tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86872187609830101132024-03-05T13:25:36.558+00:00Bradford North CircuitA group of 13 Methodist Churches in North Bradford, West Yorkshire, sharing God's love within their communities.Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.comBlogger773125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-35201321466891385702022-04-02T22:14:00.000+01:002022-04-02T22:14:07.357+01:00Virtual Worship - 3 April 2022<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>A Methodist Way of Life - April 2022 - Praying Daily</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/qfy5n3pbeslvnde/Order%20of%20service%20for%20MWOL%20praying%20daily%20April%202022.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">Service sheet</a> (pdf)</span></p><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Start by listening to ‘Lead me Lord’: </span></p></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nIwxmEKdIQw" width="320" youtube-src-id="nIwxmEKdIQw"></iframe></div><br /><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">Hello and welcome to the Bradford North worship video for April, the first of 12 services focusing on the commitments contained within the Methodist Way of Life and introduced by Rev David Goodall in last month’s video. My name is Claire Nott: I’m a local preacher on trial in the circuit and one of the lay pastors at Baildon Methodist Church.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">The anthem you heard at the start was Samuel Wesley’s ‘Lead me Lord’, based on Psalm 5 verse 8. Our call to worship is a selection of other verses taken from the same psalm:</span></p><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I pray to you, O </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.5pt; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">;</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /><sup>3 </sup> you hear my voice in the morning;<br />at sunrise I offer my prayer<sup>[</sup></span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search%3Dpsalm%2B5%26version%3DGNT%23fen-GNT-15220b&source=gmail&ust=1649015683763000&usg=AOvVaw3OSSS8EMoyX5SkCzo3cD74" href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+5&version=GNT#fen-GNT-15220b" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" title="See footnote b"><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">b</span></sup></a><sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.5pt;">]</span></sup><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /> and wait for your answer.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">all who find safety in you will rejoice;<br /> they can always sing for joy.<br />Protect those who love you;<br /> because of you they are truly happy</span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">This month, we are focusing on one of the three commitments contained within the Worship section of the Methodist Way of Life: ‘We will pray daily’. Our first song reminds us that no matter what is happening in our life we can bring it to Jesus in prayer. I encourage you, as the psalmist proclaimed, to sing for joy as we sing ‘What a friend we have in Jesus.’</span></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">STF 531: What a friend we have in Jesus</span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cwi_qKVI8lQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="cwi_qKVI8lQ"></iframe></div><br /></span></b><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span><p></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In this service, we are going to explore several ways in which we can pray daily. Maybe one of them will provide encouragement to you if this area of worship is something you struggle with. You are not alone! Sometimes in our day-to-day busyness, it can be hard to see how we can fit in a regular time for prayer but, hopefully, in 45 mins time you may have some strategies for praying or be thinking about prayer in a different way. Let’s start with…a pair of socks! What on earth does this have to do with prayer? Listen to our first reading and I’ll then explain.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Reading – Ephesians 6: 10-18</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> (NIV)</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">There is an ancient Irish prayer, usually attributed to St Patrick and the 5<sup>th</sup> Century, often called ‘St Patrick’s Breastplate’. It echoes the reading you just heard in calling for God’s protection for the day to come. It begins,<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I arise today<br />Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,<br />Through belief in the Threeness,<br />Through confession of the Oneness<br />of the Creator of creation.<u></u><u></u></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">It goes on to proclaim our faith, to praise creation and to ask for strength for the coming day before declaring<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Instead of ‘I arise today’, some translations use ‘I bind unto myself today’ which appeals to me with the commitment evident in the language to hold our faith firm throughout the day, to look for our creator in the world around us and to be fully immersed in Christ in everything we do. Back to our pair of socks…as you get dressed each day, you may find it helpful to use it as an opportunity to pray: to ask for God’s protection, to use each item of clothing to represent being clothed in God’s armour – so that when troubles come, we can stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around our waist, the breastplate of righteousness in place, our feet fitted with the gospel of peace and we can take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Many people find it helpful to regularly pray at set times of the day, whether that is first thing in the morning to commit each new day to the Lord, or at night, when you reflect on what has happened during the day and give thanks for what has gone well or confess what could have gone better. In fact, <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333;">the term ‘Methodist’ was originally used to mock John Wesley and his Christian friends at Oxford on account of the disciplined methods of spirituality which they observed. Wesley continued the systematic practice of spiritual disciplines throughout his life. One of the rules he lived by was spending 4.30am to 6.00am each day in prayer, Bible-reading and meditation. He repeated the collect for the day at 9.00am, 12 noon and 3.00pm, and prayed short prayers every hour on the hour. At the end of each day he would review his behaviour, his motivation in doing good, and his fervour in his prayers of that day. Wesley kept up this demanding rule of life for some years as an external discipline, until it became internalised as an ingrained approach to life.</span><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">In the study materials attached to this service, there are links to various resources that use liturgy of the hours if you’d like to explore this idea further. At the end of the service you’ll hear a modern interpretation of St Patrick’s Breastplate but our next song also refers to acknowledging and needing God in our lives at different times of the day.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">StF 526: Lord of all hopefulness</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b8mti7VL3gg" width="320" youtube-src-id="b8mti7VL3gg"></iframe></div><br /><p></p><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Our second reading is Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians but it is likely that he would have also sent this message to other churches and it is just as relevant for us today.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Ephesians 3: 14-20</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> (The Message)</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I have been finding visual aids really helpful in reminding and helping me to pray daily. For example, take this teaspoon: as you stir your cup of tea or coffee, offer a simple TSP prayer – thank you, sorry and please. Let us pray:<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Lord, thank you for the promise of the day ahead, for the conversations we’ll have and the people we’ll meet. We’re sorry for the times when we have ignored opportunities you’ve given us to show your love or ignored your call. Please help us to be patient and discern what your will is rather than our own. Amen</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Or you could think of SPOON as a structure for your prayer:<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">S</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">aying sorry<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">P</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">raise<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">O</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">thers<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">O</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">urselves<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">N</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">eeds</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Beads have long been used in Christian tradition to support prayer – think of rosaries or prayer beads. In preparing for this service I made myself a prayer bead keyring – you may like to make something similar for yourself, picking different coloured beads to represent situations you want to regularly pray for. I’ll explain my choices as we offer our prayers of intercession, let us pray:</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Loving Lord, this blue bead represents people in need and as I hold it we name individuals we know who are suffering at this time and ask for the Spirit to provide them with patience and hope (silence). Red represents the love we show our neighbours; we pray for the mission of the Church and the community outreach that takes place within our circuit (silence). As I hold the green bead, we bring the climate crisis before you Creator God, acknowledging our ongoing destruction of the environment and pray that world leaders act upon commitments made at COP26 (silence). The white bead is a prayer for situations of conflict, that peace and reconciliation can occur (silence) this stripy one reminds me of bees so thank you Lord for this wonderful world that we live in, for the resources you provide to meet all our needs (silence) we offer all these prayers in the name of Jesus, remembering his sacrifice which gave us our freedom and rejoicing in the Grace we freely receive. <b>Amen</b><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">It's time to sing again and our next song leads us into thinking of prayer for ourselves as individuals and after it we’ll be looking at a different way of thinking about praying daily.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">STF 523: It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2zNmNECn5mU" width="320" youtube-src-id="2zNmNECn5mU"></iframe></div><br /><p></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The third and final reading is <b>Matthew 26: 36-46</b> (GNT)</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11.5pt;">This year’s World Day of Prayer service, written by Christian women in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, included the stories of 3 women who feel excluded for a variety of reasons. One, Natalie, talks about having an abusive partner who hurt her so badly when she was pregnant that her baby was born early. She says that in the days she spent in hospital, not knowing if her child would live, that God spoke to her saying, “Stop praying for your child to live. Instead, pray for my will to be done.” Natalie said, “Yes,” to God who offered only to be present, with no promises that everything would be okay. She goes on to say that her baby is now 13 years old, that she’s no longer with her abusive partner and that God has good plans for her, filling her life with more joy and beauty than she ever thought possible. (WWDP, 4/3/2022)</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11.5pt;">As we heard in our Gospel reading, Jesus himself used prayer for strength to endure what he knew was coming; his human nature asking if there was any way for it to be avoided but ultimately praying, if there was no alternative, that God’s will be done. This is something we have to be honest about with prayer: whenever we ask for things in prayer, for example, for a friend or family member to be cured of a disease or for peace in a war zone, we have to pray in the knowledge that this may not be possible and that, ultimately, all we can pray is that God’s will be done. The Methodist Covenant Prayer echoes the words of Jesus at Gethsemane when we say, ‘Your will, not mine, be done in all things, wherever you may place me, in all that I do and in all that I may endure’.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">John Wesley in his sermon ‘The Means of Grace’ urges us to seek God’s grace through prayer, to be persistent in prayer and to follow the advice given in the Gospels about prayer. He also said <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">that the point of prayer is not to inform God about our concerns but to inform ourselves and to encourage us to rely on God to supply our wants and to put ourselves into a state in which to receive the good things God has prepared for us.<u></u><u></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 11.5pt;">One way of viewing prayer is that it is more of a way of being than an isolated act of doing. It requires us to open to God’s gracious presence with our whole heart, soul and mind; Rowan Williams, when he was Archbishop of Canterbury, likened it to sunbathing, basking in God’s presence is like being in the rays of the sun.</span><i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;"> You’re not going to get a better tan by screwing up your eyes and concentrating. You give the time, and that’s it. All you have to do is turn up. And then things change, at their own pace. You simply have to be there where the light [is]</span></i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Sister Wendy in her book, Sister Wendy on Prayer, uses a painting by Craigie Aitchison, Boat (1998), as a way to reflect on the mystery of God. I’m using parts of her reflection along with content from Richard Rohr’s daily meditation emails to invite you to open yourselves to God’s presence and to be in his light. On the video there is an image similar to Craigie Aitchinson’s painting but, if you are reading the paper version, you may want to draw your own.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Draw a boat on the sea, give it a mast and sail, full of wind. Put a couple of stars in the sky. We can’t see the sailor on the boat. <i>The boat represents our prayer, we have launched it on the sea of faith and stay quiet within it. All movement comes from God. We await Him, we surrender to Him. Where we want to go is not the point; it is where God wants to take us. We do not see where that is. There is ‘Starlight’, yes, but no sun or moon, no clarity of vision. All that is in our power is choice: do we stay still, hidden, unable to take control, or do we jump up and steer that boat ourselves, refusing God’s lordship? …Prayer is impossible without trust. What matters is to stay at rest, down below sight level while the wind that is the Holy Spirit bears us over the still waters to where God waits for us. In this place we know we’re not being manipulated, we’re not being used, we’re not being judged, we’re not being evaluated, we are simply being. It’s the place of ultimate freedom. </i>Pneuma, the Ancient Greek word for breath, also means Spirit and whilst our boat requires the breath of wind from the Spirit, we can use breath prayer to remind us that each breath is God’s gift and that God’s spirit is nearer to us than our own breath. Concentrate on your breathing, focus on each breath in and each breath out. On your next breath:<i> breathe in ‘Abba’, breathe out ‘I belong to you’, breathe in ‘Healer’, breathe out ‘speak the word and I shall be healed’, breathe in ‘Lord’, breathe out ‘here I am’, breathe in ‘Jesus’, breathe out ‘have mercy on me’.</i><u></u><u></u></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">As our next song is played, you may want to continue focusing on your boat, basking in the presence of God.<u></u><u></u></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">StF 530 To be in your presence Lord</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/typ7cueKdT4" width="320" youtube-src-id="typ7cueKdT4"></iframe></div><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">I volunteered to prepare the service and materials for this particular commitment of the Methodist Way of Life services as one of the units I’ve been studying recently as part of the Local Preacher training has been about prayer. As with all the modules, it has challenged my prior knowledge and thoughts and my understanding is continually growing and adapting. At the start of the unit, my one sentence definition of prayer was that it was an opportunity to speak to God. When I think about prayer now, I see myself opening to God, to be bathed in his light, and to understand his will. Prayer is about us showing God’s love in our concern for others, our thankfulness and praise and continuing to show that love by undertaking actions to effect change in the situations we’ve prayed about or that others have prayed about. At the heart of our prayers is the acknowledgment that everything we have came first from God, that our focus is on what God’s will is and bringing about God’s Kingdom on Earth. I’m not sure how I can condense that into one sentence though! There is one prayer that brings all those thoughts together, the one that Jesus taught us to use.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Let us share together </span><b style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The Lord’s Prayer</b><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #202124; font-size: 11.5pt;">There is a statement attributed to St. Augustine that says: “<b>The one who sings prays twice”</b>. When we sing praise, we not only sing, but also love him of whom we sing. Our final hymn draws together all that prayer is as we sing</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">STF 519: Father, I place into your hands</span></b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qbLjp4-8NdY" width="320" youtube-src-id="qbLjp4-8NdY"></iframe></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0 0 0 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;">The study materials accompanying this service contain links to resources mentioned here along with questions for you to consider and discuss to encourage you to commit to praying daily. Each month you’ll also be asked two standard questions: “What practices will help you live out this commitment?” and “How often do you need to do it?”</span></p></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Let’s end by sharing The Grace together and I then invite you to listen to Stuart Townend’s version of St Patrick’s breastplate prayer: ‘Liturgy of the Hours’.</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">The Grace</span><span style="background-color: transparent;"> </span></p></div></blockquote><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><b>Stuart Townend – ‘Liturgy of the Hours’ </b></span></p></div></blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KdXChDCY6xw" width="320" youtube-src-id="KdXChDCY6xw"></iframe></div><p><br /></p><blockquote style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;" type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><i>[References to books/quotes removed to keep the written version to 4 pages but please contact me on </i><a href="mailto:clairen@baildonmethodists.com" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><i>clairen@baildonmethodists.com</i></a><i> if you would like further details.]</i></p></div></blockquote>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-26289250907968978972022-03-26T16:23:00.000+00:002022-03-26T16:28:53.614+00:00Virtual Worship - 27 March 2022<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">4th Sunday in Lent and Mothering Sunday</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/jf0ye95esgy7v7n/2022-03-27-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</div></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship:</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">Let us thank God for the love that holds us in being,<br />moment by moment,<br />ever welcoming us home.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song: </span></h3><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy (Hymns and Psalms 552; Singing the Faith 526) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b8mti7VL3gg" width="320" youtube-src-id="b8mti7VL3gg"></iframe></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Introduction to the theme:</span></h3></div><span style="font-family: arial;">On Mothering Sunday, we appreciate the presence and importance of nurturing love for us. Life’s challenges can mean we forget this love. We can become lost through the mistakes and wrong choices we make, or perhaps by the pressure and responsibility we feel under to get things right. The joy is that God’s outrageous love is always, always there, welcoming us home again.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Opening prayer:</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">On this Mothering Sunday,<br />we open our hearts before you, faithful God,<br />bringing those we love, and those we struggle to love,<br />those we have lost, and those we are afraid of losing.<br /><br />We bring our tears and our joy,<br />our disappointments and our hopes.<br />We bring all that we carry and all that we long to lay down –<br />in Jesus’ name. Amen.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Introduction to the bible reading:</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">The parable of the prodigal son is one of the best known of Jesus’ stories. It is a story about finding and being found – the Father’s words at the end of the story sum up its meaning: ‘for he was lost but now is found.’<br /><br /> I always think of this story as being the Good News in miniature - the gospel message in a nutshell. At heart, the gospel is not first and foremost about how we find God, but about the God who finds us. That is the Good News - how God in Jesus Christ reveals himself to us, makes himself known to us, embracing us and bringing us back to himself. No matter how much we go off on our own way, God never stops loving us, caring for us, and longing to be reconciled to us - like the Father in the story who sees his lost son from far away who races out to meet him, puts his arm around him and brings him home - to great celebration. This theme of finding the lost is an important theme in Luke’s gospel – seen, for example in the story about the woman who loses and coin and turns the house upside down looking for it (15.8-10); the shepherd who searches far and wide until the missing sheep is found (15.1-7); Zaccheus the tax collector whom everyone detests, but who Jesus makes a point of finding, ‘for the Son of man came to seek and save the lost’ (19.1-10). All of these stories spell out the Father’s love for his children.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bible reading: </span></h3></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke 15.11-32 The Parable of the Prodigal and his brother</span></h4><span style="font-family: arial;">11 Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. 13 A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. 14 When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. 16 He would gladly have filled himself with[c] the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. 17 But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’” 20 So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. 21 Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”[d] 22 But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; 24 for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.<br /><br />25 ‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. 27 He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” 28 Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. 29 But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” 31 Then the father[e] said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.”’<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Food for thought</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">The two sons both had lessons to learn about the importance of finding and being found. The younger Son had gone off with his share of the property and squandered the lot. He is reduced to looking after pigs, which would have been the least desirable of jobs for the son of a Jewish family. And at this lowest point in his experience, at the point where he has nothing more to lose, Jesus uses a wonderful phrase - the son ‘came to himself’ or ‘he came to his senses.’ In other words he found himself - he recognised who he was and what he needed to do. This period of Lent is an ideal time for us to have a good look at our own lives - at who we are and what we need to do. Just as Jesus spent time in the wilderness reflecting on the words he heard at his baptism, “You are my beloved son,” and on the mission that lay ahead for him, so we too can usefully use Lent to rediscover ourselves as children of a God who loves us and calls us to be reconciled to God and share in a ministry of reconciliation to others. It is a time for finding ourselves and coming back to God; an opportunity for repentance and making amends wherever we have failed to live up to the life that God wants us to live. Returning to God, we find that he has already set out meet us, with arms open wide and a celebration already being prepared. Moving to meet with God, we find that God is already on the move towards us.<br /><br />And what about the older son; how does this gospel message of finding and being found apply to him? I remember leading a Lenten bible study a number of years ago when we were looking at the words to one of Wesley’s best loved hymns, ‘And can it be’, which contains the line, ‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, For O my God, it found out me.’ For me, that line says pretty much what I have been trying to say in this service - about how God finds us. But to one member of the group, it expressed a sense of being found wanting - that the hymn in some way exposed a shortcoming in him. Such being found wanting applies very well to the experience of the older son. For instead of sharing his Father’s compassion, the older son shows only a resentment and jealousy of what is going on around him. And so he fails to meet the requirements of hospitality and celebration that the occasion of the return of the younger son demands. The gospel message will not always rest easy with us - there will be times when it challenges us and reveals our shortcomings. But God is a God of grace who wants the very best us and has given us the very best in Jesus Christ. Even though we too may be found wanting, God does not give up on us, but claims us and assures us of our place with him. May we too respond to this gospel of grace which has found us out and given us hope.<br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reflection: Rembrandt’s painting of the prodigal Son</span></h4><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaNO3T8q3a7nh6V_y-SJ5WAvaneu6ysNzug91-VI97eXF7ZtpDQ80T_Rs5vyLmAYZzKIh8HL_zM6pIEqGT6JpPvWyyL3Loqs8e6ary5lUcS9wL_0AzDBxM76WRfM0HSoIvyxix6KVBpomfSWqv6dId5I44Exul6-MM1Vn_t-o0zRylz9yH_5O-w18/s472/Screen%20Shot%202022-03-26%20at%2016.16.46.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="349" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgaNO3T8q3a7nh6V_y-SJ5WAvaneu6ysNzug91-VI97eXF7ZtpDQ80T_Rs5vyLmAYZzKIh8HL_zM6pIEqGT6JpPvWyyL3Loqs8e6ary5lUcS9wL_0AzDBxM76WRfM0HSoIvyxix6KVBpomfSWqv6dId5I44Exul6-MM1Vn_t-o0zRylz9yH_5O-w18/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-03-26%20at%2016.16.46.png" width="237" /></a></div></span></h4><span style="font-family: arial;">Look at the picture showing Rembrandt’s painting. What do you notice? Catholic priest, Henri Nouwen, who died in 1996, was inspired by Rembrandt’s painting of the prodigal son. It led him to understand Jesus’ story in a fresh way. Yes, he identified himself with both the younger and older sons - he too felt himself to be sometimes wayward and sometimes resentful. But the more he studied the picture, the more he felt drawn to the father figure - Henri Nouwen might have been like the sons, but he also felt a deep calling to become like the father, showing compassion and mercy to those who needed it. There is a challenge in Henry Nouwen’s experience for all of us - that each one of us can be ministers of God’s grace - reaching out in welcome, offering our love to those around us. For if we ourselves have been like the sons who have received of God’s mercy and compassion, should we not also be inspired to share the same with others?<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers for others</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">Gracious God, we pray that your reconciling love may bring harmony to our world.<br />We pray for those caught up in conflicts between nations and states;<br />for all who live in fear of the bullet or the bomb.<br />May the leaders of the nations listen to each other, and commit themselves to peace.<br />We pray for those whose relationships have broken down.<br />May your love bring reconciliation, your peace dissolve bitterness,<br />and your grace disperse anger.<br /><br />We bring to you homes that are filled with conflict,<br />and pray for all who suffer from domestic violence and abuse.<br />Bring healing to those who bear the scars of the ways they have been treated,<br />and enable them to experience love.<br /><br />We pray for all who seek to mediate, to bring reconciliation and peace,<br />that they may have wisdom, patience and compassion.<br />We bring our prayer in the name of Christ,<br />through whom all are reconciled to you, our God. Amen.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">We finish with the well-known hymn, Amazing Grace, which contains the inspiring line, ‘I once was lost but am found’. Reflect on this hymn in terms of your own life and as you continue to give thanks for God’s grace and love. Singing the Faith 440, Hymns and Psalms 215) </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tU6GWeBY3qw" width="320" youtube-src-id="tU6GWeBY3qw"></iframe></div></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing: </span></h3></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all forevermore. Amen<br /><br />Acknowledgments: Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Prayers taken from Roots resources, copyright Roots For Churches Ltd.</span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-70870970541570712352022-03-19T22:54:00.000+00:002022-03-19T22:54:13.432+00:00Virtual Worship - 20 March 2022<span style="font-family: arial;">As well as being printed for Circuit distribution, this service will be held on this date at St Andrew’s Church, 10.30am.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;">H&P 7 Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JwuDSw-9cUQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="JwuDSw-9cUQ"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Introduction</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">All round the world and even here in Britain many live under threats of many kinds, pressures which make us feel afraid or insecure: loss of friends; housing, jobs or money; health or danger to life – and that’s just a few. <br /><br />So what should we do when such things affect us? The Bible suggests we should begin by drawing close to God in worship. Worship isn’t an escape, some cosy place away from the world. It’s a recognition that God is in charge; praising him for his sovereignty; and turning our lives over to him so that he may direct our ways. Then we can face our difficulties.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Psalm 63 <br /><br />A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.<br /><br />1 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;<br />my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you,<br />as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.<br />2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,<br />beholding your power and glory.<br />3 Because your steadfast love is better than life,<br />my lips will praise you.<br />4 So I will bless you as long as I live;<br />in your name I will lift up my hands.<br />5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,<br />and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,<br />6 when I remember you upon my bed,<br />and meditate on you in the watches of the night;<br />7 for you have been my help,<br />and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.<br />8 My soul clings to you;<br />your right hand upholds me.<br />9 But those who seek to destroy my life<br />shall go down into the depths of the earth;<br />10 they shall be given over to the power of the sword;<br />they shall be a portion for jackals.<br />11 But the king shall rejoice in God;<br />all who swear by him shall exult,<br />for the mouths of liars will be stopped.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Comment: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">In the first eight verses the Psalmist praises God, and only in the last three verses do we learn he’s in trouble. So whatever he’s feeling like, he doesn’t start with his troubles, he starts with praise:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">He seeks God’s presence, because he knows that that’s what makes for real, true life (1-3).</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">He blesses God for his never-failing provision for his needs: rich food, for body mind and spirit (4-5).</span></li><li>Then, in preparation for facing his difficulties, he recalls God’s past help and protection, and resolves that, whatever lies ahead, he will cling to God, who has sustained him in the past and can be trusted in the future (6-8).</li><li>Then, and only then, he turns to his troubles. He prays for justice, as he understands it (9-10). Those in war-torn countries might well pray similarly.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss8GlE166GOPkWA2WBwkoYQ-cZrbdGDoK3-c7fKT0m4Eu0XY7feAh_UUOIknWevOoaCNaFJm8MLQ7v9fSXr0mfRl70CvTTYOv1mgeTbRo3UFmkGlJiqF0J5x-Hz51wlhi93Ij2HI6vLyIZLgrLa2Stq-64E5YmB7mZ_2ZI7YUDScy2ea5Mkk3RMss/s412/Screen%20Shot%202022-03-19%20at%2022.47.51.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="412" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiss8GlE166GOPkWA2WBwkoYQ-cZrbdGDoK3-c7fKT0m4Eu0XY7feAh_UUOIknWevOoaCNaFJm8MLQ7v9fSXr0mfRl70CvTTYOv1mgeTbRo3UFmkGlJiqF0J5x-Hz51wlhi93Ij2HI6vLyIZLgrLa2Stq-64E5YmB7mZ_2ZI7YUDScy2ea5Mkk3RMss/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-03-19%20at%2022.47.51.png" width="320" /></a></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Finally, he looks forward trustingly to a time when liars will be silenced and peace re-established (11).</li></ul>It’s a very sensible approach for us too. Let’s pray.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Heavenly Father, can mere words praise you as well as you so richly deserve? But we can begin with thanks, for calling us to be your children, through Jesus, and inviting us right into your loving presence. For we need you, Lord. In our inner beings we thirst for you. Please meet us wherever we are: refresh us; fill our souls with deep peace and our lips with right praise.<br /><br />For you have done so much for us in the past: blessed us so lavishly, according to our needs and much more. We can remember the overwhelming relief when you helped us. We sensed your protection, as if under your wings. And we sang for joy when things went well. So now we’re going to stick with you, Lord, for you have been faithful to us and we know you will uphold us, today, and tomorrow...<br /><br />For we need upholding, Lord. You know our troubles and worries, we name them before you anyway, trusting you to deal with them, each in the right way. <br /><br />[Pray about your troubles, or people’s you know (or know of), or places and problems that you particularly care about; or of the Church; or the world.]<br /><br />Please, Lord, either take these problems away, or give us the strength to endure, trusting you always. And perhaps also, somehow, use these experiences to further your kingdom: in my life; in all our lives; and in the whole of your beloved creation – your rule of truth and justice and love and everlasting peace.</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">H&P 278 Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AeGAldt2_sg" width="320" youtube-src-id="AeGAldt2_sg"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Isaiah 55:1-13 <br /><br />1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;<br />and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!<br />Come, buy wine and milk<br />without money and without price.<br />2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not<br />bread,<br />and your labour for that which does not satisfy?<br />Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,<br />and delight yourselves in rich food.<br />3 Incline your ear, and come to me;<br />hear, that your soul may live;<br />and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,<br />my steadfast, sure love for David.<br />4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,<br />a leader and commander for the peoples.<br />5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,<br />and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,<br />because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One<br />of Israel, for he has glorified you.<br />6 “Seek the LORD while he may be found;<br />call upon him while he is near;<br />7 let the wicked forsake his way,<br />and the unrighteous man his thoughts;<br />let him return to the LORD, that he may have<br />compassion on him,<br />and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.<br />8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,<br />neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.<br />9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,<br />so are my ways higher than your ways<br />and my thoughts than your thoughts.<br />10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from<br />heaven and do not return there but water the<br />earth, making it bring forth and sprout,<br />giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,<br />11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;<br />it shall not return to me empty,<br />but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,<br />and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.<br />12 “For you shall go out in joy<br />and be led forth in peace;<br />the mountains and the hills before you<br />shall break forth into singing,<br />and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.<br />13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;<br />instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;<br />and it shall make a name for the LORD,<br />an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Comment: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">This takes up where the Psalmist’s example of drawing close to God left off: with God calling his people to turn to him, and promising to bless them, to nourish and sustain them – and at no cost or charge (1-2). We can equally well apply these words to ourselves.<br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">We are told how to obtain that blessing: by coming close to God and listening to his word in the Bible, and responding to it, to his great promises for a glorious future beyond imagining (3-5).</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">But Isaiah adds an urgency which the Psalm didn’t have: Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near (6) – for God may close doors of opportunity if we fail to take them. Or we ourselves may drift away. </span></li><li>Moreover, we are to seek seriously: give up the ungodly ways that his word tells us about; repent of the wrongs that it shows us; and ask God for forgiveness, which he promises abundantly, for he is compassionate (7).</li><li>God’s thoughts and ways are not like ours, but far higher, on any moral scale – as high as the heavens above the earth (8-9).</li><li>Finally, God’s words always achieve his purpose, which is ultimate freedom from all ill, all conflict, in each and all, reaching out to all creation which will be renewed and last for all time – and his words are intended to draw us into that purpose (10-13).</li></ul>The prospect is glorious; the promise is welcoming; but the call is urgent; hear and heed; don’t miss out. <br /><br />Some years ago I caught the London train from Shipley station. It was in the days when train doors had handles. I opened a door and slammed it after me. Then seconds later two women came running onto the platform and tugged at the same handle, but now it was locked and wouldn’t open. They were too late. The train slid out of the station, leaving them behind. It seemed to me then a very graphic illustration of a door of opportunity closing.<br /><br />Seek the Lord while he may be found;<br />call upon him while he is near (Is 55:6).<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Heavenly Father, we long for lasting peace and joy. Our enduring prayer is just what you promise. So please, Lord, give us the sense to believe your words and follow your way towards your wonderful goal. <br /><br />Help us to see what’s wrong how we think and act, and how far short our ways fall from yours – and then help us give up what’s wrong and follow what’s right in your eyes, assured of your pardon for our failures when we ask.<br /><br />Thank you, Lord, for making this offer, help us to accept it while we still can. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">H&P 48 Thy ceaseless, unexhausted love</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fdn-tDCseYY" width="320" youtube-src-id="Fdn-tDCseYY"></iframe></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Our third reading is also about the need to draw close to God, and again to become the sort of people we should be.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke 13:1-9 <br /><br />1 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”<br /><br />6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vine dresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig round it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Comment: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The setting of the story is a recent atrocity: Pontius Pilate’s troops had slaughtered some people while they were offering sacrifices (like killing people in church). And a tower had collapsed, killing some people. Our news is full of atrocities and disasters, so this could just as well have been in our day.<br /><br />We’re quick to ask when something goes wrong for us, “What have I done to deserve this?” but Jesus says that neither atrocities nor accidents prove that the victims were worse sinners than anyone else. <br /><br />Not worse sinners, but still sinners, disobeying God – and Jesus goes on to say that unless we repent (ie, turn away from our wrong and back to God’s ways, asking for forgiveness, as Isaiah was urging), unless we repent, we will all likewise perish! And he says this twice, because it really matters. <br /><br />We rightly talk of Jesus’ love, but love doesn’t mean softness. Here his love shows in a clear warning – of what will happen to us if we reject him, or even of we delay too long in accepting him, because the door of opportunity won’t stay open forever. And just to make sure we get the point, he gives us a parable.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5QcAcloUpnMevdEAsrPnVYe1kSJcWrhibr6GTEFCwaOEK88fn1FfpPg7P-_mPA_NNOmNdyJ5MKUDs0e3HxOh3Tefymxqmn8ouOLXp8ov3ivvrbptJlb4p2F6-eLy9RjeTlQSG0WU-X7mP-PCs9M_h3JDmzFfvN6FoY2CdQQ20joYXatIIH-lpiAW/s426/Screen%20Shot%202022-03-19%20at%2022.51.00.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="401" data-original-width="426" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr5QcAcloUpnMevdEAsrPnVYe1kSJcWrhibr6GTEFCwaOEK88fn1FfpPg7P-_mPA_NNOmNdyJ5MKUDs0e3HxOh3Tefymxqmn8ouOLXp8ov3ivvrbptJlb4p2F6-eLy9RjeTlQSG0WU-X7mP-PCs9M_h3JDmzFfvN6FoY2CdQQ20joYXatIIH-lpiAW/s320/Screen%20Shot%202022-03-19%20at%2022.51.00.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">A fig tree in a vineyard, leafy but fruitless for three years in succession. It’s a waste of space, says the owner. Get rid of it! But the gardener pleads for one more year: he’ll dig round the roots; he’ll add fertiliser; he’ll give it every chance. But then if that doesn’t work, then alright, cut it down.<br /><br />Seek the Lord while he may be found;<br />call upon him while he is near (Is 55:6).<br /><br />God is the owner. Jesus is that gardener offering a year of favour, of mercy – hope to a largely faithless generation in his days: they could turn back to God through him and become once more the fruitful nation of blessing that God had always intended. But he was their last hope. <br /><br />Of course the parable isn’t restricted to his day. It rolls down the centuries and demands that we ask of ourselves (and help each other in finding answers): are we close enough to God, and fruitful in the way he wants of his people? <br /><br />We can often see that our lives are not fruitful enough, eg: that we lack some of what the Spirit should be bearing in us – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23); or some temptations we can’t conquer; bad habits we can’t break; or an over-hasty tongue making us say things we later regret. When we do feel such things, we can ask Jesus to come and ‘dig round our roots’ and add ‘fertiliser’. <br /><br />Digging round our roots: It’s a wonderful picture of Jesus getting to the root of things in our lives, making sure that everything in us is working as it should. We don’t need to know exactly which of our roots need attention, nor how to put them right, we can leave that to him for he knows us better than we know ourselves. In this parable, he’s the patient gardener: just ask him in.<br /><br />Adding fertiliser: Just as he knows which roots to deal with, he knows what fertiliser we need. To one it may be correction; to another encouragement; but perhaps to all a top dressing of relevant teaching – the application of God’s word, so that we can ‘feed’ on it. That means reading the Bible, especially the bits about Jesus, and pondering it with the help of the Holy Spirit and comparing notes with others of like mind, gaining fresh insights and new direction; and putting his teaching into practice in our lives. <br /><br />Thus we draw close to God, and can be made fruitful: transformed into loving and caring people, helpful and supportive to others, while also being nourished and sustained. And more: through Jesus we are also guaranteed for eternity a future with God – the creator God of power and glory; our loving heavenly Father.<br /><br />If we don’t respond to Jesus’ offer to dig round our roots and apply the fertiliser of his word to make us fruitful, then, well, he warns that fruitless trees will be felled. <br /><br />Seek the Lord while he may be found;<br />call upon him while he is near (Is 55:6).<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord, we do not wish to be barren in your sight, but richly fruitful. So we ask, for both ourselves and each other, that we may draw close to you and find you drawing closer to us. May we be open to the inner workings of our patient gardener Jesus, and become ever more fruitful in your eyes, in whatever way he may determine, for your glory and the love of others. Amen.<br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dedication of our offerings</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Heavenly Father, we bring to you with our love<br />all that we offer, in money or in anything else,<br />and ask that you will make of it all<br />greater things than we can possibly imagine,<br />through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen<br /><br />Lord’s Prayer<br /><br />H&P 668 Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yuyf1YQvcwY" width="320" youtube-src-id="yuyf1YQvcwY"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all (2 Cor 13:14). <br /><br /><br />Service prepared by Roy Lorrain-Smith (The drawings are by him too)<br />Bible readings are from the English Standard Version (Anglicised). CCLI 432031<br /></span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-85299598427043317952022-03-19T15:50:00.000+00:002022-03-19T15:50:12.404+00:00Holy Week and Easter Services<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDkIXgKaAW58ij7eYIPo_GlhnDw_pkqx_SzXl0uZ9EuIUTPnW7Wh-qC8oqaIzuHmsjN1W63x_8AgE2OLKLhh52HoT2ybcj-HmlfAXsbTwf1rzUSCYK_B3k5S7qyJ7IhEQAjoDAndkO4aUHF-YYlkAwl0seLffvwMEwIqJiQCFwlaT9X--1u3pZv9M/s640/stefie-zawa-0CuM-Bj2-wE-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDkIXgKaAW58ij7eYIPo_GlhnDw_pkqx_SzXl0uZ9EuIUTPnW7Wh-qC8oqaIzuHmsjN1W63x_8AgE2OLKLhh52HoT2ybcj-HmlfAXsbTwf1rzUSCYK_B3k5S7qyJ7IhEQAjoDAndkO4aUHF-YYlkAwl0seLffvwMEwIqJiQCFwlaT9X--1u3pZv9M/s320/stefie-zawa-0CuM-Bj2-wE-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Wednesday 13th April </span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Circuit Prayer Zoom for Holy Week, 7.30pm, led by Rev Nick Blundell<br /></span>Please email <a href="mailto:ministers@bradfordnorth.org.uk">ministers@bradfordnorth.org.uk</a> if you would like the Zoom link to join this event.</li></ul></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Maundy Thursday 14th April</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Communion Service at <a href="https://new.bradfordnorth.org.uk/index.php/bolton-methodist-church/">Bolton Methodist Church</a>, 7pm, l</span>ed by Rev Phil Drake.</li><li>Communion service with fellowship meal at <a href="https://new.bradfordnorth.org.uk/index.php/saltaire-methodist-church/">Saltaire Methodist Church</a>, 7pm, led by Rev Christine Crabtree.</li><li>Tenebrae with communion at <a href="https://new.bradfordnorth.org.uk/index.php/wilsden-trinity-church/">Wilsden Trinity Church</a>, 7pm, led by Rev Nick Blundell.</li></ul></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Good Friday 15th April</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Service at <a href="https://new.bradfordnorth.org.uk/index.php/crag-road-methodist-church/">Crag Road Methodist Church</a>, 10am, led by Rev Christine Crabtree</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Service at <a href="https://new.bradfordnorth.org.uk/index.php/baildon-methodist-church/">Baildon</a>, 10am, led by Local Pastors Peter Jackson and Claire Nott</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Service at <a href="https://new.bradfordnorth.org.uk/index.php/thornton-methodist-church/">Thornton Methodist Church</a>, 10.30am, led by Rev Phil Drake</span></li></ul></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shipley Christians Together Walk of Witness for Good Friday:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">11.30am assemble at St Paul’s, Shipley, for tea, coffee and hot cross buns</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">11.45am short service at St Paul’s</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">12 noon start of walk of witness from St Paul’s</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">12.30pm arrival at Market Square with short service at 12.40pm</span></li></ul></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Easter Day 17th April</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Services as on the <a href="https://new.bradfordnorth.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Plan.pdf">Circuit Plan</a>.</span></li></ul></span> <br />Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-30945830451764295612022-03-12T20:47:00.001+00:002022-03-12T21:19:05.139+00:00Virtual Worship - 13 March 2022<h2 style="text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: arial;">An introduction to the Methodist Way of Life </span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/288g08pfcz2xsnb/2022-03-13-worship.pdf?dl=0">S</a><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/288g08pfcz2xsnb/2022-03-13-worship.pdf?dl=0">ervice Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This service is led by Rev David Goodall, the Missional Communities Enabler of the Yorkshire West District. He says, it is a joy and a great privilege to have this service with you and to begin this series on A Methodist Way of Life. My work across the Yorkshire West District is to help and encourage Circuits and local churches to discover the joy of a Methodist Way of Life and to think about how they can use it and embed it in their lives together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is the first of 13 online services which will help you as a Circuit in Bradford North to reflect on a Methodist Way of Life; in this first service I will introduce you to a Methodist Way of Life, and then each of the next 12 services, one each month for a year, will introduce you to one of the commitments in the Methodist Way of Life and will help you think about how you might live it out in your daily discipleship. Along with this service sheet and video, and each of the sheets/videos you will receive over the next 12 months, there is also a handout, a sheet with some resources on it and some questions that you can reflect on in a small group, or with the members of your household, or with some friends from church. </span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer of Approach</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Let us be still as we prepare our hearts and our minds to worship God together. Let us pray.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Loving and holy God, gracious God, open our hearts and minds to you as we worship you now. Speak to us through your Holy Spirit in song, prayer and Scripture, that we may to draw closer to you in our daily lives following Jesus. In his name we pray, Amen.</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song: </span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bless the Lord, O my soul (10,000 reasons) – Matt Redman</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DXDGE_lRI0E" width="320" youtube-src-id="DXDGE_lRI0E"></iframe></div></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers of adoration and confession</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessèd are you, Lord our God; you are the one who created us in your own image, making us and the world to be as beautiful as you are. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessèd are you, Lord our God, for you sent your son Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Saviour, coming among us to show us the way to live, the way of your kingdom; and even when we didn’t follow, giving his life on the cross to die for us and rise to new life so that we might experience and share your love in all its fullness.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessèd are you, Holy Spirit of God, here amongst us, guiding us and leading us as your people.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessèd are you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God three in one, yet one in three, Amen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">God, for those moments when we haven’t acknowledged your goodness, those moments when we have lived our lives rather than your life, we come to ask for your forgiveness. [Silence]</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We hear your words of grace that our sins are forgiven and our hearts sing, “Blessèd are you, O Lord our God. Amen.</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The question I am asked most often is, “What is a Methodist Way of Life and where has it come from?” And perhaps then, “Why should we bother with it?” – and that’s the question I’ll answer a little later on when I reflect on our Bible readings.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At its simplest, A Methodist Way of Life is 12 commitments cased around the Our Calling statements of the Methodist Church that help us to see what it is to live out our lives as Christian disciples. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To dig a little deeper, a Methodist Way of Life came out of a number of years ago as the Methodist Church was thinking about its future. The Methodist Conference, our governing body, chose in 2018 to reaffirm its commitment to Our Calling, a statement of the purpose of the Methodist Church which was adopted in 2000. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In reaffirming its commitment to Our Calling, the Methodist Church was aware that it could do all the strategic thinking and planning it needed, but at the same time it needed to invite members of the Methodist Church to be faithful in their discipleship, and maybe even to be renewed and refreshed in that. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Roger Walton had penned a Methodist Way of Life during his time as Chair here in the District, and the Conference chose to develop Roger’s work in order to give us these 12 commitments to help us live out our discipleship together. The strategic thinking would bring about the structural change the Church needed, and a Methodist Way of Life would bring about the cultural change in its membership to help it grow with God and therefore to be better disciples and better missionaries in the world. Roger said in his book <i>Finding the Way:</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A Methodist Way of Life sets out what it means to be Methodist. It puts into words how we try to live our lives in response to God’s love made known to us in Jesus. A Methodist Way of Life is both new and old. It is new, in that in that it was first discussed by the Methodist Conference in 2018 and was shared with all Methodists in 2020. But it is based on what Methodists agreed was their calling in the year 2000 and what, in turn, was built on what Methodists have always done since the days of John Wesley as they tried to follow Jesus and live out the Christian faith. It is a way of living.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When I was asked to write what a Methodist Way of Life was, I said this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Methodist Way of Life is a way in which Christians can live out their faith in Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Through the Methodist Way of Life they will deepen their discipleship and play their part in bringing God’s love to the world. It is rooted in the Methodist tradition but draws on a move of the Spirit which is drawing Christians into community with each other in new ways.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you are someone who prefers pictures to words, Roger says that a Methodist Way of Life is a reminder, a compass and a mirror so that we may participate in God’s transformation of the world. It is a reminder in that it reminds us what it is to live as a Christian disciple in the Methodist tradition. It is a compass in that it points us in the direction we are hoping to go and maybe should be going with God, and it is a mirror in that it holds up before us where we are at and maybe where we need to change and develop.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For me at the heart of it, A Methodist Way of Life is an invitation to Christian discipleship, or maybe more than an invitation to Christian discipleship, an invitation to shape our discipleship in a particular way. It is a gift, it is not something to make us feel guilty about what we’re not doing. It is a balanced way to live our discipleship. The six commitments under Worship and Learning and Caring help us to breathe in God’s love. The six commitments under Service and Evangelism help us to breathe that love out into God’s world. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If we only breathe in, we have a problem, don’t we? We need to both breathe in and breathe out, and it’s the same in our walk with Jesus. We need to breathe in more of God’s love, we need to grow deep with God, but we also need to breathe that love out and let others receive it and invite others to share with us in discovering more of God. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I think one of the challenges of a Methodist Way of Life is that people look at the 12 commitments and think “I’ve got to do them all now!” It’s not like that at all. We don’t have to do them all tomorrow; we need to find a rhythm that’s right for us. The commitments might help us see one area where maybe we’ve not yet developed or grown, or another area where maybe we’re doing too much, and we need to step back to do other parts of our discipleship. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On the back of the commitment card there are also some questions that help us reflect where we are in our journey as Christians. These questions are meant to be used with others. The Christian life is not one that we live on our own, but one that we live in community with other Christians. One of the things that we’ll talk about over these next 12 months is how you might find a small group of people whom you can share these questions with and reflect on your faith journey together. I hope this year that as we journey through the 12 months and through the 12 commitments, you will discover more of the gift of the Methodist Way of Life, and that you’ll want to use it to shape your discipleship, and that maybe with one or two others you’ll share in those questions together, to be encouraged and grow in your faith. Don’t worry about working it all out now; this is just a short introduction and over different weeks of the year ahead, and different videos, and questions you can talk about in small groups, you’ll discover more of the joys of a Methodist Way of Life.</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading: </span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A1-8&version=NIVUK">Isaiah 6:1-8</a></span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song: </span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How great the chasm that lay between us</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9f2FXxDVO6w" width="320" youtube-src-id="9f2FXxDVO6w"></iframe></div></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading: </span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A37-47&version=NIVUK">Acts 2:37-47</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That passage is read each year when new Methodist minister are ordained. It’s been part of ordination services for a long time and has those wonderful words “Whom shall I send?” It’s a powerful passage to hear read and preached on at ordinations. If we’re not careful we only read passages like that at ordinations or commissioning services, and we start to think that vocation only applies to certain people – maybe just the ordained, or preachers, teachers, doctors. In fact vocation is an important question for every Christian. Everyone baptised into the family of God has a vocation; if we choose to follow Jesus and to be part of Jesus’s Church then there is a vocation for us all.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For me, a choice to live out our Christian discipleship by a rhythm of life, and in particular today thinking about a Methodist Way of Life, is in itself a vocation. Elaine Heath in her book Longing for Spring which she wrote with Scott Kisker, says that to live out our Christian discipleship by a rhythm of life is one good way to live out Christian discipleship, but it’s not the only way; and my hope through these videos over the next few months is that you will see the vocation of a Methodist Way of Life, the call to respond to God saying “Whom shall I send? – Here I am” to be a call to live a life by these 12 commitments that we’ve spoken of.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Why you might ask, why would we see living our Christian life by these 12 commitments as a vocation? Well, the other thing that’s going on in this passage in Isaiah is the proclamation of the holiness of God. We see the seraphs with their wings flying and hiding their eyes because of the beauty of God that surrounds them, proclaiming those words “Holy, holy, holy.” Isaiah recognises that he doesn’t share that holiness of God. Isaiah sees those many ways in which he’s ridden with sin and feels nothing compared to the great beauty and majesty and holiness of God. But then God’s holiness and Isaiah’s sense of weakness come together. The seraph takes the coal from the altar and touches it on Isaiah’s lips – in that moment of Isaiah being set free from his brokenness, his guilt and sin, Isaiah comes to share in the holiness of God. It is a beautiful moment and it’s from that moment when the holiness of God is shared with Isaiah and he comes to share in it, that he is set free to be called and to be sent to speak for God.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For me, a Methodist Way of Life is rooted in this coming together of God’s holiness to us, of us being part of God’s holiness together. The Deed of Union is a foundational document of the Methodist Church in Great Britain, written in 1932 when the strands of Methodism came together, and within it there is a statement of our doctrine, and it says that the Methodist Church was raised up to spread scriptural holiness through the land. What you and I are called to as a Methodist people is to share the holiness we find in Scripture with each other and with the world; to grow in that holiness and invite others to do the same. John Wesley was recorded as saying along with his brother Charles in one of their first hymn books that there is no holiness but social holiness. We might today jump to thinking that social holiness is the same thing as social justice, but in the Wesleys’ day it was to do with living out faith with others, socially, not just to have social fun together but to share the journey of faith with others. So holiness, scriptural and social holiness, are at our heart as Methodists and this passage from Isaiah reminds us that that holiness flows from God. Of course in Jesus Christ, in his death and resurrection, that holiness becomes available for all. Jesus invites us through the forgiveness that he offers us, to share life with God, and when we share life with God we’re told in Scripture that we also share righteousness and holiness with God. In some ways holiness is a challenging concept and I really recommend Calvin Samuel’s book More Distinct. In it, Calvin says:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We cannot become holy unless God shares God’s holiness with us. And yet we never become holy, apart from seeking it, working at it, and pursuing the Holy One.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A Methodist Way of Life begins with the words: “The calling of the Methodist Church is to respond to the Gospel of God’s love in Christ and to live out its discipleship in worship and mission.” It is in our response to God’s love that God shares his holiness with us and you and I become holy. Through the 12 commitments we can do the other side of what Calvin says in his book – seek God’s holiness by living those commitments together.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Having some rhythm that helps us to seek and live God’s holiness is nothing new. Our passage from Acts 2 reminds us of what was going on in the early Church. This passage is recorded just after the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost. The Church is growing and they want to know how to live as a new Church. They ask Peter what to do. He invites them to be baptised, and then in Acts 2:42 we hear about those first rhythms the early Church adopted. They committed themselves to teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, to prayers. We read in verse 46 that this commitment to this rhythm together led them to have glad and thankful hearts, generous hearts. Through all of this more were added to their numbers as people saw their vibrancy, their breathing in of God’s love and their breathing out and sharing that with others. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A Methodist Way of Life is our version today of what the early Church had in Acts 2. Through the 12 commitments we can grow in our holiness, we can spread Scriptural holiness to others by talking to others of Jesus, and we do all of that in a healthy rhythm, not trying to do it all tomorrow or wondering if we should try to do it all every week even; but through the year finding that rhythm, breathing in God’s love through Worship, Learning and Caring, and breathing it out to others in Service and Evangelism. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So today I want to encourage you to see a Methodist Way of Life as part of your vocation as a Christian disciple, as a way of holding in balance all that God asks of you, to find space to care for yourself as well as caring for others, to find space to let God speak to you in prayer and Scripture, but also to talk of God’s love to others whom you meet. I believe if we see a Methodist Way of Life as part of our vocation, then we will grow in that holiness which God shares with us, which Isaiah experienced in that space when the coal touched his lips and he was set free. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A Methodist Way of Life is a gift, it is not a guilt. It is a plant trellis from which we grow together. I hope over the months ahead that you will see that. And while I want to be honest and admit that at times the commitments can feel scary and that they may invite us to change or to work differently, they also help us to find a rhythm, to bring a joy to our lives as fellow disciples. They help us find that better rhythm of breathing in and breathing out. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So I offer you a gift. I offer you an invitation . I offer you a question. Do you see a Methodist Way of Life as part of your vocation – how might it help you to live out your vocation as someone baptised into the body of Christ and who might you share that journey with, so it’s not a solitary journey but one shared with others in joy and fruitfulness? </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">May you be blessed as you discover more of God’s holiness and live it out together. Amen.</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers of intercession</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Loving God, who calls us to breathe in and breathe out, help us to pray now for one another, for your world, and help us to pray for ourselves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We pray, loving God, for the world which you created, beautiful in so many ways yet damaged by the carelessness of ourselves and others. Help us to address the reality of the climate change emergency as we care for your creation. Help us to be better at recycling and thinking about the resources that we need to use.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We pray, loving God, for the places in your world where there is war and conflict, famine and drought. We ask, Lord, for you to bring peace and harmony, and provision for all.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We pray for your Church, loving God, that it may be a shining beacon of your son Jesus Christ in the world.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We pray, loving God, that all of us may respond to our vocation, a vocation to live out our discipleship with you through a Methodist Way of Life, and within that vocation to particular areas of ministry or service.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We pray for those watching this service and participating in it, that they may accept the invitation to live their faith in this way; and we pray, loving God, for those we know in need and for any needs that we have ourselves – Lord, pour out your Spirit of healing and hope, of comfort and generosity into each of our hearts and into those we know who need your healing and help this day. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We offer all our prayers to you, those spoken and those deep in our hearts, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and our Saviour, Amen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Lord’s Prayer</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song: </span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I will offer up my life in Spirit and truth</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kQkzHwz2eLE" width="320" youtube-src-id="kQkzHwz2eLE"></iframe></div></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The blessing of God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you and all whom you love, this day and always, Amen.</span></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">QUESTIONS</span></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Resources to support A Methodist Way of Life:</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On this website: <a href="https://www.methodist.org.uk/mwol">https://www.methodist.org.uk/mwol</a> you’ll find many resources to support A Methodist Way of Life including:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Commitment Cards in a number of different languages</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">A Brief Guide to A Methodist Way of Life</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Finding the Way by Rev. Roger Walton</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Worship Resources and Videos</span></li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Many of these resources can be ordered from Methodist Publishing free of charge: <a href="https://www.methodistpublishing.org.uk/features/methodist-way-of-life">https://www.methodistpublishing.org.uk/features/methodist-way-of-life</a></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Questions for Reflection:</span></h3><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Where do you find rhythm in your life at the moment?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">If you had to describe holiness in a sentence or two what would you say?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">How do you respond to the idea that we both share the holiness of God yet need to continue to seek it?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Have a look at the commitments in A Methodist Way of Life. Choose one which you feel comfortable with and one which particularly challenges you. Share your responses with the group.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">The commitments come alive for us when we discover the discipleship practices which enable us to live them out. For example, using the Morning Prayer liturgy from the Northumbria Community is a practice which brings the commitment ‘We will pray daily’ alive, recycling brings alive the commitment ‘We will care for creation and all God’s gifts’. Share some of the discipleship practices you are undertaking at the moment which bring the commitments alive for you.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Who do you share with about your faith? Who challenges you about your faith? What ways have you found that help you to grow in your faith?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Who could you meet with in a Methodist Way of Life Reflection group to help you grow together in your faith?</span></li></ul>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-4574149222809992162022-03-05T21:24:00.005+00:002022-03-05T21:24:40.578+00:00Virtual Worship - 6 March 2022<span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome to worship with the Bradford North Methodist Circuit this morning. This service will be shared this morning by Rev Nick Blundell and the members and friends at Christchurch, Windhill.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/lo9fvaytocl1onm/2022-03-06-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service sheet</a> (pdf)</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We come to praise the Father for his goodness,<br />to thank Jesus for his open hands of love,<br />and to seek the Holy Spirit’s blessing.<br />Come, therefore, and worship God.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">God of the mountains and the sky,<br />of our minds and our hearts:<br />we look up to you in awe;<br />we reach out to you in longing;<br />we worship you in gratitude;<br />we sing to you in joy.<br />For you are our God,<br />and we are your people –<br />today and always.<br />Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">You might like to sing, or reflect on Horatius Bonar’s hymn at Hymns & Psalms 136, I heard the voice of Jesus say, ‘Come unto me and rest.’ </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/74kyfROS4q8" width="320" youtube-src-id="74kyfROS4q8"></iframe></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers</span></h2></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Living God, creator and sustainer of the world,<br />we pledge to live well and with humility, in harmony with your creation;<br />we pledge to look to your Son for truth and guidance;<br />we pledge to make time for prayer and to be open to your Holy Spirit;<br />we pledge to read your Word, and to be guided by the example of your Son.