Sunday Worship Service

 

Pentecost 9

Leader: Rev. Seung Jae Yeon

 

Click to view pdf version 

 

This service is prepared by The Minister, Rev. Seung Jae Yeon at Boronia Park Uniting Church. In his preparation, Jenny Warren (Bible Reading), Jenny Keast (Kid’s Talk), Joshua Yeon (Prayers of the People), and Isabella Lee (Singer) and Grace Song (Piano) join participate in leading the worship service.

 

 

 

         WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

 

I am thankful to God for the communities I belong and where I may find my identity. Home, family immediate and distance, circle of friends both ministry and social, and church community. I give thanks to God that I am welcomed by each member, joining in friendship and fellowship. I may ask God that all who I am with may find the presence of God in there and with each other.

 

What are you thankful for today?

 

Take a moment to think about thankfulness to God and to others. Then share yours with family, friends, or neighbours after this service.

 

 

         ​OPENING SENTENCE

 

Apostle Paul brings his tiny-but-assured voice to God in his intercession written in Ephesians 3, saying,

 

“I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

_{Verses 16-19. New Revised Standard Version}

 

This is a prayer that may give us the purpose to this worship service during the lockdown. This is also our intercession to God between us, and God and his Creation who is now suffering. Let us have a few seconds in silence and then pray together.

 

         Silent Prayer that you may offer freely in silence.

 

 

         PRAYER OF THE DAY

 

Let us pray:

 

Holy God, Author of life and Source of all hope,

Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier: hear our prayer.

We know that the blank slate of a new day seems so promising –

We haven’t done anything too awful, not yet.

 

And we know that the blank slate of a new day is also an illusion;

Time continues, and our lives flow from one moment to the next, from one day to the next.

 

In this time, we know we are sometimes remarkable and generous, bearing light to the shadows, and we know we are sometimes full of despair and selfishness, hoarding light and goodness for ourselves.

 

We invite you on our journeys, O God.

We seek your presence with us in the darkness and the light,

In our remarkable moments and our awful ones.

 

We seek your presence, and bask in your love, through Christ. Amen.

_{Attributed to Beth Merrill Neel and edited by the leader}

 

 

         SONG       JESUS, WE ENTHRONE YOU

 

Jesus, we enthrone You,

we proclaim You our King.

Standing here in the midst of us,

we raise You up with our praise.

 

And as we worship, build a throne.

And as we worship, build a throne.

And as we worship, build a throne.

Come, Lord Jesus, and take Your place.

_{Words and Music by Rick Founds | CCLI #260394}

 

 

         KID’S TALK    JENNY KEAST

 

           Feeding the 5,000

 

Hello everyone! Today Seungjae is helping us to understand the passage in the bible that has become known as “the feeding of the five thousand”. I am going to show you a short video that tells you about this passage and I will explain what it means for us.

 

Last week Rosemary gave us some very good examples of what “compassion” means. This passage is a very good example of Jesus showing compassion.

 

            Show video

 

Jesus was very tired but he knew all the people were hungry. He didn’t go out searching to find food, but used what was available where he was. He blessed the food and the five loaves and two fish were able to feed 5,000 people who were there. God is generous, there was food left over. God does not just give us the bare minimum of what we need, but actually gives us more than what we need or probably deserve.

 

We should always be willing to share with others whatever we have, even if it doesn’t seem enough to us. Let God work out how to use what we give, but if we don’t share anything, we may never know what the outcome could have been. 

 

Let us pray a prayer to God.

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Help us to be like you.

Help us to have compassion

like Jesus did and to be willing to share what we have just

like the little boy was willing to share his lunch.

Teach us to be like you

In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

 

         BIBLE READING    JENNY WARREN

 

The Gospel reading is from John 6:1-15 (NRSV).

 

Feeding the Five Thousand

 

6 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. ² A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick. ³ Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. ⁴ Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near. ⁵ When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. ⁷ Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” ⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ⁹ “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” ¹⁰ Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. ¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. ¹² When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” ¹³ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. ¹⁴ When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”

 

¹⁵ When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

 

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

         SERMON         SEUNG JAE YEON

 

As a home-gardener, I look after all my plants. I put my eyes on them whether they might need any provision such as topsoil or fertiliser, enough length of sun light, prevention of bugs or diseases, and moisture in soil. To those inside house, I do have extra care and attention especially in the season of winter. I mind the season. What I do is to move pots from place to place, migrating them to a better spot in the house where plant can gain best supply of sunlight, room temperature and water. Once each pot is placed and settled, I do water regularly. This is important. No matter where those pots are, without watering, they would go dry or soon die. I keep checking the moisture level of each pot everyday. If it dries out or is less moist, I get a cup of water to water them or bring them to kitchen sink or bath top to water for giving life and health. When there is lack of water, the plants look wilted. If plants or plant cells are filled with water, my plants are upright. Just beautiful! Before and after water is totally different. Water is amazing. Two hydrogen and single oxygen give vivid colours in leaf and flowers, bringing life back to what it should be.

 

Before and after

 

The Gospel of John sees Jesus Christ as “the Temple between Creation and New Creation” (N. T. Wright). The idea of the Temple becomes its climax at the scene of Jesus’ resurrection and the empty tomb. Jesus is the Temple where God dwells, and all creatures are to be saved and reconciled with God, the Creator. God’s will be done in the risen Lord Jesus Christ as the Temple. I am now saved and freed because of Him and through Him. In Him and with Him, you and I can gather around God’s presence to worship, take action, and continue his mission. In Christ, the Son of God, and the Friend of all, we live the life eternal and the will of God for each other and to the world. Before Jesus, we could live our own plans and goals. That is ok. After Jesus, we will live forever in Him to bring life not only for self but also for many. It is clear that we discern about the life given by the baptism of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The moment of before and after Jesus Christ may form you in different way. His baptism and all the words and deeds he showed in the bible may form who you are this moment. His ministry from the wedding at Cana to the road to Emmaus may transform your life so far. The man from Galilee, the Servant King, the risen crucified Lord Jesus Christ has turned your life upside down and inside out. Before and after Jesus Christ, what significance would you find in your life today?

 

Vincent Van Gogh once said, “There is the same difference in a person before and after he is in love, as there is in an unlighted lamp and one that is burning.” His saying reminds me of the power of love in one’s life. For me, my mother’s love to her children is the greatest one on earth. I cannot thank enough for her love by using all language I have gained. I believe that I am burning, a burning lamp in my life or in other’s lives. When I dwell in love, God’s love, her loving kindness is always there for me. What I do is to seek to find her love from all my memories, giving meanings and blessing them. As I am getting older, I might understand about the reasons that she spoke to me in certain way or tone, treated me and thought about me. Because of her love either that embodies in my love and myself or that is still being found, I can see this world and all events that are linked and only between events in life. Before and after the love that my mother has given and influenced, I am who I really am. I do hope that you have love in your relationship, friendship, and your own self. In that love, I pray that everyday you have “a story of unexpected transformation” (Elif Safak).

 

There were 5,000 men plus women and young ones who walked along with a man. All felt tired and hunger after the day’s journey. It had not been a romantic day tour. They would have exiled from the flood of people and pilgrims from many places who were going to join the Passover festival in the Jerusalem temple. They would have seemed to have no place to belong in the city and the temple. They would have begun to walk with fellows who felt lonely and weary, joining others who are under similar circumstances: the sick, the poor, the lame, the marginalised, the shame and all sinful. One after another, a huge crowd of people were walking together in the opposite direction, whereas pilgrims and visitors hurried up to the city. What would they have greeted to each other? What expectation would they have exchanged as they walked past to different direction? No matter what, those who walked with a man from Galilee, continued walking and walking. Then they stopped. Because they were hungry. No energy to walk. And no one had an idea how to satisfy themselves by eating. It was difficult to sustain them. The food failed. Phillip and Andrew were managing to feed the crowd and to live without fasting. Jesus tested two men, wanting to see how they respond. Jesus was there between food failure and satisfaction to those following him. That was his mission, a mission to show where God is in the midst of them. ‘Before and after’ moment comes. They come all to the fork of the road. Two options: Going back unwillingly to the way they used to be – the city temple where they were excluded or invisible. Or Taking opportunity with tiny faith like a mustard seed to unite with the Temple that all are welcome, use a new currency to exchange, and live with the new King. Let us see these three points in today’s passage.

