Worshipping at Home 15th August 2021
Home Worshipping 

Trinity 11                       15th August 2021

The Service

The above video is 23 minutes & 12 seconds long
The First Hymn
Welcome!
Some Greeks approached one of Jesus’ disciples with a request, ‘Sir’, they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus’ (John 12:20). That is a perfect way for us to approach a time of worship. Our fellowship, hymns, prayers, readings and thoughts should work together to help us focus on Jesus. He is our salvation and our life. In meeting him in worship we can renew our pact of friendship and loyalty. 


Psalm 111
Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of honour and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever.

Acclamation

Worthy, 
O worthy are you Lord,
Worthy to be thanked
 and praised
and worshipped 
and adored.
We say ‘Hallelujah’, 
Lamb upon the throne,
We worship and adore you;
make your glory known.

The Collect Prayer

O God, you declare your almighty power
most chiefly in showing mercy and pity:
mercifully grant to us
such a measure of your grace,
that we, running the way
of your commandments,
may receive your gracious promises,
and be made partakers
of your heavenly treasure;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Sharing the Peace

We are the Family of God;
In the one Spirit we were all baptised
into one body.
Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.

(At this point please think of others
and in your heart send them
the message: Peace be with you.)

Bible Reading

John 6: 51-58 (Receiving the life of Christ.)

 

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live for ever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.’ Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live for ever.’

Thought for the Day

What an outburst from Jesus! In the sixth chapter of his Gospel, St. John records a long confrontation between Jesus, the crowds, and the religious authorities. This is our third look at the chapter, and we will visit it again next week! I think of the whole chapter as a firework display. There is always something dazzling going on, and then occasionally there is the launch of a magnificent rocket. In today’s reading the subject that brightens up the sky is ‘eternal life’. 

Since forever people have wondered why we die, and when we die what happens next. Every religion has some take on the subject, and even the non-religious have a view. A broad spectrum of views offer us a range of ideas from a godless twilight zone to the bright glory of heaven. Like many religions, the ancient Egyptians believed in an onward journey and they would place in the tomb all the things they thought a soul might need to be well-provided for in the next life. This is an important point. It was understood that you couldn’t just die without any thought of how you will fare beyond death. Within the busy-ness of life people were encouraged to give some thought to preparations for the next life. In today’s world we have lost sight of this wisdom. Many people are content to just live for the moment, and to take their chances when they die. Does that sound familiar?

It is quite clear from Jesus’ teaching that he would warn us against being complacent about life after death. Eternal life shouldn’t be left to chance. In guiding our thoughts on the matter, Jesus says ‘Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life’. The imagery is gruesome. It is no wonder that in the early days of the Church rumours were going around that Christians were cannibals! But what did Jesus mean? We recall his words every time we celebrate the Service of Holy Communion as bread and wine are consecrated and consumed. We are definitely not cannibals, but what do we think we are eating and drinking…and why? Of course our Holy Communion Services are rooted in ancient religious ceremony, and we can read endless commentaries about the setting of the Last Supper. But I do wonder whether there is a more down to earth and straightforward way of understanding Jesus’ teaching. 

Supposing two close friends wanted to symbolically bind their lives together. Supposing they take some bread and wine and say that in eating and drinking them they were binding their lives together – taking each other’s lives and uniting their very essence together – that they will be one in their actions and destiny – now and for ever. They are making a pact, and sealing it through ritual. It seems to me that Jesus is inviting us to bind our lives with his, to become one, to fully identify with him as he identifies with us, to unite in action and destiny. This is intensely personal. Our hope of eternal life is not based on any declaration of faith, any holy behaviour or string of commendable achievements. Well, it’s all of those but within the context of a deeply personal pact of love and loyalty between Jesus and ourselves.

Let us Pray

May the guiding hands of God be on my shoulders, may the presence of the Holy Spirit be on my head, may the sign of Christ be on my forehead, may the voice of the Holy Spirit be in my ears, may the fragrance of the Holy Spirit be in my nostrils, may the sight of the company of heaven be in my eyes, may the speech of the company of heaven be in my mouth, may the work of the church of God be in my hands, may the serving of God and my neighbour be in my feet, may God make my heart his home, and may I belong to God, my Father, completely. Amen.

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.

(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.)
The Blessing

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.


Amen.

 The Second Hymn

Bible Readings for the Week

Monday: Genesis 43:1-15; Acts 6:1-7

Tuesday: Genesis 45:1-15; Acts 7:9-16

Wednesday: Genesis 47:13-26; Mark 8:14-21

Thursday: Joshua 22:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Friday: Joshua 22:10-20; Romans 13:11-14

Saturday: Joshua 22:21-34; Luke 11:5-13

If you have any thoughts, questions or concerns, please contact us

Henley in Arden The incumbent/priest in charge John Ganjavi
telephone 01564 792570 or email Incumbent/ Priest in charge

For a full list of church contact details please click here
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I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you're grateful, you'll see God open up new doors.
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