Sunday service for 21 May 2023, Seventh Sunday of Easter

Sunday 21 May 2023, NL1-44, Seventh Sunday of Easter
Gourock St. John’s Church of Scotland
Service prepared by Rev. Teri Peterson
Manse: 632143 
Email: tpeterson (at) churchofscotland.org.uk

Prelude Music

Welcome and Announcements

Call to Worship
One: Grace upon grace:
All: in Christ we walk in newness of life.
One: Step by step, practice by practice:
All: we let go of the old self and present ourselves to be transformed by God’s righteousness.
One: The powers of this world are defeated:
All: for Christ is alive! Alleluia.

Sanctuary Hymn 509: Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult

Prayer
God of liberating love,
you set us free from the power of sin and death,
that we might live for you.
You created the world for flourishing
and your abundance is for all.
You are making all things new, O God,
and in raising Christ from the dead
you defeated the powers of sin forever.
We confess that we sometimes consider ourselves dead to sin
and use that as an excuse.
We admit that the ways of this world often work for us,
and it is not easy to turn our backs on the privileges we enjoy,
even when we know your way leads to abundant life.
Knowing your forgiveness covers us with grace,
sometimes we think we can just dip in and out of those old ways,
making little tweaks while still holding on to the comfortable parts,
forgetting that they are more seductive than we realise
and soon we are trapped again and not sure we want to leave them behind after all.
Other times we think one mistake means we may as well not try anymore,
so we simply give in.
Forgive us, O God, and in the power of your resurrection Spirit re-create us.
Train our hearts and minds, hands and feet in the habits of your kingdom.
And should our practice fail,
may your grace once again set us back on your way,
committed to trying again.
Bless us with the grace
to continually turn toward your more excellent way.
Unite us with one another in Christ
that we might live to your glory.
We ask with hope and with trust in the One
who is forever beyond the reach of sin and death,
who brings us into new life with him day by day,
Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Hymn 509: Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult

Sanctuary Hymn 415: This Joyful Eastertide

Sanctuary Children’s Time

Reading: Romans 6:1-14 (New Revised Standard Version)
What then are we to say? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. No longer present your members to sin as instruments of wickedness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present your members to God as instruments of righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

For the word of God in scripture,
for the word of God among us,
for the word of God within us,
thanks be to God.

Sermon: Incorporated
We may not often think about baptism as a death and rebirth, especially when we are baptising a baby, looking at their whole life ahead of them! If we dwell on Christ’s death and how torturous it was, and then look at the wee baby in the white dress and say they are dying with Christ, it can feel a bit jarring, like a complete disconnect from what we’re there to do.

Of course, that jarring feeling is exactly what we’re there to do. When we are incorporated — which literally means to be brought in to the Body, in – corp – orated — into the Church, the Body of Christ, we are making a complete disconnect from the other things we could be incorporated into instead. We are meant to look at the power systems of this world, the expectations of the social and economic structures, and say “you’re dead to me, because I am alive to God.”

Thinking vs living/practice…

(Iain Greenshields, outgoing moderator)
Church making a difference
So many different hands-on projects that are making a difference to individuals, families, and communities (addiction, food, loneliness, mental health, family support, etc)

(Representative from presbyterian church of southern africa)
Members of one family — and families do things together

(New moderator Sally Foster Fulton)
The church has experienced extraordinary challenges, and it has been the grit, determination, and the hopeful imagination of individuals and communities who have risen together to those challenges. We know what is at stake — all we need do is look around us. The Body of Christ has work to do, love to share, justice and equity to seek.
Audacious hope…let’s roll up our sleeves and bring it.

Church was driver of social change…and became a place where we went for comfort and stability, to hide from social change…

What does it mean to really live into that jarring difference, to leave behind the sinful systems of this world that privilege some at the expense of others, that destroy creation for greed, that care more about comfort and stability than about abundant life and the future generations…what kingdom habits do we need, and how do we retrain our habits to be for God’s kingdom? How will we be a church that’s making a difference, a family doing things together, a Body that gets to work sharing love and doing justice?

