Saturday, May 31, 2014

We Need Hobbits not Superheroes

Easter 7A
1 June 2014

Saint Faith's Anglican Church
Vancouver BC

Focus text:  John 17.1-11

Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 a.m. Eucharist on Sunday, 1 June 2014.

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.  So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world.  They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.  Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.  I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.  All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.  And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.  Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one."

Every once and a while a question will pop into my mind that has no clear connection to anything that I am doing or thinking.  Just recently I found myself asking the question, 'Why do we have so many superhero movies these days?'  I decided to go to the source of all knowledge, Google, and typed in my question.  Would you believe it?  My question was the question of lots of people.

Most of the answers given to the question focused on the facts that superhero movies, especially those based on comic book characters, are easy to make and generate lots of ticket revenue.  Other observers waxed eloquently on the lack of imagination in Hollywood and the ease of avoiding the hard work of creating a compelling story by using old story-lines and special effects.

But I found some interesting comments posted at 'wisegeek.com' that looked more closely at 'why' superhero movies appeal to us.

1)  Superhero movies allow us to escape, if even for only a couple of hours, from the challenges of our daily lives.

2)  In times of conflict, especially armed conflicts, superheroes serve our patriotic instincts.  Superheroes fight for justice and peace.  They rally the 'home front' by giving us the sense that good will triumph over evil.  But often superheroes struggle to live a normal life even as they confront the evils of their times.  It's this struggle that allows us to relate to them as human beings.

3)  Superheroes offer hope in dismal times.  They are often symbols of peace, safety and freedom.

I can understand all these impulses.  I was born at the end of the Korean War and lived through the heights of the Cold War.  I belong to the last group of Americans who could have been drafted in their nineteenth year into the armed forces of the United States during the Vietnam War.  I watched 'Superman' on television during the fifties.  Not only might I want a superhero, I would love to be one.

It is tempting to view Jesus as a superhero.  After all, he's the Son of God, not an ordinary person like you or me.  He walks on water, heals the sick and casts out demons.  When everyone thinks that he is dead, he is raised from the tomb and astonishes his followers and frightens the authorities.  Forty days after Jesus' resurrection, the writer of the gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles tells us that Jesus ascends bodily into heaven, becoming our spokesperson at the side of God.  We sing hymns the celebrate his coming at the end of time to rectify all the wrongs, raise the dead and bring us into glory.  It's a powerful story and it has inspired and strengthened Christians for almost two thousand years.

But the real story is not about a superhero, whether divine or otherwise.  The real story is about a people, at first a group of Jews living in a troubled area of the Roman Empire in the first century of our era, later a movement that now numbers billions of people on every continent.  The real story is that God is not depending upon a superhero to bring about God's purposes for us and for the whole of creation.  God is depending upon this people, as diverse as we are, as divided as we can be, as imperfect as we are, to do justice, to love steadfastly and to walk humbly.

This people have the knowledge that Jesus speaks of in today's gospel.  We know that love, when shared with many, is not diminished.  We know that every human being, made in the image of God, has dignity to be protected and nurtured.  We know that we live in a world crafted by the hands of God which we must tend not pillage.  We know that death, our ancient foe, is not God's last word.

These are but a few things that we already know and there is more that God is revealing in every generation.  We do not need another superhero; we need to be the people we have become through our communion with God in Jesus and the Spirit.  We need to be ourselves as God sees us and gives us the means to be rather than the people the powers of darkness want us to think we are, weak, gullible, passive, easily manipulated.

What do we need to be ourselves?  On this Sunday between the celebration of the ascension and the celebration of the coming of the Spirit I am going to refrain from answering this question today.  I will try to do so next week.  But in the meantime I will say that we need courage and we need wisdom.  More next week.

