Service Sheet (pdf)
Introduction and Welcome
Welcome to our morning service in Bradford North Circuit. We particularly welcome you this morning if you are one of the many feeling right now that life is providing less than what you are needing. This service is for you if you find yourself waking each morning with dissatisfaction or dread in your soul. We welcome you particularly if you feel that life has been unfair to you. We hope that we can show you a good time here, and that you will be able to take yourself into the coming week as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven rather than as a slave in a Kingdom of Hell. We will, of course, be talking quite a bit about Love, and just to give us an example, listen to this call to worship from today’s lectionary,Genesis 29:20
So, Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. But it only seemed like a few days, because he loved her so much.Collect for today
Great God of Love, help us to discover what we truly long for, and in the strength of our Lord Jesus, and following his example, help us dedicate our lives to pursuing and gaining this goal, without distraction of lesser ends, so that we may live henceforth as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven rather than as slaves in a Kingdom of Hell. AmenFirst Hymn
For our first musical contribution this morning by Keith & Kristyn Getty you will find the words and music in Singing the Faith, 161 “Speak, O Lord, as we come to you”First lectionary reading
Our first Lectionary reading today is from Paul’s letter to the Romans chapter eight, some of the verses from 31-38. Paul is setting out his view of the all-pervasive power of love as a way of living. This is from The Message version:So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, …
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
Reflection on Paul’s letter to the Romans 8:31-38
Some people have difficulty with the idea that Jesus loves them. Some people have even more difficulty with the idea that an all-powerful being loves them. Especially one who also created, not just our Earth, our Solar System, our galaxy, our local cluster of galaxies, but also the rest of a rather large universe. How can we put this idea of a universe full of love in a different way, so that people who feel no sympathy with describing Jesus as a living presence in their lives don’t also dismiss the value of Christianity and of Jesus-Shaped decision-making? How can we convince people that they have a choice between living as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven rather than as slaves in a Kingdom of Hell? To live in a world of resentment, of feeling that life has been unfair, of blame for those who have wronged us, is to live in a kingdom of Hell. We offer an alternative.When Paul says that nothing can separate us from the Love of Jesus, he is reporting his experience that, whatever had happened to him, and quite a lot of nasty things had happened to him, he still felt embraced in the arms of love. He felt that external circumstances could not rock his commitment to continuing the work of Jesus in promoting love as a founding methodology against a Roman Empire background of power acquisition, inequality, slavery, and other cruelties.
The Church has lost its way many times over the years, sometimes building its own edifice of powerful exploitation and sometimes cruelty; sometimes siding with the powerful against the powerless; but many of us are trying to return to our Jesus-Shaped roots of Christian living. In this model of life, we decide from within what sort of person we will be and, whatever the circumstances, we will still be that person, with that loving regard for others. Whether we live in a palace or a refugee camp, we will still be able to apply that love to our situation. Life is not fair. Jesus did not offer us fairness. Applying the Love that Jesus taught will tend to reduce inequality rather than promote it, but it won’t make life seem fair. We should not expect it.
Introduction to the Second Lectionary Reading
Jesus had quite a lot to say about this Kingdom of Heaven in which the law is a law of love. Remember that very few people in history have lived in societies where they had any influence on powerful leaders. Even today, in this country, some people wonder whether their voice counts for anything, whether their leaders understand their needs and respond to them. People’s experience of Kingdoms in the first century of the Christian era was an experience of subjugation, of slavery, of fear of unpredictable authority, of cruelty and exploitation, all in the interests of the King, or Emperor, for more power and wealth. Like all people who live in repressive regimes, Jesus’ listeners wanted change, they wanted a Kingdom of Heaven. What would this Kingdom be like?Our second lectionary reading reveals some of what Jesus had to say about a kingdom of heaven from Matthew’s Gospel: Chapter 13, some verses from 31 to 46
“God’s kingdom is like a pine nut that a farmer plants. It is quite small as seeds go, but in the course of years it grows into a huge pine tree, and eagles build nests in it.”
“God’s kingdom is like yeast that a woman works into the dough for dozens of loaves of barley bread—and waits while the dough rises.”
“God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field”
“Or, God’s kingdom is like a jewel merchant on the hunt for excellent pearls. Finding one that is flawless, he immediately sells everything and buys it”.
Reflection on the Gospel reading
Jesus told his hearers that the Kingdom of Heaven would start small, but that it would grow, displacing other kingdoms, as a tall tree shades out competitors. So it is that we find that love grows when we give it away. We are to start small. Small acts of love multiply. Whatever the regime in which we live, living lovingly will improve the situation. Love will grow and multiply if we let it. While many seeds never become trees, we must create the right conditions in our hearts and in our communities, and we must make sure that our community does not impose repression and exploitation on other communities, so that the small beginings of our love can grow and spread. We can create a kingdom of heaven within whatever regime we happen to live.The parable about yeast reminds me of baking bread when we were showing people round our house for sale. Every one of Jesus’ listeners would have recognised that delicious smell that makes people believe that they are guests in a lovely home. So, Jesus told them that God’s Kingdom, like yeast, would infect nations, working from within, not overthrowing by force. The result would be a light, airy, nutritious, environment, permeated by the perfume of love.
