The 7th Sunday of Easter – Aldersgate Sunday
Sunday in (lockdown) we should have been sharing worship together as a section and celebrating Aldersgate Sunday, as we remember and give thanks for the moment of transformation and realisation for John Wesley that God truly loved him, and he felt his heart “strangely warmed”. For the traditionalists among us, we will be sharing in some uplifting Wesley hymns.
As Methodists, we were “born in song”, and so the Psalm for today seems particularly apt.
Psalm 68: 4
Praise and Thanksgiving
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds— his name is the Lord— be exultant before him.
Blessed be God!
Hymn – O for a thousand tongues to sing O For a thousand tongues to sing
1 O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace!
2 My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim, to spread through all the earth abroad the honours of your name.
3 Jesus — the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease; 'tis music in the sinner's ears, 'tis life, and health, and peace.
4 He breaks the power of cancelled sin, he sets the prisoner free; his blood can make the foulest clean, his blood availed for me.
5 He speaks; and, listening to his voice, new life the dead receive; the mournful, broken hearts rejoice; the humble poor believe.
6 See all your sins on Jesus laid: the Lamb of God was slain; his soul was once an offering made that all may heaven gain.
7 In Christ, our Head, you then shall know, shall feel, your sins forgiven, anticipate your heaven below, and own that love is heaven.
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
Prayer
God of majesty and might, as we meet on this Sunday following Ascension Day, we reflect upon your glory revealed through your Son, Jesus, the Christ. Your glory continues to shine today throughout creation – in the wonder of land and seas, in the creatures you have made, and the seasons which regulate time and shape our lives. Your glory shines through who you are and through what you do.
Lord of all glory, we come before you, seeking your wisdom, your love, your strength and your compassion, that we may glorify you in all that we do. Show us how to live, that our lives might shine with your glory, and those we meet might come to know you, and know that you are at work in the world. Amen
Forgive us Lord, when our actions do not glorify you. When we are not loving, but think only of
ourselves; when our words bring hurt that we do not even notice; when we find no time for you or for others; when we fail to see you and do not reveal your glory.
Lord, forgive us and renew us, and let your glory be shown in and through us. Amen
Readings
Last Thursday was Ascension Day, when we remembered Jesus leaving the apostles, and being taken up into heaven, but promising to send the Holy Spirit to them.
Acts 1: 6-11
The Ascension of Jesus
6 So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?’ 7He replied, ‘It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’ 9When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.10While he was going and they were gazing up towards heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up towards heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’
John 17: 1-11
Jesus Prays for His Disciples
17After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.
6 ‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. 11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
Hymn – A charge to keep I have A Charge to keep I have
1 A charge to keep I have: a God to glorify; a never-dying soul to save, and fit it for the sky;
2 To serve the present age, my calling to fulfil; O may it all my powers engage to do my Master's will!
3 Arm me with jealous care, as in your sight to live; and O your servant, Lord, prepare a strict account to give!
4 Help me to watch and pray, and on yourself rely, so shall I not my trust betray, nor love within me die.
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
Reflection
How does it feel to say goodbye?
It is perhaps different when saying goodbye at say the end of a job, knowing you will probably never see these people again, and saying farewell to your family when you go on holiday knowing that you will see them again soon.
I remember my Dad was made redundant just a year before he was due to retire. I don’t think he ever really got over the effect it had, as he was denied the chance to say goodbye to those he had worked with for many years in the way he had expected. One of the hardest effects of the current coronavirus pandemic being expressed
by many people, is losing a loved-one without being able to say goodbye in the way they needed to. Care staff are doing their absolute best in these circumstances, but that just isn’t the same. And the traditional saying goodbye at a funeral now feels somewhat sterile, in that time is limited and mourners are restricted in number.
Bereavement can be experienced in many ways. When associated with death it involves not only missing the physical presence of someone, but extends to changes to our daily routines and our plans for the future which will now not happen. Other significant changes in our lives can also result in similar feelings of bereavement as we grieve for the plans which will not now be fulfilled.
The apostles were probably in a similar state of bereavement, feeling disorientated and perhaps abandoned by Jesus. He was their leader. He held them together and gave them a purpose and sense of direction. Life has now changed for them in the most dramatic of ways, and they are left stunned, and not knowing quite what to do next. But appearing before them are two men dressed in white, assuring them that Jesus will return. But when and how, and what were they to do in the meantime?
