude of gifts. Sustain those among us who feel they are not valued. Open our hearts to the wonderous breadth of all who call upon your name.

In your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of creation,
your goodness abounds. Multiply the fruits of the earth and rescue it from our wastefulness. 

In your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of justice,
you reign in steadfast love. Bring peace between nations ravaged by war or strife, and illumine paths of justice and freedom for those who lead them. 

In your mercy,
hear our prayer. 

God of compassion,
your touch brings healing and your word revives us for life.
Hear our prayers for Gail; Sue; John; Sheila; and Blake; and those on our hearts, naming them aloud, or in the silence of our hearts.
We pray for doctors, nurses, and health care workers who provide care. Turn wailing into dancing, and weeping into joy.

In your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of community,
you gather us at your table of plenty. Where there is hunger among us, open our hands. Where we are indifferent to the needs of others, open our hearts.

In your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of the ages,
great is your faithfulness. We remember in thanksgiving our beloved dead ,who with all the saints sing without ceasing in your realm of glory.

In your mercy,
hear our prayer. 

Holy God, holy and merciful:
into your outstretched arms we commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray, trusting in the one who is the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen.

As our Saviour taught us:
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us  not into temptation,
but deliver us fom evil.  
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power and the glory,
forever and ever.  Amen.

The Blessing: 

The peace of God,
which passes 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 Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always.  Amen.

Heavenly Father, 
we have been nourished by the riches of your grace through the power of your Word, and your Sacrament. And now, may we too, come to new life as in the strength and loving hands of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  

Amen.