01/31/2021 = Mark 1:21-28 = “What’s He Gonna Do Now?”

(Click HERE to find the FB Live video of this service; starts at 15, sermon starts at 29 minutes [the last 20 minutes is an elder Council Meeting – you’re welcome to stay and listen, but you probably don’t want to….)

(Click HERE to DONATE to Lidgerwood Church)

Mark Wheeler

Mark 1:21-28

“What’s He Gonna Do Now>?

01/31/2021

We have a full day ahead of us today – worship and prayer – and our Annual Congregational Meeting – all in one!  Officially we’re calling THIS the opening of the Congregational Meeting – so let the records show we have 18 members present in-house, and at least 6 more on Zoom and a few more on FB Live (remember all of you at home are also right HERE for this meeting, with voice and vote [FB-Livers – you will need to type in your Comments and Gerri will interrupt me to read them – so long as we have “simultaneous aural electronic” participation – we are good to go])!

Today’s Gospel reading reminds us of Jesus’ authority and leadership – and so as we worship and pray and reflect on our recent past and move into our near future – we can do so as a people who want to follow Jesus, to be like Jesus, and to do what Jesus does!

We gather today, with aches and pains, worries and fears, doubts and debts, hopes and dreams, and in the midst of all of that we gather to focus on our Savior and Lord.  

Holy God,    we thank You for the glimpses we catch of Your gifts of peace, love, joy and hope, and light.  Even in the midst of fear, of challenge, of struggle – even when we have not been sure of tomorrow,

You have ignited the Light within us … that we might glow with its brilliance from the inside out. Keep reminding us how to Believe … and welcome … and know we are welcomed … even when …. Amen.

Let’s take a second to greet each other, and those in the room, look at the camera and say HI to your friends who are at home. Tell your loved ones, “May the Light of Christ be in you.”

Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.

For those who made it into the building this morning – thank you for wearing your masks and following the seating and walking protocols. We do this not to protect ourselves from others, but to protect others from ourselves. Because we love each other, we wear masks and keep distance to keep each other safe from this “invisible potential enemy”. COVID numbers are way up in our area – let’s not give them an opportunity to climb even higher. Our Elders are listening to CDC guidelines and deciding on what seems best practices for each others’ safety. We love you, and we want everyone to be and to stay well.

Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.

Listen now and join in as Scott leads our Call to Worship from Psalm 111 – and listen for and proclaim aloud God’s great grit and grace!

Our song of praise today sings praises to this great God we cal our Lord and Savior!  – Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven –(sung respectfully and under the mask )!

Through the Written Word,     And endorsed by our spoken word,

May we know Your Living Word,            Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I had a long and difficult wrestling match with myself this week, and, I believe, I have allowed my prideful and fearful self surrender to something with more gusto than I myself have.

Partly due to the fact that we have a whole Annual Meeting to cram into our 45-60 minute gathering, and partly because I was so moved by this young woman’s presentation – after our Scripture reading, with very little comment from me, we will listen to a poem that speaks to our time, and to what this Bible story about Jesus’ leadership, calls us to see and to be.

Still in Mark’s first chapter, after the Baptism, after Jesus’ 40 days in the Wilderness, after He travels up to Galilee and starts calling Disciples to follow Him (that was last Sunday’s message, where we asked ourselves if we are following Jesus, to be like Jesus, to do what Jesus does…

Listen to the Word of God … Mark 1:21-28 …. —- [The screen will show this passage.]

²¹ They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²² The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. ²³ Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, ²⁴ “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”

²⁵ “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” ²⁶ The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

²⁷ The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸ News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

In our Bible lesson today, Jesus shows us His amazing control of everything around Him. It was on the Sabbath day and Jesus goes to the synagogue and begins to teach.

And the people are amazed. They look at one another and ask, “What’s going on here? Even evil spirits obey his orders.” There was power in the words that Jesus spoke that day. On that day, Jesus comes in and takes control of the life of that man. His life would never be the same!

Jesus wants to be in control of your life, too. He wants to be in control of the plans you make, the words you say, the things you do, and the places you go.

Why? Is He a control freak? No! He wants to be in control because He wants what is best for you. The Bible tells us that God has a plan for us. It is a good plan that will give us hope and a bright future, but we will never see that plan work unless we allow Jesus to be in control.

Those are all of my words. Now I invite you to hear, really hear, these words from a 22-year old National Poet Laureate, from our 46^th President’s inauguration: Amanda Gorman, The Hill We Climb:

When day comes we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never-ending shade?

The loss we carry, a sea we must wade.

We’ve braved the belly of the beast,

We’ve learned that quiet isn’t always peace

And the norms and notions of what “just is”

Isn’t always justice.

And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it,

Somehow we do it,

Somehow we’ve weathered and witnessed

A nation that isn’t broken but simply unfinished.

We, the successors of a country and a time where a skinny black girl

Descended from slaves and was raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president

Only to find herself reciting for one.

And, yes, we are far from polished, Far from pristine,

But that doesn’t mean

We are striving to form a union that is perfect,

We are striving to forge a union with purpose,

To compose a country committed to all cultures, color, characters and conditions of man.

And so we lift our gazes not to what stands

between us, but what stands before us.

We close the divide

because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.

We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another,

We seek harm to none and harmony for all.

Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:

“That even as we grieved, we grew,

even as we hurt, we hoped, that even as we tired, we tried,

That we’ll forever be tied together

 Victorious, not because we will never again know defeat

But because we will never again sow division.”

Scriptures tells us to envision

that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid.

If we are to live up to our own time, then victory won’t lie in the blade,

but in all the bridges we’ve made.

That is the promise to glade,

the hill we climb if only we dare it

because being American is more than a pride we inherit,

it’s the past we step into and how we repair it.

We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation rather than share it.

That would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy,

And this effort very nearly succeeded.

But while democracy can be periodically delayed, It can never be permanently defeated.

In this truth, in this faith, we trust,

For while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us,

This is the era of just redemption

We feared in its inception

we did not feel prepared 

To be the heirs

Of such a terrifying hour

But within it we found the power

To author a new chapter,

To offer hope and laughter

To ourselves, so while once we asked

How can we possibly prevail over catastrophe?

Now we assert:

How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?

We will not march back to what was but shall move to what shall be –

A country that is bruised, but whole,

Benevolent , but bold,

Fierce and free,

We’ll not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation

Because we know our inaction and inertia 

Will be the inheritance of the next generation,

Our blunders become their burden.

But one thing is certain:

If we merge mercy with might,

And might with right,

Then love becomes our legacy

And change our children’s birthright.

So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left,

With every breath of my bronze, pounded chest,

We will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one,

We will rise from the golden hills of the West,

We will rise from the windswept Northeast where our forefathers first realized revolution,

We will rise from lake-rimmed cities of the Midwestern states,

We will rise from the sun-baked South,

We will rebuild, reconcile and recover

In every known nook of our nation and every corner called our country 

Our people diverse and beautiful

Will emerge battered and beautiful,

When day comes, we step out of the shade

Aflame and unafraid,

The new dawn blooms as we free it,

For there was always light, if only we’re brave enough to see it,

If only we’re brave enough to be it!

Dear God, we want Jesus to be in control of our life. We know that He wants what is best for us and that is what we want too. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Prayer Page – 

And now – call out a name, a place, a people, a situation, you are lifting to the Lord in prayer ….  “Have mercy on us, O Lord.”    [Lord’s Prayer]  Amen.

– Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; or click HERE or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”

Let’s move into the “business” portion of our Annual Congregational Meeting:

The screen shows our agenda – stories of God’s work in our midst in 2020

                                                                                Elect new Officers

                                                                                Dream together what God might be calling us to be about in 2021

Expedition Song  – Precious Lord / Just a Closer Walk with Thee! ….   sung by Lilly Haeger & Dick McCarter (our suggestion is no congregational singing, but if you’re wearing your masks appropriately, who would know who is singing?).

Next Sunday, like we did today – please RSVP to us if you plan to attend so we can properly set up – and please CALL IN or email or text – so we can share with you what the plans will be – whether we will be allowed to continue to meet or not.

We close with this benediction:       Friends –

may we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,

becoming more faithful with each passing day of struggle and victory,

with each encounter with the Holy Spirit,

giving glory to God today and forever!

Resources:  https://sermons4kids.com/who’s in control.htm

Gorman, Amanda; The Hill We Climb; 2021; https://www.npr.org/sections/inauguration-day-live-updates/2021/01/20/958743170/poet-amanda-gorman-reads-the-hill-we-climb

01/24/2021 = Mark 1:14-20 = “Fish Stories Worth Remembering”

Click HERE to see the FB Live video of this service (service begins at 13:00, sermon begins at 25:30)

Click HERE to DONATE to Lidgerwood Church

Mark Wheeler

Mark 1:14-20                                                                                                                                                  

 “Fish Stories Worth Remembering”                                                                       

01/24/2021

Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church

Can we see a show of hands from everyone here who has seen the 1953 Disney animated movie, Peter Pan? I mean, I realize that this movie doesn’t pass all the politically correct standards, but,,, it is one of my favorite Disney movies.

Early on, when the Darling children first arrive in Never-Never-Land, Peter is leading the Lost Boys through the wilds of the island and they’re all singing: “Following the Leader, the leader, the leader. We’re following the Leader, where-ever he may go.”

Last Wednesday we inaugurated our nation’s 46^th President – and, as has been true for the last four years, so will be true for the next four, blindly “following the leader” with no regard for who is truly our Leader will lead us into trouble.

With that said, welcome to this collection of Christ-followers as we listen for and to the voice of the Lord of lords and Leader of leaders, whether in house or on-line, as we worship and pray together. 

We gather today, with aches and pains, worries and fears, doubts and debts, hopes and dreams, and in the midst of all of that we gather to focus on our Savior and Lord.  

Holy God,    we thank You for the glimpses we catch of Your gifts of peace, love, joy and hope, and light.  Even in the midst of fear, of challenge, of struggle – even when we have not been sure of tomorrow,

You have ignited the Light within us … that we might glow with its brilliance from the inside out. Keep reminding us how to Believe … and welcome … and know we are welcomed … even when …. Amen.

Let’s take a second to greet each other, and those in the room, look at the camera and say HI to your friends who are at home. Tell your loved ones, “May the Hope of Christ be in you.”

Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.

For those who made it into the building this morning – thank you for wearing your masks and following the seating and walking protocols. We do this not to protect ourselves from others, but to protect others from ourselves. Because we love each other, we wear masks and keep distance to keep each other safe from this “invisible potential enemy”. COVID numbers are way up in our area – let’s not give them an opportunity to climb even higher. Our Elders are listening to CDC guidelines and deciding on what seems best practices for each others’ safety. We love you, and we want everyone to be and to stay well.

Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.

Listen now and join in as Linda Tufto leads our Call to Worship from Psalm 62 – and listen for and proclaim aloud Who our God is and how He rules!

Our song of praise today sings a proclamation of our God’s Almighty Presence!  – I Sing the Mighty Power of God –sung by Jake Davis!

Through the Written Word, 

And endorsed by our spoken word,

May we know Your Living Word, 

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Hope and Oran and Riley – have you ever played “Follow the Leader”? I know your parents have! I played the game when I was a child, my parents played the game when they were children, their parents played the game when they were children. Follow the Leader is a game that is played and enjoyed by children all over the world.

The rules are very simple. You choose a leader and you follow that leader wherever she goes and do whatever she does. You stomp through puddles, climb over fences, swing from a tree — all to stay in the game because nobody wants to get kicked out!

Follow the Leader is a great game, but in our daily lives we play follow the leader too. In school, in Church, in sports, in Girl Scouts, in any activity we are in, there are always leaders. Every day we make choices of which leader we will follow. We must be sure to choose a leader that will lead us in the right direction.

Today’s Gospel reading invites us to choose the Leader we will follow.

Hear the Word of God … Mark 1:14-20 …. —- [The screen will show this passage.]

¹⁴ After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.

¹⁹ When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰ Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

Jesus said, “Follow me” … and they … did! Jesus followers. They name Jesus their Leader, and they follow Him wherever He goes, and they do whatever He does.

Last Fall we had a Monday evening book group that read this book together: Rediscipling  the White Church: from cheap diversity to true solidarity, by David W. Swanson. This is not an easy read – not because it has a lot of hard words in it, but because the words in it are really hard to read.

One of the first things the author does, though, which is essential in any discussion that talks about “discipleship” is define the word. Using Dallas Willard’s work, he reminds us that the word “disciple” is not a uniquely Christian word. Disciple simply means: “An apprentice who has decided to be with another person, under appropriate conditions, in order to become capable of doing what that person does or to become what that person is.”

In a Christian perspective, then, a Christian disciple is “following Jesus, to become like Jesus, in order to do what Jesus does.”

Jesus invites these fishermen to “follow” Him (to become like Him, in order to do what He does).

Are we following Jesus like this?

What does it mean to be “like Jesus”? What is Jesus “like”? Name some Jesus-character-traits: [kind, loving, faithful, obedient, wise, all-knowing, sacrificial, love, joy, peace, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle and self-controlled,,,,]

Does this describe us? Does it describe me? You?

What does Jesus do? [I mean, we can start with miraculous things – heals the sick; gives sight to the blind; hearing to the deaf; life to the dead – but He also prays for His persecutors; forgives those who oppose Him; brings together those who oppose each other; loves His enemies; He proclaims the Good News of God’s grace through faith; He holds to biblical truth when succumbing to society seems safer; He demands justice (that’s why He died for you and for me on the cross).

Can we do these things? Do I do them? Do you?

One day Jesus was walking along the lakeside. He saw two fishermen, Simon and Andrew, throwing their fishing nets out into the lake. Jesus called out to them, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”

The Bible tells us that they laid down their nets and followed Jesus. Jesus went a little farther and he saw two more men, James and John sitting in their boat mending their nets. Jesus called out to them and the Bible tells us that they left their boat and followed Jesus.

Jesus is still calling people to follow Him today. He has called you and me to follow Him.  Now it’s up to us to decide if we will follow the Leader of all leaders, too.

Dear Jesus, You have called us to follow You. May we, like Peter, Andrew, James, and John say “Yes, Lord, I’ll follow You—wherever You may lead.” In Your name we pray, Amen.

Prayer Page – 

And now – call out a name, a place, a people, a situation, you are lifting to the Lord in prayer ….  “Have mercy on us, O Lord.”    [Lord’s Prayer]  Amen.

– Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; or click HERE;  or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”)

Expedition Song  – Holy, Holy, Holy! ….   sung by Donna & Ken Stone (our suggestion is no congregational singing, but if you’re wearing your masks appropriately, who would know who is singing?).

Next Sunday, like we did today – please RSVP to us if you plan to attend so we can properly set up – and please CALL IN or email or text – so we can share with you what the plans will be – whether we will be allowed to continue to meet or not.

We close with this benediction:       Friends –

may we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,

becoming more faithful with each passing day of struggle and victory,

with each encounter with the Holy Spirit,

giving glory to God today and forever!

Resources: 

https://sermons4kids.com/following the leader.htm

01/17/2021 = John 1:43-51 = “Why Might We Believe?”

(Click HERE to watch the FBLive video feed.)

(Click HERE to DONATE to Lidgerwood Church’s ministries.)

Mark Wheeler

John 1:43-51                                                                                                                                                   

“Why Might We Believe?!”                                                                              

01/17/2021

Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church

Why are we “here” today? I mean, really, why? Not why do we exist? Not why were we born? Those are fine questions, but I mean, why are we HERE?! Why “in” church today? As we worship and pray together today, consider that question: what brings you to worship at Lidgerwood Church on January 17, 2021?

And, Friends, I ask that with the personal realization that – it is SO good to gather, whether in house or on-line, as we worship and pray together. 

We gather today, with aches and pains, worries and fears, doubts and debts, and in the midst of all of that we gather to focus on our Savior and Lord.  

Holy God,    we thank You for the glimpses we catch of Your gifts of peace, love, joy and hope, and light.  Even in the midst of fear, of challenge, of struggle – even when we have not been sure of tomorrow,

You have ignited the Light within us … that we might glow with its brilliance from the inside out. Keep reminding us how to Believe … even when …. Amen.

Let’s take a second to greet each other, and those in the room, look at the camera and say HI to your friends who are at home. Tell your loved ones, “May the Hope of Christ be in you.”

Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.

For those who made it into the building this morning – thank you for wearing your masks and following the seating and walking protocols. We do this not to protect ourselves from others, but to protect others from ourselves. Because we love each other, we wear masks and keep distance to keep each other safe from this “invisible potential enemy”. COVID numbers are way up in our area – let’s not give them an opportunity to climb even higher. Our Elders are listening to CDC guidelines and deciding on what seems best practices for each others’ safety. We love you, and we want everyone to be and to stay well.

Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.

Listen now and join in as Linda Soderstrom leads our Call to Worship from Psalm 139 – and listen for and proclaim aloud Who knows us better than we know ourselves!

Our song of praise today sings a proclamation of our God’s wondrous love!  – Love Sent My Savior to Die in My Stead –sung by Sherry Park!

Through the Written Word, 

And endorsed by our spoken word,

May we know Your Living Word, 

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

When something good happens to us, it is the most natural thing in the world to want to tell others about it. It may be something like making a good grade on this week’s spelling test at school. Or showing off on Facebook that we know what some obsolete item used to be used for. Or a baby was born, or a grandbaby, or great-grandbaby…. Or a new job, or a negative COVID test….

When something good happens to us, we can’t wait to tell someone about it.

So, let me ask Oran and Hope: Did something good happen to you this week that you would like to share with us?

Isn’t it great to tell others about good things that have happened to us? When we get a chance to tell someone about something good that happened to us, it’s almost like experiencing the good thing all over again.

Remember I asked you to consider the question of why you are here today? Why “at church”?

Today’s Gospel lesson addresses that question.

Hear the Word of God … John 1:43-51 …. —- [The screen will show this passage.]

⁴³ The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

⁴⁴ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

⁴⁶ “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

⁴⁷ When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

⁴⁸ “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

⁴⁹ Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

⁵⁰ Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” ⁵¹ He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.”

This story tells us how it works: The Christian faith is passed from person to person. That’s how it started with Jesus, and that’s how it’s been for nearly 2,000 years.

What was it about Jesus that caused people to believe in Him and follow Him with no evidence? We don’t know. I mean, it’s impressive, right? I imagine that there was some kind of angelic orchestral soundtrack, like in the movies. (I always wanted a theme-song to play when I was about to speak [like what Gob Bluth had on the sit-com Arrested Development: “The Final Countdown”]). But, Jesus did not really have that. Jesus didn’t need background music to impress people. There was something about Him that drew people to Him.

Had Philip and Nathanael known Jesus before? Had Philip heard about Jesus from Andrew and Peter, since they lived in the same town? John doesn’t say. It only says that Philip follows Jesus straightaway, then he tells Nathanael that “we” have found the one promised in the Old Testament. Is the “we” Philip spoke of other people who were following Jesus? We don’t know.

When Nathanael expressed skepticism about anything good coming out of Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, Philip simply says, “Come and see for yourself.” When Jesus tells Nathanael that He saw him already, Nathanael is so impressed that he impulsively calls Jesus the “Son of God” and the “King of Israel.”

What was there about Jesus to have this kind of effect on people? The New Testament gives us a hint. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel concludes with the observation, “for He taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes,” a phrase repeated in all four Gospels (Matthew 7:29; Mark 1:22; Luke 4:32,36; John 5:27; etc).

No doubt there was something about Jesus that drew people to Him. When British biblical scholar J.B. Phillips translated the Gospels, he was struck by the personality of Jesus and how He drew others to Himself. J.B. Phillips concluded that there must have been something extraordinary about His person that affected those with whom He came into contact. He described his own reaction in his 1967 book Ring of Truth, that there must have been something magnetic about Jesus’ personality to have such an immediate effect on people.

When we read the Gospels it’s easy to  note the profound effect Jesus has when He meets people: the Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21-28), the blind man at Bethsaida (Mark 8:22-26), the Roman centurion (Luke 7:1-10), the woman at the Pharisee’s home (Luke 7:36-50), Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10), the woman at the well (John 4), the sick man at the Bethesda pool (John 5:1-9), the thief crucified next to Jesus (Luke 23:40-43), the centurion at the foot of the cross (Mark 15:39, Luke 23:47) — to name only a few.

People meet Jesus, and they are changed. Whatever their deepest need was, Jesus meets it. Then they tell others what happened.

And that’s how it has worked ever since. One person says to another, “I follow Jesus and invite you to do so too.” Later on as the church grows, parents bring their infant children to Jesus in baptism and then bring them up to follow him.

It’s always person-to-person.

Follow the story throughout the New Testament. An Ethiopian eunuch is puzzled by a passage in the Old Testament, and the evangelist deacon Philip “proclaimed to him the Good News about Jesus” (Acts 8:35). Peter went to the household of the Roman centurion Cornelius and told him about Jesus, and “while Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word” (Acts 19:44), which was the breakthrough of the Christian faith to the Gentile world.

The spread of the Christian church across the world is the person-to-person story of the thousands of people who fanned out across the globe to tell the story about Jesus and what Jesus had done for them.

People become Christians because they have seen what the Christian faith has done for those whom they know. The saying passed down from the early years of the church still rings true: “See those Christians, how they love one another.” (Tertullian, church historian, late 2^nd, early 3^rd centuries)

… Hmmm.  What are they saying today?

I have heard of only two people who came to faith by reading: C.S. Lewis’ account of his own conversion, Surprised by Joy; and Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Lee Strobel in his The Case for Christ. But even their stories was person-to-person: one through the medium of the printed page, and the other because of his wife’s new-found faith.

Our Call to Worship from Psalm 139 reminds us that God knows us, has known us, good and bad and ugly. And then God’s love sends His Son to die in our stead! Jesus tells Nathaniel that He knows Nathaniel, really knows him, because “I saw you under the fig tree”.

Something good happened to Philip — he met Jesus. He shared it with his friend Nathanael and he met Jesus too.

Has Jesus brought happiness into your life? Share it with your friends!

Our task as Christians is not to “prove” the truth of the Christian faith, although many scholars have done that persuasively. Our task is not even to persuade others to become Christian.

Our task is to simply to do what is natural: say, “Come and see.” Philip could have given Nathanael some of his own opinions. He could have said, “This Jesus knows a lot about the Bible.” Or he might have said, “There is something about this man Jesus that draws me to Him.” Even when Nathanael expressed skepticism about “anything good coming out of Nazareth,” Philip might have listed some successful people from Nazareth.

But no: Philip simply said, “Come and see,” as if to say, “You don’t need me to advertise for Jesus; come and see for yourself.” Nathaniel came and saw for himself.

That now becomes our task, to tell people, “Come and see.”

Come and see what Jesus has done and is doing for you!

Why are you here? If you can, tell whoever invited you to “come and see”, thank you. And invite the next person to do the same.

 Father God, we are thank You for the happiness that Jesus brings into our life. May we share it with our friends so that they might also know the happiness that Jesus brings. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer Page – 

And now – call out a name, a place, a people, a situation, you are lifting to the Lord in prayer ….  “Have mercy on us, O Lord.”    [Lord’s Prayer]  Amen.

Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; or click HERE, or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”)

Expedition Song  – I Have Decided to Follow Jesus! ….   sung by Dick & Micki (our suggestion is no congregational singing, but if you’re wearing your masks appropriately, who would know who is singing?).

Next Sunday, like we did today – please RSVP to us if you plan to attend so we can properly set up – and please CALL IN or email or text – so we can share with you what the plans will be – whether we will be allowed to continue to meet or not.

We close with this benediction:       Friends –

may we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,

becoming more faithful with each passing day of struggle and victory,

with each encounter with the Holy Spirit,

giving glory to God today and forever!

Resources: 

https://sermons4kids.com/tell your friends about Jesus.htm

Rogness, Michael; https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/second-sunday-after-epiphany-2/commentary-on-john-143-51-3

01/10/2021 = Mark 1:4-11 = “Baptism of Repentance?!”

(Click HERE for the FB Live video (service starts at 14:30, sermon begins at 26:00))

(Click HERE to DONATE to Lidgerwood Church)

Mark Wheeler

Mark 1:4-11                                                                                                                                                     

 “Baptism of Repentance?!”                                                                                    

01/10/2021

Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church

It’s 2021 everybody – everything’s gonna get back to “normal”!   Did anybody else think, hope, that 2021 was gonna be better than 2020?  Guess what – we’re still the same sinful human beings today that we were on December 31!  And the news reveals this truth every-single-day! Amber Alerts THREE times since the turn of the calendar! US Capitol under siege (is that too strong?) by our own people!  COVID numbers still very present!  And limited seating in church, no seating in restaurants, no smiles to be seen except on screen (thank you Zoom people – you give us hope!). 

And, Friends – it is SO good to gather, whether in house or on-line, as we worship and pray together. 

We gather today, with aches and pains, worries and fears, doubts and debts, and in the midst of all of that we gather to focus on our Savior and Lord, Hope, and Joy, and Love and Peace, Light in darkness, Lightness in the weight of heavy hardship. Let’s worship and pray as a people who Believe, even when …

Holy One,    we thank You for the glimpses we have caught of Your gifts of peace, love, joy and hope, and light.  Even in the midst of fear, of challenge, of struggle – even when we have not been sure of tomorrow,

You have ignited the Light within us … that we might glow with its brilliance from the inside out. Keep reminding us how to Believe … even when …. Amen.

Let’s take a second to greet each other, and those in the room, look at the camera and say HI to your friends who are at home. Tell your loved ones, “May the Peace of Christ be in you.”

Welcome to this “gathering” in God’s name. We are assembled in NorthEast Spokane, WA, along with people from all over the world. We are very glad you are “here” with us.

For those who made it into the building this morning – thank you for wearing your masks and following the seating and walking protocols. We do this not to protect ourselves from others, but to protect others from ourselves. Because we love each other, we wear masks and keep distance to keep each other safe from this “invisible potential enemy”. COVID numbers are way up in our area – let’s not give them an opportunity to climb even higher. Our Elders are listening to CDC guidelines and deciding on what seems best practices for each others’ safety. We love you, and we want everyone to be and to stay well.

Be filled with God’s Holy Spirit presence and power, in your homes, through your phones and computers, in this building here, and in your lives. Pray with us … and hear and be transformed by God’s Word.

Listen now and join in as Gerri leads our Call to Worship from Psalm 29 – and listen for and proclaim aloud Who is still in charge!

Our song of praise today sings a proclamation of our God’s wondrous presence!  – Praise to the Lord –sung by Linda Tuinstra and Keith Winningham!

Through the Written Word, 

And endorsed by our spoken word,

May we know Your Living Word, 

Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

What a week this has been!! Right? For Jennifer and me, we sent Brianna and her clan off to Unalakleet, AK (five airplanes in 27 hours of planes and layovers); and we also celebrated our 36^th wedding anniversary (I celebrate, Jennifer endures …); and then Wednesday happened (who here was glued to the TV set most of the day? – I was at the church office, working to catch-up after a couple weeks of mostly “away”, so I had no idea until our Wonderful Deacons started texting and posting their prayers and prayer-ideas).

I was working on January (and February) worship themes and hymns and leaders, and concentrating on today’s gathering. And, so the US Capitol news events started forming today’s worship.

Before we start to complain that the preacher is getting too political – there is no such thing! The Bible, and Jesus, is full of politics (from the days of Abraham in Genesis through the book of Revelation).

Wednesday was not only the day when the Electoral College votes were confirmed, it was also the Day of Epiphany – that’s the Christian Calendar day we commemorate the arrival of the Magi from the East and the king’s slaughter of the innocents. Matthew 2:18 quotes this: “Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.’”

This seemed super relevant. Wednesday was a day for deep and heart-felt lament.

But today’s Gospel lesson comes some 28 years later. Jesus is not 2 years old, but 30! There is no “slaughter of the innocents”, but there is still derision and division, struggle and sin, and fighting in the midst of faith.

Hear the Word of God … Mark 1:4-11 …. —- [The screen will show this passage.]

⁴ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. ⁶ John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

⁹ At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. ¹¹ And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

There’s a lot that could come from this brief story in the Bible – John the Baptist’s lifestyle and diet, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry is inaugurated here, the Heavenly Father’s voice of blessing and approval before Jesus has done any(!) ministry. But this morning I am led to focus on the act of the Baptism.

I know the sermon is just getting started, but, let me talk with our kids for a minute – all-y’all can listen in:

Sometimes, when we meet a friend we may say, “What’s new?” It’s only been a couple weeks since Christmas, so if I were to ask you, “What’s New?” you would probably have a lot to tell me about.

I’m sure you get excited about getting new things, like games or toys!  You’ve probably spent hours playing with the new toys you received for Christmas.

One thing I really enjoy is a new beginning. We are at the beginning of a new year. What an exciting time! It’s a chance to start over. It’s a time to try to do things better than we did last year.

Is there anything you want to be better this year?  How about you grownups? What are you hoping might be better this year? How about in your personal lives?

Today, we’re talking about another new beginning. It’s better than the beginning of a new year. It’s the beginning of a new life; a new life in Jesus.

In today’s Bible story, we read about a man called John the Baptist. John went all around the countryside in Judea telling people about a new beginning they could have. He said to repent. That means to ask God to forgive your sins, turn away from those sins, and try again. John baptized people who repented. He did it in the Jordan River. They were baptized to show the world that God forgives our sins. This is a new beginning for us. We still baptize people today. (Just six months ago Oran and Hope’s Mom was baptized right here!) Now, that’s what I call a new beginning!

But in today’s story, even Jesus Himself went to John the Baptist and was baptized by him. OK, this is still for the kids, but this is for everyone else, too … Why did Jesus – who had never sinned, Jesus is sinless, the Son of God, God Incarnate, unable to sin – it is beyond His character to sin – so what did Jesus have to repent from? Why was Jesus Baptized by John’s Baptism of Repentance?!

The quick and easy answer, which is not necessarily wrong – but I think it s too simple – is that Jesus was baptized to set an example for the rest of us!

But a careful look at the story says that the whole of Judea was already getting baptized! For whom was He setting a example? [Maybe for the rest of the world who would one day read of this day! Sure enough! In fact, that’s what we’re doing with it today!] But I think there’s more:

I met a young man just before Christmas, a Marine who had been discharged for medical reasons, who told me that he “begged to differ” with my theology that says we are all sinners, that we all fall short of the glory of God. He said that Adam and Eve’s sin was only their sin, and not his!

I think part of what Jesus is doing is reminding us that we require God’s forgiveness to move forward in faith. I may not have actually murdered anyone, right? I mean, I really absolutely have never murdered anyone! But, have I held a grudge against someone longer than necessary? Jesus calls that “committing murder in my heart” (Matthew 5:22). Have I therefore sinned? Do I need to repent? James, we read last Thursday in Bible Study, says that “whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking it all!” (James 2:11)

And then Wednesday happened.  And these were mostly self-proclaimed “Christians”, “followers of Jesus”. The president of one of the seminaries I attended (Fuller, in Pasadena, CA) said: “But don’t ever forget what we saw today. Don’t ever forget how we saw them storm the Capitol, break through windows, take over the chamber, sit with fists raised in the Speaker’s chair and literally hang from the ceiling….” And he continued, “And to everybody saying, ‘this is not who we are, this is not America’ you are gravely mistaken. Aggrieved, embittered white people with a weoponized religion of ‘God ordained’ take over, conquest and violence is exactly who this place is and who these people are. Rev Dr. Jeremiah Wright said it best: ‘As long as this country worships the myths of its own goodness, the myths of its own exceptionalism, and the myths of it being a peaceful, Christian nation, it will be damned.’”

Look at this screen shot of a CBS TV news report:  [show on screen    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10215055941672127&set=p.10215055941672127&type=3&__cft__[0]=AZWMK4tCtSl911ATf1ka030yKDyvnoKTFAEdh_Q7YiyFTxJTaF9tdXl_XOF9h8K1g_7WqJb6F–JAhMx74P1ICZ3qx_loLIlik1EwFhXjhQHnhvWQL3-GepLK1KRK6i9hhg&__tn__=R]-R ]

Someone saw this and posted: “They got Jesus backwards. I’m afraid there is a lot of that in our country.”

We, the Church, must repent, and stand against this!

Jesus Himself received the Baptism of Repentance.

The Old Testament prophet Amos (5:14-15) says, “Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.”

Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on us!

The very next story in Mark’s Gospel (1:14-15), immediately after the Baptism of Repentance and the 40 days in the wilderness, tells us, “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the Good News of God: ‘The time has come, He said, ‘Repent and believe the Good News!’”

The first step forward to our “fresh start” is to repent!

 Dear God, we thank You that Jesus who was without sin washes away our sins and gives us a new life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer Page –  In times when humanity disappoints,

perhaps when even our own thoughts and behaviors disappoint,

it is an important act to call out, to name and claim, the consequences of our wrongs.

And in times of distress it is a prophetic act to call out, to name and claim, our belief that peace, love, joy, and hope are what we are born for, and are possible in our world.

And now – call out a name, a place, a people, a situation, you are lifting to the Lord in prayer ….  “Have mercy on us, O Lord.”    [Lord’s Prayer]  Amen.

– Christmas Joy Offering & Pledge Cards and our Offering (4449 N Nevada St, Spokane, 99207 ; or on-line on FB or LidgerwoodPresbyChurch.wordpress.com at this click, www.givlia.com/g/lidgerwoodpresbychurch)   or text 833-976-1333, code “Lidgerwood”

Expedition Song  – Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise! ….   sung by Lilly haeger (our suggestion is no congregational singing, but if you’re wearing your masks appropriately, who would know who is singing?).

Next Sunday, like we did today – please RSVP to us if you plan to attend so we can properly set up – and please CALL IN or email or text – so we can share with you what the plans will be – whether we will be allowed to continue to meet or not.

We close with this benediction:       Friends –

may we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ,

becoming more beautiful with each passing day of struggle and victory, each encounter with the Holy Spirit, giving glory to God today and forever!

Before we go too far, today is January Birthdays Celebration!

Donna Stone, Jacob Winningham, Barb Durham, Jacki DeLeon, Brianna Blatchford, Darlene Haats

This is your birthday song – it isn’t very long!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Resources: 

https://sermons4kids.com/the lord’s baptism.htm

01/03/2021 = Luke 1:26-38 = Rev Sheryl Kinder-Pyle

Our Presbytery’s Executive brings us God’s Word today, Rev Sheryl Kinder-Pyle, Presbytery of the Inland Northwest. This morning’s message can be seen/heard on YouTube HERE,

Or you can go to Lidgerwood Church’s Facebook Live feed and get the whole service HERE (service starts at the 17 minute mark, the sermon begins at 35 minutes)

You can DONATE to Lidgerwood Church’s ministries HERE.