'Love your neighbour'

​Today is the first Sunday in the new Methodist Connexional year and also this Sunday where we have an Interactive Worship time.  Our theme today is 'Love your neighbour' and below are several options for you to engage with and a mixture of YouTube hymns to sing or listen to.

Opening Prayer
Lord of all,
In reverence and humility, awe and wonder,
We come to worship you.
As we draw near to you – draw near to us
And meet with us now we pray.
In Jesus name
Amen

​Song   - Bless the Lord o my soul (10,000 reasons) - Words and Music Matt Redman and Jonas Myrin

​Let us pray
Loving and generous God, on this the first Sunday of a new Connexional year we are aware that so many people are still unable to gather in a church or chapel to worship you. We know you hear our prayers from wherever we are, but for many our desire is to gather together for mutual support and to praise your name.

Hear the prayers of our hearts as we long for a better world.
Hear the prayers of our minds as we try to find new ways to worship you.
Hear the prayer of our souls as we long to draw closer to you.
On this day, we thank you once again for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ. How he modelled a way for us to live, and how he showed us that there is nothing in earth or heaven that can separate us from your love.
Forgive us Lord in the times when we doubt you.
Give us strength when we feel weak.
Hold us close, until the day finally comes when we might all gather as one to praise your name.
​Amen

Old Testament Bible reading - Psalm 119 verses 33 to 40

New Testament reading - Romans chapter 13 verses 8-12

​Craft – paper figures

​Who are your neighbours? Cut out figures to represent people you know and stick them together. Thank God for each one.

​Reflecting on the passage from Romans 13:8-12.
1. Read the passage of scripture aloud.
Pause and recall if some word or phrase stood out or something in the reading touched your heart. If so, pause and dwell for a moment on that insight or feeling.
​
2. Read the passage again.
Take a few moments to think about the words that have stood out to you and spend a moment in quiet prayer. 
Listen to the version below of the hymn StF 242 - A new Commandment I give unto you –
or read the words through slowly.
A new commandment
I give unto you
That you love one another
As I have loved you,
That you love one another
As I have loved you.
By this shall all men
Know you are My disciples
If you have love one to another.

​Discussion questions
In the passage from Romans 13: 8-12 we are reminded again to love our neighbours as we love ourselves.
For a few moments bring to mind your immediate neighbours, those living on the same street, next door or maybe opposite. How well do you know them? Did the recent lockdown provide an opportunity to get to know them better? Can you recall any acts of kindness received from them during this time? Were you able to show neighbourly love to any of them during lockdown?
​
Who is my neighbour? We are reminded in the gospels (Luke Ch10) that our neighbour includes all in need.

1. As Christians how can we, as a church and also as individuals, show the love of Jesus to people in the community surrounding Kingswood?
2. ​​Broadening this further, in a world full of need how can we as individuals, as a church, and as a relatively wealthy country, demonstrate the love of God and his concern for the world he created to those in need regardless of race, culture or religion?

​Stf 256 - When I needed a neighbour were you there.- Words: Sydney Carter Music: “Neighbour” by Sydney Carter

Prayers for Others

Message
Adapted, Francis Dorff's "The Rabbi's Gift," in A World of Stories, William Bausch, Editor, (Twenty-Third Publications, 1998), pp. 91-92

​StF 547 - Beyond these walls of worship - Words and Music: Ian Worsfold & Paul Wood
​ Arranged: Matt Beckingham