Lee Vining Presbyterian - January 26, 2025

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Welcome

Helpers to read 1) responses in Call to Worship, 2) Prayer of Confession

Call to Worship 

Christy and an unmuted person on Zoom will alternate reading.

Christy: On the third day, a wedding in Cana ran headlong into scarcity.
Person: We gather in the midst of our own needs, longing for God’s abundant grace.

Christy: Mary said to Jesus, “They have no wine,” trusting in His compassionate care.
Person: We, too, bring our requests, believing our Lord hears and provides.

Christy: Jesus spoke with authority, guiding servants to fill jars with water.
Person: We open our hearts to His leading, that we might obey and be transformed.

Christy: The disciples witnessed His first sign and believed.
Person: Strengthen our faith, O Lord, that we may follow You boldly.

Christy: As water turned to wine, God’s glory was revealed.
Person: Reveal Your glory among us, Holy One, and make our worship a celebration of Your grace.

Christy: Come, let us worship the One who takes our emptiness and fills us with new life.
Person: We praise You, O Christ, the true source of joy and wonder! Amen.

SONG  I Could Use A Little Church Right Now

TobyMac Drops ‘a Lil Church’ Official Lyric Video from tobyMac on GodTube.

Prayer of Confession:

Person – God of grace and truth, in the beginning, You spoke light into the darkness, yet we confess we often close our eyes to Your light. You have made all things through the Word, but we have taken Your gifts for granted, failing to honor You as Creator.

You came to dwell among us, full of grace and truth, yet we confess our reluctance to receive You. We turn away from the life You offer, clinging to the darkness of selfishness, pride, and fear. Though You call us to bear witness to Your light, we shrink from testifying, afraid of rejection or discomfort.

Forgive us, Lord. Open our hearts to Your transforming Word. Let Your light shine through us, so that we may reflect Your glory and live as children of God, redeemed by Your grace upon grace. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon:

Hear the Good News: Our God, who transformed simple water into the finest wine, also transforms us by grace. In Jesus Christ, our doubts and hesitations are forgiven, and our hearts are set free to serve with joyful obedience. Trust in the promise of His mercy, and walk forward in faith, assured that you are forgiven and loved. Thanks be to God!

Prayers & Praises

The Lord’s Prayer (together while on mute)

Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name,thy kingdom come,thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our debts,as we forgive our debtors.And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,and the power, and the glory,forever. Amen.

Offering – Doxology  For phone giving, use the QR code.

or go to https://77da2f07.churchtrac.com/give

 New Testament Readings:  John 2:1-11

 ²On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ²Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ ⁴And Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.’ ⁵His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ ⁶Now standing there were six stone water-jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. ⁷Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the jars with water.’ And they filled them up to the brim. ⁸He said to them, ‘Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.’ So they took it. ⁹When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom ¹⁰and said to him, ‘Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.’ ¹¹Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Message – Not My Job  < Click for recording

Story about Presbyterian Pastor when the church burned down.

Presbytery newsletter about fires

World Central Kitchen

SONG  I Sing a Song of the Saints of God

Benediction: May the God who turned water into wine fill your life with hope and promise, transforming every ordinary moment into a testimony of divine grace. As you go forth, trust in Christ’s power to bring abundance where you see only lack and let the joy of His miraculous love flow freely through you. Go in peace, blessed by the One who delights in meeting our needs and exceeding our expectations. Amen.

- Liturgy made with the aid of ChatGPT

What is On Line by Reopening Church Buildings?

How long did Noah and his family shelter in place? Answer below. 

A church pastor told me about being encouraged/pressured/ordered to start having services in the church building again. Here is part of my response as I consider a church reopening for worship before the rest of Nevada.

Section 4 of Directive 013 is hereby amended. Effective May 1, 2020, places of worship may offer services on an in-car or drive-in basis, if these services allow occupants to remain in their vehicles, can be held in a manner consistent with social distancing guidelines, implement precautions intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and abide by other guidance promulgated pursuant to this Directive. The prohibition of ten or more persons for indoor services shall remain in effect for the duration that this Directive shall be in effect, unless specifically terminated or renewed by subsequent order. - DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY DIRECTIVE 016  April 29,2020

I don’t know if civil disobedience is something we want to do right now. If not, then with a limit of 10 in worship, I don’t know if reservations will be taken for the 8 people who can join you and the organist or it will be by first come, first served with a full sign on a locked door after #8 comes in. Or by lottery? Or taking turns each week by last name? Doesn’t seem very workable. 

What is the insurance coverage for going against government restrictions if someone gets ill, or someone dies after being with a church goer? Consultation with the insurance folks and a lawyer would be prudent before civil disobedience. If there is a fine or court costs or a suit is the church prepared to pay or it is up to individual session members and the pastor?

What is the public relations plan if and when the church becomes known as a nexus for infection of the community and beyond? Is the congregation okay with the risk of being known as irresponsible with public health?

This tragic outbreak wasn’t a Presbyterian group but it was in a Presbyterian Church and would be heartbreaking to repeat:

A choir decided to go ahead with rehearsal. Now dozens of members have COVID-19 and two are dead

By RICHARD READ SEATTLE BUREAU CHIEF 

Los Angles Times, MARCH 29, 20207:34 PM

What health benefits and protections is the session offering its employees they require to come to work? Is the session prepared to assume the liability for their illness if they go against the governmental order? It might not be covered by the church’s policy. Again, a lawyer and insurance agent would be good to consult. 

