Parishes of St Philips and All Saints Kew with St Luke’s Kew
Where all God’s children are Welcome
An Order for Night Prayer (Compline)
Ascension Day 2020
Audio
The ancient office of Compline derives its name from a Latin word meaning ‘completion’ (completorium). It is above all a service of quietness and reflection before rest at the end of the day. It is most effective when the ending is indeed an ending, without additions, conversation or noise. If there is an address, or business to be done, it should come first. If the service is in church, those present depart in silence; if at home, they go quietly to bed.
Preparation
The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night and a perfect end. Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.
A period of silence for reflection on the past day may follow.
We confess to God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, that we have sinned in thought, word and deed, through our own grievous fault. Wherefore we pray God to have mercy upon us.
Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us all our sins and deliver us from all evil, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and bring us to life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
Psalm 110
1 The Lord says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!” 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.
4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. 7 He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, seeking for someone to devour. Resist him, strong in the faith. 1 Peter 5.8,9
Hebrews 7: 23-end
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. 26 Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Reflection for Thursday 21 May 2020
Today is Ascension Day, the day that Jesus ascended into heaven at the very end of his physical time on earth. This was clearly a traumatic time for the disciples. They had felt very much alone when Jesus had died at the hands of the Roman and Jewish authorities, but then he had risen from the dead and they had welcomed him back. But now he was well and truly gone, at least from their sight. Can you imagine the consternation, the confusion, the astonishment of that day?
Jesus knew who he was dealing with and we saw him preparing his disciples in the Gospel reading last Sunday from St John. Jesus talks about God giving them the Holy Spirit. In more modern versions the term “Advocate” or “Helper” is used, giving perhaps a clearer translation of the original meaning than the King James Version, which talks about a “Comforter”. When it came at Pentecost a few days later, the Holy Spirit was indeed a comfort to the early disciples, as it is today to all Christians. But I do not think it was meant in the terms of making people feel warm and cosy as such. In the Oxford English dictionary “comfort” has several meanings. The obvious ones of consolation and relief from affliction, but it also refers back to the Latin: “com” meaning having and “fortis” meaning strength. Advocate and Helper are quite clearly of assistance, comforter in this context means something that will support and strengthen them. The comforter was not a blanket, it was to enable them to take up a challenge! The baton of spreading Christianity had been passed to them, but they were not alone and they were told to expect this amazing assistance.
We all need support and strength; we all need comfort. At this time especially. Although the restrictions have been finessed a little, there are still many people confined to their own homes and worried about the possibility of contracting the virus. And many are worried about jobs or their children’s education and how the future will look. I am sure that many of us have been feeling a bit down recently – just show me someone who hasn’t! But prayer works and when I feel glum, a few minutes on my knees asking for help and strength does wonders for me. We have to keep faith and while we of course worry, it is fantastic to know that God understands our worries and will give us strength to carry on.
The most famous hymn for use at Ascensiontide is the magnificent “The Head that once was crowned with thorns is crowned with glory now”. But I want to go back a bit further to the perhaps less well known “O Christ, our joy, to whom is given”, which has its origins in the fifth century. The fourth verse is really quite wonderful:
Be thou our joy and strong defence,
Who art our future recompense:
So shall the light that springs from thee
Be ours through all eternity.
Richard Austen
Responsory
Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
For thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, thou God of truth. I commend my spirit.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Gospel Canticle
The Nunc dimittis (The Song of Simeon) is said
1 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace: according to thy word.
2 For mine eyes have seen: thy salvation;
3 Which thou hast prepared: before the face of all people;
4 To be a light to lighten the Gentiles: and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Luke 2.29-32
Glory to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be : world without end. Amen.
Prayers & Lord’s Prayer
Remember in your prayers:
Our families, friends and neighbours, colleagues and companions
Those who are bringing health and healing to the suffering
Those who are particularly vulnerable and frightened
Those preparing to re-open schools and nurseries
Those planning for the next stages in dealing with this Covid 19 crisis
Our Church family
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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The Collect
Visit this place, O Lord, we pray, and drive far from it the snares of the enemy; may your holy angels dwell with us and guard us in peace, and may your blessing be always upon us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Conclusion
In peace we will lie down and sleep; for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.
Abide with us, Lord Jesus, for the night is at hand and the day is now past.
As the night watch looks for the morning, so do we look for you, O Christ.
The Lord bless us and watch over us; the Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us; the Lord look kindly on us and give us peace. Amen.
Copyright acknowledgment (where not already indicated above):
Prayer: Open our hearts to the power of your Holy Spirit, loving God. As we read and wait, may we see more clearly how you would have us live, worship and witness. Amen
Read the passage through twice:
Then the disciples gathered around Jesus and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
Background
This is the second time that Luke has written an account of the Ascension. At the end of his Gospel, Luke describes how the risen Jesus appears to all the disciples once the travellers to Emmaus had returned to Jerusalem and told their story of how they had met Jesus. The risen Jesus then explains everything to the disciples, they leave the city and Jesus ascends. In this version, Luke provides the context of the last conversation that Jesus and his disciples have before his ascension – the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The rest of the book of Acts will be the working out of Jesus’s response to the disciples’ enquiry.
Some questions
Why is the first question that the disciples ask of the risen Jesus about the restoration of the Kingdom? What are they worried about? Do they fear that crucifixion and resurrection have somehow changed Jesus’s agenda? Are they still looking for a physical, political and military kingdom?
How polite is Jesus’s response?
What is the difference between “authority” and “power”? God has authority to set dates and times, but the disciples will be given power. How godlike are we, in God’s general scheme of things?
What is that “power” of which Jesus speaks? Why does it not come immediately?
The disciples are given a very clear task – tell everybody about Jesus, starting close to home, then spreading out across the globe. By the end of Acts, the gospel is being preached in Rome. However, Jesus tells his disciples that they are to be his “witnesses” – what does that mean? (Hint: when a new king/emperor was declared, heralds/witnesses were sent out around the country/empire with the news). So, what is the difference between us as “witnesses” and royal heralds?
Does this command still hold true for us today? If so, how do we go about it?
The disciples could speak from their experience. They had lived with Jesus for 3 years, and had seen him arrested, knew that he had died, and had seen him alive again. How much of our personal experience can we bring to bear on our outreach?
How helpful is the appearance of the two men in white robes? What is really going on here?
When has a cloud, appearing and disappearing, played a significant role in the history and worship of Israel? And in the story of Jesus?
Part of a Roman emperor’s progression to immortality was his soul visibly rising to the heavens as he died. What is Luke saying here about Jesus, given that he is alive when he ascends?
Is God really “up there”? If not, where is God?
What is the real difference between heaven and earth? If heaven is God’s realm, and earth where we currently live, can the two be the same place, given that Christ lived here on earth and the Holy Spirit is alive in us now?
How far is “a sabbath day’s journey”? What is the narrative purpose of that detail?
How many people were gathered in that upper room? Luke specifically mentions several other people in addition to the 11 disciples. Why?
What emotions must Jesus’s mother have been experiencing at this point?
What were the contents of these people’s prayers as they stayed together in this upper room?
The disciples were still scared, still apprehensive about the future, and effectively locked themselves away until Pentecost. What has this to teach us about our current situation?
How are we able to be witnesses to the resurrection in this time of lockdown?
What could/should we be doing differently when lockdown finally ceases?
Read the passage through again, out loud if possible
Review
What has this passage taught you about
God?
Jesus Christ?
The Church?
Our current situation?
Prayer: God of our waiting, comfort us in our isolation and fill us with the hope of your good purposes, so that, as you released your Church into the world at Pentecost, we too may be sent forth with joy and your Holy Spirit to talk of all your love has done for us. Amen.
Section 2: 1 Peter 4: 12-14; 5: 6-11
Prayer: Loving God, open your word to us as we read, think and prepare to act on what you will teach us. Give us open hearts and mind to receive your wisdom and challenge. Amen
Read the passage through twice:
Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Background
These are the closing remarks in the first general letter attributed to Peter, which was to be circulated amongst the churches in Northern Turkey. The intensity of the persecution seems to be greater here than in earlier passages, so the encouragement to stand firm amidst the suffering is increased.
Some questions
“Fiery ordeal” sounds alarming. Just how bad do you think this persecution really is for Christians in this part of the world, at this time?
Is it fair to regard every persecution as a test from God? Is God somehow to blame for this? Or is it actually the other way round – human cruelty devises evil against the people of God, and God teaches us through that experience? If so, what is God teaching these people to whom the letter is addressed?
Can our current lockdown experience be compared in any way to the situation described in this text? What is God teaching us, now?
The writer suggests that for Christians to experience persecution is a sharing in Christ’s suffering. How can that work? Does it make sense? Can there be any similarities between human suffering at the hands of others and the ill treatment meted out to Christ? If yes, do you know any examples? If no, why not? Was Christ’s suffering in any way different from any other unjustly treated human being?
When will Christ’s glory be revealed? Has it already happened, or are we still waiting for a full revelation of his glory? If so, what are we looking out for?
We are used to the idea of being blessed if we are persecuted – the writer is quoting from the Beatitudes, amongst other sources. What does the writer mean by “the Spirit of glory and of God”? Is this different from the Holy Spirit? The capital letters have been supplied by modern-day translators: they do not exist in the ancient texts.
Does the notion of the “Spirit of glory” broaden your understanding of the Holy Spirit? If so, how?
Why should we humble ourselves under God, during a time of persecution? Surely it must be hard to be arrogant or assertive when we are suffering. What exactly does the writer mean?
The promise that God will lift us up in due course has always been part of God’s dealings with humanity. Christ repeats that in the Beatitudes, Mary sings about it in the Magnificat. Have we ever experienced it? Can we look forward to such a lifting up when our current restricted lifestyle reverts to some sort of normality? If so, how will it feel or what will it look like?
“… the God of all grace … will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” Do we yearn for this to come to fruition? Is it realistic or just rhetoric to encourage a struggling church?
The last sentence might seem a little strange, “To him (ie. the God of all grace) be the power for ever and ever.” Does not God have all power, eternally, anyway? Why talk of power and God in this context? Does this power differ from the power promised to the disciples in the above passage from Acts? If yes, how? If no, just how great is the power of the Holy Spirit that has been released to us?
Does all this strike a particular chord during this current crisis?
Read the passage through again, out loud if possible
Review
What has this passage taught you about
God?
Jesus Christ?
The Church?
Our current situation?
Prayer: God of all power and authority, shield us with your mighty hand, sustain us with your loving presence, and lift us up to the heights of heaven in your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
Section 3: John 17: 1 – 11
Prayer: Loving God, as we read Christ’s prayer for his Church, open our hearts to your grace and wisdom, that we may learn of you, and grow in faith. Amen.
Read the passage through twice:
Jesus looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
Background
John 17 is known as Christ’s high priestly prayer. It is a summary of the evangelist’s Christology, sometimes in clear language, sometimes in a more convoluted style. It presents various problems while also giving us much joy and clarity. The context is still the upper room and the last supper, before Jesus takes his disciples off to the Garden of Gethsemane. The whole chapter is worth reading from start to finish, but for our purposes this week, these 11 verses are more than enough!
Some questions
This prayer comes after 3 chapters of Jesus addressing all those present at the Last Supper. He has talked about his Father’s house with many rooms, about himself as the true vine, and about the coming of the Holy Spirit. He finishes his teaching with this astonishing prayer. Does it resemble any of our prayers? Should it?
Which “hour” has come? Is it the same one that Jesus says had not come when his mother asked him to do something about the lack of wine at the wedding at Cana? If it is that same hour, how does Jesus know that this is that long-awaited moment?
Is it a good thing that the hour has come? What might Jesus’s emotions be at this moment?
What does “glorify your Son” mean? Why should God do that? It makes sense for Jesus to glorify his Father, but how can it work the other way round?
Jesus seems to suggest that God has to glorify Jesus before Jesus can glorify the Father. How can this be?
What authority did Jesus have? Are there examples of this authority in the Gospels?
To whom did Jesus give eternal life before this point? Anybody?
“ … this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent”. Does this work as a definition of eternal life? Might our perception of eternal life have to change as a result of reading this?
Do we really know God and Jesus Christ? Can we? If we can, do we know him better now than when we first believed?
Jesus says that he has finished God’s work on earth, but this is not the end of the story: the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection are all to come. Are they not part of “God’s work”? If they are, what does Jesus mean here by “finished”?
From this point on, two worlds co-exist in Jesus’s words – the realm of God and the human sphere. Jesus is occupying both, as the Father & the Spirit do, while speaking in the created realm. Christ’s glory in God’s realm has never gone away, but it has been invisible in the human realm. Will that glory every be fully revealed in this world? Do the disciples see it? Do we the readers see it? If so, where, and how? And what does it look like?
Jesus makes some fairly extravagant claims about the disciples, that they know and understand everything that he has taught them – is this another theoretical/eternal timescale utterance, or is it actually true?
Jesus says that he is praying for the disciples, not for the world. What does that mean? Is Christ’s intercessory work limited to people who acknowledge him and know him? In which case, are we included?
This concept of “the world” can have two meanings. Jesus says that the disciples are in the world, and that he won’t be in the world for much longer, so that sounds like the physical, created world. But when Jesus says he is not praying for the world, but for the disciples, he means something quite different. What? And what could be the consequences of that difference?
Is it comforting to know that the disciples (and therefore us, by extension) belong to God?
How on has glory come to Jesus from his disciples? They consistently fail him, misunderstand him and in the coming hours, will both betray and deny him and abandon him in his hour of greatest need. Or is Jesus talking about something else? If so, what?
God’s name is powerful, the greatest source of truth and light in the world. Jesus asks his Father to protect the disciples – and us, by extension – by the power of that name. Do we feel protected to that extent? The God of all creation protects us, according to Jesus. Do we actually believe that? If we do, how does it colour our behaviour? If we don’t, why not?
“ … so that they may be one as we are one .. “ This is where this whole passage has been heading – the unity of God’s people, the unity of the Church. It is potentially one of the most wonderful prayers ever uttered, and also the most despairing, that it has to be uttered at all. Christian unity is a longed-for goal, from the very early days of the Church. There is harsh realism in this prayer – that humanity is not capable of such unity without the direct intervention of God, and even then we will mess it up.
Do we keep pressing for this unity? Will it ever arrive? If it does, what will it look like? And how much are we involved in its realisation?
To what extent is this prayer actually a prayer? How much of it is teaching for the Church? Can such a prayer actually be prayed by a human being?
If this prayer was actually prayed at the last supper (in those days, everybody prayed out loud, wherever they were), how would the disciples have reacted to its content?
Is this prayer comforting/challenging/helpful?
Read the passage through again, out loud if possible
Review
What has this passage taught you about
God?
Jesus Christ?
The Church?
Our current situation?
Prayer: God of love, you glorified your Son in his life, death and resurrection, and share that glory with your Church. Help us today to live as those who have been extraordinarily loved, that we may reflect your glory to everyone
“Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.”
Yesterday was the first of three Rogation Days leading up to Ascension Day on Thursday. Rogation Sunday is the day when the Church has traditionally offered prayer for God’s blessings on the fruits of the earth and the labours of those who produce our food.
The word “rogation” is from the Latin rogare, “to ask.” Historically, the Rogation Days were a period of fasting and abstinence, asking for God’s blessing on the crops for a bountiful harvest. Less of us today directly derive our livelihood from the production of food, yet it is good to be reminded of our dependence upon those who do and our responsibility for the environment.
One of my favourite programmes on a Sunday evening is Country File and over the last few Sundays individual presenters have been looking at how the present ‘lock down’ has effected the different areas they live in and on the whole the results have been very interesting.
If we are able to take any positives at all from this world Pandemic, it is that our wildlife and environment have in the main part enjoyed the lack of human footfall and interference. Many may well find that this is NOT surprising!
The air quality in many cities and towns, worldwide, has seen a marked improvement with the lack of traffic, as have the skies overhead, with the marked decrease in air traffic.
Our wildlife has enjoyed a period of peace and quiet without the usual ‘people pollution’, and although our farmers have had various problems, especially overcoming a very wet autumn and winter, they are resilient people and with now an improvement in the weather, crops are being both sown and harvested.
Are there things that each and everyone of us should learn from this Pandemic? Well, I expect there are quite a few things, if we are honest, that we should take to heart when we are able to look back on these times.
One I believe to be important, is how we treat this world that God gave us, how we truly value it and wish to pass it on to future generations. Most of us in the British Isles are very fortunate to live in and be close to beautiful countryside of great variety, much of which supplies us with the food, and areas of recreation, for our wellbeing. Let us all take a little bit more time to appreciate and be truly thankful for this God given gift.
I will, like my fellow Reader, Richard, finish with a well known verse from a Hymn!
We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land, but it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand; he sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain, the breezes and the sunshine and soft refreshing rain. All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above, then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all his love.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession:
Christ died to sin once for all, and now lives to God. Let us renew our resolve to have done with all that is evil and confess our sins in penitence and faith.
Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, +pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
.
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Let us pray
God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy: through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spiriit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Acts 17: 22-31
Acts 17: 22-31
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
This is the Word of the Lord Thanks be to God.
1 Peter 3: 13-end
1 Peter 3: 13-end
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John Glory to you, O Lord.
John 14: 15-21
John 14: 15-21
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon from Michael Tonkin
Sermon from Michael Tonkin
‘He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.’ Words taken from this morning’s reading from 1 Peter.
Today, if it had not been for the coronavirus, Father Peter would have been being Licensed into his new role as Team Rector in the Diocese of Worcester. As far as St. Luke’s and the Barn Churches are concerned, and I am sure beyond, we are all very fortunate to still have him with us, if but, for only a little longer.
Jesus, in our Gospel reading today from John, is preparing his disciples for the fact that he would be leaving them, in his bodily form once he had ascended to his Father, but would remain with them for ever as the Holy Spirit. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth,” “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.” Of course, as with so much that Jesus tried to make his disciples understand, it would only be after his death on the cross and his resurrection, that they would fully come to understand. We will hear in two weeks time how they receive the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
It is never easy saying ‘good bye’ to friends and loved ones, and it is one of the greatest tragedies of this terrible Pandemic that so many have had loved ones die before their time and been unable to with them. We can only pray that they are now at peace with the one true God, who offers an eternal home to all who believe in Him.
It was while Paul was in Athens, as we heard from our reading from Acts that, in true Paul fashion, he went about teaching the Athenians about this one true God. I have always had a lot of time for Paul, although I am sure he was not the easiest of people to live with, being unquestionably fanatical in his desire to spread the good news of the risen Lord. Yet without his endless efforts, often against the greatest of odds, the roots of Christianity would, most likely, not have been spread so far and wide, and The New Testament would not, in a large part, have been written in the form we know it today. Without Paul’s letters and his travels as recounted by Luke in Acts the New Testament would be very short.
In Athens, as in many other places Paul visited, he began in the synagogues and market places, preaching the news of the risen Jesus. Athens at that time, as it had been for many years before, was a centre for philosophy and literature, and had a university even at that time. Paul was invited by, ‘A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers’, to speak to them, and having seen an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown God’, began to tell them about the God who made the world and everything in it, “In him we live and move and have our being”. Paul tells them they will be seen for who they truly are, and judged by God, and his Son, the risen Christ. But judgement was not what the Athenians were looking for, they wanted to bind their gods to them with gifts, and with the power and scope of their religious services, gods that they could control and use as they required.
It is, perhaps, something that we are all at times guilty of, holding on to our own personal God, who like the old advertisements for Bank Managers, were kept in a cupboard somewhere and brought out when needed. This was not Paul’s God; although for many, there and then, to believe that God might focus all truth and meaning in one man, Jesus Christ, was hard to understand or believe. We too often like the idea of controlling God more than the idea of giving God control over us. We need also to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus promised not only to his disciples, but to every one of us who is willing to travel His path, the path of our risen Lord. “They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
So may we all in these troubled and uncertain times hold on to the fact that Jesus walks with us, and with the Holy Spirit lives within our very being, this day and always.
The Sick: Julia Holboro, Annie Kunz, Luci Mitchell-Fry, Joan Pritchard, Johanna Procter, Kevin Willoughby, Max Weston
RIP John Axell, Mary Smith, Revd Peter Holmes, Pattie Johnson, Norma Williams
Prayers – with thanks to Paul Gregorowski, recorded for us by Chris Lynch
Loving Lord, please bless every person in this world. We are all your children and you love each one of us utterly and unconditionally; be with us in this time of uncertainty and risk, and we pray especially for those who live always in misery and fear, who are permanently locked out of life: refugees, the homeless, the hungry, those broken in body or mind, all those without hope. Help us to use this crisis to come closer to them and to work for a better world when this is over. Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
Lord of the nations, guide the rulers of the earth, give them wisdom, teach them mercy, inspire them with your love, Protect and bless all victims who live in states of injustice, cruelty and war. Bless your beloved home on earth, the Holy Land, and any country where people cry out to you for help in their despair. Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
Living Lord, bless your family the Church; heal our destructive divisions that hinder your work and that cause you so much pain. Bless Christian Aid and all vital charities under threat during the epidemic. May we help to fill the gap so that your will may continue to be done. Please bless the Barn and St Luke’s and all in our parishes. May we bring them the light of Christ. Please bless Father Peter, Richard and Michael and all who serve you here, our churchwardens, administrators, musicians, volunteers and all who care for our children in Junior Church. And we celebrate with joy our links with Matabeleland and the Green Park School in Lusaka, for we are all one in Christ. Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
Lord of giving and grace, we than you for all your blessings to us, for the beauty of this spring morning with all its colour and light, for the love that surrounds us, for the dedication of doctors, nurses, carers and encouragers, for our families and friends near or far away, and above all for your unfailing presence with us. Help us to use this slow time to draw closer to you and to learn all the lessons of love. Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
Christ of the cross, please be with those who are sick or suffering in this time of crisis. Hold them in your healing arms and bring them peace. We pray especially in our community for: Alan Hay, Julia Holboro, Annie Kunz, Luci Mitchell-Fry, Joan Pritchard, Johanna Procter, Kevin Willoughby, Max Weston.
Risen Lord be with those who have died and those who mourn. Today we pray for: John Axell, Mary Smith, Joy Dyer, Revd Peter Holmes, Pattie Johnson, Norma Williams, for you are the resurrection and the life. Lord in your mercy Hear our prayer
God of all hope and love, be with us in this crisis. Once it is over may we create a fairer, kinder world free from the ravages of climate change, discrimination and greed, and may our children have a better future on this precious earth.
God’s promised kingdom longing to be born,
the poor are fed first, the hurt are listened to,
the kind are in control, the cruel are cured;
our deepest hopes become tomorrow’s news;
broken bones and minds are mended, the lonely loved;
fear is a distant memory,
happiness has banished hatred,
peace has vanquished war;
hurt earth turns into Eden once again,
and everything is green and fresh and free.
This is the Kingdom Christ has promised us,
and so we know that it will surely come,
not all at once, perhaps, but bit by bit,
will come the moment that we learn to love.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
The Peace
The risen Christ came and stood among his disciples and said, “Peace be with you.” Then they were glad when they saw the Lord, Alelluia. The peace of the Lord be always with you: and also with you.
Be present, be present, Lord Jesus Christ, Our risen high priest;
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, always and everywhere to give you thanks, almighty and eternal Father, and in these days of Easter to celebrate with joyful hearts the memory of your wonderful works. For by the mystery of his passion, Jesus Christ, your risen Son, has conquered the powers of death and hell and restored to women and men the image of your glory. He has placed us once more in paradise and opened to us the gate of life eternal. And so, in the joy of this Passover, earth and heaven resound with gladness, while angels and archangels and the powers of all creation sing for ever the hymn of your glory.
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.
As our Saviour taught us, so 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,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the eternal 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 with you and those you love, today and always. Amen.
Parishes of St Philips and All Saints Kew with St Luke’s Kew
Where all God’s Children are Welcome
Bible Study for the seventh week of the Covid 19 church building closure
Section 1: Acts 17: 22-31
Prayer: Open our hearts, loving God, to the boundless possibilities of your presence in our world. Open our souls to the teaching of your word. Amen
Read the passage through twice:
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”
Background
Paul and Luke had been in Athens for a while. Paul had been preaching in the synagogue and in the market place, engaging with the different philosophical groups that dominated Athenian thought – Epicureans, Stoics and Academics. His message of one God and Christ risen from the dead brings him to the notice of the city authorities, and he is summoned to answer the charge of preaching about “unknown deities”, which was the charge that was levelled against Socrates, for which he was executed. So to go to the Areopagus was not simply a chance to argue philosophy and theology. Paul was actually defending himself against a potential death sentence.
Epicureans argued that the gods were distant and not interested in what human beings got up to, so enjoyment of this life was the greatest good.
Stoics held that the gods lived amongst us, but invisibly, so it was in our interest to behave and control ourselves as individuals and as a society for the common good – Paul quotes a Stoic poet, which suggests that possibly these philosophers were in the majority in the audience.
The Academics followed the teachings of Plato, and occupied a middle ground between the other two philosphies, where the gods were knowable, yet detached, involved with humanity yet above us.
