1. Morning Worship Liberation
St Matthias
Easter Season / Liturgical colour Gold/White
May 15th 2015
Bishop Justus Church of England School

2. Gather The Lord be with you And also with you
Following the Ascension of Jesus there was a meeting of about 120 believers, which included Mary, Jesus’ mother and his brothers. They had to select a successor for Judas who had hung himself after betraying Jesus. Two men were candidates: Matthias and Joseph Barsabbas (who was called Justus). Matthias was chosen by drawing lots.
Information from ‘Exciting Holiness’:
After the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot, the apostles brought their number back to twelve by choosing Matthias to replace him. He was chosen by lot from amongst the disciples. The author of the Acts of the Apostles sees apostleship differently from Paul's interpretation of the rôle and seems to reflect the understanding of the gospel of Luke. The number had to be restored so that they might "sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel". It was conditional that they had to have been with Jesus during his earthly ministry and witnesses to the resurrection. The point of being chosen by lot, rather than by some democratic method, indicated the election or choosing by God, rather than by mortals.

3. Receive
So then, someone must join us as a witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He must be one of the men who were in our group during the whole time that the Lord Jesus travelled about with us, beginning from the time John preached his message of baptism until the day Jesus was taken up from us to heaven." So they proposed two men: Joseph, who was called Barsabbas (also known as Justus), and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Lord, you know the thoughts of everyone, so show us which of these two you have chosen to serve as an apostle in the place of Judas, who left to go to the place where he belongs." Then they drew lots to choose between the two men, and the one chosen was Matthias, who was added to the group of eleven apostles Acts 1:15-26

4. Engage The early Christians were left
with lots of puzzles when Jesus left.
One of them was appointing a twelfth apostle
St Matthias to replace Judas
Voting
Use Matthias’ story to talk about how
we choose people to represent us today…
Reflect on the recent election – how would the country be better off if we simply drew lots?
Working things out
Discuss – how did you work things out?
Try some puzzles—use your logic…
Or look at these brain teasers…
Discuss – how do we work difficult things out?
Other Ideas
Action adventure
Show a clip from an action packed film—Doctor Who is always a winner
Being an apostle and a Christian is full of adventure and action—discuss the kinds of action and adventure St Matthias would have been signing up to
Christian Aid
Stepping up to the mark is an important element to being a Christian—acting and not simply talking
Reflect on what action we have taken as a Christian School in relation to Christian Aid week….

5. Respond Almighty God, who in the place of the traitor
Judas chose your faithful servant Matthias
to be of the number of the Twelve:
preserve your Church from false apostles and,
by the ministry of faithful pastors and teachers,
keep us steadfast in your truth;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever.
Amen

6. Go Following God’s saints in the ways of holiness and truth
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.