Sunday Service - 28 November

Welcome to our service - 28 November

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 in church and live on Zoom. 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.

SERVICE

Opening

Alleluia, alleluia.

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,

and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Alleluia, alleluia.

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

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,

born to set Thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us;

let us find our rest in Thee.

2. Israel's strength and consolation,

hope of all the earth Thou art;

dear desire of every nation,

joy of every longing heart.

3. Born Thy people to deliver;

born a child, and yet a King;

born to reign in us for ever;

now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

4. By Thine own eternal Spirit

rule in all our hearts alone;

by Thine all-sufficient merit

raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Charles Wesley (1707-88)

CONFESSION

When the Lord comes, he will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness, and will disclose the purposes of the heart.

Therefore in the light of Christ let us confess our sins.

Turn to us again, O God our saviour,

and let your anger cease from us:

Lord, have mercy.

Show us your compassion, O Lord,

and grant us your salvation:

Christ, have mercy

Christ, have mercy.

Your salvation is near for those that fear you,

that glory may dwell in our land:

Lord, have mercy.

ABSOLUTION

May the God of all healing and forgiveness

draw us to himself

and cleanse us from all our sins,

that we may behold the glory of his Son,

the Word made flesh,

Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

COLLECT

Almighty God,

as your kingdom dawns,

turn us from the darkness of sin to the

light of holiness,

that we may be ready to meet you

in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen

SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEtsHWFE6-w

CHANGE MY HEART, O GOD,

Make it ever true;

Change my heart, O God,

May I be like You.

You are the potter,

I am the clay;

Mould me and make me,

This is what I pray.

Eddie Espinosa.

READINGS

Ruth 1 New International Version – UK

In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah, together with his wife and two sons, went to live for a while in the country of Moab. The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to Moab and lived there.

Now Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, and she was left with her two sons. They married Moabite women, one named Orpah and the other Ruth. After they had lived there about ten years, both Mahlon and Kilion also died, and Naomi was left without her two sons and her husband.

When Naomi heard in Moab that the Lord had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, she and her daughters-in-law prepared to return home from there. With her two daughters-in-law she left the place where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, ‘Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.’

Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud and said to her, ‘We will go back with you to your people.’

But Naomi said, ‘Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me – even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons – would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me!’

At this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.

‘Look,’ said Naomi, ‘your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.’

But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.’ When Naomi realised that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her.

So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women exclaimed, ‘Can this be Naomi?’

‘Don’t call me Naomi,’ she told them. ‘Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.’

So Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

Matthew 6:19-24 New International Version – UK

‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

‘The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

‘No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

TALK by Alistair Stevenson

In our family, we don’t watch many films on DVD anymore. So many films are streamed from Netflix or Disney Plus. But when we did I used to love going to the extra’s section and finding the behinds the scene part that showed how the film was made and the background to the film. The Lord of Rings trilogy, for example, had extras that I think were longer than the film itself and nearly as enjoyable - watching all the different aspects that went into making the film. Discovering the filming locations, how the actors were chosen, the costume design, the amazing sets, the special effects.

Often when we come to the Christmas story we can think we know it so well. We have seen so many nativities, heard the Bible readings over and over again - what more can we get out of it? The book of Ruth is a bit like a back story to the Christmas story - it’s like a store extra film that gives some context to the main movie. So, what if seeing this ‘back story’ actually make the familiar Christmas story even better? Richer, more meaningful, more real, because it was rooted in the real world, and showed that ultimately God’s promises are for the real world.

The book of Ruth is a beautiful story all about the journey. It’s a story about leaving home and coming back again. It’s about seemingly losing everything but God being at work throughout it all.

But it’s also a story that would have never made the evening news. There are no wars, no twisted plots, no villains. It’s a story that might easily have been dismissed in the culture it was written because it centres primarily on two women. And so, into the midst of other seemingly important events, the Bible tells this simple, beautiful story. A story of great loss and hurt, of faithfulness, of honour, or love.

Does it pay to be loyal? It seems not so much anymore. We’re encouraged to change our energy, mobile phone and broadband provider, home and car insurance, every year to find a better deal. Many might also say the same about romantic relationships. Does it pay to be loyal to someone? The rise in websites where you can find someone to have an affair with is deeply sad. Why should we stay loyal to just one partner were told?

