16th May 2021. Service.
Service of Worship 16th May 2021
Seventh Sunday after Easter
Prelude – Here I am Lord,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBg-yDhM2KY
Introit Hymn: Make me a channel of your peace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8eorCEMIK4
Collect for today
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Saviour Christ has gone before, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Hymn: Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqOnjmr9Ah0
Call to Worship
O sing to the Lord a new song
Sing to the Lord, all the Earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name,
tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations
His marvellous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised.
Prayer of Adoration
Come and celebrate our common home
we gather with the family of humanity.
With the mountains, islands and deserts
we honour the glory of God in creation.
the lakes, rivers and seas we come to the source of
living water.
With the land, its soil, seeds and sustenance
we thank God for his generous provision.
With the forests of great trees, the lungs of the planet
we will sing with joy and clap our hands.
We join with the whole of creation, inspired by those who have gone before and the prophetic voices of today
All: We dare to praise and pray for another possible world.
To the glory of God, Amen.
Prayer of Lament
O God, the heavens are not glad, the Earth does not rejoice warming gases fill the atmosphere pollution turns clean air foul climate breakdown wreaks havoc.
The sea roars with the grief of all the plastic that fills it of the destruction of coral reef.
The fields exclaim despair for delayed rains and prolonged drought for species extinction on a daily basis.
For the beauty of the Earth desecrated by pollution extinguished by forest fires choked by plastic waste
Christ, our God, to you we plead forgive us for systemic greed.
For the urgency of this hour ignored by apathy or procrastination
wasted by ineffective decisions denied by economic interests Christ, our God and Saviour, forgive us for selfish short-term behaviour.
For the joy of human love fractured by forced migration crushed by bereavement
lost to typhoons, floods, starvation Christ, our God, bringer of justice forgive us for this climate crisis.
Absolution
God, you know us.
You know that we can be loving and kind;
and you know that sometimes we get things wrong. I’m sorry for the times I hurt other people, forget to listen to you
and don’t bother to take care of your world.
God forgive you,
Jesus, bless you. God’s Spirit help you to grow in love.
God, you know us.
You know that we can be loving and kind;
and you know that sometimes we get things wrong.
We’re sorry for the times we hurt other people,
forget to listen to you
and don’t bother to take care of your world.
God forgive us.
Jesus, bless us.
God’s Spirit help us to grow in love.
Because we are God’s people, All we will care for each other.
Because we are part of God’s creation,
All we will care for the Earth.
Because we are loved by God, All we will share God’s love with
everyone.
The Lord’s Prayer (in the words most familiar to you)
Our Offering
The season of Easter comes to a close this Sunday. Yet we will continue to receive the blessings God pours out for us in Christ and in creation, for God is so good to us. Our gifts to God tell of our gratitude for these blessings and our commitment to share them with the whole world.
Prayer of Dedication
Eternal and ever-present God bless the gifts we offer you today with the power of your Holy Spirit. Use them and us to witness to the love of Jesus Christ and bring healing and hope to the world in his name. Amen.
Hymn: Blest be the everlasting God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKdWeVpVeUk&t=34s
The Readings
Psalm 1
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither –
whatever they do prospers.
4 Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to destruction. Amen.
1 John 5:9-13
9 We accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. 10 Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. 11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.
13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. Amen
Hymn: Take my life and let it be consecrated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of4l5bTdZ8M
John 17:6-19
6 ‘I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me, and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.
13 ‘I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Hymn: Through all the changing scenes of life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBkorDtz1nU
Christian Aid Film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuiy_l_Hby4
Sermon
Today’s Christian Aid Film is a sermon in itself. I wish only to comment upon it as it struck me the first time I watched it with reference to our Psalm and Gospel reading today.
When we lived in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, we were reliant upon large water tanks in our garden. Our first house had a 1oo,000 litre tank and when we built our next house, we had a 300,0oo litre tank, both of which collected rain water. In Kurrajong we rarely had to use this water as there was a municipal supply, but we were near the end of line and the pressure was not always good, but in Bowen Mountain we were reliant on it for everything. It was always a good sign when we saw frogs in the outside pipes, showing that the water was clear.
Did you notice Florence’s collection method, a plastic scoop that was open at both ends? And did you notice that the water was turbid, good for irrigation, but not for drinking?