In this season of superhero movies I do want to mention two series of films that have appeared over the last few years.  Ever since my days in Grade 7 I re-read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings every two years or so.  Many of us have seen the trilogy of films based on The Lord of the Rings and two of three projected films based on The Hobbit have already appeared.  In an epic filled with wizards, elves, magical beings, both good and evil, strange creatures, one might think that it is part of the superhero genre.  But it is not.  The real heroes in J. R. R. Tolkien's tales of Middle Earth are the hobbits, simple folks who love gardens, tall tales, tobacco and good food.  They accomplish what all the 'great' folk of the world cannot:  the defeat of the evil power that threatens Middle Earth and all its creatures.

I have no illusions about the difficulties human beings face in this world, difficulties more often than not generated by our own acts of injustice, our own failures to love steadfastly and our own arrogance.  I have no vision of healing all the world in a generation.  I know that you and I are called to achieve God's purposes here in Metro Vancouver, perhaps British Columbia, even Canada.  If others tend their 'gardens', then the cumulative effect will be more than we can ask or imagine.

I enjoy superhero movies, but I don't need a superhero.  I just need ordinary people of faith to be and to become who God intends them to be by following the way, the truth and the life God reveals in Jesus of Nazareth.  That will be enough.  Amen.

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Morning and Evening Prayer from Ascension to the Sunday after Trinity

Dear Friends,

I have just posted, in two formats, a draft Order for Morning and Evening from Ascension to the Sunday after Pentecost.  This is part of the on-going work of the Liturgy Task Force of the Anglican Church of Canada.  At this point this is just my draft and does carry any authority other than my own long-time work on the revision of the Office.

Click here for Ascension to the Sunday after Pentecost in PDF.

Click here for Ascension to the Sunday after Pentecost in DOCX.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Some Liturgical Resources for Easter 7 Year A

Liturgical Resources for Easter 7 Year A
1 June 2014

Gathered by the Rev’d Dr Richard Geoffrey Leggett
28 May 2014

Collects of the Day

Almighty God,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven.
Mercifully give us faith to know
that, as he promised,
he abides with us on earth to the end of time;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [1]

O God the King of glory,
you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ
with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:
we beseech you, leave us not comfortless,
but send your Holy spirit to strengthen us
and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [2]

Risen, ascended Lord,
as we rejoice at your triumph,
fill your Church on earth with power and compassion,
that all who are estranged by sin
may find forgiveness and know your peace,
to the glory of God the Father.  Amen. [3]

O God of glory,
your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us
and ascended to your right hand.
Unite us with Christ and each other
in suffering and in joy,
that all the world may be drawn
into your bountiful presence,
through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.  Amen. [4]

God our Father,
glorify your Son
in the lives of the people called by his name.
Through no merit of ours,
you have made us your own,
to be your witnesses on earth.
Keep us true to the name we bear,
that people everywhere may know
that you are the God and lover of us all.
We ask this through Jesus Christ,
the resurrection and the life,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.  Amen. [5]

Christ our lover
to whom we try to cling:
as you have reached into our depths
and drawn us to love you,
so make us open, freely to let you go;
that you may return in unexpected power
to change the world through us,
in your name.  Amen. [6]

Jesus Christ,
you left your disciples,
only that you might send the Holy Spirit
to be our advocate.
Grant us the Spirit of truth
to convince the world
that you are risen from the dead.  Amen. [7]

Eternal God,
you have given your Son authority
in heaven and in earth;
grant that we may never lose
the vision of his kingdom
but serve him with hope and joy.  Amen. [8]
O God of glory,
your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us
and ascended to sit at your side in honour.
Unite us with Christ and each other,
in suffering and in joy,
so that all your children may be drawn
into your bountiful dwelling.  Amen. [9]

Threefold One,
relationship in unity,
love given and received
through all the ages long:
give us that unity
which is not enclosed
but alive and accepting
with the open heart of love;
through Jesus Christ, the glory of God.  Amen. [10]

Prayers over the Gifts

Source of all joy,
receive our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.
Keep us in the love of Christ
and bring us to the vision of his glory;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [11]

Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth.
Day by day you shower us with blessings.
As you have raised us to new life in Christ,
give us glad and generous hearts,
ready to praise you and to respond to those in need,
through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [12]

