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:

Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood
abide in me and
I in them, says the Lord.

John 6. 56

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 broken the tyranny of sin and sent into our hearts the Spirit of your Son.
Give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service,
that all people may know the glorious liberty of the children of God;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

Psalm 111

Hallelujah!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, in the congregation.

Great are the deeds of the Lord! they are studied by all who delight in them.

His work is full of majesty and splendour, and his righteousness endures for ever.

He makes his marvellous works to be remembered;
 the Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 

He gives food to those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.

He has shown his people the power of his works in giving them the lands of the nations. 

The works of his hands are faithfulness and justice; all his commandments are sure.

They stand fast for ever and ever, because they are done in truth and equity. 

He sent redemption to his people; he commanded his covenant for ever; holy and awesome is his name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; those who act accordingly have a good understanding; his praise endures for ever.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

John 6. 51-58

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.

"Rejoice!"

Interesting conversation in our office this week.

Kathy: “I notice this week your theme for your sermon is Rejoice.”

Brian: “Yes.”

Kathy: “At the same time, the psalm, the first reading and the Prayers are about Wisdom”

“Pause for thought”

Brian: “Don’t wory, I’ll make it fit…”

Which may mean, “Don’t wory, I’ll fudge it.”

Recently we have enjoyed the presence of visitors on Sunday morning. It is always a delight to have visitors among us.       

In the context of visitors we all have heard the ‘dreadful’ stories of visitors not being, or feeling, welcomed. For myself, one of the gifts of 90’s in our own denomination is a more open approach to “who is welcome” and ‘who is not.” I am thinking not so much about who is welcome to come through the door, but “who is welcome beyond this first step in the chancel of the church.”          

In the 15th century, there was a definite dividing line achitecturally, with the installation of “Rood Screens” which came just before the entrance to the chancel.

The rood screen (or choir screen, chancel screen, or jubé) is a common feature in late medieval church architecture. It is typically an ornate partition between the chancel and nave, of more or less open tracery, constructed of wood, stone, or wrought iron.

My first sense of ‘rejoice’ for today is that we do not (in the Anglican Church) check at the door to know who belongs and who does not. As early as 1970, when attending an Anglican church for the first time, I was not asked or questioned when it came time for Communion.     

My second sense, is the reception of visitors in our “family home” and who was welcomed at our table. In thinking about this, I have come to the conclusion the “family table” is in some ways a metaphor for the “family table” in our parish churches.

All were always welcomed, all welcomed in a sense of rejoicing in gathering together.

Some of my American friends have posted pictures of their children starting the new school year this week.

If you are tuned into AI, or receive advertising in the mail (often unsolicited) we cannot escape: society is at a time of new beginnings. School is starting soon. Families are out shopping. Families are returning to the work place after annual vacations. Parish churches are starting up again, so to speak. This past week our parish had their first PC Meeting since back in June.     

It is Fall. Wisdom tells us we will all be priortizing our calenders. It is a time when we will feel like we are being pulled in different directions.

There will be all the “How To” questions.

• How will I find time to finish the book I started over the summer?

• How will I make significant time for my family?

• How will I prioritize my must do, my should do and will do?

Our lives will be filled with presures pulling us in a variety of directions. The list goes on.

Back to our two themes, “Wisdom” and “Rejoicing”.

Mark Oldenburg, Theologian, reminds us that Wisdom invites us to stop and come to her feast, to be fed with maturity, prudence, and insight.

So Wisdom invites us to come to the “table of life”, the Altar of our Lord, to discover relationship with God. What I hear Jesus saying to us today, is that when we eat of this bread and drink of this cup, we have the opportunity to experience life in Christ.

Now, I know and understand this is not an easy concept. Except, it can be an easy concept, if we do not attempt to put too much into just what it is—or the physical sense of it—but rather just simply take it and let the Holy Spirit speak it. Let Wisdom give us the gift. Remember: we are what we eat.

If in this meal we truly believe we are eating of the bread of life, then we become Christ’s body in the world.

It is then we step back and rejoice. To give praise in the refrain from our Gospel Hymn: “Lift up your heart, lift up your voice: rejoice; again I say rejoice.”

In John 6:56,57 we read, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.”

We rejoice in the wisdom of God who finds us, not us finding God. God finds us.

We each receive the same, equally at the Table of our Lord. This for me is the basic “message of the Christian church”. It is the message that we have for the world. Our Lord does not measure us by our looks, our first impression, our resumé, our professional status, or, or.

Wisdom will tell us that we each belong at the table. Somehow God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, has found us and brought us to the table. We each belong in our own special way.

For that we rejoice.

With the wisdom of God leading us. There is no “fudging it”. It simply is God’s grace filled with wisdom.

Amen.

Let us confess the faith of our baptism, as we say, 

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.

Let Us Pray

Calling on the spirit of Wisdom to guide our hearts and our minds, let us pray for the church, the world, and all in need.  

Wisdom has built her house.
May the church be a house of wisdom for all who enter. May we continue to grow and stretch in way we never thought possible.
Merciful God, receive our prayer. 

Wisdom has mixed her wine.
May the harvest seasons be plentiful this year. We pray for orchards, vineyards, farms, and all of creation. By your grace, protect and conserve the earth.
Merciful God, receive our prayer. 

Wisdom has employed her labourers.
Be with all who seek adequate employment. Guide our economic and governmental leaders to support the people of our world with fair wages and safe working conditions.
Merciful God, receive our prayer. 

Wisdom has invited her guests.
May your presence be known to all who feel lost, abandoned, or hurting at this time. Direct your spirit of care to all who seek healing and comfort.  We especially lift up to you: Gail; Sue; John; Lillian; Sheila and Barry, and those on our hearts, naming them aloud, or in the silence of our hearts. 
Merciful God, receive our prayer. 

Wisdom has set her table.
May this congregation be a welcome table to all who seek the refuge of God. Break down walls and barriers that prevent us from offering a seat at this table to anyone who comes.
Merciful God, receive our prayer. 

Wisdom has shown her path of insight.
May we follow her paths, seeking a bright future always remembering from where we have come. We give thanks for those who have gone before us. 
Merciful God, receive our prayer. 

We lift up these prayers to you, gracious God. Receive them into your holy keeping.  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.

As we go forth into the world, may we go forth rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.  
As we have received that token of a promise for eternal life.
And may we continue to be nourished, and nourish others in the Wisdom of Christ. 
Thanks be to God. Amen.

The Blessing: 

And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always.  Amen.

Let us go in  peace to love and serve the Lord. Amen.