There are simply some things that should be obvious without even asking. The return of Jesus Christ is one of those things.The question is not so much "will Jesus return?" but more "When will Jesus return?" Prayer of Approach Come to the God of welcome! Who invites you to a place of safety and healing. Come to the God of salvation! Who challenges you to work for justice and freedom. Come to the God of holiness! Who makes the earth a sacred space. Come and be made one people! In the reconciling love of God Amen There’s a Quiet Understanding (StF 36) Prayer of Worship & ConfessionWorship For the confidence to lift our eyes beyond the walls to the distant horizon For a courage which dares to dream of new beginnings For the vision which takes risks to create a new future We praise you, God of love and faith. For the voice which speaks out for the powerless and nameless For the courage which dares to dream of new beginnings For the thirst of freedom which challenges unfair systems and structures We praise you, God of love and justice. For the reaching out to make sense of complexities and confusion For the wrestling with hard questions that refuse easy answers For the probing beneath the surface to discern hidden wisdom We praise you, God of love and truth. For risk-taking faith For a passion for justice For wrestling with truth We praise you, God of love. Confession When we exclude those who are different from us# Refusing a welcome to the stranger# God whose love is without limits# Forgive us and lead us in your ways. When we reject others because we think they are wrong Becoming self-righteous in our judgements God who loves is without limits. Forgive us and lead us in your ways. When we are fearful of losing our own identity Clinging to outworn traditions and resisting new ways God whose love is without limits. Forgive us and lead us in your ways. When we feel worthless and ashamed Doubting our power to live as your people. God whose love is without limits. Forgive us and lead us in your ways. And in a moment of silence, we offer up our own prayers of confession. God whose love is without limits. Forgive us and lead us in your ways. Amen All praise to our redeeming Lord (StF 608) 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 New International Version The Day of the Lord 1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Matthew 25:14-30 New International Version The Parable of the Bags of Gold 14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ I will offer up my life (StF 446) Who remembers playing hide and seek? Either when you were little, or maybe as an adult playing with the children in your life. It’s a good way of having fun with young ones and, encouraging them to be active if they’re running off to hide, and also helps to teach them to count if they are ‘it’. Even when I helped run a youth club the teenagers loved playing (as did I), and its amazing how many good hiding places there are in a church! But if you think about it, hide and seek has parallels with The Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Because one day, Jesus will be coming back to earth, whether we are ready or not! That is the reason Paul told the church of Thessalonica, and equally us today, about the importance of being ready. Paul was aware of Christs return, and he explained it to the believers gathered in Thessalonica. There are simply some things that should be obvious without even asking. The return of Jesus Christ is one of those things. The question is not so much will Jesus return?; but more ;When will Jesus return? Paul answers this question with a clear response: No one knows. Paul explains this by describing the time of Jesus return as “A thief in the night.” Just as a thief plans his entry at an uncertain time that is when least expected; so, it will be with the coming of the Son of Man. Jesus Himself proclaims this truth as recorded in Matthew 24:36: But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” Later in the same chapter verse 44 Jesus said: Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Paul often refers to the Second Coming of Christ as the Day of the Lord. Often in scripture the Day of the Lord; was the designation of the time when God would pour out His wrath on the sinful. After Jesus comes for His people, Our Lord will begin to pour out His judgments upon them. The tragedy of this day is that so many people are going to be unprepared. That is why we must live daily with an Attitude of Watchfulness. As much as a soldier is instructed to Stay alert” while on their post, so must we as Christians. Paul instructs us to watch, to stay awake and to be vigilant. His command is in the present tense that means this must be a continual practice of the mature Christian. it is a matter of attitude. A Roman soldier would be executed for falling asleep on his watch. The outcome could be just as fatal for those of us who are not constantly on alert. We as disciples must be meticulous in our walk. We are image bearers of the Lord, and we should be diligent in that calling. True Disciples know who they are in Christ and seek to live in the image of Christ. Just as an overabundance of alcohol will hinder a person’s ability to focus and make wise decisions, so sin will also affect our ability to make ethical and spiritual decisions. A person does not just get drunk with one sip, or just one drink. But over time, the more they drink, the more intoxicated they become. Some people do not know their limits and reach a point where they become a danger to themselves and to others. In the same way if we do not control sin in our lives, we could soon be overwhelmed by its effects. As a drunk may pass out and be oblivious to the world; so too the uncontrolled sinner can become oblivious to the evil one. We must live daily in the light of obedience to Gods word. We must be always prepared. There is a blessing when we walk in readiness. There is a Peace in knowing that you are always ready, always prepared for the Coming of Our Lord. If you are ready, you will have Gods heart. A heart full of love and a desire to serve others. The Bible is clear. If you want a place in the Kingdom of God, you are to be a servant to all. Jesus said, “I came to serve not to be served.” If you are ready, you will look for Christ;s Coming with excitement and with expectancy. Each day we have to be prepared because our Lord and Saviour Jesus will come, this we can be sure of, it could even today. This leads nicely to our second reading for today from Matthew. The Parable of the Talents is about how God will judge the world and his people. It talks about a situation that was common in the time of Jesus and is still common today. A man who was leaving on a trip leaves his servants with different thing to take care of. The servants are to make sure that they are not damaged or stolen, make sure that if continues to work for the man. That is continues to be profitable while he is away. Two of the servants double the investment they were left to take care of, the third gains nothing from his for the man, in fact he doesn’t even try because he is afraid, and what he was trusted with is taken away from him and he is told to leave the house - he was fired. This parable is often interpreted as a message to work hard developing the gifts and talents that God have given us, and if we are not productive with what God has given us, we will lose it. But there is more to it than that. it is true that God wants us to use His gifts to grow and to benefit His Kingdom, but it is not true that we are judged according to the quantity of or work nor the quality of that work. As Paul has written, it is by grace through faith, that we are saved, not by our works. We cannot consider ourselves saved by grace, if we say that the Parable is not talking about developing our God-given gifts but say that it is only speaking of how productive we are for God. Being saved by Christ’s grace is what is so good about being a Christan. If we ignore the good news of Jesus, we will end up like the servant who failed to invest the talent. God does not want us to be afraid and worried about how well we will do, and whether it will please Him. The Parable of the Talents is not a lesson on ability or productivity. It is a lesson about the honesty, faith, and mind-set we should have. The servant who buried his talent, was asked to give an account of what he has done with his talent: Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. So, I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ The judgement on this servant, was not because he had failed to produce wealth for his master. But because he was afraid to try. “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So, you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned, would have received it back with interest. There is no sin in failure. There is only sin in not trying or in not listening to God and striving to do his will and be a good disciple. The man was afraid, and because of that he did not try. This is the basis on which he was judged. And this is also the basis that us as Christians will be judged. So, the question is: what do you want Jeus to say to you? If not, we need to use our gifts to do God’s will. How many times have you heard the saying: “It’s not whether you win or lose but how you play the game.” This is a statement that we should try and remember for ourselves when we look at both the gifts and the problems we have. But often we forget when it comes to our own lives. We focus on the fact that we may fail, refusing to try. But God is not concerned with the quantity of the harvest but whether a crop had been planted. The man in the parable was not just someone who failed to invest an item of value but was also someone who tried to disown any liability for it. The servant followed the pattern of the times