Sermon – Stone Soup Reflection
St. James United Church
Sunday October 13, 2013
Cathy Dilts
1
STONE SOUP
1st Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 18: 1-6
At the Potter's House
1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : 2 "Go down to the potter's house,
and there I will give you my message." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and I saw him
working at the wheel. 4 But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands;
so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me: 6 "People of God, can I not do with you as this
potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my
hand.”
Scene 1:
Tinker enters. No one in Waterdown needs a tinker these days and so he is shunned.
Disappointed and hungry he asks the mayor if he might make his lunch in the square before
he goes back on the road.
The mayor, being kinder than most, gives him permission and then becomes his helper in
making the soup.
Tinker tells everyone that he is making a very special kind of soup and implores everyone to
keep the secret of his soup to themselves.
He asks the people to help him make the soup.
In the town square he begins to make the soup by first putting out a big pot. Pot is placed
<action stops>
2nd Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:42 & Psalm 18:2
Matthew 21: 42
42Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:
" 'The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'?
Sermon – Stone Soup Reflection
St. James United Church
Sunday October 13, 2013
Cathy Dilts
2
Psalm 18:2 (NIV)
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and my salvation, my stronghold.
Scene 2:
Pot in place he tells the people that the secret ingredient is a stone. Not just any stone, but
a very special stone. With this special stone many people can be fed
Tinker carefully places the stone in the pot.
<action stops>
Hymn: VU344 (vs 1-3) How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
3rd Scripture Reading: Numbers 20: 1-11 (NLT)
Moses Strikes the Rock
1 In the first month of the year, the whole community of Israel arrived in the wilderness of
Zin and camped at Kadesh.
2 There was no water for the people to drink at that place, so they rebelled against Moses
and Aaron. 3 The people blamed Moses and said, “Why have you brought the congregation
of the Lord’s people into this wilderness to perish, along with all our livestock? 5 Why did
you make us leave Egypt and bring us here to this terrible place? This land has no grain, no
figs, no grapes, no pomegranates, and no water to drink!”
6 Moses and Aaron turned away from the people and went to the entrance of the
Tabernacle, where they fell face down on the ground. Then the Lord appeared to them, 7
and the Lord said to Moses, 8 “You and Aaron must take the staff and assemble the entire
community. As the people watch, speak to the rock over there, and it will pour out its
water. You will provide enough water from the rock to satisfy the whole community and
their livestock.”
9 So Moses did as he was told. He took the staff from the place where it was kept before
the Lord. 10 Then he and Aaron summoned the people to come and gather at the rock.
Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out.
So the entire community and their animals drank their fill.
Scene 3:
Sermon – Stone Soup Reflection
St. James United Church
Sunday October 13, 2013
Cathy Dilts
3
Tinker explains that he needs water to make the soup. He asks the crowd where he might
find some water. A child tells him to look in the well. He looks in the well and finds a
bucket/pitcher of water. He pours it enthusiastically into the pot.
He says joyfully to the crowd as he pours, “Like water in the dessert this is going to taste so
good!!”
<action stops>
Hymn: VU23
Joy Shall Come
4th Scripture Reading: Genesis 1: 9-13
9 And God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together into one place, and let
the dry land appear." And it was so. 10 God called the dry land “Earth” and the waters that
were gathered together he called "Seas." And God saw that it was good.
11 Then God said, "Let the earth produce vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of
every kind on earth that bear fruit with seed in it." And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth
vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it
according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and
there was morning—the third day.
Scene 4:
Tinker explains that the soup will be so good, but it would be even better if they had a
potato/carrot/onion/herbs. Sad that he has none of these he asks humbly is anyone else
has a vegetable to spare.
Item by item people are invited to come forward and place their veggie in the pot.
<Do not need to rush this as people make their veggie offering. As people come forward
and place items in pot tinker looks on smiling and grateful. Once items are placed and
people return to their seats we begin to sing hymn>
Hymn: VU518 As Those of Old Their First-fruits Brought
Scene 5:
Tinker prepares the soup, enjoying the smell, rubbing his tummy in anticipation. Finally the
soup is ready and everyone is invited to share.
Sermon – Stone Soup Reflection
St. James United Church
Sunday October 13, 2013
Cathy Dilts
4
Tinker says thank you to God for all this bounty – good food and kind hearts.
Then the soup is served – kitchen cart brought out with dixie cups of stone-coloured jelly
beans, distributed and shared by Michael and Cathy to the congregation.
Hymn: VU520 (vs1&3)
We Plough the Fields and Scatter
Scene 6:
After soup/jellybeans has been shared Tinker packs up pots and stuff and gives the stone as
a gift to the mayor so the people can make more soup. Pushing his cart he waves goodbye.
The story of Stone Soup comes from an old French fable in which one who has little teaches
those who have more about the true meaning of generosity.
Such kindness is not measured by what one gives away, but rather in the willingness of the
heart to let the needs of another come before those of one self. Such generosity is a gift of
grace.
In this version of the story a tinker comes to town looking for food, but there among the
townsfolk he sees a need far greater than his own: a need for love and compassion and
community. And so he sets about making soup.
The key ingredient? A rock, a very special rock. And placing the rock and a little water in the
pot, the soup begins to warm, and so to, do the hearts of the villagers.
Where no food had been shared before, suddenly gifts began to flow; an herb, a carrot, an
onion, or a potato offered and added to the soup.
Suddenly people began to see in a whole new way – not the little that they had as something to
protect and hold on to, but as a gift to be shared.
And as offerings are made to the pot something amazing happens; a potato becomes more
than just a potato, a carrot more than just a carrot, as each now becomes part of the rich
delicious broth.
And what’s more a miracle happens; as one act of sharing inspires another, and another, and
another.
Soon there is more than enough food for all as hearts are opened, love is shared, and a sense of
caring community begins to grow.
Sermon – Stone Soup Reflection
St. James United Church
Sunday October 13, 2013
Cathy Dilts
5
And it all began with a rock, or rather with one person’s willingness to share his rock. The tinker
is kind of like God in that respect, isn’t he?
God could have kept Jesus all to himself, couldn’t he? But God chose to share himself in Jesus
with the world.
Jesus is our rock; the rock of our faith. When Jesus lived on earth all those years ago he taught
people to be kind, to accept one another, to love one another, and to share what they had.
God has shared Jesus with the world, that through him we might begin to know and feel God’s
love for us, and share it with our neighbours.
Jeremiah reminds us that we, the whole people of God, are like a pot that God lovingly fashions
with his hands.
We are the pot, and Jesus is our rock.
And because Jesus is alive; alive in the world and in us by the Spirit, that same power of love
and goodness that was in Jesus is in us.
God has shared Jesus with the world, that we, in gratitude for all the blessings we have
received, might share his love with others.
This morning we have shared with each other some of God’s abundance – in water, Word,
vegetables and jellybeans. In keeping with God’s Spirit of Sharing, all of the offerings of food
that have been contributed to the making of stone soup this morning will be turned into soup
this coming week.
As part of worship today we will ask God to bless it. Then it will be shared distributed by the
Pastoral Care Team here at St. James to families in our community.
On this Thanksgiving day, as we look forward to feasting on turkey with all the trimmings and
on pumpkin pie, let us pause to count our blessings, for how richly blessed we are by God.
And let us thank him joyously and in celebration by lifting our voices in praise, to the One who
is Giver of every good and perfect gift – the Lord, our God.
Prayers of the People:
Introduce responsive form: For these, and all your gifts, O God.
We give you thanks!
Sermon – Stone Soup Reflection
St. James United Church
Sunday October 13, 2013
Cathy Dilts
6
Generous and Loving God, we come to praise you on this Thanksgiving Day. You have given us
the gift of life, and in life an abundance of blessings. We thank you for homes and families, for
our church family and friends; for the people who share our lives, and whose love surrounds us.
For these, and all your gifts, O God. We give you thanks!
God, clay in the hand of a potter, you make us and shape us, to be people and communities of
compassion. For the guidance of your Holy Spirit, for opportunities to love and to serve others,
For these, and all your gifts, O God. We give you thanks!
Lord, you have given us a beautiful world to live in. Mountains and prairies the oceans and the
sky take our breath away. The splendour and colours and sounds of nature show forth your
creativity and power. The kiss of the wind and the warmth of the sun remind us that you are so
near to us. For fresh clean water to drink, and for good food to eat, for the abundant harvest of
autumn and for farmers and all who work to feed the earth
For these, and all your gifts, O God. We give you thanks!
And God we thank you for Jesus, our Rock, for his love and comfort and care, for his presence
that is always with us especially when we are in need. For his love that lives inside every person
and draws us closer to you and to each other
For these, and all your gifts, O God. We give you thanks!
Lord we hold in our hearts and in our prayers ....
-
All who are hungry, those who are hurting, nations and peoples longing for peace, those
anxious about their circumstance, and all who seek to know you and serve you and grow
deeper in loving relationship with your son, Jesus our Christ.
We pray your blessing upon each one of these, O Lord. May they know the peace of your
presence and feel your love surrounding them.
For your goodness and mercy and faithfulness to us, all our days,
For these, and all your gifts, O God. We give you thanks! Amen