Virtual Worship - 16 May 2021

Time to Speak Out

Week 6 of the Stay Alive in the Spirit Worship Series

Service Sheet (pdf)

“It’s time to speak out about student mental health”
“I’m concerned about bees dying”
“I’m concerned about where our food and clothes come from”
“I’m concerned about ice melting”
“I’m concerned about the amount of litter on our streets”

Welcome:

Hello. Welcome to worship with the Bradford North circuit. My name is Claire Nott – I’m a member at Baildon Methodist Church and I’ve recently started training as a local preacher. Today’s service is week 6 of 7 in our Saints Alive series and the theme is ‘Time to Speak Out’. You’ve just heard some of the young people in our circuit providing inspiration and encouragement to us by standing up and saying what they feel needs to change. Over the next 45 minutes, let’s be open to what the Spirit of God is telling us and see if we can follow their example. Let’s start by asking the Spirit to blaze, to set our hearts on fire and to let God’s love shine in the world. 

Song

This version of StF 59, Shine Jesus Shine, is sung by current and former pupils and teachers of our local Methodist schools: Bronte House, Moorlands, Woodhouse Grove School and Ashville College and was originally recorded for a joint Palm Sunday service earlier this year.

In preparation for this service I sent out a link to an online survey asking people within the circuit to identify three issues on which they speak out or feel strongly about. Thank you for the response to this request – it was amazing to receive 50 replies and a privilege to read what you wrote. This word cloud shows you the range of issues we are concerned about:

The larger the word, the more times it was included. 541 different words were provided in your answers but only the top 100 are shown here. Grouping together responses into themes gave four areas that each received over 20 mentions: caring for our natural world, poverty, inequality and The Church. I’ll be referring to the survey results throughout the service and particularly in the prayers, often using quotes from the responses received.

Prayer

Let us pray:

Loving Jesus, you are Lord of everything and of everyone, thank you for the talents and gifts you give us and for the opportunity to use them under your guidance in God’s service. Creator God, thank you for providing us with an amazing world which contains enough resources for your children: to feed us, clothe us, to provide us with shelter - we are sorry that we are failing to look after it or to share those resources in a fair way. The survey shows that we recognise issues, from local concerns to global crises - help us be inspired by your Spirit during this service to take action to speak out and to make a difference. Amen

Using whichever version you prefer, let us say together The Lord’s Prayer

Reading

Ellie will now share our first reading, from Mark’s Gospel, chapter 13, verses 1-13

Thank you, Ellie. One of the other suggested readings for today’s service is Psalm 91 and I’ve chosen a sung version of it. The singer, Victory Boyd, brings the words alive and you can feel her certainty of the Lord being her refuge and fortress. There is a line in this translation about God’s truth being your shield and buckler. The internet tells me that a buckler is a small round shield, which could be held in the hand or strapped to the forearm and used primarily for close fighting.

Reading: Psalm 91

Talk

‘Before I was born, the Lord called me – he made my mouth like a sharpened sword…he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver… The Lord says: “I will make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”’ - words of Isaiah in chapter 49 and the reason why we must not stay silent when we see injustice or leaders acting in a way that isn’t best for the world or its inhabitants. We are God’s choice of weapon in his fight to bring light to the world and we are encouraged to follow the many examples Jesus gave us of speaking truth to power. So what stops us speaking out? Fear, lack of confidence, not knowing how to speak out can make it easier to keep quiet and not risk the consequences that may arise. Often, in the news, we see the repercussions of speaking out – from China’s response to people exposing the Uighur internment camps to Russia’s imprisonment of opposition politicians and the abusive messages posted on social media to anyone expressing an opinion. These outcomes have been going on for thousands of years - our gospel reading today reminding us of the trials the disciples faced in standing up as witnesses to the truth. However, there are also more positive examples showing that speaking up can lead to swift action: Marcus Rashford’s campaign to end child food poverty or the outcry that ensued against the recent football super league proposals.

God tells us throughout our readings today not to be afraid. If we trust in him then no harm will come to us, his angels will guard us and keep us in their hands. There is also no need to worry about finding the words to speak out – if we are speaking out because God has called us to do so, then the Holy Spirit will give us the words and the courage we need.

In Matthew’s gospel (18: 3-4) Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” We’ve already heard some of our children and young people identify issues they want addressed – this next clip is from Hannah who noticed a need, went out and acted upon her concern.

Hannah – inspired by a service last summer about Jesus helping the marginalised, she got up early every morning to run a total of 50km to raise money for the foodbank

Song

Our next hymn may be new to some of you but the words challenge us to use our voices, to not sit down when the multitudes are silent, to share our views using words of grace and to leave a thoughtful imprint. It is called ‘Have you heard God’s voice?’ and you can find it in STF 662.

Each month, Baildon Methodist church nominates a charity to encourage members to give for others, or GIFO for short. In April, the charity was Hope for Justice and earlier this month I caught up with Tim Nelson, one of its co-founders, to talk about the charity’s work and give you some examples of how you can use your voice and share your views.

For those who are reading this service: Tim started by explaining what Hope for Justice does – it is an anti-slavery organisation founded in 2008 which works in thirty-two locations across five continents to prevent exploitation, rescue victims, restore lives and reform society. Tim co-founded the charity following a challenge from a friend of his who had witnessed children and women being put in cages in India and being sold into slavery. “Do you call yourself a Christian? What are you going to do about people in your city who are crying themselves to sleep tonight? Jesus is calling you to be his hands and his feet in responding to their needs”. Tim also provided practical examples of how we can speak truth to power by writing to our MP or councillors, contacting CEOs or shareholders and talking to friends and families about our concerns. He used biblical examples to show that age or talent should not hold us back if God has a purpose for us and exhorted us to live life fully, dying empty.

Prayers of Intercession:

As we move into a time of prayer I’d like you to first take some time to reflect on the issues God is calling you to speak out about or consider some of the answers in the word cloud. After each prayer I invite you to respond with: “I will speak truth and justice”.

Lord,

The Covid pandemic continues to ravage our world. Cover with your feathers healthcare workers, vaccine manufacturers and help those who are grieving find refuge under your wings. Be with those who are fighting for their lives and use our voices to call for fair vaccine distribution around the world and for politicians to set aside vested interest and work together to bring the disease under control.

I will speak out for equality and fairness

I will speak truth and justice

Everywhere we turn we see your people in need. Poverty, homelessness, addiction, discrimination and modern slavery require us to rise up and challenge those in positions of responsibility to develop policies that give people homes, benefit systems that work and ensure that no-one goes hungry. We pray for your Spirit to give us the words to tackle racism, to stand up for black lives and to call for change to ensure women feel safe wherever they are. We pray for the work of Hope for Justice in the fight against modern slavery and human trafficking.

I will speak out for those who are oppressed

I will speak truth and justice

Father, your world is suffering the results of our greed and selfishness with decreasing biodiversity, rising temperatures and changing climates. Let us learn from the experiences of the Covid lockdowns and review our spending habits and behaviour so that we are less wasteful of the world’s resources, are responsible for less pollution and help us be content with what we need. We pray that your Spirit is at work in the hearts of those due to attend the COP26 summit in Glasgow in November so that there is a real desire to take action.

I will speak out for creation

I will speak truth and justice

The events of the last eighteen months have shown us that there is a thirst for the revival of the church and for the pouring out of your Spirit. We pray that we listen for your voice and are ready to share your message of hope with a world that is desperate for good news. We ask you to help us to keep Jesus at the centre of our lives and not to hold onto old customs but to be ready for change.

I will speak out for Jesus

I will speak truth and justice. Amen

Song

We sing again now, “The Spirit lives to set us free”, StF 397

Thank you to all contributed to making or producing the service today, in particular, Hannah, Tim and Ashley.

I end this service with a challenge to you. How are you going to use your voice in the coming days and weeks? Pick one issue and ask God’s Spirit to give you the words to bring wisdom to those in authority. Remember that because you love the Lord he will protect you and you should not fear to speak truth and justice. It’s time to rise up and speak out.

Our final prayer:

Come with us, Lord Jesus;
Fill us with your Spirit;
Shape us to your likeness;
Use us to enfold with love our needy world

Song

Our final song links back to human trafficking and encourages us to “rise up” and “be a voice” for those who can’t speak out.