WORSHIP RESOURCES
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5
For the Healing of the Nations
Additional Scriptures
Psalm 67; John 14:23-29; Acts 16:9-15; Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a-c
Preparation
Today is the fifth week of five in the book of Revelation. Worship planners might want to consider linking the services. For example, have the same character in period biblical costume read the Revelation scripture each week. Or choose a hymn that will be used each Sunday. It would be helpful to have the five speakers collaborate on their approaches to the theme scriptures. For additional information on the book of Revelation, listen to this podcast with Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith: Projectzionpodcast.org/podcast/558--newbrew—revelation.
For the Focus Moment, either order the suggested children’s book or provide a large whiteboard, butcher paper, or other drawing surface along with bold markers.
Prelude
Welcome
Sharing of Joys and Concerns
Pastoral Prayer
Pray over concerns and joys expressed.
Call to Worship: Responsive Reading
Leader: God be gracious to us and bless us, that your face may shine upon us and your purpose may be known on Earth, and your saving power throughout the nations.
All: May every country praise you, God; may all their people praise you.
Leader: May the whole human race rejoice because you deal fairly with everyone and guide them faithfully.
All: May every country praise you, God; may all their people praise you.
Leader: The land has brought forth goodness;
All: Our God has blessed us.
—Psalm 67, adapted
Morning Hymn
“All Creatures of Our God and King” CCS 98
Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.
OR “Sing a New World into Being” CCS 576
OR “Year by Year” CCS 345
Invocation
Prayer for Peace
Light the peace candle.
Peace Prayer
Parent of All Humanity,
You look with inordinate love on all your people—of every race, culture
and religion. We ask you to bless us this day and send your Holy Spirit to move through us and through all the diverse peoples of our world: the Spirit of peace and justice, transformation, understanding, and reconciliation.
May people of ruthless inhumanity allow themselves to be touched by the conditions of those who suffer, and may your Spirit help broaden the horizons and deepen the understanding of us all.
We make this our prayer through Jesus, the prince of peace. Amen.
Spiritual Practice: Metta Prayer
This practice may stir up negative emotions. Please adapt the prayer for the needs and feelings of your congregation.
Find a comfortable sitting posture. Close your eyes and connect to the rhythm of your breath.
Bring your attention inward. Picture yourself in your mind’s eye. Become deeply aware of the person you are. Say to yourself, slowly and deliberately:
May I be happy.
May I be peaceful.
May I be well.
Think of someone you are close to, with whom you share your life—a friend, partner, child—someone you love. Picture them sitting in front of you. Speak to
them as though they are there with you:
May you be happy.
May you be peaceful.
May you be well.
When you have repeated these phrases a few times, let that person stand up and walk away.
Next, think of someone about whom you have neutral feelings. This could be
someone you cross paths with in your neighborhood sometimes, someone who works in a local shop, etc. Sit them down in front of you. Speak your phrases to them:
May you be happy.
May you be peaceful.
May you be well.
When you are finished, let that person stand up and walk away. Come back to your breathing.
In your mind’s eye picture a person about whom you have some negative feelings or memories. Someone you’ve had a disagreement with, a long-standing grudge, or maybe a moment of disrespect. It could be an ex-partner or partner, a sibling, a colleague. Again, speak as though they are sitting in front of you and you are speaking directly to them. Repeat the phrases:
May you be happy.
May you be peaceful.
May you be well.
As that person stands up and walks away, come back to yourself— you can bring
your hands to your heart and belly if this helps to connect back with yourself again.
For this final round we send loving kindness to all people—speaking to all of life. Expand your awareness. Imagine your family, then all their friends, then
all their friends’ families. Think about people all over the world you might meet
one day, and to people you might never meet. Repeating your phrases and
sending them out to wherever life exists:
May we be happy.
May we be peaceful.
May we be well.
When you reach the end, take a few more moments in quiet meditation, focusing on your breath again and any sensations in your body.
Scripture Reading: Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5
Focus Moment
Read God Created by Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones, Augsburg Fortress Pub,
ISBN-13: 978-0806645681
Bozzuti-Jones’s story of creation does a magnificent job of illustrating harmony, inclusivity, peace, hope, community, diversity, and so much more, all of which was intended for Eden and is made complete in the New Jerusalem. Revisiting the creation of the world alongside the new holy city allows us to embrace and celebrate the divine character and fulfillment of God’s will. The words and illustrations of God Created will absolutely help with celebration of God’s intentions in creation—old and new.
OR Make It New Art
Start with a large whiteboard, butcher paper, or other drawing surface and bold markers. Ask for five volunteers. The first person is invited to draw a large, simple box and then turn their back to the drawing. The second person adds one item to the drawing – whatever they wish and turns their back to the drawing. The third person adds to the art in the same manner as the fourth and fifth volunteers. Ask the first four volunteers, starting with the first person, what they think the drawing looks like now. Have the fifth volunteer describe the “new” art to the other volunteers. After looking at the created art piece, ask the volunteers what surprised them about the result. What were they expecting the result to be? Ask everyone to make observations about creating the “new” art. How might this exercise help us understand God’s new creation?
Hymn of Reflection
“Lord, Who Views All People Precious” CCS 637
Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.
OR “Sing a New World into Being” CCS 576
OR “Sing of Colors/De colores” CCS 332
Encourage people to sing in a language other than their own.
Morning Message
Based on Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5
Disciples’ Generous Response
Scripture: Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a-c
Statement
While the healing of the nations seems daunting, we are asked to respond to Jesus’s ministry by building communities of hope, joy, love, and peace. We are accountable to one another, God, and ourselves. Sharing what will help prepare new generations of disciples on the path to peace.
God’s generous compassion is limitless. As we open our hearts to courageously and generously share by placing money in the offering plates or through eTithing, we join the movement of God’s compassion in the world. God shares abundantly, we share faithfully, others share generously, and God’s love and compassion grow endlessly.
If you have participants joining the worship online, remind them that they can give through www.CofChrist.org/give or through eTithing at www.eTithing.org (consider displaying these URLs).
Blessing and Receiving of Local and Worldwide Mission Tithes
Hymn of Praise
“Come Now, Sound the Call of Zion” CCS 381
OR “The Love of God” CCS 210
OR “Let There Be Peace on Earth” CCS 307
Encourage participants to sing in languages other than their own.
Benediction
May God be gracious and bless us and make God’s face to shine upon us.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy! Let the peoples praise you, O God, let all the peoples praise you. Our God has blessed us. May these blessings continue; let all the ends of the earth revere our God. Amen.
—Psalm 67, adapted
Postlude
SERMON AND CLASS HELPS
Year C—Letters
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5
Exploring the Scripture
Today’s text was written for first-century Christians in Asia Minor (modern-day eastern Turkey). Apocalyptic writings focus on “end times” and use graphic imagery and symbolism to show God’s supreme involvement in history. They were common in Jewish, Christian, and Greco-Roman communities from 200 BCE to 100 CE. The writings were not meant to be understood as a literal prediction of the future, but rather to enable the hearers facing persecution to have hope. This was a letter written to be read to the church community.
In the Book of Revelation, we hear of many visions. Today’s text is the last vision, in which John was carried to a great, high mountain. He was shown the Holy City of Jerusalem coming down from heaven. The brightness and vastness of this city were beyond imagination, and it was where God was with the people. There was no temple in this new Jerusalem because God was present. The city was enormous, and the city’s length, width, and height all were equal. There were high walls and gates around the city. However, contrary to traditional models of cities, the four gates always were open.
A river “of the water of life” flowed from the throne of God. On the riverbank was the tree of life, which produced fruit all year long. Its leaves provided healing to the nations. There was no need for lights, as there was no night in this new creation, for God was their light.
The first hearers of this letter were persecuted brutally by the Roman Empire, which claimed it reigned forever. The early Christians now were hearing that God reigns forever. God’s vision for humanity will triumph. In God’s new creation, the new Jerusalem, everyone is equal, everyone is of value, and everyone is welcome.
It is about radical openness and hospitality. The New Jerusalem is a place where all are welcome; it is not a gated community. It is a place for everyone. There is abundance. There is enough for all.
This new city’s way of life will use its vision (this “new” medicine) to heal the world’s nations, and they are invited to come see how to live in a sacred community where God is present. In this vision of a sacred community, genuine, supportive relationships are formed. This way of being in community is the real way to peace. “The leaves of the trees are for the healing of the nations” (v 22:2).
We, too, live in a time when nations and people seek to build walls of division between one another. Revelation provides a vision of an alternative way of living. The New Jerusalem, the peaceable reign of God, shows us how a new humanity can live together. We are invited to create and offer this sacred community to our world. We can have a way to live in relationship with God, ourselves, our neighbors, and our planet differently. What new vision is straining to be born in you and your community?
Central Ideas
1. Apocalyptic writings enable the hearers to have hope for the future; they are not meant to be understood as a literal prediction.
2. A vision of New Jerusalem shows that God is greater than Rome (or any other nation, city, or corporation).
3. The city of God is a place of welcome for everyone.
4. This new way of living is an example of a new humanity. It will bring peace to the world.
Questions for the Speaker
1. What vision of New Jerusalem, the peaceable reign of God, do you see? What does it look like?
2. Where do you see the hope of a new humanity needing to be born?
3. What needs to happen so this new community begins to come about where you live?
SACRED SPACE: A RESOURCE FOR SMALL-GROUP MINISTRY
Year C—Letters
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Revelation 21:10, 22—22:5
Gathering
Welcome
Today is the sixth Sunday of the Easter season. The Easter season continues for fifty days and concludes with the Day of Pentecost.
Prayer for Peace
Ring a bell or chime three times slowly.
Light the peace candle.
Holy One, we thank you for the gift of peace that you left us as you promised so long ago. But, Lord, we struggle with maintaining the peace within.
The media of today bombard us with so much negativity it is hard not to worry about our world. At this moment, on this day, we want to set aside our worries and rely on you for internal peace.
We want to strive for peace in our relationships, peace in our communities, and peace in the world.
Help us Lord. Help us stay in tune with your presence, your peace. Our prayer, Lord, is for your peace to remain within and spread afar. This we pray in Jesus’s name. Amen.
Spiritual Practice
Breath Prayer
Jesus promises his disciples he will not leave them alone. He states “[T]he advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (John 14:26 NRSVue).
Jesus refers to the Spirit as a teacher, reminding us that we belong to God and are loved.
During the Easter season our spiritual practice is a breath prayer. During the prayer, we use a word to breathe in and a word to breathe out. For today’s prayer we will breathe in the word Spirit and breathe out the words teach me.
Slowly read the following:
Sit with a relaxed posture and close your eyes. We will spend three minutes in centering prayer.
Breathe in a regular, natural rhythm. As you breathe in, focus on Spirit; as you exhale, breathe out teach me. Breathe in and out. Continue to focus on breathing in Spirit and exhaling teach me.
Watch the time for three minutes. Urge participants to continue the breath prayer for the full three minutes.
When time is up, share these closing instructions:
Offer a brief word of thanks to God, take a deep breath, and open your eyes when you are ready.
Sharing Around the Table
Revelation 21:10, 21:22—22:5 NRSVue
And in the spirit he carried me away to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.
…I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. People will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
In this vision, John is carried away in the spirit to a mountaintop, where he sees a Holy City coming down from heaven. It is radiant and beautiful; as beautiful as a bride might be adorned for a wedding. No price is demanded for the city; rather it comes as a gift from God not earned through human effort.
Several images of the Holy City are significant:
· There is no need for a temple, because God is always present here.
· The city represents community, not isolation.
· Gates will not be shut; God is always accessible.
· There is no need for the sun, moon, or lamps since God is the city’s light, and Jesus is its lamp. And the city is not complacent; the people are active.
· The city does not appear to be a replacement city, but rather a city that has been refined.
· A river flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the city. Spanning the river is the tree of life. The leaves of its trees are for the healing of the nations.
· God’s name will be on the foreheads of God’s servants.
The realization of the city is that of a community with God, Jesus, and people from all tribes and nations, not simply buildings and streets. After all the terror, plagues, and battles, the city offers security, peace, and companionship. The Holy City is vast, about 1,500 miles cubed, and inclusive. John’s vision begins with confidence in the power and wisdom of God, cycles through painful experiences and times of hope, and finally brings a new world. God ultimately is faithful and in control.
Questions
1. How can the city have no shut gates, yet provide security for its inhabitants?
2. God’s name emblazoned on one’s forehead is a symbol of belonging to God. How does your life reflect that you belong to God?
3. What does the image of the tree of life symbolize to you? The river? The leaves?
4. How is Community of Christ’s vision of Zion reflected in the Holy City?
5. When have you felt included as in a Holy City such as this one?
6. How might the early Christians have felt comforted by John’s vision?
Sending
Generosity Statement
Faithful disciples respond to an increasing awareness of the abundant generosity of God by sharing according to the desires of their hearts; not by commandment or constraint.
—Doctrine and Covenants 163:9
The offering basket is available if you would like to support ongoing, small-group ministries as part of your generous response. You also may give at CofChrist.org/give.
This offering prayer for the Easter season is adapted from A Disciple’s Generous Response.
God of rejoicing, we share our gifts joyfully and with thanksgiving in response to the generous gifts you have given us. May the offerings we share bring joy, hope, love, and peace into the lives of others so they might experience your mercy and grace. Amen.
Invitation to Next Meeting
Closing Hymn
Community of Christ Sings 657, “Make Us, O God, a Church That Shares”
Closing Prayer
Optional Additions Depending on Group
- Thoughts for Children
Thoughts for Children
Materials:
· printer paper
· coloring supplies
Say: In today’s scripture, John tells of a vision (a picture in his mind) of God’s peaceable kingdom.
John tells of angels, a river, flowing fountain, a street in a city, even a tree with different fruits growing on it!
Today, we are going to draw what we think God’s peaceable kingdom might look like. What people, places, animals, and buildings do you imagine?
As we draw, quietly offer a prayer to thank God for being loving and comforting.
At the end of our time together we will share our drawings.
Send participants back to their seats to draw. Leave time at the end of the service for them to share.