Worshipping at Home 2nd February 2024

Home Worshipping 
2nd February 2024

Welcome to Home Worshipping 2nd February 2024!
Second Sunday before Lent

Bible Reading

John 1 v 1-14

Colossians 1 v 15 -20


The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.



There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God; children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.


The Supremacy of Christ

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.


Thought for the Day

Sometimes we need an encouraging verse to reflect our loving, Creator God. Taken as a whole, the message of the entire Bible can give us encouragement because it shows us that God loves us and has a wonderful plan for us. We need to know that there is a loving, caring God who understands the frailties of human life. There are many specific bible verses that show us what God is like; that give direction in our lives for the good times and the bad times. This week our bible readings from John and St Paul, have some of the best messages of encouragement for us, because they show us who God is.

In the reading from John, this is one of the significant verses in the bible that we reflect on at Christmas. From the first verse of this passage, we learn three important things about Jesus;

1. The word was there at the beginning of creation. This means that Jesus existed before creation, He was not created as part of creation, but Jesus was there before time and the world began. Jesus is part of eternity.

This is a comforting thought because it means that the nature of God has always been like Jesus. God has always loved us before all time and before Jesus came to show us this love. What Jesus did was to open the window in time so we could see the eternal and unchanging love of God.

2. The word was with God. There has always been the closest connection between the word and God. This mean that there has always been an intimate connection between God and Jesus.

This is all the confirmation we need that Jesus’ love, heart and mind, that He showed us through his life, death and Resurrection, are exactly those of our loving God. As Jesus has always been with God, He could reveal to us what God is like and how God feels towards us.

3. The word was God. John is not describing Jesus as identical to God, but he is saying that Jesus was so perfectly the same as God in mind, in heart and spirit, that in Him we can see God perfectly.

In the final verse of our passage, the word of God became flesh and lived among us. Jesus is the manifestation of God’s glory, the coming of God’s glory among mankind. This glory is the presence of God, here on earth. He came to earth to show us the splendour and heart of God.

Paul also points us to who Jesus is in his Letter to the church at Colosse. Paul tells us that Jesus is the image of the invisible God. In Him we see God in human form. There is some overlap between these passages in terms of Jesus’ role in creation. Like John, Paul attributes all of creation to Jesus. Paul then goes on to make clear to his readers that Jesus is also the agent of our salvation. In his letter, Paul is claiming that the divine purpose in the act of reconciliation and peace-making, was to restore the harmony of the original creation. As a result of Jesus’ death on the cross, we can have a relationship with the living God, we have been reconciled to God.

The heart of God is love. In Jesus’ life, death and resurrection we are shown God’s glory and His profound love for us. How should we respond to this knowledge? We can take heart, and never lose confidence and trust in the eternal presence and love of God. And we must respond with our constant love and praise, with our lives.

Let us Pray

Lord Jesus we turn to you as we turn from darkness to light; from cruelty to kindness; from hatred to love; from indulgence to giving; from our spiritual wilderness to the light of your forgiveness; from hopelessness to blessed assurance. Amen

Prayer for the interregnum of the Parish of Beaudesert with Henley and Ullenhall (to be said during intercessions).

Almighty and everlasting God as we travel together through this period of interregnum we thank you for your everlasting love for us. Give us strength to accept this time of change and send us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with encouragement and hope for the future.

We ask that you help us to share responsibilities growing in faith and love with one another. We look forward to the appointment of a new Priest and believe you will send one best suited to your disciples in this parish and who will encourage many to join with us on our journey of faith. Amen
The Blessing

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep our 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 us, and remain with us always.


Amen.

 The Collect Prayer

Almighty God,

you have created the heavens and the earth

and made us in your own image:

teach us to discern your hand in all your works

and your likeness in all your children;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things,

now and for ever.


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Henley in Arden The incumbent   (Vacancy)



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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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