Sunday after Pentecost.

 Apologies.  Due to an oversight, no service was uploaded last Sunday, Pentecost Sunday.  Here is a modified version of what was going to be posted.

Week after Pentecost

Before this virtual act of worship

please prepare a small piece of bread or biscuit, and a drink.

So you will be able to participate in the act of Holy Communion.

O for a thousand tongues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4O9kw3cILpg

Let this psalm be your prayer

Psalm 51 :1-15

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Saviour, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

O happy day

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

LUKE 22: 7 – 19

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed.  8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.” 9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

14 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.”

This is my body broken for you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3xwGEFXcNw

While this is playing hold your bread or biscuit ask God to bless it, and then eat

Do the same with your drink.

Watch and listen to the end of the song

Prayer

Thank God for uniting me with others through the power of the Holy Spirit.

(pause for your own hearts petition to the Lord, for Jesus intercedes through the spirit

and hears your prayers) ……….. in you mercy hear my prayers ……….

Lord Where there is war and blood shed, may your Spirit bring Bring forth Peace.……..

Where nature is at it’s wildest, wild fires, storms, earth quakes, bringing death and destruction, May your Spirit bring stillness healing and calm………...

Lord where there is sorrow, weeping, Anger, hatred and Fear. May your Spirit bring forth Comfort, Hope, and love.

Lords Prayer contemporary Or as say it as you know it .

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen

Spirit of the living God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2t3TfhoNE8

My hope and prayer is that you will make the above your personal prayer through out the coming weeks

N. T. Bible Reading

Acts 3: 1 – 16 Peter Heals a Lame Beggar

1 One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers 11 While the man held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade. 12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate,  though he had decided to let him go. 14 You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this. 16 By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.

Peter and John went to pray

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IZn2n0vzF0

The Holy Spirit Moves in many ways have you ever experienced His Power in your life.?

To do so you have to open to his prompting, Some times it is not easy. A feeling that you should say something but then hesitate and the moment is gone, Peter and John had no money with them as they were on there way to the temple to pray when they were moved seeing a man, asking, begging. How would we react if this story happened to day to a beggar on the street. This story shows two ordinary fishermen, from a backwater of a place.

Showing their faith, not only in Jesus, but trusting to the prompting of God breath, God’s guidance compassion and love.

The other week I was in the heart of the city and an evangelist was asking passers by if they were saved and when. I found myself speaking out. “I was saved the same as time as all Christians brother, at the foot of the Cross when Christ asked God to forgive us. Before he drew His last earthly breath.” I called out. “you tell them brother. Tell them We are all sinners that is you and I and we all have fallen short of of the grace of God. You Tell them brother that God loves us just as we are. Tell them to Meet with Jesus brother”. I walked away and became aware that the preacher had fallen silent, and there were many folk who had stopped to listen. I thought to my self where did that come from. At that point I realised the holy spirit had opened my mouth. And I gave thanks to Jesus. As Peter said in Acts verse 16 when the cripple walked “ It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. By faith in the name of Jesus”

It is this faith that the holy spirit strengthens. . As Charles Wesley wrote in the opening hymn. Try reading the words through they are very powerful with the sound down or off.

The spirit is unseen but just like the wind we can feel its presence. Charles Wesley and his brother John founded the Methodist Church There are many gifts that come from the Holy spirit, and through the coming Sundays we will be looking at some of them.

Spirit of God unseen as the wind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCs8DQQ9RMM

Benediction

Now go in peace to love and serve the Lord,

In the name of Christ. Amen.

The spirit lives to set us free

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvhKJu9Vn04

Christian Aid Week

 10th to 16th May was Christian Aid Week.  Obviously, there are no envelopes through your doors this year.  If you are able to make a donation, please do so, on line or by post.

Ascension Sunday

 

Crown him with many crowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8ti2-eoviU

Christ did not enter a sanctuary made by human hands, a mere copy of the true one, but he entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Hebrews 9.24

Herbert Vander Luge wrote the following in “Our daily bread “ May 21st 1998.

