Preston B. Hannibal - "Words of the Heart" (November 27, 1988)
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Transcript
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- | Advent, we welcome you to this service of worship | 5:08 |
here at Duke University Chapel, | 5:11 | |
and pray that you will receive | 5:13 | |
a blessing during this hour. | 5:14 | |
We extend special greetings to any of you | 5:16 | |
who may be visiting our campus for the first time, | 5:18 | |
and offer our assistance to you | 5:21 | |
in any way that we may be helpful | 5:22 | |
here at the Chapel. | 5:24 | |
We also welcome those of you | 5:25 | |
in our radio and television audiences. | 5:27 | |
Our guest preacher for this morning | 5:28 | |
is the Reverend Mr. Preston B. Hannibal, | 5:31 | |
assistant minister in the Memorial Church | 5:34 | |
at Harvard University. | 5:36 | |
Prior to his appointment at Memorial Church, | 5:38 | |
he was a member of the faculty | 5:40 | |
at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire, | 5:42 | |
and he was there for 12 years. | 5:45 | |
We welcome Mr. Hannibal to our pulpit | 5:47 | |
and we look forward to his message this morning. | 5:49 | |
We also thank Professor Danvia | 5:52 | |
for serving as lector in today's service. | 5:54 | |
Please note the remaining announcements | 5:58 | |
as they are printed in your bulletins. | 5:59 | |
♪ Return, oh God of love ♪ | 6:06 | |
♪ Return ♪ | 6:13 | |
♪ Earth is a tiresome place ♪ | 6:16 | |
♪ How long shall we ♪ | 6:25 | |
♪ Thy children mourn ♪ | 6:30 | |
♪ Our absence from thy face ♪ | 6:36 | |
♪ Return, oh God of love ♪ | 6:46 | |
♪ Return ♪ | 6:53 | |
♪ Earth is a tiresome place ♪ | 6:57 | |
♪ How long shall we ♪ | 7:05 | |
♪ Thy children mourn ♪ | 7:11 | |
♪ Our absence from thy face ♪ | 7:17 | |
(soft music) | 7:31 | |
♪ Oh for a thousand tongues to sing ♪ | 7:56 | |
♪ My great Redeemer's praise ♪ | 8:01 | |
♪ The glories of my God and King ♪ | 8:07 | |
♪ The triumphs of his grace ♪ | 8:12 | |
♪ My gracious Master and my God ♪ | 8:21 | |
♪ Assist me to proclaim ♪ | 8:27 | |
♪ To spread through all the earth abroad ♪ | 8:32 | |
♪ The honors of your name ♪ | 8:39 | |
♪ Jesus the name that charms our fears ♪ | 8:46 | |
♪ That bids our sorrows cease ♪ | 8:52 | |
♪ 'Tis music in the sinner's ears ♪ | 8:58 | |
♪ 'Tis life and health and peace ♪ | 9:04 | |
♪ He breaks the power of canceled sin ♪ | 9:12 | |
♪ He sets the prisoner free ♪ | 9:17 | |
♪ His blood can make the foulest clean ♪ | 9:23 | |
♪ His blood availed for me ♪ | 9:29 | |
♪ To God all glory, love and praise ♪ | 9:36 | |
♪ Be now and ever given ♪ | 9:42 | |
♪ By saints below and saints above ♪ | 9:49 | |
♪ The church in earth and heaven ♪ | 9:54 | |
(soft music) | 10:01 | |
♪ So now thy blessed name I love ♪ | 10:09 | |
♪ Thy will would e'er be mine ♪ | 10:14 | |
♪ Had I a thousand hearts to give ♪ | 10:20 | |
♪ My Lord, they were all thine ♪ | 10:26 | |
Oh wisdom, breath of the most high, | 10:40 | |
pervading and permeating all creation. | 10:43 | |
Congregation | Come and make us friends of God. | 10:47 |
- | Oh Lord of lords and leader of the house of Israel, | 10:50 |
who appeared to Moses in the burning bush | 10:54 | |
and gave him your law on Sinai. | 10:56 | |
Congregation | Come and save us with your mighty arm. | 11:00 |
Nancy | Oh root of Jesse, standing as a signal | 11:03 |
to the nations before whom all kings are mute. | 11:06 | |
To whom the nations will do homage. | 11:10 | |
Congregation | Come and save us. | 11:13 |
Delay no longer. | 11:15 | |
Nancy | Oh key of David and ruler of the house of Israel, | 11:17 |
when you open, nobody can close. | 11:21 | |
When you close, nobody can open. | 11:24 | |
Congregation | Come and proclaim liberty | 11:26 |
to the captives and set free the oppressed. | 11:29 | |
Nancy | Oh radiant dawn, | 11:33 |
splendor of eternal light and sun of justice. | 11:34 | |
Congregation | Come and give light to those | 11:38 |
who live in darkness and the shadow of death. | 11:40 | |
Nancy | Oh King of the nations, | 11:44 |
the ruler they long for, | 11:45 | |
the cornerstone binding all together. | 11:47 | |
Congregation | Come and save the people | 11:51 |
you fashioned from the dust of the earth. | 11:53 | |
Nancy | Oh Emmanuel, our King and our law giver. | 11:56 |
The anointed of the nations and their Savior. | 11:59 | |
Congregation | Come and save us, | 12:03 |
oh Lord our God. | 12:04 | |
Nancy | The spirit and the bride say, come. | 12:06 |
Congregation | Come, Lord Jesus, come. | 12:10 |
- | Let us pray together. | 12:27 |
Open our hearts and minds, oh God. | 12:30 | |
By the power of your Holy Spirit. | 12:33 | |
So that, as the word is read and proclaimed, | 12:36 | |
we might be prepared for the advent of our Savior. | 12:40 | |
Amen. | 12:44 | |
A reading from the book of Jeremiah. | 12:49 | |
Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, | 12:53 | |
when I will fulfill the promise | 12:55 | |
that I made to the house of Israel | 12:58 | |
and the house of Judah. | 13:00 | |
In those days and at that time, | 13:03 | |
I will cause a righteous branch | 13:05 | |
to spring forth for David, | 13:07 | |
and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. | 13:09 | |
In those days, Judah will be saved | 13:14 | |
and Jerusalem will dwell securely. | 13:17 | |
And this is the name by which it will be called. | 13:20 | |
The Lord is our righteousness. | 13:24 | |
This ends the reading of the first lesson. | 13:26 | |
Nancy | Please stand for the reading of the psalter. | 13:36 |
The mighty one, God the Lord, | 13:44 | |
speaks and summons the earth | 13:46 | |
from the rising of the sun to its setting. | 13:48 | |
Congregation | Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, | 13:52 |
God shines forth. | 13:55 | |
Nancy | Our God comes. | 13:57 |
He does not keep silenced. | 13:59 | |
Before him is a devouring fire. | 14:01 | |
Round about him, a mighty tempest. | 14:04 | |
Congregation | He calls to the heavens above | 14:07 |
and to the earth, | 14:09 | |
that he may judge his people. | 14:11 | |
Nancy | Gather to me, my faithful ones, | 14:14 |
who made a covenant with me by sacrifice. | 14:17 | |
Congregation | The heavens declare his righteousness, | 14:20 |
for God himself is to judge. | 14:23 | |
(soft choral music) | 14:26 | |
- | The gospel lesson is from St. Luke, chapter 21. | 15:29 |
And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars. | 15:34 | |
And upon the earth, | 15:39 | |
distress of nations in perplexity | 15:40 | |
at the roaring of the sea and the waves. | 15:42 | |
People fainting with fear and with foreboding | 15:46 | |
of what is coming on the world, | 15:48 | |
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. | 15:50 | |
And then they will see the Son of Man | 15:54 | |
coming in a cloud with power and great glory. | 15:56 | |
Now, when these things begin to take place, | 15:59 | |
look up and raise your heads, | 16:02 | |
because your redemption is drawing near. | 16:04 | |
And he told them a parable. | 16:08 | |
Look at the fig tree and all the trees. | 16:09 | |
As soon as they come out in leaf, | 16:13 | |
you see for yourselves and know | 16:15 | |
that the summer is already near. | 16:17 | |
So also, when you see these things taking place, | 16:20 | |
you know that the kingdom of God is near. | 16:23 | |
Truly I say to you, | 16:26 | |
this generation will not pass away | 16:28 | |
until all has taken place. | 16:30 | |
Heaven and earth will pass away, | 16:33 | |
but my words will not pass away. | 16:35 | |
But take heed to yourselves, | 16:38 | |
lest your hearts be weighed down | 16:40 | |
with dissipation and drunkenness | 16:42 | |
and cares of this life. | 16:44 | |
And that day come upon you suddenly like a snare. | 16:46 | |
For it will come upon all | 16:51 | |
who dwell upon the face of the earth. | 16:52 | |
But watch at all times, | 16:55 | |
praying that you may have strength | 16:57 | |
to escape all these things | 16:58 | |
that will take place, | 17:00 | |
and to stand before the Son of Man. | 17:02 | |
This ends the reading of the gospel lesson. | 17:05 | |
(soft music) | 17:09 | |
♪ How beauteous are their feet ♪ | 17:29 | |
♪ Who stand on Zion's hill ♪ | 17:34 | |
♪ Who bring salvation on their tongues ♪ | 17:40 | |
♪ And words of peace reveal ♪ | 17:46 | |
♪ How charming, charming is their voice ♪ | 17:54 | |
♪ How sweet the tidings are ♪ | 18:00 | |
♪ Zion, behold thy Savior King ♪ | 18:09 | |
♪ Zion, behold thy Savior King ♪ | 18:12 | |
♪ Behold thy Savior King ♪ | 18:15 | |
♪ He reigns and triumphs on ♪ | 18:21 | |
♪ Zion, behold thy Savior King ♪ | 18:27 | |
♪ He reigns and triumphs on ♪ | 18:31 | |
- | Let us pray. | 18:53 |
Come, Holy Spirit. | 18:58 | |
Come as the wind and cleanse. | 19:01 | |
Come as the fire and burn. | 19:04 | |
Convict, | 19:07 | |
convert, | 19:08 | |
consecrate our lives. | 19:10 | |
To our great good and thy greater glory. | 19:13 | |
In the name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. | 19:18 | |
Amen. | 19:21 | |
I bring greetings from | 19:35 | |
Cambridge in Harvard | 19:38 | |
and a good friend of yours, Peter Gomes. | 19:39 | |
In the fourth chapter of the epistle | 19:47 | |
to the Hebrews, we read. | 19:48 | |
The word of God is living and active. | 19:53 | |
Sharper than any double edged sword. | 19:56 | |
It penetrates, even to dividing soul and spirit. | 19:58 | |
Joints and marrow. | 20:03 | |
It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. | 20:06 | |
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. | 20:10 | |
Everything is uncovered and laid bare | 20:14 | |
before the eyes of God, | 20:16 | |
to whom we must give account. | 20:19 | |
My family and I have what might be called | 20:29 | |
a continuing discussion, | 20:32 | |
surrounding my civility and state of mind | 20:34 | |
when I have to prepare a kind of public address. | 20:38 | |
School address, | 20:41 | |
Sunday sermon, | 20:43 | |
a morning prayer homily. | 20:45 | |
It doesn't really matter. | 20:47 | |
During those times of preparation, | 20:49 | |
my family continues to accuse me | 20:52 | |
of being hard to live with. | 20:54 | |
And I continue to assure them | 20:57 | |
that this is far from the case. | 21:00 | |
But old habits die hard, | 21:02 | |
and my family is in the habit of vacating the house, | 21:05 | |
just to be on the safe side, | 21:08 | |
whenever I have important work to be done. | 21:11 | |
So about a week ago, | 21:15 | |
off they went to shop, | 21:17 | |
to play soccer, | 21:20 | |
to visit with friends, | 21:23 | |
all intent to give Dad the space and time | 21:24 | |
and peace he needed to get another sermon | 21:28 | |
out of his system. | 21:31 | |
With the house to myself, | 21:34 | |
and nothing to do but write, | 21:36 | |
I sat down to get to work. | 21:38 | |
As I finished copying this morning's text | 21:42 | |
and stared into space, | 21:44 | |
trying to find the right words to get going, | 21:46 | |
I was saved by the telephone. | 21:49 | |
Now, Sandy and I have three children. | 21:54 | |
And two out of the three are the age | 21:56 | |
to keep doing New England | 21:58 | |
telephone stockholders happy for quite some time. | 21:59 | |
So I knew that the phone wasn't for me. | 22:03 | |
I answered, | 22:07 | |
dutifully took the message, | 22:09 | |
and headed back to my labors. | 22:12 | |
As I crossed the living room, | 22:15 | |
I eyed the picture of my grandmother | 22:17 | |
on the mantelpiece. | 22:19 | |
Now it's a very special picture for two reasons. | 22:22 | |
One, it is one of the last family pictures | 22:26 | |
that I can remember she being a part of. | 22:30 | |
And two, she hated having her picture taken. | 22:33 | |
I remember calling to her and seeing | 22:37 | |
her respond to the call | 22:39 | |
just as I snapped the picture. | 22:41 | |
She tried to look annoyed, | 22:44 | |
but I knew what she was really feeling. | 22:46 | |
As I looked at the picture, | 22:52 | |
I was struck by the thought | 22:54 | |
that while I had trouble remembering | 22:56 | |
the importance of this passage from the Hebrews, | 22:59 | |
much less trying to live out the demands | 23:02 | |
of the author of Hebrews, | 23:05 | |
my grandmother, in her life and action, | 23:07 | |
always remembered and tried to live her life | 23:11 | |
as if the word of God | 23:14 | |
was living and acting out its purpose in her life. | 23:16 | |
As a child, and then as a young adult, | 23:22 | |
I was always aware of her goodness and her firmness. | 23:26 | |
She was, after all, a proper Anglican | 23:31 | |
and an even more proper West Indian. | 23:34 | |
But I was also struck by her serenity. | 23:38 | |
She always seemed calm and in control of herself. | 23:43 | |
Sure of who she was and what she was about. | 23:47 | |
As she grew older, her health deteriorated, | 23:53 | |
and she had to make concessions and sacrifices | 23:57 | |
that were hard on her pride and on her independence. | 24:00 | |
I'm sure Grandmother was frustrated with her circumstances. | 24:06 | |
But she never let on her discontent. | 24:10 | |
At least, not to me or not that I can remember. | 24:13 | |
What I do remember more than anything else was her faith. | 24:18 | |
Her faith in God | 24:24 | |
and in the goodness of all humanity. | 24:27 | |
For Grandmother, daily prayer and church on Sunday | 24:31 | |
were as natural as breathing. | 24:36 | |
For her, this passage from the fourth chapter of Hebrews | 24:40 | |
was as alive and as relevant as she was. | 24:43 | |
To her and for her, | 24:49 | |
the word of God was and is alive. | 24:52 | |
And that word alive penetrates our inner being | 24:57 | |
to energize and give life. | 25:01 | |
To give life and light | 25:03 | |
to the dark moments and hours of the soul. | 25:06 | |
Those moments that we all, | 25:10 | |
one time or another, encounter. | 25:13 | |
For my grandmother, God was not only spirit, | 25:18 | |
but also truth. | 25:22 | |
And the truth of God was a fact of life. | 25:24 | |
But it was more than a fact of life. | 25:29 | |
It was, for her, the fact of life. | 25:31 | |
Her calmness and serenity | 25:36 | |
in the face of the chances and changes of life | 25:37 | |
came from her deep and abiding trust | 25:40 | |
in the changelessness of God, | 25:43 | |
and her awareness of those points in her life | 25:46 | |
where the aliveness of God's spirit | 25:49 | |
enlivened the deadness of her life. | 25:53 | |
Now I'm ashamed and sorry to say that, | 25:59 | |
until I passed the picture | 26:02 | |
prominently displayed on our mantelpiece, | 26:04 | |
I had pushed the faithful example | 26:06 | |
of this simple woman of God | 26:08 | |
to the recesses of my consciousness. | 26:10 | |
Now, anyone who knows me | 26:16 | |
knows that I take family very seriously. | 26:18 | |
But we all, more often than not, | 26:21 | |
lose sight of the important and lifelong lessons | 26:24 | |
that we have learned at the feet | 26:28 | |
of our grandparents and our parents. | 26:30 | |
As I think back, I realize that it is through | 26:34 | |
the life of other people | 26:36 | |
that I received my first glimpses | 26:39 | |
of the wonder and the word of God, | 26:41 | |
active and alive in the hearts and minds | 26:45 | |
of those people who call themselves Christians. | 26:48 | |
Lessons long forgotten were implanted | 26:52 | |
in my mind and in my soul. | 26:54 | |
Lessons that recall the work of the Holy Spirit, | 26:57 | |
directing and guiding. | 27:00 | |
Preparing the way for things to happen. | 27:02 | |
Things that show those who would believe | 27:06 | |
the promise of God's word. | 27:09 | |
We must simply turn to the 55th chapter of Isaiah | 27:13 | |
to see the strength and resilience of God's word. | 27:17 | |
I often wondered where my grandmother found her strength. | 27:21 | |
How she kept her composure in the face | 27:25 | |
of the changing circumstances of life and of age. | 27:28 | |
Part of my question was answered | 27:33 | |
as I myself grew and matured. | 27:35 | |
Part of my answer can be passed off as | 27:40 | |
having to do with her temperament. | 27:42 | |
But remembering the little things of her life, | 27:46 | |
I see that much of her peace came | 27:49 | |
from the grace of God in her life. | 27:51 | |
