Sundays at All Hallows (Sunday, May 7, 2023)
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Gathering Song:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Jim and Jean Strathdee’s “God, We Praise You for the Morning.”
1. God, we praise you for the morning;
hope springs forth with each new day,
new beginning, prayer and promise,
joy in work and in play.
2. God, we praise you for creation,
mountains, seas and prairie land.
Waking souls find joy and healing
in your bountiful hand.
3. God, we praise you for compassion,
all the loving that you show;
human touching, tears and laughter,
help your children to grow.
4. God, we praise you for your Spirit,
Comforter and daily friend;
restless searcher, gentle teacher,
strength and courage you send.
5. God, we praise you for the Saviour,
come that we may know your ways.
In his loving, dying, rising,
Christ is Lord of our days.
6. Hallelujah, hallelujah,
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Hallelujah, hallelujah!
Christ is Lord of our days!
Songs of Praise:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Adrian Howard and Pat Turner’s “Salvation Belongs to our God.”
1 Salvation belongs to our God
Who sits upon the throne
And unto the Lamb
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
Honor and power and strength
Be to our God, forever and ever
Be to our God, forever and ever
Be to our God, forever and ever
Amen
2 And we the redeemed shall be strong
In purpose and unity
Declaring aloud
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
Honor and power and strength
Be to our God, forever and ever
Be to our God, forever and ever
Be to our God, forever and ever
Amen
Praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
Honor and power and strength
Be to our God, forever and ever
Be to our God, forever and ever
Be to our God, forever and ever
Amen
Open this link to hear Debbye Graafsma’s “To Him Who Sits on the Throne.”
To him who sits on the throne
And unto the Lamb
To him who sits on the throne
And unto the Lamb
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
To him who sits on the throne
And unto the Lamb
To him who sits on the throne
And unto the Lamb
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
To him who sits on the throne
And unto the Lamb
To him who sits on the throne
And unto the Lamb
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
Be blessing and glory
And honor and power
Forever!
The Lord be with you.
The Lord bless you.
Let us pray.
Silence
Eternal God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life:
give us grace to love one another,
to follow in the way of his commandments,
and to share his risen life;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
HEARING GOD’S WORD
Lord, open our hearts and minds
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that, as the Scriptures are read
and your Word proclaimed,
we may hear with joy what you say to us today.
Amen.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 7: 55-60)
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honour at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honour at God’s right hand!”
Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
Silence
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Natalie Sleath’s “This Is the Day God Has Made.”
This is the day that God had made!
Rejoice! Rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Hallelujah!
1 Christ has conquered death at last,
Left the tomb that held him fast!
Gone the sorrow, gone the night,
Dawns the morning clear and bright!
This is the day that God had made!
Rejoice! Rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Hallelujah!
2 Jesus lives who once was dead,
Lives forever, as he said!
Risen now our Saviour, King;
Songs of gladness let us sing!
This is the day that God had made!
Rejoice! Rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Hallelujah!
A reading from the First Letter of Peter (1 Peter 2:2-10)
Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honour.
And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honour,
and anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.”
Yes, you who trust him recognise the honour God has given him. But for those who reject him,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”
And,
“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that makes them fall.”*
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
“Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”*
Silence
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear the Alleluia from Sarah Hart’s Mass of St. Mary Magdalene.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Speak O Lord, your servant is listening.
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the Gospel according to John (John 14: 1-14)
Alleluia! Hear the Gospel of Christ.
Glory to Christ our Saviour. Alleluia!
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
Silence
Alleluia! This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our Lord. Alleluia!
This Saturday, May 6, 2023, was a historic day. Charles Windsor and his wife Camella were formally crowned the king and queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations for whom King Charles is head of state.
Two hour coronation service was watched on TV around the world, as well as by some 2,300 people in Westminster Abbey.
The main theme of the coronation was the importance of service.
"I come not to be served, but to serve," the King said in his first prayer after he arrived at the abbey, repeating the words of our Lord.
The most sacred part of the coronation, the anointing of the King with oil, was screened from the view of the public.
Despite the rain thousands lined the street to cheer King Charles and Queen Camilla after the service.
In committing himself to a life of service as King, Charles follows in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth.
A life of service is to what God calls all believers, whether they are royalty, nobles, or commoners, whatever their walk in life..
The life of service to which God calls believers is not without its dangers.
