APC 27th June 2021       Somewhere over the Rainbow – (Part 3)
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning worship.  Three weeks ago we began a 3 part series entitled “Somewhere over the rainbow.”  So far we have discovered that when we die, our souls or spirits will go to live in the current heaven which is a real and physical place. There we will probably have some recognisable form and we will in some way be aware of what’s happening to our loved ones on earth.  It may be that this intermediate place will be much like this earth and we will be aware of time.  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, “Who are we and what will we do in the new heaven and earth?” But to begin, as always, we are going to talk to God.  So let’s pray…
 
 
Opening Prayer
Sovereign God, we praise you that you are able to do more than we can ever ask or imagine – where we can do so little, you can do so much.  When we can do nothing, you can do everything.  Teach us to believe that, not just with our heads but in our hearts.
When life seems dark, the future frightening, our problems insurmountable, and our resources to meet them all too few, we praise you that you are able to see us through.
When life feels good, the days ahead full f promise, our worries are few and our joys many, we praise you that you are able to offer more still.
When loving is hard, caring involves pain, sharing means sacrifice and believing entails cost, we praise you that you are able to give us strength.
When loving is easy, our relationships bring joy, our friends bring pleasure and our faith brings rewards, we praise you that you are able to bring yet greater happiness.
When hopes are dashed, dreams lie broken, visons have faded, and plans are thwarted, we praise you that you are able to bring new purpose.
When opportunities excite us, prospects beckon, possibilities unfold, and challenges present themselves, we praise you that you are able to help us to grasp them.
Sovereign God, in these things and so many more, you are able not simply to meet our needs but to transform our lives – able to bless us beyond words.
Receive our praise and teach us that whatever we face, whether good or bad, whether we feel able to meet it or not, you are able to do more than we can ever ask or think of!
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.
Opening Song        Amazing Grace        Sharon and Elaine
 
Announcements    Michael
 
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.
 
I will be taking my holidays in July and I’ve lined up four of your favourite speakers to lead our worship each Sunday.  There will be Jim Carson, Aleida, Terry Price and Gary Nesbitt.
 
In the event of pastoral emergencies the Rev Gary McDowell in Greystones will be on standby.  Please contact our Clerk of Session Mrs Edna Crammond if you require the services of Gary while I am away.
 
If everything continues with the easing of restrictions we hope to start back with our Sunday School, Youth and other activities in September.
 
Now that our AV system is up and running smoothly we will be Livestreaming the services.  You will be able to view the Livestream on our website and on our Facebook Page.
 
I would like to say a huge thank you for all of your support over this last year which has been a very difficult period for us all and for your continued generosity to our congregation in so many ways.  I look forward to a good rest over the next few weeks and to being able to recommence many of our normal activities in the near future.
 
 
 
Kid’s Talk       Heaven (Things that are in heaven)        Michael
 
Kid’s Colouring              Tara to help kids
       
Introduction to the Bible Readings              Michael
The bible doesn’t tell us everything about what life will be like in the new heaven and earth.  So sit back as Sandra, Isaac and Rebekah read a few bible passages which give us a few hints…
 
Lesson 1   Romans 8 v 18-25 and 2 Peter 3 v 10-14  Sandra
 
Lesson 2   John 20 v 24-30 and John 21 v 4-11     Isaac      
 
Lesson 3   Rev 21 v 1-14 and Rev 22 v 1-6    Rebekah
 
 
Somewhere over the rainbow – “Who are we and what will we do in the new heaven and the new earth?”
 
Intro
“When I was a boy, the thought of heaven used to frighten me more than the thought of hell.  I pictured heaven as a place where time would be perpetual Sundays, with perpetual services from which there would be no escape.”
Like David Lloyd George, for many people the thought of an eternal heaven is worse than the fear of dying.  That’s because they believe heaven to be a place where we will have little else to do except float around on clouds, spending all of our time in prayer or singing praises to God.  The far-side cartoon of a man with wings, sitting on a cloud, head in his hands and the caption, “I wish I’d brought a magazine!” sums it up well.
But I want to shout it from the rooftops this morning, “Heaven will be not be boring!”  In fact, what I have discovered about our eternal living environment over this last few years has filled me with such hope and inspiration that I’ve no fear of dying.  That’s because I have found that rather than sitting around on clouds playing harps all day long, in the new heaven and earth we are much more likely to be sitting in a wild meadow, enjoying a beautiful picnic and sipping harp or whatever else might be your favourite tipple, in moderation of course!
That’s because, what God has planned for our eternal future is not some unnatural and unfamiliar existence.  It is the existence that He planned for humanity from the very beginning- To live as bodily human beings, enjoying all the things we currently love about life, people and nature but without all of the things that currently try to rob us of enjoyment such as disease, suffering, pain and death.
Martyn Lloyd Jones puts it like this- “One day, everything will be glorified, even nature itself.  And that seems to me to be the biblical teaching about the eternal state; that what we call ‘heaven’ is life in this perfect world as God intended humanity to live it.  When God put Adam in paradise at the beginning, Adam fell and all fell with him, but men and women are meant to live in the body and will live in a glorified body in a glorified world and God will be with them.”
You see, whatever the so-called ‘disembodied’ life in the intermediate state or the present heaven will be like when we die, this is not where or how we will spend most of eternity.  Scripture teaches us that a day is coming in the future when Christ will return to earth.  On that day, the remains of our dead bodies will be somehow miraculously raised from the dust of the earth and will be used to fashion for us an amazing, transformed resurrection body which will be joined with our soul or spirit.  This new body of ours will be exactly like the resurrection body of our Lord Jesus Christ.
One of the great things this means is that we will retain our identity!  Just as the disciples and other people recognised Jesus when he rose, so too when we are raised, you will be you, and I will be me!  Whether or not, as many of the early church fathers believed, we will be the optimal age of between 30-33, we can’t be certain.  For example, the prophet Isaiah suggests that in the new heaven and earth the lion the lamb and the little child will play safely together.  This could mean that parents who have lost the opportunity of raising their children on earth may get that chance in the new heaven and earth!  It may be that our bodies will be ageless but we will still recognise people very clearly as the people we have known and loved on earth. 
Whatever age we are or aren’t in heaven, we will still be able to catch up with our friends and family and also to have coffee with some of our greatest heroes.  There will be any amount of family gatherings and of occasions just to get the girls together.  There will be any number of concerts, worship events and sporting occasions to attend.  I’m sure there’ll be a long queue to sign up for the writing class run by J.R. Tolkien and that tickets for Bach’s live concert will be like gold dust!
What’s also certain is that our bodies will be physical.  Like Jesus, we will have faces and limbs that can be seen and touched.  We will be able to eat and drink and walk and talk.  We will still have our own personalities and all of the good characteristics that make us who we are and wonderfully different from anyone else, will still be there.  There will be people from every tribe and every nation and from every point of history.  How amazing it will be to discuss the wonders of engineering with some of the ancient Egyptians, to go sailing with a Viking, or ask a caveman what it was like living in the age of dinosaurs. 
At the same time, our resurrection bodies will be wonderfully better than our earthly bodies.  They won’t need glasses.  They won’t feel pain.  They won’t need injections to control their sugar levels or tablets to monitor their blood pressure.  It may be that the leaves from the tree of life will keep us eternally healthy and vibrant.  Since we will be perfect and filled with the glory of God, it may be that we will literally shine, in a similar way to how Jesus’ body shone at his transfiguration.
What’s more, it might be that our transformed resurrection bodies may also enable us, like Jesus, to do things we were never capable of doing before.  Just as Jesus was able to appear in a room and disappear somewhere else, could it be that our new resurrected bodies will enable us to time travel to the farthest galaxy or meet with a friend in an instant?  Will we be able to run as fast as a cheetah, jump as high as a flea, or soar like an eagle?  No one knows for certain.  It may be that supernatural abilities will be reserved for the Master because He is Divine.  But isn’t the possibility tantalising?!
Not only is it such a relief to know that we will not lose our identity and that people will be familiar in the future, it is also a great source of excitement and anticipation to realise that our heavenly environment will probably be just like what we are used to on this earth but without any of the bad bits.  That’s because scripture teaches us that when Christ returns the present or intermediate heaven, will come down and merge with this present earth.  Heaven will come to earth to form the new heaven and earth.  The image of our final destination is one of incarnation not of disembodiment in some wispy parallel universe! 
So in Revelation 21 we read that as the present heaven comes to earth, The Holy City of the New Jerusalem which is currently in heaven will become part of this world.  The dimensions of this city are that it will be a 1400 mile cube.  That’s a ground level of nearly two million square miles.  If it has many levels it could literally house billions of people.  Even if these numbers are purely figurative, they still leave us with the impression that there will be plenty of room.  The New Jerusalem will be a capital city of unparalleled beauty and magnificence.  Like any city it will have streets and avenues, parks and rivers, buildings and dwellings.  In fact it seems probable that the original Eden, now in heaven, will form part of this New Jerusalem much like a central park.  This will contain the river of life and the tree of life, which presumably will enable us to live forever in full health and vibrancy.   While God’s presence will be everywhere, He will dwell in this city and people and Kings will be able to come from the far flung reaches of the universe to present Him with gifts and to worship Him. 