 

Jesus, the Temple among the people

 

First, the followers of Jesus Christ were invited to join the Temple, not in the city of Jerusalem but in Jesus Christ who is sitting with them. It was not important whether they were allowed by the power and authority of the temple, which is made by false understanding of religion or temple theology. Jesus blamed those merchants and temple leaders in the temple courtyard who exchanged their coin or gained profits. He defended his kingdom authority with the word. He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” (John 2:19, NRSV) In his prophetic statement of his-dying-but-resurrection, he proclaims that the Temple between Creation and New Creation is the one and only found in him. They went up to the mountain and sat down there with Jesus Christ, the Temple. Before Jesus, they used to be never welcomed but after Jesus, the Temple they now belong to God. Temple’s authority, power, leaders of Jewish religion, or those who might have mistreated them were unseen in Jesus. Only Jesus Christ, who they had followed, brings the presence of God among them as the Temple. The Jewish festival Passover was prepared and going to be celebrated by majority of righteous people in that religion, whereas the true Temple in Jesus Christ and his fellowship was sitting together as a new sign of God’s reign among them. They seemed to be littered by the temple power, but they were gathered together in the Temple where Jesus demonstrated fully the presence of God to join the new way of living in union with Jesus Christ.

 

New currency of compassion and sharing in

 

Second, Jesus introduced the new currency of compassionate heart that people can share little things with others. Phillip seemed to be good at math or counting money to buy food. He would have done similar tasks beforehand so that he counted quickly then reported to Jesus. He knew how much they might possess or how much of Roman currency they pay for food for more than 5,000 people. His currency was based on marketplace wage calculation. But his accounting skill or their currency that he might have possessed failed to feed them. Jesus knew it. When Andrew came to him with a boy who had bread and fish which was a humble lunch for little one’s day walk, he brought a doubtful question, asking, “What are they among so many people?” Jesus did two simple requests – the one to those followers and the other to God the Father. Jesus found a grassy place where people can sit and ready for the meal. Then he gave thanks to God. In those two requests, we may find Jesus who invites all God’s people to the feast of God, and God’s blessing upon the bread and fish for the people who sit in the Temple. In requesting people to sit and God to bless, Jesus shows the new currency of compassionate heart in him and let them use the currency for their new life in Jesus and with others. In his action, he seems to depreciate the Roman currency of injustice and violence and the Jewish religion’s currency of prejudice and humiliation. But he may ask us to promote the use of the currency of compassion and humility when we work, live, and serve.

 

You may know the name called Phillip James Elliot, or Jim Elliot, an American Christian missionary. He and four fellow missionaries were killed during the Operation Auca in Ecuador in 1956. His wife Elizabeth Elliot wrote about his sacrificial life and call from God in the book “Shadow of the Almighty (1989)”, commemorating Elliot’s passion that pursued God’s will. He prayed once at his age of 21, to God, saying, “Father, make me of a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me.” I believe that he lived as he prayed, and committed himself as he asked to God, “Make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ…” Before and after he had a call from God, his life chose to go a rocky and risky path toward death in a mission field. Before and after his death in the mission outreach, the first hearers in Ecuador and many believers around the world must have chosen the Way, the Truth and the Life in Christ Jesus.

 

Rejoicing in God

 

My third point from this passage to share is this: Jesus rolled out the important question of who he really is. He wanted no title like prophet or king. Instead, he humbly asked the disciples to gather up all leftovers, saying, “nothing may be lost.” This reminds us of the shepherd who searches his lost sheep and rejoices over it when he finds the one. Jesus would have wanted to rejoice with the people because they were stuffed and satisfied by enough bread and fish. He would have only celebrated with the disciples and the crowd for who God is for them. The title of prophet or king was not important. To him, the number one purpose in feeding 5,000 is for them to turn one way where God’s will and purpose lays. Not going back to the before but moving forward because they meet God in him.

 

 

This is a photo of plant that shows us before and after water. Which one would you choose if you get?  I can see the difference before and after water. As I conclude, I want us to think about how our mission would look like before and after the current lockdown. How should we live the life in Jesus Christ, witnessing Christ’s love and joyous life in Him? As we are not able to gather in our church building, how would we say that we are church as people not a building? Are we still a church online or in a digital space? What is our currency in this challenging time? God may ask us that “our currency is love and kindliness our law.” (Shirley Erena Murray, Community of Christ) Are we still giving thanks to God this day for all God’s provision no matter what, rejoicing that we are still God’s people? How would we make a ‘before and after’ moment in one’s life or our faith journey? May the story and its lesson of Jesus’ feeding 5,000 set a milepost in us this coming week and transform our character for the love we own for God and for our neighbour.

 

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, NRSV)

 

Amen.

 

 

         PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE    JOSHUA YEON

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity to be able to gather and worship via the internet even through these hard times in lockdown. I pray for Sydney and Melbourne as we are in lockdown and facing various difficulties. I pray for the businesses, schools and communities that are affected by the lockdown and coronavirus. As we pray for an end to the virus and a lockdown, I especially pray for the HSC and IB students across Sydney and Melbourne as they face their upcoming exams. We pray that the board of the schools across NSW come up with a safe and efficient way to deal with the exams without giving the students a large amount of stress. We pray for teachers as they have to work around the challenges and help the students to achieve their goals. Lord, the virus has impacted many groups around the world. Please help us to face the challenges in a well-mannered and peaceful way so we can go back to our ordinary lives.

 

Loving Father, I pray that you help the countries around the world that face lots of difficulties including economic difficulties, racism, domestic violence and many more. These major problems have affected the countries in such a big way and are making living for certain people a lot harder than it already is.

 

For the world cycle of prayer, we pray for Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda.

 

Our prayers go out to these countries that they may face their challenges in a peaceful and positive way. This week we especially pray for the outbreak of riots caused by political problems in South Africa. We pray that their problems are solved and the lives of innocent people are not dangered.

 

Lord, a very big tournament is so close to starting, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. As sporting teams from across the globe come together to participate in their chosen sport, i pray that they are kept safe from the virus and from injuries. As our Australian team goes ahead, we pray that their safety is number one and hopefully they come back with positive results and etc. I also pray that this Olympics can be a fresh new start to world peace and harmony. Sport is one of the main things that can bring countries together. We hope that this can bring lots of countries together without the negative influences of their pasts or any other reasons.

 

Lord, we pray for your churches around the world that they can gather and worship you during these stressful times. Especially our neighbouring churches, Villa Maria Holy Name of Mary, and St. Peter Chapel. We pray for their leaders in the church that they can cope with the difficulties of preaching during the tough times of COVID-19.

 

God, we pray for our church, our elders, our leaders, our members and our younger people. As we can’t meet up and see each other, we pray that you keep every single person safe and healthy so that we can see each other again once the lockdown is done. We especially pray for John Spencer, as he has recently had a cancer operation. We pray that the operation was completed successfully and he comes back safe and healthy.

 

We pray all of these things in your name,

 

Amen.

 

 

         THE LORD’S PRAYER

 

Our Father in heaven, 

hallowed be your name,

我們在天上的父, 

願人都尊祢的名為聖,

하늘에 계신 우리 아버지, 

아버지의 이름을 거룩하게 하시며,

 

your kingdom come, your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

願祢的國降臨, 

願祢的旨意行在地上, 

如同行在天上.

아버지의 나라가 오게 하시며, 

아버지의 뜻이 하늘에서와 같이 

땅에서도 이루어지게 하소서.

 

Give us today our daily bread.

我們日用的飲食 今日賜給我們,

오늘 우리에게 일용할 양식을 주시고,

Forgive us our sins, 

as we forgive those who sin against us.

