Worship Service – June 12, 2022

 John 16:12-15

(12) “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. (13) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (14) He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. (15) All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

(1) O Lord , our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

(2) From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

(3) When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

(4) what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

(5) You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

(6) You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:

(7) all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,

(8) the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

(9) O Lord , our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Proverbs 8: 1-4, 22-31

Wisdom’s Call

(1) Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?

(2) On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

(3) beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:

(4) “To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.

(22) “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;

(23) I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.

(24) When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;

(25) before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,

(26) before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.

(27) I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

(28) when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

(29) when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

(30) Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,

(31) rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

Romans 5:1-5

(1) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (2) through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (3) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; (4) perseverance, character; and character, hope. (5) And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

This is the word of God, for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

This Sunday is known as Trinity Sunday, and many of us have a hard time wrapping our mind’s around God as being three in one. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. So pulpits around the world will try to explain the mystery of the Trinity. Some will use the illustration of H2O – depending on the circumstances we find those same elements as either water or ice or steam – same composition of two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen, but three different ways of experiencing those elements.

Others will describe the Trinity as tip of an iceberg we see above the water and remind us that the tip does not describe its much larger mass beneath the water. They will tell you that the doctrine of the Trinity does not attempt to explain God. It only explains to us in a very elemental way what God has revealed to us about himself so far. So we Christians affirm the Trinity, not as an explanation of God, but simply as a way of describing what we know about Him.

I can’t tell you how many times my wife Bonne has asked me what I meant when I, do or tell her something that she doesn’t understand. She will say to me;”What are you thinking?” And my response would be; “It’s all in the presentation or in your perspective of it.” I’m almost sure that when Jim was sent 4 scriptures for this Sunday’s bulletins, he wanted to ask; “Pastor what are you thinking, you never start your sermons with that many scriptures?”

What I was thinking , given that this Sunday is Trinity Sunday, we should take some time to consider the perspective some writers in the Bible have of who God is, was and will be.

If you remember, last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday, when the Holy Spirit was made known to all those gathered in Jerusalem. Acts 2:1-4 told us, the disciples were gathered together in prayer and suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them and all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

I’m almost certain some of the disciple waiting there ask God in their prayers, what he was thinking. Then the Spirit of truth that Jesus spoke of in our gospel reading today help them get the right perspective on what was happening and the ability to present the truth to those around them. And we learned that about 3000 accepted Peter’s message of repentance and believed.

We know that all people are perceived depending on one’s perspective. Son or daughter, mom or dad, grandmother or grandfather. But none of those titles describes the actual person we are speaking of and how we perceive them. It’s the same when we refer to God as the Father, Son or Holy Spirit do we accurately give our perspective of the Trinity. But suffice it to say, no matter what we say about God, it will never be enough. What we do say, will depend upon our perspective.

Let’s look at our scriptures and consider the perspective some writers in the Bible have of who God is, was and will be.

The Psalmist wrote; “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:3-4).

The Psalmist perspective of God was that He was the Father of all and the Creator of the Universe.

Years ago, one of our astronauts, who flew on Apollo IX, returned to earth from his magnificent space adventure, and wrote his perspective of the adventure.

He wrote: I saw the earth not as something big, but as a small thing out there. And the contrast between that bright blue and white in the black sky, that infinite universe, really comes through, and the size of it, the significance of it. It is so small and fragile and such a precious little spot in that universe that you can block it out with your thumb, and you realize that on that small spot, that little blue and white thing, is everything that means anything to you – all of history, and music and poetry and art and death and birth and love, all the tears, joy, games, all of it on that little spot out there that you can cover with your thumb.

It is all a matter of perspective, and our presentation of it. Truth be told, our lives are lived on the basis of our perspectives. The graduates that we honor at this time of year have a perspective that can no doubt be described as on top of the world. And why not? They are celebrating a significant accomplishment. But soon that perspective will change, and life will be seen through the nervous eyes of a college freshman or from the bottom rung on the job ladder. We all see different things at different times – it is all in the perspective and the presentation we share.

When Solomon wrote Proverbs 8, “Wisdom’s Call”, his perspective was that wisdom should be seen as an entity-the Spirt of Truth, the Holy Spirit referring to wisdom as a woman. I’m sure she didn’t ask God, “What are you thinking?” Because Solomon perceived her as a part of God, His voice. And in her presentation of his works. She cries aloud: “To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.(Proverbs 8:3,4)

She, meaning wisdom, was at God’s side from the very beginning. And from Solomon‘s perspective God and wisdom are inseparable. From our perspective can we recognize the Holy Spirit,the Spirit of Truth at one with God, speaking to us today?

To many times in our perspective of the Holy Spirit we are often like the wealthy oil baron who once commissioned Picasso to paint a portrait of his wife. When the work was completed, the baron was shocked to see the image that had been created. “Why that looks nothing like my wife! You should have painted her the way she really is!”

