Worship on the Web STARTERS FOR SUNDAY 4th May 2008 This is the Sunday following Ascension Day [Thursday May 1st and 40 days after the resurrection] Readings Psalm 68: 1-10, 32-35 - A Psalm of God’s power From God rising up and scattering enemies to God giving strength and power to his people, we have a series of images of God as strong, dominant, in control of nature and very much on the side of those who have been chosen as the people of God. Isaiah 45: 1-7 - Cyrus … God’s representative Cyrus was a king of Persia. According to the historian Herodotus (i.46), Cyrus was the son of Cambyses I. He came to the Persian throne in 559 BC Nine years later he conquered the Medes, thus unifying the kingdoms of the Medes and the Persians. Cyrus is mentioned some 23 times in the Old Testament. Isaiah refers to Cyrus as God’s “shepherd,” the Lord’s “anointed,” who was providentially appointed to facilitate the divine plan. God would lead this monarch to “subdue nations” and “open doors” (an allusion to the Jews’ release from Babylonian captivity). He would make “rough places smooth,” ie accommodate the Hebrews’ return to their Palestinian homeland. He would ultimately be responsible for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the reconstruction of the temple. Psalm 21: 1-7 Sometimes the Psalmist takes us to the depths of despair but Psalm 21 strikes a positive note. God gives strength, long life, fame, majesty, blessing and constant love and security. And in return God receives trust. 1 Peter 4: 12-14; 5: 6-11 - New Testament / Epistle reading The first highlighted passage from 1st Peter talks about persecution, with the underlying message that persecution is part of the Christian Faith. Persecution is a test of faith. However, persecution is also a privilege because it offers a chance to share in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. In the second highlighted passage Peter sets down some laws for the Christian Life. These include humility, serenity, effort, vigilance, resistance [to the Devil], and the law of suffering. In his commentary of 1st Peter 5:6-11, William Barclay suggests that through suffering God will restore a person, through suffering God will establish a person, through suffering God will strengthen a person, and though suffering God will settle a person (ie touch the foundations of faith). St John 17: 1-11 - Gospel reading The passage from John’s Gospel divides into a number of sections. In verses 1-5 the glory of the cross and the climax of Jesus life stands centre stage. Of course this highlights the fact that often the manner in which people die can largely determine how they are remembered …. John F Kennedy is a hero because of his assassination. Also in this section eternal life is described as knowing God. In verses 6–8 Jesus gives a definition of his work … “I have shown forth your name”. In addition we find some guidance to the meaning of discipleship. A disciple recognizes that Jesus is God’s ambassador. A disciple keeps God’s word as it is heard from Jesus. In God’s plan disciples were destined. Finally, in verses 9-11 we find the beginning of a passage in which Jesus prays for his disciples. For Jesus, his glory lies in the actions of the disciples and he entrusts his friends into God’s care and protection saying “Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one just as you and I are one”. Overview of readings In Isaiah 45 Cyrus was appointed as God’s representative. Who are God’s representatives today? Do we all not share that responsibility and in what way do we represent God to the world in 2008? Psalm 68 is full of images of God. What images do we have of God and what effect do these images have on our faith and how it is exercised? In 1st Peter the focus is on Persecution and Suffering and Discipleship. What grounds would be used if we were to be persecuted for our faith? How do we interpret suffering (and what suffering do we impose on the Third World … eg using Bio Fuel to fill car tanks at the expense of the poor of the Third World filling their stomachs). What rules do we use to guide our discipleship? The Gospel passage takes us to the cross as the climax of Jesus life, but was that not just the springboard for the birth of Christianity? If Jesus had died of old age would there be a Christian Faith? If Diana Princess of Wales had lived through a series of marriages and affairs would she still be the “Queen of hearts”? Versus 6 to 8 offer an opportunity to consider destiny and, perhaps, predestination. And then Jesus prayer at the end and the images of God’s care and protection being extended butu with or without condition? Prayers Call to Worship Let us Pray Taking time Sharing time In the midst of routine, stopping being still touching our spiritual roots, pause May God touch our time together