Prayers after Communion

Eternal God,
may we who share Christ’s banquet
be one with him as he is one with you.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ,
the risen and ascended Lord.  Amen. [13]

Eternal God, giver of life and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom:
confirm us in this mission,
and help us to live the good news we proclaim;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. [14]

Life-giving God,
in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection
you send light to conquer darkness,
water to give new life,
and the bread of life to nourish your people.
Send us forth as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection,
so that we may show your glory to all the world,
through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.  Amen. [15]

King of kings, Lord of lords,
you have ascended your royal throne
carrying the crossbar for your crucifixion.
Now you are lifted high,
exalted to draw us all to your love.
You are the captive saviour,
who has led us in triumph
from the sin, the anxiety, and the doom
which held us captive.
May we whom you have redeemed
and called to be guests at your table
receive and put to use the gifts you offer us.
Praise and glory to you, God of space and time,
humble saviour, king of love.  Amen. [16]

Give praise to God,
for the risen Christ is with us now
in power and majesty,
in grace and peace.
May we live in him as he lives in the glory
of the eternal Trinity.  Amen. [17]

Eternal Giver of love and power,
your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world
to preach the gospel of his kingdom.
Confirm us in this mission,
and  help us to live the good news we proclaim.  Amen. [18]



[1] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 344.

[2] Common Worship (2000), 404.

[3] Common Worship:  Additional Collects (2004), 18.

[4] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 35.

[5] International Commission on English in the Liturgy, Opening Prayers:  Collects in Contemporary Language (1997), 48.

[6] Janet Morley, All Desires Known, 3rd ed. (2006), 23.

[7] A New Zealand Prayer Book  (1989), 603.

[8] A New Zealand Prayer Book  (1989), 603.

[9] Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002), 125 alt.

[10] Stephen Shakespeare, Prayers for an Inclusive Church (2009), 25.

[11] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 344.

[12] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 64.

[13] The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 345.

[14] Common Worship (2000), 405.

[15] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 65.

[16] A New Zealand Prayer Book  (1989), 539.

[17] A New Zealand Prayer Book  (1989), 540.

[18] A New Zealand Prayer Book  (1989), 540.

An Order for the Eucharist on Easter 7 (1 June 2014)

Seventh Sunday of Easter
1 June 2014

The Gathering of the Community

Entrance Hymn

‘Let Streams of Living Justice’  Common Praise #575

Greeting

Alleluia!  Christ is risen.
The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia!
May his grace and peace be with you.
May he fill our hearts with joy.

Canticle

‘Alleluia No. 1’  Common Praise #405

Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

O God of glory,
your Son Jesus Christ suffered for us
and ascended to sit at your side in honour.
Unite us with Christ and each other,
in suffering and in joy,
so that all your children may be drawn
into your bountiful dwelling.  Amen. [i]

The Proclamation of the Word of God

The First Reading

A Reading from Isaiah (45.1-7).

         Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him — and the gates shall not be closed:  I will go before you and level the mountains, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name.  For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know me.  I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god.  I arm you, though you do not know me, so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.  I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the Lord do all these things.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

The Psalm of the Day

Psalm 21.1-7 with Refrain from Songs for the Holy One

Refrain (twice):  Gracious God, may your peace dwell in our hearts.

1 The king rejoices in your strength, O Lord; *
         how greatly he exults in your victory!
2 You have given him his heart’s desire; *
         you have not denied him the request of his lips.
3 For you meet him with blessings of prosperity, *
         and set a crown of fine gold upon his head.

Refrain:  Gracious God, may your peace dwell in our hearts.

4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him; *
         length of days, for ever and ever.
5 His honour is great, because of your victory; *
         splendour and majesty have you bestowed upon him.
6 For you will give him everlasting felicity *
         and will make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7 For the king puts his trust in the Lord; *
         because of the loving-kindness of the Most High,
         he will not fall.

Refrain:  Gracious God, may your peace dwell in our hearts.

The Second Reading

A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (1.6-14).

         So when they had come together, they asked [Jesus], “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?”  He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them.  They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

         Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.  When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James.  All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.
Thanks be to God.

