Author: New_Creation

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Service for Sunday 3rd January 2021

Service for Epiphany. Recorded live at St. Andrew’s, Congresbury on Sunday 3rd January.

Bible Readings for Epiphany:

Click the links that take you straight to the text (CTRL and “Left Click”) if that helps:

Isaiah 60:1-6 – Isaiah 60:1-6 NIVUK – The glory of Zion – ‘Arise, shine, – Bible Gateway  – a great passage of encouragement and of God’s future glory fulfilled, in part, by the coming of the Magi.

Ephesians 3:1-12 –  Ephesians 3:1-12 NIVUK – God’s marvellous plan for the – Bible Gateway – a New Testament passage also of encouragement.  Paul glimpses that not only non-Jewish people will come to God (Isaiah 60:1-6), but that the message of Jesus was always intended for the whole world, to go out way beyond the Jewish nation – and this message was, and is, life.

Matt 2:1-12 – Matt 2:1-12 NIVUK – The Magi visit the Messiah – After – Bible Gateway – the great passage of the Bible from which we get the Story of the Magi.

Howard preached on these passages in two short videos from home.  Please see:

Howard Talk (1) by night: (127) Howard’s First Talk – YouTube

Howard Talk (2) by day: (127) Howard’s Second Talk – YouTube

Traditional Carols:

  1. “Hark the Herald, angels sing:”
  1. “God rest, ye merry gentlemen” – Lyrics Version: (127) God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen – Christendom College – YouTube
  2. “Good King Wenceslas:
  1. “See amid the winter’s snow” – cover version by Chet Valley Churches, Norfolk with Lyrics: (127) See, Amid the Winter’s Snow [with lyrics for congregations] – YouTube
  1. “We three Kings” – cover version also by the Chet Valley Churches, Norfolk with Lyrics: (127) We Three Kings of Orient Are [with lyrics for congregations] – YouTube
  • See also the wonderful animated version by Kirk franklin for the film “The Star” for children and young people (details below).
  1. “The first Nowell” – version by Kings College, Cambridge: (127) King’s College Cambridge 2010 #15 The First Nowell – YouTube

Traditional Hymns and Songs:

  1. “As with gladness men of old” – Songs of Praise version with Lyrics: (127) As With Gladness Men Of Old – YouTube
  1. “Brightest and best new sons of the morning” – Songs of Praise version with Lyrics: (127) EPIPHANY-BRIGHTEST AND BEST – YouTube
  1. “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” – Songs of Praise version with Lyrics: (127) CHESTER CATHEDRAL-O WORSHIP THE LORD – YouTube

Contemporary Hymns and Songs:

  1. “Carol of the Epiphany” – by John Bell and the Iona Community (with Lyrics). Challenges where we will find Jesus in our lives: (127) Carol of the Epiphany – YouTube
  1. “Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness” – by Tim Hughes. Lyrics version: (127) Light of the World lyric video – YouTube
  1. “Joy has dawned upon the world” – by Keith and Kirsten Getty. Cover by Boyce Seminary Worship Collective: (127) Joy Has Dawned – Boyce Worship Collective – YouTube

Children and Young People:

  1. “We three Kings” a version by Kirk Franklin as part of the film “The Star” – great animation fun: (127) Lyric Video – “We Three Kings” by Kirk Franklin | THE STAR – YouTube

Modern:

  1. “Song of the Magi” by Anais Mitchell – contrasts the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem two thousand years ago and then also if they visited today:
  1. “The Spirit and the Bride say come” by “One for Israel” – an incredible group of young people, Arab and Israeli, who have chosen to live, worship and learn togetehr by forming a new community “Israel College of the Bible:” (127) Jewish & Arab Teen from Israel in Hebrew, Arabic & English Worship – YouTube
  1. “This Train” version by Ruby Turner and Jools Holland (part of the 2010 “New Year’s Eve” celebrations – video visual quality has been massively improved since then). Great gospel song about the energy and drive of taking the Message of Jesus out: (127) Ruby Turner – This train – YouTube

Videos/DVD:

  1. “The Chosen” – Episode “The Shepherds” is the Christmas Special that started this worldwide phenomenon. “The Chosen” can be obtained for free, either via YouTube (simply type in “The Chosen” or via an App, which can be downloaded to your Smartphone or Tablet.

Its all very exciting.  Details of how to find “The Shepherds” on YouTube: (127) The Chosen: The Shepherd (Pilot Episode) – YouTube

Films and DVDs for Children and Young People:

  1. “The Star” – a wonderful; animated film which is like a fusion between the Nativity Story and character and humour of the film “Shrek.” The greatest story told from the point of view of the Donkey.  Great fun.  Available from Amazon (DVD) and to rent from Amazon Prime.
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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