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Call to Worship
One: We gather in the presence of God.
All: We gather to worship and praise.
One: We gather in joy and expectancy.
All: We gather in beauty and wonder.
One: Speak, Lord, for your servants are listening.
All: Speak your Word of life to us, O God.
Opening Prayers
Creator God, in you we live and move and have our being:
You alone have been our help and guide through good times and bad.
You alone give us the strength we need to face the challenges around us.
You alone will be rest for our bodies and souls.
To you we turn for wisdom;
in your presence we will find the peace and comfort we long for.
Fill us with your Spirit in this time of worship;
Open our minds and hearts,
so that we may see as you see, love as you love,
and follow your ways for the sake of Christ our Lord.
God who sees and knows our inmost thoughts and our thoughtless actions,
The truth of our lives is this:
we are often impulsive and do not seek your wisdom;
we are often stubborn and do not practice mercy;
we are often arrogant and do not act with love;
we are often anxious and do not trust in you.
Forgive who we have been, amend who we are, and direct who we shall be
For the sake of Christ, our Lord we pray.
Amen.
Assurance of Pardon
Dear friends, remember that God
is slow to be angry and quick to forgive;
kind and gracious to all.
Know that your sins are forgiven through the grace of Jesus Christ,
and forgive those who have sinned against you as he taught us.
Amen.
Song: “Come ye thankful people come” Words: Henry Alford, Music: Job Elvey
Prayer for Understanding
God of wisdom, your thoughts are not our thoughts, your ways are not our ways. As we listen to the scriptures, stir our hearts and minds with the Holy Spirit so that we understand your desire for the world and resolve to do your will in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Scripture
Isaiah 55:6-9: God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-40: Parable of the Wheat and Weeds and its meaning.
Sermon: The Problem with Weeds
If you are a gardener or enjoy the gardens of others, you know that it is next to impossible to have a weed free environment. The issue of what to do with weeds is an issue that every gardener, farmer and landscaper faces.
This is exactly the question that our passage from Matthew asks? But Jesus in our parable of the wheat and the weeds takes this problem of weeds and points us to something deeper.
The people Jesus was talking to knew all about the problem of weeds or tares in the wheat crop. They lived close to the land. They depended on a good growing season to provide them with their basic food needs.
There was no such thing as rushing out to the local grocery store or bakery to grab a fresh loaf of bread. You bought your flour from local farmers and you made your own bread.
Jesus grew up in a small town and probably knew the farmers who sold him his flour name for his daily bread. Surely, he would have asked questions about the crop. He obviously knew how difficult it was to tell the young bearded darnel weed from the young bearded wheat. They look almost exactly alike until the time of harvest. Jesus knew how the crop would be damaged if you tried to separate the two before the time of harvest.
Jesus knew the problem of weeds.
But weeds are more than bearded darnel grass or funny unwanted things coming up in our gardens. Jesus wasn’t advising his listeners how to be good farmers or how to increase the yield in your vegetable gardens. In this parable, he was talking about the kingdom of God, and more specifically about his promise to those who worry about being choked out by evil they saw in their world.
In an old Peanuts cartoon, Charlie Brown is confronted by Lucy, who says to him,
“Charlie Brown,you are crabgrass in the lawn of life.”
For Lucy, in her anger, Charlie Brown is a hindrance, undesirable; a sore spot that keeps life from being what she thinks it ought to be.
In the context of Jesus’ ministry, Jesus had faced criticism, challenges, and opposition from local Pharisaic leaders who questioned Jesus’ words and actions at every turn. They were rather weed-like in the ministry of Jesus.
Perhaps the disciples despaired that the pharisees voices would overwhelm the good that Jesus was teaching and demonstrating.
Perhaps we may feel that same way the competing voices and foolishness of our age that seem to work against the efforts, wisdom, and guidance of people working to control and overcome Covid-19 virus.
We too may wonder why people in our communities don’t embrace the wisdom of loving your neighbor by wearing a mask and practicing safe distancing.
Jesus narrows down the definition of weeds to elements within the community of faith that work against God’s plans and mission of caring for people and connecting people to God.
I don’t know why there are elements within each of our different church communities and denominations that are forever troubled by how broadly or narrowly we should draw the boundaries of the contemporary church.
Who do we and who should we embrace or not embrace as a brother or sister in Christ?
Who is accepted or not accepted by God, and why?
What criteria do we use to include or exclude?
At one point in the life of the church, much of what we accept in our life and worship today would have put us at odds with some part of the church, such as a Bible in English, hymns that aren’t Bible quotes, believing the bread and juice are transformed into the actual body and blood of Christ, women in leadership, etc. The first major fight of the early church was whether or not to include non-Jews or Gentiles into the life and leadership of the church (see Acts 15). And we have would been excluded as being unacceptable to God for what we are, believe, and do.
There always seems to be elements within the church that want to get rid of what is perceived to be weeds that are growing up alongside the wheat.
Sadly, the church is not made up of perfect people, including ourselves. It never has been and never will be until Christ returns.
I can understand why the servants of the parable and why we as readers of it want Jesus to give us some clear cut direction as to how we deal with the fact that there are weeds growing up in the midst of the church and world. The servants are confident that they have the ability to go into the field and remove the weeds from the wheat. That would forever the resolve the problem of who is in and who is out in the church.
And wouldn’t it be great if that were the case for us. But, Isaiah declared for God,
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Is 55:8-9)
In other words, God is God and we are not. We lack the ability and perception to carefully remove the weeds from the wheat.
The master in Jesus’ parable tells his servants not to go into the fields and remove the weeds from the wheat. The master of the parable declares,
“for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest” (vv. 28–29).
Let both grow together until the harvest, he says, because one cannot always tell about these plants.
There is a wise strategy in these words of restraint of the master. They move away from being overly confident to discern who is in and who is out and opens the door to make room for one what one commentator calls “a holy and purposeful, wise and intentional ambiguity.” (Theodore Wardlaw, Feasting on the Word)
The servants, like us at times, want Black and White answers to the problem of weeds within the church and world. And God from his vantage point of his infinite grace and patience, allows weeds and wheat to grow together until the time of harvest. At that point, the wheat and weeds will have revealed themselves for what they truly are and can be easily separated from each other.
This parable models for us the infinite patience of God with the world, which frees us to get on with the crucial business honoring God by loving our neighbors, some of whom we like and others whom we have trouble loving.
The infinite patience of God with us and our world pushes and challenges us to grow in our patience with one another and with ourselves. This too is how we are called to love another in these difficult times of ours. It is far too easy to complain about the weeds in our world than to love them patiently as God has demonstrated to us. It far to easy to point out the speck in another’s eyes, while not dealing with the huge logs in our eyes.
The picture of the strange and blessed mixture of weeds and wheat growing together until harvest is not just a glimpse of the faithful church in our own time, but is finally a glimpse of the future judgment at the end of time as we know it.
Theodore Wardlaw in the Feasting on the Word Commentary, writes,
At this level, the text points us to a God who does not merely tolerate endlessly a world that is a mixture of good and evil, faith and faithlessness, triumph and tragedy,
but who finally, in God’s own good time, acts both to judge and to redeem the world.
Christians believe that, for the sake of this hurting and impatient world, and through Jesus Christ our Lord, God’s realm will at last be completed and revealed in all its fullness. Meanwhile, this realm is thriving in us, around us, and even, miraculously, sometimes through us; and God is pleased to let all of it “grow together until the harvest” (v. 30).
Jesus frequently compared the Kingdom of God to living and growing things, likes seeds that are sown and produce on different kinds of soil, a small seed grows into a large tree that houses other forms of life. He speaks of a woman who puts a tiny bit of yeast into dough so it rises and expands in order to make many loaves of bread.
The Kingdom of God continues to grow as God wishes it grow with His patient support and oversight of it. God has his reason for the ambiguity of allowing the weeds to grow alongside wheat that we have difficulty understanding and accepting. The parable reminds us that God will is in control of the situation so we don’t have to worry about.
There is so much more work that we are called to do on God’s behalf than to waste our time trying to determine who is within and who is beyond God’s love and attention. Thankfully, God has that authority and responsibility and we don’t.
Freed from that responsibility, our job is very straightforward and unambiguous:
• to love and welcome whoever God puts in front of us
• to love the people who God’s sends out to love.
• to help people connect with Christ in a life changing way.
Let us Listen to what Jesus is teaching each of us in this challenging parable of the Wheat and the Weeds.
AMEN!
Song: “How Great Thou Art” Words: Carl G. Boberg, translation: Smart K. Hine,
Music: Swedish folk melody. Sung by Chris Rice
Moment for Mission: Meeting Milestones
In Haiti, more than half of the total population is chronically undernourished, the majority of whom are children. Drastic, unpredictable weather changes caused by climate change have left many families food insecure. Many are not able to produce enoug h nutritious food for their families to consume. Presbyterian World Service & Development (PWS&D) works with local partners to bring nutrition to those who are suffering from malnourishment. Life-saving mobile clinics have been established to detect and treat malnutrition. Since the project began, 3,400 children have been treated, giving them the chance to regain their strength, meet developmental milestones and lead a healthy life.
PWS&D supports healthy futures
Prayers of the People
God who is full of kindness and love,
hear our prayers for the world, for one another, and for ourselves:
For this congregation and for the church around the world: that we may be faithful and courageous in the face of all challenges that arise day by day;
Lord, have mercy. Hear our prayer.
For mercy, justice, understanding, and peace in relationships between nations: that in this time of anxiety about the future there will still be generosity for all in need.
Lord, have mercy. Hear our prayer.
For those who work in fields and forests, in mines and offices, in hospitals, schools and shops; and for those who cannot find work: that as the economy is reorganized, all who do work will be fairly treated and those seeking work will not lose hope.
Lord, have mercy. Hear our prayer.
For those who travel by land, air and on water, and for those on vacation taking time to explore your creation: that as we recover from the pandemic we will remember to cherish the earth and treat it wisely.
Lord, have mercy. Hear our prayer.
For those who are teachers and students, for schools, colleges and universities, who plan for a new season of learning in challenging times: that creativity and commitment will lead to discoveries about the world you love and the truth rooted in your wisdom.
Lord, have mercy. Hear our prayer.
For all those in danger and need: for the sick and the dying, the poor and the oppressed, for those standing up against injustice, and for all still at risk from COVID-19.
Lord, have mercy. Hear our prayer.
For those who are closest to us, for friendships that have stood the test of many years, and for those who love us enough to tell us the truth about ourselves: that they may know our love and appreciation.
Lord, have mercy. Hear our prayer.
God who guides and directs all things keep us
Ever faithful, in the midst of our doubts,
Ever courageous, in the midst of fears,
Ever loving, in the midst our selfishness,
Ever patient with you and with others,
Ever dependent upon your strength and resources,
Ever trusting of you to work out your plans in our world.
Help us to be your shining lights in our world.
Lord, have mercy. Hear our prayer.
We offer you these prayers in the name of Jesus Christ,
using the words he taught us to pray…
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory
are yours now and forever. Amen..
Song: “The Kingdom of God is justice and joy” Words: Bryn A. Rees, Music: Paul Bateman
Charge and Benediction (John Newton)
We go now to carry on God Mission in the world,
To love and honor God in all we do, think and say,
To Love our neighbors as ourselves, and
To be and make faithful followers of Jesus the Christ.
May the grace of Christ our Saviour,
And the Father’s boundless love,
With the Holy Spirit’s favour,
Rest upon you from above.
We bless each other using the words of the Spirit Song,
Have great week. Stay safe!
Prayer Partnership
Monday, July 20 We give thanks for Louise Gamble as she returns to Owen Sound, Ont., after serving 13 years as a volunteer with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.
Tuesday, July 21 We pray for ministers who are seeking to discern God’s call to ministry. May they find friends and a comfortable sense of belonging as they adjust to their new environment.
Wednesday, July 22 We pray for the work of the Canadian Ecumenical Anti-Racism Network as it supports church communities working for racial justice across Canada.
Thursday, July 23 We pray for the presbyteries as their moderators, clerks and members seek ways to support each other and to support congregations within their ministries with care and wisdom.
Friday, July 24 We pray for ministers, elders and church workers who are taking much-needed vacations. May they be refreshed and re-energized.
Saturday, July 25 We pray for the ministries and mission of the Presbytery of Kootenay.