Welcome to our service - 5 March 23
This service sheet can be used individually or with households.
We would encourage you to say (or even sing) hymns and songs out loud.
Prayers, other liturgy or readings can be said out loud or silently, corporately or individually.
SERVICE
Opening
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
The Lord is a great God, O that today you would listen to his voice.
Harden not your hearts.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vegvb1u5s4
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
the King of creation;
O my soul, praise Him,
for He is thy health and salvation;
all ye who hear,
brothers and sisters, draw near,
praise Him in glad adoration.
2. Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things
so wondrously reigneth,
shelters thee under His wings,
yea, so gently sustaineth:
hast thou not seen?
all that is needful hath been
granted in what He ordaineth.
3. Praise to the Lord, who doth
prosper thy work and defend thee!
Surely His goodness and mercy
here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
what the Almighty can do,
who with His love doth befriend thee.
4. Praise to the Lord!
O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath come now
with praises before Him!
Let the amen
sound from His people again:
gladly for aye we adore Him.
Words: Joachim Neander (1650-80)
tr. Catherine Winkworth (1829-78)
Music: Stralsund Gesangbuch (1665)
CONFESSION
“Now is the healing time decreed
for sins of heart and word and deed,
when we in humble fear record
the wrong that we have done the Lord.”
(Latin, before 12th century)
Spend some time in quiet and silence asking that God’s Spirit would reveal those areas in your life where you need His forgiveness.
Compassion and forgiveness belong to the Lord our God, though we have rebelled against him. Let us then renounce our wilfulness and ask his mercy by confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin:
(Silence)
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Against you, you only have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight:
(Silence)
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me:
(Silence)
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
ABSOLUTION
May the father of all mercies cleanse us from our sins,
and restore us in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
COLLECT
Almighty God,
by the prayer and discipline of Lent
may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,
and by following in his Way
come to share in his glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tPp8ov7cks
Speak, O Lord, as we come to You
to receive the food of Your holy word.
Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
shape and fashion us in your likeness,
that the light of Christ might be seen today
in our acts of love and our deeds of faith.
Speak, O Lord, and fulfil in us
all Your purposes, for Your glory.
Teach us Lord full obedience,
holy reverence, true humility.
Test our thoughts and our attitudes
in the radiance of Your purity.
Cause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to see
Your majestic love and authority.
Words of power that can never fail;
let their truth prevail over unbelief.
Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;
help us grasp the heights
of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
that will echo down through eternity.
And by grace we’ll stand on Your promises; and by faith we’ll walk as You walk with us.
Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built
and the earth is filled with Your glory.
Keith Getty & Stuart Townend ©2005 Thankyou Music
READINGS
Romans 5.1-11
Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.
John 3. 1 - 17
There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”
Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”
“How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.
Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
This is the word of the Lord,
Thanks be to God.
Talk by Alistair Stevenson
This morning I want to start by asking you this question: when you imagine Jesus, what kind of Jesus do you see? To put it another way, what kind of Jesus do you believe in?
That might be an odd question to ask. Surely, we all believe in the same Jesus? But for me it raises a question about how easy it can be to form an image or idea of Jesus that fits our own choosing and our own ideals.
I recently read an article that was a bit tongue and cheek but was trying to show how we can so easily fit Jesus into the particular theology or tradition that we come from.
So for example: the 'pastoral Jesus': he is one who is overwhelmed with compassion. He picks out the woman in need with the crowds pressing in. He postpones ministry to many in order to serve the one. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. Or maybe the 'radical Jesus': who shows disregard for authority. Who confronts those in privilege and challenges abuses of power. Or the 'liberal Jesus': he is racially inclusive of everyone. Who has a programme for social change where the poor are raised up and injustice is challenged - the powerful are humbled and the privileged brought low. Or maybe the 'conservative evangelical' Jesus who focuses on teaching and right understanding. He speaks in a way that only some will understand. He is the one who speaks challengingly and is often perceived as rude and abrupt. Or maybe the 'introvert Jesus' who is constantly getting away on his own to pray, retreating not only from the crowd but even his closest friends. The 'charismatic Jesus'.... I could go on.
The point is this. Amazingly, on the one hand, all these attributes of Jesus are true. We see the multifaceted character of Jesus - a Jesus who met people where they are at and is a saviour for all. We also see the complexity of Jesus' character and therefore how easy it is to trim off parts of Jesus' ministry, personality and actions that we might find uncomfortable. We can easily create a Jesus who suits us the most.
