Let us be encouraged in our walk with God. When we are faced with challenges, when the way before us is dark, when we are not sure what to do, let us be assured that God is ready to bless us, and to bring us through it all. So come now to praise and to pray. StF 83 Praise my soul Creator God, source of all life and all wisdom: we adore you and boast in your love. Christ crucified, who walked humbly on this earth: we adore you and boast in your love. Holy Spirit, who leads and guides our steps: we adore you and boast in your love. We praise you for your guidance to your people down the ages. You are our God, ahead of us, leading us, guiding us and calling us. For all the gifts you have given us we offer our praise and thanksgiving. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen StF 331 King of kings, majesty The first reading is from the prophet Micah about 700 years before the birth of Jesus. Then we read from the account in Matthew of part of the teaching of Jesus we often call the sermon on the mount. Readings Micah 6:1-8 and Matthew 5:1-12 StF 466 Have faith in God my heart Message What does it mean to say someone is blessed? Words are not always easy to translate from one language to another. Jesus spoke in Aramaic the version of Hebrew commonly spoken and the Gospel was written in Greek. If you were to read these passages in different English versions of the Bible they could be very different. The Good News, for example, used the word happy. The Latin translation gives us the commonly used title of the Beatitudes. There is a lot to say about these sayings of Jesus and we just have time to look at a few. As in the Old Testament reading from Micah Jesus is teaching about our relationship with God and our fellow human beings. Blessed are the poor in Spirit There are two words in Greek that could be translated as poor. One can refer to someone who is just about managing but the word used here is one for someone who is destitute. Part of the Jewish understanding of poverty was someone who has no resources and puts their trust in God. This beatitude refers to someone who realises their own spiritual weakness and realises we need the Spirit of God to move in our lives and transform us. Blessed are the meek Meek is not complement in English - it implies someone spineless, submissive and ineffective. However, one meaning of the Greek word is for a domesticated animal under control. In our days we could think of a sheepdog or a race horse which gives a different picture to that of spinelessness. The calling for us is to be someone who is God controlled. The Good News translates this 'Happy are the humble for they will receive what God has promised'. Humility may not be viewed as negatively as meekness although we could think of the false humility of Uriah Heep in Dickens. But is not the quality of someone who will inherit the earth. The old testament book of Numbers is one of those that tell the story of the Exodus from Egypt under Moses. In Numbers 12:3 we read 'Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth' (some versions translate as meek). We do not read of a weak man but someone submitting to God and doing his will and acting strongly. In the Micah reading the people are urged to walk humbly with your God. It is the relationship with God that is at the heart of our faith. In January the church is looking at 'Learning more about our faith' on the Methodist Way of Life. Do we seek a daily walk with God, reading the Bible, spending time in prayer and seeking to learn and do God's will. Blessed are the merciful In the Micah reading the people are urged to act justly and love mercy. So often the prophets in the Old Testament speak of the denial of justice to the poor in Israel. However, the people are urged to go beyond justice and be merciful. Mercy forgives where justice does not require. In the Old Testament God shows mercy to his people, bringing them out of Egypt and in other ways. In Jesus God shows love and grace in the death of Jesus on the cross. We are called to follow Jesus and be like him. Blessed are the peacemakers This phrase we may instinctively find easier than some of the others. We can see the conflicts in the world and long for peace to come. We must remember that this phrase is about peacemaking not peace loving. The Aramaic word for peace is more than the absence of war - it means everything is as it should be and there are right relationships between human beings. You cannot have peace in this sense without justice. There are times when we need to stir things to make true peace - standing against slavery and apartheid in South Africa. Whilst these are not controversial sometimes it is - Christians can come to different views on issues such as asylum or tax and benefit issues. We are called to bring true peace. Summary Blessed are those who ...’, says Jesus to his disciples – and to us. How are we blessed? Blessing in the Beatitudes is something present, something ‘now’ – blessed are, not blessed will be. We are blessed by God's presence in our difficulties. We are blessed as we live with each other, in and through all of life’s challenges, striving always to be a blessing to others. StF 507 O for a heart to praise my God Prayers Lord God we come to you knowing our dependence on you, seeking your renewal and transforming power that we would indeed have a heart like yours. Forgive us for the times we have failed to bless others. We bring to you in the quiet those things where we need to change Silence Praying that we may be a blessing to others we turn to bring our concerns for the world - for neighbours across the street and neighbours far away. In all this we pray for ourselves, for our own difficulties and for times we can be an answer to our own prayers. We pray for - areas of conflict between nations and neighbours and all seeking to bring peace - for those who are driven to seek asylum and governments across the world as they respond. - for all struggling financially and those who seek to help. We pray for the work of foodbanks - for justice for those who are denied justice 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen StF 713 Show me how to stand for justice Closing prayer Lord, you bless us in so many ways. You love us just as we are. And you also want us to grow closer to you. Show us how we can bless others by putting them and you before ourselves. May we walk humbly with you every day. Amen. This act of worship, prayers and message prepared and shared with you by Neil Jones.
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God of all grace, help me today as I am beginning again my journey with you. I am seeking you Lord, seeking here for you. God of all love, help me today as I am wanting to know more of you. Come here, today, by your Spirit. StF 340 O worship the King in the beauty of holiness Prayers Come into this space, by your grace, O Holy Spirit, Come and inspire me to encounter you again Come and transform me, That I may seek to walk in your paths, to follow your way, to worship you as my Lord and Saviour. On this day of worship, this day of rest, I am waiting Lord, waiting here for you. God of all grace, help me today as I am beginning again my journey with you. I am seeking you Lord, seeking here for you. God of all love, help me today as I am wanting to know more of you. Come here, today, by your Spirit. Your invitation is to presence, not busy-ness, To prayer, not stress, To hope, not despair. Help me to hear that call today. You are full of grace, O God, and you forgive us for who we are and what we’ve done. I am sorry for all I have done wrong. Thank you for your love for me, which surpasses all understanding, all failing. Today, then, as I worship: I hold this space for stillness. I pause in the silence and let it settle on me. I pause for longer than feels usual. I pause to focus on you, Lord God, and am asking you to reveal yourself to me again Ask God to reveal God-self in what you are to be a part of. Pause. Loving God, I pray that I will meet you in this time of worship. Amen. Prayers by Tim Baker StF 436 What shall I do my God StF 250 Jesus calls us Reflection by Tim Baker ‘Those who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined.’ Take a look at these four questions. You might like to spend some time journalling or doodling your reflections and responses. If you are with someone you trust, or could call someone up to have a discussion with them about your answers, then we’d encourage you to do so. Who are the people you find it hardest to connect with? Where do you see difference more clearly than similarities? What barriers do you build or have you built? What barriers or boundaries do you feel like you are outside of: how are you excluded? How can you do something about those barriers and prejudices, the ones in yourself, the ones you are responsible for, and the ones you are affected by? [Pause]. Based on the radical way Jesus lived his life, inviting people into his story, bringing radical love and challenging the barriers we build, lets finish with a simple challenge to take into this week. Lets remember that Jesus came and lived amongst us so those who walked in darkness would see a great light. We can all be that great light to all we meet this week when we focus on what we share rather than what divides us. You might like to say this simple prayer: Loving God, thank you that you accept me just as I am. May I become more accepting, more loving, more forgiving. May I be a person who channels your great light out into the world, In Jesus’ name, Amen. StF 409Let us build a house StF 566 Take my life and let it be Blessing God of all grace, may I go from this place, to seek a world of wholeness, a world of harmony, a world where your grace is revealed to all people in all places. Empower me, by your Spirit. Amen. This worship at home service is reproduced here by kind permission of Janet Patrick and The Vine at Home and is compiled and produced by twelvebaskets.
God is with us – born among us – reaching out in love. And so we bring God our worship, offering all that we have been, all that we are, and all that in God we shall be. StF 78 Give thanks with a grateful heart Prayer of praise* Glory to the Father, the God of love, who created us; who continually preserves and sustains us; who has loved us with an everlasting love, and given us the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ. Blessèd be God for ever. Glory to Jesus Christ our Saviour, who, though he was rich, yet for our sake became poor, and was tested in every way as we are, yet without sin; who proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross; who was raised from the dead and is alive for ever, and has opened the kingdom of heaven to all who trust in him; who is seated at God’s right hand in glory, and will come to be our judge. Blessèd be God for ever. Glory to the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, by whom we are born into the family of God, and made members of the body of Christ; whose witness confirms us; whose wisdom teaches us; whose power enables us; who will do for us more than we can ask or think. Blessèd be God for ever. To the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be praise and glory for ever. Amen. Message - Revd Christine Fox For weeks we seem to have had rain every day – and some of those dull days have been pretty depressing – January can be a bad time for many people anyway - and dull weather doesn’t help! But one day earlier this week I saw a rainbow as the rain-clouds parted and the sun caught the raindrops, and always a rainbow makes me smile. And thinking of the covenant service coming up today I realised how relevant the symbol of the rainbow being used as a symbol of inclusion is - we say – all the colours of the rainbow– the full spectrum – These phrases predated the adoption of the rainbow by the LGBT+ movement. And maybe people have learned through this that the rainbow is a symbol of everyone being included. God’s early expression of the covenant relationship with people was made with Noah through the appearance of the rainbow after the flood. God kept renewing that offer of covenant relationship – we heard read today the occasion of Moses speaking of it to a great gathering of God’s people. My favourite part of that reading from Deuteronomy is the last line – “I am making this covenant not only with you who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God but also with those who are not here today”. Not only has the Lord God offered to form a covenant relationship with the Israelites, and not just with the leaders and chief men and elders and officials – he included all the other men, and the women and the children… and not only just Israelite people – but also the people from other nations and faiths living amongst them. – and then he includes not only those standing there, but those ‘not here today’. God confirms all of these as his people, that he may be their God. Reading through that list of people included in this offer of covenant relationship I can’t think of anyone on earth at any time in history who isn’t included. The emphasis of the covenant service too, is on God’s readiness to enfold everyone in generous love, and not depending on anyone’s deserving. This means that the covenant service offers us the peak opportunity of our year to wonder at God’s generosity, and to respond to that all-inclusive love with words offering ourselves to do God’s will as far as we are able. Our response of words and actions includes doing what Jesus asked us to do. He sat in an upper room with a group of people – disciples including the Twelve named ones, including Peter James and John, and Judas too; Jesus commanded them to share bread and wine together, and whenever they did so, to remember him – in particular to remember his body broken and his blood poured out on the cross in sacrificial love for them, and not just for them, he says, but for ‘many’. So again the will of God to include everyone is echoed by Jesus. For anyone who has experienced exclusion of any kind, the message of God’s inclusion is a great blessing. For us who desire to follow Jesus and to show God’s love as he did, this is a challenge to examine our own actions and words to see if we either inadvertently or even deliberately exclude someone who may be different to us in some way. This active attention to the way we live is an important part of our response to God’s offer of covenant relationship with us – we who have benefited from that inclusion by God to be God’s people, especially since we are not Jews nor were we present on the day that Moses spoke God’s invitation . I said that when I see a rainbow it makes me smile. A smile can be inspired by a joyful thought or it can be caught from someone else smiling at you. Twice recently on the radio in the car I’ve heard people speak of the effect of a smile – both on them and on those who are on the receiving end. The decision to smile at people you meet may not seem much, but the friendly smile offered to a person expresses your acceptance and inclusion of that person. One of the examples on the radio was of a lady who gave up her seat in the bus to another – and as she got off the bus the recipient of the seat thanked her but said it was not so much the seat but the smile that had been such a blessing. That response inspired the formation of the WVS – by that lady who had realised that the benefit of her small act of friendliness might be offered more widely by others. The other mention of smiling on the radio spoke of the benefit of smiling to the one doing the smiling too – therefore it being a two-way blessing. That might motivate you to smile more at people but we can’t use that fact to conclude that God derives benefit from offering us covenant relationship. The covenant is entirely for our benefit. The Covenant is not a contract in which God and human beings agree to provide particular goods or services for each other! And attending a covenant service is not something that we have to do to create a relationship with God. God has freely and graciously already made it possible. It is, however when we realise God’s immense generosity that we want to respond. We renew our response to God’s covenant of love with us and all those ‘not present’ once a year. We celebrate Jesus’ renewing of that covenant ‘for many’ when we share in bread and wine as did those disciples, around twelve times a year. And we gather to worship God every Sunday of the year, remembering that first day of the week when Jesus’ rose to life, defeating death, renewing hope. And a great part of that hope is in, one day, all things (all people, all of creation) being reconciled to God. As the rain clouds clear and the rainbow appears and we remember God’s offer of a covenant relationship of love, then our hope is restored and we can look forward to the year ahead with joy and maybe with a smile on our faces too. Amen In our next song –Jesus asks ‘will you come and follow me if I but call your name?’ – though it’s full of examples of things we might do in response to God’s offer of covenant relationship - notice that each verse reminds us that in fact he will be doing this - ‘I’ll move and live and grow in you, and you in me.’ StF 673 will you come and follow me StF 556 Just as I am Sisters and brothers in Christ,* let us again accept our place within this covenant which God has made with us and with all who are called to be Christ’s disciples. This means that, by the help of the Holy Spirit, we accept God’s purpose for us, and the call to love and serve God in all our life and work. Christ has many services to be done: some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honour, others bring reproach; some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests, others are contrary to both; in some we may please Christ and please ourselves; in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. Yet the power to do all these things is given to us in Christ, who strengthens us. Therefore let us make this covenant of God our own. Let us give ourselves to him, trusting in his promises and relying on his grace. Eternal God, in your faithful and enduring love you call us to share in your gracious covenant in Jesus Christ. In obedience we hear and accept your commands; in love we seek to do your perfect will; with joy we offer ourselves anew to you. We are no longer our own but yours. I am no longer my own but yours. Your will, not mine, be done in all things, wherever you may place me, in all that I do and in all that I may endure; when there is work for me and when there is none; when I am troubled and when I am at peace. Your will be done when I am valued and when I am disregarded; when I find fulfilment and when it is lacking; when I have all things, and when I have nothing. I willingly offer all I have and am to serve you, as and where you choose. Glorious and blessèd God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. May it be so for ever. Let this covenant now made on earth be fulfilled in heaven. Amen. Prayers for Others* As we have entered this covenant not for ourselves alone, but as God’s servants and witnesses, let us pray for the Church and for the world. Loving God, hear us as we pray for your holy catholic Church: make us all one, that the world may believe. Inspire and lead all who govern and hold authority in the nations of the world: establish justice and peace among all people. Have compassion on all who suffer from any sickness, grief or trouble: deliver them from their distress. We praise you for all your saints who have entered your eternal glory: bring us all to share in your heavenly kingdom. Let us pray in silence for our own needs and for those of others… StF 548 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine Blessing* The blessing of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be upon us and remain with us for ever. Amen. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen. * Extracts of the Covenant Service from the Methodist Worship Book © 1999 Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Loving God, you call us to be your people. You make us and fill us with your Spirit. You call us to see your glory in creation, your inspiration in our work, and your love in our lives. Refresh us here, rebuild us and renew us as we offer you thanks and praise, for you are our breath and our life. StF 28 Jesus calls us here to meet him . Prayers of Praise Living and loving God, once more we bring you our praise and worship. We acknowledge you as our God. We recognise your greatness and power. We marvel at your love and compassion. We come before you with awe and wonder. You are the Lord of heaven and earth, of space and time, of this world and all of the universe, of life and death. Draw near to us to open our hearts to the risen Christ. Speak to us through the worship we offer this day, and through it all deepen our faith. Living and loving God, we praise you that there is so much that speaks to us of your love and purpose, in our daily experience, in the world around us, in the vastness of the universe, in the fellowship we share with one another, and in the relationship we enjoy with you, through which you teach and guide and challenge us. We offer you our worship with glad and grateful hearts, in Jesu’s name. Prayer of Confession Dear Lord Jesus, even though you did no wrong and did not need to be forgiven, you chose to be baptized; you chose to be like us. We are sorry when we make wrong choices. We are sorry when we don’t have the right attitude. We are sorry when we choose to go our own way, rather than following your perfect example. We are sorry; please forgive us. Help us to show humility and obedience as you did. Help us to become more like you. Amen. Prayer of Assurance Beloved Jesus, who loves us so much, thank you that, by your blood, we are forgiven and restored to new life in you. 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen StF 423 Forgive our sins as we forgive StF 164 Your words to me are life and breath Sermon Matthew 3 v 15 We shall do all that God requires.’ During the last few days you have probably been removing the signs of Christmas from your home. No doubt there are particular memories and experiences which have meant something to you. That may also have been the case in the various church services or other church-related events which you may have attended. Today, we find that the church year has moved on for the gospel reading was the baptism of Christ. Jesus sums up the event with the words, ‘We shall do all that God requires.’ 1) This is what John had been doing in his life. John was calling people to repentance and the offer of a way to forgiveness. John was offering baptism to the people. The emergence of John was like the sudden sounding of the voice of God. The Jews had become conscious that the voice of prophets spoke no more. John fearlessly denounced evil wherever he saw it – in Herod, the leaders of religion, the ordinary people. John’s message was not just a negative denunciation, but he encouraged people to be righteous, to follow the moral standards of God. He came with a message from God. It is no surprise that he recognised who Jesus was and was reluctant to baptise Jesus. John’s baptism was for sinners conscious of their sin, therefore it did not seem applicable to Jesus. 2) Jesus insisted on baptism. He acknowledged it as an important part of his life. As Jesus grew up he must have become increasingly aware of his role in life. The time for taking a decisive step can be crucial. When John started his mission to the Jews and received the response which he did from Jewish people who realised their own sin and their need for God, Jesus would have recognised this as the moment for him to take his opportunity. In being baptised Jesus was identifying himself with the people whom he had come to save and who were searching for God. In his baptism Jesus was affirmed in a way which the Jews would recognise. The words, ‘this is my dear (beloved) Son’ are from Psalm 2, a Psalm which every Jew accepted as a description of the Messiah, the mighty king of God who was to come. ‘With whom I am well pleased’ comes from the reading which we had from Isaiah, a description of the Suffering Servant. The baptism gave the certainty that Jesus was the chosen one of God, and the certainty that the way in front of him was the way of the cross. ‘We shall do what God requires’ may have been words used in referring to the process of the baptism, but it started a commitment for the rest of his life. 3) If doing what God requires was true for John and Jesus it is also true for any who follow Jesus. Sometimes what God requires may appear unusual and something which Jesus’s followers find hard to do. In the reading from the Acts of the Apostles we heard how Peter recognised that the Gospel was for all, not just for the people of Israel. ‘Whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to God, no matter what race they belong to.’ Peter continued with a summary of all that Christ had done and how he had left his followers with the encouragement to preach the gospel. He could also have used Christ’s words spoken at his baptism, ‘We shall do all that God requires’. Peter had had the vision of seeing a sheet with all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds. A voice encouraged him to kill and eat, even though he regarded that doing that would mean eating something ritually unclean or defiled. The voice persisted in saying that he should not consider anything unclean that God has declared clean. As Peter was having his vision, Cornelius, a Roman soldier who worshipped God and helped Jewish poor people, was instructed by an angel to send for Peter as this would be God’s way of speaking to him. When Peter arrived at the house of Cornelius he explained how God had encouraged him to associate with Gentiles. As Peter spoke the people listening were filled by the Holy Spirit – what a learning experience for Peter! As we look ahead to a new year we could be asking the question, ‘What does God require of us?’ Perhaps we may be surprised in the opportunities which come our way. StF 233 When Jesus came to Jordan Prayers of Intercession Almighty God, surrounded as we are by the troubles of the world, where paths are not straight and where justice does not prevail, where so much pain and anguish is in evidence, we bring our prayers for those in need, knowing you hear our prayers and the deep yearnings of our hearts. Hear us, Lord; hear our words and the yearnings of our hearts. We pray for those we know whose needs seem so overwhelming, those whose pain finds no relief, those who feel submerged by their anguish and their distress. May we offer words of comfort where we can, a listening ear to those who will talk, a gentle touch for those who need companionship, a smile that restores their belief in humanity. Hear us, Lord; hear our words and the yearnings of our hearts. We pray for those who are alone and feel all at sea in this troubled world. Those who cannot see the way ahead, cannot see God’s hand at work among them, around them and within them. For those for whom Christmas was no more than a time for Santa and fripperies, those for whom Baptism is a meaningless unknown ceremony, those who have not felt the touch of God’s Holy Spirit, or felt the touch of Jesus or seen the hand of God. For those for whom the church has no meaning and no purpose, no relevance and no place. Hear us, Lord; hear our words and the yearnings of our hearts. For those experiencing flooding in our country, those snowed in in America and Canada, those countries with searing heat and no rain and no harvests. Those countries already suffering dreadfully from climate change and all its ramifications. Hear us, Lord; hear our words and the yearnings of our hearts. For those suffering injustice beyond our imagining and understanding. Those exploited or abused because of gender or colour, race or creed, social standing or disability. Those who feel marginalised, ignored, cast aside. Hear us, Lord; hear our words and the yearnings of our hearts. We pray for whole nations that are being torn apart by war and violence, those who keep making headline news and those who slip from memory but not from the aggressor’s hand. Hear us, Lord; hear our words and the yearnings of our hearts. We give thanks for those who have changed the world for the better, those whose lives have meant so much to us and others. For those we know and love who have died and for those who we know of who have changed the lives of us and many more besides. We give thanks this weekend for the life of Pope Benedict whose faith and writings have influenced so many. We give thanks for the life of footballer Pele who had such a positive influence on so many in Brazil and further afield. Hear us, Lord; hear our words and the yearnings of our hearts. We pray for all aspects, providers and users of the NHS. For politicians who decide on planning and the way forward, for the treasury who decide on how much the nations can afford, for nurses, doctors, cleaners, admins who all bear the brunt of shortages and live with chaos daily while themselves feeling the pressures of our economic crisis. For patients and relatives who need care, attention, love and support. Hear us, Lord; hear our words and the yearnings of our hearts. We pray for ourselves, our family members, our neighbours and communities, that together we may live lives that are good, true and honest. That we may support and love each other as Jesus loves us. That we each may see the needs around us and respond in Jesus’ name. Hear us, Lord; hear our words and the yearnings of our hearts. Almighty God, this day, these are our prayers. Amen. (Taken from Roots Resources Jan 8th) StF 684 Here on the threshold of a new beginning Blessing
As Jesus came to the river to do what God wanted, the Spirit came upon him to show that God loved him. Send us out from here as your beloved children, filled with the right attitude to share your love with all the world. The Gospel passage for today may not be the sort of story we want to hear amidst parties and holidays. It’s a fascinating but harrowing account, told only by Matthew in his gospel, of how God watched over the early years of the life of Jesus – and of how wrong humanity sometimes gets it, as shown by the jealous reaction of King Herod. Opening Prayers Let us pray. Resolution time. Expectations for the year, Optimism: Full. Optimism vs. War, Natural Disasters, Greed, Hate, Poverty. Against this darkness What hope do we have to help Build your kingdom here, Christ? My hope is in you. You share our sorrows, worries, weep with and love all. Born in a manger. Taught peace, love, understanding. Crucified on that cross. Kyrie eleison. What can I change, I am only one person, yes? Today, as I pray, help me to Begin with loving friends. Love one another. Love as a community. Support each other. Build your Kingdom here Lord. Help me to love as you would Each and every day. Amen. Opening prayers written 1 by Tim Annan-Hood 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen Hymn: 83 STF – Praise my soul, the King of heaven Response to the readings The Gospel passage for today may not be the sort of story we want to hear amidst parties and holidays. It’s a fascinating but harrowing account, told only by Matthew in his gospel, of how God watched over the early years of the life of Jesus – and of how wrong humanity sometimes gets it, as shown by the jealous reaction of King Herod. For so many families, this was the end of a part of their story, and we lament and wail with them – as we do when we hear of violence against children continuing today; as we do when we consider the statistics about baby loss here in the UK and recognise the many tidal waves of grief which are always lapping at our shores. Herod himself dies next and so God once again alerts Joseph to the possibility of return to Israel – although there is still a threat around, so Joseph heads to the north, to Nazareth in Galilee. Perhaps we haven’t been caught up in a massacre ourselves – although tragically they still happen all too frequently – but almost all of us have known heartache and loss… and yet there is something within us which wants to be able to keep hoping in a ‘Happy New Year’. As you look back at 2022, although there will have been tears, I hope it wasn’t an unmitigated disaster. Where might you join with the prophet in not just calling to mind, but ‘recounting’, talking about, telling others about, God’s goodness? It is a surprisingly powerful antidote to the kind of low feelings which sometimes hit after the excitement of Christmas is over and the series of sugar-rushes tails off… God’s love and pity are not to be doubted, God seeks to lift and carry us all in the same way as the people of Israel were carried and held throughout their life of disaster and triumph. Some questions for reflection [maybe this week you could find a time to discuss these with someone you trust, or start a conversation with a friend around these issues. Perhaps it will help take a conversation about New Year’s Resolutions more seriously.]
178 STF – Long ago, prophets knew Christ would come Blessing I am a part of the family of Christ, the people of Christmas, living the incarnation story in my day to day lives, I am a guardian of the greatest story ever told: the story of a God come to be amongst us, As I step out into this week, God of the incarnation, Show me how to live that story, share that story, make that story real for each and every person who I meet, including myself, In Jesus’ name, Amen. This worship at home service is reproduced here by kind permission of The Vine at Home and is compiled and produced by twelvebaskets.
