Tag: Themes in the Gospel of John

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Service for Sunday 20th September the 15th Sunday of Trinity

Hymns, Songs, Readings and other links for 15th Sunday of Trinity –

11th Sunday of Re-opening – A New Church for a New Society:

“Themes in John’s Gospel.”

  1. Justice – Part B (John 16:1-15)

Sunday 20th Sept 2020

Bible Readings:

Key Bible Readings:

John 16:1-15:  If you would like to look up the whole reading for yourself – simply click the link: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+16%3A1-15&version=NIVUK

Set Readings for today:

Jonah 3:10 – 4:11 – Jonah was sent to Nineveh to pronounce God’s judgement on the great city.  But they repented when they heard the message.  Rather than be delighted Jonah is grumpy because God has shown mercy beyond judgement. How do we respond to God’s graciousness both towards calling us to forgive others and to allowing ourselves to be forgiven.  Goes to the heart of the Lord’s Prayer.

Philippians 1:21-end – Paul speaks to his fellow brothers and sister in the Church in Philippi with such compassion but also such certainty of his destiny to the point where he would rather be with Christ through death than to remain in this world.  Out of this closeness of relationship though Paul then speaks of the need for the Church to stand shoulder to shoulder as one worshipping and following the Lord Jesus. 

Matthew 20:1-16 – Jesus speaks both into the human condition but also into the specific situation of many of those from Jewish descent.  For the Jewish community had been faithful to following in the footsteps of Abraham, their spiritual father figure and to the keeping of the Mosaic Law for thousands of years.  But here is Jesus saying, those who have come to faith most recently, and more than that, those who have been rejected by society and thrown of the rubbish heap, they in their thankfulness and humility, those who could not believe they would possibly be invited to the party and treated as an equal, these are those who will lead the parade into the Kingdom.  For it is gratitude, generosity, and humility, not piety, works, and badges that are God’s currency of what aligns a person’s heart with His own.

Hymns and Songs for 15th Sunday after Trinity:

Traditional:

  1. “Jesus Christ is waiting ” by John Bell (Iona Community) with Lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CSzEviUc_o

Children’s Song:

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. “Blowing in the Wind” by Bob Dylan. One of the greatest protest songs. With Lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G58XWF6B3AA
  1. “Inner City Blues” by Rodriguez. One of the best protest singers to come out of the US.  His story is quite remarkable (see film recommends).  A story of God’s justice at work.  He is one of his early videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXAaLXWY6RM&list=PLvrWACVuHe6rImJAkWvF03xoGjwZkfYYo&index=9  
  1. “Justica” by The Porter’s Gate.  Created during Lockdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzEB3NKsNv0&feature=youtu.be
  1. “Justice will roll down” by Sandra McCracken with Lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhkXpaMrNFk&feature=youtu.be

Played during Communion:

  1. “Romance” – by Shostakovich, from “The Gadfly” played by Laura Heathcote.
  2. You can find a YouTube version of this by clicking the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDW4VJGKLAQ

Played after the Livestream:

  1. “This is Amazing Grace” version by Christopher Duffley of Northland Church.  Christopher has Autism and was born blind due to drug addiction from his mother at birth.  His story and the story of his faith are incredible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXYTHbS3-RU
  2. See his first video at age ten, “Open the eyes on my heart, Lord,” which we have played before.  It’s innocence and simplicity are truly humbling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXYTHbS3-RU&list=RD-F_W_zl61bI&index=4

Videos:

  1. “Justice” – Word Study by the Bible Project:

Films:

“Searching for Sugarman” the story of Sixto Rodriguez.  This is the story of a singer songwriter, living in the depths of poverty, passed over by his own, only to be discovered and heralded six thousand miles away without him even knowing it for twenty years.  Until one day.  Rodriguez has been compared as a lyricist to the like of Bob Dylan, and in a foreign land, he was bigger than the Beattles.  Great watch (especially if you’re a music buff or like a story of injustice with a happy ending).  Available from Amazon or to rent on Amazon Prime.

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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.