大象传媒

RADIO 4 OPENING ANNOUNCEMENT:

At ten past eight on 大象传媒 Radio 4 and 大象传媒 Sounds it鈥檚 time now for Sunday Worship.

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ARABELLA:

Good morning and welcome to Selwyn College Chapel, Cambridge on this Third Sunday of Epiphany, which falls midway through the week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I鈥檓 the Dean of Chapel and Chaplain, Arabella Milbank Robinson.听

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Selwyn College was founded in 1882 in the hope that it would prove a fitting memorial to a gifted and enterprising Anglican Bishop, George Augustus Selwyn. Selwyn was consecrated as the first Bishop of New Zealand and, by a slip of the pen in his letters patent, of the whole of Melanesia, at the age of just 32.听

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Simplicity and holiness were watchwords for Selwyn鈥檚 founders, as was the provision of university education to those who were least financially advantaged. In the year Selwyn opened to students, there were just 28 undergraduates, one staircase, and a sea of mud on the outskirts of the University City. The soaring red brick neo-Gothic Chapel we join you from now would not be built until 1895; but from the outset, in the spirit of its missionary foundation, the heartbeat of regular worship involving the whole community was sustained in a temporary chapel. And from the beginning this involved students from our neighbouring Newnham College, founded on nonconformist principles, many of whom still worship and sing with us today.

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Our Chapel a beautiful and highly visible building in College, is the first thing you see as you walk through the gateway into Old Court. It speaks to the source of that energy and enterprise of our founders, the star they were following, the light of Christ. It is from union with Christ that Christian unity is born, and it is that star of life, love and hope that we invite you to look to with us today.

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Christ the daystar shines last and longest, banishing the darkness. We look to him now as we sing our first hymn, Christ whose Glory fills the skies.

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CHOIR/ORGAN/CONGREGATION: Christ whose Glory fills the skies

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ARABELLA:

Let us pray.

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Almighty Father, whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world:

may your people, illumined by your word and sacraments, shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen.

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In a College Chapel, there is a natural ecumenism. Students, staff and fellows in diverse relationships to of all branches of Christianity, but also of all faiths and of none, gravitate to the place of prayer and beauty that is just a hop, skip and a jump from where they work and eat, live, sleep and study.

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From dawn until well after dusk, when the constellations shine bright over Old Court, the lights on in Selwyn Chapel shine through the windows, a lantern in the darkness, showing that this is a place set apart a refuge from whatever anxieties life and study may hold.

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As we find our own space of reflection and rest wherever we are this morning, our Chapel Choir will now sing a setting by Elizabeth and Thomas Coxhead of Robert Bridges鈥� poem, 鈥楳y Eyes for Beauty Pine鈥�

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CHOIR: My Eyes for Beauty Pine (Elizabeth Coxhead and Thomas Coxhead)

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ARABELLA:

In our first reading from St Paul鈥檚 first letter to the Corinthians, we hear of the pain of disunity and fracture amongst those who should be strong in unity of purpose, bound together in proclaiming the astounding simplicity of the gospel of God鈥檚 love.

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STEFAN: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,听by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you should be in agreement and that there should be no divisions among you, but that you should be united in the same mind and the same purpose.听For it has been reported to me by Chloe鈥檚 people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters.听What I mean is that each of you says, 鈥業 belong to Paul鈥�, or 鈥業 belong to Apollos鈥�, or 鈥業 belong to Cephas鈥�, or 鈥業 belong to Christ.鈥櫶鼿as Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?听I thank God听that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,听so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name.听(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)听For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power. For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

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CHOIR/ORGAN: Psalm 133 (Sarah MacDonald)

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ARABELLA:

Christ calls us away from selfish but also self-destroying concerns towards those we share with God, our common good. As Christ calls us out of darkness and into his light we listen to his word in a reading from the Gospel according to St Matthew.

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闯脰搁骋:

Now when Jesus听heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.听He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,听so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 鈥楲and of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles鈥� the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.鈥�

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From that time Jesus began to proclaim, 鈥楻epent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.鈥�

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As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake鈥攆or they were fishermen.听And he said to them, 鈥楩ollow me, and I will make you fish for people.鈥櫶齀mmediately they left their nets and followed him.听As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.听Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

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Jesus听went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news听of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

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ARABELLA:

Our preacher today is Bishop Graham Kings, Founder of the Cambridge Centre for Christianity Worldwide and a regular worshipper with us here in Selwyn College Chapel.

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Before we hear his reflection, we sing 鈥楨ternal ruler of the ceaseless round鈥�. The words of the hymn express the hope at the heart of the Week of Prayer For Christian Unity, 鈥榯hat we may be as one with him, Jesus, our Brother and our Friend鈥�.

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CHOIR/ORGAN/CONGREGATION: Eternal Ruler of the Ceaseless Round

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+GRAHAM:

In this week of prayer for Christian unity, how may we nourish unity?

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In March 2013, the ministry of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury was inaugurated the same week as the ministry of Francis as Pope. Later on, their first meeting in the Vatican had a surprising start. 鈥業 am more senior than you鈥� said the Pope. 鈥榊es, your Holiness鈥�, replied the Archbishop, wondering why he was bringing up centuries of division and discord. Then, with a twinkle in his eye, the Pope continued: 鈥楤y two days鈥�. Angst was punctured by humour and personal relationship.

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In May 1982, Pope John Paul II visited the UK. In planning the historic service in Canterbury Cathedral, a key question was 鈥渨ho would sit on St Augustine鈥檚 chair 鈥� the Pope or the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert Runcie?鈥� Not easy.

The Dean, Victor de Waal, solved the issue adroitly. The Canterbury Gospels, given by Pope Gregory the Great for the mission of St Augustine, who arrived in Kent in 597, would be placed on the chair. The Pope and Archbishop of Canterbury would sit on either side 鈥� under God鈥檚 Word.

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At the time of Pope John Paul II鈥檚 visit, I was a curate at St Mark鈥檚 Kensal Rise,听London, and travelled to Cardiff Arms Park to be part of the celebrations. Next to me on the coach of ecumenical pilgrims was a young Roman Catholic schoolboy. On the journey we discussed the concept of vocation. He was surprised that, as an Anglican, I was encouraging him to consider the priesthood in the Catholic Church.

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In 2008, when vicar of St Mary鈥檚 Islington, London, I invited the new Catholic priest in Islington, Fr Howard James, to lunch in a restaurant on Upper Street. When I asked where he grew up, he replied 鈥淜ensal Rise.鈥� We were both overjoyed to discover that we were the ones who had sat next to each other, on that coach, 26 years earlier. We then had coffee in the vicarage and I showed him a photograph of me outside St Mark鈥檚 Church in 1982. 鈥楾hat鈥檚 you鈥�, he said, laughing. 鈥業 know it鈥檚 me鈥�, I replied.

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In our epistle today (which we heard earlier) Paul is trying to nourish unity in the church he planted at Corinth. He writes:

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It has been reported to me by Chloe鈥檚 people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. What I mean is that each of you says, 鈥淚 belong to Paul,鈥� or 鈥淚 belong to Apollos,鈥� or 鈥淚 belong to Cephas,鈥� or 鈥淚 belong to Christ.鈥�

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Now Cephas was the Aramaic name for Peter. But who was Apollos?

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In Acts chapter 18, after Paul had left Ephesus to travel to Jerusalem, we learn that Apollos came to Ephesus from Alexandria in Egypt. He was a Jew, wonderfully eloquent, and well-versed in the Scriptures. He taught accurately about Jesus, but only knew the baptism of John. He was taught about the Holy Spirit by Priscilla and Aquila, Paul鈥檚 converts, who had travelled with him from Corinth.

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Apollos then went over to Corinth in Greece, with letters of recommendation from Ephesus. He was so good with words that some people in Corinth say, 鈥榃ow! He's a wonderful preacher. He's actually better than Paul, isn't he?鈥� Some others say, 鈥楴o. I think Paul's better. After all, Paul founded us.鈥� And other people at Corinth say, 鈥榃ell, Peter was actually with Jesus those three years, so I'm following Peter.鈥�

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One of the reasons Paul wrote 1 Corinthians was to solve that problem of disunity. He asks three questions (verse 13): Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

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In the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians, Paul argues against relying on wisdom, eloquence and rhetoric to preach the gospel, for this could empty the cross of its own significance (verse 17). He seems to have Apollos in mind here and in chapter 3 verse 6, he sums it up, 鈥淚 planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.鈥�

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George Augustus Selwyn 听(after whom this College is named) served as the pioneer Bishop of New Zealand from 1841 to 1868, 鈥渁nd God gave the growth鈥�. He was sensitive in his ecumenical relations with the Congregationalist London Missionary Society (LMS). On 5 February 1848, while planning his Melanesian Mission, he wrote to George Turner, a missionary of the LMS in the Pacific Islands, offering: 鈥榯o render every assistance that may be in my power, without seeking to obtrude any missionaries of our Church upon the field of your operations鈥�.

