Week beginning 14th August

 Song: Morning has broken like the first morning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5D3LEjGF8A

An elderly preacher lived on street with blocks of flats, hers being a ground floor dwelling, her view was of the dustbin sheds, rubbish covered the small area of grass. The flat was small and her son was going to move in to help to look after her but it only had one bedroom. So she was offered a two bed bungalow nearer to the country side, she now has trees, fields, and cows, a blackbird comes and sings on her fence. Yes, God is good she thought. And turned to Psalm 148. A hymn came to mind.

Song: Jesus is Lord

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

After visiting a flower festival held in her friend’s Church, she was greatly moved by a window display of blackness with a mist of grey draped over the black image with the words

“ 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.”

At the front of the church were two images; the first a pure white large sheet covered with lots of different flowers, leaves, so very beautiful; the other a dead tree branch

covered in used carrier bags and plastic wrappers at its base empty cans & bottles fast food wrappers and other household rubbish. It made her think of the book of Genesis Chapter 1: 1 – 25. The next hymn talks about the beauty of God’s earth

Song: For the beauty of the earth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVyN7Qi7NHs

Prayer

God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love
for all the creatures of this earth, for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.
Enlighten those who possess power and money that they may avoid the sin of indifference, that they may love the common good, advance the weak,
and care for this world in which we live.
The poor and the earth are crying out. O Lord, seize us with your power and light,
help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future, for the coming of your Kingdom
of justice, peace, love and beauty. Praise be to you. Amen

In the bible reading, at the end of each day God saw that his work was good. Now read to the end of the chapter, Genesis Chapter 1: 26 – 31. In the N.I.V. v31 it says God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. We read that we were made very good and God put us in charge of all the planet this comes with a big responsibility. There is an advert that says we are the first generation to see what we are doing to the planet and the first generation to do something about it.

Song: O Lord my God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdE_NKyY_o0

What do a telescope, children, and zoo have in common ?

A telescope can see the creation in all its glory.

A zoo can show all the creatures around the world that we would not other wise see, that are all part of the creation and children look in wonder at the world with open eyes. and praise God the creator.

An atheist writer wrote of the beauty of creation but never gave a thought how it was made.

He missed the point, The Glory, the praise the magnificence that God made this for him and you and me and for those to come. So it is right to give God the praise and to sing how great thou art .

There are still people who have not enough food to eat no fresh water to drink no home due to war, failed harvests. Contaminated water by pollution

So we ask what can we do. We can pray

Prayer: Father, Creation sings of Your majesty. Created in Your image, we are a direct reflection of You. Every good thing comes from You. Every note of love and goodness we feel and extend is rooted in Your great love for us.

Whether we know Jesus yet or not, we know love. We all know what it feels like to love and be loved. It is this commonality that supplies the empathy we need to see each other for the people You created us to be. Help us to find the good in every person You place in our lives and on our paths,

prayer

Father. You are not a God of coincidence. You watch over us, encourage us, and love us perfectly. You are faithful to hear us and answer our prayers. You are close to the broken hearted.

Father, we are in awe of how you orchestrate the days of our lives and the individual love You have for each of us and our purposes. We are all unique, every person, and it brings You joy when we recognize each other for the people we are in You. Lord teach us to love. Amen

So what can we do to help the world? The answer is not easy but we can all do are little bit show compassion, share what we have. Use items that are more recyclable. And remember God has lent us this planet to care for. For he is love there fore show love with love comes hope eternal.

Song: God in His love for us lent us this planet 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwBLsS6M4jQ

Poem

Beauty for brokenness Hope for despair

Lord, in your suffering This is our prayer
Bread for the children Justice, joy, peace

Sunrise to sunset Your kingdom increase!

Shelter for fragile lives Cures for their ills

Work for the craftsman Trade for their skills

Land for the dispossessed Rights for the weak
Voices to plead the cause Of those who can't speak

God of the poor ,Friend of the weak
Give us compassion we pray

Melt our cold hearts Let tears fall like rain
Come, change our love From a spark to a flame.

Refuge from cruel wars Havens from fear

Cities for sanctuary Freedoms to share

Peace to the killing-fields Scorched earth to green

Christ for the bitterness His cross for the pain

God of the poor, Friend of the weak

Give us compassion we pray

Melt our cold hearts Let tears fall like rain

Come, change our love From a spark to a flame

Rest for the ravaged earth Oceans and streams

Plundered and poisoned Our future, our dreams

Lord, end our madness Carelessness, greed

Make us content with The things that we need

God of the poor, Friend of the weak

Give us compassion we pray

Melt our cold hearts Let tears fall like rain
Come, change our love From a spark to a flame

Lighten our darkness Breathe on this flame
Until your justice Burns brightly again

Until the nations Learn of your ways

Seek your salvation And bring you their praise

God of the poor, Friend of the weak

Give us compassion we pray

Melt our cold hearts
Let tears fall like rain

Come, change our love From a spark to a flame

Source: Musixmatch Songwriters: Graham Kendrick God of the Poor lyrics © Make Way Music

Song: Yes God is Good

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