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:

The Father
brought us forth
by the word of truth
that we should be a kind of first fruits
of his creatures.

James 1. 18

O Come. Let Us Worship. 

This is the first Sunday in a 5-week series on Creation.

In our bulletin this morning, we will have a special insert talking about the Season of Creation as illustrated in this poster (here).

For the next 5 weeks, our Parish will be observing this Season of Creation. There will be special inserts. I welcome members to share personal reflections on the subject of Creation.

The introduction provided for us by the Anglican Church of Canada says:

“Christians around the world are invited to give particular attention to praying and caring for God’s creation as part of the global Season of Creation, observed from September 1 to October 4.  General Synod 2019 passed a resolution adopting the Season of Creation and for that we spend this time in prayer, in education and in action, encouraging our dioceses and our parishes to participate.

There are many ways that we can participate: interfaith prayer; worship outdoors; go for a hike; work to reduce your plastic or energy consumption; or advocate for stronger environmental policy.”

Just this last week, I read a report about recycling and the idea of recycling soft plastics—how you can take them to your local depot, and they will be recycled rather than going to your landfills. So, that includes such things as bread bags, zip lock bags, all those kinds of soft plastics, that rather than going to your landfill, could go to your community place where they collect the recycling products.

We begin our worship:

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.   

The Father
brought us forth
by the word of truth
that we should be a kind of first fruits
of his creatures.

O Come. Let Us Worship.

Our opening hymn will be that wonderful hymn of creating and talking about Creation, where we celebrate: “All Creatures of Our God and King.”

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 

Author and Giver of All Good Things,
graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us in all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for Creation

God of Unchangeable Power,
when you fashioned the world the morning stars sang together and the host of heaven shouted for joy; open our eyes to the wonders of creation and teach us to see all things for good, to the honor of your glorious name; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.  Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

Mark 7.1-8, 14-15, 21-23

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.

"Rejoicing in God’s Goodness"

We begin this week to focus the gift of Creation. Our world is filled with pictures, news broadcasts, newspaper editorials, theological papers about protecting and caring for Creation—global warming—all those other things that are happening in our world that appear to be destroying where we live.         

We are at an interesting time in the work of the Gospel of Christ. There are moments when we feel we are being bombarded by so many social causes it is difficult to choose. It is like: “Where do go next?” Like the poster on our board about being a green community—about the different ways in our community where we are called to a vision of faith in action and formation and foundation.

And so, we ask again. “Where do we start?”         

To quote Nathan Baker-Trinity:

“If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, then the road to heaven is paved with deeds of lovingkindness to orphans and widows. Too often gospel is reduced to assenting to the right thoughts or cooking up the requisite heartfelt emotions. All three of our readings today push us to embrace the true freedom of the gospel: rejoicing in God’s goodness—God’s goodness to us that overflows in eagerness to share God’s bounty with others.”         

Through our adventures, we often discover the gift of creation in some of the most unlikely places. Unlikely, because we had not experienced them before, or because we really had no  understanding of the variety of landscapes or places where we may have been.

Imagine! Your first visit to the desert in Arizona in the early spring and the abundance of the cacti in bloom. The variety of colours! That which you may not have expected. They are a beauty to observe.         

Not unlike the prickly pear cactus blossoms on our prairie natural landscapes and where the blossoms in the Spring are like a waxlike bloom.

A second surprise in my personal life was our trip across the desert in Egypt. Can there be beauty in the barren sand?

Simple answer, “Yes!”

First, there was the expanse of the open spaces, the distance you could see. But then the shadows cast upon the landscape. The colours created by the stages of the sun rising, and the sun setting, and the sun at midday in those daylight hours. But then, in the darkness the moonlight and how it cast shadows of a different colour.         

One of the questions we might ask: “Why this emphasis on Creation?”

Well, I don’t think we need to look very far to find an answer to that, but at the same time, why are we talking about it in church?

Where is the theology for us to observe?

First, I might say, I enjoy the challenge. It is like attending a movie or reading a book opposite to our liking. Then to discover a gift when we open our mind to see beyond—to see deeper into the music—the theater—the actors.         

This Parish has a historical gift from their youth in the early 2000’s of leading “Mission for Youth” to Mexico. When coming to the Island, I recall Bishop James eloquently talking about “this Parish that has this phenomenal mission.”         

What happens? What was the experience for those young people and their chaperones? How did they encounter gifts of creation? Gifts of service?         

God invites us to open wide our hands, metaphorically, to experience life in places which at first appear barren, figuratively, and literally.         

It is in those moments that we experience “the compassion of God.”         

Our focus on creation over the next few weeks will afford us the opportunity to treasure God’s bounteous ways.         

