Worshipping at Home 25th July 2021

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Trinity 8                       25th July 2021

The Service

The above video is 19 minutes & 3 seconds long
The First Hymn
Welcome!

Who are your heroes? The Bible is full of stories in which the most unlikely people end up doing the most extraordinary things. These stories are bad news for those who want to pass the buck and play the blame game. But for those who genuinely wonder whether we mortals are ever going to solve the huge challenges of our time, these stories are full of hope and truly inspirational. Today we will hear one of those stories. Welcome!



Psalm 145: 10-18
 
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your faithful shall bless you. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and tell of your power, to make known to all people your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendour of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words, and gracious in all his deeds. The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing. The Lord is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Acclamation

Eternal Father, 
the Fountain of Life,
Risen Son, 
the Prince of Life;
Spirit of freedom, 
Giver of Life.
Truth, Wisdom and Power,
Lover, Beloved and Friend,
Hope without end; 
Joy beyond words.
All glory to God, 
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Collect Prayer

Lord God,
your Son left the riches of heaven 
and became poor for our sake: 
when we prosper 
save us from pride, 
when we are needy 
save us from despair, 
that we may trust in you alone; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
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: 1-21 (The feeding of the 5000 and walking on water.)

 

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing those who were ill. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him, he said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, ‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.


After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’ Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Thought for the Day

We are naturally nosey. Whether it is asking a friend what they have been up to, or reading the biography of the famous, we are intrigued by the details of other people’s lives. Why? Maybe it’s because we are comparing our lives with theirs, seeing how we measure up. What we read about others can threaten, inspire, disappoint, re-assure.

The Christians in the first century had read all about Jesus in the three available ‘biographies’ written by Matthew, Mark and Luke. No doubt they had reflected upon their own lives in the light of what they had read. But towards the end of the century a new so-called biography appeared - the Gospel according to John. The readers would have been fascinated to see if there were any new revelations, new stories, new angles on familiar passages. And they weren’t disappointed. 

The Gospel according to John is a masterpiece in so many ways, but for today I want to draw your attention to one well-known story that appears in all four gospels – the feeding of the 5000. John gives us a hitherto omitted detail that really affects our understanding of the story. In all four gospels we hear Jesus telling the disciples to feed the crowd. In all four gospels this suggestion is received with incredulity. Eventually two fish and five loaves are presented to Jesus. In all four gospels this food offering is seen as small and ineffectual. But John tells us that it was a boy who had stepped forward and offered the food. To the disciples two fish and five loaves were nowhere near enough. Given the enormity of the challenge to feed 5000 the small food parcel represented nothing, but as far as the boy was concerned it was everything. Small as it was, the boy gave all that he had. This significant moment was the start of the miracle. Without that offering a lot of people would have gone home hungry.

When I was a little boy my friends and I would watch action films and then rush off into the local club grounds to re-enact the story. We would vie with one another as to who would play the role of the hero. Often the hero was a wounded hero – the one who saves everyone and, just when we think they have died in the process, they appear out of the mist. In that sense we all wanted to be the Jesus figure. Now, much older and slightly wiser, I see that God wants us to re-enact the Feeding of the 5000 story, and we wants us to take the role of the boy.

Let us Pray

Creator God who breathed this world into being, who is discernible within the harmony of nature, the perfection of a butterfly's wing, the grandeur of a mountain range, the soaring eagle and humming bird, thank you for this world which you have created. Thank you for the warmth of your love, sustaining this world. Amen. 

Help us, Lord, to remember that we are a chosen people, a family people, chosen for love and to share love, chosen for joy and to spread joy, chosen for friendship and for befriending, chosen for blessing and to bless. Inspire us to live life to the full, in all its colour and glory. Amen.
Gracious God, be close to those who, for whatever reason are struggling to cope with today, and this impacts not only on their lives but those of friends, family or work colleagues. Bring peace into their turmoil, love into their emptiness and the help that they so need. As we pray for them, help us to see that the little we have can still go a long way in meeting the needs of others. Help us to be generous so that we might all live in a spirit of optimism and hope. 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 18:1-15; Philippians 4:10-20

Tuesday: Exodus 24:1-11; Romans 15:22-33

Wednesday: Isaiah 25:6-10a; Mark 6:35-44

Thursday: Exodus 12:33-42; 1 Corinthians 11:17-22

Friday: Exodus 12:43-13:2; 1 Corinthians 11:27-34

Saturday: Exodus 13:3-10; Matthew 16:5-12

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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