免我們的債 如同我們免了人的債

우리가 우리에게 잘못한 사람을 

용서하여 준 것같이 

우리 죄를 용서하여 주시고,

 

Save us from the time of trial 

and deliver us from evil.   

不叫我們遇見試探, 

救我們脫離兇惡,

우리를 시험에 빠지지 않게 하시고 

악에서 구하소서.

 

For the kingdom, the power, 

and the glory are yours now and for ever.

因為國度, 權柄, 榮耀, 全是祢的, 直到永遠.

나라와 권능과 영광이 

영원히 아버지의 것입니다.

 

Amen.

 

 

         SONG       LIKE A CANDLE

 

Like a candle burning wildly,

raging soft against the night,

spark that leaps to clear the shadows

sending warm disturbing light.

We are called to live the passion,

hope stands strong against all pain.

For it’s only in the burning

that the candle shows its flame.

 

Like a river running freely,

rapids swirl beside our feet,

swiftly flowing from the high land

comes to rest, still waters meet.

All our journeys rising, falling,

making turns we least expect,

when the Spirit churns within us,

know God’s power through the test.

 

Like an angel walking lightly

on this fragile earth of clay,

touching folk with raw compassion,

laughing, playing on the way.

Freely living ev’ry moment

in the mystery of grace.

Giving, dying, living, rising,

see the beauty of God’s face.

 

See the hope that burns in darkness,

show compassion, strong and kind,

bind the hurt and broken-hearted,

be God’s hands and voice and eyes.

Sing a new song ev’ry sunrise,

climb to places out of reach,

walk in freedom of God’s Spirit,

as we die so we shall live.

_{CCLI Song # 206394}

_{Words: Craig Mitchell | Music: Tim Beale, Roger Imms}

 

 

         OFFERING AND DEDICATION

 

The offering will be used for the congregation’s continuing mission and ministry in these changing times. Please make your offering through a Bank Deposit or a personal cheque whichever is convenient to you.

 

Account Name: Boronia Park Uniting Church

BSB: 634-634                    

Account: 100023784

Reference: Offering      

 

Please contact Robyn Harvey, Treasurer on 0418 783 290 or

robyn.49@bigpond.net.au for more information about how to make Direct Debit.

 

 

         BENEDICTION

 

If you have found some of the good bread of Christ here this day,

then don’t hesitate to share it with others.

For this is the bread that increases the more it is given away,

and nourishes us best in the presence of goodwill and laughter.

  

         Go on your way in good spirits, for the best is yet to come.

         The grace of our Saviour,

         the love of our Creator,

         and the friendship of our Enabler,

         will be with us this day and evermore. Amen!

_{Attributed to Bruce Prewer}

 

         SONG       ANOTHER IN THE FIRE

 

There's a grace when the heart is under fire

Another way when the walls are closing in

And when I look at the space between

Where I used to be and this reckoning          

I know I will never be alone

 

There was another in the fire

Standing next to me

There was another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

Of how I've been set free

There is a cross that bears the burden

Where another died for me

There is another in the fire

 

All my debt left for dead beneath the waters

I'm no longer a slave to my sin anymore

And should I fall in the space between

What remains of me and this reckoning

Either way I won't bow

To the things of this world

And I know I will never be alone

 

There is another in the fire

Standing next to me

There is another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

What power set me free

There is a grave that holds no body

And now that power lives in me

 

There is no other name

But the name that is Jesus

He who was and still is

And will be through it all

So come what may in the space between

All the things unseen

And this reckoning

I know I will never be alone

 

There'll be another in the fire

Standing next to me

There'll be another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

How good You've been to me

I'll count the joy come every battle

'Cause I know that's where You'll be

_{Chris Davenport | Joel Houston | CCLI Licence # 260394}

  

 

The Boronia Park Uniting Church communications team who recorded and edited the videos, ensured all the videos ran as they should and designed the invitation and order of service. All music reproduced and streamed with permission. CCLI Copyright and Streaming Licence: 260394, 33617. All English scripture readings in this service are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.