Embodying Justice: Jesus' Call to Compassion and Advocacy

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- **Luke 4:14-21**: "Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.' And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, 'Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.'" [07:42]

#### Observation Questions
1. What was the initial reaction of the people in the synagogue to Jesus' reading from the scroll of Isaiah? [14:44]
2. How did the congregation's attitude change after Jesus explained the implications of his message? [15:20]
3. What specific actions did Jesus proclaim he was anointed to perform according to the passage from Isaiah? [07:42]
4. How does the sermon describe the contemporary parallels to Jesus' message and the reaction it received? [16:50]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What might have caused the shift from admiration to anger among the people listening to Jesus in the synagogue? [15:20]
2. How does the sermon suggest that the message of prophetic justice and mercy is still relevant today? [18:16]
3. In what ways does the sermon highlight the importance of community and solidarity in advocating for justice? [23:50]
4. How does the sermon interpret the role of dignity, honesty, and humility in fostering unity and compassion? [26:38]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced resistance while advocating for justice or mercy. How did you respond, and what might you do differently now? [15:54]
2. How can you use your unique gifts to support your community in times of societal division? Identify one specific action you can take this week. [23:50]
3. Consider the pillars of dignity, honesty, and humility. Which of these do you find most challenging to practice, and how can you work on it in your daily interactions? [26:38]
4. Think about a situation where you witnessed or experienced societal resistance to a message of compassion. How did it affect you, and what steps can you take to stand firm in your convictions? [16:50]
5. Identify a marginalized group in your community. What is one practical way you can advocate for their dignity and rights this month? [29:54]
6. How can you draw strength from the Holy Spirit to proclaim the good news in your own life? What specific area of your life needs this proclamation? [32:47]
7. Reflect on the role of faith and action in your life. What is one area where you feel called to act, and what steps will you take to follow through? [32:47]

Day 1: Prophetic Justice and Mercy
In Jesus' first sermon in Nazareth, he proclaimed a message of liberation and justice, emphasizing the importance of bringing good news to the poor, releasing captives, and setting the oppressed free. This message was initially met with admiration but soon turned to anger as the implications of his words became clear. This shift highlights the challenges faced when advocating for justice and mercy in a world resistant to change. The call to embody prophetic justice in our daily lives is a reminder that true discipleship often involves standing against societal norms to uplift the marginalized. [14:44]

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." (Isaiah 61:1, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your community is marginalized or overlooked, and how can you actively advocate for their justice and dignity today?


Day 2: Community and Solidarity
In times of societal division, the power of community becomes crucial. By supporting one another and using our diverse gifts, we can create a collective force for good, providing safe passage and protection for those in need. This sense of solidarity is essential in fostering a compassionate and just society. The narrative of Jesus' sermon invites us to consider our role as followers of Christ, challenging us to stand firm in our convictions and embody the principles of dignity, honesty, and humility. [23:50]

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

Reflection: What unique gift or talent do you possess that can be used to support someone in your community this week?


Day 3: Dignity, Honesty, and Humility
Dignity, honesty, and humility are essential pillars for fostering unity and compassion. By honoring the dignity of every person, speaking truth with humility, and refusing to demonize others, we can build bridges and promote understanding. These principles are crucial in navigating the challenges of advocating for justice and mercy in a world resistant to change. The call to embody these values in our daily lives is a reminder of the transformative power of love and compassion. [26:38]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice humility in your interactions today, especially with those who hold different views from your own?


Day 4: Courage in Advocacy
Like Bishop Mary Ann Buddy, we are called to use our voices and positions to advocate for the marginalized, even at personal risk. This courage in advocacy is a testament to our faith and commitment to God's vision of justice. The narrative of Jesus' sermon and the subsequent reaction of the crowd invites us to consider our role as followers of Christ, challenging us to stand firm in our convictions and embody the principles of dignity, honesty, and humility. [29:54]

"Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific issue of injustice you feel called to speak out against, and what steps can you take this week to begin advocating for change?


Day 5: Faith and Action
Our faith compels us to act, using our skills and resources to bring about change. Whether through direct service or advocacy, each action contributes to the larger mission of proclaiming God's love and justice. The power of community and the importance of using our diverse gifts to support one another are crucial in navigating these turbulent times. Let us draw strength from the Holy Spirit and continue to proclaim the good news, trusting in God's providence to guide us. [32:47]

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." (James 1:22, ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to put your faith into action in your community?

