If you decide to celebrate the Ascension on Thursday, then you’ll be looking at Easter 7 for Sunday. This is the last Sunday before Pentecost (which closes out the 50 days of Easter), and appropriately, the focus is on God’s invitation to all people to enjoy the life and grace that is offered in Jesus. The scene is set, then, for the welcoming of all nations in the reversal of Babel which happened on the birthday of the Church.

May you hear God’s gracious invitation again as you worship and prepare this week.

READINGS:
Acts 16:16-34: After casting a demon out of a fotune-telling slave girl, Paul & Silas are imprisoned. They continue to worship even while in jail, and the prison bursts open, giving Paul and opportunity to lead the jailer and his family to faith in Christ.

Psalm 97: God is great and mighty over all, above all gods and idols, causing the earth to tremble, and rescuing and protecting those who are God’s people

Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21: John’s conclusion to the Revelation proclaims Christ as the one who invites all to find life in Christ, and who is coming to  ‘set things to rights’ bringing rescue and the safety of the Holy City to those who respond to God’s invitation.

John 17:20-26: Jesus prays for his disciples and for all who will come to believe in him, that they may be one, and that through their love and their ‘belovedness’ the world may be brought to knowledge of Jesus.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
At first glance, the readings this week seem completely unconnected. But a closer look reveals the simple theme of invitation. In Acts, Paul and Silas are given a unique opportunity to invite a jailer into Christ’s life. In the Psalm, God’s gory and power are the context for an invitation to those who are ‘godly’ to find refuge in God. In Revelation the invitation to all who would ‘drink of the waters of life’ is proclaimed, along with the assurance of Christ’s return to love and welcome those who respond to the invitation. In John Jesus prays for unity and love among believers so that others may see this, know the truth about Jesus, and be drawn (invited) into the life of Christ, and loving, beloved community of faith. It is approproate that this theme should follow closely behind last week’s focus on hospitality, and on the celebration of the Ascension – which proclaimed both God’s divine reign, and God’s gracious immanence. God seeks intimate relationship with humanity, and, as an integral part of this intimacy, we need to share God’s love with one another. Thus, even as we accept God’s invitation to beloved life, we are called to extend the invitation to others. The Gospel is, after all, at its heart an extravagant, divine invitation.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: When it comes to the Gospel invitation, we inevitably find ourselves debating things like the uniqueness of Christ, and what happens to people of other religions. But, the invitation of the Gospel is not to grow a particular religion (even one that calls itself by Christ’s name). Rather, it is to invite people into the grace and love of God which is embodied and offered in a person – Jesus Christ. The invitation is not intended to create a bunch of philosophical and religious hoops for people to jump through before they can be accepted as ‘in’, but rather to remove obstacles, and, through practical, lived and shared love, make God’s grace as easy to access as possible. Perhaps, if we were less concerned about religious dominance (or the dominance of other religions that are ot ours), and more concerned with the practical expression of love for those within (and without) our own faith community globally, we would have to worry less about evangelism, and more about how we welcome the people streaming to join us. As I read on a poster the other day: “A suggestion for global peace – all Christians should promise not to kill each other”. What if we also promised to feed, clothe, house and educate each other?

LOCAL APPLICATION: A lot of the conversation around “Church” these days (be it emerging church, seeker church, worship evangelism, denominational structures or whatever) boils down to “church growth” or, worse, “church survival”. We are constantly bombarded with statistics about people leaving the church and stories of those who have been hurt/disillusioned/marginalised by the church. Both the stats and the stories are good and need to be heard, but our responses are often to seek new “solutions” or “programs” or “techniques” or even “theologies” to stop the bleed and get back on top – or at least back to being alive to some degree. Jesus, though, doesn’t particularly concerned about “the Church” and whether it grows or not. What he is concerned is that people should now about God’s grace and life which is available through Christ and which is demonstrated by a community of love. God’s invitation, in the end, is not a message or an institution. It is a relationship with God and with those who love God and know they are beloved of God. Perhaps the best way we can be a people of invitation is to stop speaking, “reaching out” or trying to be attractive, and to start simply loving God and each other – and anyone else who happens to enter our circle of awareness.

