We'll Meet Again

A very brief address on Jesus' words in John chapter 14, from the New Testament, for VE75.

In our final Bible reading we see Jesus facing his own death.

This passage may well be read at your funeral.

In it, Jesus prepares his disciples for life without his physical presence and tells us, amazingly, that we too can face death unafraid.

John 14:1-14

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

“We’ll meet again!”

Or “We’ll Be Together Again”

Many of us will have sung or listened to it this weekend.

I’ve been belting it out around the house, probably to everyone’s annoyance!

You’ll be pleased to hear I will never sing to you online!

Dame Vera Lynn made the 1939 song famous.

She also took the lead in the 1943 musical film of that name.

It was also used in the 1979 World War II film, Yanks, about British citizens and American soldiers during the build-up for the D-Day Invasion.

Of course the words resonated with soldiers going off to fight as well as their families and sweethearts left behind.

Sometimes it was true in this life; sometimes, tragically, it wasn’t.

Many returned with joy following VE day, some only after VJ day, or much later, and many never at all.

“We’ll meet again.”

It could also be the title of Jesus’ words to his disciples in John chapter 14, which we had read.

I recommend to you the whole of the chapter, or indeed chapters 13 to 18, which cover the last night of Jesus’ life.

Vera Lynn said “we don’t know where, we don’t know when”.

And Jesus’ disciples show ignorance and confusion in this chapter.

They are full of questions:

“What are you talking about, Jesus?

“Where are you going?

“How can we know the way?”

Jesus doesn’t give them full and precise answers.

He doesn’t set out a detailed timeline or give a great description of either how or when.

But he tells his disciples he will go ahead of them.

He will see them again:

They will meet and be together again.

He will rise from the dead and come back to be with them.

He will not leave them as orphans.

Indeed, he will always be with all his people by his Holy Spirit, whom he will send.

And by his death, Jesus will make a way to heaven and the new creation for all who will trust in him.

His death will open the way to life and glory and blessing and peace to them.

His death will remove the barrier of sin and the judgement of God that they might know friendship with heaven.

The disciples can’t know the future.

But they can know Jesus.

And if they know him they know God the Father, because he is God the Son who perfectly reveals God to us.

And Jesus is The Way, The Truth and the Life.

If we know him we know the way:

We know that when we die, be in soon or many years from now, we will go to heaven to be with Jesus and all those who have died in the love of Christ.

We will meet again.

Jesus is the Truth of God and the Resurrection Lord of Life.

He is all his disciples really need.

All we need, for this life and the next.

We hope never to face another world war in our lifetimes.

But the future is always uncertain.

And indeed, the present corona crisis has made us face our own fragility and mortality.

So much in life, life itself, is uncertain.

But Jesus would give us a sure confidence in him.

With Jesus, we can face the future, we can face death, even, with an untroubled heart.

May God enable us to trust in God and to trust also in Jesus Christ, the Saviour whom he sent.

Jesus is the Way, The Truth and the Life.

We may come to God the Father and be sure of eternal life even now by putting our trust in Jesus.

Therefore to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, be all honour and glory and power now and for all generations. Amen.

VE & VE75 Thanksgiving Compared

I know the Corona virus has curtailed the marking of VE day, but I was rather disappointed to see no mention of God at all at the national commemoration on Friday.

That is in stark contrast to the original VE day when both Churchill and the King made reference to thankfulness to God.

In fact, on 8^th May 1945, when the Prime Minister made a short speech in the House of Commons announcing Victory and then he said:

“[Mr Speaker,] Sir, with your permission to move 'That this House do now attend at the church of St. Margaret, Westminster, to give humble and reverent thanks to Almighty God for our deliverance from the threat of German domination.'”

Likewise George VI began his VE day broadcast to the Nation by saying:

“Today we give thanks to Almighty God for a great deliverance. Speaking from our Empire’s oldest capital city, war-battered but never for one moment daunted or dismayed – speaking from London, I ask you to join with me in that act of thanksgiving.”

And he concluded:

“There is great comfort in the thought that the years of darkness and danger in which the children of our country have grown up are over and, please God, for ever. We shall have failed, and the blood of our dearest will have flowed in vain, if the victory which they died to win does not lead to a lasting peace, founded on justice and established in good will. To that, then, let us turn our thoughts on this day of just triumph and proud sorrow; and then take up our work again, resolved as a people to do nothing unworthy of those who died for us and to make the world such a world as they would have desired, for their children and for ours. This is task to which now honour binds us. In the hour of danger we humbly committed our cause into the Hand of God, and He has been our Strength and Shield. Let us thank Him for His mercies, and in this hour of Victory commit ourselves and our new task to the guidance of that same strong Hand.”

A Service for VE Day

Adapted from a resource from The Church of England Website

SERVICE FOR VE DAY 8/5/20

Heaviness may endure for a night:

But joy comes in the morning. 

God has been our refuge and our strength:

A present help in time of trouble.  

Dear friends, on this day we commemorate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe, when the sounds of war fell silent on this continent.

We are conscious of our need for God’s forgiveness for the sin and the desire to dominate others that leads to conflict between people, and war between nations. 

And as we remember the many soldiers, sailors, and airmen who gave their lives restraining evil and opposing tyranny, so we also come in thanksgiving for the years of peace that the nations of Europe have enjoyed since the Second World War.

We are joyful, as were those who gathered on that first Victory day, glad of each other’s company, and grateful for the laughter and love that follows times of sadness and loss. 

But above all things, let us pray that God’s will may be done on earth as it is in heaven, as we join our voices together and say:

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father…

An Old Testament Reading

Micah 4.1–4  God’s promised time of peace  

A New Testament Reading

2 Corinthians 5.16–21  The call to be reconciled 

O Lord, Your salvation is near to those who fear you,

All that glory may dwell in our land. 

Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

All that glory may dwell in our land.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Your salvation is near to those who fear you, that glory may dwell in our land. 

Psalms 84

The Last Post

Silence

Reville

Let us pray:

A Prayer for those who served in World War II 

O God of truth and justice,

we give you thanks for those men and women 

who have died in active service, 

particularly in the Second World War, 

whose sacrifice brought Victory in Europe. 

As we honour their courage and cherish their memory, 

may we put our faith in your future; 

for you are the source of life and hope, 

now and for ever.  Amen. 

A Prayer for those who serve today 

O Lord God of Hosts, 

stretch forth, we pray, your almighty arm 

to strengthen and protect our service men and women. 

Support them in times of conflict, 

and in their rest and training keep them safe from all evil; 

endue them with courage and loyalty; 

and grant that in all things they may serve without reproach; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen. 

A Prayer for the peace of the world 

O God, who would fold both heaven and earth 

in a single peace; 

that the design of your great love lighten 

upon the waste of our wraths and sorrows 

and give peace to your church,

peace among nations, 

peace in our dwellings and peace in our hearts; 

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pledge ourselves anew to the service of God and our fellow men and women: that we may help, encourage and comfort others, and support those working for the relief of the needy and for the peace and welfare of the nations.

Lord God our Father,

we pledge ourselves to serve you and all humankind,  

in the cause of peace,  

for the relief of want and suffering,  

and for the praise of your name.  

Guide us by your Spirit;  

give us wisdom;  

give us courage;  

give us hope;  

and keep us faithful now and always. 

Amen.  

O Lord our God, as we remember, teach us the ways of peace. 

As we treasure memories, teach us to hope. 

As we give thanks for the sacrifices of the past, 

help us to make your future in this world, 

until your kingdom come. Amen.  

The Collect for Peace

 

Almighty God,  

from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle in the hearts of all people the true love of peace; 

and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom 

those who take counsel for the nations of the earth; 

that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward, 

till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy

love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A prayer for the Sovereign 

Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness,  

bless our Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth,  

and all who are in authority under her;  

that they may order all things  

in wisdom and equity, righteousness and peace, 

to the honour of your name,  

and the good of your Church and people;  

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God grant his grace to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth,   

and all people, peace and concord;  

and to us and all his servants, life everlasting;  

and the blessing of God almighty,

 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

come down upon you and remain with you always. Amen.

Service Notes for 10/5/05

Sunday 10^th May 2020

The Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year A)

including VE 75 Commemoration

God-willing our church services will be live on Facebook on a Sunday at 9:30am at: https://www.facebook.com/malloyd

After that you can catch up there or on the churches Facebook pages or Warbleton Church You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBFrhqP5nL6QnmkZKfP5yw

ORDER OF SERVICE:

Before the service we will play Lord for the Years Your Love Has Kept and Guided

Words: https://www.jubilate.co.uk/songs/lord_for_the_years

Video with music and words: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkTrFQLy6js

Welcome, notices, introduction

(Our latest parish magazine and notice sheet and further information are available here: https://www.warbletonchurch.org.uk/)

(Do feel free to contact the Rector, Marc, with any queries – 01435 830421 – marc_lloyd@hotmail.com)

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

(And also with you)

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

The Confession

Christ died to sin once for all, and now he lives to God. Let us renew our resolve to have done with all that is evil and confess our sins in penitence and faith. Lord God,

we have sinned against you;

we have done evil in your sight.

We are sorry and repent.

Have mercy on us according to your love.

Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.

Renew a right spirit within us

and restore us to the joy of your salvation;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

The Absolution

May the Father of all mercies

cleanse you from your sins,

and restore you in his image

to the praise and glory of his name,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

We will play the hymn Praise My Soul the King of Heaven with vocals.

Words: https://www.jubilate.co.uk/songs/praise_my_soul_the_king_of_heaven_peacock_arrangement

Music with video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyRIVbdsi4c

The Bible Readings

(In church we normally use the New International Version (NIV) 1984 of the Bible. You can find the latest NIV version here: https://www.biblegateway.com/)

Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

Acts 7:55-end

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

John 14:1-14

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God!

Sermon

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,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the Virgin Mary,

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,

he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

and he will come 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.

Act of Commemoration

The VE75 Tribute to the Millions:

https://www.veday75.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/VEDay.pdf

The Last Post

Two Minutes’ Silence

Reveille

Prayer

Intercessions

The Collect of the Day: The Fifth Sunday of Easter

Almighty God,

who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ

have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life:

grant that, as by your grace going before us

you put into our minds good desires,

so by your continual help

we may bring them to good effect;

through Jesus Christ our risen Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Rejoicing in God’s new creation,
let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us

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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Blessing

After the service we will play Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah

Words: https://library.timelesstruths.org/music/Guide_Me_O_Thou_Great_Jehovah/

Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5uwi04ttjA

You may wish to supplement the service with other hymns of your choice.

You might choose something appropriate to Remembrance and thanksgiving e.g. Now Thank We All Our God. Or perhaps to the theme of peace: e.g. Peace Perfect Peace, is the Gift of Christ Our Lord. Something linked to our readings (a version of the Psalm, perhaps) or anything appropriate to the Easter Season.

Please do feel free to like, comment, share, subscribe etc.

Psalm 20 notes for midweek meeting 6/5/20

Some study questions, outlines and notes on Psalm 20:

SOME STUDY QUESTIONS:

What is the main form of this Psalm? What’s going on in it? (vv1-5, v6, v9)

What scenario or scene do you think it fits?

What kind of distress do you think is envisaged in v1? See also vv5, 7-8

Are there different “voices” in the Psalm?

Can you work out who is speaking to whom about whom at each point in the Psalm?

Who is the (masculine singular) “you” the Psalm addressed in vv1-4?

Who are the “we” in v5?

Who is the “I” who speaks in v6?

What does the word “anointed” mean in v6? To whom would it have referred in its original context?

Can you spot any repeated words or ideas in the Psalm? (The NIV has unfortunately obscured some of the repeated words so trying to look at another (more literal) translation (? ESV, NKJV, NASB or something) might possibly help if you’re feeling really keen!)

What does the Psalmist ask God for?

What does he think the consequences will be? Where does his confidence come from?

What does the Psalm’s example suggest that we should do in times of trouble?
(What are we inclined to do instead?)

What does the Bible think of as the significance of God’s name (v1, v5, v7)?

What would be our contemporary equivalent of “chariots and horses”? (v7)

What other things are we or others inclined to trust in today?

Given that we’re probably not expecting to go to war any time soon, how might we apply the Psalm?

Given that we don’t live in ancient Israel as God’s covenant nation with God’s anointed king, how would we apply this Psalm today?

How would we relate this Psalm to Jesus?

