Peace.
Lifestreams @ Medbury: News and Roster
Dear Lifestreamers,A FEW WORDS
"And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God." What a remarkable vision of worship John the Seer offers the church in his book of Revelation! Behind the unfolding of human history exists the eternal throne room of God, filled with representatives of angelic hosts, humanity and creation. Perhaps this image is to remind us of our call to worship in the midst of the stuff of everyday life; in the midst of life's difficulties and joys. Perhaps John's vision here is also blueprint of the universe's ecology as it should be - an ecology of life centered on God and flowing from God in worship and adoration.
One of the challenges for me is to enter into worship that is authentic, life-giving and transformational. American writer Dallas Willard describes the process of worship like this:
"In worship we are ascribing greatness, goodness and glory to God. It is typical of worship that we put every possible aspect of our being into it, all of our sensuous, conceptual, active and creative capacities.
We embellish, elaborate, and magnify. Poetry and song, colour and texture, food and incense, dance and procession are all used to exalt God. And sometimes it is in the quiet absorption of thought, the electric passion of encounter, or total surrender of the will. In worship we strive for an adequate expression of God's greatness."
May each one of you be blessed with God's presence as we continue to explore and discover what it means to be a worshiping people.
ANZAC Service at St Barnabas
Contrary to what I wrote in last week's e-news the ANZAC service at St Barnabas next week will not be a combined service. If you want to attend the 10am ANZAC service at St Barnabas that is fine, but Lifestreams will worship at Medbury School Hall as usual.
MEN'S DINNERNext month, 26th May, St Barnabas will host a men's dinner at the Medbury Dining Room with guest speaker Peter Beck, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral.
Tickets for the dinner are available for $25.00 with BYO drinks.
The Medbury kitchen serves a fine meal and we look forward to sharing the time with you.
Contact the church office for tickets.
PODCAST TALKS
If like me you were unable to hear Paul's talk last Sunday you can find a podcast on our website here.
MEANWHILE, THIS SUNDAY:
Readings
First reading: A reader needed
Revelation 7:9-17
9 After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10 They cried out in a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 singing, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen." 13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" 14 I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. 16 They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; 17 for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Gospel Reading: Corrine Haines
John 10:22-30
22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. 30 The Father and I are one."
Welcoming: Moka Ritchie and Claire Cambell
Prayers: Leonie Stapleton
Ministry of Healing: Mary Cropp and Moka Ritchie
Sidespeople: Steve Wakefield
Assistants: Kathleen Laycock, Corrine Haines
Kidzone
Bubbles: Charlotte West, Karen Smith and Claire Campbell
Splash/Xstream: Vicki Gilmour, Jonno Brown
Grid: Angela Brown
Morning Tea:Carole Acheson, Dave Ramsell
As always I can be contacted either by email andrew@stbarnabas.org.nz or phone at the office 351 7064. My cell phone is 021 201 4798 and home 351 7392.
May the mighty freedom of God that raised Jesus to life raise you to freedom, goodness and life!
Andrew McDonald