May 14, 202
"The something between us"
By Rev. Trip Porch
May 14, 2023 Based on John 14:15-21
On Sundays with a baptism as the main event, I always feel like there is not much more I need to say in a sermon, the baptism preached better than I ever could have. The same thing is true on Sunday's where we have a special choir anthem. Today we've had both. So, suffice it to say that this may be one of the shortest sermons I have ever written.
But I do feel like there is something I need to say…
Because…
I feel like there is something between us.
No, I’m not referring to some enmity or emotional division or separation. I’m literally referring to the space that is in between you and me. We think of the space between us as some empty void, a gap that is the separation between where I end, and you begin us but in fact this space is not empty but filled with substance… air that is abundant with the gases we breath.
Did you know that in chemistry and in physics gases and liquids are both referred to as fluids, because they behave in similar ways, they both have no fixed shape and they flow and move. So in a very real way there is not emptiness between us there is something fluid and in motion.
This air that we all breathe in connects us. It flows into my lungs and as it’s breathed out eventually will find its way into your lungs.
I always I find it meaningful that both in Hebrew and Greek the words for the Holy Spirit, are the same words as breath and wind and air. Pneuma in Greek as in pneumatic … Ruah in Hebrew, which sounds like you are actually breathing, in fact to try to say it Ruah, they both means holy spirit and air and breath.
It’s almost as if what Jesus is saying in our scripture today that I am in leaving with you my Spirit who will be your friend and advocate… and I am in you and you are in me, and anyone who is in me, is in God.
It’s almost as if Jesus sees that God’s Spirit is the very breath of life that is in you and in me. The air that is between us all. That binds us together, that is called to our side.
We often feel in life like we are alone, like we are an island, like we are isolated. Like it is all on us.
But what our scripture tells us today is that this is a lie we are telling ourselves. There is no separation between us and God, and there is no separation between us. Our God is as close to us as our very breath. We are not abandoned, we are not alone, we are not orphaned. God is with us still and God is in us still in the Spirit, through the Spirit of God we are one with God and one with each other.
So, I want to invite you to breath in God’s Spirit,
and Breathe out God’s spirit.
Breathe in God’s Mercy and Love for you… and Breathe out God’s mercy and love for others.
Breathe in
Breathe out.
Amen.
WE GATHER IN AWE AND PRAISE
PRELUDE Mendelssohn Organ Sonata No. 2, II. Allegro maestoso e vivace
INTROIT “Sing and Rejoice” Emma Lou Diemer
WELCOME Rev. Trip Porch
*OPENING PRAYER
Source of all creation, maker of the world and everything in it, you are never far from each one of us. We come into this time seeking you, O giver of life and breath. Reveal yourself to us; dwell with us; and abide in us. We live because of you. We hope because of you. In the name of Jesus Christ in whom we live, and the Spirit of Truth who binds us all together, amen.
*HYMN NO. 482 “Baptized in Water” BUNESSAN
*PRAYER OF CONFESSION Jim Legg
Holy One, You love us perfectly. But we love you imperfectly: we do not always keep your commandments. We love each other imperfectly: we hurt those you call us to love through our actions and our inaction. We love ourselves imperfectly: we struggle to believe that we are truly your children, made in your image and called beloved. Forgive us. And, by the power of your Spirit, make us more faithful that we might live as Christ has shown us, reflecting your love and grace. Hear our confessions in the silence…
*ASSURANCE OF PARDON
*RESPONSE OF PRAISE 582 “Glory to God, Whose Goodness Shines on Me” GLORY TO GOD (Vasile)
*PASSING OF THE PEACE
One: The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all,
All: And also with you.
WE LISTEN FOR GOD’S WORD
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE Mary Rebekah Fortman
BAPTISM of Bennett Casper Concitis Marie Boozer, Trip Porch
Bennett, with joy and thanksgiving we welcome you into Christ’s family, for we are all one in him. We promise to love, encourage, and support you on your faith journey, to share Christ’s good news with you, to teach you Christ’s ways, and to learn them in new ways from you. Welcome Beloved Child of God!
HYMN NO. 488 “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry” WATERLIFE
ANTHEM “Hear My Prayer” Felix Mendelssohn Skye Johnson, soprano soloist
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
SCRIPTURE: John 14:15–21
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. I will ask the Father, and he will send another Advocate, a companion and friend who will be with you forever. This Advocate is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees her nor recognizes her. You know her because she lives with you and will be in you.
“I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
One: Holy Wisdom, Holy Word All: Thanks be to God
HOMILY Rev. Trip Porch
*HYMN No. 820 “Nothing Can Trouble” NADA TE TURBE
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE followed by The Lord’s Prayer using debts and debtors
TIME OF OFFERING “I Surrender All” arr. Sunghwan Kim
*PRAYER OF DEDICATION
We make our offerings with the hope and confidence that all we share will take root in this world and through the Spirit be the source of new expressions of God’s love, of God’s justice, of God’s character, of God’s mission, and of God’s reign. May God’s will be done in us, through us, alongside us, despite us, and for us. Amen.
*HYMN NO. 366 “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” HYFRYDOL
TIME OF COMMUNITY SHARING
MUSIC APPRECIATION
CHARGE AND BENEDICTION
CHORAL RESPONSE “God Be With You Till We Meet Again” William G. Tomer
God be with you till we meet again;
loving counsels guide, uphold you,
with a shepherd's care enfold you:
God be with you till we meet again.
Text: Jeremiah E. Rankin
POSTLUDE “Battle Hymn of the Republic” arr. Sunghwan Kim
Acknowledgments: Unless otherwise indicated, all texts and music are printed and broadcast under OneLicense.net license #A-702452
Worship Leaders
Pastor - Rev. Trip Porch
Liturgist – Jim Legg
Children’s Message – Mary Rebekah Fortman
Music leaders
Chancel Choir
Director of Music – Christopher Dent
Assoc. Director of Music – Ariel Alvarado
Organist – Sunghwan Kim
**Please join us next week as we celebrate and bless our new graduates!