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:

 A great prophet has arisen among us!
God has visited his people!

Luke 7.16

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 

O God,
Protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy,
increase and multiply upon us your mercy, that with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

John 6.1-21

Sermon:  The Ven.  Brian Evans

May the words that I share with you today be words that are given to the Glory of God and in thanksgiving of God’s blessing in our lives.

"Signs"

We are in the season of summer vacations.

When we travel on vacation, or at other times, we are always looking for signs—highway signs; signs that indicate  that we are possibly in the right region by the topography. Signs that people may have said to us how to find a certain place.

As a child riding in the back seat of the car—I now reflect back and think of the interesting discussions at that time that my parents may have been having about ‘is this the right road? Is this where we should turn? Are you sure you know where we’re going?  

I suspect that we’ve all been there at some time in our lives.         

We all are always looking for direction, but some of the interesting directions we sometimes receive is to 'turn right at the red barn when you are going north.'

Well—nobody told us the red barn had been destroyed. So, where do you turn?         

Others might say, (as I heard on a TV show the other night)' when you head in a certain direction, you will see three cows in the corner of the pasture. At that point, turn right.'

What the people giving the directions had not thought about is that possibly that one of those cattle will have moved, and now there’s only two…so now where do we go?         

The point is, as people we look for signs.

As Christians we look for signs of Jesus. We look for signs of Jesus acting in the world—Jesus’ actions…looking to see the work of our Lord.         

In the gospel lesson today, we have four references to signs in the feeding of the 5000 and in Jesus heading across the water to save or bring consolation to the disciples.          

The first is the rush of people to encounter Jesus because, they had seen the miraculous work Jesus is doing and they too were looking for miracles. Another sign we looked for. If medicine could not cure them, then surely Jesus could.          

In fact, they were sure Jesus that could cure all illness—but first, Jesus knows what the people need.         

Before anything else, he knows that they need food, they need to eat.          

Two of the retreat centers we encountered in our seminary days were run by different religious orders. But they had one thing in common: the firm belief that if you’re going to feed the soul, you have to first feed the body.          

Taking a moment to read between the lines, it could be there may have been some unruliness happening among the crowd.          

Imagine Jesus look toward the horizon, seeing all these people coming toward him. I am sure it was threatening!         

And I’m sure there were those who were rushing to be first in line.

But Jesus says to the disciples, “Make the people sit down.”

In other words, “Wait. First we need to feed them.”          

Food has a way of creating chaos sometimes, but also it has a way of comforting…a way of giving strength, a way of leading us to a sense of patience.

Now I assure you, you may not have been able to sample all the things at the latest church potluck because some of the dishes were empty by the time you got there.

At the same time, people never went away hungry. And if you didn’t get to taste your favourite salad, well—that’s ok.          

The next sign is when at the end of the feast, we read: “When the people saw the sign, they begin to declare that this must be the prophet."         

Naturally, the authorities begin to worry, and Jesus knows what is about to happen. Jesus knows the plan. They wanted to make him king. Except this is not Jesus’ mission.          

I often think, “Poor Jesus.”

Because, at this moment, Jesus is looking to find a place to get a way to, that’s quiet and where he can reflect and take time to himself. 

Except: that the disciples know where he has gone.

So, they head out across the lake to catch up to him. Jesus sees that the sea is growing rough and the sign is that this is going to be a storm on the sea, and so, he is concerned about his friends.

So, he goes to take care of them.           

Maybe at that time, they didn’t recognize him at a far distance but they see him—or this person—coming walking on the water. 

Imagine! Imagine for a moment what it was like for those disciples. I’m sure they wondered, “Who is this? What’s happening?          

And Jesus says, “don’t worry it is only me.”

There are many signs of Jesus—many signs of Jesus’ providing for the world, for us and for those people so long ago, and for the community today.          

Each place we work has demands on our time, our energy.

There are many moments in our life when this line from The Lord’s Prayer runs through our inner being—that line that is so familiar—"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.”          

Or, keeping in mind my title for this week, Signs; give us a sign Jesus.

Give us a sign that you will heal, that you will feed, that you will shelter, that you will care for us. Give us a sign of comfort, of strength.     

As in our gospel lesson today—those signs of:

• feeding the five thousand, that great miracle shows that Jesus has more than we could ask or imagine. Jesus has enough for all of us.

• walking on the sea reminds us, no matter our difficulty, Jesus will be there for us.
  Who knows, he may even walk across Lake Cowichan to save us?

No matter the chaos, the time of day, Jesus just may invade our space to say, “It is I, be not afraid.”         

Jesus is here for us.         

John in sharing this time with Jesus, reminds us of the forces of :weather; political campaigns: or economic trends—reminds us that Jesus is there for us.          

Our Communion Hymn today serves as a rallying point for this Gospel and the signs we have from our Lord:

‘More than we can imagine, more then we can ever dream.'

‘More than we will ever imagine, more than we will ever understand.'

‘More than we can ask or imagine, more than could ever desire.'

It is for this reason we have included today among our Bible readings the great prayer of Paul (for the Ephesians.)

Paul knows their love of God. Paul knows their faithfulness, and Paul reminds them and reminds us with some words that so very true: 

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. ¹⁶ I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.

Yes, our God does reign. And yes, our God does provide more than we can ever imagine.

Thanks be to God,

Amen.

Let Us Pray

We are one in the communion of saints and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us join our voices in prayer.

God of generations:
You work in us far more that we could ask or imagine. Bless the Church that you have called into being across time and space, and fill it with the power of the Spirit for loving service.
Lord in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of field and forest, trees and seas:
You are the fullness of all things. As grains of wheat grown upon the earth and fish swim in the water, sustain your creation. Protect harvests and give every person food in due season. 
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God beyond borders: You rule all in all.
Bless the work of humanitarians and peacemakers. Shield those who live, work and serve, in harm's way, and bring us an end to war and conflict.
Bless those who have been working, and continue to work in harm's way in fighting forest fires, in saving towns and villages and rural homes and farms from the ravishing of fire.
Be with the people of Jasper, Alberta who have lost a big percentage of their historic town.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. 

God of healing:
You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. We remember any who are sick or suffering; families in our community who endure hunger; those who seek asylum or citizenship and our beloved for whom death is near. 

We especially lift up to you: Gail; Sue; John; Lillian; Sheila; Blake; and those on our hearts, naming them aloud, or in the silence of our hearts. 
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

God of grace:
You root us, and ground us in love as you inspired our ancestors in this place in their ministry. Sustain us also in new endeavours that your glory may be known and your loving kindness shared anew.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. 

God of Grace:
You root us, and ground us in love, love in Christ that surpasses all knowledge.
We give thanks for the departed who have come to know the fullness of your grace. Join our voices with theirs, and all the Saints' in singing your praises.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer. 

Holy God,
into your embrace, 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 Lord and Saviour.  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.

Let us bless the Lord. 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.