Circuit Service – 22nd October 2023
By Rev J Daniel Yovan
STF 1 All People that on earth do dwell,
| 1 All people that on earth do dwell, sing to the Lord with cheerful voice: him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell; come ye before him and rejoice.2 The Lord, ye know, is God indeed; without our aid he did us make: we are his folk, he doth us feed; and for his sheep he doth us take. 3 O enter then his gates with praise; |
4 For why, the Lord our God is good; his mercy is for ever sure; his truth at all times firmly stood, and shall from age to age endure.5 To Father, Son and Holy Ghost, the God whom heaven and earth adore, from earth and from the angel host be praise and glory evermore. William Kethe (d. 1594)
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God of the universe.
Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory in the heavens.
With all our heart …..We praise you
Creator God when we look at the moon and the stars.
what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels
Lord Jesus because of your love for us, you came to be with us to show the path of eternal life…..Thank you for sharing our life death and you overcame death victoriously …..
Thank you for your teachings…..Thank you for sending your people to teach us the way.
With all our heart…….We Praise you
God who is worthy of all our worship,
We worship you because you have made us for yourself…..our hearts are restless until we find our rest in you.
Holy Spirit…..Thank you for drawing us close to you…….thank you for your encouragements in our trials… thank you for your challenges when we are complacent ……thank you for your comfort ….in times our troubles….
With all our hearts……We praise you…..
God our Father, You have created us in your own image and likeness……
But we have failed to reflect your image and likeness to our families, friends and those who are in our community.
Let us take a moment to reflect on our lives…..Let us bring our failures to God.
God of new creation…..renew us and give the power of your spirit to reflect your image in our words and deeds.
Jesus said, “your sins are forgiven”
STF 34 O Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,
| 1 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, bow down before him, his glory proclaim; with gold of obedience and incense of lowliness, kneel and adore him: the Lord is his name.2 Low at his feet lay your burden of carefulness, high on his heart he will bear it for you, comfort your sorrows, and answer your prayerfulness, showing the pathway your feet should pursue. 3 Fear not to enter his courts in the slenderness |
4 These, though we bring them in trembling and fearfulness, he will accept for the name that is dear; mornings of joy give for evenings of tearfulness, trust for our trembling, and hope for our fear.5 O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness, bow down before him, his glory proclaim; with gold of obedience and incense of lowliness, kneel and adore him: the Lord is his name. John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811–1875)
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Reading: Matthew 17
The Transfiguration
17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.
Reflection
Jesus took his disciples Peter, James and John, to a high mountain to be alone. Jesus took them away from the crowd, away from their daily duties to be alone with his close friends. Then the revelation occurred. The revelation occurred on the mount Hermon, seated over 1640 meters height. We do not know how long it took for them to climb that mountain. In the gospel it is a high mountain. But when peter was recounting, he says, “While we were with him on the holy mountain” (1 Peter 1: 18). Bible scholars believe that this mountain is mount Hermon.
Mount Hermon[1] has always been considered a sacred mountain. Worshipers from the earliest of times were drawn to its isolated heights. Several ruins of ancient sanctuaries have been found on Mount Hermon’s peaks and slopes and at its base. Judges 3:3 calls the mountain Baal Hermon, meaning “Lord of Hermon” (see also 1 Chronicles 5:23). Some of the psalms praise Mount Hermon for its loftiness and majesty (Psalm 42:6; 89:11–12).
The place where God reveals himself to his people becomes a holy place. Which is your holy place? Do you consider church as a holy place where you received a revelation of God? or do you just see this as a building for people to socialise? The space wherever we meet God, becomes a holy place.
When we went to India this time (2017) I was able to go into the church building I grew up with. I left our Christian community in 1992 to work at abroad. Since then I had visited our church a few times. But after 2002 I did not get a chance to step into the church building, due to various reasons, until December 2022. So it was 20 years since I had worshiped in that place. This church building and the people of that community played a vital role in my discipleship until I was 30 years old.