The book of Ruth is a story about faithfulness and loyalty told in a time when God’s people were consistently un-loyal and unfaithful to God.

In a culture dominated by men who were more often than not loyal and unfaithful here is a story of two women who show deep, unconditional loyalty to one another.

But actually, the open scene is one of unloyalty. Elimelech, instead of staying in Israel, staying with God’s people in their time of famine as a result of Gods judgement, leaves with his wife and two sons. And they don’t just go to a foreign land, they go to Moab, a place renowned as being hostile to God’s people. The first readers of this story would have therefore raised their eyebrows: ‘You’re going where? To Moab?!’.

Moreover, Bethlehem, where Elimelech and Naomi are from, means ‘house of bread’ and the name reflects the fertility of its fields and orchards. They have lost faith that God could even restore the fortunes of their normally fruitful home.

Elimelech turned away from God in a time of hardship. He lost faith that God could restore and redeem. Faced this the consequences of Israel’s wrong decision, Elimelech simply turns his back and leaves. Elimelech’s decision may have been meant to be temporary but it left Naomi there for 10 years and at the end of it, she is left with no husband and no sons. She was bereft both of a means of livelihood and of hope for the future.The turning point comes in verse 6. Naomi hears that the famine in Israel is over and so she prepares to leave. In Hebrew, the word for return is also used for ‘repent’ and so in returning home Naomi was demonstrating repentance, a turning away from the negative decisions of her husband that had had such dire consequences.

And in it’s in the turning back, the process of repentance that she experiences the inexplicable mercy, grace and love of God. But how does God demonstrate this, or in fact through whom does God demonstrate this? It is through Ruth - this Moabite woman, a foreigner.

Naomi response to what has happened is to blame herself and blame God. Twice Naomi declares how God has been against her and has given her so much trouble. So much so that at the end of the chapter, upon returning to Bethlehem she wants people to stop calling her Naomi - which means happy or pleasant - and instead Mara - which means bitter or sad.

We can often feel like Naomi. That God’s hand is against us. We blame ourselves or we blame God for the trouble we are facing. Is it true, our bad decisions to hurt ourselves or others - or our walking away from God - do often have consequences. Remember, it was Naomi’s husband who made the decision to leave in the time of famine. And Naomi - like we often do when we are hurting and in pain - tries to push everyone away. Naomi seems desperate to convince Orpah and Ruth to leave her.

But what is Ruth response to Naomi’s despair? Verse 14: “at this they wept aloud again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.”

Our God does not abandon us. He clings to us and holds us even when all we want to do is thrash around in anger hurting ourselves and others. This Advent, as we prepare to remember and celebrate God’s ultimate act of self-giving and kindness through sending his son, do you need to be convinced that God is for you? As you picture Ruth clinging to Naomi, let your heart be convinced that God will not let you go.

It seems like Naomi’s despair only crystallises for Ruth her own decision to stick with Naomi. As a consequence, we’re given one of the most stunning declarations of love that you’ll ever read, not just in the Bible, but any piece of literature:

Verse 16: But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.”

the stunning declaration of 1:16-17 captures God’s ‘hesed’ – his steadfast loving kindness. Though a Moabite, Ruth has come to know ‘the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness’. (Exodus 34:6). The surprise is that Naomi seems less aware of the character of this God, despite being the Israelite. But she’s enrolled in a lesson in the school of grace…

So where do fit in this story? Who do you relate to most? Are you like Elimelech, turning away from the spiritual famine in your life - running from it and God instead of allowing God to minister to you? Are you walking by faith towards Bethlehem, towards Christ? Or is your heart turned away, believing life can be found elsewhere, away from Christ? Do you need to turn, to repent and come back to God? Or do you feel like Naomi - blaming yourself or God or both for the situations you or others you love are facing? Are you pushing others away in your time of pain and hurt?

As you begin this Advent story what might God be speaking to through this passage? I want to ask you to invite God to speak to you this Advent. Use the advent devotional at looks at Ruth. Take time out each day to hear God speak to you. 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.

PRAYERS - written by John Gough

Heavenly Father at this beginning of Advent, we praise and thank you for your everlasting love, your endless patience, and for that greatest gift you could possibly give to us, the possibility of Salvation through your son Jesus Christ our Saviour.

We pray for all Christians across the world especially those who can not openly worship you as we are able to. we pray for a time to come when they can freely meet together to praise and worship you and celebrate communion with you.

