Welcome to our online service - 9 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.
Please join us for public worship in the church building this Sunday at 10am or 11:30am.
OPENING
Praise the name of the Lord;
ascribe greatness to our God.
Lord, open our lips
and we shall praise your name.
HYMN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQeIGbKqiw8
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
The word of God is living and active.
It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
All is open and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we give account.
Lord God, our maker and our redeemer,
this is your world and we are your people: come among us and save us.
We have wilfully misused your gifts of creation;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have seen the ill-treatment of others and have not gone to their aid;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have condoned evil and dishonesty and failed to strive for justice;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have heard the good news of Christ,
but have failed to share it with others;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have not loved you with all our heart, nor our neighbours as ourselves;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
ABSOLUTION
May God who loved the world so much
that he sent his Son to be our Saviour
forgive us our sins and make us holy to serve him in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
COLLECT
Creator God,
you made us all in your image:
may we discern you in all that we see,
and serve you in all that we do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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.
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.
Amy Grant & Michael W. Smith.
Copyright © 1983 Meadow Green Music/Word Music/Adm. SongSolutions CopyCare
READINGS
Acts 1: 6 – 11 (p. 1261)
So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”
He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but some day he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”
Matthew 28: 18 - 20 (p. 1155)
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
This the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Reflections on Readings:
Have you had any experience of praying for healing or sharing a prophetic word with someone who is not a Christian? How did it go?
The Bible tells us we are sent with the authority of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20), and the power of the Spirit (Acts 1:8), in order to witness.
In what ways have you experienced the Spirit partnering with you as you look to share the gospel with someone? What might this look like in everyday life?
Jesus tells his disciples that “you will be my witnesses”. Think about what it means to be a witness (for example in a court of law). How might impact what is means to share our faith?
As you think about your own journey of faith how can you be a ‘witness’ to what Jesus has done in your life?
How would you approach your days/conversations differently if you continently expect that God was going to use you?
The early church prayed not just for supernatural signs but for supernatural boldness. Spend some time praying for this boldness in your own life.
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 Linda Chambers
The apostles were to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth when the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them. Our prayers echo those words for today’s world.
God of power and might, we pray for our city. Bless those involved with ‘Together for Sheffield’ working with people of all faiths and none for the good of Sheffield. We commit to you the church leaders who meet together quarterly to pray for our city. Guide and equip our city centre churches. May they be beacons of hope and light as they reach out to those who live, work and shop in the city centre - and to those on the margins.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of power and might, we pray for our own church here in Greystones. Please bless our new Curate Pete, his wife Katy and baby Lily as they settle into life and worship among us. We pray for an enjoyable time at our church picnic today and help us to be a good witness to other park users too. Bless those of our congregation and other local Christians who work together to maintain and protect the Porter Valley. We pray for all who use our premises and our new memorial garden that they may feel welcome and experience something of your love.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of power and might, we pray for our nation. We pray especially for Christians in Parliament – MPs and others who work across Westminster in different roles. May they be salt and light in the cut and thrust of government. We pray for good practice and high standards for Christian charities and mission organisations operating across the country. Bless the work and witness of the large and famous churches in the UK right through to small urban and rural churches serving you in their own local area. Thank you for the wealth of resources available to equip us to learn, teach and reach out to the nation.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of power and might, we pray for our world. We cry out to you for so many areas where there is tension and conflict, especially between Israel and Palestine we’ve seen this week and in Ukraine. Lord, bring your peace to these troubled areas. Protect and strengthen minority Christian communities under threat of persecution from militant groups or unwelcome ideologies. We pray for Tear Fund with its motto ‘Following Jesus where the need is greatest’. Help them as they work alongside local communities around the world to share the gospel in appropriate ways.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.
God of power and might, fill us with your Spirit as we seek to live for you in our homes, communities and workplaces. 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=16KYvfIc2bE
In Christ alone my hope is found.
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my all in all,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
2. In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
scorned by the ones He came to save:
till on that cross as Jesus died,
the wrath of God was satisfied -
for ev’ry sin on Him was laid;
here in the death of Christ I live.
3. There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain:
then bursting forth in glorious Day
up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory
sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
for I am His and He is mine -
bought with the precious blood of Christ.
4. No guilt in life, no fear in death,
this is the power of Christ in me;
from life's first cry to final breath;
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
can ever pluck me from His hand;
till He returns or calls me home,
here in the pow’r of Christ I'll stand!
Words: Stuart Townend
Music: Keith Getty
© 2001 Kingsway's 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.
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=CxA0TFe3-Uo
JUST AS I AM, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Just as I am, of that free love
The breadth, length, depth and height to prove,
Here for a season, then above,
O Lamb of God, I come.
Charlotte Elliott (1789–1871)
BLESSING
The Father, whose glory fills the heavens,
cleanse you by his holiness and send you to proclaim his word. Amen
The Son, who has ascended to the heights,
pour upon you the riches of his grace. Amen.
The Holy Spirit, the Comforter,
equip you and strengthen you in your ministry. Amen.
And blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen