Worship Preview 5.10.26

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY: 10:30am. “Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread.”  Scriptures: Exodus 16, John 6:1-15 and 25-40. Rev. Christopher Eshelman preaching.

I said last week that when I initially started planning this series, I had tried to make “give us this day our daily bread” fall on the 1^st Sunday of the month so that it would align with our normal practice of sharing Holy Communion on that day – but it just wasn’t working. I wanted to spend the time we have exploring “Our Father…” and “Hallowed…” and “on Earth as it is in Heaven.” I noted that as I continued reading, praying, and planning, I felt like sharing communion was a great example of what it mean to do God’s will here and now – “as it is in heaven.” The bread – taken, blessed, broken and given.” The cup poured out “for the forgiveness of many.” Jesus body and blood – given that we might gather in community. That we might see our kin – past, present, and future. That we might encounter the grace and mystery – Jesus revealing the fullness of God in our midst. Heaven in-breaking into the world that God intends and loves – and the world that is so desperately broken and sinful and in need of repentance. At the table we are both healed and sent forth. We are challenged and equipped. When we pray “Thy Kingdom come…” it looks like Christ hosting us at the table he has prepared.

So then, what do we have to say this week for “Give us this day our daily bread.” It’s not just about a bit of bread at communion – rather it’s about, to quote J. Neville Ward’s definition of prayer again, “the purification of desire, the education of human wanting.”

I shared that quote last week. It comes from the introduction of C. Clifton Blacks Interpretation commentary on the Lord’s Prayer. Our daily bread is about recognizing our dependence on God, about shaping our desire to align with God’s will, about recognizing what is “enough” and turning away from excess. We’ll explore this by looking back to Exodus 16 – the story of God providing Manna in the wilderness. Just enough for each day, unable to be hoarded – and yet sustained through the Sabbath. And we’ll look at the stories told in John 6. The crowds have followed Jesus. It is near Passover – the harvest festival. A celebration of God’s provision. When he sees the crowd, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” “

But Andrew chimes in:“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” You likely know the story from there. Jesus has the people sit. He “takes, blesses, breaks, and gives” – and there is enough. Indeed, there is a surplus – 12 baskets! But “When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”

What kind of Kingdom is Jesus proclaiming – not one where the masses use him to overthrow the regional power. He returns to his practice of prayer. The disciples go across the lake and we’ll skip ahead to verse 25.

Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”  It’s about more than bread. Recall the 1^st temptation – to make bread from stones. To misuse power for himself, to hoard or delude ourselves into thinking we are independent. Here Jesus calls for belief – not mere intellectual assent, but a commitment that reshapes our lives. To believe is to “give one’s heart to.”

At which point the crowds show how little they understand because they – having just experienced the loaves and fishes – ask “What sign are you going to give us, then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” 

And Jesus then talks about doing God’s will… the daily bread is a sign. A call to recognition and participation in the Kingdom and Kin-dom that Jesus is showing us. That involves asking for what we want and need, but doing so in a way that shapes us to conform to God’s Will, to reflect Jesus’ presence. Sunday our Call to Worship will come from a poem by J. Birch of Faith and Worship. He writes; “Somewhere a miracle occurs, a seed is sown in fertile ground, germinates, grows, ripens and in due season will be harvested. Somewhere a miracle occurs, from the simplest of ingredients, flour and water, salt and yeast, kneaded and formed. Daily bread. Somewhere a miracle occurs, your word is sown in fertile ground, germinates, grows, fruits and in due season will be harvested. Somewhere a miracle occurs, as the purest  of ingredients, love, hope and joy make broken lives whole. Bread of Life.”

Christ is risen indeed! In life, in death, in life beyond death. God is with us! We are not alone. Thanks be to God. Amen! Wherever you are on your walk of faith, you are invited to bring your whole self to worship at 10:30am each Sunday. 301 S. National. This is the miracle and the mystery. We'll also recognize our graduates and celebrate Mother's and all who nurture. Join us! Blessings on your journey!

UPCOMING EVENTS: 

FEEDING FAMILIES IN HIS NAME: Wednesday, May 13 - A free, no obligation meal is served “to-go” style from underneath our portico from 5:15pm to 6:15pm each Wednesday, prepared each week by our members as well as several area churches and community groups. We aim to provide 400 meals per week. 

AGING FORWARD RETURNS FRIDAY, MAY 15TH. Aging Forward sessions feature local speakers on a variety of topics to encourage lifelong learning and fellowship for retired adults (and anyone else interested!). This month we will gather at 1pm in Fellowship Hall for light refreshments and conversation then go upstairs to the Sanctuary to attend a Senior Recital by Talya Banwart, one of Pat Harry’s voice students. When that concludes, we’ll move back to Fellowship Hall for a presentation by our own Pastor Christopher on contemplative walking and mindfulness.