This was our festival of light service that took place on Sunday 31st October
HYMN Walk walk in the light
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Jpe2axpXTU
prayer
Lord God maker of heaven and earth. Blessed be your Holy name
Lord God creator of light, lighten our darkness and fill us with your Holy Spirit
Lord God thank you for giving us your only son Jesus to be our saviour
Lord God only living God thank you for loving me. Amen.
Genesis1: 1 - 5
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Poem
In the beginning, Lord, I was
alone. Like the earth,
before your Spirit moved over the
waters
I was formless and empty, and darkness filled the depths
of my heart.
Then, it was as if you declared 'Let there be
Light',
and out of the darkness I began to see hope,
like a
shimmering ray of love
breaking through the parting clouds at
the conclusion of the night.
In the beginning, Lord I was
alone,
but when I saw you in the light I was no longer
afraid.
You held out your hand, and though I had a choice
I
had no choice, because to refuse
was to embrace again the
darkness.
In the beginning, Lord I was alone, Now I feel
again a part of your creation,
loved, wanted, needed, family.
In the light of your presence,
I hold out my heart that others
might glimpse through it your reflection,
and be drawn from the
darkness that I once embraced into the light of your sunrise,
the
brightness of your face.
Faith and worship
John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
HYMN The light of Christ has come in to the world
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbLHOA6mRKk
Prayer
The light of Christ has come in to the world
to bring salvation from sin we lay before you our transgressions.
Pause
The light of Christ has come in to the world
we give you thanks that your light has forgiven us and filled us with you peace. Pause
The light of Christ has come in to the world
We give you thanks that your Light has come into the world. Amen
Isaiah 9: 2
The people walking in
darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the
land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
HYMN Thou whose almighty word
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJuqdIVH8VY
Matthew 5: 1- 16
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
He said:
3 “Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they
will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for
they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness, for they will be
filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they
will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for
they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those
who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
HYMN Lord the light of your love is shining
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rce9UHYZwl4
Prayer
Lord in this world some folk only see darkness through their stomachics in pain for food
some folk only see darkness due blood shed and war.
others because of illness or homelessness. Others due to sadness and bereavement.
others are burdened with the weight of guilt .
Lord Jesus let you light shine In the darkness I pray for the work of the “Good news for every one” as they shine the gospels light.
Fill me with your love that I too can reflect your light and shine like a candle of hope and brighten the corner where we are. Amen
Listen to Brighten the corner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-2DgNOtA2o
ACTS 9 : 1 - 22
1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’
5 ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.
‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. 6 ‘Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’
7 The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, ‘Ananias!’
‘Yes, Lord,’ he answered.
11 The Lord told him, ‘Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.’
13 ‘Lord,’ Ananias answered, ‘I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.’
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.’
17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord – Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here – has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptised, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20 At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. 21 All those who heard him were astonished and asked, ‘Isn’t he the man who caused havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?’ 22 Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.
HYMN. Amazing Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n145-J8ejg
We use light in many ways. There are emergency lights on vehicles
emergency lights in buildings. Traffic lights to keep the car drives safe and to tell us it is safe to cross the roads. All vehicles by law must have lights and the must work. Light houses beam out to warn of danger
How many lights are there in your home ? Do you take them for granted ?.
whether we use electric Solar battery oil or candle or a mixture of all of them each time you turn on light Thank God for His light is free He created the sun. God gave his son to lighten our spiritual darkness. Give him thanks
During the 1970’s there were many power cuts through out Great Briton.
It made us appreciate how precious light is, and not to take it for granted, during the second world war lights went our all over Europe, once there was peace lights blazed out.
We use light to show hope some folk light a candle to show they are praying for some one. A child parents may be presented with a candle at their child's christening as a symbol of Christ’s light coming into the world.
In the bible reading above Saul was lift physically blind then Jesus came into his life a miracle happened. Ruelha talks about this in a poem she wrote
Soon to be away with this madness,
no longer languishing in spiritual blindness.
The light has already dawned.
The heart's hardness can no longer prolong.
Shining bright, the light of the world.
Step by step, with patience He unfolds.
Salvation, He brought to one and all.
Patience child, this is the protocol.
The people who sat in darkness have seen the light.
And no longer can they deny, resist or fight.
The wait is over; He is here.
And with Him, all evil has disappeared.
The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.
Saul is temporarily blinded with a Kelvin rating so bright.
His glory is shining, such a majestic presence.
As if, brought down right among us, all of the heavens.
Like a candle, this flame can be shared.
It won't dim you down; light the other visually-impaired.
I decree and declare this Saul shall proclaim and share.
But first on his knees, beginning with a prayer.
The wages of sin is death.
But He has given His life-giving breath.
The fire now burns in his heart,
with which Saint Paul will never part.
The light has dawned; I see tongues of fire.
To spread this flame is his only desire.
His body is now a temple of the Spirit.
Filled with love, peace and joy within it.
Hymn This little light of mine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCN893hzueQ
In the next Bible reading Paul tells us that we are children of light. earlier in Mathews gospel we read that Jesus says “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven”.
1 Thessalonians 5: 5 - 11
5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety’, destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing
HYMN Jesus bids us shine
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1snZ2L5vJM
Prayer
Thank you for always being a light in the dark places of the world and the dark places of our lives. Our hope is in God, for you are the light of the world and you call us to be lights for others. May your light and love blaze in us and in all the world. Amen.
This time of worship began by walking in the light now it is time for marching in the light of God.
HYMN Marching in the in the light of God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl24_27wW1E
May God Bless you and keep you may His light shine on you and give you His peace.
Watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGOiANtGmhE
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