10th May 2020 Easter 5

Here are another series of elements to make an act of worship for us to engage with as we grow as disciples on this fifth Sunday celebrating Jesus’ resurrection from the dead! It’s another of pick and mix: you do with it as you wish to worship the Father through the Risen Jesus, by the Spirit. It could last all week…

For songs, where possible, I’ve suggested: A traditional hymn, a more contemporary song, and an adventurous alternative: you choose! Just click on the underlined links, turn your device sound up loud, and singalong!! You can also find your own choice in the internet!

Worship isn’t a spectator sport, it’s a full-engagement activity between us and God, who we encounter in relationship as Father, Son, and Spirit.

In Old Testament times, they needed a human priest to mediate, then a stone temple to worship in, but after the resurrection we Christians are all priests (see the 1 Peter reading today), and we all have God the Son living in our lives by God the Spirit, in the embrace of God the Father. Christians need no mediator and we are the temple!

Have fun!!

I Am the Resurrection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJtZaUHn_M0

Opening scripture:

“Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests”

(First Letter of Peter 2.5 GNB)

The Lord is Risen! HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA!

Repeat as much as you like!

Pray, thanking the Father for Jesus’ risen presence with you, asking for His Spirit so you can worship the Father in Spirit and truth (John 4.23).

Risen Lord Jesus Christ As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, may the light of your risen presence set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and for ever. Amen.

Hymnody Fill Thou My Life https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2mpY0NahNQ See What a Morning (Coventry Cathedral) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57C7uBkbO5E See What a Morning (Christen Getty) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Qlc0UIRkBk Beautiful Saviour (Planetshakers) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saK6vStMQ8U

Collect (Special prayer) Almighty God, through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ You have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. Grant that, as by your grace going before us you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect; through Jesus Christ our risen Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The Word of God

St Paul says; ‘The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.’

(Paul’s First Letter to the Church in Corinth 4.20)

Through our lives and by our prayers may your kingdom come.

Psalm 31 (Anglican Chant) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0CnriqJVbA Psalm 31 sung (John Michael Talbot) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00zi6wkiaHg Faithful One (Robin Mark) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxviwvjyg1w

Ps 31.1-5, 15-16 A Prayer of Trust in God (NLT) 1 O Lord, I have come to you for protection;     don’t let me be disgraced.     Save me, for you do what is right. 2 Turn your ear to listen to me;     rescue me quickly. Be my rock of protection,     a fortress where I will be safe.

3 You are my rock and my fortress.     For the honour of your name, lead me out of this danger. 4 Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,     for I find protection in you alone. 5 I entrust my spirit into your hand.

    Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.

6 I hate those who worship worthless idols.     I trust in the Lord. 7 I will be glad and rejoice in your unfailing love,     for you have seen my troubles,     and you care about the anguish of my soul.

8 You have not handed me over to my enemies     but have set me in a safe place. 9 Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.     Tears blur my eyes.     My body and soul are withering away. 10 I am dying from grief;     my years are shortened by sadness. Sin has drained my strength;     I am wasting away from within.

11 I am scorned by all my enemies     and despised by my neighbours—     even my friends are afraid to come near me. When they see me on the street,     they run the other way. 12 I am ignored as if I were dead,     as if I were a broken pot. 13 I have heard the many rumors about me,     and I am surrounded by terror. My enemies conspire against me,     plotting to take my life.

14 But I am trusting you, O Lord,     saying, “You are my God!” 15 My future is in your hands.     Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly. 16 Let your favor shine on your servant.     In your unfailing love, rescue me. 17 Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord,     for I call out to you for help. Let the wicked be disgraced;     let them lie silent in the grave.[a] 18 Silence their lying lips—     those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

19 How great is the goodness     you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection,     blessing them before the watching world. 20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence,     safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence,     far from accusing tongues.

21 Praise the Lord,     for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.

    He kept me safe when my city was under attack. 22 In panic I cried out,     “I am cut off from the Lord!” But you heard my cry for mercy     and answered my call for help.

23 Love the Lord, all you godly ones!     For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him,     but he harshly punishes the arrogant. 24 So be strong and courageous,     all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Verse 3! https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=41&v=m7RSryuJAwE&feature=emb_logo

[Genesis 8.1-19] The End of the Flood An optional additional reading finishing off the story of Noah’s Flood. Much has been written about how long they spent in the ark, and various other details of this story. Whatever, it’s a great story with so many lessons to teach us.

8 God had not forgotten Noah and all the animals with him in the boat; he caused a wind to blow, and the water started going down. 2 The outlets of the water beneath the earth and the floodgates of the sky were closed. The rain stopped, 3 and the water gradually went down for 150 days. 4 On the seventeenth day of the seventh month the boat came to rest on a mountain in the Ararat range. 5 The water kept going down, and on the first day of the tenth month the tops of the mountains appeared.

6 After forty days Noah opened a window 7 and sent out a raven. It did not come back, but kept flying around until the water was completely gone. 8 Meanwhile, Noah sent out a dove to see if the water had gone down, 9 but since the water still covered all the land, the dove did not find a place to light. It flew back to the boat, and Noah reached out and took it in.

10 He waited another seven days and sent out the dove again. 11 It returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. So Noah knew that the water had gone down. 12 Then he waited another seven days and sent out the dove once more; this time it did not come back.

13 When Noah was 601 years old, on the first day of the first month, the water was gone. Noah removed the covering of the boat, looked around, and saw that the ground was getting dry. 14 By the twenty-seventh day of the second month the earth was completely dry.

15 God said to Noah, 16 “Go out of the boat with your wife, your sons, and their wives. 17 Take all the birds and animals out with you, so that they may reproduce and spread over all the earth.” 18 So Noah went out of the boat with his wife, his sons, and their wives. 19 All the animals and birds went out of the boat in groups of their own kind.

Noah Offers a Sacrifice 20 Noah built an altar to the Lord; he took one of each kind of ritually clean animal and bird, and burned them whole as a sacrifice on the altar. 21 The smell of the roasting meat pleased the Lord, and he said to himself, “Never again will I put the earth under a curse because of what people do; I know that from the time they are young their thoughts are evil. Never again will I destroy all living beings, as I have done this time. 22 As long as the world exists, there will be a time for planting and a time for harvest. There will always be cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.”

Curious that the word translated ‘boat’ here, traditionally translated as ‘ark’, is in Hebrew ‘bat-te-bah’ which normally refers to a chest or box. The ’ark of the covenant’, in which Moses’ stone tablets with the Ten Commandments (or Promises) were later kept was a battebah. Ethiopia believes the original is in Axum, protected by a life-long guardian. I’ve stood outside the shrine, wondering…

Hymnody Glory in the Highest (Idle) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftmi2sxJQxY Beautiful Saviour (hymn) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r2y3v5LxSI Beautiful Saviour (Townsend) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTBJlzNvVTE

Acts 7.55-end This is the tail-end of Stephen’s amazing speech as he faces the death penalty for claiming Jesus is God. The whole speech is an excellent summary of the story of God’s people, and sadly their stubbornness. I’ve started a few verses earlier than the set reading to give context, and a crucial note for our Covid times, but do read it all sometime this week.

Stephen continued: 44 “Our ancestors had The Tent of God's Presence with them in the desert. It had been made as God had told Moses to make it, according to the pattern that Moses had been shown. 45 Later on, our ancestors who received the tent from their fathers carried it with them when they went with Joshua and took over the land from the nations that God cleared out as they advanced. And it stayed there until the time of David. 46 David won God's favour and asked God to allow him to provide a dwelling place for the God of Jacob, 47 but it was Solomon who built him a house. 48 “But the Most High God does not live in houses built by human hands; as the prophet says, 49 ‘Heaven is my throne, says the Lord,      and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house would you build for me?      Where is the place for me to live in? 50 Did not I myself make all these things?’ (Isaiah 66.1-2)

51 “How stubborn you are!” Stephen went on to say. “How heathen your hearts, how deaf you are to God's message! You are just like your ancestors: you too have always resisted the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there any prophet that your ancestors did not persecute? They killed God's messengers, who long ago announced the coming of his righteous Servant.

And now you have betrayed and murdered him. 53 You are the ones who received God's law, that was handed down by angels—yet you have not obeyed it!”

The Stoning of Stephen 54 As the members of the Council listened to Stephen, they became furious and ground their teeth at him in anger. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw God's glory and Jesus standing at the right side of God.

