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:

Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is
the kingdom of 
heaven.

Matthew 5.3

O Come. Let Us Worship. 

Our service Sunday in live worship will begin with the act of remembrance and the traditional acknowledging of those who have paid the supreme sacrifice in the past number of generations, and also in honour of those who continue to serve our country today in a variety of services, particularly in our armed forces, our RCMP, and in other military organizations.

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 

Eternal God,
Who caused all holy scriptures
to be written for our learning,
grant us so to hear them,
read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast 
the blessed hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Proclamation of the Gospel:

John 6.37–40

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.

" Faithful Stewards "

Each year at this time:
•    We receive a reminder from our diocese, that we need to do a Stewardship Campaign. Most recently the wording from the diocese is not we need to but “we must.”
 
When I was working at my alma mater, Emmanuel and St. Chad, one of the retired alumni would remind us new minted clergy that ‘There should never be a need for a Stewardship Campaign in a parish--because in his mind, every sermon, every liturgy, should have a stewardship component to it.

By that, he did not simply mean a topic about money, but he meant about a “whole life stewardship” about how we share our time, our talents, and our treasure.

•    Second, it is at this time that we are reminded by our liturgical calendar to remember the saints and the souls of all people: those for whom we give thanks for the stewards of past generations.

•    Third, this Sunday when we traditionally have liturgical texts speaking of sacrifice-for our wider community, this is Remembrance week. 

An optional Collect today would call us to pray “Strengthen our trust in your promises.”

Faithful stewardship is about strengthening our trust in the promise of God through his son Jesus Christ. 

Each lesson today is framed around trust.

The story of Ruth is one of the most beautiful stories in scripture. It is a mother-in-law story. Except it is not the storyline we often hear by the stand-up comedians. 
    
The book of Ruth tells a different story. It is a story of love.

First about the love of Ruth for Naomi and, Naomi for Ruth. Ruth has recently been widowed. Ruth begs Naomi to let her stay with her. 
    
She makes this phenomenal pledge: “Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” 

Culturally this was a bold statement. From that time on Naomi loved and cared for Ruth, and Ruth cared for Naomi. 

But essentially, Naomi was Ruth’s protectorate. For Ruth to leave her homeland and venture to Bethlehem with Naomi would not have been the custom—would not even have been thought a possibility.
    
The rest of the story can be summarized as: Naomi insures Boaz would know Ruth, and eventually Ruth and Boaz marry, and eventually Ruth becomes the great grandmother of David, providing the direct lineage to the Messiah. 

The story is not just about a love affair. It is about God’s grace in the midst of difficult times in our lives. God’s grace in the midst of history and how God’s grace has sustained life and sustained people over the generations. 
    
It is a story of faith and trust in the midst of deep despair. It is a leading example for us of what it means to be strong in trusting the promises of God. To follow God in times of despair is not always a simple task. 
    
We have so many that we can look up to whom in times of anguish have shown us the path in life. 

In Psalm 16.11 we read: 

‘You will show me the path of life; in your present there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.’ 

To reflect back to my opening remarks about stewardship campaigns, the saints, and acts of Remembrance, we can draw directly to Mark’s Gospel.
    
There are two distinct parts to the reading today.
    
First, Jesus warns against religious piety. 
Second, we receive a lesson on what a “real” gift is.
    
There are two great examples from the scriptures. There is the lesson of the rich man asking: ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’
    
Then, the second is when a scribe who asks, “Which is the greatest commandment of all?”

If you read my ‘Friday Focus,’ you would have read what I would call an interpretation of that commandment in the life of Justice Murray Sinclair, who, here in Canada, we mourn his passing this week.

Jesus uses these two teachings to show us the difference between grace and piety.

Jesus warns about trying to make a good impression with ulterior motives. Jesus could see the hypocrisy of the leaders of the community. 
    
This is followed by Jesus’ taking his disciples on a little teaching trip. 

He takes them over to the temple and says, ‘come with me and observe what is happening at the temple.' He takes them there, and they observe the people coming and going from the temple.

