Circuit Service – 20th November 2022
A Service prepared by the Rev Andrew Prout
This Sunday we are invited ahead of Advent to reflect on the wider purposes of God and the supremacy of Christ in and over all things. Paul writing to the Colossians says … ‘May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins’ (Colossians 1:11-14)
Hymn STF 319 (Michael Saward 1932-2015 / Tune: Guiting Power)
Opening Prayers (written by Sheila Matthews from the Vine Resource)
Into your presence we come.
The Servant King, the Prince of Peace, the Lamb of God.
Into your presence we come with our heads bowed, our hearts open, our tongues stilled,
and our ears alert to hearing from you.
Into your presence we come, we long to meet with you today.
Into your presence we come alongside one another, strangers, friends, and family.
Into your presence we come with all our hearts’ desires and troubles.
In a moment of quiet, we hand over all that is weighing us down this day,
Handing them into your presence. [Stillness].
‘Your sins are forgiven’ says the Lord.
Amen. Thanks be to God.
In your presence, we are set free.
Into your presence we come, please meet with us today. Amen.
The Collect (MWB Sunday before Advent)
Eternal Father,
Whose Son Jesus Christ ascended to the throne of Heaven
that He might rule over all things as Lord:
Keep the Church in the unity of the Spirit
and in the bond of peace,
and bring the whole created order to worship at his feet;
who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and for ever. Amen.
New Testament Reading: Colossians 1:15-20 (NRSV):
The Supremacy of Christ
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
Hymn STF 331 (Jarrod Cooper / Tune: As Set)
- King of kings, majesty,
God of heaven living in me.
Gentle Saviour, closest Friend,
Strong Deliverer, Beginning and End,
all within me falls at your throne.
Your majesty, I can but bow;
I lay my all before you now.
In royal robes I don’t deserve,
I live to serve your majesty.
- Earth and heaven worship you,
Love eternal, faithful and true,
who bought the nations, ransomed souls,
brought this sinner near to your throne;
all within me cries out in praise.
Your majesty, I can but bow;
I lay my all before you now.
In royal robes I don’t deserve,
I live to serve your majesty,
I live to serve your majesty.
Gospel Reading – Luke 23: 33-43 (NRSV):
Grace and Mercy as He died on Calvary’s Tree
33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ 38There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’
39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ 40But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ 42Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ 43He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’
Address – ‘For in Him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell’ (Colossians 1: 19).
With modern technology it is now one of the favourite devices in programming to begin with an up close shot that then pulls back to a wider shot, especially in nature and wildlife documentaries such as the recently acclaimed ‘Frozen Planet 2’. We see a polar bear or a whale pod, and then pull back to view these creatures against the vast ocean or an icy landscape. We get in other words to see the whole or the bigger picture.
On this particular Sunday, which falls a week before the commencement of Advent, we are invited and encouraged before we turn our attention to a stable in Bethlehem and a child in a manger, to draw back and see the bigger picture. The Gospel reading takes us to Calvary where we see the full extent of God’s mercy and grace revealed upon the Cross. As Jesus died He offers words of forgiveness both to those who have yet to see the error of their ways and to one who has. To the crowds who had come to watch and to the authorities who had tried and condemned him, and now abuse and sneer at Him, He says ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’ (Luke 23:34). This is grace at work, by its nature prevenient and undeserved, and yet transformative. In oft spoken words ‘He loved us before we first loved Him’. To the penitent thief Jesus says ‘Today you will be with me in paradise’ (Luke 23:43).
Paul’s letter to the Church in Colossae pulls us back further. Paul reminds us that ‘He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; that in and through him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, that He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together’. Furthermore says St. Paul ‘He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything’. Through such words we see and are drawn into the eternal plan and purposes of God, which is ‘through Christ to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross’. Here is not only personal but universal salvation in view.