The readings appointed for this Sunday in the Revised Common Lectionary begin with Luke’s account of the stoning of Christianity’s first martyr, Stephen, one of seven men who had been chosen to serve as deacons in the church at Jerusalem. His death is a reminder that while some will hear the good news of Jesus Christ with joy; others will take offense at it.
His stoning was a lynching, not a legal execution. The Roman governor of Jerusalem reserved to himself the final decision in all matters that called for a sentence of death under Jewish law and Roman law. Only he could order an execution and the manner in which the execution would be carried out.
We are also reminded that although people may initially reject the gospel, God can work in their hearts and bring them to faith in Jesus Christ. The young Saul consented to Stephen’s death but later he himself would believe and become the apostle to the Gentiles. We know him chiefly by his Greek name—Paul. Like Stephen, he would suffer martyrdom.
Our second reading is taken from the first letter of Peter who was one of Jesus’ earliest disciples. Peter wrote two letters to the infant Church. They are found in the New Testament, the second half of the Bible.
From our second reading we learn among other things that believers are living stones which God is building into a spiritual temple for himself. More importantly, believers are holy priests that God has set apart to offer spiritual sacrifices pleasing to him. God has called them out of darkness into his wonderful light so they can show others the goodness of God.
Our third reading is taken from the Gospel of John, one of the four accounts of Jesus’ life and teaching found In the New Testament. It is the sixth of the seven “I AM” discourses found in that gospel. “I AM” is the name that God gave himself when he spoke to Moses from the burning bush. You can read about Moses and the burning bush in the third chapter of the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament. The Book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible, and it tells the story of God’s deliverance of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. In these discourses, speeches which Jesus gives about himself and his ministry, Jesus identifies himself with God. The particular discourse in this reading is known as the way, the truth, and the life discourse. It contains several important claims that Jesus makes about himself. Let’s take a look at these claims.
First, “no one can come to the Father except through me.” Throughout his earthly ministry Jesus claimed a unique relationship with God. He and God were one. As he puts it in today’s reading from the Gospel of John, the Father is in him, and he is in the Father.
This claim does not sit well with some people because they subscribe to the belief that all religions are essentially the same and all of them form paths that lead to God. However, when we examine the various world religions, we discover that they do have significant differences. Among these differences is their focus, their diagnosis of the human condition, and their response to it.
For example, Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan, has as its main focus the maintenance of harmonious relationships between human beings and the kami, the deities and spirits that inhabit a particular locality. This is achieved by the performance of certain rituals, the making of offerings, and the observance of taboos. Suffering is attributed to forces that cause bad things to happen to people and a number of magical practices are employed to prevent this from happening. This includes the use of charms and the recitation of incantations. While many Japanese attend Shinto ceremonies and subscribe to Shinto beliefs and practices, the actual number of adherents of Shinto is very small. Shinto belief and Shinto practice have become intertwined with Japanese culture.
The main focus of Islam, on the other hand, is submission to Allah, or God, through adherence to the teaching of the Holy Qur’an and to the Sunnah, the traditions and practices of the Prophet Muhammad. Islamic law, or sharia, governs all aspects of life. In regard to suffering, Muslims believe that everything, good or bad, is decreed by God. If some mishap befalls them, it is God’s will. If they experience success in a venture, it is divine destiny too. While Muslims may live lives of strict adherence to the teaching of the Holy Qua'ran and to the Sunnah, it is solely in the hands of Allah whether they are permitted to enter Paradise upon their death. Submission to Allah is expected from them but it does not guarantee them a place in Paradise. Allah does not forgive sins. Allah may at most look at their sins like someone might look at something through the fingers of a hand.
Second, “anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” In other words, Jesus is the embodiment of the character of God. He exhibits those qualities that comprise God’s character—often summed up in a single Hebrew word. hesed, pronounced kheh-sed. It is a difficult word to translate into English as it has a range of meanings. It wraps up in itself all the positive attributes of God—love, faithfulness, mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty, tenderness, generosity, forgiveness, trustworthiness, compassion, steadfastness. God’s hesed has been described as love-in-action, love that goes above and beyond. This is the kind of love which Jesus displays not only in his ministry but also in his suffering and death on the cross. He willingly lays down his life to bring about the reconciliation of God and humankind.
