**Please note this service is based on the format of the Anglican Church of Canada. Unless otherwise indicated, all prayers come from the Book of Alternative Services (BAS) and the hymns from the Book of Common Praise (BCP). Other hymns and prayers have been sourced to give appropriate credit.
**NRSV translation used for the readings, unless otherwise stated.
Opening Prayer
God of infinite mercy and forgiveness, by the
cross and resurrection of Jesus your Son, wash away our sins and deliver us
from our infirmities of body and spirit, that we may live with him his risen
life, to the praise and glory of your holy name. Amen.
Opening
Hymn – Christ, the Fair Glory of the Holy Angels
(BCP #272)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with
you all.
And
also with you.
Collect for Purity
The Gloria
Collect of the Day
Let us pray.
Eternal God, you have ordained and constituted
in a wonderful order the ministries of angels and mortals. Grant that as your
holy angels stand before you in heaven, so at your command they may help and
defend us here on earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
The Readings
A reading from the Book of Genesis 28:10-17
Jacob left Beer-sheba
and went toward Haran. He came to a certain place and stayed there for the
night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put
it under his head and lay down in that place. And he dreamed that there was a
ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of
God were ascending and descending on it. And the Lord stood beside him and
said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the
land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; and your
offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to
the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the
families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. Know that I
am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this
land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place - and
I did not know it!” And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place!
This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”
The word of the Lord.
Thanks
be the God.
Psalm 103:19-22
The Lord has established his throne in the
heavens,
and
his kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you
mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.
Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his
ministers that do his will.
Bless the Lord, all his works,
in
all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
A reading from the Book of Revelations 12:7-12
And war broke out in
heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his
angels fought back, but they were defeated, and there was no longer any place
for them in heaven. The great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who
is called the Devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world – he was thrown
down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
Then I heard a loud
voice in heaven, proclaiming,
“Now have come the
salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of his Messiah,
for the accuser of
our comrades has been thrown down,
who accuses them day and night before our
God.
But they have
conquered him by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony,
for they did not
cling to life even in the face of death.
Rejoice then, you
heavens
and those who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth
and the sea,
for the devil has come down to you
with great wrath,
because he knows that his time is short!”
The word of the Lord.
Thanks
be to God.
Gradual
Hymn – 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman
The Lord be with you.
And
also with you.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to John 1:47-51
Glory
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
When Jesus saw
Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite in
whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael asked him, “Where did you get to know me?”
Jesus answered, “I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.”
Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig
tree? You will see greater things than these.” And he said to him, “Very truly,
I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and
descending upon the Son of Man.”
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Sermon
"Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.
We
find ourselves in the middle of the long and fascinating story of Israel’s ancestor,
Jacob; he will later be renamed “Israel” after an infamous wrestling match with
an unnamed male assailant at the Jabbok river.
We
find him here, in Genesis 28, at a spooky mountain, running headlong from his
enraged brother, Esau, from whom Jacob has stolen both patriarchal birthright and
patriarchal blessing, making him the full heir of Isaac, despite being the
younger of the sons.
Resting
from his flight, Jacob spends the night camping out, using a stone for a pillow.
In his dream, Jacob sees a “ladder set upon the earth, the top of it reaching
to heaven.”
This
is hardly an aluminum ladder, but rather a stairway or a ramp. This stairway is
often compared to a feature of temple towers (ziggurats) in that culture
whereon it was thought that divine beings (or priests) traversed with
communications from God to earth.
My
mind immediately goes to Led Zeppelin’s song of the same name. I hope at least
some of you know it. I don’t know what music is cool these days.
Why
would Led Zeppelin draw upon the biblical imagery of this story in this song? It’s
because they are speaking to a spiritual problem. The song’s lyrics begin:
There’s a lady who’s
sure all that glitters is gold
And she’s buying a
stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she
knows, if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get
what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she’s
buying a stairway to heaven.
The
song is about a woman who has based her life entirely on the pursuit of
material things. She’s sure that she can buy her way to heaven. In actual fact,
when she arrives at heaven’s gates there is a sign saying that she cannot enter
because “her life lacks a spiritual base.” So continue the lyrics:
There’s a sign on the
wall but she wants to be sure
‘Cause you know
sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook,
there’s a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our
thoughts are misgiven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder
The
end of the song brings the dilemma to a point of decision:
And as we wind on down
the road
Our shadows taller than
our soul.
There walks a lady we
all know
Who shines white light
and wants to show
How everything still
turns to gold.
And if you listen very
hard
The tune will come to
you at last.
We
“wind down the road, our shadows taller than our soul” because our souls are so
shrunken spiritually by our material world. What then is the remedy?
I
don’t want my life to be about the chase for material more. I want it to be
about Jesus, forgiveness, repentance, grace, and peace. One way I can do this
is to keep the gospel in the forefront and let any purchasing serve that
greater purpose. Although, based on my book and Lego collections, I think I
have some work to do here!
We
cannot buy the stairway to heaven for the price of entry is far beyond our
ability to pay. Fortunately, the stair’s builder has made a way for us through
the death of his son.
