Happy Friday

All sorts today…

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Fantastic Sermon on Romans 8 by Paul Blackham

6 minute extract:

DOWNLOAD FULL 30 MINUTE SERMON

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Happy Friday

I got nothing.

Except this…
And maybe this…

What have you got? Links in comments please :)

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This from Katie P:

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The Ultimate Ascension Day Sermon (And Other Sermons, Papers, Prayers and Hymns)

For Sermons…

It’s an annual tradition at Christ the Truth to listen to Dev Menon’s Classic Sermon.

Paul Blackham’s teaching is equally fantastic

John B recommends Scott Hoezee’s sermon, “How We See Things–Psalm 47″

And an essay by Stephen T. Davis, “The Meaning of the Ascension for Christian Scholars”.

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For Prayers…

The Collects from BCP:

Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

or this

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell; who liveth and reigneth with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

The South Indian Anglican Collect:

O God, whose blessed Son, our great high priest, has entered once for all into the Holy Place and ever liveth to intercede on our behalf: grant that we, sanctified by the offering of his body may draw near with full assurance of faith by the way which he has dedicated for us and evermore serve thee, the living God; through the same thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

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For Songs:

words here

We thank Thee Jesus, Dearest Friend

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And here are a couple of my own:

A kids song about the ascension

A kids song about Jesus moving house (eventually to heaven)

“He Rose Up”

(lyrics below)

He rose up among us, as told.
He rose up the Promise of old.
My Brother in strife,
Assuming my life.
Exalted, the Father’s Decree
He rose up, He rose up for me.

He rose up humanity’s Last
Man’s Answer in life unsurpassed
My Champion living,
God’s life of thanksgiving.
Exalted as I’m meant to be
He rose up, He rose up for me.

They raised Him, my Saviour, on high
Man lifted, accursed, left to die.
My Priest in atonement,
My Lamb in enthronement.
Exalted on destiny’s tree,
He rose up, He rose up for me.

He rose up from death He arose,
Immortal to crush all His foes.
The Lord of all history,
My Christ has the victory.
Exalted the darkness must flee,
He rose up, He rose up for me.

He rose up to heaven, He rose,
Ascended beyond other thrones.
My Friend in high places,
My Fountain of graces.
Exalted, my heavenly Plea,
He rose up, He rose up for me.

I rise up, I rise up in Him,
Emboldened in spite of all sin.
In Jesus attaining,
My destiny – reigning.
Exalted, with angels to sing,
I rise up, I rise up in Him.

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Firstfruits – All-Age Song about Resurrection

I’ve been working on a song about firstfruits for a while. I love the fact that Easter Sunday was the day the future arrived. Jesus’ resurrection appearances give us snapshots of the world to come. What a future!

This version is different from my earlier effort. Mainly because now it’s a round. Yes I know. Another round. I think I might have a problem…

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Firstfruits – taste of tomorrow
Firstfruits – hope when there’s sorrow
Jesus rose up from the dead
to show all His people the world that lies ahead

It was country walks and heart-warming talks
Mind-blowing preaches and breakfast on beaches
Feasting and family and peace and grace
and Jesus our battle-scarred Brother, face to face.

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Happy Friday

And the conspiracy theory flowchart (some swearing)

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Happy Friday

Is this the world’s worst music video?

Some Brian Butterfield goodness (his stuff runs out after the 10 minute mark).

Older Butterfields here, here and here.

Some Look Around Yous.  And perhaps my favourite Serafinowicz

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Happy Friday

 

And finally – listen in as Major Keys are turned to Minor:

And Minor to Major:

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A Song About Christ’s Resurrection Appearances

I started writing this for an all-age talk, but I think it might not be simple enough for that. What do you think?

He climbed up the hill, the cross on His back.
He breathed His last breath and the sky turned black.
But death could not hold Him, He rose up in might
And showed us the Dawn that’s beyond the Night

It was Country walks and heart-warming talks,
Mind-blowing preaches and breakfast on beaches.
Hope reignited, friends reunited,
Feasting and family and grace
And Jesus our battle-scarred Brother,
Speaking His peace to us face to face.

The hill we must climb, it stretches ahead
The footsteps of Jesus, His people must tread.
As night closes in we ask “Is there a Dawn?”
The risen Lord Jesus says “Think Easter Morn”

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Happy Friday

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Happy Good Friday

Why is it called Good Friday?

This is why:

Worth posting again… Happy Friday all. Thank You Jesus.

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When You Prayed Beneath the Trees

This is my favourite Gethsemane hymn and perhaps even my favourite hymn of all time.

Pity about the singing (and the finger picking). But I made this one because I couldn’t find another version set to “Kelvingrove”. If you can find one, let me know.

When you prayed beneath the trees, it was for me, O Lord;
When you cried upon your knees, how could it be, O Lord?
When in blood and sweat and tears, you dismissed your final fears,
When you faced the soldier’s spears, you stood for me, O Lord.

When their triumph looked complete, it was for me, O Lord,
When it seemed like your defeat, they could not see, O Lord!
When you faced the mob alone, you were silent as a stone,
And a tree became your throne; you came for me, O Lord.

When you stumbled up the road, you walked for me, O Lord,
When you took your deadly load, that heavy tree, O Lord;
When they lifted you on high, and they nailed you up to die,
And when darkness filled the sky, it was for me, O Lord.

When you spoke with kingly power it was for me O Lord
in that dread and destined hour you made me free O Lord
Earth and heaven heard you shout, death and hell were put to rout
For the grave could not hold out; you are for me O Lord.

Words: Christopher Idle
Music: Scottish Traditional melody (Kelvingrove)

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Emma on 4thought

It’s now on Youtube:

Here’s our response to the numbers of thumbs-down given!

I should probably point out that Emma’s is the most thumbed-UP video too. Which is nice. She did great!

 

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Dead Come Alive – Easter Animation

If you wanted to play it in church 5:22 might be a bit long but there’s a very natural break at 2:53.

 

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Happy Friday

 

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Easter Songs for Church / School Assemblies

Perhaps one of these might be helpful to you:

An all age teaching on Gethsemane:

It’s a game of pass the parcel where the parcel is a poisoned cup. There’s a song to go with it:

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Little Fish! (Jesus is bigger than death)

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Seed Song (Jesus is the Seed who dies and rises to bring life)

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Happy Friday

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Gospel Origami

This is different to a version I demonstrated a few months ago.  Back then I drew the world twice – once with Adam taking it down and once with Christ raising it up.  That’s obviously not ideal – Christ saves this world.  So in this version we’ve overcome that problem with the help of a nifty fold – Christ descending onto this world to do Adam’s job right.  I much prefer this version – not least because you get to do a bit of gospel origami!

Learn how to draw 321 for yourself here.

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