04 Deja Vu 060307

We may well have to be told something three times before we
really hear it -

There is a great deal of DEJA VU in our topic today. Each
week it seems Jesus is telling the disciples he must leave them and
that a Helper in the Person of the Holy Spirit will be there to guide
them. It is all part of a lengthy farewell discourse.
Jesus has to be lengthy and repetitive for the fact is, we don't
listen. We may well have to be told something three times before we
really hear it. That's why in putting the Sunday service together each
week, we deliberately practice reinforced learning - making sure
that, in so far as possible, the hymns, the anthem and the solos carry
the same theme as the Scripture.
Even in sermons we are taught to "tell em you're gonna tell
em" - "tell em!" and then "tell em you told 'em!"
So today, when Jesus tells us in John 16:12-15 that the Holy
Spirit will be around us to help us, we know we've heard that - it's
DEJA VU all over again!
His promise is that the Holy Spirit will give us guidance -
someone to stand beside us - a "paraclete" as the term is in Greek
- someone who will stand beside a defendant in a courtroom and
interpret the legal proceedings with which the average person is not
familiar.
The wonderful Gift that Jesus has given us in the Holy Spirit is a
guide for life's proceedings which we do not understand.
This is not only Communion Sunday but it is also Trinity Sunday
when we gratefully acknowledge that God reveals himself to us as our
Heavenly Father, through what Jesus taught us while on earth, and
through the Holy Spirit - who will share the truth of Jesus with us - AS WE
CAN ACCEPT IT.
It is fascinating that Jesus understood that in those years there
were some things that would be too much for them to understand and
accept. He said, "I have so much more to tell you, but it is too
much for you to accept now"
The people of the time of Jesus were in a world where women were the
property of their husbands and slaves the property of their masters. To
have come out as an advocate for women's rights and civil rights at that
time would have been disastrous for all concerned, so he arranged to
keep the channels of communication open through the Holy Spirit, so
that we can be taught new ways of thinking and understanding.
Understand that this will mean that there may be a discrepancy
between the Scripture of that time and the understandings of our time.
Jesus, remember, said "It HAS been said unto you......thus and
so.......but I say unto you x and y and z - something different -
more enlightened - more Godlike!"
We NEED a "paraclete" to stand beside us and guide us
"through the night with the light from above!"
First, PEACE and REMEMBRANCE are promised to us.
Jesus instituted a new ritual, before he returned to the heavenly
regions. Using the common place elements of bread and wine,
He set up a custom that would be repeated over and over again
across the centuries, even as we repeat it today and WE
REMEMBER HIM - it is as if He is here at our communion table -
which extends out - in and out among all the pews - leaving
the church and stretching around the entire world as His
people remember Him.
And we feel His Peace come upon us - not a temporary
Peace, but a permanent one that even death cannot take
from us - in fact, death takes us further into it.
You may remember that when ABC World News Tonight
anchor Bob Woodruff was reporting from Iraq, he was severely
wounded when a roadside IED drove shrapnel into his head.
"People ask me" he said, "what I remember of the explosion.
Very little...... We were coming to a stand of trees where
insurgents were waiting. They say you never hear the bomb
that hits you, and I didn't. But I recall something even more
profound. I found myself enveloped by a pure white light. It
was peaceful. My body fell back into the tank, but I floated
above it in a place were there was no pain. I don't think I even
knew I'd been hit. The white light felt so good, like soft
welcoming arms. Then it disappeared and I was awake on
the floor of the tank....but it's the memory of the white light
that's clearest. I saw what I think must've been heaven. I can
still feel its peacefulness. Because of it, I have no fear of
death now. Of course, I'd hate to leave my family, but I'm
comforted by the thought of what will come next. (Bob
Woodruff)
The Holy Spirit brings us calm in the midst of chaos, peace
and contentment no matter what we are going through. We are
promised not the contentment that comes when nothing bad is
happening to us, but the peace and contentment that comes no
matter what we're going through - even as the Apostle, Paul said:
"I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be
content.!" - that's the King James translation - our pew Bible has
"I have learned to be satisfied with what I have and with
whatever happens. I know how to live when I am poor and
when I have plenty. I have learned the secret of how to live
through any kind of situation - when I have enough to eat or
when I am hungry, when I have everything I need or when I
have nothing. Christ is the one who gives me the strength
I need to do whatever I must do." Philippians 1:11-14.
The Spirit teaches us a wonderful truth in that. You could
put it this way: Stop telling God how big your storm is:
instead, tell the storm how big your God is!
The Spirit's role is further described as that of a guide in
the knowledge of truth about Jesus. The Holy Spirit has
already guided you to a special understanding about Jesus.
That's why you're here. And that's why you're here on Communion
Sunday, because you want to COMMUNE with the Spirit of
Jesus as you will during the ritual that He has designed for us that
flows from Bible times to our time.
Intuitively, within yourself, with no one having to teach you,
you know that Jesus is special. Just to enter the church and see
the outstretch arms of Jesus before you is a special experience.
I remember my first time. I'm sure you remember yours.
One of our members, now gone on to heaven, who had
three muses - one in Russian, one in French and one in English
wrote these words when she entered the church and saw for the
first time - the stained glass window and the image of the Christ
with his welcoming, outstretched hands: "I think of Thy
perfection, meek in might here in the quiet church on
Lincoln Road. Through consecrated glass the sunrays
light Thy face and tunic, This is Thy abode. Thy welcome
gesture - loving, outstretched hands invite me here, and I
am fortified In love. My humbled spirit understands that I
must follow Thee, our Holy Guide."
Here in this place, instructed by the Holy Spirit, we know
that Jesus is special - not just a son of God (as we are sons and
daughters of God) but the natural Son - born of God - a Divine
Being - who in earthly form taught us more about God than
anyone ever had or ever will.
His coming to the earth resulted in His coming to us –
entering us - living in us - giving us unearthly - heavenly - PEACE
- teaching us, through the Holy Spirit is Truth for now and forever.
We remember His Kindness, His Sacrifice, His Love - we
hold Him in Kindly Remembrance at this TABLE OF
REMEMBRANCE.
A doctor's daughter named Hope, promised her elderly
father that upon his death, she would burn all the outstanding bills
of all his patients. "Then," he said, "No one will owe me
anything except, I hope, a kindly remembrance."
She did as she was asked. Weeks later, after the news
of her father's death had reached the newspaper, his ninety year
old widow received a letter: Dear Mrs. Bounton, It was a
pleasure to see your picture in our local newspaper and to
read of the doctor's and your lives over the many years you
have lived in our community. And congratulations on
reaching your ninetieth birthday.
In 1925 our daughter's foot was seriously injured.
Your husband, who was our family physician, took care of
it and it healed beautifully. At that time we were having
much financial difficulty and $7.50. of the good doctor's bill
was never paid. This has always bothered me because that
was not the way we did things. Please find a check
enclosed to cover that amount. And thank you for the
doctor's kindness and patience. May God bestow His
choicest blessings on you and your loved one."
Hope reflected that out of all the debts owed him, the caring
doctor got what he really wanted - a kindly remembrance.
As KINDLY REMEMBRANCES of all that Jesus has done
for us, - living for us - dying for us -and giving us the daily Guidance
of the holy spirit, let us come to this table as LIVING KINDLY
REMEMBRANCES
AT THIS TABLE OF REMEMBRANCE.

Communion Meditation Notes
(Not edited nor proofed)
The Rev. Dr. Garth R. Thompson Pastor, M.B. Community

A sermon (or meditation) is a simple truth told by someone who
believes it to people he knows and loves (Phillips Brooks)
June 3, 2007 10:30 a, m.
"Deja Vu!"
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts
be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.