Gathered into Beloved Community: A Reflection on the Ascension (Sunday, the 2nd of June 2019)

Gathered into Beloved Community

A Reflection on the Ascension

RCL Easter 7C

2 June 2019

Holy Trinity Cathedral

New Westminster BC

Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 Eucharist on the 2nd of June.

John 17.20-26

                  ^17.20  [Jesus continued to pray,] “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹that they may all be one.  As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  ²²The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, ²³I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.  ²⁴Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

                  ²⁵“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.  ²⁶I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

            In the summer of 1976 I accompanied a group of high school students on their trip to what was then East and West Germany.  Because the organizer of the trip, my former supervising teacher when I was a student teacher, had connections in southern Germany, much of our time was spent in Bavaria with two brief excursions, one to Berlin, the other to Austria.

            One of our jaunts took us to a monastery on the Danube near the city of Regensburg.  As we toured the grounds, we entered into the chapel which as an ornate example of Baroque church architecture.  On the ceiling was a painting of the Ascension of Christ, although all that was visible of Christ were his feet disappearing into the cloud.  Wide-eyed apostles looked up with mixed expressions of awe and not a little trepidation.

            Around the base of the dome was a walkway with an ornate bannister. Obscured by the magnificent decoration all around him was a life-sized figure of the chapel’s architect dressed in late seventeenth-century clothes.  He looked down on us as we looked up at him, our necks aching, his face wearing a cheeky grin.  He seemed to know something that we did not know about what the Ascension meant for us lowly mortals, craning with our necks to catch a last glimpse of our Lord, our Saviour, the Son of God.

            There are many dimensions to God’s mission as embodied in the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.  I believe that one of the more important dimensions was --- and is and will be --- is to gather people of every race and nation, people of all genders and ages, people of every social status and experience, into a beloved community, a community at one which each other just as Jesus is at one with the Holy One our God. This beloved community transcends time and place.  This beloved community is gathered not into a closely-guarded, self-interested club but into a human society with open hearts, open hands and open minds.  In this beloved community diversity is not something to be feared but to be embraced.  In this beloved community questions are encouraged rather than discouraged.  In this beloved community love means being always prepared to say, ‘I’m sorry’, and to work towards restored life-giving relationships.

            This is what Jesus came to do.  And once this community was gathered by his teaching, tested by his arrest, trial and death, then re-energized and empowered by his resurrection, Jesus’ earthly work was done.  His time had come to hand over his work to us, his continuing presence in the world.

            I remember a joke that was circulating among my classmates when I was in seminary.  After his ascension Jesus arrives in heaven and is greeted by the archangels.  They ask him for an ‘executive summary’ of what he had accomplished during his time on earth.  So Jesus tells him about his teaching and miracles, his joys and sorrows, and something about the people whom he had gathered around him.

            ‘So,’ one of the archangels asks Jesus, ‘what’s the next step in your plan?’ ‘Well,’ Jesus says, ‘I’ve asked my apostles and disciples to share what I’ve taught them with everyone they meet.’ One of the other archangels says, ‘That’s the plan?  What’s the back-up if they don’t follow your instructions?’  ‘There is no back-up plan,’ Jesus says.

            Friends, there is no back-up plan to God’s mission in Jesus other than the work of the church, this beloved community of old and young, wise and foolish, eager and weary, rich and poor, who have been called by God from everyday life to share in God’s mission restore right relationships.

            The heart of that mission is the gathering of all of humanity into beloved community, one small cell at a time.  It’s hard work and we often feel inadequate to the task and discouraged by the results of our efforts.  Sometimes we want to find a ‘saviour’, whether in the person of a charismatic leader or some inspiring program from our diocesan or national church.

            But charismatic leaders come and go.  Inspiring programs are useful but only for a time.  But we, God’s beloved community, remain.  Our stories shared with our friends, neighbours and family about the help, hope and home we have found here are more convincing that we imagine. Our care of the vulnerable and needy speaks eloquently about what we believe and value.

            So, instead of looking up at Christ’s feet disappearing into the clouds above, let’s look down at our feet.  Where we stand is sacred ground, whether in the church at worship or in the kitchen feeding the hungry.  Let’s look at our hands.  Whether they are stretched out in prayer and praise or they are holding someone in need or distress, our hands are Christ’s hands.

            Jesus came to gather us here as a cell of the beloved community coming into being throughout time and space.  But there’s more to God’s mission and next week we’ll learn just a bit more.

