​We praise you for sending us your son, Jesus.
We thank you that He shared all that it means to live in our world so that we might begin to
know what it means to walk in your love.

StF 61; Our God is a great big God​

Psalm 145:1-8 New International Version Psalm A psalm of praise. Of David.
1 I will exalt you, my God the King;
    I will praise your name for ever and ever.
2 Every day I will praise you
    and extol your name for ever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
    his greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation commends your works to another;
    they tell of your mighty acts.
5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty--
    and I will meditate on your wonderful works.
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works--
    and I will proclaim your great deeds.
7 They celebrate your abundant goodness
    and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
    slow to anger and rich in love.

Matthew 14:22-34 New International Version Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the
other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up
on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat
was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind
was against it.
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples
​saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, 
“why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the
boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

Prayers for Others:
1. We come together in Prayer, let us pray.
Loving Heavenly Father, we pray today for your blessing on our congregation, and those
who lead worship, and those whose technical skills help so many to worship here in
church.
We pray for your presence to be seen vividly in everything we do and say each day, that
your joy, love, tolerance, understanding and compassion will flow freely in and through
us.
2. Loving Heavenly Father, we pray for all who work for peace and unity, and for all world
leaders that they will earnestly seek for an end to the suffering caused by war and
violence, injustice and inequality, disease and prejudice, poverty and hopelessness and
bring healing to the world.  We pray especially for those fighting terrorism throughout
the world.
Creator God, we pray for all in authority both in this country and around the world, that
they may never be tempted to abuse or misuse their power.
We continue to pray for persecuted Christians and for minority Christian communities
where they’re under pressure and for all who suffer for their faith.
3. Loving God, friend of those in need, your Son Jesus can free us from our burdens and
heal our bodies and spirits. We pray for those still burdened, those seeking healing, those
in need within the church and the world.
Pray for all those in Libya and Morocco so deeply affected by recent events.
4. We pray for those who have or are experiencing the ravages of climate change, and we
pray we will all make a difference by seriously playing our part in loving, caring, and
respecting your planet.
5. Gracious God, we pray for the work and service of all care homes and day centres for
elderly and sick people, and for the charity organisations and shops who raise money to
help. We pray for all finding their life painful, lonely or uncertain, especially those who
are ill or vulnerable.  Help them to sense your comfort in times of need and bless their
families and carers. We pray for healthcare and social workers in their mission to improve
the wellbeing of those who are sick and unwell.
For volunteers, carers and those who undertake work for which they're not paid.
6. Merciful Lord, your love reaches beyond the grave. At the end of our days on earth be
with us and with those we love. May those who have gone before us rest in your eternal
peace.  We remember before you those who have died and we pray for all whose life is
saddened by the death of a loved one, be with them in their loneliness
7. Gracious God, as we go out into the world, at the close of this service, we pray that we
may reflect your love, joy, love, tolerance, understanding and compassion in our families,
our church, and our community; so that the world can witness that we are followers of
Jesus and draw others into his loving care.
Merciful Father: Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
​
​StF 531 What a friend we have in Jesus

Message:  The Ups & Downs of Life
Lucozade: When life gets you down, Lucozade, picks you up!!
What do we do when faced with the problems/fears/troubles of daily life that can threaten
​our security? 

1. breakdown in relationships  
2. losing our job 
3. losing our income 
4. losing our health 
5. even having problems with our faith or even losing our faith.

Life can be hard - can experience depression.
Do we turn to a visible or invisible means of support?
There are those who turn to alcohol for help and support - to help them drown their sorrows.
But of course, there are so many pills and potions to pick us up when we’re down or calm us
when we up to choose from.
Do we turn to a visible or invisible means of support?

We must learn the true SOURCE of our SECURITY and then learn to TRUST THAT
SOURCE - that is JESUS, HIMSELF.
[1]    Experience of PEACE
Irish poet Joseph Medlicott Scriven was born on September 10, 1819, at Ballymoney Lodge
in County Down, Northern Ireland. 
His parents were Captain John Scriven and Jane Medlicott. Joseph graduated with a B.A.
degree from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland and embraced the teachings of the
Plymouth Brethren. In 1845 his fiancée drowned on the night before they were to be married. 
A grief-stricken Scriven moved to Canada where he settled in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada
and worked as a private tutor for local families. 
Joseph fell in love with a local woman who suddenly fell ill with pneumonia and subsequently
​died. 
Known by people in the Port Hope area as an eccentric, Scriven was nonetheless a
born philanthropist and devoutly religious man who freely gave away what little money
and clothing he had to impoverished people in great need. In 1855 he wrote a poem called
"Pray Without Ceasing" to comfort his ailing mother. This poem was later set to music by
attorney and songwriter Charles Crozat Coverse and retitled "What a Friend We Have in
Jesus." "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" has since gone on to become a well-regarded
classic gospel hymn that's been covered by many artists throughout the world. Joseph died
at age 66 on August 10, 1886, in Pope Hope, Ontario, Canada.
Joseph was asked by a friend how he had written such words – he replied - “The Lord and I
wrote them together!”
Words born out of his own deep suffering speak directly to the heart of the friendship
of Jesus where we can find and experience perfect peace.

Helen LEMMEL’s friend’s story about when she was in her early 20’s visiting London with
​Helen when she was inspired to write the words of
“TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS” [written in 1922]

Paul’s trials
 - falsely accused of violating Temple rituals, he was arrested and for his own safety removed
to Caesarea where he was imprisoned for 2 years by the Governor Felix.
Felix successor, Festus wanted to put Paul on trial. Paul appealed to the Emperor Caesar
Following being shipwrecked off Malta, Paul arrived in Rome where he spent 2 years under
house arrest.
He may have been released in AD 63 and visited Spain and the Aegean region before his
re-arrest and death at the hands of Nero in AD67.

Throughout all of this, Paul kept his eye’s fixed firmly on Jesus - lived his life in the very
presence of Jesus and could therefore experience security and thereby experience the power
of Jesus in his life - and this gave him the strength to cope - gave him perfect peace.

Sometimes I become distracted by things going on round and about us - become obsessed
​by worries & fears and can lose all sense of reason.
The Stoning of Stephen – kept his eyes on Jesus.
During the testing of Abraham, he too kept his eyes in God.
This was Peter’s experience after the feeding of the 5,000.
After feeding of the 5,000 the people wanted to make Jesus their king, so He sent His
disciples off in the boat.
By the FORTH WATCH OF THE NIGHT (3.00 - 6.00am) Jesus could see that the disciples were
in distress - struggling against a strong head wind presumably by the light of the moon.
Peter - impetuous, impulsive, rash, head strong came to understand the reality - depth of his
own faith.
Showed FAITH & UNBELIEF.

Mirror image of my own experience
Never underestimate the Power of Jesus
“Lord save me!” and He did/does!

If we live our lives in the very Presence of Jesus, we will experience His Security, His
​Power, and His Peace
Jesus ministered to by the Angels in the wilderness after He had been tempted by the devil.

[2]    The power of Jesus
Luke 4: 18 - 22
Elijah - famine Elisha - Lepers
Jesus incensed the congregation to fury - but He just walked away - He maintained His peace.
[1]     Jesus calmed physical storms.
[2]     Jesus calmed mental/psychological storms.
[3]     Jesus maintained His peace.
Jesus walked on the water to reach out to His disciples
Mike Moberley story

​​StF 481: The Lords my shepherd

Blessing
Go forward with a heart renewed by grace, and may the Holy Spirit empower you to live a
life that reflects the love of Christ to the world.
Amen.

​How can we forgive if someone isn’t sorry for the hurt and pain that they may
have caused us?

Call to Worship
Come and find peace in the Lord.
Put behind you the troubles you bring with you.
Empty your mind of anger and regret.
Focus on God’s love for you,
and for all your sisters and brothers,
and be ready for worship.

