Welcome to our service - 5 December
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
Jesus Christ is the light of the world;
Jesus is our Way.
With Jesus even dark places are light;
Jesus is the Truth.
In Jesus we shall live for ever;
Jesus is our Life.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIszhvHjBxQ
Lo! he comes with clouds descending,
once for favoured sinners slain:
thousand thousand saints attending,
swell the triumph of His train;
Hallelujah! hallelujah, hallelujah!
God appears on earth to reign.
2. Every eye shall now behold Him
robed in dreadful majesty;
those who set at nought and sold Him,
pierced, and nailed Him to the tree,
deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing
shall the true Messiah see.
3. Now redemption, long expected,
see in solemn pomp appear!
All His saints, by man rejected,
now shall meet Him in the air.
Hallelujah! hallelujah, hallelujah!
see the day of God appear.
4. Yea, Amen! let all adore Thee
high on Thy eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory,
claim the kingdom of Thine own
Hallelujah! hallelujah, hallelujah!
everlasting God come down!
Words: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Music: 18th C English melody
CONFESSION
We worship today to proclaim and receive in our hearts the good news of the coming of God’s kingdom, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate with confidence and joy the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. We pray that we may respond in penitence and faith to the glory of his kingdom, its works of justice and its promise of peace, its blessing and its hope.
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.
Lord of grace and truth,
we confess our unworthiness
to stand in your presence as your children.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
The Virgin Mary accepted your call
to be the mother of Jesus.
Forgive our disobedience to your will.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
Your Son our Saviour
was born in poverty in a manger.
Forgive our greed and rejection of your ways.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
The shepherds left their flocks
to go to Bethlehem.
Forgive our self-interest and lack of vision.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
The wise men followed the star
to find Jesus the King.
Forgive our reluctance to seek you.
We have sinned:
forgive and heal us.
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,
purify our hearts and minds,
that when your Son Jesus Christ comes again as
judge and saviour
we may be ready to receive him,
who is our Lord and our God.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca9LnzJnpjQ
These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the word of the Lord;
And these are the days of your servant, Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still we are the voice in the desert crying,
‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord.’
Behold he comes
Riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun
At the trumpet call;
Lift your voice
It’s the year of jubilee,
Out of Zion’s hill
Salvation comes.
These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh;
And these are the days of your servant, David,
Rebuilding a temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in the world,
And we are the labourers in your vineyard
Declaring the word of the Lord.
Behold he comes…
Father, Son and Holy Spirit (repeat ad lib)
Behold he comes…
© Robin Mark. 1995 Daybreak Music Ltd
READINGS
Ruth 2 New International Version - UK
Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz.
And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, ‘Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favour.’
Naomi said to her, ‘Go ahead, my daughter.’ So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelek.
Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters, ‘The Lord be with you!’
‘The Lord bless you!’ they answered.
Boaz asked the overseer of his harvesters, ‘Who does that young woman belong to?’
The overseer replied, ‘She is the Moabite who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, “Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters.” She came into the field and has remained here from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.’
So Boaz said to Ruth, ‘My daughter, listen to me. Don’t go and glean in another field and don’t go away from here. Stay here with the women who work for me. Watch the field where the men are harvesting, and follow along after the women. I have told the men not to lay a hand on you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars the men have filled.’
At this, she bowed down with her face to the ground. She asked him, ‘Why have I found such favour in your eyes that you notice me – a foreigner?’
Boaz replied, ‘I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband – how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the Lord repay you for what you have done. May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.’
‘May I continue to find favour in your eyes, my lord,’ she said. ‘You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant – though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.’
At mealtime Boaz said to her, ‘Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.’
When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over. As she got up to glean, Boaz gave orders to his men, ‘Let her gather among the sheaves and don’t reprimand her. Even pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don’t rebuke her.’
So Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered, and it amounted to about an ephah. She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.
Her mother-in-law asked her, ‘Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!
Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working. ‘The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz,’ she said.
‘The Lord bless him!’ Naomi said to her daughter-in-law. ‘He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead.’ She added, ‘That man is our close relative; he is one of our guardian-redeemers.’
Then Ruth the Moabite said, ‘He even said to me, “Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.”’
Naomi said to Ruth her daughter-in-law, ‘It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with the women who work for him, because in someone else’s field you might be harmed.’
So Ruth stayed close to the women of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.
Matthew 6:25-34 New International Version – UK
‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
‘And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
TALK by Stuart Ibbotson
Following on from Alistair’s excellent introduction to Ruth in his talk last week I have to say that there is not, as far as I know a movie theme running through this series of talks. But I want to begin by asking if you have ever seen the film, “The greatest story ever told”? It is usually shown at Christmas and/or Easter as it is a blockbuster Hollywood version of the life of Christ, with a very unlikely looking actor as Jesus. Perhaps the title of the film should have been the “Greatest love story ever told” for the story of Christ is about the greatest love ever- God’s love for us. The book of Ruth is also a love story. At its simplest level It is a love story between two people – Ruth and Boaz – which is going to change not only their lives but the lives of the whole nation of Israel and ultimately the world. But, on a spiritual level it is a love story between God and His people, between Him and us. It is a story of two sides of the coin of love.
At this time of year if you have or know any young children, they will probably be getting increasingly excited by the prospect of what they may get at Christmas. Indeed, there is a danger that the Christ from Christmas can be all too easily left out and Santa takes centre stage.
A couple of years ago, there was a video on social media of a boy being warned by his dad that his bad behaviour might put him on Santa’s naughty list. The boy was very indignant and said: ‘Well, Father Christmas isn’t being very nice to me!’ Is our understanding of God similar to the popular portrayal of Santa as someone who we need to be on our best behaviour for, just in case he actually discovers what we are really like, more ‘naughty than nice’- even when deep down we know that he knows everything about us. In today’s chapter, however, we see that the gospel – which reveals the character of God – is much better than Santa! The reason? It is the REALITY of the Grace of God towards us: True, total, Godly love (Agape) is a love that loves despite everything. Grace is undeserved love. Grace is God giving us what we certainly don’t deserve. Grace is more than forgiving us for our sin – our selfishness and constant rebellion against Him; it is more than mercy – not giving us the punishment for our selfishness and constant rebellion against Him; it is providing for us, protecting us and promising us eternal life when we have done nothing to deserve it. This is the love of Grace.
The other side of the coin of love is our RESPONSE to this Grace of God. Ruth teaches us that faced with the realisation of His Grace we should respond with humble thanks and amazement, and we should respond with service and self-sacrifice.
Looking more carefully at Ruth chapter 2 this morning we read in verses 1-3 how Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. Ruth, who we know was a Moabite, askes Naomi if she can collect grain and she is told that she should follow the reapers as it was part of the law that some seed be left over for those in need.
Now Ruth ‘just happened’ to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz He was a man of great wealth – a “kinsman-redeemer”. A man of “great wealth” was a Hebrew phrase meaning he possessed the finest of qualities. He was from the tribe of Judah. I am sure that we as Christians can think of a Redeemer, with the finest of qualities, from the tribe of Judah!
Did Ruth just “happen” to come to the field belonging to Boaz? I suspect that this was not a coincidence. Here she was – a young woman who had chosen to follow Naomi and the God of Israel; a young woman who was now showing that she was willing to do what it takes to live in the land…and she just “happened” to come to Boaz’s field? No! This has the hand of God written all over it. It is the same for us, we didn’t just “happen” to find God, God draws us to Him.
God never stops drawing people and setting up opportunities for them to meet His Son and the Grace of God’s favour.
This is Grace – this is God’s favour on Ruth and on us.
