Sunday Service - 20 June

Welcome to our service - 20 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

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.

HYMN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu2uA6U4Fxg

And can it be that I should gain

an interest in the Saviour's blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain?

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be

that Thou, my God,

shouldst die for me!

2 'Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies;

who can explore His strange design?

In vain the first-born seraph tries

to sound the depths of love divine.

'Tis mercy all let earth adore,

let angel minds inquire no more.

3 He left His Father's throne above -

so free, so infinite His grace -

emptied Himself of all but love,

and bled for Adam's helpless race.

'Tis mercy all, immense and free;

for, O my God, it found out me!

4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay

fast bound in sin and nature's night;

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray -

I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

my chains fell off, my heart was free.

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

5 No condemnation now I dread;

Jesus, and all in Him is mine!

Alive in Him, my living Head,

and clothed in righteousness divine,

bold I approach the eternal throne,

and claim the crown,

through Christ, my own.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)

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

Coming together as God’s family, with confidence let us ask the Father’s forgiveness for our failure to respond fully to his grace, for he is full of gentleness and compassion

A time of silence - for reflection

Lord, when we resist your work within us;

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy

Jesus, when we prefer not to be changed;

Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy

Lord, when our attitudes are moulded by hardness of heart;

Lord, have mercy, Lord, have mercy.

May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,

and keep us in eternal life. Amen.

COLLECT

God our saviour,

look on this wounded world

in pity and in power;

hold us fast to your promises of peace

won for us by your Son,

our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCYdLA8qR5c

JESUS PUT THIS SONG INTO OUR HEARTS,

Jesus put this song into our hearts,

It’s a song of joy no one can take away,

Jesus put this song into our hearts.

Jesus taught us how to live in harmony,

Different faces, different races, He made us one,

Jesus taught us how to live in harmony.

Jesus taught us how to be a family,

Loving one another with the love that He gives,

Jesus taught us how to be a family.

Jesus turned our sorrow into dancing,

Changed our tears of sadness into rivers of joy,

Jesus turned our sorrow into a dance.

Graham Kendrick.

READINGS

James 3:13-18 New International Version – UK

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbour bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Matthew 5:3-11 New International Version – UK

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

TALK written by Will Gowers

It is so lovely to be able to be with you this morning! For those of you that don’t know me I am Will, and I am doing a placement with St Gabriel’s as part of my training to be a Vicar at Trinity College, in Bristol. Greystones is actually my home turf after growing up round the corner from here and spent most of my childhood and teens going to All Saints, where I was also Alistair’s intern for a year back in 2012. So Sheffield, especially Greystones, really does feel like home.

What do you think of when you think of a wise person? Maybe a person sat in an armchair with a roaring fire, an array of different pictures and paintings on the wall and a collection of stunning books floor to ceiling in colour and alphabetical order. Someone who told gripping stories, who helps put things into perspective, that gives advice, hungry to learn, who is inspiring.

Wisdom is an incredibly important part of what it means to be a Christian. In fact, in Proverbs 4:7, it says above anything - whether that is money, success, appearance, health, power, popularity, or anything else - get wisdom.

So, what is wisdom? And how do we - not just be a ‘wise person’ like the stereotype we just looked at - but be a person who uses wisdom?

One of the things I have often heard people say in my life is: ‘that wasn’t the wisest thing to do, was it?’ I’m often quite a rebellious, if not cheeky person who just loves to make people laugh and have fun. However, sometimes this means I can make rash decisions. One, in particular, I made when I was at school was doing something inappropriate during a lesson. A lot of my friends found it hilarious, however for some reason, it didn’t seem to go far with the teachers after I got a letter home. This was defiantly followed by a ‘that wasn’t the wisest thing to do was it?’.

All of us need to use some element of our wisdom in our daily lives. Whether that is crossing the road, how we use our money, how we deal with difficult situations or how we respond to changes in life. We all need to use wisdom.

It is easy to see in our world times as well when we are encouraged to find security in things and this being the wise decision. Whether that is progressing on a career ladder or having a family unit or having lots of savings. These things are the ‘wise things’ to do. I know I felt that when I was applying to go to drama schools to undertake a career in acting. However, the key question for me was: ‘is this the wisest thing to do with how insecure the acting industry is?’

What James suggests is it is our motives behind these things that matter. Are we doing these things for our own ambition? Maybe because we are bitter and envious of someone else’s ‘worldly securities’? I know I have felt that when I see a brand new Teslar parked up on Eccelsall road!

James tells us that following Jesus requires us to assess our motives but also to have a different sense of wisdom altogether. So, what does this wisdom look like and how can we practically live this out? Verses 15-17 gives us different qualities that we can strive for to help us try and navigate a life that is honourable to God.

