Sunday, January 24. 2021United Reformed Church audio service for 24th January 2021
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URC audio service URC Daily Devotions Sunday Worship for 24th January 2021 “Come, and follow” The Rev’d Mike Walsh Introduction Welcome to worship with the United Reformed Church. I’m Mike Walsh, serving as a Pioneer Minister in Manchester, working with young adults in the local community. Call To Worship Come and see the grace of God, Christ our teacher and our friend. Come and see the son of God, Christ our healer and salvation. God is moving in this place. Come and see! Come and see. Hymn The Kingdom of God is Justice and Joy Bryn A Rees (1911-1983) The Kingdom of God is justice and joy; for Jesus restores what sin would destroy. God's power and glory in Jesus we know and here and hereafter the kingdom shall grow. 2 The kingdom of God is mercy and grace; the captives are freed, the sinners find place, the outcast are welcomed God's banquet to share; and hope is awakened in place of despair. 3 The kingdom of God is challenge and choice: believe the good news, repent and rejoice! His love for us sinners brought Christ to his cross: our crisis of judgement for gain or for loss. 4 God's kingdom is come, the gift and the goal; in Jesus begun, in heaven made whole. The heirs of the kingdom shall answer his call and all things cry 'Glory!' to God all in all. Prayers of Approach, Confession and Assurance of Forgiveness God who made us and loves us, we approach our time in prayer with you in response to your call on our lives, as people who yearn for your purposes to be made real in this world. God, in Jesus, as we share in familiar words again today, may we hear them afresh and hear You call each one of us by name to be your disciples in the world. In Jesus you call to us 'Will you come and follow me?' Me we have the courage to respond. In Jesus you call to us 'Will you come and follow me?' To bring only the skills which we have. In Jesus you call to us 'Will you come and follow me?' May we have the strength of faith when the task is hard. For the times we shy away in fear of the response, and close ourselves of from your Word, we seek your acceptance, and assurance that You call us as we are. So forgive us we pray, and help us to be gentle with ourselves for the excuses we come up with, for the things that we cling onto, for the opportunities we shy away from. Open our ears to hear your call afresh. Open our eyes so we may follow anew. Open our lips so we may share your good news. Open our hands to put faith into practice. Open our hearts in love for the world Christ Jesus came into the world to make disciples and says to all in compassion and love, ‘Come, follow me.’ Amen. Prayer of Illumination So we gather as disciples of Jesus, to remember again the stories of our faith. In these words may we here your Word and your call, that Jesus says to us all, Come, follow me’. Jonah 3:1-5, 10 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. St Mark 1:14-20 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea - for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. Hymn Lord You Have Come to the Seashore Fr. Cesáreo Gabaráin (1936-1991) Lord, you have come to the seashore, neither searching for the rich nor the wise, desiring only that I should follow. O, Lord, with your eyes set upon me, gently smiling, you have spoken my name; all I longed for I have found by the water, at your side, I will seek other shores. 2: Lord, see my goods, my possessions; in my boat you find no power, no wealth. Will you accept, then, my nets and labour? 3: Lord, take my hands and direct them. Help me spend myself in seeking the lost, returning love for the love you gave me. 4: Lord, as I drift on the waters, be the resting place of my restless heart, my life’s companion, my friend and refuge. Sermon What an explosion of interlocking themes the readings for this Sunday gift to us! A smorgasbord of the delights and demands, of daring to claim to follow Christ Jesus. We focus our attention on the explosive introduction to the Good News of the Gospel of Mark, brimming with political tension, unsettling immediacy, and startling revelations of the kingdom of God. Hidden in the disarmingly familiar allegory of fishing for people - is the irresistible promise of change, of restoration and justice, and a transformative invitation to those first disciples and to us as disciples today, to join in Walking the Way of Jesus. And the even gooder of the good news, is we are told, that it has already taken place. The time is fulfilled, so turn your life around, by trusting in the God of all that is just, and true, and life giving. As if all that wasn’t enough, our Gospel is playfully embedded between two accounts of the many ways human beings can react to what is essentially good news, as the church of Corinth struggles to accept what it cannot see, and poor old Jonah struggles to see what he cannot accept. Our Gospel story begins with Jesus, picking up where John has so abruptly left off, proclaiming, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”’ The unsettling immediacy in Marks storytelling, transporting us from John’s arrest, to Jesus seamlessly continuing John’s mission and message. It’s as if our story teller can’t wait to get John out of the picture, to put Jesus centre stage. Jesus is the one who is to come. And if he is the one, then this is the time. And if this is the time, no response is immediate enough! For the kingdom of God is close at hand. For all Mark’s excitement and urgency, Jesus seems practically chill at this point, and makes his appearance wandering by the sea, talking with labourers and fisher-folk, asking them to accompany him on his mission. Calling people to repentance, as John did. Metanoia, a word dripping with meaning - not just a change of heart, or a change of mind, but a setting out in a new direction. Repentance means an about turn, not merely in the negative, turning away from what is wrong, or ‘sin’, but in the positive, turning towards what is good and from God. Repentance isn’t only an acknowledgement of our frailties or an admission of guilt which requires God’s forgiveness. It’s an ongoing commitment, that this is a point of change in our lives, a continuing striving to become more like the one who says follow me. In Rob Bell’s book, Velvet Elvis, he explores in the chapter called Dust what on earth is going on in Jesus encounter with these fishing families. He paints a fascinating picture of those training to be rabbi’s, the rigour of the process which makes preparation for URC ministry look a walk in the park. That at each stage of the process, candidates will be sent home, told they are not good enough, that their future lies in learning the family trade, that they will never make the grade where a Rabbi invites them to be their disciple. But this Rabbi, Jesus, cuts through all this, and says to the ones who were told they didn’t make the grade; those who’s skills included casting and fixing nets - come on, I could use a few people like you. Follow me, and I’ll teach you how to fish for people. The power of Jesus words are not only in what’s to come, but what they sweep aside. This Rabbi turns no one away. Maybe the Markan immediacy tells us something of the power of Jesus words after all, as these men immediately leave their nets and respond to his call? But these words of call, of fishing for people, are not just calling individuals to faith or service. Once again the words spoken by Jesus carry much more meaning than that which is plain to see. Jesus invitation to ‘fish for people’ are first found in Jeremiah Chapter 16, verse 16 where it is used to indicate Yahweh’s intentions to restore Israel by removing those from within who have played a part in its demise, those who have steered Israel away from The Way. Elsewhere in the Hebrew scriptures, in Ezekiel, Amos, and Habakuk the concept of ‘hooking a fish’ is used as a metaphor calling out the oppressors, for taking judgement on the corrupt and powerful. For catching those who are doing harm to God’s people. So is this what Jesus meant? He’s planning to pick off the rich and powerful, the greedy and the corrupt, one by one? No. Nothing so unambitious as that. Have you noticed the change in imagery? Jesus call first those who know how to fish, but he calls people who fish with a net, not a hook. A net doesn’t use bait, it doesn’t target or trick. A net catches more, it vastly increases the scope and scale of Jesus ambition. It holds whole systems and communities to account. But it doesn’t catch everything. The smaller fish are not caught up in it. A net needs to be maintained if it is to continue to be effective. There are different nets for different conditions, requiring knowledge and skill to achieve a good catch. So God calls people who know how to cast, and where to cast. How to mend and maintaining, adapt and learn. Jesus call is to cast the nets that will challenge the corruption at all levels of our society. From discrimination within our church, to oppression and violence to people, Gods people the world over; exposing inhuman systems, not individuals, for their arrogance, selfishness and disregard for Gods people. Jesus asks the common fisher folk to join him in this struggle to overturn the existing order of power and privilege. To overturn the order of power which wasn’t just financial oppression from Rome, but was the religious, racial, sexist, political and economic oppression that theirs and every society suffers from. Much more attractive than the ambiguous call to save souls! When we cast out lines loaded with bate driving hooks into the oppressors of society to hold them to account; that offers no chance for heeling, nor does it show that the God who calls us all to a continuing repentance, is a God of compassion and love. When we cast nets fairly, with justice and joy, people have the chance to humble themselves - to truly repent. To make ourselves small enough to slip through the net. Not to evade punishment, but as real change and ongoing repentance. How can people change if they are not offered forgiveness and a place in our lives afterwards? The thing that poor old Jonah got so wrong. The kingdom has dawned, and the call to the oppressor is the same as the call to the oppressed. Come, follow me. Hymn Help Us Accept Each Other Fred Kaan Help us accept each other as Christ accepted us; teach us as sister, brother, each person to embrace. Be present, Lord, among us and bring us to believe: we are ourselves accepted and meant to love and live. 2: Teach us, O Lord, your lessons, as in our daily life we struggle to be human and search for hope and faith. Teach us to care for people, for all - not just for some, to love them as we find them or as they may become. 3: Let your acceptance change us so that we may be moved in living situations to do the truth in love; to practice your acceptance until we know by heart the table of forgiveness and laughter's healing art. 4: Lord, for today's encounters with all who are in need, who hunger for acceptance, for justice and for bread, we need new eyes for seeing, new hands for holding on: renew us with your Spirit; Lord, free us, make us one. Affirmation of Faith In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all kinds of sinful men and women. But his complete obedience led him into conflict with his people. His life and teaching judged their goodness, religious aspirations, and national hopes. Many rejected him and demanded his death. In giving himself freely for them, he took upon himself the judgment under which everyone stands convicted. God raised him from the dead, vindicating him as Messiah and Lord. The victim of sin became victor, and won the victory over sin and death for all. Intercessions God, who we see in Jesus, who lived a life of compassion and love. We pray now for others, and for much that is broken and hurting in our world. We pray for planet and people, the whole of you creation, that all may learn to live in interdependence. Till the day your kingdom comes, as it is in heaven, may we respond to your call on our lives, to be your love and compassion in this world, for all those least able to protect themselves. May your call on our lives, make us ready to challenge injustice and greed, exploitation and abuse, thoughtlessness and neglect. To stand with those who feel powerless against inhuman structures and the vested interests in our world. May we be sensitive too, to those when in positions of power the Gospel brings more challenge than comfort that challenge and choice are never easy. So in a moment of quiet we offer our prayers for our fragmented world, for unjust structures and broken relationships. (silence) In our relationships with others, we pray, help us to imitate your love and compassion for all, as shown in Jesus. Amen. Offertory Loving God, out of the fullness of your gifts we bring all we have to offer, in response to your call. Amen. Hymn Will you come and follow me / The Summons John L. Bell and Graham Maule sung on BBC’s Songs of Praise Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don’t know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me? 2: Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare, will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me? 3: Will you love the ‘you’ you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you’ve found to reshape the world around through my sight & touch & sound in you and you in me? 4: Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In your company I’ll go where your love & footsteps show. Thus I’ll move and live and grow in you and you in me. Blessing The blessing of God be upon us, the One who loves us, the Christ who calls us, the Spirit who sends us into the world, today and always. Amen. Thanks and sources The Kingdom of God is Justice and Joy - Bryn A Rees (1911-1983) Sung by the choir of St Barnabas Church Dulwich Lord You Have Come to the Seashore - Fr. Cesáreo Gabaráin (1936-1991) Sung by the Orchard Group Choir Help Us Accept Each Other - Fred Kaan © 1975 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188 sung by Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church, Singapore. Will you come and follow me / The Summons - John L. Bell and Graham Maule sung on BBC’s Songs of Praise Organ Pieces Prelude in E Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach (Organ of The Spire Church, Farnham – 2020) Toccata in Seven by John Rutter (Organ of All Saints’, Odiham – 2020) Both pieces played by, and received with thanks from, Brian Cotterill: www.briancotterill.webs.com Thanks to Alison Jiggins, Marion Thomas, Christopher Whitehead, Christine and David Shimmins, Kath Haynes, Ray Fraser, Phil, Carys and Lythan Nevard, Dan Morrell, Sarah Wilmott, Mandy Hibbert, George Faris, Jill Stidson, Steve Lee and Graham Handscomb for reading spoken parts in the service. Where words are copyright reproduced under the terms of Barrhead URC’s CCLI licence number 1064776, Some material reprinted, and streamed, with permission under ONE LICENSE A-734713 All rights reserved. PRS Limited Online Music Licence LE-0019762 Copyright © 2021 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
United Reformed Church audio service ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Friday, January 22. 2021Ian and Julie's Zoom service for 24th January 2021For those able to join us on Sunday, the arrangements are as follows; Ian and Julie are inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Ian and Julie’s Zoom service Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3540351038?pwd=Ti9Wb3F6N2h1amRtb0FzWVg5WFYzQT09 Meeting ID: 354 035 1038 Passcode: 717837 Next week, the Synod are hosting a Fifth Sunday service. We’re not sure at the moment whether this will be a link that can be followed (with a file that can be downloaded) or a live event on Zoom. If it is pre-recorded, we will get it out to you in advance and also screen it via Zoom on Sunday morning at the usual time. More next week…. With best wishes Ian & Julie Sunday 24th January 2021 Call to Worship Eternal God, We are gathered yet apart, in our own familiar places, At this familiar time, looking at familiar or not so familiar faces. We are here as we are, to worship, to sing, or not sing! To meet with well loved people, And to listen to your words through Scripture. Speak to us and through us we pray…. HYMN: Come, let us sing 1 Come let us sing of a wonderful love, tender and true; out of the heart of the Father above, streaming to me and to you: wonderful love dwells in the heart of the Father above. 2 Jesus, the Saviour, this gospel to tell, joyfully came; came with the helpless and hopeless to dwell, sharing their sorrow and shame; seeking the lost, saving, redeeming at measureless cost. 3 Jesus is seeking the wanderers yet; why do they roam? Love only waits to forgive and forget; Home! weary wanderers, home! Wonderful love dwells in the heart of the Father above. 4 Come to my heart, O Thou wonderful love, come and abide, lifting my life till it rises above envy and falsehood and pride; seeking to be lowly and humble, a learner of Thee. Robert Walmsley (1831?1905) Opening prayer We set aside this time, precious moments in the presence of Father, Son and Spirit, Holy Trinity. May we be blessed and become a blessing, and may our prayers be a fragrant offering to you, O Lord our God. Adoration You are the rock on which we build, a sure foundation that will not move. You are a fortress, dependable, a secure refuge none can destroy. In you we trust to keep us safe; all other ground is sinking sand. In you we live, for all we are and hope to be is in your hand. Confession Your call to us does not end with an invitation to become your disciples but continues in our daily walk as we hear your gentle whisper and simply stop to listen. But listening can be hard when the cry of this world is so insistent. So, forgive us, we pray. Give us ears to hear this world and heaven’s voice, and wisdom to know the difference. Thanksgiving Thank you for your love, patient and kind, slow to anger, full of grace and mercy, for it warmed these hearts, sometimes made cold by neglect or circumstance. Thank you for love’s transforming power, moulding us into the people you would have us be— confident of faith, willing for service and united in our desire that all might respond to the knowledge of your redeeming love. Jonah 3:1-5, 10 New Revised Standard Version Conversion of Nineveh 3 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. 10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it. Mark 1:14-20 New Revised Standard Version The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news[a] of God,[b] 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;[c]repent, and believe in the good news.”[d] Jesus Calls the First Disciples 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. Reflection So last week we met Samuel in the temple in the dark of the night time after he and Eli had gone to bed. This week we meet another Sunday School favourite in the shape of Jonah. Along with the account from Mark of the time of Jesus time immediately following his time in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. So, let’s start with Jonah, there is no general consensus amongst cleverer than me as to who Jonah is or what he represents, although I have heard some discuss a bible study in which Jonah was thought of as representing Israel. I’ll leave that one with you to think about or to forget! What I do find interesting is that most scholars believe that it was written post exile, after 539 BCE. Which was a time of great trauma with Jews scattered throughout and beyond the Middle East. As is often found in difficult times, it was also a time for people to take stock, re-evaluate old traditions, put them into new historical and cultural contexts and in doing so it became a time of regeneration too. Whatever or whoever you believe Jonah to be, and so that you know, I like to think of him representing God’s justice and mercy to all, the Jews and non-Jews alike. We meet him at a time when God is asking him to do something that he’d really rather not, thank you very much! At the point we meet him today he has already tried to run away, joining a ship travelling in the ‘wrong’ direction, risked his life, in trying to save those of his fellow sailors. Been swallowed by a big fish! Spewed up on a beach and if all that isn’t enough God is still pestering about going to Nineveh! Jonah it seems is a bit envious, why should these outsiders have the opportunity to know God? I’ve spent my whole life doing it – why should they get away with having it easy? It’s almost like he’s having a bit of a paddy and stamping his foot! But then….. following the trauma of running away, being swallowed and spending time in the darkness of the belly of THAT fish, he has a change of heart and a change of ways and there is an urgency that takes over his task. Mark’s good news also holds an urgency about it, it feels as if the writer is bursting with so much information that he desperately wants to impart that there is no room for details. In just two verses immediately before the ones we read today are contained the whole forty days and nights that Jesus spent in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. He has also experienced his friend John the Baptist being arrested, these must have been dark days for Jesus; and yet here we are at the beginning of his ministry. The other thing that seems to cause some disconnect – and maybe this is just me being a bit picky – but Jesus declares publicly that the time has been fulfilled! Fulfilled, doesn’t that suggest that something is accomplished, finished, brought to completion. But these words are being uttered before he’s even called his first disciples. Mark’s Gospel is so full of gems for preachers its sometimes confusing to take a whole passage, when you start considering what it might or might not be saying, we have considered the call of the disciples and how we hear God’s call in our own lives over the past couple of weeks. Today I’m going to focus on how that call continues not just through the easy, happy go lucky times, but during the dark times when God might feel missing. Jonah may well have felt that he had avoided God, on the ship during the storm, in the water after being thrown overboard and especially after being swallowed by a creature! Jesus may well have felt abandoned in the wilderness being tested. We don’t know what’s happening in the lives of the fishermen on the side of the lake. We have no idea how many generations the Zebedee family had been fishing on the sea of Galilee, but it was quite likely a lot more than four. In that country and culture, as in many countries and cultures to this day, a small family business can be handed on not only through generations but through centuries. It’s safe and secure; people know what they’re doing. If times are hard, the usual answer is simply to work a bit harder. I can identify with that ethos, work harder, it will help you to forget all the rubbish going on in the world around you. Work harder, if you achieve something you may feel better about yourself, work harder, it will prevent mistakes happening again. But it doesn’t always work like that. It may be that in our uncertain, difficult or darker times, and we’ve all experienced those during the past twelve months we need to acknowledge our dark places, thoughts, times. We may just need to take the time to listen to God to wrestle with them or just rest with them and with God. Allow God to use the darkness to illuminate the brighter parts of our lives, our hearts and our very beings. Maybe like Jonah we end up feeling a bit silly as if God has had a change of heart. But was the redemption of Nineveh not the original plan. So how might these readings be speaking to us during a time that we might consider as a season of exile. Exile from our places of worship, from meeting with our families and friends, from the freedom to do as we please when we please. Amazingly we have been able to continue in our witness to God’s continuing love and mercy for creation. We have had time to think about how our actions and shopping habits have a knock on effect around the world. We have learnt new ways to worship, and to allow others to worship. Those who have been unable to worship have suddenly found themselves enabled to do so again either via zoom or by receiving the sermon by post. Dark corners are being slowly lit again. I hope that with the good news of the vaccines and our ability to return to that which we long for; we are enabled to be like the first disciples, letting go and following a new path so that those who have been included along the way are not forgotten. Rather than like Jonah who listened and obeyed but continued to be disgruntled that God included those he didn’t approve of! HYMN: Will you come and follow me? 1 Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you go where you don't know and never be the same? Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown, in you and you in me? 2 Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name? Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same? Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare? Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me? 3 Will you love the 'you' you hide if I but call your name? Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me? 4 Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. In your company I'll go where your love and footsteps show. Thus I'll move and live and grow in you and you in me. John L Bell (born 1949) and Graham Maule (1958-2019) © 1987 WGRG, c/o Iona Community, 21 Carlton Court, Glasgow, G5 9JP, Scotland. Intercessions Living, calling God, As we listen for and hear your call you us, Grant us the courage to follow, Be with us when the desire is to run…… In the perceived bleakness of all that is happening in your word Give us hope that the Kingdom is part of the here and now, And part of the yet to be… Living, calling God, We pray for all who have lost hope Of ever being wholly loved, of having a family, The hope of having a brighter future for lack of formal education. Of finding a home or having a permanent shelter above their heads, A hope of ever having useful or necessary skills. We pray for all who despair of having the freedom to live as you created them to be, Due to lack of freedom, justice, peace or reconciliation; Those who are in despair of finding adequate food and clothing And all who have no prospect of receiving help or healing. Be with all who have given up on living, Because of terminal illness The loss of will to keep on fighting for what’s right, Those whose spirits have been crushed so badly that they can no longer merely bounce back. All for whom life feels not worth living, due to lack of hope. And those so afflicted by starvation and disease, that that cannot carry on. In a time of quietness please feel free to speak the name of those who need to feel held in the palm of God’s hand… Living, calling God, in a time and a world that feels so dark, Grant new dreams where old ones have died. Rekindle purpose where confidence has been undermined. Support when there seems nothing left to hold on to. And trust that we are all members of the Kingdom that is close at hand. Enable us to live as if, so that we may be the answer to our own prayer. Amen HYMN: I, the Lord of sea and sky 1 I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin my hand will save. I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart. 2 I, the Lord of snow and rain, I have borne my people?s pain. I have wept for love of them.† They turn away. I will break their hearts of stone, give them hearts for love alone. I will speak my word to them. Whom shall I send? Chorus 3 I, the Lord of wind and flame, I will tend the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them. My hand will save. Finest bread I will provide till their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? Chorus Daniel L. Schutte (born 1947) © 1981 Daniel L. Schutte & New Dawn Music Blessing God, We have come to seek your help, Offer our worship And declare our faith. Now we go for you, To work in and for your Kingdom, Proclaim your love And make known the good news. Go with us and grant us the grace to serve you, Even as through Christ you have served us. Amen All music copied and streamed under CCL 634229 & 138598, Calamus Licence A735906 and PRS Licence 0021369
Ian and Julie's Zoom service for ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Sunday, January 17. 2021Link for URC audio Service - 17th January 2021
URC audio service
Link for URC audio Service - 17th ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Sunday, January 17. 2021Text for URC audio service - 17th January 2021
United Reformed Church Daily Devotions Sunday Service for 17th January 2021
The Rev’d Dr John McNeil Scott Introduction Hello. My name is John McNeil Scott and I am delighted to be able to share today’s service with you. I hope that you will feel that we are bound together in a common love – those whose voices you will hear (if you are listening) as well as all who listen or read these words in a spirit of worship. My parts of this act of worship are prepared in Glasgow, where I am Principal of the Scottish United Reformed and Congregational College. Call To Worship Come and see the grace of God, Christ our teacher and our friend. Come and see the son of God, Christ our healer and salvation. God is moving in this place. Come and see! Come and see. Hymn As A Fire Is Meant for Burning Ruth Duck As a fire is meant for burning with a bright and warming flame, so the Church is meant for mission, giving glory to God’s name. Not to preach our creeds or customs, but to build a bridge of care, we join hands across the nations, finding neighbours everywhere. 2: We are learners; we are teachers; we are pilgrims on the way. We are seekers; we are givers; we are vessels made of clay. By our gentle, loving actions, we would show that Christ is light. In a humble, listening Spirit, we would live to God’s delight. 3: As a green bud in the springtime is the sign of life renewed, so may we be signs of oneness ’mid earth’s peoples, many hued. As a rainbow lights the heavens when a storm is past and gone, may our lives reflect the radiance of God’s new and glorious dawn. Prayers of Approach, Confession and Assurance of Forgiveness O God of Life and Hope In these still early weeks of this year we gather in our different places, and yet mysteriously together, not for a ritual of dead tradition nor for a routine that is mere habit nor for a rite that holds no surprise. We are here to renew ourselves, to be renewed by you, O God, so that we may be able to renew others to hear in the quiet places of our beings that word of love and divine friendship to gain fresh vision so that we may help draw others into that circle of truth, life and service that is your Kingdom. Our longings after you are deeply true, O God but they are not wholly pure. We are dusty with sin we have compromised when we ought not to have and in those things where love said “give way” we have instead held fast. Forgive us, and restore us in the many dimensions of our lives. Make our longings for you and for the life of your Kingdom, the truth of our lives. Make the words of our hearts and mouths, the actions of our hands, more nearly match our true hearts. The God of mercy who forgives all sin forgives us. May this God also strengthen in us all goodness, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Prayer of Illumination Lord, may ancient words speak to the lives we are living. May the testimony of those who saw you in those days fit us for discipleship in these times. Amen. Reading St John 1:43-51 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’ Hymn: For Your Generous Providing The Revd. Leith Fisher For your generous providing which sustain us all our days, for your Spirit here residing, we proclaim our heartfelt praise. Through the depths of joy and sorrow, though the road be smooth or rough, fearless, we can face tomorrow for your grace will be enough. 2: Hush our world’s seductive noises tempting us to stand alone; save us from the siren voices calling us to trust our own. For those snared by earthly treasure, lured by false security, Jesus, true and only measure, spring the trap to set folk free. 3: Round your table, through your giving, show us how to live and pray till your kingdom’s way of living is the bread we share each day: bread for us and for our neighbour, bread for body, mind, and soul, bread of heav’n and human labour – broken bread that makes us whole. Sermon More than once in John’s gospel an episode begins “The next day…” And almost every time there is a scene of personal drama. There is, sometimes, a breathlessness about John’s telling of the story of Jesus. The words almost seem to tumble over themselves in their rush to pour out the experience of Jesus. And sure enough, that’s just how it is here right at the beginning of the gospel. The witness of John the Baptist narrated and dispensed with. A small gaggle of disciples called. Simon’s name is swapped for Peter. In every sentence there is drama. As John narrates it, wherever Jesus went in those days the ones who would follow him immediately recognised the God that was in him, the significance that he carried, and could not stop themselves from speaking it and sharing it - “Come and see.” Encounters, one after another in time compressed into days. And… the next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. I wonder how many times in the last half of 2020 you have longed for that kind of easy spontaneous travel, with no restrictions to consider. Longed to just go somewhere – a conference, a holiday, perhaps even a meeting! Or just a day out! To decide and go. The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he just went. He went to a fishing village on the northern shore of the lake. And there he encountered, John tells us, two friends in quick succession. First Philip. And then Philip’s acquaintance Nathaniel. The way that John tells the story Jesus went looking for Philip. And at his invitation Nathaniel went looking for Jesus, just to see if what Philip said about the Nazarene was really true. ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ Can you hear Nathaniel snort? It seemed such a ridiculous thing to say. The one for whom history waited? Some Joe Bloggs from the back-end-of-nowhere. And that’s putting it politely! Unlikely wasn’t the word for it. “Come and see”. I picture them walking together towards Jesus, they crowds gathered around him. He spots them from the corner of his eye and with the smile of an “Aha!” he says “Here comes the plain-talker, a blunt and straightforward fellow-countryman” As a name, Nathaniel was characteristically local. “Nathaniel the Israelite” reads rather like Hamish the Scotsman, or Paddy the Irishman. Is Jesus getting his own back on one who though poorly of his home town? Or hinting that Nathaniel stands for a type of person. “How do you know who or what I am?” “Where did you come to know me?” “From under the fig tree.” Had Jesus spotted him on the way into town, or on some other day? Or, as some think, was this knowledge supernatural? One way or another Nathaniel’s response was immediate, dramatic and unequivocal: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”. And Jesus’ reply. This insight of yours is just the beginning of the wonders and the fulfilments and the turnings upside down that you will see. Here at the beginning of John’s gospel - still in the first chapter, a few days before the wedding and the water and the wine – and Jesus is saying “Oh, hold onto your hat.” (The metaphor is mine and not the Lord’s.) “Oh, hold onto your hat! This is just the beginning.” In imagination can you travel to that moment. The encounter with Nathaniel. Two Galileans, from Bethsaida and Nazareth. A conversation a bit spiky and wary at first from Nathaniel’s side. Playful and, as I picture, affectionate from Jesus’ end of things. The hint of miraculous knowledge, and Jesus’ apocalyptically-framed promises of what Nathaniel would yet see. The promise of a story that is renewed a few weeks, so it seems into Jesus ministry. And for us? Well, of course, the invitation to “Come and see”. And the model to follow… that we can say to others too “Come and see, come and see we have found him… and he is Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” But there is more too, I think. Here we are, a few weeks into a new year. With times of waiting and sadness and difficulty beginning – we hope – to give way to days of broader experience, freedom. The end of this year’s beginning and a new, continuing, epiphany… a showing forth again of promise for our lives and for this world in this unfolding year. Affirmation of Faith In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all kinds of sinful men and women. But his complete obedience led him into conflict with his people. His life and teaching judged their goodness, religious aspirations, and national hopes. Many rejected him and demanded his death. In giving himself freely for them, he took upon himself the judgment under which everyone stands convicted. God raised him from the dead, vindicating him as Messiah and Lord. The victim of sin became victor, and won the victory over sin and death for all. Intercessions For all who seek, may their path may be lit by the light of Christ. For the homeless, for refugees and asylum seekers, may they find shelter and places of safety. For those who find themselves lost and confused, may they find courage and the energy to change direction. For those who have difficult decisions to make may they be graced with clarity: For those who are unwell in body, mind or spirit, may they know your love through the warmth of others: For those in all the governments of these lands, for our neighbours and friends, may they and we be servants of peace and the common good. For healthcare workers and medical staff, may they find strength when needed and blessing in the care they give. For those whose journey on earth has reached its end may they be filled with your welcoming light: For ourselves, may we resolve to follow more closely your way of light and peace. In quietness of heart we make our individual prayers… In all things, O God, may your Kingdom’s purpose of love and justice be served. Amen. Offertory Our response to the good news of God’s love is expressed first in the deep places of our hearts, but also in the sharing of our service and of our resources. You are invited to lay aside your offering, and to dedicate it with all others who are likewise listening. Loving God we set aside our gifts. Let them be symbols of love returned, make them effective in your service. Amen. Hymn Jesus Calls Us Here to Meet Him John L Bell & Graham Maule Jesus calls us here to meet him as, through word & song & prayer, we affirm God’s promised presence where his people live and care. Praise the God who keeps his promise; praise the Son who calls us friends; praise the Spirit who, among us, to our hopes and fears attends. 2 Jesus calls us to confess him Word of life and Lord of all, sharer of our flesh and frailness, saving all who fail or fall. Tell his holy human story; tell his tales that all may hear; tell the world that Christ in glory came to earth to meet us here. 3 Jesus calls us to each other, vastly different though we are; creed and colour, class and gender neither limit nor debar. Join the hand of friend and stranger; join the hands of age and youth; join the faithful and the doubter in their common search for truth. 4: Jesus calls us to His table rooted firm in time and space where the Church in earth and heaven finds a common meeting place. Share the bread and wine His body share the love of which we sing. Share the feasts for saints & sinners hosted by our Lord and King The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper In Christian tradition over many generations, people have responded to God’s drawing near, to God’s speaking, by sharing bread and wine in sacramental action. I invite you, if you wish, to prepare bread and wine, which we will break and share together. Out of the richness of the world and from its poverty we bring gifts to God, the Creator. We bring bread – thank you our God for bread, for a harvest that did not fail, for hands that worked it and money to buy it. We bring wine – thank you our God for wine; for vines that grew and bore fruit, for hands which made it, and money to buy it. We bring ourselves – thank you God for life; for the work of creation carried through human generations, for ancestors and successors, grandparents and grandchildren, for the communion of saints, and of all humanity, for the hope of Kingdom banquet. Send your Spirit on us and on these gifts Hear our prayers, O God, as we pray together after the pattern of Jesus… Our Father, who art in Heaven… Here, now, as we gather in the places where we are, God with us all, we remember another table long ago and far away. At that table Jesus gathered with friends to speak of hope in difficult days. And then at the end of the meal the Lord took bread, blessed it, broke it, and passed it among his friends saying: Take, eat, this is my body, broken, for you. Do this remembering me. Then the Lord took a cup of wine, blessed it and passed it to them saying: This is the seal of the new covenant. Take and drink and remember. These are the gifts of God for the people of God. Thanks be to God. Music for sharing the Sanctus from Missa Luba performed by the Tim Keys Consort After Communion: Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all God’s benefits: who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all diseases; who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Bless the Lord, bless the Lord, O my soul. Hymn Love is the boat for the journey Ian Callanan You are the way to heaven’s yielding fold. You are the truth bringing freedom. You are the life burning deep within our hearts, for you are the boat for the journey. 2: You are the stream where flows the path of life, guiding the way for disciples. Though storms may arise you calm the fear inside, for you are the boat for the journey. 3: You are our God, the living, saving Word, You are the banquet of justice, you know our pain, you lift us from our shame, for you are the boat for the journey. 4: We’ll sing this song of never ending joy, filled with the truth of your gospel. With faith, hope, and love, we claim your living Word, for you are the boat for the journey. Love is the boat for the journey. Blessing May you know God’s peace in your heart and in your home. May you find God’s strength in the moments of your need. May you be moved by God’s love for you and for the world to “Come and See”, and in turn so to invite others. May the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, the friendship of the Spirit be yours today, and for every day to come. Amen. Sources and thanks As a Fire is meant for burning – Ruth Duck © 1992, GIA Publications (Ruth Duck). Administered in the UK by Calamus, 30 North Terrace, Mildenhall, Suffolk For your generous providing © The Rev’d Leith Fisher performed by the Scottish Festival Singers. Jesus calls us here to meet Him - John L Bell & Graham Maule © WGRWG - Performed by Matt Beckingham Love is the boat for the journey - Written and performed by Ian Callanan © 2009 GIA Publications, Inc Tune: Loch Lomond Organ Pieces Ach Gott Von Himmel Sieh Darein (“O God from heaven see this”) by Johann Pachelbel (organ of The Spire Church, Farnham – 2020) Wir Glauben all’ an Einen Gott (“We all believe in one God”) by Johann Sebastian Bach (organ of St Thomas-on-The Bourne, Farnham – 2001) Both pieces played by, and received with thanks from, Brian Cotterill: www.briancotterill.webs.com Communion Prayer loosely adapted from Jonny Baker and Doug Gay, with Jenny Brown “Alternative Worship” (SPCK, 2003) Thanks to Alison Jiggins, Marion Thomas, Christopher Whitehead, Christine and David Shimmins, Kath Haynes, Ray Fraser, Phil, Carys and Lythan Nevard, Mandy Hibbert, John Marsh, Sarah Wilmott and Kirsty Knott for reading spoken parts of the service. Where words are copyright reproduced under the terms of Barrhead URC’s CCLI licence number 1064776, Some material reprinted, and streamed, with permission under ONE LICENSE A-734713 All rights reserved. PRS Limited Online Music Licence LE-0019762 Copyright © 2021 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to the Daily Devotions from the United Reformed Church. You can unsubscribe by clicking on the link below.
Text for URC audio service - 17th ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Sunday, January 17. 2021Joining details for Ian and Julie's Zoom service - 17th January 2021
We meet tomorrow via Zoom at 11.00am. If you are able to join us, the joining instructions are
Join Zoom Meeting Ian & Julie's Zoom service Meeting ID: 354 035 1038 Passcode: 717837 With best wishes Ian & Julie
Joining details for Ian and Julie's ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Saturday, January 16. 2021Text for Ian & Julie's service for 17th January 2021
Sunday 17th January 2021 Full service
Call to worship You have called us here, God, And we have come, to worship, to pray, to praise and to reflect. You have called us here, O God, And you will call us on, into the actions and activities of the future. Give us your grace, your wisdom, and your strength, to know the tasks that are ours to do, today and in the coming days. Hymn – O Lord, my God 1 O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder Consider all the works Thy hand hath made, I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed: Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art! Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, How great Thou art! How great Thou art! 2 And when I think that God His Son not sparing, Sent Him to die-I scarce can take it in. That on the cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin: Refrain 3 When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation And take me home-what joy shall fill my heart! Then shall I bow in humble adoration And there proclaim, my God, how great Thou art! Refrain Stuart K Hine (1899-1989) © 1953 Stuart K Hine/The Stuart Hine Trust/Published by kingswaysongs.com. www.kingswaysongs.com. Worldwide (excl. North & South America). Creator God, we bring ourselves into your holy presence and give you our full attention. We praise you for your greatness, your awesome power, your majesty and beauty that we see in the world around us. Jesus, Son of God, you greet us as individuals who are intimately known by you. For you know our name, our personality, our potential for good and for evil. We long to reflect your goodness in our lives. We listen for your word of forgiveness, comfort and challenge. Holy Spirit of God, you urge us to share our faith with others, through acts of kindness, words of truth and commitment to your call. Let us be still, and be. Let us be quiet, and be present. Let go of the past. Forget about the future. And just be here. Just for a minute or two. Right now… Be still and know that I am God… In the stillness, in the silence, in the moments of self-doubt and self-pity, we know you close to us – by some mystery. Come close, forgiving and accepting God, today – and accept us by your grace. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen The Lord’s Prayer Hymn - O God you Search me, and you know me…. 1 O God, you search me and you know me. All my thoughts lie open to your gaze. When I walk or lie down you are before me: ever the maker and keeper of my days. 2 You know my resting and my rising. You discern my purpose from afar. And with love everlasting you besiege me: in ev'ry moment of life and death, you are. 3 Before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you have known its meaning through and through. You are with me, beyond my understanding: God of my present, my past and future, too. 4 Although your Spirit is upon me, still I search for shelter from your light. There is nowhere on earth I can escape you: even the darkness is radiant in your sight. 5 For you created me and shaped me, gave me life within my mother's womb. For the wonder of who I am, I praise you: safe in your hands, all creation is made new. Bernadette Farrell (born 1957) from Psalm 139 © 1992 Bernadette Farrell. Published by OCP Publications, 5536 NE Hassalo Portland OR 97213. All rights reserved. Used with permission Reflection Our readings this month seem to be leading us forwards on a adventure with God who existed before time, God who became human so that we might understand a little more of the Divine and now it seems God who call us into partnership with our Creator. The first of our readings tells us about a young boy, Samuel. He is the son of Hannah. Distraught because she had no children, something that would have placed her on the outside of acceptable society. It was after all a women’s primary role in live to produce an heir for her husband. Hannah prayed for a child and promised God that if he granted her request, she would give the child back to God. When the baby was born she named him Samuel – ‘I asked the Lord for him’ – and once he was old enough, just as she had promised she took him to live with Eli, the priest in the temple. So in the story we are about to hear Samuel, who may have been 7 or 8 years old by this time, is sleeping in the temple as a little ‘mini-priest’. Reading 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3 the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’[a] and he said, ‘Here I am!’ 5 and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. 6 The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lordwas calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.”’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening. The second of our readings is from John’s gospel: right from the start of Jesus’ ministry – Jesus has just been baptised by John in the Jordan God’s voice had been heard presumably by the crowed that was gathered as well as John and Jesus. The ministry of Jesus is well and truly started with the gathering followers around him – Andrew & Peter are already following Jesus. Reading John 1: 43 – 51 43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ 46 Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ 48 Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ 49 Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ 50 Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ 51 And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you,[m] you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’ So, what do these readings have to say to us a group of people trying to be faithful to God in a small corner of a World that seems to be falling apart. I’m going to start with a question! - don’t worry it’s just for you to think about, I’m not expecting an answer. Have you ever heard the call of God? I wonder if the question might makes you feel uncomfortable:are you thinking no, we’re not the sort of people hear God’s voice? Surely only very holy people, or people who are on the brink of insanity, or perhaps people in desperate need of help – but not ordinary people, not people like us. Really – is it easy to think that BUT that’s not what our two Bible readings jhave said. The story of Samuel is a very human story. A little boy hears a voice in the night and naturally assumes the voice he hears is Eli – but it’s God. An ordinary boy, an ordinary story– but with extraordinary account of God calling to a young lad. I expect like me you remember this story well from Sunday school –Samuel rather like Jesus was often depicted as the perfectly behaved little boy– the story accompanied by the important message that even little children could hear God. Absolutely right in fact God calls people – of all ages. I have never really noticed this before so I’m sorry if it’s always been obvious to you, when Samuel does listen to what God has to say, this is what God says: ‘See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle. Samuel has to pass the message on to Eli, the behaviour of Eli’s sons mean that they will not follow him into the Priesthood, the line is no longer fit to be maintained, God is ensuring that the honour is passed to the right person. The person with the gifts and dedication and desire to serve God rather than use the position for their own gain. So although Samuel is understandably reticent to pass on God’s message to Eli, in fact he is not telling Eli anything he doesn’t already know. I find it strangely reassuring that the call is not always heard clearly – that when God calls, people might need to keep listening, and listening can be tiring, confusing, in my process of call to the Ordained ministry I was constantly grateful for the testing process, it helped me discern what may or may not be of God. John’s gospel deals with different kind of call: to adults, to follow Jesus – it’s a more tangible call, from a man who is standing right on front of them, but its still extraordinary that they listen are prepared to leave the life they know and understand in order to follow – after all, they know very little about this man Jesus. Andrew has seen him baptised, and tells Peter, his brother. Philip is from the same place as Peter & Andrew so maybe they’ve told him something about Jesus. But all Jesus says to Philip is ‘follow me’ – and not only does he decide to do it, he goes to fetch Nathanael as well. Jesus tells Nathanael he saw him under the fig tree & that’s enough to convince Nathanael that Jesus is the King of Israel. What they have seen & heard, what they have learnt about Jesus enough to convince them to follow and learn more. What is it that we see, hear and experience to be committed to Walk the way – live the life of Jesus today. God’s call might not be a single, life-shattering moment for us: it can be a process, a journey, a life-long adventure – to listen and learn, to follow and find. It may even come to others through our words and actions at times when they need to hear or experience God’s extravagant love and mercy. God’s call comes throughout life – prompting, guiding, supporting. We might wonder what God will say if and when he does speak to us. For both Samuel and for the first of Jesus’ disciples the call was about their direction in life, what they should do, how they should act, how to grow closer to God. Maybe the call is into a deeper relationship with our creator we have no measure of how that might look, our human relationships are not great comparisons for what it is like to come to know God more, to be immersed in the way of the divine. That, I believe, is why God calls us. God is relationship, God is invitation. God desires us to be closer to the divine spirit that flows through all things. We think about little Samuel and feel very much like we’ve been around the block a few too many times to be a comparison! Like Eli we might feel old, that our eyes are growing dim. We might be going through life not expecting to find anything new, and certainly not expecting to hear God speak to us or feel the love of God touch our lives. But God broke in to Eli’s life, too, when he spoke to Samuel – he gave a message for Eli through Samuel, which also started a new chapter in the life of Eli. You are never too young to hear God – and never too old either. We need to listen and to be open. This also means that we may well be called to speak for God too, as Samuel did. We have had ten months of not knowing where God is leading us, learning how to be Church when it hasn’t been safe enough to gather in our buildings. I hope that when we can we return we will listen to the way God calls us forward so that we don’t just return to what we know and are familiar with because we’re not listening! I pray that when we are together again we will listen and respect each other – God may just be speaking through some of us. And when we do hear something, it could be very simple – follow me, walk in way of Jesus, move closer to God & know God’s love and care for you – through all of life’s journey. So may God bless each one of us here, and help us to feel God’s presence, hear the call, and walk in the way of the Kingdom. Amen Hymn – Hushed was the evening hymn… 1 Hushed was the evening hymn, the temple courts were dark, the lamp was burning dim before the sacred ark, when suddenly a voice divine rang through the silence of the shrine. 