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Service for Sunday 29th November – Advent Sunday

Hymns, Songs, Readings and other links for the Advent Sunday

– Sunday 29th November

A New Church for a New Society: “Themes in John’s Gospel.”

  • Truth – Part A – “In the pursuit of Truth.”

John 18:33-38 & 19:1-16

– “The Spirit of Truth in God’s new world.”.

Bible Readings:

Key Bible Reading:

If you would like to look up the reading for yourself – simply click the link:

For John 18:33-38: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+18%3A33-38&version=NIVUK

For John 19:1-16: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+19%3A1-16&version=NIVUK

Set Readings for today (Advent Sunday):

Isaiah 64:1-9 – This passage from towards the end of the Book Isaiah begins by wanting God to come in power and judgement, especially towards those ‘others’ who have fallen away.  But then, in a rather unusual twist, Isaiah both acknowledges Israel’s own shortcomings and failings but then seems to attribute Israel’s unfaithfulness to God “turning His face away.” Very unusual. But there are times perhaps when we can feel the same – that even though we know God does ultimately care, we in our hurt and pain want to believe He doesn’t.

1Corinthians 1:3-9 – This a much more conventional passage.  Paul opens his letter to the young Church in Corinth full of praise and admiration for their faithfulness which he sees in turn as coming from the Lord’s own faithful calling: because the Lord is faithful we, in turn, can be faithful and so bring blessing to each other and the world.  It is perhaps worth pausing and wondering how the same is true today – this symbiotic relationship between God and humanity in order to bring blessing to the world in and through a humanity, which at its best includes us.        

Mark 13:24-end – This is a classic passage we often attribute to Jesus’ Second Coming.  “Be alert, Keep awake!”  For we do not know the day or the hour the Master will return.  The idea of the slave and the Master and their household maybe one we find quite hard to relate to favourably in our modern world – surely, God does not want us to be ‘slaves,’ surely He wants us to be ‘free.’  Well, that may be.  But in first century Israel slavery was not perhaps as we in the twenty first century look in upon it.  It was a much more symbiotic relationship (mentioned earlier) where the slave would receive security, value, food and care in return for their time, effort and loyalty to their Master.  Of course, there were bad Masters, just as there are today.  But in the main each group knew they needed the other, much in the same way that a good Landowner knew that they needed the help and support of their tenant farmers and communities to run their extensive estates back in the sixteen and seventeen hundreds.  It was the backbone of pre-industrial English life.  In this sense, we should perhaps be see being a ‘servant’ of our Lord Jesus as a positive thing, “under His care and wing,” so to speak.  At the same time, such care comes with responsibilities “to be about the Master’s business.”  We have tended to much more desiring of the care and the protection without perhaps always giving due regard to the need to be about His business and work.  “Wake up then!  Be awake!  Open our eyes to what God is wanting us to be and to do in His name, in this time, in this place.”       

Hymns and Songs for Advent Sunday:

Traditional:

  1. Advent wouldn’t be Advent without announcing it with the ‘classic’ “O come, O come, Emmanuel” – I wrote about the long history and continued relevance of this Advent hymn in the Pew News this week, if anyone is interested.  Here:
  2. A beautiful live instrumental recording by Liz Chappell and Katie Davies:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gG_ec1erv4&feature=youtu.be
  3. A version set in the context of our Jewish roots with the Christian singer/songwriter Joshua Aaron in a concert recorded at the “Tower of David” (an important historical site probably of Herod’s Palace in the time of Jesus) in Jerusalem.  Not just then culturally relevant, but of a Jewish Christian calling Jesus ‘home’ to his own people.  An amazing backdrop not just for this song but for the whole concert and a powerful witness.  Well worth looking up: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFoFOZmSIfY
  4. A more traditional version that we would sing in our English Churches – taken from Songs of Praise, with Lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ7gSOXQ6rs

On the theme of Truth (based on John’s Gospel):

Children and Young People:

Modern:

On the theme of Advent:

  • “Fix You” originally by the band Coldplay back in 2011, and recently performed again by a female artist Fearless Soul.  The song speaks the words of Jesus and why He came at Christmas both for the world and each individual person’s story within it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsBNDryJYSs
  • “The thrill of Hope – Advent hymn” by Christy Nockels.  A very thoughtful and reflective song about the love and the hope Jesus seeks to bring into the world in every generation.  With lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNuY6I4OtoE

On the theme of Truth (from John’s Gospel)

  1. “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns, with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOw0pM1VmXA&feature=youtu.be
  1. “Song of Truth” by Mark Skelton, with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyXUiCWGOgU&feature=youtu.be

For fun and as part of this season of looking at the impact of the song and dance “Jerusalema” during Lockdown around the world

  1. “Jerusalema” – English language version by Nora Grand.  Wonderful African video backdrop.  Worth watching just for this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XkZeMrYSvo

Videos/DVD:

  1. “Isaiah 1-39 overview” – by the Bible Project.  Great introduction to where the name “Emmanuel” –  “God with us” comes from, as recorded in Isaiah ch 7.  Helps to set the biblical backdrop against which “Emmanuel” had to come: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0A6Uchb1F8
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Service for Sunday 22nd November, Sunday before Advent

Recorded live from St. Andrew’s, Congresbury.