Lord in praying for our world we ask that all people will seek equal justice for everyone, and an end to discrimination of all kinds be brought about. We continue to pray for the planet and ask that all decisions that were agreed at the recent COP26 meetings will be upheld and followed through by all countries, we must make the necessary changes that will hopefully reduce the freak weather conditions that are impacting on so many peoples and wildlife.

Lord we are saddened by the news of 2 terrible situations that took place this week, The motorway coach crash in Bulgaria and the capsize of the boat in the channel.

we pray for all who have lost loved ones and healing of the injured in hospital, surround them with your loving arms and be close to them in this difficult time.

We pray that you will Grant wisdom to all involved in the investigations of these terrible incidents. We ask that positive meetings can take place with ministers from countries across Europe where the refugees are travelling through. Positive answers and solutions need to be agreed to help relieve this humanitarian crisis.

Lord in your mercy..

Lord we pray for our country and ask that you grant wisdom to all in government and authority as they lead us through these difficult times.

Lord we pray for young people who have a mind-set of carrying a knife for protection. we are saddened to hear of yet another incident in which a 12-year-old girl was killed by 4 teenage boys aged between 13 and 15 in Liverpool city centre on Thursday evening after a row broke out between them.

we pray for all the families whose lives have been so tragically changed by this terrible situation.

We pray for better ways of education younger people to try and deter them from carrying knives, we hope that youth groups and the police can be part of a workable solution that will over time bring the necessary changes to their hearts and minds.

We pray for all in the NHS as they face difficulties with the back log of patients that need procedures that have been put on hold.

We pray for all who are struggling with sickness and fatigue from working long shifts in the hospitals since the beginning of the covid outbreak, and the ambulance crews as they have to queue outside A+E departments as they wait with patients to be seen.

We ask that you bless them and strengthen them in all of their endeavours, and give thanks for their continued dedication and service.

Lord in your mercy...

Lord we pray for our Church and Parish here in Greystones.

We pray for all the work that has done in preparation for Advent and the Christmas services, we hope that the people of Greystones will come and join us in our worship and with all that is being done and will be done in future through Bless Greystones will become part of our church family here at St Gabriel's.

Lord we praise and thank you for the the readings and talk on the book of Ruth that was started this morning and will be continued throughout Advent. We ask that you open our hearts and minds as we listen to these studies.

Lord we pray for our congregation and ask that you bring healing to the sick and house bound and those struggling with covid and its after effects, we pray you keep us safe as weather conditions change with frosty mornings and the possibility of snow too.

Merciful Father accept these prayers for the sake of your son our saviour Jesus Christ

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=alCQ7fb0hEA

MAKE WAY, make way, for Christ the King

In splendour arrives.

Fling wide the gates and welcome Him

Into your lives.

Make way! (Make way!)

For the King of kings.

(For the King of kings.)

Make way! (Make way!)

And let His kingdom in.

He comes the broken hearts to heal,

The prisoners to free.

The deaf shall hear, the lame shall dance,

The blind shall see.

Make way! (Make way!)....

And those who mourn with heavy hearts,

Who weep and sigh;

With laughter, joy and royal crown

He’ll beautify.

Make way! (Make way!)....

We call you now to worship Him

As Lord of all.

To have no gods before Him,

Their thrones must fall!

Make way! (Make way!)....

Graham Kendrick.

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.

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=DXDGE_lRI0E

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
O my soul,
worship His holy name.
Sing like never before,
O my soul.
I'll worship Your holy name.

The sun comes up,

it's a new day dawning.
It's time to sing Your song again.
Whatever may pass,

and whatever lies before me,
let me be singing

when the evening comes.

Bless the Lord, O my soul….

You're rich in love,

and You're slow to anger,

your name is great,

and Your heart is kind.
For all Your goodness

I will keep on singing
ten thousand reasons

for my heart to find.

Bless the Lord, O my soul….

And on that day

when my strength is failing,
the end draws near

and my time has come,
still my soul will sing

your praise unending
ten thousand years

and then forevermore.

Bless the Lord, O my soul….

FINAL BLESSING:

Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon you, scatter the darkness from before your path, and make you ready to meet him when he comes in glory;

And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen

Welcome to our service - 28 November

Use the videos below to help you worship during the service.