Firstly, living a life that is pure. This is the first quality of how we live a life full of wisdom. James lists it first before adding on the others - they all flow from being pure. In Proverbs 21:8 it says how the righteous live a life that is pure rather than a life that is turning away from God. To live a pure life is to live a life that is mirroring God’s character. Purity is listed first because in many ways it is the most important. When we embody the reality of being image bears of God, it paves the way for the other qualities of living an honourable life. Once we allow ourselves to be a vessel of mirroring God, we can embody the other qualities more effectively.

Secondly, James lists peace-loving and considerate. When we strive to be peace-makers in a situation, we are being wise to what God may want for that situation. However, there is a deeper sense here where we aren’t just peace-makers, but peace-loving. Being people of peace is what we love to do. When are able to bring peace into situations we become more considerate of the people we are around.

The word considerate can be associated with justice. This suggests that when we are in positions of power, we don’t abuse this. We remain peaceful, calm and true to what the position is. Maybe this is in a work or family setting. However, this could also be within society and different areas where we have power or influence that other people maybe do not. I know for me over the last year I have been going on a journey of what it means for me to be a middle class, white male and the privileges that this holds. This has especially been apparent over the year with the conversations about racism - particularly within institutions. Being considerate is an awareness of the power we hold in all settings in our lives and how we treat others who are oppressed within our society.

Next James mentions the quality of being submissive. Over the last year we have all been in the face of instructions that we have had to submit to. The pandemic has meant we have had to change our lives so that we are living with others in mind, to protect them as well as ourselves. There is an element of our faith where we must submit to the truth and the way of life accordingly. Recognising the truth, trusting in that, and willingly receiving the instructions of what it means for our lives. However, there is also an element of being submissive to others even when we think we are right and therefore an opportunity to be humble and a willingness to submit that we might be wrong. Making sure we have hearts that are open and receiving. The New Living Translation writes it ‘willing to yield to others.’ When we act from a wise place, we are considerate to our role in different relationships and are therefore able to submit to that by putting the other person first. We can value them and what they have to say. Their experience and story. This can be a really hard thing to do and requires us to listen to each other as well as be patient.

Can you see already the picture James is painting for us? Once we are able to have the purity to be the best ambassadors for the gospel, we can be in a place to put others first by working for peace in situations. We can do with by being self-aware enough that we can submit to others needs without our own judgement.

By doing this we are living our lives through Godly wisdom, where we are striving for our lives to be honourable, so that they are full of mercy and produce good fruit. Earlier on in the letter, James has told us that true faith is evidenced by acts of kindness and that faith is seen by deeds of love. These are what the good works looks like when we have acted through our wisdom.

Verse 1 says ‘let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in humility’. The noun used in the NIV translation for life is the Greek word anastrophe. This word can also be understood as ‘way of life’. Actively living out our faith, by doing actions in humility, is part of the core of what it means to be ‘in Christ’ or in others words, a Christian. It is the way of life, the way we should live. Basically, if we are acting wisely … prove it! In fact, James says throughout his letter that knowing is important for how we act is more important with what we know. If we are discerning how to live an honourable life full of Godly wisdom, we need to do it. One of the first things I love about coming on placement here was hearing all about ‘Bless Greystones’. Reaching out to the local community through acts of kindness and loving service. If I can encourage you with anything this morning, please do not stop doing this. What an encouragement it is to see a church bless its community in this way. Get involved if you haven’t already, whether that is financially supporting the project as well as practically serving. (Quick disclaimer Alistair hasn’t told me to plug this by the way…). I was just thinking wouldn’t it be amazing for this church to be known for its serving nature in the community, who fully embrace loving their neighbour, not just in the ‘Bless Greystones’ project, but living it out in your different contexts. This is living a life of wisdom. Being wise to what people need.

Lastly, James mentions being impartial and sincere. The word used here for being impartial is the only time it is used in the New Testament. Being impartial at times of conflict and being wise to see into the situation from different points of view. The Message translations writes it ‘one day being hot headed and the next not’. Although it is important for us to not lose our temper or make unjudged decision or reactions, there is also an element of impartially meaning the opposite of being double-minded, which is mentioned a lot within James writing. There is a difference which is why the Greek word is used so rarely. Being people who have wisdom, then, is being single-minded in one purpose of trusting God and his way for our lives. This is something we have all probably thought about before, how can we fully trust God? How can we not be double-minded, but totally, fully and wholeheartedly trust God in what he has revealed to us? Even though this may seem like a simple thing to do, this comes with the same amount of challenge as the other qualities mentioned by James.

Last weekend I went to a high ropes course called Go Ape for a friend’s stag do. Over my life, I have had a love/hate relationship with heights. Most things I am ok with - aeroplanes, skyscrapers, roller coasters. Fine not a problem. But there is something about high ropes courses that I always need to overcome when I go on them. You can probably guess where I am going with this… trusting the harness. When you are on this sort of course, you must have faith in your harness and trust that once all the straps are in place, it will do its job in keeping you safe when you’re up in the trees. To be impartial is to totally trust God as we use our wisdom within different situations. Once we weigh up the different qualities of what it means to act in wisdom, once we allow ourselves to fully trust God, we must then be people of sincerity. Sincere closes the list of qualities of what is means to be wise because it is basically saying ‘don’t be a hypocrite’. We need to make sure that as we strive to become people of wisdom - as we prove to other people that the way of life we are living is a wise life in the way God wants us to liv - we cannot then live a different life as well. We need to be all in. We cannot be a hypocrite to our own wisdom.

So, I wonder what God might be saying to you today? Maybe it is one of the qualities listed here that he wants you to respond to in some way? Maybe he is wanting you to realign yourself with his way for your life? Just nudging you back onto the path of living an honourable life focused on Godly wisdom over worldly security. I find often when I hear sermons or preach sermons there is a sense of God just saying to be ‘are you all in?’. The reality of this faith we have, the God who became flesh, died and was resurrected for us, who loves us and who is constantly revealing himself to us. Do we live our lives like we are all in - the way of life of being ‘in Christ’?

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.

PRAYERS - written by Gemma Withers

Father God, we come into your presence recognizing that you are the Lord of all life, the most powerful being in the whole universe and in all of creation. We believe that you love us and want to listen to us. So we ask you to hear our prayer right now...

Father, I want to start by saying thank you for all that you have given me: my life here on earth, the other people I love, the beauty of your creation, the good things I enjoy daily... on this fathers day particularly we want to pray for those father figures in our lives. We thank you for the great role models, loving fathers and supportive men in our lives. We acknowledge that this can actually be a painful time for many, longing to be a father or for those with challenging memories or strained relationships, but we thank you that you are the ultimate example of a loving father, and that we can always rely on you through these challenges.

Lord, we confess to you that we often fall short of what you want us to be. We ask for your forgiveness for the ways we have fallen short and the temptations we so often fall into...

You have asked us to bring our needs to you, and so we bring what is at the foremost of our minds to you now, however big or small we think it is, God we know that you are with us and hear all our prayers, and listen to our petitions...

We don't want just to pray for ourselves, but for others who are in need in different ways, and for the world we live in... we think of the ongoing trouble in Gaza, and the ongoing uncertainty with COVID variants. As this week saw the end of the G7 we also pray for world leaders that they will be guided to govern this world in peace and protection of its environment and beauty.

As we look back over the time since we last came before you, or over the past weeks, we pray that we can see the ways in which you have blessed each of us and answered our prayers, and we take time to give you thanks for those blessings and prayers answered... we think particularly of the continuing blessing we can be to our community in Greystones, and the blessing that church is on our lives, and we prayer for continued energy and support for those leading our church in these changing times.

So, Father, as we go on into new challenges and a new week of unknowns, we ask you to give us each what we need - the patience, the grace, the stamina, and the wisdom to face up to everything that life is going to bring to us in the coming week. We ask the same for those we love. May we be conscious of your presence with me, your encouragement and your strengthening. And we ask all of these things in the name of Jesus Christ your Son. 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=jABSW-UuT1o

My Jesus, my Saviour,

Lord, there is none like you;

all of my days I want to praise

the wonders of your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter,

tower of refuge and strength,

let every breath, all that I am

never cease to worship you.

Shout to the Lord all the earth,

let us sing power and majesty,

praise to the King;

mountains bow down and the seas will roar

at the sound of your name.

I sing for joy at the work of your hands,

forever I'll love you, forever I'll stand;

nothing compares to the promise I have in you.

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=ErwiBz1QA4o
Great is thy faithfulness,

O God my Father,

there is no shadow of turning with thee;

thou changest not,

thy compassions, they fail not;

as thou has been thou for ever wilt be.

Great is thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed thy hand hath provided;

great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2 Summer and winter,

and springtime and harvest,

sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

join with all nature in manifold witness

to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is thy....

3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,

thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is thy....

Thomas O. Chisholm

BLESSING

May God our Father, whose grace is everlastingly poured into our hearts, fill you with an overflowing love. Amen.

May God the Son, through whose death and resurrection we receive life in abundance, shine in your lives. Amen.

May God the Holy Spirit, who works in us and through us to redeem God’s world, give you the power and persistence to follow him. Amen.

Welcome to our service - 20 June

You can read the sermon below

Click here to watch all of our previous sermons

VIDEOS FOR THE HYMNS AND SONGS CAN BE ACCESSED BELOW