STARTERS FOR SUNDAY 2017
Submitted by Joanna Love
Material for Sunday 30 July 2017 (Eighth Sunday after Pentecost)
Genesis 29: 15-28
We pick up the story of Jacob as he has been welcomed into his uncle’s home. It looks like
everything is going to plan. Jacob has escaped the murderous intent of the brother he has
cheated. He has followed the advice of his mother to flee and seek safety with her brother
Laban. And now Jacob is set to fulfil his father’s words that he should find a wife among
Laban’s daughters. Rachel has more than caught his eye. All is set for a marriage of love to
the woman whom he has, by the accepted customs between men, fairly earned by his
labour. But the cheater is about to be cheated.
As is typical of Biblical tales, this one is scant on detail and description. We can only guess at
the motives and thinking of Laban and Jacob as events unfold. Jacob knows perfectly well
the precedence of the firstborn. But just as his behaviour towards Esau had flown in the face
of that rule, does he presume he can disregard Leah and have Rachel? Is his partiality no
worse than God’s, however? And is Laban’s apparent agreement simply a way to gain seven
years of service? Does he ever intend to give Rachel first? Surely both men know full well
that the ‘problem’ of Leah will have to be dealt with?
And how do those seven years pass for Leah and for Rachel – their lives turned upside down
by the unexpected arrival of their cousin. Do they hear how Jacob stole his brother’s birth
right and blessing? How might they each regard him in light of that knowledge? What may
be their expectations of what their father and cousin will do when the seven years are over?
Of the four main players in this drama, who gets your sympathy?
So the wedding night comes. Rachel – the younger, loved, desired, promised bride – is kept
away. Leah – the older, unloved, undesired, inconvenient problem to be solved – is led to
the marriage bed. No man can spend his wedding night with a woman who is not his
beloved, and not realise it till the next morning! What purpose is fulfilled in narrating the
wedding charade of deception and indignation? In the end both sisters become wives to this
still-hunted man, one knowing his favour and the other his rejection, even as Leah is also
not denied her rights as firstborn. What kind of beginning to family life is this, and not just
any family, but the father and mothers of God’s chosen people?
Psalm 105: 1-11, 45b
So many of God’s attributes are brought to our attention in this Psalm. God is the one who
works miracles, gives land, pronounces judgements and is faithful. God is the maker of
covenants and the keeper of covenants. The psalmist calls his people to seek God, to
remember the things that God has done, to sing in praise of God, to give thanks and testify
to what they have experienced of God. If most of the Psalms originated around the lifetime
of David, then about 800 years of history have already testified to God’s faithfulness to the
covenants made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And with David’s reign being the time
when the twelve tribes of Jacob’s descendants are at their most united, no wonder God is
frequently called ‘the God of Jacob’. Going by the Psalmists, Jacob is held in high esteem.
Isaac has no further mention beyond this Psalm, Abraham is mentioned only once more, but
Jacob is named in another 25 or so of the songs and poems as we now know them.
To look at this another way, though, the dysfunctional father par excellence has gone down
in history as one of the three key recipients of God’s foundational promise! God is the very
one who declared that Jacob would be known as Israel, a new name signifying that this
complex man had wrestled with God and not been defeated. Yet unlike every other story of
name-changing, this change of name never held. Jacob continues to be known as Jacob.
What does it mean for us to worship God of The Heel? What do we learn of God if God is
content to be known and praised as God of the Supplanter?
What does it mean for David to compose songs like this in light of the similarities between
his story and Jacob’s? Both were the unlikely youngest son chosen by God. Both their lives
were threatened and rescued by close family. Both saw tumultuous relationships among
their offspring. Both knew God’s blessing and protection despite their worst behaviour. If
we were to compose a song about God’s faithfulness, which of our faith ancestors would
feature and what memories of them would be recalled? What other testimony would we
bring in our praise of God as a reliable promise-keeper?
Romans 8: 26-39
In the preceding arguments of his letter, Paul, like the Psalmist, draws on his knowledge of
the long sweep of history. Abraham is given prominence, with reference to Adam, Moses
and David. But God is now understood as more than the God of Jacob, more than the God of
the Jews. Paul sees all of humanity in need of God, and God’s gift of new life excluding noone. In contrast to the experience of Jacob and David, though, here Jesus is the rightful
‘firstborn’ paving the way for many siblings!
So the ever broader faithfulness of God is again revealed and pointed to, this time in the
help of the Spirit as people pray. To Paul’s mind there is nothing conditional about the help
of the Helper. Her work is attested to with an unqualified confidence. She gives oomph to
our praying and prays for us! What petitions might she be bringing to God on our behalf at
this particular time? What sighs and groans are people across the world now bringing to
God – those prayers that are too deep for words?
There are challenging ideas here too. In this section of his letter, Paul’s bold claim that
nothing is incapable of working in favour of God’s good purposes could be quite a discussion
starter. How would it bear up if Leah or Rachel had a say? Paul is undoubtedly addressing
issues of conflict and tension between Jews and Gentiles, the same stuff of human
relationships that people of all times must work on. He paints a vivid picture of God being
on our side, for us, in all that we do. It is a remarkable conviction. Nothing can cut us off
from the love God has for us. Nothing can come between us and that love.
Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52
Here we find a cluster of short, pithy parables, each one offering insight into what the
kingdom of heaven is like. What is suggested about the Kingdom in this collection of diverse
tales featuring very ordinary living and inanimate things – a mustard seed being planted,
yeast put into bread dough, a field with buried treasure, a merchant finding a pearl, a fishing
net catching all kinds of fish?
All kinds of questions could be explored arising from these five parables. For example:
When have we seen unexpectedly large growth from something or someone that looked
unpromisingly small? (Again, an intriguing link back to people like David!)
What is the significance of buying the whole field knowing what is re-buried in it, rather
than simply taking the treasure on first finding it? When have we found God’s treasures as a
result of ‘digging deep’? When have our findings been so overwhelmingly precious that we
didn't know quite what to do? Or it is so precious we not only want it, but everything to do
with it? Or is there something deep and precious about being hidden in God knowing that
God is also hidden in us? Are some discoveries just so precious we want to keep them to
ourselves for a while? Or have we thought there may be more treasure where the first one
came from so we ‘buy the whole field’?
When have we known the Kingdom as a pervasive, impurifying influence?!
Do we experience our relationship with God as something worth having above all else,
worth giving up all else for?
What do we make of the picture of the angels, in the end, separating out, or severing off,
those who have not done the right thing from those who have? How does this sit with Paul
saying nothing can cut us off from God’s love?
What is being depicted about who God is, what matters to God, how God goes about things,
in each of these parables? In what ways do these expressions complement or contradict
each other? What do we find most resonant, most challenging, most encouraging?
Sermon Ideas
How and what do we know of God’s purposes? How does God go about encouraging their
realisation? Today we have part of a narrative, a song, part of a letter and a cluster of
parables to chew on. What do we see of God’s desires within and out with what people say
and do? Sometimes explicitly, sometimes implicitly, God shows up as steadfastly faithful, a
faithfulness demonstrated as much in breaking rules as in keeping them.
Some possible questions for exploration and conversation have been mentioned in the
comments for each passage. Another way to dig deeper into the Genesis episode would be
to invite members of the congregation to step into the shoes of one of the characters and
rewrite then retell the story from the perspective of Laban, Jacob, Leah or Rachel. Or simply
divide up the congregation into quarters and invite everyone to listen as if they are one of
the four people. Then let them come up with questions for each of the other three
characters, and spend time in open-ended character conversations. For example, having
listened ‘in the shoes’ of Leah, I might want to ask Laban, “Why did you not tell Jacob he
couldn’t possible marry Rachel before me?” or “Why did you not make Jacob and Rachel
wait until I had been given to a man who loved me?” Someone who has listened as Laban
can respond as they choose.
Similar creative exchanges could be based on the parables, with people stepping into the
shoes of the seed-planter who watches the mustard bush grow, the woman mixing the
yeast into the dough and seeing it rise, the treasure finder and hider who sells everything to
buy the field, the merchant who seeks and finds a pearl worth giving up everything else to
have, the net full of fish that is pulled in and its contents separated.
There are no right or wrong answers in this kind of exploration. If desired, any new thoughts
or insights can be shared with the whole group in a brief time of feedback.
Time with Children
Introduce this part of the service by saying, “Here are two short stories Jesus told to help
people see what God is like…”
The parables of the hidden treasure and pearl could lend themselves to a treasure hunt
around the sanctuary, with four people of any age, playing the parts of the person who finds
the field treasure, the field owner, the merchant, and the seller of the best pearl. You could
have a few ‘pearl sellers’ among the congregation, advertising necklaces, one of which is
obviously much nicer than the rest. A rug or large fabric laid out front could symbolise the
field. Role play the stories side by side. When the field treasure has been found and hidden
again, and the nicest pearl discovered, the field owner and pearl seller need to state the
price they want for the field and pearl. You could then have a mock auction where the two
main characters need to think of what they could sell, and have people offer bids, until they
have raised enough to buy the field and the fine pearl. When the purchases are complete,
the new owners should make it clear how happy they are.
End by saying, “These are stories Jesus told to help people see what God is like. I wonder,
then, what is God like?” Invite any thoughts from young and old alike, and accept all
responses.
Prayers
When providing prayers the following would provide helpful material for worship leaders in
any type of context/gathering:
Approach to God & Confession
God, we greet you and we meet You,
Just as we are this morning.
After another week of what life has thrown at us;
The things we expected and the things we had no idea would happen…
Thanks for being with us in whatever has been tough and tiring this past week,
Thanks for keeping us going in the tasks we’ve had to get done,
Thanks for the small signs of Your presence,
The delights of the world that have made us smile,
The daily bread of friendship and laughter and sunshine.
God, help us to find You in all things,
To know Your energy and Your spirit
alive in our everyday experiences,
For You can use anything to catch our attention,
You can teach us and inspire us
whenever we simply look a bit closer,
or think a bit deeper,
or go a bit further.
And in relationship with us, You lead us to become more free;
free to love and give and be ourselves in generous measure.
God we’re sorry for the times when our sense of ourselves
Has got muddied and messed up and pulled down,
Making us lose sight of our inborn dignity.
Please restore us, so we can live with integrity,
knowing we belong to You.
Our prayers in words, silence, sighs and longings,
we bring to You God,
and you hear and You understand
because You love us.
AMEN.
Thanksgiving & Intercession
How do we recognise Your kingdom, Lord?
How do we become and stay its citizens
and live as people of Your covenant,
loyal as You are loyal.
We stand in a long history
of the flawed, the loved, the eloquent, the duplicitous.
In our groaning and in our rejoicing,
You empower us and never give up on us.
You speak of hidden treasure and finest pearls,
of joyful relinquishing and eager keeping.
You invite us to search for and find true life.
You ask us to plant the smallest of seeds,
You task us with rolling up our sleeves and working in the yeast of goodness.
And all with Your help, our faithful God.
Please will You repeat this encouragement
to the people who most need to cling to it today.
Wherever understanding has withered
and peace has run dry,
may life come sprouting through the cracks.
Wherever reconciliation has gone into reverse
and binding ties have come undone,
may sinews of protecting grace begin to cover raw wounds.
Lord, we recognise
that all creation cries out to be cared for;
that every living creature is owed respect;
that every person needs nurture;
that every nation thrives only through justice;
that every heart needs room to grow.
Will you come, then,
to where destructive powers are strong,
the weeds many
and the atmosphere hostile,
and make people restless till we do the things that make for peace.
Remind us of Your design and purpose
and fan the flames of courage and persistence within us
that the kingdom might come.
Amen.
Musical Suggestions
CH4 71 ‘Give thanks unto the Lord our God’ - a setting of Psalm 107 similar in tone to Psalm
105, speaking of God’s faithfulness
CH4 173 ‘Sing to God new songs of worship’ - similar tone to Psalm 105, praising God for
longstanding faithfulness and calling creation to thanksgiving
CH4 343 ‘The reign of God, like farmer’s field’ - two of today’s parables in song; try
composing extra new verses for the others!
CH4 590 ‘Holy Spirit, gift bestower’ - affirms the work of the Spirit our helper, and many
tunes will fit!
CH4 588 ‘Praise the Spirit in creation’ - an alternative on the theme of the Spirit at work
since creation
CH4 465 ‘Be thou my vision’ - classic song of desire for God and to live in God’s ways
CH4 126 ‘Let’s sing to the Lord’ - a lively Brazilian folk tune and words to close the service on
an encouraging note