Week beginning 27th March

 

How good to be be here you and me,

here to worship the blessed trinity.

The Lord came to make everything new,

how good it is to be here here with you.

Song: How good, Lord, to be here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU5sbv8_X-Q

Prayer:

We come before you offering you our prayers and praises, for you are the true and only living God. Fill us with your Holy Spirit that we may feel your presence within our hearts. It is good that we can come together in unity each one of us with our own worries, Lord you know the secrets of our hearts, the pain we often carry, the burden of guilt we sometimes feel. Yet we know that your Son came into the world that our sins may be forgiven; Father we ask now that you will forgive us. For we are trusting in your loving mercy and not in any goodness of our own. Unite us with our brothers and sisters through out the world as we say together the Lord’s prayer:

The Lords 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.

And 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.

Bible reading: Acts 8 1 – 3 On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. 2 Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. 3 But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Saul’s Conversion

Acts 9: 1 – 20

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 baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem

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.

I can just imagine if Saul, who became Paul, had known our next hymn he would have been singing it passion.

Song: What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought, since Jesus came into my heart,.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7RclYJu0yU

In the words of Max Bygraves; for those who are not old enough to have heard of him, he was an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs. He made twenty Royal Variety Performance appearances and presented numerous programmes, His catchphrase "I wanna tell you a story" became an integral part of his act,

So “I wanna to tell you a story” by Eric Carle. Pronounced (Karl)

The Hungry Caterpillar.

In the light of the moon a little egg lay on a leaf

One Sunday morning the warm sun came up and – pop- and out of the egg came a tiny and very hungry caterpillar. He started to look for some food. On Monday he ate through one apple but he was still hungry. On Tuesday he ate through two pears, but he was still hungry. On Wednesday he ate through three plumbs, but he was still hungry. On Thursday he ate through four strawberries but he was still hungry, On Friday he ate through five oranges, but he was still hungry,

On Saturday he ate through one piece of chocolate cake, one ice -cream cone, One pickle, one slice of Swiss cheese, one slice of Salami, one lolly pop, one piece of cherry pie, one sausage, one cup cake, and one slice of water melon. That night he a stomach-ache! The next day was Sunday again. The Caterpillar ate through one nice green leaf, and after that he felt much better. Now he wasn't hungry any more- and he wasn’t a little caterpillar any more. He was a big fat caterpillar.

He built a small house called a cocoon around himself.

He stayed inside for more than two weeks.

Then he nibbled a hole in the cocoon, pushed his way out and …… he was a beautiful butterfly.

Changes taking place

Caterpillar has no knowledge that while he is eating away a great transformation will happen in his life.

Saul, while persecuting the followers of the way was oblivious to the fact a change was going to take place in his life.

While I have been caring for my mum a change has taken place in her garden, snow drops and crocuses have been and gone, the daffodils are out and the birds are busy building their nests the forsythia has flowered and is in leaf and the willow is draped in catkins, the warmth of the sun is bringing change to the planet, another season of growth is transforming the landscape. There was a change in the time we had to get up today as the clocks change to British summer and went forward one hour

Change happens all the time we some times do not like it. But a new baby can not stay a baby.

Paul wrote to the Church in Corinth “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood  behind me.”  Paul could see that he had changed and grown not only as a boy to man but in His faith.

Jesus himself changed in front Peter, James and John he also changed the lives of those he met with, and ones around them.

Song: Christ upon the mountain peak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pR90sgbEio

take up you Bible and turn to Marks gospel chapter 9 (reading from verse 2

JESUS CHANGED FROM GLORY INTO GLORY

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

12 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.” 14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 “What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

19 “You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.

21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

23 “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.

Song: Stay, Master, stay upon this heavenly hill;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQabnhHp1ns

Today, as well as being mothering Sunday, it is also transfiguration Sunday.

Changes that take place, congregations worship at their mother church possibly even at a different times.

Churches must change to be fit for purpose in the 21^st century.

Soon I will be attending National Markets Traders Federation conference titled “markets fit for purpose in the 21 century”, I am hoping to come away with some ideas for church and even be able to witness my faith there.

People that Jesus touched changed, a young man suffering from a demon was cleansed, his father would have been overjoyed and a little fearful. Jesus told the three disciples that they could not stay on the mountain, there was work to be done. Jesus has work for us to do to day.

If our gardens and parks did not change and flourish, nature would stagnate.

I can still remember the pond in our garden at Norwich and my brother falling in it, the change that took place as he came out stinking mum was unimpressed. One hose pipe and bath later he came out smelling much better. And with clean clothes on.

The churches are leading up to the calvary with the death of Christ and the resurrection. Without this, the world would not have changed 2000 years ago. and you would not be reading and taking part in this service now.

Prayer:

Lord we pray for mothers everywhere, for their lives for there love. for people for people in our lives that have been like mothers to us.

We bring before you the war torn countries, where women and children have been hurt, where families have had to flee from their homes. Where there is sorrow, bloodshed, hatred and mistrust. Father we ask for your healing, and love.

We thank you for the love you have for us for your world the beauty of creation help us to be caring. Father we ask that your son Jesus our lord, the prince of peace, will bring change in to the minds of those who lead their countries; that they may remember the love He showed on the cross.

That love that can warm the coldest of hearts.

Father God, be with all peacemakers. And leaders of governments that they may work together for the good of all people. We ask this prayer in your name of Jesus. Amen.

Song: changed from glory into glory. Love Divine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGGcqhKShQ8

Benediction: May the Lord whose steadfast love is constant as a mother's care, send us out to live and work for others.

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