56 “Look!” he said. “I see heaven opened and the Son of Man standing at the right side of God!” 57 With a loud cry the Council members covered their ears with their hands. Then they all rushed at him at once, 58 threw him out of the city, and stoned him. The witnesses left their cloaks in the care of a young man named Saul. 59 They kept on stoning Stephen as he called out to the Lord, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 He

knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord! Do not remember this sin against them!” He said this and died. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP4XITcU3j0

Hymnody Alleluia, Sing to Jesus https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsVuApuurNs Resting Place (Doerkson) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbLPdZldTRQ O Sacred King (Redman) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNSYwW3-RFg

1Peter 2.2-10 The Living Stone and the Holy Nation A keynote passage for understanding who we are as Christians: living stones, built into a spiritual temple (not a stone building); priests acting as links to God for those who don’t yet know Him; believers in the Word…

1 Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. 2 Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved. 3 As the scripture says, “You have found out for yourselves how kind the Lord is.” (Psalm 34.8) 4 Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable. 5 Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.

6 For the scripture says, “I chose a valuable stone, which I am placing as the cornerstone in Zion; and whoever believes in him will never be disappointed.” (Isaiah 28.16)

7 This stone is of great value for you that believe; but for those who do not believe:

“The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all.” (Psalm 118.22)

8 And another scripture says, “This is the stone that will make people stumble, the rock that will make them fall.” (Isaiah 8.14)

They stumbled because they did not believe in the Word; such was God's will for them.

9 But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvellous light. 10 At one time you were not God's people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy.

Hymnody Come and Praise him, Royal Priesthood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57HHqf-rJzU Chosen Generation, Chris Tomlin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAbkwsTOOgQ Chosen People https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNfo43B64bQ

Before we read the gospel: Come my Way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiATlKPCa7w

John 14.1-14 Jesus the Way to the Father A strange passage as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, especially as the set passage misses v.17 which looks forward to Pentecost, but it’s full of key verses we should all remember. Jesus is in discussion with his disciples. He has told them he’s going somewhere they can’t go to (13.33); promises them a place with him there after they die physically (so he’s anticipating his resurrection and ascension); says he’s the only sure way to get there; that if they’ve seen Him, they’ve seen The Father; that he’ll send The Spirit; and that they’ll do even greater things than he has done! All this, of course, will happen after his resurrection, so it’s a prophetic passage.

1 “Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told his disciples. “Believe in God and believe also in me. 2 There are many rooms in my Father's house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. 3 And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. 4 You know the way that leads to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going; so how can we know the way to get there?”

6 Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. 7 Now that you have known me,” he said to them, “you will know my Father also, and from now on you do know him and you have seen him.” 8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father; that is all we need.” 9 Jesus answered, “For a long time I have been with you all; yet you do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why, then, do you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe, Philip, that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I have spoken to you,” Jesus said to his disciples, “do not come from me. The Father, who remains in me, does his own work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. If not, believe because of the things I do. 12 I am telling you the truth: those who believe in me will do what I do—yes, they will do even greater things, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son. 14 If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it. The Promise of the Holy Spirit 15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit, who reveals the truth about God.

Jesus Shall Reign https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNjdpdiK24I The Way (Pat Barrett) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOzsJlk8p6I I am the Way (Truth Songs) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppS-UqW57JQ John 14.6 (Memory Song, Hillsong Kids) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6STpPVW5OE I am the way https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug1OrL57YhI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arnm3mU2JuU

Thought for the Week Here we are right in the midst of the Covid crisis, unable to meet in our beloved church buildings, and, chosen decades ago, readings about displacement!

Noah had to move out of his house because of a flood around the world. We’ve had to move out of our church houses because of a flood of virus around the world.

Stephen was one of the Deacons appointed by the Apostles to look after the administration of the

churches affairs after Pentecost and the amazing growth of the church. He’s described as ‘a man

richly blessed by God and full of the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit.’ (Acts 6.8). He’s arrested from his home and put on trial accused of saying Jesus will tear down the temple and change all their customs (Acts 6.12). We’ve been taken from our church homes and are certainly enduring a trial, and have had to change our customs.

Stephen speaks to his captors about the history of God’s wandering people looking for a stable place to live: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Exodus, Joshua, David, Solomon. The final part of his speech (do read it all sometime), vv44-53, focusses on where God should be worshipped.

