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Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren
Music to Begin
(9:50 am)
“The
Song of the Bow”
(insert) *Hymn
“Oh,
how wondrous the grace”
147 Sharing
a joy, a concern, a word of testimony or praise *Hymn
“Soon
and very soon”
611 *Postlude *Rise in body or in spirit #'s are from Hymnal: A Worship Book Worship leaders - see basic guidelines |
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One:
Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord, hear my voice. All:
Let your ears be
attentive to my cry for mercy. One:
If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, who could stand? All:
But with you there is
forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. One: I
wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, All:
and in his word I put my
hope. One: I
wait for the Lord more than the night watch waits for morning; All:
yes, more than the night
watch waits for morning! One:
Israel, put your hope in the Lord, All:
Because faithful love is
with the Lord; One:
because great redemption is with our God! All:
He is the one who will
redeem Israel from all its sin.
Psalm 130, adapted from both |
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God of wondrous grace,
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Playful
Scripture
Over the past several weeks, we have been traveling through the
story of the Bible character, David. We’ve remembered how God
called this shepherd boy to one day become king of Israel, and how
he faced up to the giant Goliath and brought him down with a
stone. We remembered how David was blessed with a true friend
named Jonathan, the son of king Saul.
It is a long story between the day David defeated Goliath and the
day he was made king. In the middle lies the tale of the three
arrows. Now, we could read this lengthy episode in 1 Samuel 20.
Instead, I will playfully abridge and tell it. In order to do so,
however, I need four volunteers. One will be
Jonathan, who is
the main character here… another,
David… then
Jonathan’s father, Saul
– the king… and finally, Jonathan’s
servant…
(place them appropriately)
Now, Saul was a troubled soul. Sometimes he loved David, and was
soothed by his singing. Other times, he was very angry at David –
wanting to hurt him. It was a problem for David and his best
friend, Jonathan, Saul’s son. Was Saul going to be mean or nice.
Maybe you know someone like that.
One time, David went to his friend Jonathan, asking, “what did I
ever do to your father to make him so mad?” Jonathan tried to
assure David that his Dad wouldn’t hurt him, at least not while
he, Jonathan, was around. They made a covenant of friendship with
each other, and came up with a plan to figure out if Saul was in a
really bad mood. Here’s what they decided.
The next time they were to all be together, Jonathan would go to
his father, Saul, and apologize for David, saying, “David had to
go home and spend time with his family.” If Saul replied, “okay,
that’s fine,” Jonathan would send a message to David indicating
that his dad was in a good mood, and David could stop by later, no
problem. If, however, this made Saul angry, the message would be
“stay away.” Sending the message would involve a bow and three
arrows, which I just happen to have right here
(a small dollar store nerf-like
set).
Here is how it happened. David stayed out in the field, waiting.
Jonathan got together with his father, Saul. At one point, Saul
asked, “where is David?” You could tell he was already a bit mad
that David wasn’t there. Jonathan answered, “David had to go home
and spend time with his family.” This was the moment to decide:
was Saul in a good mood or a dangerous mood. Which do you think it
was? … Yes (or no), he was angry. And he was angry with Jonathan,
and said, “You fool! You’re just like your mother. I know that you
are best friends with that ‘son of Jesse.’ As long as he lives,
you’ll never be king after me. Go and bring him to me. I’ll get
rid of him.” Jonathan answered, “why do you want to go and do
that?” Saul was so mad at Jonathan that he picked up a spear and
threw it at him. Fortunately, he missed.
Jonathan then put their plan into action. He took his bow and
three arrows, and a servant boy and went to the edge of the field
where David was hiding. (Don’t shoot yet, because I need to reveal
the plan.) Jonathan was to shoot his three arrows and then send
his servant to get them. If Saul was in a good mood, Jonathan
would yell to the boy, “I think you’ve gone too far, the arrows
are closer.” That would tell David that it was okay to come, for
Saul wasn’t angry. If, however, Saul was in a foul mood, Jonathan
was to yell to his servant, “You haven’t gone far enough, the
arrows are beyond you.” This would tell David to get away as soon
as possible… So, which message was Jonathan to give?
It’s time to shoot your arrows. Try to keep them in the center
aisle… Now send your servant. Then say …. What?
“You haven’t gone far enough, the arrows are beyond you.”
By the way, the servant would know nothing about it, so Saul
wouldn’t get angry at him, too.
After retrieving the arrows, Jonathan sent the servant home, and
then secretly David and Jonathan met to say goodbye. They hugged
and cried, because they were good friends and might never see each
other again. And
Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, my brother.”
And that is the story of three arrows.
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Returning our Tithes and Offerings
How are you doing with our summer “Read
to Feed” program? Adults, have you been in contact with those
you are sponsoring? Have you been checking in with them? Are your
arrows of encouragement aiming where they do the most good?
Readers, are you spending time with good books, counting your
pages, keeping track of your summer offering in your Heifer bank?
… Just checking.
Through two letters, the apostle Paul checked in with the folks he
was mentoring in Corinth. He challenged them to grow in grace by
giving beyond themselves to others. As an incentive, he mentioned
the churches in Macedonia, who were running circles around the
Corinthians in generosity, even though they were poor. He wrote:
Ponder that as the plates are
passed. Ushers?
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When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat
down, his disciples came to him.
Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit
the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will
receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be
called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and
persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on
my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in
the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You are the salt of the earth; but if salt
has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored?
It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and
trampled under foot. You
are the light of the world.
A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under
the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all
in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may
see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." Hymnal #834,
Matthew 5:1-16
from
the New
Revised Standard Version |
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written closer to the time (if not at the moment)
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It is in the middle of another Bible song of grief that we hear these surprising, yet familiar words of hope. Listen, and allow them to encourage you to step by faith into this week.
(start tapping a heartbeat on your
chest, The steadfast
love of the Lord never ceases, Lamentations
3:22-24
from
the New
Revised Standard Version |
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Interested in Sunday School? |
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International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
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International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
International Lesson: |
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While one of our adult classes follows the International
lesson above (see
also), using |
For children and youth, we use the new |
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©2014 Peter
L. Haynes
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