Bradford North Circuit

Service Sheet (pdf) Introduction and Welcome Welcome to our morning service in Bradford North Circuit. We particularly welcome you this morning if you are one of the many feeling right now that life is providing less than what you are needing. This service is for you if you find yourself waking each morning with dissatisfaction or dread in your soul. We welcome you particularly if you feel that life has been unfair to you. We hope that we can show you a good time here, and that you will be able to take yourself into the coming week as a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven rather than as a slave in a Kingdom of Hell. We will, of course, be talking quite a bit about Love, and just to give us an example, listen to this call to worship from today’s lectionary,  Genesis 29:20 So, Jacob worked seven years for Rachel. But it only seemed like a few days, because he loved her so much. Collect for today Great God of Love, help us to discover what we truly long for, and in the strength of our

Service sheet (pdf) Opening sentence: Those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God...the Spirit makes you God’s children and by the Spirit’s power we cry out to God, ‘Abba, Father. Song: Join in with or listen to ‘Sing of the Lord’s goodness’ (Singing the Faith 65) as we offer our praise to God. Alternatively, use a well-known hymn such as ‘Lord of all hopefulness’ (Singing the Faith 526, Hymns and Psalms 552) as we affirm the presence of God in our worship today. Opening prayers: Creator God We come to praise your name today, We are confident of your love for us, knowing that you want the very best for us and for your world. Help us to be a people strong in Spirit and faithful to your call, so that the confidence you show in us may be shown to be well placed. And encourage us to share in the work of Jesus that the good news of your saving grace may be a message of hope and rejoicing for all creation. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer may be said here. Gospel reading: Matthew 1

Service Sheet (pdf) Call to worship Isaiah 55:10-13 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,  so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,  and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever. Amen Prayer Lord God, the earth is yours, and all its people. We thank you today for heaven-sent waters feeding the soil, for seeds germinating and bread baking. We praise you too for your word of life, and pray you will speak it clearly this day, that

What is God saying?  It is of course up to each one of us to listen to what God may be saying to us in our circumstances (as well as through the Bible), not least when things are altered radically, as by this coronavirus. What is he showing us, or calling us to do: repent; believe afresh; change our behaviour; or refocus our patterns of spending and giving, and our actions; or whatever? Listening is always important, but perhaps especially so now.  But just as we don’t read other people’s letters, we must resist the temptation to peek into what God may be saying to others, unless of course they ask us to because they need help with reading, or understanding, or deciding. And in that case we must make very sure we don’t misread or mislead: our task would be to help the recipient hear clearly the message the sender intended – and that may require of us a careful listening attitude.  However, as members of Christ’s body, the Church, we have another listening role: to hear what God is s

Service sheet (pdf) Call to worship Come Holy Spirit into our homes and our hearts as we worship, and draw us out of ourselves into your holy space as we worship God in spirit and in truth. Read the words of HP 416, “As pants the hart for cooling streams” or Sing StF 544 As the deer pants for the water. Prayer We turn to you in praise, O God, for you have formed us, and you watch us as we grow; You pour your love upon us and draw us to yourself. In Jesus you offered yourself for us, the greatest love that has ever been. Help us today to receive that love and enjoy it. Forgive us when we are selfish and keep that love to ourselves. Forgive us when we hurt those who have a different skin colour, or ability, or way of being or worshipping. Help us to see the beauty in all as we join with so many people in worship today. May we see us and others, as you see us, and seek to share your good news of hope for all people. Amen Reading: Song of Songs 2:8-13 Roses