The story continues in chapter 2: v4-7
Ruth didn’t have to ask for permission to glean. The Law (as decreed in Leviticus 19: 9-10) gave her the RIGHT to glean in the fields. But Ruth did not demand her rights, rather she showed two character traits that Boaz – and God –loved:
She came humbly and asked “please”. If we are ever going to know the Lord further, then we need to know to come to Him humbly.
She came to work and serve – and she worked hard. If we are ever going to serve the Lord then we need to do our part and not sit back “on our laurels” and expect it all to come to us.
We have to show that we are truly, sincerely, humbly grateful for God’s Grace.
In v 8-9 we find Boaz provides her with 3 P’s: protection (“I have commanded the servants not to touch you”), Provision (“when you are thirsty go to the water jars”) and therefore the Promise that all would be well for Ruth…as long as she did one thing…”stay here”, not to leave Boaz’s field.
What lessons can we learn from this? The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is His Protection now and forever more – He will never leave us or forsake us; His Provision of all that we need now and forever more – all He has He gives to us; and His Promise of eternal life for all those who believe in Him. But, and there is a big BUT, the warning is there for us too: we must ensure that we remain in His “field of Grace”. The warning is that if we wander elsewhere, try to get what we think we need from the “fields” that make up so much of modern life then we are putting ourselves at great risk as we walk away from His protection.
In verses 10-13 it becomes clear that Boaz knew all about Ruth! Despite her being a Moabite Boaz focused on all the good that he saw in her. What a picture this is of the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. He knows all about us. He knows how messed-up our lives can be, when we stumble. This is Grace indeed!
We see how humble Ruth is in this situation. She bows in Boaz’s presence, amazed she has found “favour” in his sight (“favour” is the same word as “grace”), amazed that he treats her as one of his maidservants even though as a Moabite and a stranger she did not deserve His favour. Can we apply this to ourselves? We sing that Grace is “Amazing Grace”, can we see how amazing God’s Grace is to us? Even though He knows all about us, yet He still lavishes His love and favour upon us. This is grace upon grace from one who really loves us. Often at Christmastime we find entitlement spill out of our hearts into our lives: Christmas lists turn into Christmas demands; festive gatherings can boil over as someone takes offence at the slightest remark or action. Entitlement can show up in how we relate to God. But not so with Ruth. And Boaz’s answer to her is revealing. At first glance it may seem that he’s suggesting Ruth has earned his kindness – like with Santa! But he is highlighting that Ruth has received blessing because she has turned and trusted in the Lord. In a sense, Ruth’s actions are a bit like Abraham’s in Genesis. She has come to seek protection ‘under the wings’ of the LORD. We don’t praise the ingenuity of the baby bird for coming under the wings of their parent! Rather, we praise God for his kindness – that he is a God who offers a safe and secure place – even amidst the craziness of a modern Christmas.
In verses 14-16 Ruth is invited to eat and then he instructs his servants to deliberately leave some bundles of grain for her to collect from- what generosity. Ruth ate her fill and had some left over. Is this not the same for us in our relationship with God? When we receive the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we are completely and abundantly satisfied, or we should be.
We also see how great Grace is. Mercy meant Ruth was allowed by Law to glean in the fields. Grace (or favour) was shown in that grain was to be deliberately pulled out so that she could have more. Boaz’s grace was seen in his ensuring she got more than she was entitled to.
This is Grace – that the Lord gives us more than we deserve – more love, more favour, more life. Life abundantly. Grace upon grace.
In verses 17-19 We read that she collected a lot of grain and then went back to Naomi and told her what had happened, and Naomi was amazed.
In verses 20-23 Naomi recognises that Boaz is a relative and “kinsman-redeemer”. As we heard last week the Law (Deuteronomy 25: 10) decreed that the kinsman-redeemer had the duty of marrying a childless widow to raise up children for her.
Here is another link to Jesus who was born in the “likeness of man” (Philippians 2: 7) and is therefore our “blood relative” who came to pay the price for redeeming us through His death on the cross.
