Worship Service and Sermon

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us pray.
O God of peace, You have taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of Your Spirit lift us, we pray, to your presence, where we may be still and know that You are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Psalm 84:1-6

How dear to me is your dwelling, O LORD of hosts! *
My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.

The sparrow has found her a house and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young; *
by the side of your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God.

Happy are they who dwell in your house! *
they will always be praising you.

Happy are the people whose strength is in you! *
whose hearts are set on the pilgrims' way.

Those who go through the desolate valley will find it a place of springs, *
for the early rains have covered it with pools of water.

They will climb from height to height, *
and the God of gods will reveal himself in Zion.

For one day in your courts is better than a thousand in my own room, *
and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.

For the LORD God is both sun and shield; *
he will give grace and glory;

No good thing will the LORD withhold *
from those who walk with integrity.

O LORD of hosts, *
happy are they who put their trust in you!

A Reading from the letter to the Hebrews

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” (11: 1,8-12)

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

We have seen evidence of such faith as we have been sailing through the far-flung islands of Polynesia. Over the course of some 2,000 years, the intrepid ancestors of today’s Polynesian people managed to spread themselves out across the vast reaches of the Pacific Ocean. What motivated those pioneers of centuries ago to take the risk of sailing out in their frail vessels beyond he horizon across the ocean into the unknown? Surely it must have been something very much like what the Scripture we have heard this morning calls “faith.” Like Abraham of old, those courageous and daring Polynesians were searching for someplace, somewhere that would be better than the place they were willing to leave behind. Those Polynesian explorers must also have had a reasonable hope that what they were searching for, they would find.

How much we need such faith as we face the unknowns of our life, things like cancer, divorce, death of a loved one, unemployment, retirement, financial recession, global warming, political conflict. The list is unending. How can we cope when the world around us shakes and becomes uncertain? Let me tell you a story.

It happened one New Year’s Day when my wife and I were vacationing at a dude ranch on the edge of the Sonoran Desert and took the ranch car to drive down to Mexico. We went the long way through Tucson to get there, but there was a much shorter and more direct route for our return. Just north of Nogales on the U.S. side of the border, Arizona Route 289 headed westward for about 20 miles to a place called Ruby and beyond there connected with a road near the Elkhorn Ranch. Route 289 looked a little narrow perhaps, but it was nicely paved, and we had a bright star in the western sky. All was well for about ten miles until the pavement ended abruptly and Route 289 became a dirt road. “How bad can it be?” we said. It may be a dirt road, but it’s a good dirt road and it’s only ten more miles to Ruby. So on we went as night fell. The road climbed steeply and became very rough. The potholes were wide and deep and filled with rain water. Up up we went along the edge of a deep canyon; the headlights sometimes shined against the other side of the abyss and other times they lit the night sky. We had no idea where we were and we had no GPS; all we had was that star. Sometimes it disappeared behind a cloud or behind the mountain, but it was always there. Mile markers still counted the way to Ruby, mile 18, mile 19, and mile 20, but even when we got to 20, there was no Ruby, just the eyes of animals reflecting our headlights. The temperature dropped, and the prayers we had been saying silently we started saying aloud. And then we saw the sign, a sign saying “Danger: Primitive Road Ahead, Proceed at Your Own Risk.” But we had no choice; there was no turning back now because there was no place to turn around. So on we went, looking for the star, reassuring each other, and saying our prayers, and finally, after driving some four hours to go 35 miles, we made it back to the ranch.

There are some important lessons about journeying into life’s unknowns in our Ruby Road adventure. First there is the essential importance of having a sense of direction. We knew where home was. As long as we kept heading west, we would eventually get to our destination. The same is true in life. We need to know where we are heading. Christians believe that we are on our way to heaven, the place where we shall see the One in whom we believe face to face. As our opening hymn puts it, we are pilgrims, travelling through a barren land, and yet as we journey on through life’s ups and downs, we are guided by a star, the promises of God in Holy Scripture and above all in the person of Jesus Christ. Christ is our model of the values that shall endure, and Christ is our inspiration for persevering in trying times.

Secondly, how very much we need our fellow pilgrims. I was very grateful to be with Hope as we made our way across the Ruby Road, grateful for her encouragement and support and companionship. Likewise as we travel on the wider journey of life, we need to know that we are not alone, that we are part of a community where we are known and loved. We need the strength that comes from being together to hear and reflect on the stories of our faith and to pray for each other and for the world.

And finally, we need to have the faith that God is with us, supporting us and strengthening us and guiding us. Fear not, says Jesus, and be not afraid because I am with you and will always be with you. Fear not.

Holy God, we offer our prayers for all peoples of the world. Raise up leaders who will govern with wisdom, integrity, and compassion. Give us courage to pursue the vision of liberty and justice for all.

Happy are the people whose strength is in you.

We ask your blessing, O God, on this worship congregation aboard the Silver Whisper and on the congregations from which we come. Deepen and strengthen our faith and work through us to accomplish your mission of healing a broken world.

Happy are those who dwell in your house

We pray for those in any kind of need or trouble: the sick and the lonely, the brokenhearted and the sorrowful. Relieve their suffering and give them hope.

Happy are they who put their trust in you.

Lead us forward, Lord God, into whatever lies ahead. As we continue our voyage this week, give us fresh glimpses of your abiding presence with us and with this world that you have made and fill us with joy and gratitude.

Happy are those whose hearts are set on the pilgrim’s way.

Let us now pray in the words our Savior gave us:

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 trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
For thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Blessing
Hymn: He Who Would Valiant Be

Officiants: The Reverend Hope H. Eakins, The Reverend William J. Eakins
Music: Lech Was
Altar Guild: Jane Kline
Usher: Doug Kline