2 O give me Samuel's ear, the open ear, O Lord, alive and quick to hear each whisper of thy word; like him to answer at thy call, and to obey thee first of all. 3 O give me Samuel's heart, a lowly heart, that waits, where in thy house thou art, or watches at thy gates. By day and night, a heart that still moves at the breathing of thy will. 4 O give me Samuel's mind, a sweet unmurmuring faith, obedient and resigned to thee in life and death, that I may read with childlike eyes truths that are hidden from the wise. James Drummond Burns (1823-1864) Prayers Liberating God, we bring our prayers for those whose lives are limited, by their own attitudes or beliefs, by the pain of their circumstances, by the actions of others, seeking for all confidence to journey in freedom. We pray for those worn down by illness, or exhausted by caring for others, longing to feel the freshness and energy of a bright new day. We pray for those confined by oppression, their opportunities limited by prejudice, longing to experience the possibility of travelling on an open road. We pray for those limited by their own lack of self-worth, held back by doubts and fears, and repeated rejection, longing to walk with the confidence of striding out freely along their own path. We pray for those trapped in poverty, their energies sapped by the struggle against greed and injustice, longing to know the abundance of an earth where resources are freely shared. Amen. Hymn – Jesus calls us 1 Jesus calls us: o'er the tumult of our life's wild restless sea day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying, 'Christian, follow me;' 2 As of old Saint Andrew heard it by the Galilean lake, turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for his dear sake. 3 In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease, still he calls, in cares and pleasures, 'Christian, love me more than these.' 4 Jesus calls us: by your mercies, Saviour, make us hear your call, give our hearts to your obedience, serve and love you best of all Cecil Frances Alexander (nee Humphreys) (1818-1895) Blessing You have called us here, O God, And now you call us out, you call us on, you call us forwards. As we go from here, O God, We know your Spirit goes before us. Guide us, by that Spirit, to know your voice when you call, to follow in your way, and to bring your Kingdom closer, today. Amen. All music copied and streamed under CCL 634229 & 138598, Calamus Licence A735906 and PRS Licence 0021369
Text for Ian & Julie's service ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Sunday, January 10. 2021URC audio service for 10th January 2020
URC audio service
URC Daily Devotions Worship for Sunday 10th January 2021 The Rev’d Memona Shahbaz Opening Music- Nun Komm Der Heiden Heiland (“Now the Gentile saviour comes”) by Johann Sebastian Bach Introduction Good morning church, peace be with you. My name is Revd Memona Shahbaz and I am serving Lord our God in Eastbourne, in East Team which consists of five Local Ecumenical Partnership churches. We are working in a team of three ministers. Eastbourne is a beautiful place, full of eye-catching sceneries. I am fortunate to have an amazing church family. I am originally from Pakistan. This is my first ministry and I am very grateful to God that he chose me and brought me here in Eastbourne to serve Him with enthusiastic, dedicated and devoted labourers. My dear brothers and sisters, this morning, t’s a great privilege to worship God together as a family with you all. Let us worship God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strength and mind. Call to Worship Come and see the grace of God, Christ our teacher and our friend. Come and see the son of God, Christ our healer and salvation. God is moving in this place. Come and see! Come and see. Hymn Summoned by the God who made us Delores Dufner © 1991 Sisters of St. Benedict. Summoned by the God who made us, rich in our diversity, gathered in the name of Jesus, richer still in unity: Let us bring the gifts that differ And, in splendid, varied ways, Sing a new Church into being, one of faith and love and praise 2: Radiant risen from the water; robed in holiness and light, male and female in God’s image male and female God’s delight: 3: Trust the goodness of creation; Trust the Spirit strong within. Dare to dream the vision promised Sprung from seed of what has been. 4: Bring the hopes of every nation; Bring the art of every race. Weave a song of peace and justice: Let it sound through time and space. 5: Draw together at one table All the human family; shape a circle ever wider and a people ever free. Prayers of Approach, Confession and Forgiveness Father, we come to you, as a family with Jesus, the son of your love, who confirmed himself our brother through his baptism, and took upon himself the burden of our guilt, so that we might know ourselves forgiven and come to you with confidence as children with a loving Father. We come holding our elder brother’s hand, like children who have been frightened, threatened, or lost in the dark, to the peace and security of our Father’s love, which we will share with Jesus Christ our Lord for ever. Forgive us, great God, for all our self-righteousness, all our condemnation of others, all our selfish exploitation of each other for emotional or material gain. Out of your immense resources of grace and kindness, go on giving us the hope that we will at last be brought to the perfect obedience of Jesus and that you will receive us with him, and rejoice with us in eternal gladness. Lord we adore you and praise you; we bring our praises in the name of Jesus. He demonstrated your merciful love and your gentle touch upon our lives. We praise you for the way he identified himself with us. We praise you for accepting his sacrifice on the cross as the price of the healing of our relationship with you. By your grace and mercy, enable us and empower us, that we shall be with you and praise you for ever in Christ. Amen Prayer of Illumination Let us pray together, “Almighty God we are thankful to you for your Word, which is alive and active, sweeter than honey and a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path. Help us to lead our lives according to your word. Amen. St Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptised, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” St Mark 1:9-11 “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Hymn All to Jesus I surrender Judson W. Van De Venter (1896) All to Jesus I surrender, All to Thee I freely give; I will ever love and trust You, In Your presence daily live. I surrender all, I surrender all. All to Thee, my blessed Saviour, I surrender all. 2: All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Your love and power, Let Your blessing fall on me. 3: All to Jesus I surrender, Now I feel the sacred flame. Oh, the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory to Your name! Sermon May the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord my God and my redeemer. Amen. Today we will learn together about the baptism of Jesus Christ. It is mentioned in all four gospels. Mark starts his gospel with a scene where John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, with his proclamation of the greater one. He is a forerunner and road maker for Jesus and he urges people to repent. According to Mark while John was baptising people, Jesus came from Nazareth into Galilee and was baptised by John in the river Jordon. Interestingly Mark does not record any conversation between Jesus and John but he does mention of John confirming that, “after me will come one more powerful than I and he will baptised you with the Holy Spirit. Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordon. Mark does not give the reason for this act. It was not off course through any consciousness of sin, but according to Matthew 3:15 through a desire to “Fulfil all righteousness” Dear friends, many people get into arguments why Jesus had to be baptised? And in response to the question different answers are given and I would not get into this debate now. For me the most important is what happened at the time of baptism. It is very clear in the all four gospels that Lord Jesus Christ was baptized by John the baptizer. John the Baptist was a remarkable man and Jesus himself said in, “There is no one greater than John the Baptist.” What a great statement from Lord Jesus? His message was brief, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” John was preaching in the valley of Jorden, so many people out of Judea and Jerusalem were coming to him. He was preaching repentance and the confession of sin. He was well known in the Israel. His ministry of baptizing the people was very unique. His ministry is as Isaiah’s, “Voice in the wilderness.” It is very strange for the people to know that why John baptised Jesus, as it was the baptism of repentance. It is in all four Gospels. Many scholars said differently, but surely John knew Jesus and according to Matthew 3:14, John said to Jesus, “I have need to be baptised by you and you come to me?” John knew Jesus very well. This is not the first time he sees Jesus. Earlier he was standing with some of his disciples and when he saw Jesus and said, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away sin of the whole world, “John 1:29.” He knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the saviour and he was actually proclaiming Jesus. John’s attitude with Jesus is opposite of his attitude with the Pharisees and Sadducees. He said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come.” he told them to repent first and then he will baptize them. He refused to baptize them because of their sin and impenitence. He refused to baptized Jesus because he was sinless. He said, “I need to be baptised by you and you are coming to me?” But Jesus said, “permit it to be now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfil all righteousness.” John baptized Jesus, he understood Jesus so he also said, “You must increase and I must decrease.” According to the Synoptic gospels at the time of Jesus Baptism three things happened; 1. As Jesus was coming up out of the water he saw the heavens torn apart 2. The Holy Spirit descending like a dove on him. Isaiah 11:2, says about the coming Messiah, The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him. 3. A voice came from heaven, you are my son the beloved, with you I am well pleased. Dear friends; this is one of the great Trinitarian passage of the New Testament. Here the Spirit and the father both bear witness of the son. At the baptism of Jesus all three persons of the Trinity are involved which makes it a very unique moment. Notice that father speaking, Son being baptised and the Holy Spirit descending on the son. Dear brothers and sisters at the time of baptism of Jesus we see an affirmation by God that Jesus is his son. The voice from heaven does not interpret Jesus baptism; it was a voice of declaration, who was Jesus? The baptism of Jesus shows the double attestation by the Spirit and heavenly voice that Jesus is son of God with whom the father is well pleased. Why Father was pleased at this stage when Jesus did not start his earthly ministry? Philippians 2:5-7 says, He left the heaven and became human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on the cross! So God has also highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name.” He was baptized to identify himself with us. 2-Cor 5:21, “He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” 1-Peter 3:18, “Christ suffered and died for us, just for the unjust.” My dear brothers and sisters at the beginning of the Jesus’ earthly ministry, Father was pleased with Jesus and at the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, Jesus took Peter, James and John and went to the mountain to pray and at the event of Transfiguration they saw Elijah and Moses with Jesus and a voice came from the cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son, hear Him.” My dear brothers and sisters, what we are doing to please Him or in other words what we can do to please him? In my opinion, Jesus Christ fulfilled His mission and before he was ascended into heaven he gave us, a great commission, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” We have our mission to be completed. We need to be very brave and courageous to fulfil our commission, because Jesus promised with us that he is always with us to the very end of the age. We need to work hard and use our talents and gifts for the extension of his kingdom so we could hear from him, “Well done good and faithful servant.” May God give us his wisdom to work as His faithful servant or labourers. Amen Hymn Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty 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 shalt be. 3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee, though the eye of sinful folk 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! Affirmation of Faith In Jesus of Nazareth, true humanity was realized once for all. Jesus, a Palestinian Jew, lived among his own people and shared their needs, temptations, joys, and sorrows. He expressed the love of God in word and deed and became a brother to all kinds of sinful men and women. But his complete obedience led him into conflict with his people. His life and teaching judged their goodness, religious aspirations, and national hopes. Many rejected him and demanded his death. In giving himself freely for them, he took upon himself the judgment under which everyone stands convicted. God raised him from the dead, vindicating him as Messiah and Lord. The victim of sin became victor, and won the victory over sin and death for all. Intercessions Father, we pray for all the people in the world who are despised, rejected or discriminated against, because of their race, creed or colour. We pray especially, for those against whom we bar the gates of love and acceptance; from whom we hold back the good news of your forgiveness. (pause) The Lord hears our prayers. We pray for the whole Church, which you called into being though your Son. We ask you that by your Holy Spirit your church may be renewed and empowered for the task for which you gave it life. (pause) The Lord hears our prayers. We pray Father, that we all Christians may be ready for any sacrifice, any action and declaration that will clearly demonstrate faith, hope and love to our neighbour, our family and friends and those we meet on the journey of life each day. (pause) The Lord hears our prayers. We pray to you Father give justice to those who suffer for their belief and who are persecuted. We pray who are exploited or enslaved at work or in the home, that their cries may be heard. We pray for nations and societies across the world, and for our own, for national and local government, that those who rule may serve with wisdom and integrity for communities, that they may seek the common good. (pause) The Lord hears our prayers. God of peace and comfort as this time is uncertain and stressful, many people are anxious and fearful, give us strength and lift us up that we may find comfort in you. Give hope to us all, especially who are ill and suffering with life threatening health issues. Be with them who are alone and in self-isolation and under any treatment. We pray for the World Health Organisation and all key workers, who are helping others. We also pray for the scientists who are working hard for making the vaccination, guide them and give them your wisdom. We also pray for all leaders and politicians around the globe, to give them wisdom to make good strategies and plans for the good of all. (pause) The Lord hears our prayers. We pray for the earth itself, polluted and despoiled, that the fragile balance of the natural order may be respected, it beauty and variety preserved, and greed and selfish gain be put aside, that harmony may be restored between ourselves and our environment. Help us to remember that you have appointed u as the steward of this earth. (pause) The Lord hears our prayers. In this moment of silence we bring forth all the desires of our hearts…… We ask all this in Jesus precious name and pray as He taught us saying Our Father…. Hymn: What a friend we have in Jesus Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1855) What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer! 2 Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Saviour, still our refuge— Take it to the Lord in prayer; Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He’ll take and shield thee, Thou wilt find a solace there. Blessing The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen! Sources and thanks Summoned by the God who made us - Delores Dufner © 1991 Sisters of St. Benedict. Published by OCP Productions. performed by Gene Garcia, John Gardner, Kate Cuddy, Matt McKenzie arranged by Gary Daigle All to Jesus I surrender - Judson W. Van De Venter (1896), performed by Robin Mark. Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty - (Reginald Heber 1783 – 1826) Holy, Recorded by the Hymns Project/Parkway Worship Ministry What a friend we have in Jesus - Joseph Medlicott Scriven (1855) Organ Pieces Ein Feste Burg (“A mighty fortress”) by Max Reger (organ of Basilica Santo Spirito, Florence, Italy – 2016) Songs of Praise Toccata by Robert Prizeman (organ of St Andrew’s, Farnham – 2019) Both pieces played by, and received with thanks from, Brian Cotterill: www.briancotterill.webs.com Thanks to: Christine and David Shimmin, Alison Jiggins, John Young, Marion Thomas, Anne Hewling, Christopher Whitehead, Ray Fraser, Carys and Lythan Nevard for reading various spoken parts of the service. Where words are copyright reproduced under the terms of Barrhead URC’s CCLI licence number 1064776, Some material reprinted, and streamed, with permission under ONE LICENSE A-734713 All rights reserved. PRS Limited Online Music Licence LE-0019762
