Welcome to our service - 13 June
This service sheet can be used individually or with households.
We would encourage you to say (or even sing) hymns and songs out loud.
Prayers, other liturgy or readings can be said out loud or silently, corporately or individually.
If you are able, we would also like invite you to join us for our main Sunday service, 10am, live on Zoom and in the church. Even if you have never been to St Gabriel’s before we would love you to join you. Please get in touch with the vicar Alistair (vicar@saintgs.co.uk) and he will send you the Zoom details.
Please join us for public worship in the church building this Sunday at 10am or 11:30am.
OPENING
Faithful One, whose word is life: come with saving power to free our praise, inspire our prayer and shape our lives. For the kingdom of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVP6nQj1a_c
Praise to the Holiest in the height,
and in the depth be praise;
in all His words most wonderful;
most sure in all His ways.
2. O loving wisdom of our God!
when all was sin and shame,
a second Adam to the fight,
and to the rescue came.
3. O wisest love! that flesh and blood
which did in Adam fail,
should strive afresh against the foe,
should strive and should prevail.
4. And that a higher gift than grace
should flesh and blood refine,
God's presence, and His very self
and essence all-divine.
5. O generous love! that He, who smote
in man for man the foe,
the double agony in man
for man should undergo.
6. And in the garden secretly,
and on the cross on high
should teach His brethren, and inspire
to suffer and to die.
7. Praise to the Holiest in the height
and in the depth be praise;
in all His words most wonderful;
most sure in all His ways.
John Henry Newman (1801-90)
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
CONFESSION
Our God, we come in humility, confessing who and what we are.
Lord, when we avoid the hard questions that you ask;
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, when we fail to trust you for our futures;
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
Lord, when we cling to tightly to our possessions;
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
ABSOLUTION
May Almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and keep us in eternal life. Amen.
COLLECT
Faithful Creator,
whose mercy never fails:
deepen our faithfulness to you
and to your living Word,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQkzHwz2eLE&t=185s
I will offer up my life in spirit and truth,
Pouring out the oil of love as my worship to You.
In surrender I must give my every part,
Lord receive the sacrifice of a broken heart.
Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring,
to so faithful a friend, to so loving a King?
Saviour, what can be said, what can be sung,
as a praise of Your name
for the things You have done?
O, my words could not tell, not even in part,
of the debt of love that is owed
by this thankful heart.
2. You deserve my every breath
for You've paid the great cost,
giving up Your life to death,
even death on a cross.
You took all my shame away,
there defeated my sin,
opened up the gates of heaven
and have beckoned me in.
Jesus, what can I give…
Matt Redman: (c) 1994 Unveiled Music/Kingsway's Thankyou Music
READINGS
James 3:1-12 New International Version - UK
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig-tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Luke 6:43-45 New International Version - UK
‘No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognised by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn-bushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.
This the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
TALK written by Alistair Stevenson
‘The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation.’
On June 18th 1940, Sir Winston Churchill addressed the House of Commons. Facing defeat, he inspired the nation to fight from the corner, urging them to brace themselves to do their duty and carry themselves in such a way that even a thousand years on people would still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’ It was a powerful speech that inspired the country towards peace.
On Aug. 28, 1963, Martin Luther King addressed the crowd at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. He finished his speech by saying this:
“when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.”
For centuries, speeches have transformed our world - war, women's suffrage, racial justice, human rights - words have turned the course of history. Sometimes for good, sometimes for bad. Our words can be hugely powerful.
It's no wonder then that James uses 12 verses of his letter to address the role of the tongue in the life of the believer. The tongue, James suggests, is so powerful that, verse 2, if you are never at fault in what you say you are, in turn, able to keep the rest of the body in check and away from sin. He is saying therefore that if you’re able to keep control of your tongue then it's likely the rest of the body will be fine.
However, the reality is, as James suggests so strongly in verse 8 - ‘no-one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.’
James identifies three dangers of words and the power of the tongue:
1. Words have the power to persuade, to teach and direct others. James offers a particular warning to those who teach. The Greek word here is the same used for Jesus, often described as the teacher or master. It is a warning to those who have a role in teaching and guiding believers. To them, James suggests, because of their position they will be liable to closer scrutiny and judgement. To be a teacher of God’s word is a powerful position with powerful responsibility.
2. The tongue has the power to control the direction of the whole person. James uses imagery of a bit directing a horse and a small rudder directing a ship - illustrations that are just as easily imagined now as they were 2000 years ago. Despite its size, the tongue can determine the whole destiny and direction of the individual. Jesus said similar in Matthew 18: ‘the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.’
3. The tongue has huge destructive potential. It can, like a spark in a forest, set-fire or corrupt the whole person. No other “member” of the body perhaps wreaks so much havoc on the godly life. It can be spiritual poison - that, like the bite of a tiny black widow spider - starts small but spreads throughout the rest of the body with deadly consequences.
James doesn’t hold back. But in one sense - should we really be surprised? The old saying goes like this: ‘sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me’. Whoever came up with that saying had clearly not spent much time in relationship with other people. We all know the reality that, while wounds caused by sticks and stones can heal, the wounds caused by words sometimes never heal.
And so, before we move on, I want to spend just a few moments acknowledging in our lives and hearts those words spoken by others that have and continue to harm and hurt us. It may be things spoken over us or said to us many years ago that we are still holding on to. It’s likely the person who said these words has never apologised or acknowledged the hurt that they caused. But even if they have, the words can still hold power over us. The healing that is required again often takes time and a huge amount of prayer and support from others. But I want to give a moment now to allow us to bring these situations before God to acknowledge them before him and ask his Spirit, even if you have done some many times before, to bring His healing power and to ask for his freedom and release.
So, take a moment now to pause, to pray and ask God’s Spirit to bring his healing.
God’s word is powerful because when God speaks, most often through the Bible, His words are transformational. They are words of hope, of love, of compassion. Words of a father to a child who loves us more than we could possibly imagine.
So, what about our words? Pastor and author Rick Warren says this:
‘Sometimes our words are like a sledgehammer. We swing away without thinking, and suddenly we look around and realize a pile of relational rubble surrounds us. When you thoughtlessly sling your words around and tear people down, your relationships are going to suffer.’
Sadly, it is probably true of all of us that we have said things to others that have hurt and damaged. And so, we need to acknowledge and be ready to go to others to say sorry and ask for forgiveness for the words we have used.
Who might you need to go to say sorry for the damaging words that you have used? As Christians, it is so important that we demonstrate a self-awareness to be aware of how our words might have hurt others and then a humility to go and say sorry.
So how can we change? Interestingly, in these verses anyway, James does not offer a huge amount of practical advice. But remember he already gave a pretty good start back in chapter 1: ‘Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak’ (verse 19). If you struggle with your words getting better at listening is a great way to improve. If you struggle with your words, start to develop a habit of taking time - being slow - before you open your mouth.
I really like the mnemonic "THINK" before you speak: T - is it truthful? H - is it helpful? I - is it inspirational? N - is it necessary and K - is it kind?
Here in chapter 3 James continues and questions how the tongue can offer praise to God and then curse others who hold the image and likeness of God? Does that not reveal the real attitudes of our hearts?
In our reading from Luke, Jesus similarly says that: ‘Each tree is recognized by its own fruit… A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.’ Either it is a good tree producing good fruit or a bad tree producing bad fruit.
To take the analogy a bit further it is obvious that for a tree to thrive and produce fruit it needs to be planted in good soil and have roots that stretch down deep into the soil so that, even if there is drought, its roots are deep enough for the tree to continue to grow and produce fruit. So too with us. Out of the heart - out of the roots of our faith - the mouth speaks. If our roots go deep, if we draw from Jesus and our relationship with him, then we will produce good fruit with our words.
If our words bear the fruit of our hearts, it is therefore often our hearts that we need to get sorted first. It is often those we struggle with the most or find difficult or who have hurt us - it is these people where bearing good fruit with our words is such a challenge.
Jesus makes it clear at the beginning of this passage - the context for what he is saying - that we must love our enemies: ‘do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.’ (verse 27 and 28). Speaking good of our enemies, that’s when the rubber really hits the road. Jesus suggests that we need to bless those who curse us. That we need to pray for those who mistreat us. If you are struggling to speak positive and good words about someone - get into prayer - that’s where the heart transformation will take place.
Ask yourself this:
Do I really want those who have hurt me to be blessed - to thrive and flourish in all they do? Ask that question truthfully before God and you will soon see whether heart transformation needs to take place.
The implications of Jesus' words are clear but hugely challenging. The words that we use reveal ours heart and our holiness. We might have all the correct actions - we may look very holy through our actions - always at church, always at the prayer meeting, we may know our bible back to front, and don’t get me wrong these things are hugely important - but our words may reveal our real heart, particularly the words we speak in private.
Proverbs 16:27 - 29:
Scoundrels concoct evil,
and their speech is like a scorching fire.
A perverse person spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.
The violent entice their neighbours,
and lead them in a way that is not good
The writer of this proverb knew the power of words - the power to bless or curse. And this would be my challenge to all of us. Think about the words that you have spoken over the last week, even over the last 24 hours. Did the words that you spoke bring blessing or did they curse? Were they full of goodness and life or were they harmful? Were they motivation self-sacrifice and humility or by selfishness and pride?
God, through your Holy Spirit, we ask that you would help us to speak words that bless – words that are full of goodness, love and grace. Transform my heart so that it may bear good fruit. Amen.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand
of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting.
Amen
O LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
When I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
Come and listen to me.
Jacques Berthier/Taizé.
Copyright © 1982 Ateliers et Presses de Taize (France).
PRAYERS - written by John Gough
Father in our prayers for today we bring before you our World, our Country and our Church and Parish here in Greystones.
Father we pray for the Halo Trust that is providing support in Afghanistan. They have a team of workers skilled in the clearance of landmines, and we are greatly saddened by the events that took place on Tuesday when masked gunmen entered the sleeping quarters of the workers and killed 10 of them in their beds as they were sleeping. We pray that you will wrap your loving arms around the families who’s loved ones we’re killed and stay close to them in their time of great sorrow and grief. We pray for the effects it will have on the Halo Trust staff who are out there as well. We pray that this will not prevent the Trust from being able to recruit other skilled workers for this dangerous task. We ask Father that the mines can be cleared to allow the local Afghanistan people to reclaim the land and be able to put it to use if possible for farming or other civil uses. The Islamic State Group have claimed responsibility for this terrible event, and we pray Father that their hearts and minds can be touched by your holy spirit to bring to an end of their activities and peace can prevail again.
Father we pray for the vaccination programs taking place across the world and pray that these will be successful, and we ask that all of the leading nations will provide vaccines and support for other countries and 3rd world countries that desperately need these vaccines for the protection of their people.
Father we pray for the vaccination and testing programs in great Britain, we pray that as the process of opening up further is under scrutiny to allow greater freedom, the right decisions will be made by the scientists and politicians that will not cause greater risk to the public as the current infections are slowly rising again. Grant wisdom to all in authority in making these decision’s,
Father we pray for the G7 summit taking place in Cornwall, we ask that agreements can be made on climate change through all forms of greener projects to help slow down the warming process of our planet. We pray that all forms of inequality in our World can with changes being made to overcome these age old problems. We pray for all other discussions that will take place that will bring improvements to the people’s of our planet and working closer with the fellow countries in the rest of the world.
Father we pray for St Gabriel’s and our parish in Greystones, we ask that you pour out your holy spirit on the Bless Greystones Project, may your spirit work through the hearts and minds of the people in the parish that they may come to know more about the lord and your great love for them, grant blessings on Alistair and Catherine as they lead our congregation and the work that will be done in your name that a revival will take place and grow our Church in the coming months and years. We give thanks for events that have already taken place that have had a positive impact on our parish, The Parents night out, the Easter Egg hunt in Bingham Park, the delivery service for those in need, the Primary School staff well being packs and the family well being packs as well have all been greatly received.
We pray blessing for the Bible study on James that continues today and the work that is prepared by Alistair each week, may we all grow closer to you lord as we study your word.
Amen
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6LC8cu03Ig
THY WORD is a lamp unto my feet
And a light unto my path.
(Repeat)
When I feel afraid,
Think I’ve lost my way,
Still You’re there right beside me.
And nothing will I fear
As long as You are near;
Please be near me to the end.
THY WORD is a lamp unto my feet...
I will not forget
Your love for me, and yet
My heart forever is wandering.
Jesus, be my guide
And hold me to Your side,
And I will love You to the end.
THY WORD is a lamp unto my feet...
Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith.
1066 Copyright © 1983 Meadow Green Music/Word Music/Adm. SongSolutions CopyCare
OFFERTORY - Take a moment to consider how you are going to continue to give to the life of the church and support other aid agencies and mission organisations.
SAY:
Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,
the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All things come from you,
and of your own do we give you.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o469PRLdbHU
Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?
2 Will you leave your self behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare
Will you let me answer prayer
In you and you in me?
3 Will you let the blinded see
If I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
And never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
And do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean
In you and you in me?
4 Will you love the `you' you hide
If I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
And never be the same?
Will you use the faith you've found
To reshape the world around
Through my sight and touch and sound
In you and you in me?
5 Lord, your summons echoes true
When you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
And never be the same.
In your company I'll go
Where your love and footsteps show,
Thus I'll move and live and grow
In you and you in me.
Graham Maule & John L. Bell.
Copyright © 1987 WGRG, Iona Community.
BLESSING
May the Holy Spirit who gives gifts to all people, flood your hearts with thanksgiving to God. And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.