Sunday 21 April 2024
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Welcome!
We know not everyone who is part of Westwood Church is able to be in church on Sunday morning however, we thought it would be good to offer some excerpts from the Sunday morning service. Where we can, we offer parts of the service in text and audio, whichever works best for you. If you want to plug in headphones to your computer, tablet or mobile phone now is a good time to do it ! If you want to offer some comment or feedback just use the comment box at the end of this post.
Scripture
Mark 1: 14 – 20
Acts 6: 1 – 7
Praise – Lord you have come to the seashore
Prayers
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you that you meet us day by day, just as you met your disciples in the days following your resurrection.
We thank you that your victory of good over evil, love over hate and life over death continues to make such a difference to our lives just as it did to theirs, bringing new beginnings when it seems like the end, new hope where there seems only despair.
For turning weakness into strength, fear into confidence and doubt into faith, receive our praise and continue to work that miracle in our lives and in our world today, making all things new to the Glory of your name.
Lord Jesus, we thank you that you shared our humanity, experiencing not just the good but also the bad. You understand what it means to be hurt, to endure suffering, to face even death itself.
As well as our joys you have shared our sorrows. Living God, we thank you for the assurance this gives us: that whatever we face you will be with us in it. Teach us to live each day in the light of that truth, and so to live always as your Easter people.
We understand, we acknowledge that you have offered us your everything. We cannot ask more of you, there is no more you can give. And as we make our offering to you, we may feel it is merely a token in comparison. Lord Jesus, we rejoice in the knowledge that you see beyond the token, to see that which comes from the heart, offered in love and service, that which is worshipful and given in humility. However simple the offering, you see the loving heart and rejoice for the giver not just the gift.
Hear us as we join in the words of the Lord’s Prayer saying…
Our Father who art in Heaven Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory forever. Amen.
Address
Acts chapter 6 opens to us with another vague timeline… ‘some time later, as the number of disciples kept growing’.
Luke as he writes the Book of Acts has already introduced us to life among the believers. Luke speaks of the close fellowship, sharing their meals together, selling of property and possessions, distributing funds, meeting for prayer and of course the preaching of the Good News. We are certainly given a picture of something attractive, wonderful, caring, an almost idyllic sense of community. These lasting images remain with us and still inform and influence what we think Christian Community and Fellowship, Christian Church has the potential to be.
Of course, if it was ever truly like that in the early church then it didn’t stay that way for long. Some time later a quarrel broke out between Greek-speaking Jews and native Jews when the Greek-speaking Jews felt their widows were being neglected in the distribution of funds. It could be that they were simply overrun by demand as the numbers steadily increased, or maybe there was some inbuilt prejudice against Greek-speaking Jews who had come from the synagogues established after the exile. In other words, there were Jews who had returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem and re-establish a pure blood-line, and there were those who had not. Sure, hundreds of years of history had gone by but people don’t forget, attitudes creep in to society.
The picture emerges of a growing fellowship of believers that was not quite as harmonious as we might imagine; cracks were appearing along old and familiar lines of heritage and blood-line and history.
In a move reminiscent of Moses in the desert, when Moses was worn out by the demands of the people, a group of elders or leaders is appointed to share the burden. It’s funny isn’t it, even when something is new and original and creative, we will inevitably fall back on that which is established and familiar as a way to solve the problems. So, appointing seven men full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom to share the burden was agreeable to everyone. The seven men seem to be a fairly mixed bunch including Nicolaus the Gentile who had been converted to Judaism. It looks like they tried to have all sections of the community represented.
The point I’m trying to get to is this… had it not been for the division that grew up, they might not have given Stephen such a prominent position; Stephen who is singled out for being full of faith and the Holy Spirit, like he stands head and shoulders above the other six helpers. Stephen who ignores boundaries and protocol, who acts like he is one of the Apostles performing great miracles and wonders, Stephen who is himself a catalyst for division and tension within the group of believers. Every solution creates a problem; I think that is exactly where thy find themselves. Stephen becomes the focus for the ongoing tensions between Greek-speaking Jews and native Jews. We are then, launched into a chain of events which are both painful and necessary.
Had it not been for Stephen’s boldness he would not have been tried before the High Priests. Had Stephen’s trial and stoning not taken place, Saul would not have persecuted the early Christian Church. Had Saul not persecuted the church he may not have been converted to the Christian faith and we would not have half of the writings that make up the New Testament. Had Saul’s persecution of the early believer’s not taken place they would not have dispersed. Persecution did not end the early church; persecution caused it to spread and grow.
It is impossible to know what God’s plan for the future might be. Only with hindsight do we see where God has been at work linking events together in extraordinary ways. Not all things are things that we would welcome or want, it’s not all harmonious, good and pleasant; but this we can say, “in all things God works for the good for those who love Him.”
Praise – All you come and follow
Prayers for Others
God of heaven, and God of all the earth, we marvel that You should lend your ear to the prayers we offer; and even more so that You respond to our prayers in your greater wisdom and purpose.
In all things, we pray: Your will be done; Your Kingdom come. Help us, Lord, to be faithful in prayer, day by day, that we might be ever mindful of the harsh realities being faced by so many. And as we pray, soften our hearts that, filled with Your Spirit, we might exhibit love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Lord and Head of the Church, today we pray for the Church and especially for our Presbytery which in the coming days will again discuss and seek to discern your will for the future. We pray that You might allow your church to be equipped for whatever it faces, that the ministry of all believers will enhance the life of Your Church and share the Good News across our communities.
Hear us then, as we pray for those across our nation who, right now, are listening for Your call and entering into the Ministries of the Church as Worship Leaders, Readers, the Diaconate or Ordained Local Ministers or Ministers of Word and Sacrament…
Let us pray for the families of those who are called to ministry who will face significant changes in lifestyle and expectations, who will also face times of challenge, unhappiness and real joy. We pray for those who have come from different countries and backgrounds and are in the process of familiarisation; and experienced ministers who will mentor candidates for ministry in their placements and through probation. We think on National staff and Presbytery representatives, who support and guide candidates through the journey to ministry…
We pray for those who have completed their preparation and are presently serving as Assistant Ministers, waiting for opportunities to open up, that they might receive their first call. And we pray for those with many years of service and experience to fall back on and yet feel apprehensive and uncertain in the face of unprecedented change in the life of the Church….
And we pray for the ministry of all believers, the gifts of grace and faith which you our God has blessed each and every one of us with. For the gift of speech that allows us to tell of the Good News, to speak words of hope and love and forgiveness to friend and stranger and enemy alike…
Might we all together serve You faithfully as You work through us to establish Your Kingdom. These and all our prayers, we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Praise – To God be the Glory
The Grace
And now… May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you and all whom you love, now and for evermore. AMEN.
Great service very moving including prayers for others and the address. Regards to Rev Kevin McKenzie.