He asked them to observe what the people were placing in the offering boxes—tables were set up throughout the temple for people to make their offerings. 
    
I am reminded of a visit that we made to the cathedral Cologne (Germany) on a trip to Europe, and these men walking around the cathedral with these red boxes that were slung over their neckline, and on these leather straps and slots for people to put money in to help with the costs of keeping the cathedral open for the community.

But, they were certainly not reserved about what their job was--as they would sort of interrupt your movement, and this box would sort of be directly in front of you, and sort of that undemanding but yet commanding idea that you should be contributing.
    
So, what is the scene as we read in the gospel?
    
First, Jesus draws attention to those who were making offerings. 

We are told many rich people put in large sums. Then comes another person, a poor widow. 
    
What is her offering? Two small copper coins.
    
We will have observed the rich put in large sums, and the poor widow—2 copper coins. 
    
The question is: who gave sacrificially?
    
Or in other words, what was the cost to the giver?
    
In closing this teaching, Jesus summarizes the lesson in these words: 

'Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.

'They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
    (Mark 12. 43-44)

In closing, I share with you a short ‘teaching moment’ on stewardship. 

When we speak about stewardship, our minds quickly move to that one T-word, treasury, or translated into an M-word: Money.

Stewardship, though, has three aspects to it: time, talent, and treasure. 
               
Some have an abundance of time, and others may not have, but they give out of abundance that they have, and those who have little time also see their abundance in a manner in which they have something to give. Some have many talents, and others have few and when it comes to a variety of gifts to offer to God.
          
When we consider our treasure, the same holds true. 

When I have spoken about making gifts from our estates to the Church, one remark I often hear is, ‘but I have very little, what difference would it make?  Or, 'what about my family or my friends, or about other needs that I want to look after?' 

And I often remark, “All the Lord asks for is 10%’” and often that 10% will not leave others in poverty.

And so, on this day, when we remember all the saints and souls that have encountered our lives, we remember the many people who gave the supreme sacrifice—you might say, ‘Gave everything, like the poor widow’—gave their whole life—

on this Remembrance Sunday and as we remember all the gifts that we have to share with the world, and so, may we all be faithful stewards.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Let Us Pray

Rooted in God’s abundant love for the world,
let us pray for our neighbours, the church, and all of creation.

Merciful God,
Receive our prayer.

Renew your church, O God.
Make us servants to one another for the sake of the gospel. Instill a heart for service and a passion for justice in our bishops, deacons, pastors, and lay leaders; especially Anna our Bishop, Rev. Brian, Rev. Trish, our lay leaders, Kathy and Carole.

Merciful God,
Receive our prayer.

Renew your creation, O God.
Sustain the earth and seas and all that is in them.
Kindle in us a reverent awe for all creatures great and small and strengthen us in our pursuit of climate justice.

Merciful God,
Receive our prayer.

Renew the nations, O God.
Heal our nations' veterans from the unseen wounds of war. Tend to their trauma and
soothe burdened consciences. Guide leaders of the world to end conflicts and pursue peace.

Merciful God,
Receive our prayer.

Renew your people, O God.
Protect those in our communities who are vulnerable or ill. Accompany persons who are unemployed or underemployed, children who are in foster care, and those who live alone. Watch over and uphold them.
We continue to pray for:
Barb, Sheila, John, Sue, and Gail, and those on our hearts.

Merciful God,
Receive our prayer.

Renew this congregation, O God.
Give us clarity in our mission and boldness in our witness. Bless our ministries that attend to basic needs of any who lack sufficient resources, that all may live with dignity.

Merciful God,
Receive our prayer.

Happy are those whose help was in you.
We give thanks for all your faithful ones who praised you as their God all their life long. As we eagerly wait for you, inspire us by their holy lives of service.

Merciful God,
Receive our prayer.

We offer our prayers to you, gracious God, trusting in your boundless love for all that you have made, through Jesus Christ, our 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.

Living God,
in this worship you have filled our lives with new hope.
And may the power of that hope, be shared through our love for you,
as we take your word to the world.

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.

May we go in peace this week to love and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.  Alleluia!