Her realization that she was an active participant | 27:54 | |
in God's plan of salvation. | 27:58 | |
And for her, these words from Isaiah | 28:01 | |
were much more than poetic utterance. | 28:04 | |
They were words inscribed on her heart. | 28:07 | |
Words to be obeyed and honored, | 28:11 | |
as one would honor the words | 28:13 | |
or the promise of a trusted friend. | 28:16 | |
As the rain and snow come down from heaven | 28:21 | |
and do not return to it without watering the earth | 28:25 | |
and making it bud and flourish. | 28:28 | |
So that yields seed for the sower | 28:31 | |
and the bread for the eater. | 28:34 | |
So is my word that goes out from my mouth. | 28:37 | |
It will not return to me empty, | 28:40 | |
but will accomplish what I desire, | 28:43 | |
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. | 28:46 | |
You will go out in joy | 28:50 | |
and be led forth in peace. | 28:52 | |
The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, | 28:55 | |
and all the trees of the field | 28:58 | |
will clap their hands. | 29:00 | |
These are the words of the Lord. | 29:04 | |
Maintain justice and do what is right, | 29:07 | |
for my salvation is close at hand | 29:10 | |
and my righteousness will soon be revealed. | 29:13 | |
These then are the words of hope and salvation | 29:20 | |
that fueled my grandmother's love and enthusiasm | 29:23 | |
for her Lord and Savior. | 29:27 | |
These were the words that came alive for her | 29:30 | |
and directed and guided her life. | 29:32 | |
These are the words that were a living reminder | 29:36 | |
of the life of Christ, | 29:38 | |
and the power of the Holy Spirit | 29:40 | |
that had touched her soul | 29:42 | |
and directed her life all of her days. | 29:43 | |
Now at this point, | 29:53 | |
it would be easy to quote | 29:54 | |
one of the 18th century divines | 29:56 | |
or a third century contemplative | 29:58 | |
to add credence to my claim. | 30:00 | |
But that would leave us all | 30:03 | |
in the safe harbor of the abstract. | 30:05 | |
The place in which we all love to take refuge | 30:08 | |
when speaking of matters religious or spiritual. | 30:10 | |
But no, that would be the easy way out. | 30:16 | |
The words of Hebrews are clear | 30:20 | |
and meant to be understood as such. | 30:22 | |
The word of God is alive and active. | 30:25 | |
The word of God stands alone, | 30:29 | |
and we are left with the awe inspiring challenge | 30:32 | |
of trying to relate the active word of God | 30:34 | |
to our passive lives. | 30:39 | |
We don't live in an abstract reality, | 30:46 | |
and our Lord does not meet us in an abstract situation. | 30:49 | |
Jesus meets us daily, hourly, where we are. | 30:53 | |
In our pleasure and in our pain. | 30:57 | |
In our joy and in our sorrow. | 31:00 | |
In our sickness and in our health. | 31:02 | |
In the midst of our busy lives | 31:06 | |
and in the loneliness of our death. | 31:08 | |
In all of the changes and chances of our life, | 31:12 | |
we find God's word written on our hearts | 31:15 | |
and filling the recesses of our souls. | 31:18 | |
It penetrates the even, | 31:23 | |
dividing soul and spirit. | 31:25 | |
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. | 31:27 | |
This awe filled reality, | 31:34 | |
this sin filled humanity, | 31:36 | |
is also a soothing comfort to our restless souls. | 31:38 | |
This then is the paradox of grace. | 31:44 | |
As much and as often as we turn from God, | 31:47 | |
God never leaves us. | 31:50 | |
God is always with us. | 31:53 | |
Our present help in time of trouble. | 31:55 | |
Where can I go from your spirit? | 32:00 | |
Where can I flee from your presence? | 32:03 | |
If I go up to the heavens, you are there. | 32:06 | |
If I make my bed in hell, you are there. | 32:09 | |
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, | 32:14 | |
if I settle on the far side of the sea, | 32:16 | |
even there, your hand will guide me. | 32:19 | |
Your right hand will hold me fast. | 32:22 | |
This past week, I had the chance to talk | 32:30 | |