God’s hesed has also been described as God’s goodness. This is something that we need to keep in mind in light of what Peter says in our second reading. Believers are called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light in order to show God’s goodness. How are they expected to show God’s goodness? They are expected to obey Jesus’ teaching, to follow his example, and to tell others about God and Jesus. They are expected to embody those qualities of character that Jesus displays.
Third, “the words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.” The truths and precepts Jesus is sharing with the disciples did not originate with him. They originated with God. Jesus’ words are God’s words. As God’s words, they carry with them divine authority. The work Jesus is doing is not his own but God’s.
For believers these claims form the basis of the convictions that guide and influence how they live their lives, how they think, what they say, and what they do. A conviction is not just an opinion but a firm belief, one that defines who we are. They help us determine what direction we will take, what route we will follow, and what will serve us as guideposts as we travel through this life.
How we develop these convictions will differ with the individual. Some of us will experience an epiphany, a moment of sudden insight or understanding. Others will gradually come to these conclusions over a period of time. None of us will form these convictions if God’s grace, the power of the Holy Spirit, is not working in us, enabling us to believe and once we believe to keep believing and to act on what we believe.
One thing that we need to bear always in mind: God’s hesed, God’s mercy, God’s kindness and forgiveness, God’s goodness, is boundless. If we are believer, we may be tempted to set limits on what God will do. It is not for us to decide upon who will receive God’s mercy and who will not receive God’s mercy. We have not been called to be arbiters of God’s grace. We have been called to be its servants. This is the life of service to which God calls us.
Silence
Song of Response:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Karen Schneider Kirner and Steven C. Warner’s "Come to the Living Stone."
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
1 Built up as living stones
into a holy house,
a holy house,
we are a priesthood
created for praise
of our God above.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Come to the living stone,
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
The Lord is our strength, he lives!
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
2 We are a nation made
to glorify the Lord,
the living God;
ours is the joy to
resound and proclaim
the glorious works of God.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Come to the living stone,
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
The Lord is our strength, he lives!
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
3 Out of the darkness God
has called us into light,
a glorious light;
once we were lost and
alone in this world,
now we belong to God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Come to the living!
Sing alleluia!
Come to the living!
Sing alleluia!
Come to the living stone,
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
The Lord is our strength, he lives!
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
*4 Once we were not within
the mercy of our God,
the loving God,
now is the gift of
a promise unfurled;
God’s mercy for the world!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Come to the living stone,
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
The Lord is our strength, he lives!
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
*5 Give praise to God above,
and Jesus Christ the Lord,
Redeemer Lord,
and to the Spirit
who dwells in our hearts,
now and forever more:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Come to the living stone,
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
The Lord is our strength, he lives!
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
*Omitted on the video.
PRAYING FOR GOD’S WORLD
Concerns and Prayers:
Any person may offer a brief prayer of intercession, petition, or thanksgiving after each bidding.
After each prayer, the leader may conclude: God of mercy and all may respond: Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for all people and the Church throughout the world.
Let us pray for the preservation of the earth…
Let us pray for peace and shared prosperity…
Let us pray for our nation…
Let us pray for the Church and its mission…
Let u pray for ourselves and our community…
Let us pray for those in need…
Let us give thanks for the faithfully departed…
Other biddings may be added.
Eternal God and Father,
you have promised to hear those who pray
in the name of your Son.
Grant that what we have asked in faith
we may obtain according your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
As our Saviour taught his disciples, we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
GOING OUT TO SERVE
Let us pray.
Lord our God, we give you thanks
because you have delivered us from the
power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of
your Son.
Grant that, as by his resurrection
we are brought to new life,
so by his continued reign in us
we may be brought to eternal joy;
through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Closing Song:
Open this link in a new tab to hear James Seddon’s “Tell All the World of Jesus.”
1 Tell all the world of Jesus ,
our Saviour, Lord and King;
and let the whole creation
of his salvation sing:
proclaim his glorious greatness,
in nature and in grace,
creator and redeemer,
the Lord of time and space.
2 Tell all the world of Jesus,
that everyone may find
the joy of his forgiveness
true peace of heart and mind.
Proclaim his perfect goodness,
his deep, unfailing care,
his love so rich in mercy,
a love beyond compare
3 Tell all the world of Jesus,
that everyone may know
of his almighty triumph
defeating every foe.
Proclaim his coming glory,
when sin is overthrown,
and he shall reign in splendour
the King upon his throne!