But what we find again and again in the Gospel’s is Jesus continually confounding expectations. Even John the Baptist, his own cousin and the prophet who prepared the way for Jesus, even he couldn’t quite figure out who this Jesus was.
And so, this morning I want to challenge and encourage us this Lent. I want to invite you to allow your understanding and vision of Jesus to be expanded. To allow the eyes of your heart to be opened so that this Easter you may grasp the love shown by God as he sent his son to hang on the cross. To truly see what love is - God's gift of his son to a broken world.
In our passage this morning we come to Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus. Over the next few weeks as we draw to Easter, we are going to explore a number of different stories in John's gospel of people meeting Jesus. In each story we find how people met Jesus in an unexpected way.
Here Nicodemus has his own expectations about who Jesus is and what he has come to do. But as we read through the passage we notice again and again that Jesus will not submit to the questioning of Nicodemus but instead is constantly seeking to confound expectations and get Nicodemus to enlarge his gaze and understanding.
This passage has some of the most famous verses in Scripture and centres around if not the most famous - John 3: 16. If it is also a passage jam packed with meaning and subtext. It draws from themes throughout scripture - with scriptural hyperlinks to many parts of the Old Testament.
One example of this is the theme of light and seeing clearly - a theme scattered throughout this passage. Notice verse 2. Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. Our NLT says 'after dark one evening'. Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus at that time? There may have been a practical consideration: the evening was cooler and a much better time for lengthy conversation. But also, as many commentators have highlighted, coming at that time implies a sense of secrecy and the desire not to be seen by others. Nicodemus is inquisitive and wants to know more about who this Jesus is. But, he does so under the pretext of darkness and secrecy.
Moreover he is going to be contrasted in the next chapter with the Samaritan woman at the well (who we will explore in more detail next week). Whereas Nicodemus - the Jewish leader and teacher, coming at night for fear of his reputation - seems to struggle to see who Jesus truly is. In the story of the Samaritan woman - an outsider and outcast - she, having seen Jesus physically in the middle of the day, in contrast to Nicodemus spiritually fully grasps Jesus as the Messiah. And through her testimony many Samaritans from her village believe in Jesus.
Jesus says of Nicodemus: “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things?” Nicodemus did not understand - he wasn’t able to perceive or know or recognise what Jesus was talking about, despite being a respected, educated Jewish teacher. Again, this is in contrast to the Samaritan woman - someone far from respectable.
There is a challenge and encouragement here. The challenge is that knowing more will never get us closer to seeing Jesus. More head knowledge won’t get us closer to experiencing the Kingdom of God. The encouragement is faith is not about knowing more but about open hearts and open eyes.
Verse 3 Jesus says "I tell you the truth unless you were born again you cannot SEE the kingdom of God.” Born again. It’s a phrase that has been hijacked by American televangelists. We can’t seem to say it without an American accent and a hint of mockery. But it is significant. Jesus tells Nicodemus that a transformation has to take place to be able to fully see the Kingdom of God. The analogy of new birth gives the sense of how radical this transformation has to be. This isn’t just a transformation of part of or a little of a person. It is the complete rebirth of every part.
And of course, Nicodemus doesn’t get it. Verse 4: “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus seemingly ignores this question and replies “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.” Just to note, the Greek word for You in the last sentence is plural. The writer is wanting to make it clear, this isn’t just for Nicodemus, this experience of spiritual rebirth is the experience for every follower of Jesus.
Throughout the years I have heard some incredible testimonies of people coming to know Jesus. For some it was a single moment that they can look back to. They have a place, a time and date when they suddenly experienced the love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit and from that moment their lives were completely transformed. They were spiritually re-born.
This was not the case for me. I grew up going to church and am extremely grateful for the example of faith of my parents and how they lived out that faith in every part of their lives. As a teenager I can point to a number of different moments and times when I particularly and tangibly felt the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and was overwhelmed by the love of God. But I often feel like I need to make a daily decision to be ‘born again’. I need to say again, today, Jesus, give me new life in you. I want to be shaped, modelled, remade into your image. Would you give me eyes to perceive what you are doing and how you are building your Kingdom.
As the passage continues, we see that being born again, and the spiritual insight that comes from this is going to culminate in fully perceiving Jesus raised up on the cross, given by God for this world.
Jesus takes us back to the Old Testament, Moses and God's people in the desert. It was through the snake lifted up at the people were able to receive forgiveness. The snake became a physical sign of a spiritual reality. And so, Jesus says just like Moses lifted up the snake so too he is going to be lifted up so that all may receive forgiveness. The son lifted up becomes the way back to God.
