Maundy Thursday Service at Woodlawn Christian Church

Tonight at Woodlawn Christian Church, we held our 'Maunday Thursday' worship service.  This year I chose to perform a Tenebrae style worship service.  We had a dramatic reading of Psalm 22, a prayer and some hymns, communion was served, and then we had eight readers dressed in dark robes who did readings and who one by one extinguished candles seven of which were black candles and last of all the Christ candle.  After the readings and a solo Mark 8:31 was read and the Christ candle was relighted.  After another reading the congregation exited the darkened sanctuary.

Tenebrae services have always been meaningful to me personal, and I thought the service that I crafted did a good job of being meaningful and moving.  A HUGE thank you to Jodi Frank and Brenda Korleski for all they did to make it all work.  Also, thank you to all the readers, elders and our soloist Terry Watters.  Terry did a magnificent job with the solo!

I think next year we'll do a living 'Last Supper' but that's a long way off and I may well change my mind.

I've attached the script for the service, if you're another Minister feel free to utilize anything you find to fit your needs.

Many blessings and please remember...

To be a blessing to someone today!

In His Love & Grace,

Roy

Fellowship of the Upper Room

Prelude

Entrance  Psalm 22 Jim Bruce
Psalm 22 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer;
    and by night, but find no rest.
3 Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
4 In you our ancestors trusted;
    they trusted, and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried, and were saved;
    in you they trusted, and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm, and not human;
    scorned by others, and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock at me;
    they make mouths at me, they shake their heads;
8 “Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver—
    let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”
9 Yet it was you who took me from the womb;
    you kept me safe on my mother’s breast.
10 On you I was cast from my birth,
    and since my mother bore me you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
    for trouble is near
    and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls encircle me,
    strong bulls of Bashan surround me;
13 they open wide their mouths at me,
    like a ravening and roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
    it is melted within my breast;
15 my mouth is dried up like a potsherd,
    and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
    you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs are all around me;
    a company of evildoers encircles me.
My hands and feet have shriveled;
17 I can count all my bones.
They stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my clothes among themselves,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.
19 But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
    O my help, come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
    my life from the power of the dog!
21     Save me from the mouth of the lion!
From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
    in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
    All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
    stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he did not despise or abhor
    the affliction of the afflicted;
he did not hide his face from me,
    but heard when I cried to him.
25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
    my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
    those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
    May your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
    and turn to the Lord;
and all the families of the nations
    shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord,
    and he rules over the nations.
29 To him, indeed, shall all who sleep in the earth bow down;
    before him shall bow all who go down to the dust,
    and I shall live for him.
30 Posterity will serve him;
    future generations will be told about the Lord,
31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn,
    saying that he has done it.

Call to Worship Pastor Roy Karlen
Let us hold fast to the faith we confess.
For we have a great high priest
who has gone into the very presence of God – Jesus, the Son of God.
Our high priest is not one
who cannot feel sympathy with our weaknesses.
On the contrary, we have a high priest
who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin.
Let us be brave, then,
and come forward to God's throne, where there is grace.
There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us
just when we need it.

Hymn    An Upper Room with Evening Lamps Ashine      No. 428, v. 1 & 3

Opening Prayer & The Lord's Prayer Kolton Hildreth
Eternal God of mercy, we gather in awesome wonder to behold your
loving gift of Jesus Christ, who, coming to bring the world to wholeness,
was broken by it.  Yet by his death, we live and know your unbreakable
love.  As we gather to remember Christ's gift of fellowship at the table,
and to recall our frail failings of devotion, pierce our hearts with a
conviction of our betrayals, reassure us of your abiding presence, and
transform us by the Spirit of Christ, who teaches us to pray, saying,

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.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn   What Wonderous Love Is This                 No. 200 All

New Testament Reading  John 13: 1-15 Pastor Roy Karlen
John 13:1-15  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, 4 got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

The Community Shares the Lord's Supper

Communion Meditation Pastor Roy Karlen
May this sacrament, Lord Jesus Christ,
bring life to us and pardon for our sins,
to us for whom you suffered your passion.
For our sake you drank gall
to kill in us the bitterness that is the Enemy's.
For our sake you drank sour wine
to strengthen what is weak in us.
For our sake you were spat upon
to bathe us in the dew of immortality.
You were struck with a frail reed
to strengthen what is frail in us
and give us life for all eternity.
You were crowned with thorns
to crown those who believe in you
with that evergreen garland, your charity.
You were wrapped in a shroud
to clothe us in your all-enfolding strength.
You were laid in a new grave
to give us new grace in ages likewise new.

Communion Hymn:     Let Us Break Bread Together          No. 425  All

Prayers of Thanksgiving Ellen O'Loughlin & Clyde Westcott
Prayer #1: Heavenly Father, show forth among us the presence of your life-giving Word and Holy Spirit, to sanctify us and your whole church through this sacrament. Grant that all who share the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ may be one in him, and remain faithful in love and hope. And as this grain has been gathered from many fields into one loaf, and these grapes from many hills into one cup, grant, O Lord, that your whole church may soon be gathered from the ends of the earth into your kingdom.  Amen

Prayer #2: We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your great and manifold mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord, whose nature it is to always have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your Son Jesus Christ and to drink his blood, that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us. Amen.

Words of Institution Pastor Roy Karlen
On the night that he was betrayed, our Lord took the loaf... and after blessing it and giving thanks, he broke it, saying “This bread is my body broken for you, as often as you eat of it... do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same fashion after the meal he took the cup, saying “This cup is the new covenant poured out in my blood, as often as you drink of it... do this in remembrance of me.”
The Lord's body broken for you (holding up a piece of bread).
Your Lord's blood shed for you (picking up the chalice and dipping the bread into the wine)
The Lord's table is set, all come now and eat. (placing the chalice back on the table, holding the bread up and then eating it)

Sharing the Lord's Supper

Service of Tenebrae

Hymn: Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me No. 214  All
(after Hymn the Sanctuary Lights are turned off)

Shadow of Betrayal Matthew 26:20-25 Jeff Frank
Shadow of Desertion Matthew 26:31-35 Judy Stern
Shadow of Lethargy Mark 14:32-41 Vicky Keonin
Shadow of Violence Matthew 26:47-52 Spencer Moon

Interlude

Shadow of Denial Luke 22:54-62 Jodi Frank
Shadow of Cynicism John 18:33-38 Joan Schaffer
Shadow of Irresponsibility Matthew 27:20-26 Norma DeVries
Shadow of Mockery Mark 15:16-20 Leon Hendricks
(after each of the first seven readings a black candle is extinguished, after the last reading the Christ Candle is extinguished.)

The Extinguishing of the Christ Candle Leon Hendricks

Solo  Terry Watters - “Were You There” (No. 198 in Hymnal)

Prophecy of Resurrection Mark 8:31 Kolton Hildreth
Mark 8:31 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

Relighting of the Christ Candle Kolton Hildreth

Prayer of Consecration Pastor Roy Karlen
Loving Creator, we thank you for the gift of Jesus Christ to be the Savior
of the world.  We thank you for the mystery of your love as revealed to us
in the cross.  We cannot understand all that the cross may mean, but we
feel your hand upon us and we would give ourselves afresh to you.  Love
so amazing, so divine, demands our lives, our souls, our all.  Take our lives,
use them in your ministry of reconciliation to a world deeply in need of love
and mercy and justice and righteousness.  Lord here we are as your disciples.
Send us out to do your work.  In Christ's name we pray.  Amen.

Please exit the Sanctuary in absolute silence.  We may gather in Fellowship Hall for fellowship and coffee.

Below are the Scripture readings listed above.

Reading #1 Shadow of Betrayal
Matthew 26:20-25 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
20 When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21 and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”22 And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23 He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25 Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

Reading #2 Shadow of Desertion
Matthew 26:31-35 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
31 Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written,
‘I will strike the shepherd,
    and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
32 But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33 Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” 34 Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35 Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.

Reading #3 Shadow of Lethargy
Mark 14:32-41 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.” 35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” 37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41 He came a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Reading #4 Shadow of Violence
Matthew 26:47-52 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
47 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49 At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50 Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51 Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52 Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.

Reading #5 Shadow of Denial
Luke 22:54-62 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. 55 When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, “This man also was with him.” 57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58 A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!” 59 Then about an hour later still another kept insisting, “Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about!” At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.

Reading #6 Shadow of Cynicism
John 18:33-38 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
33 Then Pilate entered the headquarters[a] again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”
After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him.

Reading #7 Shadow of Irresponsibility
Matthew 27:20-26 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!”23 Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”25 Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Reading #8 Shadow of Mockery
Mark 15:16-20 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
16 Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort.17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. 18 And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. 20 After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

Palm Sunday 2016

This past Sunday was, of course, Palm Sunday.  The Scripture which I chose to preach over from the Lectionary was Luke 19:28-40; the "Triumphant Entry" into Jerusalem.  This was one of my longest sermons here at Woodlawn Christian and was honestly a bit rambling.  I've attached the video of the sermon for those that wish to take a listen.  Before I go any further, let's take a look at the Scripture itself...

Luke 19:28-40 New Revised Standard Version

Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,

“Blessed is the king

    who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven,

    and glory in the highest heaven!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”

Jesus has entered Jerusalem from the East on this first Palm Sunday, as Borg and Crossan point out in their wonderful book "The Last Week", Pontius Pilate would have entered the city in or around the same time period from the West side of Jerusalem.  One is a peasant procession and the other a Roman military parade.  One is a symbol of peace and grace, the other a display of power and might... where might makes right and the end justifies the means, the means of which is violence and power. 

Luke chooses to mention the 'multitude of the disciples' in his version of the entry into Jerusalem.  Let's think just a moment about those 'disciples'.  Among this motley and varied group we have a tax collector, some fisherman, and at least, one Zealot (personally I believe that there are two Zealots, those being Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot).

We often think of Jesus' message as being favored by the disadvantaged and down-trodden.  But, this isn't always the case, if we look at Lazarus and his two sisters we find a family that must have had some means available to them.  The perfume that Mary anoints Christ with is estimated at a value in today's dollars of $12,000 or more, this would seem to indicate some degree of wealth that would be beyond what we normally think of for Jesus' closest followers.  Then let us remember Joseph of Arimathea who provided a brand new tomb to be used for Jesus' body, along with Nicodemus who brought along close to one hundred pounds of spices to anoint the body.  I know that spices aren't cheap in today's world and I can't imagine them being any more of a bargain in the first century....What I'm driving for is that Jesus' following was much, much more diverse than we are used to considering.

We live in a world with a great deal of diversity in who we are and how we interpret Christ's message.  But, if we look at the original disciples and followers of Christ we see just as diverse of a group.  They literally came from every walk of life, with various political beliefs, different economic situations, different sexes, and different stages in their lifetimes.  This Christ of ours had something for them all and just the same he has something for all of us today.

One of the things that I always liked about the American Baptist denomination and which I also find equally among the Disciples of Christ is this steadfast belief in the autonomy of individual congregations and individual believers.  I absolutely love it that we can have a fundamentalist sitting in the same pew as the most liberal christian worshiping together on a Sunday morning.  This diversity makes us stronger and wiser.

Stronger and wiser as long as we remain respectful of each others diversity and are willing to be in dialogue with each other.  One of my own quotes is that "I'll never learn anything if I only talk to people I agree with".

God's blessings to you all and have a wonderful Holy Week!

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Grace & Love,

Roy 

The 5th Sunday of Lent - John 12:1-8 - Mary's Lavish Expression of Love for Jesus

This past Sunday the piece of scripture which I selected from the Lectionary offerings was the 12th Chapter of the Gospel of John, verses 1 through 8.  This passage concerns a 'celebration supper' in the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.  The celebration is due to Jesus having raised Lazarus from the grave in the previous Chapter in the Gospel story.

But, before we go any further, let's take a look at the verses themselves...

John 12:1-8  (NRSV)  "Mary Anoints Jesus"

12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

So, here we have Mary once again at the feet of Christ just as we found her in Luke 10:39.  But, here in John we find Mary not focused upon Jesus' words and teachings, but rather in a state of worship and adoration.  Mary is anointing Jesus' feet with a very fine and very pricey perfume.   Modern commentaries estimate that this perfume's volume was approximately 12 ounces and if we were to convert the value to our modern dollar it would be somewhere in the range of $12,000.00, a pretty pricey product to say the very least.

This is extremely lavish love that she is heaping upon Jesus, and to make it even more startling... she is using her own hair to wipe this precious ointment upon his feet.  Now, there are a number of things that we can take away from this passage (and I've gone deeper into this in the actual sermon, the video is linked) but perhaps the most poignant is the lavishness and intimacy of this act.

Mary does not care what others may consider of her act, she has let her hair down in order to be even nearer to her beloved Lord Jesus.  Now, we need to remember that in Jewish culture an adult woman (other than a prostitute) would never let her hair down in any company other than that of her husband.  Here she has let her hair down and has used it to apply this very expensive perfume to Christ's feet.  This is an act of intimate and lavish love... this is a model of how we are to love our Lord in like fashion.  Not in a literal reenactment of this scene but rather in our spirit, we are called to love our Lord intimately and lavishly... just as our God loves us.  God loves each of us with an intimacy and a lavishness that is beyond our own comprehension.

Also in these verses we see Judas reacting to this extreme display of excess.  He rightly points out that from a strictly pragmatic stance, this is wasteful behavior, but the Gospel writer quickly points out that Judas' heart wasn't in the right place, rather than being worried about the poor, he only wanted the monies in the common purse so he could have access to them.  Jesus steps in on Mary's behalf and defends this extreme act of worship, he rightly points out that there will always be poor in this world but he in the flesh would not always be among us. (of course in spirit he remains with us always)

Here we see Judas criticizing how Mary has chosen to display and act in her devotion and worship of her Lord; perhaps we can take away from this exchange the thought that we should never let others opinions or criticism influence how we feel compelled to live out our worship, love and adoration of our all loving and gracious God.  Let us never be afraid to publicly, lavishly and intimately love our Lord.

Remember to be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ!
Roy  

Funeral for Roger J. Ring - Council Bluffs, IA - March 7th, 2016

Monday morning I traveled to Council Bluffs, IA in order to officiate over the Funeral Service for my brother-in-law Roger Ring.  Roger was married to my wife Gail's sister Nancy and he has suffered extremely poor health for many years now.  We often say that an individual's passing was 'a blessing', but rarely is this sentiment more accurate than in the passing of Roger.  He suffered so much for so long and it is truly better for him to have gone on to his Father's house.

Below is the 'Order of Service' for the funeral.  It is entirely scripted as this is the fashion that I do the funerals that I conduct.

God's blessings to all and please remember to be...

A blessing to someone today!
Roy

Order of Service – Funeral for Roger Ring

Call to Worship:

Gathered in Christ's name, let us praise God
who is our certain hope in all life's varied circumstances.
In the face of death believe the good news the scriptures proclaim:
As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.
(Isaiah 66:13)

Greeting:
We have come together within the strengthening fellowship of friends and family:
to praise God for the life of Roger J. Ring;
to share our grief with God and with one another;
to reaffirm our faith in God's unfailing goodness;
to hear again God's promise of resurrection;
and to commend Roger to God's everlasting care.

Music:  Pancho & Lefty – Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard

Opening Prayer:
O God of grace and glory, we remember before you this day our brother Roger.
We thank you for giving him to us, his family and friends,
to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage.
In your boundless compassion, console us who mourn.
Give us faith to see death the gate of eternal life,
so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth,
until by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Music:  Just A Closer Walk With Thee – Patsy Cline

Readings from the Old & New Testament:
Let us now hear the word of our Lord as recorded in the Old & New Testaments:

Psalm 32 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Joy of Forgiveness
1 Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered.
2 Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
    and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
3 While I kept silence, my body wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
    my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
    and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
    and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah
6 Therefore let all who are faithful
    offer prayer to you;
at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters
    shall not reach them.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
    you preserve me from trouble;
    you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
    whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
    else it will not stay near you.
10 Many are the torments of the wicked,
    but steadfast love surrounds those who trust in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, O righteous,
    and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

2 Corinthians 5:16-21 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. 17 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Message:  Pastor Roy Karlen – Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, IA

Today we gather to celebrate the life of and to mourn the passing of Roger J. Ring.  Roger was born on July 1st, 1954 in Council Bluffs, IA to Helen & Jim Ring.  He was one of five children in the Ring family with three sisters, Jacolyn who has preceded him in death, Kim and Linda, along with one younger brother Mark.  On June 24h, 1978 Roger was joined in marriage to Nancy A. Engleman in Omaha, NE.  Into this union was born two children Makayla on September 12th, 1981 and Andrew on August 1st, 1983.  Roger passed from this world into the next on March 3rd, 2016 at 1:56 pm at the home of his mother-in-law Mary Engleman in Omaha, NE.

In his life Roger loved to hunt and fish, he enjoyed watching rodeos and horse shows.  He competed in several rodeos in bareback bronc riding and a time or two riding bulls though Nancy said he wasn't fond of bull-riding because he felt it was too dangerous.  Roger enjoyed watching his daughter Makayla compete in horse shows and enjoyed the Pony Express Rides.

Roger worked for years at a number of different shops working on repairing and rebuilding wrecked or damaged semi-trailers.  He was proud of his abilities to restore these once damaged pieces of equipment to being nearly as good as new once again.  After suffering a fall which resulted in a broken back, Roger was limited in his ability to work on these projects and so he and his wife Nancy purchased a dump truck and for a number of years, Roger drove truck under the name of 'Rocking R Hauling'.  In 2007, Roger suffered a stroke which rendered him disabled and he suffered from poor health of one degree or another from then on until his passing.

Any of us gathered here today would be hard pressed to state that Roger was the model father, husband, son or brother.  But these are accolades that also evade any of us gathered here today.  For all fall short of the glory of our God almighty.  None of us are perfect, we all fall short in one way or another.  Roger is remembered by those that loved him each in their own special and personal way.

Yesterday in Lake City, I preached over the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son.  The parable of the prodigal son is found in the 15th Chapter of the Gospel of Luke.
The Parable of the Prodigal Son  Luke 15: 11-24
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.

The story of the Prodigal Son is a tale of redemption, of restoration and above all else reconciliation.  The father greets and restores the son to the family as if no slight or insult had ever occurred.  And in second half of this parable concerning the elder brother, along with the two parables which preceded it in the Gospel of Luke, we see an illustration of a God who pursues us, even when we are attempting to distance ourselves from him.  No matter how far we run nor where we decide to hide, God will find us and he will pursue us to death and beyond.

The Psalmist in the 139th Psalm shares this with us:
Psalm 139:8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there;
    if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.

Sheol in the Jewish tradition meant death.  It is often translated as 'the grave' or even 'hell' though it isn't hell as we think of hell today.  It simply means death, it is the realm of the dead.  Even there our almighty, all loving, all caring, and unfailing God pursues us.  For what is death to God... it seems like a sharp division in our reality... but is merely a minor distinction for God.  Death, will not stop a God that is determined to round up and locate each and every one of his lost sheep.  This reality is made abundantly clear in the parable of the lost sheep as found in the Gospel of Luke just preceding the story of the prodigal son.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Luke 15:3-7
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

I have every confidence in the world that on March 3 at 1:56 pm our ever grace-filled and ever loving God pursued Roger past the blurred line of death and just as the father in the tale of the prodigal son, God ran to Roger, embraced him and adorned him with a robe, a ring and sandals fit for the streets of heaven itself. 

Though Roger has been taken from his family and friends far too early, we know that he is safe in his Father's house in Heaven.  Though the parting is far too early in this world it is but a moment in Heaven.  In our Lord's Kingdom, a day is like a 1,000 years and a 1,000 years are like a day.  Though we can count

Though we are parted but for a time, we can take solace in the words of Apostle Paul:

1 Corinthians 13:1-8
1 If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends.
Even though we are apart, as long as we have their memories, as long as these memories continue to influence our lives, our relationship with our loved ones that have passed remains.  And when that time comes that we are reunited in God's presence our joy will be complete.  In the knowledge that this separation is only temporary and with the love and comfort of our Lord along with the love and support of our family and friends, we can endure this brief separation.  For love remains, it never dies, it is there still with us.  For as Paul said;

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends, love always remains.

At this point in the ceremony, the family would like to make time available for any of Roger's friends or family members that would like to come forward and share with all of us their thoughts and memories.

Eulogies and Reflections:

Closing Prayer:
Nancy would like you all to join her and the family in a light luncheon here at the funeral home in the adjacent room.  Please allow this closing prayer to serve as grace for that meal.

O God, our Strength and our Redeemer, Giver of life, and Conqueror of death, we open our hearts to you just as we are.  We celebrate your gift of life freely given... but are grieved by a sense of loss in the face of death.  The love which binds us to one another leaves us aching as ties are broken.  Accept our tears as emblems of devotion, and transform them into waters of life to nourish us in the days ahead.
We trust you.  We love you.  We know in Christ that your love is everlasting.  Nothing can separate any of us from your abiding care.  With you is eternal life.
With confidence, we now entrust Roger to your unfailing love and overflowing goodness.  Through the power that raised Christ from the dead to live eternally with you, lift up this, your servant, to life fulfilled beyond our imagining.  We give you but your own.  Accept him as he is with all his frailties as well as his strengths.  Enfold him in your everlasting arms.  Embrace him as your child.
Now strengthen us, through the gift of your Spirit, to face into the future with confidence that you stand with us.  Grant that the changes of life may leave us stronger as we journey through life.
Reassured of your abiding presence, help us to knit more firmly the ties that bind us one to another.  Renewed by your love, help us to love in ever larger circles so as to embrace your people everywhere till at last we are all united eternally through Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Closing and Benediction:
The family encourages you that if you so desire to dance as we enjoy the sending song.  For let us mourn no longer, but rather celebrate Roger's re-birth into Heaven.

“May the Lord Bless you and keep you, and may His face shine down upon you and grant you all His Peace”  Amen.

Sending Song:  The Cowboy Rides Away – George Strait

The Parable of the Prodigal Son, March 6th - 4th Sunday of Lent 2016

This Sunday the Lectionary's Gospel verses came from the 15th Chapter of Luke.  The verses covered three of Christ's parables; the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin, and the parable that most of us know as 'the Prodigal Son'.  I will confess that Luke is my personal favorite of the four Gospels, and one of the reasons for this is it is the only book that relays the parable of the Prodigal Son.  It has long been my opinion that it is virtually impossible to grasp the true nature of our all loving God without the parable of the Prodigal Son.  Here in this story (with no small assist by the two preceding parables) is I believe the clearest and most concise illustration of the greatest characteristic and primary attribute of our God and Father in Heaven.

The parable of the Prodigal Son is found at the very center of the Gospel of Luke as written in Greek.  This is significant to note as so very often in Scripture the 'meat of the matter' is found in the center of the writing.  There can be no doubt that to Luke this story is literally and figuratively central to the message of Jesus in Luke's eyes and in his writing.

So, let's take a look at the scripture containing these three parables:

Luke 15  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

The Parable of the Lost Sheep
15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin
8 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Prodigal and His Brother
11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.


25 “Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ 31 Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

Now, let's take a look at this bit of scripture, we'll first turn our attention to the third parable, the story of the Prodigal Son. Obviously, the first thing that we have going on here is the younger son's complete lack of respect or regard for his father.  His statement to his father on wanting his inheritance immediately is basically saying to the father "your wealth is more important to me than you are, I wish you were dead so I could have the money that is entitled to me"; this incredible request is callused to say the very least.

The next thing which is equally amazing is that the father acquiesces to his young son's unreasonable demand.  The father gives the son his share of the father's property, which under Jewish tradition would have been a third of all that the father possessed.  Under Jewish custom the eldest son would be entitled to a double portion, in other words, two-thirds of the fathers estate.  Given this property, the younger son liquidates the assets and takes off to parts unknown with the cash in hand.

To add injury to insult the young boy goes off to foreign lands (gentile territory) and proceeds to waste his inheritance on wine, women and song... and to make it all even worse... that's gentile wine, women, and song.  He's not even blowing his money on naughty Jewish girls these are gentile strumpets he's carousing with.  In short order, he's blown through the cash and he finds himself in the worst possible situation that a 'good' Jewish boy can find himself in... he's tending to swine!

At last the boy comes to his senses (a little late as everyone notes) and realizes that he needs to go back home.  Back home perhaps his kind father will allow him to live in the household as a servant or slave.

The boy heads home and is barely upon the horizon when his father spies him on the road.  Immediately, the father forgets all decorum and runs to the boy, he throws his arms around his son and kisses him in sheer joy! The son tries to offer up his wager of being a servant to the father... but, the father simply ignores this suggestion.  

Bear in mind during all of this that the son has been off in gentile territory, carrying on with gentile women.  And whereas the father realistically couldn't have known that he had been tending to hogs... we the readers (listeners in Jesus' day) know, and we are horrified, for the son is about as ritually unclean as one can be.  The father disregards all this uncleanliness and freely and spontaneously embraces his lost son.

The father quickly turns and calls to a servant (who no doubt has come running when he saw his master running, which is something that no adult Jewish male EVER did, and this bears no small amount of notice), for the servant to fetch immediately three items.  Now... we need to carefully examine these three items because they are very important to the understanding of this extremely vital parable. 

The first item that the father calls for is a robe, the third thing that the father requests are a pair of shoes.  Both of these items signify that the boy is not a slave nor a servant.  The robe isn't to keep him warm rather it's a sign of his station, the shoes are important for only slaves are barefoot.  But let's look at the second item, for this is the crucial and all important item that the father calls for immediately upon embracing his son.  Let's pause and recall that often in scripture and ancient writing it is what's at the center that is what is most important.  The second item is the 'ring'... now this isn't just a ring, this would be a signet ring.  A signet ring shows that the boy is a part of the family, it shows that this boy is the father's son... just as he was when he left his family behind.  The father has restored his son to his place in the family.  Once he was dead to them, but now he lives again.

The father has restored his son, he has reconciled the son to those whom he has injured through his careless behavior... through his 'sins'.  Above all else, in my opinion, this parable is a story of reconciliation, of complete restoration of that which has been broken and distanced by sin.  The father (representing, of course, our Holy Father in Heaven) through his station as the father and because of his unlimited love and grace has forgiven the boy so completely, that it is as if none of the transgressions had ever occurred.

Such is the amazing depth and breadth of our Holy Father's love for each of us.  This love goes far, far beyond forgiveness and grace.  One can forgive, and love without wanting to be reconciled; without wanting to be restored to those that they love.  Our Heavenly Father's deepest longing and greatest attribute is this unfailing desire to be restored, restored and reconciled with each and every single one of His children... no matter how lost, or how sinful, or how 'unclean' we might be.  He will run to us and embrace us and place upon our finger the ring that identifies to all who see... that we are His and His alone.

Let's now turn to the elder son and to his angry reaction when he learns that the father has restored his wayward younger brother, and to make things worse the father is throwing a party of celebration concerning the son's return.  The father on learning of the elder sons distancing himself from the remainder of the family comes looking for him and finds him outside.  The father confronts the boy and implores him to join in the celebration.  The elder son shows his anger towards his brother by calling him to the father "your son", thus denying any relationship to him, but the father corrects him and states that "your brother" has returned to us from the dead.

The father has pursued the elder brother in order to restore him in relationship to the remainder of the family.  In this parable, we find that both brothers are 'lost' in one fashion or another.  One brother has let his lust and selfish behavior break his fellowship with his father.  The second brother has stumbled due to his anger and self-righteousness leaving himself distanced from his family.  There are differences here to be certain, but both sons have failed in their relationship with the father.  The father though has not given up on either son and readily greets one home with open arms, and goes in pursuit of the other.

Here it's helpful to go back and look at those first two parables that come just before the story of the Prodigal Son.  The parables of the 'lost sheep' and the 'lost coin'.  In the first we have a shepherd that goes looking for his 'lost' sheep, and upon finding the lost sheep calls all his friends to join him in celebration.  It's worth noting that in Matthew's Gospel the sheep are identified as having 'gone astray'; it's not that the sheep have just wandered off innocently, they have gone astray in their path through life much as we all do from time to time. But the shepherd has gone looking for them none-the-less. In the parable of the lost coin we see the same behavior, she has lost one of her coins and she looks diligently for it until it is found and then she tells her friends they must celebrate her reunion with the lost valuable.

These three parables taken together as they are here in the Gospel of Luke paint a wonderful story about a God that loves each of us so deeply.  A God who never gives up on us and who pursues us no matter why or how far we've wandered off from His prescence.  

Praise God, for His overly abundant love and devotion to each of us.

Praise God, that we serve such an awesome and loving God!

Please remember to be a blessing to someone today!

In His Unfailing Reconciliation,
Roy

(the video of the sermon is attached below, blessings!)

The 3rd Sunday of Lent, 2016 - Woodlawn Christian Church, Lake City, IA

Last Sunday the Scripture that I selected to preach over from the Lectionary was Isaiah Chapter 55.  The 55th Chapter of Isaiah is believed to have been written during the last years of the Exile Period in Babylon. The Persians have come in and conquered Babylon and Cyrus the Great has told the Israelites that they are free to return to Israel.  Here in Chapter 55 we find God using the Prophet to call His people back home.

The Israelites didn't return immediately and they didn't all in fact return at all.  Many (perhaps even most) of them remained behind in Babylon.  We have to wonder why in the world they would have decided to remain in exile when they were free to go back home.  Well, we need to realize that they had been in Babylon for nearly sixty years at this point.  By far the majority of the Israeli people living in exile at the time Cryus gave permission for them to return to Jerusalem had been born in Babylon and had never seen Israel. Most likely, a great many of them were even the second generation born in exile.  The people had adopted a culture while in exile and their religion had been vastly influenced by the Zoroastrian religion, the Judaism that came home from Babylon wasn't the same Judaism that went into exile.

So, some of these people no doubt were hesitant to go home, their whole world, their whole understanding of life is there in Babylon.  Certainly, they had been told stories for their entire life about 'back home', but to them it was an idyllic story.  It's one thing to dream of going to ones homeland, it's another to suddenly be able to go, especially when going means tearing up everything you've ever known in your lifetime.

To return to Israel or not, was no doubt for many of these people a traumatic decision, a horribly difficult decision.  In light of this, God calls to his prophet that wrote these words in the second portion of Isaiah, these wonderful words of calling, words of reassurance and comfort.

If you've ever strayed from the church, perhaps then you can understand these peoples hesitation.  It's much easier to stay where we 'know' and where we are 'known'.  We can't completely grasp this entire uprooting of our lives for most of us who come back to belief still live in our same communities and still retain our same friends, but we do have to turn our backs on certain aspects of our lives.  Many of these activities have become routine and comfortable, but if we're going to come home, we have to abandon these involvements.

For us believers, we can see a parallel with the Prophet in that we are called to be God's voice here on earth, His voice calling to his lost children to return home.  There's an old saying that "your life might be the only Bible that some people will ever read", well we have to know that all of us will at sometime or another be called upon to be God's voice calling to one of His lost children.

Let us ever be alert for this calling, when God calls to us to speak on His behalf and invite His lost back home.  In this time of the most holy season of Christianity, this time coming up to Easter, what better time is there for us to invite someone who has never been to church, or who may have wandered away from God, to come to church and worship with us.

Bringing someone home to church is certainly being a blessing to them.

Be a blessing to someone today! (Invite them to church!)

In His Joy, Love & Grace,

Roy 

Isaiah 55 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

An Invitation to Abundant Life

55:1 Ho, everyone who thirsts,

    come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

    come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

    without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

    and delight yourselves in rich food.

3 Incline your ear, and come to me;

    listen, so that you may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

    my steadfast, sure love for David.

4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples,

    a leader and commander for the peoples.

5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know,

    and nations that do not know you shall run to you,

because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,

    for he has glorified you.

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found,

    call upon him while he is near;

7 let the wicked forsake their way,

    and the unrighteous their thoughts;

let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,

    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

    nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

    so are my ways higher than your ways

    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

    and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

    it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

    and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

12 For you shall go out in joy,

    and be led back in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

    shall burst into song,

    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

    instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,

    for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.