Make a New World

[0:00] For more information visit www. 들�èrespible.com Amen.

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[3:28] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Good morning. Good morning. Welcome to Pendleton Center United Methodist Church, whether you are here with us in person or joining us online live today or another time later today or this week.

[3:50] We are blessed to have each one of you here, and we pray that this service will be a blessing to you. Will you join me and stand, and we're going to do This Is The Day as a responsive reading.

[4:01] We still are not doing congregational singing, but we encourage you to speak the words along with me, and we'll do what we do every day to celebrate what God has given us.

[4:12] This is the day that the Lord has made.

[4:29] Let us rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made.

[4:40] Let us rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made.

[4:59] Lord, would you join me in prayer? Heavenly Father, we thank you for this gorgeous day that you have made for us. We know that you are always with us, Father, but we especially ask for your presence to fill this space, to fill our hearts as we worship you, our one and only God.

[5:17] Lord, we love you, and we just ask that everything we do today would be an honor and a glorification of who you are. In Jesus' mighty name we pray, amen.

[5:30] And we're going to start with the praise band, and we're going to sing This Is Amazing Grace. Again, we are not quite doing congregational singing, but we are doing congregational dancing.

[5:42] So anybody that wants to dance along can do that, can hum along, speak the words along with you. I say that because I have a hard time not dancing to this one.

[5:53] So let's praise God together. Let's praise God together.

[6:18] 10 11 Who breaks the power, of sin and darkness? Uw, love is mighty and so much stronger. The King of glory, the King above all kings.

[6:36] Who shakes the whole earth, with holy flounder, and leaves us breathless? Can I wonder, the King of glory, the King above all kings This is amazing grace, this is unfailing love That you would take my place, that you would bear my cross You laid down the line, that I would be set free Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that you've done for me Who brings our chaos back into order?

[7:42] Who makes the orphan a son and daughter? The King of glory, the King of glory Who rules the nations with truth and justice Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance The King of glory, the King above all kings This is amazing grace, this is unfailing love That you would take my place, that you would bear my cross You laid down your life, that I would be set free Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that you've done for me

[8:44] Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Worthy is the King who conquered the grave Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Worthy is the King who conquered the grave Worthy is the Lamb who was slain Worthy, worthy, worthy, worthy Worthy is the King of glory, that you would bear my cross This is unfailing love That you would take my place, that you would bear my cross You laid down your life, that I would be set free

[9:49] Oh, Jesus, I sing for all that you've done for me All that you've done for me All that you've done for me You may be seated The Lord be with you Here we are, talking turkey You know, when a pastor steps up front and said We're going to talk turkey

[10:50] People kind of back up and say Oh, what's that going to be about? Well, we're talking turkey And we need turkeys because we're going to be distributing turkeys And my understanding is that we need a number of them And we need them, like, soon Like, maybe when you leave church You could go to Wegmans, pick up a turkey and bring it right back Because this $35, $34 and $76 turkey I got for $9 and some change So, I'm sure that if they're on sale at Wegmans They're on sale in other places And if you have questions about the turkeys Talk to Gidget And see how you can make arrangements But there'll be people here at the church for a little while So, bring them on in We are going to

[11:51] You're going to see a video about our mission moment And that will be There's envelopes back there for this special offering So, I invite you to be a part of that We give thanks in all ways Sometimes we don't even know How many ways we're giving thanks But maybe at the end of the day We can realize How many things am I grateful for Just for this day And we invite all of us To make that a part of our life And our routines And our experience of all that is good In us, in the world In our weather In our homes Knowing that God is also present For those times When that's not feeling that much the case So, we have many ways to give here at the church You can see some of them on the screen Online, in person Mail in And we also welcome

[12:52] Along with those things Your friendship cards Your indications of what you're grateful for What you want us to be Particularly in prayer for And we welcome all of that As we all continue to support The church in the ways that we can Speaking of that We got close to 250 fish fries On Friday evening And we'll be doing it for two more weeks So if anybody wants to Show up and help The number of people that can help is limited But talk to Carl Coles And see what kind of spot You can find your way into So having said all of that Let's just bring it right down here to the ground And ourselves You and me and us In person, online Today, later, whenever Using this time to just give ourselves Into God's care And God's keeping

[13:52] And to watch If anybody needs And we'll be puede And sometimes In person, in person Thank you, Josh.

