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

This week is a challenging one. There are so many possible angles from which to approach these passages – which is always exciting, because of the creative possibilities, but also tough, because of the difficulty of finding a strong focus. I’ve tried to explore a few of the possibilities, but I hope it hasn’t come out too scattered. Here are some of the ideas I’ve had in mind:

• Does faith protect us? What about those who aren’t protected?
• To what extent do we view disasters and suffering as judgment?
• How do we move away from division and judgment to mercy, compassion and awareness of our shared humanity?

I think these issues are all connected, and so I’ve tried to treat them as parts of one idea – which can be summarised in the word “Grace”. I hope it works for you!

READINGS:
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18: Abram’s faith leads him into relationship with God (righteousness) & God makes a covenant with Abram, promising him that he will have a son to be his heir, and descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Psalm 27: A song of assurance for God’s protection and care, and a plea to live in God’s sanctuary and find refuge there.

Philippians 3:17-4:1: Paul’s encouragement for believers to stay true for the sake of Christ, and to remember their heavenly priorities.

Luke 13:31-35: Jesus is warned that Herod wants to kill him, and dismisses this as his face is set toward Jerusalem. Then he laments over the city which fails to heed the prophets (including Jesus).

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
This week’s readings paint a picture of contrasts. On the one hand we see those who live by expediency and self-sufficiency, and who ultimately have no safe place to stay. On the other hand, are those who like Abram, David, those who follow Paul’s teachings, and Jesus, put their faith in God and find deep and close relationship with God. These are the ones who are sheltered in God’s care, and find their home, and their hope in God’s purposes. This contrast is both a promise – whatever we may have to endure, we will ultimately find our comfort and security in God – and a warning – a life lived outside of reference to God will ultimately lead to emptiness, strife and disappointment.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: It is easy to stereotype ourselves as good and others as bad. We speak easily of “Christian nations”, of “Christian communities”, of “Christian leaders”, and we so easily label those who disagree with us as the enemy. Jesus refuses to buy into this partisan power game. He won’t allow people to believe that God brings judgment on others to punish them for sin, and he won’t allow those who follow him to take on the role of agents of judgment. Rather he calls all people to turn to God and find grace – for we all need it. What might our world look like if, instead of working so hard to identify and protect ourselves from our “enemies”, we began to understand that they have the same hopes, dreams and struggles as we do, and that they too are loved by God. How can we begin to shift our world from opposition and conflict to mutual grace and compassion. It would appear, if we are to follow Jesus, that this prophetic act may need to begin by releasing our “right to protect ourselves” and like Jesus risking that we might be crucified even as we seek to reach out to those who hate us.

LOCAL APPLICATION: There are two truths that we need to balance in our personal journey and as communities of faith. The first is that relationship with God, is a “protection” of sorts from the woes of the world. When we follow Christ, we learn ways to live well – we learn to love others and ourselves, which inevitably creates deeper and more stable relationships; we learn to devote ourselves to God and God’s purposes, which offer us meaning and fulfilment; we learn to refuse to play the games of greed, revenge and abuse of power, which controls our appetites and keeps us from self-destruction; we learn spiritual disciplines which increase our self-care and health. But, there is also a second truth – people who follow Christ are not “better” than others. God’s “blessing” is not a reward for goodness, and suffering and difficulty are not God’s judgment or curse for our sinfulness. The Gospel offers us doorways to life, while ensuring that we know that God has no favourites, and that our call is to invite all others to find life in Christ with us. How do we celebrate the gifts of following Christ, while avoiding the self-righteousness that so often characterizes people of faith? Perhaps you can explore that this week.

RESOURCES FOR WORHSIP:
Prayers:
The Shelter of Grace
We’re Not That Different

Hymn Suggestions:
And Are We Yet Alive?
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
O God Our Help In Ages Past
How Firm A Foundation
O God Our Help (Link to YouTube video)
Blessed Be Your Name (Link to YouTube video)
God Of The Moon (Link to YouTube video)
You Are (Link to CD site where this song be downloaded free. There is also a video version available there.)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Breaking of Bread

Video Suggestions:
Land Of The Living
Judging Others
A Love Issue

Drama:
You’re Not Like Me

Other Resources:
21st Century Worship Resources
GBOD Worship Planning Helps
Lent Liturgy

The year has well and truly begun, and routines are almost all completely in place. I, and my family, have settled well into our new home, and are growing more and more excited by the possibilities and potential of the ministry we will be able to exercise here in Cape Town. And it doesn’t hurt to live under the shadow of Table Mountain! My prayer for us (meaning the Sacredise cyber-community) is that our worship will continue to grow deeper and more challenging throughout the year, and that our churches will become stronger reflections of the grace, compassion, challenge and reign of Christ as a result.

Epiphany 4 on January 31st is a week that can really challenge us about our views and practice of grace. What has struck me as I have reflected on this week’s readings is that grace is not just a “yes” to love and compassion and acceptance and forgiveness. Grace is also a “no” to hatred and apathy and condemnation and exclusion. The “yes” is often easy to speak and to receive, but the “no” is much harder, much more painful, and can lead us into confrontation and even conflict. Yet, the “no” is as important as the “yes”, for without either one, grace is not really grace at all.

READINGS:
Jeremiah 1:4-10: Jeremiah is called to be a prophet, and God explains God’s knowledge of Jeremiah from his conception, and God’s message for Jeremiah to preach. Note both the “yes” and the “no” in the message Jeremiah is given.

Psalm 71:1-6: A prayer for God to protect and be a refuge from one who has trusted and praised God since the womb.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13: The noble and godly characteristics of love, which lasts forever, and is the greatest of all things. Again note the “yes” (love is…) and the “no” (love is not…).

Luke 4:21-30: After reading the “yes” in Isaiah’s scroll (last week) the “no” to the people of Nazareth in Jesus’ teaching offends them, and they attempt to kill him.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
The two major themes in this week’s reading stand out in clear relief:
1. God’s grace is not always a comfortable and gentle thing to experience. Integral to God’s grace is the work of justice which distresses the comfortable and self-assured (the “no”) even as it comforts the distressed (the “yes”). Jeremiah is told that his message will not only build up but break down; The psalmist reflects on his vulnerability and the threat of evil in spite of his long life of relationship with God; The love that Paul speaks about is not an easy or comfortable way to follow, but challenges our self-centredness and lethargy toward others; and finally, Jesus makes it clear that his ministry is not “friendly” and non-disruptive, but  a life-changing, all-inclusive confrontation of self-righteousness and injustice.
2. As with Jesus’ near execution in Luke, those who choose to follow Christ in his liberating work, must expect that they will find themselves in confrontation with injustice and those who propagate it. This will inevitably lead to great sacrifice and suffering.

The work of grace is not all acceptance and healing. Sometimes it is a wounding battle – not least because we are called to love even those we challenge.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
“One day, he’s here, and the next he’s not, but you mustn’t press him, after all, he’s not a tame lion.” Mr. Tumnus, speaking of Aslan in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

GLOBAL APPLICATION: Like the people of Nazareth, there are still those who seek to “own” Jesus for themselves. By domesticating Jesus, and editing his message to fit our national, corporate or religious agendas, we tame the Gospel, and make it palatable, with little cost. But, as the people of Nazareth discovered, Jesus will not be tamed, and his grace, while offered to all, also challenges of all that resists grace. As Matthew Fox explains, following Jesus means embracing biophilia – loving life and all that supports it and provides joy and enjoyment – and resisting necrophilia – standing against all that robs life, oppresses and abuses. This dual-character of grace is what is revealed this week in Epiphany, and calls us to stand against any attempt to domesticate and “use” Jesus in our world – as Wilberforce, Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. all did.

LOCAL APPLICATION: As preachers, worship leaders and even Christ-followers, it is all too easy to seek to bring Jesus and his Gospel into service of our own desires and agendas. It is easy to accept grace for ourselves, but deny it to others – even in Jesus’ name. It is easy to remain silent when Jesus is used as justification for abuse, oppression, greed, hatred or arrogance. But, grace does not call us to silence, or to compliance with that which hurts and destroys. The strength of grace is to resist what keeps others from grace – defending the powerless, speaking for the voiceless and lifting up the downtrodden – all while still seeking to love those against whom we stand. Inevitably, this just (justice-focused) grace, will bring us into situations of confrontation and conflict, but they can be navigated with both strength and compassion, if we will learn from Jesus. Who, in your community, needs just grace to defend and heal them (the “yes”)? Who needs just grace to confront and disturb them (the “no”)? And where, in our own hearts, do we need grace to confront and disturb us?

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
Wild God
Just Grace

Hymn Suggestions:
Christ For The World We Sing
Ah, Holy Jesus
O Young And Fearless Prophet
Stop The Clanging
The Church’s One Foundation
You Are (Link to YouTube video. Or download the mp3 & chord chart free from here)
History Maker (Link to YouTube video)
God Of This City (Link to YouTube video)
Everlasting God (Link to YouTube video)
Living For Your Glory (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Celebration of Sacrifice (Calls us to remember Jesus’ sacrifice and to embrace the suffering and struggle of following Christ)

Video Suggestions:
Disrupt With Mercy
Justice And The Kingdom Of God (This is different from the Brian McLaren video that I’ve featured before)
Spoken Word – His Grace
MLK – Faith Is Taking The First Step