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.

Week beginning 10th January 2021

 Covenant Sunday

Each year, on the first or second Sunday in January, it is our custom to renew our covenant with God. This was first encouraged by John Wesley, and has long been a part of the tradition of many sections of the Methodist fellowship.

Song:

I Am Thine Oh Lord, I Have Heard Thy Voice (By Sheffield Celebration Choir) (gospel Hymn) - YouTube

Reading:

Psalm 51, verses 1 to 12.

Song:

Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain - YouTube

Reading;

1 John, chapter 5, verses 1 to 12

Song:

I Have Decided to Follow Jesus ~ Cedarmont Kids ~ lyric video - YouTube

Prayer:

Christ has many services to be done. Some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honour, others bring reproach; some are acceptable to our personal tastes and interests, others are contrary to both. In some we may please Christ and please ourselves, in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. Yet the power to do all these things is given to us by Christ Jesus.

Therefore, let us make the covenant of God our own, and in sincere dependence on His grace, and trusting in His promises yield ourselves anew to Him.

I am no longer my own, but yours.

Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will;

Put me to doing; put me to suffering;

Let me be employed for you or laid aside for you,

Exalted for you, or brought low for you;

Let me be full, let me be empty;

Let me have all things, let me have nothing;

I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.

And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

You are mine and I am yours.

So be it. And the covenant made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

In this prayer, we are not asking God to make us suffer in the sense that the word is now widely used. The word has another meaning, that some of us will be familiar with in the words of Jesus, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me ” (Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 19, verse 14, King James’ Version) Here the word means allow, and in the context of this prayer, to allow things to happen (the opposite of “doing”) or to endure. The form of the prayer is a series of opposites, all of which can be ways of serving God.

Many of us are happy to do things for God, to be employed for God, but it can be very difficult to be waiting, enduring, or laid aside for God. At the present time, many of us are not able to do the things that we usually do, and this can be especially frustrating for those people who feel that what they normally do is what God has called them to do.

This is a time of enduring, of being laid aside, but we can make it a time for God, a time when we can learn and be refreshed in His service, where we can give thanks for the evidence we see of His presence and power in the world.

The quote “If you look for the bad in people expecting to find it, you surely will.” is attributed to Abraham Lincoln. But some of you will have seen the film “Pollyanna” in which a young girl turns this on its head and is always looking for reasons to be cheerful, believing that if you look for good, then you will find it. We need to be looking for the work of God in the world, expecting it to be there, and rejoicing when we find it.

Song:

Come, let us use the grace divine (Wesley) - YouTube

George Herbert (1593 - 1633) wrote several hymns, one of his well-known ones is:

Teach me, my God and King,
in all things thee to see,
and what I do in anything
to do it as for thee.

A man that looks on glass,
on it may stay his eye;
or if he pleaseth, through it pass,
and then the heaven espy.

All may of thee partake;
nothing can be so mean,
which with this tincture, "for thy sake,"
will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause
makes drudgery divine:
who sweeps a room, as for thy laws,
makes that and the action fine.

This is the famous stone
that turneth all to gold;
for that which God doth touch and own
cannot for less be told.

In it he teaches us that we can serve God in the most mundane of actions. The “stone” referred to in the last verse is the Philosopher’s Stone, which as the classically educated (or those who have read or seen the Harry Potter story) will know, has the property of turning base metal into gold. Herbert proclaims that doing things for God, however mundane, makes those actions more valuable than gold.

Song:

The Celebration Choir - O Happy Day [with lyrics] - YouTube

Week beginning 3rd January

 

This year Christmas may seem to have been different; some Churches are still closed, some are meeting but only listening to music, but Christmas will never be cancelled. We may have been unable to share our gift opening with all our relatives, but that dose not not stop us from sharing the gift of God’s love through sending cards or emails, making phone calls and seeing each other through virtual means of technology. We may be unable to travel long distances, but if we have the right devices, we may be able to wish strangers happy Christmas while keeping our distances. Things were different 2000 years ago. There were no cars, the only transport was by walking or by donkey, horse and in the eastern counties camels.

The wise men or magi travelled a very long way, traditionally by camel, the journey may have been rough, they were foreigners going through strange lands to bring gifts to the Christ child. These gifts we will be looking at in greater detail later.

A Devotional Message by Anne Cetas in our daily bread writes

A mum felt she’d been overspending on family Christmas gifts, so one year she decided to try something different. For a few months before the holiday, she scrounged through yard sales for inexpensive, used items. She bought more than usual but for far less money. On Christmas Eve, her children excitedly opened gift after gift after gift. The next day there were more! Mum had felt guilty about not getting new gifts so she had additional gifts for Christmas morning. The kids began opening them but quickly complained, “We’re too tired to open any more! You’ve given us so much!” That’s not a typical response from children on a Christmas morning! God has blessed us with so much, but it seems we’re always looking for more: a bigger house, a better car, a larger bank account, or [fill in the blank]. Paul encouraged Timothy to remind people in his congregation that “we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:7–8). God has given us our very breath and life—besides providing for our needs. How refreshing it might be to enjoy and be content with His gifts and to say, You’ve given us so much! We don’t need more. “Godliness with contentment is great gain” (v. 6).

The wise did not bring to many gifts or too few. That is the reason they are wise.

We Three Kings, arr. Christopher J. Madsen | BYU Men's Chorus - YouTube

Prayer

Lord, may we be like the Wise Men who were guided to you by a star. Give us the wisdom to seek you, light to guide us to you, courage to search until we find you, graciousness to worship you and generosity to lay our gifts before you. Help us to use your gifts wisely for you are our King and our God for ever and ever. Amen.

"Oriental Wise Men of Three" NEW Original Christmas Song! - YouTube

Matthew 2: 1 – 12

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory - this was during Herod's kingship - a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. 2 They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signalled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him." 3 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified - and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. 

4 Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?" 5 They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly: 6 It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."  7 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared.  8 Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship." 9 Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. 10 They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! 11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshipped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.12 In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country. 

The three wise men, also known as magi, were men belonging to various educated classes. Our English word magician comes from this same root. But these wise men were not magicians in the modern sense of sleight-of-hand performers. They were of noble birth, educated, wealthy, and influential.

There are Three gifts are recorded in the Gospel of Matthew but it is unclear how many Magi travelled heading East

The Gifts

The First Gift Gold

Gold is obvious. It’s been the store of value for thousands of years. It’s rare and difficult to accumulate. It’s easy to work into shapes or very thin sheets. And it doesn’t rust or corrode. All of these recommend it as a store of value and its use is all over the Old Testament books of the Bible, especially in the description given for building the temple and the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25). 

Solomon’s vast wealth is described in the amount of gold he accumulated. 1 Kings 10:14(14 The weight of the gold that Solomon received yearly was 666 talents. That is, about 25 tons or about 23 metric tons

It’s no wonder that gold was the Old Testament symbol of kings. Thus, when the magi brought gold to honour Jesus, they were proclaiming him king.  Even more than that they were proclaiming him to be the ultimate king, the “king of kings.” 

The gift of gold to the Christ child was symbolic of His divinity—God in flesh.

The Second Gift Frankincense

Frankincense is a white resin or gum. It is obtained from a tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. It is highly fragrant when burned and was therefore used in worship, where it was burned as a pleasant offering to God (Exodus 30:34). Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself up, analogous to a burnt offering.

The Third Gift Myrrh

Myrrh was also a product of Arabia, and was obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. It was a spice and was used in embalming. It was also sometimes mingled with wine to form an article of drink. Such a drink was given to our Saviour when He was about to be crucified, a  wine drugged with myrrh, will help deaden the sense of pain. (Mark 15:23). Matthew 27:34 refers to it as “gall.” Myrrh symbolizes bitterness, suffering, and affliction.

The Wise men’s song

https://www.youtube/watch?v=lwnXK55VeSU

The Magi.

They laughed behind their hands when we set off.

Our camels loaded. What will it be?

A king? A child? A what?

We headed westward with anticipation and gifts.

The omen was clear shining in the sky

our compass and guide.

 

All of our studies seemed true.

But what if we found no child no king?

Could we return? Our reputations a joke  but “something” was felt by us all as we travelled the long miles west.

 

We found a king in Jerusalem. Too old,

Too mean, Too unwise.

We vowed not to return this way.

We stargazed on and came to a man, woman and child. No pretensions. Humble Joy filled poor but ALIVE! Then we knew! We were sure! The child, king messiah was found.

We could return home with stories with hope …. and our reputations.

Taken from The magi posted on line by Pieter Stok  

Prayer

Lord Father God, may your light shine in the darkness, guide my foot steps as once you guided the steps of the magi: that I too may be led into your presence and worship, I want to bring to you all my thanks, help me to use the gifts you have given me that that my actions bring you honour and praise. Thank you for your son, the Christ child, that through him others may seek His forgiveness, for Jesus is the king of Kings, Lord of Lord.

Nations, will bow down and worship the saviour of mankind,

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

Have you ever lost any thing and spend ages looking for them especially if they are keys.

I must admit from time to time I have taken the wrong turning .and getting lost.

Or taking a short cut which ended up adding miles to the journey modern cars and mobiles can use SAT Navs. But the wise men did not have these they followed the direction they had, Gods guiding light, God led them mile upon mile across lands they may not have known, speaking different languages.

But they trusted God and after consulting with King Herod they went on.

The men were wise they realised that God had given them a warning in in a dream not to go back to Herod. They were obedient and went back a different route. Wise folk still seek him to day. I pray that The Christ Child will come close to you and fill you with his peace and love.

wise men still look for Him

CBC Choir- Wise Men Still Seek Him - YouTube

Wishing you a very happy and Peaceful 2021.

Joy to the World (2017) - Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble & the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - YouTube