Prayers of Adoration
Creator God, living Saviour, enlivening Spirit,
your generosity far outweighs our deserving.
Your grace is far more beautiful than our imagining.
Your forgiveness far exceeds our understanding.
So, we bow our heads and open our hearts,
as we offer you our lives in adoration and thankfulness. Amen
Prayer of confession
Incredible God, forgive us we pray when we are reluctant to let
go of the things that have been done to us that hurt.
Help us to understand more fully what it is to forgive,
and heal us.
Forgive us when we justify our own mistakes but are harsh in
our judgements of others. Help us to understand them better
from the way that you treat us.
Help us to understand more fully what it is to forgive,
and heal us.
Forgive us when we could offer forgiveness but withhold it.
Help us to understand more fully what it is to forgive,
and heal us.
Forgive us, heal us and help us grow into the likeness of your Son
Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray.
Amen.
Gracious God,
there are debts to you and to others that we cannot pay.
There are mistakes that we cannot undo.
There are words that we cannot unsay.
But because you forgive us, we can take another step,
face another day with confidence,
and rejoice at your love for us and for all creation.
Amen.​

Genesis 50:15-21 New International Version
Joseph Reassures His Brothers15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if
Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” 16 So they sent word
to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I
ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now
please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.
18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but
God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be
​afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

Matthew 18:21-35 New International Version
The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I
forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?”
22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 As he
began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. 25 Since he was
not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay
the debt.
26 “At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay
back everything.’ 27 The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 “But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. 
He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
29 “His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’
30 “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. 31 When
the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that
had happened.
32 “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours
because you begged me to. 33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ 
34 In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Message 
What happens to us when we are unforgiving, when we fail to forgive others
both for trivial things and the big things that really hurt us?
What would have happened to Joseph if he had not forgiven his brothers?
How can we forgive if someone isn’t sorry for the hurt and pain that they may
have caused us?
Let’s look at the idea of ‘sinning against’ another. The powerful slave didn’t
think that he was wrong or sinning against his master by building up a massive
debt, but he did feel ‘sinned against’ by the lowly slave doing the same thing
on a smaller scale. Does this story make us uncomfortable about our own
sense of ‘entitlement’? Do we feel ourselves to be wrong or ‘sinners’, needing
to be forgiven, as we cling to an unfair share of the world’s wealth? How good
are we at being generous about the demands others make on us – those who
need traveller sites, emergency housing, facilities for asylum seekers, those
who cross the channel in small, unsafe, inflatable boats looking for peace,
stability, freedom from war and terror and better lives. Do their needs for
school places, hospital appointments, jobs and much more – make our lives
just a little more difficult? If you think that then just imagine yourself in their
situation – would you not do the same thing?
As we look at global warming progressing, are we more likely to resent the
‘sin’ of less-developed nations whose chimneys still belch smoke, and whose
chemical run-off poisons waterways, than we are about putting our own house
in order, recognising the developed nations’ unfair share of the world’s wealth,
know-how, infrastructure and valuable skills? What might our role as Christians
individually and as church communities be in asking that the blame-game stops
and that real generosity replaces grudging promises to pay the least that will
get the less-developed world off our collective backs?
There is a story that when John Wesley was travelling by boat to America, he
was unfortunate enough to witness a sailor being Keel-hauled as a punishment
for wrong-doing. (That meant being tied to a rope, thrown into the sea,
dragged underneath the boat and pulled out on the other side - with a very
good chance that that you could drown or be very seriously injured). The
captain of the boat told John Wesley “You see, Mr Wesley, I never forgive.”
Wesley’s response (perhaps thinking about he words of the parable we read
today) was “then, Sir, I hope that you never sin”.

That Gospel parable tells the story of a growing cycle of violence – powerful
slave threatening the underdog slave with violence and outraged fellow
servants. Then the vindictive anger felt by the king resulting in savage justice.
The king in this story is not acting in God’s image – I would say just the
opposite. The events that took place suggest an uncomfortable and volatile
household ruled over by an angry and unpredictable man.
The parable tells goes on to tell us that we need to forgive and do so
repeatedly. A truly God-like king would have taken the harder path when easy
forgiveness didn’t work. He would have forgiven again, explaining his reasons
and demanding forgiveness of everyone else involved as the price of their
debts being paid. Forgiveness is only achieved when it is accepted by the
wrong-doer who, as a result, expresses sorrow and starts to behave very
differently. It sometimes needs to be repeated until the wrong-doer does
begin to see the hurt pain and anguish that they are causing and starts to
change their ways, and this is, or can be, very costly.
A final question - how good am I, are you, are we in the two-way act of
forgiving others and receiving forgiveness? Each time we say the Lord’s Prayer
we ask God to “forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us”. Do
we even think about those words when we say them? More importantly – do
we put them into practice in our daily lives?
Freedom of spirit comes to us only when we find the capacity to forgive one
another, sharing compassion, forgiveness and God’s grace, as Jesus his son
did.
With God’s grace and love we know that we can forgive, we can put hatred,
bitterness, resentment and anger aside, and we know that as a result of Jesus’
suffering and death on the cross, followed by his resurrection, ascension and
the gift of his Holy Spirit we can turn to him in sorrow, and seek and find his
forgiveness. Amen

Prayers of Intercession 
The world. As we contemplate our planet, especially created by You to maintain life,
we are conscious of those disasters which blight it aspect. We view with a mixture of
horror and dismay the scenes of destruction in both Morocco and Libya. Survivors try
forlornly to recover victims who are family or friends. We pray that they may find some degree of healing as they search. We pray too fir the aid agency and rescue workers,
that they may be given strength to carry out their grim tasks in both countries.
Forgiving God Hear our prayers

We continue to prayer for those who are suffering of the war in Ukraine, especially those
who live in the borderlands where there is active fighting. We prayer to for those who
have been obliged to become refugees in other countries, and prayer that they receive a
warm welcome,
We pray too for the continuing friction between Israelis and Palestinians, where again
there again has been bloodshed. We pray for a softening of hard lines and a peaceful
solution in Your Holy Land.
Forgiving God Hear our prayers

The Nation We pray for an increased sense of what is right and what is wrong in our
work places, domestic life and times of leisure. We pray for people of all ages who are
the victims of deceit, scams, harassment and abuse. Grant to us all, O Father, a
deepened sense of respect for every individual in public or private life.
Forgiving God Hear our prayers.

Kingswood We prayer for our church here at Kingswood. As we go forward into our
new church year, give us a sense of new beginnings in our spiritual life. We ask a blessing
on our new minister, Rev Tony Malcolm as he begins his ministry here and in the Trent Valley Circuit. We pray that he and his family will soon feel at home among us.
We remember those unable to attend worship: the lonely, the disabled the sick, both in
hospital and at home. In a moment of silence we name in our hearts those known to us.

Grant healing, O Lord administered by gentle, caring hands.
Forgiving God Hear our prayer

Ourselves We pray that we may look to the future with optimism in our hearts, and
that we do our best to accept challenges to our way of thinking. May we all know the
presence of the Holy Spirit of God. Unchanging in our changing world,
Forgiving God Hear our prayers

The Lord hears our prayers. Thanks be to God. Amen ​

Blessing
Go out as forgiven people, as true disciples of Jesus.
He calls us to be generous, loving, merciful and forgiving
and blesses us with grace and truth and courage,
So go in the name of Christ - thankfully, faithfully and joyfully.
Amen.

​Your life is like this book. In the eyes of Jesus, by choosing to follow him, you are making a clean start -
turning over a new leaf/page.

​Happy new year!
Thoughts about our Methodist Heritage & what makes us
different and distinctive.
I wish us all a happy new year, filled with blessings, challenges
and encouragements - to the glory of God.

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy Name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Let us confess our sins to God.
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you
in thought and word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy,
forgive what we have been, help us to amend what
we are, and direct what we shall be;
that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen

If we confess our sins,
God is faithful and just
and will forgive our sins,
and cleanse us from
all unrighteousness.
Amen. Thanks be to God.

Gracious God,
whose love for the world is revealed in your
Son our Saviour:
grant that he may live in our hearts by faith,
and be proclaimed in our lives by love;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be glory and praise, now and for ever.
Amen.

Ezekiel 33:7-11 New International Version
​7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give
them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not
speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold
you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not
do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.
10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we
are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares
the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways
and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’

StF 652 Lord we come to ask your healing

Matthew 18:15-20 New International Version Dealing With Sin in the Church
15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you,
you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may
be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; 
and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth
will be loosed in heaven.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by
my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Romans 13:8-14 New International Version Love Fulfills the Law
8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others
has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall
not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one
command: “Love your neighbor as yourself. 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment
of the law.
The Day Is Near11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up
from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over;
the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us
behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery,
not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about
how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Children, Young people &; Education System - Turning over a new leaf.
New Academic Year started: -
New year, New teacher, new school building, new equipment.
Compare 2 note books - one used, scribbled in; the other brand new.
Your life is like this book. In the eyes of Jesus, by choosing to follow him, you are making a clean start
- turning over a new leaf/page.
Clean starts are great - if you had a bad year .
What didnt go too well last year? Let;s start again…

Enjoy your new year. Remember we are here for you, and I hope
we;ll have the opportunity for you to share with us some of the
things you will learn.