As well as having a magnificent capital city, the new heaven and earth will have so many other regions for us to explore, inhabit and look after.  In many ways it will be just like the universe we currently know and love- Niagara Falls, The Himalayas, The Arctic Circle, Kilimanjaro, the Giant’s Causeway. These and so many other wonders of the universe will all be there.  At the same time, when Christ returns, this earth will be amazingly redeemed, set free from all that is bad because of the curse of sin, and restored to what it was like at the beginning when God first created it.  In Chapter 8 of his letter to the Romans St. Paul says that we, as well as the entire universe, feel the weight of sin’s curse, and we are groaning to be set free and restored to how God originally intended everything to be.
Some Christians, like Lutherans for example, interpret the references to fire in 2 Peter and the phrase “the earth will be no more” in Revelation 21, to suggest that God will bring about this transformation through the complete destruction of the current universe and the creation of a completely new cosmos.  However, most reformed Christians understand the numerous verses that relate to this subject in a different way.  They believe that to suggest that God will completely destroy this universe would go against the truth that everything God made originally is essentially good.  Therefore what they believe will happen, is that through some sort of fiery cleansing, God will eradicate all that is broken and tainted in our current universe.  He will then allow the blossoming of a completely restored and repainted universe so that the world, the stars the planets and the galaxies will be wonderfully brought back to their former glory and perfection.  Like any restoration project, it may be that there may be a few wonderful new additions or the removal of a few things that are no longer needed, but in essence, our eternal home will be exactly like everything we currently love about life in this world. 
We’ll still be able to enjoy the fragrance of our favourite flowers, take a holiday to all the places we have never seen.  We’ll still be able to play a round of golf, climb a mountain, go fishing, swim in a lake, build a sandcastle, sip a fine wine, play chess, learn a new instrument and all the things that we currently love about life.  Since everything is created by God, essentially all of life is spiritual and all of life is good.  That means that all of that which is good about God’s creation will remain unchanged in the future.  The new heaven and earth will not be some super-spiritual existence where none of what we currently do will matter anymore or where everything is unfamiliar.  In fact scripture teaches the very opposite is true. 
From the very beginning, God made us with human bodies to live in a physical universe.  This is what we were made for and this is why we cling so much to this earth and why we are so afraid to let go and die.  But the good news is we don’t have to be afraid of death because what’s ahead of us is not going to be weirdly different from what we currently know and love.  Scripture teaches that this future new heaven and new earth will be so much like the life that we currently enjoy. 
All of the intellectual and creative characteristics of who God has made us and what it means to be human will still be there.  So we will be able to continue to study, to read books, go to classes and learn new things.  We will have all the time in the world to plan and create and build and discover.  We will have work to do that will be stimulating and interesting.  Scripture teaches us that God will allow us to rule and coordinate life in the universe under His guidance.  He will give us new roles and responsibilities.  We will have time to rest and to play, to listen to music or create new music, to sing and laugh and cook and entertain, to BBQ and bake and make and eat pizza.  We will still play sport competitively and enjoy the thrill of driving fast without the associated dangers.  We will take holidays, visit new places, research time travel, design buildings and visit other galaxies.  There will be plants to tend and animals to look after and enjoy.  It may be that in addition to being reunited with long lost family and friends we will also be reunited with our beloved pets.  Why not?  They mean so much to us on earth and are such a gift from God, why would He not raise them with us?  That’s certainly something that the early church fathers thought possible because they believed that while different from humans, animals still had an animal soul.  It may be that like some of the creatures we read about in Revelation or even the story of Balaam’s donkey, that the amazing fantasies of Lewis and Tolkien will come true.  It may be that animals will be able to talk to us in the future.  We just don’t know.  Nothing is impossible with God, so let me encourage you to dream dreams of what heaven will be like and know that it will be wonderfully similar to what we currently enjoy about everything in this life but amazingly better and more spectacular and exciting in so many ways.  The new heaven and earth will be full of culture, creative arts, entertainment, sports, crafts, technology, research and learning, discovery and fun.  Trust me, it will be anything but boring.
The New heaven and the new earth will be gloriously earthy, wonderfully familiar but it will also be fabulously different.  Any tears will only ever be tears of joy for there will be no more suffering, no more devastating floods or earthquakes.  No more disease or death.  No more misunderstandings that lead to conflict and division, hurt and heartache.  Confused minds will be renewed, disabled bodies will be restored.  Animals will no longer tear each other apart, the beauty of a rose will not be marred by its thorn.
And of course the most wonderfully different thing about the new heaven and the new earth is that we will be able to see, and worship and speak to God without any of the limitations that we currently experience.  At best our worship and knowledge of God is like looking into a steamed up mirror when we emerge from the shower.  But one day, says St Paul, we will see God clearly and we will be able to worship Him perfectly.  On this earth, because we are flawed, at times we forget God or we forget to give Him thanks for all the good things He gives us, for all the talents and intelligence that he has granted us.  But one day all that will be different.  We will appreciate all that we are and have.  We will do all that we do and enjoy all that we enjoy about life in the continual knowledge that everything we have is from God.  So heaven will not be a perpetual church service.  All of life will be perfectly spiritual and will give glory and happiness to God because of the way that we enjoy and participate in it.  Of course there will be times when we will gather around the throne of God, giving thanks to Jesus for all that he has done for us.  There will be times when we will gather with people from every tribe and nation and culture and generation to enjoy the most amazing worship experience ever.  But unlike on earth, these times will not seem in any way too long, or boring or irrelevant or whatever.  For we will be perfect, our lives will be perfect and we will be mesmerised by the perception of the One who loved us and gave Himself for us….
On that day we will sing a new song,
“You are worthy our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power for you created all things.  Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and glory and honour and blessing!”
So we pray, “Come Lord Jesus Come….”
 
Song       I love you Lord x2            Rebecca, Kate and Laura
 
Prayers for others Michael
Thank God for helping us all through this very difficult and for the greater freedoms we have enjoyed.
Thank God for the development of vaccines and all who have administered them.
Pray for all health care workers and ask that they may experience rest and refreshment over the summer.
Pray for those who have been bereaved in this last year.
Pray for all who are sick and especially those in hospital.
Pray for students who are receiving results and making decisions about college courses.
Pray for students finishing school and college and applying for jobs in an increasingly competitive market.
Thank God for everyone who has helped with our worship services.  May each one find some time to rest and recharge over the summer.
Thank God for the people who have helped us in the past and who will be leading services in July.
Pray for our young people and ask that you would give us wisdom to know how best to encourage them in these days.
Pray for wisdom for our Kirk Session as we meet to discuss the way resuming of activities in the months ahead.
Pray for wisdom for our government and for the Executive in Northern Ireland and ask for wisdom, good relationships, and peace.
Pray for the Covid situation in India and especially for our partners in Gujarat.
SILENCE – Bring own prayers 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.
But to close, let me share with a benediction after which I invite you to say the grace together…
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benediction   
 
Do not be afraid.
The kingdom of heaven comes to change and transform us,
To reshape the world according to God’s reconciling will.
So go forth to bear witness to this community of love.
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        Lesley to play some music while people are exiting.
 