The knowledge of such things should give us great comfort. Salvation is constantly working itself out. Thus it was at the beginning and thus it will be at the end. In these times of war in the Ukraine, the cost of living crisis, and the gathering of global leaders both at the COP 27 summit, and in Bali for the G20, we must remind ourselves that God is present calling us by the Holy Spirit to new life in Christ, instilling in all who seek Him faith, hope and love both for now and for the future. Nothing need be lost. Everything can be redeemed and reclaimed, in so doing finding its true place and purpose.
Paul’s grand theological outpouring at the opening of his letter concludes with the affirmation that ‘The fullness of God was pleased to dwell in Him’ which is a wonderful thought with which to approach Advent. Note not only that it dwelt in Him, but was pleased to dwell in Him, for Christ from the stable to the cross fully walked the way of His Father in Heaven, emptying Himself in Charles Wesley’s words of all but love, love that would not give up, love that would endure. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Hymn STF 354 (Phillip Lawson Johnston / Tune: As Set)
Prayers of Intercession (Prayers written by Sheila Mathews from the Vine resource)
For our prayers of intercession, which are based on Psalm 46, let’s use this simple response:
The Lord almighty is with us
Our refuge and strength
Loving God, you are our source of strength and place of refuge, you are with us whenever we face trouble and hardships.
We pray for people in our communities, families and wider circles that are finding life difficult.
We pray for the people who need a reminder that you are with them, that you can be their strength when they feel weak.
We pray for the people we know that are sick and in need of healing [say names if appropriate].
We ask, Lord, that you will be ever-present with the ones who desperately need you now.
The Lord almighty is with us
Our refuge and strength
Loving God, we know we do not need to fear but sometimes it is hard to do this.
The world has much that makes us afraid.
We see the climate crisis, increases in poverty, injustice, and inequality continuing and we can sometimes feel helpless. We long to see your rivers and streams of justice flowing; a strengthening of your people in order to stand tall and be bold in doing your kingdom work.
We pray for the governments of the world, especially our own, to have an awareness of how to lead with integrity and moral fortitude, to seek the best for the most vulnerable in society and be willing to listen.
Help us, Lord, to be ready to follow you where you lead us to make our communities what you desire them to be.
The Lord almighty is with us
Our refuge and strength
Loving God, You ask us to be still and know that you are God.
In this moment of silence we will stop and sit in your presence and allow what is on our hearts and minds to be raised. [Keep silence]
Lord, we thank you for the good gifts you have given us, for the eternal hope we have in you.
We thank you that you never leave us even when we turn our faces from you.
We pray Lord for you to draw us closer to you. Help us to be the people you have made us to be.
Guide us, redeem us, and teach us your ways.
The Lord almighty is with us.
Our refuge and strength.
Finally, remembering with thanksgiving all who have died, we say together…
Our Father who art in Heaven …
Hymn STF 347 – Crown him with many crowns
| 1 Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne. Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity. 2 Crown him the Son of God, 3 Crown him the Lord of life, |
4 Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a sceptre sways from pole to pole, that wars may cease, absorbed in prayer and praise. His reign shall know no end, and round his piercèd feet fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet. 5 Crown him the Lord of love; Matthew Bridges (1800–1894) and Godfrey Thring (1823–1903) |
The Blessing (Written by Tim Baker from the Vine resource)
We go from this place, inspired by your message of inclusivity Lord God.
We go to welcome all people, to make space for all things,
We go to do all that we can, in the name of love.
And in such work the blessing of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Remain with us and with all whom we hold in our hearts, now and forevermore. Amen.
Copyright Notices
Hymns
Hymn words displayed are in the Public Domain.
Hymn recordings are from Small Church Music. Copyright notice: Rev. Clyde McLennan, performer in this collection, has assigned his performer rights in this collection to Hymnary.org. Non-commercial use of these recordings is permitted.
Other hymns are from YouTube and covered by YouTube copyright processes.
Bible Readings
Bible readings are from the New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Images
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