Bible Sunday - Rev Christine Fox

​Welcome – today is Bible Sunday – so the Bible readings are all four of the Lectionary readings set for today.
Sovereign God we thank you for your word – recorded in Scripture and handed down over countless generations; heard through reading, preaching, fellowship and worship; glimpsed in the beauty of our world and the mysteries of life; brought to life through prayer and meditation; embodied through Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. Speak again now and give us ears to hear. Amen

​StF 161 Speak O Lord as we come to you - by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend Words and Music: © 2005, Thankyou Music. Sung by Ruth and Joy Everingham

​Prayer of adoration (from 1 Chronicles Chapter 29 verses 10b-13)
“Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours; yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name.
(New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

Video © Bible Society  - 'What is the Bible?'  Worlds best seller.  *See link at the end of this page for a link to the Bible Society's website.

​StF 513 Break thou the Bread of Life by Mary Artemisia Lathbury & Alexander Groves. Sung by Ruth and Joy Everingham

​Bible readings
Jeremiah 31:7-9
“ 7 The LORD says,
“Sing with joy for Israel,   
the greatest of the nations.
Sing your song of praise,   
‘The LORD has saved his[2] people;
  he has rescued all who are left.’
8 I will bring them from the north   
and gather them from the ends of the earth.
The blind and the lame will come with them,   
pregnant women and those about to give birth.
They will come back a great nation.
9 My people will return weeping,   
praying as I lead them back. I will guide them to streams of water,   
on a smooth road where they will not stumble. I am like a father to Israel,   
and Ephraim is my eldest son.”
(GNB)

​Psalm 126
When the LORD brought us 
 back to Jerusalem,[1]   
it was like a dream!
2 How we laughed, how we sang for joy!   
Then the other nations said about us,   
“The LORD did great things for them.”
3 Indeed he did great things for us;   
how happy we were!
4 LORD, make us prosperous again,[2]   
just as the rain brings water back to dry riverbeds.
5 Let those who wept as they sowed their seed,   
gather the harvest with joy!
6 Those who wept as they went out carrying the seed
  will come back singing for joy,   
as they bring in the harvest.
(GNB)

​Message part 1

​Bible reading
Mark 10: 46-52
46 They came to Jericho, and as Jesus was leaving with his disciples and a large crowd, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting by the road. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus! Son of David! Take pity on me!”
48 Many of the people scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, take pity on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up!” they said. “Get up, he is calling you.”
50 He threw off his cloak, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. “Teacher,” the blind man answered, “I want to see again.”
52 “Go,” Jesus told him, “your faith has made you well.” At once he was able to see and followed Jesus on the road.
 (GNB)

​Message part 2

​Bible reading
Hebrews 7:23-28
23 There is another difference: there were many of those other priests, because they died and could not continue their work. 24 But Jesus lives on for ever, and his work as priest does not pass on to someone else. 25 And so he is able, now and always, to save those who come to God through him, because he lives for ever to plead with God for them.

26 Jesus, then, is the High Priest that meets our needs. He is holy; he has no fault or sin in him; he has been set apart from sinners and raised above the heavens. 27 He is not like other high priests; he does not need to offer sacrifices every day for his own sins first and then for the sins of the people. He offered one sacrifice, once and for all, when he offered himself. 28 The Law of Moses appoints men who are imperfect to be high priests; but God’s promise made with the vow, which came later than the Law, appoints the Son, who has been made perfect for ever.
(GNB)

Scriptures [marked GNB] are taken from the Good News Bible published by The Bible Societies/Collins © American Bible Society.

​Message part 3

Prayers of intercession (adapted from Prayers for all Seasons by Nick Fawcett)
Loving God we thank you today for the Scriptures and the opportunity we have each day of reading and studying them for ourselves, Hear now our prayer for all those denied that privilege –
We pray for those who have not heard the challenge of the Bible, who do not possess a copy of it in their own language or who are denied the right to own a Bible or study it freely

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer

We pray for those who have heard but closed their minds, for those who read but do not understand and for those who have read the Bible so often that it fails to challenge as it used to

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer

We pray for those who work to make the Scriptures known and available to all – those who translate the Bible into modern language and other tongues, who print and distribute it across the world, who strive to open its message afresh to each and every generation; and who preach from it, witnessing to Christ from its pages

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer

In your word you promise to hear the cry of the hurting – we bring to mind those we know who are suffering in mind, body or Spirit, or situations in our world that need your guidance to resolve.
We lift them to you now

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer

Loving God may your word be made known with clarity, wisdom, faithfulness and power so that many hear its challenge and respond in faith to your loving purpose

Lord in your mercy hear our prayer

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Word made flesh
​Amen

​StF463 Deep in the shadows of the past - Words: Brain Wren,  Tune: Kingsfold, Sung by Matt Beckingham

​Stf 110 In the wonder of creation Words: © Andrew T. Murphy, Sung by Ruth and Joy Everingham

​Blessing
God is here – revealed in creation, revealed in Scripture, revealed in Jesus – and God’s love goes on – we go from this place in the power of God’s Spirit to reveal God’s love to all we meet.
​Amen

​* For more information and resources visit the Bible Society website here