Worshipping at Home 27th February 2022
Home Worshipping 

Sunday Before Lent - 27th February 2022 

The Service

The above video is 20 minutes & 12 seconds long
The First Hymn
Welcome!

Are you one of those clever people who can do two things at the same time? How about listening and talking at the same time? I find it very difficult. This simple acknowledgement can help us in our praying. Prayer is a conversation with God, and like any good conversation it should involve careful speaking and listening. Most of us are good at talking to God, but in order to hear him speak to us we need to quieten down and listen. This week we recall how three hearing extraordinary things whilst in the company of Jesus. So, let’s talk and listen as we enter his presence.


Psalm 50: 1-6

The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. Our God comes and does not keep silence, before him is a devouring fire, and a mighty tempest all around him. He calls to the heavens above and to the earth, that he may judge his people: "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!" The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge. 

Acclamation

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; 
to His feet thy tribute bring; 
ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, 
who like thee His praise should sing? 
Praise Him! Praise Him! 
Praise Him! Praise Him! 
Praise the everlasting King.

The Collect Prayer

Almighty Father, 
whose Son was revealed in majesty 
before he suffered death 
upon the cross: 
give us grace to perceive his glory, 
that we may be strengthened 
to suffer with him
and be changed into his likeness, 
from glory to glory; 
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

Luke 9: 28-36 (The Transfiguration.)

 

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendour, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’ When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Thought for the Day

There is no shortage of images of Moses and Elijah. They appear in so many stained glass windows and paintings. The trouble is that these Old Testament characters all look the same in windows and on canvas. We work out who’s who by their context or by the symbol they bear. 

One day, Peter, James and John walked up a mountain with Jesus when suddenly they were overwhelmed with dazzling brightness. They say two men talking with Jesus, and they recognized them as Moses and Elijah. Without a context, and without any symbols to help them, they knew who they were seeing. We can only assume that they had worked their identities out by over-hearing their conversation with Jesus, or maybe they heard Jesus calling out to them as he prayed. Soon afterwards, the three disciples heard another voice. This time it was the voice of God, affirming his Son, Jesus. 

Sometimes when people call me on the phone, they assume I know who they are. They assume I recognise their voice. But often I only manage to work out who is talking by the content of the conversation. There is that moment when the penny drops, and we know who is speaking to us. 
Has God been in touch with you, recently? God has many ways at his disposal by which he can message us. But do we recognise his voice? We can’t assume it is God simply because the voice says so, nor can we assume it is God simply because we have heard a voice whilst in a spiritual state. The most reliable way of recognizing God’s voice is by the content of the conversation. Suddenly the penny drops as the wisdom of the message becomes clear – wise words helping to see something good, or do something good, or go somewhere good. God calling.

Let us Pray

God, creator, Artist supreme, the potter who forms us, the father who keeps us, the mother who holds us, the word who sustains us, the love who will not let us go, we offer you our sacrifice of praise. Jesus, Messiah, Saviour and friend, the rabbi who teaches us, the prophet who stirs us, the healer who touches us, the One who dies for us, the love who will not let us go, we offer you our sacrifice of praise. Spirit, power, Breath of Life, the guide who prompts us, the truth who inspires us, the fire who empowers us, the spirit who enables us, the love who will not let us go, we offer you our sacrifice of praise. Amen.

Eternal God, you revealed to the disciples the everlasting glory of Jesus Christ. Grant us, who have not seen and yet believe, the gift of your Holy Spirit, that we may boldly live the gospel and shine with your transforming glory. Make us a people who have changed, and changing, through the redeeming presence of our Saviour. 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

Go in the power of the Spirit to live and work to God’s praise and glory. And 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: Exodus 35:1-29; Acts 10:9-23a
Tuesday: Ezekiel 1:1; 2:1; Acts 10:23b-33
Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 5:20b-6:10; Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21
Thursday: Exodus 5:10-23; Acts 7:30-34
Friday: Exodus 6:1-13; Acts 7:35-42
Saturday: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; John 12:27-36

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
Contact Us

 We’re here to help!

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.
Share by: