The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul
3rd July 2022
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in reguar typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we remember what we should be looking for above all else.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
Use your mouse to scroll through the contents of each window.
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search, switch to full screen, print, and download the contents to your computer.
The Pewsheet:
Call to Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
We meet in the name of Jesus,
Word made flesh,
saviour of fallen humanity, lover of all. Amen.
We meet in the name of the Holy Spirit,
Lord and giver of life,
midwife of new humanity,
inspirer of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness
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The Sentence for the Day
Give due honour to God’s Holy name, bring offerings and enter the courts of the Lord; for you O Lord are coming to judge the earth; with righteousness you will judge the world and the peoples with your truth.
The Prayer for the Day (Collect)
Let us pray together.
Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
A reading from The Acts of The Apostles
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A reading from The New Testament
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Pause for a moment of silent reflection.
The Gradual Hymn
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing along with this beautiful hymn.
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The Gospel Reading, Matthew 16:13-19
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Listen to the sermon:
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or, if you prefer, you can read to the sermon, below:
SERMON : FEAST OF SAINTS PETER & PAUL - 3RD JULY 2022
I’m talking today about the patronal Saints of God’s Anglican parish here in the Wakatipu - Saints Peter and Paul, as we celebrate their feast day. You know there are many people in the early church that are of key importance. Think of Timothy and Titus, of someone like Silas or Barnabas, think of Mary Magdalene … but the really indispensable figures are Peter and Paul!
It's interesting how from the very early days the church they're often depicted in iconography and paintings as embracing each other. The church brings these two figures together, right from the very beginning, and this is important for the church to understand itself.
Let me put it this way, Peter and Paul represent fundamental archetypes in the life of the church. Peter represents holding office, order, direction. Go back to Caesarea Phillipi, that moment when Jesus asks, “Who do people say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?”
The disciples remain silent until Peter speaks, you are the Christ the Son of the Living God and Jesus acknowledges this has come not from flesh and blood; this understanding has come from Christ’s heavenly father. Peter’s clarity of confession is the ground for his office. He's the leader of the twelve precisely in the measure that he clearly knows who Jesus is and confesses that up and down the centuries.
I would say every priest, every archdeacon, every bishop, every archbishop in leadership in the church is joined with Peter, participating in this archetype of the office of service and the clarity about who Jesus is.
Without this Petrine element of leadership, the church would separate. It would just fall into its component pieces and devolve into a cantankerous debating society. That’s why the clerical offices (Petrine offices if you will), up and down the centuries have been so important for the integrity of the church and it's structure. <PAUSE>
Yet - Peter embraces Paul, the two belong together because Paul represents all those who evangelise, all those who try to live out the life of The Risen Christ, all those who try to build up God’s Church, all those who would speak about Christ, all those who would write about Christ, all those who would sing about Christ, all those who would engage the societies of their time to be fairer, more just, more equitable, more tolerant, more forgiving. All of you - you are all filled with the Pauline element of the church.
Paul clearly is the first great theologian in the life of the church. The first one to practice this subtle art of faith seeking understanding. <PAUSE>
Now - bring Peter and Paul together and this gives the church its energy and impetus and life integrity and creativity. Now, today, together we give the church its energy and creativity to remain relevant to different generations - now and into the future.
Now to be sure without the Petrine element the Pauline element could run amok and the church could simply became a talk-fest or a kind of club drifting along at the ever-changing wishes of a few vocal members. What the Pauline element needs is the Petrine element for order and structure … BUT …
The Petrine element needs the Pauline element, otherwise the church can become rigid, stony, lifeless and irrelevant.
Peter and Paul embracing one another that's the model for the parish, the Diocese, the church!
Paul himself likened the church to a living organism. It's a body like any living body and it needs both structure and the capacity for growth. That's the Petrine and Pauline elements.
One of my great pleasures is to study the history of the church. In doing this I come across many, unhappy plays between these two elements. Yes, there is unhappy interplay between these element in today’s church - after all, we are only human … and yet … AND YET … when they're kept in their proper relationship when Peter and Paul act as one, when - as we see in the icons - they embrace each other …. THEN WE SEE A CHURCH THAT IS DYNAMIC AND ALIVE.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu.
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit <AMEN>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by listening as "The Apostles Creed" is read to us.
(click the "play" button below when you are ready to listen)
... and now ... let us pray for the Church and for the World, giving thanks for God's goodness.
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The Lord's Prayer
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ has taught us:
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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn
In closing our service let us raise our voices in praise and celebration by singing along with our final hymn.
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Dismissal
Go now to love and serve The Lord,
Go in peace.
Amen, we go in the name of Christ.