that said if you were given something of value. you could clear any responsibility by burying it. God holds us responsible for what he has given us. He expects us to try and work with it, and if we do, He will honour us, and we will not fail. God does expect us to try to develop the things that we have so that the world around us can benefit from them, so that those gifts might be fruitful in us, and add to the good things God’s world needs. God by giving us his talents and love, is showing you that you do not have to do all this work on you own. God gives us friends, and most important, he gives us His Holy Spirit and his living word, so that we. like the servants in the parable, can together be good disciples, spreading new hope to the world. Today, we have been entrusted with talents by God. We have been given the tools we need. We have been given each other and we have God, Like the master in the parable believed in his servants, God, believes in us, He trusts us to do well with his love, to develop the gifts he gives us. He trusts us because he made us. God will honour all our efforts. Do not fear failure because even when we do not double the goodness in the world, even if we do not personally conquer all our problems, even if we can’t solve all the crises we face, if we have tried to work with what God has given us then he will be pleased with us. The cup of peace and goodness will be fuller than it was, and we will drink from it when Jesus returns. We are Children of the living God. We are Children of the Light. We must be ready. We must be prepared. Ready or Not He Will Com Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart (StF 545) Prayers for Others Loving God We share in our prayers for others around the world: For those who struggling with:
Jesus, we know that when two or more are gathered in your name you are there amongst us, We know that when faithful servants pray, our prayers are heard. Amen Lord’s Prayer Our Father Who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, The power, and the glory, For ever and ever, Amen Song – Take my life, and let it be (StF 566) Blessing
As we leave this place today, we can be encouraged to wait on the Lord’s return, knowing that through being obedient servants, using our gifts wisely, we are prepared, and there will come a time of true rejoicing. Amen
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War is not good – people get hurt and die, people forced away from homes and family but, many people feel, it is sometimes necessary. And those involved need to be brave. Eternal God, in whose perfect realm no sword is drawn but the sword of justice, and no strength known but the strength of love: guide and inspire all who seek your kingdom, that peoples and nations may find their security in the love which casts out fear; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. StF 693 Beauty for brokeness. Prayer: Praise Loving & marvellous God, we focus our thoughts on you. We recall with awe and wonder all you have been and all you are, your loving influence in the lives of us all. Today We Remember You are the God of Creation – positive power, loving initiation You are the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – of promise Today We Remember You are the God of David – imperfect and loved You are the God of Jeremiah – love in our hearts Today We Remember You are the God of Amos – justice You are the God of John the Baptist – forgiveness Today We Remember You are the God of Jesus – our loving Lord God You are the God of the disciples – power of holy spirit Today We Remember You are our God – with us each day. Today We Remember Amen. Search for the hero inside yourself - VIDEO All Age Address: Poppies Most people are wearing them Do you know what they are for? War is not good – people get hurt and die, people forced away from homes and family but, many people feel, it is sometimes necessary. And those involved need to be brave. Sometimes we also need to be brave as we follow Jesus. To do things we don;t find easy. To stand up for people in trouble. To help those in need – even when it is difficult. Sometimes we need to search for, and find, the hero inside us. Be a hero – be brave in our lives for God. Stf 563 O Jesus I have promised Prayer – Confession & Declaration of Forgiveness Loving Father as we recall all you have been and all you are, we also reflect on what we are, what we have been and what we have done. Today We Remember We have been slow to learn of you We have been reluctant to follow the Way of Jesus We have been afraid to accept the pain of taking up the cross Today We Remember We have been formal and selfish in our prayers We have neglected the fellowship of others We have been hesitating in our witness Today We Remember We have misused your gifts and evaded our responsibilities We have failed to be good stewards of your creation Today We Remember We have been tolerant of injustice and quick to condemn We have fallen short in love and let down those in need We have been angry and ready to fight for what we desire Today We Remember Have mercy on us, loving God, in your constant love. In the fullness of your mercy wash away our guilt and cleanse us from sin. In the power of your love heal us from our hurt. Create in each of us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. Give us joy to live with your loving support and strengthen us with a willing spirit. If we confess our sins God is faithful and just. He will forgive us and renew us. Therefore as we turn to him and repent, hear his gracious word & Our sins are forgiven & Thanks be to God. Amen. Introduction. 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Are we ready to be a hero? A hero for God. Can we find the hero inside ourselves? To love God and people – despite our imperfections. Are we ready for action? To fight injustice, To protect those who need it, To help those who suffer? Today we have two readings & two talks. Reading: John 15: 9-17 9 ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: love each other. Talk 1 Are you perfect?? Are you a hero?? Remember the heros of past – heros of war &; peace. Heros of the bible: Moses, David, Jeremiah, Amos, John the Baptist, Jesus, the disciples, Paul. Help me accept frailties & find the best inside myself. David was a flawed hero. He lusted after Bathsheba and had her husband killed so he could be with her. Very flawed, but he still tried to follow God, and was loved by God. We are all limited frail human beings BUT the image of God is in us. God is within us and is part of us. Therefore search for God within. God wants best for us – to be ;our own hero;. Call to love & be loved. John 15:13 “ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” The reading from John is a call to love & be loved. You have all heard of the butterfly effect – where a butterfly flapping its wings in Japan can cause a hurricane in England. There is a butterfly effect of kindness and compassion. Not every butterfly, but it happens. And the butterfly does;t know. We don;t know the full impact of our actions [good and/or bad]. So hold the intention to be a force for good. To serve others for Jesus. How fantastic can we be? What does God want for each of us? Life of fulfillment, joy, freedom. (Fully, wholey, freely) harmony &; balance. Jesus the pacemaker A few years ago I was not well: Low energy, life grey, plan what can do, struggle. I saw the doctor, and was sent to hospital. I had 2 to 1 heart block. A pacemaker was fitted. After (with pacemaker): I realised I had been shuffling around, now I walked with a bounce, I had energy to do things, to enjoy life. Jesus the pacemaker Our normal life like pre-pacemaker life. Jesus promises us wider, fuller life. Love is making us new. Prayer Accept me O Lord, just as I am, in my fraily and inadequacy, contradictions, confusions and complexities, with all those discordant currents that pull me in so many directions. Accept all of this and help me so to live with what I am that what I am may become my way to God. Accept the tensions and help me hold them together, so that I may learn to live fully, freely, wholly, not torn apart but finding that balance and harmony that will allow me to discover my point of inner equilibrium. Amen Grain in Winter P41 Donald Eadie StF 499 Great God, your love has called us here. Reading: Matthew 25:1-13 The parable of the ten virgins 1 ‘At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 ‘At midnight the cry rang out: “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” 7 ‘Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.” 9 ‘“No,” they replied, “there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.” 10 ‘But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 ‘Later the others also came. “Lord, Lord,” they said, “open the door for us!” 12 ‘But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.” 13 ‘Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Talk 2 Stand by for action – anything can happen in the next half hour! Do you remember that? It was the start of Stingray every week. Stand By For Action ● Are we prepared? ● What do we need to be prepared for? ● We cannot know what God will call us to do. ● One, but only one, message from the parable of 10 bridesmaids is Be prepared; – Boy Scouts motto! Today we remember all those who have given their lives to maintain our society and protect and assure our safety from any who would take it away. ● They were ready to act when the call came. ● Like Christ they sacrificed themselves for others. Not everyone is happy with how easy it can be to go to war. We live in a far from perfect world. ● In my view there are situations when it is right to fight – to protect the weak, to stop invaders and bullies. But this mustn;t be the first response. ● As I said we don;t live in a perect world. If we did there would be no need for the military like it is now. ● As it is the military stands ready to protect us if needed. That is a key point - the military stands ready. Ready to move quickly into action as soon as it is needed. ● It participates in humanitarian efforts all over the world and is able to respond quickly to support people caught in disaster areas, and the training its members are given means they can deal with these things effectively. ● It supports the emergency services with search and rescue efforts. ● It steps in to defend people who are unable to defend themselves. ● In an ideal world the military would become far more like another of Gerry Anderson’s creations - International Rescue [from Thunderbirds] - a humanitarian organisation achieving remarkable things, risking themselves against the odds for the good of other people. What does this mean for us? Are we ready for action? Like some of the bridemaids. Like our military. Our actions build (or destroy) God’s community of love. We have privilege of working as partners with God. A writer, Richard Bach, has a test: Has God still got work for you to do? Here is the test. Are you still alive? What I am asking today, or rather asking you to ask yourselves, is how ready are each of us to step in and help out when God needs us to? How often do we challenge our lives and lifestyles to reassess what we are each capable of doing for God in faith? Are we ready to work for and with others like us, called to follow Jesus. Are we ready to join God's army to fight injustice, protect those who need it and bring help to all who struggle and suffer? Are we ready for action? Amen. 706 Longing for light. Prayers for people and situations. Loving God we bring our prayers for others, for your church, your world. You are our God, and in you we put our trust. Lord, we pray for all those who are going to church today: for those worshipping in large numbers; for those gathered together in twos and threes; for other churches in this area; for service personnel meeting in temporary chapels, fnd for the chaplains who serve them; for groups who are meeting at war memorials today. May your church always be a place where peace is celebrated, and your ways are taught. You are our God, and in you we put our trust. Lord, we pray for the world’s nations. We know that peace can be a very fragile thing, violence can easily break out, people who should be friends and neighbours turn upon one another, and those who try to keep the peace get caught up in fighting. We thank you for peace-makers; for those who sit around conference tables and try to make agreements; for those who work amongst people, trying to build good relations. Protect them, and help their work to bear fruit. Show us how we can be peace-makers in our homes, at work or school, and in our churches. You are our God, and in you we put our trust. As we think of that promise that one day there will be no more war, we think about those whose work takes them into danger. Lord, we pray for our own servicemen and women, and for their families waiting anxiously at home; for the Royal British Legion, and charities such as Hope for Heroes. We pray for doctors and nurses working on the front line, and for those at home, dealing with terrible injuries. Give them courage, patience and compassion. You are our God, and in you we put our trust. As we remember the promise that no one shall make your people afraid, we think of those caught up in violence, whose life is one of fear. Lord, we pray for those for whom violence has become a fact of life. For children, taken from their homes at a young age and forced to be soldiers. We pray for those who suffer violence at home behind closed doors, at the hands of friends or family. Be with them all, and bless the efforts of those who seek to transform their situations. You are our God, and in you we put our trust. Lord, we are your people. Each one of us is known to you by name and we all have a part to play. Show us what you want us to do so that we may play our part in changing your world. You are our God, and in you we put our trust. Out of the Fathers glorious riches may he strengthen us with power through his Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And I pray that, being rooted and established in love, we may have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. And to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3: 16-21. Today we remember all those who have died bringing us freedom. WW1 &; WW2. But also the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan. And over 110 armed conflicts across the world today inc. : Over 45 in the Middle east and North Africa inc. 1. Israel/Hamas-Gaza Over 35 in Africa inc. 1. Democratic Repubuplic of Congo 2. Sudan 3. Mali Asia: 21 inc. 1. Pakistan 2. Myanmar Latin America: Mexico & Colombia. Russian invasion of Ukraine. We share the pain of those who died & their relatives. The pain of those wounded. Those displaced from their homes, fleeing as refugees, leaving behind their homes, jobs, belongings and, in many cases, relatives. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We will remember them. Laurence Binyon (1869-1943) Lords Prayer - Modern Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen. StF 645 Will your anchor hold. Prayer of Offering, Dedication & Thanks
Loving God, Father & Mother of all that is. Thank you for the many good gifts you grant us, especially your love shown in Jesus. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen us day by day. Thank you that we are called to be your children - to grow more like you every day. We bring our offerings to you and ask that you bless them. We bring our gifts and talents to you and ask that you bless them. We bring our lives to you and ask that you bless them. Thank you for your grace today and every day. Amen. Blessing May the peace of God go with us, wherever he may send us, May he guide us through the wilderness, protect us through the storm May he bring us home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown us, May he bring us home rejoicing once again into our doors. Loving God, you have given us this beautiful world, a world rich in diversity and beauty. And yet a world scarred and marred by warfare and waste, exploitation and desecration. And our choices and lifestyles contribute to that. Call to worship Welcome to worship. We come to worship. We come - as we are - with all our concerns, our regrets, our joys We come - as we are to worship God who is here, who hears us, who loves us. Let us praise God in the words of our first song: STF 64: Praise is rising Psalms are poems and songs that capture the range of our human experience. Those times when we feel downcast, despairing or desolate. Those times when we feel angry, Those times when we are happy, Those times of celebration. This psalm is a psalm of thanksgiving. It resonates with assurance and praise: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His steadfast love endures for ever. And the psalmist recalls different situations to be thankful for. StF 727: God in his love for us lent us this planet Prayer of Confession Loving God, you have given us this beautiful world, a world rich in diversity and beauty. And yet a world scarred and marred by warfare and waste, exploitation and desecration. And our choices and lifestyles contribute to that. We are aware that we often hurt you and others by our attitudes, words and actions. We are sometimes selfish, ignoring the needs of others. We sometimes get so caught up in our own worries that we forget you. We are sorry that our lives often do not reflect your love and peace. Forgive us. Loving God, you welcome us. Your love is generous, your grace is amazing. Thank you that you forgive us - and call us to walk with you. Amen. Hymn 707: Make me a channel of your peace Reading: Micah 6. 6-8 Matthew 23 v. 1-5 Micah 6:6-8 New International Version 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 23:23 New International Version 23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. Touch the earth lightly. (STF 729). Psalms 107–150Psalm 107 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. 10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, 11 because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. 12 So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke away their chains. 15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, Reflection Psalm 107 is a psalm of praise to God for what he has done. The psalm describes 4 situations. - a group of wanderers in the wilderness who get lost, but eventually get to where they are going. - prisoners, dwelling in darkness, who are released, - the sick. In those times this passage could have been interpreted as those who were foolish, who had got into difficulty as a result of wrongdoing or misadventure. - those on the sea. At that time the sea represented chaos. Both the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee were regarded as unpredictable and dangerous. Life-threatening storms could whip up. So in each of these situations there is distress - and delivery. And in each there is recognition of our dependence on God. The four sections could have related to something that had actually happened - or they could capture a range of experience that a community may have. I wonder if there have been times in our own lives when we have felt as though we were ‘in the wilderness’, or penned in some dark place, or felt sick to the core, or felt ‘all at sea’ - tossed about in stormy times. And in our distress we call to God. The answer may not come to our own timetable, but God’s will is for us to be free and to flourish. And so it is with the world. The last decade has seen significant change and challenge - with the alarming impact of the climate crisis, the scourge of conflict in so many places, and policies that impact most on the already disadvantaged. There are those who seek safety and sanctuary - yet find that they are unwelcome and rejected. I wonder, how would it be if it was you and me walking in those perilous places. How do we, as people of faith in a God who desires that all flourish, respond? The prophet Micah reminds us: This is what the Lord requires of us: To love mercy, act justly and walk humbly with our God. The Methodist Church recommends to us the findings and recommendations of the “Walking with Micah Project”. Read more about it ...... (link below) It asks: How do we respond to live out a call to justice as individuals and as a church? Where can dreams of justice be seen? How do we help others - and our environment - to thrive and not just survive? To flourish? The verses from Matthew are sobering. Are we going to be people who just talk about justice? Are we going to practice what we preach? In Psalm 107 v 35-37 there is a picture of flourishing. Deserts transformed by springs of water, the hungry nourished, and the destitute finding a place to settle and thrive. May we be justice seeking people of faith who enable all to flourish. Show me how to stand for justice (STF 713) Hymn 693: Beauty for brokeness The Lord’s Prayer. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen Hymn 696 : For the healing of the nations A prayer of blessing