In Christ we are meant to be dead to the old ways, to walk in newness of life, to be instruments of God’s work for the world. Perhaps it’s time for us to reclaim an old vision — not the way we’ve always done it, but farther back than that. Back in the traditions of the Church, when Christians were the leading edge of trying to improve the world, ending slavery and child labour and campaigning for health care and peace and education for all people regardless of social class. Or farther back than that, when Paul was writing that we must allow something to die if we are going to experience resurrection life, and we can ask what it is in 2023 that needs to die so that God’s life can be visible in us. What do we need to let go of, to consider ourselves dead to, in order to be in-corp-orated in the Body of Christ instead of in the ways of the world that seem so intractable?

Perhaps those are the places where we can make a break with our old habits and re-train ourselves in new kingdom habits, that we may become instruments of God’s love, justice, reconciliation, and passion — not for our own comforts and stability but for the movement of the world toward God’s vision.

It may be jarring, it may be difficult, it may take work and effort on our part to stop doing some things that are as unconscious as flipping a light switch when we enter a room, but that’s what disciples do — they learn and follow, changing their lives to look more like their teacher in the everyday as well as the extraordinary. Disciples want, and they try, to be in-corp-orated, not only in-doctrine-ated — it’s not just about thinking and believing, but about a way of life.

May we align our actual lived lives, not only our minds, with Christ, and walk with him in newness of life.

Amen.

Hymn: Make Me An Instrument (Praise Band)
Make me an instrument,
make me an instrument,
make me an instrument,
Lord of Thy peace.

Make me an instrument
make me an instrument
make me an instrument
Lord of Thy peace.

Where there is hatred, may I bring love.
Where there is wrong, may I bring forgiveness.
Where there is discord, may I bring harmony.
Where there is doubt, Lord, may I bring faith.

Make me an instrument,
make me an instrument,
make me an instrument,
Lord of Thy peace.

Where there is despair, may I bring hope.
Where there is error, may I bring the truth.
Where there is darkness, Lord may I bring Thy light.
Where there is sadness, may I bring joy.

Lord grant that I might comfort rather than be comforted,
that I might understand rather than be understood.
Lord may I seek to love rather than be loved
for it’s in giving that we receive.

Make me an instrument,
make me an instrument,
make me an instrument,
Lord of Thy peace.

Make me an instrument,
make me an instrument,
make me an instrument,
Lord of Thy peace.
Lord of Thy peace.

Offering (Sanctuary only) Special Music: I will give thanks to Thee by Brent Chambers. (choir)
your morning offering will now be received.

Sanctuary Offering Response 420 verse 4 (tune: Lasst uns erfreuen)
Praise we the Father, Spirit, Son;
Praise we the victory God has won:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise we the Lamb who reigns above;
Praise we the King whose rule is love:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Prayer and Lord’s Prayer
God of all and every life,
we bless you this day for your gift of Christ who opened the way,
whose obedience and commitment carry us with him into your glorious light.
We give you thanks for your faithfulness that overcomes our failings
and for your love that conquers death.
We pray this day for those who are being harmed
by the systems of this world that we find so difficult to dismantle,
despite your calling.
We lift up those who hunger and thirst,
where crops fail and rivers run dry,
where pipes carry poison and governments mysteriously never have the money to help.
May your providing be equally shared that all can thrive.
We lift up those who are facing the end of their earthly journey,
and those who care for them.
May they know the truth of your resurrection,
and face the next chapter with peace and courage.
We lift up those whose lives are shaped by the idols of our age,
that they may be brought into a better way,
seeking the common good, connecting in beloved community,
practicing compassion, recognising your image in every face.
We lift up those who are eagerly trying to train their bodies, minds, and spirits
in your kingdom habits.
Guide and uphold them in the little things that change their routine
until every action of life is rooted in your grace.
Set us free in Christ,
to live conformed to your will in all things.
We ask these and all things in the name of your Son who defeated the powers
that we might live always and only to your glory,
and who taught us to pray together:
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.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Sanctuary Hymn 530: One More Step

Benediction
Go from this place to train in the ways of Christ, to live as if you are fully alive in him, even now in this world.
And as you go, may the Spirit of God go above you to watch over you. May the Spirit of God go beside you to be your companion. May the Spirit of God go before you to show you the way, and behind you to push you into places you might not go alone. And may the Spirit of God go within you, to remind you that you are loved more deeply than you can possibly imagine. May the fire of God’s love burn brightly in you, and through you into the world. Amen.

Sung Benediction Response (John L Bell, tune Gourock St John’s)
Now may the Lord of all be blessed,
Now may Christ’s gospel be confessed,
Now may the Spirit when we meet
Bless sanctuary and street.

Postlude Music

Announcements

* The Spring 2023 Church Notes are now available, click here! Many thanks to Notes editor, elder Seonaid Knox!

* We worship in the sanctuary on Sundays at 11am, and all Sunday worship is also online (or on the phone at 01475 270037, or in print). If you are able, please enter by the front door in Bath street, and only those who need step-free access should use the back door. If you feel unwell, please worship online, to protect both yourself and others in our community.

* Did you know that the ministry we do at St John’s costs about £2700 per week? Everything we do is funded by your generous giving — all our support for young people, older people, bereavement care, community outreach, worship, study, spiritual growth, and community work is because of your offering. If you would like to set up a standing order in order to facilitate your spiritual discipline of giving, or if you would like to make an extra gift to support the ministry St. John’s does in our parish, you can give online by clicking here. If you would like to set up a standing order, please contact Teri and she can give you the treasurer’s details. You can also send your envelopes to the church or the manse by post and we will ensure they are received. 

*Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Youtube, and to sign up for our email devotions! Midweek you can watch Wine and the Word on Youtube, pray with video devotions on Facebook, and consider a new angle on something with a devotional email. Feel free to share with your friends, too!

* In March Starter Packs provided packs to 57 homes within these homes were 30 single people, 27 families including 45 children and in April the figures were: 44 homes within these homes were 29 single people,15 families including 24 children. As well of the monthly focus of toilet roll, kitchen roll, washing up liquid and cleaning cloths we are short of shampoo, shaving foam, razors and bathroom and kitchen cleaner. You can bring donations to church and leave them in the collection box inside the front door.

* Wednesday Evening Bible Study does not meet for the next two Wednesdays! We are back on the 7th of June to finish the book of Job.

* Young Adult Bible Study meets in the manse on the 2nd and 4th Sundays at 7pm for a meal and discussion of the gospel according to John. Everyone in their 20s is welcome!

* Teri is off at the General Assembly until Friday, so if you have a pastoral need, please contact your elder or Cameron.

* Next week’s service for Pentecost will have a different format than our usual Sunday service, as we experience and explore the day the Holy Spirit created the Church!

* Looking Ahead: St John’s Summer Exploratorium, our new summer holiday club for P1- P7 children, will be from 24-28 July, 9am – 1pm. More information and registration will be available soon. If you would be interested in helping with advance preparation (decorating, advertising, etc), or during the week in the kitchen (breakfast club from 8:30am, or lunch), or during the week with the programme (which requires being added to our Safeguarding/PVG register), please speak to Teri or Graham Bolster.

* 2023 marks the 125th anniversary of the 2nd Gourock Boys’ Brigade. Our anniversary Grand Charity Ball will be Saturday 9th September 6.00 for 6.30pm in Greenock Town Hall. Tickets priced £50 or £500 for a table of 10 are available now from BB leaders. The benefitting Charities have been selected and will be announced shortly. We are delighted to announce that every penny raised from ticket sales and our charity auction on the evening will go directly to our chosen charities. This event is open to all so please spread the word, book your table, put the date in your diary and look forward to what we are sure will be a Second To None evening of enjoyment and celebration.

* Free period products are available in the church toilets for anyone who might need them, thanks to Hey Girls and Inverclyde Council.