Remembering

 Gate Pa – November 12 2013
Readings:
Hebrew Scripture:                 Haggai 1:14-2:9                     
Psalm:                                     145:1-5-17-21
Epistle:                                    2 Thess 2:1-5, 13-1
Gospel:                                    Luke 20:27-38

What I want to say:
            Ask what we remember on remembrance Sunday
            suggest that we remember and honour those who went working prevent any others having to do same
            inspired by example of Te Whiti and Tohu among others in this land
            do that by not getting stuck in what is before us and keeping hold bigger picture of God’s ongoing work
What I want to happen:
People to be inspired to work for peace, in our communities, country and world

The Sermon
      1.      Introduction:
talk about Remembrance day – what are we remembering?
                        courage of those who went
                        folly of war
talk about line in programme for today’s service at Otumoetai
            “Remember those fought wars to establish peace”
irony of that line on this day -  commemorates end WW1 – most historians suggest
            war reparations placed on Germany made WWII almost inevitable
            rather than war to end wars
                        led to over century ongoing conflict especially in middle east.
how might we honour and remember those who have fought?
            war never establishes peace – ending war just brings end to that conflict
            recognise causes of war and conflict in community, country and world
                        huge divide between wealthy and poor –
                                    hopelessness
                        self centeredness – loose any appreciation needs of other
                                    absolute belief rightness of our position
                                    all becomes about us and out desires
                        greed
                        focussing too much on here and now and losing sight big picture
            work eradicate those causes                

      2.      Scripture
what might scripture have to say about those things?
Ø  pray unceasingly justice for God’s chosen people
Ø  hope that swords will be beaten in ploughshares
Ø  Lukes gospel find Jesus who worked to remove barriers that excluded people from god’s grace and a place in the social community
Ø  todays reading, especially Luke and Haggai – invitation to keep hold of bigger picture
o   God’s ongoing work of restoration and new life
o   join in that work

      3.      Local examples
Wednesday remembered Te Whiti Rongomai
                        in this land have those worked peace against great odds:
                                    and Tohu in Parihaka
                                    Wiremu Tamihana of Matamata

      4.      how do we remember and honour those who have fought, those did come home, and those who came home forever changed????

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Get those PSA Blood Tests Done Boys!

I had a strange conversation a few months ago. I was lying back in a chair, naked from the waste down, holding a nappy over my bits while I waited for the skin under my bits to go numb enough from liquid nitrogen or some such thing, so that they could inject the local anesthetic and then punch a couple of holes through to the prostate. All in all a fun experience. And while I waited the nurse made small talk and asked what I did. "I'm retired", I replied. "Oh, what are you planning to do now you are retired? any travel?" "Turns out not" I said, "It seems I'm just keeping my dairy open for dealing with health things." And I am still keeping my dairy open and still dealing with them. This journey began last year. I was already dealing with two other things, including a lump in my parotid gland which has been slowly growing there for about 3 years. When I got back from being overseas on sabbatical my doctor called me in to talk about that an...
Read more

What a Ride! - Thankyou and Goodbye!

Image
You can listen to this sermon here   Gate Pa - Ascension Sunday and Easter 7 Year B, 2024 Readings: Palm                            Psalm 1 First Reading:             Acts 1:1-11, 15-17,21-26                     Bible Page 884 Second Reading:        1 John 5:9-13                                       Bible Page 991 Gospel:                         John 17:6-19      ...
Read more

"Just Enjoy The Coffee"

I was just sent this on Anglicans All. Being a coffee enjoyer and a Franciscan I enjoyed it. I hope you do to: Even if you are not a coffee drinker...Have a good day!!!! A group of graduates, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain ,plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee, the professor said: If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the simple and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it is just more ex...
Read more