<br />We give you our lives to be transformed as we worship and adore you,<br />and we thank you for your love. Amen.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer of Confession: </span></h3></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">God of all creation, forgive us when we lose perspective<br />and our world shrinks to our size, not yours.<br />Forgive us and nourish our vision.<br />Forgive us when we look away from you when we feel empty and grasp what is not ours to take.<br />Forgive us and nourish our vision.<br />Forgive us when the choices we make are self-centred, and we are indifferent to the needs of the wider community.<br />Forgive us and nourish our vision. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Assurance of forgiveness:</span></h3></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">God of all, you transfigure our smallness with your greatness;<br />you unlock our limitations with your grace; you calm our confusion with your faithfulness;<br />you forgive our mistakes with your generosity; you inspire our dreams with your love –<br />enabling, empowering and encouraging us to serve you and your whole creation<br />with all we are and all we have. In Jesus’ name. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (NIV) </span></h3><div><span style="font-family: arial;">When you have entered the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, 2 take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land that the LORD your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name 3 and say to the priest in office at the time, ‘I declare today to the LORD your God that I have come to the land the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us.’ 4 The priest shall take the basket from your hands and set it down in front of the altar of the LORD your God. 5 Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: ‘My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous. 6 But the Egyptians ill-treated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labour. 7 Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our ancestors, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression. 8 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. 9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey; 10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, LORD, have given me.’ Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him. 11 Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you and your household. Reflection – Finding meaning in action and ritual?<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">An odd choice of reading for Lent this – feels more like a Harvest Festival lesson? So why has the lectionary given us this? Perhaps it’s to remind us in this season of preparation that what we do is every bit as important as what we say, that we find our identity in how we behave as much as in what we believe. And that our behavior needs to be rooted in gratitude and generosity, rather than concern for our own spiritual wellbeing.<br /><br />Towards the end of the passage there is the retelling of the ancestral story beginning, ’My father was a wandering Aramean…’ But to be ready for that, to be able to tell and hear it clearly, there are rituals to be performed, actions to take. These involve selecting the firstfruits of the harvest and placing them in a basket, taking that basket to the priest who then sets it on the altar, that the ancient story might be told. And when it’s told, and you’ve bowed down before God, then, with the Levites and the foreigners, the in-crowd and the excluded, you rejoice together. In the Talmud, the tithe of first fruits is described as being made up of seven crops: wheat, barley, grapes (wine), figs, pomegranates, olives (oil) and dates – it sounds like a recipe for a party, with a guest list where all are included. And all this, doing and telling, is about gratitude for God’s splendid generosity.<br /><br />As we make our way through Lent this year, let’s determine to be grateful and generous, not simply in our words and worship, but in our day-to-day and our difficulties. Let this forty day journey with Jesus to Jerusalem be a time when our actions speak as clearly as our words, as God’s gifts are celebrated and shared with those who need them most.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We sing Frances Ridley Havergill’s hymn – HP 705 Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Gf11rReeWIs" width="320" youtube-src-id="Gf11rReeWIs"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke 4:1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.<br />3 The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’<br />4 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone.” ’<br />5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, ‘I will give you all their authority and splendour; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.’<br />8 Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.” ’<br />9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. ‘If you are the Son of God,’ he said, ‘throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:<br />‘“He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;<br />11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” ‘<br />12 Jesus answered, ‘It is said: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ‘<br />13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The landscape is empty, only the fierce furnace of the sun blazes mercilessly on the scorched land. All life has scuttled for sanctuary among the crevices of the rocks or lies up in the hollows of the dried-up watercourses waiting for the cooling breeze of evening. All life, that is, save that of the gaunt figure of a man picking his way wearily to the shade of a lone tree. He’s hungry, thirsty, and tired. Yet from his eyes there still gleams a wise compassion that seems infinitely older than his age. He sits down and rests, his eyes fixed on a jumbled heap of boulders shaped like round loaves of bread. They remind him of his hunger. ‘Turn them into loaves,’ comes the whisper. ‘You are starving, satisfy your hunger. Are you not God’s Son?’ He looks up, as if seeing someone before him, yet he appears to be alone. <br /><br />‘That’s what the voice said at your baptism,’ continues the questioner. ‘You are my Son – or was it just your imagination, a trick of the brain, an illusion? Perhaps you are not whom you imagine yourself to be, but just an ordinary carpenter infected with messianic fervour. Prove that I’m wrong. If you do succeed, it will win you a lot of votes. There is a lot of hunger in the world. Millions are starving. And even if you do believe in yourself, then turning stones into bread will convince the atheists and the sceptics. Go on, turn them into loaves!’ <br /><br />The man looks again at the rocks and shakes his head. ‘No,’ he replies. ‘It is written: one does not live by bread alone.’ <br /><br />Undaunted the voice continues: ‘Come with me to a mountaintop – a holy place. For did not Abraham, Moses and Elijah have mountaintop experiences, moments of vision? I too can weave visions. So, stand with me on the roof of the world to see your destiny. I’m pleased that my talk of bread and circuses did not impress you as they have the Roman world. You are made of finer stuff; you are made to wield power, to exercise authority. Before you kings will bow and emperors will do you homage. Look! This is my world.’ <br /><br />The man looks. Spread out before him in a trice is the long march of history: kings, emperors, dictators and presidents, generals and commanders, men and women of wealth, power and influence, all who rule, all who conquer, all who control, all of them bowing before a throne on which he sits. ‘It is yours,’ says the voice. ‘I give it to you and all its glory. All I ask is that you acknowledge me; that you call me your Lord, and you shall have it now. What is your answer?’ <br /><br />The man pauses, considering, then gazes down again. Now, instead of the panoply of power, he sees a man wearing a crown of thorns and a purple robe, mocked and buffeted by jeering soldiers. Afterwards, he looks into the tormented face of a crucified man and finds his own staring back at him. He stands upright: ‘No. Depart from me. For Scripture says, “Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.”’ <br /><br />‘Come with me,’ the voice persists. ‘I want you to see something. I will take you to the Temple. There’s nothing wrong with a visit to your Father’s house, is there? Tell you what – we needn’t even leave the desert. Let me open up your imagination. We’ve entered the main gate and have gone through the courts into the Holy Place. Now we are in the Temple itself and have climbed to the roof at its highest point. Don’t look down – it’s a long drop! But I’m forgetting; you are God’s Son. You lead a charmed life. Jump! It’s okay. You can depend on the Father. Does not the Scripture say that his angels will protect you, lest you strike your foot on a rock? It’s quite safe. Think of the entertainment value, think of the draw that a miracle will have. Once you have gathered the crowd by this stunt they will hang upon your words. So, jump!’ <br /><br />The man looks down and up again, then he shakes his head once more: ‘I see you know your Bible,’ he replies, ‘yet that does not surprise me. But let me give you another text that will put this suggestion beyond argument: “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”’ <br /><br />The voice was silent. As the sun begins to set, a cool breeze springs up, seeming to whisper, ‘Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn HP 131 Lord, who throughout these forty days for us didst fast and pray <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G_pfF0wquVY" width="320" youtube-src-id="G_pfF0wquVY"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Praying for others, and ourselves.</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">To those who exercise power,<br />to decision makers in politics, business and industry,<br />to those who have wealth,<br />and to all whose lives affect the lives of others:<br /><b>grant wisdom and compassion.</b><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">To the vulnerable and the weak,<br />to those with little or nothing,<br />to those subject to the will of others,<br />and to the very young and the very old:<br /><b>grant wisdom and compassion.</b><br /><br />To us as we look at what we have,<br />to us as we consider what to do,<br />to us as we relate to the world,<br />and to us as we seek to be faithful to you:<br /><b>grant wisdom and compassion.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b>In the Saviour’s name, we pray. Amen<br /><br />We bring our prayers together, as we pray, with all God’s people, the Lord’s Prayer.</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We sing Jan Struther’s hymn HP 552 – Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DShGTCZwAtw" width="320" youtube-src-id="DShGTCZwAtw"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord Jesus, may we see you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen. We bless one another, and all those we have touched with our prayers today, as we share the Grace: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and always. Amen. <br /><br />(CCLI 432031. Service prepared by Rev’d Nick Blundell. Prayers & second reflection taken from Roots magazine – adults and all age, 6-12 March 2022)</span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-84594885855225765392022-02-25T21:21:00.000+00:002022-02-25T21:21:54.002+00:00Virtual Worship - 27 February 2022<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This service will also be shared by Rev Phil Drake with the congregation at Thornton on this date.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/qy1x3tvkm4vahyx/2022-02-27-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship: </span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">It is the God who said: Let light shine out of darkness,<br />who has shone in our hearts<br />to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God<br />in the face of Christ </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">(2 Corinthians 4.6)<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Be Thou my vision O Lord of my heart (words below) or you may like to look at Be still for the presence of the Lord (StF 20, MP 50)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6CMclLT_Hjg" width="320" youtube-src-id="6CMclLT_Hjg"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my hear<br />Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art<br />Thou my best thought, by day or by night<br />Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light<br /><br />Be Thou my wisdom, and Thou my true word<br />I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord<br />Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son<br />Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one<br /><br />Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise<br />Thou mine inheritance, now and always<br />Thou and Thou only first in my heart<br />High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art<br /><br />High King of heaven, my victory won<br />May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's sun<br />Heart of my own heart, whatever befall<br />Still be my vision, O ruler of all<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Opening prayer</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Give us, O God, a vision of your glory,<br />that we may worship you in spirit and in truth,<br />and offer the praise of glad and thankful hearts;<br />through Christ our Lord. Amen. <br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Old Testament reading: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Exodus 34.29-35. The shining face of Moses.<br /><br />29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant[a] in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. 32 Afterwards all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. 33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; 34 but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gospel reading: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke 9.28-36. The Transfiguration of Jesus<br /><br />28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings,[c] one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Time for reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">This story is about a change which the disciples witnessed in Jesus. In the gospel passage, here is Jesus - changed - other - transfigured. Jesus takes on a special appearance as his clothes dazzle and his face shines. He appears in the company of Elijah and Moses - and company for Jewish people doesn’t get more special than that! And to top it all there is a voice from heaven which says, ‘This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.’ It is a vision of glory: a glimpse of heaven breaking through into our world. I don’t know how many of you realise that the Methodist Church keeps a collection of modern art. It was started by two men in Penarth in South Wales in the 1950s as a private collection before being donated to Methodism. One of the paintings in the collection is by an artist called John Brokenshire. It is a picture of dark clouds divided by a bright white cloud (see the accompanying image). Although Brokenshire was not a Christian, it can invoke a religious image. Many people looking at this picture will realise why the Trustees from the Methodist Art collection decided to buy this painting: the bright cloud was like a white dove. It certainly reminds me of the dove that descended upon Jesus at his baptism when a voice from heaven had also been heard, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’ And these same words we also hear in the gospel account of the transfiguration of Jesus. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikwmRmWAkx-EaVKrg8lescNQgPmru2Dw1fq7agQSIcgIcapEb6zDQDeDwVFj8r1dDepLY-kRT_MmQxdQjOrwI5KHnZQ1LXf-5cTIgx3u0TmP0kGyJJOR1rkAItv4DrZVMWkEcboCjRkX-5PLLrPBHCQ3D_Y_P98zluzZuLYAPH6wCVLa_8bGx6DsGK=s1446" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="1446" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEikwmRmWAkx-EaVKrg8lescNQgPmru2Dw1fq7agQSIcgIcapEb6zDQDeDwVFj8r1dDepLY-kRT_MmQxdQjOrwI5KHnZQ1LXf-5cTIgx3u0TmP0kGyJJOR1rkAItv4DrZVMWkEcboCjRkX-5PLLrPBHCQ3D_Y_P98zluzZuLYAPH6wCVLa_8bGx6DsGK=s320" width="320" /></a></div>The painting is indeed offering us a glimpse of glory, an image of light against the darkness. The transfiguration account is also an image of light against the darkness. In this story, the brightness of glory is set against the dark backdrop of suffering. Before and after the transfiguration story there are conversations between Jesus and his disciples, when Jesus tells them that he must face suffering and death - and this is something the disciples find hard to accept. The setting of the transfiguration story within these conversations about the suffering to come remind us that there is an intimate connection between suffering and glory. It tells us that the Jesus of glory and the Jesus of suffering are one and the same. The questions of who Jesus is (as God’s own Son) and what Jesus does (by his suffering and death) belong fully together. You cannot separate the two - they are completely intertwined.<br /><br />As the Passion story unfolds in the Lenten season ahead we might notice a further intertwining of glory and suffering:<br /><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Jesus is declared King of the Jews but has to wear a crown of thorns;</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">He is paraded and lauded as king; but also mocked and spat at and insulted;</span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He is anointed with oil; and anointing is both the sign of kingship and a part of the ritual for the dead. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In other words, the Jesus who is glimpsed in glory at the transfiguration is also the Jesus of suffering to be seen on the cross. What the disciples saw on the mountain top was a glimpse of the glory of Christ revealed in his resurrection. As Christians, we are called to look for glimpses of God’s glory in our world today even and especially amidst the hurt and the hardship, remembering that Christ through his own suffering has brought us into the brightness of the glory of God.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Response:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0MhP0wiaTEGnnWaxY3qGekB2j6fuJoD2sutWr57Dj9EUqngb9LumPM8FgB7p55Uz7MaSLKv5utoIJQpz5yeNNx1E_P4ReRpfwfSko-bhg6sWcUxm56FPklvMyh4039fIYK49qWKNYMeCvHdyjdDkFbaf9MuLuKQNWwqXkmlO5KXi1PZUx650rKcX3=s800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg0MhP0wiaTEGnnWaxY3qGekB2j6fuJoD2sutWr57Dj9EUqngb9LumPM8FgB7p55Uz7MaSLKv5utoIJQpz5yeNNx1E_P4ReRpfwfSko-bhg6sWcUxm56FPklvMyh4039fIYK49qWKNYMeCvHdyjdDkFbaf9MuLuKQNWwqXkmlO5KXi1PZUx650rKcX3=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Look at this picture of people climbing to the top of Snowdon in north Wales. Can you recall a time when you climbed to the top of a large hill or mountain and what you saw when you got to the summit? Sometimes you do not always get the view you think you are going to get. Anita Sethi, in her book ‘I belong here’ (Bloomsbury, 2021), writes about climbing to the top of Penyghent in the Yorkshire Dales and arriving at the summit with cloud all about her. Waiting patiently, however, brought its own reward as the mists parted and she was given a glimpse of the wonderful view, and which makes her want to dance! Sethi writes from the experience of someone who was born and raised in northern England but suffered racial abuse whilst travelling on a train. Her experience of walking in the Pennine uplands of northern England brought her glimpses of healing and hope amidst the hurt.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers of intercession</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">O God of healing and holiness,<br />we bring before you the leaders of our world in need and ask that they would have the discernment to listen to each other and to you, that there may be justice and peace.<br /><br />We bring to you the leaders of the Church and other religious organisations and communities and ask that they would have the discernment to listen to each other and to you, that there may be vision and unity.<br /><br />We bring to you those with responsibility for health care – doctors, nurses, administrators, ancillary workers and more – and pray that they may be strengthened and encouraged by encountering you in their work.<br /><br />We bring to you those with healing needs (especially…),<br />and pray that they will hear you and feel peace; that they will encounter you and feel healed; that they will know you and feel loved.<br /><br />In Jesus’ name we pray.<br />Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Mission Praise 664/Singing the Faith 397 The Spirit lives to set us free (Walk in the light) or Mission Praise 338/Hymns and Psalms 167 In the cross of Christ I glory</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yzU9Dv7ZXVY" width="320" youtube-src-id="yzU9Dv7ZXVY"></iframe></div></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The Lord bless and keep you and make his face to shine upon you. The Lord look on you with kindness and give you peace. Amen.<br /><br />Credits: Opening Prayer taken from The Methodist Worship Book, 1999, copyright The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Painting, ‘Oil on canvas’ by John Brokenshire (born 1958) from the Methodist Modern Art Collection, image copyright Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes, with permission to use in resources for worship. Prayers of intercession copyright Roots for Churches Ltd used with permission.</span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-80029806753449733412022-02-19T18:34:00.001+00:002022-02-19T18:34:44.126+00:00Virtual Worship - 20 February 2022<p><span style="font-family: arial;">The service today has been prepared by Deacon Merry Evans. You are invited to join with him and with the congregation of Crag Road Methodist Church.</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/v4zmclj5ekszaov/2022-02-20-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Jesus says, “Love your enemies.”<br />Think about that – if you love your enemies then you don’t have any enemies!<br />If you love your enemies, then your enemies become your sister or brother. Is that true?<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">HAP 196 STF 303 I know that my redeemer lives</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mYjllVwlIhk" width="320" youtube-src-id="mYjllVwlIhk"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Opening Prayer</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Father, we thank you that we are loved by you; no matter what. You call us to let your love flow through us to other people – including those who may have hurt us. Give us the grace and compassion to do this, and give us understanding as we explore this today. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">HAP 139 STF 255 The Kingdom of God is justice and joy</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KXZsAM4T7iU" width="320" youtube-src-id="KXZsAM4T7iU"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2></div><span style="font-family: arial;">In the opening verses of his gospel, Luke tells us that he wrote it for Theophilus who was a high-ranking Roman citizen it seems, and presumably one of the members of the Christian community that Luke was a part of. This Christian community -Luke’s ‘church’- was located in the Eastern end of the Mediterranean, probably somewhere in Greece or maybe what is now Turkey. Luke wrote his gospel around AD 80-90, fifty or more years after Jesus. He was relying on the various written records that had been made using the memories of those who had actually witnessed Jesus’s deeds and sayings. The stories had been told and retold verbally for decades, so in fact they only got written down many years after the events actually happened. Luke had to make the best of the material he had and he had to make it relevant to those in his Christian community and the real live issues that they faced. What were the issues they faced? Chief among them were issues of class, status and wealth. Luke has very loosely put together a collection of sayings of Jesus with a view to helping his Christian brothers and sisters understand how to behave towards one another. We can see a snapshot of Christian life in the first century AD and the challenges to their discipleship in this passage. <br /><br /><b>Luke 6: 27-38.</b> But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.<br /><br />32 ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.<br /><br />37 ‘Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.’<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Class, status and power In Roman Society, were important. Across the empire, there were only a few rich and powerful citizens. Those who comprised the elite lived in Rome –the highest-ranking aristocrats were Senators Governing the Empire. The second highest level aristocrats were a group called Equestrians. Both groups had immense wealth, most of it in the form of land, estates, and of course slaves. They had great privilege too. A similar state of affairs existed in the provinces of the empire, where status, power and wealth were in the hands of those allowed to be Officials in the provincial governments, termed Decurians. Other members of the provincial elite were the Magistrates. Whoever they were, those at the ‘top’ of society regularly feasted and enjoyed lavish entertainments at public expense. It seems Luke has some high-ranking romans in his church. They will be wealthy. They will have been brought up to look down on ordinary people, even despise them, especially the poorest or the slaves. Stop for a moment. What sayings do you think that Luke has collected together here would be instructive to these wealthy and privileged members of his church?<br /><br />The next level of society were the merchants and traders; and the artisans (craftsmen), and hauliers. These groups often formed local Collegias or guilds, basically social clubs (like trade associations rather than unions). These people were reasonably well off. In Luke’s ‘church’ these members of skilled workers would likely be used to entertaining one another or giving favours to one another in the expectation that they would be returned. You can see some of the sayings here would challenge these ‘middle class’ Christians to behave differently. You can almost hear Luke telling them the parable of the feast and highlighting Jesus’s words to invite the lame, the blind, the beggars to your homes for a party, not just your friends. “These are your fellow Christians! Invite them in!”<br /><br />Then there were the ‘free’ workers: unskilled usually – and reliant on employment – often day labourers. They would be employed in building work (public buildings), burden carrying, message carrying, animal driving, ditch digging. A considerable number would survive by hawking various foodstuffs to passers-by. Their economic position was never secure, always precarious. Being a Christian in close proximity to those who ‘Lord it over them’ on one hand, and to those ‘who rob and cheat them’ on the other hand challenges this group very significantly. Luke tells them that “in spite of your differences you are all God’s children, and if you show mercy to one another, you will be like God himself! And go beyond looking after your own interests! And be generous to one another, don’t hold back – you’re in the same boat – Christ’s boat!”<br /><br />In society if you were blind crippled or mentally disturbed you would have to rely on your relatives or on begging for support. There was no official system of welfare. Here in the Christian community though things are different. You are not cast out onto the edge of society to beg – you are brought into the heart of things and made welcome. But you need to change too. “Do to others as you would have them do to you!” <br /><br />In the empire, and therefore also in this young Christian community, there were those who were not free. There were two categories. A significant number of people across the empire were in large amounts of debt. They would be held in ‘debt-bondage’ – not slavery exactly, but held while they were working off their debt, often in agricultural labour on the estates of their creditors. They only gained their old lives back after they had paid off their debt which could take years. Although not specifically mentioned in this passage, the power of the wealthy could be exercised in mercy. You could cancel the debts of those fellow Christians who were in bondage to you. Or you could pay their creditors off, pay the debt of your brother or sister in Christ, buy back their freedom, redeem them. “That’s how you should be”, says Luke, “Merciful, as your God in heaven is merciful. That’s what God’s kingdom is truly like.”<br /><br />Then there were slaves- who were of course by definition ‘not free’. They were the property of their masters and had no rights and held no property of their own. These at least had food and shelter they could rely on, even if they were often poorly treated. But in the community of Christians there was to be no slavery. All were made equal in Christ. All should therefore be treated equally. Freedom could be given, and sometimes was given. But even if it was not given, then to learn to love one another, slave and master, was to be the standard. And if you are a slave to a non-Christian, how do you know how to cope with the potential abuse and poor treatment given? If they strike you on the cheek, offer the other cheek as well. Hmm, there’s challenge and dignity in that, not just passivity. It says, “Hey, I’m a child of God. You can’t take that away!”<br /><br />One of the most important things to know about the economy of the Roman Empire is that there was a lot of uncertainty. Food, particularly wheat for bread, was largely controlled by the wealthy. When harvests were poor then prices were high, and distribution was held back in order to make large profits. Hunger was not uncommon for the poorer members of society, and for the poorest it was a feature of daily life. Remember too that most ordinary people lived in what might be called humble huts in rural areas, and in urban centres crowded and unsanitary tenements. What challenges had to be faced by that early Christian church of Luke when times were hard? Eternal life wasn’t just to be for when you die, but had to be in the now as well. ‘Give us this day our daily bread? Let’s make that real’, says Luke. “Give, and it will be given to you – share what you have.” Later, in the book of Acts, Luke describes how the wealthy sell their possessions to share amongst the community in their times of hardship.<br /><br />We must read Luke’s gospel with the understanding that his readers and hearers – the members of his ‘church’- would comprise the whole spectrum of Roman society: from the wealthiest to the poorest. And probably containing more of the poorest, and lower status members of society than the wealthier and higher status members. Luke’s passion for the life of his brothers and sisters comes through in this and many other passages. He inspires his church with the words of Jesus to love God, love neighbour, and love enemy- and this meant across the great social divides of his day. Not many of our churches today are as economically diverse as Luke’s. But the challenge is still there for us, how to make love really real across the differences we do have in our church today. Stop and think: What verse challenges you today? What can you do to make a difference?<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">HAP 134 STF 423 Forgive our sins as we forgive</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixSFDnOuGO0" width="320" youtube-src-id="ixSFDnOuGO0"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A prayer of confession</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Father, we confess that we nurture enmity and hold grudges against those we think of as enemies. They are usually in the wrong, and we are probably in the right. But we confess, Lord, that sometimes we are equally to blame, or at least not entirely innocent. No matter who started it, or how it began, perhaps a swift word of reconciliation, or a genuine attempt to understand, to sort things out, would have nipped matters in the bud. Sometimes we know that life is not so simple; help us to know what to do, how to respond. For sometimes we should turn the other cheek, sometimes we should keep things in check, sometimes we should simply turn and walk away for our own good. We confess that the complexities of life confuse us; please help us understand what you would have us do. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Assurance of forgiveness</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord, no matter what we have done, you forgive us; and no matter what ‘they’ have done, and whoever ‘they’ are, you forgive them too. You forgive our enemies even when we don’t, and you forgive us even when we don’t deserve it. Thanks be to you, all-forgiving God. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">STF 249 HAP 145 Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve, the neighbours we have from you. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jX3T5sL0pzY" width="320" youtube-src-id="jX3T5sL0pzY"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers of Intercession</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We bring before you, Father, a broken world full of broken people. Many have ailments. We suffer because of the cold, or the burning sun; we are chilled by rain and ice. Our flesh bruises and tears; our bones grow old and ache. We pray for all who suffer this day, especially those who are seriously ill. We pray for those who mourn loved ones who have left their earthly bodies behind. We bring before you the homeless who have no place to lay their heads, and the hungry who have no means to feed themselves. We pray for all who struggle to keep body and soul together. Comfort us with the reassurance of resurrection, that sown perishable, we shall rise imperishable, and suffer earthly deprivations and torments no more. Amen.<br /><br />Lord’s Prayer</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">HAP 753 STF 608 All praise to our redeeming Lord</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/u2Qhk8zl7Jo" width="320" youtube-src-id="u2Qhk8zl7Jo"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Acclamation and Blessing:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Now to Him who is able through the power which is at work among us to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or conceive, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus, from generation to generation, forever more. Amen.<br /><br />And the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you now, and always. Amen.</span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-2377153020468182952022-02-12T12:04:00.001+00:002022-02-12T12:04:19.587+00:00Virtual Worship - 13 February 2022<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome to worship with the Bradford North Methodist Circuit this morning. This service will be shared this morning by Rev Nick Blundell and the members and friends at Bolton Methodist Church.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/n9ej5hffqk0ujwmqw7v8d/2022-02-13-worship.docx?dl=0&rlkey=3wwjgcc50ixvcfytx6okgrl8o">Service Sheet</a><span> </span>(pdf)</span></p><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We are blessed to be here today.<br />We are blessed to be together today.<br />We are blessed to be a family.<br />We are blessed that God is with us.<br />Let us enjoy God’s blessing as we worship today.<br />Lord, thank you that we are blessed.<br />Help us to recognise all that you have given to us.<br />We pray that not only will we reflect on your blessings<br />we will also seek to be a blessing to others,<br />with your help and in your name. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">You might like to sing, or reflect on David J Evans’ hymn at Singing the Faith 20, Be still. for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZugvUQ4m90U" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZugvUQ4m90U"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Father, we worship and adore you for the light you bring to this dreary time of year, when we long for spring. Thank you for the blessing of every shoot and bud, the reminders of your presence and your ever-circling, ever-giving love. Amen<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer of Confession: </span></h3></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord, we confess that curses come to our lips more readily than blessings. Our thoughts are critical rather than looking for the good. We condemn others and turn away before we think what we might do to turn things around and draw blessings from a situation. So, Lord, we ask for your forgiveness, and we turn to you for a blessing of light upon the dark confines of our thinking. Bless us with your way of seeing, so that our lives might be a blessing to others. Amen.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Assurance of forgiveness:</span></h3></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes our mindset has been so misguided, and for so long, we fail to see how you can forgive us. Mired in dark thoughts that hastily curse and rarely bless, we are ashamed when a ray of holy light reveals the dust and ashes of our lives.<br /><br />Yet with you, Lord, there is forgiveness and redemption, the chance to turn our thoughts around, and bless with the blessings that come from you. Thank you, Lord. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Jeremiah 17:5-10 (NIV)<br /><br />5 This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.<br />6 That person will be like a bush in the wastelands, they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in assalt land where no one lives.<br />7 ‘But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.<br />8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.<br />It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.<br />It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.’<br />9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?<br />10 ‘I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.’<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> Reflection - Like a tree planted by the water?</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">I love Jeremiah’s picture of the tree planted by the water, sending out its roots by the stream. I find myself by the River Wharfe above Bolton Abbey, by the Aire with Kirkstall Abbey in the background, by the Tweed in Melrose in the Borders. I wonder where the picture takes you? Perhaps a stream nearer home, or somewhere more exotic? Perhaps more exotic is appropriate, with the references to ‘when heat comes’ and ‘year of drought’? Whatever the circumstance, the picture shows ‘leaves…always green’ and fruit which ‘never fails’.<br /><br />I love the picture even more when I read what it portrays. ‘Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water…’ Not only can we enjoy the picture, we can be in it! Trust and have confidence in the Lord, and you are like such a tree, says the prophet.<br /><br />How do we maintain our trust, particularly in difficult times? How do we hold our confidence when life is hard? I think the clue is in the picture, and those roots the tree sends out by the stream. God invites us to draw from the stream of grace, to tap into those stores and stories of goodness provided through the Spirit for, as we say in the Covenant Service, the Spirit’s witness confirms us, wisdom teaches us, and power enables us. We are called to be rooted in God’s love. We access this by sharing in worship, engaging with God in prayer, looking to scripture, sharing in fellowship. We prove it by helping our neighbours, caring for creation, challenging injustice, and sharing with others. All these things root us in God’s love. Over the next twelve months the Circuit will be thinking about our Methodist Way of Life, which will help us to explore all these things. I hope you will join in, and find blessing.</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We sing or listen to Robert Bridges’ hymn – StF 455/ HP 63 All my hope on God is founded; he doth still my trust renew. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DohxO6ytsaU" width="320" youtube-src-id="DohxO6ytsaU"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke 6:17-26 </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">17 Jesus went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.<br />20 Looking at his disciples, he said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.<br />21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.<br />Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.<br />22 Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you<br />and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.<br />23 ‘Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.<br />24 ‘But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.<br />25 Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.<br />Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.<br />26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection – What counts as blessing?</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We all know it’s good to count our blessings, to be reminded of so much for which we can be thankful. The action of deliberately paying attention and cultivating thankfulness is commendable.<br /><br />The interesting, and challenging, element of Jesus’ sermon here on the plain (as opposed to the mount) is the way in which he defines blessing. He turns our usual understanding on its head. Riches, plenty of food, easy laughter, popularity, things we might number among our blessings, he labels as woes – woe to you who have these he says. Instead, poverty, hunger, weeping, being excluded, these, he says, define those who are blessed. One reading of this might be to see the labels as snapshots, capturing a moment, and for those who currently are down the only way is up, and conversely those who are lifted up are ready for a fall. There might be appeal in such a reading – we like to see the underdog triumph and the champion fall – but there’s more to it than this. <br /><br />Note that Jesus is talking to his disciples. This teaching is not for the crowds, this understanding of blessings and woes is not general but specific. He is not saying it is a good thing to be poor, hungry, excluded. He is saying that those who are excluded, hungry, poor, are significant, are in God’s sightline, are not forgotten. He notices them, recognises in them something of the God who will be seem most clearly in his own sacrifice. There is both comfort and challenge in this. The comfort of knowing that God can bring good from ill, can use our experiences of struggle and loss to help others, to make a difference, to be a blessing. The challenge is to grasp life’s difficulties, to be open to God’s presence in the midst of them, to be thankful in all circumstances.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">The hymn StF 638/HP 73 Through all the changing scenes of life <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yBkorDtz1nU" width="320" youtube-src-id="yBkorDtz1nU"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Praying for others, and ourselves.</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord, we thank and praise you for all the many blessings in our lives.<br />For food and shelter, for family and friends, for the measure of health we have, and the many comforts we take for granted.<br />Thank you also for your plain speaking; these blessings are not merited by anyhing we have done, just as the problems of many – of those who hunger, and are homeless, and sick – are also undeserved.<br />So, Lord, in giving our heartfelt thanks, we ask that we might be a blessing to those whom the worldly-wise often curse. Amen.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Lord, we pray for those whose hope is for this life only, especially those who are facing their own death, or that of a loved one. Enlighten them, we pray; pierce their darkness with rays from heaven that they might find faith and see beyond.<br /><br />We pray also for those whose faith has taken a blow due to circumstances – those who have fallen sick, or become unemployed, or who suffer the pain of broken relationships. Amid all their loss, Lord, remind them of the promise of resurrection, and the reality of lesser resurrections that point the way to it – restoration of health, new opportunities, and the rekindling of love – all leading to rebirth of hope.<br /><br />We bring before you a world of people with past regrets, bowed down by concerns in the present, and fears for the future. Help us all, we pray, to be uplifted by the reality of Christ’s resurrection, which leads to a bright tomorrow beyond all our tomorrows. Amen.<br /><br />We bring our prayers together, as we pray, with all God’s people, the Lord’s Prayer.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We sing or listen to Graham Kendrick’s hymn StF 489 – All I once held dear, built my life upon. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oxpPIa-BskY" width="320" youtube-src-id="oxpPIa-BskY"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord, thank you for the many blessings we have recognised today.<br />Forgive us for the times that we are too busy to notice all that you pour upon us.<br />We pray for blessing on our church, the community as a whole and every precious individual member – bless us with your wisdom and understanding.<br />We pray for blessing on our local community – help us to be a source of blessing; help us to recognise ways that we can show and share your love. We know there are often barriers. When we are the barrier – perhaps through our fears, our worries, even our greed – give us the strength to overcome, that your blessing may overflow to all around us. Amen.<br /><br />We bless one another, and all those we have touched with our prayers today, as we share the Grace: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and always. Amen.<br /><br />(CCLI 677164. Service prepared by Rev’d Nick Blundell. Prayers taken from Roots magazine – adults and all age, 13-19 February 2022)</span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-11135395530416552022022-02-05T18:33:00.004+00:002022-02-05T18:33:58.952+00:00Virtual Worship - 6 February 2022<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/pj8riei5zrhsumi/2022-02-06-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome to worship wherever you are in the Circuit, come and join i</span><span style="font-family: arial;">n with the people of </span><a href="https://new.bradfordnorth.org.uk/index.php/allerton-methodist-church/" style="font-family: arial;">Allerton</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> as we gather to worship God together. In a pretty setting opposite Ladywood Park, overlooking green space and its own graveyard, the congregation gathers from the surrounding area, a mix of faces, cultures and traditions, coming together to worship God.</span><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Come and worship the Lord:<br /><b>Cry, Holy, holy, holy!</b><br />Come and praise the name of our God:<br /><b>The whole earth is full of his glory!</b><br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We begin with HP 9/StF 55 Immortal, invisible, God only wise, praising God in his glory.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4oGuGzCFEWI" width="320" youtube-src-id="4oGuGzCFEWI"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We worship you, God of all:<br />high above us, your glory more than we could bear to see.<br />You have formed and shaped our world;<br />and we look up and see the grandeur of the mountains,<br />the power of the seas,<br />the distant stars,<br />the long-lived trees, and we marvel.<br /><br />Yet your love is also poured out upon the lowliest of creatures,<br />insects that live but a day,<br />sea creatures never seen by human eyes,<br />plants we deem nuisance weeds,<br />and even upon us, who should be tending your earth,<br />but so often think it is all about us<br />and, in grasping things for ourselves,<br />fall far short of your plan for us.<br /><br />We grasp at the hem of your garment<br />and ask your forgiveness.<br />Fill us, we pray, with love for our earth<br />and all who share it with us<br />that we might be more truly your people,<br />living in your ways.<br />God of all glory,<br />be present in our worship<br />that we might come closer to you<br />and you to us.<br /><b>Amen</b>.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Our Old Testament reading (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+6%3A1-8&version=NIVUK">Isaiah 6:1-8</a>), speaks of Isaiah having an encounter with God in the Temple. Clearly this is not a first-time meeting with God; some of Isaiah’s prophecies are recorded before this in the order of the book that bears his name. Yet it is an experience that takes Isaiah from the political realities of his day into the presence of the Most High God. Uzziah may be King of Israel at the time, but God is King over all, and Isaiah is able to see his reality in the context of God’s reality.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">HP 7/StF 11 Holy, Holy, Holy, reflects Isaiah’s experience in the Temple that day.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zzM9P_Gqw-s" width="320" youtube-src-id="zzM9P_Gqw-s"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Reading</h2>Our Gospel reading (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+5%3A1-11&version=NIVUK">Luke 5:1-11</a>), tells of Jesus teaching the crowds and calling on the fishermen to act with faith to land a large catch of fish. Although Peter is reluctant, he does what Jesus tells him, and comes to a new understanding of who Jesus is.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sermon</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">If you are familiar with Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice you will know that Mrs Bennett is often a source of amusement to those around her. At one point she takes offence with Mr Darcy for saying there are fewer people for Elizabeth to observe in their country setting than there would be in London, and in her eagerness to score a point she announces: ‘we dine with four and twenty families.’ Her remark simply shows up her ignorance of the varied society of the city, and that she actually doesn’t know what she is missing. Both Isaiah and Peter in our readings today come to faith encounters and realise that they didn’t know what they were missing until it was revealed to them.<br /><br />Why was Isaiah in the Temple? Was he there as a worshipper? Did his vision happen while other things were going on around him? Was he a priest who experienced his vision in the middle of his work? Did his vision come about because he was offering a sacrifice or praying, or did it break in upon more mundane activity?<br /><br />We know very little about the prophet, because his focus was to tell us not about himself but about his message. What we do know is that he was married with sons (Isaiah 7:3 and 8:3), that his wife was known as a prophetess (Isaiah 8:3), and that he was high up in the society of that time because in chapter 7 he goes in to see King Ahab (the grandson of King Uzziah, in whose final year Isaiah saw his vision in the Temple).<br /><br />In the midst of Israel’s political situation as a small nation sandwiched between other more powerful kingdoms, Isaiah had a vision of God as the One who is over all that happens in our world and even in our worship. God was present in the Temple, the focus of Israel’s worshipping life, and his throne was high and lofty in that place. <br /><br />This was not Isaiah’s first encounter with God; Isaiah would have been brought up to worship God and to follow his commandments, seeing these things as what set the Israelites apart from other nations. The Temple would have been the focus of worship and sacrifice, just as the Palace would have been the focus of political life. Yet Isaiah has a new vision of God which sends him off in a new direction. Far from having achieved anything by his belonging to the people of Israel, his position in society or even his worshipping life, he sees that these are nothing. He feels unworthy of God coming close to him, and feels he needs cleansing from sin. <br /><br />There are similarities here with Paul looking back on all the reasons he had to feel he could put “confidence in the flesh” – being an Israelite, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Pharisee, a faultless observer of the Law (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+3%3A4-8&version=NIVUK">Philippians 3:4-8</a>). But all these count for nothing not because they are bad things in themselves, but because they are not enough and could tempt us to put our faith in them instead of in God. Isaiah and Paul could have spent their whole lives being satisfied with what they had achieved when there was so much more waiting for them.<br /><br />Simon Peter, too, has an encounter with Jesus which makes him realise how much more there is to life than he has been aware. It is probably not his first encounter with Jesus, because he is willing to have Jesus use his boat to help him speak to the crowd, and then to listen to Jesus and do what he says, even knowing that he knows far more about fishing than Jesus does. However, this encounter changes him and makes him willing to become a disciple of this Rabbi, and to look for something deeper than learning Scriptures or debating with other rabbis. Peter leaves behind a successful family business as a fisherman to live a life with Jesus who has provided him with more fish than he has ever caught before – yet it is not about numbers of fish, personal wealth or status, but the person of Jesus. Peter knows that Jesus is concerned about something completely different, and he is willing to leave behind all that has been familiar, to travel into the unknown with this man who has made him question the things that have brought him satisfaction up till this point.<br /><br />Have we had that kind of encounter with God? Have we had a sense of God’s greatness and our smallness? Have we come to a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and how he wants us to respond?<br /><br />If we have had one encounter, are we open to another, to take us deeper still? Do we cling to our encounter as being all there could be to know of God, and fear to let go so that we might be open to something yet greater?<br /><br />Are we willing to let go of what has been important to us, what has given us meaning up till now, so that we can receive this new thing?<br /><br />This was not an easy thing for Isaiah. Instead of having a high standing in society he was now to stand outside it, offering criticism, speaking God’s word to people who did not want to listen. If you carry on reading chapter 6, you will see that his message was a hard one to deliver and a hard one to hear. Peter was to leave what he had known and go off and be faced with more than he could have imagined, and part of that was persecution. <br /><br />It is not easy for us, either, to accept that what we have known of God thus far is not all there is to know. Especially if we have a story to tell of an encounter that has changed us, it can be difficult to leave it behind and walk with God into the new thing he wants to share with us. It takes humility to realise that what we think we know is not all there is to know, and that God has so much more to show us than we will ever be able to take on board. He can only reveal himself to us at a pace we are able to understand and accept.<br /><br />It takes humility, too, to accept that what someone else has seen and experienced of God is not pushed aside by our encounter, but with our encounter it forms something of the wonderful greatness that is God, that is more than one person or group can grasp alone.<br /><br />So open yourself to God right now, and offer him all your story with him thus far, and tell him of your willingness to be taken on another step of the journey, to go deeper, to learn more, and when you have encountered, to speak up and out with boldness as Isaiah and Paul did.<br /><br />And may he provide you will all you need to be his follower and his presence in the world.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We sing HP 216/StF 345 And can it be? thinking about those moments of encounter that free us up into a new relationship with God.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dC8HSEKtuio" width="320" youtube-src-id="dC8HSEKtuio"></iframe></div><br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">In the quiet, bring that hymn before God and ask if there is any area of your life where he wants to free you into a new way of being with him.<br /><br />Take your time about this and simply enjoy his presence with you for a while before moving on.<br /><br />Holy God,<br />we come to you and ask your blessing upon us and those we love;<br />we pray for those who struggle;<br />those who grieve;<br />those who are exhausted.<br />We pray for those struggling to pay bills, knowing that worse is to come.<br />We pray for those who run foodbanks, drop-ins, self-help groups and all who try to help their neighbours.<br />We pray for those who wait for news.<br />We pray for those in danger, that they might see rescue coming.<br />We pray for those who wait for the end of life, that they might be at peace.<br />We pray for those who celebrate new life, that they might be filled with joy.<br />We pray for those making new beginnings, that they might be given the strength they need.<br />We draw all these prayers together as we say the Lord’s Prayer:<br /><br />Our Father in heaven,<br />hallowed be your name,<br />your kingdom come,<br />your will be done,<br />on earth as in heaven.<br />Give us today our daily bread.<br />Forgive us our sins<br />as we forgive those who sin against us.<br />Save us from the time of trial<br />and deliver us from evil.<br />For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever, Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We sing our final hymn HP 236 Hark, what a sound, and too divine for hearing<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tSftV_DuJvQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="tSftV_DuJvQ"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Blessing</h2>We hold one another in our hearts, in our homes, at Allerton, in other churches, as we bless one another with the words of the grace:<br /><br />The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,<br />the love of God,<br />and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,<br />be with us all, evermore,<br />Amen.</span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-39321718616485283482022-01-29T15:56:00.002+00:002022-01-29T16:03:04.504+00:00Virtual Worship - 30 January 2022<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/lvj3eyawxa9085v/2022-01-30-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome:</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Come just as you are to worship God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the God whose love is unconditional for you<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Intro: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Isaiah 62 v 3: “You will be a crown of splendour in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” Let that just warm your heart!<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">StF 83: Praise my soul: Through Jesus we are ransomed, healed, restored and forgiven<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mDe0ABw5IHs" width="320" youtube-src-id="mDe0ABw5IHs"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDhQMOUAeUw4P9UNlFdbapiWkUJCcIsW3Qxww2QxztqgSzG79NghsC66xmgaMNu327EegdpVmghTKtgL4d1Fo7vg_yw85NKBU5hmdsJ0kEXP3eIQAPwVWK7HZVwNGVdwkm6MM89Ql8N4yQYdKAHcgIAxs7apupiUfMNdaMgIhZLbfPhnvy6EOaAqYD=s640" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDhQMOUAeUw4P9UNlFdbapiWkUJCcIsW3Qxww2QxztqgSzG79NghsC66xmgaMNu327EegdpVmghTKtgL4d1Fo7vg_yw85NKBU5hmdsJ0kEXP3eIQAPwVWK7HZVwNGVdwkm6MM89Ql8N4yQYdKAHcgIAxs7apupiUfMNdaMgIhZLbfPhnvy6EOaAqYD=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Father God, we praise you for being our Creator God. As we see you doing away with all that has turned to rubbish or needing a rest we see your season of winter but the signs of hope, the aconites and snowdrops already out. How we marvel Father at the fragility of a snowdrop yet it’s able to push through cold, hard ground!<br /><br />We thank you for creating Jesus, your own beloved Son, our Saviour. Thank you Jesus as we see you both sitting on your throne, with angels, archangels and the whole company of heaven saying how worthy you are of our praise. How you stoically went to the cross, stretched your loving arms out and died so that your blood of forgiveness could wash us clean and we have a room prepared in heaven by you. How can we thank you for the wonder of the wonderful news<br /><br />We say sorry to you for the things we have done that we are guilty and ashamed of……….<br /><br />We say sorry for the unforgivingness that we’ve held in our hearts (You hold nothing against us) ……<br /><br />We say sorry for those times we’ve not put you at the Centre, the times we failed to read our bibles or pray, the times we’ve failed to serve others……<br /><br />Father we ask forgiveness in Jesus’ name, Amen<br /><br />We welcome you Holy Spirit to keep on making us more like Jesus. Let’s join with Christians across the world in prayer: ……. Our Father<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading 1: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">John 3 v 11.12: ““I (John the Baptist) baptise you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Talk: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Symbols are a single picture that sums up many words. Guess what these stand for!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD6FIs3HuGn_jBYyK8EKixayuT6COLapi_N6JmWlCoIsRd0jyoj2eFE_P4CuWqacH1_TxZLDn7Q2_oew3mTUzi-J_zGfEPClOAcfWX7qe3qhhShLykdsfvUthj7bUPqskASB_hcnq965JWxiHOA6r78zrAHuPCONQqjTD1M9SeIB97hxbK5LlZnYWD=s345" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="340" data-original-width="345" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD6FIs3HuGn_jBYyK8EKixayuT6COLapi_N6JmWlCoIsRd0jyoj2eFE_P4CuWqacH1_TxZLDn7Q2_oew3mTUzi-J_zGfEPClOAcfWX7qe3qhhShLykdsfvUthj7bUPqskASB_hcnq965JWxiHOA6r78zrAHuPCONQqjTD1M9SeIB97hxbK5LlZnYWD=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Did you get the pleading face emoji and the Methodist baptismal shell? Baptism is a symbol, a reminder to us at baptism all our sins were washed away. We are no longer guilty, Jesus has done it for us. And after baptism all our sins have been nailed to the cross!<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">553 StF: I am a new creation<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Teva2_x2aXo" width="320" youtube-src-id="Teva2_x2aXo"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading 2: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8%3A4-25&version=NIVUK">Acts 8 v 4-25</a>: Philip goes to Samaria to share the good news of Jesus, the whole town comes to believe, but they’ve not been filled with the Holy Spirit so Peter snd John come up from Jerusalem and lay hands on the believers so that they are filled<br /></span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Talk: It’s God that does!</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">How many Baptists are there in the NT? 2! John with water and Jesus with the Holy Spirit, so that we have two baptisms. How do we know that they are separate? <br /><br />1. Can you imagine a preacher coming and your whole town believing in Jesus! Amazing! How the Holy Spirit was bearing fruit in Philip! But there were no signs of them being filled with the Spirit: no outward signs, no calling to work to build up the Kingdom, no fruits. There must have been signs after Peter and John laid hands? Maybe they spoke in a foreign language, changed, were given ministries. Not often in scripture do we see believing and being filled at the same time.<br /><br />2. What’s your experience? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzwhz48GahxqdGiqxS3pLJkdWtBnNRqkfLJc9haF2AbiESB0i1F1YQQqizMazvfcZuAYoJj2Mq343xdC0VUJFPNg_fLAwBpPhGSKQ3z5JjzWLM88iLFNUsgahV_wWr9NpAXFz_q0ngx5QuRH9ZaO3H9wVk-aKubichiMop6UjgGcyMKOBa7j9S9QgR=s640" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhzwhz48GahxqdGiqxS3pLJkdWtBnNRqkfLJc9haF2AbiESB0i1F1YQQqizMazvfcZuAYoJj2Mq343xdC0VUJFPNg_fLAwBpPhGSKQ3z5JjzWLM88iLFNUsgahV_wWr9NpAXFz_q0ngx5QuRH9ZaO3H9wVk-aKubichiMop6UjgGcyMKOBa7j9S9QgR=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Did you ask for the Holy Spirit to come and live in you? Were you touched by the Holy Spirit at Baptism or after? Another sign of the Spirit at work in you is your desire to worship Him which you are certainly doing if you are reading this! Hear is voice or are prompted to do Something? Have you been given a job by God to build the Kingdom? Do you see, and do others, see how you have the Holy Spirit in you? Have you love, joy, peace….? Have you seen the changes in yourself over the years? We know He comes to live in us by Paul saying in 1 Corinthians 6 v 19, “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own!” It’s through His Spirit God shares His plans, reassures us of His love, fills us for our work for Him, changes us to be more like Jesus, giving us His mercy and grace <br /><br />3. What would you like the Holy Spirit to do for you?<br /><br />Maybe you’ve never asked Him to come and live in you? Maybe you’d like a fresh touch for something in your life just now? Maybe you feel He is calling you to something new? To put something down? Maybe you need more of His fruit or more of His gifts? Maybe you’d like to make more space for reading His word and prayer. You are unique. <br /><br />4. You might like to light a candle as a chance for the dove or the fire to touch you afresh. The water of baptism and lighting a candle are symbols, the Holy Spirit is not a symbol, He actually lives in your heart to treasure you as that crown of beauty for loving His Son. It’s only by His Spirit we can be or do<br /><br />Quiet asking God……..<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">564 StF: O thou who camest from above: stir up the flame of sacred love on the mean altar of my heart</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IJ6pmSEzJ5A" width="320" youtube-src-id="IJ6pmSEzJ5A"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers of Intercession: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Stop and add your own prayers after each section: <br /><br />Father God, you ask us to firstly pray for:<br /><br />1. World leaders, nations and the persecuted world church:<br /><br />For Vladimir Putin (Russia) , Volodymyr Zelensky and Deniz Shmyhal (Ukraine) Biden (USA) Topou Vi (Tonga) Persecution: India, Pakistan, Nigeria<br /><br />2. We pray for our nation:<br /><br />For the Queen, grieving and family troubles, For the government after Partygate, for plans re Covid and other issues, decisions to be made with NHS <br /><br />3. For West Yorkshire: For our MP’s Judith Cummings, Philip Davies, Imran Hussein and Naz Shah…. For all organizations, shops and charities that make the place better… For Susan Hinchcliffe leader of Bradford Council… For Bradford North Circuit and leadership: For Phil, Nick, Christine, Merry, stewards Clive, Jenny and Stuart, Roger (safeguarding) Ashley (property) John and Nicola (Finance) Laura (youth) Clair (admin) and for Ruth and our website… for your church….<br /><br />4. For friends, family, neighbours and colleagues who are having a difficult time or you want to see them come to know Jesus….. see them being lifted up into Jesus’ arms <br /><br />5. And lastly for ourselves…. What do you need Jesus to do for you? Health, test results, diary events this week, celebrations, birthdays, sadness, grieving, fears. The known things snd unexpected meetings we have a chance to care and share Jesus…..<br /><br />We ask our prayers in Jesus’ name, who ALWAYS hears our prayers and gives us hope!<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">StF 424: God forgave</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OHcyrLTayOM" width="320" youtube-src-id="OHcyrLTayOM"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIPrphvnVHgiA6sRj8pEUHdQdvWcgN-R2Y-hBjhP-RLfAjn9_9IrIrl60y475Flse_hZESY0U6OFNId8_gevCiqHZxG7OI2N6ak1N-EP25lfOxToJZ01QpGuUKZeBD4mKIFYdIVq2EZl7NJ8NPFdNQvnNtoJlMyB34BVzOHiXM5NRdct1PY9P125UV=s640" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIPrphvnVHgiA6sRj8pEUHdQdvWcgN-R2Y-hBjhP-RLfAjn9_9IrIrl60y475Flse_hZESY0U6OFNId8_gevCiqHZxG7OI2N6ak1N-EP25lfOxToJZ01QpGuUKZeBD4mKIFYdIVq2EZl7NJ8NPFdNQvnNtoJlMyB34BVzOHiXM5NRdct1PY9P125UV=s320" width="320" /></a></div>Know that you are a crown of beauty in God’s hands, who delights to fill you with His Spirit and reassure you you are His. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Now May the blessing of God, </span><span style="font-family: arial;">Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest on you, give you power, keep you and fill you anew Amen!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-61661847169703990842022-01-23T10:43:00.000+00:002022-01-23T10:43:52.388+00:00Virtual worship - 23 January 2022<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fruits of the Spirit – Patience</span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/rfap4nb9hgqnpmo/2022-01-23-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to Worship</span></h3><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>We wait for you, Spirit of God</b> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(From ‘The Weaver, the Word and Wisdom’ by Michaela Youngson)</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Spirit of God,<br />Breathing, blazing, blessing,<br />Inspire our worship,<br />Ignite our passion,<br />Inform our action<br /><b>We wait for you, Spirit of God.</b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Spirit of God,<br />Dancing, delighting, descending,<br />Move through our lives,<br />Melt our hearts,<br />Motivate our loving.<br /><b>We wait for you, Spirit of God.</b><br />Spirit of God,<br />Opening, offering, outpouring,<br />Reveal truth to us,<br />Renew our faith,<br />Refine our discipleship.<br /><b>We wait for you, Spirit of God.</b><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h3></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The Spirit lives to set us free StF397</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wvhKJu9Vn04" width="320" youtube-src-id="wvhKJu9Vn04"></iframe></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">This service is week 4 in the ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ series of services at Baildon Methodist Church. When I asked colleagues at work what came to mind when I said today’s theme, without exception they all came up with this: play first 11 seconds of (Take That – Patience). </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/273eSvOwpKk" width="320" youtube-src-id="273eSvOwpKk"></iframe></div></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The image that comes immediately to my mind is the card game and memories of spending many hours playing it as a child. More recently, I find myself saying continually saying ‘patience’ to sixth form students as we deal with slow wifi whilst completing university application forms. What do you think of when you hear the word ‘patience’? Can you think of any examples in the last week when you’ve had to show patience? If there are people with you, can you share your examples?<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer of confession</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">We confess that we are often in a hurry<br /><b>Lord, help us to be patient</b><br />For the times we fail to look for you in creation<br /><b>Lord, help us to be patient</b><br />When we don’t listen<br /><b>Lord, help us to be patient</b><br />For despairing when life seems so hard<br /><b>Lord, help us to be patient</b><br />When we don’t take time to call a friend<br /><b>Lord, help us to be patient</b><br />When we have sought the familiar rather than looking forward to new challenges<br /><b>Lord, help us to be patient</b><br />Holy Spirit, we pray that you will fill us today and cause your fruit to ripen in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Amen<br /><br />The bible is full of examples of people who had to be patient. One of these lived in the land of Uz and his name was Job. He worshipped God and was faithful to him. He even offered regular sacrifices on behalf of his children just in case they had inadvertently offended the Lord. Hear what happened when God held Job up as his good and faithful servant but Satan claimed that Job was only faithful because everything was going well in his life.<br /><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h3></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job+1%3A+13-22&version=NIVUK">Job 1: 13-22</a><br /><br />God took this as evidence that he had been right in his initial assessment of Job’s character but Satan again argued, saying that afflicting Job with a devasting skin disease would surely reveal his true colours. However, despite having painful sores all over his body, Job refused to blame God saying, “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” Throughout his suffering, Job went through a series of emotions, from depression and self-pity to anger but his faith in God did not waver. He asked that age-old question, “Why?” Why is life so unfair? Why did God cause him to suffer? He was innocent, had always followed all the rules and didn’t deserve to go through this torment. Chapters 3-37 give us insight into Job’s predicament and show the inability of his three friends to provide comfort to him before God eventually answers Job with wonderful poetry and imagery (chapters 38-41). Chapter 42: Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted…Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know…My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.”<br /><br />Job prayed for his friends and God made him prosperous again, blessing the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">Our next song celebrates that Christ can lighten our darkness, that when things seem bleak, Jesus can save us and that we are encouraged to provide help for others who are struggling<br /><br />Longing for Light StF 706</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TS7AlBeApwk" width="320" youtube-src-id="TS7AlBeApwk"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h3></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A+7-11&version=NIVUK">James 5: 7-11</a><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sermon</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Be patient, friends, until the Lord’s coming.’ When James wrote his letter, probably in the second half of the first century, there was a widespread belief that the second-coming of Christ was imminent and that judgement would soon take place. On one level, you can read these 5 verses in this light: ‘Be patient until the Lord’s coming… be patient and stand firm because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble or you will be judged. The judge is standing at the door!’ Throughout the Old and New Testaments, harvest is used to represent God’s judgement so even James’ technique of using an everyday action to illustrate his message could refer to the end of the world. <br /><br />What does this passage have to say to us who are 2000 years closer to the second-coming than the recipients of James’ letter?<br /><br />With next day or even same day delivery, digital downloads, information at our fingertips or as the result of a simple question to Alexa or Siri, I think it is harder for us to be patient. We don’t have much opportunity to experience the waiting described like the farmer, reliant on time passing for crops to ripen and for the rains to come twice a year. Therefore, when we do experience delay or setback, we can find ourselves struggling. Twice, James tells us to ‘be patient’. What does this mean? Patience can be defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset1. The Greek word used in James’ letter is ‘makrothumio’: long suffering or long temper. Being Christian doesn’t mean that we won’t ever have to face situations that are difficult and test us. In fact, there are warnings throughout the Old and New Testaments that following Jesus can lead to persecution. Just like Job, there are going to be times when we ask “Why?”, “Why is this happening?” and it can seem difficult to accept that a loving God can allow his children to suffer. Patience is only necessary in the face of opposition2 and seeking patience is like being in a battle. The Lord is arming us for the fight: being Christian means that we have the Spirit’s help to accept unfortunate circumstances gracefully while having faith that we will ultimately find resolution in God. This week we held a special church council to discuss whether Baildon Methodist Church should approve its premises for same sex marriages to take place: an example of patience on the part of many within the church who recognise that the love of God is present within the love of human beings who are drawn to each other and who enter freely into some form of life-enhancing committed relationship with each other. Being able to celebrate that the love of God is present in these circumstances and to allow the couple themselves to publicly do so through being married is the resolution of a long battle for some3.<br /><br />The second time James instructs us to ‘Be patient’ includes the phrase ‘stand firm’ or, in other translations, ‘strengthen your hearts’. There are a couple of ways of interpreting this. Let your faith be firm and unwavering, staying Jesus-shaped even as trials come your way4. Suffering can cause people to turn away from their faith, whereas, for others, it is a prompt to turn to God. It can also be read as an instruction for the church family, to support others who are going through tough times, to help them wait patiently for resolution: you may be able to think of occasions when people have supported you. Across the circuit there are many examples of the church family helping each other and their communities with prayers, food, lifts, visits, church cafés, toy services, foodbanks, donating money to charity and much, much more. Groups like Shipley Christians Together making up food parcels and delivering them over the Christmas period also show how support is given to individuals and families who are struggling.<br /><br />James’ next instruction is “Don’t grumble against each other, friends, or you will be judged”.<br /><br />Am I setting an example of waiting quietly, or do I make sure everybody knows I’m not happy? Moaning about what is happening to you, complaining about what further suffering may occur, vowing revenge on those who’ve caused you problems or being resentful of those who are not going through the same issues as you will not help. Holding onto resentment and feelings of ill-usage is not healthy and praying for the Spirit to help you be patient is a way of focusing on the end of the current trial and looking forward to God’s compassion and mercy.<br /><br />God is patient with us, even when we’re impatient with him. We don’t always listen to what we are being called to do but God is persistent, patient and willing to keep asking. God calls us to be patient and provides us with the Spirit to help us persevere. There are many things that we need to learn to be more patient with. However, there are some which demand impatience and a need for action: dealing with injustice, supporting those who are struggling, recognising that the Spirit is with us, every moment of every day. Job is used in James’ letter as an example of patience; a more up-to-date reference could be Desmond Tutu, whose death was announced on Boxing Day. He was 17 when the apartheid regime came to power in South Africa and, over the next 40 years, he became increasingly influential in the liberation struggle. Initially, he wanted to just focus on his ministry within the church but later realised that he needed to become more politically aware in order to speak truth to power. On his retirement as archbishop, Nelson Mandela said of Desmond Tutu at a service of thanksgiving: “His joy in our diversity and his spirit of forgiveness are as much part of his immeasurable contribution to our nation as his passion for justice and his solidarity with the poor.” In the service notes for this series of services, there are readings I haven’t used today (2 Peter 1: 5-9, Romans 5: 3-5 and 1 Thessalonians 1: 2-6); in two of them there is reference to ‘passionate patience’ and, for me, Desmond Tutu epitomises this phrase. Combining prayer with action, he helped bring about the post-apartheid ‘rainbow nation’ and led the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to allow South Africa to acknowledge atrocities and to move on.5 <br /><br />Tutu published several books during his life and in ‘God Has a Dream: A Vision of Hope for Our Time’, he wrote: "It is through weakness and vulnerability that most of us learn empathy and compassion and discover our soul." 6. James 5: 11: ‘As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered’ – it may not seem like it at the time but, trusting in God’s Spirit to provide us with patience, we will have the strength to persevere in whatever situation we find ourselves in.<br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">References:</span></h4><span style="font-family: arial;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.ibelieve.com/faith/patience-is-a-virtue-6-ways-to-grow-in-this-fruit-of-the-spirit.html">https://www.ibelieve.com/faith/patience-is-a-virtue-6-ways-to-grow-in-this-fruit-of-the-spirit.html</a> (accessed 21/12/21)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://thelife.com/practicing-patience-when-god-has-you-waiting">https://thelife.com/practicing-patience-when-god-has-you-waiting</a> (accessed 21/12/21)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.methodist.org.uk/media/21969/conf-2021-59-marriage-and-relationships-provisional-resolutions-updated.pdf#page=24">https://www.methodist.org.uk/media/21969/conf-2021-59-marriage-and-relationships-provisional-resolutions-updated.pdf#page=24</a>, accessed 28/12/2021</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible, Matthew Henry, 1706</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/26/the-most-rev-desmond-tutu-obituary">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/26/the-most-rev-desmond-tutu-obituary</a>, accessed 28/12/2021</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://news.sky.com/story/desmond-tutu-10-famous-quotes-from-south-africas-archbishop-12503958">https://news.sky.com/story/desmond-tutu-10-famous-quotes-from-south-africas-archbishop-12503958</a>, accessed 28/12/2021</span></li></ol></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">Our next song by John Bell and Graham Maule reminds us to be Jesus-shaped, to follow his example and take action – the tune may be unfamiliar to you but, hopefully, you’ll pick it up after a couple of verses.<br /><br />Heaven shall not wait StF 701</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FHMt3YJHbZE" width="320" youtube-src-id="FHMt3YJHbZE"></iframe></div></div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers of Intercession: </span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">For our prayers of intercession, I encourage you to come forward if you feel able to, to pick a stone and write the first name or initials of someone you know who is in a dark place or is struggling to be patient with a particular situation at this time. You may want to write the name of a country, an organisation or group of people. Please place the stone in the dark tent then take a stone out of the darkness to pray for the person or people written on it before placing it in the bowl of water which symbolises the living water that Christ gives and patience, the fruit of the Spirit. Whilst we pray, a song will be playing, called ‘I will wait for you’ which is based on the words of Psalm 130 – if you’d prefer to listen to this and pray where you are, that’s absolutely fine. <br /><br />I will wait for you (Psalm 130) – Shane & Shane</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DpwCCh1jEnY" width="320" youtube-src-id="DpwCCh1jEnY"></iframe></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">Loving, patient God, we commit all our prayers to your mercy and ask that your Spirit works in the hearts of the individuals and situations we’ve brought before you. Help us to be open to ways in which we can be your hands and bring about your kingdom on earth. Amen.<br /><br />We dedicate our gifts of time, money and talents for use in your service, remembering that everything first came from you and that all we are doing is offering it back to you. We pray for the work of SolarAid (Baildon’s nominated charity this month) using the power of light to combat poverty and climate change in Africa. Amen.<br /><br /><b>Lord’s Prayer</b><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h3></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Will your anchor hold in the storms of life? StF645<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UQQO8v-0VBo" width="320" youtube-src-id="UQQO8v-0VBo"></iframe></div></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer:</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">God of patience, we thank you for your patience with us, and we dedicate our lives to the patient pursuit of making this world a better place. Amen<br /><br />We say together:<br /><br /><b>Come with us, Lord Jesus;<br />Fill us with your Spirit;<br />Shape us to your likeness;<br />Use us to enfold with love our needy world. Amen</b></span><br /></div></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-45455878452068594422022-01-15T16:26:00.000+00:002022-01-15T16:26:07.368+00:00Virtual Worship - 16 January 2022<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Methodist Covenant Service</span></h2><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/gzwbqmgljjewbgn/2022-01-16-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Covenant Service is one of the traditional parts of the Methodist calendar. As a feature of Methodist life, the Covenant service goes back to the time of John Wesley. Wesley inherited his understanding of covenanting from the Puritans, who from the seventeenth century onwards used a covenant agreement as the foundation of congregational life. Wesley’s mother, Susannah, had been brought up amongst Puritans and it maybe that she gave Wesley his background knowledge about making such covenants. But in the wording of the Covenant service, Wesley was influenced by Puritan minister, Joseph Alleine. Alleine felt that each new convert ought to make his own personal covenant with Christ. His own recent marriage coloured his choice of words. He called upon these new converts to take Christ for better, for worse. The format of the covenant service has changed over the years, but that sense of ‘for better, for worse’ has remained at the heart of it. It is still very much echoed in the words we are asked to share in today.</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn: </span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Choose a favourite hymn of praise to read or sing, such as Praise my soul the King of heaven, Great is Thy faithfulness, or Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dTKIqmdfHSk" width="320" youtube-src-id="dTKIqmdfHSk"></iframe></div></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Opening prayer:</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgn10u4a9lItWVEtEhSvdPslSJsUFXspuN-p57KphJP6FkveZhglgfDrlNcWM8yMyY-waCLcc32rfdp1EzwMkmtUIKOv2pIYls7MODFsm_rs8OoUGgR44hu6mOJRywoIkb2fxRUCg88HT_6XBHJjz_4qL6YXZKwTVGuA4-0EeLibfVRoz8zDYDxt4mb=s343" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="256" data-original-width="343" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgn10u4a9lItWVEtEhSvdPslSJsUFXspuN-p57KphJP6FkveZhglgfDrlNcWM8yMyY-waCLcc32rfdp1EzwMkmtUIKOv2pIYls7MODFsm_rs8OoUGgR44hu6mOJRywoIkb2fxRUCg88HT_6XBHJjz_4qL6YXZKwTVGuA4-0EeLibfVRoz8zDYDxt4mb=s320" width="320" /></a></div>God of grace,<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">through the mediation of your Son,<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">you call us into a new covenant.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Help us therefore to draw near with faith<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">and join ourselves in a perpetual covenant with you;<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Readings:</span></h3><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Old Testament reading: Jeremiah 31: 31-34 - A New Covenant</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.</span></div><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Epistle reading: Romans 12: 1-2 - The New Life in Christ</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gospel reading: John 15: 1-10 - Jesus the True Vine</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wesley’s covenant hymn. This hymn by Charles Wesley is included in the Methodist Worship Book as part of the Covenant Service. As you read the words here, use them to reflect on what renewing the covenant promise at this time of year means to you:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rf0J_tOlB3Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="rf0J_tOlB3Y"></iframe></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXlxrMs6kajcRvK_YLBI9LEkf_Y1vy4gKsx5eIeow8KwIB6wrU69Viwx_Avo7UJJwnwPWn-uk6YCh8ewirVDNJNdp5F79oXQzkMUhUR6Vl8BxAsCBnli6HLyBBfbmjc6ZO3pbzaWr6vaWbSPJ44F28I8lmr8RuIUpSwuuXkANJjpDy04Bc-c9MUqsT=s483" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="483" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXlxrMs6kajcRvK_YLBI9LEkf_Y1vy4gKsx5eIeow8KwIB6wrU69Viwx_Avo7UJJwnwPWn-uk6YCh8ewirVDNJNdp5F79oXQzkMUhUR6Vl8BxAsCBnli6HLyBBfbmjc6ZO3pbzaWr6vaWbSPJ44F28I8lmr8RuIUpSwuuXkANJjpDy04Bc-c9MUqsT=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br />Come, let us use the grace divine, <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">And all, with one accord, <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">In a perpetual cov'nant join <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Ourselves to Christ the Lord: <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Give up ourselves, through Jesu's power, <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">His name to glorify; <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">And promise, in this sacred hour, <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">For God to live and die. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The cov'nant we this moment make <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Be ever kept in mind: <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">We will no more our God forsake, <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Or cast his words behind. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />We never will throw off his fear <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Who hears our solemn vow; <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">And if thou art well pleased to hear, <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Come down, and meet us now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To each the cov'nant blood apply, <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Which takes our sins away; <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">And register our names on high, <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">And keep us to that day.</span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For further reflection:</span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the years I have found that for many people, the words of the covenant promise are too hard to say. People do not know what they have to give to this covenant relationship, or they do not believe they have the will to wholeheartedly give it. These are very real fears, and ones which should not be readily put on one side. But if we put too much emphasis on what we do, then I believe we miss the central point about the covenant service. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">First of all, then, it is not what WE do that is the important thing, it is what GOD does. The Covenant is made at God’s initiative, it is what he offers us. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the Bible we hear of God’s covenant with Noah, that never again will a flood destroy the earth; and the sign of the promise is the rainbow. God makes a covenant with childless Abraham, who will have so many descendants that they will number as the stars in the sky. God makes a covenant with the people of Israel wandering in the wilderness. Through Moses he gives them the Law to live by. Later, God speaks through the prophets, and gives to Jeremiah the promise of a new covenant, of a time when the people will not need to teach one another the Law, because all of them will know it in their hearts. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is the covenant which God renews in Jesus Christ. God takes the initiative in sending Jesus Christ to us in our need. This is the heart of the gospel - not how we come to God, but how God comes to us. Not anything that we do, but what God does for us, in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And when we stand to renew our covenant we remember that what is happening here is of God’s own work and not of our own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Secondly, it is not what we DO, but rather who we ARE that is the important thing. Who are we? We are God’s people. And that promise of a new covenant made with the house of Israel, that is with all of God’s people, ‘I will be their God and they will be my people.’ (Jer.31.33)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It is God who has made us one people through the work of the new covenant in the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The image we are given in the Gospel is that of the vine and the branches. Jesus is the vine plant we are the branches. In Christ we have all been incorporated into a living unity. God has chosen his people, the Church, to give glory to God and to make known his saving love.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We are all one in Christ, and apart from him, we cannot be a part of God’s people. And so we need to be a part of one another. As we stand and say the words of the covenant renewal, we don’t say them as individuals standing independent of one another, but as a single voice, with the voice of God’s people everywhere.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thirdly, in making our response to God, we should keep things in perspective. We do not have to do grand things to do things for God. As Mother Theresa once said, “We can do no great things, only little things with great love.” Just because these things are not grand does not mean to say they are worthless. What we offer may be like the seed that grows into a tree. Though what we offer be small, it is not insignificant. God prospers the seed with soil to grow in, water and sun. The seed shoots and grows and in maturity brings forth fruit. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So the things that we do for God, no matter how small, we offer them to God in thanksgiving for everything he has done - and will continue to do - for us. We bring gifts from our own lives, symbolising the gift of our lives. We bring our worship, our daily living, our joys and our concerns, the things we have achieved or failed to achieve, and we offer them and ourselves for God’s use alone. And may he bless the gifts which we bring on this special day of dedication. Amen.</span></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Covenant</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">God made a covenant with the people of Israel, calling them to be a holy nation, chosen to bear witness to his steadfast love by finding delight in the law.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The covenant was renewed in Jesus Christ our Lord, in his life, work, death and resurrection. In him all people may be set free from sin and its power, and united in love and obedience.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In this covenant God promises us new life in Christ. For our part we promise to live no longer for ourselves but for God.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We meet, therefore, as generations have met before us, to renew the covenant which bound them and binds us to God.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Covenant Promise – these words will be used in covenant several services across the circuit during January. When you say them, remember that you are saying them in unison with other members of our congregations at this time. You may wish to speak these words out loud, and to stand as you say them.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Beloved in Christ,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">let us again claim for ourselves</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">this covenant which God has made with his people,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and take upon us the yoke of Christ.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This means that we are content</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">that he appoint us our place and work,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">and that he himself be our reward.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Christ has many services to be done:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">some are easy, others are difficult;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">some bring honour, others bring reproach;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">others are contrary to both;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">in some we may please Christ and please ourselves;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yet the power to do all these things is given to us in Christ, who strengthens us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Therefore let us make this covenant of God our own.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Let us give ourselves to him, trusting in his promises and relying on his grace.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord God, holy Father,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">since you have called us through Christ to share in this gracious covenant,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">we take upon ourselves with joy the yoke of obedience and, for love of you,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">engage ourselves to seek and do your perfect will.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We are no longer our own but yours.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am no longer my own but yours.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">put me to doing, put me to suffering;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">exalted for you or brought low for you;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">let me be full, let me be empty,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">let me have all things, let me have nothing;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">to your pleasure and disposal.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And now, glorious and blessèd God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">you are mine and I am yours.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So be it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And the covenant now made on earth,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.</span></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you for taking part in this service today.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And now may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you this day and throughout the coming year. Amen.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Acknowledgments: Liturgy taken from the Covenant Service in the Methodist Worship Book (1999).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Scripture passages taken from The New Revised Standard Version, 1989, 1995, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, with permission to use in acts of worship.</span></div><div><br /></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-77862220029266707072021-12-27T21:09:00.000+00:002021-12-27T21:09:33.374+00:00Prayer Column - January 2022<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The turn of the year</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV6k5LmeRBQxDI1VMPUPKi85u9oA1xzHxr79IxCo7dEy0cRJXVcDCPLW358qEeZ3lv1KiiMr35NWOB5Q57VUjRtT_z7wthuJzrwtuey0q8hT6r_fe2m2qhrMmX0uxnq4QGDgy6o2IGo7d20OPubJFI7MXedNtC_jvqIP0Wa6PFhMnsN3QXMQC_inIn=s640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV6k5LmeRBQxDI1VMPUPKi85u9oA1xzHxr79IxCo7dEy0cRJXVcDCPLW358qEeZ3lv1KiiMr35NWOB5Q57VUjRtT_z7wthuJzrwtuey0q8hT6r_fe2m2qhrMmX0uxnq4QGDgy6o2IGo7d20OPubJFI7MXedNtC_jvqIP0Wa6PFhMnsN3QXMQC_inIn=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;">As a new year approaches we tend to wonder what lies ahead, hoping always to shake off the past’s bad record and for something better to come, as if hoping could make it so. We wonder about next year because of course we don’t know what lies around the corner (however great the store of human knowledge, and however thorough our Googling). Search as we may, and it’s a royal honour to do so (Prov 25:2), some things are known only to God: times and seasons fixed by his authority are not for us to know (Acts 1:7), for the future is his. <br /><br />This is a time to remind ourselves of God’s omniscience: he does know (Rom 11:33). He knows the plans he has for us – plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future (Jer 29:11). And it’s time to remember also that God is not far-off and aloof, but a loving, heavenly Father who wants a close living relationship with each of us, day by day and breath by breath – he sent Jesus to bring us back to him. So we can put our hand in his and be led and guided into and through the future that is unknown only to us – to a place and a time where with him all shall be well, for ever.<br /><br />So today, as long as it is called ‘today’, seek the Lord and get to know him as loving Parent. Read his word to us (the Bible) and let it read us, for it is living and active, inwardly searching thoughts and intentions, and deeply revealing (Heb 4:12-13). And as we pray, share with him our thoughts and fears, our praise and hopes – in words, or just incoherent feelings, for he understands. But also listen, for there is much he wants to say to us: as he leads and guides, challenges and corrects, promises and reassures.<br /><br />Roy Lorrain-Smith<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A prayer for each week</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">Dear Lord – such uncertain times! But its only us that don’t know. So please, Lord, lead us safely through the year ahead, whatever your plan. Amen.<br /><br />Dear Lord – such threatening times! But the victory is always yours, and through Jesus can be ours too. Please give us faith to trust and obey. Amen.<br /><br />Dear Lord – such unstable times! But though nations may seethe and rage and totter on the brink, please give us inner peace, through Jesus. Amen.<br /><br />Dear Lord – such wayward times! But though many cast your guidelines aside, please help us trust in your word as the only secure foundation. Amen.<br /><br />Dear Lord – such hopeless times! But despair creeps in when we’re deaf to your word. Please open our ears and hearts to your glorious future. Amen.<br /><br />Your own prayers</span><br /> Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-66410768477109811072021-12-24T19:04:00.001+00:002021-12-24T19:27:58.629+00:00Christmas Day Worship 2021<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6Y14-cEITlSLafcXC8q3P3Jz2nfQkHGUxH2D6CMwJuA3CDT6uBgu6LPgVIPvT5l2rYUDC3-Hjp-bep0QbnuMMIlS87LKnprWSGRxMU9lSbKJ7NU4UhWGMhwhYnwSnVws2GbzTV0aIDEnIVWX73n3NcLw7jMgmBg36dd-1xklSM9t-uwblYjywumhj=s664" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="610" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6Y14-cEITlSLafcXC8q3P3Jz2nfQkHGUxH2D6CMwJuA3CDT6uBgu6LPgVIPvT5l2rYUDC3-Hjp-bep0QbnuMMIlS87LKnprWSGRxMU9lSbKJ7NU4UhWGMhwhYnwSnVws2GbzTV0aIDEnIVWX73n3NcLw7jMgmBg36dd-1xklSM9t-uwblYjywumhj=s320" width="294" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Today is the day - Christmas! The central candle is lit. The waiting is over. The child is born. As we celebrate the Feast and Holy-Day of Christmas, with the Psalmist (Ps. 98:4-6) we proclaim:<br /><br />Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;<br />make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing,<br />with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn – shout for joy before the LORD, the King.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Let us pray: Generous God, even as we praise you for the good news of today, and seek to shout for joy at the coming of the Christ-child, we acknowledge Mary’s mix of pain and joy, both today and in the days to come. As we do so, we face our own emotions on this difficult and delightful day, and ask your help to live it well. Amen.</span><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carol</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">You might like to sing, or reflect on the words of Geoffrey Ainger’s hymn at StF 193/H&P 95, Born in the night, Mary’s child, a long way from your home; coming in need, Mary’s child, born in a borrowed room </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> (interestingly recorded, not at Christmas, but on Good Friday).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zwiZJqiB4KA" width="320" youtube-src-id="zwiZJqiB4KA"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Our first reading is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+52%3A7-10&version=NIVUK">Isaiah 52:7-10</a> NIV<br /><br />7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’<br />8 Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the LORD returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes.<br />9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.<br />10 The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">As a husband, dad and grandad, I am more than familiar with receiving slippers and/or socks on this day. You might say my stocking usually contains its kin. Which might be why I always smile at the sense of beauty the prophet attaches to the feet of the news-bringers. ‘How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those…’ It might be the image of my feet, with or without Christmas socks, which also brings a smile in Frances Ridley Havergill’s hymn ‘Take my life’ when we sing the line, ’Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for thee.’ I don’t know what kind of footwear such messengers would wear, or what state their feet would be in, but I guess the writer is, in speaking about beauty, reflecting how longed-for and significant is the arrival of those who bring the news – it is so good to see them, to hear them proclaim salvation.<br /><br />Let’s take a moment to remember and reflect on those moments when we have received good news, whether in a spiritual or a practical way, and give thanks for the messengers, whatever the state of their feet. And let’s be open to those opportunities we have to be messengers of goodness.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Let us pray: Good-news-God, you send prophets, angels, Jesus, all to show us your love. May we welcome the messengers and their message with joy, and pass it on. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carol</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We celebrate the news with StF 196, Come and join the celebration</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AhW51VX3-SM" width="320" youtube-src-id="AhW51VX3-SM"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Today’s gospel reading is <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-14&version=MSG">John 1:1-14</a>. I’m assuming you will have a traditional version of the Bible to look this up in, so here is the more contemporary Message Bible version to hold alongside:<br /><br />The Word was first, the Word present to God, God present to the Word.<br />The Word was God, in readiness for God from day one.<br />Everything was created through him; nothing—not one thing!— came into being without him.<br />What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by.<br />The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness; the darkness couldn’t put it out.<br />There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.<br />The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light.<br />He was in the world, the world was there through him, and yet the world didn’t even notice.<br />He came to his own people, but they didn’t want him.<br />But whoever did want him, who believed he was who he claimed and would do what he said,<br />He made to be their true selves, their child-of-God selves.<br />These are the God-begotten, not blood-begotten, not flesh-begotten, not sex-begotten.<br />The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.<br />We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, <br />Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">John’s gospel doesn’t give us the story of angels and shepherds like Luke, or wise men like Matthew, but rather offers us this prologue to the story which will follow. Here it is clear that Jesus, not even named in this passage but striding through the chapters that follow, is ‘the Word’, at one and the same time God’s messenger and God’s message who, as a flesh and blood human being has moved into our neighbourhood. <br /><br />The prologue is the first part, but written in the knowledge of the last part. It is setting the scene, but in a way that puts all that will follow into its proper perspective. So all the stories of Jesus told by John in his gospel are intended to show how ‘the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us’, and John’s final chapters will bear testimony to the truth that ‘the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it’.<br /><br />It’s easy in this season to be distracted. It might be busyness for some, loneliness for others. It might be people it’s hard to be with, or without. It might be the societal pressure to consume, to spend, to be happy (even if we don’t feel happy). We might say Christmas is for children, and get drawn into it all being about Santa and his helpers. <br /><br />John grounds us, pulls us back to the centre of it all. God’s Word become flesh, God’s love at the heart, God’s light in our darkness. Luke’s shepherds and Matthew’s kings point to this, Mary and Joseph and their new-borne picturesquely represent this, John trumpets it!<br /><br />However you are spending your Christmas, may it be in the knowledge and experience of its truth. <br /><br />In this world of flesh and blood, as we meet and greet and give and receive, and as we remember friends gone from us with love and longing, may we know that Christ is with us in our joys and sorrows. <br /><br />Whatever our situation may we experience God’s love holding and enfolding. <br /><br />And whether we are dazzled by the Christmas lights or depressed by current darkness, may we feel deeply the truth of the promise that God’s light shines, and will not be overcome. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carol</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">You might like to sing, or reflect on the words of Christina Rossetti’s carol (StF 204/ H&P 107), In the bleak midwinter</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5d-dHcLaA4w" width="320" youtube-src-id="5d-dHcLaA4w"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Praying for others, and ourselves.</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood.<br />We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son,<br />Generous inside and out, true from start to finish. (John 1:14 The Message Bible)<br /><br />Generous God, emptying yourself of all but love that you might move into our neighbourhood, we praise you for who you are.<br /><br />God’s Word become flesh, God’s love at the heart, God’s light in our darkness. Thank you for the good news of this day.<br /><br />May we be both recipients of this news, and deliverers of it. May its truth be evident in us today,<br /><br />We pray particularly for:<br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;">expectant mothers, especially those on the refugee road;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">struggling parents, especially those for whom Christmas is more challenge than celebration;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">those who are closest to us, whether we are able to be together or not this year;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">those who are suffering in these continuing covid days, directly or indirectly – through illness, separation, anxiety, bereavement, loss of livelihood and employment;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">those working hard to care, protect and provide for others, in paid and voluntary capacities, formal and informal, including NHS and Social Care staff, teachers and childcare providers, transport, distribution and retail workers, and those caring for loved ones at home;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">those with responsibility for public policy at every level;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">one another – those with whom we share fellowship in church life, including those for whom we have some pastoral responsibility, those who have some pastoral responsibility for us;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;">any for whom it is particularly important to hear God’s good news in this Christmas season, whether because of their need, or the need of those around them, whether because something is being offered to them, or asked of them.</span></li></ul>As we bring our prayers, Generous God, and prepare to move on from this service, keep us open to your Spirit and conscious of your love, that we might know you as the one who has moved into our neighbourhood and meet you in our neighbours. May we too be generous inside and out as we choose to follow you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.<br /><br />We bring our prayers together, as we pray, with all God’s people, the Lord’s Prayer.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carol</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We close with Charles Wesley’s Carol, (StF 202) Hark the herald angels sing <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BwGgzVRF9c8" width="320" youtube-src-id="BwGgzVRF9c8"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Blessing</h2>We go in peace, in the power of the Spirit, to live and work to God’s praise and glory. Amen.<br /><br />We bless one another, and all those we have brought to mind this day, as we share the Grace: <br /><br />The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and always. Amen.<br /><br />(CCLI 79951. Service prepared by Rev’d Nick Blundell)</span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-87246529753900946532021-12-22T20:18:00.001+00:002021-12-24T19:03:05.525+00:00Virtual Worship - Christmas worship<p style="text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jYJsMZQT8Zw" width="320" youtube-src-id="jYJsMZQT8Zw"></iframe></p><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome to this service for Christmas Time. We hope that this act of worship will help you to celebrate the good news of Christmas.</span></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I bring you Good News of great joy, for a Saviour has been born to you. For unto us a child is born, a son is given, Alleluia.</span></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carol</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TghcwAoV8U0" width="320" youtube-src-id="TghcwAoV8U0"></iframe></span></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gift giving God, how mighty you are. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How wondrous the gift you have given. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Foretold and promised now born among us</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How blessed we are. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Born to redeem us, to rescue and keep us. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How blessed we are.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Born to transform and to take us to glory.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How blessed we are.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Born out of love, born to give love </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How blessed we are.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">O God incarnate gow blessed we are by your extraordinary being.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">God gives to us His son and to those who seek it, forgiveness of their sins</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Go and share the gift, show the love and know the peace that God gives </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Amen.</span></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer of confession</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Generous, overwhelming God</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the excitement and joy of this day</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We take a moment to reflect and ponder on the immensity of the gift you have given.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Forgive us if we have belittled the most precious gift of all</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Forgive us if we have cast it aside and put it on the back-burner</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Left it packed away since last Christmas with all the tinsel and trappings</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Forgive us for not pondering enough the depth of your giving and sacrifice for us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As you give to us, so we give to you our sorrow and confession for all that has not been worthy of your name.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Amen.</span></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A prayer of assurance of forgiveness</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">God gives to us His Son,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And to those who seek it, forgiveness of their sins</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Go and share the gift, show the love and know the peace that God gives</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Amen.</span></div><h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A prayer of adoration on this Christmas Day</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">All praise to you, O God, for Jesus</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Born for us, not in grandeur but in humility</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">All praise to you, O God, for Jesus</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">A babe laid in a manger and shrouded with love.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">All praise to you, O God, for Jesus</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Given in a time of chaos to still the world</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">All praise to you, O God, for Jesus</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Who showed us how to live, how to love and how to be</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">All praise to you, O God, for Jesus</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Who followed where you led, even unto death</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">All praise to you, O God for Jesus</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Born then and now, for them and us, and me,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">All praise to you, O God this Christmas Day.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Amen.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carol</span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xLl3ILYLg7E" width="320" youtube-src-id="xLl3ILYLg7E"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Readings</span></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+52%3A7-15&version=NIVUK"><span style="font-family: arial;">Isaiah 52:7-15</span></a></h3><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span class="text Isa-52-7" id="en-NIV-18704" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">How beautiful on the mountains</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-52-7" style="position: relative;">are the feet of those who bring good news,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-52-7" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">who proclaim peace,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-52-7" style="position: relative;">who bring good tidings,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-52-7" style="position: relative;">who proclaim salvation,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-52-7" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">who say to Zion,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-52-7" style="position: relative;">“Your God reigns!”</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-52-8" id="en-NIV-18705" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">8 </span>Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-52-8" style="position: relative;">together they shout for joy.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-52-8" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">When the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> returns to Zion,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-52-8" style="position: relative;">they will see it with their own eyes.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-52-9" id="en-NIV-18706" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">9 </span>Burst into songs of joy together,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-52-9" style="position: relative;">you ruins of Jerusalem,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-52-9" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">for the <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> has comforted his people,</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-52-9" style="position: relative;">he has redeemed Jerusalem.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-52-10" id="en-NIV-18707" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; left: -4.4em; line-height: normal; position: absolute; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;">10 </span>The <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span> will lay bare his holy arm</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-52-10" style="position: relative;">in the sight of all the nations,</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="text Isa-52-10" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; position: relative;">and all the ends of the earth will see</span><br style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;" /><span class="indent-1" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-52-10" style="position: relative;">the salvation of our God.</span></span></span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A1-15&version=NIVUK"><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke 2:1-15</span></a></h3><span style="font-family: arial;"> In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.<br /><br />4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.<br /><br />8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields near by, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’<br /><br />13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,<br /><br />14 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,<br /> and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’<br /><br />15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sM9h1HpyRxU" width="320" youtube-src-id="sM9h1HpyRxU"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carol</span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EjhlvMQlqsg" width="320" youtube-src-id="EjhlvMQlqsg"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the years I have attended many nativity plays. Sometimes in years gone by to see my own children, and also as part of my ministry, attending nativities and churches and schools. A challenge for teachers and Junior Church Leaders is to ensure that everyone gets a role no matter how small, and this sometimes call for creativity from the staff in adding in enough parts for everyone.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One of my favourite radio programmes to listen to is From Our Own Corespondent. I have it on my list of podcasts and make sure I listen in each week. The programme provides opportunity from BBC correspondents from around the globe to offer reflections on their part of the world from a slightly different perspective from that which appears on the main news programmes. I remember one time when Kate Adie who introduces the programme, made the comment in the broadcast just before Christmas, that correspondents are a bit like the bit players in the nativity play. Like the one who looks after the wise men's camels or the shepherds assistant. There's is only a small part in the big scheme of things, but what is important is the message they bring. All too often for correspondents this means news of war or conflict, but sometimes they offer a message of peace and when they do, it is most welcome. Like the picture of the messenger given in Isaiah's prophecy, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those who announce peace who bring good news". Other messengers in the story of the Christmas are the angels who are the messengers of God. Despite their shining appearance, they are themselves only bit players. What is important is the message which they proclaim of the coming of a Saviour. A message of peace as they proclaim the birth of Jesus Christ. This living word of God who has been known to us in Christ far outshines even the brilliance of angels.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our task as Christians is to be messengers of God's word in Christ. Like the angels, we should tell of God's word and message of peace at Christmas time and like John the Baptist, we should point not to ourselves as messengers but to the one whom we proclaim. This Christmas time may too be messengers announcing the coming of Christ into our world.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Opportunities may feel more restricted in present circumstances, but they are there if we look for them. For example, I have been glad this year to take part in two outdoor events for carol singing - in the park at Calverley, accompanied by the brass band and outside the church at St Andrew's outside the backdrop of festively lit trees. Some of you may have done similarly. Wherever we find ourselves, there is always opportunity to share good news with those around us, or on a conversation on the phone, perhaps, where we can share words of comfort and joy and the message of peace.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">May the words that we say and the things that we do this Christmas time, speak God's word of life, of the word made flesh, Jesus Christ who has come into the world.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CEZpe64CLSY" width="320" youtube-src-id="CEZpe64CLSY"></iframe></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers of others and ourselves</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Homeless God, </span><div><span style="font-family: arial;">When you came into our world you were homeless. Born in a place where animals slept. Help us to care for those who have no homes; to notice them, respond to them, give them value and dignity.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We pray for those who offer food and shelter at this time, and who constantly seek funding and donations for the work that they do. As we eat our Christmas meals in our homes, help us to remember those who have nothing, and pledge to share from our plenty.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Homeless God,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">When you came into our world you were a refugee, carried by your parents to a place of safety. Help us to welcome those who leave their homes to find refuge among us; to learn their names, and help them to share their ways.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We pray for those who offer a welcome, clothes, a place to rest and help people find a permanent home. As we exchange our Christmas gifts, help us to remember those who arrive with nothing, and pledge to open our arms.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Homeless God,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">When you came into our world you were a new person in the town where your parents sought to make a new beginning. Help us to welcome new neighbours; to be the kind of neighbour we would like to have; to offer friendship and love.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We pray for those who move to new places hoping for a new start and new chances. As we look forward to the New Year and its promise, help us to remember those who carry heavy loads of bad choices and pledge to share the forgiveness we have received.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Homeless God,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">When you came into the world you sought to make your home with us and to call all who accept you into the body of Christ. Help us to be part of that body this Christmas and always, knowing your unchanging love for us and for all people. As we hold on to you, help us to welcome in the name of Jesus all who have yet to know you and pledge to share the good news we have received.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Amen.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We share the Lord's prayer together.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carol</span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gRUOI73IREg" width="320" youtube-src-id="gRUOI73IREg"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Now, may the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the Shepherds, the perseverance of the wise men, the obedience of Joseph and Mary, and the peace of the Christ child be yours this Christmas time.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Amen.</span></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><p></p></div></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-12565540823336532702021-12-18T15:47:00.000+00:002021-12-18T15:47:41.536+00:00Virtual worship - 19 December 2021<span style="font-family: arial;">Advent 4: Thinking about BLESSING</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/8y8jno5oexwhiho/2021-12-19-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service sheet </a>(pdf)</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">STF 187 The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pliqObTHxUQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="pliqObTHxUQ"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Introduction</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Christmas is only days away now. How will you welcome Jesus into your home this year? After last year’s loss and longing, will the blessings of this year’s Christmas celebrations have any extra special meaning for you? Today’s worship is focussed on signs of greeting and blessing.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Come, greet one another in the name of the Lord.<br />Come, bring all you have and be blessed.<br />Come, and worship the God of the great and the lowly,<br />and share your hopes and fears.<br />Come, young and old – for God is calling you.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Collect for today</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">As we light this Advent candle,<br />may its flame be for us a sign of blessing.<br />As Mary and Elizabeth greeted each other,<br />and Mary praised God for the blessings received,<br />may we know God’s blessing in our lives and community,<br />as we offer prayers and praises in Jesus’ name. Amen<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">STF166 Christmas Is Coming The Church Is Glad To Sing</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a9Q4YeEH7I4" width="320" youtube-src-id="a9Q4YeEH7I4"></iframe></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">How do you greet people – not just the words you might say, but your actions as well? Do you greet everyone the same, or does it vary according to who it is or where you are – if so, how? What happens when a hugger and a non-hugger greet each other? <br /><br />Finally, have you ever sung your greeting to someone, or used poetry? We are about to hear the story of someone who did! Use all your knowledge and experience of different kinds of greetings to imagine how this scene played itself out. For example, when it gets to the bit where ‘the child in her womb leapt for joy’, how do you think Elizabeth would have reacted? And then Mary started to sing! (We shall come to what she sang in a few moments.)<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gospel Reading:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A39-45&version=NIVUK">Luke 1:39-45</a><br /><br />In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection: What do we mean when we talk about blessing?</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">The word ‘bless’ is used in many situations: ‘Ah bless’ we might say when a toddler covers themself in spaghetti sauce while exploring the world of solid food and spoons; ‘Bless you’ said sincerely to the nurse taking a blood sample may bring a smile to a weary face and calm down the anxious patient; ‘Bless you’ may also be our automatic instinctive response to a sneeze; ‘The Lord bless you and keep you’ said by a grieving family over the body of an elderly parent who has just died in hospital is almost certainly a heartfelt prayer. From the playful to the profound, words of blessing convey deep meaning and carry particular power. Where, when and how should we bless others? What are sources of blessing to us? And what do we mean when we use the word ‘bless’ or ‘blessing’? <br /><br />Some find blessing through music and song. In 2020, a song sung by Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, based on those words – The Lord bless you and keep you – went ‘viral’, as they say. Millions of people all round the world have heard and responded to it, with different countries and even towns putting their own version together. What a wonderful way to share God’s blessing – send someone a song. <br /><br />So, when we bless someone, what is it that we are doing? One way of putting it might be that when we bless someone in the name of Jesus, we are saying that we want the best that God has for them, and that we want them to know God in a new and more vibrant way. Do you want your neighbours to be blessed by God? Do you want your neighbourhood to be blessed by God? Then why not do it? Pray God’s blessing over your friends and neighbours, and over your village/town/city. Pray The Lord bless and keep you… but not just over them. Pray God’s blessing over people who are struggling, people who are suffering, people in any kind of need. <br /><br />It is a human interaction to bless people, but it is also a divine one. God is the sources of all blessing, whether we do it through song, through words and prayers, or through gestures such as hugging – doesn’t hugging mean so much more to us now, after over a year of it not being allowed! And, remember, God’s blessing is not restricted only to those we think deserve it. God even blesses you and me!<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">STF 104 God Moves In A Mysterious Way</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-NqiU06sob4" width="320" youtube-src-id="-NqiU06sob4"></iframe></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">The meeting between Elizabeth and Mary is a regular part of our Advent worship, although it sometimes gets squashed out by Nativities, Christingles, or Carol Services. As if Mary doesn’t have enough to think about, she finds Elizabeth’s greeting yet another cause for wonder and surprise. ‘The child leapt in my womb!’ Surely, this child will be important. He will change lives, he will change the world, and the world most definitely needs changing!<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gospel Reading:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+1%3A46-55&version=NIVUK">Luke 1:46-55</a><br /><br />And Mary sang, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Most of us will pray the Lord’s Prayer every day or every week. The phrase, ‘Your kingdom come, on earth as in heaven,’ sums up the human hope that God will change the world. The phrases which follow ‘Give us bread’ and ‘forgive each other’s debts’ have their roots in the injustices and grinding poverty of society in and around Jesus’s day. Jewish hope for a levelling of society goes right back to Moses’ day when the Israelites gained freedom from slavery in Egypt. This is what Mary sings about in her song. The baby she carries will bring about the changes everyone hopes for. The privileged and mighty will be brought low, and the poorest and the least will be raised up. The hymn writer Frank Kaan catches a contemporary vision echoing the strains of Mary’s song. It is poignant because the world has not changed, yet we still long for that change. It is a Christian duty to hold onto that vision, and to enter into the work of Jesus today, working for God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. This is central to the Christmas message – peace on earth to all people is meant to be real, not just a sentiment. Isn’t that what is meant by Blessing?<br /><br />1. Sing we a song of high revolt;<br />Make great the Lord, his name exalt:<br />Sing we the song that Mary sang<br />Of God at war with human wrong.<br />Sing we of him who deeply cares<br />And still with us our burden bears;<br />He, who with strength the proud disowns,<br />Brings down the mighty from their thrones.<br /><br />2. By him the poor are lifted up:<br />He satisfies with bread and cup<br />The hungry folk of many lands;<br />The rich are left with empty hands.<br />He calls us to revolt and fight<br />With him for what is just and right<br />To sing and live Magnificat<br />In crowded street and council flat<br /><br />Fred Kaan (1929 - ) based on Luke 1.<br /><br />This Autumn the image below was shared with members of our District Synod. It captures in a very visual way the vision and hope which Mary sings about, which John the Baptist preaches about, and Jesus himself declares to be God’s purpose for his ministry.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgW7OWcgKf7UEr3fW_nIHWPcxQe9ztMEhWnpdguHyj4qy466d9Um0YR7vbJ_zjPRQ1PUubRcHpKY9xRSCJ9BAThiTw9yLi2BXTewYadexu2yFnQXiNeEj4OznSdNZZfO1kEWbAOod01CUByz2IfkIK-d00GbhjFYV5-mzyb8VLeKGehZr3CjmvX7Oy=s751" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="311" data-original-width="751" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhgW7OWcgKf7UEr3fW_nIHWPcxQe9ztMEhWnpdguHyj4qy466d9Um0YR7vbJ_zjPRQ1PUubRcHpKY9xRSCJ9BAThiTw9yLi2BXTewYadexu2yFnQXiNeEj4OznSdNZZfO1kEWbAOod01CUByz2IfkIK-d00GbhjFYV5-mzyb8VLeKGehZr3CjmvX7Oy=w400-h166" width="400" /></a></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="text-align: center;">[The difference between the terms equality, equity, and liberation, illustrated; © Interaction Institute for Social Change | Artist: Angus Maguire]</div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn 4: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">STF 170 Darkness Like A Shroud Covers The Earth</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aHG3YS0NGJc" width="320" youtube-src-id="aHG3YS0NGJc"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord Jesus, born for us in a borrowed stable, a long way from your home,<br /><br />we pray for: those a long way from their homes… those with nowhere to lay their heads… those with nothing to keep them warm… those with no one to care for them… those with no one to share Christmas with… those with no rejoicing to do… Amen.<br /><br />Lords Prayer<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">STF 346 Christ Is The World’s Light, He And None Other</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/D3t7lgiLoZY" width="320" youtube-src-id="D3t7lgiLoZY"></iframe></div></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Now may the love of truth guide you, the warmth of love hold you and the spirit of peace bless you, this Christmas time and in the days to come. Amen<br /><br />Written and prepared by Deacon Merry Evans using material from ROOTS and NRSV Bible.</span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-51930962601707446062021-12-12T16:54:00.000+00:002021-12-12T16:54:15.217+00:00Pastoral Letter - 9 December 2021<span style="font-family: arial;">Dear friends<br /><br />We have been through a lot together over this last 18 months since the pandemic first started, as households, as communities and as the people of the church. At times we have struggled, but we have also recognised the support we can offer one another in times of adversity. When things have been far from normal, we have adapted in new ways to continue the life and mission of the church. In the face of great hurt and great need, we have found the value of faith and hope. Since the summer we have seen signs of hope in the re-opening of buildings and the re-starting of some of our church and community groups. However, recent news of a new variant of the virus has once again raised the level of concern. Clearly, the pandemic is not yet over. Consequently, as I am sure you are already aware, the government has decided that there is a need for greater restrictions to be in place once again - see <a href="https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus">detailed guidance</a> dated 8th December. In the light of this, the Methodist Church has also <a href="https://www.methodist.org.uk/for-churches/property/coronavirus-guidance-for-property/">issued guidance</a> dated 9th December, for the use of Methodist property.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihs-l99U3g99T5NNg5oi-93ivTRWcWJoqLfHTSJXWMKQE5F5fhGurjTzLP_aHL6PAEgGuphagaWnB_ALY_qSy4y68Q1PPDL6QYzbq97KDQJM4jbYfREJUQkAWAbBrWDD-r0nYAF--6jZ7VVkvN-xokZ4w_H6rA53Kj8UptYsXdUhUUOD3D-ayszS1H=s640" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEihs-l99U3g99T5NNg5oi-93ivTRWcWJoqLfHTSJXWMKQE5F5fhGurjTzLP_aHL6PAEgGuphagaWnB_ALY_qSy4y68Q1PPDL6QYzbq97KDQJM4jbYfREJUQkAWAbBrWDD-r0nYAF--6jZ7VVkvN-xokZ4w_H6rA53Kj8UptYsXdUhUUOD3D-ayszS1H=s320" width="320" /></a></div>These latest restrictions, which come into force from Friday 10th December allow us to continue with services and activities at church. However, an important part of these new requirements is that we should wear a face-covering when inside church premises. Although there is an exemption under government guidelines which allows individuals the choice whether to take off or leave on their face covering whilst singing, we would encourage the wearing of face coverings through the whole service including when hymns are being sung. In saying this, our hope is that we might continue to consider the needs of those around us, especially older people and those who are particularly vulnerable to the virus. We urge that good hygiene practices are followed by everyone as we look to keep each other safe, and we ask that those in positions of leadership continue with keeping church premises ventilated and clean.<br /><br />We know that amongst each congregation there will be different reactions to these most recent restrictions, especially when it comes to balancing risk with a continuing of community life. Some will be feeling frustrated and others anxious. Please keep showing care for one another, as we remember our unity in Christ.<br /><br />Revs Philip Drake, Nick Blundell, Christine Crabtree and Deacon Merry Evans. </span>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-35086402498208094352021-12-11T23:23:00.007+00:002021-12-11T23:42:07.664+00:00Virtual Worship - 12 December 2021<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Advent 3</span></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/k82sf83q79m4bb4/2021-12-12-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship: </span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near (Philippians 4.4-5)<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song:</span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VDmIddF7DfQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="VDmIddF7DfQ"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Joy to the world! the Lord is come;<br />Let earth receive her King;<br />Let every heart prepare him room,<br />And heaven and nature sing,<br />And heaven and nature sing,<br />And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.<br /><br />Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;<br />Let all their songs employ;<br />While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains<br />Repeat the sounding joy,<br />Repeat the sounding joy,<br />Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.<br /><br />He rules the world with truth and grace,<br />And makes the nations prove<br />The glories of His righteousness,<br />And wonders of His love,<br />And wonders of His love,<br />And wonders, wonders, of His love. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Isaac Watts<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Opening prayer:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Loving God, In the long, dark days of winter,<br />The cold and dismal days of waiting for the spring,<br />You surprise us into life,<br />By the joy of your Good News.<br />You come as the king of the world.<br />You come as our deliverer.<br />Forgive us when we are not prepared for you!<br /><br />Open our eyes, Creator God,<br />To see your presence within our lives;<br />To see: The good being done all around us;<br />The relationships that are loving and supportive;<br />The challenges to human indifference.<br /><br />Open our ears, Word of life;<br />To hear your message of salvation;<br />To hear: The offer of a new, full life in you;<br />The call to follow you as your disciples;<br />Your encouragement as we walk the way of self-giving love.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Open our hearts, Spirit of God,<br />To receive your power within us;<br />To receive: Your gift of hope and joy and peace;<br />The love that binds us together;<br />The courage to witness to your Good News.<br /><br />You are coming Saviour God.<br />Help us to be ready for you, alert and prepared<br />To see and hear and receive you<br />This Christmas and every day of our lives. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Introduction to the bible reading: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">For the third Sunday of Advent, the focus is on the ministry of John the Baptist, who proclaimed the coming of Jesus. We do not immediately associate the message of John, as one of fiery repentance, with that of joy. A call to repentance is difficult and demanding. Sometimes the search for joy in our lives demands that we face up to some hard truths about ourselves. But through tackling them head on and responding to the challenge, we might find that deep sense of joy which comes from doing the right thing.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bible reading: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke 3.7-18<br /><br />7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 9 Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.’<br />10 And the crowds asked him, ‘What then should we do?’ 11 In reply he said to them, ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.’ 12 Even tax-collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ 13 He said to them, ‘Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.’ 14 Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what should we do?’ He said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.’<br />15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,[d] 16 John answered all of them by saying, ‘I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with[e] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing-fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’<br />18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To consider:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;"> Christmas time means candle time! Advent candles, Christingle services, carol by candlelight and all the rest of it. There is something fascinating about candles - certainly my children are attracted by the Christmas candles on our dining room table - the whole business of lighting them, blowing them out and taking the dead matchstick to poke in the soft wax or put back in the flame. Which is all very well until someone gets their fingers burnt. <br /><br /> The advent candles are a significant part of our advent services and add to the atmosphere of worship. At least until, as happened at a service I was leading one time whilst I was preaching the sermon, the foliage surrounding the candles also caught fire - and a steward had to leap into action to douse the flames. I can also remember a colleague telling me how he and his wife were sharing advent prayers at home around a lighted advent candle; and all was peaceful until the cat walked past, brushing the candle and setting its tail alight. Then there was panic whilst they chased after the cat trying to put the flames out!<br /><br /> On a much more serious level, flames getting out of hand is often a news feature at this time of year – not in this country but in hotter and drier parts of the world. I always take note when bushfires start in Victoria in Australia because we have relations living there. It must be quite terrifying to be living in the path of a fire which is burning out of control. These fires bring the threat of devastation to both lives and possessions. <br /><br /> It is one of the features of Australian bushfires that they bring not only destruction but also new life. It is a characteristic of the Australian environment that the seeds of some of the trees and plants require the heat of the fire to germinate and sprout. The fire clears away the old growth and allows the new growth to spring through. The effects of fire can be transforming, creating as well as destroying. Think of the way in which a heated oven changes a mixture of flour, eggs, sugar and margarine into a cake; or the kiln which turns soft clay into a hardened pot; or the heated furnace in which sand becomes molten glass ready to be blown and shaped into the most wonderful objects. <br /><br /> The kind of fire John the Baptist talks about so strongly is the fire of judgement – and that is a hard message to take, especially just a couple of weeks before Christmas, just as we are getting in the mood for celebration. We need to remember that the gospel does not promise an easy life. Discipleship is not pain-free. We cannot expect the Christian life to be warm and comfortable - yet it can and does bring its own rewards to those who are prepared to follow that way of life. We may have to make big changes to our way of living and accept sacrifices to see it happen. But that is the call of the gospel to which we are challenged to respond. <br /><br /> And yet John’s message is not without hope. For John also speaks of one who will come with a baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire. In the book of Acts, we are given a picture of the fire of Pentecost, that experience of the Spirit which the disciples felt as tongues of living flame. Such experience brings not the fear of destruction but the promise of transformation and new life in Christ. It is a fire within, the fire of God’s love, which gives us the means to respond to the challenge of the gospel. <br /><br />Such fire within brings us hope, and even joy. So, in this season of advent let us address realistically those things of which we need to repent and turn our backs on; but let us also look ahead with hope and joy to the new life which comes through the Good News of Jesus Christ.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Make a response:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">John the Baptist told those who came to be baptised that their faith needs to make a difference to their everyday living. John’s response to the question, ‘What then should we do?’ was to point to actions of generosity towards others even at the expense of managing with less for ourselves. As we approach Christmas, we might want to challenge ourselves by asking how we might be content with what we have rather than expecting all that we might want.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Exercise: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Look at the picture below and think about the questions:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8WJzkGgBk6VlPF5xs2QD0I0myyDi2VR5Nd8M6HEb47SPY0b0JBPiACRnE8wenLbRcOiIM3fqXXRIKr4BCfVvXrREM2zax5gcZ-U8mvNlqGu8o5aLuakARwrKf9jOHFxpYGPr911QPKp19uVJkWr-4Pt_6iGctKyh7SAxnULRLCvhDPKHEdMcXo9Ci=s344" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="344" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg8WJzkGgBk6VlPF5xs2QD0I0myyDi2VR5Nd8M6HEb47SPY0b0JBPiACRnE8wenLbRcOiIM3fqXXRIKr4BCfVvXrREM2zax5gcZ-U8mvNlqGu8o5aLuakARwrKf9jOHFxpYGPr911QPKp19uVJkWr-4Pt_6iGctKyh7SAxnULRLCvhDPKHEdMcXo9Ci=s320" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>• How might what these young people are doing be ‘good news’ for someone?<br />• What then should we do, to be a sign of the good news to others?<br />• How is your community a sign of the good news?<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayer of thanksgiving</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We praise you for the gift of witnesses to your love.<br /><br />We give thanks for the witness of John the Baptist and his message to the people and its relevance for us today.<br /><br />In his story and his teaching, we see the heart of your being, fairness and justice and equality for your people.<br /><br />We give you thanks for the ordinary everyday life that witnesses to your power and glory.<br /><br />We give thanks that you are always surprising us and meeting us right where we are.<br /><br />We give thanks for your light in our times of darkness, for your hand in times of aloneness, for your leading in times of uncertainty.<br /><br />To you, our triune God, we offer our praise and thanksgiving. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song: </span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZAgyydJPucg" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZAgyydJPucg"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Love came down at Christmas,<br />Love all lovely, Love Divine,<br />Love was born at Christmas,<br />Star and Angels gave the sign.<br /><br />Worship we the Godhead,<br />Love Incarnate, Love Divine,<br />Worship we our Jesus,<br />But wherewith for sacred sign?<br /><br />Love shall be our token,<br />Love be yours and love be mine,<br />Love to God and all men,<br />Love for plea and gift and sign. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Christina Rossetti<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sending out prayer.</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord, help us to go into the world in peace;<br />to be of good courage; to hold fast to that which is good;<br />to strengthen the fainthearted; to support the weak;<br />to honour everyone; and to love and serve the Lord.<br />Be within us and among us, and remain with us always. Amen.</span></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-78563911339456895412021-12-04T17:37:00.001+00:002021-12-11T23:58:28.371+00:00Virtual Worship - 5 December 2021<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Advent 2 </span></h1><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MjCBeZksbhY" width="320" youtube-src-id="MjCBeZksbhY"></iframe></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/dop9v2miyeqm3sl/2021-12%3D05-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Introduction</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Welcome to worship at Baildon Methodist Church. If you have any sorrow or regret about anything you have done in the recent or far-distant past, or any anger or regrets about how other people have treated you. This service is for you. For us. You are especially welcome on this second Sunday of Advent which is all about John the Baptist and his promise of forgiveness which, as St Luke says in his Gospel, is life-changing.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Collect for today</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Dear God who taught us about forgiveness, forgive us because we have forgotten the lessons that we learned from the life and example of Jesus Christ, who forgave both his tormentors, and his friends. Amen</span><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">The theme for the second Sunday in Advent is John the Baptist, and our lesson from the Gospel will tell us something about his ministry. Our first hymn first appeared in Paris at about the time of the restoration in England as a Latin poem by a man called Coffin. This version is a translation made by John Chandler 150 years later:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Hymn 1: 182 On Jordan’s banks the Baptist’s cry announces that the Lord is nigh.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pIr21lLgFpg" width="320" youtube-src-id="pIr21lLgFpg"></iframe></div></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Gospel Reading</span></h2><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke 3:1-6 The message</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">In the fifteenth year of the rule of Caesar Tiberius—it was while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea; Herod, ruler of Galilee; his brother Philip, ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, ruler of Abilene; during the Chief-Priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—John, Zachariah’s son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God. He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins, as described in the words of Isaiah the prophet:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Thunder in the desert!<br />“Prepare God’s arrival!<br />Make the road smooth and straight!<br />Every ditch will be filled in,<br />Every bump smoothed out,<br />The detours straightened out,<br />All the ruts paved over.<br />Everyone will be there to see<br />The parade of God’s salvation.”<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke anchors the ministry of John in the minds of his contemporary readers. All the office holders mentioned were around between 28AD and 30AD, except Annas. The Jewish records of high priests was meticulous. Annas was deposed in AD15, but Caiaphas was his son-in-law, so the political reality that Luke was confirming was that, around AD30, Caiaphas was high priest, but Annas pulled his strings.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The combination of Roman records and Jewish records does emphasise that John was a real person at a real time in history. This is not a fictional account, it is a factual account of a man, it had to be a man in those days, who experienced the same range of feelings and emotions as we do.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke emphasises that John not only told people about the forgiveness of sins, but that this was “life-changing”, and was marked by a commitment within a ceremony, so that, in people’s lives there was a definite “before” and a definite “after”. We could compare this with a birth, a death, a marriage ceremony, a recognition of British Citizenship ceremony for a refugee, or a degree ceremony, in that everything changes in that one moment. One moment my sins weigh me down, they enervate me, they restrict my energy and enthusiasm; the next moment, they are forgiven, I am a new man, I will, of course, regret and try to make amends for my sins, but they no longer have power over me. <br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Martin Leckebusch lives in Gloucester, he is a specialist in numerical analysis but is nevertheless a nice guy he is married to Jane, they have four daughters; but their son died in 1995. His interests include jazz, crosswords and a good curry. He has written about 400 hymns, a bit short of Charles Wesley’s 6500 but there is time! He wrote out next hymn:<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn 2: 703 In an age of twisted values, we have lost the truth we need.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PN39uLkXBI0" width="320" youtube-src-id="PN39uLkXBI0"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Forgiveness is not always easy to give nor to receive. It is not always comfortable, sometimes we would rather not. Let me explain. Remember all the TV interviews that you have seen with the relatives of victims. In some of those interviews we see a face contorted with a mixture of sorrow and anger as the owner of the face, let’s call her Jane, demands justice for her friend or relative who has died or suffered at the hands of a criminal, a terrorist, or an overworked doctor. There are lawyers, no win, no fee, who will have offered their services to secure compensation for Jane, and the carrot of compensation opens wounds and keeps them open. The anger that injustice has been done is a sustaining life story, a narrative, that supports the Jane and gives her a reason for getting up in the morning.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In other interviews you will see a face serene with sorrow and regret, but also with hope. Let’s call the owner Janet. You may hear that she has forgiven the perpetrator of the outrage. That loving forgiveness is also her life narrative, her reason for getting up in the morning. Jane cannot understand Janet, how can she forgive? How can she so betray the memory of her loved one? </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> Janet, on the other hand, cannot understand why Jane should cling to her anger.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Both Jane and Janet may great things as a result of the motivation that they choose in response to the loss, but who would you rather be? The forgiver or the unforgiver? Jane or Janet?<br />Jesus showed us how to forgive. He forgave His tormentors on the cross, he forgave Peter for abandoning Him, later, Stephen forgave those who stoned him to death. How often should we forgive someone? How much is 70 x 7 anyway? Quite a lot.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">On March 20th, 1993, the day before Mothering Sunday, the IRA exploded two bombs without warning in a shopping street in the town of Warrington. Three-year-old Johnathan Ball died at the scene of the bombing as a result of his shrapnel inflicted injuries and, five days later, 12-year-old Tim Parry lost his life as a result of fatal head injuries. 54 others were injured, some seriously. Nobody was ever prosecuted for the deaths of Tim and Johnathan. Colin and Wendy, Tim’s parents wanted to understand why but they have never sought to know who did it, nor to seek revenge or justice. Instead, they created the Warrington Peace Foundation. They wrote a book: Tim-an ordinary boy: the profits established the Tim Parry Scholarship. They work ceaselessly to meet the needs of victims and relatives of victims of atrocities.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Christopher Ellis is a Baptist minister and writer of many hymns including this one <br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn 3: 419 to Finlandia: Almighty God, we come to make confession for we have sinned in thought and word and deed.<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uBFik8SfJFA" width="320" youtube-src-id="uBFik8SfJFA"></iframe></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">It is not only difficult to forgive, but also difficult to receive forgiveness. Let me first define sin. Sin is when you needlessly offend someone else, or restrict their freedom, or restrict their possibilities, or hold them back from developing as they might. That also applies to our own lives, when we ignore our potential, when we betray trust, when we abuse our bodies by sitting too long and exercising too little. We also sin when we treat any part of this Earth as a possession to be used for our convenience rather than to be held in trust to be handed on. <br />lkWhen we know that we have sinned, offended against someone else, or against ourselves, or against this Earth that gives us home and nourishes us, we experience mixed emotions. There is pride for a start. We feel that we must defend our actions. It is easier to watch this in other people, especially those who are in the public spotlight. No sooner has an accusation been levelled, announced on the seven o’clock news perhaps, but even before we can say something like: “And about time too, he had that coming” or “Bang to rights, I’d say”, we hear the person accused saying “I have done nothing wrong”. He may have abused aspirant starlets, or squirrelled away thousands of pounds of our money, or betrayed his calling in favour of personal gain, but in his eyes, he has done nothing wrong, and is falsely accused. As evidence mounts in succeeding weeks or days, he eventually resigns, or goes to prison.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We can’t pretend that we are fundamentally different. We are all fallible children of God, sharing the emotions, the feelings, the needs of John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Steve Biko, and anyone else you care to name. The first thing we may feel when we know we have done wrong is a prickly need to defend ourselves. The idea of receiving forgiveness is an anathema, indeed the possibility of being forgiven is not even on the cards until we acknowledge that we have offended.<br /><br />Methodist Minister, Henry Burton, is best known for his poem "Pass It On," which has been set to music by no less than ten different composers. <br />Have you had a kindness shown?<br />Pass it on;<br />'Twas not given for thee alone,<br />Pass it on;<br />Let it travel down the years,<br />Let it wipe another's tears,<br />'Til in Heaven the deed appears –<br />Pass it on.</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">He also wrote this hymn:<br />Hymn 4 188 There’s a light upon the mountains and the day is at the spring</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AOCqAlA9m04" width="320" youtube-src-id="AOCqAlA9m04"></iframe></div></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Pray for<br />Relatives of victims of violence, that they may choose forgiveness<br />Those who feel discriminated against, that they may find courage to rise above it<br />Those whom we criticise when they do their work to the best of their ability<br />Ourselves, when we feel anger about someone else<br />Ourselves, when we cannot accept that we have sinned, when we cannot accept forgiveness<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">The Lord’s Prayer</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Last hymn, Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. By Robert and Robin Kochis<br />When reference is made to “Brothers”, please feel free to sing “Sisters” instead!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0_DxNpW1kHQ" width="320" youtube-src-id="0_DxNpW1kHQ"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Let there be peace on earth. and let it begin with me<br />Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be<br />With God as our Father, brothers all are we<br />Let me walk with my brother in perfect harmony<br />Let peace begin with me and let this the moment now<br />With every step I take. Let this be my solemn vow<br />To take each moment, and live each moment in peace eternally<br />Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin ...with me...<br /><br /></span><p></p></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-32095195278747392572021-12-01T08:00:00.001+00:002021-12-01T08:00:00.171+00:00Prayer Column - December 2021<span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnFoiOf77AShhVABJIbCk3Tju0me1jdv_TYAz-19OlUEuocHwM-W520mZB05frNvcPK65082D3WdbtDnsLkzFyAoZ_m7HDXCLUGbVXOM-wbUc_Oj2mP7_hLIo3D47eg8TztpzO_U9n5M/s640/niklas-ohlrogge-1qDdNeiPTPM-unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnFoiOf77AShhVABJIbCk3Tju0me1jdv_TYAz-19OlUEuocHwM-W520mZB05frNvcPK65082D3WdbtDnsLkzFyAoZ_m7HDXCLUGbVXOM-wbUc_Oj2mP7_hLIo3D47eg8TztpzO_U9n5M/s320/niklas-ohlrogge-1qDdNeiPTPM-unsplash.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Is it tomorrow yet?</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Advent, and the church calendar countdown to Christmas 2021 is on. Some say, with a knowing tolerance, “Christmas is for the children”, ie, let them enjoy it while they still believe. And certainly childish excitement mounts as decorations appear in shops and streets and homes, and the air is filled with carols and stories about baby Jesus, donkeys, stables, innkeepers, angels and shepherds. A wonderland, crowned on the day by family gatherings, stockings and presents under the tree. Waiting!<br /><br />But Jesus said emphatically that we can only enter the kingdom of God if we receive it like a child (Lk 18:17), so Christmas really is for the children. We adults have to abandon superior attitudes and enter afresh the world of wonder with childlike eyes: accepting the Bible stories as true. God really did come to earth as a baby, born of Mary, cared for by Joseph, long-foretold by the prophets of old. And we are right to celebrate, marvelling at all God does, and looking forward in trust to the new world he promises when Jesus comes again to complete his saving work.<br /><br />But how can we ready ourselves, when we can’t know when it will be? Answer: by active anticipation. There is to be new life then: so live it out now – with Christian virtues of love, joy, peace, self-control and all the rest. There is to be universal harmony: so strive for inner integrity, with truth as our guide. Practice makes perfect, and we’re not there yet: so draw close to God and simply ask for the help we need, accepting with childlike open hearts and hands all the rich gifts he so generously gives.<br /><br />Roy Lorrain-Smith<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A prayer for each week</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">Father God, thank you for Christmas and Jesus, and thank you also for the written records. Please help us take it all in, and celebrate as we should. Amen.<br /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Saving God, loving the world too much to leave it alone but sending Jesus to the rescue. Please open us to his living word, doing what he tells us. Amen.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Mysterious God, doing what seems impossible to our earthbound eyes, please help us believe all you say, and let it affect the whole way we live. Amen.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Steadfast God, keeping your word however detailed and personal or even cosmic in scope, may we each trust and obey, and find happiness in Jesus. Amen.<br /><br />Your own prayers<br /></span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-91530052266707702142021-11-27T15:07:00.003+00:002021-12-11T23:59:03.785+00:00Virtual Worship - 28 November 2021<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Advent 1</span></h1><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EA3ccztbNxY" width="320" youtube-src-id="EA3ccztbNxY"></iframe></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/h75291r7qj1eouh/2021-11-28-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Hello and welcome to this recorded service, presented by Bradford North Methodist Circuit. I am Martin Bashforth and I am a local preacher in the circuit.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Today is Advent Sunday. It marks the beginning of a season when we contemplate the coming of Jesus into the world, to be its Saviour. It is hard for us, who know the full story of Jesus’ coming, his preaching and teaching, his crucifixion, resurrection and ascension, to imagine the expectancy with which his coming was awaited, and to fully appreciate the impact which his coming would have, on those who recognised him as God’s Son and accepted him into their lives. Nevertheless, it is important that we reflect on his coming and understand its relevance for us, living in the 21st Century.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The coming of a Messiah had long been foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament. But he did not come in the way the people of Israel expected, as our first hymn tells us:</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">STF 169/ HP 81 Come, Thou long-expected Jesus </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JEEd0uWnDGs" width="320" youtube-src-id="JEEd0uWnDGs"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">And now, let us come to God in prayer. Let us all pray:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Gracious God, creator of the universe and father of every living thing, thank you for making us in your own image. Thank you for inviting us to partner with you in the development of your creation. Fill us with wonder at the beauty of the world; fill us with gratitude and fill us with a desire to play our part in seeing your kingdom come on earth. May we be faithful stewards of all that you have given to us, especially in caring for this planet on which we live.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Grant us the help of your Holy Spirit, as we seek to worship you in spirit and in truth. Take away any sense of our own worthiness to come before you, for none of us is worthy. We enter into your presence only by your grace and at your invitation. Father, we thank you for your wonderful grace.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Give us, Lord, an awareness of your presence with us in this hour, whether we are in a church as part of a congregation, or at home, on our own or with our family. May we feel your love and your support, and know that we can bring to you, with confidence, our praise, our needs, and our desire to know more about your will and your ways.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Bless our time together and through this service, may your name be glorified. We ask it in the name of Jesus, our living Lord and Saviour. Amen</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The prophets knew that the Messiah would come to make all things new, but they did not warn people of how new ways would be a challenge to their comfortable lifestyle. Not everyone was prepared to be challenged, and not everyone made Jesus welcome. Our next hymn reminds us of the need to welcome Jesus into our lives.</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">STF 178/HP 83 Long ago prophets knew </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/S63rjDtYRYg" width="320" youtube-src-id="S63rjDtYRYg"></iframe></div></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">We now hear the first of today’s Gospel readings, which is found in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+1%3A1-14&version=NIVUK">John Ch 1 vv 1 – 14</a>.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has never put it out.” John 1:5</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Darkness is associated with chaos. Disorder. Before God made the world – according to Genesis – all was void and formless. It was a dark chaos. No pattern. No form. No purpose. God said “Let there be light” and there was light. And with the light came the possibility of order.<br />Darkness is also associated with evil. Human beings have created their own darkness – spiritual darkness – linked not so much with chaos (although that is often how it seems) as with selfishness, lust and greed. Spiritual darkness is the way of the flesh. The natural course of our human instincts. There have always been people living in spiritual darkness. And as long as people follow their human instincts, there always will be.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Jesus is God’s answer to spiritual darkness. He is - in His own words - the Light of the world. In the words of John’s gospel, “He was the real light – the light that comes into the world and shines on everyone.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />It is a great piece of symbolism that Jesus’ arrival as a baby was heralded by a bright light. By a star which was brighter than any other star in the sky. And it led those with understanding to the place of his birth. It is about the coming of Jesus to be Light for the world that I want us to think this morning.</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn STF 171/HP 82 Hark the glad sound the Saviour comes </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zeBRYhG86x0" width="320" youtube-src-id="zeBRYhG86x0"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2></div><span style="font-family: arial;">Our second Gospel reading is to be found in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+5%3A13-16&version=NIVUK">Matthew Ch 5 vv 13 - 16</a></span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">The main purpose of light is to reveal. It enables us to see clearly. Jesus revealed the nature of God. He also revealed the purpose of life, which in God’s plan is to be a life of love: loving God and loving our neighbours.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Throughout his earthly life, Jesus was never far from spiritual darkness. At the very beginning of his life, his parents had to flee, as refugees, to Egypt, to escape the anger and brutality of Herod, who put to death every boy under 2 years old in Bethlehem. That was an awful tragedy, resulting from Jesus’ birth, and one which we are inclined to forget. In the fight between good and evil – between light and darkness – the darkness will not give up its struggle lightly. But we can be reassured by our text: The darkness has never put out the light. And it never will.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />So Jesus’ coming revealed to us God’s love and his purpose. But we need to see the light and recognise it. Sometimes it comes to us in a flash. A sudden realisation. We say, don’t we, the light dawns on us. But unfortunately, as John reminds us, not everyone sees it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Until recently, I helped to look after the hostel at Conistone, near Grassington, and I well remember the time we stayed there during the winter of 1990. It was snowing as we drove up Wharfedale, and it snowed all evening, very heavily. So heavily, that it brought down the power lines and we were left without electricity. The power cut lasted from 11 pm on Friday evening until the following Tuesday. Fortunately for us, the snow abated on the Sunday, so we all made a dash for it and came home. All through the Saturday, we had no heat in the building and when the sun went down, we were left with just a few candles to help us to get around the place. I’ll never forget, sitting in a circle in the lounge, huddled in jumpers and coats and scarves, inside our sleeping bags, trying to keep ourselves amused. I reckoned we must have looked a real sight, so I took out my camera and took a photo, using my flash. This was before the days of digital cameras, and so I had to wait almost a week, until my photos were developed. I can hardly describe the surprise I felt, when I first saw the pictures I had taken.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />My recollection of the occasion was of an array of people and clothes in a very dark room. But the photos showed a brightly lit room, with everything clearly visible. Of course, for the fraction of a second that the camera’s shutter was open, the room was lit by my flash-gun. But we who were in the darkened hostel had not seen it. Not until so long afterwards. Too late to be of any use to us, in our time of need.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />For those people who have not yet recognised the light of Jesus, we must pray that he will reveal himself to them, before it is too late. Let us pray that he will reveal himself to many this Christmas.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Jesus’ light reveals the truth - the purpose of life. When he was on earth, he did this through his teaching, especially his parables. Following his ascension into heaven, God has given us the Holy Spirit, to continue his work of revelation. To light up our lives. A point comes in our lives when God’s truth falls into place and it all makes sense. It’s a bit like those scrambled pictures of faces we see on TV quizzes, which gradually re-arrange themselves and eventually show a clear, understandable image. And then you recognise the face.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />That’s a good parallel to God’s revelation of himself, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Man’s understanding was confused at first. It became clearer through the Old Testament. But God became seen very clearly through Jesus, as indeed we now see him with the help of the Holy Spirit. Those who do not have the Spirit’s help cannot see God in Jesus. John, in his gospel, talks about those who do not recognise him.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />So – the light is essential in all our lives, to remove the darkness of ignorance and misunderstanding.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Secondly, light dispels fear. We all know that some children, at bedtime, are afraid of the dark. A small night light, left lit through the night can be very useful. But for previous generations, a small light would not be much help, as it would have been a candle, and we all know how candles can cast eerie shadows around a room, which are themselves very frightening.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />A story is told of Alexander the Great, who was a victorious general at the age of 18, a king when he was 20, and died aged 33, having conquered the whole of the then-known world.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Whilst Alexander was in his early teens, Philonicus the Thessalonian offered to sell his horse to Philip, Alexander’s father. The horse, called Bucephalus, was a trained but vicious animal. Philip took his son to see the horse being put through his paces, but the stallion proved so unmanageable that none of the men could even mount him. Alexander noticed that the horse seemed to be afraid of his own shadow, so he quietened the horse by turning him towards the sun. Then Alexander mounted the horse, and by keeping him headed into the sun, kept him under control.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Many people today are afraid of their own shadows. They need to turn to the light of Jesus, who chases away shadows and makes life bearable.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />How reassuring it is, if we are fearful of the dark, when someone switches on the light. We see things properly and in their proper perspective. We realise that there really was no reason, after all, to be afraid.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The same is true of the coming of the dawn, after a long and restless night. There was a hymn in the old Methodist Hymn Book which opened:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />“Light of the lonely pilgrim’s heart, star of the coming day,<br />Arise, and with Thy morning beams chase all our griefs away.”<br /><br />Jesus is the light which dispels our fear. A friendly light. A guiding light. Those of you of my generation, may remember a poem by Minnie Louise Haskins, made famous by King George VI:<br /><br />“I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”<br />And he replied:<br />“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than a light and safer than a known way.”<br />So I went forth, and finding the hand of God, trod gladly into the night. And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.”<br /><br />We can seek Jesus’ guiding light every day – whenever we are unsure of the way ahead. We can turn to him whatever our circumstances, because he has been there before us. Because of Christmas. <br />Because God was born into our human condition…<br />He knows our feelings and fears<br />He has suffered pain<br />He knows what it feels like to be rejected<br />He understands the need – at times – to weep.<br />And He knows the joy of laughter.<br /><br />So, with his light in our lives, we can face the unknown with confidence. He even – no, he especially – gives us hope beyond death. We need no longer fear the grave…because of what waits for us on the other side. Jesus said: “Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.” <br /><br />And that brings me to my final point: When we follow Jesus, we walk in the light. We become children of the light and we become a guiding light to others. Those who cannot immediately see the light in Jesus, should be able to see it in us. Our lives should be a contrast to the darkness which is around us, and it will bring hope to our neighbours. This is what Jesus meant by saying “Your light must shine before people.”<br /><br />A little girl was once with her family in a party of visitors being shown round one of the great cathedrals. As the guide was explaining about a historic tomb in one part of the cathedral, the girl was staring at a great stained-glass window, through which the sun was streaming, bathing the floor in colour. As the group was about to move on, the girl asked the guide: “Who are the people in the pretty window?” “Those are the saints,” the man replied.<br />That night, as she was getting ready for bed, the little girl told her mother “I know who the saints are.” “Do you, dear?” replied her mother. “Who are they?” “They are the people who let the light shine through.”<br />So, I say to you: walk….. <br />in the light of the child born at Bethlehem, beneath that bright shining star.<br />in the light of the man, who revealed to us the nature of God. The nature of love which took him to a cross for our sakes, to dispel fear for ever.<br />And in the light of the Holy Spirit, who reveals to us the truth and is our guiding light.<br />And let that light be seen, shining through your life, to hasten the day….. of peace on earth and goodwill to all men. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Our next hymn was written by Rev Clare Stainsby, who is the Superintendent Minister of the Airedale Circuit in Yorkshire West District. Singing the Faith contains three of Clare’s hymns and this one is very fitting for our theme today.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Hymn STF 174 Light a candle in a darkened place </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O2saZ9kw30g" width="320" youtube-src-id="O2saZ9kw30g"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers</span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Let us now bring to God our prayers for the needs of the world:<br />Father, we pray for peace in our world. Our televisions make us aware of all the trouble that exists around the world. Conflict between nations, and conflict within nations, as greed, ambition and hatred make victims of innocent people. We pray for all who are suffering: those who have lost their homes; those who have lost family members; and refugees, who are escaping the violence and seeking refuge in safer places. Lord, encourage the Governments of the world to have sympathy and to show compassion for refugees.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />We pray for the scientists and governments of the world who are trying to reverse climate change. We think of the people who have suffered from wildfires and extreme weather conditions in recent weeks. We pray for wisdom, to take forward the decisions of the COP 26 conference, and a determination amongst all the world’s leaders to unite in creating a greener world. Our planet and our lives depend on it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />We pray for all the governments of the world trying to arrest the spread of Covid19. Thank you for the skill of scientists and doctors and thank you for the discovery of vaccines which are helping to control the spread of the disease. Comfort all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, due to the pandemic.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />In the time between the recording of this service and its broadcast, there have no doubt been events or happenings for which we should be praying. I invite you to bring these concerns to God in your private prayer time</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />And finally, Lord, we add to these prayers those concerns of our own hearts, for friends and family members who are suffering in any way. We thank you, that you are always ready to hear our requests, and are faithful to answer them. Give us the faith to accept your answers, and show us ways in which we may ourselves provide some answers to those prayers.<br />We ask all our prayers, in and through the name of Jesus, our Saviour and our Lord.<br />And we close our prayers by saying together the prayer which Jesus taught us: Our Father……..<br />Do you remember Kenneth Horne, a comedian of the 1950s and 60s, whose radio shows included ‘Round the Horne’? Well, his father, Charles Syvester Horne was a minister, and he wrote our closing hymn.</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Hymn STF 185/HP 244 Sing we the King who is coming to reign </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mvaoxZkDlcY" width="320" youtube-src-id="mvaoxZkDlcY"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing: </span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Now may the love of truth guide you, the warmth of love hold you and the spirit of peace bless you, this day and in the days to come. Amen.</span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-9504922757260152502021-11-20T11:18:00.002+00:002021-11-20T11:18:32.898+00:00Virtual Worship - 21 November 2021<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zRHL1LkrbEM" width="320" youtube-src-id="zRHL1LkrbEM"></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/9tdxbrkn4x0es85/2021-11-21-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">As we come into your presence, Loving God,<br />open our ears to hear your call,<br />our eyes to see those around us as you see them,<br />and our hearts to receive and share out your love for us and our world.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Singing the Faith 526 – Lord of all hopefulness</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9-D_aT8CXyc" width="320" youtube-src-id="9-D_aT8CXyc"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Jesus, you just weren’t as meek and mild as we might think.<br />You weren’t frightened to speak your mind,<br />to get people thinking so they could understand better.<br /><br />We praise you, Lord.<br /><br />When we are in a spot and struggling to find answers,<br />you are such a fantastic role model.<br /><br />We praise you, Lord.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">When our hearts are so hard that we almost feel the ice in them,<br />you melt them, and make us truly human again.<br /><br />We praise you, Lord.<br /><br />You call us on to better ways,<br />to the beauty of a relationship found only in you.<br />You give us hearts to appreciate you and each other in so many different ways.<br />You are a God of abundant riches and blessings.<br /><br />We praise you, Lord.<br />Amen.<br /><br />Lord God, sometimes we find it so hard to come to you,<br />to confess our sins to you.<br />Sometimes our relationships – with you and with each other – aren’t right.<br />It can be all too easy to let other people, or things, keep us away from you.<br />And sometimes we try and keep others away.<br />Please forgive us, Lord, and teach us what truly matters to you.<br />Amen.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Assurance of forgiveness</span></h3><span style="font-family: arial;">God takes us in his arms and blesses us.<br />God loves us and protects us.<br />When we come to God in a true spirit of repentance,<br />from the littlest ‘sorry’ of the youngest child,<br />to the biggest ‘Father forgive’ of those old enough to know better,<br />God hears us and welcomes us with open and loving arms.<br />We are blessed.