Service for Sunday 3rd November which included communion, and was conducted by Mr Geoffrey Webber

Welcome: –

Call to Worship: –

With our whole being-heart mind soul and strength:

let us love and praise God!

With all of our being:

we will love and praise God!

For God is faithful forever, helping, freeing, loving, protecting!

Let us sing praises to our God as long as we live!

Praise the maker of Heaven and Earth!

Praise God who is faithful forever!

Prayer of Praise

God of all time, all space, and all Creation, we thank you for the lives of people around us and who have been around us,

friends, family, colleagues, and neighbours.

People who nurture us,

and have nurtured us.

People who help us,

and have helped us.

People who challenge and inspire us,

and have challenged and inspired us.

Their living and loving, serving and caring, have revealed to us your love and grace,

and inspire us to live and love, serve and care for others, to the best we can, in all the ways we can, to all the people we can, for as long as we ever can. Amen.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn AHB365 ‘Jesus, united by your grace’

(This YouTube clip is used here for the tune. The words are printed below)

Verse 1 of 5

Jesus, united by your grace

and each to each endeared,

with confidence we seek your face,

and know our prayer is heard.

Verse 2 of 5

Help us to see in each a friend,

each other’s cross to bear,

let all their friendly aid extend

and feel each other’s care.

Verse 3 of 5

Drawn like a magnet to your love,

let all our hearts unite,

let us toward each other move,

and move toward your light.

Verse 4 of 5

Up into you, our living Head,

let us in all things grow,

till you have made us free indeed

and faithful here below.

Verse 5 of 5

Then let us bear your easy yoke,

reflect your charity;

your love which never can be broke

I pray will rest on me.

Charles Wesley

Prayer of Confession

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred, and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep.

We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.

We have offended against your holy laws.

We have left undone those things which we ought to have done; and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and there is no spiritual well-being in us.

Have mercy upon us, O God, miserable sinners that we are.

Spare us who confess our faults and are penitent before you; according to your promises declared unto Humankind in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Grant, O most merciful Father, that we may hereafter live a Godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.

Assurance of Forgiveness

Almighty God, grants to us His pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all of our sins, so that we may worship Him, serve Him, and bear witness to His mercy and grace.

Thanks be to God.

Prayer of illumination

God, source of all knowledge. By your Word you give light to the soul. Pour upon us the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, so that our hearts and minds may be open to know your truth and your way. Amen.

Bible Readings

Judges 2:

10 The whole generation died (that walked with Moses for 40 years and crossed the River Jordan with Joshua), those who had seen for themselves all the great things the LORD had done for the People of Israel, and the next generation forgot the LORD and what He had done for Israel.

11 Then the People of Israel sinned against the LORD and began to serve the many forms of the Canaanite god, Baal. 12 They stopped worshipping the LORD, the God of their ancestors, the God who had brought them out of Egypt, and they began to worship other gods, the gods of the peoples around them, Baal and Ashtoreth. They bowed down to them and followed them, which provoked the anger of God. 14 He became furious with the People of Israel and let raiders attack and rob them. He let the enemies all around the Land of Canaan overpower them, and the Israelites could no longer protect themselves. 15 Every time they would go into battle, the LORD was against them, just as He said that He would be. (Leviticus 26: 17, Deuteronomy 28: 25) They were in great distress.

16 Then the LORD gave to the Israelites leaders who saved them from the raiders. 17 But the Israelites paid no attention to their leaders. Israel was unfaithful to the LORD and worshipped other gods. Their forebears had obeyed the LORD’s commands, but this new generation soon stopped doing so.

Hebrews 11:

1 To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things that we cannot see. 2 It was by their faith that people of ancient times won God’s approval.

33 Through faith they fought whole Nations and won. They did what was right and received what God had promised. They shut the mouths of lions, 34 put out fierce fires, escaped being killed by the sword. They were weak, but became strong; they were mighty in battle and defeated the armies of foreigners. 35 Through faith women received their dead relatives raised back to life.

Others refusing to accept freedom, died under torture in order to be raised to a better life. 36 Some were mocked and whipped, and others were put in chains and taken off to prison. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword. They went around clothed in skins of sheep or goats – poor, persecuted, and mistreated. 38 The world was not enough for them! They wandered like refugees in the deserts and hills, living in caves and holes in the ground. 39 What a record all of these have won by their faith!

Hebrews 12:

1 As for us, we have this large crowd of witnesses around us. So, then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us. 2 Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.

Hebrews 13:

7 Remember your former leaders, who spoke God’s message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith. 9 Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you from the right way.

17 Obey your leaders and follow their orders. They watch over your souls without resting, since they must give to God an account of their service.

This is the Word of God.

Praise to you Almighty God.

Matthew 5:

10 Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires; the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.

11 Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in Heaven. This is how the Prophets who lived before you were persecuted.

Matthew 23:

29 Jesus spoke to the crowd and to his Disciples,

“How terrible for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You make fine tombs for the Prophets, and decorate the monuments of those who lived good lives; 30 and you claim that if you had lived during the time of you ancestors, you would not have done what they did and killed the Prophets. 31 So you actually admit that you are the descendants of those who murdered the Prophets! 32 Go on, then, and finish up what you ancestors started! 33 you snakes and sons of snakes! How do you expect to escape from being condemned to Hell?

34 And so I tell you that I will send you Prophets and wise people and teachers; you will kill some of them, crucify others, and whip others in the synagogues and chase them from town to town. 35 As a result, the punishment for the murder of all innocent people will fall on you, 36b on the people of this day!

Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You kill the Prophets and stone the messengers God has sent to you! How many times I wanted to put my arms around all your people, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not let me! 38 And, so, your Temple will be abandoned and empty.

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

You are invited to listen to, or join in singing the Hymn ‘In your Love’

Alexander’s Hymn Book No. 3 number 210

(This YouTube clip is for another hymn, but is used here for the tune. The words are printed below)

Verse 1 of 4

Father, I am weak and sinful,

ever prone to go astray,

like a wayward child of error

I so often lose my way.

Chorus

In your love, O God, have mercy,

in your grace redeem my soul,

bring me back, O gentle shepherd,

keep me safe within your fold.

Verse 2 of 4

In the billows of temptation,

when its waves are running high,

bear me o’er life’s sea of trouble,

leave me not to sink and die.

Chorus

In your love, O God, have mercy,

in your grace redeem my soul,

bring me back, O gentle shepherd,

keep me safe within your fold.

Verse 3 of 4

Father, when the shades are falling,

and the night of death is near,

guide me through the gloomy valley,

with your light my journey cheer.

Chorus

In your love, O God, have mercy,

in your grace redeem my soul,

bring me back, O gentle shepherd,

keep me safe within your fold.

Verse 4 of 4

Open, then, the pearly portals,

that, unworthy though I be,

I may join the ransomed legions,

there to dwell eternally.

Chorus

In your love, O God, have mercy,

in your grace redeem my soul,

bring me back, O gentle shepherd,

keep me safe within your fold.

Neal McAulay

Sermon;

Jonathan Hill wrote a book on the first 400 years of Christianity. In this book he writes,

“At the beginning of the fourth century AD, the Christian Church was suffering the cruellest and most determined persecution yet at the hands of Roman authorities. By the end of the same century, the (Roman) Empire was effectively Christian, the Emperor was devoted to the religion, and the State was outlawing the traditional religion of Rome itself.” (Jonathan Hill in Christianity The first 400 Years p203)

It is upon this background that we read that:

“From the 4th century, there existed in certain places and at sporadic intervals a feast day to commemorate all Christian martyrs.” (Smith, C. (1967) The New Catholic Encyclopedia, “Feast of All Saints”, p. 318)

By the late 6th or early 7th century, this commemoration had expanded to include all saints, martyred or not. (New Catholic Encyclopedia (Second ed.). 2003. pp .288–290.) David Farmer in his book, The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, has compiled a list of 100s of such saints, from Abbo of Fleury to Zosimus of Syracuse.

Some scholars propose that churches in the British Isles began celebrating All Saints on 1 November in the 8th century to coincide with or (to) replace the Celtic festival known in Ireland and Scotland as Samhain, because Samhain was the date of the Celtic festival of the dead. [Cross, Frank Leslie; Livingstone, E. A., eds. (1997). “All Saints Day”. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (3^rd ed.). Oxford University Press. p42, Hennig, John (1948). “The Meaning of All the Saints”. Mediaeval Studies. 10. Brepols Publishers NV: 147–161, Hennig, John (1946). “A Feast of All the Saints of Europe”. Speculum. 21(1): 49–66.]

The 1 November All Saints Day was made a day of obligation throughout the Holy Roman Empire in 835, by a decree of Emperor Louis the Pious, issued “at the instance of Pope Gregory IV and with the assent of all the bishops”, which confirmed its celebration on 1 November. [Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). “All Saints, Festival of” . Encyclopedia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11^th ed.). Cambridge University Press.]

The festival [of All Saints] was retained after the Reformation in the liturgical calendars of the Lutheran Churches and the Anglican Church. (Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). “All Saints, Festival of” in Encyclopedia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11^th ed.). Cambridge University Press.)

In many Lutheran churches, All Saints’ Day is celebrated on the Sunday after Reformation, generally the first Sunday in November. In the Church of England, it is a Principal Feast and may be celebrated either on 1 November or on the Sunday between 30 October and 5 November. In other Protestant Churches, such as the United Church of Canada and the United Methodist Church, All Saints’ Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in November. Some Presbyterian churches also celebrate All Saints’ Day on the first Sunday in November.

The Christian celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day stems from a belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven (the “Church triumphant“), the living (the “Church militant“), and the “Church penitent” which includes the faithful departed. In (Roman) Catholic theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the “beatific vision” in Heaven. In Methodist theology, All Saints Day revolves around “giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of His “saints“, including those who are “famous or (who are) obscure”. [Iovino, Joe (28 October 2015) “All Saints Day: A holy day John Wesley loved”. The United Methodist Church. Archived from the original on 1 December 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2016.] – [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Day]

The website the Presbyterian Church in the USA states:

“All Saints’ Day is a time to rejoice in remembrance for all who through the ages have faithfully served the Lord. The day reminds us that we are part of one continuing, living communion of saints. It is a time to express our gratitude for all who in ages of darkness kept the faith, for those who have taken the Gospel to the ends of the Earth, for prophetic voices who have called the Church to be faithful in life and service, for all who have witnessed to God’s justice and peace in every Nation, for all who have played a part in our lives, and who continue to play a part in our lives, of building up our faith, of encouraging us in our daily walk with God, and who have guided and inspired us. Reminded that God was with the faithful of the past, we are reassured that God is with us today, moving us and all Creation toward God’s end in time. (An excerpt from the Companion to the Book of Common Worship (Geneva Press, 2003, 150-151) (https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/worship/christianyear/all-saints-day/)

It has been noted that “John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement, enjoyed and celebrated All Saints Day. In a journal entry from November 1, 1767, Wesley calls it ‘a festival I truly love.’ On the same day in 1788, he writes, ‘I always find this a comfortable day.’ The following year he calls it ‘a day that I peculiarly love.’” (https://www.umc.org/en/content/all-saints-day-a-holy-day-john-wesley-loved)

And the Uniting Church acknowledges its indebtedness to “the saints of the past”. Last week I made reference to a page on the Assembly website where it is stated that:

“The Uniting Church continues to learn, in the power of the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, from the witness of the Reformers, (and) the preaching of John Wesley, so that the congregation of Christ’s people may again and again be reminded of the grace which justifies them through faith, of the centrality of the person and work of Christ the justifier, and of the need for a constant appeal to Holy Scripture.” (https://uniting.church/ourfaith/)

Now, while we all like to have a party or a festival, I see no reason to commemorate All Saints Day, or as it is also known as All Saints Festival, just because it happens to be entered on a Liturgical Calendar. But I do believe that there is value in incorporating a time in our worship calendar specifically for remembering what we could call “saints”, that is:

“(those) who have played a part in our (own) lives, and (those) who continue to play a part in our (own) lives, (who have played a part in the) building up of our faith, of encouraging us in our daily walk with God, and who have guided and inspired us.” (https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/worship/christianyear/all-saints-day/)

And I believe that today is an appropriate date for doing so, not because it is the Sunday closest to 1^st November, which is the day internationally recognised as “All Saints Day”, but because I like the Lutheran tradition of celebrating the Festival of All Saints,

“on the Sunday after Reformation Sunday, (which co-incidentally is) generally the first Sunday in November”. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Saints%27_Day]

And, just as importantly, I believe that the writer of the New Testament Book, the Letter to the Hebrews, gives us a Scriptural understanding for the commemorating in worship of the part that the “saints of God” have played, and continue to play, in our lives.

They write, “Remember your former leaders, who spoke God’s message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13: 7)

A person’s “fresh consideration” of the lives of their “former leaders” who have died, those who initially brought to them the hope and joy of the Gospel message to which they responded, will provide inspiration for their own faith journey and encourage them to be “steadfast in their faith”. (Alan Stibbs in Hebrews in the New Bible Commentary p1216)

And so it is with us, for we, too, could benefit from a “fresh consideration” of those who brought “the hope and joy of the Gospel message” to us.

The writer continues by saying,

“Obey your (present) leaders and follow their orders, (because) they watch over your souls without resting”. (Hebrews 13: 17)

This is not written on the pretext of following authoritarian or dictatorial leaders.

The New English Bible reads,

“Obey your leaders and defer to them, for they are tireless in their concern for you”.

The New Revised Standard Version and The New International Version both read,

“Obey your leaders and submit to their authority”, in the context that respecting their “God-given” authority promotes “orderliness and discipline in the Church”. (Philip Hughes and Donald Burdick in Study note in The New International Version Study Bible p1912)

Randolph Tasker writes,

“insubordination to the spiritual leaders chosen by God can mar the spiritual progress of the Church”. (Randolph Tasker in Hebrews An Introduction and Commentary p211)

And this applies to us, today, for are there not people in the wider Church who continue to guide and inspire us in our daily walk with God? As such, we, too, should thank God for them.

The critical importance of remembering the witness of the faithful people of God of the past is borne home to when we consider the beginning and the end of the History of the People of Israel.

At the very beginning of the History of the People of Israel, we read,

“The whole generation died (that walked with Moses for 40 years and crossed the River Jordan with Joshua), those who had seen for themselves all the great things the LORD had done for the People of Israel, and the next generation forgot the LORD and what He had done for Israel, and worshipped the gods of the peoples around them, (the Canaanite gods) Baal and Ashtoreth. (Judges 2: 10 – 13)

The first generation of the People of Israel who were born in the land of Canaan neglected to seek to recall and to reflect upon the faithful lives of their immediate forebears, those who obeyed the call of God to trust His word that He would deliver the promised Land of Canaan to their ownership and inheritance.

Graeme Auld writes,

“The age that followed Joshua did not just not know the Lord, they were not even familiar with His reputation for decisive and beneficial action. Far from knowing Him, in worship and love and obedience, they did not even know about Him.” (Graeme Auld in Judges The Daily Study Bible p143)

And what was the consequence of their exchanging the “invigorating worship of Yahweh”, the LORD their God, for the empty worship of worthless and powerless idols?

We read,

“Every time they would go into battle, the LORD was against them, just as He said that He would be.” (Judges 2: 15)

There was a “weakening of their covenant bond” that the People of Israel had with Yahweh, such that as God had promised He would do, He withdrew His care and protection over them, which enabled their enemies to control and to reap the benefits of the Land of Canaan. (Graeme Auld in Judges The Daily Study Bible p143 & 144) In their neglect to reflect on their past, they reaped distress in the present and the immediate future, individually and corporately as a Nation.

Matthew records for us the occasion in the week prior to the first Easter events, when Jesus condemned “the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees”, the very people whose task it was to be “the authorised interpreters of Moses’ Law” (Matthew 23: 2) , who were to lead the people in their understanding of the Lord their God and how to walk in his way.

“Hypocrites” (Matthew 23: 13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29) , and “blind guides” (Matthew 23: 16, 17, 19, 24, 26) Jesus called them. “Don’t imitate their actions, because they don’t practice what they preach.”, Jesus warns the crowd to whom he was addressing (Matthew 23: 3) .

The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees professed to have considered the errors of their ancestors, and made the claim,

“if (we) had lived during the time of our ancestors (we) would not have done what they did and killed the Prophets.” (Matthew 23: 30)

Yet, Jesus said, “you will do exactly the same things to the prophets and wise men and teachers who I will send to you” (Matthew 23: 34) .

The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were not seeking guidance from a consideration of the leaders of the past, they were making a pretence of leading lives faithful to God. In reality, their concern was on ritual and legalism, tainted by a desire for wealth and prestige and power.

And what was to be the consequence for their unfaithfulness? Jesus warned them,

“As a result, the punishment for the murder of all innocent people will fall on you, .. on the people of this day! .. And, so, your Temple will be abandoned and empty.” (Matthew 23: 35. 36b & 38)

Jesus foresaw the time when “God would abandon His Temple and His City of Jerusalem”. (Lewis Foster in Study Note in The New International Bible p1595) , “literally fulfilled in AD70 when the Romans under Titus completely destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple buildings”. (Walter Wessel and Ralph Earle in Study Note in The New International Bible p1503) (Matthew 24: 2) .

In their neglect to learn from the mistakes of the errors of the Leaders of the past, the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees will lose that which should have been of most importance to them, the love of their God and the means to express their love for God in the Temple worship.

The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews commends the people of God whose names and deeds are recorded for us in the Old Testament Books. But the essence of this remembering these people is not of their deeds, but of their faith which enabled them to live lives faithful to their God. “It was by their faith” we read (Hebrews 11: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13,17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31) , it was “through their faith” we read (Hebrews 23: 33) . The importance for the reader of the Letter to the Hebrews was that if the people of God of the past could endure distress and hardship on the basis of their faith in God, then so could they in their present time of uncertainty and persecution. William Barclay writes that the hope that was gained by the reader of the Letter to the Hebrews was that the people of God of the past proved that, regardless of the circumstances, “if they were true to God, then God would be true to them”. (William Barclay in The Letter to the Hebrews The Daily Study Bible p145)

All of us have been influenced by people in the past and in the present. Who were those who brought “the hope and joy of the Gospel message” to us? Who were those who demonstrated to us that “if we are true to God, then God will be true to us”. Who are the people in the wider Church who continue to inspire us in our daily walk with God.

I am seeking for all of us to focus on this question:

Who has been a ‘saint of God’ who has guided you in your journey of faith?

Over the next 5 to 10 minutes, I am seeking for people to write the name of such a person or persons on a piece of paper and to bring the piece of paper to the front so that it can be stuck to this piece of cardboard which I will place in a picture frame which I will later hang up. It will be a visible reminder of all of the saints who have guided and inspire us in a walk of faith with God.

And, please feel free, if you are willing, when you bring your piece of paper to the front, to share with the rest of us some detail of why this person means so much to you.

I came across this poem in a reading from the Bible study series, Our Daily Bread, during the week:

“God often meets our deepest need with help we gain from others,

from caring members of His Church, our sisters and our brothers.”

(from Our Daily Bread 4 August 2008)

Let us remember to be thankful for the sisters and brothers of our Church who have been faithful “saints of God”. Amen.

Our Prayer for all the saints

We give you thanks, O God, for all the saints who ever worshiped you,

whether in brush arbours or cathedrals,

weathered wooden churches or crumbling cement meeting houses,

wherever your name was lifted and adored.

We give you thanks, O God, for hands lifted in praise:

manicured hands and hands stained with grease or soil,

strong hands and those gnarled with age,

Holy hands used as offerings across the land.

We thank you, God, for hardworking saints;

whether hard-hatted or steel-booted,

head ragged or aproned,

blue-collared or three-piece-suited;

they left their mark on the Earth for you, for us, for our children to come.

Thank you, God, for the tremendous sacrifices made by those who have gone before us. Blessed are the memories of your saints, God. May we learn how to walk wisely from their examples of faith, dedication, worship, and love. Amen.

Offering

Offering Prayer

We give you all thanks and praise, O God, for you are preparing a rich banquet for all your saints that we might rejoice forever in your salvation.

The Earth is yours for you founded it, and you have made your home among its inhabitants. Through your prophets you gave us a vision of a world made new, and of suffering and grief abolished forever.

In your Son, Jesus Christ, we have seen your deep anguish over the death of your faithful one, and in his life-giving ministry we have seen your glory. Though he passed through the fires of death, we now see him raised up and making all things new.

In him is our hope of resurrection and vindication for all who have trusted you, for their souls are safe in your hands and you have declared them to be worthy of your life.

Therefore, with our hearts lifted high, we offer you these gifts as a token of our thanks and praise for your mercy and grace at work in our lives. We ask for your guidance on their use so that your offer of salvation and reconciliation is made known to the World, near and far.

This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Prayers for Others

God of All the Saints, past and present, we ask that we might be a holy church, a praying church, a giving church, a serving church. We thank you for those who have helped us on our journey of faith, and who strove for a better World following the example of your only Son, Jesus Christ