Romans 13 is usually cited when we wonder about submitting to a government.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. - Romans 13:1 NRSV

Reading on to verse 10 we see that “Love does no wrong to a neighbor;” I can’t help but believe that would cover not putting our neighbor’s health and life at risk by spreading disease, even a disease we didn’t know we had.

There is the concept that we care about the least of these, in Matthew 25:31-46 NRSV (excerpts below)

I was sick and you took care of me…” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it…that we saw you sick…?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” 

and not to become a stumbling block to the weak by exercising our freedom:

But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling-block to the weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9

If church history is of interest as well as scripture, the story of Reverend Cotton Mather and Onesimus is illuminating on the “God will protect us” or “It is God’s will who lives and dies” beliefs. Our nation went through this debate

in 1721 over smallpox treatment even before we decided to be a nation.

This was not just a health crisis; it was also a theological one. The majority of Puritan clergy regarded the epidemic as divine will…The only explanation for suffering was the wrath of God, and so the only recourse they had was to determine which set of sins had unleashed it, and to find a way to atone. Yet when the sickness hit close to home, Mather began to rethink this position. With his children suddenly showing symptoms he had seen so often when visiting the dying in “venomous, contagious, loathsome Chambers,” he began to wonder:If it was in man’s power to counteract illness through the God-­given gift of the intellect, would it not be wrong to squander grace by failing to do so? 

The Puritans Were America’s First Anti-Vaxxers
The New Republic By PETER MANSEAU

 February 6, 2015

Finally, as Noah shows us, sometimes faith is staying inside sheltered by God; quarantined from the storm outside. 

It rained for 40 days and 40 nights. Noah and his family stayed in the ark for a year until it was safe to come out.

The real question that all churches are going to face is how do we plan to reopen once the Governor says it is OK? In our cases, that will happen when he says 50 or fewer people can gather as long as social distancing is practiced. Last week I sent an email to my session asking the following questions:
1. How can we follow the social distance guidelines in our worship space?
2. Should we require everyone to wear a mask?
3. Should we limit the number of people who can be present at any given time?
4. Since singing requires us to breathe more deeply, should we limit singing in our worship?
5. Will it be safe to hold our coffee time?
6. How can we keep our space clean?
I also asked the session if we should forward these questions to the entire congregation.
So far I have had various responses from “none of these options sound good” to “ Until we are all immunized/vaccinated from COVID-19…I do not see any way to social distance in our current sanctuary space”. I concluded my email by saying, “In all of this, we need to seek God’s will for our church family. Please pray for discernment as we consider how to move forward.”

May 4, 2020 | Pastor Carl

Ryan Landino

Pastor-preacher-priestperson of PCUSA church in northwest IL.
Happy husband, loyal dog lover, aspiring anti-racist, Philly sports phan

Prompts for A Funeral Message

I have used these questions in talks with folks preparing funeral services for years. They are often helpful in bringing out memories that can be considered in preparing a sermon or eulogy.

I found these decades ago in a Ministry magazine, apologies to the original author. I included them here for my reference and other’s consideration and use.

1. What is one descriptive word you would use to describe him?
2. Did she have any particular loves or hobbies?
3. Did he enjoy any particular songs, poems, or Scriptures?
4. If you could name one value or lesson she wanted to teach the next generation, what would it be?
5. What is the one accomplishment that would make his face light up when you mentioned it?
6. What were some of her favorite phrases or sayings?
7. Did she ever put anything up on the wall — a picture, a motto, a clipping that expresses who she really was?
8. Did he like and use his first name? How did he introduce himself? What nicknames did he have?
9. Was there a cause or movement that she felt deeply about and supported with time and treasure? What was it?
10. If he could have me say one thing during the service, what do you think it would be?
11. Why is the world a little different because of her?
12. What will you miss most about him?

A Moment of Success and Fulfillment

I remember feeling connected to God, church, and stranger at the first baptism at one of our first contemporary worship services in my previous pastorate. We gathered in the fellowship hall, where community has been nurtured for generations, to welcome folks into the body of Christ and the community of the church during worship. The baptism bowl was filled by individuals mixing their unique contribution into one common vessel and rested on a quilt of fabric made by church members. Friends and now brothers and sisters surrounded those joining on all sides as we shared the ancient words that hold our hearts today and forever in God’s gracious love. Togetherness and unity with each other, our community, tradition, and God was spoken, acted, and lived that day.

 - Response to the Presbyterian Church’s Personal Information Form (PIF) question: Describe a moment in your recent ministry that you recognize as one of success and fulfillment

A scanned copy of my PIF (references available on request)

A Sacred Benediction

Here’s the benediction I gave after closing worship for the retreat I led on “Sacred and Social”:

May sacred times free you for God’s service

May sacred places set you in God’s peace

May sacred objects anchor you for God’s presence

May sacred activities place you in God’s hands

May sacred people you challenge and comfort you in God’s grace.

May the sacred in your life increase
and be filled with the holy God
overflowing into the world,

For we are blessed to be a blessing.  Amen