At first sight, the simile of Psalm 1 hardly appears to apply to Florence and her family – “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do prospers.”
She is not fortunate enough to have a huge supply of water next to her house, she has to carry it daily from the dam, instead of a journey that previously occupied six hours of her day.
I don’t know how we would cope if we had to collect and use water like that every day. We may feel we are well established like the tree planted by streams of water because water streams into our homes at an average rate of 153 litres per person per day. That is 111,690 litres per year for a couple. Without occasional rain we would have been in trouble in New South Wales. Cousins in Western Queensland lived permanently with strict water rationing most years.
But of course, access to physical water is not the true measure of blessedness. It is delight in the law of the Lord that is the source of true blessedness. We do not take this literally; it symbolises for us a commitment to the way of God in Jesus Christ who fulfils the law for us and fills us with the righteous outcome of his fulfilment of it. By faith we become like the tree planted and yielding its fruit.
In Kenya, Florence gathers fruit that is the product of her labour by hauling water with her donkey and tending her crops. The peppers, okra, and onions we saw symbolise her spiritual flourishing. Was it her faith that triggered the blessing of the construction of the dam through Christian Aid? I think that her appeal, her prayers, inspired God’s response through the dedicated work of Christian Aid. In this sense a prayer to God is a prayer that is forwarded to others in his kingdom to act upon.
This ties us into Jesus words in John 17 “Holy Father, keep these whom you have given me, true to your name. May they be one, as you and I are one.
Florence, her family and others like her, although they are halfway round the world from us, are those to whom Jesus has revealed his word, those whom God gave him out of the world. Thus, he prays to God his Father,
“They were yours; you gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me, and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. “
They, like us, are part of the great fellowship of faith that is the Body of Christ.
What do we notice about Florence’s faith? It is growing in a part of the world that is vastly different from ours. We have noticed the back-breaking work, shared with her fellow village women. We should also notice the simplicity of their lifestyle; that they take pride in their appearance despite their poverty. I was struck by the contrast between the older man sitting at his sewing machine and the women howking in the fields.
Florence became pregnant as a school-girl, married too young and lost her husband prematurely, so there is deep personal grief as she describes feeling alone in the world. But yet the smiles and the warmth of her personality are evident as she relates to her neighbours. She loves to sing, and it seems that she has found joy through it all. She states that she has chosen to be happy and that is why she sings.
Consider that she has been led to fulfil part of Jesus’ High Priestly prayer: “‘I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”
It is interesting also to note how she deals with negativity when, as she said, someone disappoints her. Instead of taking the disappointment with her and holding on to it, she chooses instead to sing. I read an article two weeks ago which p0inted out that when many people look at the past they tend to focus upon the negative things, the tragedies the struggles, the hurts the offences. That was the year so and so was ill and died; the time I had my accident, my big operation; the time I lost my job and so on. Perhaps it is because 95% of our news tends to be about negative things. No wonder people get down. “How can I keep from singing?” is definitely Florence’s spiritual motto.
And then there is gratitude. Florence may no longer have to walk six hours to get her water, but it is still not an easy task. The Christian Aid dam has made a difference to the local agricultural productivity, but it still involves hard work. The surplus vegetables and the honey are ancillary blessings, and she clearly has enough to buy smart clothes and a fine handbag. She is grateful and says so, as well as sending prayers for blessing to the people in the UK who have helped her and her community.
How did all this come about? Because she is one with people whom she will never meet four thousand and more miles away. The prayer offered in faith, who knows how often or how long before, is what links this woman and her circumstances with people across the world. It is Christ who hears and perfects her prayer and inspires the response, because the lives of all his people are within him. This is a spiritual reality which the prayers of Jesus Christ are bringing into our physical reality.
“Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.” This is Christian unity. In Christ, we are called to be ready to answer each other’s prayers as the Holy Spirit inspires us because in him, we are one!
I read a reluctant sermon by a United Church of Australian minister who was very discouraged because his ecumenical efforts through the years had been frustrating to the point of total discouragement.
In reality, Christian unity operates on the spiritual level all the time. Getting people together to agree on theology and practice doesn’t really work because a lot of that is cultural, and people are loath to surrender their culture for a hybrid. But whenever love and prayer are in action, these transcend the cultural differences and operate in Christ in whom we are all one. Though it is still good when we can co-operate ecumenically from time to time.