Creation challenges us to look at life from the aspect of “compassionate connections.” When we see life through the eyes of the Creator, we discover a God who is compassionate, a God who is always near.         

In Aboriginal spirituality, we hear and experience the place of the ‘Creator.’ We discover a God who is compassionate, a God who is always near. The one who is always nearby.         

Every generous gift, then, is an act of giving.

Creation challenges us to listen, be patient and be “doers” of God’s word.

James challenges us to a life of service based on love.

“Every good gift comes from God above.” (We know that verse well.)  “With whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

“The God who created us anew, blesses us and carries out God’s ways.” (25).

In James’ letter today we read:

If any think they are religious and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to care for the orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.         

I am mindful of the obituary in the Citizen this week for William Hill.

He and Joyce (his wife) decided to become foster parents. It was during this time they adopted another child, and he continued fostering for the next 35 years of his life. (Of note: Through the adoption they became a family of 9 children in total.)         

Why the emphasis from these lessons in relation to creation?

One major part of creation is to care for the most vulnerable or that within creation which needs our attention to survive. We don’t need to look far to see needs of the vulnerable—be it our streams—be it our landscapes—be it our own lives.    

James uses an illustration in his letter which would be close to the heart of the people, “the orphans, and widows”—those who had little means of economic support.

Commentators on these verses remind us, “unless they had family to support, they were reduced to begging and selling themselves.”

When we read the book on “the Fairbridge Children,” we were reminded of this situation for so many families at that time in history, and how it affected this community, here in the Valley.         

By caring for those less fortunate, the Church has put God’s Word into practice.         

The key to all of this is philanthropy like no other, giving with no expectation of return—that what is “true philanthropy.” It is simply to serve.         

A second key, is to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world, keeping ourselves focused on Christ’s ethical and moral system.         

At the same time, we live in a world which at first glance appears to be governed by money, power, and pleasure.         

Such values are not about expressing faith in Christ.         

For the next few weeks, we will look for guidance in the Scriptures for fulfilling our call to care for creation. Care for all that is around us. To observe God’s bounty in nature and in the lives of all people.

On the front cover of our bulletin this week, we have a picture of the bounty provided by the plum tree in the church yard this year.         

This is an opportunity, in these few weeks, to examine closely our practices in liturgy and church governance which at times can shut out our awareness of the environment, our awareness of Creation, our awareness of human need.

To care for creation often challenges us to cross boundaries. Rejoicing in God’s goodness.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let Us Pray

Creator God, 
teach us to see you in the beauty of the universe, for all things speak of you. Awaken our praise and thankfulness for everything that you have made. Give us the grace to perceive that we are connected to everything this is. 
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord.
We give you thanks, O God.

God whom we love,
we stand before you with open and humble hearts. In our imagination, allow us to see and hear and feel the beautiful expressions of the earth, that speak to each of us- Mountains, rivers, prairie, oceans, forest, meadows, trees, and flowers. 
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord.
We give you thanks, O God.

God of Love,
show us our place in this world, as kin to all the non-human creatures with whom we share the earth. They came forth from your hand; they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love, and not one of them is forgotten in your sight. 
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord.
We give you thanks, O God.

Saving God,
we give thanks for all human beings on the earth. Created from dust, yet crowned with glory, those we know and those who are strangers; those near to us and those far away. All of us beautiful, all of us flawed. We continue to pray for Gail, John, Sheila, Clarice, and those on hearts. 
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord.
We give you thanks, O God.

God of Abundance,
we give thanks for the sun, the water, for soil, for air on which our live depend moment by moment. In silence we are aware of our frailty, our complete dependence and sustains our every breath. 
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord.
We give you thanks, O God.

Creator God,
we enjoy the abundant fruits of the earth, yet, we acknowledge that we in the developed work, have often wasted the gifts of the earth, taking more than our share, leaving our sisters and brothers in other places in poverty and need. Renew our minds and transform us into servants of the earth, so that her richness and bounty will sustain, not only us, but generations to come after us.
In gratitude let us pray to the Lord.
We give you thanks, O God.

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.

Almighty God, 
you renew us at your table with the bread of life. May your holy food strengthen us in love and help us to serve you in each other. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. 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. 

And the Peace of God

God the Father,
who created the world, give you grace to be wise stewards of his creation.
God the Son,
who redeemed the world, inspire you to go out as labourers into his harvest.
God the Holy Spirit,
whose breath fills the whole creation, help you to bear his fruits of love, joy and peace.  

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

Let us go in  peace to tend the earth, care for God’s good creation, and bring forth the fruits of righteousness. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ.

Amen.