3rd Sunday of Easter | Sunday 1 May 2022

Today is Sunday the 1st of May, beginning the third week of Easter.
Checko Ankrah and Nicky Lathbridge sing, ‘High and Lifted’.
You are worthy to be praised
You are worthy to be praised
You are high and lifted up
You are high and lifted up
You are high and lifted up
O Lord
You are high and lifted up
We're surrounded by Your presence, o God
You are high and lifted up
Your glory fills
Your glory fills the space, o God
You are high and lifted up
I hear the sound of angels
I hear the sound of Heaven
I see Your glory fill this place, o God
You are high, You are high and lifted up


Today’s reading is from the Book of the Apocalypse.
Revelation 5:11-14
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice,
‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honour and glory and blessing!’
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing,
‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honour and glory and might
for ever and ever!’
And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell down and worshipped.

In this extraordinary passage, we are permitted to eavesdrop on the “liturgy of Heaven”, where angels and elders come together to praise God. What strikes you about this “liturgy”? is it like any other church service that you have attended?
How do you picture this “Lamb” who is “worthy”?
In this passage, we heard a hymn sung by all creation (“every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the earth, and in the sea, and in all that is within them”). What struck you about the hymn? What does it sound like in your imagination?

Now listen as the passage is read to you once more, and answer this question: “what is the mood of this passage?”
Finally, we suggest that you bring together all the thoughts and emotions that are now in your heart, and see if you can turn them into a prayer to God.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.