Welcome to our online service - 16 July 23
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.
Loving God, we have come to worship you.
Help us to pray to you in faith,
to sing your praise with gratitude,
and to listen to your word with eagerness;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwuDSw-9cUQ
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty!
early in the morning
our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy! - merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
2. Holy, holy, holy!
All the saints adore Thee,
casting down their golden crowns
around the glassy sea;
cherubim and seraphim
falling down before Thee,
which wert, and art,
and evermore shall be.
3. Holy, holy, holy!
though the darkness hide Thee,
though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see;
only Thou art holy,
there is none beside Thee,
perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
4. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name,
in earth, and sky, and sea:
Holy, holy, holy! - merciful and mighty,
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Words: Reginald Heber (1783-1826)
Music: John Bacchus Dykes (1823-76)
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
Jesus says, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’ So let us turn away from sin and turn to the Lord, confessing our sins in penitence and faith.
God our Father, long-suffering, full of grace and truth,
you create us from nothing and give us life.
You give your faithful people new life in the water of baptism.
You do not turn your face from us, nor cast us aside.
We confess that we have sinned against you and our neighbour.
We have wounded your love and marred your image in us.
Restore us for the sake of your Son, and bring us to heavenly joy, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
ASOLUTION
Almighty God,
who in Jesus Christ has given us
a kingdom that cannot be destroyed,
forgive us our sins, open our eyes to God’s truth,
strengthen us to do God’s will
and give us the joy of his kingdom,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
COLLECT
Lord God,
your Son left the riches of heaven
and became poor for our sake:
when we prosper save us from pride,
when we are needy save us from despair,
that we may trust in you alone;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBppKZ0eJlQ
As the deer pants for the water,
So my soul longs after You.
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You.
You alone are my strength, my shield,
To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship You.
2. I want You more than gold or silver,
Only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy-giver
And the apple of my eye.
You alone are my strength...
3. You're my Friend and You're my Brother,
Even though You are a king.
I love You more than any other,
So much more than anything.
You alone are my strength...
Words and Music: Martin Nystrom
Copyright © Restoration Music Ltd/Sovereign Music Ltd (1983)
READINGS
James 1: 2-8 (p. 1409)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Matthew 8:5-13 (p. 1121)
When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralysed and in terrible pain.
Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”
But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
RESPONSE
Instead of a talk this Sunday, we would encourage you to take time to consider and meditate on the passages, particularly the passage from Matthew’s gospel.
· How do you understand or define faith?
· “Faith is really about two things: trusting God’s character, and stepping out because of this trust.”(Page 210 of the book ‘Everyday Supernatural’) In what ways (either in the Bible or in your life) has God shown he is trustworthy?
· How is faith demonstrated by the Roman officer in our Matthew passage?
· Does anything surprise you about this?
· In Mark 9:14-29 a father brings his demonised son to Jesus. He tells Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” How might Jesus answer that prayer? How might he grow your faith?
· “A life of faith isn’t one free from all doubt, it’s one where we keep expecting God to be faithful in the midst of our questions.”
(Page 209 of the book ‘Everyday Supernatural’). What is the relationship between faith and expectancy? How can you be more expectant of God to move in the midst of your doubt and questions?
· James 1:2-4 says, “when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. “ Perseverance can only develop in a time of testing. What difference might this make to the way you approach challenges?
· Intimacy with the Lord is key to growing in the everyday supernatural. What habits do you want to continue to develop that might help you draw close to God?
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 Christine Carney
Heavenly Father, we confess our lack of faith, the doubts we have about whether you will heal people….
Please forgive us… Help us to remember that we trust in a faithful and loving God who gave his only son to die for us and that he wants the very best for each of us. Help us to grow in our relationship with you, Lord. Help us to spend quality time with you on a regular basis by reading your Word and talking to you in prayer. Strengthen us, Lord, to cope with the setbacks and difficulties in our lives. Help us to persevere and to grow in our faith as we trust in you to meet the challenges of each day.
Thank you, Father, for each of the small groups meeting together within the Church. Help us to grow in our love for one another. Help us to support, encourage and pray faithfully for each other.
We commit to you the Holiday Club in August and thank you for all those who have offered to help and that we are fully booked! We pray that you will inspire Alistair and Catherine in their planning and leadership. We pray that the children will come with open hearts, that they will have tremendous fun, that they will be kept safe and that they will go home each day knowing more of who Jesus is and his love for them… Pour your Holy Spirit on all involved and help us to work together as a team encouraging one another. We pray for the parents of these children, that they also will sense your presence and your love for them as they collect their children each day.
Thank you, Father, for Cuppa and Cake, and for those who come on a regular basis. Please bless them and encourage them and help them to feel loved and accepted by the Church family.
We thank you, Lord, for all the young families who have come to ‘At the Table’ and for all Rachel’s preparation and planning. We pray for your blessing on all these families, and others in our community, over the summer months. We pray for safety for people as they go on holiday and we pray for calm, for wise decisions and for loving relationships between partners and between children and their parents in what can be a very stressful time.
We continue to cry out to you, Lord, for an end to the war in Ukraine and for your protection on Ukrainian civilians… We commit to you the civil war in Sudan and pray for a ceasefire and talks which will end the crisis… We pray for an end to the violence between Israel and Palestine and a way forward for the Palestinian people. We continue to pray for safety for refugees and that they will meet with kindness and compassion in the countries they flee to.
Heavenly Father, we pray for safety for people as heatwaves sweep across parts of southern Europe and N. Africa and there is severe flooding in parts of India and China. We pray that governments, including our own, will be motivated to take stronger action against climate change. 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=tUqfdaCLm0Y
There is a Redeemer
Jesus, God's own Son,
precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
holy One.
Thank you, O my Father,
for giving us your Son,
and leaving your Spirit
till the work on earth is done.
2. Jesus, my Redeemer,
name above all names,
precious Son of God, Messiah,
Lamb for sinners slain:
Thank you, O my Father...
3. When I stand in glory
I will see his face,
and there I'll serve my king for ever
in that holy place.
Thank you, O my Father...
Melody Green (c) Word Music (UK)
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=GaoV5w2Qfag
Thine be the glory,
risen, conquering Son,
Endless is the victory
Thou o'er death hast won;
angels in bright raiment
rolled the stone away,
kept the folded grave-clothes,
where Thy body lay.
Thine be the glory,
risen, conquering Son,
Endless is the victory
Thou o'er death hast won.
2. Lo! Jesus meets us,
risen from the tomb;
lovingly he greets us,
scatters fear and gloom;
let the Church with gladness
hymns of triumph sing,
for her Lord now liveth;
death hath lost its sting.
Thine be the glory...
3. No more we doubt Thee,
glorious Prince of life;
life is nought without Thee:
aid us in our strife;
make us more than conquerors,
through thy deathless love:
bring us safe through Jordan
to Thy home above.
Thine be the glory...
Edmond Louis Budry (1854-1932)
tr Richard Birch Hoyle (1875-1939)
BLESSING
Father of lights, from whom comes every good and perfect gift: keep us in the light of Christ, to shine in your world, that all may believe in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
May God the Father, Judge all-merciful, make us worthy of a place in his kingdom. Amen.
May God the Son, coming among us in power, reveal in our midst the promise of his glory. Amen.
May God the Holy Spirit make us steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and constant in love. Amen.
And blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen