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APC 13th June 2021       Somewhere over the Rainbow – (Part 2)
ENTER      Alison to play some music while people are entering.
Welcome, Introduction and Call to Worship                  Michael
Opening Prayer + Lord’s Prayer
Opening Song            To be in your presence      Sharon and Elaine
         
Announcements        Michael
Kid’s Video          Crossroads Kids Club: God’s Story – ‘Recreation’
 
LINK           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nleiAfrp2kY
 
Kid’s Talk           Heaven (Part 2)           Michael
 
Kid’s Colouring                   Tara to help kids
         
Introduction to the Bible Readings              Michael
Lesson 1       Luke 9 v 28-36 and Luke 16 v 19-31               Rob and Jean
 
Lesson 2       Rev 6 v 9-11 and Rev 21 v 1-4                          Emily
Reflection    “Who are we and what will we do in the Present heaven?”
 
Song of Response    The Petersens – ‘All my tears’
LINK          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsQw2UPHdS0
Prayers for others      Michael
Closing Words
 
Benediction      
 
EXIT           Alison to play some music while people are exiting.
 
 
APC 13th June 2021       Somewhere over the Rainbow – (Part 2)
Part 1
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning worship.  Last week we began a new 3 part series entitled “Somewhere over the rainbow.”  Last week we discovered that when we die, our souls or spirits will go to live in the current heaven.  At some point in the future, this heaven will be joined to the new redeemed universe to form the new heavens and earth.  On that day we will be clothed with our new resurrected bodies that will be like Christ’s resurrected body.  Today we are going to ask, “What will we be like and what will we do in the current heaven?” But to begin, as always, we are going to talk to God.  So let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Loving God, we thank you that in all the changing circumstances of our lives you are a God we can depend on – always faithful, always true, always loving, always merciful.  For all your mercies, we praise and thank you.
We thank you that you are a God who is constantly at work – in our day to day lives, in our fellowship, in our church in the world. For all your mercies, we praise and thank you.
Day by day, week by week, year by year, you are working our your purposes.  For all your mercies, we praise and thank you.
Seen or unseen, recognised or unrecognised, appreciated r taken for granted, you are moving through your spirit, striving to build your kingdom and fulfil your will.  For all your mercies, we praise and thank you.
Loving God, you do not work alone, but you have invited us to play a part in your purpose.  In your mercy, teach us to respond in faith.
Help us to keep our side of the bargain – to do our bit as you do yours, to be a people whose lives clearly witness to your love, to live in a way that is consistent with what we believe and honouring to you.  In your mercy, teach us to respond in faith.
Help us to make the most of everything you have given us, to use our gifts, to grasp our opportunities and to offer our time, our money and our talents freely in your service.  In your mercy, teach us to respond in faith.
And help us finally having played our part, to leave all things in your hands, knowing that all else may fail, your love never will. 
Join with me now as we say the words of the Lord’s Prayer together…
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which 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.
 
Introduce the Opening Song
 
I don’t know about you but it’s wonderful at times to be able to just switch everything off and to sit quietly and pray to God.  And yet, it can also be difficult because we can’t see Him.  But the great news is that one day all that will change when we get to heaven and we will be in the Lord’s presence forever.  Then we will see and talk to Him face to face.  Sharon and Elaine are going to remind us of that wonderful hope now as they sing for us the beautiful song, “To be in your presence.”
 
(End Part 1)
 
Opening Song            To be in your presence      Sharon and Elaine
         
Part 2
Intro to the Kid’s Talk / Video
We come now to the part of the service that’s especially for our younger members, so if your kids aren’t beside you why not call them in to watch a very interesting video about God’s plan to transform this universe into something perfect.
(End Part 2)
 
Kid’s Talk Video     Crossroads Kids Club: God’s Story – ‘Recreation’
 
LINK           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nleiAfrp2kY
 
Part 3
Kid’s Talk
Boys and girls, I hope you enjoyed the video.  You know there are so many things about this world and about our lives that are really fantastic and brilliant fun.  But there are also things that are really sad and painful like when we get sick, or someone dies or someone says something to hurt our feelings.  I’m so glad that one day in the future God is going to make this universe perfect again.  It’ll be amazing never having to worry about getting old or getting sick and living in a world where everyone is always nice and kind to each other.  I’m looking forward to that day.  I have trusted in Jesus and asked Him to forgive me and I am following Him so I know that one day I will share this new universe with Him and with all the people that love Jesus.  I hope you love Jesus too and that you are excited about living in a perfect new world at some point in the future.
 
If you’ve got any other questions you’d like to know about God then just let me know and we will try to discuss them some other Sunday mornings.  Don’t forget to ask your mum or dad to download the colouring sheet from our Facebook Page to help you remember today’s lesson.  I hope you have a great week as you enjoy your summer and I hope to see you again soon.  But bye for now.
         
         
Kid’s Colouring      https://coloringhome.com/heaven-coloring-pages
 
Introduction to the Bible Readings              Michael
The bible doesn’t tell us everything about what people are like and what they are currently doing in heaven but there are a few passages that give us some clues.  So sit back as Rob and Jean Hendry and Emily Kearon introduce us to a few of these fascinating scriptures…
(End Part 3)
 
Lesson 1 Luke 9 v 28-36 and Luke 16 v 19-31     Rob and Jean
 
Lesson 2 Rev 6 v 9-11 and Rev 21 v 1-4     Emily
 
 
Part 4
 
Reflection      Somewhere over the rainbow – “Who are we and what
will we do in the Present heaven?”
 
“I didn’t think it would end this way” said Pippin. 
“End? No the journey doesn’t end here.  Death is just another path…one that we all must take.  The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass… and then you see it.”  answered Gandalf. 
“What? Gandalf? See what?” 
“White shores and beyond.  The far green country under a swift sunrise.” 
“Well that isn’t so bad” replied Pippin.
“No, no it isn’t” Gandalf concluded.
 
One day, the journey of life on earth will end for us all.  The amazing hope we have as Christians is that death is not the end but simply the doorway to a wonderful new life in heaven.  The great missionary St Paul certainly considered it vital for people to know what happens when we die.  That’s why he writes to the Christians in Thessalonica saying, “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of people, who have no hope.”
That’s why we are currently in the middle of a 3 week series entitled, “Somewhere over the rainbow.”
Last week we reflected on the fact that scripture teaches that when we die our bodies enter the ground either through burial or cremation.  At the same time our souls or spirits go immediately to the present heaven to be with the Lord.  We also considered that scripture teaches that at some point in the future, when Christ returns, the present heaven will come to earth.  This current earth will then be radically restored and merged with heaven to form a new heaven and a new earth.  At that time, we will be clothed with a brand new resurrection body, modelled on that of Jesus.  This body will enable us to live forever with God and with all of the people who have loved and followed Christ during their lifetimes in this amazing new transformed universe. 
In essence, this reflects a two stage process, although exactly how those who have died will experience the timing of both events is not entirely clear.  So last week was really just an introduction, a setting of the scene.  Today I want to tentatively try and fill in some of the detail.  Although like any good artist I want to be careful not to say too much for fear of spoiling or misrepresenting the picture that we are given in scripture.  Like painting, this is definitely one of those topics when you need to know when to stop and when less is definitely more!
But this morning what I do want to do is try to answer, or at least plant a few seeds in your minds, about some of the questions that I ask myself concerning the place that our loved ones go to immediately when they die. 
The first question that I ask is- “will heaven be a conscious experience and is it a real, physical place?”
As we have already mentioned, when Christians die, their bodies become part of the earth through burial or cremation, but their soul or spirit goes directly to heaven which we will refer to as the present heaven.  That’s why Paul writes to the Corinthians, “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”
The first thing to say about this is that it seems to suggest that heaven is a real place where we will go to, where we will be fully conscious and with God and all his followers.  When we die, we will not experience a long period of unconsciousness until Christ returns.  In other words, as reformed Christians we do not believe in the teaching called ‘Soul Sleep’ that some religious groups advocate.  When Paul uses the term “those who have fallen asleep” he is simply using that term as a euphemism for death that appears to be asleep. 
In the story of the rich man and Lazarus it is very clear that the people are fully conscious of their existence in either heaven or hell.  In the vision that John has of heaven in Revelation the martyrs around the throne are crying out to God to bring justice for the people on the earth.  These heavenly people who have died for their faith are very much conscious and aware not only of what is happening in heaven but also of what is occurring on the earth.
So it seems that heaven will be a conscious experience.  Where exactly heaven is we can’t be sure, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t real or that it isn’t a physical place.  In fact modern science, may give us some clues as to where heaven might be.  That’s because today cutting edge researchers embrace what is called ‘String Theory’.  Scientists at Yale, Princeton, Stanford and other universities all accept that there are at least 10 unobservable dimensions and an infinite number of imperceptible universes.  If this is what current scientists believe, it is not unreasonable for us as Christians to believe in an unseen dimension with angels and places called heaven and hell. 
In the bible we read of incidents when God enables people to actually see in to heaven.  For example, just before the crowd turned on him in Acts 7 we read that Stephen, “Filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.  ‘Look’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God’.”
Wayne Grudem points out that Stephen, (And I quote) “did not see mere symbols of a state of existence.  It was rather that his eyes were opened to see a spiritual dimension of reality which God has hidden from us in this present age, a dimension which, none the less, really does exist in our space/time universe, and within which Jesus now lives in his physical resurrected body, waiting, even now, for a time when he will return to earth.”
If a blind person momentarily gained their sight and described an actual tree that they saw, other blind people, especially if they lived in a world where everyone was blind, might automatically assume that the tree was not real, a mere symbol of a spiritual reality.  But they would be wrong.  Likewise we should not assume that either heaven does not exist, or that everything that is said about it is merely symbolic.  It is fully possible that the present heaven not only exists in our space/time universe but that it is also a physical realm.
In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus describes two physical places, and real people who are able to communicate and who are conscious of family members on earth.  Why would Jesus paint a picture of the afterlife in such concrete detail if this has nothing to teach us about those places?  I don’t believe this is simply a parable about the consequences of choices we make now.
It may be that our idea that heaven is only a ‘spiritual’ realm comes from the teachings of Plato.  Plato believed that the physical earth and the human body were essentially evil and that only heaven and the spirit were good.  The Christian leaders- Philo in the First Century, and Origen in the Second century, were heavily influenced by this philosophy and so they taught that we were better off living in a spiritual and disembodied state.  Perhaps it is this influence that has blinded many people to the truth that the future new heaven and earth is going to be very earthy and physical.  It may be this influence that has caused us to close our minds to the possibility of the present heaven being a physical place with physical things in it.
In the C17th classic “Paradise Lost” John Milton suggests that earth may be a shadow of heaven.  In his book ‘the angel,’ Raphael says to Adam, “What if earth be but the shadow of heaven, and things therein each to the other like, more then on earth is thought?”
Certainly when we read about the present heaven in the book of Revelation there are many references to things that are extremely familiar to us on earth- a heavenly temple filled with the smoke of God’s glory, scrolls, elder’s faces, martyrs in clothes, people waving palm- branches, musical instruments, horses coming in and out and eagles flying overhead.
C.S Lewis certainly seemed to believe that earth is patterned on the present heaven when he writes, “the hills and valleys of heaven will be to those you now experience not as a copy is to an original, nor as a substitute is to the genuine article, but as a flower to the root or the diamond to the coal.”
So in answer to my first question – “will heaven be a conscious experience and is it a real, physical place?”
Yes! I believe heaven is a real and physical place and I believe that we will be fully conscious there.
A second question that comes to mind is- will we be conscious of time in heaven?  Will we be fully aware of the time gap between the present heaven at the moment of death and receiving our new resurrection bodies and living on the new heaven and earth when Christ returns? 
Some Christians believe that when we pass out of this world we pass out of the whole order of time as we know it.  They point to verses such as “With God a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day.” As evidence that heavenly time is different to what we currently experience.  Some suggest that from the point of view of those who die, their next conscious moment will be the Lord’s coming and the resurrection. 
It is unwise for us to be dogmatic concerning what the experience of time will be like beyond death.  It certainly appears that it may not be identical to what we experience now.  On the other hand, the biblical evidence that we do have seems to point to the fact that we will experience time in some way in the present heaven and that there will be an experiential time gap between entering the present heaven at death and being resurrected to live on the new heaven and earth at Christ’s return.  Let me give you a few examples…
In Jesus’ parable, the rich man asks Lazarus to send someone to earth to tell his family that there really is a hell as well as a heaven, before it is too late.  There is still time before it is too late, time that both these men are obviously consciously aware of. 
In the transfiguration of Jesus, Moses and Elijah come from the present heaven and make an after-death appearance on earth.  It stands to reason that they would be aware of this even though technically they had moved between different time zones.  Their conversation with Jesus and the disciples also indicates that they were aware of Jesus’ plans to go to Jerusalem and the timings of these events.
In the passage about the martyrs in Revelation 6, it is clear that these people were very conscious, not only of what was going on around them in heaven, but also of what was happening on earth, particularly in regard to the persecution that other Christians were facing.  In light of this, they cry out to God, “How long before you bring justice on the earth?”  In response, God encourages them to be patient and “to wait a little longer.”  This again clearly shows us that in heaven people will in some way be conscious of time. 
So from my reading of scripture, I don’t believe that the first thing people will be conscious of when they die is Christ’s return, receiving a resurrected body and becoming a part of the new heaven and the new earth.  I believe there will be a conscious time gap of experience between these two places and these two events.  But just how that perception of time correlates to what we currently experience as time, I cannot be certain.
So in answer to my second question- will we be conscious of time in heaven and will we be fully aware of the time gap between the present heaven at the moment of death and receiving our new resurrection bodies and living on the new heaven and earth when Christ returns?  I would say ‘yes’ we will be conscious of time in heaven and of a time gap between entering the present heaven and receiving our full resurrection.  But how exactly we perceive time in the present heaven may not be identical to how we perceive it currently on earth.
A third question that I ask when thinking about what happens to our loved ones when they die is-  will they have some physical form or will they be disembodied in the interim period between death and Christ’s return?
It seems clear that at death, the body enters the ground through burial or cremation and the spirit or soul goes to the present heaven.  At some stage in the future, when Christ returns, we will be clothed in our new resurrection body to live on the new heaven and the new earth.  But what will our existence be like in between? 
For those who believe that our perception of time will be different in heaven, it is not a big issue.  They believe that in terms of perception of time, for those who die the disembodied state will hardly be noticeable because for them Christ’s return and resurrection will seem instantaneous, even though for us on earth it has taken many years. 
But for those of us, who like myself believe that the intermediate phase in the present heaven will involve conscious perception of time, the idea of disembodiment seems strange.
Now, before I go any further, let me say that according to the teaching of the Westminster Confession, the intermediate phase is stated as being disembodied, however long that lasts.  What exactly disembodiment means is not explained.
However, when we look at the passages of scripture we have just considered there are natural observations which give rise to questions about this traditional view or what it might mean to be disembodied.  For example, in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, Lazarus is said to have fingers and the rich man a tongue that could feel hot and cold.  They recognized Abraham and were consciously able to hold a conversation.
At the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah were clearly recognizable to the disciples, so either God gave them an intermediate body while they were on earth and then removed it when they went back to heaven, or they had some form of heavenly body which was not their full resurrection body, yet in some way was more than just spirit. 
In the passage in Rev 6 about the heavenly martyrs, we are told that they prayed to God, called out and wore white robes!  This seems to suggest much more than just some wispy spiritual existence.  In Rev 7 we read of elders with faces, of martyrs in clothes and people waving palm leaves.  The word translated as ‘souls’ for the martyrs in heaven actually means ‘the whole person’ and not just spirit.  In Rev 10 we read that John had some sort of body when he visited heaven, so that he could hold things, eat and taste.  And at the close of 2 Corinthians Paul describes his own experience of being caught up into what he describes as the third heaven.  He says that when that happened, he wasn’t sure if he was in the body or out of the body!  This doesn’t prove that in heaven we could have some form that is different from our final resurrection body, but Paul certainly doesn’t dismiss the idea.  Then of course we have the examples of Enoch and Elisha who went straight to heaven without dying.  Are we to assume that they left their bodies behind mid- journey or were they given their resurrection bodies before everyone else?  Certainly, there is at least one person currently in heaven with a full resurrection body, and that is our Lord Jesus.
So where does that leave us in answer to my third question - will we have some physical form or will they be a disembodied spirit in the interim period between death and Christ’s return?  The truth is I don’t know.  Certainly scripture teaches that we will not receive our full resurrection bodies until Christ returns to set up the new haven and earth. 
It seems possible from the scriptures we have examined that our soul or spirit takes on some sort of form that is in some way physical and recognizable in the interim period.  This may be what it means to be disembodied.  However, I can’t be certain.  What I do know is that we are not truly human without a body and a spirit.  The good news is that our final destination of the new heaven and earth will be very earthy and physical and that our resurrection bodies while amazingly different will be instantly recognizable and in so many ways similar to what we currently know and experience yet without any of the limitations, mortality and imperfections.
The last question I have about the present heaven is, at least for today, is there any connection between heaven and earth?  When a loved one dies do they hear us when we still talk to them?
It seems clear from both the parable of the rich man and Lazarus and the details about the martyrs in heaven in Rev 6 that the people in heaven are in some way conscious of people and events on earth.  The people in heaven and hell are concerned for their loved ones.  The rich man wanted his loved ones to know what was ahead.  The martyrs in heaven wanted their families and friends to receive justice.  So it seems there is a vital connection between this world and the next!  At the transfiguration it is clear that Moses and Elijah were well informed about Jesus’ plans to go to Jerusalem.  In heaven we are told that Jesus prays for us and it’s clear from the example of the martyrs in Revelation that other people are praying too.
I don’t think this means we should necessarily pray to the saints, because we are advised in scripture that there is one mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus.
Nevertheless, we can be certain that the saints are praying for us.  The fact that they are also aware of what’s going on here on earth gives me encouragement that they may well be able to hear what we are saying.
I once asked a Catholic Priest genuinely and sincerely why they were encouraged to pray to the Saints.  In response he asked me a question, “Do you ever ask a friend to pray for you Michael?”  “Well yes”, I replied.  “What we do is exactly the same,”  he said, “because we believe there is a connection between heaven and earth and we be believe those who have gone ahead of us are not dead but alive!”
To this day, I still don’t have an easy come back to that.  Nor would I discourage anyone who has lost a loved one from talking to them at the side of a grave.  The truth is, in some way the people in heaven are aware of what goes on here and they may well be able to hear what we say.  They certainly still love us and are concerned as much for our welfare as we are for theirs.  It is fantastic to think that they pray for us and that one day, there will be a wonderful reunion.
So in answer to the last question I have about the present heaven - is there any connection between heaven and earth and when a loved one dies do they hear us when we talk to them?   I would say ‘Yes’ there is definitely a connection.  It may be that the signal is all one way but even if that’s the case, it’s great to know that our loved ones can see us, they care for us and are praying for our welfare.
Having said all that, it seems that over the years we have lost the valuable truth contained in these thoughts.  In previous worship sources of the PCI we have prayers for the faithful departed.  I think these are prayers that should be resurrected, for they remind us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on as we walk this Christian journey.  They have shown us the way.  They are praying for us to keep going.  And one day when the race is run, they will be there to embrace us when we cross the finish line!
I hope you are enjoying this series, so I hope you come back to hear the final installment in two week time.  If you missed the first episode then do go online to listen to it on the church Facebook Page or read the script on the Blog on our Website.  My sincere thanks to Dave for editing and uploading our recordings.  Next week we will be celebrating father’s Day and the following week we will consider the question- what will we be like and what we will be doing in our final resurrected existence in the new heaven and the new earth?
Introduction to Song of Response
Last week in church one of our members thanked me for introducing them to the Petersen family who sing Christian songs in a blue grass style.  One of the songs that has blessed them and which fits with our theme of heaven is the song “All my tears”.  So sit back as the Petersen’s remind us that even in death we do not grieve as those who have no hope for in that moment God will door open the door to welcome us into our heavenly joy.
(End Part 4)
 
Song of Response    The Petersens – ‘All my tears’
LINK          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsQw2UPHdS0
 
Part 5
Prayers for others      Michael
Loving God we remember today all who have gone ahead of us in the journey of faith, running the race set before them and holding firm to the end.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those you called at the very beginning – like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- examples of faith who have been an inspiration to generations ever since.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those you called to lead your people through adversity – like Moses, Joshua, Esther – examples of commitment and determination against all the odds.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those you called to speak your word – like Samuel, Elisha and Elijah – examples of wisdom and insight into your will.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those you called to rule your chosen nation- like Saul, David and Solomon- examples of human greatness and human fallibility.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those you called to proclaim judgement and renewal- Isaiah, Deborah, Jeremiah – examples of openness to your word and courage in proclaiming it.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember these and so many more leading up to the coming of Christ, and we remember also your servants who were a part of his ministry or a part of his church.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember John the Baptist, the voice in the wilderness, Mary the other of Jesus, the twelve apostles, his friends and confidantes, the women at the empty tomb, looking in vain for his body and all those countless individuals who were touched by His earthly ministry.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember Peter, the rock of the church, Paul apostle to the Gentiles, Lydia who opened her home for the spread of the gospel and all those who have followed in their footsteps, saints known and unknown near and far, yet each a part of the great company of your people in heaven and on earth.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those we have known, those who have been part of this church or the churches we have grown up in or attended, family members, friends and people who have influenced our lives, who have inspired and encouraged us through their lives.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
We remember those around us, the churches of our town, Christians across Ireland, fellow believers throughout the world.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
And we pray finally for those who will come after us, all who will come to faith, offer their service and live for Christ.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
Loving God, we remember today, all who have gone before us in the journey of faith.  Help us and all who follow to run the race as they did, holding firm to the end.  God of heaven, Grant to them and to us your eternal blessing.
Take a few moments now to remember all the faithful departed and especially those whom we have loved most deeply…
Lord we thank you for the people whom we have loved so much who have died in Christ.  Thank you for their example and all the love they have shown us.  Thank you that they are enjoying heaven now and for all their continued interest in our life and faith.  Thank you that one day soon we will be wonderfully reunited with them. 
All this we pray in the name of Him who has been raised from the dead, has ascended into heaven, who is seated at the right hand of the father and who will come again in glory, Jesus Christ the King, Amen.
 
Closing Words
 
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thank you for logging on.  I hope you found today helpful.
 
The Dublin and Munster Education Fund are now accepting applications from our church members seeking funding for secondary and post-secondary education expenses. Completed applications must be submitted online by 31 August 2021. 
If you are interested you may request an application by sending an email to dmeducationfund@gmail.com
If you would like to book a place at church next Sunday please do text Aleida before Friday evening of this week. 
 
If you would like to help with readings, prayers or music and have somehow escaped my attention please don’t be afraid to say to me.
 
But to close, let me share with a benediction after which I invite you to say the grace together…
 
 
Benediction      
 
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever.  And may the grace of the lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forever more, Amen.
 
EXIT           Alison to play some music while people are exiting.
 
 
 

APC 6th June 2021            Somewhere over the Rainbow – (Part 1)
Part 1
Welcome, Introduction and Call to Worship            Michael
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning worship.  It’s fantastic to be able to join together in church to worship God and we hope that those of you who are listening online will soon be able to join us again as normal.  Last week we thought about the difficult truth that mysteriously, even suffering has a part to play in shaping us into the image of Christ.  Today we are going to begin a 3 week series called “Somewhere over the rainbow” as we unravel some of the mystery of the Christian hope of heaven.  But to begin, as always, we are going to talk to God.  So let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer + Lord’s Prayer
Loving God, we thank you for the world you have given us and all within it that speaks of you.  You have blessed us in so much, and we are glad.
We thank you for all that is beautiful; all that causes us to catch our breath in wonder and points to your hand in creation.  You have blessed us in so much, and we are glad.
We thank you for the gift of love given and received, speaking top us of your own great love for us.  You have blessed us in so much, and we are glad.
We thank you for family life, reminding us of the great family of your people to which we belong.  You have blessed us in so much, and we are glad.
We thank you for our food, our clothes, our homes; all the comforts we enjoy, and the innumerable ways you provide for us.  You have blessed us in so much, and we are glad.
We thank you for this new morning, for the warmth of the sun and the richness of life, giving as foretaste of your gift of eternal life.  You have blessed us in so much, and we are glad.
Loving God, open our eyes to your presence around us, to your love that surrounds us each day, and to your hand that is always at work.  You have blessed us in so much, and we are glad.
Speak to us through both the ordinary and the special things of life, that through them we may know you more fully and serve you more truly.  You have blessed us in so much, and we are glad.
Receive then our praise and thanksgiving, for we offer them to you in the name of Christ.
Join with me now as we say the words of the Lord’s Prayer together…
Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, which 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.
 
 
 
 
Introduce the Opening Song
 
It seems so long since we were privileged to take the RTE service on Palm Sunday.  One of the songs our choir sang that day is a beautiful modern hymn reminding us that our God is Sovereign over all the earth.  So sit back and reminisce as our RTE choir sings the song, “King of Kings, Majesty.”
 
(End Part 1)
 
Opening Song              ‘King of Kings’     RTE Choir
 
Part 2
Announcements
A big congratulations to all those of you who have finished your exams and we want to say a very special congratulations to two more of our young adults who have both completed their degree courses this year and are awaiting results.  Adam Woods has completed his degree in Economics and Derek Crammond has completed his degree in Microbiology. Well done to both of these two young men.  And we wish them every success in their future.  Now we come to the part of the service that’s especially for our younger members, so if your kids aren’t beside you why not call them I to watch a very interesting video on the question “What is heaven and what will it be like?”
(End Part 2)
 
Kid’s Talk Video           PursueGOD Kids “What is heaven?”
 
LINK           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp1vgtPMdpI
 
Part 3
 
Boys and girls, I found that video really helpful and I hope you did too.
You don’t need to worry about going to heaven.  Most people don’t go there until they are very, very old.  But you can also be happy to know that even old people who die and love Jesus will go to be in heaven and that will be good because heaven will be a great place to be.  If you love Jesus, then some day when you are really, really old, you can go to heaven too.
 
If you’ve got any other questions you’d like to know about God then just let me know and we will try to discuss them some other Sunday mornings.  Don’t forget to ask your mum or dad to download the colouring sheet from our Facebook Page to help you remember today’s lesson.  I hope you have a great week as you enjoy your summer and I hope to see you again soon.  But bye for now.
         
Kid’s Colouring      https://coloringhome.com/heaven-coloring-pages
 
Introduction to the Bible Readings
The bible doesn’t tell us everything about heaven but it gives us enough information for us to know that it’s going to be great.  So sit back as Sandra and Lisa read a few scripture passages all of which reveal to us some details about heaven.
(End Part 3)
 
 
 
VIDEO Lesson 1           John 14 v 1-6 and Philippians 1 v 21-24        Sandra
 
John
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
 
Philippians
 “21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”
 
VIDEO Lesson 2            1 Corinthians 15 v 50-58 and Revelation 21 v 1-7 Lisa
1 Corinthians 15
“I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 
 
Revelation 21
21 “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
 
Part 4
Reflection    “Where is heaven and what will it be like?”
I want to begin by introducing you to one of my favourite musicians of all time…There have never been any billboards advertising her, no tabloid controversies over foul lyrics or exposed body parts, and no flashy videos. Instead, there are stories of drivers pulling over to weep after hearing her sing and of businesswomen rushing to fix their mascara before greeting the boss, having heard her voice.  She died in 1996 of cancer aged 33, without a record contract, never having got further in life than temporary jobs and rented flats a bus ride from the house where she grew up.  Her name of course is, Eva Cassidy.  One of her most famous songs is her breath-taking rendition of the tune from the Wizard of Oz, “Somewhere over the rainbow”.  It’s a song that has inspired me to speak to you over the next few Sundays on a topic which has the potential to inspire us for living and that can bring us huge reassurance when we have to say goodbye to those we love.  It is the Christian hope of heaven.  It is tragic that Eva Cassidy’s life ended when it did, robbing her family of the shy and beautiful daughter and sister that they had grown to love so deeply.  It makes me angry that this horrible disease stole her from this world before she had the chance to grace a world stage.  I thank God that we still have some of her music and every time I listen to her singing this song, I wonder about what’s ahead and whether someday I’ll get to meet her in person and listen to her live.  It’s a question that all of us wonder about our loved ones who have died.  Where have they gone to?  Will we see them again?  Is there anywhere over the rainbow or when we die is that it?
 
When we bring these questions to the pages of Holy Scripture we only get a partial answer.  But even those glimpses of what’s ahead, are sufficient to encourage us in our darkest days and to set us free from the fear of death.  A couple of years ago I set out to do a serious study on heaven.  So over several weeks, I immersed myself in Christianity Today’s most recommended Book on the Subject at that time.  It was a book simply entitled ‘Heaven’ and it is written by a man called Randy Alcorn.  Many of the thoughts I want to share with you over the next few weeks have been inspired by this book.
 