A diamond, a ruby, an emerald and a sapphire are quite different outwardly, but they each can add to the overall beauty of a jewel. In the jewel they are one. Actually, rubies and sapphires are both varieties of corundum, though they look different; whilst emeralds, aquamarines and pink or orange morganites are forms of beryllium, but they all can be pleasingly combined. In Christ we are different, but eternally and beautifully one.
In our building, because of the age of the original plumbing, we often hear a thud when a tap is closed in the other flats. It reminds me of just how often we use water every day, and how there are joyful, thankful Christians singing their faith in Africa without piped water. We are one with them and have the privilege of helping to answer each other’s prayers across the miles. Thank God for Christian Aid. Amen.
Prayer of Thanksgiving and Intercession
God of abundant life,
we see your goodness all around us and we thank you for every part of it;
from the plants and animals which play their part in complex ecosystems,
to the dry deserts and stormy seas which test the limits of life.
We pray that in this time of climate crisis and ecological emergency, you may help us to rediscover your love of creation and to reflect that in our own lives.
God, in your mercy hear our prayer.
God who speaks through unexpected people,
We thank you for contemporary prophets who are challenging us to act on climate change;
for indigenous people and their invaluable knowledge of the land and sea where they live,
for scientists dedicating their careers to warning us about changes to
the planet,
and for young people striking for their future.
We pray that you will help those in power to hear their prophetic voices.
Help them to see beyond short-term political priorities and business plans. and give them wisdom and courage when they face difficult decisions.
God, in your mercy hear our prayer.
God of second chances,
we recognise the damage we have done to the Earth
and the injustice we see in society every day,
all of it fuelled by worship of profit and possessions.
We pray for the coming of a better world with justice, kindness and humility at its heart.
We ask that you guide us to be co-creators of this new world. Give us confidence to follow
the prophetic voices
to stand against injustice to people and to planet.
So that together,
in your strength,
we stop this climate crisis.
God, in your mercy hear our prayer.
in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ,
Hymn: I bind unto my self today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH4ToVxtn9A
Sending out and Benediction
May God bless us with wonder at creation’s
glory.
May God bless us with fury at creation’s spoiling. May God bless us with courage at this critical hour. And may the blessing of God, Father,
Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and on all creation, this day and for the future to come. Amen.
Postlude: Blest be the tie that binds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkncqxPZkUg
Hymns
Here are some hymn suggestions to check on YouTube if you wish to sing along. Some may not be as familiar as their titles suggest:
Here I am Lord,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBg-yDhM2KY
Make me a channel of your peace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8eorCEMIK4
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqOnjmr9Ah0
Blest be the everlasting God
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKdWeVpVeUk&t=34s
Take my life and let it be consecrated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of4l5bTdZ8M
Through all the changing scenes of life
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBkorDtz1nU
I bind unto my self today
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH4ToVxtn9A
Blest be the tie that binds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkncqxPZkUg
For Children
I’m sure you’ve worked a maze before. You begin where it says, “start” and try to find an open path in the maze that will lead you all the way to the finish. There’s no crossing through any lines; that would be too easy!
Try doing this one for yourselves. I hope you don’t get stuck in too many dead ends and have to start again. Be sure to use a pencil rather than a pen so you can rub out any wrong turns.
Finding your way through life can sometimes be like finding your way through a maze. Each day we have to make choices and we don’t always know which way to go. Sometimes we even choose the wrong path, and we have to back up and start over again.
- Tell about a time when you found yourself having to back up and start over?
Jesus knew that life in this world is difficult. That’s why He prayed for His disciples when it was time for Him to leave this world. He prayed to God, “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe. No one was lost, but now I am coming to You and I ask You to protect them and keep them safe.”
We, too, have guides to help us make our way through the maze of life–the Bible and prayer. Life may not be easy, but with God leading the way, we know that we will never get lost.
God, as we search for the path that will lead us safely through this world, we place our trust in You and ask for Your guidance and protection. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Today we are also learning about the importance of water to help people in dry countries through Christian Aid. Here is a video about the importance of rain and water
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Atfr07wPjc
Intimations
The North Queensferry Board of Management will meet via Zoom on Tuesday May