Today what we are thinking about how we don’t always see what is in front of us. StF 353 Jesus is Lord! Creation's voice proclaims it Prayers of Praise adoration and thanksgiving All praise to you heavenly father , All praise to the risen Christ, and to the spirit by whom all thingsare possible. We give thanks to you Lord for the great sacrifice you made so that we may be forgiven and saved, so we might join you in your kingdom. Nothing is beyond your reach, and there is nothing you cannot overcome, even death itself. You are all powerful mighty Lord, and by your design all things come into being. We are your children and in you we see our salvation. We worship you, we praise you, before you we are naught but what you make us to be. Intercessions Lord Jesus, we bring before you all our concerns, for others, for the world and for ourselves. We ask that you be with all those for whom daily life is not a time of purpose or joy, but one of fear, pain or worry. We ask that you walk with them and make your presence felt so that they may feel their burden lifted and know that they are not alone, but that they can follow you into a new life. Lord in your mercy... We remember all who like your family and friends at Easter 2000 years ago, feel the loss of loved ones at this time, or who, like so many that you helped during your ministry, suffer with long term illness. May they feel your healing touch and take comfort from your blessed love. May they know that they are in our prayers and that you are with them. Lord in your mercy.. We pray for your world, pillaged for its resources, abused, polluted and torn apart by war. We remember those who still suffer because of natural disasters, brought about by climate change. The people of Syria and Turkey, still in need after the earthquakes in that region. The people of America who have had their homes and communities ripped apart by storms. May you strengthen the hearts of those who feel powerless in the face of the need for great change, and help us all take responsibility for how we treat the home you have given to us. Lord in your mercy... We pray for the leaders of the world in this time of political unrest - may they be guided by you into the paths of peace, and no longer feel the need for posturing, when all are equal in your sight. Help them to focus instead on leading all people into a better way, where trust and cooperation rule over strife and discord. Lord in your mercy Finally lord we pray for ourselves and in a time of quiet bring before you all that weight on our hearts at this time. We pray for those who are known to us and need our prayers, and ask that you are with us all through the coming weeks and years as we try to be your people on earth and do your will. We ask all these prayers in the name of your son, our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen Lords prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours, now and for ever. Amen. Address 1 Today what we are thinking about will be how we don’t always see what is in front of us. In our gospel reading we will hear about two followers of Jesus who spent some time with him without recognising him. Sometimes we see things without realising what it is we are seeing, even though it is right in front of us. Some of the ladies I work with call it having a “Man look”, my Gran, who was very wise, would say “you can't see for looking”. I actually had an eye test this week and my prescription has only changed enough for them to be able to say I need new glasses. At an exorbitant cost. But that means that for the most part my eyes are not the problem. So if it isnt the eyes then it must be the brain they are talking to. Seeing is also a bit of an odd term - it of course refers to vision, but we also use it as an indication of understanding - “ah, yes I see...” - being used to show we are able to visualise something in our mind’s eye. Being able to see things as they are, and identify what is important and what isnt, what to share and what to not worry about is an important element of art, design and effective communication. Including teaching and learning. Now the image here is one suggested for use today. I have to say it's not my kind of art. But my favourite image also relates to this idea of not always seeing everything straight away. It is Hunters in the Snow, and is so detailed that I see something new nearly every time I look closely at it. The story of Jesus, and his teaching is a bit like that. Every time we read it we see something new, even though what we are seeing has been right in front of us all the time. The more we look, the more we see, and the more we see the more we understand. And the more we understand, the more we see... We need to keep looking at what Jesus taught us so we can keep understanding, we need to see. Hymn 2 StF 296 Christ has risen, while earth slumbers Reading 1 Luke 24: 13-35 Reading 2 1 Peter 1: 17-23 Hymn 3 Stf 594 Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us Address 2 As I said earlier, sometimes we need to keep looking to see what is right in front of us. In the familiar story of the road to Emmaus we encounter two followers of Jesus who are leaving Jerusalem on the day of the resurrection. They encounter a stranger on the road and the three of them fall into a discussion about the recent events. We are told that the followers were prevented from seeing that the stranger was Jesus - not that Jesus was in disguise, or looked different, but that they were prevented from seeing clearly who he was. The course of the discussion tests the understanding of the two followers, and then calls their attention to the aspects they have failed to grasp and clarifies them. By the time the journey is over the day is ending and it is getting late. Jesus is invited to stay with the two. As he breaks bread with them they recognise who they have been talking with and they understand more fully what is happening and who Jesus really is. As a teacher, when I was preparing for this service and reading through the different translations I recognised Jesus’s technique with these two followers. It is a classic teaching strategy - give the learners information they need to engage actively with, then at some point test their understanding by getting them to recount what they have seen and what their understanding of it is. Then correct any misconceptions that come to light, and finally get the learners to recount their revised understanding to cement it within their memory. An OFSTED inspector would be quite happy with what they observed, although my experience is that they would also want a bit more pace to the teaching, but then they have to find something to criticise. The two followers' lack of seeing is both literal - they are prevented from recognising Jesus, and metaphorical in their lack of understanding what he had been teaching them during his ministry. Because of this all those who read the account would have their understanding clarified as well. How often do we fail to see what is in front of us? How often do we see something new when we look deeper at something we have seen before? And how often do we share that with others? When we look at Jesus’ teaching, when we read scripture, sometimes the spirit will move within us and reveal fresh insight and understanding. But what do we do with that? When was the last time you shared seeing something new in scripture with someone else? I don’t know where you are on your journey with Christ. You may be new to the church, and just finding your way, setting off on your travels by his side, or you may feel that you have come a great distance, and are a seasoned companion of Jesus on your road with him. Either way we are probably reluctant to share new insights, in case we look silly. Students at work often say they don’t like to share what they have found out, in case they look stupid because everyone else already knows what they have just found out. In reality that is rarely the case, and in contrast they like to hear others share what they have learned because it makes them feel they can learn things too. Jesus was revealed to his followers when he needed them to recognise him. When Jesus wants a person to know something, no power on earth can stop that happening. The maker of all creation is not going to be stopped by anything. BUT, unlike the followers on the road to Emmaus, Jesus will work through others. He appeared to those followers because he needed them to see the risen Christ, to be witnesses and bear testimony as to his resurrection, and victory over death. But following his ascension, Jesus, though the spirit, has worked through the voices and actions of others who walk with him. Like us. Where he needs someone to joining the dots, and put things together, the information will be there for them to see, but the hints and clues will come from others, and that might include us! So if you feel you have discovered something, share it, don’t be afraid, it might be that Christ is sharing that insight, so that you can share it with others who need to hear it. And if you hear someone explain something, and as a result the clouds part and you can see clearly what was in front of you all the time, but hidden from your sight, let those who were instrumental in helping you see, know because they may be feeling that sharing that knowledge was not a good idea, and may be making them look a bit silly. Amen Hymn 4 Stf 519 Father I place into your hands... Confession, penance and forgiveness Lord as we stand before you, in awe at the sacrifice you have made for us, we recognise that we have fallen short of what you want us to be. We have sinned against each other and against you. As you have taught us, we confess these sins to you, and to ourselves, and fully repent them, seeking your aid to be better people, more like your plan for us from this time onwards. So we ask your forgiveness, Lord, and so that we might in turn be forgiven, we truly forgive those who have sinned against us, for until we do, we may not seek or receive your blessing. We bring before you then the things we have done wrong. Hear then the good news, through the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ, our sins may be forgiven. Amen, thanks be to god. Stf 297 Christ is alive! Let Christians sing. Blessing & dismissal
Father God we ask that you bless the gifts we bring to you today for the work of your church here on earth. We thank you for the great gifts you have given to us, and ask that you strengthen us and continue to work in and through us in the coming week as we go forth to live and to serve you. In the name of Christ. Amen Words by Peter Gray
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Our theme this morning is Caring for God’s creation - or put it another way, how affective is our personal Stewardship of God’s creation remembering that Stewardship is what we do, after we say “I believe.” StF 94 To God be the glory Lords prayer Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, As it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, As we forgive them that 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. StF 136 Morning has broken Our Gospel reading this morning in the parable of the Faithful Steward or the Parable of the Bags of Gold or the Parable of the Talents which may be more familiar to us. But whatever this Parable is called it doesn’t detract from the challenging, hard-hitting message it contains. Genesis 2; 4-15 Adam &; Eve Matthew 25; 14-30 Parable of Bags of Gold StF 407 Hear the call of the kingdom Message As some of you may know, I have a somewhat eccentric, some say wicked sense of humour. Had you ever met my father, Ron Sykes, or his two younger sisters, Marjorie and Winnie and experienced their sense of fun, as I did as I was growing up, you would understand – it’s in my DNA – it’s all their faulty. Spike Milligan has always been a comedy hero of mine for more years than I can remember – who can forget the Goon Show, I’m walking backwards to Christmas, the Ying Tong Song and so on Spike Milligan had Irish citizenship, thanks to his father's birthplace and being made a stateless person by Great Britain. This would explain why, in part the epitaph carved onto his gravestone was in Gaelic, because the diocese of Chichester where he was buried (in St Thomas's Church, Winchelsea) didn't think it was appropriate for the words of his epitaph to appear on his gravestone in English. His family reached a compromise with the Diocese - a compromise that would have delighted Spike, a compromise he would very have very much approved of, because only those who knew Gaelic, would understand the epitaph, and thus be amused by it. The Gaelic translates as “I told you I was ill". The Nobel Peace Prize is the Supreme award given to those who have made an exceptional contribution to the betterment of the world. Other Nobel prizes are given to those who have made outstanding contributions in the Arts and Sciences. There is a Story about a Nobel prize that is rarely told. Alfred Nobel was a Swedish chemist, who made his fortune by inventing powerful explosives and licensing the formula to governments to make weapons. One day, Nobel’s brother died, and a newspaper by accident printed an obituary notice for Alfred, instead of the deceased brother. It identified him as the inventor of dynamite who made a fortune by enabling armies to achieve new levels of mass destruction. Nobel had the unique opportunity to read his own obituary in his lifetime and to see how he would be remembered. He was shocked, to think that this was what his life would add up to - he would always be remembered as a merchant of death and destruction. As a direct result, he took his fortune and used it to establish the awards for accomplishments contributing to life rather than death. and today, Nobel indeed is remembered for his contribution to peace and human achievement not explosives. Can any of us imagine anything more wonderful than hearing the God of all creation pronounce the final benediction on our lives with the words we have heard this morning from Matthew 25, 21 “Well done good and faithful servant for “making a difference in Caring for my Creation”……………...come and share your Master’s happiness”. Some men were chatting about how far they had travelled in their cars during their working lives soon the discussion got competitive. One said that he had covered 10,000 miles - another said that he had done 12,000 - yet another bragged that he had always gone more than 15,000 miles each year, that he had had his car. The last one boasted his car had clocked up 19,000 miles that year. The oldest man had said nothing because he’d never owned a car. One of the men jokingly asked him. “How many miles have you done?” He calmly replied, “one Million miles.” Pressed to explain this startling statement he said, “I’ve driven an average of 70 miles each day, six days a week. That's over 20,000 miles each year, and that's more than any of you and I've done it for 50 years.” Just imagine a million miles. This man had gone the equivalent of 1000 return journeys between London and John O'Groats or Land's End, or 40 times around the world, or as far as two journeys to the moon and back! What pleasure he must have had driving to the countryside or to seaside resorts! He must have visited them all. But the imagination was spoiled by one of the other men who said, “But you haven't got a car!” He, of course, had to explain. “I drive a brand-new car everyday straight from our car factory to the car sales firm in towns within a radius of 70 miles mostly to London.” “Not much fun in that,” said one, “a bit monotonous and boring. You never got anywhere really - a million miles to nowhere.” “No, but it was necessary and useful,” he answered. Today, so many people are out too “look out for number one, for themselves, to get somewhere” in life, be it, at work, in the community, or even in the church. Some have achieved so much in life for themselves, have been all around the world or visited scores of countries for pleasure but have never done anything really useful. They have truly gone far and got nowhere, for they really have been of no use to anyone. Our hero had travelled a million miles, but every journey had been of real use to someone. Thousands of people had him to thank, for the safe delivery of their new cars. His ambition had been to do the best he could, with what he had, for the good of those he served. Everything he did was necessary and useful. Traditionally the parable of the Faithful Steward. or the Parable of the Talents has been seen as Jesus, urging His disciples to use their God given gifts, talents, abilities in the service of God, and to take risks for the sake of the Kingdom. Just as in the Parable, the servants are given different sums to take care of, but clearly everything still belongs to the master. They're merely administrators who will answer for how they invested the master’s belongings. This fact reinforces the principle of stewardship and today we’re thinking about Caring for God’s creation – STEWARDSHIP OF HIS CREATION. As believers, we are all given resources according to our skills and abilities, but those resources ultimately belong to God. We will eventually answer for how we have invested them. These gifts have been seen to include personal abilities, Talents in the everyday literal sense, as well what we have - our own personal wealth. However, let’s remember, that it’s only God that truly sees our hearts and our motives when we’re given an opportunity to use them in His service. Our ambition surely is to do the best we can, with what he have, to play our part in Caring for His Creation and building His Kingdom. Remember, Jesus never travelled more than 100 miles from Jerusalem and met his death at the early age of 33 on a cruel, barbaric Roman Cross of wood. Would you say he got nowhere? In those few years he did more good, to and for others, than any other person who's ever lived, and by his death and resurrection opened the gates of heaven for you and me. So, let’s not worry about how far we’re going, rather how much we can do as Faithful Stewards, as we reach out in compassion to use our God given Gifts, Talents & Abilities to help others on the way, because in God’s eyes. it’s both necessary, valuable and useful in building His Kingdom here on earth. John Wesley put it beautifully. 'Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.' Spike Milligan’s will be remembered for his sense of humour “I told you I was ill”. Alfred Nobel will always be remembered for the Nobel Prizes of Peace, Arts & Science. Can any of us imagine anything more wonderful than hearing the God of all creation pronounce the final benediction on our lives, when the time comes, with the words “Well done good and faithful servant……………...come and share your Master’s happiness”. There is a song with the important words “They’ll know we are Christians by our love”, because how we live, how witness how we use our God given health, money, time, talents, gifts, and abilities, but above all else how we love, really matters, because when we do, we can hear Jesus say, “it was all worth it!” StF 513 Take this moment, sign and space Blessing
Everyday God, I thank you for the presence of your Son wherever I approach you in worship. Help me now to fling wide the doors Breathe your Spirit deeply, That daily I might live as one of your faithful disciples Sharing the good news of the Kingdom Now and forever, Amen. I wonder what you are looking for… (think a moment) Health, happiness, security, peace maybe – for yourself and for your loved ones and for the world. Some may also be looking for approval, for encouragement, for love, for a better job, a higher income, opportunities, fun… and so on. And where are you looking for these things? StF 348 He is LordReading, Matthew 28 1 - 10StF 305 Low in the grave he layPrayer |
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.
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January 2024
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