The Sermon given by Derek Kemp on 27th June, 2004.

 "Worship in Spirit and in Truth"

Readings: Isaiah 43 w. 1 to 14. Luke 1 w. 67 to 79. Psalm 77 w. 11 to 20. Galations 5 w. 1 to 25.

So we have come in our series of 'Kairos' sermons to number 4, and by now we should have a fair grasp of what Kairos is about. Lest not, a recap of what Bishop Kenneth wrote:

Sermon 4 has been headed as covering WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. So where does our worship in any way connect with or in any way influence Kairos? What, first of all, do we mean by "worship"? We all know that it is something we do here together Sunday by Sunday - the more keen of us on other days as well. The worship itself is very predictable, following a pattern of prayers, readings, singing and listening to sermons, all accompanied by ceremony and ritual. Regulars can do it almost without thinking - and frequently do.

Above all, one thing about our worship is that we do not like it to be changed. We like it as it is, thank you - those who join us must take us as we are and as our worship is.

Yet, despite that, the last few years have brought changes - mostly imposed from above - like our governmental system today; no referendums on changes brought into our forms of worship or their liturgy.

Whilst it is right that whatever is good in our worship today should be inclusive of ancient and modern, we should avoid being pedants over it all, nor think that words and ceremony are the be-all and end-all of all worship.

Of prime importance is not the "what", but the "why". Our Lord, speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well said,

How do we do that then? What does He mean? Our worship does, perhaps, already embrace spirit and truth. Yet more often is it not really the time when we put God in the picture. It takes the form of "God, I am a sinner. Let me off sins past; let bygones be bygones, God." We always have a time of requests - God do this, or God do that. They do not vary very much - heal, feed, give peace, house the homeless etc. Sometimes they sound as though we are passing the buck - having told God the problems, we leave the solving to Him.

Perhaps it is in this area that we might move our worship closer to being in the spirit, concentrating more on "Lord, what can we do about whatever" - giving more time to God's answer. Who knows, that might lead us to say, "Lord, here I am, send me. I can visit, go and talk to someone, give practical help." Going along those lines we come to Kairos, and begin to realise that the time to do these things is now - a bit like Pentecost, when the Disciples were aware that the tune to take the Gospel out was now, that very day.

Naturally we may not achieve earth-shattering changes or improvements. Few of us have any hope of stopping wars or famines. Most of our effective results will be within our own communities. We can be encouraged by the poem beginning,

- for so He does.

Which of us has not sat in on groups of Christians, sincere and keen to discuss the state of the Church today? And does not the talk turn to: "In my day...", "The youth do not want to know", "They are not taught about God or Jesus in the schools, like when I was a boy", "I blame the parents - the teachers - the government." And we go away happy to think that we have had a good session together.
The drawback of discussion circles is that they look inwards, often eye to eye with like-minded people. Anyone out of the group is rarely seen or asked for an opinion.

Could our worship be opened up to include a service, not in traditional form, but one at which we gather to share with God our concerns of this or that? By 'we' I mean not only the old gang of regulars, but also those from without, parents, young people, any involved with caring for the community that do not usually come in here.

How do we do that? "They will not come," I hear some say. This is one of the challenges thrown up by Kairos. Perhaps one of our intercession periods might be used asking for God's help and guidance on it.

Football and cricket bore me - I have never been interested in either. But I was most impressed by those churches that screened the European Cup, inviting anybody in to watch with them - theirs was an act of Kairos.

Whilst not suggesting that our Churches should be turned into entertainment centres - they must be revered for what they are, houses of God, built and kept as special places where He can be worshipped - they should be places where anyone who wishes can come to be at one with God. Our worship therein should try to be as inclusive as possible - it can be rich in word and act - it need not be dumbed down to be inclusive. But it should be carried out in a spirit that enables all to understand - to feel needed - to enjoy - yes, enjoy! Let us banish those yards of 'we miserable sinners' we wear in church. Beyond these wall there are hundreds of people, men, women, girls, boys, who either think of us as 'oddballs', and who know little of the Gospel, or just could not care less. Some there are who would like to know more about Jesus - of God - but who see us and our ways as a barrier to finding out. That's what our worship should embrace - "God, why are we a barrier?" How can we change that?

To many our worship seems to concentrate on the evil of everything - on reading about the wicked being smitten, destroyed - on the deadly sins. Could we not spend more time on giving thanks for the good that is done - the happy times - think more on God's love, less on His wrath - more "Jesus loves you" than "Jesus says, 'Thou shalt not ...'"? If these things showed more in our worship would it not be nearer to showing the spirit of God's will and the truth of His relationship with us all?

Having done that perhaps we may be able to offer the world a message they can take to their hearts, and the reason for us so doing is to be found in our first reading this morning (Isaiah 43):

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