with a young friend recovering from a serious operation. | 32:33 | |
She had come through the operation without complication, | 32:38 | |
and was recovering at home | 32:41 | |
before making her way back into | 32:43 | |
the hectic life of the university. | 32:44 | |
As we talked, I was struck by this | 32:48 | |
young woman's courage and conviction. | 32:51 | |
She said that whenever she would slip into self-pity | 32:54 | |
and question her predicament, | 32:58 | |
she would snap herself out of the doldrums | 33:01 | |
by thinking about how lucky she was to be alive | 33:03 | |
and on the road to recovery. | 33:06 | |
She counted herself lucky. | 33:09 | |
Her faith in God had sustained her | 33:11 | |
and placed her life in a perspective | 33:13 | |
that supported her in spite of all | 33:16 | |
her trials and tribulations. | 33:18 | |
Here again, we are not dealing with some | 33:22 | |
abstract case of Christian commitment | 33:24 | |
that we can easily dismiss. | 33:27 | |
Here then was a person whose pain and fear were real. | 33:30 | |
Whose questions could not be answered | 33:34 | |
and whose doubt left her feeling alone and without support. | 33:36 | |
To this helplessness, | 33:42 | |
a hopelessness that we all have felt | 33:44 | |
at one time or another, | 33:47 | |
came the loving reassurance of God. | 33:49 | |
It is a love that penetrates our being | 33:53 | |
and touches our hearts to soothe, | 33:55 | |
to comfort, and to heal. | 33:58 | |
It is at those moments when we are most human, | 34:01 | |
most vulnerable, | 34:05 | |
most apt to think of ourselves only, | 34:07 | |
that God comes to us to clear our minds | 34:11 | |
and direct our hearts. | 34:14 | |
But with the acceptance of the active | 34:19 | |
presence of God in our lives, | 34:21 | |
comes a great risk. | 34:23 | |
It is the risk of not living up to the standards | 34:25 | |
that have been set before us as God's people. | 34:28 | |
To accept God's grace | 34:33 | |
is to accept also his promise of judgment. | 34:34 | |
To accept God's gift of life eternal | 34:39 | |
is to accept also condemnation | 34:41 | |
at not living and acting in relationship | 34:44 | |
with the living God. | 34:47 | |
To accept God's promise of salvation | 34:49 | |
is to accept the responsibility | 34:51 | |
and the risk that comes with God's covenant. | 34:53 | |
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. | 34:59 | |
Everything is uncovered and laid bare | 35:03 | |
before the eyes of God, | 35:04 | |
to whom we must all give account. | 35:06 | |
To stand before God at the final judgment | 35:11 | |
is indeed a fearful thing. | 35:13 | |
But to live in God's presence today, | 35:17 | |
knowing that we are not keeping true | 35:19 | |
to our covenant relationship | 35:21 | |
with our Lord or with humanity, | 35:22 | |
is to turn away from God | 35:26 | |
in order to court the world. | 35:27 | |
To accept the living God is to turn | 35:30 | |
from death to life. | 35:32 | |
From the ways of the flesh | 35:35 | |
to the ways of God. | 35:37 | |
From a life of sin to a life of service. | 35:40 | |
It is to accept that the word of God | 35:44 | |
is alive and active, | 35:47 | |
not only in our lives as individuals, | 35:49 | |
but also, in the world around us. | 35:52 | |
A world that is more often than not | 35:56 | |
blind to the reality of Christ in us. | 35:58 | |
Now we live in a society where people | 36:04 | |
are not apt to risk faith. | 36:07 | |
Either opting for simplistic belief | 36:09 | |
or no belief at all. | 36:13 | |
Our Lord does not provide us with a simplistic belief. | 36:16 | |
God challenges us all | 36:20 | |
to a higher understanding of his purposes. | 36:22 | |
The risk of faith is the risk of life. | 36:27 | |
It is risking faith in the living word of God | 36:31 | |
and the active work of the Holy Spirit, | 36:34 | |
working out God's plan of salvation, | 36:37 | |
in us, through us, and in spite of us. | 36:39 | |
It is opening our hearts, minds, and soul | 36:44 | |
to the power of God's spirit, | 36:47 | |
and it is standing before God now | 36:49 | |
