Opening Prayer
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
And light.
And it was good.
In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God. The Word was God.
All things came to be through the Word. In the Word was life. The life that is this light of all people.
In the beginning the life was the light of the world, a light that shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overcome it.
Amen.
Please read Genesis 1:1-2:4
The book of Genesis has at least two authors. This is seen by its two distinct creation stories.
In one creation account Yahweh forms man from the dust of the ground. Then God creates the animals, but no “suitable helper” is found for Adam, so God puts him to sleep, takes a rib . . . you know the story.
This was written by Yahwhists associated with Jerusalem’s royal court. Whilst it affirms God’s role in creation; it mainly focuss on how humans act within God’s creation.
The story from Genesis 1 is all about all the things God did: God created, God said, God saw, God called, God made, God blessed, God rested. None of the humans or animals are given names. God is referenced by title or pronoun 44 times in these 35 verses. It’s no surprise then that the authors of this piece are generally thought to have been priests. Priests would be the ones focused on God.
Genesis was written during the Babylonian exile. The Babylonians decimated the northern kingdom of Israel, destroyed the temple and took many of the Israelites into captivity. That was a time when Israelites were in danger of turning to other gods.
Looking at what is going on around the world; I wonder if we too are in danger of turning to other gods. This is where the poetry of Genesis 1 comes along to help us stick to the rhythms of life which we hold so dear.
“There was evening and there was morning . . . There was evening and there was morning . . .” This story assures us that, despite the chaos of the world at this moment, the world is ultimately perfectly ordered according to God’s design.
When doubting God’s power, Genesis confirms the wonder of God’s created world, with all of its lights and stars, all of its plants and animals, all of its symmetry and seasons and wonder. The answer to fear and doubt is actually all around us.
Closing Prayer
We are created by God, in the image of God.
In our glorious differences, we reflect the Holy face of God.
All who gather in Christian worship are brought near to God through Jesus. We are not:
· Jew or Greek
· low class or high class
· male or female
· gay or straight
· black or white
· citizen or immigrant
We all are one in Christ Jesus. We all are made in God’s image. So, whilst we are apart this week, let us love each other and worship our God with joy.
Amen.
Suggested listening
Light of the world, you stepped down into darkness – www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MmRGSEG2LM Crashing Waters at Creation www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Aedb-4nZIw Jesus be the centre – www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG-l1kK-BpU I the Lord of Sea and Sky – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhTpjdrLf0s