May the God of hope fill us
with all joy and peace in believing
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. Amen.
Choral Benediction:
Open this link to hear Lee Fisher’s Go in Peace, Go in Love.”
Go in peace, go in love
May the Lord be at your side
Go in peace, go in love
May he ever be your guide
May his grace overflow
And his mercy be upon you
Go in peace, go in love
Now and evermore
Go in peace, go in love
May the Lord be at your side
Go in peace, go in love
May he ever be your guide
May his grace overflow
And his mercy be upon you
Go in peace, go in love
Now and evermore
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Eternal God,
whose Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life:
give us grace to love one another,
to follow in the way of his commandments,
and to share his risen life;
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
HEARING GOD’S WORD
Lord, open our hearts and minds
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that, as the Scriptures are read
and your Word proclaimed,
we may hear with joy what you say to us today.
Amen.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 7: 55-60)
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honour at God’s right hand. And he told them, “Look, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing in the place of honour at God’s right hand!”
Then they put their hands over their ears and began shouting. They rushed at him and dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul.
As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.
Silence
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear Natalie Sleath’s “This Is the Day God Has Made.”
This is the day that God had made!
Rejoice! Rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Hallelujah!
1 Christ has conquered death at last,
Left the tomb that held him fast!
Gone the sorrow, gone the night,
Dawns the morning clear and bright!
This is the day that God had made!
Rejoice! Rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Hallelujah!
2 Jesus lives who once was dead,
Lives forever, as he said!
Risen now our Saviour, King;
Songs of gladness let us sing!
This is the day that God had made!
Rejoice! Rejoice, and be exceeding glad!
This is the day that God has made!
Rejoice! Rejoice! Hallelujah!
A reading from the First Letter of Peter (1 Peter 2:2-10)
Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.
You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honour.
And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,
“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem,
chosen for great honour,
and anyone who trusts in him
will never be disgraced.”
Yes, you who trust him recognise the honour God has given him. But for those who reject him,
“The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.”
And,
“He is the stone that makes people stumble,
the rock that makes them fall.”*
They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.
But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
“Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”*
Silence
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Open this link in a new tab to hear the Alleluia from Sarah Hart’s Mass of St. Mary Magdalene.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Speak O Lord, your servant is listening.
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
A reading from the Gospel according to John (John 14: 1-14)
Alleluia! Hear the Gospel of Christ.
Glory to Christ our Saviour. Alleluia!
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.”
Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
Silence
Alleluia! This is the Gospel of Christ.
Praise to Christ our Lord. Alleluia!
Called to a Life of Service
This Saturday, May 6, 2023, was a historic day. Charles Windsor and his wife Camella were formally crowned the king and queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations for whom King Charles is head of state.
Two hour coronation service was watched on TV around the world, as well as by some 2,300 people in Westminster Abbey.
The main theme of the coronation was the importance of service.
"I come not to be served, but to serve," the King said in his first prayer after he arrived at the abbey, repeating the words of our Lord.
The most sacred part of the coronation, the anointing of the King with oil, was screened from the view of the public.
Despite the rain thousands lined the street to cheer King Charles and Queen Camilla after the service.
In committing himself to a life of service as King, Charles follows in the footsteps of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth.
A life of service is to what God calls all believers, whether they are royalty, nobles, or commoners, whatever their walk in life..
The life of service to which God calls believers is not without its dangers.
The readings appointed for this Sunday in the Revised Common Lectionary begin with Luke’s account of the stoning of Christianity’s first martyr, Stephen, one of seven men who had been chosen to serve as deacons in the church at Jerusalem. His death is a reminder that while some will hear the good news of Jesus Christ with joy; others will take offense at it.
His stoning was a lynching, not a legal execution. The Roman governor of Jerusalem reserved to himself the final decision in all matters that called for a sentence of death under Jewish law and Roman law. Only he could order an execution and the manner in which the execution would be carried out.
We are also reminded that although people may initially reject the gospel, God can work in their hearts and bring them to faith in Jesus Christ. The young Saul consented to Stephen’s death but later he himself would believe and become the apostle to the Gentiles. We know him chiefly by his Greek name—Paul. Like Stephen, he would suffer martyrdom.
Our second reading is taken from the first letter of Peter who was one of Jesus’ earliest disciples. Peter wrote two letters to the infant Church. They are found in the New Testament, the second half of the Bible.
From our second reading we learn among other things that believers are living stones which God is building into a spiritual temple for himself. More importantly, believers are holy priests that God has set apart to offer spiritual sacrifices pleasing to him. God has called them out of darkness into his wonderful light so they can show others the goodness of God.
Our third reading is taken from the Gospel of John, one of the four accounts of Jesus’ life and teaching found In the New Testament. It is the sixth of the seven “I AM” discourses found in that gospel. “I AM” is the name that God gave himself when he spoke to Moses from the burning bush. You can read about Moses and the burning bush in the third chapter of the Book of Exodus in the Old Testament. The Book of Exodus is the second book of the Bible, and it tells the story of God’s deliverance of the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt. In these discourses, speeches which Jesus gives about himself and his ministry, Jesus identifies himself with God. The particular discourse in this reading is known as the way, the truth, and the life discourse. It contains several important claims that Jesus makes about himself. Let’s take a look at these claims.
First, “no one can come to the Father except through me.” Throughout his earthly ministry Jesus claimed a unique relationship with God. He and God were one. As he puts it in today’s reading from the Gospel of John, the Father is in him, and he is in the Father.
This claim does not sit well with some people because they subscribe to the belief that all religions are essentially the same and all of them form paths that lead to God. However, when we examine the various world religions, we discover that they do have significant differences. Among these differences is their focus, their diagnosis of the human condition, and their response to it.
For example, Shinto, the indigenous religion of Japan, has as its main focus the maintenance of harmonious relationships between human beings and the kami, the deities and spirits that inhabit a particular locality. This is achieved by the performance of certain rituals, the making of offerings, and the observance of taboos. Suffering is attributed to forces that cause bad things to happen to people and a number of magical practices are employed to prevent this from happening. This includes the use of charms and the recitation of incantations. While many Japanese attend Shinto ceremonies and subscribe to Shinto beliefs and practices, the actual number of adherents of Shinto is very small. Shinto belief and Shinto practice have become intertwined with Japanese culture.
The main focus of Islam, on the other hand, is submission to Allah, or God, through adherence to the teaching of the Holy Qur’an and to the Sunnah, the traditions and practices of the Prophet Muhammad. Islamic law, or sharia, governs all aspects of life. In regard to suffering, Muslims believe that everything, good or bad, is decreed by God. If some mishap befalls them, it is God’s will. If they experience success in a venture, it is divine destiny too. While Muslims may live lives of strict adherence to the teaching of the Holy Qua'ran and to the Sunnah, it is solely in the hands of Allah whether they are permitted to enter Paradise upon their death. Submission to Allah is expected from them but it does not guarantee them a place in Paradise. Allah does not forgive sins. Allah may at most look at their sins like someone might look at something through the fingers of a hand.
Second, “anyone who has seen me has seen the Father!” In other words, Jesus is the embodiment of the character of God. He exhibits those qualities that comprise God’s character—often summed up in a single Hebrew word. hesed, pronounced kheh-sed. It is a difficult word to translate into English as it has a range of meanings. It wraps up in itself all the positive attributes of God—love, faithfulness, mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty, tenderness, generosity, forgiveness, trustworthiness, compassion, steadfastness. God’s hesed has been described as love-in-action, love that goes above and beyond. This is the kind of love which Jesus displays not only in his ministry but also in his suffering and death on the cross. He willingly lays down his life to bring about the reconciliation of God and humankind.
God’s hesed has also been described as God’s goodness. This is something that we need to keep in mind in light of what Peter says in our second reading. Believers are called out of darkness into God’s wonderful light in order to show God’s goodness. How are they expected to show God’s goodness? They are expected to obey Jesus’ teaching, to follow his example, and to tell others about God and Jesus. They are expected to embody those qualities of character that Jesus displays.
Third, “the words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me.” The truths and precepts Jesus is sharing with the disciples did not originate with him. They originated with God. Jesus’ words are God’s words. As God’s words, they carry with them divine authority. The work Jesus is doing is not his own but God’s.
For believers these claims form the basis of the convictions that guide and influence how they live their lives, how they think, what they say, and what they do. A conviction is not just an opinion but a firm belief, one that defines who we are. They help us determine what direction we will take, what route we will follow, and what will serve us as guideposts as we travel through this life.
How we develop these convictions will differ with the individual. Some of us will experience an epiphany, a moment of sudden insight or understanding. Others will gradually come to these conclusions over a period of time. None of us will form these convictions if God’s grace, the power of the Holy Spirit, is not working in us, enabling us to believe and once we believe to keep believing and to act on what we believe.
One thing that we need to bear always in mind: God’s hesed, God’s mercy, God’s kindness and forgiveness, God’s goodness, is boundless. If we are believer, we may be tempted to set limits on what God will do. It is not for us to decide upon who will receive God’s mercy and who will not receive God’s mercy. We have not been called to be arbiters of God’s grace. We have been called to be its servants. This is the life of service to which God calls us.
Silence
Song of Response:
Open this link in a new tab to hear Karen Schneider Kirner and Steven C. Warner’s "Come to the Living Stone."
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
1 Built up as living stones
into a holy house,
a holy house,
we are a priesthood
created for praise
of our God above.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Come to the living stone,
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
The Lord is our strength, he lives!
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
2 We are a nation made
to glorify the Lord,
the living God;
ours is the joy to
resound and proclaim
the glorious works of God.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Come to the living stone,
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
The Lord is our strength, he lives!
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
3 Out of the darkness God
has called us into light,
a glorious light;
once we were lost and
alone in this world,
now we belong to God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Come to the living!
Sing alleluia!
Come to the living!
Sing alleluia!
Come to the living stone,
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
The Lord is our strength, he lives!
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
*4 Once we were not within
the mercy of our God,
the loving God,
now is the gift of
a promise unfurled;
God’s mercy for the world!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Come to the living stone,
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
The Lord is our strength, he lives!
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
*5 Give praise to God above,
and Jesus Christ the Lord,
Redeemer Lord,
and to the Spirit
who dwells in our hearts,
now and forever more:
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Come to the living stone,
Come to the living stone,
Christ our Lord, who is our strength.
The Lord is our strength, he lives!
Rejected by others but chosen by God!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
*Omitted on the video.
PRAYING FOR GOD’S WORLD
Concerns and Prayers:
Any person may offer a brief prayer of intercession, petition, or thanksgiving after each bidding.
After each prayer, the leader may conclude: God of mercy and all may respond: Hear our prayer.
Let us pray for all people and the Church throughout the world.
Let us pray for the preservation of the earth…
Let us pray for peace and shared prosperity…
Let us pray for our nation…
Let us pray for the Church and its mission…
Let u pray for ourselves and our community…
Let us pray for those in need…
Let us give thanks for the faithfully departed…
Other biddings may be added.
Eternal God and Father,
you have promised to hear those who pray
in the name of your Son.
Grant that what we have asked in faith
we may obtain according your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
As our Saviour taught his disciples, we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
GOING OUT TO SERVE
Let us pray.
Lord our God, we give you thanks
because you have delivered us from the
power of darkness
and brought us into the kingdom of
your Son.
Grant that, as by his resurrection
we are brought to new life,
so by his continued reign in us
we may be brought to eternal joy;
through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Closing Song:
Open this link in a new tab to hear James Seddon’s “Tell All the World of Jesus.”
1 Tell all the world of Jesus ,
our Saviour, Lord and King;
and let the whole creation
of his salvation sing:
proclaim his glorious greatness,
in nature and in grace,
creator and redeemer,
the Lord of time and space.
2 Tell all the world of Jesus,
that everyone may find
the joy of his forgiveness
true peace of heart and mind.
Proclaim his perfect goodness,
his deep, unfailing care,
his love so rich in mercy,
a love beyond compare
3 Tell all the world of Jesus,
that everyone may know
of his almighty triumph
defeating every foe.
Proclaim his coming glory,
when sin is overthrown,
and he shall reign in splendour
the King upon his throne!
May the God of hope fill us
with all joy and peace in believing
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen. Amen.
Choral Benediction:
Open this link to hear Lee Fisher’s Go in Peace, Go in Love.”
Go in peace, go in love
May the Lord be at your side
Go in peace, go in love
May he ever be your guide
May his grace overflow
And his mercy be upon you
Go in peace, go in love
Now and evermore
Go in peace, go in love
May the Lord be at your side
Go in peace, go in love
May he ever be your guide
May his grace overflow
And his mercy be upon you
Go in peace, go in love
Now and evermore
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
Amen
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