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
The Amazing Invitation
Extending The Invitation
Chains

Hymn Suggestions:
And Can It Be
To God Be The Glory
Come Let Us Sing Of A Wonderful Love
Come Sinners To The Gospel Feast
You Are (Link to the Every God-Beloved Life CD page, where you can download a free mp3 & chord chart)
Everyone Under The Sun (Link to Yahoo listening page)
All Who Are Thirsty (Link to YouTube video)
Come Now Is The Time To Worship (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for Communion

Video Suggestions:
Invite
Invitation
You Are
Invitation To The Thirsty

As you know, the Ascension Of Our Lord can be celebrated on Ascension Day (Thursday 13 May) or on the following Sunday (Sunday 16 May). Whatever you choose, this is perhaps one of the most underrated festivals in the Liturgical Calendar. The reality, though, is that this is the climax of Christ’s earthly ministry, and it prepares for everything that must follow – Pentecost, Trinity, and the Ordinary Time journey of learning to live out the meaning and message of Christ’s life. For this reason, Ascension is a celebration that must be treated with care and with great thoughtfulness.

The obvious message of Christ’s reign stands out in this celebration, but with a little more thought and reflection, there are some very exciting and surprising themes that can be explored. I hope I have managed to highlight at least one of these in this week’s resources.

May you be challenged and blessed as you prepare!

READINGS:
Acts 1:1-11: Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to his disciples. Then he is taken up into heaven, with the assurance of the angels that he will return.

Psalm 47: A celebration of and call to praise the God who is high over all.
OR
Psalm 93: A psalm celebrating God’s reign and majesty.

Ephesians 1:15-23: Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians that they may know the power of Christ who is over all and fills all.

Luke 24:44-53: Jesus reminds the disciples of how he has fulfilled the Scriptures, then he promises the Holy Spirit, blesses them and is taken up to heaven.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
Ascension is one of those festivals that, in spite of its importance, can end up feeling old and second hand. We’ve heard the story so many times, and we’ve interpreted it so many times that we struggle to find anything new. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with revisiting the basics – God in Christ is not just immanent, but also transcendent, high over all, and truly and justly reigning over all of creation even though it doesn’t always seem like it.
But, perhaps there’s another angle to this celebration (if this is an old way of looking at it for you, please forgive me). The link between ascension and Pentecost is clear and strong – Jesus shifts from a specific, localised human body in a specific geographical location, to a universal Presence, seeking to indwell multitudes of bodies. This to happens when Christ gathers all things to himself, and fills all things with himself (as Paul says in Ephesians). Thus, there is a sense in which the Ascension is the most immanent and inclusive picture of God we ever see. In the feast of Ascension we discover that Christ’s love goes further even than resurrection, but leads Christ to embrace all of creation, and fill it all with himself, while also carrying our humanity into the Godhead – the ultimate, intimate union of God and God’s universe!

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: One of the problems with the traditional “power over” view of the Ascension is that this model of power is all too common, and all too destructive in our world. We begin to frame faith in the language of conquest, and we begin to view Jesus’ lordship as some sort of military victory. This image of Christ goes against the Jesus of the Gospels, and the message he proclaimed. What our world needs rather is a new way of viewing power: not as “power over” (dominion) nor as “power under” (manipulation), but as “power with” – shared, collaborative, dialogic and relational. When we view the ascension as an extension of Christ’s death and resurrection (which is has to be), then we recognise God’s purpose of bringing all things into relationship with Godself and with each other, and of making all things one – consciously filled with the Presence of God. This proclaims the power that is found in self-giving and in connection. This is a power that the world desperately needs to learn.

LOCAL APPLICATION: Too much of the faith conversation in our communities revolves around who can claim the “authority” of rightness based on the Bible, or a unique experience of God, or a connection with a particular Church tradition or leader. In too many ways we use this “authority” to play “power over” games with each other, “dividing and conquering” whenever we can – lay & clergy, believer & seeker, conservative & liberal. Ultimately, these power games simply lead to conflict and destruction. Jesus’ approach to power – as revealed in the Ascension – is radically different. He embraces all (invites all to sit at his feet) and seeks to fill all – finding unity with all. For us, this offers the example of hospitality and invitation, relationship and dialogue, and the quest for unity. We are called not to “rule over” but to seek a life that brings dignitity, grace and self-determination for all, while creating systems of unity and shared power wherever we can. This can apply to every sphere of life, from the family, to the church community, to the public discourse. What does it mean to live “Ascension power” in your world today?