URC audio service for 10th January 2020 Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Saturday, January 9. 2021Zoom worship for 10th January 2021
The service for tomorrow is attached. If you are joining us by Zoom details are as follows:
Ian and Julie Kirby are inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Ian and Julie’s Zoom service Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3540351038?pwd=Ti9Wb3F6N2h1amRtb0FzWVg5WFYzQT09 Meeting ID: 354 035 1038 Passcode: 717837 With love and best wishes Ian and Julie Sunday 10th January 2021 Call to worship As we settle into the rhythm of 2021, we gather in your presence. As a new week begins, we come to worship you. As a new service starts, we seek to encounter your grace. As we enter into this moment, we pray for transformation by your Voice and by your Spirit O Lord. Amen. Hymn: O, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness 1 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! bow down before him, his glory proclaim; with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness, kneel and adore him, the Lord is his name! 2 Low at his feet lay thy burden of carefulness, high on his heart he will bear it for thee, comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness, guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.. 3 Fear not to enter his courts in the slenderness of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine: truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness, these are the offerings to lay on his shrine. 4 These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness, he will accept for the name that is dear; mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness, trust for our trembling and hope for our fear. 5 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! bow down before him, his glory proclaim; with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness, kneel and adore him, the Lord is his name! John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811-1875) Prayer Lord, as we prepare for worship, help us to focus on you as the centre. We meet as a family, welcoming each other with open hearts and minds. We ask that your Holy Spirit work within us and make yourself known to us today through our worship, prayers and the reading of your word. Bless our worship today. May we hear you speaking. We thank and praise you for all of creation, from the tiniest of seeds, the beauty of the bulbs beginning to show the promise of new life in Spring. To the grandeur of mountains, stars and space. We give thanks for your willingness to take human form and live amongst us and for calling, transforming and using us for Your Kingdom. We confess that your ways are not always our ways and that there are times when we put our own needs and desires ahead of those of others. We know too the promise of your love and forgiveness when our hearts turn back to you. In this time and the spaces that we occupy, we claim that promise so that as you beloved and forgiven people we can join our voices together in the Lords Prayer. Amen. Psalm 29 Living Bible 29 Praise the Lord, you angels of his; praise his glory and his strength. 2 Praise him for his majestic glory, the glory of his name. Come before him clothed in sacred garments. 3 The voice of the Lord echoes from the clouds. The God of glory thunders through the skies. 4 So powerful is his voice; so full of majesty. 5-6 It breaks down the cedars. It splits the giant trees of Lebanon. It shakes Mount Lebanon and Mount Sirion. They leap and skip before him like young calves! 7 The voice of the Lord thunders through the lightning. 8 It resounds through the deserts and shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord spins and topples the mighty oaks.[a] It strips the forests bare. They whirl and sway beneath the blast. But in his Temple all are praising, “Glory, glory to the Lord.” 10 At the Flood the Lord showed his control of all creation. Now he continues to unveil his power. 11 He will give his people strength. He will bless them with peace. Mark 1:4-11 New Revised Standard Version 4 John the baptizer appeared[ in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. 8 I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” 9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Reflection We have celebrated Christmas, God becoming incarnate in the form of a tiny helpless baby. Last week we reflected on Jesus being the Word! Being with God and inhabiting all that has been and continues to be since order was brought out of chaos. This week it seems to me that we are being invited to think about the voice or voices that enliven that word for us. Of course there are all sorts of voices and all sorts of ways that they can be used. Have you ever noticed how some people’s voices simply seem to be able to command a situation instantly? It is not necessarily the person with the loudest, strongest, most booming voice that does this. Rather, it is often the softly and gently spoken individual whose voice demands greatest attention. Have you ever been at a church meeting where something contentious is being discussed? Maybe some in attendance are passionate about the outcome of the discussion. As more and more folk add their own point of view there is the potential for all to want to be heard so voices become raised, as others feel they’re not heard the situation becomes louder and louder and without careful and skilled handling chaos overcomes order! I remember being with Ian at a Spring School many years ago when the Jesuit Priest Gerrard Hughes was the main speaker. He was an amazingly spiritual man who has written some wonderfully powerful books about the Christian faith. I was so excited about meeting him and had very set ideas about what he would be like in my mind. Well I couldn’t have been more wrong! At supper on the first evening, before any of the formal sessions, I sat next to a very pleasant older, small, very quietly spoken man who engaged me in conversation. We were so involved in conversation about mental health and faith, I have no idea how we got there! That we didn’t get around to introducing ourselves. You have probably guessed where I’m going – but, imagine my surprise when Gerard Hughes was introduced the next day and it was the gentle quietly spoken man I had spent the evening engaged in conversation with the night before. Interestingly, had I known who he was, I would probably been too awe struck to speak to him. Today’s readings remind us of the power of the voice and speech (but not necessarily just that of humans): Had we read it Genesis 1:1-4 God speaks creation into being, first separating light and dark. In verse 3 we read: “Then God said, “Let there be light”, and there was light.” The creative power of God displayed in the seemingly simple yet profound act of speech. We are then told that God goes on to name the light day, and the dark, night. Fundamental rhythms that we continue to experience as humans and could be defined as the basis of life. In Psalm 29 we hear the voice of God but this time we find it within the context of a storm. The Psalmist raises their praise to God, opening the Psalm with: Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name; worship the Lord in holy splendour. Or as The Message puts it: Bravo, God, bravo! Gods and all angels shout, “Encore!” In awe before the glory, in awe before God’s visible power. Stand at attention! Dress your best to honour him! Both versions clearly communicate the awesome nature of God and recognise what our response ought to be. Yet enveloped within this text there seems to be the feeling that the voice of God is less to be feared and more to be respected. The voice of God alone can do more than humans ever hope to do even if they used all the resources available to them. The Psalm doesn’t end with a call for people to revere God, but instead we are offered the prayerful and encouraging words: “May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11, NRSV). We are reminded in the midst of the noise, chaos and drama of the storm that God can and does distil peace. Today’s readings, the two I’ve read and the account of Creation, are beautiful and profound in reminding us the wonder of a voice. We are reminded of the awesome nature of God, that it was the Divine who simply spoke creation into being. We are reminded of the power of God in the way that voice is heard in the midst of a mighty storm. We recognise, through the role of John the Baptist, the part we can play in proclaiming God but yet we need to be cautious that we share the message in such a way that those who hear fully comprehend. Communication goes beyond words alone, we perhaps notice this in the very act of creation, and in the act of Baptism that came from Marks Gospel. Mark is believed to be the first of the Gospels or accounts of good news to be recorded and there is a certain urgency about his telling of events. The baptism of Jesus is right at the start, lets not begin at the start of his life – lets start with his mission! John has been in the wilderness, on the edge, proclaiming to anyone who would listen, and it seems that he drew quit a crowd from all over the Judean countryside; there is one greater than me on his way. Then that ONE appears and requests baptism! We’re not told why, many say that it was Jesus aligning himself with our sin, I don’t know and for now I’m happy not to know. As he comes out of the water the Spirit descends like a dove and God’s very own voice is heard….. This is my Son….. Now, this is where I get confused! At the end of Christs life he promises his followers that they will not be left alone. One will be sent to guide them! We know that one is the holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit for me acts as the voice of God for us today. I’m going to leave you with some pictures and some questions. This is NOT a get out of doing the work situation. Rather it is a chance for you to explore how or what you feel, either you as an individual or as we as groups of God’s people within the Brecon Beacons Pastorate, about hearing Gods voice and experiencing the Holy Spirit today. There are no right or wrong answers, they aren’t intended for sharing, however, if it would be helpful to talk through any responses Ian or I can be contacted by phone and if helpful can set up a zoom meeting. So here we are:- 1. I wonder, Have you ever heard people of peace speak? What words did they use? How did their physical voice sound? How did you/others respond? 2. Have you ever experienced the peace of God within a stormy period of your life? How did it feel? How did you respond? 3. The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a gentle dove, as it is at Jesus baptism, I have included some pictures showing this. I wonder if one resonates with you more than the others. If so why? Finally in modern Celtic tradition the Holy Spirit is represented as a bird, but not the peaceful and serene dove landing on Jesus at his baptism. This picture is painted by Mary Fleeson a Lindisfarne artist. It hangs on my study wall. I wonder how you feel about it? I call it the great honking goose, that’s not it’s official name! The Wild Goose tells a different side of the Holy Spirit. To begin with, wild geese aren’t controllable, you can’t restrain a wild goose and bend it to your will. They’re raucous and loud, unlike the sweet and calming cooing of a dove, a goose’s call is strong, challenging, strident and unnerving - and just a bit scary. In much the same way the Spirit of God can be demanding and unsettling and at times even a little scary. I like that it reminds me that we are called to be unsettling on behalf of those whose own voices are oppressed and go unheard, no matter how loudly they call. May all of us be disturbed enough to use our voices in whatever way, to make the world a better place for all. HYMN: O breath of life 1 O Breath of life, come sweeping through us, Revive your church with life and power; O Breath of life, come, cleanse, renew us, And fit your church to meet this hour. 2 O Wind of God, come, bend us, break us, Till humbly we confess our need; Then in your tenderness remake us, Revive, restore, for this we plead. 3 O Breath of love, come, breathe within us, Renewing thought and will and heart; Come, love of Christ, afresh to win us, Revive your church in every part. 4 Revive us, Lord! Is zeal abating while harvest fields are vast and white? Revive us, Lord, the world is waiting, equip your church to spread the light. Elizabeth A P Head (1850 - 1936) Prayers of Intercession Loving God, we come to you after a tumultuous week where we have seen things that we hoped we would never see and where at times we have feared for the future of the world. We pray for the leaders of the world, particularly those of the USA. We ask that all who have responsibility of making decisions receive wisdom and guidance in how to handle the next few weeks and months ensuring that power and responsibility may be passed on and those who need to be subject to justice do so. Enable those who need to hear your voice to do so and follow it. Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer We pray for our leaders as they wrestle with the challenges of the pandemic and other issues. Again, we pray for wisdom in dealing with these challenges. We remember with gratitude all those who are putting their lives at risk so that they may care for us and serve us. Enable those who need to hear your voice to do so and follow it. Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer Father God, we thank you for your gift of creation. We praise you for the beauty and goodness you have made. We pray, that we may be filled with a spirit of concern for our environment and resources. Help us to pursue responsible stewardship, protecting and redeeming the habitats of the earth you have created. We pray for those countries in Latin America where extensive deforestation is causing decreasing biodiversity through habitat loss. We hold in our hearts people involved in agriculture in the UK. Help us continue to provide the best standards of care for our farm animals, advocating for high welfare in our food supply chains even in an uncertain market. Guide our governments to be key forces in addressing climate change and enabling large companies to be prioritising sustainable methods of production and distribution, leading by example. Lead our scientists, innovating ways to help reduce our impact on your planet, give them wisdom and keep encouraging their work to restore the planet. Enable those who need to hear your voice to do so and follow it. Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer Finally, loving God we bring before you all those who we are most concerned about aloud or in silence, Enable us to hear your voice to do so and follow it. Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer Hear all our prayers as we ask them in and throughthough the name of Jesus Christ who heard the voice of the Spirit and was faithful to it. Amen. HYMN: The voice of God 1 The voice of God goes out to all the world: his glory speaks across the universe. The Great King's herald cries from star to star, with power, with justice, he will walk his way. 2 Give glory to the mystery revealed, the voice of God, his image and his word: his word of peace, the image of his grace: with power, with justice, he will walk his way. 3 The Lord has said: Receive my messenger, my promise to the world, my pledge made flesh, a lamp to every nation, light from light: with power, with justice, he will walk his way. 4 The broken reed he will not trample down, nor set his heel upon the dying flame. He binds the wounds, and health is in his hand: with power, with justice, he will walk his way. 5 Anointed with the spirit and with power, he comes to crown with comfort all the weak, to show the face of justice to the poor: with power, with justice, he will walk his way. 6 His touch will bless the eyes that darkness held, the lame shall run, the halting tongue shall sing, and prisoners laugh in light and liberty: with power, with justice, he will walk his way. Luke Connaughton (1917-1979) © McCrimmon Publishing Co. Ltd. Blessing All music copied and streamed under CCL 634229 & 138598, Calamus Licence A735906 and PRS Licence 0021369
Zoom worship for 10th January 2021 Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Sunday, January 3. 2021Link for URC audio service for 3rd January 2021
URC audio service 3rd Jan 2021