Reflections - Tough love and the church
Ezekiel tells us about love and the rest of the world.
What happens when we have a message for the world and fail to give it?
What happens when we give the message and the people dont listen?
In Romans Paul writes to this persecuted church about Love and the Law. Love is the fulfilling of the Law.
This is the direct response to the people who say Christianity is about all the things we can;t do ....
Don’t have any other gods, don;t murder, don;t covet, . …
Yes, the law give us boundaries .. where there seems to be no law – the people behave
intolerably. (Fear of punishment controls behaviour).
But we;re also given open invitations to join in God;s mission​
In Matthew we have Jesus teaching about tough love.
What do you do with someone whose actions are potentially
destructive to the life of the fellowship/members of the
fellowship - or even that person him/herself?
We are given a reasonable process. With the promise that we
are not alone, and resources can be available if we learn how to ask:
If 2 agree about anything you ask for - it will be done...
(How easy is it to agree on something?)
Over the coming weeks and months we’ll learn more about this
asking, this being together – not just physically in the same
space, but of one mind, one purpose, one will, one Spirit.
Where 2 or 3 come together in Jesus; name, he;s promised to be there with them.
So, today - at this moment - as we are gathered - The Lord is here; His spirit is with us …
Amen!

StF 615 Let love be real

We pray for other people
God, most gracious and most holy,
grant us the help of your Spirit
as we pray for the Church and the world.
We pray for the Church in every land . . .
for this church and for other local churches
that we may worship and serve you
with reverence and joy.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.
We pray for the peoples of the world . . .
and for the leaders of the nations . . .
that all may work together for justice
and peace.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us
We pray for those who are ill
or distressed . . .
for the lonely and the bereaved . . .
and for those in any other need or trouble . . .
that they may be comforted and sustained.
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us
Father, we remember before you
all your servants who have died in the
faith of Christ . . .
We pray that we too may lead faithful and
godly lives in this world,
and finally share with all the saints
in everlasting joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

The blessing of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
remain with you always. Amen.

Go in peace in the power of the Spiri
to live and work to God's praise and glory.
Thanks be to God. Amen.

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Opening Prayers
Let us meet Jesus; in him we see God.
Let us seek his presence as a friend.
Let us follow him for his way is life and truth.
He will bring us where we need to be
to do God’s work and be God’s people.
Lord Jesus,
we come together in your presence.
We ask for courage to take steps
towards places we cannot yet see,
and do things we cannot even imagine,
and could not do without you.
Help us all to help each other
as we travel that path and follow you.
Amen.

Great Is thy faithfulness 51 Singing the Faith

Matthew 16:21-28 New International Version
Jesus Predicts His Death
21 From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many
things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and
on the third day be raised to life.
22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have
in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their
cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me
will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can
anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his
angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.
28 “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming
in his kingdom.”

From heaven you came, helpless babe 272 Singing the Faith

Message
​Today, we’re looking at a crucial question of our Christian faith: What does it mean to follow Jesus?

In today’s gospel reading (Matthew 16:21-28), we get a statement from Jesus that answers this
question in a very clear, simple, but challenging way. Jesus says: “If any want to become my
followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

So, today we dive into this, and explore what Jesus is teaching us about what it means to be his
follower, what it means to be a Christian. And this statement has three dimensions to it, so let’s
take each of them in turn. We’re going to start by looking at the first two.

First, Jesus teaches that we must deny ourselves. This is definitely not a popular teaching in our
world today! It never has been. It won’t win you an election. It won’t make you famous. And we
don’t hear it anywhere else but in church. If you go on the internet and search for websites or
YouTube videos that teach you how to deny yourself, about all you will find is this teaching from
Jesus.
So, what is Jesus talking about here? I think he simply means that there are times when we must say
“no” to ourselves in order to say “yes” to God. It’s really that simple.

And maybe you even did that today. You came here this morning, you’re watching or reading this
sometime, when you didn’t have to - but you did it anyway. If that’s the case, then you denied

yourself, at least on a small scale. And I think that is some of what Jesus is talking about. Sometimes
we must say no to ourselves in order to say yes to God.

I also think that, on a deeper level, Jesus is saying that we must deny our false selves in order to truly
be the person God created us to be. What is our false self? It’s the self that is governed by the
world’s standards. It is the self that equates success with happiness. The self that believes that the
one who literally ends up with the most toys wins. The self that thinks that things like more money,
more power, and more pleasure are what will bring more peace.
Isn’t this all our false self? And only when we deny it can we become our true self, the person that
God has created us to be. We don’t have to be anything different from who we truly are. But we’ll
never discover and accept who we truly are until we deny the false self that we all have. That is step
one to following Jesus.

“If any want to become my followers,” Jesus says, “let them deny themselves and take up their cross
and follow me.” If denying ourselves is unpopular these days, then how about taking up our cross?
And what does that even mean?

One thing we all learn in life is that not all crosses that we take up are voluntary. Sometimes a cross
is placed on our shoulders that we didn’t ask for. Any unsettling health diagnosis, the death of a
loved one, the loss of a job – these, to me, are crosses that we don’t ask for. But when we accept
them, and trust God to be with us through them, then we are taking them up as crosses. They are
not God’s punishment – I don’t believe that – but when we can accept them, we can begin to see
God at work in them.
There are, of course, many other crosses that are voluntary. Tasks, for example, that we know will
be difficult, but that we choose to do anyway, because we believe that God wants us to. There are
many stories of people, putting themselves in harm’s way on our behalf. Think of Sergeant Graham
Saville who died just this week after being hit by train while he helped a distressed man.

But another thing that I have become convinced of is that the cross that we are asked to take up by
Jesus changes over our lifetime. The cross that you are asked to take up as a young person is very
different from the cross that you are asked to take up as an older person. As a young person, your
cross might mean standing up for what you believe, even when it’s unpopular. It might mean saying
no to friends, even when it threatens your friendship.
If you get close to someone, live with a partner, there are new crosses, including those times when
you are called to put thar person’s needs and interests before your own. If you have children, there
are new crosses as well. Including caring about your child so much that it hurts you when they are
hurt. As you continue to age, new crosses present themselves. Giving up independence, as you no
longer are able to drive. Learning to humble yourself and rely on others for help.

And, again, these crosses are not always voluntary. But part of what it means to follow Jesus, I
believe, is to try to accept them gracefully, and humbly, and courageously. Accept the cross, trust
Jesus, and follow him. And when we do this, we’ll be telling the world much more about what we
believe than any words we might say.

​The truth is that I don’t know what cross you are being asked to bear right now. But I do know that
there is a cross that is yours and no one else’s. There was a cross that was only for Jesus. There was a
cross that was only for his first disciples. There is a cross that is only for me. And there is a cross that
is only for you. And if we want to follow Jesus, we must take it up. Take up our cross.

But as we do this, and choose to take up our cross, let us remember the third and final aspect of
what Jesus is teaching us today about what it means to follow him: That we deny ourselves and take
up our cross in order to follow him. And that means that when we do this, Jesus himself will be with
us. He will be leading us. And he will help us do what he asks.

With Jesus leading us, we can deny ourselves and take up our cross. Without Jesus, it would be far
too difficult. But he doesn’t ask us to do this alone. He invites us to follow him, which means to be
with him.

This brings to mind for me another invitation that Jesus makes. He also invites all that are weary and
carrying heavy burdens to come to him, and he will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, he says,
and learn from him. For his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

When we are yoked with Jesus, we no longer do whatever we want and go wherever we want. We
are denying ourselves. And we are taking up this burden, this cross.

But Jesus takes it up with us. And that makes the cross bearable. Denying ourselves and taking up
our cross means being yoked with Jesus. It means losing one life, but it means finding another. It
means losing the life that leads to despair and emptiness, but it means finding the life that leads to
hope and meaning.

And the only way to find this life, is to deny ourselves, and take up our cross, and follow Jesus. So let
us try to do so, to the glory of God. Amen

Father hear the prayer we offer 518 Singing the Faith

Intercession Prayer

Loving God, it’s tempting to try to blame you when we see the problems in our
world today. We see so much pain and sadness, hunger, starvation, trauma
and displacement because of war, terrorism and natural disasters. In the past
few weeks and months, we’ve witnessed earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and
wildfires graphically displayed in the news on our TV screens. We pray today
for all people and creatures who are suffering in the aftermath or as a result of
all these things. We pray for those who have lost their homes and all that they
have, we pray for persecuted people and refugees throughout the world. Help
us to be understanding, loving and welcoming to those who arrive in our towns
and cities and to listen to their stories.
Help us to be the answer to our own prayers, to make a difference where we
are, with the people you give us to share life with. May we hate what is evil
and hold on to what is good. Help us to rejoice in hope, to be patient in
suffering, and to persevere in prayer. Show us opportunities to contribute to
the needs of all people; so that we can offer hospitality to strangers and live
together in peace.
We pray for wisdom and honesty among world leaders and all who hold
positions of power and authority. May all people working for the benefit of
others find the courage to stand up for those with no voice of their own
whatever the cost.
We think of people close to us who are suffering. Those who are sick, those
who have lost loved ones and mourn for them, and those who find it hard to
forgive those who have caused their pain. Help us to demonstrate in our own
lives that forgiveness brings healing: that the words ‘I’m sorry’ can close an
open wound.
Loving God, we hold on to the promises that you have given us that evil will
not win and that you will protect us. We know that you did not promise us that
our journey with you would be easy or free from pain and suffering, but we
give thanks that you are with us whatever our circumstances. By the power of
your Holy Spirit, help us, in our lives to see the world through your eyes. “So let
us learn how to serve and in our lives enthrone him, each other’s needs to
prefer, for it is Christ we are serving.” In his name, we bring our prayers to you
today. Amen​
​
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

O Jesus I have promised 563 Singing the Faith

Blessing
Go out to follow Jesus further.
He won’t go out of your sight.
He will always be there if you look.
Look hard, because he may not be where you expect.
But where he is, is where you – we – want and need to be.
Amen.

​Lord Jesus Christ, Messiah, name above all names,
we worship and adore you for revealing yourself to us,

Call to Worship
Come, let us find God’s true Messiah, and offer worship. Then God will be our strength, and Jesus
our confidence, as we engage with the world and all its needs.

Hymn Stf 45 Earth’s creator, everyday God

Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Messiah, name above all names,
we worship and adore you for revealing yourself to us,
becoming one of us and calling each of us by name.
In you, we discover who we truly are,
for you lead us to become the people you mean us to be,
one with you and with one another in your Church.
Lord, we confess that sometimes we lose sight of who you are.
We forget about you, or we take you for granted,
failing to recognise or acknowledge that you are the Messiah.
We also forget who we are in you;
where we fit into your Church, who you mean us to be.
We are distracted by the world and its problems and temptations.
We turn back to you, Lord,
seeking to renew our relationship with you.
We want to realise our full potential in you,
to grow and move forward, making right choices and decisions,
living in you, and you in us.
Amen.
​
Hymn Stf 594 Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us

Reading Matthew 16 v 13 – 20
13  When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his
disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’
14  They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others,
Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
15  ‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’
16  Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’
17  Jesus replied, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed
to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.  18  And I tell you that you
are Peter, [b]  and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [c]  will
not overcome it.  19  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth
will be loosed in heaven.’  20  Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone
that he was the Messiah.

​Hymn Stf 689 Summoned by the God who made us

​Message
Do you sometimes think that the world has got the Church all wrong?
Christians are often accused of being pious fools who think it isn’t their job to
get stuck into the world’s troubles but to wait for God to do something. This
week’s Gospel passage shows just how wrong such Christians would be – if
there really are any. On the one hand the disciples are told that Jesus is ‘the
Messiah, the Son of the living God’, and therefore invested with God’s power.
On the other, they’re not to make any great claims as followers of a divine
leader, but to think and pray and support one another under Peter’s leadership
as they work out how to bring in the kingdom. Peter and the others will be
responsible for doing this because, from here on, there will be no more signs
and wonders: those to whom insight has been given by God’s grace have
realised who Jesus is. The rest of humanity are to be convinced by human
means, by the moral choices Jesus’ followers make, in the strength of their
convictions.
 
Then again, we might think back to last year (2022) when churches, and in
particular certain church leaders, were accused of the opposite fault – not of
inactivity, but of taking their courage in both hands and being too active in
political debate, taking issue with what they saw as dishonesty, self-
indulgence, callousness or greed among those in positions of power and
authority. Should the scheme to send asylum-seekers to Rwanda have been
allowed? Was there the greatest integrity in high places? Should the

Government have been more active in providing sustained support to those
really struggling with the cost of living? Did we play the right role in the conflict
in Ukraine (whether militarily, or in response to the many refugees)? No doubt,
people with different political views will offer different answers to particular
questions. The point is, in the light of today’s Bible passage, that it is hard to
say that religious leaders should not exercise their right to raise such issues.
To all intents and purposes, Jesus was a political figure who challenged both
religious and secular leaders in Israel during his lifetime. May each one of us
have the courage to do likewise and stand for justice as we journey with him
today and in the future.

Hymn Stf 713 Show me how to stand for justice

​Prayer
​ Everlasting God, we thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ and
for revealing him as Messiah and Saviour of the World.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Everlasting God, we thank you for those early disciples like Peter who gave us
the gift of the universal church.  We pray for all who preach your word. Inspire,
lead, and help us to grow as disciples as we reach out to those in need in our
communities and in our world.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Creator God, we pray for our world leaders, for our national and community
leaders and for those in public office dealing with difficult situations. May they
act with honesty and integrity to give justice for all people.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Father God, we pray for our young people. Those who have received exam
results as they plan for their future and those who are preparing to return or
go to new schools, colleges, and universities to continue their education  Help
all students in their daily lessons; give them the wisdom to listen and learn. 
Help their teachers and give them patience and knowledge to teach well and
help them all as together they learn the lessons of life. Lord in
your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Loving God, we ask for your wisdom to discern your wishes and direction in our
lives and ask for your help to know how to relate to all people we meet each
day.  May we never be a “stumbling block” to others.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Gracious God, we pray for all who we know who are housebound and in
nursing homes; those in hospitals, in recovery and rehabilitation. We thank you
for our local hospitals, health centres and clinics and for all those working in
the caring professions both there and in sheltered accommodation, care
homes and our communities.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Merciful God, we pray for all those who have died and for those who mourn
the loss of friends and loved ones. Help us to be sympathetic, caring and loving
with the bereaved and always ready to help practically and to pray diligently in
their time of greatest need.
Lord in your mercy: Hear our prayer.
Holy God, we thank you that your wisdom not only enlightens us but
transforms us and guides us as we approach this coming week on our journey
with you.
Loving God. Accept our prayers in the name of your Son our Saviour Jesus
Christ. Amen

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
​
 Hymn Stf 608 All praise to our redeeming Lord

Blessing
Go back to the daily round of life
and may what you have learned here,
transform all that you do and experience there.
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen

Compiled and produced by ''Five Ducks''

​Over the last few days and no doubt during the coming week. Many will be saying
“Have you heard?” As they say what their exam results are - for good or ill!

Prayer
Your people have praised you down the years Lord and so do we. They knew You as their guide, their
strength and ever present with them in every situation - so they could do nothing else but be filled with
praise and we are as well. But we haven’t just heard but we have experienced You as our living Lord
day by day and experienced Your blessings this last week so we have to thank as well as praise You.
However we do fail You at times and are slow to acknowledge You, we are quick to take credit for
ourselves and for get Your Living Presence. But even as we say sorry we know that Your Love is
beyond compare and You are willing to accept us. The words of the hymn true as when written “Jesus
hath died and risen again pardon and peace to bestow” and it’s in that confidence that we bring our
worship to You asking that through the words below Your Name might be Glorified Amen

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

StF ​440 Amazing Grace

2 Chronicles 9:1-12 New International Version
The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon9 When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, she came to
Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. Arriving with a very great caravan—with camels carrying
spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones—she came to Solomon and talked with him about all
she had on her mind. 2 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for him to explain to her.
 3 When the queen of Sheba saw the wisdom of Solomon, as well as the palace he had built, 4 the food on
his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, the cupbearers in their robes
and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.
5 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your
wisdom is true. 6 But I did not believe what they said until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not
even half the greatness of your wisdom was told me; you have far exceeded the report I heard. 7 How
happy your people must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and
hear your wisdom! 8 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on his throne
 as king to rule for the Lord your God. Because of the love of your God for Israel and his desire to uphold
them forever, he has made you king over them, to maintain justice and righteousness.”
9 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. There had never
been such spices as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
10 (The servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon brought gold from Ophir; they also brought algumwood 
and precious stones. 11 The king used the algumwood to make steps for the temple of the Lord and for the
royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. Nothing like them had ever been seen in Judah.)
12 King Solomon gave the queen of Sheba all she desired and asked for; he gave her more than she had
brought to him. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.