and at the hour of our death | 36:52 | |
in the sure hope that our lives | 36:55 | |
will be an acceptable example | 36:56 | |
of our love and commitment to Christ. | 36:59 | |
In Henri Nouwen's moving account of his mother's death, | 37:09 | |
In Memoriam, he writes of despair, | 37:13 | |
fear, mourning, and hope. | 37:17 | |
He tells us of her exemplary life in Christ, | 37:22 | |
but of her fear in standing before God. | 37:26 | |
He writes, | 37:32 | |
three weeks before her death, she said to me, | 37:36 | |
I am afraid to die. | 37:40 | |
Not to go to the hospital. | 37:43 | |
Not to undergo surgery. | 37:46 | |
Not to suffer pain. | 37:48 | |
I am afraid to appear before God | 37:51 | |
and show him my life. | 37:53 | |
She was so deeply impressed by God's awesome greatness | 37:57 | |
and had become aware of her own nothingness | 38:01 | |
that the great encounter could only frighten her. | 38:04 | |
But maybe fear was not the best word. | 38:10 | |
Perhaps she meant dread. | 38:13 | |
The overpowering knowledge of the great abyss | 38:16 | |
between God and his creation. | 38:19 | |
He goes on to say, | 38:26 | |
friends kept saying to me, | 38:28 | |
your mother always thought of others first. | 38:31 | |
That is true. | 38:34 | |
She lived for others. | 38:36 | |
For her husband, her children, | 38:38 | |
her grandchildren, her friends. | 38:41 | |
But I saw something else. | 38:46 | |
I saw my own mother entering into that moment | 38:48 | |
in which we all are totally alone with God. | 38:50 | |
In that moment in which the final decision | 38:55 | |
of life must be made. | 38:57 | |
The decision of faith. | 39:01 | |
To accept the word of God as living and active | 39:09 | |
is to choose to stand apart from the world | 39:13 | |
and to stand before God. | 39:16 | |
It is to live life for others. | 39:19 | |
And it is risking the decision of faith | 39:22 | |
that opens us all to the workings of the Holy Spirit. | 39:24 | |
In our thoughts, in our minds, | 39:29 | |
and in our hearts. | 39:33 | |
For the word of the Lord is alive and active. | 39:37 | |
Sharper than any double edged sword. | 39:41 | |
It penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit. | 39:44 | |
Joints and marrow. | 39:47 | |
It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. | 39:50 | |
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. | 39:54 | |
Everything is uncovered and laid bare | 39:58 | |
before the eyes of God, | 40:00 | |
to whom we all must give account. | 40:02 | |
Let us pray. | 40:08 | |
Oh Lord our God, | 40:22 | |
thy will is holy, loving, and wise. | 40:24 | |
Let thy will be done in us, | 40:29 | |
for us, | 40:31 | |
through us, | 40:34 | |
and in spite of us. | 40:36 | |
Through Christ whose greatest joy | 40:40 | |
was to do thy will. | 40:42 | |
Amen. | 40:46 | |
(soft choral music) | 40:50 | |
- | The Lord be with you. | 43:45 |
Congregation | And also with you. | 43:47 |
- | Let us pray. | 43:48 |
Oh eternal God, | 44:01 | |
maker of the universe, | 44:04 | |
ruler of all things in heaven and earth, | 44:06 | |
you have called us to follow you, | 44:10 | |
take nothing for the journey. | 44:13 | |
Recognizing the power of your word in our lives, | 44:16 | |
we forsake all that would inhibit us | 44:21 | |
in our pilgrimage of faith. | 44:23 | |
In its place, we offer now our prayers | 44:27 | |
and concerns for our sisters and brothers around the world. | 44:30 | |
Let us pray for all of those | 44:35 | |
in times of trouble or distress. | 44:37 | |
For the sick and for the dying. | 44:41 | |
The hungry, the unemployed, | 44:45 | |
the refugee, | 44:48 | |
the victim of violence, | 44:50 | |
for the forsaken or the forlorn. | 44:53 | |
Grant them an assurance of thy | 44:57 | |
eternal presence through all things. | 44:59 | |
Let us pray for those who seek | 45:04 | |
to lighten the burdens of others. | 45:05 | |
For doctors, nurses, and other medical workers. | 45:08 | |
For teachers, counselors, social workers. | 45:14 | |
May they not only heal the body and expand the mind, | 45:19 | |
