Forgive us when we fail to take action and when we refuse to show compassion when we see injustice, unfairness and suffering. Call to Worship We come together as family in the presence of our heavenly Father. We come as brothers and sisters in Christ, accepting the responsibility that this places upon us - to love one another as you have loved us and to care for others as Jesus did. We come as your lights in this dark world and pray that through our words and our lives others might be drawn into your family and accept you as their Saviour and their Lord. Amen StF 242 A new commandment I give unto you Prayer of Adoration and Confession God of love and hope, it is true! You care deeply for each one of us, each person on this planet is equally loved by you. With you there is always more life, more hope, more love and more joy. You have given us so many good things – the beauty of trees coming into blossom, of spring flowers, of summer sunshine and showers, and the changing colour of the leaves in autumn as the leaves fall and winter draws near. The sorrow of lives ending and death but the joy and hope of new birth and change Forgive us when we doubt you, when we are absorbed with ourselves and our own problems and needs and we fail to see your work in the stillness, in the rushed moments, in the darkest moments and in the everyday, little-noticed plod of life. Forgive us when our behaviour or our idle chatter cases pain and hurt to others. Forgive us when we fail to take action and when we refuse to show compassion when we see injustice, unfairness and suffering. Forgive us that sometimes our own actions, selfishness, greed and lack of understanding have been and still are contributing to the suffering of others by causing pollution and climate change leading to flooding, drought and crop failures for people already living in poverty in far flung parts of your world. Let us learn how to serve you. Help us to change our ways, open our hearts now to your love and fill us with trust, hope and a desire to take action and to see freedom, justice, fairness and equality so that all your children have sufficient for their needs. We ask all these things in Jesus’ name Amen. Assurance of Forgiveness. Brothers and Sisters in Christ may we always know that we are indeed, loved, cared for and forgiven by God’s grace when we turn to him. Alleluia! OT Reading: Deuteronomy 34 v 1 – 12 New International Version The Death of Moses34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the l and I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” 5 And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses. 10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel Gospel Reading: Matthew 22 v 34 – 46 New International Version The Greatest Commandment Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Whose Son Is the Messiah?41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. Hymn StF 61 Our God is a great big God 1Thessalonians 2 v 1-8 New International Version Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Hymn StF 409 Let us build a house where love can dwell Sermon Gracious, Loving God, I pray today, remembering that I am made in your image, just as all creation, and I recognise that you are calling me to be part of the answers to the prayers I make. Today, give me the courage and wisdom to reach out in faith, to reflect your image in my lives, wherever you lead. In Jesus’ name, I bring these and all my prayers to you, O God, Amen. The divisive and destructive conditions we witness today can leave us with profound feelings of contradiction, especially in a world determined to settle its differences or disputes with deadly weapons, or by hate. We are often left with physical, mental, or emotional injury, refusal of opportunity for conversation, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. We are comforted nevertheless that God loves us, and cares for us, and is present as we meet the challenges of life! We even ask ourselves: “why should I care?” “I didn’t know that anybody cared!” (a worshipper’s reflection at end of my Homily) I am pleased, however, my sisters and brothers to say that despite the troubling conditions out there and with us, I can declare that the unbelievably transforming power of God’s love is with us! I will never leave you or forsake you, says the Lord (Deuteronomy 31:6-8). But then it is his love that enables us to love and brings us to pray. Pray is a vital lifeline! Secondly, we respond with ACTION: “We Care, because God Loves” 1. Imago Dei: We bear image of God, an incredible fact to behold; but what does it mean to ‘bear the image of God’? Firstly, we are encouraged not to be preoccupied with all the things we should not do but focus rather on doing all we can to demonstrate our love of God and our commitment to God’s mission. 2. Approval: It is imperative we speak as people “approved by God” as in the manner which the Thessalonian community heard from the great Apostle. Though beaten and thrown into prison at Philippi, the apostle was determined to share the good news with the people of Thessalonica. He was on the mission of God. Sometimes petrifying, scary, but we remain unrelenting. The great apostle was not afraid, he had both authority and approval (Ref. encounter with other witnesses, 1996 Olympics, Atlanta). 3. Humility: Never seek selfishly to carry the mission of God or seeking simply to please others, or for personal wealth or fame – the value of mission could be lost - but carry the mission as people entrusted with the Gospel to honour God. Use humility even when mistakes are made. 4. Integrity: We may be tempted to change our message or use flattery to persuade and make our message more palatable. Rather, we use the right motives because we care and are centred in God love. Why, ultimately? Because we love you so much that we are delighted share the Gospel with you! 5. Discipleship: What do we do with the things we call ‘ours’? Moreover, how can we identify what, of all we experience in the world around us, is being led and managed by God? This question is posed also by the people of Israel in the Hebrew Scriptures, it is the question of Christian discipleship today. How can we recognise holiness within us and do justice to it? There’s only one way: If we truly love God and our neighbour, we will keep the commandments! Even when failure arrives, we have an anchor! (Hebrews 6:19) Our work is then deemed righteous, a positive way of looking at the law. 6. Peacefulness: To live a truly peace-filled life, our strength and authority comes not from a token of ownership or mis assumed authority; but rather from a recognition that we witness within the God-ordained Universe. 7. Possessions: In these days how will you change things to live with God’s approval? Jesus assures you about what to do with the things you have: Your life, skills, strength, friendships, possessions, money! Consider how your skills and compassion could be used. The question is: do we care about God’s love? God bless you! Gracious, Loving God, I pray today, remembering that I am made in your image, just as all creation, and I recognise that you are calling me to be part of the answers to the prayers I make. Today, give me the courage and wisdom to reach out in faith, to reflect your image in my lives, wherever you lead. In Jesus’ name, I bring these and all my prayers to you, O God, Amen. Hymn StF 446 I will offer up my life in spirit and truth Prayers of intercession Loving God, You stand among us today and call us to be people of faith, to be your servants and to care for others, yet often our heads and hearts are full of questions. We wonder if love can grow again in relationships where anger and bitterness prevail, but you know the strength of love and the power of prayer. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. We wonder if peace can come in many countries in our world where there is fighting, war and abuse or where hatred and racism know no boundaries. We think especially of the people of Israel and Palestine at this uncertain time, and the people of Ukraine and Russia You know that peace is possible - help us to be faithful peacemakers. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. We wonder if refugees can ever be treated with welcome and respect in our own country and if the hungry can be fed in countries that are experiencing drought, war and poverty and where your children continue to perish. You know that there is room and enough food for everyone in the world; help us to be welcoming, generous and faithful. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. We wonder if governments throughout the world can lead their people with justice and fairness. You specialize in impossibilities; you walked on water, you can heal the nations, you forgive sins, you set people free from all that limits them, you set each one of us free from our sin and shame by your death, your glorious resurrection and the gift of your Holy Spirit. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. Today we pray for all people who are filled with uncertainty, who wonder whether you exist and whether you are listening to our prayers, who wonder what the Christian community and faith are about. We pray for people who struggle with the meaning of life, who wonder whether to end it all, who face feelings of hopelessness and despair particularly those who have lost jobs, income and homes in this time of inflation and financial crisis. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. Even when we ourselves are struggling, give us the wisdom to turn to you. Jesus, when our faith is weak or in danger of deserting us, strengthen us and give us hope. We ask for good news for people in our community and throughout the world, people who are sick, or who are grieving the loss of loved ones especially those known to us personally at this time. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. Finally we pray for all people who need your help in practical ways - empower us to be your hands and feet and to show your love by our action where it is needed. Give us faith, small as a mustard seed, so that we may move mountains, so that we may bring change. May we share your hope, your love, your peace and your justice with this needy world. We ask all these things in the name of you dear son Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen StF 662 Have you heard God’s voice? Gracious, Loving God, I pray today, remembering that I am made in
your image, just as all creation, and I recognise that you are calling me to be part of the answers to the prayers I make. Today, give me the courage and wisdom to reach out in faith, to reflect your image in my lives, wherever you lead. In Jesus’ name, I bring these and all my prayers to you, O God, Amen. Blessing God of life, may the promise of the sunrise be echoed in our minds. May the warmth of the midday sun flow through our hearts. May the peace of the sunset touch our souls, And when life seems dark, teach is to remember even then that you are with us, and that we will again see your light. In the name of Christ. Amen Prayers of Adoration, Confession and Intercessions attributed to Tanya Cook Sermon Attributed to Reverend Arlington Trotman
