Easter 5, May 10th, 2020
Hymn suggestions
TIS 703: As the deer pants for the water
TIS 474: Here in this place
TIS 647: Comfort, comfort, all my people
TIS 599: Take my life and let it be
TIS 254: O changeless Christ, for ever new
TIS 581: Happy the home that welcomes you, Lord Jesus
TIS 590: What a friend we have in Jesus
TIS 628: In faith and hope and love
TIS 739: Nothing can trouble, nothing can frighten
Call to Worship
Gracious, Creative God,
We give you thanks that we are awake, living today which is a fresh new day, never been here before, and never will be again!
May we be nourished, inspired, equipped…and comforted, today and always
Amen.
Prayer
Holy, Creator God, on this autumn day, with the golden leaves falling and the crisp morning air invigorating our bodies, we come in the name of the risen Christ to worship you.
We have every reason not to let our hearts be troubled, not to be afraid of anything in life or death.
For we are your people, loved by you.
During these days when we have been confined indoors, help us to be mindful of all your blessings to us.
You are the God of seasons: of autumn with its blue skies, rich red and orange hues,
Of winter, a time of rest, of chill, of rain.
Of spring with new life: buds, blossom, perfume -such an overflowing abundance of bloom and greenery
And of summer, with its heat and dust.
You are the God of our own seasons: baby, toddler, child, teenager, adult, senior citizen…all within these bodies of ours.
You are wonderful!
Yet, sometimes we neglect to say ‘Thank you’
Sometimes we become so overwhelmed by world events, and worry, so that we forget to put our trust in you.
Forgive us.
Sometimes we become so caught up in the ‘what ifs’ that we neglect to look at the many blessings we have received-recently, and throughout all our lives.
Forgive us.
Sometimes we neglect the ministry of prayer, which is a gift to us, a way we can talk with and to you-without needing an internet connection, or wi-fi, or cable-just to be.
Forgive us, and in a time of silence we remember other things for which we seek forgiveness.
God is love.
Through Christ our sins are forgiven.
Thanks be to God.
Take hold of this forgiveness, and live your live
in the power of the Holy Spirit,
as forgiven people.
Amen.
Bible Readings:
Acts 7: 55-60
Psalm 31: 1-5,15-16
1 Peter 2: 2-10
John 14: 1-14
Sermon: John 14: 1-14
Grand Designs
What house did you dream about living in, when you were a child?
In my fantasy, mine had turrets, and was very much castle like in design-but not in size. It was small with turrets.
I loved the idea of a circular tower, sitting up there, a bit like Rapunzel.
Now-I don’t fancy a circular room-too hard to get furniture to fit (except at exorbitant prices) and I don’t relish all the stairs in a tower (and not sure if a circular stair lift would work!)
I don’t live in a castle, or a house with turrets
and that is fine-because it is my home, and HOME is where the heart is!
Grand Designs.
Ever watched the show? My husband quite enjoys it (the UK version), but frankly, it annoys me and I usually walk away before the program is half over.
I also mutter throughout-which is probably a bit annoying for David.
If you haven’t seen the show, the premise is about a house being designed that is extra special. I quite like the ones that are built to be ecofriendly, but some…
Well, last week’s, as an example. A couple sold their perfectly good house to make the 100 year old concrete water tower at the bottom of their garden into a home!
I understand the need and desire to preserve something of history-but- a concrete water tower?-for an enormous amount of time and money?
So…you can hear me, can’t you. Mutter, mutter, mutter. “How much? Why? What luxury when there are so many people who are homeless…” etc etc.
Grand Designs. Could be the title for today’s sermon.
I will preface my sermon by stating that there are two dominant themes in today’s portion of Scripture.
One is to look at Jesus’ words of comfort: ‘In my Father’s house…’
Or
‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’
If I looked at both, you would need to schedule in a lunch break!
I have chosen to address the first one, ‘In my Father’s house…’ which, in a sense, follows on from last week.
Last week one of the readings was Psalm 23. In my sermon for Leighmoor Uniting Church, I spoke of it being ‘an old friend.’
-a source of comfort.
Today we meet another source of comfort, a much loved portion of Scripture, used at many funeral services, and during the journey of dying: John 14.
These are words spoken by Jesus, to his disciples after the Last Supper-words they needed to hear, to help them through the harrowing days ahead.
These are words WE hear when we are upset
‘do not let your hearts be troubled.’
Words we hear when we start to doubt:
‘believe in God, believe also in me’
Words we hear when we need comforting whilst WE grieve…and when we fear death:
‘In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?’
Dwelling places: in the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Mansions: in the King James Version (KJV)
Rooms: in the Revised Standard Version (RSV) and in the New International Version (NIV)
Grand Designs
Words We hear when we are scared, fearful of dying:
‘And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.’
‘In my Father’s house…’
Grand Designs. Wouldn’t you love them to do a program about this verse of Scripture?
In a loving parent’s home…
We can’t help but think of death sometimes, can we?
Especially these days.
We believe we will be with God, and see those who went before us…
But sometimes…sometimes…our knees shake a little and we may think ‘but…what if that is not so?’
Remember, these words were also for the disciples, who were about to fall-to deny, to betray, to leave, to hide…
Their sun was going to set at midday and their world was going to collapse in chaos around them.
A such a time there was only one thing to do-hang on to faith, trust in God.
There comes a time when we have to believe, believe because we can’t PROVE it
-to accept-where we cannot or do not understand.
We might cling on to the sense that there is a purpose in life, that there is meaning…that love is the reason…that it isn’t about the meaning of life, but that life has meaning…
BUT
We need more than inspirational quotes.
In this passage, we receive more.
(like those old adds on tv: ‘…and there’s more!’ I think it was usually a steak knife!)
Jesus offers more than a steak knife. He offers life, eternal life.
‘In my Father’s house there are many rooms…’
A grand design!
I remember reading this passage to a dying lady and her family. They said she wouldn’t like that very much as she hated house work. I said it was heaven…no dust!
These words may simply mean that in heaven there is room for all.
-room for all.
I don’t know about you-but our house sometimes feels a bit cramped-especially during the past seven or so weeks. Enough room most of the time-but one expects to get out a bit more. Also, sitting at home one discovers that those piles of things, and boxes, really do need to be sorted-but where to put the items after they are out of the containers? I think you know what I mean!
An earthly home can quickly become overcrowded. An earthly home can have ‘no room’-think of the Christmas story: ‘…because there was no place for them in the inn.’ (Luke 2: 7)
We have driven past motels, and seen ‘no vacancy signs.’ I think I remember going on holiday-seems a long time ago!
Heaven is not a tight fit, not a small house but a truly GRAND DESIGN
Heaven is as wide as God’s heart
-heaven is as wide as God’s heart
There is room for all.
As it says in The Message: ‘There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you?’
Jesus was saying to his disciples, his friends, “Don’t be afraid. People may shut their doors, not let you in…but in heaven, you will never be shut out.”
-you will never be shut out.
What words of grace! It doesn’t matter what you have done-you will not be shut out!
What else does this portion of Scripture tell us?
Well-it reminds us of Jesus’ honesty.
“If it were not so…would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”
And…in that pivotal verse: ‘I am …the truth…and the life.’
None of us, no Christian, was EVER led to belief through false pretences, or through lies or cunning. He told his disciples (and us) of persecution, of hatred, of our own crosses that we would have to bear…Jesus did not promise us a life without hardship, without illness, without grief…
BUT he did tell us and his disciples of the glory, of the ending of his story.
Jesus did not bribe people with promises of an easy life…instead, he set a challenge-to aim for greatness, to live a more truthful, just, compassionate life
-to model him.
Perhaps the image of the house, can call us to prayer.
We call the church ‘a house of prayer.’
Robert Munger’s book, My Heart-Christ’s Home, is a small, devotional classic. Munger explores the house and it rooms, through the eyes of a young convert, to speak about our relationship with Christ. In each room something new is discovered. In the ‘living room’, the young student and Christ agree on a time to meet each day, sitting in comfy armchairs near a fire, with a bookcase nearby. The student is thrilled, and agrees to start each day with Christ, in this room. So each morning they meet, Christ taking the Bible off the shelf and they read it together.
Munger writes: ‘Those times together were wonderful. Through the Bible and his Holy Spirit He would talk to me. In prayer I would respond. So our friendship deepened in these quiet times of personal conviction.’
However, pressures of life got in the way of this regular time together. Days were missed.
One day the student rushes down the steps and passes the living room, its door open. He goes in and sees Christ there, waiting. He asks him if he has been there every morning. Christ replied that he has been, He had said he would be.
Ashamed the student asks for forgiveness. Christ tells him that this time was not only for the student, it was also for Him. Munger has Christ say these very moving words:
‘…you have forgotten that this time means something to me also. Remember, I love you. At a great cost I have redeemed you. I value your friendship. Just to have you look up into my face warms my heart. Don’t neglect this hour if only for my sake. Whether or not you want to be with me, remember I want to be with you. I really love you!”
Munger concludes with: “Don’t let Christ wait alone in the living room of your heart, but every day find a time and place when, with the Word of God and in prayer, you may be together with him.”
John 14 has Jesus promise to care for us here, and in the next life.
We are NOT alone-never have been, never will be.
What a Grand Design! Heaven:
‘In my Father’s house…’
What a Grand Design! And our hearts:
Home is where the heart is.
Home is where God’s heart is
Home is where God’s heart is beating within my heart, within your heart!
‘In my living room, in my heart…resides the Father…and the Son…and the Holy Spirit…’
Amen
Prayers of Intercession
God of love, we come to you with our prayers for others.
During this time of pandemic, we ask that you are there with those on the front line: the doctors, the nurses, and other members of health teams.
Be with those who are suffering, those who are dying. Comfort them, and their families.
God of love, we pray for those going to work, who feel unsafe, but know they are performing vital services.
We pray for, and give thanks for those working in supermarkets, at check outs, or stacking shelves, for their cheerful faces and friendly manner.
We pray for churches world wide, unable to worship face to face. We thank you for the many different ways we are learning to be ‘church.’
We pray for the world, your world. We have been caught up with Covid 19, but we know there are other crises going on-wars, hunger, drought.
Be with those in trouble spots.
We pray for world leaders, and for our own leaders.
Give them wisdom, courage, and compassion.
In a time of silence, we remember those near and dear to us who need our prayers…
All these prayers we give to you, Lord, as we join in the prayer you taught your disciples:
‘Our Father in heaven…
Amen
Dismissal
Go out into the world with joyful hearts.
Know you are loved…love others.
God has rooms …rooms for us, rooms for all.
Blessing
(Bruce Prewer’s words are used as the basis for this Blessing:)
May the nurturing, fatherly love of God always hold you in strong, everlasting arms.
May the costly, brotherly love of Christ ever walk beside you and deliver you from all evil.
And may the dependable, motherly love of the Spirit ever enfold you with holy warmth.
Amen
May 10th 2020