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After serving for 27 years in New Zealand, Selwyn became Bishop of Lichfield in England in 1868. In 1874, he preached at the parish church of Wall, near Lichfield. His unpublished sermon included these stringent words against attitudes which foster disunity: 鈥楾his strife of tongues; this party spirit; these railing accusations; those so called religious journals, rivalling if not exceeding the fiercest utterances of political parties鈥�.

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Here at Selwyn College today we frequently have on placement students training for ordination at the two Anglican theological colleges in Cambridge, with their different histories of tradition and theology. The colleges are part of the pioneering ecumenical Cambridge Theological Federation, which has nourished Christian unity for over 50 years. It currently includes 12 institutions from the Methodist, United Reformed, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican traditions.

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So, in this week of prayer for Christian unity I leave you with the image of Christ the oboe. When an orchestra is tuning up before a concert, it is the oboe which plays the note of A. All of the different instruments in the orchestra then tune themselves to that one Alpha note and are thus in tune with each other. If we hear an oboe this week, perhaps we should tune in.

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CHOIR/ORGAN: Christus est Stella (Will Todd)

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ARABELLA:

In English, the words of the Latin anthem we have just heard are 鈥楥hrist is the morning star, who when the night of this world is past brings to his saints the promise of the light of life, and opens everlasting day.鈥櫶齃et us pray now for some of those concerns we find in 鈥榯he night of this world鈥�.

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CLARE:

God of all, as you called your first disciples beside the Sea of Galilee, we thank you for calling us to follow you. Lit by your radiance, may we too be lights in the darkness of this world. Help us to bring hope, comfort and healing where there is division and despair. Build us in the love and truth we share into the one body. Inspire us through the Holy Spirit to listen with compassion to the views of those we may disagree with and to approach differences with love and understanding.

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Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

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God of Peace, we pray for peace throughout the world. Be with all those who suffer because of war, terrorism and natural disaster, that they may know the transforming gift of your hope. Help those who have been injured to find healing, and those who have been displaced to rebuild their lives in peace and security. Guide the minds of our leaders to the opportunities for reconciliation between nations, and open their hearts to provide shelter and support to those in need.

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Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

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God of Wisdom, in this Chapel of Selwyn College, Cambridge, we pray for students and teachers, and all those who make learning possible. We thank you for the gift of learning and for the opportunities it gives us to discover a broader perspective on our world. Grant to all teachers a love of learning, and to all students open and enquiring minds. Teach us all to wear our knowledge lightly, to deepen our compassion for others, and to use our skills for the betterment of society.

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Lord in your mercy

Hear our prayer.

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We bring all our prayers, spoken and unspoken, together in the words that Jesus taught us to say:

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Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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ARABELLA:

Our last hymn this morning reminds us never to let this world鈥檚 suffering and wrong drown out the song of the angels, who in announcing Christ鈥檚 birth, brought in love the news of God鈥檚 final intent for us all: peace and unity on earth as it is in heaven.

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CHOIR/ORGAN/CONGREGATION: It came upon the midnight clear

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ARABELLA:

May God the Father,

who led the wise men by the shining of a star

to find the Christ, the Light from light,

lead you also in your pilgrimage to find the Lord. Amen.

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May the light of the glorious gospel of Christ

shine in your hearts and fill your lives

with his joy and peace. Amen.

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And the blessing of God Almighty: Father, Son and Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

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ORGAN: VOLUNTARY: Homage to Elgar (Martin How)

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RADIO 4 CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENT:

Sunday Worship was recorded in the Chapel of Selwyn College, Cambridge. It was led by the Reverend Dr Arabella Milbank Robinson, and the preacher was Bishop Graham Kings. The Director of Music was Sarah MacDonald, the organ scholar Adam Field, and the producer was Ben Collingwood. The programme is available now on 大象传媒 Sounds from where you can also click through to a copy of the script. Next week鈥檚 Sunday Worship comes from the West London Synagogue to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. There鈥檚 also a chance on 大象传媒 Sounds to listen to this week鈥檚 Radio 3 Choral Evensong which was broadcast live from the Chapel of Selwyn College.