Christ is Our Peace

Sunday Worship 11am, January 24, 2021 Online at Zoom & https://www.facebook.com/centrechurchpa/ 83 New Park Road, New Park, PA 17352 Office (717) 993-2345 https://centrechurchpa.org 1 3rd Sunday After Epiphany Announcements - Worship notes – translations, confessions, & creeds, Annual meetings, worship in-person, Prelude There’s A Song in the Air – D. Wells Kathleen Wilson Lighting of the Epiphany Candle Hymn # 97 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IGP68i3JvU Call to Worship (from Ephesians 2:14-18, New Living Translation) Please join me in the Call to Worship… For Christ himself is our peace. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. Thanks be to our God! Prayer of Confession & the Lord’s Prayer (prayer by Austin D. Hill) Please join me in the Prayer of Confession… God of glory, you sent Jesus among us as the light of the world, to reveal your love for all people. We confess that our sin and pride hide the brightness of your light. We turn away from the poor; we ignore cries for justice; we do not strive for peace. In your mercy, cleanse us of our sin, and pour out the gifts of your Spirit, that, forgiven and renewed, we may show forth your glory shining in the face of Jesus Christ. (Time for silent reflection and confession). We pray this humbly in Christ's name, who taught us to pray: 2 Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Hymn # 116 We Three Kings of Orient Are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNBbCkDMSLw Sharing of Prayer Requests - Connie Anderson Mission Update on Ryan and Krista Ginn - Joy Chester Prayers of the People (prayer by St. Francis of Assisi) Please join me in the prayers of the people… Lord, make us instruments of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. The Offering (online donations at https://centrechurchpa.org/) Offertory The Mystery – Rhett Walker Band Bill & Joy Chester Scripture - Ephesians 2:19-22 (the Message translation) This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home. 3 Sermon “Christ is Our Peace” Rev. Dr. Don Hackett Blocks Build up. Tear down. Build up. I want us all to think about building blocks today. When I say “building blocks” what do you think of? Bricks? Stones? Masonry blocks? Legos? What do we do with these kinds of materials? Lots of possibilities, right?! We can construct a basement or the walls of a house or commercial building. Blocks can be put together to make fireplaces or outdoor firepits. If you keep stacking blocks you can build a pyramid. The ones in Egypt used around 2.5 million blocks to finish their work. We can build walls. Big walls! The Great Wall of China is estimated to have almost 4 billion stones in it. This wall stretches over 13,000 miles across the northern border of China. Talk about years of work! I am glad our Trustees do not have that kind of project on their list! God builds and tears down People are not the only ones who like to build. God loves making and creating new things. In Genesis 1:31 we see that God created the whole universe and then stood back and said, “This is good, very good!” Creating the whole universe out of nothing, now that is a building project! In our text today from Ephesians 2, we see that God is also in the business of tearing down. God builds up. God tears down. What would God need to tear down? Let’s read: For Christ himself is our peace. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. Wall of hostility God needed to tear down a wall. This wall was made from the bricks of hostility that grew up between Jewish and everyone else, Gentiles. Where did this wall come from? Think back to the beginning of human existence. God wanted us to know and love him. We lost our way after creation, so God had a plan. He formed a people to be messengers of God’s love. They would grow to know God, love God, and share the beauty and love of God with others. In Genesis 12 we are told these refugees in the desert, Abraham and Sarah, was to follow God and establish a people. God would bless Abraham and Sarah, this nation, and all people would be blessed through his. God started these two blocks, Abraham and Sarah, and built the nation of Israel. They would become a light on a hill for all to see and come and worship the One true God. 4 Hostility A problem arose over the centuries in this construction project. The Jews were incredibly careful to keep and follow the laws of God. They focused on what God said and tried to stay away from the others religious practices of their neighbors. Sometimes they drifted away from God and followed other gods. God hung in there with them. He sent them off in exile so they could be reshaped as God’s people. They came back to Jerusalem ready to focus on God and his provision. Though often under the control of other nations, the Hebrew maintained their faith and focus on God. This is good! What was not good is that they grew bitter towards all those who did not love God. Instead of showing forth the compassion of God, they built walls of hostility. These walls served a purpose. Hostility keeps others away. Hostility judges and condemns others. One can feel safe behind these walls. The problem is that when we keep others away, we cannot show them the love of God. Hostility and love cannot live in the same heart. Jesus, the wall-breaker Listen to our passage again: For Christ himself is our peace. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. Jesus is a wall breaker! Like those home improvement shows on television, Jesus Christ takes a hammer to the walls that hold us back. God wants one people, united in love, working together to do God’s good work. How does Jesus tear this wall of hostility down? Jesus Christ gives himself as a sacrifice. Jesus looks at us and says, “You are stuck in sin. You are imprisoned by fear and death. You have no way out. No matter what you do, these walls will keep you in. You cannot open the door. I can. My life, my blood, my power, my love is the only way to free you.” In 1983, our national church adopted a Brief Statement of Faith to unite us in our faith and understanding of God. In the section that describes Jesus Christ, it proclaims: Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal. 5 Jesus tore down the wall that kept us imprisoned and separated from God and each other. Now Jew and Gentile, slave and free, men, women and children of all nations and colors are welcomed in God’s family. Now that the wall of sin and hostility is down, Jesus is building a new house. A home for God. Brick by brick, person by person, Jesus is building a holy space, a temple for God to live. You and I are a part of that living temple. Through Christ, God’s Spirit lives in us. By listening and following Jesus, we mature as disciples of Christ. Each day we are made more beautiful and equipped for the good, hard work of love. As we all know, there is important work to do. You and I are needed to knock down the walls that divide us. As we pondered in our Monday night Bible study, we realized there was much we could do. 1. We can pray for each other. We can be patient with each other. 2. We can practice listening to people and opinions we whom we differ. 3. We can take a deep breath when anxious and pray. 4. We can step into mutual respect and even agree to disagree when the conversation becomes stuck. 5. We can search for the positive and common ground that will build bridges between us. 6. We can discover that we have many of the same values if we talk deep enough. 7. With God’s help, we can love God and people in any and every situation. Let us pray: Thank you, Christ, for laying down your life for ours. We humbly receive your gift of life and now lay down our lives for you. Use us today in the good work of serving others. Give us the wisdom, grace, and compassion to tear down the walls that divide. Fill us with the love and courage to build a new community in Christ. Amen. 6 Confession of Faith (from the Brief Statement of Faith, PCUSA, AD1983) We trust in Jesus Christ, Fully human, fully God. Jesus proclaimed the reign of God: preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, teaching by word and deed and blessing the children, healing the sick and binding up the brokenhearted, eating with outcasts, forgiving sinners, and calling all to repent and believe the gospel. Unjustly condemned for blasphemy and sedition, Jesus was crucified, suffering the depths of human pain and giving his life for the sins of the world. God raised this Jesus from the dead, vindicating his sinless life, breaking the power of sin and evil, delivering us from death to life eternal. Hymn # 92 Joy to the World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnsk7iXFCtY Benediction Let the majesty of the Father be the light by which we walk, the compassion of the Son be the love by which we live, the presence of the Spirit be the power by which we serve. Amen. 7 #97 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 1 Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King: Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th’angelic host proclaim, “Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King.” 2 Christ by highest heav'n adored, Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the Virgin's womb Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel Hark! The herald angels sing,"Glory to the newborn King!" 3 Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, Ris’n with healing in His wings. Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die, Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the new-born King.” Hymn # 116 We Three Kings of Orient Are 1 We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar, field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yonder star. Refrain: O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty bright, westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light. 2 Born a King on Bethlehem's plain, gold I bring to crown him again, King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign. [Refrain] 3 Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a Deity nigh; prayer and praising, gladly raising, worshiping God on high. [Refrain] 4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom; sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain] 5 Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain] #92 Joy to the World! The Lord Is Come Joy to the world! The Lord is come; Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n and nature sing, And heav’n, and heav’n and nature sing. He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove, The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders of His love. 8