APC 20th June 2021               ‘Father’s Day’
ENTER    Alison to play some music while people are entering.
Welcome, Introduction and Call to Worship               Michael
Opening Prayer      Michael
Lord’s Prayer Sung               Elaine and Sharon
Announcements    Michael
Kid’s Talk               Father’s Day
Kid’s Craft      Making a Father’s Day Card (Tara to help kids)
Introduction to the Bible Readings      Michael
Lesson 1        
Mark 1 v 21-22 and Mark 1 v 35 and Mark 1 v 40-42      Denise
Lesson 2        
Mark 2 v 13-17 and Mark 10 v 35-45       Tara
Reflection               “Becoming a father to follow.”
Song with Video Slide Show         Rebecca, Kate and Laura
Prayers for others         Michael
Closing Words       Michael
Benediction            Michael
EXIT        Alison to play some music while people are exiting.
 
APC 20th June 2021               ‘Father’s Day’
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning Service.  Today is Father’s Day.  This morning we will be thanking God for good fathers and reflecting on what it means to set a good example for others to follow.  But before we do that, let’s take a moment to talk to God, let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Loving God, we come together on this Father’s Day, reminded not just of our earthly fathers but of you.  You tell us that all who believe in you shall be called your children, and you invite us to address you quite simply as “Dad”.
For the wonder of your love, we praise you.
We praise you that despite all our weaknesses and disobedience, you view us not as subjects, or as servants, but as children.  And we rejoice that you want us to see you not as some deity, remote in splendour, nor as a jealous dictator demanding our homage, but as a loving father, watching over us with infinite care and tenderness.
For the wonder of your love, we praise you.
Loving Father, teach us not simply to say, “Our father” but to mean it – to recognize that you love us deeply, as dependably and as devotedly as any human Father and infinitely more besides.
For the wonder of your love, we praise you.
Teach us that we matter to you, that you are concerned for our welfare, that you delight to bless us, that we need only to ask and you are there.
For the wonder of your love, we praise you.
Teach us that it is because you care so much that you instruct us, discipline and correct us.
For the wonder of your love, we praise you.
Teach us that however far we stray from you, however much we may reject your love or ignore your guidance, still you go on reaching out, longing to draw us close once more.
For the wonder of your love, we praise you.
Loving God, you are, ‘Our father’ and we praise you.  Teach us to be your children, in the name of Christ.  Amen.
Introduction to the Opening Praise
Today as a special treat and to include some variety, instead of saying the Lord’s Prayer together, Elaine and Sharon are going to sing the words of this beautiful prayer for us.  Let me encourage you as always to make this prayer your own…
Praise     Our Father who art in heaven
Announcements    Michael
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.
If everything continues with the easing of restrictions we hope to start back with our Sunday School, Youth and other activities in September.
I will be taking my holidays in July and I’ve lined up four of your favourite speakers to lead our worship each Sunday.  There will be Jim Carson, Aleida, Terry Price and Gary Nesbitt.
Now that our AV system is up and running smoothly we will be Livestreaming the services.  You will be able to view the Livestream on our website and on our Facebook Page.
Kid’s Talk               Father’s Day
Good morning children! Today is Father's day and we want to give thanks for the many important things that dads do. I brought some things in this morning that remind me of some of the things that dads do.
(Wrench) Do you know what this is and what it is used for? Yes, it’s a wrench that is used for fixing things. Many dads are good at fixing things that are broken around the house.
(Hold up a baseball mitt) Do you know what this is? That’s right, it’s a baseball mitt. Some dads like to help play different sports or games around the house.
(Hold up some money) Yes, you know what this is. It’s money. Although some dads work at home, many dads have a job that they work at that helps provide money for the family. That money can be used to buy food, clothing and many other good things.
(Hold up a toy car) What’s this? Yes, it’s a toy car. I couldn’t bring in a real car because it would be too big but this small car reminds me that often dads help drive us to different places in the car.
That is just a few of the things that dads often like to do, but each dad has their own special way of helping us out. Since this is father's day it is the perfect time to remember all that they do and to take time to say “thank you” to them.
The bible says that all of us have God as a father as well. Although we can’t see him he is real. He knows us, he watches over us, and he loves us so much. So I hope that you can take time today to say “thank you” to your dad or whoever looks after you. Also, take time to say thank you to God our heavenly Father because he is looking after us too.
Prayer
Thank you God for dads. They are very important and we are grateful for all they do. Also, thank you for all the people that look after us and care for us. We also want to thank you God because all of us have you as a wonderful heavenly Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Kid’s Craft      Making a Card for Father’s Day (Tara to help kids)   
Introduction to the Bible Readings      Michael
Lesson 1         Denise
Mark 1 v 21-22 and Mark 1 v 35 and Mark 1 v 40-42
Lesson 2         Tara
Mark 2 v 13-17 and Mark 10 v 35-45
Reflection               “Becoming a Father to follow.”   
One evening a man, having made his journey on foot through deep snow, sat at a bar drinking pint after pint. After some time he looked through the blur of cigarette smoke and was shocked to see his young son standing there. “How on earth did you know where I was son?” He asked with concern.
“Dad,” replied the little boy, “I saw you slipping out of the house, and then I noticed your footprints in the snow. I couldn’t keep up with you, but your footprints were my guide!  Placing my feet in each footprint, I walked on and on through the cold night… and eventually I found you here.” 
On this Father’s Day, I would like us to pause and reflect on the truth that all of us have people that look up to us and follow our example.  I hope that today we will be re-inspired to become fathers and mothers and people that it will be good to follow.
I find it fascinating that one of the things Jesus often said to people was, “Follow me.”  Knowing that He was fully human and completely Divine, Jesus had every confidence that if people listened to His teaching and based their lives upon it, they would find deep contentment and would become a great blessing and example to others.
So today I want us to ask ourselves afresh, “What would Jesus do?” and remind ourselves of some of the values it would be good for us to prayerfully aim for, so that we can be someone that it will be good for others to follow, especially for those of us who have children.
 
1      Jesus put God First
The first is simply that Jesus prioritized his faith.  Jesus was brought up Jewish and throughout his lifetime we find him every Sabbath attending or speaking in the local synagogue.  On many other occasions we find him taking time out from his busy ministry to talk to His heavenly father.
When I was growing up, Sunday was a day that anyone who wanted to go to church could easily do so without it disrupting family life.  Unfortunately, it is much more difficult today.  Many sports teams practice and play on Sunday mornings and increasingly our workplaces demand that we work on Sundays at least on a rotation basis.
I understand that for many of us this causes great tension and presents us with decisions that are far from easy especially where our children are concerned.  All I would say is that at some point in our lives and the lives of our children we will have to choose.  So as far as is possible, let me encourage you to do whatever you have to do to prioritize coming to church and making time to pray personally and with your family.  If you do that, there is a much greater chance that your children and other people will follow in your footsteps of faith.  And if there is anything we can do as a church to make that easier for you then please do tell us and we will see if there is anything we can do.
2      Jesus cared for others
The second thing that stands out about Jesus is the care, compassion, mercy and love that he showed towards people.  Aside from teaching, Jesus spent most of His time listening to others and helping them with their concerns.  He healed the sick, he delivered people from evil spirits, He fed the hungry and welcomed the stranger.  You know, one of the greatest turn offs to God is religious hypocrisy.  Where I grew up, there were any number of people who would be very religious and extremely judgmental but who showed little compassion, care or generosity towards other people.  But it’s just as easy for all of us to be the same.  But let’s not be like that.  However much at times we slip up, let’s make it our goal to be kind and generous and caring to as many people as we can.  Above all things, this will have a lasting impact on our children and the people who look up to us or who watch our lives to see what God is like.
3      Jesus had no favourites
One of the greatest temptations in life is to treat people differently.  Let’s be honest, some people are easier to love than others.  We have more in common with some people than others.  When we feel that a certain association might be of benefit to ourselves or our children, it’s easy to treat someone preferentially or to disassociate ourselves from someone else.  But that’s not how Jesus lived.  Yes, it’s true that He selected his disciples carefully but throughout His life and ministry we see Jesus treating all people with equal dignity and respect.  He often spent time with the outcasts of society and he always welcomed the stranger or the person from a different background or faith.  If that’s what Jesus did then that’s what we should do too and that’s the example we should set our children.  Let us treat all people equally and encourage our children to form friendships with as diverse a range of people as possible.
4      Jesus was a humble servant
You know there are many theories about what makes a good leader, but the majority in our world emphasize decisiveness, confidence and strength.  In many ways Jesus’ example is different.  Jesus was the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Everything belonged to Him and He had all power and authority.  He could have treated people any way He wanted and simply struck them down with lightening if they’d refused His demands.  But instead He chose to become the servant of all, even to the point of allowing Himself to be handed over to be crucified.  I think one of the greatest gifts we can give to other people is to show them a different way of leadership.  That means we are to do all we can to serve others, in an attitude of humility, rather than boss people around or expect them always to do things for us.  It will mean to encourage and praise rather than always finding fault.  It will involve making the first steps towards reconciliation and forgiving those who hurt us.  It will mean listening to the ideas of others and being willing to take advice. 
 
There are so many other things I could say about Jesus and how He is such a wonderful example to follow, but we’ll keep those for another time.
 
But what I would recommend you do is what I did this week – Sit down with a pen and blank piece of paper.  Then read through one of the gospels and note down as many attitudes and actions of Christ that it would be good for us to model.
 
Put that list somewhere safe and read it prayerfully on a regular basis.
 
You know when I was at University one of the modules I studied was animal behavior.  There I learned that when a duckling emerges from an egg it will follow the first thing that it sees because it thinks that is its mother.  If it sees you, it will follow you around everywhere you go and copy as many of your behaviors.  This genetically programmed mechanism is called ‘Imprinting’ and ensures that a duck will have the best chance of a long and happy life.
 
All of us are surrounded by many ducklings who whether we like it or not, will follow our lead.  Let’s make it our goal to help them to see Jesus in all that we say and do.  Ultimately He is the one who has promised, “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.”
Song with Video Slide Show         Rebecca, Kate and Laura
Prayers for others Michael
Gracious God, you know the joy of fatherhood and also the pain, for you witnessed the life and death of your son. And you see each day the triumphs and tragedies of us your children.
Lord God our Father, reach out in love.
In Jesus you experienced the delight of being a father – as you watched him grow and mature into adulthood, as you saw him baptised in the Jordan, as day by day he responded to your guidance, faithful to the very last – a beloved son with whom you were well pleased.
Yet you also experienced agony – in the horror of the cross, the pain, the humiliation and the sorrow he endured for our sakes.
Lord God our Father, reach out in love.
In each of us you find pleasure – when we pursue what is good, when we honour your commandments, when we seek your will and respond to your guidance.  But we cause you also so much pain – through our weakness, our repeated disobedience, our deafness to your call and our rejection of your love.
Lord God our Father, reach out in love.
Gracious God, you know the joy and the pain of fatherhood, and so we now pray for fathers everywhere.  Help them to appreciate both the privilege and the responsibility they bear, and teach them to give freely of themselves so that they may discover the happiness, the fulfilment and the inexpressible rewards that fatherhood brings.
Lord God our Father, reach out in love.
Give them wisdom, patience and dedication and grant them strength to persevere when children bring tears as well as laughter, anxiety as well as hope, pain as well as pleasure.
Lord God our Father, reach out in love.
Reach out we pray to all fathers in such circumstances – those who question their ability to cope, or who fear they have failed; those striving to offer support, or who feel they have nothing left to give.
Lord God our Father, reach out in love.
And finally hear our prayer for children who on this father’s day feel pain instead of joy – those whose fathers have died, those orphaned as children, those who have been mistreated, rejected, abused, and those from broken homes who barely see or know their fathers.
Lord God our Father, reach out in love.
Take a few moments now to bring your own prayers to God and especially for those sitting leaving Cert exams…
All these prayers we offer in the name of Him who was a father to the fatherless, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
 
Closing Words
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thank you for your attendance and for tuning in to our livestream.  I hope you found today helpful.  I hope if you are a dad you are able to have a very happy father’s day. 
But to close, let me share with a benediction after which I invite you to say the grace together…
Benediction     
As you go from here, remember this:
God’s love is from everlasting to everlasting,
from generation to generation.
Just as a father has compassion on his children
so God has compassion on those fear him,
who listen to his voice,
and who do his will.
Go out in the knowledge
that the everlasting love of God goes with you.  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.
 

click the button below to watch todays livestream service

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 [email protected]
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 [email protected]
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.