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Service for Remembrance Sunday

Hymns, Songs, Readings and other links for Remembrance Day –

Sunday 8th Nov 2020

Bible Readings:

Key Bible Reading:

Isaiah 40:28-31: “They will soar on wings like eagles” – If you would like to look up the reading for yourself – simply click the link:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40%3A28-31&version=NIVUK

Set Readings for today (Remembrance Sunday – 3rd before Advent):

Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 – The author speaks about the value and availability of Wisdom but one must look to her and seek her.  In the Old Testament is personified in other books such as the Book of Proverbs. In Christian understanding Jesus becomes the face of Wisdom, taking her qualities into himself.  Therefore as we read this passage one could say the same of Jesus as of Wisdom, He is making Himself available, to seek Him is to find not only perfect understanding but love itself.   

1Thessalonians 4:13-end – There is a lot that could be said about this passage.  At one level it can seem somewhat strange to us, what with images of being “caught up in the air.”  It starts off with the great hope – that because God raised Jesus from the dead, then God will raise all the dead including our loved ones.  But this is where the confusion perhaps kicks in.  Paul is not talking about life after death here, in a place we call “heaven.”  As Tom Wright, the New Testament historian and author has stipulated, Paul, and indeed much of the New Testament, talks mainly about “what happens after, what happens to us when we die.”  In other words, to the Bible the emphasis is on a time “after heaven,” what we would perhaps otherwise call “the Second Coming” as detailed in the Book of Revelation Ch 22.  In this understanding, as here in Paul, we die, we go to be with God and Jesus in heaven.  But then will come a day when heaven will come to earth and all things will be made new in Christ, beginning with raising those who are physically dead in Christ to be reborn in Christ on earth, wedding their spiritual bodies in heaven with new ‘resurrected’ physical bodies to live for ever.  And this also includes those, says Paul, who are alive when this time comes – hence the reference to being caught up, and ‘transformed’/resurrected themselves in the air.  This may all sound hugely confusing, but it is what the Bible consistently claims.  What will it look like? How will it work out?  The Bible doesn’t give us a blueprint but its key and important point is that “Love wins,” not just in heaven, “but on earth.”  And everything that points to that is part of what Jesus calls “the Kingdom.”     

Matthew 25:1-13 – Matthew continues the talk about the “Kingdom of heaven.”  Not so much, about what happens when you die, but more about all those moments we all experience each and everyday when we can see the opportunity to love, to forgive, to be kind and we either see them and take them, or we can miss them and complain bitterly that we were away getting oil to get ready to see those moments in the future.  Jesus those who are about love now.  To love, is to love Him.

Hymns and Songs for Remembrance Sunday:

Traditional:

  1. “O God our help in ages past” –Songs of Praise version for Remembrance with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjdmLstpNGE
  • “O Valiant hearts” – a hymn specific to Remembrance – sung and played here by Gordon Pullin, who used to be organist at Banwell and lead Congresbury Singers, now organist at All Saints, Weston.  Lovely to see his face again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oD5VlacTteE
  • “Guide me O Thou great (Redeemer) Jehovah” (also known as Cwm Rhondda) – lovely version sung by a Welsh Male Voice Choir at the Hospital in Rhondda for “Dementia Week” in 2019.  In my view, how it is meant to be sung, with passion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7iX5WhJadk
  • “All people that on earth do dwell” – Songs of Praise version from the 100th Anniversary at the Royal Albert Hall with combined choirs, which is sort of apt given the message of the hymn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC5FfEavPM4
  1. “National Anthem” – from St Paul’s Cathedral – Diamond Jubilee Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3dR7u7TPNo

Children and Young People:

  1. “What does a poppy mean?” – wonderful video explaining how a young person approaches Remembrance to share with children and adults everywhere: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ESRBMk36E&feature=youtu.be

Modern:

  1. “You are my Vision”” by Rend Collective – speaking of a future vision with God at the centre.  Based on the tradition Irish hymn “Be Thou my vision” that has stood the test of time and is as popular today as it has always been (Live Version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQNczm45GyY
  1. “The Call” (No need to say Goodbye) – by the Poppy Girls – at the Royal Festival of Remembrance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6vxn1IJ0Uo&feature=youtu.be

Videos:

  1. “80th Anniversary of Battle of Britain” – Flypast of Spitfires and Hurricane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMhiJTob4w8
  1. “Pilot reunited with his Spitfire” – story of a great reunion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhxFoH4JQ7w
  1. “Story of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior” – helpful to understand its significance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN06NctDdTA
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Service for All Saints’ Day

Recorded on All Saints’ Day, Sunday 1st November at St. Andrew’s, Congresbury.

This week also looks at the next theme of Beauty in the Gospel of John.

Hymns, Songs, Readings and other links for All Saints Day –

17th Sunday of Re-opening – A New Church for a New Society:

“Themes in John’s Gospel.”

  • Beauty – Part A&B: Discovering the beauty that lasts

(John 13:1-17 – Jesus washes the Disciples’ feet)

Sunday 1st Nov 2020

Bible Readings:

Key Bible Reading:

John 13:1-17:  If you would like to look up the reading for yourself – simply click the link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+13%3A1-17&version=NIVUK

Set Readings for today (All Saints Day):

Revelation 7:9-end – This is one of John’s great visions of heaven.  At the centre is the Lamb, Jesus, the one who in heaven and on earth is the Saviour, the Messiah, the Redeemer, the Healer not just of humanity but of all creation.  Around Him are those whose robes have been washed white in His blood.  This is perhaps a strange image, how can robes be washed white by red blood?  But if we view these words as pointing to something beyond themselves we discover a great spiritual truth and indeed reality – “that we grow by falling,” that the way to the true greatness of the saints is not that they were incredible women and men who somehow achieved spiritual enlightenment, but that they were simply men and women just like you and I, with many of the same faults and imperfections, but who simply chose a path to allow God to love them and to wash their souls ever more fully with His profound and infinite love.  Beautiful.

1John 3:1-3 – John picks up in his letter so much of what we have just discovered in the reading from the Book of Revelation.  John then simply puts it into his own words pointing us to the secret, or perhaps more importantly, the truth of the spiritual life, “those who draw close to Jesus in love, allow themselves, even unconsciously, to be purified by His love in the process, for such is His good pleasure – even as He is pure.      

Matthew 5:1-12 – Matthew forms the same thoughts this time in Jesus’ vision and manifesto for a new world – a world upside down, or perhaps right side up in terms of today’s values.  Where those who are humble are greatest, those who seek to tread gently discover they inherit much, those who care passionately about others will be rewarded, and those who long to build rather than tear down discover their true identity as children of God.  Given how we as individuals, as the Church, and as humanity so often seem determined to walk in the opposite direction to such ways, we have much yet to learn.

Hymns and Songs for All Saints Sunday:

Traditional:

  1. “Morning has broken” – Cat Stevens version with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we-n-Zmglt0

During Communion:

After the Livestream:

  • “Conceirto d’Aranjuez” – From the film, “Brassed Off” – otherwise known as “Concerto d’Orange Juice” – capturing a community’s search for beauty in moments of music in the face of the hard life of the pit (Pete Postlethwaite at his very best): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo8hIc7DpuE&t=2s
  • Rare footage of the original “Grimethorpe Colliery Band” upon whom the film was based playing this piece in a concert with a young man – Joe Wellman in the lead role: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwM4ZpF28CA

Something for Children:

  1. From the Disney film “Mulan” – “Reflection” (about beauty being about who you are not the labels that we hear) with Lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGGXsm0a5s0&feature=youtu.be
  2. Version including Christina Aguilera who sang the original score: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzHR0IErM60&feature=youtu.be

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. “Gold” by Britt Nicole – speaking about God finding the “gold” that is within (good for anyone struggling): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9PjrtcHJPo