The repeated appearances of Jesus after His death brought His followers such joy that they must have wanted the visits to continue indefinitely. But on the 40th day after His resurrection, having given His disciples final instructions, Jesus slowly ascended and a cloud hid Him from view.

Jesus could have vanished instantly, as He had done on previous occasions. But this time He chose to ascend visibly to impress on His followers that this was the end of His visits. His bodily presence would soon be replaced by something even better. Jesus’ ascension marked the beginning of a new era. In His glorified human body, the Lord Jesus ascended, entered heaven, sat down at the right hand of God, sent the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16-18; Acts 2:33), began His ministry of intercession for us (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 7:25), and now permeates the whole universe with His spiritual presence and power (Eph. 1:15-23; 4:10). An ancient writing says that Jesus ascended bodily into heaven “our entrance to secure, and our abode to prepare.” That’s true. But it’s also true that as God, He is always spiritually present with us and will be “to the end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). What a wonderful Saviour we have!

All hail the power of Jesus name

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyPT3lVSpmo

Prayer

Father, I live in an angry world of increasingly angry people, where our lives are filled with change and transition, and the world does not resemble what I once knew. More and more Father, I feel a need to cling ever more closely to You, with each passing day, knowing that You are a God Who never changes towards me.
Help me to fix my heart and mind on Your eternal and unchanging truth and to wash me of my sins, help me to focus on your word and develop in me a true attitude of praise and worship, no matter what the circumstances, and help me I pray, to build myself up in the faith, looking for the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
No matter what difficulties and dangers I may have to face, I pray that in all things, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, I may draw ever closer to you, with a genuine attitude of praise and thanksgiving for all that You have done in my life. In Jesus' name I pray,

Source: https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-about-the-Glory-of-God#231 edited by S. Youdan

John 17:  New International Version

Jesus Prays to Be Glorified

1b “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.

Father we love you Glorify Thy Name.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6Q1WZN99oo

John 17 continued Jesus Prays for His Disciples

6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by  that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by  the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

This prayer of Jesus is for all disciples those who carry out his teachings even for today. Because Christ's words are holy they are eternal.

Jesus Prays for All Believers

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26 I have made you  known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

This prayer is for all who believe that Jesus Christ is your Lord and saviour. This is His Prayer for you.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WnWtrFMdzc

Jesus Is Taken Up to Heaven

Acts 1 : 6 – 10

6 When the apostles met together with Jesus, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time give the Kingdom back to Israel?” 7 Jesus said to them, “The times and occasions are set by my Father's own authority, and it is not for you to know when they will be. 8 But when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will be filled with power, and you will be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 After saying this, he was taken up to heaven as they watched him, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They still had their eyes fixed on the sky as he went away, when two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them 11 and said, “Galileans, why are you standing there looking up at the sky? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way that you saw him go to heaven.”

Ascension Day Sonnet by Malcolm Guite

We saw his light break through the cloud of glory
Whilst we were rooted still in time and place
As earth became a part of Heaven’s story
And heaven opened to his human face.
We saw him go and yet we were not parted
He took us with him to the heart of things
The heart that broke for all the broken-hearted
Is whole and Heaven-centred now, and sings,
Sings in the strength that rises out of weakness,
Sings through the clouds that veil him from our sight,
Whilst we our selves become his clouds of witness
And sing the waning darkness into light,
His light in us, and ours in him concealed,
Which all creation waits to see revealed .

Jesus is king

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7RVDTvOoeE

Benediction

People of God,

let’s not just stand here, gazing into heaven

as the disciples did after they saw Jesus leave.

Instead, let’s take up the mission Jesus left us:

to be his witnesses,

to tell everyone we meet who Jesus is,

and how he has changed us.

And may the grace of God,

the love of Jesus Christ,

and the presence of the Holy Spirit

go with us all.

Amen.

