​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

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

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

​ 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)

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 

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.

Christ changed David’s life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a
place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a handsome
​man when he came out of the hospital.

Introduction to worship theme.

Today we are going to be reading from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which some consider his most
affectionate letter. Having, in chapter one, urged the Philippian congregation of Christians to “Live
their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…” (1:27) Paul in chapter two shows
them how to go about living such a life by pointing them toward the example of Jesus life and
ministry. Jesus, he tells them, made himself nothing for your sake. His true nature was that of
God, yet for your sake he willing relinquished that existence in order to live a human life, indeed, to
live the life of a servant. So with that in mind  the theme for this morning’s worship is: Coming down to lift
others up’.
Call to Worship:
We gather today to worship the one who created us,
the one who calls us,
the one who equips us,
the one who loves us without end.
With joyful hearts, let us worship God.

StF 331 – King of kings, majesty

​Prayer of Adoration & Confession &; Lord’s Prayer
Almighty and Holy God,
We gather to worship you,
to praise you for being here among us,
and to thank you for all your goodness toward us.
We come in all our weakness and with all our failings,
rejoicing that in Christ we have been made new
and that through him you have set your mark upon us,
and called us to be your people.
We confess now to you and one another
how far short we have fallen of the pattern you have set before us in Jesus.
He emptied himself – we exalt ourselves.
He was humble – we are conceited.
He was generous - we are selfish.
He was gracious – we are intolerant.
Forgive us loving God and help us change our ways
Through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen

The Lord’s Prayer
We pray together the prayer Jesus taught us:
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.
Save us from the time of trial
And deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
Now and forever. Amen.

According to one former TV program, millionaires have occasionally lived unannounced and
unrecognised amongst ordinary people. They have often assumed some kind of disguise as they
have tried to understand the difficulties involved in leading a normal life. Sometimes they have
given away money to the people they have met – anyone remember The Secret Millionaire​
So in this TV series (the secret millionaire) – some very wealthy individual stepped
down from their luxury lifestyle and lived outside their comfort zone for a couple of weeks, to lift a
few people up from a poor and often lonely existence to a more dignified one. Let’s now see what
the apostle Paul says about how Jesus came down to lift others up.

​
Philippians 2:1-13 New International Version
Imitating Christ’s Humility Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any
comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  2 then make
my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing
out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your
own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death--
        even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.
Do Everything Without Grumbling12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only
in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear
and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

 StF362 – Meekness and Majesty

​Talk
Having, in the previous chapter, urged the Philippians to “Live their lives in a manner worthy of
the gospel of Christ…” (1:27) Paul in chapter two shows them how to go about living such a life
by pointing the Philippians toward the example of Jesus; life and ministry. Jesus, he tells them,
made himself nothing for your sake. His true nature was that of God, yet for our sake he willing
relinquished that existence to live a human life, indeed, to live the life of a servant. That we
ourselves might be enriched in everyway (1 Cor 1:5)

And it is this humility that was in Christ, which Paul now wishes to see the Christians at Philippi
and us imitate – by making, like Jesus and those secret millionaires, the interests of others a vital
part of our living.
Now we know this is easier said than done. Because if we are honest we know that our human
nature is so often a self-focused and self-interested nature. But that nature can be overcome. Let
illustrate what I mean.

Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story:
It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform,
pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a wonderful service. As I was
sitting there I looked up the middle aisle, and there in about the third row was a man who looked about fifty,
dishevelled, filthy. He looked up at me rather sheepishly, as if saying, “Could I talk to you?”
We have homeless people coming in all the time, asking for money or whatever. So as I sat there, I said to
myself, though I am ashamed of it, “What a way to end a Sunday. I’ve had such a good time, preaching and
ministering, and here’s a bloke probably wanting some money for more wine. He walked up the aisle. When
he got within about five feet of me, I smelled a horrible smell. It was so awful that when he got close, I
would inhale by looking away, and then I’d talk to him, and then look away to inhale, because I couldn’t
inhale facing him.
I asked him, “What’s your name?” “David.” “How long have you been on the street?” “Six years.” “How old
are you?” “Thirty-two.” He looked fifty- hair matted; front teeth missing; eyes slightly glazed. “Where did you
sleep last night, David?” “Abandoned truck.”
I keep in my back pocket a money clip. I fumbled to pick one out thinking; I’ll give him some money.
Usually we don’t give money to people. We take them to get something to eat. I took the money out. David
pushed his finger in front of me. He said, “I don’t want your money. I want this Jesus, the One you were
talking about, because I’m not going to make it. I’m going to die on the street.”
I completely forgot about David, and I started to weep for myself. I was going to give a couple of dollars to
someone God had sent to me. See how easy it is? I could make the excuse I was tired. There is no excuse.
I was not seeing him the way God sees him. I was not feeling what God feels. But oh, did that change!
David just stood there. He didn’t know what was happening. I pleaded with God, “God, forgive me! Forgive
me! I am so sorry to represent you this way. I’m so sorry. Here I am with my message and my points, and
you send somebody and I am not ready for it. Oh, God!”
Something came over me. Suddenly I started to weep deeper, and David began to weep. He fell against my
chest as I was sitting there. He fell against my white shirt and tie, and I put my arms around him, and there
we wept on each other. The smell of His person became a beautiful aroma. Here is what I thought the Lord
made real to me: If you don’t love this smell, I can’t use you, because this is why I called you where you
are. This is what you are about. You are about this smell.
Christ changed David’s life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a
place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a
handsome man when he came out of the hospital. They detoxed him in 6 days.
He spent that Thanksgiving at my house. He also spent Christmas at my house. When we were
exchanging presents, he pulled out a little thing and he said, “This is for you.” It was a little white hanky. It
was the only thing he could afford. A year later, David got up and talked about his coming to faith in Christ.
The minute he took the microphone and began to speak, I said, “The man is a preacher.” This past Easter
David was ordained. He is an associate minister of a church over in New Jersey. And I was so close to
saying, “Here, take this; I’m a busy Christian preacher.”
What a sobering story that is - That Christian preacher, came so close to denying the faith which he
proclaimed week by week with his lips.

Paul delivered his message to the Christians in Philippi that they might be a community of
Christians fit for God;s service. Paul knew what now needed to happen - That individually and
corporately, their attitude toward others, needed to be the same attitude as that which was in the
one who set aside all selfish ambition, who humbled himself and became so obedient to the way
of a servant that he was willing to die on a cross.

This morning, I pray we simply continue to do what we know from the beginning we have been
called to do - Think like Christ! Love like Christ! Serve like Christ! Be humble like Christ!"
That is all but it is and will be enough. Amen
​
Hymn StF272 – From Heaven You Came helpless babe - The Servant King

​Prayers for Others
Take a few moments to think of people who serve in different ways -
People who serve us with meals and food
People who serve us with time and conversation.
Those who serve our health needs
Those who help us grow spiritually.

Prayers
Loving God, we thank you for the example of Jesus.
He served his followers with fish and bread.
We remember those who provide us with food especially……

Loving God, we thank you for the example of Jesus.
He served others and did not turn them away. He welcomed
Women and men, old and young, the unwanted and the unloved.
We remember those who find time for chats, who visit the sick and lonely.
We remember especially …..

Loving God, we thank you for the example of Jesus
He served the sick. He touched them and healed many.
We remember those who care for our health especially…….

Loving God, we thank you for the example of Jesus.
He brought us wisdom from God. He taught us how
To walk in God’s ways.
We remember those who help us to know more of God especially……

We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus - who came as a servant and taught us the way of
servanthood.
Amen.

StF59 – Lord the Light of your love is Shining - Shine Jesus shine.

Blessing
To the needy and the hurting we go.
To the joyful and the delighted we go.
To problems and solutions we go. The world is waiting. .
May the Lord our God bless us with his grace, unite us with his love, fill us with his
peace. Amen.