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Sunday Worship from the United Reformed Church for Sunday 4 May 2025
Today’s service is led by the Revd Andy Braunston
Welcome
Hello and welcome to worship as we continue to celebrate the season of Easter. My name is Andy Braunston and I have the privilege of serving as the United Reformed Church’s Minister for Digital Worship; I live up in the beautiful island County of Orkney off Scotland’s far north coast. We’re well into spring now and summer is coming. Here in Orkney, we are ablaze with colour with primroses, bluebells and orchids all in flower and the rare Scottish Primrose is out too alongside meadow buttercup, flag-iris, and marsh marigold. The birds are nesting, and visitors are starting to come to see the puffins, guillemots and fulmars; the fields around us are alive with the sound of curlew in their breeding season as nature gives thanks to the Risen Lord. As we journey through Eastertide we are going to think today of the conversion of a zealot fundamentalist who was happy to murder to keep faith pure. Yet Saul was stopped in his tracks and had his life turned around by a vision of the Risen One. So with nature and with Paul let us worship God together.
Call to Worship
Had Christ not been risen from the dead: our faith would be in vain, but he burst forth from his three-day prison banishing sin and sorrow. Even though we know that, like flowers and plants, we will slumber for a season, we know that when the trumpet sounds, we will rise with Christ. Death no longer has the power to chill us, since Christ crossed death’s flood and, in God’s good time, Jesus will deliver our souls.
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
HymnThis Joyful Eastertide George Ratcliffe Woodward (1848-1934) Public Domain sung by Josh Turner
This joyful Eastertide, away with sin and sorrow. My Love, the Crucified, hath sprung to life this morrow:
Had Christ, that once was slain, ne’er burst his three-day prison, our faith had been in vain: but now hath Christ arisen, arisen, arisen, arisen.
My flesh in hope shall rest, and for a season slumber: till trump from east to west shall wake the dead in number:
Had Christ, that once was slain, ne’er burst his three-day prison, our faith had been in vain: but now hath Christ arisen, arisen, arisen, arisen.
Death’s flood hath lost its chill, since Jesus crossed the river: Lover of souls, from ill my passing soul deliver:
Had Christ, that once was slain, ne’er burst his three-day prison, our faith had been in vain: but now hath Christ arisen, arisen, arisen, arisen.
Prayers of Approach, Confession and Grace
O Most High, we bring You our praises for all that is good in our lives, for the change in the seasons, refreshing showers and sun-filled days, new life around us in field and flower, nest and den, and in our lives – where Your love banishes the chill of death, saving us from loneliness, despair, and degradation.
O Risen Lord, You call us again and again to turn our lives around and follow You, sometimes we pretend not to hear You, sometimes we wait for blinding visions before following, and sometimes we just go our own way. Forgive us, Good Lord, and give us time to change; time to hear You afresh, time to follow, time to turn around.
O Healing Spirit, You are at work deep within us, bringing about change, refreshing tired lives, and opening jaded eyes. Remind us, again and again, of Your presence, driving us to love and serve, helping us to see our world and our neighbours as You do and ever making us holy and whole, Amen.
Like a father who runs to welcome home the estranged, God is loving. Like a mother eagle teaching her young to fly, God is steadfast. Like a rock on which we stand, God is secure. So, accept the loving, steadfast, secure forgiveness offered to you, forgive those who have wounded you, and have the courage to forgive yourselves; that you may be examples of God’s steadfast and secure love to those around you. Amen.
Introduction
In our readings today we hear of Saul, the murderous fundamentalist teacher on a mission to hunt down Christians stopped in his track and blinded by his encounter with the Risen Lord. This dangerous zealot became the Church’s most famous early missionary and theologian founding churches all over the Mediterranean world and whose writings have informed, and puzzled, the Church ever since. Psalm 30 with it’s powerful movement of praise of the One who raised the poet from the miry pit is appropriate when thinking of how Saul’s life was turned around. This ancient poet, like Paul in later centuries, knew both the sorrow and joy of life. Finally, in our reading from Revelation, we have a vision of heavenly praise where the angels and saints praise the Lamb who was slain and who, through his death and new life offers humanity redemption. Let’s pray and then listen for God’s word.