Link for URC audio service for 3rd ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Sunday, January 3. 2021Text for URC audio service for 3rd January 2021URC Daily Devotions Sunday Service - 3rd January 2021 Epiphany- The Magi Opening Music Arrival of the Queen of Sheba Introduction The story of the wise men who came to visit the infant Christ is one of the most popular in the Christmas cycle of readings. We don’t know much about these mysterious visitors - they appear only in St Matthew’s Gospel. We’re not told how many of them they were - just that they brought three gifts - and St Matthew doesn’t name them as kings. There is, however, an older prophecy that kings will come and bow before the Messiah and this, older prophecy, unites in the Church mind with the story from Matthew’s Gospel and so the idea of the three kings was born. I’ve seen a reliquary in Cologne Cathedral where the bones of the three kings are supposed to lie - these strange people from the east captured the minds and imaginations of earlier generations of Christians who came to see them as the first fruits of further flung peoples to hear and accept the Gospel. In our service today we think of those mysterious astrologers who came to pay homage to Jesus as we bring our own gifts, adoration and love to Christ as the start of this New Year. Call To Worship The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, for a child has been born for us, a son given to us! Glory to God in the highest heaven! Let us worship the Prince of Peace. Hymn Hail to the Lord’s Anointed James Montgomery Hail to the Lord’s anointed, Great David’s greater Son! Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun! He comes to break oppression, To set the captive free; To take away transgression, And rule in equity. 2: He comes with succor speedy To those who suffer wrong; To help the poor and needy, And bid the weak be strong; To give them songs for sighing, Their darkness turn to light, Whose souls, condemned and dying, Were precious in His sight. 3: He shall come down like showers Upon the fruitful earth; Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, Spring in His path to birth. Before Him, on the mountains, Shall peace, the herald, go, And righteousness, in fountains, From hill to valley flow. 4: Kings shall fall down before Him, And gold and incense bring; All nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing; For He shall have dominion O’er river, sea and shore, Far as the eagle’s pinion Or dove’s light wing can soar. 5: For Him shall prayer unceasing And daily vows ascend; His kingdom still increasing, A kingdom without end: The mountain dews shall nourish A seed in weakness sown, Whose fruit shall spread and flourish And shake like Lebanon. 6: O’er every foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest; From age to age more glorious, All blessing and all blest. The tide of time shall never His covenant remove; His name shall stand forever, His name to us is Love. Prayers of Approach, Confession, Forgiveness Lord, we come to you today, in the darkest months of the year, as people surrounded by light. The light that shines from your son, Jesus Christ We lift our hearts and voices in praise and worship Hear our prayer Forgive us when we stray into the darkness At times it is hard for us to find your light, As we stumble and fall Allow us to be guided, as the Magi were, out of the darkness and into your light. Lord, hear our prayer Allow us to follow the pathway of Christ To not be blinded, but to be led in the teachings show to us Let us be your example here on earth For all to see, that they too may follow Lord, hear our prayer May we always be guided by your words Should we be tempted to stray, as Herod was, Let us be reminded of the leadership shown to us through Christ Guiding us back onto the righteous path Lord, hear our prayer Forgive us when we place more importance on the gifts we bring Than on the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit Settle our restless minds and provide us with patience Filling our hearts with love and kindness Lord, hear our prayer Allow us time to contemplate the true meaning of epiphany The realisation that Christ is your true son The light to our dark world Our guide and saviour And in this time and place, hear us now Lord, as we say together the prayer taught to us by your son.. Our father who art in heaven…. Prayer of Illumination Open our eyes Lord, that we may see your light Open our ears Lord, that we may hear your voice Open our hearts Lord, that we may understand your teachings Open our mouths Lord, that we may share your work with others. Amen Matthew 2: 1-12 In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”’ Then Herod secretly called for the wise men[e] and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped,[g] they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road. Magi - We Knew it Would be worth it We knew it would be worth it the moment we saw the star, worth the hassle, worth the effort, worth the sacrifice. But there were times when we wondered, I can tell you! As we laboured over those dusty barren tracks, as we watched fearfully for bandits in the mountains, as the sun beat down without a break, and still no sign of an end to it, we wondered, all too often. We asked ourselves whether we’d got to wrong, misread the signs. We argued over whether we’d taken the wrong turning somewhere along the way. We questioned the wisdom of carrying on as the days dragged by. And when finally we got to Jerusalem only to find his own people had no idea what was going on, then we really became worried. Quite astonishing - the biggest event in their history, and they didn’t even realise it was happening! Thankfully they looked it up, eventually, somewhere in one of their old prophets, and we knew where to go then. It was all there in writing if only they’d taken the trouble to look - God knows why they couldn’t see it! Anyway we made it at last, tired, sore and hungry, but we made it. And it was worth it, more than we had ever imagined, for in that child was a different sort of king, a different sort of kingdom, from any we’d ever encountered before. As much our ruler as theirs, as much our kingdom as anyone’s. So we didn’t just present our gifts to him, we didn’t just make the customary gestures of acknowledgement. We fell down and worshipped him. Can you imagine that? Grown men, respected, wealthy, important, kneeling before a toddler. Yet it seemed so natural, the most natural response we could make, the only response that would do! Hymn Gaudete Bob Hurd Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus, ex Maria Virgine, Gaudete. Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus, ex Maria Virgine, Guadete. (Translation: Rejoice, rejoice, Christ is born of the Virgin Mary) Nature marvels at the sight, angels sing the glory, God becomes a little child, shepherds tell the story. 2: Hail Mary, ever blest, Mother of the promise. By your word the word the Word made flesh came to dwell among us. 3: With the wise men from the East, with the stars of Heaven, with the shepherds and the sheep, come, let us adore Him. 4: Now is born Emmanuel, now is come salvation. Sing we all noel, noel! Sing in exultation! Meditation of the Magi Well, we made it at last. After all the setbacks, all the frustration, we finally found the one we were looking for - our journey over, the quest completed. And I can't tell you how relieved we were. You see, we'd begun to fear we'd be too late, the time for celebration long since past by the time we eventually arrived. It was that business in Jerusalem which caused the delay, all the waiting while Herod and his entourage rummaged around trying to discover what we were on about. They were unsettled for some reason, taken aback, it seemed, by the news we brought, apparently unaware a king had been born among them. A rival claimant, they must have thought, and who could tell what trouble that might stir up? Anyway, they pointed us in the right direction if nothing else, but we'd wasted time there we could ill afford, and although the star reappeared to lead us again we were almost falling over ourselves with haste by the time we reached Bethlehem. It was all quiet, just as we feared - no crowds, no family bustling around offering their congratulations, no throng of excited visitors, just an ordinary house - so ordinary we thought we'd gone to the wrong place. But we went in anyway, and the moment we saw the child, we knew he was the one - not just the King of the Jews, but a prince among princes, a ruler among rulers, a King of kings! We were late, much later than intended, the journey far more difficult than we ever expected, but it was worth the effort, worth struggling on, for, like they say, 'Better late than never!' Hymn The First Noel Anonymous 1833 The First Noel, the Angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter's night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel Born is the King of Israel! 2: They looked up and saw a star Shining in the East beyond them far And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night. 3: And by the light of that same star Three Wise men came from country far To seek for a King was their intent And to follow the star wherever it went. 4: This star drew nigh to the northwest O'er Bethlehem it took its rest And there it did both Pause and stay Right o'er the place where Jesus lay. 5: Then entered in those Wise men three Full reverently upon their knee And offered there in His presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense. 6: Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord That hath made Heaven and earth of nought And with his blood mankind has bought. Magi - Do you know what we gave him? Do you know what we gave him – that little boy in Bethlehem? Go on, have a guess! A rattle? A toy? A teddy bear? No, nothing like that! In fact, nothing you’d associate with a child at all, even if he was destined to be a king. Gold! That’s what I brought! And my companions? Wait for it! Frankincense and myrrh! Yes, I thought you’d be surprised, for, to tell the truth we’re pretty amazed ourselves, looking back, unable to imagine what on earth possessed us to choose such exotic and unusual gifts. It wasn’t so much that they were costly, though they were, of course - to a family like his they were riches beyond their dreams. But we could more than afford it - little more than small change to men of our means. No, it wasn’t the price that troubled us afterwards, but the associations, the possible meanings his parents might have read into our presents when we’d gone. Now the gold, there was a problem there - a gift fit for a king and designed to say as much, of course. But frankincense? Well, the main use his people have for that, as we learned later, is to sweeten their sacrifices, to pour out onto their burnt offerings so that the fragrance might be pleasing to their God. Hardly the most appropriate gift for a baby. But compared with myrrh! Don’t tell me you don’t know? It was a drug used to soothe pain, either for that or as a spice for embalming - more fitting for a funeral than a birth, having more to do with suffering and death than celebration! So what were we thinking of? What possible significance could gifts like those have for a little child? Frankly, I have no idea. Yet at the time the choice seemed as obvious to us as following the star, as though each were all part of some greater purpose which would one day become clear to all. Were we right? Well, after all I’ve said, I hope not, for if this king was born to die, to be offered in sacrifice rather than enthroned in splendour, then his must be an unusual kingdom, very different from most we come across - in fact, you might almost say, not a kingdom of this world at all! Hymn Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness J. S. B Monsell (1811 - 1875) O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Bow down before him, his glory proclaim; with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness, kneel and adore him: the Lord is his Name! 2: Low at his feet lay thy burden of carefulness, high on his heart he will bear it for thee, and comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness, guiding thy steps as may best for thee be. 3: Fear not to enter his courts in the slenderness of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine; for truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness, these are the offerings to lay on his shrine. 4: These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness, he will accept for the Name that is dear; mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness, trust for our trembling and hope for our fear. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! bow down before him, his glory proclaim; with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness, kneel and adore him: the Lord is his Name! Affirmation of Faith Out of Israel, God in due time raised up Jesus. His faith and obedience were the response of the perfect child of God. He was the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel, the beginning of the new creation, and the pioneer of the new humanity. He gave history its meaning and direction and called the Church to be his servant for the reconciliation of the world. Intercessions We join together now in our prayers for others, let us pray: Lord God, In this Season of Epiphany, shine your light upon us, Into the recesses of our spirits, into those places where we experience anxiety, depression, fear and despair. We ask today, that you lift up in particular all among us who are struggling. And in this time of silence, we bring those who we love into your light…. Shine your light upon us, into those places of conflict and tension, within our families, in our friendships, in our work and community relationships. May your light be a healing balm, bringing with it forgiveness and reconciliation. Shine your light upon us, Across the common human ties that bind all people together Neighbour and stranger, friend and enemy alike. In your light, remind us that we are all created In your image, unique and beloved by you. Shine your light upon our country and its leaders That they may govern justly and wisely, showing empathy for all. Taking into account the needs and concerns not just of the most wealthy and powerful, But especially of those who are poor, those who struggle with physical and mental illness, Those who are forgotten and forsaken. Shine your light on all the places around this world Where violence and war are found: For all people who are living in daily fear for their lives. With your light bring peace to those who languish In fear, violence and despair. We thank you for the light that shines The light that we see in the glory and wonder of your creation, In the snowy mountain tops and cold frosty valleys. Thank you for the light that shines through our community and its members, young and old, who remind us of your presence in tears and laughter, teaching and learning, order and disruption, work and play. Shine your light upon us. Around us, And within us, That we, too may be a light to the world. Amen. Offertory As of old when gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were offered to the Christ Child, so we bring our gifts to You, O God. As you revealed yourself of old, we pray that these gifts will aid others see you now in the life of the Church. Help us always to give ourselves, our talents and our treasure to you. Amen. Hymn We Three Kings Of Orient Are John Henry Hopkins Jr. 1872 We three kings of Orient are Bearing gifts we traverse afar Field and fountain, moor and mountain Following yonder star O Star of wonder, star of night Star with royal beauty bright Westward leading, still proceeding Guide us to thy Perfect Light 2: Born a King on Bethlehem's plain Gold I bring to crown Him again King forever, ceasing never Over us all to reign 3: Frankincense to offer have I Incense owns a Deity nigh Prayer and praising, all folk raising Worship Him, God most high 4: Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes of life of gathering gloom Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying Sealed in the stone-cold tomb 5: Glorious now behold Him arise King and God and Sacrifice Alleluia, Alleluia Earth to heav'n replies Blessing Lord Fill us today with the light of Christ, That we may feel his love and guidance In our words and deeds throughout the coming week So that we may shine his light for all to see. May the illumination of God’s words fill our hearts, May the light of Christ shine into our lives And may the brilliance of the Holy Spirit guide us along our path. Amen Closing Music - Handel’s Sarabande Sources Meditations by Nick Fawcett from his Reflective Services for Advent and Christmas (C) 2001 Nick Fawcett. Published by Kevin Mayhew Ltd. Opening Music: Arrival of the Queen of Sheba ( performed by Bela Banfalvi © Warner Chappell, Warner Chappell, UNIAO BRASILEIRA DE EDITORAS DE MUSICA - UBEM, UMPG Publishing,) Hail to the Lord’s Anointed- James Montgomery- Sung by Phil & Lythan Nevard Gaudete- © Bob Hurd OCP Publications 1996- Sung by Portsmouth Cathedral Choir The First Noel- Anonymous 1833- Sung by Kings’ College Cambridge Choir Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness- J. S. B Monsell (1811 - 1875)- (Choir of Christ Church St. Laurence from the album "What Sweeter Music") We Three Kings- John Henry Hopkins Jr. 1872- Sung by Kings’ College Cambridge Choir Closing Music: Handel’s Sarabande (The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Entertainment One U.S., LP (on behalf of Silva Screen Records); UMPG Publishing. Thanks to Dan Morrell, Andy Braunston, Victoria Turner, Reuben Watt, Rachel Harvey, Lesley Thomson, John Young, Rameez Birkat and Johnson Olubenga Awe for reading the spoken parts of the service. Where words are copyright reproduced under the terms of Barrhead URC’s CCLI licence number 1064776, Some material reprinted, and streamed, with permission under ONE LICENSE A-734713 All rights reserved. PRS Limited Online Music Licence LE-0019762 Copyright © 2021 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
Text for URC audio service for 3rd ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Saturday, January 2. 2021Joining arrangements for Ian & Julie's Zoom service for 3rd January 2021
Happy New Year to you all.