The book itself is over 500 pages long so what I want to share with you over the next 3 weeks will only scratch the surface of this amazing subject.  It is my hope that what I share will inspire you to delve deeply into this subject for yourself.  If you are interested in that then please do speak to myself or Philip and we can recommend some excellent resources for you.
 
Today I want to set the scene for what we hope to cover during the next 3 Sundays.  We are all aware that one day we are going to die and our bodies will either be buried in the ground or as is becoming more popular, we will be cremated.  The question is what happens next?  It’s not something we normally think of for many different reasons.  We may have been influenced by other voices who tell us that once you die you die, so we concentrate on squeezing the most out of life in the here and now because that’s all there is!  We may have been the victims of insensitive preaching, so that we have become so afraid of meeting God that we simply bury our heads in the sand about the reality of our mortality.  We may simply think that because we are so young or so fit and healthy, it’s not something we need bother thinking about until closer to the time.  We may just love life and the people around us so much that we just don’t want to have to contemplate the reality that someday we will have to say ‘goodbye’ and let go. 
 
Having studied the subject in detail now, I can tell you that I wish I had made more time to think about heaven and life after death much earlier in my life.  That’s because what I have discovered about what the bible says about heaven has filled me with such surprise and such excitement that I genuinely believe I will never look at life the same again.
 
The first thing that has surprised me is that there will be more than one heaven.  There will be the present heaven and there will be a future heaven on earth at the second coming of Christ when everyone will be resurrected.  Over the next two weeks I want to unpack more of what these places will be like, what we will do in these places and what we and our relationships will be like in these places.  But for today it is probably sufficient to show you from scripture that in some senses there will be two heavens and that the afterlife will be a two stage process.
 
It is clear from scripture that when we die and our bodies go into the ground that our soul or spirit will go to be with Christ in heaven.  So we read Paul in his first letter to the church in Philippi saying that while he is certain that if he dies he will go straight to be with Jesus, it is better for now that he remains on earth for a while so that he can spend more time encouraging them and others in their relationship with Jesus.  He writes,
 
“21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labour for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.”
 
It’s clear then from this statement of Paul along with Jesus’ statement to the thief on the cross when he said, “today you will be with me in paradise” that when we die, while our bodies or ashes go into the ground, our soul or spirit will go to be with Christ in heaven.  This heaven is called the present heaven.  In essence it is an intermediate state.  Where exactly it is we can’t be certain.  It may be in a parallel universe, it may be in our universe, we just don’t know.  But what we can be certain of is that it is a real physical place that exists and even though we cannot see it, it may actually be very near.  It’s only when a blind person’s sight is restored that they can see the beauty of the world we have been describing to them for so many years.  So too we are blind to the realities of heaven, we only hear the stories of what it will be like from the lips of the biblical writers.  But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t real and one day God will open up the door that allows us to enter its realm and we will see and experience it for ourselves.
 
Scripture also teaches us that this present heaven will only be a temporary residence.  In essence it will be an intermediate place where we can be with Christ until he decides to return to earth to set up the New Heaven and the New earth.  It can be of great comfort to know that our loved ones who have died in faith, are alive and safe with God in the present heaven.  This is the message Jesus reassures his disciples with after dropping the bombshell that He will be leaving them and going back to God the Father in heaven.  Listen to how John records these words of Jesus in his gospel,
 
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
New Testament Scholar NT Wright says that the Greek word Jesus uses here for ‘house’ is the word ‘More’ which describes a dwelling that is not permanent.  He describes it as a ‘Wayside Inn’ - somewhere we stop off on a journey.  This again points to the reality that the present heaven is a place that our soul or spirits will go to after death.  It will be a place of safety and security and peace.  A place where God will be and all who love Him.  It is real and physical even though we cannot see it.  We will consider in more detail next week what we will be like and what we will do there.  But for now, all I want you to see is that there is a present heaven somewhere and that it will only be a temporary residence for our soul or spirit when we die.
The second thing that I want you to see today is that scripture teaches us that at some point in the future Christ will come from the present heaven to earth.  He will remove everything that is currently bad about this universe and will restore it to its former glory – the perfect world that God created at the very beginning of times that we read about in the opening chapters of Genesis.  This restoration or ‘redemption’ of the cosmos will be so comprehensive that the universe will effectively become like new.  The present heaven will be merged with this redeemed universe to create the New Heavens and the New Earth.  At the same time, all people will be resurrected which basically means that they will be clothed with a new resurrection body which will be both similar but different to their original earthly body just as Jesus’ own resurrection body was both physical and recognisable and yet in amazing ways different so that he was able to appear and disappear etc. Paul writes about how each of us will receive our resurrection bodies when Christ returns in the 15th Chapter of his letter to the Corinthians.  Listen to how he puts it…,
 
“I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 
 
Our future resurrection bodies will be physical, yet in so many ways they will be superior or even supernatural, in that they will be perfect and no longer subject to sickness or death or decay.  This recreated earth merged with the present heaven will be the place that we will live forever with each other and with God.  Again we will explain more about what this New heaven and New earth and what our relationships will be like in it, next week.  For now, all I want you to see is that it will be real.  It will in many ways be exactly like the earth we currently know and we will be able to enjoy everything that we currently love about life and so much more besides, but in ways where our enjoyment of work, leisure and pursuits are intensified and where we will not be subject to any of the limitations and suffering of this current world such as tiredness or illness.  In effect, this New heaven and New earth will be like a second heaven – although it is really in essence just a merger of the present heaven with the restored universe or cosmos.  Listen to how the apostle John describes it in the vision God gave him while in prison on the isle of Patmos – John writes in Revelation Chapter 21,
 
21 “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
 
Conclusion
 
You know one of the lessons of this past year and half is the reminder that we are all so fragile.  At so many turns we have been reminded that someday we are all going to die.  Like Eva Cassidy none of us know when that will be.  That’s a horrible thought.  There is nothing good or godly about death.  But we can’t escape it, so it’s important that we consider it and are prepared for it when it comes.  The great news of the gospel is that if we believe that Jesus is who He said He was, the Son of God, if we trust that he died to take the punishment for our sins, the wrong things we think and do, if we accept that He has risen from the dead and is alive in heaven, and if we are willing to follow Him in life, then we will not have to be afraid of dying.  For in that instant our spirit or soul will be transported to the present heaven to live in joy and peace until the day when Christ returns.  On that day, we will be transformed and miraculously clothed with a new and perfect resurrection body like that of Jesus Himself.  This earth will also be miraculously reconstructed and merged indissolubly with the present heaven and all that it contains.  We will live forever on this New heaven and Earth.  An existence which will effectively be like living in a perfect world enjoying all the things that we currently enjoy that are right and good and bring us so much satisfaction.  There we will be forever in God’s presence and not in any way affected by anything that is negative.  That will be life as we know it ought to be and that God intends it to be.  It will be amazing, exciting, satisfying, fun and it will last forever.
 
I love this life.  To think that heaven will be so much like what we currently enjoy and not some disembodied state of floating on clouds playing harps gives me great hope and fills me with anticipation.
 
It’s a hope that is certain and a hope that can enable us to enjoy life to the fullest and to face every storm, even death itself knowing that the final chapter will have a happy ending!
I hope this has whet your appetite.  So let me encourage you to come along next week to find out more about exactly what life will be like in the present heaven after death and in the new heaven and earth at some point in the future.
 
Introduction to Song of Response
We are going to respond now to what we’ve been thinking about by listening to one of the most beautiful songs ever written about our heavenly Hope.  Here are Kristyn and Keith Getty singing live, “There is a higher throne.”
 
Song of Response        There is a higher throne        (Youtube)
LINK           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hfUQBgfptM
Part 5
What an amazing hope we have in Christ.  Let’s pray…
 
Prayers for others        Michael
Loving God, as we think today of the hope of heaven, we pause to think also of those who have lost people they love. 
We thank you that you have promised your special blessing to those who mourn, your comfort to those overwhelmed by grief, your joy to those enduring sorrow.
So now e ray for those facing sadness, those weighed down by despair, those who have lost loved ones and who are striving to come to terms with the emptiness and heartbreak they feel.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those among our family and friends who are facing such times, all those in this church and in our world.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving God, grant to those who grieve your special blessing.  May they know that your hand is upon them, your arms encircling them and your heart reaching out to them.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
May all who mourn discover the comfort you have promised, and find strength to face tomorrow, until that time comes when light shall dawn again, and hope be born anew.  Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Take a few moments now to bring your own prayers for yourself and others to God…
  
Closing Words
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thank you for logging on.  I hope you found today helpful.
 
The Dublin and Munster Education Fund are now accepting applications from our church members seeking funding for secondary and post-secondary education expenses. Completed applications must be submitted online by 31 August 2021. 
If you are interested you may request an application by sending an email to dmeducationfund@gmail.com
If you would like to book a place at church next Sunday please do text Aleida before Friday evening of this week. 
 
If you would like to help with readings, prayers or music and have somehow escaped my attention please don’t be afraid to say to me.
 
There will be no midweek online service during the month of June.  Instead I hope to use the time I would normally spend in preparation and recording making pastoral calls now that restrictions are a little more relaxed and now that lots of people including myself have been vaccinated.
 
But to close, let me share with a benediction after which I invite you to say the grace together…
 
Benediction       
 
May the hope of the current heaven, the wonder of the new heaven and earth, the excitement of receiving a new resurrection body and living forever in the new heaven and earth enable us to do everything to say thank you to God for His indescribable gift.
May the grace of the lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forever more, Amen.
 
EXIT            Alison to play some music while people are exiting.
 

30th May 2021   “Shaped by suffering into the likeness of Christ.”
 
Part 1
Welcome, Introduction and Call to Worship            Michael
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning worship.  It’s fantastic to be able to join together in church to worship together and we hope that soon those of you who are listening online will soon be able to join us again as normal.  Last week we thought about how the Holy Spirit helps us to produce spiritual fruit in our lives so that we can reflect the image of God more clearly.  Today we are going to consider the difficult truth that mysteriously, even suffering has a part to play in shaping us into the image of Christ.  But to begin, as always, we are going to talk to God.  So let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer + Lord’s Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you that you are always with us, in the bad times as well as the good, the difficult as well as the easy, the sad as well as the happy.
Lord of all hopefulness, hear our prayer.
We thank you that though we have sometimes been unsure of the way ahead, you have always been there to guide us, though we have felt discouraged, you have offered us fresh inspiration, though we have been in despair, you have given us hope.
Lord of all hopefulness, hear our prayer.
We thank you for the assurance this brings us that your steadfast love never ceases, that your mercies are new every morning, that great is your faithfulness.
Lord of all hopefulness, hear our prayer.
May that conviction give us confidence in the days ahead, so that whatever problems we face, whatever disappointments we experience, whatever sorrows may befall us, we will still find reason to look forward, reason to believe in the future and reason to hope.
Lord of all hopefulness, hear our prayer.
Join with me as we share the words of the Lord’s Prayer together.  And so we pray…
Our Father, which 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.
 
 
Introduce the Opening Song
 
It seems so long since we were privileged to take the RTE service on Palm Sunday.  One of the songs our choir sang that day is a beautiful traditional hymn reminding us that no matter what happens nothing can separate us from the love of God.  So sit back and reminisce as our RTE choir sings the song, “It is well with my soul.”
 
(End Part 1)
 
Opening Song     ‘It is well with my soul’
 
Part 2
Announcements
A big congratulations to all those of you who have finished your exams and we want to say a very special congratulations to Amy Whelton and to Liezel Ravenscroft who have both completed their degree courses this year.  Amy is still waiting on her results but Liezel has qualified as a medical doctor.  Well done to both of these two young women. I’m sure their parents are both very proud and relieved.  Now we come to the part of the service that’s especially for our younger members, so if your kids aren’t beside you why not call them I to watch a very interesting video on the question “Why does God allow bad things to happen?”
(End Part 2)
 
Kid’s Video          Why does God let bad things happen?  (J.John)
 
LINK           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-vp9vpUmFo
 
 
Part 3
 
Boys and girls I found that video really helpful and I hope you did too.
I don’t have all the answers to why every bad thing that happens but I do know that God loves us and that often bad things happen because people make bad choices.  I also know that God wants to comfort and help us when we are hurting and I know that one day in the future we will go to live with God in heaven where there will be no more pain or suffering or bad things.
 
If you’ve got any other questions you’d like to know about God then just let me know and we will try to discuss them some other Sunday mornings.  Don’t forget to ask your mum or dad to download the colouring sheet from our Facebook Page to help you remember today’s lesson.  I hope you have a great week as you enjoy your summer and I hope to see you again soon.  But bye for now.
 
Kid’s Colouring
https://www.printablee.com/post_god-loves-me-printable_316808/
 
Introduction to Bible Reading
 
In our bible reading today St Paul tells us that somehow God works all things even our sufferings to help mould us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ.  It will be read for us now by Emma.
 
(End Part 3)
 
Video of Bible Reading         Romans 8 v 28 – 39              Emma
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
 
Part 4
Introduction to Reflection
Thank you Emma for reading that mysterious but very encouraging passage for us so well.
 
Reflection           “Shaped by Suffering into the likeness of Christ”
Normally, I use two methods for deciding what to preach on.  At times I will use the Christian calendar like Advent or Easter and preach through the readings that are provided in the common lectionary.  At other times, I choose a book of the bible and teach consecutively through several chapters.  But over the last month I’ve taken a more thematic approach.  In particular, I have been reflecting on the whole idea that we are made in the image of God.  Two weeks ago we reflected on what that means and how if we are to find real happiness and contentment in life, it’s best for us to try and see our primary identity in Christ and to know that we are loved by God no matter what.  Last week, we reflected on how the Holy Spirit helps us produce spiritual fruit so that the image of God might be reflected more clearly in our lives.
As I was walking the dog this week, I was thinking about all of you and reflecting on how many of you are finding life really difficult at the moment in so many ways.  There are people in our congregation who are battling with cancer.  There are people who are living with the uncertainty of ongoing tests in hospital.  There are people who are struggling with old age.  There are people who are struggling with all the complexities of being a teenager.  There are young adults feeling that University life is passing them by because of lockdown and worried about important exam results.  There are people who have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses that are not easily treated and that make life so unpredictable.  There are people who are grieving the loss of someone special and people who through no fault of their own have to battle the difficulties of depression.  There are people who have been praying about something for a long time now and it feels as if God is on mute!  This is just the tip of the iceberg.  We are all so wonderfully different, but there’s one thing we all have in common - all of us know what it’s like to suffer.
As I thought about these things, I started asking God- “Lord, what on earth can I say to your people this Sunday that will give them some sort of encouragement in the midst of all that is currently painful and confusing in their lives?”  As I listened, a very well-known passage of scripture came into my mind.  It can be found in Paul’s letter to the Romans Chapter 8 v 28-30.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
As those words rotated in my mind I realised that hidden within these few verses there was another lesson about how the image of God is gradually formed in our lives.  You see, ultimately that is what God’s number one purpose for our lives is.  As much as God loves us, as much as He is for us and not against us, as much as He wants to enjoy our lives, above all things, like a master carpenter God wants to take us and shape us into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ.
That means that God’s primary concern is not whether we are rich or successful, glamourous or popular.  His ultimate goal is to restore the damaged mirror of our lives so that one day we will reflect the image of His Son without any distortion.
How does God do that?  To put it simply, He uses ‘all things’.  That’s what Paul says here in these verses – “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.”
Here Paul is saying that somehow, in every experience of life, God is there for us and wants to enable us to allow everything that happens to us, good and bad, to mold us and shape us to become more like Christ.
Now before we explore this idea a little further, I want to make very clear that what I am not saying is that God is to blame for everything.  When a baby dies in child birth that is not because God wanted it to happen.  When my child is diagnosed with diabetes that is not because God willed it. 
In the game of life, if I can reverently call it that, at any given moment, there are many interacting pieces.  There are lots of people, all of whom have the freedom to make choices for good or bad.  There is the enemy of God, the devil, unseen, but working behind the scenes to spoil all the good that God wants for our lives.  There are all the consequences of what it means to live in a broken world including disease and natural disaster.  There is us and everything we do and say, including the conversations that we have with God.  All of these things have an impact on situations and circumstances.  And then there is God, who of course could step in at any moment and end the game or change the rules, but who more often allows the game to continue so that we can experience much fun and freedom.  It’s not that God is not Sovereign, it’s just that I believe that the way in which He reigns still allows for freedom and choices and the battles between good and evil.
So because life, both in what we can see and in what is unseen, involves so many interacting influences, in any given event of suffering there are no easy answers as to what or why exactly something has happened.  What is certain is that all suffering causes untold pain and distress.  So we have to tread carefully when we attempt to speak about these things.  Often when people are suffering it is best to say nothing and just to listen and be there for them as they journey.
So what I want to say here this morning, I want to say tentatively and hopefully sensitively.  And it’s this – Whatever interactions are going on amidst the game of life which has resulted in something that is currently causing you and your loved ones deep distress, know that God sees and God cares. 
When you look back on the shoreline of suffering and see only one set of footprints in the sand it’s natural to feel that God has abandoned you.  But the truth that we must try and hold on to is that in those moments God has been carrying us!  Whatever you’re going through, however confusing it seems, I want to encourage you this morning to allow God to carry you.  Know that He hears your cries of anguish even when you don’t even know what to say.
But I also want you to realize that through ‘all things,’ if we will trust Him, God can somehow use every experience of life however happy or bitter to somehow shape us into the likeness of Christ. 
I was speaking to someone recently who spent some time in hospital.  It was a very difficult time away from their family and friends.  They were in pain and undergoing many tests.  Their mind was full of uncertainty.  But as they looked around them, as they listened to the cries of the people around them at night in the ward, they began to ask, “Lord what would you like me to do?”  So over a period of a few days they began to move around the ward introducing themselves to people and listening sensitively to the experiences of others.  Since returning home and now living with a chronic condition, they have realized that they now have an empathy with other people in a way that they never had before, the empathy of Christ.  So despite all that is difficult and painful about their experience, in the mystery of God, it has also enabled them to become more like their master.
You know, when silver is being purified it must be held in a hot flame until all the impurities are burned away.  If it is held in the flame for even a fraction too long it will be destroyed.  When a silversmith was asked, “how do you know when to remove the silver from the flame”, she replied, “When I can see my reflection.”
So often, it’s the times in life when we feel the burn, that the character of Jesus will be reflected and formed most brightly in our lives. 
Again, I don’t want to sound trite this morning.  I don’t want to make light of your suffering.  But I do believe what Paul is saying here is that somehow in the mystery of it all, God can enable us to become more like His Son in our attitudes, actions and in our care for our fellow human beings because of the sufferings that we ourselves experience.  If we allow it, as much as we may not be able to explain it, God can shape us through our sufferings to make us more like Jesus.
So let me encourage you this morning not to give up hope, not even to try and understand, but to trust that God knows and cares and has a long-term game plan to make you and your loved ones more like Jesus, even through ‘all things’.  Whatever sorrows and unanswered questions we will take to the grave, it is deeply strengthening to know that ultimately, He has promised that one day He will transform the entire universe and restore it to its former glory.  And on that day He will invite us to share in that future new heaven and earth where there will be no more sickness, suffering, sorrow or death.
God has begun this work in our world and even within us.  He will never walk away from that and will bring what he has started to completion.
So my sincerest prayer for each of us here this morning is that God will help each one of us to allow our sufferings to shape us into the image of His Son.
 
Intro to You-tube Song         Michael
We are going to respond to what we’ve been reflecting on now as we listen to a beautiful song “Blessings” by Laura Story.  So sit back and allow the words of this poem and this song to draw your thoughts and hearts to God…
(End Part 4)
 
You Tube Song             “Blessings”          Laura Story
LINK            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQan9L3yXjc
Part 5
What a beautiful song and what amazing words.  Let’s pray…
 
Prayers for ourselves and others
Loving God, we bring before you the sick and suffering of our world, all those wrestling with illness in body, mind or spirit. 
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those afflicted in body – enduring physical pain, overwhelmed by disabling disease, waiting for an operation or further treatment and fearful of what the future might hold, or living with the knowledge of terminal illness.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those disturbed or troubled in mind – those whose confidence has broken down, those unable to cope with the pressures of daily life, those oppressed by false terrors of the imagination, those facing the dark despair of clinical depression.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those afflicted in spirit – those who feel their lives to be empty, or whose beliefs are threatened or who have lost their faith, or who worship gods of their own making with no power to satisfy, or whose hearts have become bitter and twisted, and their minds dark.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Living God we thank you for all who work to bring help, wholeness and healing to the sick – doctors and nurses, surgeons and medical staff, psychiatrists, counselors, clergy and therapists.  Support and strengthen all who share in the world of healing, all who strive to bring relief, all who minister to others.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Grant them your wisdom and guidance, your care and compassion, your strength and support.  Equip them in all they do and bring wholeness through them.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Finally we pray for your church in the healing ministry you have called it to exercise, an inner healing of body mind and soul which only you can offer.  Grant that your people everywhere may be so filled with your Holy Spirit, and so touched by the grace of Christ, that they may share effectively in the wider work of healing, through their life and witness bringing wholeness to broken people and a broken world.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give thanks for the ceasefire between Israel and Palestine. Pray for those who have been injured, those who are grieving, those who are living in fear due to the recent attacks and unrest. Pray for those trying to bring immediate and long-term peace, justice and a fair society for all in the Holy Land.
Bethlehem Bible College & Nazareth Evangelical College
Pray for staff and students at these colleges, especially for the students sitting exams and those seeking to complete their studies amidst disruption and insecurity.   
Take a moment now to bring your own prayers to God…
All these prayers we offer in the name of Christ who is the great physician, Amen.
 
Closing Words/Announcements
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thank you for coming and for all your encouragement.  I hope you found today helpful.
 
The Dublin and Munster Education Fund are now accepting applications from our church members seeking funding for secondary and post-secondary education expenses. Completed applications must be submitted online by 31 August 2021. 
If you are interested you may request an application by sending an email to dmeducationfund@gmail.com
If you would like to book a place at church next Sunday please do text Aleida before Friday evening of this week. 
 
If you would like to help with readings, prayers or music and have somehow escaped my attention please don’t be afraid to say to me.
 
There will be no midweek online service during the month of June.  Instead I hope to use the time I would normally spend in preparation and recording making pastoral calls now that restrictions are a little more relaxed and now that lots of people including myself have been vaccinated.
 
But to close, let me share with a benediction after which I invite you to say the grace together…
 
Benediction       
 
As you go out from here, whatever suffering you are experiencing may you know that somehow it will not be in vain, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  And
 
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.”

APC 26th May 2021 Pandemic Praise – ‘Sealed with the Spirit’.
 
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Wednesday morning worship.  Today we continue with our series ‘Pandemic Praise’ as we reflect on some of the spiritual blessings that God has given us in Christ.  We discover many of these blessings in the opening part of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
So far we have thought about the amazing truths that we have been chosen, adopted, redeemed and forgiven by God and united to Christ.  Today we are going to be concluding our series as we reflect on the truth that we have been sealed with the Spirit.  But as always, let’s begin by stilling our hearts and talking to God, let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Great and loving God, we greet you this day with praise and wonder.  We greet you as the creator of the ends of the earth, sovereign over space and time, greater than we can ever imagine.
 
Gracious and living Christ, we greet you this day with joy and thanksgiving.  We greet you as Lord, our friend our Saviour.
 
Mysterious and mighty spirit, we greet you this day with awe and worship.  We greet you as our guide and inspiration, our source of strength and comfort, a living inner reality.
 
Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we greet you this day, and we praise you that you are here to greet us and everyone, today and every day, here and everywhere.
Help us to meet with you and grow closer to you through this time of worship.
 
Help us to glimpse your glory, and make it known, through all we say and do, to the glory of your name, Amen.
 
 
Join with me as we say the Lord’s Prayer together…
 
Our Father, which 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.
 
 
Sealed with the Spirit
Will there be enough work for me next month?  Will my Covid test come back clear?  Will I do Ok in my exams?  Will the weather be dry for my son’s wedding next month?  Life is full of insecurities.  I don’t know what you worry about or what makes you feel insecure.  Personally, one of the most insecure periods of my life was when I was at University.  At that time I spent many sleepless nights wrestling over one very important question- ‘How can I be sure that I’m a Christian?’ 
I suspect that at some point in your life you have asked the same question.  Perhaps you are currently doubting your faith and wondering if you really are a Christian.  Perhaps this extended period of being away from church has left you wondering whether you’ll ever get back.  Maybe your prayers about something seem to have remained unanswered for so long you wonder if you can really keep on believing.  If that’s how you’re feeling, then let me assure you I know the serious anxiety this can cause.  But let me also encourage you because my experience has been that the bible is full of wonderful nuggets of truth that can help us to feel more assured in our faith.  We find one of these great reassurances in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  In the opening paragraph, writing from a Roman prison, Paul reflects on the amazing blessings that God has given Him in Christ.  Listen again to what he says,
Ephesians Chapter 1 v 1-14
”Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
Here Paul assures us that in the very moment when we first put our trust in Jesus God did something amazing.  He gave us the gift of His Holy Spirit.  But how do you know if you have the Holy Spirit?  Well, to answer that question we need to turn to a few other passages of scripture.  In his gospel John tells us that when a Jewish religious leader called Nicodemus chatted with Jesus he was advised that if he wanted to see the Kingdom of God He needed to be born again – he needed to receive God’s spirit.  Jesus explained that the Spirit of God was like the wind – you can’t see it, but you can see the effects that it produces like blowing branches on a tree or enabling a seagull to soar in the sky.  In the same way, we can’t see the Spirit inside us but we can see the effects His presence has on our lives.
In John’s letters he explains what some of these effects are.  Writing to a group of Christians who were becoming unsure about their faith because of the influence of false teachers, John reminds them of what to look for in the lives – signs of the Spirit’s presence.
John says the Spirit causes us to believe that Jesus is who he said He was, the Son of God.  He explains that the Spirit creates within us a desire to want to obey God and live in ways that are right and good.  He confirms that the Spirit gives us brotherly love for other Christian people.
In Pauls’ letter to the Galatians he says that it is the Holy Spirit who causes us to call our to God, “Abba Father”.
When I was going through my own period of spiritual self-doubt as a student I found these things really helpful.  Putting the pieces of the jigsaw together I realised that being sure that I was a Christian wasn’t based on my feelings.  Sure there were some days when I felt God really close, but at other times, I didn’t feel him at all.  Gradually I learned to look for the more objective signs of the spirit in my life.  I knew deep down that I did believe in Jesus and I had asked Him to forgive me.  Even though I didn’t always know what to say, I did find myself regularly talking to God and calling Him ‘Father’.  I also discovered that I really wanted to go to church every week to worship and I enjoyed spending time with other Christians, learning from each other and encouraging one another.  I also found that I was much more sensitive to sin in my life than before.  I began to see things in my speech or actions or attitudes that I wanted to change.
Seeing these things in my life, really helped me at that time to realise that actually, ‘Yes’ I was a Christian, because the evidence of the fruit of the Spirit was in my life.  Even on days when I didn’t feel like it, I could see objectively that it was true!
In a similar way I want to encourage you to look for the signs of the wind of Spirit in your life.  Do you want to pray?  Do you love to come to church or log online or read a Christian book?  Do you enjoy the company of other Christian people and love to encourage one another?  Do you long to live right and represent God well?  These are all signs that you have the Spirit living inside you, that you are a Christian.  If you can see them in your life then take heart, rejoice – you are in Christ, you have received His Spirit.
The last thing I want to say is also really important.  One of the other insecurities many Christian people have is the question ‘Can I lose the Spirit?’  Well that’s where, what Paul says here in Ephesians is really significant.  Here Paul says that in the moment we believe in Christ we are ‘sealed’ with the Spirit.  The word that is used comes from a custom of the ancient world that is still followed today.  When a sack, crate or package was dispatched it was closed with a seal in order to guarantee that it came from the sender and it was intact.  A similar ancient custom was that when a King wanted to authenticate a decree or letter, they would drop molten wax on top and the King would then press his signet ring into the wax to form a Royal seal.  From these images we learn that here Paul is saying that the amazing truth is that the moment we believe in Jesus, God the Holy Spirit is sealed on us and our souls are marked indelibly as belonging forever to the children of God.  So we may grieve the spirit but if we have received Him, He will make sure that we always stay connected to God and will never lose our salvation.
To emphasise the point even further, Paul goes on to describe this sealing of the Spirit as “ a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
The Greek word translated deposit is the word ‘arrabon’ which was a feature of the ancient business world.  The ‘arrabon’ was a part of the purchase price paid in advance as a guarantee or promise that the rest of the price would be paid in due course.  A similar thing happens today when we put down a deposit for a new house or car or holiday.  So what Paul is saying here is that the experience of the Holy Spirit which we enjoy in this world is a foretaste of the joys and the blessedness of heaven.  It is a guarantee that someday, either when Christ returns or when our earthly life comes to an end, we will enter into full possession of the bliss and the blessedness of God.  Isn’t it amazing to think that the greatest, dearest and most intimate experiences of God’s presence, peace and joy are only a faint foretaste of the joys into which we will one day enter.  It is as if God has given us enough to whet our appetites for more and enough to make us certain that someday He will give us all.
So let me encourage you to look for the signs of the Holy Spirit in your life.  If you see them then rejoice and know for sure that you are a daughter or son of God and no one and nothing will ever separate you from His love.  If as you gaze in the mirror you find little evidence of the Spirit’s presence then allow that to motivate you to turn to God in prayer asking for His mercy and for His greatest gift…
Let us pray…
 
Prayer for Others
Lord of all, we pray for all who are searching for peace in their lives – those burdened with anxiety, either about themselves or their loved ones, facing difficulties an problems to which they can see no solutions.  God of peace, reach out and still the storm.
We pray for those wrestling with inner fears and phobias, torn apart by emotional and psychological pressures.  God of peace, reach out and still the storm.
We pray for those living amongst change and upheaval, especially all those who are threatened by violence and warfare.  God of peace, reach out and still the storm.
We pray for those who are unsure about whether they are real Christians and to those who worry about not being able to sustain their faith.  God of peace, reach out and still the storm.
To all those in chaos and turmoil, all who are restless and troubled, grant your calm, your tranquillity, your quietness and your peace which passes understanding.  God of peace, reach out and still the storm.
Take a moment now to bring your own prayers to God…
All these prayers we offer in the name of Jesus, the Prince of peace.  Amen.
 
