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In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues

Gone gloriously!

Going out in glorious style inspires Jesus' followers to not forget his story (Acts 1:6-14).

Context

• The Eurovision Song Contest might have witnessed a runaway winner in Sweden’s entry, Loreen, but the biggest reward came from seeing so many countries gathered together to celebrate unity and diversity, through the power of sung storytelling.
• The British Academy Television Awards (BAFTAs) last Sunday evening was a celebration of glamour, talent and diversity in the world of small screen storytelling.
• Whilst the Leeds Marathon last Sunday might have made it difficult for some to travel across the city to get to church, it was nevertheless a monumental event. Running in the marathon, rugby league legend Kevin Sinfield stopped short of the finish at the inaugural ‘Rob Burrow’ Leeds Marathon to carry his friend over the line.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

It seems that we Brits love a good bit of ceremonial celebration. Last Saturday saw us host a glitter-soaked Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool on behalf of Ukraine, followed by the glamour-fest that is BAFTA on Sunday. All this in the wake of the huge red-white-and-blue celebrations of the coronation of King Charles III. The glory surrounding Jesus' ascension had all the trappings of celebratory turning point in history, as the baton was passed from Jesus to his followers. And yet this moment would surely have been tinged with more than just a little sadness, as so many pivotal historical moments are. Whilst we so often celebrate mystery that is both the humanness and the God-ness of Jesus, what we sometimes gloss over is the humanness of Jesus' followers who were tasked with carrying God’s story to all the world!

The Eurovision Song Contest 2023 turned out to be a glitter cannon explosion of camp celebration and song. We should feel both proud and privileged that we were able to host the event in Liverpool. Of course it brought with it the obvious sadness that this event wasn’t being held in Ukraine due to the continuation of the Russian invasion. Ukraine’s entry, Tvorchi, with their song ‘Heart of Steel’, and its underlying warning of the dangers of nuclear warfare, also told a story of not giving up in the face of adversity. Considering their home city of Ternopil was attacked before performance, Tvorchi’s message was a bold one indeed. In the face of all that Ukraine has had to endure in this past year, the ongoing story of its people is one the world needs to hear. Yet despite this, 2023’s Eurovision was still able to be the wonderfully whacky event so many love, the strangest celebration of unity, fun and diversity.

In Acts 1:6 Jesus’ disciples ask him when he will restore the kingdom to Israel. This time one year ago, at 2022’s Eurovision, we presumably all thought and hoped that, by now, we’d have long seen an end to the invasion of Ukraine. We all hoped that aid efforts would now be devoted to restoring and rebuilding, not continuing the fight. In some ways we are still looking towards Ukraine, wondering when this will end, echoing Acts 1:11 ‘Why do you stand looking toward heaven?’ And, like that diverse collective of disciples gathered together in their room, events such as Eurovision draw nations together and unite us. And many of us will continue to devote ourselves to prayer. And we will tell our story of faith as we listen to the stories of others.

The BAFTAs for the past year were shown on the BBC and hosted by comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, who kicked off the ceremonies with an ‘edgy’ routine, playing on the concept of ‘balance’, both in terms of the reason why they’d been chosen to host the awards, along with how they hoped this year’s awards would represent increased diversity in their industry. Whilst this was probably well reflected in those who received awards, as well as a wide variety of socially stigmatised topics covered by the programmes made, it was probably best summed up in the words of comedian and actor Meera Syal. She was awarded a BAFTA Fellowship for her contribution to British TV and film. After she had stuck her bindi on her BAFTA’s face to make it truly representative, she told the story of her parents emigrating from India following the partition. She then said: ‘We are all storytellers here. So we know how much it matters: what stories we choose to tell, but more importantly, who gets to tell them. Not just in front of the camera, but in the writers’ rooms and the makeup vans and around the table where the deals are done. As Maya Angelou said, “There’s no agony like bearing an untold story inside of you”.’

Have you ever wondered what would have happened if those disciples, gathered together to watch Jesus ascend to heaven, had kept their stories untold and locked inside of them? Supposing instead Acts 1:13 began: ‘When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, packed up all their stuff, went home and never told anyone about Jesus.’ Next Sunday we celebrate, at Pentecost, the fact that they did tell their stories! Those named may have been all men, but they were a diverse group from different occupations and backgrounds. And women are mentioned too! Meera Syal concluded her BAFTA Fellowship acceptance speech on Sunday by paying tribute to her, ‘fellow travellers, all the ones who’d been made to feel, because of their race or sex or class, that their stories don’t matter. They do! Because the untold stories are the ones that change us and sometimes can change the world.’ Thank God that those disciples went out from the upstairs room and told their stories to the world!

The Leeds Marathon took place for the first time in many years. This time the event has been renamed after former Leeds Rhinos star Rob Burrow, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019. The Marathon saw more than 12,000 people take part. Kevin Sinfield pushed his former team-mate around the course in a specially adapted wheelchair. Kevin then lifted Rob up and carried him over the finish line. If ever there was a moment of being ‘lifted up’ that brought a lump to your throat, then this was it. Perhaps, without being disrespectful, it gives us a small sense of how the disciples were feeling as they watched Jesus being lifted up. Reflect on Acts 1:6-14 and consider moments when faith or love has ‘lifted you up’. Those some might understand to be angels (Acts 1:10) came and stood beside the disciples. Think about those times when God has sent someone to stand (or run) beside you, at a time when you have felt lost in your emotions.

 

Questions for discussion

• Can you think of an event that was a landmark in the history of your church, a celebratory event which marked a pivotal moment in your local church’s history? Maybe your congregation could talk together about how this made you all feel? Why might it be good to hold on to those feelings, yet not live in the past?
• Jesus told the disciples they were to be his witnesses 'to the ends of the earth’. At the BAFTAs Meera Syal reflected on the importance of telling our stories. Encourage people to talk about moments when they have told their story.
• The Ascension of Jesus can be seen as both glad news and sad news. How might we feel about finding ‘balance’ in such emotionally turbulent times?

Tim Lowe is a minister of the United Reformed Church, serving in the Leeds URC Partnership. Tim had huge fun last Saturday evening celebrating Eurovision with family and friends, so didn’t make the Leeds Marathon on Sunday morning…this year!

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

Last Saturday during the Eurovision Song Contest, a small group within the audience began to make negative noises. The presenter, Hannah Waddingham, stopped what she was saying and appeared to grow even taller and said ‘We don’t have any booing in this house.’ All boos were replaced by cheers. It was as if she had risen above the more than 20,000 people assembled at the Pier Head in Liverpool. And that she could see exactly who was cheering and who was booing.

As we reflect on Jesus’ Ascension we can imagine him rising above the whole world. No longer is his purview limited to a small area of the Roman Empire. As he ascends, so he can see a wider and wider panorama of the whole world. Not only does he see but he also responds. He sees the great conflicts that are taking place in Ukraine and Sudan and he sees how they affect millions of individuals for whom he cares and knows by name.

Eurovision winner Loreen has entered the global Spotify charts. Jesus has ascended and become the global chart. His influence and love is worldwide. His impact is global and whilst the Spotify charts are made up of millions of people downloading, Jesus’ impact is caused by his downloading of love to millions of people who are willing to receive it.

Stuart Wild is the Superintendent Minister of the Blackpool and South Fylde Methodist Circuit.

 

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