Happy Christmas! Welcome, to you, on this Christmas morning as we celebrate the birth of Jesus! Come and join the celebration. StF 198 Come and join the celebration Prayer of praise 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen Reading - Luke 2: 1-16 Short talk part 1 – (Jesus’ birthday) StF 216 - See him lying on a bed of straw Short talk part 2 – (Jesus here with us) StF 213 – O little town of Bethlehem The response of a ‘Shepherd’ Until today I could not fit the size of God into my head. I thought he was a God for priests and kings, men of words and wisdom. But today I am looking at God made small, small enough for me, small enough to pick up and hold like a lamb. I could not talk to a God in the clouds; but today when I look and smile and talk nonsense to this tiny thing, I know that I am talking to God. And it is God who smiles back at me and waves his perfect hands in delight. And today in your smallness, God, you seem bigger and more powerful to me than you ever did before. I can hold you now, hold you in my head and hold you in my arms, and know that you are holding me in yours. (adapted* from Hay and Stardust-* tonight changed to today for use on Christmas morning) Prayer – holding and being held - intercessions for Christmas Day Loving Lord God as we hold the Christ child in our hearts Your love for others flows out through us We pray for our families and friends – especially those we won’t see this Christmas – who are far away or gone to be with you. We ask for healing for those we know who are sick We pray for those who don’t know your love yet, and pray that you’ll give us the words to encourage them to turn to you. Lord God we know that you hold all the nations in your strong arms, so we pray that the message of your love will find its way into every country this Christmas. On this Christmas morning we know you are holding each of us in your arms. Keep us close to you, always ready to speak your words of love, and to show love by our actions to everyone, as you have loved us. In Jesus’ Name we pray- Amen StF 202 Hark the Herald Angels sing As we go to celebrate the rest of the day don’t forget whose birthday it is! - we remember Jesus - Immanuel, God is with us.
Let us go in heart and mind to Bethlehem – to recall again the wondrous events of that place and to ponder what God maybe be saying to us now through them. StF 212 - O Come All Ye faithful Opening Prayer Loving God, you have come to us in Jesus. So now we come to you, to offer our worship, to hear your word, to reflect on your love. Help us through all we share this afternoon to hear the great story of Christmas speaking to us as though for the first time. May words that we know of old take on new meaning so that Mary’s faith, Joseph’s humility and Bethlehem’s joy, become good news for us! This we pray in faith and in the name of Jesus Christ our light and salvation. Amen Reading: Matt 1: 18-24 StF 178 - Long Ago Prophets Knew Reading: Luke 2:1-7 Prayer Gracious God – you came to our world in fulfilment of your promises of old – your word embodied in a child, lying in a manger. You loved us so much – that you staked everything to break down the barriers that keep us from you. You shared our humanity from birth to death, so that with you we might share your eternity – life in all its fullness. You became God with us, so that we might become one with you. Teach us that as you needed Mary’s response then you need our response now: our willingness to trust our very selves to you, accept your mercy and experience the blessings you so long to give us. Come again now and be born in our hearts – so that we may truly love you and joyfully serve you this and everyday – through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. StF 193 - Born In The Night Reading Luke 2:8-20 StF 213 - O little town of Bethlehem StF 222 - Who would think that what was needed As we come to our time of intercession let us remember the people of the Holy land and all people, of the world who are living daily with conflict, suffering and hardship... Or perhaps there may be people in your own life who are experiencing conflict, suffering and hardship in other ways… the lonely the sick the bereaved I invite you to light a candle for them. Prayer. When the world was dark and the city was quiet – you came – you crept in beside us. And no-one knew – only the few – who dared to believe that God might do something different Will you do the same this Christmas. Will you come into the darkness of today’s world Lord? Silence. Loving God – we ask that you come into the dark areas of the world represented in these candles… silence We hold before you those known to us who, this night, are experiencing dark times...silence And we pray for ourselves - come into our lives as we open them to you and do something different…silence When the world was dark and the city was quiet you came – you crept in beside us. Do the same this Christmas Lord – do the same this Christmas. 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen StF 217 - Silent night. Blessing:
May the light of Christ shine in our hearts that we may be filled with his joy and peace. And may the blessing of Almighty God, be with us and those for whom we pray this day and for evermore. Amen. Father God, As I prepare myself for worship today, may I be open to receiving from you. May I expect to learn more about you, expect to be challenged by you, expect to encounter you. But Lord, I make this space to come before in worship not just to receive but also to give, to connect. To offer myself and my life and my service as the natural response to what I have received. As advent continues, through this time of waiting and anticipation, I say my prayers of thanks. Thank you that you are not a God who is in a hurry. The process of creation which produced the beauty of a winter’s morning took hundreds of millions of years, so the process of new creation, of which Jesus’ life and death is the first fruits, will be a slow but steady march towards beauty and restoration. I ask that in my worship time today, I may catch a glimpse of that beauty. At the same time, I acknowledge that sometimes I get in the way of restoration breaking into the world, that sometimes I contribute to its failing rather than its recreation. For this, I am sorry, and I come humbly before you to ask for forgiveness as I take a moment to acknowledge how I have fallen short in this past week. I ask this in your holy name, and in full assurance of your forgiveness. Amen Opening prayers written from All We Can Hymn 169 StF Come thou long