Week beginning 27th September 2020

 Week beginning 27 09 20

Psalm 100

Jubilate everybody

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nukqkr29DP8

Psalm 150.

I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLPUKzAhmYk

Prayers: Inspiration 1

O.T. Reading: 2 Chronicles 5

Praise to the living God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5Gmo1JzbCU

N.T. Reading: Romans 15: 1-13

The Lord’s my shepherd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eIQQayhpak

The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the  Lord. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang:

‘He is good; his love endures for ever.’

There is a lot of evidence in the bible for the use of music in worship. Probably the largest single piece is what we call the book of psalms. An interesting question for a quiz would be “How many psalms are there in the book of psalms?” Most people would answer “150” but in fact only 57 are identified as psalms! Among the rest are; 1 “Psalm of praise”, 31 “Songs”, 12 “Maskils”, 4 “Prayers”, 6 “Mikhtams”, 1 “Shiggaion”, and 15 “Songs of ascent”. The exact meaning of these terms are not all clear. Often, they come with recommendations about the music, and we can assume from this that they were intended to be sung. There are psalms suitable for; rejoicing, mourning, and laments; some are intended for public worship and others for private devotions.

It is easy to lose sight of the fact that ther psalms were written as poetry, to be sung. Of all the tasks that face the translator, poetry is probably the most difficult. There is rhyme, thythm, and meaning, not to mention cultural and language structure to get right. It has been said that “poetry gets seasick on the sea of translation”. Unfortunately I do not know, and cannot find, who said this. If you can help, please get in touch.

A good example of this is provided by a simple limerick:

There was a young fellow called Hall

Who fell in a spring in the fall

'twould have been a sad thing

had he died in the spring,

But he didn't, he died in the fall

The double meanings of “spring” (source of water and season) and “fall” (season and waterfall) are unlikely to be available in one word is another langaue, and the subtlety of the original would be totally lost.

Some psalms acrostics: e.g. 119 and 145. but there are others. Eacline or verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet, from aleph to tau. Such a device is often used as an aid to memory. Incidentally this is often taken as proof that these were written after writing was invented, because the writer would have to have known about the alphabet in order to do this. They are not part of an oral tradition which was written down later. Translating the force of such poetry into English is effectively impossible, even supposing that an appropriate word could be found to start the line, there are only 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet, where we have 26. Other languages have different numbers, Welsh has 29, Spanish has 27, Scottish gaelic 18,ands Hawaiian, 13.

Some scholars have translated psalms into paraphrases in English poetry, so that the ideas are preserved as poems which we can sing or chant, “The Lord’s my Shepherd” is one of the best known. Churches of some traditions will only sing psalm paraphrases in worship.

Peotry has often been used as an aid to memory, the rhyme and rhythm are a help in remembering the content. If you have ever watched the film “The Dirty Dozen”, you may remember that the participants in the mission had their instructions in verse.

Clearly, the writers of the psalms, and the rest of the bible, were not strangers to the use of instruments. Trumpets, Lyres, Harps, cymbals of various types, drums, "Stringed instruments" are all mentioned. This is quite a band, and it likely what was available at the time. The temple must have been a very noisy place at times!

There has always been much discussion about the appropriate instruments and type of music to use in worship. For much of the 20^th century, the organ was the “must have” instrument. Many churches which did not have an organ had an organ fund to enable the purchase of one. (many churches which did have an organ also had an organ fund to repair the one they had!).

Other churches have a band of brass instruments. Those of you who went to the Black Country Museum Chapel in dudly some years ago, may remember that there was a gallery at the rear of the chapel where the orchestra would have sat.

Guitars came into wide use in the 1960s, although they have existed for a long time. In some places this was controversial, in some places it still is! With discussion centred round whether it was “seemly” in a place of worship. In my experience, such debates usually generate more heat than light!

More recently, there has been the use of electronic organs, other electronic instruments, and computers, all with their supporters and detractors. Cymbals, drums and tambourines have also been used.

Just as the leaders of worship in the temple used what was available to them, so can we. People can be encouraged to bring the skills, enthusiasms and resources they have to enhance worship. At the moment, when we are worshipping remotely, perhaps we need to add computer literacy to the skills required of a worship leader? Not to mention the congregation??