and as always inspire us to do what is just seek constant love and walk humbly May God be with us Collect (Common Order, page 673) Almighty God, you have raised your only Son to the right hand of your glory, and bestowed on him the name above all names. Assure us that as he reigns with you in heaven so he abides with us on earth to the end of time; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and is glorified with you and the Holy Spirit one God, now and for ever. God’s mighty strength was seen at work when he raised Christ from the dead, and enthroned him at his right hand in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 1:20) First Prayer Recognising that in Christ, God stood out in the crowd. Recognising that in our faith, we too stand out in the crowd. And so in this prayer reflecting on our lives, and noting a time when what we did meant that we stood out from the crowd. When our faith made us stand out from the crowd. When we had the courage to take a stand and make a difference. pause Perhaps a time when we did something special, said something, stood for a value or a standard, something that we can look back on and say yes, that was a time when we got it right. silence Letting our faith guide our actions and thoughts. Imagining what it would be like if we were to do the same again … if we had the courage, the drive, the strength, to allow our faith to make us stand out in the crowd silence And wondering how our lives would be different as we allow our faith to make us stand out in a crowd. And wondering who else would be joining us in that stand. And wondering how our stand would make the world a better place. silence Recognising past good times as stepping stones for the future. And we also recognize those times when we fail to take a stand, when perhaps we were afraid to stand out from the crowd, and we keep our heads down, bury our values in silence. When we fail to walk true in the footsteps of Christ. And as we remember those times we may feel regret that we didn’t stand up for what we know to be true, And we can wonder, what did I need at that time to have courage. To have faith. To have strength. To have love. silence Recognizing in God, in Jesus, we have all those things and more to not take our own isolated stand, but to stand with God in God’s love and make God’s difference in the world. silence Making our prayer in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, letting his example and his way inspire us in the future. We seal our commitment in the words of the Lord’s Prayer which I invite you to say with me ……. Second Prayer In this prayer you are invited you to think about times when people have stood out in your lives, and also when you know you have stood out in the lives of others, or need to at the moment. You may want to invite the congregation to bring particular people and their families before God during the relevant silences Let us Pray People who have stood out from the crowd … taken a stand on our behalf … offered that little bit extra compassion and love. People who have given God’s love flesh. In this prayer we have the time to bring one or two of them to mind. To recall what they did, what it meant, how we felt. Time to visit our memories silence People who have given God’s love flesh … who have made us feel valued and important. Recalling what they did, we are aware of just what their actions meant and we wonder how we could affect the lives of others if we copied the examples of that past. Thinking of those we know who are walking dark and difficult paths at this time. Bringing them to mind and entrusting them into God’s love. Committing ourselves to touch their journey with that same love. silence Gracious God in our prayers we remember those from the past whose touch is now beyond this life and we give thanks for their love silence Hymns and songs The following choices of hymns and songs have been selected by the Music Panel, from the Worship and Doctrine Task Group:- Crown him with many crowns CH4, number 459 Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you CH4, number 191 Lord, I lift your name on high CH4, number 558 Rejoice! The Lord is King CH4, number 449 The head that once was crowned with thorns CH4, number 438 Christ triumphant CH4, number 436 He is exalted CH4, number 437 Blessing and honour CH4, number 441 Gloria, Gloria (short song) CH4, number 760 The psalm for the day, Psalm 68: 1-10; 32-35, is at Hymn 46 For the Children Explaining Ascension to Children You may find the following links helpful: http://www.first-school.ws/activities/bible/ascencion.htm http://www.brf.org.uk/pages/data.asp?layout=page.htm&Type=&Id=1123 http://www.sermons4kids.com/up_up_and_away.htm A word or two about the author Anonymous This information was printed from www.churchofscotland.org.uk/worship