<br />Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Singing the Faith 256 – When I needed a neighbour</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_0XPCUgvY2o" width="320" youtube-src-id="_0XPCUgvY2o"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Readings:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Samuel 3:1-10: God Calls Samuel <br /><br />The boy Samuel was Eli’s helper and served the LORD with him. At that time the LORD did not speak directly to people very often. There were very few visions. Eli’s eyes were getting so weak that he was almost blind. One night he went to his room to go to bed. The special lamp in the LORD’s temple was still burning, so Samuel lay down in the temple near where the Holy Box was. The LORD called Samuel, and Samuel answered, “Here I am.” Samuel thought Eli was calling him, so he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back to bed. Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” Again Samuel ran to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” Samuel did not yet know the LORD because the LORD had not spoken directly to him before. The LORD called Samuel the third time. Again Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” Finally, Eli understood that the LORD was calling the boy. Eli told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, LORD. I am your servant, and I am listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. The LORD came and stood there. He called as he did before, saying, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak. I am your servant, and I am listening.”<br /><br />Mark 10:13-16 Jesus Welcomes Children<br /><br />People brought their small children to Jesus so that he could lay his hands on them to bless them. But the followers told the people to stop bringing their children to him. Jesus saw what happened. He did not like his followers telling the children not to come. So he said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these little children. The truth is, you must accept God’s kingdom like a little child accepts things, or you will never enter it.” Then Jesus held the children in his arms. He laid his hands on them and blessed them.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Put yourself in the shoes of the small children in the Gospel reading. Your parents have told you about this really amazing person who is going around the local area, talking to people about God, healing people who are sick, noticing and making time to hear the blind man at the side of the road, the deaf person, the woman who is called unclean, even (and you’re not quite sure what you think about this) that woman from Samaria. And then they tell you that you are actually going to see him! You get yourself ready in your smartest clothes and set off, along with your brothers and sisters and the neighbours’ children. You are so excited to get to see Jesus, and you are all talking to each other, getting louder and more excited as you get closer to where Jesus is. The crowd parts and you can actually see him! You and your siblings start to run forward in excitement…and all of a sudden there is a group of men blocking your way, looking very crossly at your parents. You stop suddenly and can hear the men speaking angrily to your parents. You don’t understand what is going on. Why can’t you go any further forward? Your mother takes your hand and pulls you back, looking very upset. You hear her say, “We only wanted a blessing.” The man in front of you looks even more cross and snaps back at her, “What makes you think he has got time for children, especially noisy and unruly ones such as these!”. You feel a bit hurt and upset. You weren’t being THAT noisy. Well fine, if Jesus is too busy to talk to you then maybe he isn’t that great after all. He is just like all the other adults, writing you off because you are a child.<br /><br />Have they never heard of Samuel?! Samuel was “just” a child when God spoke to him, and God didn’t speak to many people at that time. God knew that Samuel was “only” a child but that didn’t seem to stop God from talking to Samuel, and it wasn’t like God gave Samuel a simple message to pass on. I mean, imagine if God told you to tell your teacher that really bad stuff was going to happen to his family. That’s not a simple message to pass on is it? You huff indignantly and turn around to head back home, but then you catch sight of Jesus’ face. He has heard what the man has just said to your mother and his face, which was smiling a moment ago, suddenly changes and becomes sad. He moves towards you and your friends and family. You turn around to start walking back home, feeling really upset and let down – you thought Jesus was different. You hear a shout - “Let the children through, bring them here to me!”.<br /><br />Wait, what? What is going on? You turn round to see where the shout is coming from, and Jesus is there behind you. He puts his arms out for you and the other children, gathers you together and guides you into the middle of the crowd. He sits down with you all gathered around him and says a special prayer of blessing on you all as the adults all stand around, amazed that Jesus has stopped his conversation with them to bless you and your friends. I wonder what sort of impact an encounter like that would have on you as you grow up, what choices you might make as a result. Jesus tells the watching crowd, and us reading that passage today, that the Kingdom of God belongs to people who are like the children. I wonder what the crowd at the time might have made of that. What about you? What do you think Jesus meant by this?<br /><br />As adults we are very good at making judgements and putting obstacles in place, sometimes with very good reason, sometimes because we fear ‘the other’. Children, on the other hand, are much more open and accepting. A few years ago, on the children’s TV channel CBeebies, there was a lady with a limb deformity, so she had no right hand. When she first appeared on screens there was a significant number of people who complained about her being seen on screen, suggesting that seeing her would scare the children. I know a number of children who were regular CBeebies viewers at that time – not a single one of them ever cried or wanted it turning off because she was on the screen. In reality it was the adults who were feeling uncomfortable at the sight of someone so obviously different. Children will respond with curiosity to someone who is different. They may be wary around strangers, and may ask questions that make us as adults feel awkward and uncomfortable, but they don’t judge people based on what they look like, what they say, what they wear, where they come from. Those kind of judgements that children start to place on things and people come from the adults around them.<br /><br />Jesus doesn’t tell us not to be cautious, but he does challenge us the have ears like Samuel, open to hearing God’s call to us, a heart like the boy who gave up his five loaves and two fish to feed thousands of hungry strangers, the courage of David, even if we are afraid that the challenge ahead might be too great, and the loving acceptance of those who are different to us.<br /><br />As we move towards a time of prayer, our next hymn is “What a friend we have in Jesus”.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Singing the Faith 531 – What a friend we have in Jesus </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vlv0zzKs_rY" width="320" youtube-src-id="Vlv0zzKs_rY"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers for others</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">God of rainbows and wellingtons, we pray for anyone who finds life grey and dull. Help us to find ways of sharing with them the joys of play and the delights of puddles.<br />God of roses and whispers we pray for anyone who finds life cold and lonely. Help us to find ways of sharing with them the warmth of laughter and the intimacy of love.<br />God of rest and wonder We pray for anyone who finds life hard and painful. Help us to find ways of sharing with them the release of healing and the promise of hope.<br />We pray, knowing that we ourselves are in need, and trusting that you are faithful. in the name and Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Singing the Faith 673 – Will you come and follow me? </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pnXOEUS7BBM" width="320" youtube-src-id="pnXOEUS7BBM"></iframe></div><br /></div><span style="font-family: arial;">In our homes, we are children of God. In our schools and work, we are children of God. In our church, we are children of God. Wherever we are, we are God’s children. Let God’s kingdom come! Amen.<br /><br />Today’s prayers © Copyright 2002-2021, ROOTS for Churches Ltd. All rights reserve</span></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-59520158280624979092021-11-13T20:19:00.001+00:002021-11-13T20:19:15.721+00:00Virtual Worship - 14 November 2021<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Remembrance Sunday</span></h1><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jo1g82KRk4s" width="320" youtube-src-id="Jo1g82KRk4s"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/hbc862l2pckvseb/2021-11-14-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Jesus said: Blessed are the peacemakers; <br />they shall be called the children of God.<br />The peace of the Lord be with us all.<br /><br />We gather on screen, in homes, young and old, servicemen and women and their families, and those who have no connection to the armed forces, but who come to remember and give thanks for those who put themselves in the line of fire for the sake of the people of their country.<br /><br />We remember those who have given their lives in conflicts past and present; those who have sacrificed their physical and mental health; those who have lost loved ones and those who are in situations of war and fear.<br /><br />And as we remember, we commit ourselves to work for the goal of all people living together in peace, justice and freedom.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song: </span></h2><div><span style="font-family: arial;">O God, our help in ages past (StF 132/HP 358/MP 498/SF 415)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZjdmLstpNGE" width="320" youtube-src-id="ZjdmLstpNGE"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers of adoration and confession</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord our God, Lord over all, <br />higher than we can imagine <br />and closer than our very breath, <br />we bring you our worship and praise.<br />Your words speak us into being;<br />you make us in your image;<br />you breathe the breath of life into our lungs;<br />you see all that you have made<br />and you declare it very good.<br />You seek us when we are lost;<br />you come close when we are afraid;<br />you encourage us when we are anxious.<br /><br />Forgive us <br />when we would make you our God and not also the God of the other;<br />when we forget to see your face in the face of the one next to us;<br />when we imagine that you have favourites.<br />Forgive our pride and our lack of understanding;<br />our refusal to forgive and our closed hearts.<br /><br />Help us to remember that as you love us, <br />so we are to love one another.<br /><br />You offer us full and free forgiveness;<br />help us to offer it to those who have hurt us<br />and those whom we hurt.<br /><br />In the name of Jesus who loves us,<br />Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Remembrance Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">The Methodist Church has produced some videos of army chaplains reflecting on Remembrance. Here is Revd Richard Smith, an Army Chaplain, talking about what Remembrance will mean for soldiers this year.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NhRInr_4Cfo" width="320" youtube-src-id="NhRInr_4Cfo"></iframe></div><br />Hi everybody, my name is Padre Richard Smith. I’m a Methodist minister who’s an army chaplain, and I’ve been asked to say a few words about what Remembrance means in the modern army today.<br /><br />I’m here in the Oosterbeek Commonwealth War Graves preparing for the Arnhelm Commemorations and you can see behind me people are preparing for that ceremony. <br /><br />I’ve been an army chaplain since 2003 and have served all around the world, perhaps most importantly in Iraq and Afghanistan. And that’s perhaps the message really for how solders will view Remembrance this year and how they view it in many years. Most solders are not thinking about World War Two or World War One, even though we remember those moments and they are important to us as well. We’re mostly remembering people from Northern Ireland, from the Bosnian campaigns, from the Falklands, and perhaps most importantly for us currently, from Iraq and Afghanistan – people that we know who haven’t come back from those conflicts, and so in that moment’s silence, that’s what we will be remembering.<br /><br />Perhaps this year more than ever the events of Afghanistan have changed how we feel this year, and we will be thinking of Afghanistan, its people and everybody that we lost in that particular campaign, and all those who are hurting because of all the recent events.<br /><br />And so we will pray for peace, for a continued peace across the globe, and remember these people [gesturing behind him to the War Graves] as well as those more recent and those known to us. Thank you.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">In our remembering, let us remember also the promises of God as Isaiah received them, in <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+2%3A2-5&version=NIVUK">Isaiah 2:2-5</a><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Responsive reading: <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm+46&version=NIVUK">Psalm 46</a> (StF 810/HP 850)<br /><br />God is our refuge and strength,<br /><b>a very present help in trouble.</b><br />Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,<br /><b>and though the mountains tremble in the heart of the sea;</b><br />Though the waters rage and swell,<br /><b>and though the mountains quake at the towering seas.</b><br />There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,<br /><b>the holy place of the dwelling of the Most High.</b><br />God is in the midst of her; therefore she shall not be removed;<br /><b>God shall help her at break of day.</b><br />The nations are in uproar and the kingdoms are shaken,<br /><b>but God utters his voice and the earth shall melt away.</b><br />The Lord of hosts is with us;<br /><b>the God of Jacob is our stronghold.</b><br />Come and behold the works of the Lord,<br /><b>what destruction he has wrought upon the earth.</b><br />He makes wars cease in all the world:<br /><b>he shatters the bow and snaps the spear and burns the chariots in the fire.</b><br />‘Be still, and know that I am God;<br /><b>I will be exalted among the nations; <br />I will be exalted in the earth.’</b><br />The Lord of hosts is with us;<br /><b>the God of Jacob is our stronghold.</b><br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Eternal Father, strong to save StF 517/HP 379/MP 122/SF 1222)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BjcSpCSUjdk" width="320" youtube-src-id="BjcSpCSUjdk"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reading: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A1-11&version=NIVUK">Matthew 5:1-11</a><br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Act of Remembrance</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Let us remember before God <br />those who have died for their country in conflict;<br />the ones known to us, whose memory we hold dear; <br />the ones we did not know, who were loved by others;<br />and all who have lived and died in the service of humanity.<br />They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:<br />Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.<br />At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,<br />We will remember them.<br /><b>We will remember them.</b><br />We will remember those we knew and give thanks for all that they have given for us, as we watch a slideshow of war memorials, rolls of honour and poppy displays, from within the Bradford North Circuit and beyond.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />When you go home tell them of us and say:<br />‘For your tomorrow we gave our today.’<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Remembrance memories from the Revd Paul Mellor (RAF chaplain)</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">My first real memories about Remembrance come from my days in the Boys Brigade, at the War Memorial in our South Yorkshire village, on cold November mornings. As The Last Post was played, I used to look at the gathering of children and parents from the uniformed youth organisations, huddles of teary-eyed women and an ever-dwindling number of old men wearing medals. As we dutifully stood to attention for the two minutes’ silence, I recall shivering and wondering: “What am I doing here?” <br /><br />In early March 2003, just two years after joining the RAF as a chaplain, I found myself huddled with 30 to 40 others in a concrete air-raid shelter, in Kuwait. Dressed in helmet, body armour, a chemical protection suit and a respirator, as an Iraqi cruise missile landed in the camp, I recall the realisation that there were people who were trying to kill me. At that moment, I again asked God the question: “What am I doing here?”<br /><br />Between 2006 and 2009, sadly there were more than 80 occasions when I stood on the tarmac at RAF Lyneham waiting with a family for the return of a husband, wife, son or daughter, mum or dad, who had been killed on operations in Iraq or Afghanistan. And as each family allowed me to share in the pain of one of the worst days of their life, I prayed internally: “Lord, what am I doing here?”<br /><br />My belief is that the answer in each of those circumstances was very similar, because each indicated hope. Hope that the cost of war and conflict would not be too easily forgotten by future generations. Hope that during times of violence and aggression there would always be people who symbolise peace and reconciliation. And, finally, hope that in the worst of circumstances life throws at us, we are not alone.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Hope</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">In 2018 you may have heard a recording, based on sound ranging, of gunfire fading away at 11.00am on the 11th day of the 11th month, the end of the First World War. As the guns fall silent a bird can be heard singing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jwisj9WqWc0" width="320" youtube-src-id="jwisj9WqWc0"></iframe></div></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />The sounds of the guns and the complete change of mood when they fell silent and the birds could be heard, inspired me to write the following, and I called it:<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Hope Sang’ – Christine Crabtree</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Had hell broken out on earth?<br />Guns fired and shells flew;<br />Craters opened up and the ground<br />Beneath our feet was no longer secure.<br />Men fought men, shot men, <br />Maimed men, killed men.<br />Madness reigned.<br />And yet, woven in between, men <br />Looked out for one another;<br />Saw truth in one another;<br />Shared smokes and lives with comrades;<br />Played football with the enemy;<br />Exchanged gifts with those who fought them.<br />Hope was there –<br />Blood-red like poppies<br />It grew through the ravaged earth<br />And made its presence felt – <br />Fragile but persistant,<br />Growing from seed to flower.<br /><br /><br />Finally, an end. A paper;<br />Signatures; a deadline.<br />The hour struck.<br />Guns were stilled<br />And the war fell silent.<br />Peace broke out and Hope sang<br />In the breast of a bird<br />Opening its beak and <br />Calling to all who heard:<br />“Here is hope. Here is peace.<br />From here we can go on.”<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Make me a channel of your peace (StF 707/hp 776/ MP 456/StF 381)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g8eorCEMIK4" width="320" youtube-src-id="g8eorCEMIK4"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers </span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, <br />we bring our prayers before you.<br />Hear us and, by your Spirit, <br />move in answer to our pleas.<br />And if you move by urging us to action,<br />help us to be ready to respond.<br /><br />I offer myself to you:<br /><b>Make me a channel of your peace.</b><br /><br />We bring before you those who have been, and are, in situations of conflict.<br />We remember our Army, Navy and Air Force and thank you for their service.<br />We ask you to hold gently those who have suffered loss:<br />of life, of health, of peace, of loved ones;<br />and bring them your comfort<br />and hope for the future.<br /><br />I offer myself to you:<br /><b>Make me a channel of your peace.<br /></b><br />We remember those who suffer<br />war on their doorstep;<br />those who live in fear;<br />those who are without food and shelter <br />because of fighting;<br />parents who try to shield their children from snipers.<br /><br />I offer myself to you:<br /><b>Make me a channel of your peace.<br /></b><br />We remember peace-keepers<br />seeking to turn people away from violence<br />and toward reconciliation.<br />We remember those who bring aid,<br />food, shelter, and a friendly smile<br />to those who have known trauma.<br /><br />I offer myself to you:<br /><b>Make me a channel of your peace.</b><br /><br />Wherever I can say a peaceful word,<br />embrace a brother or sister,<br />share my food with the hungry,<br />or make room in my life for another,<br /><br />I offer myself to you:<br /><b>Make me a channel of your peace.</b><br /><br />We pray for our Queen as she rests,<br />and for the family she loves and holds together;<br />we pray for those who lead our country<br />and serve their people;<br />we pray for those making decisions that will affect the very fabric of our earth.<br /><br />I offer myself to you:<br /><b>Make me a channel of your peace.</b><br /><br />As children of your peace,<br />members of the human family, let us pray together the words of the Lord’s Prayer:<br /><br />Our Father in heaven,<br />hallowed be your Name,<br />your kingdom come, <br />your will be done,<br />on earth as in heaven.<br />Give us today our daily bread.<br />Forgive us our sins <br />as we forgive those who sin against us.<br />Save us from the time of trial<br />and deliver us from evil.<br />For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,<br />now and for ever. Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song: </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Our closing song speaks of the vows made by those who serve to protect us, and of the vows we make to our heavenly country of peace.<br /><br />I vow to thee, my country <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qW5ZAoT7naM" width="320" youtube-src-id="qW5ZAoT7naM"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Blessing</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We go into the word as people of peace<br />and commit ourselves never to return evil for evil <br />but always to seek the good of all<br />and to see the good in all.<br />And may the Lord bless us and keep us,<br />may he make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us,<br />may he look on us with kindness and give us peace. <br />Amen.</span><br /><p></p></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8687218760983010113.post-62282069270776444752021-11-06T17:45:00.000+00:002021-11-06T17:45:14.091+00:00Virtual Worship - 7 November 2021<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s__ZZpf49tA" width="320" youtube-src-id="s__ZZpf49tA"></iframe></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/vm5r0xr6928sx8c/2021-11-07-worship.pdf?dl=0">Service Sheet</a> (pdf)</span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Welcome to worship this seventh day of November 2021 in Bradford North Circuit. We are meeting at the same time as the COP 26 conference in Glasgow that will decide whether this Earth has a future as a home for human beings. The Earth stands on a tipping point. There could not be a more significant time to pray, to inform ourselves, or to understand the plight of the poorest people on Earth and our dependence on them. Whoever you are, however you are feeling, whatever your sorrows at this time, you are welcome to come with us into the presence of God and listen to his word. Together, we can make this world a better place.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Call to worship:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">In this climate crisis we have a Christian obligation to act.<br />In this climate crisis we promise to use the brains that God has given us<br />In this climate crisis we imitate Jesus to change our behaviour to protect the poor and weak.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Our first hymn is No 701 in Singing the Faith: Heaven shall not wait for the poor to lose their patience by Jon Bell and Graham Maule. I</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FHMt3YJHbZE" width="320" youtube-src-id="FHMt3YJHbZE"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A collect for today:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">God of our lives, help us understand that we are appointed stewards of this Earth rather than owners of it, so that we may restrain our greed, abandon our quest for comfort, and dedicate ourselves to the welfare of the poor, of the dispossessed, and of those generations to come. <b>Amen</b><br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Bible</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">One of the readings appointed for today is from <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+12%3A41-44&version=NIVUK">Mark’s gospel, chapter 12 vv 41-44</a>. Jesus, as usual, is telling a story about power and money to help us get our priorities straight.<br /><br />Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflection</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We talk to our government to tell them what we want them to do, how we want them to respond to this climate crisis. We do this by voting, by choosing our newspaper, our radio stations, the blogs and tweets that we read, and even by going to the surgeries of our MPs. This is what the Government thinks we are saying, and these words are taken from a letter to our church council at Baildon from our member of parliament, representing the Government. He focusses on the cost of any action to his constituents. Above the slogan “Your interests, not self-interest”, he says: <br /><br />“nobody has yet been able to explain precisely how much this race to net zero is going to be funded, and how much each of my constituents will be expected to spend to reach this goal. I am not prepared to support any such blank cheque….” <br /><br />He goes on to talk about China, and how puny any sacrifice that we make would be by comparison. Jesus told the story of a widow who did not stop to think how puny was her offering. She gave all that she had with thankfulness and joy of serving her God. Other people gave more in real terms, her gift is the one that Jesus celebrated. It is time for us to decide whether we are followers of Jesus in this crisis. Should our actions be motivated by our own interests, by self-interest, or should they be motivated by love for this Earth, for our children, for our grandchildren, for the animals on the brink of extinction?<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Our father, we come to you this morning carrying burdens from last week and anxieties about the week to come. We sometimes despair at our own weakness and inadequacy, yet sometimes marvel at the strength we find in the Holy Spirit. Help us to believe in forgiveness for our own sins and in forgiveness for those who offend us. Help us to rise above our former selves to become the people you want us to be, the people that the Earth needs to ensure its future as a home for humanity. Help us to rejoice in the company of others, to understand their needs and feelings, to work with them to make this world a better place than the one we entered so long ago. Amen<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Lord’s Prayer:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,<br />your kingdom come, your will be done,<br />on earth as in heaven.<br />Give us today our daily bread.<br />Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.<br />Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.<br />For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever.<br />Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some thoughts from Christian Climate Action </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Climate change is moving faster than we are – and its speed has provoked a sonic boom SOS across our world. If we do not change course by 2020, we risk missing the point where we can avoid runaway climate change, with disastrous consequences for people and all the natural systems that sustain us.’ <br /><br />Back in April, after a thousand arrests of Extinction Rebellion protesters, our government unanimously declared a climate emergency but, as yet, there is nothing close to the action required nationally or globally to prevent disaster. <br /><br />Heathrow emits 18 million tons of CO2 a year. Around the world there are 118 countries whose total emissions are less than Heathrow Airport’s. A third runway will produce a further 7.3 million tonnes.<br /><br />Furthermore, if all carbon emissions were stopped right now across the world, we would still be seeing a temperature increase and its devastating effects for the next 10-15 years. A temperature increase is locked in whatever we do. <br /><br />Ice reflects sunlight back to space, ice is melting, so the atmosphere and oceans are getting hotter.<br /><br />An increase in temperature through carbon emissions melts the ice<br />This results in less ice to reflect back the sunlight<br />So there is a further increase in temperature <br />Which in turn melts the ice.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Our second Hymn celebrates the Christian example of all those whose example we follow, No. 745 in Singing the Faith: For all the saints who from their labours rest.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Idq2LCQJ2dc" width="320" youtube-src-id="Idq2LCQJ2dc"></iframe></div></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Bible</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">The Gospel of <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+2%3A13-19&version=NIVUK">St John, chapter 2 vv13-19 <br /></a><br />When the Passover Feast, celebrated each spring by the Jews, was about to take place, Jesus travelled up to Jerusalem. He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength.<br /><br />Jesus put together a whip out of strips of leather and chased them out of the Temple, stampeding the sheep and cattle, upending the tables of the loan sharks, spilling coins left and right. He told the dove merchants, “Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a shopping mall!” That’s when his disciples remembered the Scripture, “Zeal for your house consumes me.”<br /><br />But the Jews were upset. They asked, “What credentials can you present to justify this?”<br /><br />Does the state of the world make us angry? How do we express that? Does our devotion to God’s creation burn in us like a fire? <br /><br />Jesus was driven to rage by the misuse of the Temple. Should we be angry at the misuse of the Earth, in which we are complicit? <br /><br />So, here’s a question: Are we more like Jesus in this story or like the Jews whose trade was destroyed?<br /><br />As the new runaway climate destroys human life on this Earth, will it be our children who die? Or our grandchildren? Will any scientific learning survive? Will any literature survive? Will those few remaining, living at the level of hunter gatherers, if they can learn the skills, will they be able to read and write? Will they know anything of the life of Jesus?</span></div><div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song:</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Our third hymn is Number 663 in Singing the Faith: I the lord of sea and sky </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1W4gABkEGHA" width="320" youtube-src-id="1W4gABkEGHA"></iframe></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We become our Stories</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Our society is based on stories that are widely circulated. These stories are about our history, about heroes, and about the formation of our nation. They are vital in helping us all share ideas. If we are dealing with people who think that the same stories are important, we find cooperation very easy. For instance, in our Christian community, we share the story of Jesus, his ministry to the poor and dispossessed, his parables (mainly about money), his example of humility, his self-sacrifice, his taking away of our sins. This story, which pervades all our Christian communities, leads to an understanding of forgiveness, for us and for our opponents, and a spur to action on behalf of the poor and dispossessed. This shared story is the basis of our desire to lead Jesus-Shaped lives, imitating the love of our Big Brother for the world.<br /><br />The story of Superman should inspire us too. He was just an ordinary guy who frequently saved the World without taking any credit.<br /><br />Our national story is the one about the second world war, about standing alone against the foe, about the Island nation that overcame the might of the Axis powers, about the Few. This story doe airbrush the contribution and sacrifices of Commonwealth nations and of the USA and of Russia, and it did lead us eventually to believe that we were better off alone than in partnership with Europe. But during WW2, we made cakes out of root vegetables, we cycled when there was no petrol, we did without sugar, we waved our loved ones goodbye, perhaps never to see them again. When those who survived came home, they determined to make a nation fit for heroes, inequality between rich and poor decreased, wealthy people were taxed at 95p in the £. We honour those who died in the struggle, with pride; and Remembrance Day, in a few days’ time, unites the nation in a way that few other observances do.<br /><br />Earlier in our history, there was the story of Empire. This is a story about how this plucky island nation conquered the World, exploiting its people and resources in pursuit of our own wealth. This story encourages us to think of foreigners, especially those with skins darker than an outdoor tan, with superiority; and it leads us to ignore indignities and inconveniences that we impose upon them. A Christian spin on this story leads us to think of ourselves as more lucky than plucky, luck that we should be sharing with those whose countries we have previously exploited.<br /><br />My question to you is this. What national story are we writing today? Faced with the enormity of climate change, what is our reaction? On what story do we base our response? Are we determined to take a lead, whatever the personal cost, whatever sacrifice becomes necessary, to mitigate the climate catastrophe for our grandchildren as we did in WW2? Will we be the widow, giving her all. Will we be the stoics of WW2, bravely muddling through hardship, joyfully making sacrifices so that the next generation inherit a better world? Do we offer ourselves sacrificially to set an example to China? Do we imitate the action of Jesus in the Temple, reported in the second chapter of John’s Gospel, seeing wrong and doing right?<br /><br />The view of our Government is widely shared, maybe you share it. It differs somewhat from Winston Churchill’s determination to rid the world of Nazi domination, whatever the cost. It differs from the sacrificial example of Jesus. It panders to our desire for comfort at any cost to the Earth.<br /><br />We must each decide whether we are prepared to sign this blank cheque to preserve this Earth as a habitable planet for our grandchildren. This is what COP 26 is all about. Will our desire for comfort and convenience win over the promise of Blood, Sweat, and Tears?<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Our fourth hymn is number 696 in Singing the Faith, For the healing of the Nations. You will find a lovely setting of this to the tune of Cwm Rhondda.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WdYJeGHmCjM" width="320" youtube-src-id="WdYJeGHmCjM"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Prayers</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">We pray for all those assembled at COP26, and for those World leaders who have stayed away.<br />We pray for those tasked with steering the meetings to a conclusion and to promises of action that will preserve the ability of this Earth to be a home to human life.<br />We pray for those whose work is to encourage diversity of life in Yorkshire, in this country and in the wider world.<br />We pray for those who own and farm land, trying to make it more hospitable to a wide range of animals and plants.<br />We pray for all those responsible for the security of leaders everywhere.<br />We pray for those who wish harm to decision-makers by anonymous tweets and other messages, by knife and by gun.<br />We pray for all those who, until now, have been more concerned for their own comfort than for the future of future generations.<br />We acknowledge that all these people are children of God, all deserving of love and safety, all with work to do, and we ask that that work be productive and positive and that we may all leave this world a better place, a land fit for heroes.<br />Amen.<br /></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Song:</span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">This little light of mine.<br /><br />And as we sing it, let us challenge our selves, our lives, and the influence that we have on others, to improve our small patch of Earth and to provide a future for those who come after us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_8fUumdusaw" width="320" youtube-src-id="_8fUumdusaw"></iframe></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Parting benediction</span></h2><span style="font-family: arial;">Come with us Lord Jesus<br />Fill us with your Spirit<br />Shape us to your likeness<br />Use us to enfold with love our needy world.</span><br /></div>Bradford North Circuithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13255536562486376428noreply@blogger.com0