Which of course brings us to the question of what is it right to sing?

For generations all that was sung was psalms, usually chanted, an art form still is use in some churches. As mentioned earlier, paraphrases of the psalms were used, more widely in some traditions than others. Unfortunately, the tunes to which the psalms were originally sung are not available, although I uderstand that there have been attempts to reconstruct the music of the era. However, presumeably we would have to be fluent in Hebrew for that to work.

For many years we sang hymns. Sacred poems set to tunes from a variety of sources. In the 1970s the Methodist Church published “Hymns and Songs” (athough I never really understood the difference between a hymn and a religious song). Some churches would not use music that was not a “hymn”. Some churches used choruses, especially in their work with children. This brought further controversy, was it right to clap, or tap your feet, to the music?

The music used is also a matter for contention. Some tunes were written as hymn tunes, although without a specific hymn in mind. “Aberystwyth”, written by Joseph Parry, and now usually sung to “Jesus, lover of my soul” in one such. Other hymns are commonly sung to classical tunes, such as “Mozart” sung to “Behold the servant of the Lord”. Some hymn writers wrote hymns to be sung to popular dance tunes of their day, and attracted criticism for doing so. The question “Why should the devil have all the best tunes?” has been variously attributed to George Whitfield, John Wesley, Charles Wesley and General Booth of the Salvation Army.

Now we face questions such as whether it is right and seemly to sing Christian words to modern pop tunes, T.V. Theme tunes, or Film scores. Before you answer this, think about singing “What a Friend we have in Jesus” to “Now the Carnival is Over” by the Seekers; “Glory be to God on High” to the theme from “Eastenders” or “God is our Strength and Refuge” to the “Dambusters” theme.

Paul says, in his letter to the Romans:

Romans 15

5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If God is glorified, then it is seemly. If it builds the people up it is seemly.

Use the skills and talents and resources available to praise God. Think about what God has given you that you can use in his service.

Praise Him Praise Him

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB27OjUFZjs

Prayer:

Lord of All,

Thank You for the unique talents
with which each of us is born,
and for Your support
as we employ them over the years
with Your grace and good guidance.

Help us share with others
these gifts which we enjoy:
gifts of art, of music and science,
of carpentry and farming and nursing,
of engineering and housekeeping,
of law, of philanthropy and teaching,
caring for children and tending
to the old and the ill.

Lead us to use wisely the varied abilities
which each of us receives and develops
in his or her own way,
individual as our finger-prints,
reflecting the singular personality
and unique individualities
You have given us.

Help us support and respect all those who work to make our lives safe and comfortable.
Grant us strength and wisdom to share
our talents in ways that honor and enlighten
all whom we encounter, and all whom we knowingly or unknowingly influence.
Help us, Lord, to walk our special paths
kindly and courageously in a manner
that enriches all whom we meet
on our life's journey.

May our way be bright, safe and joyous!
In living each day, guided by You,
may we create a noble life,
be of help to many others
and leave behind lasting achievements
and an inspiring legacy.

All this I pray to You,

Amen

All people that on earth do dwell

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC5FfEavPM4

MacMillan Coffee Morning. Friday September 25th.

 Because we are unable to host a coffee morning at chapel this year, Susannah and Jonathan are holding one at their market stall.  S & J's Pantry, stall MF12-13, The Moor Market, Sheffield. From 08:00 until 17:00 there will be opportunity to have a coffee or tea and make a donation in support of MacMillan Cancer Support.  All welcome.

Week beginning 20th September

 Tell me the story of Jesus write on my heart every word 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bHe-QFA5ffo

Prayer O Lord you word is precious to me. I thank you that I can read your word, may I never take the gift of reading for granted,  I praise you for the gifts you have given me. 

 Thank you for the Bible, we thank you for the work of the bible society, we thank you that your word is being spread though out the world. Yours is the word of hope, of peace, of love, of   correctiveness  and  forgiveness.   You are our God and Father. May this time of worship be acceptable in your sight. We ask this in the the name of your son our Lord Jesus. Amen

Psalm 119 vv 89, 90. & 105 - 108

89 Your word, Lord, is eternal;   it stands firm in the heavens.
90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations;  you established the earth, and it endures.

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,  that I will follow your righteous laws.
107 I have suffered much   preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.
108 Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,   and teach me your laws.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=miNYyUd92eE

John 1 : 1 – 14

1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2  He was with God in the beginning. 3  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  6  There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.8  He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9  The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10  He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- 13  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.14  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Word was with God.  Children's and young at heart memory verse to music 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x6gkcMPmio

Max Bygraves always use to say “I want to tell you a story. “ and you would know a long funny monologue was going to be given. It was captivating.

Children all loved stories. One of the one’s I loved to listen to when it was being read was Cinderella. My favorite Bible story from the old testarment was Esther.

And it still is ( try reading it in one evening).

My father had a box of childrens addresses and stories he used to use for Sunday worship and for school asemblies. My favourite was Monkey and the five pillars.

This is the story how I remember it.

A monkey was showing off in front of God but He just sat thinking and took no notice. So monkey said “look God, I can do eight somersaults in one leap in to the air” so he pulled a hair out of his head and blew on it, and up and up and up he went, higher and higher, then he did somersault after sumersault; all eight before he landed on the ground. When he landed at God’s feet, God still took no notice of him so monkey said “Look God, I can run right round this planet in one day” So again he pulled a hair from his head, and he ran, picking up four small pebbles from each continent, and placed them at Gods feet. Again, God did not look up. Monkey was getting cross by this stage, so he thought what can I do to impress God? “ I know” he said “I will jump to the end of the universe and back” so he did. Once there he saw five tall pillars “ how will God know that I’ve been here” he said to himself “ O I will write my name on the tallest pillar” so he found a small white rock and in his biggest hand writing he scratched the letters M O N K E Y. then taking a hair from his head he blew on it and jumped back to land at God’s feet. This time God looked up and smiled at monkey. This made monkey feel happy. Monkey told where he had been and how he had scratched his name on the largest pillar. And God looked down on him kindly and said “ O little monkey, do you not know I am always watching what you are doing, and where you are going, and where you have been. I am always with you. Look at my hand and God opened his hand and monkey looked and hardley beleved his eyes, for there on the middle finger in the teeniest weeniest writing, was the word monkey. So you see children, God is always there where ever you go He loves you and will never leave you, God is Jesus’s Dad and he is ours too.

Tell me the Old Old story

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjFwuwkbI-4

let this run to the next song with the volume turned low

If nothing happens click on this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijytLs96yig

and then this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg282my5QyU

When preparing to read Gods word, the first thing to do is pray for guidance and understanding, asking Him for forgiveness of our ignorance, our arrogance, that we can do things without Him

We must come before God in humble adoration as a child ready to listen For the word of God is as important today if not more so.

Prayer

Father God Hear this prayer…We thank you for the teaching of your son Jesus that your words are still with us, that we can learn from them. Help us to understand them, forgive our selfishness and pride, Our ignorance believing we can do all things in our own strength, forgetting that you are there. Just like monkey, we want to brag about what we can do, forgive us. We thank you for your love, through the power of the Holy Spirit make us clean from our sin. Fill us with your word that we may say what you want us to say in your way and not ours, for we know only you are worthy of all praise. Make us be worthy in your sight to read and respond to your holy word Amen .

Jesus talked in parables at times. These are to help us understand what the kingdom of heaven is like. Some are a learning curve. Because theses stories come from God, these are timeless and have just as much force and meaning today.

It is easy to think these parables are not relevent. Then if that is so Jesus said in Marks gospel Chapter 4

1Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3“Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. 8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

9 Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

10When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12so that,

“ ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,

and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’ ”

13Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?  14 The farmer sows the word. 15 Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. 16 Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy.  17But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 18 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word;  19 but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.  20 Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Christ’s words stand for ever, for He is in the father and the father is in him.

Our words can make others feel better by offering sympathy, comfort, encouragement. We can calm situations, offer praise and encouragement in how we use words

We can build up or destroy, our words can show God’s love along with our actions, or we can speak sharply to provoke fear. It is up to us. We need to ask ourselves one vital question question, and that is how whould Jesus respond, what would he say.

The holy Spirit is the breath of God He lives in each one of us, we must be open to his prompting and his guildence

God word is powerful. But as James writes in

James Chatter 1 : verse 22

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Gods word is everlasting. Wonderful words of eternal salvation for each one of us.

Wonderful words of life

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=

Prayer

Thank you for your word. Thank you Lord for saving me. Thank you that I can read your life-giving words Amen

Thank you lord.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXqRcNePT9M

God Bless

Susannah

Week beginning 13th September.

Friend of Sinners.

God has spoken to his people

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7Bp1lJLcZU

Hosea 14: 1-7

Sinners Jesus will receive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIBqYxeGVzI

Mark 2: 13-17

Come let us sing of a wonderful love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCSx7ZZ3-2I

Philemon 1-16

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but those who are ill. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Hosea was an interesting character. He ertainly could have been accused of being a dreamer, something he had in common with many of the prophets. He cdan’t be accused of having an easy life. All in his garden was certainly not coming up roses. Hopwever, he looked forward to a time when the people would repent. He hoped that they would change direction towards the Lord and grow the fruit of obedience and repentance. Apparently he was not in any doubt that this would happen, but gives no indication of when, or for that matter, how.

Fast forward about 800 years and Jesus came on the scene. Jesus was a character who had a certain fame, and in some quarters, notoriety. Just as it was then, so it is today. When people have a notoriety, there are always those who try to knock them, and not always for what they do.

Manyu years ago I engaged in correspondence, in the local newspaper, with a journalist who had made a statement I disagreed with. After a few exchanges, the writer changed tack. Apparently he had run out of arguments on the subject in hand, so he chose to attack me personally, and specifically about my competence at my profession.

In Jesu’s case, the people of the time tried to attack him, not on the basis of what he had to say, but the people with whom he associated. Apparently, they considered that he minbgled with “Tax collectors and sinners”, which in turn would make him ritually unclean. We don’t know much about these “sinners”, or what they had done. The tax collectors would have been seen as undesirfeables because they nwere working for the occupying forces, in modern turn they were collaborators. The rest would probably have been people who couldn’t follow the religious rules becausde of their occupations. Others might not have followed the rules by inclination.

It may come as a surprise, but the word “Repent” occurs many fewer times than the word “follow” Jesus says many times that he wants followers.

Once people follow, change will come about. Once people meet with Jesus, they will change. In fact, I cannot think of anywhere that Jesus tells people to change so that they can follow.

People cannot follow unless that first meet, and they cannot meet unless they associate. Jesus met with people where they were. And hence, he was criticised for the people he associated with.

In my career as a preacher spanning 40 years, I cannopt name anyone who has come to faith as a result of my preaching. However, I could name several people who have come to faith and become church members because of sharing a meal within the fellowship.

“Associating with” means not prejudging. Over the years I can recall being asked “Why do you let your children come to church dressed like that?” As a Boys’ Brigade officer, I recall discussions about whether boys should attend parades with long hair, or jewellery. To all these, my answer is the same. “Jesus would rather they were here dressed like that, than not here!”

Jesus looks at what people have done for God, or what they can do for God. People who meet Jesus change.

When do we meet with sinners? To whom do we show the love of Jesus for sinners? How do we give them opportunities ro meet with Jesus, to change, to be valued, to show what they can do for God.

There is a story of a preacher who was concerned that nall his preaching was to the already converted. He wanted to preach to the sinners. One Sunday morning, after the service, there was a commotion in the chapel; a member of the congreation had had their coat stolen. Nearly everyone was upset, except the preacher. His response was to shout “Hallelujah! We’ve had a sinner in at last!” Could we share his joy?

I know not why God’s wondrous grace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRajjFaVtj8

Prayers:

God of gentleness and love
Draw near to us as we draw near to you
Dwell in every heart and conversation
Fashion us in the likeness of your Son Jesus Christ
Help us to discern together all that you are calling us to be
And all that you are calling us to do.
Assist us, by your Spirit, to become a more contemplative, more     compassionate and more courageous Church
For the building of your kingdom and the glory of your Son
AMEN

God of love,
The sea is so great and our boat is so small.
Inspire your church as we put out into deep water,
Help us to be contemplative, compassionate and courageous in your mission,
Guide us by your Spirit to discover where you are working,
Help us to join in the building of your kingdom
and anoint us afresh to make disciples of all ages in your name
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who calls us and sends us
With you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever.
Amen

taken from st-nicolas-taplow.org

To God be the glory

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-15v9iworAU

Week beginning September 6th

If You Wish Have a piece of read and a small cup of wine /juice /water to virtually share with other at the end of this service *

Jesus stand among us

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGUy6pNub4A

Prayer

Ever present God,
Although we are physically separated at this time, we come together at this point of our journey, as one body, your Church.   

We thank you for your Spirit uniting us in love and helping us to worship you wherever we are and however we feel, in spirit and in truth.
Help us to meet and to know Jesus in our midst.

Give us open hearts, minds and eyes, to see your provision, mercy and grace around us and we thank you for Jesus, for all that He has done for us.

Thank you for giving us the internet as a means of being together for now, but one day, let us put it down, turn it off, silence and pause it, see it for what it is so that we can once again look into each others eyes, touch each others hands knowing one day we will once again share in the breaking of bread and drinking once more from the communion cup
and know your profound and real presence in this beautiful and terrifying world.

Until then we up hold each other in our thoughts and prayers. Amen

Jesus is Lord creation's voice proclaims it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HHYt40whHQ

Bible Reading Matthew 15: 29 - 39

29 Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. 30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people;they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” 33 His disciples answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a crowd?”34 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked.“Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.”35 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. 36 Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, and when he had given thanks, he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and they in turn to the people. 37 They all ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 38 The number of those who ate was four thousand men, besides women and children. 39 After Jesus had sent the crowd away, he got into the boat and went to the vicinity of Magadan.

Prayer
Ever Healing Loving Lord You showed the work of the Father, Forgive us our sins, our doubhtings, our stubborn wills. Help us to see your hand at work throughout the world, the miracles that still happen which we snub. Help us to know this is a happy day because you, Lord Jesus, went to the Cross to take away our sins. Thank you for giving a new start this day. Amen

Hymn O happy day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4ZLcJjrTRY

There are diffrences between theses readings as each is taken from different eye witnesses. Or possible hand down stories from one generation to the next.

Bible Reading John 6: 1 – 14

1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near. 5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages [two hundred denarii]

to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Fill thou my life O lord my God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2mpY0NahNQ

Prayers of Intercession

Lord Jesus we praise your holy name for we know that you are our God and king, that you were there at the beginning, and will be with us to the end You had compassion on the great crowds who came to you, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and as they laid them at your feet O lord, you healed them. We ask that you will heal all who ask you O Lord....... In the stillness we bring to you the concerns of our own hearts ..............

Silence

Lord Jesus have mercy on this your world. We pray for all who are mourning the loss of a loved ones, we pray for all those travelling abroad. We pray for families who find the summer hoilday stressful and costly, we pray for those who struggle from day to day and cannot afford a break away. We give you thanks for the generosity of the people who give to foodbanks. Lord it should not be necessary but you yourself said the poor will always be with us.. Help us share what we have with others.

We bring the situation at the ferry ports and tunnel crossing to france with all the desperate people trying to find help and a safe place to live. Lord the situations are vast and complex, there is not an easy answer but we pray that governments may work together for the good of all, that all countries will become safe places to live work and bring up families, that your will be done throughout the earth. Help us to be like you in all we do, that your love may shine through us that others may come to know you.

We give you thanks that we can freely confess that you are our Lord and our God .

We pray for our Christian brothers and sisters, local, regional and world wide. We give thanks that we are free to worship you. We pray for those who still have to meet behind locked doors, those who are tortured for being part of your church, for their families and friends. Unite us, though the power of your holy spirit, that each and every one knows that we are praying for them. Today O Lord, hymns and prayers are going to you from around the world So we join with them and the whole company of heaven by saying the Lord's Prayer;

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Hymn 467 Break thou the bread of life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQpj4TSe-Ec

 Mark 8:1-10

8 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” 4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” 5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people, and they did so. 7 They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. 8 The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 9 About four thousand were present. After he had sent them away, 10 he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha.

Matthew and Mark record two different events

Feeding of 5000

at Bethsaida

sat on the grass

Jesus wanted rest before

afterward there is a storm

multitude from nearby

Jewish

5000 fed

with him 1 day

5 loaves and 2 fish

Not enough money

different word for basket: (hand basket)

remain: 12 basketsfull

Found in all gospels

Feeding of 4000

at Decapolis

sit on ground (no grass mentioned)

Jesus travelling before – no mention of rest

no storm

multitude from a long distance away

Gentiles

4000 fed

been with him 3 days

7 loaves and a few fish

Can’t find enough

Different word for basket (big basket)

remain: 7 basketsfull (not tied to Israel’s number 12)

Found only in Matthew and Mark

The unknown witness. 

written by S Youdan.

We had been there for two days about 4000 of us stood around, the children sat and played quietly but it was strange I was not irrtated by what was going on around me, all I wanted to do was listen. The teacher’s followers stood and watched us. He told us truths about God, he was not bothered that we were gentiles and we were all moved as we watched the sick being layed out in front of him. He treated everyone of them, he commanded some to be quiet and placed his hands on others, we stood praising God, this man was like noone I had ever met before. Then I noticed my poor sister, a cripple from birth with my two older brothers lay her in front of this great healer then she stood up, tears streaming down her face mine too. I shouted out “that’s my sister”. The crowd let me through, I hugged her then fell at the feet of the man who had healed her. He stood me up looked at me with such love in his eyes and said “do not worship me but the one who has sent me. The one true God.” I thanked him a disciple took us to one side and told us more about the Man Jesus. I never asked him his name but but from that moment I became a follower of the way. One of his followers smiled at me, a broad shouldered man, strong in the arm, he looked like a fisherman. I heard Jesus ask one of his men what food had he got, then I saw him raise a basket of few loaves and some fish. He gave prayer of blessing. This was now the third day. After all the miracles we had seen, noone laughed at the small amount of food, somehow we knew not to, then he told us all to sit down and we did. Then he said “my Disciples will come among you take and eat your fill”

That bread and fish nad never tasted so good we sat and eat . Each one of us in wonder of this man of God, then his disciples collected 7 large baskets of food that was left over we all went away from him praising God and singing and dancing with joy for all the wonders we had seen and the miracles proformed. O What a Man.

Have you ever tried to cater for a few hundred I can tell you it takes two to three days

It’s a miracle when it all comes together. I have at our Church put on a Christmas meal of 5 courses and carols for up to 42 people. The Message of Christmas is for every day. God So loved this world he gave his only son. And that son is our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

For he said, “I Am, the bread of life, he who believes in me will not die but have life in full abundance with me in heaven. “

There are hundreds of volunteers sharing this message of love. As they feed the hungry.

Working with Crisis at Christmas put on meals in lots of areas in the UK. This is in just one city. This is part of their shopping lists

132 turkeys

1, 990 Christmas puddings

7,200 mince tarts

4,700 kg of potatoes = to the body mass of one Indian elephant

9,600 small sausages

6,400 parsnips

3,429 sprouts and 40 jars of cranberry sauce

2000 pints of milk

1000 pints of cream

1000 pints of gravy

1,900 crackers and napkins.

So friends never take your meal for granted but always give thanks to God.

But Bread or food we need to live but we need good wholsome food also for souls

the word of God. But remember the devil is always around the corner lurking and working disguising himself as one of faith. In the Lord’s prayer it says “Give us this day our daily bread” ( For Body and Soul) and lead us not in to temptation But deliver us from Evil. Jesus warned his disiples of this when they were together in a boat for they had forgotten to bring their snap, as we in Sheffield say ( Their bread ) In this narrative we do not know how old the loaf is that is in the boat

Mark 8: 14 - 21

14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. 15 “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”16 They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”17 Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” “Twelve,” they replied.20 “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They aswered "seven"

21 He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

Do we still not understand? Then think on it this week. Yeast makes the bread rise.

Hymn 770 Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI_q4uEJqS0

Prayer of thanks

Benediction

Eternal God, heavenly Father, you have graciously accepted us as living members
of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, and you have fed us with spiritual food
Send us now into the world in peace, and grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart; through Christ our Lord. .

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

Listen as you eat and drink *

Here is Bread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emztEMWXoGI