Hymn before the Gospel

‘Alleluia’  Common Praise #715

The Gospel

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (17.1-11).
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

         After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do.  So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

         “I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world.  They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.  Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.  I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours.  All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.  And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you.  Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sermon

An Affirmation of the Resurrection

Let us affirm the message of the resurrection.

Goodness is stronger than evil;
love is stronger than hate;
light is stronger than darkness;
life is stronger than death;
victory is ours through Jesus who loved us. [ii]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

May the peace of the risen Christ be with you all.
And also with you.

The Holy Communion

Offertory Hymn

‘The Living God Be Praised’  Common Praise #348

The Prayer over the Gifts

Let us pray.

Blessed are you, O God, ruler of heaven and earth.
Day by day you shower us with blessings.
As you have raised us to new life in Christ,
give us glad and generous hearts,
ready to praise you and to respond to those in need,
through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  Amen. [iii]

The Thanksgiving at the Table

The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Blessed are you, gracious God,
creator of heaven and earth;
we give you thanks and praise
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who after his glorious resurrection
appeared to his disciples,
and in their sight ascended into heaven
to prepare a place for us;
that where he is, there we might also be,
and reign with him in glory.
Therefore we praise you with angels and archangels
and with all the company of heaven,
who for ever sing this hymn
to proclaim the glory of your name.

Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might. 
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. 
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. 
Hosanna in the highest. [iv]

Blessed are you, O God of the universe. 
Your mercy is everlasting
and your faithfulness endures from age to age.

Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth. 
Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood. 
Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea. 
Praise to you for leading your people
through the wilderness to the land of milk and honey. 
Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one. 
Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ. 
Praise to you for your Spirit poured out on all nations.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: 
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. 
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup,
gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: 
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. 
Do this for the remembrance of me.

With this bread and cup
we remember our Lord’s Passover from death to life
as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

Christ has died. 
Christ is risen. 
Christ will come again.

O God of resurrection and new life: 
Pour out your Holy Spirit on us
and on these gifts of bread and wine. 
Bless this feast. 
Grace our table with your presence.
Come, Holy Spirit.

Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread. 
Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world. 
Breathe new life into us. 
Send us forth, burning with justice, peace and love.
Come, Holy Spirit.

With the ever-blessed Virgin Mary,
blessed Joseph, blessed Faith
and your holy ones of all times and places,
with the earth and all its creatures,
with sun and moon and stars,
we praise you, O God,
blessed and holy Trinity,
now and forever.  Amen. [v]

The Lord’s Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, let us pray,
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial,
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and for ever.  Amen. [vi]

The Breaking of the Bread

Lord, we died with you on the cross.
Now we are raised to new life.
We were buried in your tomb.
Now we share in your resurrection.
Live in us, that we may live in you.

The gifts of God for the people of God.
Thanks be to God.

Communion

Hymn after Communion

‘Hallelujah!  We Sing Your Praises’  Common Praise #82

The Sending Forth of the Community

The Prayer after Communion

Life-giving God,
in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection
you send light to conquer darkness,
water to give new life,
and the bread of life to nourish your people.
Send us forth as witnesses to your Son’s resurrection,
so that we may show your glory to all the world,
through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.  Amen. [vii]

Glory to God,
whose power, working in us,
can do infinitely more
than we can ask or imagine. 
Glory to God from generation to generation,
in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for ever and ever.  Amen.

Closing Hymn

‘Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise’ Common Praise #247 vv. 1, 2, 5, 6

The Dismissal

Let us go forth in the name of Christ.  Alleluia, alleluia!
Thanks be to God.  Alleluia, alleluia!




[i] Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (2002), 125 alt.

[ii] Desmond Tutu as quoted in Janet Morley, ed., Bread for Tomorrow:  Prayers for the Church Year (1992), 117.

[iii] ‘Offering Prayer for Easter’, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 64.

[iv] Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), #525.

[v] ‘Thanksgiving at the Table IV’, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 111.

[vi] Songs for a Gospel People #12.

[vii] ‘Prayer after Communion for Easter’, Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 65.