expected Jesus 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen Hymn 103 StF God is Love let heaven adore him Hymn StF 171 Hark the Glad Sound Reflection written by Holly Adams The Christmas season is a glorious time of decorated streets, family get togethers, excited children, cosy evenings, good food. But there are very few of us, beneath the tinsel and lights, who don’t have something to worry about. Christmas does not magically lift us from our own difficult times, whatever they be. And so, John the Baptist’s message is relatable to us. We’re not asked to ignore the realities of our lives, but to recognise them. There is room for our worry and our pain, in the Christmas story. We’re assured that a different future is possible, for the whole world but also for us, for you and for me. I wonder how much John the Baptist, in his prison cell, was reassured by this message? I wonder how much we are, in times of difficulty? We are told to wait for the Kingdom of God, and notice the signs that tell us it’s near. This advent, no matter what you’re going through, no matter what doubts you have, we are called to live in a way which expects miracles, which expects signs of wonder, which expects Christ, Immanuel, to come - with a key to the bars of our prison cell. Hear him speak to you through the bars: you may feel like the least and the last and the lost, but even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John the Baptist, greater than anyone ever born. Hear Jesus’ words to you: you are free. Does anything in this poem, or the characters in the video, resonate with you, and your story? Do you know someone who needs to know that there is room for them in God’s story this Christmas season? Could you be the person to help them see this? Hymn StF 35 The trumpets sound, the Angels sing Blessing Here I go, liberated and set free by the God who loves me, who comes here, with me. Here I go, believing in the miracle of a Christmas God who came, who comes, who will go on coming, with me, alongside me, Here I go, in the name of the Christ, Immanuel. Amen. Prayers by Tim Baker Thank you to Rev Marion Crawford for the selection of songs and for permission to use the material from The Vine at Home compiled and produced by twelvebaskets.
Opening Prayers Dear Lord, Thank you that you are constantly drawing each of us towards you. Not forcing or coercing, but inviting and encouraging us into deeper relationship with you. Thank you for that which you use to prepare the way. The people and things which break down the barriers we put up. The barriers that, intentionally or otherwise, keep you out. For the wonder of your creation which humbles us, for the challenging words of a close friend which rouse us, for the kindness of a stranger which reminds us of the divinity in everything. May I draw near to you today. Prepare this space for me, and prepare my heart to receive what you have in store for me this Advent. Just as John the Baptist proclaimed “repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,” may I answer that same call, knowing that transformation comes through acknowledging that the status quo, in myself and in the world, is not as it should be. I repent today, because the Kingdom of Heaven has come near, and with God’s grace I can bring it nearer still. I know myself forgiven, loved and set free, by the Advent God who comes amongst us, this year and every year. Amen. Opening prayers written by All We Can StF 183 Praise to the Lord who clears the way Reading: Matthew 3:1-12 StF 182 On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry Response to the reading Have you been walking in a popular, mountainous area recently? Perhaps somewhere like the Lake District or Snowdonia? The paths are often made of huge slabs of stone, set into the ground to protect the landscape from erosion – just looking at them makes me think about the people involved in getting these stones there – laying them in tricky and difficult conditions must be back-breaking work. John the Baptist is ‘preparing the way’ in the wilderness – but this isn’t a simple laying out of a red carpet, it’s hot, sweaty, difficult work. Making space for God to come into our lives is more like an excavation: we have to overhaul the greed, selfishness and injustice in order to make room for the Prince of Peace this Advent season. That’s the work our charity partner and friends at All We Can are involved in – seeking to overcome poverty and see every person’s potential fulfilled around the world. You might like to watch this video summarizing All We Can’swork in Zimbabwe:- All We Can goes about its work in a particularly ‘John the Baptist’ sort of way. He insists that it is not about him, but about Jesus. That is your role too – not to be ‘heroes’ in the story of tackling poverty, but to allow the people All We Can is working with, the people our giving will support this Christmas season, to be the heroes in their own story – to flourish and fulfil their potential on their own terms. It’s time to put local communities in the driving seat of their own story. Matt 3:8: ‘Produce fruit worthy of repentance’. What does this mean to you? Perhaps it can be a challenge for us today – we cannot simply say ‘all is not right with the world’ or ‘the current way of tackling poverty is broken’. Rather, we must bear fruit that reflects that we believe it’s possible to do things a different way. As the Catholic thinker and writer Richard Rohr says: ‘the best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better’. So your invitation is to ‘practice better’ this Advent season – as you worship, as you see friends and family, as you give presents, and as you support charities like All We Can. Thank you. Reflection written by All We Can. You might like to pray this prayer: Dear Lord, help me to prepare for your coming By making space and staying still. Help me to prepare by honest examination of myself. Help me to lift my face to the wind of your Spirit And be prepared for your coming. Amen. StF 498 All I once held dear 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. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours. Now and for ever. Amen StF 706 Longing for light (Christ, be our light!) Blessing As I go out, into the midst of winter and the middle of advent, As I wait, as I prepare, as I open my heart to you, Lord God, Immanuel, show me something of what it means to be God-with-us. Come here, into my life, by your grace. I go in grace, in hope, in anticipation, I step out in love, Amen. Blessing by Tim Baker The Songs have been chosen by Deacon Sian Street
The Prayers and response to the reading used with permission from 'The Vine at Home' is compiled and produced by twelvebaskets So here we are in Advent. Again. In the darkness longing for light. Again. The world can seem like a dark place can’t it? StF 188 There’s a light upon the mountains Opening prayers This Sunday of waiting, this Sunday of beginnings I am waiting Lord, Beginning again my journey with you. I am seeking you Lord, Wanting to know more of you. Come here, today, by your Spirit Pause. The advent call is to wait, not rush. To be prepared for what is coming rather than forget what all the celebrations are for. Today, then, as you prepare for worship: pause. Pause in the silence and let it settle on you. Pause for longer than you think feels usual. Pause with focus and ask God to reveal God-self in what you are to be a part of. Pause. Loving God, I pray that I will meet you this day and everyday. Amen StF 417 We come from the mountains, the valleys the plains Old Testament reading Isaiah 2:1-5 - Swords into ploughshares Gospel reading Matthew 24:36-44 - Be ready REFLECTION So here we are in Advent. Again. In the darkness longing for light. Again. The world can seem like a dark place can’t it? Perhaps there have been dark times in our own lives or in the lives of our loved ones? Both of the readings for today remind us that there is hope. Not the hope that buys a lottery ticket and crosses its fingers but that deep Hebrew hope that holds onto and lives in line with what it believes will one day be – even if surrounded by so many signs to the contrary. That is the hope that comes at Advent, isn’t it? The Christmas story reminds us that we are not alone when we experience darkness. Jesus suffered. Jesus understands our suffering and the suffering of a world that is often dark and still longing for light. That is what it means for God to be ‘with us’. Immanuel. Where do you see hope at work in today’s readings? Our hope is bigger than a sort of vague thinking that ‘everything will work out’, it is more a practice. Not the kind of hope that buys a lottery ticket and crosses its fingers but that deep Hebrew-hope that holds onto and lives in line with what we believe will one day be – even if surrounded by many signs to the contrary. Are you feeling hopeful this Advent? Are you able to commit to hope again? StF 416 There’s a wideness in god’s mercy Song Come all you vagabonds - Stuart Townend Prayers of Intersession On this Advent Sunday, we come to you Lord with many different emotions. We come with awareness that Christmas is approaching. For some that will be a time of great joy, for others a time of stress and busyness. We come to you knowing that the world is full of tinsel, glitter and mindless music played on a loop, but we yearn to see your face in the midst of all the preparations. We want to look to the future because you have gone ahead into it for us. We may not wish it could be Christmas every day, but we do recognise that the real truth of Christmas is with us every day: that God came into the world to redeem us. So, however we feel today, help us to find you, not in the razzmatazz, but in the quietness of the stable. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: Christ our light is coming near Lord, we know how much preparation we need to do before Christmas. There will be cards to write, presents to buy, food to purchase, invitations to be made. We are so aware that all this ‘stuff’ sometimes gets in the way. We are also aware that, for so many this year, their normal Christmas will be affected by the cost of living. Help us all to see that the truth of Christmas is not related to things and wealth but the poverty of God in the manger. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: Christ our light is coming At this Advent time, in all that we do, help us to keep our eyes and ears open to see You among us. We pray that we will find you in the face of friend and stranger. That we will worship you in among all the fun and family time. We pray that we will be your compassionate hands and feet and lips to those around us who are hurting, afraid, homeless, lonely and overwhelmed. O come, O come Emmanuel and make us fit to serve you. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: Christ our light is coming near Lord, we bring to you all those we know who are making preparations this week: those revising for exams, those preparing for operations or medical procedures, those arranging to travel to new or unfamiliar places, those preparing for a birth… or a death. Lord, please be present, be Emmanuel, to all these people… some known to us, but all known to you. Give diligence in the working, patience in the waiting, courage in the unfamiliar situations, your presence at the ends and the beginnings. Help everyone to be alert to your presence in every situation they face. And help us all to keep our eyes firmly fixed on you, whatever we are experiencing in the weeks to come. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: Christ our light is coming near Lord, Emmanuel, we know we can only be fully prepared for life if we are fully focussed on you. Keep us from distractions, we pray. Help us to find creative ways to learn more about you and deepen our relationship with you even within the old, familiar stories. Help us also to be prepared to step away from the familiar into new things… following where you lead as you challenge us to become closer to you. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: Christ our light is coming near Lord, prepare our hearts. Help our eyes to be open to see you. Teach us to be ready for everything you ask of us this week. Give us eyes and ears to see where your kingdom is coming around us and to join you as you work in our world. Be awake, be ready, be prepared: Christ our light is coming near Lord, come to our hearts, our homes, our world Amen StF 706 Longing for light Blessing God of Advent, in this waiting season, Whatever comes to me this week, May it draw me to your love, draw me to your light, draw me to yourself; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among me, and remain with me always. Amen Order of Service prepared by Rev'd Susan McIvor
Prayers from twelvebaskets 'Worship at Home' - Opening prayers by Jane Bingham. Reflection and blessing - Tim Baker. |
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 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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January 2023
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