The Story for the
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Oct 4, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God, 
and the firmament shows the handiwork of the Lord. 

One day tells its tale to another, 
and one night imparts knowledge to another. 

Although they have no words or language, 
and their voices are not heard, 

their sound has gone out into all lands, 
and their message to the ends of the world. 

In the deep has God set a pavilion for the sun; 
it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber; 
it rejoices like a champion to run its course. 

It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again; 
nothing is hidden from its burning heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; 
the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.

The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; 
the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; 
the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, 
more than much fine gold, sweeter far than honey, 
than honey in the comb.

By them also is your servant enlightened, 
and in keeping them there is great reward. 

Who can tell how often they offend? 
Cleanse me from my secret faults.

Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;  
let them not get dominion over me; then shall I be whole and sound,  
and innocent of a great offense.

Let the words of my mouth
and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight; 
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. 

---

Something to Do

The heavens declare the glory of God

Gaze at the heavens. Do it at different times of day. Do it in different weather. What are they saying to you? Can you draw it? Or write it? Or dance or sing it?

Sweeter far than honey

The psalmists compares God’s law to honey, the sweetest thing they would have likely known. Do a taste test and find the sweetest thing in your house. God’s law is even sweeter!

---

Something to Wonder

Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins…

What do you think are “presumptuous sins”? Are they the same for everyone? Or are your presumptuous sins different than mine? Why does the psalmist want to be kept from them “above all“?

Law as freedom

God’s law as a source of freedom is a constant theme throughout the Bible. Does this idea ring true to you? Why or why not? Either way, try to imagine why it might be the opposite for someone else.

---

Something to Learn

The Book of Nature

Philosophers and theologians of the Middle Ages developed the idea that God revealed Godself through nature, creating a “book of nature” to be read alongside the Bible. The idea has still older roots, reaching back to Aristotle. Read a quick summary on Wikipedia.

Then read a modern working out of this idea from the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren:
The question of how God created the universe has never been a settled one, and has sometimes overshadowed more important questions about the purpose of God’s creative work. For example, what can Christians learn about God from creation itself? These important questions merit careful reflection...read on.

---

Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

The Story for the
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sept 27, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Exodus 17:1-7

From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarrelled with Moses, and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?”

So Moses cried out to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord said to Moses, “Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” 

---

Something to Do

Complaints Complaints Complaints

The Israelites spent a lot of energy complaining – but maybe they had a point. After all, water is not exactly a luxury. Many complaints, however, are not so justified. In fact, complaining can become something of a habit. Pick a day and notice your complaints, whether spoken out loud or just in your head. What do you complain about? Who do you complain to? How does complaining make you feel?

A Tall Glass of Water

Enjoy a big glass of refreshing water. Pay attention to how it feels. Imagine how much better it would feel if you were wandering in a desert. Remember that not everyone in the world – or even in our own province – has access to clean water. Give thanks that you do and connect to the Indigenous Water Project of the PWRDF to work towards safe and accessible water for everyone in Canada.

---

Something to Wonder

Is the Lord among us or not?

The Israelites followed Moses out of Egypt, trusting in God’s power and God’s promise. Then they found themselves in the wilderness, hungry, tired, thirsty, scared and started to wonder – “Is the Lord among us or not?”.

Have you every set out to follow God and then wondered if you took a wrong turn somewhere?

When have you found yourself in the wilderness, wondering if God was really present?

Wondering about water

The people of the Bible live in a dry place. How did this context shape the use of water as a symbol? In what ways might water have been used differently if they had lived on an ocean or in a rain forest? In what ways does the symbol of water transcend these differences?

What has been your experience of water? How does this shape the way you hear water imagery and symbolism?

---

Something to Learn

Water Justice

Domestically and internationally, access to and protection of clean water is a critical justice issue. Learn more about the issues and the work being done.

From the SIWI: The world is at a point where water crises and competition for water are no longer risks, but a reality for many. We believe that the best way to tackle water crises, and help bring about lasting change, is to strengthen water governance among public and private actors alike. Essentially, who gets what water, when and how, and who has the right to water and related services, and the associated benefits.

Amnesty International is seeking justice for Indigenous communities in Canada.

University of British Columbia’s Program on Water Governance provides a variety of factsheets and articles on Canada and water.

Closer still to home: learn about the work of the Ottawa Riverkeepers

---

Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

The Story for the
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sept 20, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Matthew 20:1-16

Jesus said, “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the labourers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’

When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” 

---

Something to Do

Two conversations

Imagine two dinner tables. The first belongs to the family of one of the labourers who worked all day. The second belongs to the family of one of the labourers who was only hired in the evening. Imagine the conversations that happen around those two tables. You could even write it down or act it out.

Enough is enough

The other reading we are going to hear this Sunday is from the story of the Exodus and is another story about the way that God provides enough for what we we need. (Read it here.) Both stories also caution us about the human inclination to always want more – more than we need; more than other people; more, more, more.

During the Season of Creation, we are invited to think more carefully about the ways our behaviours impact the rest of the world. How might you reduce the amount you take from creation in order to ensure there is enough for all life to thrive?

---

Something to Wonder

But it’s not fair!

Anyone who has spent time with more than one small child at a time will be familiar with the cry: “But it’s not fair!”. For that matter, anyone who is honest about their own hearts will be familiar with it and I think it is the idea at the root of the labourers’ complaint.

What does the idea of “fairness” mean to you? How do you react when you see something that feels unfair?

In what ways does Jesus challenge the idea of fairness? How do you feel about that?

Locating Yourself in the Story

With which group of labourers do you most identify? How does that influence the way you hear this story? How does that impact the way you think about the kingdom of heaven?

Try to identify with a different group of labourers. How does the story change? What do you see in the world around you when you look at it through these new eyes?

---

Something to Learn

Food Waste

One consequence of taking more than we need is waste. According to a 2017 study conducted by the National Zero Waste Council, Canadians throw out almost 2.2 million tonnes of edible food every year. Learn more about the study and ways to reduce your food waste with Love Food Hate Waste Canada.

Universal Basic Income?

Jesus was not describing a universal basic income (UBI). For starters, any one who didn’t get hired at all didn’t get paid and the landowner wasn’t just setting a minimum but also a maximum. However, UBI is one proposal of a way to ensure everyone has enough. Like all solutions to complicated problems, however, it is not perfect and it might not be the right answer.

Learn more and reach your own conclusions. Here’s a few places to start:

Possibilities and Prospects: The Debate over Guaranteed Basic Income, published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives in 2009 and written by Margot Young (a self-described skeptic) and James Mulvale (a self-described proponent).

Basic Income: Some Policy Options for Canada, published by the Basic Income Network Canada in 2019 and written by Sheila Regular and (Ascension’s own) Chandra Pasma.

---

Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.