Prayer of Illumination
O God, sometimes it is as if You are hiding in plain sight; we sense Your presence like perfume in the air, or movement in the stillness, but fail to see where You are at work. You have revealed Yourself in cloud and fire, in miracle and majesty, in sacred word and precious law, but most of all You reveal Yourself in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Be with us now as that Word made flesh is exposed and proclaimed in ancient and contemporary words, that the scales may fall from our eyes, and we behold You face to face. Amen.
ReadingActs 9:1-20
Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”
Psalm 30
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and did not let my foes rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you brought up my soul from Sheol, restored me to life from among those gone down to the Pit.
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Sing praises to the LORD, O you God’s faithful ones, and give thanks to God’s holy name. God is angry but for a moment; but God’s favour lasts a lifetime.
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favour, O LORD, you had established me as a strong mountain; you hid your face; I was dismayed.
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
To you, O LORD, I cried, and to the LORD I made supplication: “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the Pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness?”
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
Hear, O LORD, and be gracious to me! O LORD, be my helper! You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever.
Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
HymnLord of Creation, To You Be All Praise! Jack Copley Winslow 1882-1974 OneLicence A-734713 sung by Gareth Moore of the Isle of Man Methodist Church and used with his kind permission.
Lord of creation, to you be all praise! Most mighty your working, most wondrous your ways! Your glory and might are beyond us to tell, and yet in the heart of the humble you dwell.
Lord of all power, I give you my will, in joyful obedience your tasks to fulfil. Your bondage is freedom, your service is song; and, held in your keeping, my weakness is strong.
Lord of all wisdom, I give you my mind; rich truth that surpasses our knowledge to find, what eye has not seen and what ear has not heard is taught by your Spirit and shines from your word.
Lord of all bounty, I give you my heart; I praise and adore you for all you impart, your love to inspire me, your counsel to guide, your presence to shield me, whatever betide.
Lord of all being, I give you my all; if ever I leave you, I stumble and fall; but led in your service your word to obey, I’ll walk in your freedom to the end of the way.
Reading Revelation 5:11-14
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, singing, “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Sermon
Often it’s the unbidden crises in our lives that brings about deep and meaningful change. Back in the early 1990s I was sure of just one thing; I hated Manchester. I’d visited a few times and found it rather down at heel and boring. An unexpected, and painful, relationship failure meant I ended up living in Manchester and, to my surprise, I found I rather liked the place and ended up living and ministering there for 25 years or so. They say that the addict has to reach rock bottom before deciding to change – often reaching rock bottom is connected to loosing work, children or a relationship. In our first two readings today we hear of crises; Saul’s encounter with the Risen Lord whose followers he’d been mercilessly persecuting and the ancient unnamed poet who believed God’s power had turned mourning into dancing, night time tears into joyful mornings. Saul’s change of life recalls the dangerous discipleship offered to God’s people in our reading from Revelation. Three passages with much to offer us in these joyful days of Easter.
Saul’s zeal in opposing the Church reads as a modern-day fundamentalist railing against decadent Western culture only too happy to kill to achieve his goals. Imagine if such a fundamentalist turned in his tracks, had an encounter with God that so changed him that not only his own future – but the world’s – was changed. Paul’s conversion here is as life changing and significant. The account of his conversion has resonances with that of God’s calling of Moses with the drama of a burning bush, or Ezekiel responding to God by falling to the ground. Like Moses before him Saul does not recognize God when he is spoken to.
The story is one many of us learned in Sunday School; the murderous persecutor of the Church becomes its greatest asset. It’s an interesting passage to preach from though as I assume that most URC congregations are unlikely to have murderous zealots present thinking about whether they should convert. We may, however, have folk who are on the edge spiritually – even if they are at the heart of the community:
The addict clinging to bottle or needle instead of to life.
The workaholic putting their all into work instead of relationship or family.
The person who can’t forgive and so lets another’s actions dominate.
The lover full of revenge at being jilted who can’t let go and plans destructive patterns of stalking and violence
The employer whose internal prejudices about equality and diversity are now validated by the actions of politicians and the so called “tech bros”
The demanding parent incapable of giving a child a break
The sports person utterly incapable of being sporting
We can all relate to the headstrong Saul who could not believe
he was wrong,
he had been unaware of the harm his burning ambition did,
how addictive his behaviour was, and
how the harm he wished upon others harmed him too.
What happens to us when we see the light? What happens when we turn around and walk in paths that lead to light? There’s opposition of course;
a friend realised he had a drink problem and stopped drinking alcohol and realised how almost his entire social circle found this disturbing. He wasn’t telling them to go dry but he found any social interaction resulted in heavy pressure to join them in a drink.
The workaholic who determines not to answer emails after work, who stops getting in early and finishing late may find their employers think they are not hard workers anymore – forgetting that rested employees work better than exhausted ones.
The risk in forgiving can seem too huge as to be as paralysing as holding onto resentment.
Revenge may be delicious served cold but rarely satisfies and letting go of pain can result in a huge sense of loss;
Ugly prejudices coming the fore are the bane of our contemporary world where political leaders relish unleashing hatred but letting go of them may appear to be counter cultural these days.
Discipleship is an ongoing change of direction in life; a movement always turning towards the light and away from the gloom. An ever-conscious effort to see the error of our ways. And, guess what, that turning towards Turning to God’s light is a continued action as we’re constantly called back. Some of Paul’s later attitudes are ones many of us would recoil from now; even with a dramatic conversion experience Paul seems, at times, torn between seeing women as co-workers and church leaders yet, at the same time, tells them to be silent in church. Paul proclaimed social equality yet returned a slave to his master. He needed, just as we do, to turn back again and again, to the blinding light of God’s presence.
The ancient poet who wrote Psalm 30 had a life changing experience; the present, future and past all feature in the poem in praise of the God who rescued the writer from the pit. No wonder the Psalm is paired with our first reading about Paul’s conversion. In the face of God’s wondrous work, the Psalmist commanded readers to sing God’s praises; yet the poet’s view of God was nuanced – seeing anger, if only for a moment, in the divine make up. Sincere praise recognises both the night time weeping and morning joy inherent in life and discipleship.
In the middle of the Psalm, we get a glimpse of the personal tragedy which had been alluded to in the opening verses. The Psalmist had been well established, as firm as a mountain. There had been prosperity which had been interpreted as God’s favour, yet God’s face was hidden and the poet dismayed. The immovable poet moved; the secure psalmist became insecure; the rich faithful disciple became poor. Life changed in some way; we presume not in a good way. Maybe illness, maybe personal tragedy but huge significant change took away all the foundations of the poet’s life; like Saul hundreds of years later there’s disruption and all that was once held dear is found to be lacking. Yet in these moments of crisis life changing events happen and discipleship is honed.
In the passage from Revelation we are offered two short hymns extracted from a larger section. (starting at v1). The hymns are two parts of a three-hymn set all acknowledging the sovereignty of the Lamb who had been slain; the Lamb’s authority comes not from a lion’s roar but from his death and resurrection. The Lamb’s authority comes from the redemption of his people through his death and resurrection; his people are called to a dangerous discipleship which might also result in their deaths; a call which, for Saul, started on the road to Damascus and ended with execution in Rome. This is a call still given to those now who die for their faith at the hands of fundamentalists every bit as zealous as Saul was.
It’s the crises in life which shake us up and give us the opportunity to turn our lives around. Saul could have rejected the vision and sunk into greater depths of hatred; instead he turned around choosing a path of dangerous discipleship – a path that led to his eventual death.
Whilst such conversion experiences are rare there is much in our own lives we need to continually turn away from; the crises of our time give us time to change and re-evaluate how we live. There is much the Church can do to help those who wish to change, to be freed from the miry pits of life. Our Psalm, and the reading from Revelation, remind us that praise should be grounded in the reality of life, even painful reality. It’s easy to sing praises when all is going well; much harder when we’re in the pit of despair. In Revelation we see the Lamb who was slain and raised from the dead, whose death redeemed us, the Lamb who calls us, just as he called Paul, to follow and live lives of committed discipleship. Let’s pray:
Give us the courage, Good Lord, to follow. Help us to see You at work when crises come, to see how our lives need to change so that our discipleship is genuine, our trust increased, and night’s sorrow turned into morning joy. Amen.
All I once held dear, built my life upon, all this world reveres and wars to own. All I once thought gain I have counted loss; spent and worthless now, compared to this.
Knowing you, Jesus knowing you, there is no greater thing! You’re my all, you’re the best; You’re my joy, my righteousness And I love you, Lord.
Now my heart’s desire is to know you more; to be found in You and known as Yours, to possess by faith what I could not earn: all-surpassing gift of righteousness.
Knowing you, Jesus knowing you, there is no greater thing! You’re my all, you’re the best; You’re my joy, my righteousness And I love you, Lord.
Oh, to know the power of your risen life, and to know You in Your sufferings; to become like you in your death, my Lord: so with you to live and never die.
Knowing you, Jesus knowing you, there is no greater thing! You’re my all, you’re the best; You’re my joy, my righteousness And I love you, Lord.
Affirmation of Faith
As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world— which some seek to control, and others view with despair – we declare with joy and trust: our world belongs to God!
From the beginning, through all the crises of our times, until the Kingdom fully comes, God keeps covenant forever for: our world belongs to God!
In our world, where many journey alone, nameless in the bustling crowd, evil forces seek whom they may scatter and isolate; but God gathers a new community — those who by God’s gift put their trust in Christ. In this new community all are welcome: the homeless come home, the broken find healing, the sinner makes a new start, the despised are esteemed, the least are honoured, and the last are first. Here the Spirit guides and grace abounds for: our world belongs to God!
In a world estranged from God, where happiness and peace are offered in many names and millions face confusing choices, we witness – with respect for followers of other ways – to the only one in whose name salvation is found: Jesus Christ. In Jesus, the world is reconciled by and to the God who loves all creation for our world belongs to God!
God is sovereign: let the earth be glad! Christ is victor: his rule has begun! The Spirit is at work: creation is renewed! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord for: our world belongs to God!
Offertory
All good gifts around us are sent from You O God; we give thanks for all those gifts, and for all Your love. Bless us now as we return to You some of what you have given to us.
We thank You, Great God, for Your many gifts, sunshine and rain, flower and plant, bird song and joy. Bless these gifts which we offer to You now, that we may use them wisely and widely, sharing Your love and changing our ways. Amen
Intercessions
We give thanks, O God, for those who’ve changed their ways;
Saul of Tarsus – changed by the blinding light of Your presence, Pilate’s wife – who took dreams seriously, Francis of Assisi – who turned from wealth to love You in the poor, Hilda of Whitby – royal princess who heard your call to be a nun and abbess, William Wilberforce – who defied social convention dedicating himself to ending slavery, Elizabeth Fry – who turned from her middle-class comfort to reforming prisons, Edith Stein – a Catholic nun murdered by the Nazis for being Jewish, Oscar Romero – who turned away from the rich to serve the poor and protest injustice
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We offer to you, Lord Jesus, the places in our world which need to change:
Nations beset by military regimes, corruption, and dictators; places where war and terror rule, and people live in fear; countries and territories with insecure borders, where treaties are jokes, and babies are bombed; those left behind by business and capital, where global supply chains impoverish the poor; and people living in fear that their very existence is hated by newly empowered elites.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
And we bring ourselves to You, Most Holy Spirit, that we may be changed as we hear Your call; set us free from all that drags us down, give us the courage to say “no” to powers and patterns that entrap us, help us distinguish Your call from the siren voices of our world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
And so, with all your people we pray as Jesus taught, Our Father…
HymnThe Love of God Comes Close John L Bell & Graham Maule (c) 1988, 1997 Iona Community, GIA Publications, OneLicence A-734713 Sung by the Frodsham Methodist Church Cloud Choir
The love of God comes close, where stands an open door, to let the stranger in, to mingle rich and poor: the love of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The peace of God comes close to those caught in the storm; forgoing lives of ease to ease the lives forlorn: the peace of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The joy of God comes close where faith encounters fears, where heights and depths of life are found through smiles and tears: the joy of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The grace of God comes close to those whose grace is spent, when hearts are tired or sore and hope is bruised or bent: the grace of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The Son of God comes close where people praise his name, where bread and wine are blest and shared, as when he came: the Son of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
Holy Communion
The Gracious Words
Hear the gracious words of our Lord Jesus Christ;
“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
“Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away.”
The peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Peace be with you.
The narrative of the Institution of the Lord’s Supper
Hear the narrative of the institution of the Lord’s Supper as it was recorded by the apostle Paul. I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and following his example, we take this bread and this cup, and give thanks to God.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
With joy we give you thanks and praise, Almighty God, Source of all life and love, that we live in your world, that you are always creating and sustaining it by your power, and that you have so made us that we can know and love you, trust and serve you. We give you thanks that you loved the world so much that you gave your only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him may not die but have eternal life.
We thank you that Jesus was born among us that he lived our common life on earth; that he suffered and died for us; that he rose again and that he is always present through the Holy Spirit.
We thank you that we can live in the faith that your kingdom will come, and that in life, in death and beyond death you are with us. Therefore, with all the company of heaven, and with all your people, of all places and times, we proclaim your greatness and sing your praise.
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of power and might, Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
Holy Lord God by what we do here in remembrance of Christ we celebrate his perfect sacrifice on the Cross and his glorious resurrection and ascension. We declare that he is Lord of all and we prepare for his coming in his kingdom. We pray that through your Holy Spirit this bread may be for us the body of Christ, and this wine the blood of Christ.
Accept our sacrifice of praise; and as we eat and drink at his command unite us to Christ as one body in him, and give us strength to serve you in the world. And to you, one holy and eternal God, Source, Sign, and Seal, we give praise and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Let us praise the Lord.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. Blessing and honour and glory and power be to our God for ever and ever. Amen.
The bread which we break is the communion of the body of Christ. The cup of blessing which we bless is the communion of the blood of Christ. Take, eat – this is the body and blood of Christ which is broken and shed for you; do this in remembrance of him.
Music for CommunionI Heard the Voice of Jesus Say Sung by Chris Brunelle and used with his kind permission
Prayer after Communion
Most gracious God, we praise you for what you have given and for what you have promised us here. You have made us one with all your people in heaven and on earth. You have fed us with the bread of life, and renewed us for your service. Now we give ourselves to you and we ask that our daily living may be part of the life of your kingdom, and that our love may be your love reaching out into the life of the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Lord of the Church, we pray for our renewing: Christ over all, our undivided aim. Fire of the Spirit, burn for our enduing, wind of the Spirit, fan the living flame! We turn to Christ amid our fear and failing, the will that lacks the courage to be free, the weary labours, all but unavailing, to bring us nearer what a church should be.
Lord of the Church, we seek a Father’s blessing, a true repentance and a faith restored, a swift obedience and a new possessing, filled with the Holy Spirit of the Lord! We turn to Christ from all our restless striving, unnumbered voices with a single prayer: the living water for our souls’ reviving, in Christ to live, and love and serve and care.
Lord of the Church, we long for our uniting, true to one calling, by one vision stirred; one Cross proclaiming and one creed reciting, one in the truth of Jesus and his word. So lead us on; till toil and trouble ended, one Church triumphant one new song shall sing, to praise his glory, risen and ascended, Christ over all, the everlasting King!
Blessing
May the One who stopped Saul in his tracks and turned his life around; the One who commissioned Saul to be his evangelist; and the One who inspired Saul to follow and take up his cross stop you in your tracks and turn you around, commission you to share the good news of the coming Kingdom and give you the grace to follow. And the blessing of Almighty God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with you all evermore, Amen.
Where words are copyright reproduced and streamed under the terms of ONE LICENSE A-734713 PRS Limited Online Music Licence LE-0019762