Romans 10:14-18 New International Version
14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom
they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone
preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! 
16 But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. 18 But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did:
“Their voice has gone out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.''

StF 639 Through the Love

Prayer
Yes Lord we know that we can have confidence in You. You have never failed us and Your strength
has always been available for us. We lift upto You those who this day need to have that confidence.
They may need Your guiding hand as they make decisions, they may need Your strength as they face
challenges and they may need to be reminded of Your presence as they feel forgotten or alone this
day.
We particularly remember (along with those we name in our hearts) those facing changes to their lives
and new challenges as they move into a new Methodist Year, those who have or will receive exam
results, those caught up in warfare, those rebuilding their lives after natural disasters.
Finally we bring ourselves to You asking for Your guiding hand, the knowledge of Your strength in all
we will face this coming week and that You will continue to work through us
Above all we ask that Your will might be done through out the World
Amen

StF 666 Master speak

​Prayer:- Come Lord and Fill us, Guide us and Bless us throughout this coming week Amen

Sermon
Text Words of Queen of Sheba ‘I did not believe their words until I saw with mine own eyes’

I Chron IX v6

Introduction:- Over the last few days and no doubt during the coming week. Many will be saying
“Have you heard?” As they say what their exam results are - for good or ill! With the start to the
season for two clubs - both of which I grew up with - many have been saying “Have you heard?” How
they are playing, how the injuries are mounting and how they were when they played against each
other. Never mind it will improve (or so we trust!!).
How Word spread in Scripture:-
Have you heard?
In the Old Testament word often spread as to what God’s servants were saying and what they were
doing. Sometimes the word spread to individuals - the servant girl and Nathan “Have you heard of
what the Lord can do?”. The challenge to the Kings of Judah and Israel when they didn’t walk in God’s
way nor listen to His Word. Sometimes it spread to other countries - yes even to Sheba!
In N.T. during Jesus’ earthly ministry how often did word spread from one to another ‘Have you heard
of this Jesus?” His preaching - speaking with power asking God’s Word live. His healing, His
friendship, His reflection of God’s Love.
Paul reflected the importance of telling and hearing in our New Testament Lesson and we remind
ourselves of it with many of the hymns that we have sung down the years ( I have put in brackets
where you can find them if you wish to remind yourself of them)
I love to hear the story (M.H.B. 856)
Tell me the Old old story (M.H.B.161)
Tell me the stories of Jesus (M.H.B. 858)
We’ve a story to tell to the Nations (M.P. 261)
But Queen of Sheba came and saw for herself she experienced - what she had heard about. Healing
came in the story of Nathan not when heard but when experienced and washed in obedience to what
told. The effect during Jesus’ ministry was when the crowds experienced him for themselves. On the
first Pentecost the assembled disciples and crowd didn’t just hear - nor tell - but experienced for
themselves.
But beyond that they Queen of Sheba came. The crowds came and heard experienced for
themselves.

Naaman when told and heard - but then obeyed and experienced
On the first Pentecost - as gathered in Jerusalem - experienced for themselves.
It has been, is and will continue to be for ourselves. We don’t just hear, don’t just tell but we
experience - as individuals and God’s Fellowship - His Love, power and acceptance for ourselves.
Typical Andrew referring to a hymn again but if you look at Hark the Gospel News is sounding (M.H.B.
315) as we move through the hymn we move through from telling, to hearing onto experiencing.
Then a call comes to us not just to hear, tell and experience but to actually Live the story. Allow God to
work through us, to strengthen us, to fill us with His presence and Reflect His Love through us. Thus
giving the opportunity for more to hear, tell and experience what He has to offer to all who will respond.
No doubt the question will continue to come “ Have you heard?” May we continue to ask the question
“have you heard?” Also “have you experienced?”
May it continue to be true of us that:-
We love to hear the story
We love to tell the story
We love to experience the story
We love to live the story
Amen

 StF 67 This This is the God

Blessing

Go and proclaim the Gospel,
through what you say,
what you do,
and who you are.
May others, as they meet with you,
meet with Christ,
and know his living presence for themselves.
Amen

Jesus calls us to walk with him. To each one of us he says “come!”

Prayer
Loving God, you remind us over and over in your Word that you are always
with us. You tell us not to fear and you draw us close into your Presence. You
are the only place we find refuge in the storms that surround us and the only
place we can find peace and strength. We ask you for your words of truth and
power to strengthen us and we lift our hearts to you. Thank you for your
goodness and thank you that you know the journey that we undertake.
Forgive us when we ignore your call, when we choose to go our own way,
when our attitudes and unkind behaviour and words cause hurt to others and
when we are blind to the injustice, suffering and pain experienced by so many
in this cruel, unkind world. Help us to open our minds and our hearts and to be
beacons of your light and love to others. In the name of your dear son Jesus.
Amen
​
Reading. Matthew 14 v 22 -33
22  Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of
him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.  23  After he had dismissed
them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he
was there alone,  24  and the boat was already a considerable distance from land,
buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25  Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  26  When the
disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they
said, and cried out in fear.
27  But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28  “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29  “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward
Jesus.  30  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried
out, “Lord, save me!”
31  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little
faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Hymn StF 629 God of my faith, I offer you my doubt.

​Message
Jesus had been busy feeding the five thousand and caring for them. Afterwards
he needed time alone with God his father. So, he sent the crowds away and
the disciples off in their boat and went up a mountain to pray. We all need
regular contact with God when our lives are at their busiest – time for renewal
and rest.
Jesus was alone that evening and the disciples got caught up in a terrifying
storm, their boat battered by the wind and waves. Our lives are sometimes like
that too – peaceful one day and then overwhelmed by problems and
difficulties – our personal storms. For the disciples Jesus was there – he came
when they needed his calming presence. Perhaps he had realised that the wind
had become so violent that they could be in danger. We are told that he
walked on the water – however he got there he came with those reassuring
words “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Those words are ours to grasp too – during our own “storms” in life Jesus is
there just waiting for us to call upon him. Peter was so relieved and excited to
see Jesus that his fears left him briefly and he wanted to get across the water
to reach him. Jesus invited him to “come” and Peter started the journey before
being overwhelmed by his own fears and beginning to sink. Isn’t that a parallel
with what happens to us at times? We need to turn to Jesus just as Peter did
and have the courage to say “Lord, save me.”
The logo of the World Council of Churches is perhaps appropriately of a boat
on a stormy sea and this reading reminds us that however small our faith God
is with us and ready to uphold us as we go through the challenges of our own
lives.
Julian of Norwich or Mother Julian Lived in the 14 th century as an “Anchoress”
or religious recluse and lived through the Black Death – the pandemic of
bubonic plague which killed millions of people around the world. She was
critically ill and almost died at the age of 30 but the visions she had at that time
led to the strengthening of her faith and her writings which still exist today.
One of those says “he did not say, ‘you shall not be tempest tossed; you shall
not be work-weary; you shall not be distressed’. But he did say, ‘you shall not
be overcome’.” She was acutely aware of God’s love, of his power and of his
presence.
The RNLI is the United Kingdom’s Sea rescue service, and it will sometimes
simply “stand by” and keep watch on a boat or ship in trouble ready to
intervene if the situation deteriorates and it is called upon to help. Our God
could be said to always be on standby too. In Hebrews 13 v 5 we are told that
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” We do not have
to face our troubles alone, but we do need to trust him and call out to him.
Have you the courage to put your hand into the hand of God and trust him to
“never leave you or forsake you”?
​
Hymn StF 624 Calm me Lord, as you calmed the storm

