Worshipping at Home 4th July 2021
Home Worshipping 

Trinity 5                       4th July 2021

The Service

The above video is 24 minutes & 30 seconds long
The First Hymn
Welcome!

In a typical Service of worship we often lifts things up to God, and lower them down again. This could be the bread and wine of Communion, or the offerings of the congregation. We lift them as an act of giving, and we lower them as an act of receiving. The difference is, however, that we receive them back blessed. In the same spirit, let us lift our very lives to God, and receive them back, blessed.


Psalm 48: 1-9

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within its citadels God has shown himself a sure defence. Then the kings assembled, they came on together. As soon as they saw it, they were astounded; they were in panic, they took to flight;
trembling took hold of them there, pains as of a woman in labour, as when an east wind shatters the ships of Tarshish. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts, in the city of our God, which God establishes forever. We ponder your steadfast love, O God, in the midst of your temple.

Acclamation

We will praise the Lord
for he has given us 
the light of wisdom.
We will praise the Lord
For he shows us 
the way of truth.
Mercy and forgiveness 
go before him,
love and understanding 
follow in his wake.

The Collect Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, 
by whose Spirit the whole body of 
the Church is governed and sanctified: 
hear our prayer which we offer 
for all your faithful people, 
that in their vocation and ministry 
they may serve you in holiness and truth 
to the glory of your name; 
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 
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: 1-13 (Jesus return to Nazareth.)

 

Jesus left there and went to his home town, accompanied by his disciples. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. ‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few people who were ill and heal them. He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.  These were his instructions: ‘Take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons and anointed with oil many people who were ill and healed them.

Thought for the Day

Martin Lewis was the guest Presenter on the news programme Good Morning Britain. There’s nothing remarkable about that until I tell you that he had turned up in an open-neck shirt. The people in charge of the programme were not at all pleased about this. There view was that a serious news reader must wear a collar and tie. What do you think? In the same way would you rate a candidate more highly if they turned up to their job interview in a suit? Are you more inclined to buy an item that that has a famous designer name on it? Would you listen to a politician if they were only in their twenties? A prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. And apparently we all have our prejudices. What a great gift it is when we can cut through the superficial and recognize the real quality of something and their true worth.

Jesus walked into a room full of prejudice when he visited his home-town synagogue. He was given the honour of speaking. Apparently he delivered amazing wisdom, but sadly his comments weren’t sharp enough to cut through the veils of prejudice. His hearers just could not accept a lecture from the local carpenter’s son. In their opinion, Jesus had ideas above his station.

What was Jesus’ response? Well, he did the amazing! Having experienced the prejudice of those who would not listen to a carpenter’s son, he sent out twelve inexperienced men to further his mission. Imagine the following week in the synagogue: A hand goes up. ‘Permission to speak, please’. ‘Who are you’? ‘A fisherman’. We can hear the groan! And yet the twelve had the courage to act above their station. They preached, drove out demons and healed the sick. I bet they couldn’t wait to get back to Jesus and tell him what had happened. 

We often talk about our faith in God, but it is also important to consider God’s faith in us. God can see straight to our core, and there he sees true quality and true worth. So here is the step of faith for today: Let us see beyond our own prejudices about ourselves. Yes! Let’s break through our preconceived low opinions about ourselves and start having ideas above our station! God believes there are good things we can do which we might consider to be beyond us. There are the right things to do which we might think we can’t do. There are things to say when we think we ought to keep our mouths shut. He wants us to rise to the occasion when we would rather stay seated. Jesus holds our hand, give it a squeeze and says, “Let’s take a leap of faith”!

Let us Pray

(Part of “The Deer’s cry” attributed to St. Patrick)

I arise today through the strength of heaven; light of the sun, splendour of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of the wind, depth of the sea, stability of the earth, firmness of the rock.
I arise today through God’s strength to pilot me; God’s might to uphold me, God’s wisdom to guide me, God’s eye to look before me, God’s ear to hear me, God’s word to speak for me, God’s hand to guard me, God’s way to lie before me, God’s shield to protect me, God’s hosts to save me afar and anear, alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today against wounding. Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. 

I arise today through the mighty strength of the Lord of creation. 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: Ezekiel 2:8-3:11; 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

Tuesday: Jeremiah 16:1-13; James 5:7-12

Wednesday: Jeremiah 16:14-21; John 7:1-9

Thursday: Amos 2:6-16; Colossians 2:1-5

Friday: Amos 3:1-12; Colossians 4:2-18

Saturday: Amos 4:6-13; Luke 1:57-80

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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