IMPORTANT UPDATE on the opening of Church Buildings for Worship and Occasional Offices – FOLLOWING THE GOVERNMENT’S ANNOUNCEMENT FRIDAY 31st JULY –
As from Sunday 8th August we have been advised that all those attending physical Church WILL NEED TO WEAR A FACEMASK OR FACECOVERING while in the Building or socially “Catching Up” afterwards.
This is to help protect others and the wearers themselves and is part of the Government’s strategy to try and minimise the possibility of spreading infection.
Click here to view the service that was recorded live during the first service in St. Andrew’s Church, Congresbury since Lockdown.
Hymns, Songs, Readings and other links for 5th Sunday of Trinity – 1st Sunday of Re-opening – A New Church for a New Society: “Lament, Thanksgiving, and Restoration.”
Bible Readings: Key Bible Reading: Jeremiah ch 8:18 – 9:1 As part of the Talk: Howard wants everyone to share in a chorus to a poem: There is a balm in Gilead To make the wounded whole There’s power enough in heaven To heal the sin-sick soul
Set Readings for today: Isaiah 55:10-13 Romans 8:1-11 Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23
By contrast: The African American Spiritual “There is a Balm in Gilead” was a rallying cry that there was a hope, even a hope against all odds – and that was, and is, Jesus. Two versions: The deep soulful voice of Paul Robeson from 1958 in Carnegie Hall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okl2XbTM7xM And, from 1987 – Nina Simone’s more upbeat version, recorded at Vine Street Studios: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3KF3zUFDzI
8. I’ve fallen in love with this song – Kirk Franklin at his best, and so appropriate for today, “Love Theory” (so no apology for playing it again): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aD8OK07iIY
Videos: 9. What does the “Balm of Gilead” look like? This is quite a remarkable video – has to be seen and heard to be believed -brought me to tears, tears of joy. Not only a “MUST SEE” but also a prayer for us all. Good on Christopher Duffley: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-F_W_zl61bI
Download the latest edition of the New Creation Pew News here. It is in a different format just for this week due to the amount of information required to explain the re-opening of churches for services.
Click here to view the service streamed live at 10.30am on Sunday 5th July
Hymns, Songs, Readings and other
links for 4th Sunday of Trinity –
“A New Church for a New Age (Part 4):
The work of the Spirit to inspire and
provide a ‘Blueprint’ for the Church in Mark ch1 – part of the focus for “40
Days on the Life and work of the Spirit” – by Jack Levison
Bible Readings:
Key Bible
Reading:
Mark ch1: 1 – 45 – Mark is unique in beginning his Gospel account of Jesus from the point of Jesus’ baptism rather than from the point of Jesus’ birth. In doing so, Mark is trying to tell us something, something about the sort of person Jesus is and also the people we are called to be, to offer love and compassion for a broken world and to do so through the guidance and sustenance of the Holy Spirit. We are going to explore this further in our service today. (See also the Bible text itself and notes below for download with highlighted passages)
The following are the two parts of
Jesus’ great commission – King and Servant, taken from the words
God spoke over Him at His baptism in the
river Jordan, “You are my Son, who I love, in you I am well pleased.” (Mark
ch1:11).
The first part of this famous saying
comes from,
Psalm 2 – from which we get the lines, “You are my
son [my daughter], who I love” (Psalm 2:7) and which points us to the anointing
and the responsibility of a monarch, a King or a Queen for his/her people.
And the second part of the saying
comes from,
Isaiah chs 42-53 – where Isaiah reveals a strange but hugely
significant character known as “The Servant,” or as Isaiah 53 records “the
Suffering Servant.” From Isaiah 42:1 we get the lines, “with you I am well
pleased” but maybe read especially Isaiah ch53.
It is both unique and incredibly insightful and prophetic.
Set
Readings for today:
Zachariah 9:9-12
– this passage from Zachariah is the famous prophecy that “when the King comes,
he will come riding on a donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey.” Words, of course, Jesus fulfilled when He
rode into Jerusalem hundreds of years later.
Romans 7:15-25
– Paul wrestles with one of the great problems we can have as human beings, let
alone as Christians, in that why is it we can know what is good for us, we can
know what is the ‘right’ thing to do, yet we choose to do different, sometimes
even the opposite. Paul wrestles with
himself and his inner conscience in and through this passage – isn’t great
therefore to discover we’re not alone? We too can struggle to live out our
internal desire to follow Christ even when it is tough and full of
self-doubt.
Matthew 11:16-19,
25-end – Jesus describes to His audience how fickle people can be – some
complaining about John the Baptist and his ministry, others criticising and
contrasting him for “not being more like John the Baptist,” almost the day
after. And yet, in amongst our blindness,
hardness of heart, and our easy judgementalism, Jesus speaks out these words,
“Come to me, all you that are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I shall give
them rest.”
Jesus lifts
people out of the situations they are in, even if they are of their own making,
and seeks to set them out on the road in the sure and certain knowledge they
are a ‘forgiven people.’
Against all
odds, Jesus chooses this moment to reveal His true identity to the world and
the enormity of what these words would truly cost Him.
Hymns and
Songs for 4th Sunday after Trinity:
Traditional:
TRY AND
LISTEN TO THIS – the well-known classic, that captures so well King and Servant
from Graham Kendrick “From heaven you came, helpless babe”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rh4xEvMVQQ
See also a live
version by Graham Kendrick himself at a “Songs of Praise” concert from the
ruins of Glastonbury Abbey (1996):
Graham Kendrick
talking himself about what inspired him to write this song – fascinating insight
into the work of the Spirit in and through one of this country’s most popular
singer/songwriters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuCNzWvmycE
“We are marching in the light of God”
(Siyahamba) – here is a very colourful medley version. Hard for anyone not to smile and even to
start tapping or dancing to the beat. We
all need to have our spirits lifted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi-zd2k8wgQ
Thank you again to
Liz Chappell and her grandsons, Hugh and Toby who have kindly recorded their
version of John Stainer “I saw the Lord” (based on Isaiah 6) – https://youtu.be/P0fMtJl3uqU
Modern Music:
The calling and life story of Taya Smith – one of the lead
singers and worship leaders of “Hillsong” (an international if not a worldwide
worship phenomenon) – her remarkable story of humble inspiration and servant
ministry –- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfgW9gUyiRs
Thinking of the role of Kingship – probably
the closest we know to such a spectacle is the Coronation. In a rare interview the Queen revealed
something of what it was like to be her on such a great occasion:
An American news
piece which talks to the English commentator who interviewed the Queen and
describes her qualities (recorded in 2018 when Harry and Megan were based in
the UK): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX8S_Y3ZiZM
And my personal
favourite, which captures the Queens spirit of both servanthood and fun was the
epic arrival and opening the Queen gave to the Olympics in 2012. Interestingly, the helicopter used on this
memorable occasion was flown by Peter Hall of Iwood Manor in Congresbury. Enjoy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AS-dCdYZbo
Isaiah
ch53 – the “Suffering Servant” – Here are two separate interviews given by
Jewish people for an organisation called “One for Israel,” and each explains
how Isaiah ch53 (the Suffering Servant) is central to them and to their story
as Jewish people who became believers in Yeshua (Jesus). Amazing and humbling testimonies:
Last
week, we looked at the rich story that lies behind the image of Hope “the Tree
of Jesse” offers us in Isaiah ch11 and 12.
This week, we are going to explore how Mark, in his opening chapter
about the life and ministry of Jesus, Mark ch1, gives us both inspiration and a
bit of a ‘blueprint’ as to what some of the key qualities a Church could include
as we emerge from Lockdown. This follows
from the fact that two of our readings this week in our “Daily Blog,” looking
at the life and work of the Holy Spirit, have also come from Mark ch1.
PLUS
An Opportunity to “Share an AGAPE CELEBRATION
together” as part of our Livestream Service.
All you will need is:
Some Bread – this can be an ordinary
bread from around the house, or you may wish to make some; maybe some pitta
bread, a bread roll, something gluten free? – This can be a great activity to
do with others.
Some grapes or fruit of some kind – which
can be for you ‘the Fruit of the Earth,’ whatever you have to hand.
And a glass of water or whatever is your
favourite drink.
Look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.
And afterwards, join us for the
‘Virtual’ Coffee Morning and catch up. Afterwards, why not join us for the next of
our ‘virtual’ Coffee and catch up? See
the “New Creation Facebook Page” for details of how to join.
Following the announcement last week that “Places of
Worship” could open for Public Worship as from the 4th July, this
week Guidelines and further advice has been forthcoming from both the national
Church and from the Bath and Wells Diocese.
We are looking at how we can implement these Guidelines in
our two Church Buildings and what Risk Assessments etc might look like. From these proposals will emerge and need to
be discussed by the two PCCs. Please
bear with us and we hope to announce news of when Public Worship can begin and
what it will look like just as soon as we can.
Please continue to pray for the whole Church community at
this time. Thank you.
We are happy to report that from today, our churches will be open during the day for private prayer. Our hope is that this brings tangible hope not only to the Christian community, but also to the wider villages as it has been so hard for the doors to be shut as they have been for so long. We kindly ask that those visiting the churches respect the guidelines on social distancing and the safety protocols that have been put in place for the well-being of us all.
Following the announcement by the Prime Minister that “Places
of Worship” will be open for Private Prayer as from Monday 15th
June, we have received various guidance and advice both from the national
Church and the local Church in Bath and Wells.
After a Joint virtual meeting with the Standing Committees
of both our Churches on Friday, we are working through things in the hope of
being able to open the two Church buildings for personal individual Private
Prayer as from Sunday 21st June.
For many, being able to drop into the Church Building and light a candle,
have a moment of calm and prayer, and feel the comfort of old familiar
surroundings will be important in our journey of realising hope during these
times.
Please bear with us, we are trying to do all that we can to
make this possible but as you can appreciate there is lots of paperwork and
practical things we are needing to sort out in order to make things as safe as
possible.
We will try and keep people updated during the week on
website and New Creation Facebook Page and there will be a further announcement
in New Creation Pew News next weekend. I
would like to thank the Wardens and the Standing Committee for their wiliness
and hard work to seek to make this possible.
Our hope is that it brings tangible hope to not only the
Christian community but also to the wider community as it has been so hard for
the doors to be shut as they have been for so long.
Matt Thomson
For all other news for this week – download the latest edition of the New Creation Pew News here.
Click here to watch the service that was steamed live for Trinity Sunday, Sunday 7th June.
Hymns, Songs, Readings and other links for Trinity Sunday – “The Life and Hope of God: based on Ezekiel Ch 37 – and in light of events in America”
Bible Readings: Key Bible Reading: Ezekiel Ch 37:1-14 – the Valley of Dry Bones comes to Life. Supporting texts: The story of the Raising of Lazarus – John 11:1-44 Creation of Adam and Eve in Creation – Genesis 2:4-24 God’s great hope of a new heaven in a new earth Revelation Ch 21:1-7, and Ch 22:1-16.
Set Readings for today: Isaiah 40: 12-17, and 27 2Corinthians 13:11-end Matthew 28:16-20
Hymns and Songs for Pentecost Sunday: Today’s music is quite eclectic, in that it is a mixture of both Christian and non-Christian, and from mainly an ethnic background to show we are all one family. Hopefully, something for everyone to sing along to…
Meditation: 6. KEY VIDEO: “The Light” – by a young artist called Luke – part of the “Thy Kingdom Come” series of videos 2020 – creating hope and life out of chaos – goes to the heartbeat of God – be inspired – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIyTDegX9Bs
7. “Britain’s Got Talent“ – Tokio Myers – a wonderfully talented young man who took BGT by storm in 2017 and who takes Classical Music into his soul and then brings it into a whole new way of seeing – remarkable – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIyTDegX9Bs
8. “Be Thou my Vision” – sung as “The Irish Blessing” virtual choir a week ago – first time in Ireland’s history that churches across so many of the divides in Ireland have come together with one voice – truly a “blessing” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TascsWZPj8U
13. “Glory” – Common & John Legend – taken from the film “Selma” in 2015 about Martin Luther King Jr – incredible to think this cry for freedom has had to be held for so long – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZOKvYcx_o
14. “Stand Up” – Cynthia Erivo – taken from the film about Harriet Tubman in 2019 – one Black woman’s struggle to do the right thing and to survive back in the 1840’s – a protest song for freedom – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn19xvfoXvk
Videos: 16. “Pope Francis visits the Street Children of Manila in the Philippines ” – shows just how much work there is to do (PLEASE don’t show to young children) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjv_l7hATpQ&t=204s
17. The famous “I have a dream” speech by Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr – a very poignant reminder of how much and how little has changed – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP4iY1TtS3s
18. And picking up from last week – Pope Francis’ ground breaking talk as part of the “Thy Kingdom Come” Pentecost is now available as a six minute independent talk – very inspiring – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JrCa0jDg24