How often does our world define what love is? God is love. It is his very essence and so he gets to determine and define what it is. That is why John 3:16 is so famous. I love how our NLT translation puts it: “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” Do you want to know what love is? Do you want to know how God loves a broken world? God gave. God GAVE his one and only Son. His begotten son - which basically means his unique, one of a kind, no one like him before or since, son.
Why does he give? He gives so that everyone - no matter their creed or colour or background or race or class - no matter their past, their sin, their brokenness - everyone who believes in this son Jesus will not perish but have eternal life.
We all deserve to perish but because God gives, we can have eternal life. Eternal life should conjure up images of the new age and we become a part of. A new age that doesn’t start after death - but starts today.
Do you notice the generosity that is at the heart of the gospel? Our God gives. He generously gives of himself to show us what love is.
We pour out our lives as an offering - a gift back to God because he first gave.
Fortunately, I am fairly tall, but I have always felt for people shorter than me at a music concert or football match who struggle to see over other people. Having an obstructed view really can impacts the full experience of something. You can’t fully grasp what is going on or fully appreciate the whole story that is being presented. Sometimes your view isn’t obstructed but because the ticket was cheap you end up being so far away that you can struggle to see anything.
In our passage Nicodemus struggles to fully see, to fully grasp and appreciate who Jesus is and what he had come to do. As the snake was lifted up by Moses, so the son of man, Jesus says will be lifted up. Lifting something up helps people to see. But even as Jesus was lifted up to die on a cross as a gift by God to a broken world, we can still miss the gift that God is giving.
So, what is obstructing your view? What is preventing you from seeing clearly. Maybe you are stuck behind a concrete pillar. You view is limited by a someone that seems so immovable. Maybe you are struggling to see over someone else. There maybe someone in your life who is preventing you from fully seeing Jesus. Or maybe you are just so far away and reluctant to get closer to get a better view.
When you have the best seats in the house, you can fully grasp and take in the full story - the whole experience and it’s only then that you can be fully impacted and transformed by the unfolding narrative. God has a free ticket - a free gift to the best seat in the house and he offers it to every single one of us. No one gets left out. There is no queuing or waiting for the ticket to become available. All we have to do is received.
This Lent I want to invite you to ask what is causing us to not see Jesus fully? What or who is getting in the way? What might be preventing you from getting closer to seeing Jesus?
Amen
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand
of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
O LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
When I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
Come and listen to me.
Jacques Berthier/Taizé.
Copyright © 1982 Ateliers et Presses de Taize (France).
PRAYERS - written by John Gough
This morning we are praying for our World, our Country and out church.
I invite you to take time praying for each section.
Pray in your hearts for the people of Greece who were involved in a head on rail crash this week. Pray for the bereaved, the injured and the emergency services involved.
Pray for areas of our world where there is ongoing conflict, and the hope that one day negotiations can take place and broker a lasting peace.
Pray for our sisters and brothers in Christ across the world who cannot openly worship as we are able to.
Pray for our country, for all in government and the talks to hopefully allow the Northern Ireland Parliament to meet and function again.
Give thanks for the World Day of Prayer services that took place across the world on Friday and especially the service that was here at St Gabriel’s.
And finally pray for our Church and all who lead us in our worship and for the preparations being made for the Forthcoming Easter Services.
Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74kyfROS4q8
I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Come unto me and rest;
lay down, thou weary one, lay down
thy head upon my breast’:
I came to Jesus as I was,
weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting-place,
and He has made me glad.
2. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘Behold I freely give
the living water; thirsty one,
stoop down and drink, and live’:
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched,
my soul revived,
and now I live in Him.
3. I heard the voice of Jesus say,
‘I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me, thy morn shall rise,
and all thy day be bright’:
I looked to Jesus and I found
in Him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till travelling days are done.
Horatius Bonar (1808-89)
OFFERTORY - Take a moment to consider how you are going to continue to give to the life of the church and support other aid agencies and mission organisations.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,
the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvLxZEU02uI
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name
Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all
2. When Darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil
Christ alone…
3. When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless I stand before the throne.
Christ alone…
©2011 Hillsong Music Publishing
FINAL BLESSING:
May God the Father,
who does not despise the broken spirit,
give to you a contrite heart.
Amen.
May Christ,
who bore our sins in his body on the tree,
heal you by his wounds.
Amen.
May the Holy Spirit,
who leads us into all truth,
speak to you words of pardon and peace.
Amen.
and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.
Amen