Perhaps I can support this with a quote from my new book The Hour That Changes Everything – How worship forms us into the people God wants us to be:

A significant part of the practice of Sabbath is aligning ourselves with God’s rhythm. As rhythm organises a piece of music in time according to speed and pattern, so Sabbath organises our lives according to God’s sense of time – God’s tempo and pattern. This is more than simply giving ourselves a breather, or allowing ourselves time to rest so that we can launch back into our busyness with renewed vigour. Sabbath is about learning to recognise the significance of moments in time. It is about learning to recognise God’s tempo and pattern for us, our community and our world, and it is about matching our pace with these eternal rhythms.

The book releases in South Africa this week, and will be available for international purchase through Amazon.com shortly. More information will be going up on the Sacredise web site this week.

May worship lead you into a life of true Sabbath-keeping this week.

READINGS:
Jeremiah 1:4-10: Jeremiah is called by God to be a prophet, but protests that he is too young. God promises to put God’s words into Jeremiah’s mouth.
OR Isaiah 58:9b-14: God promises goodness and honour for God’s people if they will act justly and honour the Sabbath.

Psalm 71:1-6: A prayer for God’s protection and care.
OR Psalm 103:1-8: A song of praise and thanksgiving for God’s forgiveness, healing and goodness.

Hebrews 12:18-29: Unlike the people of Israel who were afraid of God’s appearing at the mountain, followers of Christ have been invited into God’s grace and the joyous community of worship in Christ. We have received an unshakeable kingdom, and must be careful to listen to Christ’s words, and worship God in thankfulness.

Luke 13:10-17: Jesus heals a crippled woman on the Sabbath, incurring the criticism of the synagogue leader. Jesus points out that everyone ‘works’ on the Sabbath, and that it is right and good that she should be freed.

REFLECTIONS ON THEME:
Although it is only specifically mentioned in two of the readings this week, the prominence of the Sabbath in the Gospel reading, and the underlying foundations of a “Sabbath way of life” provide exciting possibilities for worship. Closely aligned with this is the word “kingdom” which comes through in a number of the readings. These two biblical words are closely related. The Sabbath is one element of the whole Jubilee system of justice and equity that God gave to Israel, ensuring sufficient rest, and – arising from the Manna story – discouraging hoarding and accumulation. The Kingdom, as best represented by the “mission statement” of Jesus in Luke 4, is also about Jubilee, about justice and equity, and about ensuring “shalom” (peace and well-being) for all. This is the unshakeable kingdom of the writer of Hebrews. This is the call of Isaiah’s prophecy, and the message of Jeremiah that will bring down unjust kingdoms and build up just ones. This is the prayer and the praise of the Psalms. In healing this crippled woman on the Sabbath, and teaching that mercy is a Sabbath-activity, Jesus embodies the justice, grace and welcome of God’s unshakeable kingdom. The theme, then, this week could be titled “God’s Sabbath Kingdom”.

CONNECTING WITH LIFE:
GLOBAL APPLICATION: In our “time is money” world, Sabbath has lost its essential meaning. It has become nothing more than a “day off” to restore energy to get back into the fray as soon as possible. However, this is far from what the Sabbath was originally intended to be. Rather, the practice of Sabbath – both the Sabbath day, and the Sabbath Year/Jubilee – is about realignment. It is about taking ourselves out of the human system of accumulation, self-protection and self-aggrandisement, and placing ourselves under the influence of God’s rhythms, God’s priorities and God’s direction. It is not about getting back into the fray, but about living with a whole different value system – that of justice, mercy and equity. The call to live God’s Kingdom’s values is a call to live as Sabbath people, and it is this gracious kingdom alone that is unshakeable – unmoved by the temptation to benefit by exploiting others, by the threat of economic collapse, or by the ‘competition’ for resources. When we scratch the surface of our world’s economic systems, we cannot help but see the destructive results of a Sabbathless existence. Exploitation of foreign workers in order to ensure cheap labour for producing everything from chocolate and coffee to cell phones and computers, Trade regulations and subsidies that favour the rich and powerful over poor farmers and labourers in third world countries, and political decision making that is more influenced by wealthy donors and lobbyists than by the needs of the most vulnerable all leave suffering in their wake. The drivenness and hyperactivity of those who chase wealth also wreaks havoc on marriages, families and individuals. If our world needs anything in order to become more just and peaceful, it’s a return to the Sabbath-rhythms of God’s reign. This alone will bring healing to the those who have been crippled by the Satan of our broken society.

LOCAL APPLICATION: Jesus spoke about his followers being “in the world but not of it”. This was not a call to “otherworldliness” or to check out of the world as we wait for heaven. It is a reflection of the reality that as individuals and churches we face the daily temptation to adopt the broken values and practices of the world around us. It is a call to live the values and practices of God’s Sabbath Kingdom within the societies and communities in which we find ourselves. It is all too easy for us to become driven by the same idols of success, wealth and convenience that the affluent sections of our global society embrace – and all too many churches and theological systems have done just this. But, if we are to be Sabbath/Kingdom people, we are to step out of this system, embracing rather the rhythms of justice – meaningful work, joyful rest, compassionate service, generous sharing, and a commitment to equity and compassion. In small but powerful ways we can change the world by living these values in our communities – by worshipping in venues of simple reverence; by adopting technology, practices and programs for their usefulness, not their “sexiness” or fashionable-ness; by sharing what we have with the people around us, rather than using our wealth to aggrandise ourselves; by using our influence in society to ensure protection for the most vulnerable and needy among us; and by working for a more equitable society using all the tools at our disposal, from votes to prayer. Who are those who have been crippled by the weight of the world’s unjust and inequitable systems? How can we allow the Sabbath to become a healing and liberating experience for them and us?

RESOURCES FOR WORSHIP:
Prayers:
Rhythms Of Life
Sabbath People
Weak And Poor God

Hymn Suggestions:
Jesus Calls Us
Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind (I would prefer it if this hymn was more inclusive in its language – perhaps it could be sung as: Dear Lover of all humankind)
I Am Known
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
O Come, And Dwell In Me
Love And Justice
(Scroll down for preview and link to purchase the song)
King Of The Broken (Link to YouTube video)
Thuma Mina (Send Me) (Scroll down for
preview). Chord chart
Jubilee
(Link to Amazon.com Mp3 preview)
Chord Chart (Scroll
down for the link)
Your Grace Is Enough (Link to YouTube video)
Everlasting God (Link to YouTube video)

Liturgy:
A Liturgy for the Foretaste of the Heavenly Banquet

Video Suggestions:
The Sabbath And The Poor
Missing The Joy
We’re Alright Down Here

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