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?” 

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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.

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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?

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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

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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.” 

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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?

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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?

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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.

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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
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sept 13, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt.

But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt.

When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” 

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Something to Do

Forgive…

Is there anyone you are reluctant to forgive? Or someone you truly want to forgive but simply can’t? Spend some time in prayer for that person and for your relationship. You don’t have to ask God to make you friends – just ask God to bring you the grace of forgiveness and commend that person into God’s care.

And be forgiven

Is there anything you feel guilty about? Spend time in prayer asking God to forgive you so that you can be set free from that burden and turn your energy towards living in God’s ways.

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Something to Wonder

How many times…

Peter’s desire for clarity is understandable. Our world is full of largely arbitrary numbers intended to provide reasonable guidelines to situations with no clear boundaries. For example, nothing magical happens on your 18th birthday to suddenly render you an adult but we need a clear boundary for when to start treating you like one.

Jesus’ answer, like so many of Jesus’ answers, is that the question is wrong footed. Forgiveness is not about counting or keeping score. Forgiveness is about an abundance of grace, spilling over from God so that we might share it with others. The numbers in the parable emphasize the fundamental uncountability of God’s forgiveness: 10,000 (The Greek word is actually myriad) talents represents an impossibly huge amount, akin to “a gazillion”…or to “seventy times seven”, and then contrasts that to the relatively insignificant amount of grace being asked of the slave. Surely, having been forgiven the world, the slave can extend some mercy to their fellow?

The story, fundamentally, is about how we respond to God’s forgiveness, not about how we trigger it.

How do you respond to God’s forgiveness?

The Dangers of Forgiveness

This passage, and others like it, have been used to control people living in abusive and oppressive situations and to enable the ongoing evil behaviour of those in power over them. How do we hold both truths together: we are called to a radical form of forgiveness AND we are called to lives of dignity as persons created in the image of God? What is the difference between forgiveness and permission? Between forgiveness and reconciliation? Is it possible to forgive without forgetting?

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Something to Learn

Restorative Justice

Restorative justice is a set of practices that seeks to disrupt the simple pattern of finding guilt and assigning punishment. Ideally, it finds a way to balance forgiveness with justice in a way that allows people – both offenders and offended – to move forward.

Reconciliation through Restorative Justice
This short video describes a restorative justice practice in the context of a First Nations Healing Circle.

The Little Book of Restorative Justice

by Howard Zehr with Ali Gohar provides a very accessible introduction to the theories and philosophies that underly restorative justice.

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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
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sept 6, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Exodus 12:1-14

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you.

Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. If a household is too small for a whole lamb, it shall join its closest neighbour in obtaining one; the lamb shall be divided in proportion to the number of people who eat of it.

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a year old male; you may take it from the sheep or from the goats. You shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month; then the whole assembled congregation of Israel shall slaughter it at twilight. They shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the lamb that same night; they shall eat it roasted over the fire with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted over the fire, with its head, legs, and inner organs. You shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn.

This is how you shall eat it: your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it hurriedly. It is the passover of the Lord. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both human beings and animals; on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgements: I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live: when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

This day shall be a day of remembrance for you. You shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord; throughout your generations you shall observe it as a perpetual ordinance. 

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Something to Do

Liberating Creation

The story of God’s liberation of Israel reveals a truth about God that Jesus constantly tried to teach: God stands with the weak and oppressed and will set them free. What if this does not only apply to oppressed people but to all of creation, currently bound by unjust and unsustainable human practices?

Join Kairos’ 30 Days of Action for Climate Justice and join in God’s liberating work.

This is how you shall eat it

I’m not going to suggest you actually eat a meal standing up with your coat on and your bag packed as I don’t want to make light of what is happening in this story. People are preparing to escape a dangerous place, waiting for the sign that it is time to run. Their meal is hurried and anxious and they are scared.

This is not just a story for millions of people. If you have the good fortune to live in safety, how might you help those who do not? Money, political pressure, prayer, time – all are needed to protect refugees, people living with domestic violence, political prisoners, and others.

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Something to Wonder

No plague shall strike you

This foundational story of God as the faithful deliverer of Israel includes God as the vengeful punisher of Egypt. How does that make you feel?

Does the one require the other? Why or why not?

Where are you in this story?

We tend the read the Bible by positioning ourselves with the Israelites in the Old Testament or with Jesus and the disciples in the Gospels. In what ways are you, like the Israelites, in need of liberation?

It is also wise to consider how we might be aligned with the other people in the stories. In what ways are you aligned with Egypt?

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Something to Learn

This month shall mark for you the beginning of months

According to Jewish teaching, this is the first mitzvoh (religious obligation or commandment) given by God to Israel. Read more about Jewish understandings of the calendar and the practice of Kiddush Levana, the Sanctification of the New Moon.

Sanctifying Time by Tali Loewenthal
“The task of the Jewish people is to sanctify and transform existence, making it into a realm for the indwelling of the Divine”

A Matter of Time by Rabbi Naftali Reich
“Why this particular mitzvah? Would it not have been more appropriate perhaps to initiate the Jewish people with a mitzvah that represents transcendent spiritual concepts?”

Make Your Days Count by Rabbi Yisroel Ciner
“We count the days of the week to remember the Sabbath. The creation. We count the months to remember the exodus. The re-creation. “

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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
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
August 30, 2020

prepared by the Rev’d Rhonda Waters

Romans 12:9-21

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

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Something to Do

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil…

and the list goes on. Choose one of Paul’s instructions and really focus on it this week. How can you fully accomplish it in your day-to-day life?

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Pick any big problem in the world – climate change or income inequality or racism or social isolation…any big problem. Do one specific, concrete good thing to work towards overcoming it. It doesn’t have to be a big thing or a hard thing – just a thing you can do that helps you refuse to let the world be overcome by evil.

What did you do?

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Something to Wonder

So. Many. Words.

Read the passage again, slowly, perhaps outloud. It is full of powerful words: honour; zeal; persevere; bless; weep; haughty; peaceably.

Do any of the words in the passage make you uncomfortable? Why?

Which words do you particularly like? Why?

Leave room for the wrath of God

We don’t talk a lot about the wrath of God, preferring instead to focus on God’s mercy. Is mercy possible, though, in the absence of judgement?

How do you understand God’s role as judge? Does the idea that God gets angry make sense to you? Why or why not?

Are you satisfied letting God handle your vengeance or do you want to take such matters into your own hands?

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Something to Learn

Paul’s Letter to the Romans

Paul’s letter to the church in Rome is his last and longest letter. It is also the only letter we have which he wrote to a community he had never met in person. He sent the letter ahead of himself to serve as something of an introduction – quite the introduction, indeed!

These two short articles offer fascinating insights into what might have been going on in the Christian community in Rome at the time.

“Earliest Days of the Roman Christian Church” by Sam O’Neal

“Something About the Book of Romans that will Help You Really “Get” It” by Kenneth Berding, Talbot School of Theology

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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.