Gracious God, anoint us anew with your Holy Spirit of love. By it, form our hearts, minds, and hearts. And lives into channels of your good news. Grant us a renewed passion for your vision of a world where none are poor and where every weight is lifted. Cultivate your courageous compassion in us to move toward any who have been marginalized or run over by the world. Yes, bless and strengthen us to bless and strengthen others. [00:01:47]

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor he has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind to set free those who are oppressed to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and he rolled up the scroll gave it back to the attendant and sat down the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him then he began to say to them today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing may we hear and understand what the scriptures are saying teaching us [00:12:47] (44 seconds) Edit Clip


A preacher gets up, quotes scripture, reminds the gathered congregation that God loves the outcasts, those in fear for their lives, the poor, the prisoners, the disabled, and the oppressed. And in response, an outraged mob tries to kill the preacher. And that's kind of what happened with Jesus' story there. It made me wonder if the story was from the New Testament or the Washington Post. [00:16:05] (34 seconds) Edit Clip


We need to be reminded today that Jesus's first sermon was one about prophetic justice. It was about dignity and mercy towards those whom society overlooks and abuses. But I had another question. While I was reading the Gospel message, my attention wandered a little bit. And I wondered, what about the onlookers? [00:18:54] (27 seconds) Edit Clip


But when he pushed forward the implications of caring for the poor and the marginalized, those words challenged the congregation. And they turned on him. The Greek word is pas. It means totality or universality. And it's translated as all or every or whole or entire in English. The word that was translated is all. It doesn't refer to every single person. It's hyperbolic and it refers to the congregation as a whole. It refers to the majority of the group. [00:20:03] (42 seconds) Edit Clip


I think of the group in the synagogue, all surprised at how much authority he has when he's teaching, and the quality and the truth in what he was saying. But then when he speaks directly to the congregation, saying that God loves widows and those stricken with leprosy, implying that the neighbors had not treated widows and lepers justly, he got them angry. They praised words about justice, but they were not enacting. They weren't acting on God's command to enact mercy towards outcasts. [00:22:47] (36 seconds) Edit Clip


And my overview of that is that only a community... even one that goes unnoticed in the Puget crowd, the band that refuses to join the rabble, can keep us from going completely over the edge. So even though it may seem that the whole country has gone mad, we have the power of our community. And within that, we have the powers of all of each of our gifts. It's our mission to do what we can do. It's our mission to do what we can do. What any one person might be able to do might seem small. [00:23:50] (40 seconds) Edit Clip


But as we help one another, even one at a time, and share our skills, and share our gifts, we can bring many blessings. We have teachers. We have writers. We have healers. We have attorneys. We have speakers. We have people... language fields we have counselors and more all of these can be used to navigate the near and far future what i was impressed with with bishop buddy's sermon [00:24:30] (41 seconds) Edit Clip


She reminded everyone to welcome the outcasts. She was realistic and gospel centric. She was confident in her authority. But here's the big thing that I really loved, I just appreciated it. She gave clear, actionable ways to live out the message. The second half of her sermon explained three pillars for the foundations of unity. [00:26:18] (29 seconds) Edit Clip


One of them is honor the dignity of every human being. Noting that all faiths represented in the chancel affirm the inherent dignity of every human being, Bishop Buddy explained what this looks like in real terms. It means refusing to mock or discount or demonize those with whom we differ. Choosing instead to respectfully seek common ground. When agreement is not possible, however, we must hold onto our conviction without contempt for those who hold differing views. That's not easy, but it was well said. [00:26:58] (45 seconds) Edit Clip


Humility is necessary because it is a tool in the use of which he wanted. They need to know the power and the value of the narrative. because it keeps us from demonizing those who disagree with us. Those who we label bad won't we think ourselves to be good. Bishop Betty modeled this humility in her sermon by refusing to label anyone good or bad even when pointing out where we stray from the standards and foundations for unity. [00:29:09] (24 seconds) Edit Clip


In the name of our loving God, she asked him to be merciful to gay, lesbian, and transgender children who fear for their lives, to people without proper citizenship documentation who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals, to people who are fleeing war zones and persecutions in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here. In other words, she stood in that sacred, public, sacred place. [00:30:05] (36 seconds) Edit Clip

Good morning and welcome.

Welcome to Bethel. Good to see you folks here, both here in person and out there in internet land. Good to have everybody here.

And before we even start, I just want everybody to say really loud, "Happy birthday, Donna." Ready? Happy birthday, Donna. Yay! Because today is her birthday.

So I didn't even check this out because she was watching it. I didn't see that right. I should check this. I don't know. Anyway, happy birthday to... That was the delay thing. Anyway, if I see her come on later, we'll do it again. That was very well done.

So we're here to gather in worship and in grace and in compassion and all of these things. So I'm going to ask you to join me in the call to worship.

Let us begin.

The Spirit of God has called us to this place and time. We gather to hear God's liberating word of love.

Today, Pastor... May the past and future meet in the holiness of now. May the Spirit of God at work in Jesus also work in us. May the vision of flourishing for all be imprinted on our hearts. And may it be enacted in our lives.

And please join me in prayer.

Gracious God, anoint us anew with your Holy Spirit of love. By it, form our hearts, minds, and lives into channels of your good news. Grant us a renewed passion for your vision of a world where none are poor and where every weight is lifted. Cultivate your courageous compassion in us to move toward any who have been marginalized or run over by the world. Yes, bless and strengthen us to bless and strengthen others. We pray this in the name of one whose life fulfills your holy vision, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Our first song today is "Draw the Circle Wide," one about inclusiveness and including everyone with our community, letting no one stand alone. So let's sing this together.

Regular announcements, nothing spectacularly different, but as usual, we worship here on Sunday mornings on First Christian Service at 11:30 upstairs.

The Jazz Orchestra will be rehearsing just prior to their concert, which is in about three weeks or something like that, on the 15th. Cub Scouts are downstairs on Wednesdays. Chorus rehearsals don't start quite yet. Qigong is still here on Thursday mornings. Friday is Swing Ensemble. Saturday's orchestra rehearsals, that's starting very soon.

And concerts coming up: Saturday the 8th, we have George's Wind Ensemble. Can I borrow that? Some really amazing stuff they're doing this time. The Jazz Orchestra on the 15th, and the Symphony on the 23rd. So several things coming up.

Okay. It's children's time, so I'm going to push my button here.

Jesus, let's sing our Gloria and hear our scriptures.

Do all interpret but strive for the greater gifts.

Our gospel reading today is from the Gospel of Luke, the fourth chapter, verses 14-21.

Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding region. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to the church, he was called the Son of God. The Son of God came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

May we hear and understand what the scriptures are saying, teaching us.

Well, I have a couple of things to talk about today, so I don't know whether this is a split personality sermon or what, but today's lectionary ends where he says, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

And the actual story continues. It goes on until the 30th verse of Luke. It says, "All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, 'Is this not Joseph's son?'"

He said to them, "Doubtless you will quote me this proverb, 'Doctor, cure yourself,' and you will say, 'Do hear also in your hometown the things we have heard you did at Capernaum?'"

And he said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet's hometown."

And then he refers to two Hebrew Bible stories, one of a widow and one of a leper. When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. They got up, they drove him out of town and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff.

But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.

So that's the end of that story.

And so I kind of was thinking today about this question. And of course, my questions are influenced by Bishop Buddy. And I have some lessons from her sermon I want to share with you later.

But I also was just kind of musing about this question: A preacher gets up, quotes scripture, reminds the gathered congregation that God loves the outcasts, those in fear for their lives, the poor, the prisoners, the disabled, and the oppressed. And in response, an outraged mob tries to kill the preacher.

And that's kind of what happened with Jesus' story there. It made me wonder if the story was from the New Testament or the Washington Post. It's kind of a rare thing when a Bible story is quite that vivid.

And most of you, I'm sure, know that on Tuesday, Bishop Mary Ann Buddy gave a sermon at the Washington National Cathedral Prayer Service. And in the sermon, the sermon was much longer than the clip that many of you have probably heard, the short clip.

Her whole sermon was one of compassion and unity and pulling together and caring for one another. But she did address the new president directly and remind him that mercy is a quality of leadership and asked him to be merciful to the poor and the marginalized.

And what happened next was sad and dreadfully predictable because she was attacked in the media and social media, especially by our new president. And there have been all sorts of calls for all sorts of things. There was even a bill that 21 members of Congress filed to condemn the bishop publicly and denounce her distorted message.

For the most part, she didn't do it.

At the moment, this strikes me as the contemporary equivalent of throwing the preacher off the cliff.

I'm sure that thousands of sermons are going to be preached today on our Gospel reading on Luke 4. And I suspect myriads of us are going to be connecting that text to this week's events. Many have said, "Let's make this Solidarity with Bishop Betty Sunday." And I think many will.

I hope that millions will hear that message in whatever way their pastor or their clergy bring it to them. We need to be reminded today that Jesus's first sermon was one about prophetic justice. It was about dignity and mercy towards those whom society overlooks and abuses.

But I had another question. While I was reading the Gospel message, my attention wandered a little bit. And I wondered, what about the onlookers?

That little word, "all," appears three times in this story in reference to the congregation. The eyes of all of the synagogue were fixed on him. All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words. When they heard this, all of the synagogue were filled with rage. Three times.

At first, they were transfixed. Then they approved. But then after Jesus brings out the implications of his words, of that scroll of Isaiah, which, by the way, was probably very heavy, he must have been pretty strong to be unrolling that whole scroll and looking for that passage.

But when he pushed forward the implications of caring for the poor and the marginalized, those words challenged the congregation. And they turned on him.

The Greek word is "pas." It means totality or universality. And it's translated as "all" or "every" or "whole" or "entire" in English. The word that was translated is "all." It doesn't refer to every single person. It's hyperbolic and it refers to the congregation as a whole. It refers to the majority of the group.

When you look at the big picture, it appears to be all. But in reality, all isn't always all. There are always some who have a little difference of opinion. Collectively, the big group went from paying attention to praise to mild violence.

Collectively, our country went from one political seniority to one big political seniority to another.

So I still have these questions. Well, what about the others? There had to be others. The ones who didn't go along with the mob. Who were they? What did they do? We don't know what they did.

But I always wonder about the untold part of the story.

He passed through the midst of them and went on his way. How did he do that? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know.

I have no historical evidence for this whatsoever, but I have this feeling, this suspicion, this... maybe it's a fantasy, but that there were those in the group who could gather around him, say, "Come on, let's go this way."

I've seen that. I've seen it in movies. I've seen it in real life. Where some other people shield someone and hit them through a crowd. We've seen it happen at medical clinics. We've seen it happen at riots. We've seen it happen in marches.

We've seen it happen in the type of disaster where something happens at some sort of big event, at a concert, and some people have to gather around and protect somebody else that's maybe fallen down.

So it just... I don't know. I just kind of like to think that these people used their skill at gathering around one another and making community and helping people to help him get away.

Of course, I suppose he could have just disappeared, but we'll never know.

I think of the group in the synagogue, all surprised at how much authority he has when he's teaching, and the quality and the truth in what he was saying. But then when he speaks directly to the congregation, saying that God loves widows and those stricken with leprosy, implying that the neighbors had not treated widows and lepers justly, he got them angry.

They praised words about justice, but they were not enacting. They weren't acting on God's command to enact mercy towards outcasts.

Part of the question, of course, is how do we do that? What do you do when a mob turns ugly? When people are treated unfairly? And when a brave prophet calls out the self-righteous?

What do you do when there's a lynch mob or a cross-burn? I suspect that some of them went against the mob and provided a safe passage.

And my overview of that is that only a community, even one that goes unnoticed in the crowd, the band that refuses to join the rabble, can keep us from going completely over the edge.

So even though it may seem that the whole country has gone mad, we have the power of our community. And within that, we have the powers of all of each of our gifts.

It's our mission to do what we can do. It's our mission to do what we can do. What any one person might be able to do might seem small.

But as we help one another, even one at a time, and share our skills, and share our gifts, we can bring many blessings. We have teachers. We have writers. We have healers. We have attorneys. We have speakers. We have people in language fields. We have counselors and more. All of these can be used to navigate the near and far future.

What I was impressed with with Bishop Buddy's sermon was that there were a lot of things, and I am not an authority on preaching or teaching preaching, and I would never try to do that, but there are a lot of things that she did really well.

She knew her context, her audience. It was an interfaith service, and she was doing things that would be fruitful and helpful for everyone. Her tone mattered. She delivered everything in a calm and compassionate and, yes, a respectful way.

She knew the risks that she took. She took a vow to be true to God and to follow Jesus and to trust him and to follow him and to trust the Holy Spirit, and she did that.

She built her sermon on a biblical theme, building on a solid rock. She chose really strong illustrations. Her theological claims were strong; they were accurate.

We are asked to be merciful by God in hundreds of places. She was using Luke 6:36 and to forgive as God forgives; that was in Ephesians 4:32.

She reminded everyone to welcome the outcasts. She was realistic and gospel-centric. She was confident in her authority.

But here's the big thing that I really loved; I just appreciated it. She gave clear, actionable ways to live out the message.

The second half of her sermon explained three pillars for the foundations of unity. So as I went through it, I thought I'm going to share those with our folks today.

One of them is honor the dignity of every human being. Noting that all faiths represented in the chancel affirm the inherent dignity of every human being, Bishop Buddy explained what this looks like in real terms.

It means refusing to mock or discount or demonize those with whom we differ. Choosing instead to respectfully seek common ground. When agreement is not possible, however, we must hold onto our conviction without contempt for those who hold differing views.

That's not easy, but it was well said. That alone would have been enough to trigger a tweet storm.

For fascists, you see, it is the belief that no one deserves dignity in and of themselves and that value can only be recognized with those who are the power group. In this case, the white group that ascribes to a certain ideology and who are loyal to that power structure.

So for Bishop Buddy to claim inherent dignity for all by virtue of being created by God, that's not a good thing. That was an affront to those who believe themselves to be gods.

The second one was honesty. She said, "If we're not willing to be honest, there's no use in praying for unity because our actions work against the prayers themselves."

She explained, as she described, the second pillar of unity being honesty. That's tough given the current age that's rampant with disinformation, misinformation, propaganda; it makes discerning the truth very challenging.

But as the bishop admonished, when we know the truth, we are obligated to speak that truth. Even when it costs us, and we must speak that truth firmly as well as with humility.

And humility is the third pillar that she gave us for that unity. Humility is necessary because it is a tool in the use of which we want. They need to know the power and the value of the narrative because it keeps us from demonizing those who disagree with us.

Those who we label bad won't we think ourselves to be good. Bishop Betty modeled this humility in her sermon by refusing to label anyone good or bad, even when pointing out where we stray from the standards and foundations for unity.

Humility allows us to recognize each other's humanity even when we differ with someone based on culture and demographics and personal decisions.

And it was from this posture of humility that Bishop Buddy made her final plea to the President.

At the end of the sermon, she addressed him directly as a human being, asking for mercy on behalf of those who are scared in our country right now.

In the name of our loving God, she asked him to be merciful to gay, lesbian, and transgender children who fear for their lives, to people without proper citizenship documentation who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants, and work the night shifts in hospitals, to people who are fleeing war zones and persecutions in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here.

In other words, she stood in that sacred, public, sacred place, facing the fascists, and she asked for mercy on behalf of those who have no access to such a space.

She used her privilege as an ordained minister to speak for those whose lives are threatened. And she did so knowing she would be putting her own life at risk.

Some people have said they don't think her sermon will make a difference. Other people said, "Yeah, it will make a difference because it inspired millions of people."

And among those millions of people are plenty of clergy who are now trying to help share that message of compassion. There are a lot of preachers doing the work.

This week, I don't think I've been off of a message service or a phone or a Facebook messenger or an email. Anytime I'm sitting down at a computer or listening to a... I don't think that anything has been quiet this week. I've been busy.

Some of it is just talking with people. Some of it is just responding to text messages. Some of it is meeting with people, like our interfaith group.

Thinking about, what can we do? Last week, as some of us were having fellowship, we were wondering, what can we do?

We can practice those things: honesty, honoring the dignity of every human being, humility. We could use our own costs, our own gifts, whatever skills we have.

I'm not just talking about the spiritual gifts that George described. Some of us have other skills as well, and we can use those to help people.

I encourage everyone to hold fast to their faith. And if you're one of my colleagues listening to this later, because I know some of you do, and I thank you for that, I encourage you to hold fast to your faith and draw courage from the Holy Spirit.

And continue preaching community, continue sharing the message of Jesus, and trusting the power of God to sustain us.

I have in front of me the transcript of Reverend Buddy's plea at the end of her sermon. And I'm going to read it and remind us.

We're going to stop at the end of it and close this sermon with the end of hers.

"Let me make one final plea, Mr. President. Millions have put their trust in you. And as you told the nation yesterday, you have felt the providential hand of a loving God.

In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender children in democratic republics and independent families, some who fear for their lives, the people who pick our crops and clean our office buildings, who labor in poultry farms and meatpacking plants, who wash the dishes after we eat in restaurants and work the night shifts in hospitals.

They may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. They pay taxes and are good neighbors. They are faithful members of our churches and mosques, synagogues, gurdwaras, and temples.

I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our community whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here.

Our God teaches us that we are to be merciful to the stranger, for we were all once strangers in this land.

May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being, to speak the truth to one another in love, and while company with each other and our God, for the good of all people, the good of all people in this nation and the world." Amen.

Amen. Glory to God be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

It is our time now for prayer, so let us join together in this prayer for transformation and new life.

Gracious God, anoint us anew with your Holy Spirit of love. By it, form our hearts, minds, and lives into channels of your good news. Grant us a renewed passion for your vision of a world where none are poor and where every weight is lifted. Cultivate your courageous compassion in us to move toward any who have been marginalized or run over by the world. Yes, bless and strengthen us to bless and strengthen others.

We pray this in the name of the one whose life fulfilled your holy vision, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Amen. Beloved, know that in God's grace and the Holy Spirit bless you with inspiration to recognize and pay attention to all the ways the word of God springs to life around you in the familiar rhythms and customs of your day so that you may go forth and find and bring God's love, peace, and hope wherever you go.

In joys and concerns, I guess another joy: happy birthday, Donna, in case now you're watching.

And concerns, of course, for everyone. No, just for everyone, especially those who are in the midst of trying to heal, and Donna, that includes you, and those who are traveling, and those who are at risk, and those who are still recovering from disasters.

And I love the fact that... It's raining, and I hope it doesn't cause mudslides.

You know, yes, many recognize it as the gay flag. But it really says God is still speaking. And the colors in that flag, even according to the person who originally designed it, are about diversity.

And so it is a welcome to everyone. And I'm delighted. They asked me when we finished with the mall if we wanted to put a "God is still speaking" banner back up. And I said, sure.

That was before the one speak or two. But I saw it up. And I'm very thankful. It was with Sandy that they took care of that for us because me climbing up on a ladder out there isn't a good idea.

So many thanks to BJ and Yuri, whoever all took care of that for us.

So let's be prepared to welcome some folks. One of the good things that happened before when we were able to have it out there before was that people knew we were here who needed us. People who needed us.

I was like, "Oh, I wonder if they know what that really means. I'm going to go find out." And that happened a lot, and it was a joy.

And so I hope we will be prepared to welcome those and to stand our ground for those who find it disturbing.

Any other prayer requests?

Okay. Let's take some time then for some silent prayer, bringing our own joys and concerns before God, and we will close with the Lord's Prayer.

Let us pray.

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 and ever. Amen.

As we come to our time of giving, I just remind everybody our regular offering played in Mission Buffet for Spare Change right up here in front. There are envelopes if you want to have cash, and if you want to write a note, either to get a receipt or to let us know that you want your cash to go to a certain thing.

Any offerings for the wildfire disasters will be sent in to the UCC Wildfire Fund, 100% of which does go to the relief. So that, and that ability is also on our website, on the home page, you can give directly to that fund as well.

If you want to give online, again, go to the website, BethelUCCOntario.org, just scroll right down the home page, and you'll find PayPal, and Tidely, and various ways to give. Our favorite is Zelle, and you just use info at BethelUCCOntario.org, our email that's our registration in Zelle to send your offering directly to us that way.

So thank you for all your support, and we hope that we are supporting you in your needs for industry.

Let's take a few moments to consider our offerings.

God of our ancestors, caretaker of our future, thank you for your faithful love. May the gifts we bring before you this day honor the many ways you bless this church, and may our offerings reflect our commitment to lead lives in love as we continue Jesus' mission to bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed.

In your holy name we pray. Amen.

Our last song today is one we sing a lot, and this one is "They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love."

So let's sing together.

May the same grace and work in Jesus be active in you. May the good news declared by Jesus be proclaimed by you in word and deed. And may the world know that the year of God's favor is at hand.

Thanks be to God. Amen.