but enrich the spirit. | 45:23 | |
Let us pray for all those who seek | 45:27 | |
to bring peace and justice into our world. | 45:29 | |
For all prisoners of conscience. | 45:33 | |
For those who work within our justice system. | 45:37 | |
For those communities dedicated to simple living | 45:41 | |
in the name of peace. | 45:43 | |
May they grant us a renewed vision | 45:47 | |
of what it means to live in harmony with one another. | 45:48 | |
Let us pray for those charged | 45:54 | |
with the responsibilities of governing. | 45:56 | |
Most especially, the President of the United States | 45:59 | |
and the governors of all the states. | 46:03 | |
Grant to all those in authority | 46:06 | |
the wisdom and the strength to know | 46:09 | |
and to do thy will. | 46:12 | |
Let us pray for all who feel unloved or wanted. | 46:15 | |
For those who seek to harm themselves or others. | 46:20 | |
For those who indulge in material excess | 46:25 | |
to fill an interior void. | 46:28 | |
For those who live within institutions, | 46:32 | |
surrounded by people, yet lonely beyond words. | 46:35 | |
May they find strength and renewed conviction in thy word. | 46:40 | |
These prayers we offer with the knowledge | 46:46 | |
of thy saving power, | 46:48 | |
which is ever present in our lives. | 46:50 | |
Through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray. | 46:53 | |
Amen. | 46:57 | |
And now in thanksgiving for the gift of salvation, | 47:00 | |
let us offer our gifts and ourselves unto God. | 47:03 | |
(soft choral music) | 47:08 | |
♪ Praise God from whom all blessings flow ♪ | 52:39 | |
♪ Praise him, all creatures here below ♪ | 52:45 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 52:51 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 52:54 | |
♪ Praise him above, ye heavenly host ♪ | 52:59 | |
♪ Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ♪ | 53:05 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 53:11 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 53:14 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 53:18 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 53:21 | |
♪ Hallelujah ♪ | 53:24 | |
♪ Amen ♪ | 53:32 | |
Almighty God, creator of all that was | 53:42 | |
and is and is to come. | 53:45 | |
With voices raised as one, | 53:47 | |
we offer our gratitude unto thee. | 53:49 | |
We thank thee for our time and place in history, | 53:52 | |
for the vision of a better world, | 53:56 | |
for friends and loved ones | 53:58 | |
who mediate thy loving care to us, | 54:00 | |
and for new truths which are revealed to us | 54:03 | |
in this season of waiting. | 54:06 | |
All thy works praise thee, | 54:08 | |
and in that chorus, we gratefully join. | 54:10 | |
This we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, | 54:13 | |
who taught us to pray with confidence. | 54:15 | |
Everyone | Our Father, who art in heaven, | 54:18 |
hallowed be thy name. | 54:21 | |
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done | 54:22 | |
on earth as it is in heaven. | 54:25 | |
Give us this day our daily bread, | 54:28 | |
and forgive us our trespasses, | 54:30 | |
as we forgive those who trespass against us. | 54:33 | |
And lead us not into temptation, | 54:36 | |
but deliver us from evil. | 54:38 | |
For thine is the kingdom, | 54:40 | |
the power and the glory forever. | 54:42 | |
Amen. | 54:45 | |
(soft choral music) | 54:48 | |
- | And now, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, | 58:36 |
the love of God, and the fellowship | 58:39 | |
of the Holy Spirit be with you all, | 58:42 | |
now and forevermore. | 58:44 | |
Amen. | 58:47 | |
♪ I wander through thy servant's road ♪ | 58:50 | |
♪ May final words be peace ♪ | 58:59 | |
♪ Let all our souls thy glory know ♪ | 59:07 | |
♪ And on my life was raised ♪ | 59:16 | |
♪ I wander through thy servant's road ♪ | 59:26 | |
♪ May final word be peace ♪ | 59:36 | |
♪ Then shall our souls thy glory known ♪ | 59:44 | |
♪ And on my life was raised ♪ | 59:53 |
Item Info
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