For those joining on Zoom the joining details are as follows. This will be a Communion service. Ian and Julie are inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Ian and Julie’s Zoom service Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3540351038... Meeting ID: 354 035 1038 Passcode: 717837 With best wishes Ian & Julie
Joining arrangements for Ian & ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Saturday, January 2. 2021Text for Ian & Julie's Zoom service for Sunday 3rd January 2021
Service for 3rd January 2021
May the God of Christmas and of new beginnings meet us. Let us lift our hearts to God, who makes all things, including us, new. Let’s join our hearts to worship the One who gives us new life And who continues to surprise us with hope and grace. Hymn – O little town of Bethlehem… 1 O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee to-night. 2 O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth and praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth; for Christ is born of Mary; and, gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love. 3 How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given! so God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming; but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in. 4 O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell: O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel. Phillips Brooks (1835-1893) Prayer God of wisdom and truth, at the end of this year full of unknowns, we look back and we look forward. In the year that has passed we experienced joy and we experienced sorrow; we felt blessed and we felt challenged. Some things went by much too fast, and some things lingered for far too long. We are reminded that you are present through it all. We are reminded that we are never alone. We are reminded that nothing can separate us from your love. So as we carry Christmas into the new year, we pause to reflect on the year passed. We remember the things for which we are most thankful. We recall the moments we were the happiest. We consider the times we felt most alive. We call to mind the times we gave and received the most love. We are grateful, God, that you were present in those times. We also remember the things from this past year which have left us bemused. We recall the moments we were anxious or overwhelmed. We consider the times we felt that life may never be as we once knew it. We call to mind the times when we least felt loved . We are grateful, God, that you were present in those times too. Gracious God, at the beginning of a new year, we also look forward to the year to come. We trust that you will be with us still, when we are thankful and when we are not; when we are happy and when we are sad; when we feel alive and when we feel drained; when we give and receive love and when we do not. God, the world we live in feels unsettled, unfamiliar and challenging. Yet, God, you are with us always – and the light of your love can never be extinguished. So give us grace and give us courage to be true to ourselves and to you as we navigate the imperfect world. Remind us always of the promise of your kingdom, emerging around us and through us. May we be troubled by injustice and be moved to act. May we be led by compassion and be moved to serve. May we be a living example of your gracious love, not only in word but in deed. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. God of justice and forgiveness, we confess that we live in a world in which some are hungry even for bread, many people are sad or hurt, and there is much that is unfair and unjust. We confess that in our own lives we do not always do what is right or turn away from what is wrong. We ask your forgiveness, we claim your love and mercy, and we ask for courage to make a new beginning. In the name of Jesus Christ. Jesus said, ‘Your sins are forgiven’. Amen. John 1:1-18 The Word Became Flesh 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life,[a] and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.[b] 10 He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to what was his own,[c] and his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son,[d] full of grace and truth. 15 (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”) 16 From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son,[e] who is close to the Father’s heart,[f] who has made him known. Hymn – O holy night… 1. O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Saviour's birth! Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees and hear the angel voices, O night divine, O night when Christ was born. O night divine, O night when Christ was born. Placide Cappeau (1808-1877) translated by John Sullivan Dwight (1813-1893) How was your Christmas? Was it quieter than normal? It is a question I have asked and been asked over the last few days. However, while I understand what is being asked I also hear an underlying assumption that Christmas is over. You may be wondering why I’m still thinking about Christmas rather than moving on, wishing you all a happy and more importantly heathy 2021? My answer to that is that we are still in the season of Christmas, we are today (Sunday) on day ten of twelve. I know, with all the secular hype, advertising etc, we could be forgiven for feeling as if it’s been happening for weeks! It is the same assumption that underlies the birthday wishes to Jesus. “Happy birthday Jesus” suggests that Christmas is the celebration of a past event, an anniversary. It is the reason why in at least a few homes the tree has already been taken down, the decorations packed away for another year, and the leftovers thrown out. I raise these points not as a criticism or judgment but, in recognition that we are event driven people. We tend to live our lives from one event to the next. If you don’t think so, take a look at your calendar. It is a schedule of events. Our days are full of events and if there is a day or two with no scheduled events then we say things like, “Nothing is going on that day,” or “I am not doing anything that day,” as if there is no life, nothing to learn or discover, nothing to experience on those days. How different is John’s understanding of Christmas, life, and humanity. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. This, for John, is the Christmas story and it is set in the context of creation, “In the beginning.” Creation is not an event of the past but the ongoing life of God with his people. John echoes and continues the Genesis story of creation, “In the beginning God said, ‘Let there be…’ and there was….” Land, sky, vegetation, living creatures from the water, birds of the air, living creatures from the earth, and humankind made in the image and likeness of God. Christmas is God continuing to give life to his people. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” Christmas, says St. Gregory of Nyssa, is the “festival of re-creation.” It is God giving God’s own life to his people. It is as if God said, “I want humanity to see my face. I want them to hear my voice. I want them to touch me. I want them to smell my sweat. I want them to eat my body. I want to live their life. I want them to live my life.” “And the word became flesh and lived among us.” This is God in the flesh, the divine human, holy humanity. This festival of re-creation is God’s celebration of humanity. It is God entrusting God’s self to human beings, to you and to me. It is God’s reaffirmation of humanity’s goodness. It is the sharing and exchanging of life between God and you and me. That’s why the early church could say that God became human so that humanity might become God. The Son of God became the son of man so that the sons of men might become sons of God. Divinity was clothed in humanity so that humanity might clothed in divinity. How beautiful is that? Imagine what that means for us. It means we are holy and intended to be holy, not as an achievement on our own but as a gift of God. This is the gift of Christmas. We have been given the power to become children of God. This happens not by blood, or the will of the flesh, or the will of people, but by God. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” God sees humanity as the opportunity and the means to reveal himself. Yet far too often we use our humanity as an excuse. “I’m only human,” we declare, as if we are somehow deficient. We fail to see, to believe, to understand that in the Word becoming flesh and living among us we are God’s first sacrament. Human beings are the tangible, outward, and visible signs and carriers of God’s inward and spiritual presence. It may well be difficult to take this on board following a year where the limitations of being able to live ‘fully’ has felt restricted, maybe the challenge for us is as we celebrate the vaccine but also recognise the need to protect each other we need to find new and inventive ways to show the God within each of us to a world that so desperately needs that presence. It wont be easy, if Jesus himself wasn’t recognised and then rejected by his own. I don’t however believe that it is impossible. We can continue to quietly be alongside folk, recognising where there is need. Let’s look at the new year as a time to walk forward recognising God is before us, behind us and beside us. Have you ever thought of yourself as a sacrament? Have you ever looked at someone across the street and said, “Hey, look! There is the sacramental image of God?” Why not? Why do we not see that in ourselves and each other? After all, “The Word became flesh and lived among us.” In the Jewish tradition that rabbis tell a story that each person has a procession of angels going before them and crying out, “Make way for the image of God.” Imagine how different our lives and world would be if we lived with this as our reality and the truth that guided our lives. Everywhere we go the angels go with us announcing the coming of the image of God and reminding us of who or even whose we are. That is the truth of Christmas for us. It is also the Christmas truth for the person living next door, for those we love, for those we fear, for those who are like us and those who are different, for the stranger, and for our enemies. “And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” The implications are profound. It changes how we see ourselves and one another, the way we live, our actions, and our words. It means that Christmas cannot be limited to an event. Christmas is a life to be lived, a way of being. It means that Christmas is more properly understood as a verb rather than a noun. So maybe we should stop asking, “How was your Christmas?” Instead we should be asking, “How are you ‘Christmassing?’” Are you recognizing the Word become flesh in your own life? Are you recognizing the Word become flesh in the lives of others? Do you see the procession of angels and hear their voices? “And the Word became flesh and lived among us.” The Word became flesh and has never ceased living among us. The Word became flesh and will never cease living among us. So make way. Wherever you go. Whatever you are doing. Whoever you are with. Make way for the image of God. Christmas your way through life. Amen Hymn - Born in the night, Mary’s child… 1 Born in the night, Mary's Child, A long way from your home; Coming in need, Mary's Child, Born in a borrowed room. 2 Clear shining light, Mary's Child, Your face lights up our way; Light of the world, Mary's Child, Dawn on our darkened day. 3 Truth of our life, Mary's Child, You tell us God is good; Prove it is true, Mary's Child, Go to your cross of wood. 4 Hope of the world, Mary's Child, You're coming soon to reign; King of the earth, Mary's Child, Walk in our streets again. Geoffrey Ainger (1925-2013) Invitation to Communion Jesus was often a guest. He shared many meals with his friends, and they long remembered his words at the table. Though some disapproved of the company he kept, Jesus ate and drank with all kinds of people and showed everyone the love of God. Wherever people met together Jesus was glad to be welcomed and to be fed. Today, we are the guests of Jesus. He welcomes us, whoever we are and whatever we bring, and he will feed us at his table. Old or young, rich or poor, joyful or in sorrow, Jesus invites us to share bread and wine with him, to remember the story of his life and death, and to celebrate his presence with us today. On the night before he died, Jesus shared a meal with twelve of his disciples in an upstairs room in Jerusalem. The Gospel writer Mark, tells us what happened that night. While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body’. Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I tell you, I will never again drink the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.’ We are the friends and disciples of Jesus today. It is He that invites us to break bread together, to remember him and to pray that God’s Kingdom will come. Let’s pray. Loving God, the world you made is beautiful and full of wonder. You made us, with all your creatures, and you love all that you have made. You gave us the words of your prophets, the stories of your people through the generations, and the gathered wisdom of many years. You gave us Jesus, your Son, to be born and to grow up in difficult times when there was little peace. He embraced people with your love and told stories to change us all. He healed those in pain and brought to life those who had lost hope. He made friends with anyone who would listen and loved even his enemies. For these things, he suffered. For these things, he died. And he was raised from death and lives with you forever. You give us your Holy Spirit, to teach and to strengthen us, to remind us of Jesus Christ, and to make us one in him. For all these gifts we thank you, and we join with all your people on earth and in heaven, in joyful praise: Amen And now, Send your Holy Spirit upon this bread and wine, and upon your people, that Christ may be with us, and we may be made ready to live for you and to do what you ask of us, today, and every day to come. We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit, in the love of the Creator, one God in three. Sharing of the feast Let us pray. Loving God, you have fed us generously at this table, as we have remembered Jesus and rejoiced that he is with us today. We are ready now to follow him, and to be your people in the world. May your Holy Spirit show us the way, make us holy and fill us with love. Quiet – for reflection …… We pray for the Church, for the great Church throughout the world, and for our own church community gathered today for worship and prayer. May we remember Jesus every day, grow in understanding of him, and learn to love you and our neighbours. Fill us with your Spirit, and make us people of peace, of faithful prayer and loving action. Quiet – for reflection …… We pray for the whole world; for the people, the animals, the earth, the sea and the air. May all that you have made be sustained in peace and harmony, and may all your creatures share in the goodness of creation. Bring healing to all who are suffering, and may all your people share in the love that came at Christmas. Quiet – for reflection …… We pray for ourselves, for our families and our friends, for all those we love and for those we find it hard to love. May young and old respect one another, and the generations honour one another. May nothing divide us or come between us, but let your love bind us in affection. Bless us with your peace, that together we may praise you forever. Amen Hymn – Thou didn’t leave thy throne………… 1 Thou didst leave thy throne and thy kingly crown, when thou camest to earth for me; but in Bethlehem's home was there found no room for thy holy nativity: O come to my heart, Lord Jesus; there is room in my heart for thee. 2 Heaven's arches rang when the angels sang, proclaiming thy royal degree; but in lowly birth didst thou come to earth, and in great humility: Refrain 3 The foxes found rest, and the bird had its nest in the shade of the cedar tree; but thy couch was the sod, O thou Son of God, in the desert of Galilee: Refrain 4 Thou camest, O Lord, with the living word that should set thy people free; but with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn they bore thee to Calvary: Refrain 5 When heaven's arches shall ring, and the angels sing, at thy coming to victory, let thy voice call me home, saying, 'Yet there is room, there is room at my side for thee:' Refrain Emily E S Elliott (1836-1897) The Shepherds went back rejoicing, The Magi went home by a different route, Mary and Joseph found themselves facing danger as refugees! However or wherever you are…… The blessing of God be upon you, the One who loves you, the Word who calls you, the Spirit who makes you holy, today and always. Amen
Text for Ian & Julie's Zoom ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Saturday, December 26. 2020Joining arrangements for Ian & Julie's Zoom service for 27th December 2020
Dear all,
Ian and Julie are inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Ian and Julie’s Zoom service Time: 11.00am on Sunday 27th December 2020 Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3540351038?pwd=Ti9Wb3F6N2h1amRtb0FzWVg5WFYzQT09 Meeting ID: 354 035 1038 Passcode 717837
Joining arrangements for Ian & ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Sunday, December 13. 2020Link for URC audio service for 13th December 2020
URC audio service 131220
Link for URC audio service for 13th ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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Sunday, December 13. 2020Text for URC audio service for 13th December 2020
Order of Service