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
Cosmic Community
A New Vision Of Power
Set The World To Rights
In Name Alone

Hymn Suggestions:
Be Thou My Vision (I have also uploaded a version of the words for this hymn that are completely gender inclusive)
The Head That Once Was Crowned
Hail To The Lord’s Anointed
At The Name Of Jesus
Above All (Link to YouTube video)
How Great Is Our God (Link to YouTube video)
Everlasting God (Link to YouTube video)
Now And Forever (From my CD Every God-Beloved Life. Link to Amazon Mp3 download page.)
The Lord Reigns (From my CD Songs for the Road. Link to Sacredise Music Page where you’ll find a chord chart and a link to the page where you can hear a preview)
We Bow Down Before You (Link to Sacredise Music Page where you’ll find a chord chart, a lead sheet and an mp3 for free download)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet

Video Suggestions:
The Ascension & Jesus Christ
The Ascension & The Church
Rise

Image:
Sky

Last week the Lectionary challenged us to bring life to others through following Christ’s example of love. This week, that love gets practical as the readings call us to embody God’s hospitality. If anything expresses the life that is unleashed through the Easter event, it is when we learn to see Christ in the stranger, and welcome them into our lives and hearts.

May your worship be a home for you and for the strangers among you this week.

READINGS:
Acts 16:9-15: In response to Paul’s vision, he and his companions go to Macedonia, where they preach to a group of women in Philippi. Lydia, from Thyatira (thus, a foreigner) is one of those who receive the Gospel message, and she immediately offers hospitality to Paul and his friends.

Psalm 67: An invitational psalm encouraging all the nations to praise God, to enjoy God’s mercy and receive God’s provision.

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5: John’s vision of the New Jerusalem, where the gates are never closed, but no evil can enter. God’s security and hospitality are offered to the nations.

John 14:23-29: Jesus promises the gift of the Holy Spirit – God making God’s home within those who love God.
OR John 5:1-9: Jesus heals the sick man at the pool of Bethesda.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
Taking last week’s vision of inclusivity even further, the Scriptures this week offer us a vision of hospitality as the model of God’s work in those who love God, and of the life which flows from it. In Acts, Lydia, the new convert, immediately understands that a life of following Christ is a life of hospitality – and offers hospitality to Paul and friends. In Psalm 67, all nations are invited into God’s mercy, security and provision – a vision of adoration for God’s hospitality. In Revelation, the vision of the New Jerusalem is one of God’s hopsitality offered to all nations, providing security, healing and food. In the Gospel, the vision is beautifully reversed – God, by God’s Spirit, seek to enjoy the hospitality of the human heart, coming to indwell us, and then lead us into lives of obedient love. In the alternative Gospel reading, the outworking of this love or hospitality of God is dramatically revealed in the healing of the sick man – who has, perhaps, become too “at home” with his illness.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: A vision of a hospitable world is a vision of hope, and also a challenge to the ways in which we fall short of this ideal. In so many ways, our world has developed a culture of suspicion and inhospitality. But, arguably the primary characteristic of Jesus’ first followers as they sought to live out the Gospel was hospitality, reflected in feeding the hungry (current equivalent: global debt relief and removal of unjust trade restrictions?), inviting strangers into their homes (current equivalent: humane and just immigration laws?), and serving and praying for the sick, the widow and the orphan (current equivalent: equitable health care and social care and upliftment systems?). For those of us who seek to follow Christ, our vote, and our voice in public dialogue, on these key issues are a significant influence in creating a more hospitable world.

LOCAL APPLICATION: Hospitality is the essential challenge of the Gospel. Matthew Fox, in his book Original Blessing, suggest that the true meaning of “holiness” is hospitality. Hospitality is, essentially, the offer of safety, comfort, nourishment and friendship to both friend and stranger. The Scriptures show that this is a high ideal in God’s purposes. What this means for us is, initially, an opening of our hearts to welcome the stranger and friend, offering safety, comfort and love. Then, this must overflow into practical hospitality, opening our ‘homes’ – our communities, our churches, our neighbourhoods and, yes, even our literal homes, to those who need shelter, safety, nourishment, acceptance and friendship. How, in your church and its worship, can you become more welcoming and more hospitable to those who are homeless and friendless?

