Sunday, November 10, 2024

Theme

This week we consider the satirical tale of the prophet Jonah, perhaps the worst prophet I have ever heard of (“but you have heard of me”). Most of us know the story of Jonah, called by God to go to Nineveh (the heart of the Assyrian Empire, which would soon completely destroy Jonah’s home country if Israel. Instead of going to ‘those people,’ Jonah tries to go the opposite direction. Through a series of misadventures (including a giant fish), Jonah gets to Nineveh and comes face to face with his enemies, and God’s response to them. We might chuckle at Jonah’s unwillingness to listen to God’s call, but how much better do we do?

Questions

–  Can you understand Jonah’s resistance to going to his political enemies?

– Who would you not want to be sent to?

– How have you run away from God’s call, and how has God even used that for good?

Reflections:

Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Introit: The first verse of “God of the Sparrow” uses the phrase “God of the whale”, which counts as a reference to Jonah 1: 7, so that is our selection.

Opening Hymn: There are two hymns which lay claim to reference from Jonah chapter four. Oddly enough, both are paraphrases of Psalm 103, are numbered sequentially to each other, and use the very same tune. I chose the second of the two, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”.

Transition Hymn: Felt like the time to sing, as a reminder, “God Is So Good”.

Special Music: The Chancel Choir will present “Create in Me”, by Michael Larkin.

Responsive Hymn: As I was thinking on “Reluctant Apostle”, and our tendency to run away from God’s call, the words of one of my favorite verse came to mind. Even though we have used it recently, “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing” seems appropriate for its final verse.

Sending Hymn: The text of “Go in Grace and Make Disciples” reminds us that God’s commission to us is one of service rather than conquest.

Benediction: “The Lord Now Sends Us Forth”, our benediction for the month of November. The text, originally from a Cuban pastor, is a call to action in the world.