31 July: 'Priorities'

Although there is no Worship Service at Kingswood this Sunday (31st), this short act of worship has been prepared for you to use at home by Alan Darlington, local preacher in the Sherwood Forest Circuit. We invite you to spend a few moments with God, knowing that other people across the Methodist Connexion are sharing this act of worship with you. 

Opening Prayer
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord.” (StF 66, Edith McNeil)
Lord, as we come into your presence, help us to remember that your love and faithfulness endure, and that we can rely on you whatever may come our way.”

​Hymn: StF 341 All for Jesus  was written by Rev William John Sparrow-Simpson, as part of his libretto for 'The Crucifixion'.  The tune was written by Sir John Stainer, who composed 'The Crucifixion' in 1887.  It is performed here by the Guildford Camerata and the Guildford Philharmonic Orchestra.

Let us pray together
God whose love is steadfast and sure,
We praise you.
God who lays for us solid foundations,
We praise you.
God who can be depended on,
We praise you.
God, the first and the last,
We praise you.
God who shows us the way,
We praise you.
In everything we do, may we praise you. Amen

Today’s Reading from the New Testament Colossians 3:1-11  
Today’s Gospel Reading: Luke 12:13-21 

Time to Reflect
On the afternoon I had planned to prepare this service, I was in a shop and found that I had lost my bank card. I struggled not to panic as it was the worst time for it to happen. I thought how much chaos the next few days would be thrown into. Fortunately, I found the card and the panic was over. Little things can have a major effect on us.  

Today’s passages remind us to think what is truly important to us. Yes, we need money to survive personally and as a church but that is not the be all and end all. So, what do we set our minds on as individuals and as a church?  Events over the last few years may have crystallised some of those thoughts. We realise how important friends are when we are deprived of them. We realise how important peace is as we hear of unrest.  

Too often, our church councils are full of debates about minor things and people get very agitated about them. Yes, there are practicalities that need dealing with but we should not let them replace what is truly important. Money replaced God in the life of the man in the parable. What replaces him in our personal lives? What replaces him in our church lives? Yes, we need to pay the bills but, more importantly, we need to live out the Kingdom, engage in the mission that God has given us and share his love. Our priorities must be God’s priorities – how else will the world see a better way to live than the man with his barns?

As you read this, I will be helping lead a children’s residential activity. One year as I was planning for such an event, I wondered whether it was really worth the time I was putting in. I felt God say that it was worth it because the activity touched lives and helped build into eternity. Let us not build things that will decay but things that will last – and we can only do that if our priorities become God’s priorities.  Let’s not build barns to store things that will decay but lives that speak of God’s everlasting love.

A time of prayer
Let us sit quietly and bring to God those in need of a special touch at this time …
Let’s bring to him those who have messed up priorities …
Let’s bring to him those who can see no further than the next meal …
Let’s bring to him those who cannot see out of their grief and pain …
Let’s bring to him those who are looking for the way to go …
Let's bring to him the folk at Lenton Methodist Church, that they find a fellowship where they will find a warm welcome and a place to grow in God’s love.
Lord, guide, lead, heal, comfort; show those we have brought to you the way ahead.  May they build on you.
And may we, in our churches, get our priorities right too. Show us where to go and where to build.  Help us to bring your love to those around us.   Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father ……

StF 447 Jesus be the Centre written by Michael Frye Vineyard Worship UK & Ireland ​

A prayer of blessing
Let us go into the world and live our lives for our God. May we live our lives for him and experience the spiritual riches he has to offer.  Let us share them with those around us. 

Original Materials by Alan Darlington, local preacher in the Sherwood Forest  Circuit
We are grateful to all the Ministers and Local Preachers from around the Connexion who have contributed to Worship at Home. This resource is administrated by Ministries: Vocations and Worship in the Connexional Team.