Week beginning 17th January 2021

 

The Hands of Jesus

If you would like to take Holy Communion

you will need a small piece of bread or biscuit,

and a small drink of juice or water to use later in this service.

Creating Hands

Bible Readings:

Genesis 1: 1 – 5.  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.

Colossians 1:v15 The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation

In the gospel of Luke The disciples were shown the power that Jesus had and it

unnerved them.

22One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”

One pair of hands

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1A6JT2FnPI

Carpenter hands.

Mark 6: 1 – 6

Jesus went on from there and came to His home town, accompanied by His disciples. 2When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses ,Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us as well?” And they took offence at Him.

4Then Jesus said to them, “Only in his home town, among his relatives, and in his own household is a prophet without honour.” 5 So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them. 6 And He was amazed at their unbelief. And He went around from village to village, teaching the people.

Some children are given wooden toys as gifts that are hand carved.

You may have wooden spoons or rolling pins. My great aunt had an African hard wood fruit bowl that was made for her by a villager when she spent a few months as a missionary with the tribe. She always spoke of them with much warmth, the women would go out to the river holding hands and singing she felt part of them when one of the women took her by the hand and led her to where they did their washing. I have always been fascinated by wood turners and their skills.

Jesus learned his carpentry skills from his dad Joseph. It is not recorded what he made or mended. But he was known as the carpenter from Nazareth.

Taken from Our Daily Bread By Patricia Raybon|January 14th, 2021

The winter night was cold when someone threw a large stone through a Jewish child’s bedroom window. A star of David had been displayed in the window, along with a menorah to celebrate Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. In the child’s town of Billings, Montana, thousands of people—many of them believers in Jesus—responded to the hateful act with compassion. Choosing to identify with the hurt and fear of their Jewish neighbours, they pasted pictures of menorahs in their own windows.

As believers in Jesus, we too receive great compassion. Our Saviour humbled Himself to live among us (John 1:14), identifying with us. On our behalf, He, “being in very nature God . . . made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6–7). Then, feeling as we feel and weeping as we weep, He died on a cross, sacrificing His life to save ours.

Nothing we struggle with is beyond our Saviour's concern. If someone “throws rocks” at our lives, He comforts us. If life brings disappointments, He walks with us through despair. “Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar” (Psalm 138:6). In our troubles, He preserves us, stretching out His hand against both “the anger of [our] foes” (v. 7) and our own deepest fears. Thank You, God, for Your compassionate love.

Jesus’ hands are kind hands

Kevin and Miranda Jesus' Hands Were Kind Hands (#273 from The United Methodist Hymnal" - YouTube

Mark 10: .13 – 16 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Jesus is not asking us to be childish, but child like, to have simple open faith seeing the world as a child with all its beauty and wonder .

Bible Reading: Luke 4: v. 40

“At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. “

There is an evening hymn written by Rev Henry Twells.

At even, ere the sun was set, the sick, O Lord, around thee lay;
O in what divers pains they met! O with what joy they went away

 Once more 'tis eventide, and we oppressed with various ills draw near;
what if thy form we cannot see? we know and feel that thou art here

O Saviour Christ, our woes dispel; for some are sick, and some are sad,
and some have never loved thee well, and some have lost the love they had;

And some have found the world is vain, yet from the world they break not free;
and some have friends who give them pain, yet have not sought a friend in thee;

And none, O Lord, have perfect rest, for none are wholly free from sin;
and they who fain would serve thee best are conscious most of wrong within.

O Saviour Christ, thou too art man; thou hast been troubled, tempted, tried;
thy kind but searching glance can scan the very wounds that shame would hide.

Thy touch has still its ancient power; no word from thee can fruitless fall:
Hear, in this solemn evening hour, and in thy mercy heal us all.

This a lovely hymn is worth reading at bed time as it can lead to thoughts for your prayers

Prayers of Intercession.

Father God thank you for the healing hands of Christ. Me with all who are known to to me those who are ill in body mind and spirit may the love of Christ be with them and through the power of the Holy Spirit may may they know they are being prayed for.

Father God I bring to you all who are displaced, young people being told to leave their homes. Be with those who are living in refugee camps. Be with all who are homeless. Prompt me to give aid. Amen

There is a song that came out in the seventies and it is still relevant to day, the singer wants to take the listener by the hand to do something.

Ralph McTell Streets of London

https://m.youtube.com/watch/DiWomXklfv8

Healing Hands.

Nurses and Doctors use touch to find out what hurts and then offer treatment.

God gives each one of us gifts that when prompted by the Holy Spirit we may use.

One gift god has chosen to give me is the gift of healing hands. It is not what I can do or say that heals, I am an instrument for Christ's’ use.

Some time ago in the Market a young butcher had an accident with a meat cleaver

and was rushed to Hospital a few days later he was back visiting and I got speaking to him he told me that it would be months before he would be able to work. I asked him “ Do you believe in God” he replied “yes” I asked him the next question do you believe in the gift of healing hands again he replied yes, he then held his hand out to me. In silence I prayed from my heart not speaking aloud holding my hand above the very large bandage my hand became very very hot. Then removed it over the next three weeks I carried on in the same way. When he went back to have the dressing removed the Doctors could not believe the amount of healing and movement he had in his thumb. After another three weeks He was back full time at work. All Praise to God it is fully healed. I told him to go to Church and give God thanks the young man did.

The healing hand of GOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpuzUQsJdT8

Holy Communion

Serving Hands

Bible Reading: Luke 22: 14 – 20   When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.’

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you.18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ Take and Eat 20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. Take and Drink.

Bible Reading: John 13: 3 – 5 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel round his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped round him.

one of the servants tasks was to wash the feet of visitors,

Jesus was showing the disciples that to be master of all, they had to become the lowest of all a servant.

The servant king

From heaven you came - YouTube

Our Serving Hands.

Have you ever thought how much you hands do, serving, caring, and helping others

As a teenager I worked in a hotel. Each day as a waitress I served meals, as a general assistant I served the guests through out the day.

My hands were always busy. In my twenties I was a senior care assistant in a retirement home, living in and caring for the elderly.

In my thirties I became a Nursing Assistant with the NHS community. In my mid forties I be came a cook serving meals in a theology unit. Being a mum of two boys brought my caring side even more. In my very early fifties I became a part time church pastor with my husband. But to put food on our tables we run an indoor market stall selling deli products serving customers all day long.

Jesus is known as the servant king his Hands working showing the invisible God at work in human form. Jesus came to save us from our selves. As human beings we all need the touch of hand on at some time. We are dependent on touch as soon as we are born if not during our birth by doctors, and midwives. A loved one.

A touch can be tangible.

Or a verbal touch like a voice over the phone. Or a touch that moves us to do something like an advert asking for us to help. It touches our conscience, our hands can reach out to charities. Our voices can share love a hand shake of friendship.

We use our hands in so many wonderful ways.

Our hands are his hands, what do we do with our hands? Look at your hands what do you see? Your nails where have they been? What have you touched in the last 24 hours? How many times have they been washed?

What does Christ want you to do with your hands?

The one thing that we do one, is that We must put our hand in the hand of Jesus.

And he will hold our hand. And lead us to where He wants us to go.

Put your hand into the hand of Jesus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzmXTY8ygIA

May The Love of Jesus enfold you;
The power of the Holy Spirit equip you;
and may Almighty God our heavenly Father hold you forever in the palm of His hand. Amen.

Touch of his hand on mine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Nuwu3ciQrU

There are days so dark that I seek in vain
For the face of my Friend divine;
But though darkness hide, He is there to guide
By the touch of His hand on mine.

Refrain:
Oh, the touch of His hand on mine,
Oh, the touch of His hand on mine!
There is grace and power in the trying hour,
In the touch of His hand on mine.

In the last sad hour, as I stand alone
Where the powers of death combine,
While the dark waves roll He will guide my soul
By the touch of His hand on mine.

Refrain:

by Jessie B. Pounds.