How Shall We Sing the Lord's Song? (RCL Easter 5C, 19 May 2019)

How Shall We Sing the Lord’s Song?

Reflections on Acts 11.1-18 and John 13.31-35

RCL Easter 5C

19 May 2019

Holy Trinity Cathedral

New Westminster BC

Notes for an Unfinished Sermon

Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 Eucharist on Sunday the 19th.

(1)  Every once and a while I come upon a Sunday where I can only prepare what I might describe as being ‘from text to sermon --- almost’. This is just such a Sunday.  My goal is to leave you with a question that will lead you to live your own sermon in the week ahead.

(2)  “Why’d you choose such a backward time in such a strange land?”  Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar by Webber and Rice.

(a) John’s Gospel stresses the love the disciples of Jesus are to have for one another.

(b) It’s a small circle because it’s a community feeling under attack from their own Jewish families, friends and neighbours.

(c) In such a situation it becomes very much an environment of ‘us’ versus ‘them’ where solidarity within the community of disciples is more important than generosity towards those who are ‘outside’.

(3)  “Draw the circle wide.  Draw it wider still.”  Draw the Circle Wide by Gordon Light.

(a) Peter has returned to the Jerusalem community with a remarkable story:  Non-Jews are being called by God to become disciples of Jesus.

(b) It is a development that is beyond their imagination and presents them with the challenge of expanding their vision of God’s mission.

(c) They thought God’s mission of reconciliation and renewal revealed in Jesus of Nazareth was limited to the Jewish people.  Now they know God’s dream is bigger and will involve new ways of being disciples of Jesus. It will bring that most dreaded of human experiences:  CHANGE.

(4)  “Since Love is lord of heaven and dearth, how can I keep from singing?”  My Life Flows on in Endless Song by Robert Lowry.

(a) In every generation the disciples of Jesus are faced with the challenge of knowing how and whom to love.

(b) Even though it’s not as easy path, we do know how to love:  We are to love in the same way that God has loved us in Jesus. Although the principle is clear, the details of working this out in daily life take a lifetime to come even close to learning or, if we are particularly gifted, to mastering.

(c) It is even more difficult to know whom we are to love.

(i) Family and friends are, for the most part, a given.

(ii) People who are like-minded, who belong to ‘our group’ and who share our tastes are not always easy to love, but we can love them most of the time without too much effort.

(iii) But what about ‘those other folk’?  You know the ones I’m talking about, the ones whose stories are so very different from our own, who don’t share our understanding of how things ought to be done, who challenge the status quoand ask questions we’d prefer were left unasked.

(iv) This is the difficult question because the love God offers to us in Jesus is a love that washes feet, touches the ‘unclean’ and reaches out to those some consider to be ‘beyond the pale’. It is a love that expects action and that opens us to risk CHANGE.

(5)  “My song is love unknown, my Saviour’s love to me; love to the loveless shown that they might lovely be.”  My Song Is Love Unknown by Samuel Crossman.

(a) The song that God sang to Peter led him away from the smaller circle envisioned by the evangelist John to a wider circle.

(b) The song that God sang to those who came before us in this congregation led them to a world embraced by a Love that is lord of heaven and earth.

(c) The song that God sings to us leads us to seek those who feel ‘loveless’, whether sitting next to us in the pew or beyond our walls or perhaps within our very selves, so that we might ‘lovely be’.

(d) Where do you think God’s song is beckoning you this week?

Proper Prayers for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (12 May 2019)

Propers for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (RCL Easter 4C)

Acts 9.36-43; Psalm 23; Revelation 7.9-17; John 10.22-30

Collect of the Day

O God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do your will, and work in us that which is well-pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.  [1]

or

O God of peace, you brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of the sheep. By the blood of your eternal covenant, make us complete in everything good so that  we may do your will, and work among us all that is well-pleasing in your sight, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen. [2]

or

Risen Christ, faithful shepherd of the flock: teach us to hear your voice and to follow your command, so that all your people may be gathered into one flock, to the glory of God, the Shepherd of Israel.  Amen.  [3]

or

Eternal God, from whose gentle hands none can snatch us away: give us faith to believe that we are known and loved with a passion strong enough to bring the whole world back to you; through Jesus Christ, who is one with you,  the Source of life.  Amen.  [3]

or

Safe in your hand, O God, is the flock you shepherd through Jesus your Son.  Lead us always to the living waters where you promise respite and refreshment, so that we may be counted among those who know and follow you.  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. [4]

or

God of comfort and compassion, through Jesus, your Son, you lead us to the water of life and the table of your bounty.  May we who have received the tender love of our Good Shepherd be strengthened by your grace to care for your flock.  Amen.  [6]

Prayer over the Gifts

God of loving care, you spread before us the table of life, and give us the cup of salvation to drink. Keep us always in the fold of your Son Jesus Christ, our Saviour and our shepherd.  Amen.  [1]

or

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 Saviourand Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Proper Preface of Easter

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true paschal lamb who has taken away the sin of the world.  By his death he destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he was won for us eternal life.  Therefore, joining our voices with the hole company of heaven, we sing our joyful hymn of praise to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]

or

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, for the glorious resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin, who in dying has destroyed death, and in rising has brought us to eternal life.  And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:  [2a]

Prayer after Communion

God of steadfast love, watch over the Church redeemed by the blood of your Son.  May we who share in these holy mysteries come safely to your eternal kingdom, where there is one flock and one shepherd.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the risen Lord.  Amen. [1]

or

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 thatwe may show your glory to all the world, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Easter Blessings

I

May Almighty God, who has redeemed us and made us his children through the resurrection of his Son our Lord, bestow upon you the riches of his blessing.  Amen. 

May God, who through the water of baptism has raised us from sin into newness of life, make you holy and worthy to be united with Christ for ever.  Amen. 

May God, who has brought us out of bondage to sin into true and lasting freedom in the Redeemer, bring you to your eternal inheritance.  Amen. 

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever.  Amen.   [7]

II

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7]

 

Sources

[1]       The Book of Alternative Services 1985

[2]       Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006

[2a]     Evangelical Lutheran Worship:  Leaders Desk Edition 2006

[3]       Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion 2016

[4]       Opening Prayers:  Collects in Contemporary Language 1997, 1999, 2001

[5]       Prayers for an Inclusive Church 2009

[6]       Revised Common Lectionary Prayers 2002

[7]       The Book of Occasional Services2018

N.B.  When a word or phrase appears is italicized in a liturgical text, it is an alteration made by the Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett to the original text.

God's Story, Our Story, Isn't Finished Yet: Reflections on John 21-1-19

God’s Story, Our Story, Isn’t Finished Yet:

Reflections on John 21.1-19

RCL Easter 3C

5 May 2019

Holy Trinity Cathedral

New Westminster BC

Click here to listen to the Sermon as preached at the 10.00 Eucharist on the 5th.

John 21.1-19

                  ^21.1After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.  ²Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.  ³Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”  They said to him, “We will go with you.”  They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.

                  ⁴Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.  ⁵Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?”  They answered him, “No.”  ⁶He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.”  So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.  ⁷That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”  When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.  ⁸But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.

                  ⁹When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.  ¹⁰Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”  ¹¹So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.  ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.”  Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.  ¹³Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.  ¹⁴This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

                  ¹⁵When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”  He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”  ¹⁶A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”  ¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”  Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?”  And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.  ¹⁸Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished.  But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.”  ¹⁹(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

            As long as Paula and I have been married, we’ve stayed after every movie to watch the credits.  We each look for different things.  Paula tends to look for the music credits and I tend, if the movie has some great cinematography, to look for where the film was shot.  Our perseverance in waiting until the film is truly over has been rewarded in recent years by film makers who include either deleted scenes or teaser scenes during the credits.

            More often than not these scenes tend to point to the next film if the one we’re watching is part of a series.  Sometimes the scenes contain so-called ‘blooper reel’ moments when one or more of the actors makes a spectacular mistake or flubs their lines. In many ways these scenes are a reminder that the story isn’t really over.  It’s as if the story has a life of its own and continues to unwind even when we’re not around to watch it.

            Many scholars think that today’s reading from the Gospel according to John is, from a biblical point of view, just such an added scene.  Last week we heard the story of Thomas and his encounter with the risen Jesus, a passage that ends with these words:  “^20.30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.  ³¹But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”  It wouldn’t be that difficult to read these words as the credits.  But either John the Evangelist or a later editor can’t let go of the story.  ‘Just one more episode’, I can almost hear the author say, ‘because you’ve got to hear this great resurrection story.’

            It is a great story because it begins with an implicit admission of failure. Simon Peter and his colleagues are back home in Galilee.  They’ve left Jerusalem behind and there is no sense of an excited crowd of Jesus’ disciples filling the highways and byways with the proclamation that Jesus has been raised from the dead.  There’s no need to hide because the revolution hasn’t caught on.  So Simon Peter and the others go back to what they know best --- fishing.  Even then they’re not having much luck.

            A stranger who isn’t really a stranger appears on the shore.  He gives them advice as to where to cast their nets. They all know who it is and they’re afraid to admit it.  If they admit to themselves that it is Jesus, then they also have to acknowledge that their failure isn’t the end of the story.  What God has done in Jesus of Nazareth is a never-ending story, a story that keeps adding chapters even when we may think that there is nothing more to be said or done. Failure isn’t an option because God’s love made known to us and to the world in Jesus will not let us go.  ‘Come on,’ Jesus says, ‘I know that fishing on the left hasn’t worked.  Try the right.  You’ll be surprised by the results.’

            However we first came into contact with Jesus of Nazareth, whenever we met God in this mysterious figure, whomever God used as the agent of our encounter, you and I have been well and truly caught.  Just like fish caught in a net will struggle to free themselves and some will even succeed, so we’ve been caught in a net woven by God’s love, cast into the sea of this world by the guidance of the Spirit and brought on board to share in God’s mission begun in creation, continued in Jesus and directed to the future.

            Our ministry is to bring others into a life-giving, life-affirming, life-renewing relationship with God.  We bring others into such a relationship not by threats or intimidation but by our obedient imitation of Christ’s love and care for others.  It is a persuasive ministry where our actions do speak far more effectively than our words.  It is a life-long ministry that often leads us in directions we never thought we would go. It is a risky ministry that brings us face to face with answering the same question that Jesus asked Simon Peter three times:  “Do you love me?”

            My friends, this is not an easy time to be a disciple of Jesus, especially if we belong to a tradition such as ours, rich in history, rich in spiritual treasures, rich in commitment to the needs and concerns of the world but feeling that our nets keep coming up empty.  It is tempting to give in to discouragement from time to time.  Some of us may even feel like we’re watching the credits at the end of a film.  And then along comes Jesus, surprising us as we’re getting our coats ready to leave and trying to find a trash can for our popcorn container.  ‘Come,’ he says, ‘come and follow me.  Let’s try something new and fish on the other side of the boat.’ 

            Let’s dare to share our faith with someone else and not worry about what they might think of us.  Let’s dare to imagine where we as a Parish are going to be in one year’s time, two years’ time, three years’ time and be hopeful.  Let’s remember that God has called us ‘ . . . to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths yet untrodden, through perils unknown . . . [and to go out in faith and good courage] not knowing where we go, but only that [God’s] hand is leading us and [Christ’s] love [is supporting us].’ [1]  After all, the story isn’t over and there are many more sequels to come.

---

[1]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 317.

Proper Prayers for Easter 2C (28 April 2019)

Propers for the Second Sunday of Easter (RCL Easter 2C)

Acts 5.27-32; Psalm 118.14-29 or Psalm 150; Revelation 1.4-8; John 20.19-31

Collect of the Day

Almighty and eternal God, the strength of those who believe and the hope of those who doubt, may we, who have not seen, have faith and receive the fullness of Christ’s blessing, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen. [1]

or

O God of life, you reach out to us amid our fears with the wounded hands of your risen Son.  By your Spirit’s breath revive our faith in your mercy, and strengthen us to be the body of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.  [2]

or

Risen Christ, for whom no door is locked, no entrance barred:  open the doors of our hearts, so that we may seek the good of others and walk the joyful road of sacrifice and peace, to the praise of God, the Source of all life.  Amen.  [3]

or

O God, our beginning and our end:  accept our doubts, heal our desire for certainty and, by your Spirit’s gentle touch, make us a people forgiven and forgiving; through Jesus Christ, the Giver of Peace.  Amen.  [3]

or

God of life, source of all faith, through the waters of baptism you have raised us up in Jesus and given us life that endures.  Day by day refine our faith, so thatwe who have not seen the Christ may truly confess him as our Lord and God, and share the blessedness of those who believe.  Grant 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. [4]

or

Alpha and Omega, our beginning and our end, you break through the locks of gated communities and hardened hearts:  accept our doubts, heal our desire for certainty and, by your Spirit’s gentle touch, make us a people forgiven and forgiving; through Jesus Christ, the Giver of Peace.  Amen.  [5]

or

O God, you raised up Jesus Christ as your faithful witness and the first-born of the dead.  By your Holy Spirit, help us to witness to him so that those who have not yet seen may come to believe in him who is, and was, and is to come, for we pray in his name.  Amen.  [6]

Prayer over the Gifts

God of grace, you have freed us from our sins and made us a kingdom in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Accept all we offer you this day, and strengthen us in the new life you have given us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  [1]

or

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 Saviourand Lord.  Amen.  [2]

Proper Preface of Easter

Blessed are you, gracious God, creator of heaven and earth; we give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord; for he is the true paschal lamb who has taken away the sin of the world.  By his death he destroyed death, and by his rising to life again he was won for us eternal life.  Therefore, joining our voices with the hole company of heaven, we sing our joyful hymn of praise to proclaim the glory of your name.  [1]

or

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, for the glorious resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin, who in dying has destroyed death, and in rising has brought us to eternal life.  And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:  [2a]

Prayer after Communion

Father, we have seen with our eyes and touched with our hands the bread of life.  Strengthen our faith so that we may grow in love for you and for each other; through Jesus Christ the risen Lord.  Amen.  [1]

or

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.  [2]

Easter Blessings

I

May Almighty God, who has redeemed us and made us his children through the resurrection of his Son our Lord, bestow upon you the riches of his blessing.  Amen. 

May God, who through the water of baptism has raised us from sin into newness of life, make you holy and worthy to be united with Christ for ever.  Amen. 

May God, who has brought us out of bondage to sin into true and lasting freedom in the Redeemer, bring you to your eternal inheritance.  Amen. 

And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be upon you and remain with you for ever.  Amen.   [7]

II

The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.  Amen.  [7]

 

Sources

[1]       The Book of Alternative Services 1985

[2]       Evangelical Lutheran Worship 2006

[2a]     Evangelical Lutheran Worship:  Leaders Desk Edition 2006

[3]      Trial Use Collects for Years A, B & C and Seasonal Prayers over the Gifts and after Communion 2016

[4]       Opening Prayers:  Collects in Contemporary Language 1997, 1999, 2001

[5]       Prayers for an Inclusive Church 2009

[6]       Revised Common Lectionary Prayers 2002

[7]       The Book of Occasional Services 2018

N.B.  When a word or phrase appears is italicized in a liturgical text, it is an alteration made by the Ven. Richard Geoffrey Leggett to the original text.

An Ordo for Easter 7: The Sunday after Ascension (RCL Easter 7B, 13 May 2018)

The Seventh Sunday of Easter

13 May 2018

The Gathering of the Community

Gathering Music

Announcements

Opening Hymn

‘By All Your Saints Still Striving’ Common Praise#283 vv. 1, 2i, 3

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.

Hymn of Praise

‘Glory, in the Highest Glory’ Common Praise#366

Collect of the Day

Let us pray.

Gracious and glorious God,

you have chosen us as your own,

and by the powerful name of Christ

you protect us from evil.

By your Spirit transform us and your beloved world,

so that we may find our joy in your Son,

Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.  Amen.[1]

The Proclamation of the Word

The First Reading: Acts 1.15-17, 21-26

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles.

            ^1.15In those days Peter stood up among the believers (together the crowd numbered about one hundred twenty persons) and said, ¹⁶“Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus — ¹⁷for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 

            ²¹“So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²²beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us — one of these must become a witness with us to his resurrection.”  ²³So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias.  ²⁴Then they prayed and said, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart.  Show us which one of these two you have chosen²⁵to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”  ²⁶And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Thanks be to God.

The Psalm:  Psalm 1 (sung to Common Praise #386)

Happy are they who have not walked

with the ungodly of the land,

nor lingered in the sinner’s way,

nor sate with those who mock God’s hand.

Happy are they who love the law

and find in it their chief delight;

they meditate continually

upon God’s law both day and night.

Like fruitful trees by flowing streams,

with leaves that never fade or fall,

are those who serve God day and night;

they find prosperity in all.

The wicked are not so, they seem

like chaff the wind will blow away;

they have no place with the elect

nor can they stand on Judgement Day.

Then praise our God who knows so well

the way in which the righteous god;

the path which the ungodly walk

shall perish; this God’s people know. [2]

The Second Reading: 1 John 5.9-13

A reading from the First Letter of John.

⁹If we receive human testimony, the testimony of God is greater; for this is the testimony of God that he has testified to his Son.  ¹⁰Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts.  Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. ¹¹And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  ¹²Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

            ¹³I 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.

Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church.

Thanks be to God.

Hymn before the Gospel

‘Alleluia’  Common Praise#712 v. 1

The Gospel:  John 17.6-19

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

            ^17.6[Jesus continued to pray,] “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.  ⁷Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; ⁸for 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.  ⁹I 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.  ¹⁰All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.  ¹¹And 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.  ¹²While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me.  I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.  ¹³But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.  ¹⁴I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.  ¹⁵I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.  ¹⁶They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.  ¹⁷Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.  ¹⁸As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.  ¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn after the Gospel

‘Alleluia’  Common Praise#712 v. 2

The Sermon

The Apostles’ Creed

Let us confess the faith of our baptism.

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried;

he descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again;

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.  Amen.[3]

The Prayers of the Community

Intercessions, Petitions and Thanksgivings

The Exchange of the Peace

The peace of the risen Christ be with you all.

And also with you.

The Holy Communion

The Offertory Hymn

‘Blest Are the Pure in Heart’ Common Praise#439

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.[4]

The Great Thanksgiving

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.

All thanks and praise are yours 

at all times and in all places, our true and loving God; 

through Jesus Christ, your eternal Word, 

the Wisdom from on high by whom you created all things.  

You laid the foundations of the world 

and enclosed the sea when it burst out from the womb.  

You brought forth all creatures of the earth 

and gave breath to humankind.

Wondrous are you, Holy One of Blessing, 

all you create is a sign of hope for our journey.  

And so as the morning stars sing your praises 

we join the heavenly beings and all creation as we shout with joy:

You are holy, you are whole. 

You are always ever more than we ever understand.  

Blessed are you coming here to your church in wine and bread, 

raised from soil, raised from dead.

You are holy, you are wholeness,

you are present.  Let the cosmos praise you, Lord!

Sing hosanna in the highest! Sing hosanna!

Sing hosanna to our God! [5]

Glory and honour are yours, Creator of all, 

your Word has never been silent; 

you called a people to yourself, as a light to the nations, 

you delivered them from bondage 

and led them to a land of promise. 

Of your grace, you gave Jesus to be human, 

to share our life, to proclaim the coming of your holy reign 

and give himself for us, a fragrant offering.

Through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, 

you have freed us from sin, 

brought us into your life, 

reconciled us to you, 

and restored us to the glory you intend for us.

We thank you that on the night before he died for us 

Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks to you, 

he broke it, gave it to his friends and said:  

‘Take, eat, this is my body, broken for you.  

Do this for the remembrance of me.’

After supper Jesus took the cup of wine, 

said the blessing, gave it to his friends and said:  

‘Drink this, all of you: 

this cup is the new covenant in my blood, 

poured out for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.  

Do this for the remembrance of me.’

Therefore let us proclaim our hope:

Dying, you destroyed our death.  

Rising, you restored our life.  

Christ Jesus, come in glory!

Send your Holy Spirit upon us 

and upon these gifts of bread and wine 

so that they may be to us the body and blood of your Christ.  

Grant that we, burning with your Spirit’s power, 

may be a people of hope, justice and love.

Giver of life, draw us together in the body of Christ, 

and in the fullness of time gather us with all your people 

into the joy of our true eternal home.

Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ, 

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, 

we worship you our God and Creator in voices of unending praise.

Blessed are you now and for ever.  Amen. [6]

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.[7]

The Breaking of the Bread

Lord, we died with you on the cross.

Now we re raised to new life.

We were buried in your tomb.

Now we share in your resurrection.

Live in us, so that we may live in you.[8]

These are the gifts of God for the people of God.

Thanks be to God.

The Communion of the Community

The Hymn after Communion

‘Thou, Who at Thy First Eucharist’ Common Praise#57

The Sending Forth of the Community

The Prayer after Communion

Let us pray.

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 heaven 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.[9]

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

‘He Came Down’  Common Praise#368

The Dismissal

Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Go forth in the truth of God’s love.

Thanks be to God.  Alleluia! Alleluia! 

---

[1]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 35 alt.

[2]A New Metrical Psalter (1986) alt.

[3]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 105.

[4]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 64 alt.

[5]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006) #525.

[6]Enriching Our Worship (1998), 62-65 alt.

[7]Songs for a Gospel People (1987) #12.

[8]The Book of Alternative Services (1985), 213 alt.

[9]Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), 65 alt.