Hallelujah chorus (Handel)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akb0kD7EHIk

Week beginning May 9th

 

Let there be Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omZYs7eooq0

Side by Side

Nehemiah 3: 1 – 12 Builders of the Wall

1 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them.

3 The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him Meshullam son of Berekiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs, and next to him Zadok son of Baana also made repairs. 5 The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.

6 The Jeshanah  Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place. 7 Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. 8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired the next section; and Hananiah, one of the perfume-makers, made repairs next to that. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section. 10 Adjoining this, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs next to him. 11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, repaired the next section with the help of his daughters.

“Our daily bread June 2018”.

In ancient times, a city with broken walls revealed a defeated people, exposed to danger and shame. That is why the Jews rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. How? By working side by side, an expression that can well describe  Nehemiah 3.

At first glance, chapter 3 might appear to be a boring account of who did what in the reconstruction. However, a closer look highlights how people worked together. Priests were working alongside rulers. Perfume-makers were helping as well as goldsmiths. There were some who lived in nearby towns and came to give a hand. Others made repairs opposite their houses. Shallum’s daughters, for example, worked alongside the men (3:12), and some people repaired two sections, like the men of Tekoa (vv. 5, 27).

Two things stand out from this chapter. First, they all worked together for a common goal. Second, all of them are commended for being part of the work, not for how much or little they did as compared to others.

Today we see damaged families and a broken society. But Jesus came to build the kingdom of God through the transformation of lives. We can help to rebuild our neighbourhoods by showing others they can find hope and new life in Jesus. All of us have something to do. So let us work side by side and do our part—whether big or small—to create a community of love where people can find Jesus.

By:  Keila Ochoa

Don Francisco sings "Nehemiah's Song"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWf8hVqjx4I

Some time ago I use to clean a large church and my two teenage boys would often lend a hand to help, cutting a three hour job down to one as we pulled

together.

There a few sayings you may know: many hands make light work;

a tasked shared is a task halved. In Ecclesiastes 4: 9 – 12 it is written

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour:
 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.  Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.  But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

A hill walker was caught out as the weather to a turn for the worse he lost his way and soon found himself suffering from hypothermia. A fell walker happened to come across him, and having the right equipment, managed to get the man to lay down inside an emergency sleeping bag. The rescuer sent out a mayday call. Both men were found snuggled together. Body heat from one saved the life of the other.

Lean on me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53JD-KBgKSE

Jesus is always there to lean on. We too must be prepared to be Christ's hands and feet ready for Him to use us to help others.

Ephesians 4:1 – 32

Unity and maturity in the body of Christ.

4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it  says: ‘When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.’

9 (What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions ? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Instructions for Christian living

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbour, for we are all members of one body. 26 ‘In your anger do not sin’[d]: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Prayer.

Heavenly Father, help me not to hold any bitterness, rage and anger, help me to listen to gossip or to spread slander, take malice and hate from me for give me of all my sins those known and those unknown

. Thank You that Jesus is the Word made flesh and that in Him is eternal life. Thank You for the indwelling Spirit, Who is building me into your likeness Thank you for the Word of life and the truths that it contains - and thank You that by faith in Christ Jesus, I have the right to call You my Father. Thank You that I am part of that universal Church, and for the elements of unity within the Christian faith that bind all who believe and trust in your love and abounding love that through the Spirit binds and unites me with brothers and sisters in faith.

For Yours O God is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen.

For I’m building a people of power
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X1UxIs1w2Y

“A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” was brought to mind, many years ago before while I was still single I was asked to sing a solo at a friends wedding. The vicar had spoken about being their for each other the way two hearts can be come one and the importance of working together if a marriage is to succeed.

I felt Gods hand was on the service as the vicar did not know what the title of the solo was. So I introduced it as cords that can not be broken.

I think these folk had a great time in singing the closing hymn

Bind us together lord

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPPy0AmU7Ag

Every blessing Susannah x

The Lord bless you and keep you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWZi6lNY-UA