“Our ancestors had the tent of God’s presence…” (7.44)… they carried the tent with them, and kept it until King David’s time (7.45). That’s something like 200-500 years, depending on when the Exodus is dated, in a tent!

David decided to build a permanent building for God, though because of his sinfulness, it was his son King Solomon who built it. God never agreed, but concedes, as so often, to human choice.

“But” says Stephen as he faces his accusers, who are threatening him with stoning to death, “But God the Most High does not live in houses built by humans!” (7.48)

So they stoned him!

The thing was, they’d got it wrong, and they really didn’t like having it pointed out. They worshipped the temple itself, rather than the one whom the temple was meant to honour. This is a trap we still fall into today. It’s why God didn’t want a building.

St Peter later writes about allowing ourselves as Christians, ‘living stones,’ to be built into a Spiritual Temple, (2.4,5). This temple can be, and is, present wherever a Christian – one-whom-Christ-is-in – worships God. In our current displacement, this idea has peculiar resonance for us who have no physical building in which to gather. WE are the temple of God, wherever we are, and however we meet. Our buildings are wonderful, useful resources, but they aren’t the house of God, and they shouldn’t be the object of worship or centre of attention.

And the gospel reading refers us to another displacement, from earth to our Father’s house, when we die as-followers-of-Jesus. Many make the mistake of reading Jesus’ conversation with his followers here as applying to anyone. However, challengingly, it doesn’t.

• He is talking to his followers. This conversation takes place in the upper room, the day before he’s crucified, where he washes his disciples’ feet, predicts Judas’ betrayal, gives the new commandment, predicts Peter’s denial (Jn 13).

• He does say, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life.’ • He does say, ’no-one goes to the Father except by

me.’ (Jn 14.6) He is the gate into the Father’s house. (Jn 10.7) We are, of course, free to try to get in there by our own efforts, by alternative beliefs, but if we do this, we’re on our own, while Jesus offers us his hand, and a dead (!) certain way in.

• He does say his words come from the Father (14.10) so they have divine authority.

So, access to the Father’s house is restricted, as Jesus teaches in so many other places too. However, Jesus also promises, at the grave of his friend Lazarus, in front of the gathered crowd mourning his death, ’Whoever believes in me will live, even though they die.’ (Jn 11.25)

Death is the ultimate displacement, but for those who follow Jesus, it is nothing to fear, it’s a homecoming.

Prayers of Penitence

Jesus says, ‘Turn away from your sins, for the kingdom of God is close at hand.’ (Mark 1.15) So let us turn away from our sin, our rebellion against God, and turn to Christ, confessing our sins in penitence and faith.

Spend a moment in reflection, calling to mind those times or attitudes when you’ve done things your way rather than God’s way, or those long-standing opinions that need addressing in the light of God’s Word.

Almighty God, who in Jesus Christ has given us a kingdom that cannot be destroyed, forgive us our sins, open our eyes to God’s truth, strengthen us to do God's will and give us the joy of his kingdom, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May the Father of all mercies cleanse us from our sins, and restore us in his image to the praise and glory of his name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

Over to you: what do you want to pray for? Thanksgiving? Needs of the world? Needs of the village? Needs of individuals or families? Needs of your own?…

If you’re struggling to find the words, try these… Make me a prayer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZRuQ2G0CK0 Lord Have Mercy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PoBFaXsNus Holy Overshadowing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJWetk7zbGE

Asking God’s Ongoing Blessing

Jesus Christ Son of God, perfect in us the image of Your glory and gladden our hearts with the good news of Your Victory over death and the coming of Your kingdom; and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen.

The Blessing UK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtll3mNj5U

For exploration

We are being built into a temple, Fit for God’s own dwelling place; Into the house of God which is the church, The pillar and the ground of truth, As precious stones, that Jesus owns, Fashioned by His wondrous grace. And as we love and trust each other So the building grows and grows. https://songselect.ccli.com/Songs/94716/we-are-being-built-into-a-temple

Songs found in preparation: Holy Spirit, Breath of God https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8FKZIz97AU Beautiful Saviour Natasha Midori https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLSgffJW7wA Resting Place (Timbo) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jaejdz5o8c Build Your Kingdom Here (Rend Collective) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbdJXKqVgtg Chosen Generation, Sinach https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frtZ4XfoXxM