Closing Words
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thanks again for logging on. 
 
The exciting news is that we’ve been back to church now for two weeks and it’s been fantastic and such an encouragement to me to see so many people at our services.  It’s been so special to be able to worship our great God together, so if you haven’t yet joined us make sure you book your place for Sunday as soon as possible by texting Aleida.
 
But to close, let me share the benediction, after which I invite you to say the grace together…
 
Benediction
May the world continue to surprise us, love continue to astonish us, life continue to captivate us, faith continue to sustain us…And
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.”
​

23rd May 2021     Pentecost Sunday – ‘The Fruit of the Holy Spirit’
Part 1
Welcome, Introduction and Call to Worship            Michael
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning worship.  It’s fantastic to be able to join together again in church to worship and we hope that those of you listening online will also enjoy this service.  Last week we thought about the amazing reality that we are all made in the image of God.  We reflected on how we are happiest when we see that as our main identity.  Following on from that, today, on this Pentecost Sunday, we will be considering how the Holy Spirit can help us to allow God’s image to be more clearly reflected in our day to day lives.  But to begin, as always, we are going to talk to God (N.B. RESPONSE).  So let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer + Lord’s Prayer (Response on screen)
Mighty God, on this Pentecost Sunday we pray again that you would come to us through your Holy Spirit, filling us with peace.  Give us a love for all and a desire to serve, humility of mind and gentleness of soul.  Spirit of the living God, Open our lives and touch our hearts.
 
Mighty God come to us through your Holy Spirit, setting us on fire with love for you.  Fill us with a burning desire to work for your Kingdom, and cleanse us of all that is impure and unworthy in our lives.  Spirit of the living God, Open our lives and touch our hearts.
 
Mighty God come to us through your Holy Spirit, breathing new life into our souls.  Fill us with energy and enthusiasm in the service of Christ and sweep away all in our lives that keeps us from living as your people.  Spirit of the living God, Open our lives and touch our hearts.
 
Mighty God forgive us that we so easily limit the Spirit, receiving His blessings for ourselves but failing to pass them on to others, Forgive us that we so readily quench your Spirit, resisting that which challenges and disturbs, Forgive us that we are so often closed to the movement of your spirit shutting him out by the narrowness of our vision.  Come as the dove, the fire, the wind, opening our lives to the peace, the power and the inspiration you would give us.  Spirit of the living God, Open our lives and touch our hearts.  Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
 
Join with me as we share the words of the Lord’s Prayer together.  And so we pray…
 
Our Father, which 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.
 
Introduce the Opening Song
 
One of the roles of God’s Spirit is that he gives us all different gifts.  As well as bringing us much personal joy, these gifts are to be used primarily to bring blessing to other people.  I’m so delighted that God has given people in our church the gifts of playing musical instruments and beautiful voices to sing.  I’m also so thankful that so many of you are willing to use the gifts that God has given you in the life of our church.  Last week in church Tara and Edna sang for us, and today Elaine and Sharon Kearon are going to bless us as they sing the Pentecost hymn, “Spirit of God unseen as the wind...”  As you listen to the words let me encourage you to make this your own prayer…
(End Part 1)
 
 
Opening Song     ‘Spirit of God unseen as the wind’    Elaine and Sharon
 
Part 2
Introduction to the Kid’s Video
We come now to the part of our service that’s especially for the younger members of our church family.  So if your kids aren’t beside you right now, why not pause the recording, and call them in to watch a short video about what it means to be made in the image of God.   And at the end of this video I’ve a few words to say to the children so don’t let them rush away.
(End Part 2)
 
Kid’s Video          Lifekids – ‘The fruit of the Spirit’
 
LINK           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2bhXAR1gCU
 
 
 
Part 3
 
Boys and girls I hope you enjoyed the video.  You know it’s really important to be God’s friend.  When you say sorry to God for the wrong things in your life and when you trust that Jesus died on the cross for you something amazing happens.  God becomes your friend.  When you become God’s friend He gives you a very special gift.  That gift is the Holy Spirit.  You don’t have to be afraid of the Holy Spirit because He is the spirit of Jesus and He is good.  He comes to live inside us and that means He can be with us to help us every day.  One of the things the Holy Spirit does is to help us become more like God.  When we talk to Him He helps us to produce fruit in our lives.  Not fruit like apples or oranges but spiritual fruit.  That means He helps us to be people who are more loving and kind and happy, who are peaceful and patient, people who are good and gentle, and faithful and able to control their temper.  All of these things are good.  They can help us be happy with ourselves and help us to be nicer people to be around.  Above all when other people see these things in the way that we live they will know that God is good and wants our lives to be full of good fruit.  I hope you have asked Jesus to forgive you.  I hope you trust that Jesus died for you.  I hope you pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help you to produce good fruit in your life.  Don’t forget to ask your mum or dad to download the colouring sheet to help you remember the lesson for today.  I hope you have a good week in school and I hope to see you again soon.  Bye for now.
 
Kid’s Colouring            
https://sermons4kids.com/fruit-of-the-spirit-colorpg.htm
 
Announcement and Introduction to Bible Reading
As well as singing and playing instruments another gift that the Holy Spirit gives people is in the area of sport.  One of our congregation has been given an amazing gift of running.  That of course is Amy.  Recently Amy took part in the ‘Run til you drop’ event near Killinchy in County Down.  She ran 245.8 miles which is 395.57 Km over 59 hours to brake the Irish, UK and European female records!  Currently this is the 3rd longest distance for any woman for this type of race in the whole world!  So it’s an unbelievable achievement and we want to pass on our huge congratulations to Amy on behalf of all of us in the church.  I’m just glad she’s back in one piece and I’m sure Robert is too.  And He is going to come now and read today’s lesson which is all about the fruit that the Holy Spirit can produce in our lives…
(End Part 3)
 
Video of Bible Reading         Galatians 5 v 16-26     Robert Osbourn           
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
 
 
 
Part 4
All Age Reflection                 “The Fruit of the Spirit”                  Michael
Last week we were thinking about how God made everyone in the world and how each of us are made in the image of God– that means we can see something of what God is like in ourselves and in other people.  When someone is kind, we know that God is kind.  When someone is fair, we know that God is fair.  When someone forgives us, we know that God is forgiving.  When someone makes us laugh, we know that God has a sense of humour. 
But we also know that people aren’t always kind or good.  Sometimes they say nasty things that hurt us.  Sometimes boys and girls can be cheeky to their parents (Imagine!)  Sometimes people don’t share.  So the image of God that we see in people is not perfect.  It’s like a broken mirror.  But God wants to fix us.  He wants to help us so that more and more every day we can reflect His image more clearly. 
So how can you and I reflect God better and what has God done to help us to do that?
Well the first thing we need to learn is that if we want to reflect God’s image more clearly we need God’s help, we need to be God’s friend.
To become a friend of God we need to do 3 things-
Repent-     Be sorry for the wrong things in our lives and be willing to turn away from those things and go God’s way instead.
Believe-     Really trust that when Jesus died on the cross that He took the blame for all your sins.
Ask-            Pray and ask Jesus to forgive us and to become our friend.
If you want to be able to live like Jesus and reflect Him in your life you first need to become a friend of Jesus.  To do that you need to repent of your sin.  You need to believe Jesus died for you and you need to ask Jesus to forgive you and be your friend forever.  I hope you have done that because you will never be able to live like Jesus until you do that.
But why do we need to become a friend of Jesus in order to be able to live like Him?  Well, let me explain.  As soon as we become a friend of Jesus, God gives us an amazing gift.  God sends His Holy Spirit to live in us forever!  You don’t need to be afraid of the Holy Spirit coming to live in you.  He is the Spirit of Jesus.  That means He is kind and good and gentle.  Having the Spirit of Jesus in our lives is just like having Jesus with us wherever we go and whatever we do.
You know, it is so good and so essential to have the Holy Spirit in our lives because He is the only one who can help us to live like Jesus.  That’s what His main job is, in our lives.  The Holy Spirit lives in us and is always with us to help us to become more like Jesus every day.
In the bible it tells us that the Holy Spirit is a bit like the wind.  We can’t see the wind but we can see what the wind does.  It causes leaves to blow off the trees.  It holds a kite up in the air.  In the same way, we cannot see the Holy Spirit, but we will know that He is in our lives when we begin to see the changes he causes to happen in our lives.
But how does the Holy Spirit change us?  How does He make us more like Jesus?
Well, in the bible, the good changes the Holy Spirit makes in our lives are described as ‘fruit’.  But what are these fruits of the Spirit, these good changes that the Holy Spirit will cause in us?
Well the first one Paul mentions is ‘Love’.
Love-          The Holy Spirit will help us to be people who really love God and who really love other people.  In fact the word used in the bible to describe the love the Holy Spirit gives us is a very special type of love.  It is a love that always wants the best for other people even if they are not nice to us.  It is a tough love that is willing to sacrifice for God and others.
Joy-            The joy that the Holy Spirit will give us is a special type of happiness that only God can give us.  It describes a deep sense of contentment that we know God loves us and is on our side even when life is difficult or painful.
Peace-        The Holy Spirit will give us a special trust that we are God’s friends even though we still aren’t perfect.  He will also help us to trust that no matter what happens God is in control and has a good plan to make us more like Jesus.
Patience-   The Holy Spirit will help us to become people who don’t get cross easily, who don’t go mad when things don’t go the way we want and who are quick to forgive people when they have annoyed us.  He will help us to be people who don’t seek revenge even when we have been wronged.
Kindness-   The Holy Spirit will help us to be kind.  The word the bible uses describes people who have a goodness that is gentle.  So the Holy Spirit will help us to be courteous and polite.  He will help us to overlook people’s faults and not be sharp or bitter in our attitudes.
Goodness- The Holy Spirit will help us to be good.  As well as doing what is right and what pleases God it also means that He will cause us to love other people and want to help people who are in need.
Gentleness-        The Holy Spirit will help us to be gentle.  The word used in the bible describes an animal that has been brought under control by its owner.  It describes an attitude that is submissive to whatever God wants.  It describes an attitude that is teachable and considerate of others.  It describes someone who is slow to put themselves or their own ideas forward.
Faithfulness-       The Holy Spirit will help us to be people who are reliable- People who live by good principles.  The Holy Spirit will help us to be people who will do what we have promised- People who others can trust.
 
Self-Control-       The Holy Spirit will help us to be able to control our emotions, our actions and our attitudes.  He will enable us to say no to ourselves so that we can help the needs of others.  He will help us to be in such control of ourselves that we are fit to serve other people.
The last question we need to ask this morning is, “How will the Holy
Spirit make these changes in us?”
 
Well the simple answer is He will do it as we do 3 things.
 
He will do it as we read the bible and as we remember these different characteristics so that we know the Holy Spirit wants to create in our lives..
 
He will do it as we pray and ask Jesus to help us to change.  This is
something we need to do every day.  
 
We need to pray things like, “Please Holy Spirit, help me to be kind to this person.  Please help me to be more patient in this situation.  Please help me to remember to do such and such so that others can rely on me etc.”
 
Lastly, He can only do these things in our lives if we are willing to
play our part.  We need to be willing to respond to a situation of
need by being generous.  We need to be willing to calm down and
not blow our temper when something goes wrong or when
someone does something that annoys us. We need to be willing
to keep our promises so that people can trust us.  We need to be
willing to forgive people who have hurt us.  We need to be willing
to trust God even when life is difficult or painful. 
 
In the same way that farming is a joint venture between people
and God so too growing the fruit of the Spirit is a joint venture
between us and God. 
 
The farmer must plough and sow and spray knowing that only God can
send the sun and rain to make the crops grow.
 
So too, only the Holy Spirit can make His fruit grow in our lives.
But we must read our bibles, we must pray and we must be willing to do all that we can to obey how we know He wants us to behave.
 
 
Conclusion
 
If we are to live like Christ and live lives that we can be proud of, then we need the help of God’s Holy Spirit.
 
When we are willing to turn from all we know to be wrong and when we trust that Jesus died for our sins and ask Him to forgive us a miracle happens.  God sends His Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus to live inside us.  We can’t see Him.  Sometimes we may feel His presence.  But over time we will be able to see the changes that He will make in our lives, making us into better people.
 
These changes that He will create in us are called the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.
These changes will happen as we read our bibles, as we pray and as we are willing to do all that we can to obey how we know God wants us to behave.
 
As we begin to see these changes growing in our lives it gives us reassurance that we really are Christians.  As other people see these changes in us they will see God’s image in us and see that God is good.  They may want to know God as their friend too so that His good image can be formed in them as well.  Reflecting God well is the best way we can witness for Him in our world.
 
Intro to You-tube Song         Michael
We are going to respond to what we’ve been reflecting on now as we listen to a beautiful modern hymn – a prayer to God asking for His Holy Spirit to blow in our lives again to make us more like Jesus.  So sit back and allow the words of this song to draw your thoughts and prayers to God…(End Part 4)
You Tube Song             “Holy Spirit living breath of God”           (Gettys)
LINK           https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDYjn-YdnD4
 
Part 5
Let’s pray…
Prayers for ourselves and others…(RESPONSE ON SCREEN)
Gracious God, we praise you that day by day you are at work in our lives, transforming them beyond all our expectations.  We praise you for the way that despite ourselves, you have called us to faith, breaking through our doubts, our stubbornness, our selfishness and pride and drawing us to Christ.  Gracious God, continue to change us we pray.
Help us to keep firm hold of the conviction that you can continue to change us – that whoever we are, whatever we do, whatever we face, nothing is outside the scope of your renewing power.  Gracious God, continue to change us we pray.
Help us to remember you can change others – that however hopeless a case may seem, however much a person may be opposed to you, however far from you they may appear, you are able to make a new creation of them.  Gracious God, continue to change us we pray.
Help us to realize that as you have spoken to us so you can speak to others – that no matter how closed someone may be, how unwilling to listen, how indifferent, you are able to stir their heart and challenge their spirit.  Gracious God, continue to change us we pray.
Gracious God, save us from ever losing sight of that fact, from retreating into pessimism, fatalism, defeatism.  Gracious God, continue to change us we pray.
 
Save us from so forgetting all you can do that we become disheartened, expecting nothing, attempting nothing, achieving nothing.  Gracious God, continue to change us we pray.
Help us separately and together, through our words and our actions, to speak of how you have changed us, so that in turn you may change others.  Gracious God, continue to change us we pray.
Take a moment now to bring your own prayers to God…
All these prayers we offer in the name of Christ who gives us the strength and power to change through His Holy Spirit, Amen.
 
Closing Words/Announcements
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thanks again for logging on.  I hope you found it both a challenge and an encouragement.
 
During the lockdown we have been able to upgrade our AV system so that we can display all images on both the screen in the church and in the back hall.  So I hope it improved the experience of anyone in the hall markedly.  We also now have the capacity to livestream.  We are currently fine tuning the detail of that and we hope to be able to go public within a few weeks after we’ve had a few trial runs.
 
If you would like to book a place at church next Sunday please do text Aleida before Friday evening of this week. 
 
I hope you can tune in again on Wednesday morning for the concluding part of our Pandemic praise as we reflect on another spiritual blessing that God has given us in Christ and give thanks.  This will be the last week in this series after which I will be taking a break from that during the month of June and spending the time I would normally give to preparation, on pastoral calls.
 
But for now, let me close with a benediction after which I invite you to say the grace together…
 
Benediction       
May God, who began a good work in you, continue to be at work in your life, guiding, teaching and equipping you until Jesus Christ returns.
 
May your love and compassion continue to grow—a love that is full of knowledge and wise insight, so that you will be able to recognize what really matters, and live a pure and blameless life.
 
May you live a life centered in the Holy Spirit,
a life that bears rich fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
generosity, faithfulness, tolerance and self-control – all the good things that come from following the Spirit, for living this way will bring much glory and praise to God.  And
 
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.”
 

APC 19th May 2021 Pandemic Praise – ‘United to Christ’.
 
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Wednesday morning worship.  Today we continue with our series ‘Pandemic Praise’ as we reflect on some of the spiritual blessings that God has given us in Christ.  We discover many of these blessings in the opening part of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
So far we have thought about the amazing truths that we have been chosen, adopted, redeemed and forgiven by God.  Today we are going to be reflecting on the fact that we have been united to Christ.  But as always let’s begin by stilling our hearts and talking to God, let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Almighty and all loving God, we would bring you our praise; we would offer you our worship; we would open to you our hearts; we would tell of all you mean to us; we would proclaim your name in a way that dies justice to your greatness.  Hear our prayer.
 
Eternal and all-powerful God, we hunger to meet you, to hear your voice, to know your will, to learn more of you and to offer you a commitment that does justice to your love.  Hear our prayer.
 
Gracious and all forgiving God, help us then to acknowledge our faults, to confess our sins, to recognise our many weaknesses, to see all that is wrong in our lives and to be a people that do justice tom your mercy.  Hear our prayer.
 
Great and all transforming God, enable us to serve you more faithfully, love you more deeply, know you more fully, obey you more completely and live in a way that does justice to your renewing power.  Hear our prayer.
 
Everlasting God, you know what we are and you know what we want to be.  Hear our prayer, receive our worship and so help us to become the people you would have us be to the glory of your name.
Join with me as we say the Lord’s Prayer together…
 
Our Father, which 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.
 
 
Introduction to Bible Reading
Let’s read again that wonderful introduction to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  Despite being imprisoned as Paul reflects on all that God has done for Him in Christ He puts pen to paper and pours out His praise.  He writes…
 
Ephesians Chapter 1 v 1-14
”Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
 
 
Reflection               Pandemic Praise – ‘United to Christ’
 
As I reflect back over nearly half a century of life, one of the things that concerns me most is that for almost 20 years I went faithfully to church every week, but in all that time I was blissfully unaware of the fact that I didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
 
Thankfully that all changed one night when I came home from a cricket match.  For some time leading up to that night I’d been thinking about my life and in particular reflecting on the things that I had said and done that I knew were wrong.  This wasn’t a new insight particularly, but I think for the first time I realised that these things were deeply significant because they were causing a barrier that was stopping me from having a true and living friendship with God.  At that time I was also reflecting a lot on the stories I’d been taught many times about Jesus and in particular the idea that He had died on the cross to forgive my sins and clear the way for God and I to be friends.
 
In twenty years, I had achieved so much- looking from the outside I should have been deeply happy and content, but the truth was, inside I was miserable.  I knew there was something missing.  So almost as soon as I got home that night I knelt at the side of my bed and I prayed.  I can’t remember exactly what I said but I can recall being utterly sincere and desperately crying out to God to forgive me and to come into my life.
 
When I got up from that prayer, I didn’t necessarily feel any different except to say that I knew that something had happened, something had changed.  I knew that whatever blockage there had been between me and God was gone and he and I were now friends.
 
You, know, this is perhaps the greatest spiritual blessing of all.  Paul describes it as being ‘included in Christ’, elsewhere he talks about being ‘united with Christ’ or more often just being, ‘in Christ’.
 
What’s true for me is true for you too if you are genuinely sorry for your sins and you believe that Christ died for you and if you’ve received His Spirit into your life.  Whether your experience was like mine or whether it’s just something you’ve always known, it is the most amazing thing in the world to know that you are a Christian, that you are ‘in Christ’, mysteriously united to Him in ways that you can’t easily explain but you know is definitely true.
 
For me, I knew that I was joined to Christ, because for the first time in my life I started talking to God like I’m talking to you now.  I wasn’t worried that I was going mad.  Quite the opposite.  I was so happy and so excited to know that somehow Jesus and I were friends.
 
I knew something had changed because I wanted to read the bible.  I hadn’t a clue where to start but I just knew I was hungry to find out as much as I could about God, about jesus and how I could understand Him better.
 
I knew something had changed because I suddenly wanted to go to church.  I’d always gone but now I really, really wanted to go and I actually wanted to join in with the prayers that were being said and the songs that were being sung.  I used those words as mine because I actually wanted to talk to God and say sorry or thanks or ask Him for something or to help someone else.
 
I also found myself becoming less interested in things about myself and more interested in how I could be kind or helpful towards other people.
 
There are so many other things I could include, but all I’m trying to say is that I knew I was now ‘in Christ’.  I knew that my life was different and 30 years later I know that I am still ‘in Christ.’
 
This union with Christ is pictured in many ways within the bible.  Paul says it is like the relationship between a husband and a wife.  He compares it to being part of a body where Christ is the Head.  He describes it as being a brick in an arch where Christ is the keystone making sure that everything holds together.  But the image that I love best of all and that I want us to reflect on for just a few more minutes is the vine and the branches.  Listen to how Jesus explains it recorded in John Chapter 15.
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
 
There is so much I could say about this passage but for today I simply want to remind us that being in Christ, is like being a bunch of grapes growing from a vine.  It’s like being one of the branches on your favourite tree or one of the green shoots sprouting from the side of your favourite flower in the garden.  That’s you, that’s me.  Christ is the main trunk, the main stem with His roots going deeply down into the source of the Godhead.  The moment we received His Holy Spirit, we were mysteriously and spiritually joined to Him.  If we are to grow spiritually and produce the fruit of His character, then we must stay connected to Him.  We do that as we make time each day to pray, to read the scriptures and as we try our best to live in the way God wants.  You see being In Christ is such a privilege.  God is our best friend.  We can tell him anything, we can receive His help in so many ways and we can bring the needs of others to Him and he can help them too.  But let’s be honest.  Its also easy to forget about him, to neglect our friendship, to grow cold and fo9rmal and even to ignore God altogether.  But when we do that our lives shrivel up.  We stop being full of love and joy and peace and patience kindness goodness gentleness and self control.  We stop caring more about other people.  So let me ask you, honestly, how is it between you and Jesus?  Have you forgotten that without Him you can do nothing.  Without the help of His Spirit you wont be able to be the person you want or to enjoy deep happiness.  If you’re relationship with God is good right now, don’t take it for granted.  Thank Jesus that you are in Him.  And if you’ve drifted, remember He’s sitting waiting for you to pick up the phone and give Him a call.  He’ll be so delighted to hear from you and you’ll simply pick up off where you left off, no strings attached.
 
Let us pray…
 
Prayer for others
 
All these prayers we offer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
 
Closing Words
 
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thanks again for logging on. 
 
The exciting news is that we are back to church again and this Sunday we will be celebrating Pentecost.   So if you would like to book a place at church this Sunday then please do text Aleida as soon as possible.  You will shortly be receiving a reminder text about reopening this Sunday which will include the essential safety procedures to ensure we all stay safe and well as we worship.
 
But to close, let me share the benediction, after which I invite you to say the grace together…
 
Benediction
The grace of God thrill your hearts, the mercy of God transform your minds, the peace of God flood your souls and the love iof God flow through your lives to the honour of is name.  And
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.”
 

APC 16th May 2021         Theme – “Made in God’s Image”
Part 1
Welcome, Introduction and Call to Worship       
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning worship.  As you watch this online the great news is that our church is reopen today for the first time since December.  It’s fantastic to be able to join together in worship and we hope that as more of us receive our vaccinations that soon we will all be able to meet again as normal.  Today, following on from last week’s thoughts about creation, we will be reflecting on what it means to be made in the image of God and the significance that can have for our lives.  It’s amazing to think that we are now “In Christ” so let’s worship together as we listen to the song, “In Christ alone.”
(End Part 1)
 
Opening Song                ‘In Christ alone’     
 
Part 2
Opening Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for our country – for its history, its traditions, its culture and its abundance of good things.  You have given us so much to celebrate: receive our praise.
We thank you for the riches we enjoy as a society – material comforts in abundance, freedom of speech and worship, security through our health service and welfare system, beautiful countryside and thriving towns and cities; all this and so much more.  You have given us so much to celebrate: receive our praise.
We thank you that we have so much to be proud of and thankful for.  But we thank you also today for our world – its rich assortment of nations, and the histories and traditions which are part of them, an awesome diversity of countries and continents, and languages within them; a fascinating mixture of people, places, customs and culture with so much to teach us and so much to offer.  You have given us so much to celebrate: receive our praise.
We thank you for the richness and variety that people coming to live in Ireland from other nations have brought.  We thank you for so many people growing up with duel identities and for how they have enriched our own culture and given us an appreciation of other cultures in our world.  You have given us so much to celebrate: receive our praise.
We thank you for everything that contributes towards the world-wide community and our own multicultural society – the insights of different religions and philosophies, the interchange of ideas between races and cultures, the promotion of dialogue concerning global issues, the desire to establish justice and peace among all nations.  You have given us so much to celebrate: receive our praise.
We thank you that we all have something to receive from the wider world and something to offer it; that our horizons are constantly being stretched, and our thinking broadened.  You have given us so much to celebrate: receive our praise.
Gracious God you have given us one world.  Help us to live as responsible citizens within it, united together in our common humanity and bound together in you.  You have given us so much to celebrate: receive our praise.
Join with me as we share the words of the Lord’s Prayer together.  And so we pray…
The Lord’s Prayer          (All say together)
 
Our Father, which 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.
 
Introduction to the Kid’s Video
We come now to the part of our service that’s especially for the younger members of our church family.  So if your kids aren’t beside you right now, why not pause the recording, and call them in to watch a short video about what it means to be made in the image of God.   And at the end of this video I’ve a few words to say to the children so don’t let them rush away.
(END Part 2)
 
Kid’s Video     Crossroads Kids - God’s Story – ‘God made people’
 
LINK                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZPfCWV81pE
 
 
Part 3
 
Boys and girls I hope you enjoyed the video.  It’s brilliant that the world is full of so many different people.  But we all have one thing in common.  We are all made in the image of God.  That means we are all special to Him.  It also means we are all equal and that we should love and respect each other.  I hope you treat other people well.  I hope you make friends with all sorts of people and I hope you don’t think you are better than someone else.  Always look for the best in other people and always encourage them to be the best that they can be.  And don’t try to be like someone else.  Just be yourself and enjoy the things God has made you good at even if it’s different from someone else.  I hope you have a good week in school and now that we have reopened, I hope to see you again in church soon.
 
Kid’s Colouring             
coloringhome.com/free-printable-coloring-pages-of-creation-story
​
Introduction to the Bible Readings      
Today I want to read the story of God creating humanity and then I want to read part of one of Paul’s letters where he reminds us that now we are new creations in Christ.
 
Reading 1               Genesis 1 v 26-31 (Creation of humanity)
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
 
Reading 2               Colossians 3 v 1-14 (New Creations in Christ)
3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
 
Short Reflection             “In His Image”          Michael
Last Sunday we talked about Creation and we were reminded that since God made the world, He loves it.  That’s why He has given us the responsibility of looking after it.  Today I want us to think for a few moments about the highlight of God’s creation – Adam and Eve.  In particular, I want us to notice that the writer of Genesis tells us that men and women were created ‘in the image of God’.
Although just a few words, this is a very significant statement from which we can learn a lot about God and about life and how we should live it.  But what does it mean that we are made ‘in the image’ of our Creator?
Well, if you look at a few slides of current celebrities when they were children it’s amazing how we can see the image that we know so well, reflected in their faces even at such a young age.  In a similar way when we look at each other, something of God is reflected in what we see.
So God is not male and God is not female.  In some ways He is both.  That in itself means that as Christians we must give equal respect and value to men and women.
Since all humanity is made in the image of God that means that God is neither young nor old, in fact we discover that He is timeless, somehow, he has no beginning and no end.
I think we can see a lot of God in children because they are least affected by the ravages of time.  So God has a sense of humour, He is full of fun and laughter, He loves to play and make things.
We see God in our teenagers – deep and thoughtful, caring about relationships and issues of fairness and equality.
We see God in our elder members – wise and sensible, generous and kind.
Whether we realize it or even like it, we’re all in some way infused with God’s essence.  That’s why we have an in-built conscience and a natural inclination of what is right and wrong.
At our best, when we are courageous, kind, compassionate and generous we help other people to glimpse what God is like.
But of course we’ve only to think of the lessons of history to realize that the image of God has been severely tarnished in humanity.  At our worst we can even see this in our own lives when we lie and cheat, when we are unkind or greedy.  Like a mirror that has been cracked, God’s image in us is distorted by our in-built bias at times to say and do things we know are wrong.  We call it sin.
Which brings me to the main point that I want us to reflect on this morning – If we are made in God’s image, why do we often feel so insecure?  Why do we often question our own identity?  Why are we so concerned about our personal image?
One reason may be because life is much more fluid and less secure than it used to be.  People move around more and it’s harder to get a job or be able to afford your own property.  It’s harder to put down roots and find a sense of community.
Another reason might be because of the explosion of the marketing and technological industries.  24/7 we are bombarded with images, articles and adverts that can leave us feeling that everyone else is much more confident, successful, pretty or happy than we are.
In addition to the effects of our changing environment, I’m sure part of our image worries, stem from our inbuilt bias to not always think in the way that God knows is best.
As such, rather than reflecting on our God-given image we feel we have to build our own.
For some people that means “I am how I look.”  Whether we’re men or women it’s easy to get caught in the trap of obsessing about our appearance.  We worry about our hair, our clothes, our shoes, our glasses, our shape, our size, our manbag and our accessories.  It’s easy to spend large sums of money filling our already overflowing wardrobes with clothes we will hardly wear.
Concern for appearance often leads to a preoccupation with food and exercise.  Obviously it’s good to keep fit and to eat healthily but for many people this can become such a fixation that it can result in a loss of self-esteem or even serious physical and emotional illness.
For many people “I am what I buy”.  In my choice of car, house, toys and furniture, I can create who I am and how I want to be seen.  As one journalist put it, “Consumerism is the primary force shaping our culture today.  We know what Volvo drivers are like and they are very different from Renault Clio drivers.”
For others, our identity and image is wrapped up entirely in what we do.  I mean, how often do we rank people and even ourselves, depending on their job.  Do we feel the same about ourselves, whether we make the first team or the seconds or whether we make the Leinster South East?  And what if you work really hard but don’t get the same grades as someone else or even what you hoped for? 
Look, I don’t want to be a kill joy this morning.  None of these things in and of themselves is wrong.  It’s ok to look good, work hard, look after your body and have nice things.  It’s ok to have ambition and to advertise. 
 
But what I do want to highlight is that if we give in to the temptation to find our identity in how we look, what we have or achieve or what we think other people think of us, then we will never be deeply content and happy.
Instead, I want to encourage us all to look for our identity in God.  Because that’s whose image we have been created in.  So whether you are blonde or brunette, tall or short, whether you’ve 20/20 vision or have to wear glasses, whether you drive a jeep or a super-mini, whether you live in a castle or a bungalow, whether you are a consultant or a full time mum you can know that God loves you, that He made you unique and that He accepts you just the way you are.
 
You know, I found this so helpful again this week.  One of the problems of the pandemic is it’s always a great temptation to look at your online views and compare that with someone else!  But it’s not healthy!  What a blessing for me to be reminded again this week that above all other things who I am is not a minister, a husband, a father, a rugby coach or whatever.  I’m Michael, a Christian – I believe that Jesus died for Me.  I’ve asked Him to forgive me for my sins and I know that He lives within me through His Holy Spirit.  That’s who I am.  And my greatest reason for living is to grow more and more in my likeness to Christ so that His image may be reflected in the way that I live.  That’s my purpose.  However imperfect, that’s who I am.
 
You know, in my better moments I am able to refocus on the simplicity of this and it is so liberating!  It means I don’t have to worry about the size of the house or parish I have, what car I drive or whether my hair is turning grey or whatever. 
 
I can be content.  Now, like you, I’m human.  At times I forget when I look in the mirror whose image I’m supposed to see.  In those times, I complain about not having this or that or I get jealous of so and so.  But those are the times when I’m least content.
 
Look, by all means set your goals, work hard, look after yourself and treat yourself to nice things.  Wear the pink shirt!  But in the midst of it all remember who you are and the real identity that matters.  You are in Christ.  Your body is a temple of His Spirit.  Above all things, your life purpose is to reflect everything about God that is loving and good.  The talents you have are the ones He wants you to have and He’s made you the way He wants you to be.  So accept yourself, be yourself, and know that God loves you and accepts you just the way you are. 
 
Trust me, if you try to find your identity and your image from the world you’ll never be content.  But if you accept the one God has already given you and find your greatest joy in Him, you’ll be full of peace.
 
What’s more, you’ll never look at other people the same way again.  You won’t be worried how someone else affects your street cred, you’ll never be a racist and you’ll care for the poor.  Because when you look at another human being, you’ll see Him in your own reflection.
 
Intro to Song
We are going to respond to what we’ve been reflecting on now as we sing together a beautiful modern hymn that reminds us that our identity, our image, our self-worth isn’t found in what we do or what we have but in Christ and what he has done for us.  Here is “My worth is not in what I own.”
(End Part 3)
 
Song               “My worth is not in what I own” (With Words)
LINK                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05jKxv8ApuI
 
Part 4
Let us pray…
 
Prayer for others
Lord, we bring before you today the people we know who are battling with illness.  We think especially of those who have been diagnosed with chronic or complicated conditions and who face uncertainty, fear, pain or fatigue.  Father please be very near to them and their families and help them in every way.
 
We thank for our health care system and for all those who care for us in so many ways.  We pray for everyone who works in the caring professions.  Father, give each one the wisdom, energy and strength that they need to listen to people’s problems and to continue to be able to do their best to bring help and healing.
 
May all those who care have people who look out for them too and may they be able to find regular time to relax and recuperate.
 
We pray for all who grieve today and for all who are still struggling emotionally with life’s circumstances.  Lord we thank you that restrictions are easing and that we are now able to meet in church and to meet more with friends and family and do some of the things we love.  Lord in your mercy may this trend continue in the days to come.  Help us all to readjust to the changing circumstance and renew our confidence so that we might be able to enjoy our freedoms.
 
We pray for India, Brazil and other countries in the world where current infection rates are high.  Lord, in your mercy give great wisdom to all concerned so that soon these situations may be able to be brought under control. 
 
We remember all our young people and young adults.  We thank you for all the help given to those who have just finished important exams or successfully completed their degrees.  We pray for those who are in the middle of exams, especially those which are particularly significant.  Lord, give each student the enthusiasm and the self-motivation that they need.  Give them wisdom and understanding.  Calm their nerves and fears and help them to fulfil their potential.  Help them to accept that their best is good enough and to know that you have a plan for their lives that will be just right for them in the long run.
 
Lord, we pray too for all those who struggle each day with any form of disability.  We ask that the needs of all such people and their families will always be a priority in the decisions made by government and that there will be a variety of effective services to meet the needs of everyone.
 
Father, we pray also for all those who have been or continue to be victims of racial or sectarian attitudes and actions.  Help us all to do what we can to bring your love to all who are in need.  Help us to look out for others and to be especially kind and welcoming to people who are struggling or who are just finding their feet in a new situation.  Give us courage to call out wrong attitudes in the people around us and the places where we work.  And may we continue to be a light in the way that we love, accept and include one another not only in church but in our families and in our community.
 
Take a moment now to bring your own prayers to God…
All these prayers we offer in the name of Him in whose image we are made, Amen.
 
Closing Words
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thanks again for logging on.  I hope you found it both a challenge and an encouragement.
 
Today was an exciting day for us as our church was able to open for the first time since December.  During the lockdown we have been able to upgrade our AV system so that we can display all images on both the screen in the church and in the back hall.  So it should improve the experience of anyone in the hall markedly.  We also now have the capacity to livestream.  We are currently fine tuning the detail of that and we hope to be able to go public within a few weeks after we’ve had a few trial runs.
 
If you would like to book a place at church next Sunday please do text Aleida before Friday evening of this week. 
 
I hope you can tune in again on Wednesday morning for our Pandemic praise as we reflect on another spiritual blessing that God has given us in Christ and give thanks.  I will run that series for just two more weeks after which I will be taking a break from that during the month of June and spending the time I would normally give to preparation, on pastoral calls.
 
But for now, let me close with a benediction after which I invite you to say the grace together…
 

Benediction   
Living God, we have come to you, to seek your help, offer our worship and declare our faith.  Now we go for you, to work for your Kingdom, proclaim your love and make known the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Go with us and grant us grace to serve you, even as through Him you have served us.  And
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.”
 
 
 

​

​APC 12th May 2021 Pandemic Praise – ‘Forgiven by God’.
 
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Wednesday morning worship.  Today we continue with our series ‘Pandemic Praise’ as we reflect on some of the spiritual blessings that God has given us in Christ.  We discover many of these blessings in the opening part of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.
So far we have thought about the amazing truths that we have been chosen, adopted and redeemed by God.  Today we are going to be reflecting on the fact that we have been forgiven by God.  But as always let’s begin by stilling our hearts and talking to God, let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Sovereign God, we confess to you with shame that sometimes, all too often, we have been guilty of the sin of pride.  We have thought of ourselves more highly than we should, boasting of our own achievements and looking down on those around us.
Have mercy upon us.
 
We have not listened as we should to your voice or to the voice of others, believing that we know best, preferring our own way, trusting in our judgement alone.
Have mercy upon us.
 
And we have been guilty of pride in more subtle ways, trying to be independent of those around us, hiding our frailties behind a mask of self-sufficiency, denying our fears and refusing support when it has been offered.
Have mercy upon us.
Sovereign God, forgive us when we try to live life alone, when we think more of ourselves than of you, when we put ourselves before others.
Have mercy upon us.
 
Give to us true humility and true lowliness of heart – the ability to take proper pride in ourselves where it is due, but a willingness also to listen to your voice and the voice of others, accepting our faults, recognising our limitations, and confessing our mistakes.
 
Sovereign God, have mercy upon us, through Jesus Christ our Lord…
 
Join with me as we say the Lord’s Prayer together…
 
Our Father, which 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.
 
 
Introduction to Bible Reading
Let’s read again that wonderful introduction to Paul’s letter to the Ephesians.  Despite being imprisoned as Paul reflects on all that God has done for Him in Christ He puts pen to paper and pours out His praise.  He writes…
 
 
 
Ephesians Chapter 1 v 1-14
”Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.”
 
 
 
 
 
Reflection               Pandemic Praise – ‘Forgiven by God’
 
I want to begin our reflection today with a story-
A senior and novice monk were traveling through the countryside when they came upon a river. The river was swollen making it very difficult to pass. Standing at the edge of the river was a lovely, young woman in elegant clothes unsure of how to get across. She asked the monks for help.
The monks had taken a vow of celibacy that prevented them from making eye contact with women, much less touching them. But after barely a pause, the senior monk picked up the woman and carried her across.
The novice monk was shocked and speechless. His elder had broken his vows! As the monks continued their journey hours passed and no one spoke until the younger monk could no longer contain himself.
“How could you carry that woman across the river when we aren’t even supposed to look at women?” he blurted out in frustration.
The senior monk replied, “I set that woman down hours ago. Why are you still carrying her?”
 
In his letter to the Ephesians Paul writes these amazing words, “In Christ, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”
 
Pause and let those words sink in for a moment.  “In Christ,… we have the forgiveness of sins…” 
 
You know, often I find as Christians we are like the junior monk in the story.  We find it hard to forgive ourselves for mistakes we’ve made, things we should have said or done but didn’t, things we’ve said and done that have had consequences for ourselves or for other people.  We carry the burden of this guilt day in and day out.  All the time it drags us down and makes us weary with life’s journey.
 
This was how the apostle Peter felt at one point in his life. When Jesus was arrested and sentenced to death Peter was not only shocked and confused, He was afraid for his own life.  So when questioned about his involvement with this insurrectionist, he lied 3 times saying that he had never even met Jesus.  When Jesus was crucified, Peter thought it was all over.  He never even got a chance to say ‘sorry’.  He went back to the only thing he knew- fishing. 
 
Jesus loved Peter.  He wanted Peter to know not only that He was alive, but also that He had forgiven Him, that He valued Him and had work for him to do.  So secretly, one morning after his resurrection, Jesus stood on the beach and shouted advice to Peter and his crew about where they should cast their nets.  Having fished all night and caught nothing, they had nothing to lose so they followed the stranger’s advice.  When they caught so many fish, that their nets were about to burst, they realised their shoreline consultant was the Master.  Having hauled in the nets and rowed to shore they ran to meet him. 
 
Jesus barbequed some of the fish they had caught for breakfast.  It’s hard to imagine the mix of excitement and guilt that Peter must have felt.    Jesus knew exactly how he was feeling.  So as they were eating, he took the opportunity to restore Peter emotionally and to set him back on the path of ministry… Three times he asked him, “Peter do you love me?”  Three times Peter replied, “Yes Lord you know that I love you.”  On the third answer
Jesus commissioned him again for his life’s work, “Then I want you to be a pastor.  I want you to feed my lambs and my sheep.”
Listen, maybe you’re listening today and you’re like Peter.  Maybe you’ve made some ghastly mistake at some point in your life and you’ve never got over it.  I want to say to you this morning, God loves you!  Christ died to forgive you!  So don’t carry that burden of guilt any longer.  Set it down at the foot of the cross.  Allow God to remind you just how valuable you are to Him.  Do not listen to that negative voice in your mind anymore.  Listen to Jesus and invite Him to touch you in a deeply spiritual way that will heal your emotions and give you the confidence to forgive yourself and to live again!  You know, they say that those who never make mistakes, never make anything!  Isaiah also says that “God will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten!”
Let the words of Paul and the story of Peter remind you that in Christ you have been forgiven by God.
He has cast your sins into the depths of the sea.  And He has put up a sign that says, “No Fishing!”
So let me ask you, If Jesus has set your sins and mine down years ago.  Why are we still carrying them?
 
Let us pray…
 
Prayer for others
 
Merciful Father,
Thank you for your gift of forgiveness. Your only Son loved us enough to come to earth and experience the worst pain imaginable so we could be forgiven. Your mercy flows to us in spite of our faults and failures. Your Word says for us to “clothe ourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony”.  Help us demonstrate unconditional love today, even to those who hurt us. 
Gracious Lord Jesus, thank You for the power of forgiveness.  Today we choose to forgive everyone who has hurt us. Help us set them free and release them to You. Help us bless those who have hurt us. Help us walk in righteousness, peace, and joy, demonstrating Your life here on earth. We choose to be kind and compassionate, forgiving others, just as You forgave us.
 
Comforting Spirit, today we ask forgiveness for all the negative and harmful words we have spoken about ourselves. We do not want to punish ourselves in such a way again. Transform our thoughts and let us understand how marvelously you have made us. Change our habits so we use our tongues to speak hope and favour upon our lives. In Jesus' name. 
God, what we pray for ourselves we also pray for others.  Please give all people who have been deeply hurt and are finding it hard to forgive, your grace and mercy and power to let go.  Help them to find freedom from their bitterness, anger and hatred.  We pray too for people who, for whatever reasons, find it very difficult to forgive themselves or who can’t understand how you could possibly forgive them because they don’t deserve it.  Lord again we pray that these people will find release from these chains.  May they know that you value them, that you forgive them and that you have a purpose for them in life and that they can make a great contribution to the lives of others.
Lord help us to really understand the gospel about Jesus and help us to believe it.
Take a few moments to bring your own prayers to God…
 
All these prayers we offer in the name of Jesus Christ in whom we have forgiveness for all our sins, Amen.
 
 
Closing Words
 
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thanks again for logging on.  I hope you’ve felt inspired and blessed as we’ve reflected on the reality that in Christ, God has forgiven us for all our sins. 
 
The exciting news is that this Sunday we are allowed to reopen church!  Again we are allowed two pods of up to 50 people in each.  We’ve also upgraded our AV system during lockdown so that all songs can be displayed on the screen in the back hall as well as in the church.  So if you would like to book a place at church this Sunday then please do text Aleida as soon as possible.  You will shortly be receiving a reminder text about reopening this Sunday which will include the essential safety procedures to ensure we all stay safe and well as we worship.
 
But to close, let me share the benediction, after which I invite you to say the grace together…
 
Benediction
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  And
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.”
 
 

APC 9th May 2021           ‘Christian Aid Sunday’
 
PART 1
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everybody and welcome to our service of worship.  Today marks the beginning of Christian Aid week.
Christian Aid is an international aid and development agency.  The Christian Aid family, works across 37 countries to promote sustainable development, to strive for social justice and to support poor and marginalized people.


The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has long been a supporter of the work of Christian Aid and contributes to its projects through our World Development Appeal around Christmas each year.
Many congregations also hold a special Christian Aid Sunday at the beginning of Christian Aid week in May.  Normally that involves inviting a guest speaker and holding a special lunch or coffee morning to raise awareness of their work and to give people an opportunity to contribute financially if they wish.
Due to the current restrictions we are unable to do that this year, so instead, I want to lead you in a service using some of the materials provided by Christian Aid as together we reflect on our Christian responsibility towards climate change.
But to begin, let’s worship God together as we listen to our very own Lesley and Kim Shepherd bringing us a piano and instrumental duet of the song, “Here I am to worship.”
(End Part 1)
Opening Song                “Here I am to worhship”
 
PART 2
Kim and Lesley thank you so much for that beautifully reflective piece and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.  Let’s still our hearts now as we talk to God, let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Lord of all, we thank you for the world we live in – for the rich heritage if the nations, the bountiful resources of this earth, the astonishing diversity of your wonderful creation. 
You have given us so much: Teach us to use it wisely.
Forgive us that we have taken what is so beautiful and created within it so much ugliness: hunger, injustice, exploitation, poverty, homelessness, war.
You have given us so much: Teach us to use it wisely.
Forgive us that a few dine richly, whilst the many go hungry; that the resources of our world are disproportionately shared.
You have given us so much: Teach us to use it wisely.
Forgive us our poor stewardship of all you have given us, our plundering of the earth’s resources with little thought for tomorrow.
You have given us so much: Teach us to use it wisely.
Lord of all, grant your blessing on all who seek to build a fairer and more just world – those who like Christian Aid, work to alleviate poverty and hunger, who fight against oppression, who strive to bring opportunity to all.
You have given us so much: Teach us to use it wisely.
And grant finally your wisdom to those whose decisions will affect the lives of nations – teach them to work for justice, to pursue peace, to promote harmony, looking not just to the few but to the common family of humankind.
You have given us so much: Teach us to use it wisely.
Join with me now as we say the Lord’s Prayer thoughtfully and sincerely together…
Our Father, which 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.
 
Introduction to Kids Video
We come now to the part of our service that’s especially for the younger members of our church family.  So if your kids aren’t beside you right now, why not pause the recording, and call them in to watch a short video with young people explaining what climate change is and what practical steps we can take to help stop global warming.   And at the end of this video I’ve a few words to say to the children so don’t let them rush away.
(END Part 2)
 
Kid’s Video     ‘Global Warming for Kids with HUE’
LINK        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNifh-Eu_2Y&vl=en
 
PART 3
Kid’s Talk Summary
Hey boys and girls, I hope you enjoyed the video today.  You know, God made this world and He loves it, all of it.  That’s why he’s put us in charge of looking after it.  It’s also important to look after our planet so that we can enjoy it and then our children can enjoy it and then their children and so on.  The good news is you and I can choose to look after our world in simple ways.  By turning off lights, recycling, buying less new things and sharing lifts with another family.  We can buy an electric car or run the car we have for more years, use an electric lawn mower and build more windmills to make clean electricity.  We can walk and cycle more instead of using the car so often and not go on aeroplanes unless we really need to.   Sometimes it’s not always simple to work out what’s the best way to live to help the environment.  So why don’t you talk to your mum and dad about ways that you and they can look after the planet more.  It’s what God wants us to do, so it’s really important.  I’ve got some more really good news!  Next Sunday our church is allowed to be open again!  So I really hope you and your family can be there.  I’m really excited to see you all again.
Don’t forget to ask your mum or dad to download the colouring sheet from our Facebook page to help you remember today’s lesson.  I hope you have a great week in school but bye for now!
Colouring Sheet
https://www.twinkl.ae/resource/global-warming-colouring-sheet-t-tp-2665287
 
Introduction to Bible Reading
In our reading today Rob and Jean will remind us of the basic reason why we must care for our planet and all its people.  Because God made it, He loves it and has given us responsibility for it. 
(End Part 3)
 
BIBLE READING     Genesis 1 v 1-28    Rob and Jean
 
Part 4
Rob and Jean thank you for reading for us today and we look forward to catching up with you all very soon.
 
Reflection               Christian Aid Sunday -    ‘Climate Chaos’
Earlier this week we sat down and watched the Netflix documentary called “Seaspiracy.”  It highlights the impact of the global fishing industry on current fish stocks and the entire marine environment.  Ultimately it warns that the more we destroy our marine environment the more we threaten the future existence of all humanity.
It is shocking and eye opening, but it’s definitely worth a watch.  Certainly the movie has its critics who suggest that some of its claims are exaggerated, that it has misrepresented companies and individuals and that it has over-simplified complex issues.  These are allegations that its director…..flatly denies.
Whatever you think of it, what cannot be debated is the truth the movie highlights that in so many ways we as a global society are in danger of destroying the beautiful planet that God has given us and that if we aren’t careful, in the not too distant future we may just make our world uninhabitable for all of creation.
This year’s Christian Aid Week seeks to bring our attention to this issue by encouraging us to reflect on the realities and impacts of climate change in our world, especially on those who are the poorest and most vulnerable.
As I’m sure you are aware by now, the temperature of our planet has been steadily increasingly largely as a result of the impact of our industrialised living.  Many things which we desire for our lives, unfortunately necessitate the creation and expenditure of large amounts of energy.  The privilege of being able to see and hear me now on your phone or TV screen is just one example.  Whether its travel, the transport of goods, the powering of our devices or the creation of food, so much of what we do and how we live, requires energy. 
While the creation and use of sustainable forms of energy are increasing in many countries in our world, for too many years most of our energy has come from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.  Unfortunately this has resulted in large amounts of Carbon Dioxide being released into the earth’s atmosphere.  Plants and trees are able to remove this from the air to make food, but unfortunately they aren’t currently able to do this sufficiently to prevent an excess of C02 building up in the atmosphere. 
When the sun shines on the earth the heat rays are reflected from the earth’s surface back into the atmosphere.  The problem is that the excess Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere forms a barrier which prevents this radiated heat from escaping into space.  So over time this trapped heat is causing the temperature of the earth to increase.  This rise in the earth’s temperature is causing climate change throughout the world.  In some areas it is leading to drought and famine.  It has melted polar ice caps leading to a rise in sea levels.  In some parts of the world this has resulted in terrible flooding and in an increase in unstable whether conditions such as destructive storms.  Since minute changes in temperature have a significant impact on all aspects of biological life, this global warming is having a devastating effect on plant and animal life.  Ultimately it threatens all life on our planet.
Often it is the poorest in our world who are most affected by the impacts of global warming.  For example the climate crisis is having a significant impact on communities in Kenya. The main problem is the lack of access to a reliable source of water to help them withstand the unpredictable weather made worse through the climate crisis. The weather has become more extreme. Drought has become more frequent and intense, resulting in millions of people being short of food as they are unable to grow crops. In parts of Kenya in 2020, drought was followed by relentless rainfall and flooding, which damaged crops that had struggled to grow. With no access to reliable water sources, or a way to capture rainfall, many communities are struggling to survive.  The coronavirus pandemic has only increased the urgent need for families to access a reliable source of water for handwashing. In Kitui county, eastern Kenya, 8 out of 10 people depend on water to grow crops, for food and to earn a living. Without a reliable water source, staple crops like maize and beans are damaged and destroyed. The lack of water forces people to walk further and further to find a dependable source. Cows, sheep and goats are becoming weak without access to water, and can’t produce milk or be sold. People are struggling to cope. Lives are at risk.  But even in the midst of such sadness through the work of organisations like Christian Aid people have found help and hope, people like Florence.
Florence is full of life, love and laughter. The women in her farming group look up to her. She’s courageous, kind – a survivor. A few years ago, her husband died, leaving her a widow. At that time, she had no water to grow crops. Her children were hungry. She had to walk for hours on dangerous journeys to collect water. ‘Life was miserable,’ she said. But things have changed for Florence. Next to her farm, Florence is proud to show something remarkable – a dam, full of fresh water. It’s thanks to the work of Christian Aid that Florence and her community have built this water dam, with the help of their partner -Anglican Development Services – Eastern (ADSE), just a short walk away from their village. Sit back and enjoy this short video which shows how this dam has helped Florence and many people in her village to find hope and happiness again despite the challenges of climate change…
(End Part 4)
 
VIDEO              Florence’s Story
 
 
Part 5
Sadly, millions of people in Kenya are still desperately struggling to survive climate chaos.  Most of the gases responsible are created by those of us who live in the more developed parts of the world.  That means that you and I and our lifestyles are a significant part of the problem.  But why does it matter?  Well very simply, it matters because from our reading today we learn that God made this world and everything in it.  And at every stage of its creation, God paused and said that “it was good”.  What’s more, we discover in many parts of scripture that because He loves this world, God sustains it and does His best to look after it.  Part of God’s care for this world involved delegating the task of caring for it to the first man and woman.  God gave humanity dominion over the world.  That meant they were given the responsibility of caring for the world and using its resources wisely and for the benefit of all.  Ever since, that responsibility has been handed down through the generations.  So if you and I want to love God and be like Him, we have a duty to look after this world – that includes every part of it- its plants, its people, its animals, it seas, its soil and everything in it.  If we claim to be Christian, then we cannot be careless about how we live and the impact our footprint is having on our world. 
Whilst none of us can be perfect, there are many things you and I can and must do to care for our world.  One of the best things we can do is to live as simply as we can so that we use energy and resources sparingly.  We can do this by reducing the amount of stuff we have or consume, by reusing things for other purposes, and by allowing things to last us for as long as possible rather than always buying new.  We should recycle as much as much as possible and switch to using sustainable energy resources.  We must limit the amount of pollutants we allow to enter the environment down our drains or on our farmland. 
Look there are so many specific ways that each of us can play our part in caring for the gift of this world that God has given us.  There will be areas of my life where I need to change and areas of your life where you need to change.  You know one of the silver linings of this terrible pandemic is that for the last 18 months our world has been allowed to breathe.  Already the restrictions on global travel have allowed the environment to recover in ways that are visibly noticeable even from outer space.  Now I’m not saying that you or I should never board an aeroplane or take a foreign holiday.  For what it’s worth I’ve only flown once in the last 20 years!  But what I am saying is that we shouldn’t see anything that we do as an automatic right, if the impact of everyone exercising that right means that someone in the poorest regions of our world can’t get food or water!  What I am saying is that all of us need to take a look in the mirror of our current lifestyles and ask, “What can I do, to make a difference?”  What I am saying is that when this Pandemic comes to an end and our freedoms return, let’s be careful how we live.  Let’s learn the lessons from this sustained period of simplicity and reflection.
And in addition to taking care how we live, in the meantime, we can also help another community build a dam by giving generously to the work of Christian Aid.  Through our contributions and the work of their contacts on the ground, many more people like Florence will have the water they need to sustain their families.  And by giving to these organisations regularly, we can help Christian Aid to be there for people like Florence in the long term.
There will be further opportunity to contribute to the work of Christian Aid through our World Development Appeal at Christmas time, but for now let me encourage you to go to the Christian Aid Website or go to the link on our Facebook Page and Website where you can find out how to donate directly to the work of Christian Aid.
Let’s take a moment to pray for the people in our world most affected by climate change as Christian Aid’s global theology advisor, Bob Kikuyu, leads us in prayer….
(End Part 5)
 
VIDEO      Bob Kikuyu leads Prayer
 
Part 6
 
Closing Words
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thanks again for logging on.  I hope you’ve felt inspired and challenged to reflect on the amazing gift God has given us in His Holy Spirit. 
 
The exciting news is that the government has confirmed a date of 10th May for the reopening of Masses and church gatherings.  Since that is a Monday we will be reopening on Sunday 16th.  Again we are allowed up to 50 people.  So if you would like to book a place at church on Sunday 16th May please do text Aleida as soon as possible.  You will shortly be receiving a reminder text about the 16th which will include the essential safety procedures to ensure we all stay safe and well as we worship.
 
I hope you can tune in again on Wednesday morning for our Pandemic praise as we reflect on another spiritual blessing that God has given us in Christ and give thanks.
 
But for now, let me close with a benediction after which some of the youngest members of our church will remind us as to why our response to climate change is so important….
 
Benediction
May God bless us with wonder at creation’s glory. May God bless us with fury at creation’s spoiling. May God bless us with courage at this critical hour. And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon us and on all creation, this day and for the future to come. Amen.
 
CLOSING SONG      He’s got the whole world in His hands
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