Theme and aim sentences? (i.e. what is the big idea / main teaching point of the Psalm? How do you think God wants this Psalm to change us? What should we do or think or feel or believe or not in the light of it?)

Prayer and praise in the light of this Psalm?

* * *

OUTLINES:

Kidner:

The Day of Trouble

Vv1-5: The Lord will answer you! – a corporate invocation of blessing by the congregation on the king

Vv6-8: He will answer – a single voice (the king himself?) is confident of God’s response

V9: Answer us – the people respond with a final, brief, urgent prayer

Motyer:

Before Battle: Prayer and Assurance

The first voice: a plea that the king’s prayer be heard and his offering acceptable (vv1-4)

The second voice: the king speaks on behalf of his army (v5)

The first voice again: a wish that the king’s prayer be answered (v5c)

The second voice again: the king’s confidence in Yahweh (v6)

The first and second voices together: united reliance on Yahweh (vv7-8)

The first voice again: a final prayer that Yahweh hears and answers (v9)

Expositor’s Bible:

Prayer for Victory

A. Prayer in need (v1)

B. Praying for God’s Royal Help (vv2-4)

C. Rejoicing in anticipation (v5)

B’. Confidence in God’s Royal Help (vv6-8)

A’. Prayer in Need (v9)

* * *

NOTES:

Vv1-4 – petitions addressed to God

Vv7-9 – the anticipated joy of victory (we / us)

Motyer

Vv1-4 – prayers for you (masculine singular)

Vv5a-b – we / our God

V5c – praying to “you”

V6 – I

Vv7-8 – we

V9 – addressing Yahweh as king

Wilcock:

Vv1-5 – addressed by us (the congregation) to you (the king / the Lord’s anointed) about him (God) – an oblique prayer like “God bless you” rather than, “God, please bless them!

V6 – An individual voice – an I – maybe a prophet or priest or Levite. Or maybe the king speaking about himself in the third person.

Vv7-8 – we speak again about God and our enemies

V9 – we speak to God about the king

Parallel between vv1 and 9 (repetition of LORD, day and answer) obscured by the NIV

V1: May Yahweh answer you in the day of adversity

V9: Yahweh, please save! True King, answer us the day we call.

Notice the repetitions: Wilcock: “May the Lord answer (… answer … answer) [vv1, 6, 9], because we pray in the name (… the name … the name) [vv1, 5, 7] of the God who saves (… who saved … who saves) [vv5-6, 9]”

The distress of v1 ? an impending battle, implied by the chariots and horses mentioned in v7. We may imagine in the king offering sacrifices (v3) and making plans (v4) before going into battle.

The Psalm as an act of worship / a mini church service for different voices / speakers preparing for battle.

God’s name (v1, v5, v7) – not like a magic spell to be invoked as in some pagan religions but God’s revealed character, his name stands for who he is, what he’s like

The you is masculine singular throughout, identified as the Lord’s anointed in v6

V1 – protect you – lit. place you high (as on a rock, where you will be safe), a refuge / stronghold / retreat or bulwark

V2 – sanctuary is simply holiness, lit. from the holiness, but the parallel with Zion, God’s holy hill, makes it likely that this is a reference to the Jerusalem sanctuary, the Holy Place, the holy of holies

V2 – help from Zion, v6, help from heaven

V4 – it could just mean “may God give you what you want” but perhaps we could see it as a prayer that God would shape his desires and then grant them?!

V4 – cf. the similar language in 21:2 – The two Psalms might be prayers either side of a crisis, here, in the day of trouble, Ps 21, the day of rejoicing

Cf. God save the Queen

Vv5, 6, 9 (also 21:1, 5)– the same root word for victory / salvation, yasa, as in the name Jesus, Saviour

V6 – anointed = Christ, messiah – Old Testament kings were anointed with oil

V7 – boast / trust is a translator’s inference – the only verb in the sentence is “we will make mention”, perhaps with the special meaning of proclaiming / recording God’s name in worship to bring his power into the midst, invoking God’s name for blessing and victory – the phrase suggests allegiance, regard, confession / to swear by – cf. he swears by his favourite remedy or devise

V7 – chariots and horses – the most formidable force in ancient times – cf. Ex 14; Judges 4

V8 – every knee will bow to the victorious King Jesus – Phil 2:10

V9 – maybe “Let the king answer us” or “the King will answer us” “in the day of our calling”

V9 – maybe “O King, answer” as in the NIV footnote, addressing God as the true and ultimate king – praying to the King for the king, to the heavenly king for the earthly king

Make times of trouble times of prayer! When faced with distress, pray. 

The solidarity of the king and his people – the king’s victory is the people’s victory – cf. David defeating Goliath and Israel triumphs over the Philistines – cf. King Jesus’ victory for us

Trust God for the sure victory of his anointed King. Pray confidently for Christ's salvation.

Online church etc. update and reminders

Dear All,

I hope this finds all well with you and your loved ones.

Forgive me if all this is already at the front of your mind, but I just thought it might be helpful to share a reminder and update on what we are doing online as churches.

If you’re a regular at church, I’d especially like to encourage you to give our midweek meeting a try sometime.

Sunday Services – Live at 9:30am on Facebook or catchup afterwards

You can join us for worship live on a Sunday morning at 9:30am on my Facebook account:  or catch up later at:

www.facebook.com/malloyd

Or catch up on the church Facebook pages:  www.facebook.com/WarbletonParishChurch/

https://www.facebook.com/BodleStreetChurch/

Or catch up on the Warbleton Parish Church You Tube Chanel (which you can search for, subscribe to and like): www.youtube.com/channel/UCPBFrhqP5nL6QnmkZKfP5yw

I’ve been posting an order of service / notes with details of readings, music and responses and so on, on my blog in advance each week: marclloyd.blogspot.com/

Do please feel free to comment, like and share.

Morning and Evening Prayer – normally 8am and 4:30pm on Facebook or catch up afterwards (not on my days off, normally Friday)

www.facebook.com/malloyd - or afterwards on the church Facebook pages

Churches Midweek Meeting – Wednesdays 7:30pm (formal finish by 9pm) via Zoom

This has developed into a really good group. More than 20 of us have been along at least once. It’s been great to see one another’s faces and be able to interact.

We begin by saying hello and sharing any news or prayer requests. We’ve been looking at a Psalm together each week. And we finish with a time of prayer.

Do let me know if you have any difficulty. Or we could find a time to give it a go in advance any time so that you know you’re all set us.

(You also might like to have a Bible and a pen and paper handy. As a church we normally use the New International Version (NIV) 1984 but any version would be fine. You can access the latest NIV here: https://www.biblegateway.com/)

If you have a local connection, please email me for details of the Zoom meeting.

Quiz – Saturday night 7pm (usually finishing by 8pm ish, I think)

Using the same Zoom details as the Midweek Church meeting. This has been lots of fun and a good way to connect. Everyone with a local connection is very welcome. You’ll need a pen and paper handy. One particular team has won each week so far so it would be fantastic to have someone along to beat them! Children welcome.

Audio Sermons Online

We continue to make these available each week after the service and there’s a large back catalogue to explore too: www.warbletonchurch.org.uk/sermons-talks

Dial the weekly sermon using the telephone

Please do let those without the internet know that they can listen to the sermon each week by calling 01435 515269 (as soon as we’ve got round to putting it up!). This costs the same as a local call. (Don’t be put off by the initial recorded message in an American accent! Follow the instructions and hold on and the sermon will follow!)

Parish Magazine Free Online

This is available on the home page of Warbleton Church Website at: www.warbletonchurch.org.uk/

Warbleton Church has a WhatsApp group for regulars at church

Please text me on 07812 054820 with your name if you’d like to join.

Warbelton Church Notice Sheet

Please email me if you’d like to receive this by email each week.

Join the Warbleton Church occasional email mailing list here:

www.warbletonchurch.org.uk/contact/

VE Day

There’ll be a service for VE day my Facebook live at 10am on Friday 8^th and afterwards on the church Facebook pages. And we’ll also include an act of commemoration in our service on Sunday 10^th May.

I’m grateful to Martin and Sian of Warbleton Brass Band for providing the videos of The Last Post and Reveille, which we’ll use.

* * *

Please feel free to keep in touch with me: 01435 830421 / marc_lloyd@hotmail.com (Day off normally a Friday).

Do please share this email or anything from it that might be of interest to others.

All the very best - with my prayers,

Marc