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Call to Worship - StF 821 (Psalm 99) The Lord is King; Let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; Let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion! he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name; Holy is he! Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he. Moses and Aron were among his priests, Samuel also was amongthose who called on his name. They cried to the Lord , and he answeres them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statues that he gave them. O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiiving God to them, but an avanger of thier wrongdoings. Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his Holy mountain; for the Lord our God is Holy. ( from the new revised standard version ) Stf 72 Father God I wonder Stf 439 Abba, father, let me be Matthew 22:15-22 New International Version Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar 15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. Stf 481 The Lord’s my Shepherd 1 Thessalonians 1: 1 - 10 New International Version 1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. Stf 566 Take my life Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen Stf 449 Lord of creation, to you be all praise Due to Holiday this Sundays Service is shortened
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Call to worship Rejoice in the Lord always. The Lord is near; the Lord is here. Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoice! STF 24 (Come, now is the time to worship) Prayers of Praise, Thanksgiving and Confession Generous God, we kneel in awe at your willingness to draw us into your fellowship; in wonder at your gracious invitation to join the feast of life; in gratitude at your care for each one of us; in humility for your faithfulness towards each one of us. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we kneel and worship and adore you. We give you thanks, wonderful God, for the gift of life, for the opportunities of life and for the invitations to flourish in life. May we be as whole-hearted as you in all we do, as generous as you in all we give, as daring as you in all we dream, and as faithful as you in all our relationships. Thank you for everything. Amen. A Prayer of Confession Gracious God, you invite us to join you in caring for the vulnerable. We are sorry and ask for your forgiveness when we hurt you by not accepting your invitation. You invite us to share the good news of your love. We are sorry and ask for your forgiveness when we hurt you when by not accepting your invitation. You invite us to clothe ourselves with compassion and humility. We are sorry and ask for your forgiveness when we hurt you when by not accepting your invitation. You invite us to take our place at your table. We are sorry and ask your forgiveness when we hurt you by not accepting your invitation. We are sorry and ask your forgiveness when we hurt you in any way. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Assurance of Forgiveness Eternal God, you clothe us with forgiveness, you cover us with your grace, you feed us with your word, you robe us with your generosity, you root us in your faithfulness, you gather us in your love, you invite us to be your disciples, and you go all out to draw us all in and call us each by name. We thank you that we are assured of your forgiveness in Jesus’ name. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen STF 531 (What a friend we have in Jesus) Isaiah 25:1-9 New International Version Praise to the Lord 25 Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. 2 You have made the city a heap of rubble, the fortified town a ruin, the foreigners’ stronghold a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. 3 Therefore strong peoples will honor you; cities of ruthless nations will revere you. 4 You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall 5 and like the heat of the desert. You silence the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled. 6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine-- the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. 9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” Psalm 23 (from Stf, 805) 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. STF 481 (The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want) Matthew 22:1-14 New International Version The Parable of the Wedding Banquet 22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Sermon (Ready to party) There is a simple link that runs through our readings this week. Our readings from both Isaiah and Matthew tell us that knowing God can never leave us unchanged. To encounter God will always affect and change the way we are, and the things we do. This morning I would like us firstly to consider our reading from Isaiah and the confidence with which Isaiah faces the future despite his present pain, secondly to unravel the parable or some people say parables told to us in Matthew and finally to consider whether or not we’re ready to party. In our Old Testament reading, Isaiah draws on past experiences. Despite the pain of the present described in verse 2, You have turned cities into ruins and destroyed their fortifications. The palaces which our enemies built are gone for ever.” Isaiah has every confidence for the future triumph of God as described in verses 8 and 9. “The sovereign Lord will destroy death for ever! He will wipe away the tears from everyone’s eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world. The Lord himself has spoken. When it happens, everyone will say, “He is our God! We have put our trust in him and he has rescued us. He is the Lord! We have put our trust in him, and now we are happy and joyful because he has saved us.”” The emerging message is that God is the Lord of all creation, not just of Judah and Israel. Isaiah speaks of the universal reign of God. This is not simply the belief that, whatever happens, God will win through. It is built upon the confidence that, as Roots puts it, God is eternally trustworthy, and despite everything, all people will come to recognise him. The way in which God deals with his people provides the basis for true thanksgiving, and the only realistic hope for the future. Isaiah speaks of the future in terms of a heavenly banquet, something to look forward to. The prophet knows that, at the time he is speaking, this is a distant dream: Israel has been exiled, and Jerusalem – including the Temple, the very sign of God’s presence – has been destroyed. However, although things look desperate, God will turn things around. This is not idealism but real confidence – this is how God has acted throughout Israel’s history, so why should it be different now? To summarise, Isaiah looks forward to the future as a heavenly banquet when God will triumph despite the pain of the present. Turning to our reading from Matthew, Jesus gives his audience yet another parable. This one is explicitly set at the wedding of a king’s son (though the only reference to the son is at the very beginning). To celebrate the marriage, a banquet is given by the king. In a world when time was less precise than it is today, invitations are sent out. Then, when everything is ready, the guests are summoned. But, despite the importance of the occasion, the guests make excuses, and, worse still, the violence of the situation escalates – overtones, perhaps, of the vineyard in the preceding parable from Matthew Chapter 21 verses 33-46 from last week. The consequence is that the guest list is ‘universalised’ – everyone who can be found is invited. The wedding may be a metaphor for the relationship between God and Israel, and the banquet a sign of the covenant between them. ‘Worthiness’ therefore involves being able to recognise God’s invitation and respond to it as a top priority. The universal guest list could represent the replacement of the old covenant between God and Israel with the new covenant God offers to all who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. But there is a problem with one of the ‘replacement’ guests, called in from the street at the last minute. He is not properly dressed. Is it reasonable to expect that a casually invited guest will be correctly attired? Jesus’ hearers, then and now, will not be surprised that the guest was speechless to be challenged in this way! But this is a parable, a story, not a factual account. Some commentators argue that we are reading two stories and an unexpected twist like this is also not beyond the imagination of a good storyteller. So, what is to be made of this improperly dressed guest? ‘Wedding robe’ may suggest a specific – and newly bought – outfit, but in Jesus’ day this would not have been an option. Wedding guests would wear their best clean clothes. This man, rather than nipping home to change, has just wandered in, unchanged. The man is rejected because he has made no effort to change while all the other guests have done so; he assumes that he has no obligation other than to show up. This suggests that the parable is about our willingness to be changed by our encounter with God. Meeting God can change us and the way we live, or, like the unworthy guest, we can reject God’s grace and remain unchanged. It is worth remembering that in the Early Church, baptism involved removing clothes, being immersed in water and then re-clothed, to symbolise putting on a new life in Christ – symbolism that Paul writes about on a number of occasions. The problem in Matthew is that the first group of guests (and the guest later excluded) remain unmoved – and therefore unchanged – by the anticipation of the banquet. Finally, then, are we ready to party? In the 1990 Bette Midler movie Stella, no one comes to Stella’s daughter Jenny’s 16th birthday party because her friends’ families all ‘look down’ on her mother. Can you imagine how Jenny must have felt? Turning down the invitation implicit in today’s parable (i.e. God’s invitation) is more than turning down an invitation to a birthday party, a family wedding or even to a royal garden party. It is a profound political slight to the king and, in the case of the last invitee, an act of rebellion against his kingship. I read a true story about a mother-in-law who was paying for the wedding reception of her daughter and invited many more people than the venue could accommodate. So her future son-in-law was most thankful when some people wrote back to say they couldn’t come. But that is rarely the case, and in the ‘heavenly banquet’ that this parable alludes to, there is no limit on the capacity. In other words, turn the invitation down at your peril! Social conventions change from generation to generation. In Jesus’ day, the custom was to send out a notice of an upcoming event, followed by the announcement that it was happening – rather like the ‘save the date’ notices people send out today. However, today the advent of social media has made many people lax about replying to invitations, or indeed turning up when they have said they will. This means that events can easily be oversubscribed, or have a disappointingly lower than expected attendance. Is this contemporary casual approach to events matched by a casual approach to the commitments of faith? While the king says that those originally invited had demonstrated that they ‘were not worthy’, the servants subsequently invite in ‘both good and bad’. As servants, we are called on not to make judgements about anyone, but to invite everyone. Signs outside churches often say ‘Everyone Welcome’. But is that really true? Research has shown that almost all churches think they are more welcoming than they are. Many commentators see the last part of this parable (the expulsion of the guest without a wedding robe) as a separate parable tacked on