[14:47] Thank you.

[15:17] Thank you.

[15:47] Thank you.

[16:17] Thank you. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

[16:29] Amen. Amen. Would you pray with me? Lord, we do thank you for all that you have blessed us with, and we just give all that we have back to you, and we ask that you would bless these gifts for the furtherance of your kingdom.

[16:47] In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Amen. Amen. You may be seated. Amen. I've only been singing that song since I was three, and I suddenly forgot it, so forgive me, God.

[16:59] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[17:10] There are so many times when something we do over and over again that's so much a part of us, and then all of a sudden, for those of us, whether it's someone reading scripture, or someone offering a prayer, or someone leading the Lord's Prayer, there comes those moments when you're like, gone.

[17:25] It's just gone. How can I lose this? Especially when you have all these people looking at you. So thank you, Kelly. Been there, done that.

[17:37] And we come to this time of prayer lifting up our hearts, the people we are concerned for, the people who are suffering, the people who are especially in need of God's presence on this day.

[17:58] And the very good news is that God knows who those people are. God always knows. And it is helpful for people to share with us through friendship cards or whatever the things that are on their hearts to be either shared with the staff for prayer or just the prayer team or both, however it is that we would like to share these things.

[18:27] And knowing all the while that God hears not only our voices but our hearts. I invite us this day, I'll just ask, how many of you have veterans in your family?

[18:41] How many of you are veterans? Not me, sorry. This is one of those days when, those weeks, when we give thanks for those who have served regardless of our opinions about conflicts and war.

[19:00] I've always said as a person who was a child in the Vietnam War that we always, always show grace and appreciation for those who have served this country.

[19:14] To protect it, to defend what we believe in. And so this week is one of those days when we say thank you. One of the, a man I met early on in my career as we would be around, he would see someone in uniform and he would always walk over and say thank you.

[19:35] Always. Always. And I was so moved by his willingness to step into that place. And I hope that we all can adopt that kind of an attitude of gratitude for those who sign up to serve our country.

[19:55] Let's pray. Let's pray.

[20:25] Lord, Lord, let's pray.

[20:55] Whether that is COVID or fires or the state of this country, we ask you to continue to send your Holy Spirit to be amending and healing and comforting and connecting presence.

[21:09] For we are above all your people. We are above all your people, oh God. And let us live in that confidence, in that trust, and in that grace.

[21:22] We do pray in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[21:37] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[21:47] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Good morning.

[22:13] Good morning. Good morning.

[22:43] Good morning.

[23:13] Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

[23:49] Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

[24:01] Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

[24:13] Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

[24:25] Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Good morning.

[24:37] Good morning. Good morning.

[24:47] Good morning. Almighty, you just gather at the heart of us. And we come excited and anticipating your movement this morning.

[25:00] We pray that you would plant a seed in us, a seed that will grow and bear fruit for the honor and glory of your name. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen.

[25:13] So I want to spend a few moments with you this morning talking about making something. Making something. So I just want to take a quick poll among everybody who's here and even those of you who are online can join in.

[25:26] How many of you like to make things? How many of you like to make things? That's a lot of hands. That's good. Because, you know, we all make things. Now, some of us may make things differently.

[25:38] I was talking with Pastor Kathy before service about she had made this pie yesterday. And so we were talking a little bit about that process. I know Dorothy likes to make a lot of things.

[25:49] She's an expert crafter. And she was talking about making quilts with me one Sunday. Excuse me. One Sunday. I know Louie likes to make things with his hands as well. He and I talked about that in the past. So a lot of us like to make things.

[26:03] The thing is we can all make different kinds of things, right? Some of us can make music. Some of us build shelves. Some of us do all kinds of different things to put something new in the world.

[26:18] We make things. Now, some of us think that maybe our skills are not what we would like them to be when we make things. But still, the joy of a job well done.

[26:33] When you sit down with that vision in your head and you know that you've got the steps figured out. You chart your course and you start the work. Get all the pieces you need.

[26:45] And you go after it. Using your hands, using your mind, whatever it is you need to make this thing. Now, we're all familiar with that making things doesn't always go smoothly.

