Use & abuse of power

Call to Worship
God of the mountains and the sky,
of our minds and our hearts:
we look up to you in awe;
we reach out to you in longing;
we worship you in gratitude;
we sing to you in joy.
For you are our God,
and we are your people –
today and always. Amen.

StF409 – Let us build a house where love can dwell

Statement on Ukraine from the Methodist Presidency
We are horrified and heartbroken as we witness the violent assault on Ukraine by the Russian military. This devastating action and ensuing loss of life have rightly been condemned across the world. It is a very clear violation of the UN Charter and as such imperils the foundation upon which international security is built and on which we all depend. We regret the failure to build an understanding with Russia and we pray for the Ukrainian and Russian peoples, including the Methodist church leaders in the region and the Methodist communities across Ukraine. Christians are called to ‘pursue peace with everyone’ (Hebrews 12:14); this mandate is clear and requires courage, perseverance and understanding. We ask you to pray for all politicians, that there may be an end to aggression and that dialogue, justice and peace may be established. 

Prayer of Adoration
Lord, you are the source of all that is good, right and true.
Without you nothing will ever really make sense.
Without you there will always be an emptiness
and a sense of incompleteness to life.
We come to you to find meaning and purpose for our lives.
We come to you so that in finding you we may find ourselves;
so that in knowing you we may know ourselves,
and in opening our lives to you we may have the peace and joy that only you can give.   
We have come to worship you 
because you are worthy of all our praise. Amen.

Prayer of Confession 
Loving God, we come to you aware that so often we fail to see your glory, taking for granted the beauty and wonder of creation.
Forgive us and open our eyes.

Loving God, so often we fail to recognise your presence, taking for granted the love and care of others.
Forgive us and open our hearts.

Loving God, so often we fail to acknowledge your gifts, taking for granted all that you offer.
Forgive us and open our minds.

Loving God, so often we fail to see you in those around us, in those suffering, in situations of injustice.
Forgive us and challenge us to action.

Loving God, so often we fail to speak of your love, keeping silent when we should have spoken.
Forgive us, loosen our tongues and give us the words.

Loving God, in Jesus Christ you forgive us. Help us to accept that forgiveness, forgiving ourselves as we forgive others. By the power of your Spirit, strengthen and enable us to live in your love and glory.
Amen.

And so we have arrived at Lent
On Wednesday we entered the season of Lent. The English word 'Lent' is taken from lencten (lengthen) which was the Old English word for spring (the time when the days lengthen). Lent was introduced into the church calendar in the fourth century as a time of penitence in preparation for the jubilation of Easter, where we recall Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem.

It’s a period of 40 days which begin on Ash Wednesday. In the Bible, the number 40 represents 'a long period of time', and Lent mirrors the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting and being tested in the wilderness, before his ministry begins.

Lent is marked by penitence – we talk about ‘giving things up for Lent’ as a spiritual discipline, but it is perhaps more helpful for us to think about Lent as a time for prayer and reflection, as a time for giving to others, rather than just self-denial.
Today’s Old Testament reading picks up this idea as it recalls the instructions given to God’s people on entering the Promised Land.

Reading – Deuteronomy 26 1-11

The actions that Moses describes should be understood together. The people are required to:

• celebrate the bounty of the promised land,
• retell their story to remind them of their origin and shared experiences (memory and identity)
• give from the first fruits of their harvest – not as a form of tax, but to celebrate the goodness of God, and to share those gifts with both neighbours and strangers.

Why not take a moment at the beginning of Lent to think about:

• How do you remember things that are important to you, and your faith?
• What ‘first fruits’ would you offer in thanksgiving to God?

StF 481 – The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;

​The context for our gospel reading is that Jesus has been baptised in the River Jordan by his cousin, John when the voice of God had declared him to be ‘My Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased’. Luke then tells us that Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit which leads him into the desert, where he encounters the devil.  

There’s a couple of things to think about as we hear of this encounter. Firstly, what might it be like to be in a desert for a long period of time on your own? Secondly, what was Jesus’ state of mind like? What thoughts, feelings and emotions might have been going through his mind at that time?

Gospel Reading – Luke 4: 1-13

We can read this account as Jesus struggling to come to terms with his power and find the wisest way to use it. Luke’s account, which we must assume is based on what Jesus said after the event, indicates that he had many days of difficult debate. The three temptations are a summary of the ways that Jesus worked through the challenges of having such power.

The temptations are about using his power for instant reward. They are really a testing of his vocation. Should he perform miracles to prove his identity? Will he seek easy popularity by turning stones into bread? Is he seeking respect? Does he want to be seen as a powerful ruler?

Ultimately, Jesus’ position is clear. He responds to the testing by quoting scripture that gives him a clear sense of priority. He is not deceived by the attractive options that are offered to him - popularity and an easy life. He seeks followers through faith rather than trickery. He chooses the way of suffering, death and ultimately of resurrection, rather than celebrity.

So how do we reflect on this? – here is a question to ponder:​

What power do you have as an individual and do we have as a community? How do you/we use that power - for ourselves or for the benefit of others? 

StF 489 – All I once held dear

Prayers

Glorious God, we bring to you our prayers for all the world, and all the situations where your peace is needed. May your peace and glory transform the world.

We bring you our prayers for the leaders of all nations, whose actions govern the lives of many. May your love and Spirit guide their actions and transform the world.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

We bring you our prayers for the Church, the worldwide body of Jesus Christ. We think of areas where there is apathy about your word, areas where there is persecution. We think of the church here at Kingswood and pray for Christine as she leads us, and for our witness to the community that we serve in Jesus’ name. May your peace, glory and love transform the world.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

We bring you our prayers for those in need of your love, those who are bereaved, those who are the victims of injustice. Those in need of healing, those in hospital, those who are the victims of violence and war. We think of any known to us ….. May they know your glory and healing power and be transformed.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

We bring you our prayers for ourselves, for your Spirit to fill us and enable us to see your glory in others and in all situations (silence).

May we know your love and peace, that they may transform your world in the name of Christ. 

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer
Amen.

We Pray for Peace by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, sung and guitar Casey Carbone. Tune ​FINLANDIA 11.10.11.10.11.10

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father ……

Hymn StF 487 – You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace 

A prayer of blessing
God of plenty,
be with us as we journey into the world.
Sustain us, that we may always walk
in your way and follow your example of
justice, peace and love for all.
We ask this through your Son,
who resisted the temptations of the world. Amen.