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
A Way Home
The Amazing Invitation
A Place For Us

Hymn Suggestions:
Where Cross The Crowded Ways Of Life
I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord
O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
Jesus, United By Thy Grace
All Who Are Thirsty (Link to YouTube video)
Always Forever (Link to YouTube video)
Creator King (Link to YouTube video)
Jesus My Desire (Link to Sacredise music page. Scroll down for mp3, chord chart & lead sheet)
Majesty and Mystery (Awesome God) (Link to YouTube video)
You Are (Link to Every god-Beloved Life CD page. Preview and link to free download in the left column)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Breaking Of Bread

Video Suggestions:
Psalm 67
Hospitality & Salvation
Hospitality

The power of Easter lies not just in the life it offers us, but also in the way we are recruited to be life-bringers. This week, the role of love in leading us to life – and enabling us to bring life to others – stands out in the Lectionary. Love is never easy, it is always messy, unpredictable and scandalously inclusive. But, if we seek to follow Christ, we cannot avoid the privilege and the responsibility we have to be people of love.

May your worship lead into this love of Christ, and into his life, a little more this week.

READINGS:
Acts 11:1-18: Peter explains to the believers in Jerusalem how the Holy Spirit was received by Gentiles in Caesaria.

Psalm 148: A psalm exhorting all of creation and all peoples to praise God.

Revelation 21:1-6: John sees a vision of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven, and a voice that proclaims that God’s dwelling place is now among people on earth.

John 13:31-35: Jesus’ new commandment – to love one another.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
The Easter message shifts this week from Jesus’ offer of life to us, to the way we seek to live out that life as we follow him – and it’s a startling message of inclusivity and love. Jesus’ new commandment is frequently sung and quoted, but the “one another” that Jesus’ calls us to love is often limited to Christian believers. Now, in the lectionary, as the Gospel is laid aside the other readings, we realise that this “one another” goes much further. In Acts, we discover that the previously excluded Gentiles are now included in God’s Kingdom. In the Psalm, all of creation is included in this “one another” as the entire creation is exhorted to offer praise. And in John’s Revelation vision, we discover that God so includes all, that God moves God’s dwelling place (“heaven”) into our earthly neighbourhood. There can be no greater, all-encompassing statement of love for all from God. We have no more excuses for turning the Gospel into an exclusive message!

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: One of the big questions of our generation is “who is in and who is out?”. Global economic and trade regulations are designed to favour some (who tend to be the wealthy) and disempower others (who tend to live in third world countries). Political conversations are always being drawn in partisan ways with clear lines indicating who is on which side – and woe betide those who try to cross those lines. Religious communities and power structures, equally, have tended to focus on who is with us and who is against us. From geographical to economic to political to religious to racial to sexual to generational lines, our world is built on defining who is in and who is out. The prophetic Church, the Church of the resurrection, of love, of the God who lives among us, must be a Church that blurs every line, and invites everyone into the grace and love of God – and a Church that challenges the lines that exclude and oppress.

LOCAL APPLICATION:  In recent years the worship of the Church has been strongly divided along stylistic and generational lines. More and more churches are discovering, though, that any church or service that is built on division or exclusivity is bound to fail. Increasingly we are witnessing that the most healthy, vibrant and growing communities are those that include – that bring diverse people together to worship, to learn from each other and to learn to love one another. This is not easy, but if you seek to reach people who are not part of any church, if you seek to make an impact on your wider community, then we need to demonstrate that we can live the message we preach, and that those we seek to reach will be included and loved and brought into contact with a loving and inclusive God – not judged or condemned in the hopes that the fear of hell or God’s rejection will scare them into the Kingdom.

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
How You Have Loved
A Love So Strong
Where Is The Love

Hymn Suggestions:
Come Let Us Sing Of a Wonderful Love
Love Divine All Loves Excelling
Praise To The Lord, The Almighty
All Creatures Of Our God And King
Everyone Belongs (From my CD Every God-Beloved Life. Link to Amazon mp3 download page)
You Are (Also from Every God-Beloved Life. Free download from the linked page)
God Of The Moon (Link to YouTube video)
Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace
Servant Song (Brother, Sister Let Me Serve You)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Breaking Of Bread

Video Suggestions:
Known By Love

Drama Script:
You’re Not Like Me