Below you will find the Order of Service, prayers, hymns and sermon for today's service. You can either simply read this or you can click here to listen to the service and sing along with the hymns. This will open up a new screen, at the bottom of the screen you will see a play symbol. Press that, then come back to this window so you can follow along with the service. URC Daily Devotions Worship for 13th December 2020 Advent 3 – The Two Comings Opening Music And Who May Abide the Day of His Coming (Messiah) But who may abide the Day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appeareth? Who shall stand when he appeareth? But who may abide, but who may abide the Day of His coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? And who shall stand when He appeareth? When He appeareth? For He is like a refiner's fire…. Introduction Hello and welcome again to this Daily Devotion service. Our special services for Advent pick up the great themes of the season and today we look back and we look forward. We remember Jesus, born into poverty and exile, wrapped in a woman’s blood and laid in a feeding trough for cattle. …but we also look forward to the Christ who shall come again in glory. We listen again to the words of Scripture that speak of God’s promise, of the Word made flesh and we recall the voice crying in the wilderness praying the way of the Lord. We come to hear God speak to us, so open your ears and your eyes, your minds and your hearts and pray that God will fill your souls with the living presence of Jesus Christ. Call to Worship We wait for the Lord and in His word we hope. We wait for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning This is no darkness in you, O Lord. O people, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love. and with God is plenteous redemption. There is no darkness in you, O Lord. Glory be to God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, There is no darkness in you, O Lord. Come let us worship Hymn The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came Basque Carol, translated by Sabine Sbaring-Gould 1 The angel Gabriel from heaven came His wings as drifted snow his eyes as flame "All hail" said he "thou lowly maiden Mary, Most highly favoured lady," Gloria! 2 "For know a blessed mother thou shalt be, All generations laud and honor thee, Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold Most highly favoured lady," Gloria! 3 Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head "To me be as it pleaseth God," she said, "My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name." Most highly favoured lady. Gloria! 4 Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say: "Most highly favoured lady," Gloria! Prayers of Approach, Confession and Forgiveness Lord, We come together for prayer, praise and worship today, Away from the growing crescendo of the world at this time of advent Away from the sparkling lights and festive celebrations To the peace and fellowship we find when we come together to praise you. Lord, bring us back to the time of your son’s arrival, Away from the expectations of our world today, Forgive us when we forget the message you delivered during the birth of Christ Jesus Still our minds and bring our hearts back to your word. Grant us understanding when we hear about the annunciation, Place us in Mary’s shoes and allow the comprehension of her situation, There may have been times when we have judged or gossiped about others Forgive our pettiness and grant us compassion and empathy. There are times when we have doubt and anger against those we love, we want to run away from it all, From the harsh words of others, from the misunderstanding stares. Give us the strength and understanding to be there for each other Even in our darkest of times, allow us the gracious understanding of Joseph. Forgive the sharp words we use, the preconceived notions we attached, Before we have even taken the time to listen or understand others. Help us to be more like Elizabeth, joyous and happy with the great news from Mary, Give us the grace to see the good in others, to share in their happiness and their sorrow. At times we are swift to judge and slow to act. Leaving things that we could do today till tomorrow. Like Matthew, help us Lord, to change our ways today, rather than talking, preaching and praying, we should show our compassion in our interactions with all those we meet in the world from today onwards. Lead us Lord in the way of your son, as we join together now in the words he taught us, saying: Our Father, Who art in heaven…… Amen Prayer of Illumination God, We come today with our head and hearts open to your words and wisdom Allow us to hear your voice and understand the message you are giving Amen St Luke 1: 26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her. Meditation of Mary Why me? That’s what I kept on asking myself. Why me? I mean, it was obvious what people were going to say, wasn’t it? The sly looks, the knowing grins, the wagging tongues. And Joseph? Well, he really hit the roof. Furious he was, and who can blame him? If we’d been married it would have been different, but engaged – it was bound to cause a scandal. And it hurt, more than anyone will know; I never realised people could be so cruel. I didn’t even want a baby, that’s what made it worse; it was the last thing on my mind. I was still young, not ready for that kind of responsibility, wanting to enjoy life a little. I could have done without those sleepless nights, the endless washing, the countless extra demands. And believe me, it didn’t get any easier. Well, it never does, does it? I’ll never forget how he disappeared like that on the way back from Jerusalem – a right old panic he had us in. But was he sorry? Well, if he was he had a funny way of showing it. ‘You should have known where to find me,’ he said – ‘My Father’s house, where else?’ Cheeky monkey! And then, just when life was plodding along nicely, back on an even keel, he went swanning off into the wilderness to be baptised. Oh, I know he had to make his own way, don’t get me wrong, but I couldn’t help feeling he was getting mixed up in something dangerous. And so it proved. we could all see it coming, all except him apparently. He said the wrong things to the wrong people in the wrong places, and there could only be one result. It nearly broke my heart to watch it – my beautiful boy, broken and bleeding, struggling with that cross, hanging in agony. But then he looked down, not at the rest of them but at me. And in his eyes was such love, such care, such tenderness! I saw suddenly the eyes of God looking at me through the eyes of my child, and I asked myself then, as I’d asked so many times before, yet differently this time, so very differently: Why me? Why me? Hymn Meekness and Majesty Graham Kendrick Meekness and majesty, manhood and deity in perfect harmony the Man who is God; Lord of eternity dwells in humanity kneels in humility and washes our feet. O what a mystery, meekness and majesty. Bow down and worship for this is your God. This is your God 2: Father's pure radiance perfect in innocence yet learns obedience to death on a cross. Suffering to give us life conquering through sacrifice and as they crucify prays “Father forgive.” 3: Wisdom unsearchable, God the invisible; love indestructible in frailty appears. Lord of infinity, stooping so tenderly, lifts our humanity to the heights of His throne. St Matthew 1: 18-19 Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. The Meditation of Joseph. I didn’t know what to think, Not when she first told me – My sweet, innocent Mary, pregnant! I suppose I should’ve been angry, And I was later, Extremely! But that wasn’t my first reaction; It was shock, more like, Disbelief, An inability to take it in. You see, I couldn’t just see her playing around, deceiving me behind my back – not Mary. Other girls perhaps, But she wasn’t like them; I’d have trusted her with my life if necessary. So when she started chattering on about this angel, About being with child by the Holy Spirit, Do you know what, I listened! No, honestly, I did! Maybe that sounds daft, But I couldn’t just believe she was making it all up, Inventing an excuse to get her off the hook. And, let’s face it, if it were an excuse it was a pretty lame one; I mean, when’s the last time you saw an angel? Precisely. But if I took it calmly at first, It wasn’t long before the doubts set in, the questions that couldn’t be answered, the niggling voices that wouldn’t go away. And in no time suspicion had grown into something worse – Resentment, Bitterness, Condemnation. I’d have called off the engagement, there’s no doubt about that; much as I liked the girl, there was simply no way a man in my position could countenance going through with it, not if I wanted to keep any semblance of respectability. She was tarnished, according to law anyway, her purity soiled; and if I took no notice the village gossips would soon put their heads together and decide I had done the tarnishing – too impatient to wait until the goods had been paid for. So that was it. My mind was made up. It was just a question of finding the right words at the right time, Breaking it as gently as I could. Only then I had a dream, almost a vision you might say it was, looking back, so powerfully did it speak to me. Suddenly it was me seeing angels, not Mary, it was me hearing the voice of God instead of her; and it was the same message, the same story – the child she carried, born of God, his gift to humankind, the one who would redeem his people. Did I believe it? Well, I suppose I must have done, in a way. I married her after all, despite the snide remarks, the wagging tongues. Maybe, of course, I wanted to marry her anyway, or just didn’t want to hurt her. Maybe I simply liked the thought of being a dad, and wanted to believe that story of hers, incredible though it seemed. To be truthful there were probably all kinds of reasons behind my decision; yet perhaps it’s through such things as those, our everyday thoughts and feelings, just as much through dreams and visions, that God chooses to speak to us. Perhaps through these most of all. Hymn Earth Was Waiting, Spent and Restless Walter C. Smith 1824 - 1908 Earth was waiting, spent and restless, with a mingled hope and fear, faithful men and women praying, 'Surely, Lord, the day is near: the Desire of all the nations — it is time he should appear!' 2 Then the Spirit of the Highest to a virgin meek came down, and he burdened her with blessing, and he pained her with renown; for she bore the Lord's anointed for his cross and for his crown. 3 Earth has groaned and laboured for him since the ages first began, for in him was hid the secret which through all the ages ran — Son of Mary, Son of David, Son of God, and Son of Man. St Luke 1: 39-43 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? Meditation of Elizabeth My baby jumped for joy, I swear it! Oh I know you often feel them kicking, and you may well say it was only shuffling about in the womb, but this was different, I'm positive. It was the first time I’d ever felt it move for a start, a wild lurch as Mary approached, almost as if it knew even then she was carrying the child who would shape its life. Yes, I know that sounds ridiculous, and I wouldn't have given it another thought myself – I'm not usually given to romanticising. But you see, when I saw Mary coming, I knew something special had happened, something quite out of the ordinary. I realised she was pregnant for one thing, but then we women do spot those things, don't we? Not that it was showing yet, mind you, but it was there in her eyes, in her expression, in the spring in her step, just as it had been in mine a few months earlier. I knew, and I ran to embrace her, sharing her joy. Yet there was more to it than that, I could feel it in my bones even before she began to speak. I could sense that her child would be different, not just from mine but from every child, born to set us free, the fulfilment of our hopes, the answer to our prayers. You think that's over the top? Well, I may have over-reacted, I accept that, let my imagination rim away with me. I'd been a bit on edge, it's true, ever since that queer business with Zechariah – that day before I conceived when he came back from the temple, eyes staring, shaking his head in disbelief, unable to say a word until after John was born. It got me down, I don't mind admitting it, and yes, perhaps I was a little overwrought, perhaps just plain excited. But I still say it, despite what anyone may think — my child leaped in my womb, positively jumped for joy! Hymn Hark the Glad Sound the Saviour Comes Philip Doddridge, 1735 Hark, the glad sound! The Saviour comes, the Saviour promised long! Let ev'ry heart prepare a throne, and ev'ry voice a song. 2 He comes the captives to release, in Satan’s prison held; the gates of brass before Him burst, the iron fetters yield. 3 He comes the broken heart to bind, the bleeding soul to cure, and with the treasures of His grace, t'enrich the humbled poor. 4 Our glad Hosannas, Prince of Peace, Thy welcome shall proclaim; and heav'n’s eternal arches ring, with Thy beloved Name. St John 19: 25-27 Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, here is your son.’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. 19 Meditation of Matthew He would come again, that as he had departed so he would return. And we believed him, totally, without reserve or hesitation. It was what kept us going, that promise, the one thing that gave us strength to battle on through thick and thin. Yet sometimes, just occasionally, I catch myself wondering whether we should look forward; whether it will all be so cosy, so comfortable, as we sometimes seem to imagine. You see, I can’t help remembering those words of his, about the sheep and the goats, about the final judgement - so simple, so straightforward, yet so chilling in their implications: “I was hungry, and you fed me, thirsty, and you gave me a drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked, sick, imprisoned, and you were there to help.” That’s what he said - through serving these, even the very least of them, you serve me. It sounds good, doesn’t it? The sort of message we like to hear. Yet sometimes those words disturb me, for I can’t help asking, “Which am I?” Oh, I know which I’d like to be, stands to reason! And I know which I should be, all too well. But if I’m honest, really truthful with myself, I fear I’m more often a goat than a sheep. I saw the plight of the hungry, but it was me I worried about feeding. I heard the cry of the thirsty, but it was my own need I satisfied. I spotted the loneliness of the stranger, but wasn’t sure I could trust them. I was told about the naked, but it was I who got the new clothes. I glimpsed the despair of the sick, but was afraid to risk infection. I knew some were denied their freedom, but was reluctant to get involved. Not now I told them; next time I’ll do something, next time I’ll help - God will understand. But will he, that’s the question? I’ve been good at talking, good at preaching, good at praying, and in faithfulness at worship I have few peers. Yet when I recall those words of Jesus and measure them against his life, sometimes I find myself almost hoping he doesn’t come back, for if he does and judgment comes, even though I’ve called him Lord, it maybe me at whom he points the finger, and me he says he never even knew. Affirmation of Faith It is not true that creation and the human family are doomed to destruction and loss— This is true: For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life; It is not true that we must accept inhumanity and discrimination, hunger and poverty, death and destruction— This is true: I have come that they may have life, and that abundantly. It is not true that violence and hatred should have the last word, and that war and destruction rule forever— This is true: Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder, his name shall be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, the Everlasting, the Prince of peace. It is not true that we are simply victims of the powers of evil who seek to rule the world— This is true: To me is given authority in heaven and on earth, and lo I am with you, even until the end of the world. It is not true that we have to wait for those who are specially gifted, who are the prophets of the Church before we can be peacemakers— This is true: I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions and your old men shall have dreams. It is not true that our hopes for liberation of humankind, of justice, of human dignity, of peace are not meant for this earth and for this history— This is true: The hour comes, and it is now, that the true worshipers shall worship God in spirit and in truth. Intercessions Let us join together in our prayer for others, let us pray: Lord We offer our prayers for the world and the people we share your gracious creation with, For those who are suffering in silence and for those crying out in the darkness. May we no longer ignore their cries of pain, But yearn to offer our shoulders to share their burdens We pray for those who have experienced the harsh words of others, The doubting stares and snippy remarks of people that don’t really know them. Help us to understand their hardships and show our care for their pain We hold in our hearts those who are feeling confused, or misunderstood, Who feel like they have nowhere to turn and no one to listen to them Allow us to offer our ears with kindness and compassion. We pray for the lost, those who can find no love or compassion for their situation, Let us offer your words of care and understanding, sharing your scriptures of praise and wonder, allowing them to find their own path to you. For those who want to share their joy but don’t have anyone to talk too, Let us be the ones to see their smiles, to feel the sunshine of their happiness And to be with them in their time of wonder and delight Lord, in this time of quietness, we also pray for those closer to us who at this time Are suffering and struggling, who crave an understanding ear and open heart to listen (time of silent contemplation) Allow us Lord, to be there for those who are in need within our lives and communities at this time Making changes in our world today and not waiting for tomorrow. In your name we pray, now and always Amen Offertory and Prayer From the earliest days of the Jewish people it has been taught that we are blessed by God so that we may be a blessing to others. God doesn’t bless us just for our own good but always so that we take our blessings, our gifts, our talents, our money and use them for His greater good so that we may be a source of blessing. As the hymn puts it, From God’s great store new born worlds rise to adore, but these new born world, ideas, and people arise to bless through the blessing we pass on to them. Will you pray with me? God of blessing, we thank you for your many gifts to us, help us always to return to you some of what you give us, that we may be a source of blessing to others, Amen. Hymn Hills of the North Rejoice Charles Oakley (altered) Hills of the North, rejoice; River and mountain spring, Hark to the advent voice; Valley and lowland, sing; Christ comes in righteousness and love He salvation from above. 2: Isles of the southern seas, sing to the listening earth, carry on every breeze, hope of a world’s new birth: in Christ shall all be made anew His word is sure, His promise true. 3: Lands of the East, arise, He is your brightest morn; greet Him with joyous eyes, praise shall His path adorn. The God whom you have longed to know, in Christ draws near and calls you now. 4: Shores of the utmost West, land of the setting sun, welcome the heavenly guest, in whom the dawn has come; He brings a never ending light, who triumphed o’er our darkest night. 5: Shout, while ye journey home; Songs be in every mouth; Lo, from the North we come, From East, and West, and South. In Jesus all shall find their rest, in Him the Universe be blest! Blessing Be people of joy. Let joy live in your heart and share the joy of Christ with all you meet. Share joy by seeing the good in each other. Share joy by remembering good times and hoping for good times to come. Share joy by praying for our world. In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share joy. As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations, share joy, peace, and hope with those you meet. Amen. Closing Music Believe- by Mumford and Sons You may call it in this evening But you've only lost the night Present all your pretty feelings May they comfort you tonight And I'm climbing over something And I'm running through these walls I don't even know if I believe I don't even know if I believe I don't even know if I believe Everything you're trying to say to me I had the strangest feeling Your world's not all it seems So tired of misconceiving What else this could've been I don't even know if I believe I don't even know if I believe I don't even know if I believe Everything you're trying to say to me So open up my eyes Tell me I'm alive This is never gonna go our way If I'm gonna have to guess what's on your mind Say something, say something Something like you love me Less you want to move away From the noise of this place Well I don't even know if I believe I don't even know if I believe I don't even know if I wanna believe Everything you're trying to say to me So open up my eyes Tell me I'm alive This is never gonna go our way If I'm gonna have to guess what's on your mind So open up my eyes Tell me I'm alive This is never gonna go our way If I'm gonna have to guess what's on your mind References Opening Music- And Who May Abide the Day of His Coming (Messiah) Hilary Summers and the Brandenburg Consort. Meditations by Nick Fawcett from his Reflective Services for Advent and Christmas (C) 2001 Nick Fawcett. Published by Kevin Mayhew Ltd. Call to worship- The Worship Resource Book Affirmation of Faith- Daniel Berrigan, S.J. in Testimony: The Word Made Flesh, Orbis Books, 2004. Closing Music- Believe by Mumford and Sons. Lyrics source: LyricFind Songwriters: Benjamin Walter David Lovett / Edward James Milton Dwane / Marcus Oliver Johnstone Mumford / Winston Aubrey Aladar Marshall Believe lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came- Basque Carol, translated by Sabine Baring-Gould. Performed by Kings College, Cambridge Choir. Meekness and Majesty- Graham Kendrick. Taken from BBC’s Songs of Praise. Earth was waiting spent at restless- Walter C Smith 1804 – 1908. Sung by Roberta Ritson, Northern Synod. Hills of the North Rejoice- Charles Oakley (altd.). Taken from BBC’s Songs of Praise. Thanks to Marion Thomas, David Shimmin, Christine Shimmin Carol Tubbs, Alison Jiggins for reading the Call to Worship and Affirmation of Faith. Alison Jiggins (again), Anne Hewling, Tina Wheeler, John Wilcox, Grace Mariott and Ray Fraser for other various spoken parts of the service. Where words are copyright reproduced under the terms of Barrhead URC’s CCLI licence number 1064776, Some material reprinted, and streamed, with permission under ONE LICENSE A-734713 All rights reserved. PRS Limited Online Music Licence LE-0019762 Copyright © 2020 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have subscribed to the Daily Devotions from the United Reformed Church. You can unsubscribe by clicking on the link below.
Text for URC audio service for 13th ... Posted by Rev Ian Kirby
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