Hymns, Songs, Readings and other links for the Sunday service  before Advent (Christ the King) – Sunday 22nd November

A New Church for a New Society: “Themes in John’s Gospel.”

  • Freedom – Part B – “what it means to be truly free.”

(John 14:15-21 – “Living in the freedom of the Spirit”).

Bible Readings:

Key Bible Reading:

John 14:15-21:  If you would like to look up the reading for yourself – simply click the link:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A15-21&version=NIVUK

Set Readings for today (Sunday before Advent – Christ the King):

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 – For those who think that the Old Testament is nothing but ‘doom and gloom’ here is one of those beautiful passages that make your heart sing both in itself and also in the fact that hundreds of years later, on a hillside outside Bethsaida, a young preacher asked the crowd to sit down, took bread, gave thanks to God and gave it to all who had need (John 6:1-13).  All would be cosy if it wasn’t also that right in the heart of this reading is also a word of challenge and God’s judgement.  God will decide between those who live for themselves and those who live for others and for the Lord – the fat and the lean sheep.

Ephesians 1:15-end – Like with the Old Testament, we can sometimes assume St Paul only really does heavy duty theologically and brain stretching thinking.  Here Paul reveals his heart, full of passion, thankfulness and love for his both his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and as much, if not more, in what Christ has done, and is going to do for the world.        

Matthew 25:30-end – Jesus gives us on of His most remembered and powerful images.  When He returns He will return as global King, whatever other politicians, cultural and religious leaders may think or say.  “Good” we may say.  But then Jesus brings the ‘global’ into the ‘micro.’  God is of such awesome intelligence and love that He is fully available and aware of every Act of Kindness, love and compassion ever done, whether by Christians or non-Christians alike.  And God’s love hits the road when He says, to the sheep, the King will say, “well done my good and faithful servant.”  And to the goat, He will say, “get away from me, I do not know you.”  Unless our faith prompts us to greater love, then it is we who need to fall on our knees before God and plead for more time so that we can change.  Of course, our faith is more than simply Acts of Kindness to wards others or Creation, but it is not less than.      

Hymns and Songs for the Sunday before Advent (Christ the King):

Traditional:

  1. To celebrate Christ the King “Crown Him with many Crowns” –    A true classic:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60euxXvw5aA
  • To celebrate St Congar’s and St Andrew’s Day, by popular request the Jazz version of, “O When the Saints” (Jazz Version) – Songs of Praise from St Alban’s Church, Bristol with Lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8BjWBr7VTM

Children’s songs:

Modern:

Freedom is a really important theme within much modern Church music and song writing, perhaps reflecting our times:

  • “Siyahamba” Zulu Spiritual – dramatic beginning but captures the African beat and colour to their music very well – translation is “We are marching in the Light of God:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi-zd2k8wgQ
  1. For anyone struggling out there, from Gemma “Lay it all down” feat Will Reagan – Session version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNacm6zR8eU
  1. “Come follow me” – by Brother Isaiah (Crazy Franciscans of the Renewal) – Great video of the spiritual life, especially for those who are musicians or creatives: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi0a8O6446Q
  1. “Holy Spirit, you are welcome here” – Jesus Culture – Kim Walker-Smith – becoming a modern classic.  Acoustic version on the steps of a subway with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMJne6wUoag
  1. To celebrate the festival of “Christ the King” – “King of Kings” by Hillsong, one of their finest.  Live version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQl4izxPeNU
  2. Lyrics Version so you can sing along: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of5IcFWiEpg

Videos/DVD:

  1. “The Holy Spirit” – by the Bible Project.  Very good way into understanding biblically the nature of the Holy Spirit throughout the Bible and Scripture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNNZO9i1Gjc
  1. Very good 14 part series on the Holy Spirit by the Charismatic Catholic Priest Fr Dave Pivonka. Great if you want to explore certain aspects of the Holy Spirit deeper. Titles include:
  2. “God’s love poured out” – Segment 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzNhIvGuEIQ&list=PLE6t-PqUvPEemaneqIWybKUn4j8olfe9h&index=2
  3. Then segments 2-14 – watched some of them.  Really good.