​Prayer of Intercession
Loving God, There is so much turmoil in this world. We see on the news the
storms of war. We pray for those who are caught up in conflicts: for soldiers
having to fight for their country; for their families worrying about their safety;
for those living in fear of their homes being destroyed. Lord, help everyone to
look to you to be their support and guide. We pray for all those caught up in
ongoing conflicts in Yemen, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Niger. Help them to find
their comfort in you.
We pray for those whose livelihood is on the sea. We pray for their safety. We
pray for migrants who are travelling in tiny boats across huge seas trying to
reach safety and a better way of living. We ask you to bring them safely to
shore. We pray for their families who wait anxiously for news of their safety.
We pray for the people smugglers too, that you would give them eyes to see
that they are dealing with human beings, made in your image, who deserve
respect and love. We pray that you will convict them and help them turn away
from what they are doing.
We pray for those who are living through rough seas now: for those who are
suffering with constant pain; those facing difficult diagnoses; those who mourn
the loss of a beloved family member or friend; those who are depressed or
anxious. Lord, reach out and lift them. Help them to know your presence and
reassure them that you will never let them go.
Loving God, we think about climate change and it’s effects this summer, so wet
in some places, life-threateningly hot in others. We pray for farmers watching
their crops ruined by rain, while fire and drought ravages that of others. Help
those in power to work together to find solutions to the problems of climate
change and bring hope for the future.
We pray for all who have taken exams this summer. Give them peace of mind
and heart as they await their results and look forward to uncertain futures. Be
with them all as they negotiate the storms and calms ahead of them.
Loving God, we commit this week to you. Go before us into all the places we
expect to be and help us to find you in any new and unexpected places and
situations. Help us to listen to your voice. Help us to see all the possibilities
that you have in store for us.
Lord, when the storms get close:
save us, lift us, and help us keep our eyes fixed on you.
Thank you for being there for us in all the storms of life.
Help us to step out in faith and follow your lead,
secure in the knowledge that you are always there to lift us up. Amen

Hymn StF 645 Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?

Blessing
Peter only knew life as a fisherman.
But he got out of the boat and followed you, Lord.
Help us to hear your voice,
get out of our boats and follow you.
In the week ahead,
may the world and its problems decrease
as you increase in our lives.
Keep us focused on your way,
looking ahead and trusting you.
Amen.

Blessings are a sign that God touches and enriches our lives – in lots of different ways. This is not about
having material riches but in celebrating God’s generosity to us (which we don’t deserve) and which
we receive in different ways.

Call to worship
“And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy  and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6 v 8)

Prayer of thanks and forgiveness.
Loving God, we praise you for your generosity of spirit.
Thank you for your ever-open heart and hands,
swift to forgive and to bless,
to feed our souls and to unburden our spirits.
Thank you for your nurturing nature,
enfolding us in compassion and encouragement every day.
We praise you for having all the time in the world for us,
even when we don’t make time for you.
Day by day, may we grow in love and grace,
learning from you and becoming more like you, we pray.
Loving God, we thank you for your assurance of forgiveness
even when we have wandered far from you,
when we have failed to be open to others;
when we have neglected to show hospitality.
Thank you for all your blessings and for forgiving and nurturing us always.
In the name of Jesus Christ your son.
Amen.

Part 1 How blessed are we?
There is an old song with familiar words: ‘Count your many blessings, name
them one by one. And it will surprise you what the Lord has done’.
In the service we will discuss 3 questions (try to answer these questions for
yourself):
1. In what ways do you feel blessed in your life? Make a (mental) ‘list’.
2. Has anyone been surprised by what is in this ‘list’?
3. What does your ‘list’ say to you?
Blessings are a sign that God touches and enriches our lives – in lots of
different ways. This is not about having material riches but in celebrating God’s
generosity to us (which we don’t deserve) and which we receive in different
ways.
In today’s readings we will think about what it is that God requires of his
people, and how God blesses us. Later, we will think about how we might
share those blessings with others.

 Reading – Micah 6 1-8
6 Listen to what the Lord says:
“Stand up, plead my case before the mountains;
    let the hills hear what you have to say.
2 “Hear, you mountains, the Lord’s accusation;
    listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the Lord has a case against his people;
    he is lodging a charge against Israel.
3 “My people, what have I done to you?
    How have I burdened you? Answer me.
4 I brought you up out of Egypt
    and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
    also Aaron and Miriam.
5 My people, remember
    what Balak king of Moab plotted
    and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
    that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.”
6 With what shall I come before the Lord
    and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

 Matthew 5 1-12
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The BeatitudesHe said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you
because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same waythey persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 StF 161 – Speak, O Lord, as we come to you

​Part 2 – Micah and the Sermon on the Mount
‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to
walk humbly with your God.’ Micah 6, v.8
It seems to me that there are many practical guidelines in the Bible as to how
we should live; todays readings are no exception. The prophet Micah is
described by theologians as a ‘minor prophet’, but that nickname seems to
underplay the power of his message. Micah was around in the kingdom of
Judah about 700 years BC. He was a contemporary of Isaiah and followed on by
Jeremiah.
This dramatic passage starts with a complaint from God to his people; ‘O my
people, what have I done to you?’ Look at how I helped you to escape
from Egypt; look at the leaders I gave you like Moses. And yet you are still
letting me down.
The people feel guilty and respond with extravagant offers of worship and
sacrifice. But Micah brings them down-to-earth with a reminder of what God
really wants from them.
‘And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to
walk humbly with your God.’
It’s not extravagant worship or sacrifice that are required, but the
responsibility to follow a faithful day-by-day lifestyle which reflects God’s
values and shows reverence towards him. 
Three values – to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God. Three
attitudes of moral seriousness which reflect God’s graciousness and purpose,
and which Micah wants them (& us) to adopt in daily life.
So, it seems appropriate to follow Micah’s words with a reading from the
Sermon on the Mount. Jesus describes eight qualities or commitments that
overlap and expand these three attitudes of Micah. And, as we know from our
reading of the Bible, Jesus lives out these qualities in his ministry, his death and
his resurrection.
Earlier in the service we thought about the blessings that we enjoy. But you
would have to live on a desert island to realise that life is not exactly blessed
just now for everyone.
We only have to hear the news to see what is going on in the world; or to focus
on things happen in our own lives or in the lives of those we care about to
know that things are difficult. War & environmental challenges, energy costs,
wider cost of living pressures, health challenges all too often impact our ability
to recognise God’s blessings.
So how timely the words of Micah and Matthew seem, as they remind us that
the blessings of God, which value justice, mercy & humility, remain a constant.
And those blessings invite us to walk humbly with God, wherever we go and
whatever circumstances we might face.
The way that Matthew presents his gospel suggests that Jesus teaching was of
primary importance. Today’s passage is preceded by an urgent description of
Jesus touring the Galilee area teaching, preaching and healing those who
presented themselves to him. His reputation had clearly spread with the result
that he was followed by large crowds – of gentiles as well as Jews.
On Mt Sinai Jesus sits to teach, and I assume that his teaching would radiate
through the crowd. Who might those people in the crowd be?
I think we can surmise from the language and subject of Jesus teaching that he
was mainly followed by those who were poor and powerless, those who
struggled with their situations, those seeking healing and peace in their lives.
and who didn’t have the means to rise above their circumstances. But like
Micah, in so doing he is also warning the rich and the self-satisfied. So, Jesus
words were intended to be both encouraging and challenging, as he directly
addresses expectations which mark the Kingdom of God.
Jesus takes them and us to the heart of what God’s blessing is about, and in so
doing he turns accepted wisdom on its head. He declares that God’s blessing is
for the poor, the hungry, the persecuted, and those who weep, as well as
those who are merciful, pure in heart and peacemakers. Their blessing is to
consider themselves to be part of the kingdom of heaven.
This must have been a revolutionary message for those bound by the strictures
of the Jewish religion, or suffering the oppression of Roman occupation, or for
those Gentile outcasts. Here is Jesus telling them that they were each valued
by God. And, that in Jesus (who was sitting in front of them), God was assuring
them of their value.
So, how might we understand this idea today? Who will receive God’s
blessing? Nadia Bolz-Weber, who is an American Lutheran pastor and writer
offers us a contemporary take on Jesus words. She writes:
‘Maybe the Sermon on the Mount is all about Jesus’ lavish blessing of the
people around him on that hillside who his world—like ours—didn’t seem to
have much time for: people in pain, people who work for peace instead of
profit, people who exercise mercy instead of vengeance. Maybe Jesus was
simply blessing the ones around him that day who didn’t otherwise receive
blessing, who had come to believe that, for them, blessings would never be on
the cards.’
Indeed, when we truly understand the blessing of God, and that we are all
truly blessed by God, then we can set aside our obsession with stuff, with self,
with status, and reputation, and focus on how we can enter the Kingdom &
share God’s blessing widely.
And how can we share God’s blessing widely? Think about the following 2
questions for a few minutes.
1. How are we a blessing to each other and to those around us – as a church
and as individuals? Write a list.
2. What more could/should we be doing to be a blessing to others?
This is not an attempt to pat ourselves on the back, but to encourage us all to
continue and grow this vital work which points towards the Kingdom of God
and its values, and which offers others the opportunity to find that peace,
wholeness, and value for themselves.
And finding that wholeness within themselves means that they can find peace
with God, and with those around them, and perspective perhaps for the
circumstances that they face.
In Jesus name. Amen

 StF 251 – Jesus Christ is waiting

 Prayers of Intercession & Lord’s Prayer
Loving God, you tell us: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.” We pray for those whose spirit fails them, that they might be
strengthened in their faith; for those whose poverty is physical, that they
might have an equal share in the fruits of your kingdom; for those whose
outlook on life is poor, that they might have a glimpse of hope and purpose.
You tell us: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” We
pray for all who are cast down by grief – from recent losses or a deep-seated
sorrow over many years – that they might know the comfort of hope, the
comfort of love, the comfort of new life. And we give thanks in our prayers for
all those we have known and loved who are now with you. You tell us:
​ “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” We pray for
leaders and followers, for big people and little people, for the proud and the
humble, that by your grace, we might work together for the good of all.
You tell us: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for
they will be filled.” So, we pray that we, who seek to live in righteousness,
might indeed be filled with wonder and joy.
You tell us: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.” Help us to
forgive others so that we know and understand the true meaning of fforgiveness.
You tell us: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” So, make our
hearts pure so that we can truly know your love.
You tell us: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children
of God.” We pray for all who work for peace: peace in relationships; peace in
communities; peace in politics; peace in places of conflict; peace for our
bodies, minds and souls ... so that we can see ourselves and others as God’s
children.
You tell us: “Blessed are those who are persecuted ... for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven.” We pray for the broken and despised, the marginalised and the
downtrodden, the victims and the dispossessed, the refugees and the
homeless ... your kingdom on earth, our precious kingdom, belongs to them
too. As we pray for others now, we pray that you will draw us always close to
you. We ask all these things in the name of your dear son Jesus. Amen​

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 673 – Will you come and follow me

 Blessing
Go, today, knowing that you are truly blessed as you journey with all God’s
children on earth. Go now, with the blessings of God the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, now and always. Amen

​Loving God,
we are forever grateful for all the good gifts you give us, for eyes to see, for ears to hear,
for a brain to understand, and a heart to love.

Call to worship
We know that all things work together for good
for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
Come and worship
and seek to know more of God’s purpose and love for you.
Amen.
​
StF 255 The Kingdom of God is justice and joy

​Prayer
Loving God,
we are forever grateful for all the good gifts you give us,
for eyes to see, for ears to hear,
for a brain to understand, and a heart to love.
We praise you.
Loving God, we have your word set before us and we strive to be true to the way you call us
to follow.
We know that you want the best for us, and we long to be obedient.
But so often we trip up, lag behind, or fall down in pain and despair.
We pray, loving God, that you will show your grace and love to us, the people called by your
name.
Guide our steps, and keep us from taking the wrong track.
Keep us strong in our faith when temptations lie in our way.
Accept our tears of repentance for our shortcomings,
and wipe our eyes again that we may see the light of the love and forgiveness that shines
from your face.
Through Christ our Lord who has won the victory for us,
and calls us to share with him in glory. Amen

​Reading. Matthew 13 v 31 - 33, 44 – 52
31  He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a
man took and planted in his field.  32  Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows,
it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its
branches.”
33  He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman
took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
44  “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it
again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  46  When he found
one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47  “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and
caught all kinds of fish.  48  When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they
sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.  49  This is how it will
be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the
righteous  50  and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.
51  “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
52  He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the
kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new
treasures as well as old.”

StF 161 Speak, O Lord as we come to you

​Message
Today we have a cluster of short parables from Matthew about the kingdom of heaven: two
pairs of parables and a fifth using an image from fishing.
The first uses exaggerated language, because while the mustard seed might be small it is not
the smallest, and it hardly grows into a tree. The likeness to the kingdom is not so much
with the smallness of the seed but with the transformation into what it becomes: a huge
shrub, several feet high in Galilee. It is an image of growth.
The second parable, about yeast, also uses an exaggerated image. The amount of dough
that the woman produces is way beyond normal domestic needs. Sixty pounds of flour
would be enough to feed more than 150 people. Again the image is of growth – this time
secret growth – for the smallest speck of yeast, if left overnight in a covered bowl, will
leaven enough dough to feed a village. This is how the kingdom develops: from the smallest
beginnings but with miraculous growth.
In a society without banks, burying possessions was the best way to keep them safe.
Someone who chances on a hoard is filled with joy, but the hoard is of such surpassing value
that he uses everything he has to buy the field and gain possession of the treasure. Similarly,
a businessman dealing in pearls that are found in the Mediterranean will give up everything
to gain the one pearl that outstrips in value all the others put together. Such are the joys of
finding the kingdom of heaven.
The final parable is of a dragnet that is taken out to sea by boat and hauled onto the shore
with ropes, a common practice for some of Jesus’ followers on the Sea of Galilee. However,
not all the fish can be consumed. According to Leviticus 11, only fish with scales and fins can
be eaten by a Jew. Fish such as eels, and any shellfish, are not kosher and must be rejected.
The dominant idea is of separation at the end, as it was also with the parable of the wheat
and the weeds earlier in Matthew Chapter 13. So the themes in the Gospel reading are:
miraculous growth from small beginnings; the surpassing value of the kingdom; and the
separation of the righteous from the rest. We need wisdom to understand God’s words
including Jesus’ parables, so we need to be attentive and listen for his voice. He calls us to
repent from our wrongdoing and turn towards him, so that we recognise the “treasure”
which will bring such peace and joy that we are willing to abandon the rival attractions of
the world around us.

Stf 713 Show me how to stand for justice

Prayer of intercession
Loving God, there is so much that is not right with your world,
And yet we know that the best solution isn’t always for us to jump in and try to fix it.
Help us to listen, help us to learn, help us to discern the work you have called us to do, and
the things you are challenging us to let go of.
Help us to do all that we can, all that is ours to do, and to let you – and the people in the
communities we serve – be in the driving seat.
Inspire us, by the gentle nudge of your Spirit we pray. Amen

StF 728 O God, you search me and you know me

Blessing
May the joy of the kingdom go with you.
May the peace of the kingdom sustain you,
and may you know the king of the kingdom, Jesus Christ,
to be your friend and Saviour
as you journey through this week. Amen

​I’m not a gardener. I don’t have a garden. In fact, I’ve got one house plant and that’s doing much
better now it’s with my neighbour’s plants.
​

​This is the day that God has made holy:
Let us rejoice and be glad!
This is the day that God calls us together:
Let us rejoice and be glad!
This is the day that God calls us to praise.
Let us rejoice and be glad!

Stf. 455 ALL MY HOPE ON GOD IS FOUNDED                                         

​PRAYER OF ADORATION & THANKSGIVING
O God of the universe, we thank you for your daily care:
You know us completely, you know all our needs,
You are familiar with all our ways.
We give thanks to you with all our hearts:
We will glorify your name forever.
We thank you for the natural world,
For its wonder and variety,
For the beauties of form, colour and texture
In which we can delight.
We give thanks to you with all our hearts:
We will glorify your name forever.
We praise you for the gift of loving and being loved,
For friendship and understanding.
We give thanks to you with all our hearts:
We will glorify your name forever.
we thank you for language, history and culture,
for learning and imagination which opens up the world to us;
for visions and dreams which challenge and inspire us.
We give thanks to you with all our hearts:
We will glorify your name forever.
Help us to hear you during this time of worship,
Through the songs we sing, through the words we hear,
Through the conversation we share:
Guide us in the way of hope,
That the place of stones may become the gate of heaven
And we may live to your praise and glory.
Amen 

PRAYER OF CONFESSION
Lord, we have failed you in words, thoughts and actions.
We have not lived as your children,
But as people who have no inheritance or hope.
Forgive us for the words we have spoken to wound and hurt.
Forgive us for thoughts which we have encouraged
And which have led to guilt and pain.
Forgive us for the actions we have taken hastily
And which cast a shadow on our lives.
Forgive us for the way our wrong-doing is entangled with the wrongdoing of others:
Lord have mercy, with that generosity which you show towards all creation,
Forgive what we have been,
Help us to turn aside from despair and decay,
And make us the people we ought to be,
Your children of grace and love.
God, in Jesus, hears the words of our prayers and our hearts.
Amen. Thanks be to God

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. 728 O GOD YOU SEARCH ME AND YOU KNOW ME

​Genesis 28:10-19a
Jacob’s Dream at Bethel
10 Jacob left Beer-sheba and went towards Haran. 11He came to a certain place and stayed there for
the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head
and lay down in that place. 12And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top
of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13And the
Lord stood beside him and said, ‘I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of
Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14and your offspring shall be
like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north
and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring.
15Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land;
for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.’ 16Then Jacob woke from his
sleep and said, ‘Surely the Lord is in this place—and I did not know it!’ 17And he was afraid, and said,
‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of
heaven.’18 So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head
and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19He called that place Bethel.

MATTHEW 13:24-30, 36-43
The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat
24 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who
sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds
among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the
weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did
you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” 28He answered,
“An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?”
29But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them.
30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect
the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’
Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying,
‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ 37He answered, ‘The one who sows the good
seed is the Son of Man; 38the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom;
the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the
harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds are collected and
burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and
they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them
into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous
will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!​

WHEAT AND WEEDS
I’m not a gardener. I don’t have a garden. In fact, I’ve got one house plant and that’s doing much
better now it’s with my neighbour’s plants. I wonder if it’s because it has someone or some plant to
talk with. I wonder if you are a keen gardener. And if you are, I wonder what you made of today’s
gospel story, the parable of the wheat and the weeds? Though I’m not a gardener I can tell you that
re-wilding is ‘on trend’. There’s a move away from manicured lawns to allow about wild growth
because research tells us that when we allow the weeds to grow a bit this is healthier for our eco-
system. But please remember, this isn’t a reflection on gardening but God, God’s ways, and the
Kingdom of Heaven.
Unusually, this parable has an interpretation. I say unusually, because on other occasions the
gospels tell us that Jesus refused to interpret the parable. But here in this one we are given an
interpretation.
The one who sows the good seed = the Son of Man (thought to be Jesus)
The field = the world
The good seed = the Children of God
The bad seed = the children of the evil one
The one who sows the bad seed = the evil one
The harvest = the end of the age
And we are told at the end of the age the weeds from the bad seed will be destroyed and the wheat
from the good seed will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of heaven.
That seems straightforward enough, doesn’t it? Until we go back to the parable itself and realise
that before the end time the weeds are not to be gathered in but left until the end time. But now it
is for the wheat and the weeds to co-exist. And that doesn’t make the garden a very tidy place. Or
the world.
This parable reminds us that ultimately the judgement of good and evil is God’s judgement not ours.
It is God in the end who will decide.
It also reminds us that judgement will come in God’s time, not our time or the time when we want it
to happen. It is God in the end who will bring about that judgement in God’s time, not according to
what is convenient for me.
The warning about not separating the wheat and the weeds too quickly is a warning about not
jumping to conclusions too soon. After all it is very easy to define what we are not ourselves as evil.
The church has a long history of doing this, of othering people who don’t fit the social norms. When
those in power decide some people are sinful and belong outside of the fold until they become more
like us. It is such thinking which led to black people being enslaved, generations of women not being
educated to the same level of men and child sexual exploitation being ignored because somehow
the child victims were thought to have brought it upon themselves. It is too easy to define as evil
what is different or strange or what we fear. The parable for me is a warning against us not doing
this. We might be uncertain or unsure, but in the end God will judge.
A second problem with identifying evil is that in doing so our own actions can become evil, or at
least graceless, even if our initial intention is good. Think about how high-profile criminal cases
sometimes bring out mobs of people baying for blood, pounding the prison vans and threatening
violence against the perpetrators. Whilst there might be genuine anger at what has happened how
is this a response of grace? We need to be careful we do not lose our own humanity by
dehumanising and calling other people monsters.
So, for me this parable is about allowing the wheat and the weeds to co-exist. And when we can’t
make sense of what’s happened to allow God to be God in the situation; because some things are
God’s decision and not mine and some things need to handled in God’s time, not mine.
The wheat and the weeds co-exist in the world. Wheat and tares are better for the eco-system.
The wheat and the weeds co-exist in me too. Like St Paul I want to say For I do not do the good I
want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. (Romans 7:19). I’m not totally good. I’m not totally
evil. I like to think I’m more good than evil, but I recognise I don’t always get it right. I know
goodness and evil co-exist in me.
And if good and evil co-exist in me, then I think they probably exist in you.
And if good and evil exist in us, then I think they probably exist in the institutions and systems which
make up our lives. Like the NHS, which does an enormous lot of good; but when it fails it seems to
fail terribly. Or the benefits system, which is designed to support the poorest and most vulnerable in
our society, but sometimes ends up labelling people as the undeserving poor.
Good and evil co-exist in the church too. I don’t mean Kingswood Methodist church. I mean every
church. Of course, that’s not what we are called to be. We are called to live our community life as a
vision of the Kingdom of Heaven. Even if we love our church, most of us, can’t say we know our
church to be always totally good and in all circumstances. We may become disillusioned when we
realise the church isn’t perfect. But the wheat and tares are likely to co-exist in every church,
because the wheat and tares, good and evil, co-exist in all of us who come to church.
So, for me, and for us as Christians I think the question is how do we live authentically in the world
of wheat and tares where goodness and evil co-exist?
The problem of evil has been debated by much better philosophers of religion than I will ever be and
down through the centuries as God’s people have tried to make sense of the world in which they
live. In the end for me, it may all be quite simple. I might like a tidy life and a tidy world, but that
isn’t going to be whilst the wheat and the weeds co-exist. In the end I need to trust in God; and
God’s love, for ultimately it will be God who decides in God’s time. And in between all I can do is
seek to choose the response of goodness and love, made real to me Jesus’s life and work, in all the
decisions of my life.

stf 615 LET LOVE BE REAL

A prayer of Intercession

Loving God, we bring our prayers to you in the power of your Spirit trusting that you will
hear our prayers for the world, ourselves and for your church.
Faithful God, we thank you for the generations of people who have followed you in the past,
especially those who have guided and inspired us. We pray for all the people who are
seeking you today. Help us speak to your word of truth with confidence and in unity, so that
those who are searching and listening for you, will be able to see and clearly hear your
message of love and grace for them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Creator God, we pray for people and nations of our world whose voices are not heard as
they struggle with the effects of war, flood, famine, wild-fires or drought;  where anger,
hatred and greed seek to destroy any hope of peace.  We thank you for the many
organisations who seek to bring relief, support and peace to the needy of our world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
​
Father God, we thank you for all the people who continue to work so hard to keep us safe.
Our Police, Fire Service, Paramedics and our NHS.
We pray for our neighbours and the people we work with, that as we meet with them, you
will give us understanding and insight into their cares and needs, so that we may be able to
love, help and serve them.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Gracious God, we pray for people we know who are ill, anxious or bereaved, for those who
are lonely or living alone, and for those who are weary and carrying heavy burdens due to
the economic effects of the rising cost of living.  Please name in a moment of quiet anyone
on your mind.
We pray that you will lead them, and us, towards the answers to their problems and your
healing and wholeness.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Loving God, we offer ourselves to you in faith and confidence.
Fill us with your Holy Spirit to guide and lead us.
Show us, as we go out into the world how we can best serve you wherever we are. We
commend ourselves and all people to your unfailing love.
Loving and merciful God
​accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.  Amen​
 
stf 595 LORD WE HAVE COME AT YOUR OWN INVITATION

BLESSING
 May the boldness of the Spirit transform you, may the gentleness of the Spirit
lead you, may the gifts of the Spirit equip you to serve and worship God; and
the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be wit
you and remain with you always. Amen