Pentecost | John 14:8-17 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
O Perfect Father by Steph Macleod

Lyrics:
O Perfect Father on Heaven’s throne
Who gave my orphan heart a home
Treasured and destined before all time
Forever claimed by Your love divine
What wondrous kindness shown to me
To know that I’m eternally
A chosen child of God above
The perfect Father with perfect love

You never fail me You never leave
You will provide my every need
Joyful or burdened I seek Your face
O Father You never turn away
Your presence is my perfect peace
No other place I long to be
A chosen child of God above
The perfect Father with perfect love

Whom shall I fear in the days to come
You are the great Almighty One
Formed in Your image I bear Your name
Yet in Your heart still my heart remains
My silent prayer You always hear
You cradle every secret tear
A chosen child of God above
The perfect Father with perfect love

Father my Father who reigns on High
Your sovereign name be glorified
Lead me through life with great words of truth
My passion Father to worship You
What joy to serve You all my days
I live to follow and obey
A chosen child of God above
The perfect Father with perfect love

What joy to follow all my days
I live to follow and obey
A chosen child of God above
The perfect Father with perfect love

Passage:
8 “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.

12 “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you. -- John 14:8-17 (CSB)

Musical Reflection:
I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say (KINGSFOLD), English folk song from anthology by Lucy E. Broadwood and J. A. Fuller Maitland, harmonized by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Reflection Notes:
Famed English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams heard this tune from an English folk song anthology and harmonized it for the text by Horatius Bonar. The first and third sections of the song are primarily in e minor, while the middle section transitions to the relative major key.

Prayer: