For the week of June 29 – 3rd Sunday after Pentecost
Morning Prayer: Loving God, You give us freedom. In fact, in You, we live in perfect freedom. Fear tries to bind us. Idolatry comes chasing after us. Divisive arguments try to trap us in corners and keep us locked away from one another. These are not the freedoms You have in mind for Your children, loving God. We confess, we have submitted to them in the past, but no more. Inspire us to live in the freedom You have given us because You set us free. Give us the courage to enjoy it. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. (Discipleship Ministries)
Opening Hymn: #697 America (My Country Tis of Thee)
- My country,' tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring! - My native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills, thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above. - Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
let mortal tongues awake; let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong. - Our fathers' God, to Thee, author of liberty, to Thee we sing;
long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light;
protect us by Thy might, great God, our King.
Psalm 77:1-2a, 11-14 (CEB)
77 I cry out loud to God—
out loud to God so that He can hear me!
2 During the day when I’m in trouble I look for my Lord.
11 But I will remember the Lord’s deeds;
yes, I will remember Your wondrous acts from times long past.
12 I will meditate on all Your works;
I will ponder Your deeds.
13 God, Your way is holiness!
Who is as great a god as You, God?
14 You are the God who works wonders;
You have demonstrated Your strength among all peoples.
Prayers of Intercession: Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers for those dear to our hearts. We now pray as You have taught us: 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us, not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Offering spotlight: During the month of June the offering time has shined lights on the work of Biblical education, a very important aspect of Christian living. How can you live a Christian life if you if you haven’t read the Scriptures; if you haven’t had them explained? In addition to what Lightstreet offers in house: Sunday School classes, Vacation Bible School, and Bible and book studies, there are many, many classes in other places.
Be a Disciple (www.BeADisciple.com) offers online classes so you can be a stronger disciple and a more effective Christian leader. There are classes to help you in every aspect of ministry within the church. But also classes on how to deal with your own anxiety and fear, classes teaching how to build a beloved community in a wounded world, how to hone your skills to minister to those in care facilities … and in your own families, classes in channeling your natural creativity to express Scripture and your faith.
Church leadership has set aside funds so that anyone who wants to take any of these classes will be reimbursed 50%.
Offering prayer: Liberating God, who calls us to true freedom, we offer these gifts as signs of our commitment to live by the Spirit’s leading. May our generosity reflect Your love, sowing seeds of compassion and justice. Guide us to use our freedom not for ourselves but for service, so that we may build communities of faith and hope. With thankful hearts, we dedicate ourselves to Your transforming work. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen. (Discipleship Ministries)
Hymn of Preparation: #575 Onward, Christian Soldiers
- Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe; forward into battle see His banners go!
Refrain: Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
- At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee; on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise. (Refrain) - Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we, one in hope and doctrine, one in charity. (Refrain) - Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
but the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail. (Refrain) - Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
this through countless ages men and angels sing. (Refrain)
Scripture: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-12 (NRSV)
1 Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. 2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. 7 Fifty men of the company of prophets also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” 10 He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” 11 As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. 12 Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.
Affirm your faith by reciting the Apostles’ Creed: I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ His only Son our Lord: who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontus Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. (UM Hymnal #881)
Message: Ben Dodge gave us a message while Pastor Becky was on vacation
Who do you consider to be your friends? I suppose that depends on how you characterize them. We may think back to our childhood companions from the neighborhood, or perhaps we naturally turn to the modern platforms of Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets. Shared memories are inevitable parts of growing up with kids from the block, and we may even find occasion to catch up with them years later. Conversely, the digital age has allowed us to be broadly and instantly connected with people from all over the world, building our list of friends and followers. In either case, you take pleasure in the time you spend together and offer words of support in seasons of joy and in solemnity.
Yet notice I asked about your friends, not your “closest” friends. Now the whole mentality has shifted beyond mere acquaintances. In moments of jubilation, you surround yourself with those who celebrate with you—much in the same way as they stand beside you and provide comfort amidst grief and hardship. A close friend will rush to your aid in times of need, keep a confidence you can trust no one else with, and uphold values that serve as the basis for your relationship. All of these criteria sound like they belong on a job description, and in many ways, a meaningful friendship is a full-time investment as all parties strive for a collective good.
Our scripture passage shows that Elijah and Elisha may have had a mentor-protégé dynamic, but it is clear from their final exchange that through their ministry, they developed a friendship defined by mutual respect and loyalty to each other and their mission. When told to stay behind as Elijah ventured off to Bethel and the Jordan, Elisha resolved to not leave his side. His dedication to the man he admired should sound familiar, since the Bible is riddled with similar accounts.
For instance, Jesus hand-selected the 12 who would accompany Him and serve as not only followers, but also His closest friends, for “servants know not of the plans of their master.” Despite some inherent wavering, doubting, and retreating at Gethsemane, the disciples honored the Lord by continuing His work and staying loyal to their call, even after Christ was ascended and returned to the Father.
Similarly, Elisha was specially chosen to support and relieve Elijah in his role as a messenger of the Lord. Like Simon Peter and the sons of Zebedee, Elisha was a laborer of modest means, yet he made the ideal candidate to convey the word of God and appeal to a broad audience—men and women, the social elite, and the impoverished and outcast. The qualities that distinguished Elisha as a hard worker—dedication to the job at hand, endurance, strength of character—were attributes he applied in his journeys with Elijah to prophesy to God’s people. Elisha was faced with big shoes to fill once his mentor left, but in time he grew into them to become a hero of the Old Testament. In doing so, he fulfilled the wishes of the Lord by carrying on with the work of his predecessor, much like the disciples expanded upon their ministry despite the physical absence of Jesus.
Along with his vocation, Elisha was profoundly faithful to Elijah on a personal level. He asked to “inherit a double share of [his] spirit” before the two parted. Once Elijah was whisked away in a chariot of fire, Elisha looked on, shouting exclamations, and “grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces” as a sign of mourning. When making his request, Elisha sought to not just pick up some pointers on public speaking, but he wanted to emulate everything that was valued by his mentor. In essence, he declared that he wanted the same spirit that motivated Elijah to move in him and guide him further in his mission. To align so emphatically with another person, we can understand Elisha’s response to the departure of his professional colleague and dear friend. Although people do, in fact, handle loss in different ways, the display shown by Elijah’s pupil was actually not uncommon for their time. Again, the reverence toward his master and his emotional reaction draws on parallels with Peter, who though later was known as the Rock, was prone to exaggerated speeches and impulsive actions. Not many others would dare attack a Roman centurion with a sword or be so quickly persuaded to have his feet cleaned that he insisted that Jesus wash his whole body. Nevertheless, both Peter and Elisha were trusted companions, and they put their trust and their whole selves into their respective relationships.
Wouldn’t we all want a friend like them, someone with an infectious energy to sustain us and on whom we can thoroughly rely? Over the centuries, figures of history and fiction have followed their example as true, devoted friends with bonds that withstood great trials. One story that depicts such an inspiring connection lies in Middle Earth, where we find Frodo Baggins, a simple hobbit, bear the title Lord of the Rings and lead a fellowship on an epic quest. In an effort to destroy a cursed ring, Frodo navigates the treacherous path with a host of companions, among them his dearest friend, Sam, who also swore to protect him and never leave his side. The burden of the ring grew heavier each day, but our heroes persevered together and conquered ravenous orcs, foreboding ring-wraiths, and Gollum, a creature so corrupted by the allure of the ring he cannot help but plot to recover his precious. Frodo was feeling the weight of all these outer perils while suffering from the temptation of the ring itself, testing his physical and spiritual limits. All the while, Sam comes to his rescue on multiple accounts, and at the foot of Mount Doom, the volcanic summit where the ring was to be destroyed, Sam musters his remaining strength to carry Frodo to the fires where the deed was done.
The incredible reality behind Sam and Frodo’s friendship was how committed they were to both each other and the task that lay before them. The two could have easily been dissuaded from pressing on by self-preservation, whether early on when they’re pursued by the wraiths at Dingman’s Ferry, or farther along when they emerge from the mines of Moria without a crucial member of their company. After all, how could such meager hobbits stand a chance and carry the fate of Middle Earth when confronted by such towering adversaries like cave trolls, orcs, and man? No matter the obstacle, a strong sense of duty to their higher calling prompted our pair to crack on and depend on one another in their weakest moments.
We, too, are encouraged to depend on one another, though maybe not quite to the same extent as Frodo and Sam. The foes we face are widespread and often subtle—certainly less conspicuous than the ruthless armies of Mordor and Isengard. Worries about financial stability amidst a culture of materialism, tense interactions at work that pit colleagues against each other, and harsh judgments are among the many looming forces that stare at us like the Eye of Sauron. We stand no chance if we lean on our own strength to overcome these trials; we would succumb to the pressure like Gollum did with the ring.
Of course, we are never alone if we turn to God, for as the psalmist wrote in chapter 139, “Where can I go to get away from Your spirit? Where can I go to escape Your presence?” He is in all places where we feel vulnerable, abandoned, and lost; He also resides in us during our greatest triumphs and other peak moments. This concept is so fundamental to who we are that prayer is the first tool with which we equip our youth as they explore the complexities of life with confidence in their trust in the Lord. Indeed, trust and omnipresence are some of the distinguishing traits of a dear friend, which makes sense when you consider the loving, compassionate nature of God as our Creator.
The Gospel of John best captured the essence of how we can best describe Jesus Christ: “Greater love hath no one than He who lays down His life for His friends.” Elsewhere in his writings, John explained, “For God so loved the world that He gave up His One and only Son so that everyone who believes in Him won’t perish but have eternal life.” Once again, Jesus set the bar for how we are to assume the responsibility of a friend. It takes personal sacrifice to bring out the best in someone else, no matter how difficult or inconvenient. Jesus forfeited His life so we may be redeemed and reunited with the Father; I cannot think of a better, more beautiful display of friendship than what Jesus did for us.
We may struggle to measure up to the example Christ set in our relationships, but even the smallest gesture could change the course of the future of someone’s day, especially when you think back to all your friend has done to uplift you. Reciprocity shouldn’t be the sole factor that binds people together, but we can at least meet them halfway and lead the lives of faithful servants, modeling the traits we hope to see in friends. We need our friends in the same way they need us, for whatever life has to offer, the bonds have to hold, and they will hold when we root them in the same love that Jesus showed us. Once more, when we strive to grow closer to God through faithfulness, trust, and open communication, we can strengthen our other relationships by shaping them after our bond with the Lord, our Savior and friend.
Closing Hymn: #696 America the Beautiful
- O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain;
for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea. - O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,
who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine. - O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years
thine alabaster cities gleam, undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
confirm thy soul in self-control, thy liberty in law.
The blessing: Let us go be the friend we hope to see in others, so when we grow closer together, we can feel it in the water, smell it in the fresh earth, and hear it in fellowship over second breakfast. May the Lord bless us as we depart, and may His love for you be plainly seen this coming week in all we say and do. Amen.