[27:01] Sometimes you make mistakes. Sometimes you forget something. Sometimes it's just a lot harder than you thought it was going to be.

[27:12] But you keep at it. You persist. And if you stick with it, if you learn, eventually, you keep making things.

[27:29] And there's a special joy that comes from it, as I was saying before. But as we gather today, I want us to think about making things not only in terms of, say, a project that we do for ourselves.

[27:43] Or maybe a craft we do around the house. Or a particular project that we know we have to do. I want us to think about the world we're trying to make.

[27:54] Think about the world we're trying to make. Because when we start to consider it on that level.

[28:05] Then all of a sudden, this idea of making things becomes that much more important. Because most of us, when we sit and we are going about our day, sometimes we forget that we are indeed making something with every choice, every day.

[28:24] And if you don't believe that, I want you to think and remember what we celebrated last week.

[28:35] Because when we think about those saints, they made a world that we benefit from.

[28:50] Is it perfect? Probably not. But we stand in a place that others stewarded.

[29:02] That others beautified. That others worked so that you could have a place to be. And when you consider all the work that went into that, we choose to honor them.

[29:17] It's important that we honor them. Because when you think of the people who poured themselves into you. The people who worked day after day after day.

[29:30] Some folks working not knowing your particular name. Some folks working not knowing what you would look like. But knowing you would be there.

[29:42] When you think about your ancestors. Those folks who labored all those years ago.

[29:54] And maybe the person they saw was your grandfather. Maybe the person they saw physically was your great grandma. But they worked.

[30:07] And they saw that at some point. There would be a world. With you in it. And they knew the world they were trying to make.

[30:22] Now was it. Did they see the technology we have? Of course not. Did they see. The ways in which we would go about our business day to day.

[30:36] Probably not. But the key was. They looked. To a future. With you. In it.

[30:47] And they took their role. In creating that world. For you. Seriously. Now why. Set all that up that way.

[30:58] I want you to hear. What we heard in scripture today. Very differently. Than we normally hear. Because it's very easy. When we go through that passage in Hebrews.

[31:10] We appreciate the names. We appreciate the heroes. But I want you to hear it with a little different ear this morning. So. A little background.

[31:22] Those of you who are in Pastor Kathy's Bible study. You're probably familiar with this. But I'll set it up for all of you. The book of Hebrews was written to a community of faith. That was going through a bit of a crisis.

[31:33] The world around them had gotten hard. There was persecution happening. And they were wrestling with some of these issues of faith. And they were like. I don't know if this is for me.

[31:45] I don't know if I can keep this up. And some of them were thinking about. Maybe giving up. On this. Life with Christ.

[31:56] And going back to who they were. And so the writer of Hebrews. Writes this thing. It's not really a letter. It's more like a sermon.

[32:08] Writes this to them. And says. Here's what I want you to hear. I don't want you to give up. You've got to remember who you are.

[32:19] In Christ. You've got to remember. What went into bringing you to this moment. And so the writer.

[32:29] In chapter 11. Starts talking about these heroes of faith. That they would have recognized. Talks about Abraham. Talks about Moses. And goes through some of the things.

[32:43] That these individuals went through. With God. The way God had helped them. Overcome crises. The way God. Had helped them through situation after situation. The way God had worked.

[32:54] In their life. And helped make them. Into who they became. And we picked up the scripture. After the writer had gone into a certain level of detail.

[33:08] And then kind of hits this place. And says. Now having said all that. Basically. I could say some more. In other words. What more shall I say? And talks about.

[33:22] David. Gideon. Barak. Jephthah. Others. And other stories. That would have been familiar to this community. Because they would have been raised. In this. And reminds them.

[33:35] This is who our God is. This is the world. Which has been made for you. These people went through all this stuff.

[33:48] They endured all these things. God helped them through. All of these challenges. Time and time again. And here we are now. With this legacy.

[34:00] Of the one called Jesus. The one who walked amongst. God. In common.

[34:12] The one who taught us these truths in new ways. The one who showed us. That there is a world that can be better. And here you are.

[34:25] This has been given. To you. What a moment. What a thought.

[34:37] Now see. We hear that story. And we recognize our biblical heroes. It's powerful to think. That there is this legacy of faith. That has been passed down. Through persecution.

[34:48] Through sword. Through times in which. There were wars in the world. Times through which. People drove it underground. Times through which. People had to worship in secret.

[34:59] And in quiet. But. The word. The word of God. Endured. And got. To new people. Time after time.

[35:10] Generation after generation. And has been brought. Quite literally. To you. Feels like a bit of an overwhelming responsibility.

[35:26] Sometimes. Doesn't it? To think that you. Have literally taken your place. In that line. Of great witnesses. Things. Now. Knowing.

[35:38] That. Truth. I go back to. What I said at the beginning. How many of us. Like to make. Things.

[35:51] Because. There is a world out here. That is still. Just as challenging. It is. It's always been. There's a world in front of us. That's just as beautiful.

[36:02] As it's always been. But the challenges. In our world. Still need. The people of God. To speak the truth of God. To it. The challenges. Of our world.

[36:12] Still need the people of God. To be the hand of God. In it. The challenges. Of our world. Still demand. That the people of God. Speak the truth.

[36:23] No matter what. The world. Speaks. Back. We are called. To be salt. We are called. To be light.

[36:34] We are called. To be the difference makers. That no one else will be. Because we. Know a truth. That the rest of the world. Simply does not know yet. And if we.

[36:46] Are going to be. That body. Of Christ. If we. Are called. To step. Into that void. Then.

[36:57] We have to take. Our place. Because. As we have just said. That. Mission. That. Truth. That.

[37:08] Responsibility. Has been given. Quite literally. To you. So our challenge is now.

[37:21] What's the world. You are trying. To make. When you think about. The people in your life.

[37:31] Those who love you the most. We can all think of the stories. Of the people who blessed us. With that truth.

[37:44] We can all think of the stories. Of those who nurtured us. Along the way. One of my favorite stories. Comes from when I was a little kid. In the church I grew up in.

[37:55] Started going to that church. When I was eight. And I have. An amazing set of grandmothers. Two of the greatest saints. But.

[38:06] One of the benefits of going to that church. Was. You get a whole lot of new grandmothers. And so here I am. This little eight year old. But there was one woman in particular. Who stands out for me.

[38:18] Name was Miss Kitty. Every Sunday. She was my Sunday school teacher. For a little while. But she sat in a pew. Across the aisle. And one back.

[38:29] From where my family was at. But every Sunday. She sought me out. To make sure she said hi. To offer a little word. About this is what it means to pray.

[38:40] This is what it looks like. To walk like as a disciple. Every Sunday. I still remember her to this day. Because I know I'm on the path of faith.

[38:53] I'm on because of people like Miss Kitty. She poured herself into me. When my grandmother died. I remember standing in front of her casket.

[39:04] Not sure what I was going to do. My grandmother died when I was 11. The person who stood next to me. Was Miss Kitty. She put her arms around me.

[39:15] And she said. Understand. I know you're sad. But think about this. Grandma's not feeling any more pain anymore.

[39:26] She's free of all the problems that she went through. She's in a better place. That's what it means.

[39:39] To make. The world. I want you to think about who in your life. You are pouring yourself into. Who are the people around you.

[39:51] And they don't have to be younger than you. But I'm willing to bet each of us can think of 3, 5, 10 people that we encounter on a regular basis.

[40:03] That do not know the truth. That we know. Do not know the Jesus. That we know. And are dealing with all of this.

[40:16] When you think about what we've been through this year. When you think about what we've been through this week. Dealing with all of this.

[40:29] Without. The truth. And the Jesus. That you know. How many of you.

[40:42] Like. To make things. How about. We start making. A world. For those folks. Where Jesus.

[40:55] Is held up. Where Jesus. Stands out. Where Jesus. Is presented. As the truth. That the world.

[41:06] And they. Need. Because that's the way. We make. Something.

[41:18] Special. Amen. And amen. Almighty and gracious God. We thank you for this moment. We thank you for the gift that is Jesus Christ among us.

[41:31] For the gift of your son that has transformed us. For the Holy Spirit that motivated and spoke to all those saints throughout all years. And so as we seek to make this new world.

[41:44] As we seek to make the world that you call us to make. Let us hear what you have taught us. We know we are surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses that made us who we are.

[41:58] And let us. Whether we use the words run with perseverance. Or continue to make in spite of our mistakes and our challenges. But let us continue.

[42:12] In the mission you have given. In Jesus name we pray and ask. Amen. Amen. I already heard an amen.

[42:33] How about another one for this call for us to make a new world. Amen. Amen. So how do we do that in a world that exhausts us?

[42:44] How do we do that in a world that takes away much more than it gives sometimes? We come to this table to be fed, to be fed for the journey.

[42:58] And we're going to do this a little bit differently this morning, and so I invite you to hear these instructions. At the very end of the consecration of communion, you will be invited to take your mask off one ear, receive the cracker, turn it over, receive the juice, and then immediately put your mask back on.

[43:26] Please hold on to all the pieces and parts that you take off of your cup and take your cup with you when you go and you can discard it as we would normally do as we're leaving the building.

[43:40] We are so incredibly blessed to be able to share in this space, in this way, and I give you thanks for helping us to continue to do this safely.

[43:51] The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. With your mouth of the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

[44:02] It is right to give our thanks to the Lord. It is right and a good and a joyful thing to always and everywhere to give thanks to you, Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

[44:15] You formed us in your image and breathed into us the breath of life. When we turned away and our love failed, your love remained steadfast.

[44:28] You delivered us from captivity. You made covenant to be our sovereign God and spoke to us through your prophets who looked, who looked for that day when justice shall roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

[44:46] When nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. And so with your people on earth and all the company of heaven, we praise your name and join in their unending hymn.

[45:03] Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.

[45:14] Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Holy are you and blessed is your son, Jesus Christ. Your son anointed him to preach good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to announce that the time had come when you would save your people.

[45:42] He healed the sick, fed the hungry, ate with sinners, and by the baptism of his suffering, death, and resurrection, you gave birth to your church, delivered us from slavery to sin and death, and made with us a new covenant by water and the Spirit.

[45:59] At his ascension you exalted him to sit and reign with you at your right hand. On the night in which he gave himself up for us, he took bread, gave thanks to you, broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples and said, Do this in remembrance of me.

[46:23] When the supper was over, he took the cup and he gave thanks to you and gave it to his disciples and said, Drink from this, all of you. This is my blood of the new covenant poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.

[46:40] Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. And so in remembrance of these, your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us as we proclaim the mystery of faith.

[47:03] Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us gathered here and upon these gifts of bread and wine.

[47:15] Make them be for us the body and the blood of Christ that we may be for the world the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood. By your Spirit, make us one with Christ, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world.

[47:33] Until Christ comes in final victory and we feast at his heavenly banquet. Through your Son, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit in your Holy Church, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and forever.

[47:51] Amen. As we are gathered here, we come to this place where we say thank you and we are mindful.

[48:06] as we, if you'll lift your cup with me, and I say to you, the body of Christ broken for you, the blood of Christ broken for you.

[48:19] Let us, before we receive, pray the prayer that Jesus taught us, saying, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

[48:36] Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not to temptation, but deliver us from evil.

[48:50] For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Thanks be to God.

[49:25] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father.

[50:08] There is no shadow of turning with thee. Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not.

[50:22] As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be. Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness.

[50:37] Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have need, thy hand hath provided.

[50:51] Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord my Father. All I have need, thy faithfulness, O Lord my Father. All I have need, thy faithfulness, O Lord my Father. What sin and a peace and a direct.

[51:07] I know depressions to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.

[51:21] Blessings of mine with ten thousand beside. Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness.

[51:38] Lord my Father. Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have need, thy hand hath provided.

[51:53] Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord my Father. Amen.

[52:20] is indeed faithful. We are all living and moving testaments to that fact. So as we go into the world today, and as we go and make a world today, remember the faithfulness of the one who brought you to this point. Be faithful to him as you go forward, and are faithful to those around you.

[52:44] Now, in the name of God, who created us and who rules us still. In the name of Jesus Christ, the one who redeemed us and walks with us still. In the name of the Holy Spirit, who empowered us and connects and sustains us still. Now, may we go into the world to serve God and all God's children.

[53:07] Amen. What you see in your own world. Do you see in the shadow of God? You see in the little Amen.

[54:09] Amen. Amen.

[55:09] Amen. Amen.