May the love of God enfold us, the peace of God sustain us,, and the joy of God encourage us today and throughout this week. Amen. Forgive us when we fail to take action and when we refuse to show compassion when we see injustice, unfairness and suffering. Call to Worship We come together as family in the presence of our heavenly Father. We come as brothers and sisters in Christ, accepting the responsibility that this places upon us - to love one another as you have loved us and to care for others as Jesus did. We come as your lights in this dark world and pray that through our words and our lives others might be drawn into your family and accept you as their Saviour and their Lord. Amen StF 242 A new commandment I give unto you Prayer of Adoration and Confession God of love and hope, it is true! You care deeply for each one of us, each person on this planet is equally loved by you. With you there is always more life, more hope, more love and more joy. You have given us so many good things – the beauty of trees coming into blossom, of spring flowers, of summer sunshine and showers, and the changing colour of the leaves in autumn as the leaves fall and winter draws near. The sorrow of lives ending and death but the joy and hope of new birth and change Forgive us when we doubt you, when we are absorbed with ourselves and our own problems and needs and we fail to see your work in the stillness, in the rushed moments, in the darkest moments and in the everyday, little-noticed plod of life. Forgive us when our behaviour or our idle chatter cases pain and hurt to others. Forgive us when we fail to take action and when we refuse to show compassion when we see injustice, unfairness and suffering. Forgive us that sometimes our own actions, selfishness, greed and lack of understanding have been and still are contributing to the suffering of others by causing pollution and climate change leading to flooding, drought and crop failures for people already living in poverty in far flung parts of your world. Let us learn how to serve you. Help us to change our ways, open our hearts now to your love and fill us with trust, hope and a desire to take action and to see freedom, justice, fairness and equality so that all your children have sufficient for their needs. We ask all these things in Jesus’ name Amen. Assurance of Forgiveness. Brothers and Sisters in Christ may we always know that we are indeed, loved, cared for and forgiven by God’s grace when we turn to him. Alleluia! OT Reading: Deuteronomy 34 v 1 – 12 New International Version The Death of Moses34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the Lord showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the Lord said to him, “This is the l and I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.” 5 And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses. 10 Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 who did all those signs and wonders the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. 12 For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel Gospel Reading: Matthew 22 v 34 – 46 New International Version The Greatest Commandment Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Whose Son Is the Messiah?41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” “The son of David,” they replied. 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, 44 “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ 45 If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. Hymn StF 61 Our God is a great big God 1Thessalonians 2 v 1-8 New International Version Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Hymn StF 409 Let us build a house where love can dwell Sermon Gracious, Loving God, I pray today, remembering that I am made in your image, just as all creation, and I recognise that you are calling me to be part of the answers to the prayers I make. Today, give me the courage and wisdom to reach out in faith, to reflect your image in my lives, wherever you lead. In Jesus’ name, I bring these and all my prayers to you, O God, Amen. The divisive and destructive conditions we witness today can leave us with profound feelings of contradiction, especially in a world determined to settle its differences or disputes with deadly weapons, or by hate. We are often left with physical, mental, or emotional injury, refusal of opportunity for conversation, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration. We are comforted nevertheless that God loves us, and cares for us, and is present as we meet the challenges of life! We even ask ourselves: “why should I care?” “I didn’t know that anybody cared!” (a worshipper’s reflection at end of my Homily) I am pleased, however, my sisters and brothers to say that despite the troubling conditions out there and with us, I can declare that the unbelievably transforming power of God’s love is with us! I will never leave you or forsake you, says the Lord (Deuteronomy 31:6-8). But then it is his love that enables us to love and brings us to pray. Pray is a vital lifeline! Secondly, we respond with ACTION: “We Care, because God Loves” 1. Imago Dei: We bear image of God, an incredible fact to behold; but what does it mean to ‘bear the image of God’? Firstly, we are encouraged not to be preoccupied with all the things we should not do but focus rather on doing all we can to demonstrate our love of God and our commitment to God’s mission. 2. Approval: It is imperative we speak as people “approved by God” as in the manner which the Thessalonian community heard from the great Apostle. Though beaten and thrown into prison at Philippi, the apostle was determined to share the good news with the people of Thessalonica. He was on the mission of God. Sometimes petrifying, scary, but we remain unrelenting. The great apostle was not afraid, he had both authority and approval (Ref. encounter with other witnesses, 1996 Olympics, Atlanta). 3. Humility: Never seek selfishly to carry the mission of God or seeking simply to please others, or for personal wealth or fame – the value of mission could be lost - but carry the mission as people entrusted with the Gospel to honour God. Use humility even when mistakes are made. 4. Integrity: We may be tempted to change our message or use flattery to persuade and make our message more palatable. Rather, we use the right motives because we care and are centred in God love. Why, ultimately? Because we love you so much that we are delighted share the Gospel with you! 5. Discipleship: What do we do with the things we call ‘ours’? Moreover, how can we identify what, of all we experience in the world around us, is being led and managed by God? This question is posed also by the people of Israel in the Hebrew Scriptures, it is the question of Christian discipleship today. How can we recognise holiness within us and do justice to it? There’s only one way: If we truly love God and our neighbour, we will keep the commandments! Even when failure arrives, we have an anchor! (Hebrews 6:19) Our work is then deemed righteous, a positive way of looking at the law. 6. Peacefulness: To live a truly peace-filled life, our strength and authority comes not from a token of ownership or mis assumed authority; but rather from a recognition that we witness within the God-ordained Universe. 7. Possessions: In these days how will you change things to live with God’s approval? Jesus assures you about what to do with the things you have: Your life, skills, strength, friendships, possessions, money! Consider how your skills and compassion could be used. The question is: do we care about God’s love? God bless you! Gracious, Loving God, I pray today, remembering that I am made in your image, just as all creation, and I recognise that you are calling me to be part of the answers to the prayers I make. Today, give me the courage and wisdom to reach out in faith, to reflect your image in my lives, wherever you lead. In Jesus’ name, I bring these and all my prayers to you, O God, Amen. Hymn StF 446 I will offer up my life in spirit and truth Prayers of intercession Loving God, You stand among us today and call us to be people of faith, to be your servants and to care for others, yet often our heads and hearts are full of questions. We wonder if love can grow again in relationships where anger and bitterness prevail, but you know the strength of love and the power of prayer. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. We wonder if peace can come in many countries in our world where there is fighting, war and abuse or where hatred and racism know no boundaries. We think especially of the people of Israel and Palestine at this uncertain time, and the people of Ukraine and Russia You know that peace is possible - help us to be faithful peacemakers. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. We wonder if refugees can ever be treated with welcome and respect in our own country and if the hungry can be fed in countries that are experiencing drought, war and poverty and where your children continue to perish. You know that there is room and enough food for everyone in the world; help us to be welcoming, generous and faithful. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. We wonder if governments throughout the world can lead their people with justice and fairness. You specialize in impossibilities; you walked on water, you can heal the nations, you forgive sins, you set people free from all that limits them, you set each one of us free from our sin and shame by your death, your glorious resurrection and the gift of your Holy Spirit. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. Today we pray for all people who are filled with uncertainty, who wonder whether you exist and whether you are listening to our prayers, who wonder what the Christian community and faith are about. We pray for people who struggle with the meaning of life, who wonder whether to end it all, who face feelings of hopelessness and despair particularly those who have lost jobs, income and homes in this time of inflation and financial crisis. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. Even when we ourselves are struggling, give us the wisdom to turn to you. Jesus, when our faith is weak or in danger of deserting us, strengthen us and give us hope. We ask for good news for people in our community and throughout the world, people who are sick, or who are grieving the loss of loved ones especially those known to us personally at this time. Lord of hope – hear our prayer today. Finally we pray for all people who need your help in practical ways - empower us to be your hands and feet and to show your love by our action where it is needed. Give us faith, small as a mustard seed, so that we may move mountains, so that we may bring change. May we share your hope, your love, your peace and your justice with this needy world. We ask all these things in the name of you dear son Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Amen. Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen StF 662 Have you heard God’s voice? Gracious, Loving God, I pray today, remembering that I am made in
your image, just as all creation, and I recognise that you are calling me to be part of the answers to the prayers I make. Today, give me the courage and wisdom to reach out in faith, to reflect your image in my lives, wherever you lead. In Jesus’ name, I bring these and all my prayers to you, O God, Amen. Blessing God of life, may the promise of the sunrise be echoed in our minds. May the warmth of the midday sun flow through our hearts. May the peace of the sunset touch our souls, And when life seems dark, teach is to remember even then that you are with us, and that we will again see your light. In the name of Christ. Amen Prayers of Adoration, Confession and Intercessions attributed to Tanya Cook Sermon Attributed to Reverend Arlington Trotman Call to Worship - StF 821 (Psalm 99) The Lord is King; Let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; Let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion! he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name; Holy is he! Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he. Moses and Aron were among his priests, Samuel also was amongthose who called on his name. They cried to the Lord , and he answeres them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statues that he gave them. O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiiving God to them, but an avanger of thier wrongdoings. Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his Holy mountain; for the Lord our God is Holy. ( from the new revised standard version ) Stf 72 Father God I wonder Stf 439 Abba, father, let me be Matthew 22:15-22 New International Version Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar 15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. Stf 481 The Lord’s my Shepherd 1 Thessalonians 1: 1 - 10 New International Version 1 Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. Stf 566 Take my life 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 449 Lord of creation, to you be all praise Due to Holiday this Sundays Service is shortened
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Call to worship Rejoice in the Lord always. The Lord is near; the Lord is here. Rejoice in the Lord always. Rejoice! STF 24 (Come, now is the time to worship) Prayers of Praise, Thanksgiving and Confession Generous God, we kneel in awe at your willingness to draw us into your fellowship; in wonder at your gracious invitation to join the feast of life; in gratitude at your care for each one of us; in humility for your faithfulness towards each one of us. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we kneel and worship and adore you. We give you thanks, wonderful God, for the gift of life, for the opportunities of life and for the invitations to flourish in life. May we be as whole-hearted as you in all we do, as generous as you in all we give, as daring as you in all we dream, and as faithful as you in all our relationships. Thank you for everything. Amen. A Prayer of Confession Gracious God, you invite us to join you in caring for the vulnerable. We are sorry and ask for your forgiveness when we hurt you by not accepting your invitation. You invite us to share the good news of your love. We are sorry and ask for your forgiveness when we hurt you when by not accepting your invitation. You invite us to clothe ourselves with compassion and humility. We are sorry and ask for your forgiveness when we hurt you when by not accepting your invitation. You invite us to take our place at your table. We are sorry and ask your forgiveness when we hurt you by not accepting your invitation. We are sorry and ask your forgiveness when we hurt you in any way. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Assurance of Forgiveness Eternal God, you clothe us with forgiveness, you cover us with your grace, you feed us with your word, you robe us with your generosity, you root us in your faithfulness, you gather us in your love, you invite us to be your disciples, and you go all out to draw us all in and call us each by name. We thank you that we are assured of your forgiveness in Jesus’ name. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen STF 531 (What a friend we have in Jesus) Isaiah 25:1-9 New International Version Praise to the Lord 25 Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. 2 You have made the city a heap of rubble, the fortified town a ruin, the foreigners’ stronghold a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. 3 Therefore strong peoples will honor you; cities of ruthless nations will revere you. 4 You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall 5 and like the heat of the desert. You silence the uproar of foreigners; as heat is reduced by the shadow of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is stilled. 6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine-- the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. 9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” Psalm 23 (from Stf, 805) 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. STF 481 (The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want) Matthew 22:1-14 New International Version The Parable of the Wedding Banquet 22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” Sermon (Ready to party) There is a simple link that runs through our readings this week. Our readings from both Isaiah and Matthew tell us that knowing God can never leave us unchanged. To encounter God will always affect and change the way we are, and the things we do. This morning I would like us firstly to consider our reading from Isaiah and the confidence with which Isaiah faces the future despite his present pain, secondly to unravel the parable or some people say parables told to us in Matthew and finally to consider whether or not we’re ready to party. In our Old Testament reading, Isaiah draws on past experiences. Despite the pain of the present described in verse 2, You have turned cities into ruins and destroyed their fortifications. The palaces which our enemies built are gone for ever.” Isaiah has every confidence for the future triumph of God as described in verses 8 and 9. “The sovereign Lord will destroy death for ever! He will wipe away the tears from everyone’s eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world. The Lord himself has spoken. When it happens, everyone will say, “He is our God! We have put our trust in him and he has rescued us. He is the Lord! We have put our trust in him, and now we are happy and joyful because he has saved us.”” The emerging message is that God is the Lord of all creation, not just of Judah and Israel. Isaiah speaks of the universal reign of God. This is not simply the belief that, whatever happens, God will win through. It is built upon the confidence that, as Roots puts it, God is eternally trustworthy, and despite everything, all people will come to recognise him. The way in which God deals with his people provides the basis for true thanksgiving, and the only realistic hope for the future. Isaiah speaks of the future in terms of a heavenly banquet, something to look forward to. The prophet knows that, at the time he is speaking, this is a distant dream: Israel has been exiled, and Jerusalem – including the Temple, the very sign of God’s presence – has been destroyed. However, although things look desperate, God will turn things around. This is not idealism but real confidence – this is how God has acted throughout Israel’s history, so why should it be different now? To summarise, Isaiah looks forward to the future as a heavenly banquet when God will triumph despite the pain of the present. Turning to our reading from Matthew, Jesus gives his audience yet another parable. This one is explicitly set at the wedding of a king’s son (though the only reference to the son is at the very beginning). To celebrate the marriage, a banquet is given by the king. In a world when time was less precise than it is today, invitations are sent out. Then, when everything is ready, the guests are summoned. But, despite the importance of the occasion, the guests make excuses, and, worse still, the violence of the situation escalates – overtones, perhaps, of the vineyard in the preceding parable from Matthew Chapter 21 verses 33-46 from last week. The consequence is that the guest list is ‘universalised’ – everyone who can be found is invited. The wedding may be a metaphor for the relationship between God and Israel, and the banquet a sign of the covenant between them. ‘Worthiness’ therefore involves being able to recognise God’s invitation and respond to it as a top priority. The universal guest list could represent the replacement of the old covenant between God and Israel with the new covenant God offers to all who accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour. But there is a problem with one of the ‘replacement’ guests, called in from the street at the last minute. He is not properly dressed. Is it reasonable to expect that a casually invited guest will be correctly attired? Jesus’ hearers, then and now, will not be surprised that the guest was speechless to be challenged in this way! But this is a parable, a story, not a factual account. Some commentators argue that we are reading two stories and an unexpected twist like this is also not beyond the imagination of a good storyteller. So, what is to be made of this improperly dressed guest? ‘Wedding robe’ may suggest a specific – and newly bought – outfit, but in Jesus’ day this would not have been an option. Wedding guests would wear their best clean clothes. This man, rather than nipping home to change, has just wandered in, unchanged. The man is rejected because he has made no effort to change while all the other guests have done so; he assumes that he has no obligation other than to show up. This suggests that the parable is about our willingness to be changed by our encounter with God. Meeting God can change us and the way we live, or, like the unworthy guest, we can reject God’s grace and remain unchanged. It is worth remembering that in the Early Church, baptism involved removing clothes, being immersed in water and then re-clothed, to symbolise putting on a new life in Christ – symbolism that Paul writes about on a number of occasions. The problem in Matthew is that the first group of guests (and the guest later excluded) remain unmoved – and therefore unchanged – by the anticipation of the banquet. Finally, then, are we ready to party? In the 1990 Bette Midler movie Stella, no one comes to Stella’s daughter Jenny’s 16th birthday party because her friends’ families all ‘look down’ on her mother. Can you imagine how Jenny must have felt? Turning down the invitation implicit in today’s parable (i.e. God’s invitation) is more than turning down an invitation to a birthday party, a family wedding or even to a royal garden party. It is a profound political slight to the king and, in the case of the last invitee, an act of rebellion against his kingship. I read a true story about a mother-in-law who was paying for the wedding reception of her daughter and invited many more people than the venue could accommodate. So her future son-in-law was most thankful when some people wrote back to say they couldn’t come. But that is rarely the case, and in the ‘heavenly banquet’ that this parable alludes to, there is no limit on the capacity. In other words, turn the invitation down at your peril! Social conventions change from generation to generation. In Jesus’ day, the custom was to send out a notice of an upcoming event, followed by the announcement that it was happening – rather like the ‘save the date’ notices people send out today. However, today the advent of social media has made many people lax about replying to invitations, or indeed turning up when they have said they will. This means that events can easily be oversubscribed, or have a disappointingly lower than expected attendance. Is this contemporary casual approach to events matched by a casual approach to the commitments of faith? While the king says that those originally invited had demonstrated that they ‘were not worthy’, the servants subsequently invite in ‘both good and bad’. As servants, we are called on not to make judgements about anyone, but to invite everyone. Signs outside churches often say ‘Everyone Welcome’. But is that really true? Research has shown that almost all churches think they are more welcoming than they are. Many commentators see the last part of this parable (the expulsion of the guest without a wedding robe) as a separate parable tacked on to the end of the other one. This is partly because they are comparing it to the similar parable in Luke 14 verses 16-24, and because Matthew’s version is very disturbing. But it is quite possible that Jesus told similar stories at different times with slightly different emphases (and endings), and his parables are intended to be disturbing. This one reminds us that we are all welcome, but responding to God’s invitation will demand changes of us. Are we ready to party then? We are if we see ourselves as God sees us but not if we are fooled by who we think we are or by our own desires. I think of myself as needing to be clothed in the light of Jesus in order to be truly ready to party but at the same time pray that God will help me to be willing to change into the sort of person he would like me to be. Amen. Let us pray. Dear Father, We ask that you will help us to be willing to change into the sorts of people you would like us to be. Help us to encourage others to do the same without judging them. We ask this through Jesus Christ, your son, our Lord. Amen. STF 673 (Will you come and follow me) Prayers of Intercession Living God, your Son lived among the people of the Holy Land and mixed with both Jews and Gentiles. Your banquet is a feast for all to share in harmony and peace. We pray for those whose lives are shattered by warfare and conflict. We hold before you Israelis and Palestinians, Russians, and Ukrainians and all who live in fear of the bullet and the bomb. Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer. You invite leaders and outcasts; those with plenty and those with nothing; lawmakers and lawbreakers. We hold before you the leaders of all the nations of the world. They desire the best for their people; help them to see the needs of their neighbours as well. May all rejoice in the diversity of humanity and co-exist without violence and oppression. Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer. In your banquet there is food for the needy. You welcome the hungry, the homeless and those who have fled their lands in fear to seek refuge in a strange country. In you there are no barriers of language or background, of gender or age, of employment or unemployment. Your welcome is fulsome; your invitation is to all. We hold before you those who feel excluded for whatever reason. May we see your image in all our neighbours and show the love we have received. Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer. God of comfort and healing, you invite the sick and sorrowful as well as the healthy and happy to your great feast. For many, this is not a time for celebration. Many grieve for loved ones – those who have died recently or for whom this is a time of anniversary. Many are worried as they wait for medical appointments, test results or treatment. Many are in pain and their loved ones sit beside them feeling helpless. We hold before you our health service and pray for all involved in it - doctors, nurses, administrators, managers, porters, health care assistants. We commend to you all who are sick and sorrowful naming those we know in our hearts. Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer. God of the Great Banquet, we stand in amazement, holding an invitation with our name on it! We will be welcomed and accepted. We will receive healing and peace. We will be fed and treated as your special guests. We stand before you in wonder at the height, depth, breadth and length of your love. We celebrate your presence. Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer. As we say yes to you, we hear you say a resounding "yes!" to us and in that we rejoice. In Jesus' name. Amen. STF 487 (You shall go out with joy) A Sending Out Prayer
Go into the week ahead, and wherever you find yourself, celebrating or sharing a sadness, or anything in between, let’s rejoice in God’s grace. Let’s try to see each moment as an invitation to meet with God and each meeting as an opportunity to invite others. Amen. Atributes to ''ROOTS'' for prayers He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” Opening Prayers Look at your feet. Notice the scraps and marks on your shoes or slippers, or if your feet are bare notice the lines and wrinkles. Wriggle your toes and notice how that feels. Look at the ground your feet are on. Is it a carpet? Or wood? Laminate or something else? When you are ready, offer this time of worship to God: Creator God, thank you that my feet are on holy ground. As I sit here, I choose to offer the time to you. I long to meet with you on this holy, ordinary ground. Amen. The Lords Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen 504 STF – May the mind of Christ my Saviour Matthew 21:33-46 New International VersionThe Parable of the Tenants 33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said. 38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? 43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.” 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet. 351 STF – In Christ alone my hope is found Responding to the reading Who has influenced you on your journey of faith? Occasionally it might be a minister or teacher. More likely, if we sat down with most of you and chatted, we'd find it was someone different. Maybe the person who knew when to pick up the phone or offer you a meal to heat up at home. Or it was someone who offered to pray when all else seemed futile. It was, in short, people who put their energy into living out the teachings of Christ. This small, local measure is something that is reflected around the world, from issues significant to issues small. The local people often have the correct answer to complex and demanding situations. The country of Sudan has been caught up in conflict many times. When conflict broke out earlier this year, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, a Christian peace, justice and nonviolence movement, sent a message of peace and solidarity to its partner branch in Sudan. After a few weeks, the Fellowship of Reconciliation then had a fascinating dispatch from its partner in the world's newest country, South Sudan. In it Light, their colleague who runs the South Sudan Fellowship of Reconciliation branch explained how civil society had leapt into action when conflict broke out. Civil society is a clunky phrase, but its meaning is simple. It's not the government. It's not business. It;s people like you and me who just get on and do things! People in South Sudan and sudan communicated to share stories of safety and security. Then, people in the south mobilised to pressure all sides to start talking. Soon, a broader network sprung up called ;Because of our Country, which aimed to provide humanitarian help to people fleeing south from Sudan. This network sprung up because they recognised that larger organisations would take time to respond, and time wasn't on their side. Instead, like the parable of the loaves and fishes, people would use the resources they had at the moment to respond – knowing that longer term help would come in later days. The people in the network knew about the principles of peace and nonviolence. But it was only when put into the situation that they discovered what they were truly capable of. This transformative nature is at the heart of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (You might like to look up their work online at www.for.org.uk). If I took you through many stories, you would soon find a similar example. Ordinary people caught up in extraordinary conflict or post conflict situations. They turn from everyday people into agents of transformation because they were trained in skills they could share with others. Today;s Gospel reading encourages us all to find power within. It;s a fairly rough story. A vineyard is established with all the resources and tools required to harvest and benefit from a rich crop. Unfortunately, the people who work in the vineyard take short-term moves - including acts of violence - to make short-term financial gains instead of using their skills to bring in the harvest. Why does Jesus tell this parable? Because he is warning the religious leaders and rule setters that the people who live out the spirit of his message will discover the Kingdom of God. Those who don;t will have it removed from them. The Kingdom of God is a beautiful and wonderful place. We hear snippets of it littered in images and stories throughout the bible. What is clear is that peace, justice and equality will flourish and all will find a home. That vision is transformative because we are also reminded that the kingdom of God can be found here on earth. So, we are challenged to decide, over the next week, will you use your skills, gifts and talents to further build the kingdom of God? Because if you do, you will discover new talents within yourself and further enrich the lives of others. Hymn: STF 255.The Kingdom of God is justice and joy Prayer of Intercession Loving God, in these difficult times we look around us at the lives of other people and wonder how things can ever change for the better – we see folk racked by illness, weighed down by anxiety, tormented by depression, crippled by debt, broken by drugs and alcohol, shattered through unemployment and we wonder what hope we can offer them, what help we can possibly give. “Transforming God - may your light shine where there is darkness”. We pray for such people known to us now – family, friends, members of our congregation, neighbours and acquaintances; as well as those unknown to us struggling under their own burdens. “Transforming God - may your light shine where there is darkness”. We pray for our world – for so many people facing suffering, injustice hardship and death. Reach out to all who are in despair, we pray, all who long for change but see only hopelessness stretching before them. Touch their lives, and bring help, hope, healing and wholeness. “Transforming God - may your light shine where there is darkness”. Loving God, it’s sometimes hard to believe that those around us and the world around us can ever change for the better. We see countries broken by war, people consumed by hatred, thousands living in fear for the future, nations turned against nation, multitudes made homeless by war and disaster, whole continents facing drought and famine, and again we wonder what hope or help can possibly offer. “Transforming God - may your light shine where there is darkness”. Help us to see beneath the surface and recognise that you are at work and that things can change. Help us to see beyond appearances and know that you are able to transform even the most hopeless of situations. Help us to remember that sometimes we are the hands and feet of Jesus and able to make a difference in your name. Most of all may we and all people know the assurance that there is no one and no situation that cannot be transformed by the power of the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen StF 713. Show me how to stand for justice Blessing
May I leave guided by God’s ever-present care and love May I go forward in the assurance of God’s faithfulness and forgiveness, in the beauty and peace, In the creation God has called each of us to carefor. Amen. Christ changed David’s life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a handsome man when he came out of the hospital. Introduction to worship theme. Today we are going to be reading from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, which some consider his most affectionate letter. Having, in chapter one, urged the Philippian congregation of Christians to “Live their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…” (1:27) Paul in chapter two shows them how to go about living such a life by pointing them toward the example of Jesus life and ministry. Jesus, he tells them, made himself nothing for your sake. His true nature was that of God, yet for your sake he willing relinquished that existence in order to live a human life, indeed, to live the life of a servant. So with that in mind the theme for this morning’s worship is: Coming down to lift others up’. Call to Worship: We gather today to worship the one who created us, the one who calls us, the one who equips us, the one who loves us without end. With joyful hearts, let us worship God. StF 331 – King of kings, majesty Prayer of Adoration & Confession &; Lord’s Prayer Almighty and Holy God, We gather to worship you, to praise you for being here among us, and to thank you for all your goodness toward us. We come in all our weakness and with all our failings, rejoicing that in Christ we have been made new and that through him you have set your mark upon us, and called us to be your people. We confess now to you and one another how far short we have fallen of the pattern you have set before us in Jesus. He emptied himself – we exalt ourselves. He was humble – we are conceited. He was generous - we are selfish. He was gracious – we are intolerant. Forgive us loving God and help us change our ways Through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen The Lord’s Prayer We pray together the prayer Jesus taught us: Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins As we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial And deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, Now and forever. Amen. According to one former TV program, millionaires have occasionally lived unannounced and unrecognised amongst ordinary people. They have often assumed some kind of disguise as they have tried to understand the difficulties involved in leading a normal life. Sometimes they have given away money to the people they have met – anyone remember The Secret Millionaire So in this TV series (the secret millionaire) – some very wealthy individual stepped down from their luxury lifestyle and lived outside their comfort zone for a couple of weeks, to lift a few people up from a poor and often lonely existence to a more dignified one. Let’s now see what the apostle Paul says about how Jesus came down to lift others up. Philippians 2:1-13 New International Version Imitating Christ’s Humility Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Do Everything Without Grumbling12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. StF362 – Meekness and Majesty Talk Having, in the previous chapter, urged the Philippians to “Live their lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ…” (1:27) Paul in chapter two shows them how to go about living such a life by pointing the Philippians toward the example of Jesus; life and ministry. Jesus, he tells them, made himself nothing for your sake. His true nature was that of God, yet for our sake he willing relinquished that existence to live a human life, indeed, to live the life of a servant. That we ourselves might be enriched in everyway (1 Cor 1:5) And it is this humility that was in Christ, which Paul now wishes to see the Christians at Philippi and us imitate – by making, like Jesus and those secret millionaires, the interests of others a vital part of our living. Now we know this is easier said than done. Because if we are honest we know that our human nature is so often a self-focused and self-interested nature. But that nature can be overcome. Let illustrate what I mean. Jim Cymbala preaches at a church in the slums of New York. He tells the following story: It was Easter Sunday and I was so tired at the end of the day that I just went to the edge of the platform, pulled down my tie and sat down and draped my feet over the edge. It was a wonderful service. As I was sitting there I looked up the middle aisle, and there in about the third row was a man who looked about fifty, dishevelled, filthy. He looked up at me rather sheepishly, as if saying, “Could I talk to you?” We have homeless people coming in all the time, asking for money or whatever. So as I sat there, I said to myself, though I am ashamed of it, “What a way to end a Sunday. I’ve had such a good time, preaching and ministering, and here’s a bloke probably wanting some money for more wine. He walked up the aisle. When he got within about five feet of me, I smelled a horrible smell. It was so awful that when he got close, I would inhale by looking away, and then I’d talk to him, and then look away to inhale, because I couldn’t inhale facing him. I asked him, “What’s your name?” “David.” “How long have you been on the street?” “Six years.” “How old are you?” “Thirty-two.” He looked fifty- hair matted; front teeth missing; eyes slightly glazed. “Where did you sleep last night, David?” “Abandoned truck.” I keep in my back pocket a money clip. I fumbled to pick one out thinking; I’ll give him some money. Usually we don’t give money to people. We take them to get something to eat. I took the money out. David pushed his finger in front of me. He said, “I don’t want your money. I want this Jesus, the One you were talking about, because I’m not going to make it. I’m going to die on the street.” I completely forgot about David, and I started to weep for myself. I was going to give a couple of dollars to someone God had sent to me. See how easy it is? I could make the excuse I was tired. There is no excuse. I was not seeing him the way God sees him. I was not feeling what God feels. But oh, did that change! David just stood there. He didn’t know what was happening. I pleaded with God, “God, forgive me! Forgive me! I am so sorry to represent you this way. I’m so sorry. Here I am with my message and my points, and you send somebody and I am not ready for it. Oh, God!” Something came over me. Suddenly I started to weep deeper, and David began to weep. He fell against my chest as I was sitting there. He fell against my white shirt and tie, and I put my arms around him, and there we wept on each other. The smell of His person became a beautiful aroma. Here is what I thought the Lord made real to me: If you don’t love this smell, I can’t use you, because this is why I called you where you are. This is what you are about. You are about this smell. Christ changed David’s life. He started memorizing portions of Scripture that were incredible. We got him a place to live. We hired him in the church to do maintenance, and we got his teeth fixed. He was a handsome man when he came out of the hospital. They detoxed him in 6 days. He spent that Thanksgiving at my house. He also spent Christmas at my house. When we were exchanging presents, he pulled out a little thing and he said, “This is for you.” It was a little white hanky. It was the only thing he could afford. A year later, David got up and talked about his coming to faith in Christ. The minute he took the microphone and began to speak, I said, “The man is a preacher.” This past Easter David was ordained. He is an associate minister of a church over in New Jersey. And I was so close to saying, “Here, take this; I’m a busy Christian preacher.” What a sobering story that is - That Christian preacher, came so close to denying the faith which he proclaimed week by week with his lips. Paul delivered his message to the Christians in Philippi that they might be a community of Christians fit for God;s service. Paul knew what now needed to happen - That individually and corporately, their attitude toward others, needed to be the same attitude as that which was in the one who set aside all selfish ambition, who humbled himself and became so obedient to the way of a servant that he was willing to die on a cross. This morning, I pray we simply continue to do what we know from the beginning we have been called to do - Think like Christ! Love like Christ! Serve like Christ! Be humble like Christ!" That is all but it is and will be enough. Amen Hymn StF272 – From Heaven You Came helpless babe - The Servant King Prayers for Others Take a few moments to think of people who serve in different ways - People who serve us with meals and food People who serve us with time and conversation. Those who serve our health needs Those who help us grow spiritually. Prayers Loving God, we thank you for the example of Jesus. He served his followers with fish and bread. We remember those who provide us with food especially…… Loving God, we thank you for the example of Jesus. He served others and did not turn them away. He welcomed Women and men, old and young, the unwanted and the unloved. We remember those who find time for chats, who visit the sick and lonely. We remember especially ….. Loving God, we thank you for the example of Jesus He served the sick. He touched them and healed many. We remember those who care for our health especially……. Loving God, we thank you for the example of Jesus. He brought us wisdom from God. He taught us how To walk in God’s ways. We remember those who help us to know more of God especially…… We offer these prayers in the name of Jesus - who came as a servant and taught us the way of servanthood. Amen. StF59 – Lord the Light of your love is Shining - Shine Jesus shine. Blessing
To the needy and the hurting we go. To the joyful and the delighted we go. To problems and solutions we go. The world is waiting. . May the Lord our God bless us with his grace, unite us with his love, fill us with his peace. Amen. 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. Call to worship. Our theme today is the how do we cope with the Ups & Downs of life. In his home synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus tells the congregation the stories about Elijah and Elisha, and how it was outsiders that they serve - that sometimes God chooses gentiles over Jews. Clearly, the people are enraged, and they respond to hid words by trying to throw him off a Cliff – and we see the power of Jesus, as He responds, by just walking away. StF 58: Lord I come before your Throne of Grace prayer Loving Heavenly Father, we come to worship you and to glorify your name with our songs and hymns of praise as we offer ourselves afresh to you. You’re Lord of all that was, is, and will be – there’s no God like you and there’s no God beside you. Father, we praise you not only as our creator, but also as the one who every moment of everyday sustains our lives and the life of the whole universe. We praise you that though you’re the high and exalted one, that you promise to live in our hearts and lives. Though you’re the King of all creation, you walk with us every day of our lives. 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. We praise you that he was ready to share our pain and loneliness, our weaknesses, our failures, and our defeats. We thank you that through his death and resurrection, that we can enter into his victory of love. We praise you for all your gifts; for the life, worship, and witness of all your people down the centuries; for all your promises to us and your presence with us, we thank you. Lord, we thank you for the love, power and mercy that have brought us together. We confess that we haven't always wanted the best for each other, and we're sorry that we don't put others first, or their needs before our own. We confess that we have too often and too easily pleased ourselves. We confess that we are sometimes afraid and often uncertain. Lord, we ask not only for forgiveness, but also for the desire and the strength to begin again in Jesus name. This prayer we ask in and through the name of Jesus, who taught us when we pray to say 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 forever. Amen. 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?
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. Stf 8 God with us; Creatot, Father 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. StF70 Always remember, never forget 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.” Matthew West : “Forgiveness” 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. |
ServicesThese are the Worship at Home versions of the In Person Services, led by our Minister :- Each Service has the videos of the songs and a transcript of the Sermon or reflection.
The Song references (StF) are from the Singing the Faith song book.
The videos of the songs are linked to YouTube or vimeo which may have advertising which Kingswood Methodist Church does not endorse.
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January 2024
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