We're exploring the complex relationship between God and the Israelites during the time of the judges. The story of Samuel's unexpected rise to priesthood despite not being a Levite highlights God's willingness to bend the rules when necessary to move the story forward. We see that God is open to dialogue and consistently imagines a reality unbounded by our limited expectations. Ultimately, we are reminded that God is not interested in ruthless aggression or war, even from his chosen people. God would rather lose and appear foolish than support our endless pursuits of violence.

Community is shaped by the conversations we share. These questions and reflections are a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.

If your group is meeting this summer and wants to talk about the sermons, here are a few questions that you could use to engage with our teaching.

What specific part of the message resonated with you the most? Why do you think that particular part, or idea, or story caught your attention?
Did the sermon speak into a particular struggle or question in your life or your faith journey right now?
What did the message challenge or encourage you personally?  And what do you think the application could be for our church community? Was there anything that could strengthen or stretch us as a church?
How did the exposition of the scriptures used in the sermon provide you with a new perspective of deeper understanding?

It is good to remember that the conversation experience in the group is shaped by the personal stories of those who participate in it and how willing the people are to be open and vulnerable in the group.

So if you’re leading the discussion, feel free to model and encourage person-centred and story-centred sharing by reflecting on how some parts of the sermon resonate with you personally.

Additionally, what contributes to a more authentic group discussion is when people can share not about the abstract and theoretical applications, but one or two practical things they are taking away from either the sermon or the discussion.

So, you can end your time together with this question:

What is one thing you are taking away from either the sermon or the discussion we’ve just had?

Prayer from the sermon:
God of Grace and peace
Who invites us to see ourselves reflected in the whole story
In the priest with wayward sons
In the mother who longs for a child
In the boy Samuel who hears the voice of God but struggles to make sense of the call
In each of these faces and more we see our emotions and our stories reflected back to us
And in that might we know that you are not surprised
Or caught off guard
But instead always present with us when we stumble, or we struggle, or we wrestle to understand
Even today as we trace the story forward
we pause
And breathe
And prepare our hearts to be seen
And to be understood in the light of your grace
May that reassuring presence
Be the posture through which we encounter these characters
And offer Grace to ourselves
And extend that welcome out into our relationships
Both those well worn — And those still yet on the horizon
In the strong name of the risen Christ we pray
Amen

CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 32

MUSIC Curated by Kevin & Alyssa Borst
Passion - King of Glory
Passion - What He's Done
Chris Tomlin - Holy Forever
The McClures - Reign Above It All

LITURGY OF THE LAND
For National Indigenous History Month

Written by Bobbi Salkeld

The month of June is National Indigenous History Month; June 21 is National Indigenous People’s Day.

Our practice at Commons is to open our hearts to learning from Indigenous elders, neighbours, artists, and friends.

In our learning, I invite you into a Liturgy of the Land. In all that has bothered you, troubled you, or upset you this week, will you hear this invitation to return to the land and reset your soul with the gifts of the land.

Your part is from the First Nations Version of the bible. Please read the portion written as “ALL”.

PRAYER

We take a quiet moment to consider the land as gift —

The land is owned by no one and therefore shared.

The land is abundant with beauty, nourishment, and shelter.

As the land offers gifts like a mother, we receive and reciprocate each gift with care.

ALL:

Creator’s blessing rests on the ones

who walk softly and in a humble manner.

The earth, land, and sky will welcome them

and always be their home. (Mt 5:5 FNV)

Now we take a moment to consider the land as relation —

All our relations include the trees, butterflies, and crayfish.

The security we long for in the land depends on the quality of our relationships.

Our relations deepen with love, and love comes from the Spirit place.

ALL:

Creator’s blessing rests on the ones

who walk softly and in a humble manner.

The earth, land, and sky will welcome them

and always be their home. (Mt 5:5 FNV)

Philistine Raiders of the Lost Ark

Summary

Discussion

Prayer

Liturgy

You Don't Want a King

The Rise of Samuel