The parable about the treasure in the field reminds me that I have next week’s winning lottery ticket here in my pocket, what will you give me for it? Jesus told his listeners that the Kingdom of Heaven was a treasure that was worth more than everything else. This monetary example is the basis of so many scams which defraud people by appealing to their greed or exploiting their poverty. The greedy trespasser with a metal detector in this parable, recognises that the treasure in the field is worth far more than the cost of the field. That makes it worth buying. The Kingdom of Heaven is an investment that will pay a better return than your ISA. Do not accept substitutes.
In the last parable about the pearl of great price, the Kingdom of Heaven is like the life you already have, but of infinitely higher quality and beauty. This is not just about value, it is about worth and wonder. It is about replacing elements of your life that do not bring joy with elements that do. Let’s make a list of those things that are most important to us. Lets compare it with how we actually spend our time and money.
I think we should read those parables again and make a list.
Prayers
We begin by reading the Lord’s Prayer written by and used by Benjamin Franklin, he who said: “How many observe Christ's birthday! How few, His precepts!” We become so familiar with the Lord’s Prayer, every version we read is a translation, an interpretation of the original Aramaic, perhaps it helps us reflect on the meaning to read it in a different version:Heavenly Father
May all revere thee, and become thy dutiful Children and faithful Subjects.
May thy Laws be obeyed on Earth as perfectly as they are in Heaven.
Provide for us this Day as thou has hitherto daily done.
Forgive us our Trespasses, and enable us likewise to forgive those that offend us.
Keep us out of Temptation, and deliver us from Evil.
We pray for those who feel disappointed with their lives, those who feel that life has been unfair to them, those who resent what they see as the success of others, those consumed by envy and criticism of others.
We pray for ourselves, when we allow envy or resentment to dominate our thoughts and feelings; when we feel sorry for ourselves.
We pray for all those whom we perceive to be suffering; those short of food; of shelter; of security from violence; those who live in repressive regimes where the decisions that govern their lives are taken for the benefit of those who rule.
We pray particularly for the children who suffer neglect, violence, homelessness, hunger, and avoidable illness. We repent our selfishness that compels us to keep wealth for our own use which could alleviate their suffering.
Give us joyful, generous hearts, O God, help us share our good fortune, our joy and happiness, with those who need it most. Help us become faithful disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
A reflection on our call to worship
This is from the story of Jacob who falls in love with Rachel. He agrees to serves her father, Laban, for seven years to earn her hand in marriage. When seven years are elapsed, he finds that he has been tricked into marrying the older sister, Leah. Laban is unrepentant and offers Rachel as a second wife if Jacob serves a further seven years. Jacob does this willingly and the story teller in Genesis tells us that: “It seemed like just a few days because he loved her so much”.So, I ask you, what is so important to us that we are willing to spend a significant proportion of what remains of our lives working for it?
Our second hymn
Our second musical contribution this morning is brought to us by Mark Edwards & Stuart Townend. They mark the passing hours of the day with prayer and activity that will expand the love of life and dedicate them to the service of God and of their fellow human beings. The final choruses are a request that the Love that we learned from Jesus should inform our whole life.It is called Liturgy of the hours. You won’t find it in the hymnbook, so here are the words:
With every morning I will kneel to pray,
To be a blessing in this coming day
In everything I say and everything I do,
To wholly honour You.
At noon remind me through this day to give
My full attention to the ones I'm with,
Be mindful of those things around and those within,
And fully enter in.
Teach me the wisdom of remembering,
And give me the wisdom to forget.
Lead me,
Oh, teach me
To live each day for You.
And in the evening as my thoughts retell
This passing day let me remember well;
So that no bitterness takes root within my soul,
Help me to let them go.
And in the night-time may my mind be free
To truly rest and be refreshed in sleep;
And by releasing every worry, every strain,
Be free to start again.
Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me and before;
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in peace and Christ in storm;
Christ in hearts of all who know me,
Christ in friend and stranger all.
Benediction
Here from Baildon, I wish that you may spend next week in the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever happens to you, whatever you hear on the news, however dark and unhappy those around you, however mean and unfair life seems to you, I wish you a week of giving and receiving love. I wish you a week of internal joy at being alive, a week of random acts of kindness, probably mostly anonymous, that will thrill you through and through with the knowledge that you are spreading abroad the love of God in the footsteps of Christ. For thus the kingdom of Heaven will grow as the yeast and the pine nut and become the pearl of great price worth more than anything else. For nothing will then separate you from the Love of God.We close our service by listening once again to John Rutter’s version of “The Lord Bless you and Keep You”, brought to us by the Woodhouse Grove school choir in lockdown. You perhaps recognise some of the members of this choir.
Thank you for joining us this morning. We hope that you will follow our service next week when the leader will be Peter Jackson.
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