ST ALBANS & WELWYN METHODIST CIRCUIT SERVICE Action for Children Sunday Worship – Ordinary Time 9th July 2023
– by Revd David Jebb ©
(Introduction: Action for Children believes that every child should grow up safe and happy. To make this vision a reality, they offer practical and emotional care and support, make sure children’s voices are heard, and campaign to bring lasting improvements to their lives. Doing this lays the foundations for children thrive. The work Action for Children does is only possible with our support. The Methodist Church has been by the charity’s side for more than 150 years. But, tragically, there are still thousands of vulnerable children who desperately need our help. With our worship, prayers and gifts, we can make a real difference to these children. Together we can choose safe and happy childhoods for every child)
PRAYER OF APPROACH
Loving Lord, in your love you call us together to spend time with you and one another.
Be in our listening, our speaking, our wondering and our pondering.
Support us and challenge us, so that we in turn can support and challenge people and places and systems. Heavenly Father, as we gather today with thanksgiving and an open heart, help us to hear you. Fill our hearts with love and compassion for those you have sent us to. Stir up our hearts and strengthen our arms to act with justice and righteousness in Jesus’ name. Amen
HYMN: O Worship the King, All glorious above STF 113 (Robert Grant 1739-1838)
| 1 O worship the King, all-glorious above; O gratefully sing his power and his love: our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, pavilioned in splendour, and girded with praise. 2 O tell of his might, O sing of his grace, 3 The earth with its store of wonders untold, |
4 Your bountiful care what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light; it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, and sweetly distils in the dew and the rain. 5 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, 6 O measureless Might, ineffable Love, |
PRAYER AND THE LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, we lift up the work of Action for Children. We think of all the families who come into contact with the charity and pray your blessing over them. We think of those struggling with their physical or mental health, and pray your peace descends on them. Lord, remove any barriers that may prevent people from reaching out. We thank you for the thousands of staff members and volunteers who serve children and families, and pray that you would sustain them. Give them the energy and enthusiasm they need to lovingly support those most in need. We thank you for the infrastructure that makes Action for Children’s work possible: the buildings, the vehicles, the IT – all the variables that help them to reach and serve communities across the UK. We pray for the leadership and the trustees – may your wisdom and guidance be present as they map out the future of the charity. We pray for our wider society – we ask that your will be done; from Westminster all the way down to our communities. We ask that lives led by love – love modelled so perfectly by Christ – transform the world we live in. In the name of the King, Jesus, Amen.
Pray the Lord’s Prayer :
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name……
READINGS: Jeremiah 22:1-30 ( NIV) & Luke 4: 16 – 21 (NIV)
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
SONG: STF 346’ Christ is the world’s light, Christ and none other’
SERMON POINTS / REFLECTIONS:
As a child did you ever think of running away from home? There were a couple times that I was so tried of discipline that I just wanted to leave but I knew that when I got back home the discipline would probably be worse, so I stayed. Plus, where would I go? I remember movies of kids getting a stick and pillowcase and wrapping all their possessions in it and then walking off into the woods. Seems so simple until you think of the consequences. What if it rains? What if I run out of food? Of course, most of us when we do things in haste don’t think far enough out of the consequences.
The human heart is the same today as it was in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. We are all sinners and we continue to be till the day we see Jesus. But by God’s grace when we come to him with a repentant heart he will forgive our sins and remember them no more. We are a lot like the Israelites. God brought them out of bondage in Egypt to a promised land and the Israelites grumbled. We could have everything we want and still grumble. Why is that?
Jeremiah 2:25 “Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. But you said “It is no use! I love foreign gods and I must go after them.” Why do we run from God? Because most of the time we are looking for an easier way. A foreign god has no power so the people could do pretty much what they wanted, and they did. They indulged in prostitution, sacrifices of human people, revelry and all kinds of evil pleasures. WHY, because they were not convicted of their sin.
When things get tough at home, work or health issues we sometimes just want to run away. We don’t know where we want to go we just know we want to run. God may be convicting you right now of not running away. You may know that you need to stay where you are right now. Obedience to God is much more important to the desires of the flesh. If we start running from the Lord we will eventually tire and run out of gas. When you start running from God you will stay running until you are like the prodigal son. You will get to the point to where the slop of this world will start to taste horrible and you will see that God is not only good, but loving and forgiving.
Don’t let the evil desires of the flesh start you on a path that God does not want you to go. You know it in your heart when you are disobedient. But at times disobedience takes over, more out of pride than anything else. Humbleness before the Lord is a heart issue and nothing more. The issue is not between you and your boss, spouse, girlfriend, boyfriend, or children. The issue is between you and Jesus. When was the last time you were honest with Jesus? Some of you reading this see Jesus as someone that doesn’t understand or someone that you can’t talk to. Jesus came to earth and was tempted in every way but did not sin so that he could feel your pain. He knows what you are going through and wants you to talk to Him.
We don’t need eloquent words to talk with Jesus. Talk to the Lord as you would your best friend. Because in all reality, He is your best friend. Start today by running to Jesus instead of running from him. Ask him as you would a friend for help. When we can start to think of others more than ourselves our lives will take on a whole new fresh meaning. Call out to Jesus, voice your concerns and trust in Him. He will NEVER let you down. Jesus says it in his word and we know from experience this to be true.
Make this the day you break free.
PRAYERS FOR THE ACTION FOR CHILDREN
Our Father,
In celebration of over the years of work and witness, we commit ourselves afresh: Where children cry in need: We will hear their cry. Where children are denied the gifts of childhood: We will provide for them to delight in good things. Where there is exclusion or deprivation: We will challenge injustice. Where poverty is rife: We will share what we have. Where others also care: We will work with them. Wherever we see a need: We will pray for means to meet it. Loving God, you have called us to be your people and to share in the ministry of your Son. Grant us, we pray, ears that are open to the cries of those in need, hearts that are eager to respond, voices that are ready to speak out for the oppressed, and hands that are active in sharing your bounty. In the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.
SONG: STF 161 Speak, O Lord, as we come to you ‘
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpR_rq_NL_k
DEDICATION AND BLESSING
Go in peace – love and care for one another in the name of Christ; – and may the gentle touch, the soothing word, and the comforting embrace of God’s Spirit be with you, – indeed may the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you both now and forevermore. Amen