So
Jacob has a dream about this stairway to heaven and he sees “angels of God
ascending and descending on it.”
The
ascending and descending angelic figures seem to have no specific function.
They do not speak or serve as messengers regarding a divine word to Jacob.
Rather, God stands beside Jacob and speaks directly to him. When Jacob awakes,
he does not speak of God’s presence in the dream, but God’s presence in this
place.
God
reveals that God is going to give Jacob absolutely everything he could ever want
or need: more land, family, power and honour than he could ever imagine.
Here
are the promises God made to Jacob:
- I will give to you the land on which you lie.
- Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth, and shall be spread abroad.
- All the families of the earth shall be blessed in you.
- I am with you.
- I will keep you wherever you go.
- I will bring you back to this land.
- I will not leave you until I have done
what I have promised.
It was more than Jacob ever dreamed of trying to get. More than his own father could have given him. More than God had ever promised anyone; because God even reassures Jacob by saying that God will stick with him until every last part of the promise is kept.
It
was, to say the least, quite a promise, quite a blessing and quite a dream.
It
would take a while for everything to play itself out and for Jacob to become
the great father of Israel just as he had been promised; but it didn't take
long for Jacob to realize what had happened, and to make the most of it. Upon awakening, he built a monument in honour
of the place, called it Beth-el, 'house of God'.
Jacob
responds to God's completely unconditional promise of blessing and protection
with a completely conditional promise of his own. "IF you will give me the land, food,
clothing and protection, THEN I will be your man."
God,
out of the unbelievable goodness of his heart, gives Jacob holy heaven instead
of holy hell for being a trickster, and Jacob says in response, "what are
you going to do for me?"
Jacob
is neither the first nor the last person tor attempt to bargain with God. How
often have we thought, “If only God will get me through this terrible problem,
I will serve God.” “If God will show faithfulness to me, I will praise God forever.”
One
of the reasons candidates for ordination have to do such a lengthy discernment
process, is because of humanity’s history of bargaining with God. Men, lying in
the tranches of war, prayed to God to save their lives. In exchange, they would
serve God for the rest of their lives. Many men headed to seminaries and the
like upon safe return from the war, but they were assured that God did not
require that they give their lives to the priesthood in exchange for their faith
in God.
Do
we expect something in return for our good service to God?
It
is a question we need to ask ourselves.
Do
we worship and pray to God simply because we can do nothing else?
Just
how often are we bargaining like Jacob?
Good
questions indeed.
And
there it is, a remarkable tale of the God who insisted on sticking with the
likes of people like Jacob.
Did
he ever fully understand what happened to him that night?
Will
you and I ever fully appreciate what that strange night visitor has been doing
for us, going with us every step of the way, and promising never to leave us
until it is all ours, too, ever since he said he'd do the same for Jacob and
his family.
The
message of the Gospel is that that is precisely what God has been doing all
along, what God did most clearly in Jesus of Nazareth, and has been doing ever
since for a world, for a church, and for people like you and me who, most days,
cannot think of much better to say in response than, "what are you going
to do for me?"
The
One who meets us at Beth-el always seems to grant us blessed dreams, precisely
when we need them, and to give us everything we have never and could never
deserve.
It
is what the Bible means by grace; because in the Bible it is not anything about
us that makes God stick with us. It is something about God.
Amen.
Affirmation of Faith
Let us confess the faith of our baptism, as we
say 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.
He
was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and
born of the Virgin Mary.
He
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,
and
is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He
will come again
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.
The Prayers of the People
Let us pray with confidence to the Lord, saying, Lord, hear our prayer.
O Lord, guard and direct your Church in the way of unity, service and praise.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Give to all nations an awareness of the unity of the human family.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Cleanse our hearts of prejudice and selfishness, and inspire us to hunger and thirst for what is right.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Teach us to use your creation for your greater praise, that all may share the good things you provide.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Strengthen all who give their energy or skill for the healing of those who are sick in body or mind.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Set free all who are bound by fear and despair.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Grant a peaceful end and eternal rest to all who are dying, and your comfort to those who mourn.
Lord, hear our prayer.
God, dawning on our souls, like the light of a new day, slowly, quietly, dependably, bringing new opportunities, awakening us to the world around us, we thank You for this new day.
In this day that You have made, we pray for wisdom to use time wisely, we pray for strength to face our problems courageously, we pray for patience to do our tasks carefully, we pray for compassion to care for others sensitively, we pray for faith to view the future hopefully.
We pray for each other on this day, a day to worship when together we discover Your presence, a day to praise You, when our spirits are elevated through singing quietly behind our masks, a day to be penitent, when we receive assurance of Your grace, a day to hear the Scripture, when insights penetrate our minds, a day to offer our gifts, when our thanks are expressed in giving, a day to offer our lives, when we respond to Your Word, a day to experience fellowship here, when we reach out in friendship to one another.
We pray for others on this day:
We pray for those who are ill or in hospitals.
Who are traveling and separated from us.
Who are shut ins wishing they could be with us.
Who are depressed not wanting to worship.
Please feel free to add your own petitions either aloud or silently.
Keep us grateful for this day and caring for others for whom this is not a good day especially for countries in the world who are suffering because of war, famine or other natural disasters. We pray for our soldiers stationed throughout the world and for the families of those who have died trying to keep peace in those countries.
Forgive us when we quickly tell others to have a good day but do not help them to find ways to make it a good day.
This is the day that You have made. Teach us how to rejoice and be glad in it! Amen
Confession and Absolution
Dear friends in Christ,
God is steadfast in love and infinite in mercy;
God welcomes sinners and invites them to the
table.
Let us confess our sins, confident in God’s
forgiveness.
Most merciful God,
We
confess that we have sinned against you
in
thought, word, and deed,
by
what we have done,
and
by what we have left undone.
We
have not loved you with our whole heart;
we
have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
We
are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
for
the sake of your Son Jesus Christ,
have
mercy on us and forgive us,
that
we may delight in your will,
and
walk in your ways,
to
the glory of your name. Amen.
As we speak the truth of our lives, God who is
faithful and just, restores us and brings us home again and again.
Almighty God have mercy upon you,
pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Peace
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And
also with you.
Offertory
Hymn – As We Gather at Your Table (BCP #61)
Prayer over the Gifts
**Although
not physically at our church buildings to share our offering together I would
encourage you to set your offering of money aside so that it can be dropped off
or placed in the church once services resume, to mail your offering to the
church, or to make donations online. Please remember ministry is still taking
place.
Let us pray.
God of glory, as you have appointed angels to
minister in your presence, so may all our worship bring you worthy praise. We
ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
This service was created for live worship. For
those worshiping on your own, you may either read the Eucharistic prayer, or
skip ahead to the Lord's Prayer and then the Doxology.
Eucharistic Prayer 1
The Lord be with you.
And
also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We
lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It
is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right that we should praise you,
gracious God,
for you created all things.
You formed us in your own image:
male and female you created us.
When we turned away from you in sin,
you did not cease to care for us,
but opened a path of salvation for all people.
You made a covenant with Israel,
and through your servants Abraham and Sarah
gave the promise of a blessing to all nations.
Through Moses you led your people
from bondage into freedom;
through the prophets
you renewed your promise of salvation.
Therefore, with them, and with all your saints
who have served you in every age,
we give thanks and raise our voices
to proclaim the glory of your name.
Holy,
holy, holy Lord,
God
of power and might,
heaven
and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna
in the highest.
Blessed
are they who come in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna
in the highest.
Holy God, source of life and goodness,
all creation rightly gives you praise.
In the fullness of time,
you sent your Son Jesus Christ,
to share our human nature,
to live and die as one of us,
to reconcile us to you,
the almighty God of all.
He healed the sick
and ate and drank with outcasts and sinners;
he opened the eyes of the blind
and proclaimed the good news of your kingdom
to the poor and to those in need.
In all things he fulfilled your gracious will.
On the night he freely gave himself to death,
our Lord Jesus Christ took bread,
and when he had given thanks to you,
he broke it, and gave it to his disciples,
and said, “Take, eat:
this is my body which is given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.”
After supper he took the cup of wine;
and when he had given thanks,
he gave it to them,
and said, “Drink this, all of you:
this is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Whenever you drink it,
do this for the remembrance of me.”
Gracious God,
his perfect sacrifice
destroys the power of sin and death;
by raising him to life
you give us life for evermore.
Therefore we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Recalling his death,
proclaiming his resurrection,
and looking for his coming again in glory,
we offer you, God, this bread and this cup.
Send your Holy Spirit upon us
and upon these gifts,
that all who eat and drink at this table
may be one body and one holy people,
a living sacrifice in Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory is yours, almighty God,
now and for ever.
Amen.
And now, as our Saviour Christ has taught us,
we are bold to pray,
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.
Save
us from the time of trial,
and
deliver us from evil.
For
the kingdom, the power,
and
the glory are yours,
now
and for ever. Amen.
Breaking of the Bread
This is the body of Christ.
Behold what you are.
Become what you receive.
Amen.
Communion
This is the table of Christ. It is made ready
for those who love him, and for those who want to love him more. Come, whether
you have much faith or little, have tried to follow, or are afraid that you
have failed. Come. Because it is Christ's will that those who want to meet him,
might meet him here.
These are the gifts of God for the People of
God.
Thanks
be to God.
Share
in the Eucharist
Prayer After Communion
As we have feasted around the table, let us
pray.
Eternal God, you have fed us with the bread of
angels. May we who come under their protection, like them give you continual
service and praise; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Doxology
As a congregation, we declare our doxology, as
we say together,
Glory to God,
whose
power, working in us,
can
do infinitely more
than
we can ask or imagine.
Glory
to God from generation to generation,
in
the Church and in Christ Jesus,
for
ever and ever.
Amen.
Blessing
The peace of God, which passes all
understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and
of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of the Holy and Undivided
Trinity be with you and remain with you always, in the Name of Love, ☩ the Glory of Love, and the Power of Love. Amen.
Closing Hymn – God of Grace and God
of Glory (BCP #577)
Dismissal
Go
forth into the world, rejoicing in the power of the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.