to the end of the other one. This is partly because they are comparing it to the similar parable in Luke 14 verses 16-24, and because Matthew’s version is very disturbing. But it is quite possible that Jesus told similar stories at different times with slightly different emphases (and endings), and his parables are intended to be disturbing. This one reminds us that we are all welcome, but responding to God’s invitation will demand changes of us. Are we ready to party then? We are if we see ourselves as God sees us but not if we are fooled by who we think we are or by our own desires. I think of myself as needing to be clothed in the light of Jesus in order to be truly ready to party but at the same time pray that God will help me to be willing to change into the sort of person he would like me to be. Amen. Let us pray. Dear Father, We ask that you will help us to be willing to change into the sorts of people you would like us to be. Help us to encourage others to do the same without judging them. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your son, our Lord. Amen. STF 673 (Will you come and follow me) Prayers of Intercession Living God, your Son lived among the people of the Holy Land and mixed with both Jews and Gentiles. Your banquet is a feast for all to share in harmony and peace. We pray for those whose lives are shattered by warfare and conflict. We hold before you Israelis and Palestinians, Russians, and Ukrainians and all who live in fear of the bullet and the bomb. Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer. You invite leaders and outcasts; those with plenty and those with nothing; lawmakers and lawbreakers. We hold before you the leaders of all the nations of the world. They desire the best for their people; help them to see the needs of their neighbours as well. May all rejoice in the diversity of humanity and co-exist without violence and oppression. Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer. In your banquet there is food for the needy. You welcome the hungry, the homeless and those who have fled their lands in fear to seek refuge in a strange country. In you there are no barriers of language or background, of gender or age, of employment or unemployment. Your welcome is fulsome; your invitation is to all. We hold before you those who feel excluded for whatever reason. May we see your image in all our neighbours and show the love we have received. Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer. God of comfort and healing, you invite the sick and sorrowful as well as the healthy and happy to your great feast. For many, this is not a time for celebration. Many grieve for loved ones – those who have died recently or for whom this is a time of anniversary. Many are worried as they wait for medical appointments, test results or treatment. Many are in pain and their loved ones sit beside them feeling helpless. We hold before you our health service and pray for all involved in it - doctors, nurses, administrators, managers, porters, health care assistants. We commend to you all who are sick and sorrowful naming those we know in our hearts. Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer. God of the Great Banquet, we stand in amazement, holding an invitation with our name on it! We will be welcomed and accepted. We will receive healing and peace. We will be fed and treated as your special guests. We stand before you in wonder at the height, depth, breadth and length of your love. We celebrate your presence. Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer. As we say yes to you, we hear you say a resounding "yes!" to us and in that we rejoice. In Jesus' name. Amen. STF 487 (You shall go out with joy) A Sending Out Prayer
Go into the week ahead, and wherever you find yourself, celebrating or sharing a sadness, or anything in between, let’s rejoice in God’s grace. Let’s try to see each moment as an invitation to meet with God and each meeting as an opportunity to invite others. Amen. Atributes to ''ROOTS'' for prayers He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” Opening Prayers Look at your feet. Notice the scraps and marks on your shoes or slippers, or if your feet are bare notice the lines and wrinkles. Wriggle your toes and notice how that feels. Look at the ground your feet are on. Is it a carpet? Or wood? Laminate or something else? When you are ready, offer this time of worship to God: Creator God, thank you that my feet are on holy ground. As I sit here, I choose to offer the time to you. I long to meet with you on this holy, ordinary ground. Amen. The Lords Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen 504 STF – May the mind of Christ my Saviour Matthew 21:33-46 New International VersionThe Parable of the Tenants 33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet. 351 STF – In Christ alone my hope is found Responding to the reading Who has influenced you on your journey of faith? Occasionally it might be a minister or teacher. More likely, if we sat down with most of you and chatted, we'd find it was someone different. Maybe the person who knew when to pick up the phone or offer you a meal to heat up at home. Or it was someone who offered to pray when all else seemed futile. It was, in short, people who put their energy into living out the teachings of Christ. This small, local measure is something that is reflected around the world, from issues significant to issues small. The local people often have the correct answer to complex and demanding situations. The country of Sudan has been caught up in conflict many times. When conflict broke out earlier this year, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a Christian peace, justice and nonviolence movement, sent a message of peace and solidarity to its partner branch in Sudan. After a few weeks, the Fellowship of Reconciliation then had a fascinating dispatch from its partner in the world's newest country, South Sudan. In it Light, their colleague who runs the South Sudan Fellowship of Reconciliation branch explained how civil society had leapt into action when conflict broke out. Civil society is a clunky phrase, but its meaning is simple. It's not the government. It's not business. It;s people like you and me who just get on and do things! People in South Sudan and sudan communicated to share stories of safety and security. Then, people in the south mobilised to pressure all sides to start talking. Soon, a broader network sprung up called ;Because of our Country, which aimed to provide humanitarian help to people fleeing south from Sudan. This network sprung up because they recognised that larger organisations would take time to respond, and time wasn't on their side. Instead, like the parable of the loaves and fishes, people would use the resources they had at the moment to respond – knowing that longer term help would come in later days. The people in the network knew about the principles of peace and nonviolence. But it was only when put into the situation that they discovered what they were truly capable of. This transformative nature is at the heart of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (You might like to look up their work online at www.for.org.uk). If I took you through many stories, you would soon find a similar example. Ordinary people caught up in extraordinary conflict or post conflict situations. They turn from everyday people into agents of transformation because they were trained in skills they could share with others. Today;s Gospel reading encourages us all to find power within. It;s a fairly rough story. A vineyard is established with all the resources and tools required to harvest and benefit from a rich crop. Unfortunately, the people who work in the vineyard take short-term moves - including acts of violence - to make short-term financial gains instead of using their skills to bring in the harvest. Why does Jesus tell this parable? Because he is warning the religious leaders and rule setters that the people who live out the spirit of his message will discover the Kingdom of God. Those who don;t will have it removed from them. The Kingdom of God is a beautiful and wonderful place. We hear snippets of it littered in images and stories throughout the bible. What is clear is that peace, justice and equality will flourish and all will find a home. That vision is transformative because we are also reminded that the kingdom of God can be found here on earth. So, we are challenged to decide, over the next week, will you use your skills, gifts and talents to further build the kingdom of God? Because if you do, you will discover new talents within yourself and further enrich the lives of others. Hymn: STF 255.The Kingdom of God is justice and joy Prayer of Intercession Loving God, in these difficult times we look around us at the lives of other people and wonder how things can ever change for the better – we see folk racked by illness, weighed down by anxiety, tormented by depression, crippled by debt, broken by drugs and alcohol, shattered through unemployment and we wonder what hope we can offer them, what help we can possibly give. “Transforming God - may your light shine where there is darkness”. We pray for such people known to us now – family, friends, members of our congregation, neighbours and acquaintances; as well as those unknown to us struggling under their own burdens. “Transforming God - may your light shine where there is darkness”. We pray for our world – for so many people facing suffering, injustice hardship and death. Reach out to all who are in despair, we pray, all who long for change but see only hopelessness stretching before them. Touch their lives, and bring help, hope, healing and wholeness. “Transforming God - may your light shine where there is darkness”. Loving God, it’s sometimes hard to believe that those around us and the world around us can ever change for the better. We see countries broken by war, people consumed by hatred, thousands living in fear for the future, nations turned against nation, multitudes made homeless by war and disaster, whole continents facing drought and famine, and again we wonder what hope or help can possibly offer. “Transforming God - may your light shine where there is darkness”. Help us to see beneath the surface and recognise that you are at work and that things can change. Help us to see beyond appearances and know that you are able to transform even the most hopeless of situations. Help us to remember that sometimes we are the hands and feet of Jesus and able to make a difference in your name. Most of all may we and all people know the assurance that there is no one and no situation that cannot be transformed by the power of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen StF 713. Show me how to stand for justice Blessing
May I leave guided by God’s ever-present care and love May I go forward in the assurance of God’s faithfulness and forgiveness, in the beauty and peace, In the creation God has called each of us to carefor. Amen. |
ServicesThese are the Worship at Home versions of the In Person Services, led by our Minister :- Each Service has the videos of the songs and a transcript of the Sermon or reflection.
The Song references (StF) are from the Singing the Faith song book.
The videos of the songs are linked to YouTube or vimeo which may have advertising which Kingswood Methodist Church does not endorse.
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September 2024
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