Ruth chapter 2 tells us about God’s amazing GRACE towards us. He is the God who knows us from the womb, who loves us despite all our background, and who lavishes on us His Provision, Protection and Promise. And what is GRACE? It is the favour of God towards us in that He gives us what we don’t deserve – because He loves us. What a great Father God we have! We need to show great HUMILITY towards Him for all that He has done for us, is doing for us and will do for us.
It is true that in times of suffering and there has been much of that for almost 2 years now, we can struggle to see God’s providence. But God is kind to his people – and he has ultimately shown that kindness in our Saviour. From chapter 2 of Ruth today it’s as if Boaz’s character gives us an outline of that kindness, an inkling of what is to come. We can marvel at Boaz’s character and ‘look through’ Boaz to Jesus Christ. Rather than try and prove our worthiness, true refuge is found in resting in Jesus Christ. For that we give eternal thanks for God’s Grace upon Grace.
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 Liz Cannell
Advent. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, the light of the world, we give thanks for those who bring light and hope to our world today. We give thanks for support to communities given through churches and other groups; for charities, both local and worldwide; for friends, families and neighbours.
Lord we pray for our world. We pray for all who live in fear and anxiety, either from present circumstances or from past experiences. We think of the situation in Afghanistan, those who have had to leave their homes and their country. Others, especially girls, who face the loss of an education and the opportunity to contribute to their community. We pray for the people in Yemen, for refugees, for those displaced from their homes, for those in need and seeking safety for their families.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
We pray for the scientists who are studying the new variant of Covid and will advise on how to deal with it, and that the vaccines will be widely available and welcomed across the world. As we see the pressures under which all who work in health care are at present, we ask you to sustain them and their families. We pray too that you will guide the government and all who will be involved in the discussions about the future of the NHS, and social and community care. Give them understanding, compassion and vision in the complexities of providing the care and support that we all need at some time.
We pray for those who have been without power this week, and for all the emergency services who use their skills and expertise to help in so many ways.
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=1zqAxtZvOEU
JOY HAS DAWNED UPON THE WORLD,
Promised from creation:
God’s salvation now unfurled,
Hope for every nation.
Not with fanfares from above,
Not with scenes of glory,
But a humble gift of love:
Jesus born of Mary.
Sounds of wonder fill the sky
With the songs of angels,
As the mighty Prince of life
Shelters in a stable.
Hands that set each star in place,
Shaped the earth in darkness,
Cling now to a mother’s breast,
Vulnerable and helpless.
Shepherds bow before the Lamb,
Gazing at the glory;
Gifts of men from distant lands
Prophesy the story:
Gold, a King is born today;
Incense, God is with us;
Myrrh, His death will make a way,
And by His blood He’ll win us.
Son of Adam, Son of heaven,
Given as a ransom
Reconciling God and man,
Christ our mighty champion!
What a Saviour, what a friend,
What a glorious mystery:
Once a babe in Bethlehem,
Now the Lord of history.
Stuart Townend & Keith Getty
Copyright © 2004 Thankyou Music
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=zeBRYhG86x0
Hark the glad sound! the Saviour comes,
the Saviour promised long:
let every heart prepare a throne,
and every voice a song.
2. He comes, the prisoner to release
in Satan's bondage held;
The gates of brass before him burst,
The iron fetters yield.
3. He comes to free the captive mind,
where evil thoughts control;
and for the darkness of the blind,
gives light that makes them whole.
4. He comes, the broken heart to bind,
the wounded soul to cure,
and with the treasures of his grace
to enrich the humble poor.
5. Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace,
your welcome shall proclaim;
and heaven's eternal arches ring
with Your belovèd name.
P Doddridge (1702-1751)
Music Ravenscroft’s Psalter (1621)
Descant David Iliff
FINAL BLESSING:
May God the Father, judge all-merciful,
make us worthy of a place in his kingdom.
May God the Son, coming among us in power,
reveal in our midst the promise of his glory.
May God the Holy Spirit make us steadfast in faith,
joyful in hope and constant in love,
and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.