"Jacob said, it ie my son's coat, an evil beast hath devoured him". Genesis 37:33

11A LYING RAG"

Scene laid in Hebron 1n Canaan. The time -1700 B.C •• Two main characters - Joseph ana hie father, Jacob. Minor characters 1n the drama are brothers of Joseph and certain merchantmen from M1dian. A drama in three acts.

A DRAMA IN THREE ACTS ACT 1 - HEBRON. Scene opens with two main char­acters Jacob and his favorite son, Joseph in con­versation. Jacob bowed with age and dressed in rich garments. Joseph about seventeen; sparkling eyes and good to look upon. Wearing oriental coat of many colors - gorgeous beauty; and costly.

Jacob: Brothers angry. Accuse thee of sup­eriority. And what of these dreams? Tell me. Joseph: Dreamed I was in wheatfield and all sheaves bowed to me. Dreamed of the stars. Jacob: No wonder thy brothers are angry at thee. Urge me to take away thy coat. Joseph: I am not responsible for my dreams. We enter a world over which we have no con­trol. Time and space are no more. Jacob: True! But every dream is but a rev­elation of ourselves. Did I ever tell thee of my dream at Bethel? Some other time. Th brethren are at Shechem with the flocks; take my beet camel and hasten there th gifts for them. And God guard thee safely.

ACT 2 -DOTHAN. Here the sons of Jacob are dis­cussing Joseph. Jealousy and hatred apparent.

Dan: He struts around like a peacock. Hie father's pet. Work, peril, exposure for us. Comfort and ease for him. Too tender. Bah! Gad: And hie dreams. He makes me eo angry I feel like killing him sometimes. Reuben: Remember, he is our brother. Know a~ well as I that if anything happened to him it would kill father. But who ie this? Gad: It is the dreamer. and on father's

-2-favorite camel too. This is the last straw. Let's · kil1 him; this is our opportunity! Reuben: Wait! No blood must be spilled. After all he is of our flesh and blood. Let's throw him 1n this pit.

Joseph is seized. Coat stripped from back. Then thrown into pit. Then brothers feast on food brought them and become a little worried as to outcome of whole business. s·ee caravan of traders approaching. And after some haggling Joseph is sold to Midianites for twenty pieces of silver. Caravan moves off in direction of Egypt. ACT 3 - HEBRON. Some days later. Sons of Jacob holding before their father a dirty, bedraggled , bloodstained garment - what was once the coat of many colore. Joseph's brothers had dipped coat in blood to fool old father. And Jacob falls for the trick. Lookin~ u~on that lying rag he cries out, "IT :LS MY SON'S COAT, AN EVIL BEAST HATH DEVOURED HIM!" Scene closes with Jacob's inconsolable grief and lament.

A DIRT¥, LXIN~ RAP: Want to say that Jacob had deserved this.

Had asked for it. Had been foolish and blind. But Joseph on pedestal; pampered him; refused to chastize him. Struck at point of his fondest hopes, Jacob in a moment is cast from pinnacle of his religious faith to depths of unreasoning despair. This man who had always had reputation for cunning failed to scent the trick. Cries, "It is my son's coat" and it was; but meanwhile Joseph is safe and in Egypt. So much for Jacob.

I wonder if it safe to say that Joseph 1s symbol of modern youth. Youth has suffered and 1e suffering. Ill-treated by elder brothers. It has always been true that the older generation blunders into war while the younger generation has to bear the brunt and the bloody end of it. Letter of boy about to go overseas to a member of Dr. Foed!ak'e church. Wanted to be creative! He is compelled by circumstances to use his powers to destroy.

Yes, Joseph 1s suffering at hands of broth­ers. Thrown into pit of suffering. Raiment torn

-3-and literall y bloodstained. Far from home; home­sick and lonely. A prisoner in Egypt; an exile in a strange land. But to conclude from these facts that Joseph or modern youth, 1s morally or spiritually dead, is to make the same mistake as Jacob. True, it was his eon's coat - but only a coat after all. It was a dirty, lying rag, for Joseph though 1n danger, was safe. And after all that was the important thing.

SAFE IN EGYPT: Yes, Joseph was alive. And was still very

precious to God. Carried away against his will, but down 1n that strange land, amid strange ex­periences, God was doing something for him. God was at work deep down in the soul of Joseph; was shaping for him a new career. In later yeara a famine arose and Joseph became the saviour of his people.

Perhaps that is the destiny of youth toda • To bring salvation and healing to this world. I believe that God is working in the soul of youth today. Something happening to him. More is hap­pening to them than to us here at .home. Letter from pastor - let me read it. All too true.

And a word should be satd about hi~h sohnol youth. Like Jac·ob sometimes we have despaired -have said 11An evil beast hath devoured him." It is Stanley Jones who says this; "The youth of to­day is essentially sound. I would trust their moral reactions far more than those of the forty­year-olde; they never strike a false moral note. If I had one place and only one place to invest my life i n America, I would unhesitatingly choose the h1gh school. They are the finest group of young people we've ever had." "And, they are bright. Facing questions in high s~hool that I faced in college." 11At heart they are sound!" "Thevr take to reality like a trout takes to a fly • Tt

To round out this message, a word should be said, a tender word, about those who gave their li vee in som·e Egypt. Those who wrote "one radi­ant, ringing line, e'er they died". They are yet safe. No mere bullet can write finis to life.

They are safe, of course. Donald Hankey soldier 1n the last war wrote "A Student in Arms r,. In one passage he writes: "They were lost but not necess­arily damned. They would not fit into any respect­able niche in our social edifice. They were in­curably disreputable, always in scrapes ••••• And then at last they came into their own. They who had been our despair were now our glory. Their wit sparkled. Hunger and tbinst could not depress them Rain could not damp them. Cold could not chill them. Every hardship became a joke. They did not endure hardship, they derided As for death, it was the greatest joke of all. Portentous, sol­emn death, you looked like a fool when you tackled one of them. With a gay heart they gave their greatest gift. They had been lost but they had found the path that led them home; and when at last they laid their lives at the feet of the Good Shepherd, what could they do but smile-? 11

"Jacob said, it is my eon's coat, an evil beast hath devoured him". And we are inclined to say the same - an evil beast hath devoured him. But these have received a new vestment - no coat of many colore given by a doting father; but a glorious apparel given by the Lord of all life. Listen; "What are these arrayed in white robes and whence came they? These are they which came out of great tribulation and have made the~r robes white in the Blood of the Lamb. They shall hunger no more neither thirst any more. For the Lamb that 1e in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead unto Living Waters of life and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes ••• And there shal] be no more death, neither sorrow nor cryi·ng, neither shalll there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away."

Even there, God is shaping Joseph for a new career.

"I treasure memories of the good old days .•••• when I conjured up pictures of myself as doing something truly creative •.• The very word "creative" was like a goal to me •••• How vividly I remember when I became a member of Riverside Church, and Dr. Fosdick asked what I planned to do after col­lege. It was with the utmost assurance I answered, 'Something creative ' . I wonder what he would think of me now, catapulted out of college into something truly DESTRUCTIVE ...... 11

My dear Friend,

our letter received this morning is sincerely ap­preciated. God has done great things for you, for which we thank Him* You say the men out there are attending religious services regularly and in in­creasing numbers. I am sorry to say, nothing like that is happening here at home.

ou mention you have partaken of the Lord's Supper eight times in recent months. But nothing like that is taking place in the home church.

ou remark that prayer has taken on a new meaning for you and that it has a much larger place in your everyday life than heretofore. But nothing here indicates that the home folks are sharing that spiritual experience.

It seems strange that we have to be thrust way out in the danger zone before this terrible war can arouse us to a deeper ernestness in our Christian . life and faith.

As uring you that my ernest prayers go with you from day to day, I remain, faithfully,

Your pastor,

--• God Calls His Church to Action

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross dark­ness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee" (Isaiah 60:1-2). <(So spoke Isaiah to the Church of God more than two thousand years ago. No doubt the inspired prophet also had a glimpse of our times: On the one hand the spiritual darkness, on the other the necessity of God's Church seizing the present limitless oppor­tunity to raise aloft the beacon light of the Gospel and cause it to dispel the "gross darkness." To the Christian Church comes the call

ARISE! SHINE! Come, labour on! Who dares stand idle on the harvest plain, While all around him waves the golden grain? And to each servant does the Master say, " Go work today_!"

Come, labour on! Claim the high calling Angels cannot share, To young and old the Gospel-gladness bear: Redeem the time: its hours too swiftly fly, The night draws nigh.

Come, labour on! The enemy is watching night and day To sow the tares, to snatch the seed away; While we in sleep our duty have forgot He slumber'd not.

Come, labour on! Away with gloomy doubts and faithless fears! No arm so weak but may do service here; By feeblest agents can our God fulfill His righteous will.

Come, Ia bour on! No time for rest, till glows the western sky, Till the long shadows o'er our pathway lie, And a glad sound comes with the setting sun "Servants, well done!"

Come, labour on! The toil is pleasant, the reward is sure; Blessed are those who to the end endure; How full their joy, how deep their rest shall be, 0 Lord, with Thee!

jANE BoRTHWICK from The LtttheraTL

~ PH lta.,. U S. A. No Sll

FREMONT STREET METHODIST CHURCH GLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK

Fred Clarke, Minister Dorothy E. Mellick Gra ce L. Gifford Minister of Music Church Secretary

Lewis Cunning , Sexton

ORGAN PRBLTJDE - 11 Lar go11

CALL TO WORSHIP - By the minister HYMN 37 - "At Thy f eet, our God and Father 11

INVOCATION AND LORD'S PRAYER

* RESPONSIVE READING - 4th Sunday; page 567 GLORIA PATRI APOSTLES' CREED SACRAMENT OF INFANT BAPTISM

*

Handel

Bambridge

SCRIPTURE LESSON .- Genes is 37:23-36 PRAYER FOR THOS E IN T.HE ARMED FORCES:

o Lord of Hosts, grant to thos e who have gone forth to fight our battle by l and, sea, or air, Thy protection in danger, patience in suffering and moderation in victory.

Look with compassion on the sick, the wounded, and the captives . Sanctify to them their trials, and turn their hearts unto Thee . We beseech Thee to comfort and bless the dying ; have mercy upon the widow and fatherless, and give the a ssuranc e of Thy pres enc e to all who mourn.

And, 0 God, who makest wars to ceas e in all the earth, r estore to us the blessings of peace ; and grant that our present trouble may be overruled to Thy honor and glory; through J esus Christ, our Lord. Amen

* ANTHEM - "Come Ye Bless ed" Scott - Dies Pi'.STORAL PRJ~YER ORGAN OFFERTORY - "There Is a Balm in Gilead" Dawson PRESENTJ~.TIOU OF OFFER ING

HYMN 304 - "Hea v'nly Fa ther, ble ss me now" SF.RMON 11 A LYING MGt" HYMN 283 - "Stand up, stand up for J esus" BENEDICTION J~ND DOXOLOGY ORGAN POS TLUDE - "Andante"

vonWeber

Geibe l

Thome

JANUARY 28, 1945 - CALENDAR FOR TODJ-..Y • -o-

10: 30 Morning Worship. Sermon: "A .Lying Rag 11

Church-time Nurs ery for small children. 11:00 Primary Church; Mr s. J. G. Thompson i n charge .

Junior Church; W~s. E, J. Fonda directing. 11:45 Church School; classes for all a ges; S. W. Fear,

general superintendent. 4:00 Fremont Youth Fe llowship will meet with the young

people of the First Presbyterian and other church­es at the First Pre sbyterian Church.

7:00 Union Eveni ng Service at Kingsboro Presbyt erian Church. Speaker, Rev. Willard Ric e , pastor of the Union Presbyterian Church, Schenectady, New York.

MONDAY 3:45 7:()0

TUESDAY ~ WEDNES Dl .Y "2:45

7:30 THURSDAY 4:00

6:30

FRIDAY 7:00 6:'"30

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ANNOU:NCEMElifTS

Junior Choir r ehear ·sal. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Junior High Choir r ehea r sal. Weekday School of Re ligion . Specia l s ervic e marking the close of semester. Parents and fri ends invited. The Mid-week S ~rvic e .

The Minister's Membership Cla ss. The Harmony Cla ss will have a cover ed dish supp er at the church. Chorus Choir r ehearsal. The Douglass Class will meet at the church for a cover ed dish supper.

-o-The postponed meeting of the Werner Workers will be he ld on Thursday evening , 8:00 o'clock with Mrs. Geo. Fritcher.

Altar flowers today are given by 1trs. Charle s Nichols and family in memory of husband and f a ther, Charle s Nichols.

COMING EVENTS: February 8, Venner Class Family Ni ght; February 13, Cordial Class-Laure l Band Banquet; February 22, Annual Church Dinner and Mee ting; Februar y 24 , Youth Fe llowship Pancake Supper. Make a note of th~sc events.

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