Bradford North Circuit

Service Sheet (pdf) Welcome to worship with the churches of the Bradford North Methodist Circuit this morning. We hope you will find this time, whether you are reading the printed service or watching on a screen, both helpful and challenging. When we share in worship we open ourselves to both hear the good news God has for us, and to be ready to respond in practical ways to what we have heard. As we are blessed, so we know we need to share that blessing with others. The gospel reading we will be focusing on today (chosen for us by the lectionary) is not an easy one, with Jesus using some vivid and challenging language as he encourages his followers to live the best lives they can. We’ll have to work at it! Let’s use today’s psalm to draw us into worship, reflecting as it does on God’s ways and praying we might respond rightly to them. Call to worship Psalm 19:7-14 (NIVUK) The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise t

Perfect wisdom Service sheet (pdf) Welcome and Call To Worship Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:19b-20 Hymn:  Blessed be the name of the Lord (StF 41) Children's Address: I'm the Greatest! For those of you who can’t access YouTube, this is a very simple presentation of the story of the disciples arguing about who among them was the greatest, as in the next reading, in the style of an old-fashioned flannelboard. Reading:  Mark 9:30-37 Pride and humility Just imagine Jesus’ utter frustration! Mark tells us that this was the second time Jesus had tried to explain to his closest followers and friends what was going to happen when they got to Jerusalem – that he, the most important man ever, was going to sacrifice himself for the good of everyone. Jesus had deliberately set time aside with his disciples, away from the crowds, from the demands of preaching, hea

  Education Sunday   Service sheet (pdf) Hello and welcome to worship. Prepared today by Peter Jackson, Lay pastor at Baildon. Today is Education Sunday and from our Bible readings we will discover that Peter learned something very significant and the writer of the letter headed “James” also learned a thing or two. – but that’s for later. Song Hymn StF 28 Jesus calls us here to meet Him.  The words of the hymn TELL us that Jesus calls us to meet Him, to talk about Him to join with others from different cultures or backgrounds. This is a learning process from which we all can gain a wider understanding of Gods love shown in Jesus. A Collect for today Spirit of God open our minds to be receptive to your teaching. Help us to think through those concepts that challenge us. Encourage us to be open to your word which may come to us in many ways, styles, and forms so that we may learn more of your love and your will for us, AMEN Reflection Education is more that just being taught. “It’s a goo

Service sheet (pdf) Welcome and a very happy New Methodist Year to you. Come and sit on this bench, it’s in Robert’s Park at Saltaire. It reminds us, looking at the wrought iron ends of the iron ore and pig iron heritage works at Bowling Iron. Look closely, the wooden planks are new. This bench has the old and new combined! It’s not the most comfortable but plenty of room for you and God together! Come and have a natter with Him, think of all His good qualities, feel the warmth of His hand stretching out to you, wordlessly saying to you how precious you are to Him. Let’s sing praises to Him. Song Hymn 5 StF: Father in whom we live Opening Prayers:  Father God, we sit beside you. You made heaven and earth and the seasons in their glory. As summer with its dahlias, montbretias and Japanese anemones herald the start of autumn, we stand at the threshold of a new church year. We look back over our shoulders and see closed churches, well-spaced chairs, masks and gentle humming, almost as if