WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:07.860 I've got some quotes here, I'm just going to read them, they're very short, but they're all from the same person and they're rather famous. 00:00:08.779 --> 00:00:09.740 Here's the first one. 00:00:11.599 --> 00:00:23.219 For me, the teachings of Christ set my own personal accountability before God and provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. 00:00:26.179 --> 00:00:28.560 Now have a think about who that might have been that said that. 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:30.959 The same person said this next thing. 00:00:32.359 --> 00:00:37.879 Jesus Christ lived obscurely for most of his life and never travelled far. 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:42.299 He was maligned and rejected by many, though he had done no wrong. 00:00:43.320 --> 00:00:49.359 And yet billions of people now follow his teaching and find in him the guiding light for their lives. 00:00:50.439 --> 00:00:51.820 I am one of them. 00:00:54.140 --> 00:00:55.340 Here's the third quote. 00:00:55.560 --> 00:00:56.239 Same person. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:03.539 For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, is an inspiration and anchor for my life. 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:06.340 A role model of reconciliation and forgiveness. 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:10.980 He stretched out his hands in love, acceptance and healing. 00:01:11.640 --> 00:01:18.320 Christ's example has taught me to seek, to respect and value people of whatever faith. 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:19.859 Or none. 00:01:19.859 --> 00:01:24.760 Anybody guess who said all of those things? 00:01:25.560 --> 00:01:26.680 It was our Queen. 00:01:27.019 --> 00:01:27.319 It was Queen. 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:32.159 They all came from various, over the years, various Christmas Day speeches. 00:01:32.159 --> 00:01:42.259 Now, something that comes through, I think, very powerfully in all of those things, those words, is that theme of service. 00:01:42.260 --> 00:01:52.700 And if any of you saw the big concert last night outside Buckingham Palace, then that kind of came over as well in the words that were said. 00:01:53.060 --> 00:01:54.680 The theme of service. 00:01:54.680 --> 00:02:03.440 Interestingly, the word crown comes up in the Bible at least 75 times. 00:02:03.600 --> 00:02:05.080 I haven't counted them personally. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:07.020 I just got that from a source somewhere. 00:02:07.019 --> 00:02:13.120 But the word crown comes up 75 times in the Bible. 00:02:13.319 --> 00:02:14.759 There's lots of different meanings. 00:02:15.759 --> 00:02:22.680 But one in particular that comes up over and over again is the theme of crown as a reward. 00:02:23.280 --> 00:02:25.400 As a reward for our service. 00:02:26.139 --> 00:02:30.800 Now, it's really important to understand that being a Christian is not about just trying to earn your way into heaven. 00:02:30.919 --> 00:02:32.219 That's a free gift from God. 00:02:32.219 --> 00:02:43.680 But nevertheless, the Bible does talk about how at the end, when we come home, or rather when God comes home to earth and heaven comes to earth and everything is perfect and there's no more death and no more dying. 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:44.860 Everything is perfect. 00:02:44.979 --> 00:02:47.099 We live with God forever and ever. 00:02:48.659 --> 00:02:53.280 There's this image there of us receiving a crown. 00:02:53.699 --> 00:02:56.139 And 1 Peter chapter 5 says this. 00:02:56.319 --> 00:03:01.780 You will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. 00:03:02.219 --> 00:03:06.539 You will receive a crown of glory for the life that you have lived. 00:03:07.639 --> 00:03:12.620 So what we're going to do, we're going to take a few minutes now just to think a little bit about what that means. 00:03:12.699 --> 00:03:17.139 Because it helps us to think about our lives right here and right now. 00:03:17.740 --> 00:03:20.960 What I want to do is just ask you to think about this question. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:22.340 It's going to come on the screen. 00:03:22.340 --> 00:03:33.840 When you look back at your life, when you get to the end of life, what would you like to think that you might be crowned for? 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:40.580 What service, what sort of things do you feel that you would like to be crowned for? 00:03:40.580 --> 00:03:44.300 Russ, what would you think you'd like to be crowned for? 00:03:44.340 --> 00:03:45.580 That's a really big question, yeah? 00:03:45.580 --> 00:03:46.420 It is a big question. 00:03:46.620 --> 00:03:50.660 I think I would probably say that I would want to, rather than get too specific, 00:03:51.220 --> 00:03:58.400 I'd want to think that I've been faithful to whatever it is that God's asked me to do. 00:03:58.580 --> 00:03:58.939 Oh man. 00:03:59.720 --> 00:03:59.900 Yeah. 00:03:59.980 --> 00:04:00.160 Yeah. 00:04:00.520 --> 00:04:00.760 I think. 00:04:01.600 --> 00:04:01.960 Cool. 00:04:02.020 --> 00:04:02.900 Whatever that looks like. 00:04:02.920 --> 00:04:03.580 Anybody else? 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:05.080 Anybody else got any thoughts? 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:07.440 Yes, yes, yes. 00:04:07.600 --> 00:04:07.940 Over here. 00:04:08.040 --> 00:04:08.680 Somebody over here. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:09.400 Yes. 00:04:11.840 --> 00:04:16.600 But I said yes to God increasingly and with an increasing loving kindness to others. 00:04:17.080 --> 00:04:17.360 Amen. 00:04:18.319 --> 00:04:18.879 Wonderful. 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:20.580 Come on here. 00:04:20.900 --> 00:04:21.139 Marilyn. 00:04:22.420 --> 00:04:28.699 Well, it might not sound very religious, but I hope I'm remembered for helping to make people laugh. 00:04:29.379 --> 00:04:29.840 Yes. 00:04:30.840 --> 00:04:31.120 Yeah. 00:04:31.939 --> 00:04:32.780 People laughed. 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:36.300 Anybody else? 00:04:38.060 --> 00:04:39.219 Yes, over the back here. 00:04:39.459 --> 00:04:39.879 Here we go. 00:04:40.680 --> 00:04:42.560 It always makes me run to the back. 00:04:42.680 --> 00:04:43.079 There we go. 00:04:43.219 --> 00:04:43.519 What would you? 00:04:43.979 --> 00:04:46.439 I'd like to be crowned for my two beautiful daughters. 00:04:47.019 --> 00:04:48.779 Oh, two beautiful daughters. 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:50.199 Wonderful. 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:51.740 Great for parenting. 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:53.979 Many parents feel crowned. 00:04:53.980 --> 00:05:03.100 You know, the thing is, is that one of the things that we do as ministers is we go to rather a lot of funerals. 00:05:04.379 --> 00:05:11.220 And very often you'll hear at the end of somebody's life all sorts of amazing things that that person did. 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:15.580 Sometimes it can be the first time that those things are actually publicly said. 00:05:15.579 --> 00:05:22.620 And I often think, actually, how sad it is sometimes that it's not until the very end of somebody's life that we hear these things. 00:05:23.719 --> 00:05:29.099 But, you know, the thing is, is that it's not about whether we become well known for things or not. 00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:33.379 The question is, is that, you know, what do we do with the lives that we've given? 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:35.560 We only get one life in this. 00:05:36.019 --> 00:05:37.060 Life is not a rehearsal. 00:05:37.279 --> 00:05:37.899 This is it. 00:05:37.899 --> 00:05:41.339 And so, therefore, you know, how do we spend our lives? 00:05:41.500 --> 00:05:44.939 What do we do with the time that we have on earth? 00:05:45.779 --> 00:05:56.879 And I think moments of, like, you know, this weekend when people are giving tribute to the things that the Queen has done over those last 70 years of service. 00:05:57.439 --> 00:05:59.939 It points that question back to each and every one of us. 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:07.299 Whoever we are, however old or young we are, we each are given this gift of life. 00:06:08.120 --> 00:06:13.879 And at Pentecost, we're reminded that God actually has a plan for each and every one of us. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:18.139 The Holy Spirit is not a gift just to a select few. 00:06:18.819 --> 00:06:20.459 It's not just to a privileged few. 00:06:20.599 --> 00:06:22.839 It's not just to those that are religious. 00:06:23.219 --> 00:06:24.239 It's not just to an elite. 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:26.959 It's to every single one of us. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:30.500 Let's pray. 00:06:30.500 --> 00:06:30.519 Let's pray. 00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:31.120 Let's pray. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:44.599 It's maybe we, when we were asked that question, when you look back at your life, what would you like to think you'd be crowned for? 00:06:45.279 --> 00:06:47.699 And maybe we were hesitant at speaking out. 00:06:47.699 --> 00:06:57.240 Yet on that day of Pentecost, these group of people were empowered to speak out into the lives of so many people. 00:06:57.620 --> 00:06:59.099 And that's what we're called to do. 00:07:00.139 --> 00:07:09.019 So, Holy Spirit, would you come now into our lives as we respond to your prayer? 00:07:09.019 --> 00:07:15.539 And when I say we pray, would you respond, come Holy Spirit. 00:07:18.819 --> 00:07:26.579 So, Father, we thank you for your call on each and every one of us to rise up and serve you in the everyday. 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:33.199 Wherever we are, whatever we do, we thank you for Elizabeth, our Queen. 00:07:33.819 --> 00:07:43.299 We thank you that she answered your call on her life and has faithfully carried out that calling for these past 70 years. 00:07:45.180 --> 00:07:55.180 We pray, Lord, across this nation and commonwealth and the world today, Lord, that all your people would rise up to serve you. 00:07:56.579 --> 00:08:07.199 And for each and every one of us, Lord, we ask that you speak to us now in the power of your Holy Spirit. 00:08:07.939 --> 00:08:12.399 As you call on us to rise up and serve you. 00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:15.419 Maybe afresh and in a new way. 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:25.199 Holy Spirit, may your outpouring come upon your people all over this congregation. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:36.159 May we be ready to be changed by you. 00:08:38.720 --> 00:08:42.639 And Father, we pray for hearts that would be softened. 00:08:43.899 --> 00:08:52.379 We pray, too, that we would receive you and all you have to give us without fear or holding back. 00:08:52.379 --> 00:08:57.580 We pray, come Holy Spirit. 00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:04.299 So, Lord, we pray for all the peoples of the earth to know and honor your name. 00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:16.000 We pray for the healing of the nations and a new thirst for righteousness, for purity at every level and every aspect of our society, of our government. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:26.220 We pray, Lord, for a dissatisfaction with the pursuit of pleasure that distracts us from your calling. 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:38.460 Lord, we pray for those whose lives we share. 00:09:38.460 --> 00:09:45.780 That we, too, like those first disciples, would go out, Lord, and share the gospel with others. 00:09:46.660 --> 00:09:49.940 Not compromising your call on our lives. 00:09:50.040 --> 00:09:50.900 Not being hesitant. 00:09:51.460 --> 00:09:59.120 Holy Spirit, would you come and give us a fresh courage in our lives to make you known. 00:09:59.120 --> 00:10:03.259 Not just by what we say, but the way we live our lives. 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:07.000 Lord, we pray. 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:09.519 Come, Holy Spirit. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:16.639 Lord, today we pray for a new generation of Christians. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:25.539 We pray, Lord, as we look for the things that your Holy Spirit is doing in our towns, in our cities, in our churches. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:34.860 We pray, Lord, that we will be unbound by the past, but we would seek you at work where you are. 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:41.259 Lord, help us where you are asking us to do a new thing. 00:10:41.259 --> 00:10:45.139 Give us courage to do that, we pray. 00:10:46.439 --> 00:10:47.500 Lord, we pray. 00:10:48.939 --> 00:10:50.259 Come, Holy Spirit. 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:59.319 So, Lord, for all that you have given us, for all that you have to share with us, 00:11:00.220 --> 00:11:02.980 we invite your Holy Spirit to come amongst us. 00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:10.240 Let's just take a moment just to be open to all that the Holy Spirit has to give us. 00:11:11.259 --> 00:11:15.759 Lord, we know that we need your Spirit. 00:11:18.059 --> 00:11:21.279 So, fall in this place, we pray for each of us, 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:25.360 to be renewed and empowered for our mission today. 00:11:26.700 --> 00:11:28.080 Ask for that filling. 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:32.519 Give us courage to share the good news. 00:11:34.620 --> 00:11:40.240 Make us an inspiration to a new generation of Christians, to our young people. 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:50.379 So, Lord, as we encounter you, encourage us, empower us, enable us, and enthuse us afresh. 00:11:54.779 --> 00:12:01.039 As the Gospel said, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:04.259 Holy Spirit, do that now, we pray. 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:05.259 Amen. 00:12:05.259 --> 00:12:06.259 Amen. 00:12:06.259 --> 00:12:08.539 Amen. 00:12:08.539 --> 00:12:10.259 Amen.