Worshipping at Home 18th July 2021
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Trinity 7                       18th July 2021

The Service

The above video is 20 minutes & 37 seconds long
The First Hymn
Welcome!

Are you happy with the pace of your life? Does the rhythm of your life serve you well? We often binge at living, and then take our exhausted selves somewhere to crash out. In the days before the luxury of holidays, people relied on a day of rest each week. They also enjoyed an annual cycle of festivals, with one cropping up roughly every six weeks. As we draw close to God in worship, may he realign our lives with sustainable rhythms and routines.

Psalm 23
 
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

Acclamation

The love of God 
has been poured into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit 
who has been given to us.
Give thanks to the Lord 
and call upon his name.
Make known his deeds 
amongst the peoples.
Sing to him, 
sing praises to him,
and speak 
of all his marvellous works.

The Collect Prayer

Lord of all power and might, 
the author and giver of all good things: 
graft in our hearts the love of your name, 
increase in us true religion, 
nourish us with all goodness, 
and of your great mercy 
keep us in the same; 
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

Mark 6: 30-34, 53-56 (Rest, within the hectic pace of life.)

 

The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’



So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognised them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.


When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognised Jesus. They ran throughout that whole region and carried those who were ill on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed those who were ill in the market-places. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

Thought for the Day

An American journalist called Hunter Thompson wrote “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!” I heard these words once as part of a eulogy, and I must admit I envied the lifestyle of the deceased. It seems they had certainly lived life to the full. Having said that, I’m at a stage in life when not only can’t I keep up with a hectic pace of life, I get exhausted even watching others try!

Jesus lived a hectic life. St. Mark is fond of using the word ‘immediately’ to describe what Jesus was up to. Jesus immediately went here, went there, did this, did that. His disciples must have found it difficult to keep up with him. In today’s Bible reading from Mark 6 we have the touching words of Jesus to his disciples, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ On this occasion, it didn’t work out because people tracked them down, and they just would not leave Jesus alone. On other occasions, however, Jesus and his disciples did manage to get away and take time out from the crazy pace of ministry. 

I often look back over the years and wonder how much time I have spent on things that weren’t worth doing. It’s tempting to regret all that time wasted. But maybe we need to also recognize that living a life jam packed full of success can be unhealthy. Maybe life needs the padding of idle moments and so-called wasted time. 

In the opera ‘Faust’ there is a song titled “The Soldier’s Chorus”. Some of the lyrics say, ‘rest is pleasant after toil as hard as ours beneath a stranger sun.’ There is a smug satisfaction of enjoying a well-deserved rest. It is not possible to enjoy an evening’s rest if there hasn’t been a hard day’s grafting. But life needn’t be so driven. In a modern version of the 23rd Psalm we read, ‘The Lord is my pacemaker, I shall not rush. He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals. He provides me with images of stillness, which restore my serenity. He leads me in ways of efficiency through calmness of mind, and his guidance is peace.’ Thank you, Toki Miyashina, the Japanese poet who wrote this version of the psalm. 
At the beginning of the day ask the Lord, ‘What do you want of me today?’ If the answer is ‘nothing’ then maybe we should accept it. After all, after a day of doing nothing the Lord may well be planning for us to do something quite special! Or there again, maybe not. It’s up to Him. The secret is to recognize the Master’s voice.

Let us Pray

Creator of all, Sustainer of all, Saviour of all, your glory and majesty are beyond our understanding, your power too awesome to behold. And yet your love enfolds us as you hold us in the palm of your hand. Saviour of all, Sustainer of all, Creator of all, we bless your holy name. Amen. 
Lord God, give strength to those who have grown weary, doubtful or disillusioned along the road of faith, now wanting to rest awhile or take a different route. Open their eyes again. Let them hear your word, feel your gentle touch and know that it is you still walking by their side. Resurrect their faith, bring to them new life, living God, we pray. Amen.

Lord God, for those weighed down by ill health, bring wholeness to body, mind and spirit. For those weighed down by worry, bring wisdom, peace and reassurance. For those weighed down by fear, bring freedom, release and liberation. For those weighed down by sadness, bring comfort, strength and joy. Amen. 

Shepherd God, you call us into a rhythm of work and rest that our lives may be the better for it. Shape our leisure and our labour, that we may be truly alive to the world around us, and strong in faith, hope and love. 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: Jeremiah 50:1-7; Hebrews 13:17-25

Tuesday: Zechariah 9:14-10:2; Acts 20:17-38

Wednesday: 2 Samuel 5:1-12; Luke 15:1-7

Thursday: 1 Kings 19:19-21; Colossians 1:9-14

Friday: 2 Kings 3:4-20; Colossians 3:12-17

Saturday: 2 Kings 4:38-41; John 4:31-38

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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