For the early Christians, the return of Jesus was something they were expecting in the near future, certainly within their lifetime. It was more farewell than goodbye. 2000 years later, as we still await the promised return of Jesus, have we given up on “farewell” and turned it into “goodbye”? Do we still expect Jesus to return, or have we resigned ourselves to it not being within our lifetime either? And most importantly, what are we going to do in the meantime?
During this pandemic, there is a danger that we sit back, waiting for things to return to normal. But we have not entered into some period of suspended animation. We are still living and life goes on, albeit very differently to what we have known before. All our values and beliefs remain. There is a growing realisation in society that going back may no longer be a possibility, and instead we need to work out what a new going forwards looks like. We, like the apostles, are in danger of standing still, looking up into the sky, feeling bereaved about what we have lost, rather than being thankful for what has gone before, and welcoming the Holy Spirit to guide us into what is to come. It may well be difficult when we can’t meet, or know when we can, but that shouldn’t stop us from praying for new ideas, and making new plans. We must get on with the mission that Jesus has left for us, looking at the world, not gazing up into the sky. Ascension Day reminds us of the power and glory of God, who is able to do more than we can possibly imagine - that hasn’t changed. It is through God’s power and glory that we can embrace the changes that we face today, knowing that we do not face them alone, however unprepared we might feel. We may be changed by the experience, and that might be a good thing.
Often we say prayers for those who are leaving, but we must also remember to pray for those who are left behind. Jesus is the one who is leaving, (in a strictly physical way) but he uses this opportunity to pray for the apostles, that they might know the truth of his words, for protection as they seek out and respond to God’s mission, and that they might be one. It is a prayer for protection and unity in the face of difficult times ahead.
We too should be praying for one another as we seek God’s mission for us now. Not that the storm will pass if we hide from it so that things can go back to normal, but that we might be affirmed in our faith, and empowered in our discipleship, to find new ways of being God’s people in the world. Now is not the time to stand still, busy looking up, but to move on, inspired by the affirmation that all Jesus spoke is true and is being fulfilled in front of our very eyes.
At his Ascension, Jesus is reunited in God’s presence now that his work is done. The apostles were able to carry on this new phase of his work, empowered to spread the gospel by the Holy Spirit. We too await the warming of our hearts by the fire of the Spirit at Pentecost next Sunday.
What do you think Jesus’ prayer might be for us at this present time? And what should our prayer be for each other?
Intercessions & Lords Prayer
Loving God, we bring our prayers today for those who are uncertain of what the future holds in store, and who feel paralysed in response. For those anxious about coronavirus, their jobs and the health of their loved ones.
We thank you for all who are showing courage in the face of danger, and leadership in the face of uncertainty. Those who have been able to answer your call to serve, whether in response to your word, or ignorant of it.
We pray for our families and friends, and for all those in need or who are anxious at this present time.
We pray for the churches in our Circuit, this week for Weston Methodist Church, and their minister, Jan.
Come to us, God of glory. Hear us as we pray for each other, heal us and sustain us in our faith, and shine through and into our lives. Unite us in your glory, that you might be more clearly seen in your world. Amen
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Imagine my joy when my favourite hymn, And Can it Be, was added to our choir repertoire last year. So imagine my disappointment that it wasn’t being sung to the “proper” tune, but instead to an arrangement by American composer, Dan Forrest. But over the weeks of practice I have come to love this version (although it will never completely replace Sagina in my heart). The YouTube link takes us to the Dan Forrest version, which is beautiful.
Hymn – And can it be that I should gain And can it be that I should gain
1 And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Saviour's blood? Died he for me, who caused his pain? For me, who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2 'Tis mystery all: the Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? In vain the first-born seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, let angel minds enquire no more.
3 He left his Father's throne above — so free, so infinite his grace — emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race. 'Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me!
4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature's night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray — I woke, the dungeon flamed with light, my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
5 No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine! Alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ, my own.
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)
Blessing
Go into the world to show God’s glory, and may you always know God’s blessing and peace.
And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you, now and forever more.
Rev. Martin Slocombe
CCLI Licence 3548