Mephibosheth before David: The Morgan Bible, c.1244

Mephibosheth is not a name that rolls easily off my English-language-shaped tongue. Mainly because, I imagine, it is a name so infrequently heard or spoken. But Mephibosheth is a character critical to our understanding of David as king, and perhaps to our understanding of Christ and our calling as Christians.

I could not find many images of this scene from 2 Samuel 9. And it is interesting that of those images that are available from across the ages, most focus upon the crutches of Mephibosheth as he is brought before King David. But when David asks ‘To whom may I show the kindness of God?’ and then sends for Mephibosheth to be brought to him, I do not believe it is Mephibosheth’s crippled body that is David’s primary focus. David’s intention is not primarily an act of charity but a decision to let go of vengeance and embrace a life that gives life. I invite you explore this theme with me during the sermon this Sunday morning.

Have a look at the Order of Service below, and join us either in the sanctuary or by live-stream at https://youtu.be/9KuUCy6hkGw..  We welcome Aurora Dokkens back to the organ bench this Sunday morning. We also welcome Margaret Moncrieff who will share, as an introduction to our prayers of intercession, lyrics and music she has composed in response to the recent revealing of so many unmarked graves of indigenous children at former residential schools and the transfer of the Macdonald statue in our city – ‘Where do we go from here?’. Organ preludes will begin around 10:25 a.m. and the service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Previous services can be found on the St. Andrew’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/StAndrewsPresbyterianChurchKingston

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David in Prayer before God: Psalter (Flanders, 1465 – 1475)

Behind David are imagined and impressive constructions of the new capital of the newly united people of God. David is in prayer to the Holy One, keenly aware that no ‘house’ has yet been built for the Lord who brought them into this new beginning, and David pledges to do so in gratitude and honour of the Lord. But as we continue following the story of David and hear the declaration ‘I will make you a house’ (2 Samuel 7:27), it is not David who speaks!

The scene is portrayed in typical 15th century European styles of architecture, costume and even divine imagery (with the Holy One wearing a bishop’s mitre!), but what we now see as ‘dated’ was at the time intentionally ‘contemporary’. I wonder what meaning and application this scene might hold for us today?

Have a look at the Order of Service below, and join us either in the sanctuary or by live-stream at https://youtu.be/Mvm_fgG8uP4. We welcome Aurora Dokkens to the organ bench this morning. Organ preludes will begin around 10:25 a.m. and the service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Previous services can be found on the St. Andrew’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/StAndrewsPresbyterianChurchKingston

During the service Andrew mentions the video recently released by the town of Gananoque of various community groups dancing to ‘Jerusalema’ (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?extid=SEO—-&v=231114188698167 based on a South African gospel song and an older hymn. You can find the English lyrics here …  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rljLLejltdY and a commentary here … https://africa.thegospelcoalition.org/article/jerusalema/

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David Dancing Before the Ark. Bronze Relief by C. Malcolm Powers

From time to time I enjoy re-reading a collection of prayers by the Australian author and artist Michael Leunig. This week I thought of one from The Prayer Tree – ‘God bless our contradictions, those parts of us which seem out of character. Let us be boldly and gladly out of character. Let us be creatures of paradox and variety: creatures of contrast; of light and shade: creatures of faith. God be our constant. Let us step out of character into the unknown, to struggle and love and do what we will. Amen.’

I thought of this dimension of the contradictions of life this past Canada Day, when many of us experienced both grief and gratitude. There are contradictions in our life of faith as well of course. As we reflect upon our journey by following the life of David, we arrive at that scene (2 Samuel 6) when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem, and both fear and joy were experienced.

Have a look at the Order of Service below, and join us either in the sanctuary or by live-stream at https://youtu.be/PH7VOpsv9uQ. Organ preludes will begin around 10:20 a.m. and the service will commence at 10:30 a.m. We will be celebrating the Sacrament of Holy Communion, so feel free to prepare at home some bread and a cup in advance – in the sanctuary, small packaged units will be available as you enter for you to take to your pew. Previous services can be found on the St. Andrew’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/StAndrewsPresbyterianChurchKingston

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The St. Andrew’s Commons have begun hosting the youth acting classes of Bottletree Theatre. And there is action inside the limestone walls also! Every Sunday through the summer, 10:30 a.m., you are invited to join in Christian worship … in the sanctuary or live-streamed online (with links provided on this page each weekend). Have a look at the Days of Summer brochure below for details. You would be welcome!

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David the King: Fresco by Tarquinio Ligustri (1603)

This fresco in the Basilica san Vitale of Rome makes me think … David holds a harp and I remember that it is from the witness of David that we receive the psalms, words we continue to use in our relationship with the Holy One when our own words fail us … David wears a crown and I remember how God used him to bring together God’s people, an embrace and rule that was completed we believe in Jesus the Christ … David looks reflective and pensive and I think upon how close is his life to ours – his passions and his failures, his self-centredness and his faithfulness – and through it all God working God’s good purposes. I invite you to join me for a series of sermons that will focus upon ‘David and Us’.

This is the Sunday before Canada Day, and we will lift up special prayers for our nation, or more accurately for the peoples of our nation. Have a look at the Order of Service below, and join us either in the sanctuary or by live-stream with a link to be available here Sunday morning. Organ preludes will begin around 10:20 a.m. and the service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Other services can be found on the St. Andrew’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/StAndrewsPresbyterianChurchKingston

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Christi Belcourt – The Wisdom of the Universe

As the doors are re-opened, some of us will be able to gather in the sanctuary again, and some of us will participate online. All of us will have the opportunity to begin the week in praise and trust of God. Thank God!

Though the provincial Stay at Home Order has been withdrawn, we will continue exploring how to celebrate the sacred in the ordinary, in the world beyond the sanctuary. This morning we will consider the spiritual discipline of walking. 

It is also the Sunday before National Indigenous Peoples Day. As settler Canadians and as Christians we have much to confess and grieve in our relationships with our indigenous neighbours, brothers and sisters. We also have much to learn from them. This morning the sermon will begin with a look at Christi Belcourt’s painting ‘The Wisdom of the Universe’ – the original is found in the Art Gallery of Ontario, and an enlargement is found as a mural on an exterior wall of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Picton ON.

If you are able and wishing to attend in person, please review the protocols detailed in the previous post and in the link found under ‘Special Events’ to the right, ‘Re-Opening the Sanctuary’.

This service will include prayers, our cantor singing hymns classic and contemporary, and some wonderful passages of the Bible. The hour will be live-streamed and available Sunday morning at https://youtu.be/-qF0psR4Z-s. Organ preludes will begin around 10:20 a.m. and the service will commence at 10:30 a.m. Other services can be found on the St. Andrew’s Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/StAndrewsPresbyterianChurchKingston

You are invited to have a look at the printed Order of Service below, and the announcements …

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