prepared by Deacon Nigel Perrott – 7th September 2025
Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Prayer of Adoration
Loving God
You are light in our darkness,
peace in our storm,
and joy in our sorrow.
You are holy, eternal, and full of grace.
Your love stretches beyond time,
Your mercy renews each morning.
We adore You—not for what You give,
but for who You are:
Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer.
With hearts lifted high,
we praise Your majesty,
we marvel at Your wisdom,
and we rest in Your presence.
Amen.
STF 346 Christ is the World’s Light
Prayer of Confession and Thanksgiving
Merciful God,
We confess that we have not always lived as Your people.
We’ve turned inward when You called us outward,
clung to comfort when You invited courage,
and held back love when You asked us to give freely.
Forgive us, we pray.
Not because we deserve it,
but because You are gracious and full of compassion.
And so, we thank You—
for mercy that meets us in our weakness,
for love that never let’s go,
for hope that rises with each new morning.
Thank You for the gift of forgiveness,
for the chance to begin again,
and for the joy of walking in Your light.
Amen.
Please Read – Mathew 19:13-15
The Little Children and Jesus
13 Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.
Thought for this Sunday
This short but well-known passage has often been misunderstood, especially where baptism or Christening takes place. Though a wonderful passage to use on such occasions, the meaning behind it goes much further than a blessing.
As adults, we can become cynical, we need evidence, formula, and structure in order that we can grasp what is going on in our lives and around us. To fathom out God in this way can be a fruitless task! In Pauls letter to the church in Rome, he reminded us of this:
Oh the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God, how unsearchable his judgements, and his paths beyond tracing out. (Romans 11:33)
In other words, God is beyond are preconceptions, the passage goes on say, “Who has known the mind of the Lord!”
God knows everything about us, yet to know him completely is out of our reach. This is where the mind of child comes in. Children require a lot less than grownups, they accept what they see in front of them. The arrival of Santa each year is a good example of their innocence and their acceptance of something beyond their comprehension! Children trust easily, ask boldly and forgive quickly. I often smile when I ask my grandson to apologise to his sister when they have fallen out. Within minutes they are back playing happily together again. These basic child minds are the minds that Jesus wants us to have too. Trust in Jesus requires faith, like the faith of a child. There will always be many questions we have, questions that we may not get answers for, through our faith that God has our best interests at heart, we gain trust. Jesus places children at the centre of the Kingdom, not for their innocence alone, but for their openness, trust and wonder. In a world that values status and achievement, evidence and science, Jesus lifts the least, the overlooked and the playful.
The disciples tried to protect Jesus’s time, assuming that the children were a distraction, but Jesus rebukes that mindset. I wonder, what are the modern-day hindrances? They could be, Busyness, cynicism, ridged structures or even our own fear of messiness or disorder that may arise through change. I wonder how we can, our church, our hearts, be more open to a childlike faith and participation.
So as we begin a new Methodist Year, let us not forget that we are indeed, through our own baptism, have the right to be known as “Children of God”
Amen.
Hymn STF 545 be though my vision
1 Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,
be all else but naught to me, save that thou art;
be thou my best thought in the day and the night,
both waking and sleeping, thy presence my light.
2 Be thou my wisdom, be thou my true word,
be thou ever with me, and I with thee, Lord;
be thou my great Father, thy child let me be;
be thou in me dwelling, and I one with thee.
3 Be thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
be thou my whole armour, be thou my true might;
be thou my soul’s shelter, be thou my strong tower:
O raise thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.
4 Riches I heed not, nor earth’s empty praise:
be thou mine inheritance now and always;
be thou and thou only the first in my heart:
O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure thou art.
5 High King of heaven, thou heaven’s bright Sun,
O grant me its joys after victory is won;
Great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.
Irish, 8th century
translated by Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880–1931)
versified by Eleanor Henrietta Hull (1860–1935) (alt.)
Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 545
Prayers of intercession
Faithful God,
As summer fades and new routines begin, we thank you for this new Methodist year.
we lift before You the needs of our world, our communities, and our hearts.
We pray for peace in places torn by conflict—especially Ukraine, the Middle East, and regions facing unrest.
Bring wisdom to leaders, courage to peacemakers, and comfort to those who suffer.
We pray for children returning to school, for teachers preparing lessons, and for families adjusting to new rhythms.
May classrooms be places of safety, curiosity, and growth.
We pray for our church
Guide all those who are called to lead, and our congregations as we begin a new season of worship and service.
May we be bold in love, generous in welcome, and faithful in prayer.
We remember those who are ill, lonely, grieving, or struggling to make ends meet.
May they know Your healing presence and the kindness of others.
Help us to walk gently this week—speaking truth, showing grace, and seeking justice.
Renew our spirits and remind us that we are never alone.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
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.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and forever.
Amen.
Hymn STF 470 – Lord for the years
1 Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided,
urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way,
sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided,
Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.
2 Lord, for that word, the Word of life which fires us,
speaks to our hearts and sets our souls ablaze,
teaches and trains, rebukes us and inspires us,
Lord of the word, receive your people’s praise.
3 Lord, for our land, in this our generation,
spirits oppressed by pleasure, wealth and care;
for young and old, for commonwealth and nation,
Lord of our land, be pleased to hear our prayer.
4 Lord, for our world; when we disown and doubt him,
loveless in strength, and comfortless in pain;
hungry and helpless, lost indeed without him,
Lord of the world, we pray that Christ may reign.
5 Lord, for ourselves; in living power remake us,
self on the cross and Christ upon the throne;
past put behind us, for the future take us,
Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.
Timothy Dudley-Smith (b.1926)
Reproduced from Singing the Faith Electronic Words Edition, number 470
Blessing
May the grace of Christ surround you, the love of God uphold you, and the presence of the Holy Spirit guide you, today, tomorrow, and always.
Amen