Picasso took a deep breath and said, “I’m not sure what that would be.”

Without hesitation, the oil baron pulled out his wallet and removed a photograph of his wife saying, “There, you see, this is how she really is!”

Picasso, bending over, looked at it and replied, “She is rather small and flat, isn’t she?”

Is that your perspective of the Holy Spirit? Small and flat, not alive and speaking?

To often from our perspective we recognize Trinity Sunday as only a event on our church’s calendar, it’s the only Sunday set aside during the entire year to honor a doctrine. As Bible scholars know, the word “trinity” is found nowhere in scripture, but our perspective of the doctrine of the Trinity comes from a faithful reading of scripture with an attempt to give a reasonably adequate understanding of God. We find the creator God making an entire universe out of nothing but a spoken word. We see God as redeemer in the person and work of Jesus Christ, God in human flesh. We see God as sustainer in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit speaking to us. “God in three persons, blessed Trinity,” as the hymnwriter has it. It is all in the perspective.

When Paul writes in his presentation of his perspective, Paul tells us the perspective we as Christians should have. One of the hope we have attained. He writes; “Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.”(Romans 5:1-2)

Is your perspective of the Trinity one of hope? Is your presentation of that hope revealed in your everyday living?

Consider this. A man had an awful day at work. Everything had gone wrong. There was one interruption after another, and he was never able to complete his work. So when he entered the door at home that evening, he knew that his wife must have had a similar day. He could see it on her face. So, to help set the perception of their day straight, he began. “I have had the worst day of my life; it’s been bad news, bad news, and more bad news. I don’t know what kind of a day you’ve had, but if at all possible, can you share some good news with me?”

The wife, a thoughtful and loving person, considered his request for a moment, and then said, “Of course I can. You know we have six beautiful children, right?” He agreed. “Well,” she said, “five of them didn’t break a leg today.”

Paul’s perspective and ours should be; That by our faith in the Trinity we should ,“also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

From what perspective will you view life when you go out from here today? What perspective and presentation of the Trinity will your faith reveal to others? It will make a difference!

Look, Jesus death on the cross, to the perspective of the world, was another brutal murder in a brutal existence; through the eyes of faith, it was God so loving the world that he gave his only Son to pay the penalty for our sin.

Paul through the eyes of the world, was another religious fanatic bent on terrorism; but through the eyes of faith, Paul became the greatest missionary the church has ever known.

 Through the eyes of the world, those poor and hungry and sick and imprisoned are a nuisance; but through the eyes of faith, they are an opportunity to meet Christ.

 Through the eyes of the world, we are too small and powerless to make a difference; but through the eyes of faith, we know that when we walk out of here, we don’t walk out alone – we go with each other, and our Triune God goes with us, and that is power.

So when through the eyes of the world, you and I are seen as insignificant – just one of six-billion-plus. Remember that through the eyes of faith, we are incredibly important – God knows us so intimately that even the hairs of our heads are numbered (a figure that changes by the hour for some of us).

How will you see things today? What will your perspective and presentation reveal to others about our Triune God? Remember, it is all in your “Perspective’.

In His Service,

Pastor Joe

Listen To Audio: Sermon 20220612

Listen To Audio: Service 06122022

*Call to Worship:L:  Listen! Wisdom is calling!
P:  Before all began,
L:  God, Word, and Wisdom
P:  Creating, calling, from the foundations of the deep

L:  Listen! Wisdom is calling!

Prayer of Confession:   Triune God, we come to You not fully understanding the Mystery of Your nature but knowing that throughout human history You have been made known to us.  We confess our short-sightedness, our misunderstandings, our selfish ways that hold us back from a deeper knowledge that is present before us. Guide us into Your ways of wisdom, so we might grow our hearts to love You and one another more deeply. In the name of our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, we pray. Amen.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Pastor Joe will be available at the church on Wednesday Mornings from 9:00 to 11:00.  If you need to speak to him, contact Pastor Joe at 570-267-4570 (cell) or Email: joe.s.travis@gmail.com

Loose change goes to General Fund.

Sunday School starts at 8:30am

Men’s Breakfast Wednesday June 15th at 8:00 A.M.

Session meeting June 18^th at 9 A.M.

“Church In The Park” June 26th, at 9:30.  No Sunday School. Please bring a dish to pass.  Meat, drinks, and paper products will be provided. 

Newsletter Deadline will be Tuesday, June 28^th

Please mark your envelope if you are contributing to the air duct cleaning fund.

Please sign up to host one of the social hours on the Sunday after Communion Service on the first Sunday of the month.  Hosting only means setting out what is brought and cleaning up afterward.  It does not mean bringing everything to share.

We are looking for “Message in Music” for the summer months.