Paul has to bring the notion of one God to people who believed in a pantheon of gods, and on top of that, to argue that this God cares so much about his creation that he came and lived in it, died, and rose again.
Greek and Roman history writers were expected to produce classic speeches for their readers. From Herodotus to Livy, great leaders’ orations were recorded according to rules of rhetoric as much as knowable content. Luke does the same for Paul here – he was certainly present with him, in the Areopagus, which is just down the hill from the Parthenon, but we can be fairly certain that this is a succinct summary of Paul’s speech, with plenty of rhetorical flourishes to embellish the finished product.
Some questions
Paul opens with a compliment on the levels of faith he has observed in Athens. He demonstrates that he knows the layout of the city and their religious practices. His example of the altar to “an unknown god” is his launching point for his introduction to the God of the universe. Does it work?
Ignorance is a major theme of this sermon – ignorance because the people of Athens had never been told about the God of the universe before, ignorance because they could not reach this God by themselves. Is ignorance an excuse?
Paul seeks to expand the notion of God into the all-encompassing God of the universe that is central to Jewish faith. How does he do this?
Is the creator God your starting point for faith, or is it God in the world, in the person of Christ? Can it be both?
Paul says that this God is not restrained to temples or altars, yet the Temple in Jerusalem still exists at this point, with all its ceremonies. What does Paul mean?
Who is the “one man” from whom all the nations spread out? And why mention him?
Paul suggests that the God of the universe has a plan for all creation, that history is controlled by him. Paul’s (very Jewish) God is forward-looking – does this still hold true?
Can we find this God of the universe, if we reach out for him as Paul suggests that God wants us to do? Or do we need some help?
What help does Paul offer these people to find the living God?
Would you take the repentance line that Paul offers? And ultimate judgement?
The time of excusable ignorance is over for Paul’s audience. Can we still argue a level of ignorance, that there are things that we don’t know, so God remains distant and unknown?
What do you think the reaction was to Pauls’s talk of “raising Christ from the dead”? Read on in chapter 17 – it’s an exciting story!
Read the passage through again, out loud if possible
Review
What has this passage taught you about
God?
Jesus Christ?
The Church?
Our current situation?
Prayer: Loving God, you have shown your grace and mercy throughout history. Enable us to walk with you in our current situation, and to cling on to your ultimate control of all things, despite our current problems.
Section 2: 1 Peter 3: 13-end
Prayer: AmenLoving God, sometimes your Word is difficult. May your Holy Spirit enable us to read and understand what you are saying to us, and help us to accept the challenge of complexity. Amen
Read the passage through twice:
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water,and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Background
This general letter to churches in Northern Turkey continues with encouragement in the face of opposition and criticism. Physical persecution may be occurring, but it seems more likely that the surrounding population is taking exception to the standards which the churches are adopting, and feeling threatened by goodness – a curious facet of human nature, but very real.
The section about the risen Jesus preaching to the “imprisoned spirits” has been difficult from the moment it was penned, and has divided opinion down through the centuries. However, it does lead the writer on to a reflection on baptism, which must have provided real hope to his readers.
Some questions
We can all still remember occasions at school when we were singled out for punishment when we hadn’t been the offenders. We can still remember burning at the injustice of it all. What sort of circumstances might the writer be addressing for these Christians, in his day?
Does this sort of persecution for doing the right thing still go on today? Have we experienced it in our own lives recently? Or heard about it in the news? What is the answer given by the world today? What is the writer’s answer here?
Is a clear conscience sufficient for us to endure wrongful accusation?
The quotation is from Isaiah 8, during the early days of Isaiah’s prophetic ministry. He was telling the people of Israel hard truths from God, and suffering for speaking the truth. Isaiah prevailed – can we?
Do you know examples of unjust accusation being exposed, and the accusers feeling shame? How do we deal with these people after they have been proved wrong? What is Christ’s response to such treatment?
Can we really be expected to emulate Christ’s response to his accusers and those who crucified him?
We read this passag this week because it talks about the risen Christ – but not in a situation that we can remotely recognise. Time bats backwards and forwards in these sentences – back to the Ark, forward to the resurrection of Christ, forward again to our baptism. This is an insight into God’s timescale, which is clearly not our own. For God, time is not linear, as it is for us. Eternity works on every level, righting wrongs, bringing grace and healing, repentance and restoration, even to those who mocked God’s plans.
We finish the passage on a high note – Christ in glory. Is that a helpful image for you? Or would a more earthy Jesus be of more value? We will celebrate Ascension Day next week – we need to decide!
Read the passage through again, out loud if possible
Review
What has this passage taught you about
God?
Jesus Christ?
The Church?
Our current situation?
Prayer: Loving God, you have shown your grace and mercy throughout history. Enable us to walk with you in our current situation, and to cling on to your ultimate control of all things, despite our current problems. Amen
Section 3: John 14: 15-21
Prayer: As you spoke to your disciples in the upper room, speak to us today, as we read your word, loving God. Amen
Read the passage through twice:
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
Background
This is a continuation of the conversation that Jesus has with his disciples in the upper room. We have moved on from the simple statement of God with us in response to Philip’s appeal, “show us the Father”, to practical ways in which Christ’s followers can live out his life in the world. Comfort is the watchword for this section, and hope provisioned by God’s love.
Some questions
Is the gift of the Holy Spirit contingent on our keeping Christ’s commands? What are those commands?
To love is to obey – is that true?
“another advocate” was originally translated “another comforter” – is the change a simple correction of language, or is something else going on? And what exactly did the 17th century translaters mean by “comforter” (hint, it is not what we use the word for today)
Do you want a divine advocate? And if so, what do you expect them to do?
Do you understand the Holy Spirit in terms of interceding for us/acting on our behalf , to use the legal metaphore? If so, how?
Jesus states that the Holy Spirit is a mystery to those outside the Church – is that still the case? Which is harder to talk about – God as Father, Jesus as one of us yet divine, or the Holy Spirit? Why?
Do we really know the Holy Spirit? Do we really believe that the Holy Spirit is with us and in us?
Why does Jesus use the word “orphans” of the disciples, even if they won’t be? Christ is much more than a parent figure to them, and to us. What is his purpose here?
How and when will Jesus come to us, seeing as he has promised not to leave us as orphans?
Jesus makes clear that he won’t be in this world in the same way for much longer, but promises that he will be visible to the disciples – how? And will he be the same as he was before?
At the end of the passage, the link between love and obedience is reiterated, so it cannot be ignored. Also, our love for Christ draws us into the love of the Father, and into the love of Christ, who through love will make himself plain to us. Does that still work today?
In what ways does Christ make himself visible to us today?
How are you coping without communion? Is shared bread and wine part of your “seeing” Christ?
Has working on this passage brought you any comfort?
Could you share that comfort with others, now that you have studied these words of Jesus?
Read the passage through again, out loud if possible
Review
What has this passage taught you about
God?
Jesus Christ?
The Church?
Our current situation?
Prayer: Fill us, good Lord, with your Holy Spirit, that we may live as you would direct us, and obey your loving, gracious commands
As Michael noted on Tuesday, our Zoom service on Sunday seemed to work very well. There was a good turnout of people and I got the impression that A lots of churches are very popular, often attracting far more people than would usually turn out on a Sunday morning. We have already talked about how we do not need to be in the Church building to be a church community, and the reality is proving that point.
But as Michael also noted, it looks like a form of lockdown will continue for quite a while. And how will our services look when, finally, we are allowed to get back into church? I was talking to a friend who is a Priest elsewhere the other day. He made a reference to the Revelation of St John perhaps having something to say on social distancing and the church during the Covid 19 crisis. I have to admit that I don’t often read the book of Revelation, but his comment made me turn to it and sure enough – Chapter 11 v 1 (New English Bible version):
I was given a long cane, a kind of measuring-rod and told ‘Now go and measure the temple of God, the altar, and the number of worshippers ‘.
So perhaps that is how we will need to start planning – mapping out the space in church so we can socially distance, courtesy of the Revelation! We will of course have to await guidance from the Diocese, but for a while at least church is going to continue to look very different, both now and when we are allowed back into our beloved buildings. But even if Church is different, God is not and his unchanging care and love for his people continue forever, through good times and challenging times – even if we have to hold ‘a long cane’s’ length between us when we finally do get back to the church building.
So, then I started thinking about my choice of hymn for today. I thought, rather flippantly, that perhaps it should be one that had “ruler” in its title, as a rather corny play on the long cane theme. I decided on John Rylands 1777 hymn “Sovereign Ruler of the Skies”, which is quite appropriate at the current time. Here are three verses:
