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Service for Sunday 13th September – 14th Sunday after Trinity

Recorded at St. Andrew’s, Banwell at 10.30am on Sunday 13th September.

Apologies for the abrupt cutoff after communion – unfortunately the computer froze and we were no longer able to stream video. All that is missing is the notices and blessing. All notices can be found in this week’s New Creation Pew News.

Hymns, Songs, Readings and other links for 14th Sunday of Trinity –

10th Sunday of Re-opening – A New Church for a New Society:

“Themes in John’s Gospel.”

  1. Justice – Part A (John 12:20-33)

Sunday 13th Sept 2020

Bible Readings:

Key Bible Readings:

John 12:20-33 – “Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John12:24) The great paradox of the ‘God story.’

If you would like to look up the whole reading for yourself – simply click the link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+12%3A20-33&version=NIVUK

Set Readings for today:

Genesis 50:15-21 – Realizing that Jacob had died, Joseph’s brothers feared that Joseph might take revenge for their actions of seeking him harm.  They plead for forgiveness and to their amazement they discover Joseph shows them only kindness.  They are indebted to him, and therefore the prophecy that he, Joseph would one day be their shining star is strangely fulfilled.

Romans 14:1-12 – Paul is trying to sort out what can seem almost a very modern problem.  Some people want it this way, and some that.  Each can seek to judge and blame the other and then place Paul in the impossible position of ‘playing Solomon’ – in other words having to choose between the two.  Paul rephrases the whole situation – its not whether you eat meat or not that is important, it’s who you eat it, or refrain from eating it, for?  Is it self, and self-importance, or puritanical status, or is it as an act of loving devotion to God?  Unless it’s the latter, whether you eat meat or refrain from eating, it has no merit. 

Matthew 18:21-35 – Here is Jesus as a storyteller at His best.  In an age which increasingly “does not do God” the great danger is that we will forget that we too are in need, and have indeed been, forgiven.  Without that knowledge we will continue to demand our rights, we will continue to demand ‘justice,’ sadly sometimes as a mask for retribution, but we will find it increasingly hard to go beyond judgement and justice, and to reach out for mercy, for forgiveness and for grace.  And so, the great danger is the world will be hot on ‘right’s language and on ‘demands for justice,’ but cold on compassion and love.

Hymns and Songs for 14th Sunday after Trinity:

Traditional:

  1. “When I survey the Wonderous Cross” Songs of Praise version with Lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEp6WKSXYQg
  2. Increasingly well-known and popular version by Chris Tomlin:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qC1IllbwX4w&list=RDqC1IllbwX4w&index=1
  •  “The Kingdom of God is Justice and Joy” – with Lyrics:

Modern:

We have been told by Facebook that unfortunately we are not able to play recorded artists during the actual “Livestream” itself at present, so we are playing certain videos either Before or After as a physical Church.  So that everyone can share in a full experience of the breadth of the worship life of the Church details of this music is given here:

  1. “Cornerstone” by Hillsong: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izrk-erhDdk&feature=youtu.be

The person who sent this in said, “I love the lyrics in this song, “my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness” and later “weak made strong in the saviour’s love”. I’m reminded the world is fallen and full of injustice, but in Jesus we no longer put our faith in the transient things of this world, we have it all already in Jesus.”

  1. “54-46 That’s my number” by Toot Hibbert and the Maytals (Live at Reggae on the River): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhI3iVQfJ1g
  2. Toots was himself wrongly put in Prison (54-46 was his number) and the song is a protest about injustice.  Toots is regarded as the founder of Reggae (a distinctive worldwide phenomenon) and he passed away this week.
  1. “Thank you, Lord” by Bob Marley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehmAiVSuC9o
  2. In celebration of the fusion between faith and Reggae music
  1. “The Blessing” – version of the epic song of Lockdown by the Christian Reggae Band Christafari – released 4 days ago:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcXJ1b3O8uA
  1. “Revelation Song” – by Christafari: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjDg6H5Ehrs
  2. Probably this Christian Reggae band’s most well-known song

Played after the Livestream:

  1. “Thank you, Lord” by Bob Marley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehmAiVSuC9o
  2. In celebration of the fusion between faith and Reggae music

Book recommends:

“From Menace to Miracle” by Larry Harvey (Chaplain of Horfield Prison) available from Eden and Amazon, and also as an ebook from Amazon Kindle.  A remarkable story.  All proceeds to Southmead Hospital Neurological Dept.