When we visited our hometown this time,[2] I only had few hours to spent in our village visiting some of our families and friends. We as the family visited the church, and the church was open for a harvest festival. There was a lot of commotion with people bringing their produce from their farms, and some food stalls had been opened and running in the church yard, and there was announcement about the development of the harvest festival through the loudspeakers which were mounted on the church tower. It was noisy and chaotic, and people were in a mood of celebration. All this celebration was happened in the church yard. It was a Saturday night, and the church was open. When I walked into the church, I did not expect to see anyone because I wanted to be alone. My only focus was to get to the altar and pray in silence. But to my surprise, one of my childhood friends who is now a steward walked out of the vestry towards the altar and met me with joy. We spent a few minutes talking and I said to him I came to pray. He then left me alone. I knelt at the communion rail and thanked God for taking me to the heights from that humble place. I had never imagined 30 years ago that I will be in Britain ministering to God’s people. The experience of kneeling at the communion rail may not be significant to others in my family. But for several years I was longing to be by this altar at least for few minutes. Making the journey to that place felt like climbing an impossible mountain with a lot of preparation and planning for months before hand. There were a lot of hurdles I faced, every time when I visited our village in the past, to get to that ‘holy place’.
But now, I will cherish this moment for all my life. It was so special that I did not want to share with anyone in my family. They may not understand the importance of it. It was a ‘holy place’ for so many in the past, and nearly two centuries since 1832 the year Gospel had arrived in our village, many have experienced the light of God. Most people in our place see that space as a place to encounter God and also experienced the life changing presence of God. Many souls have been touched many more received the revelation of God in that place, and many became the ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ because of this holy presence in that place. People’s devotion and prayerful commitments in the past and now made that place a ‘holy place’. I would strongly encourage your ‘holy place’ and spend time with God. You may spent most time in your room. That is okay. However, please find a time and a space to meet with God daily. Pray with me.
Lord Jesus, Thank you for revealing yourself to me and help me to be faithful to the revelation I have received and give me the grace to spread the good news of this life changing gospel to all whom I meet. Amen.
STF 317 At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow
| 1 At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, every tongue confess him King of Glory now. ‘Tis the Father’s pleasure we should call him Lord, who from the beginning was the mighty Word.2 Humbled for a season, to receive a name from the lips of sinners unto whom he came, faithfully he bore it spotless to the last, brought it back victorious when from death he passed: 3 Bore it up triumphant |
4 In your hearts enthrone him; there let him subdue all that is not holy, all that is not true; crown him as your captain in temptation’s hour: let his will enfold you in its light and power.5 For this same Lord Jesus shall return again, with his Father’s glory, with his angel train; all the wreaths of empire meet upon his brow, and our hearts confess him King of Glory now. Caroline Maria Noel (1817–1877) |
Prayers of Intercession for the peace in the Middle East.
Lord, You said “Peace, be still,” and the storm was stilled.
We confess that at times, we feel overwhelmed by the storm. But today, we lift our eyes to you — the Maker of heaven and earth. And we ask for a miracle… let your peace fill Israel and Gaza.
We lift our prayer to you,
Lord, hear us.
God, let violence cease in the region. Let there be no more bloodshed. We know your heart breaks for those killed and those left behind — for the orphaned child, the injured elderly, those abducted and families desperate for safety. Lord, speak into this crisis.
We lift our prayer to you,
Lord, hear us.
We pray for those who have lost loved ones. Let your peace and love wash over them. Please protect and provide for those who have been abducted and bring them home safely. Let them be reunited with their loved ones — let them feel the comfort of their embrace.
We lift our prayer to you,
Lord, hear us.
God, we pray that you open doors that allow food, essentials and medical supplies to reach those in need. May first responders be able to rescue the injured, comfort the grieving and help rebuild many lives.
We lift our prayer to you,
Lord, hear us.
God, we pray for your peace and reconciliation to overcome conflict. We ask that you give wisdom and discernment to our global leaders and those in positions of power who have the ability to impact the course of this war. Help us to be bold advocates and agents of peace in our own communities.
We lift our prayer to you,
Lord, hear us.
We pray for people scattered around the globe whose friends and family members have been caught in the crisis. We know you are with them. Help us to express your love to those affected in our communities, churches and workplaces.
We lift our prayer to you,
Lord, hear us.
Lord, we raise Israel and Gaza to you, and pray for those suffering. We ask that you provide peace in this crisis, and protection and comfort for all those who have been impacted.
We lift our prayer to you,
Lord, hear us.
Amen.
STF 566 Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee
| 1 Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee; take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise.2 Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of thy love; take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for thee. 3 Take my voice, and let me sing 4 Take my silver and my gold,
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5 Take my will, and make it thine; it shall be no longer mine; take my heart — it is thine own; it shall be thy royal throne.6 Take my love; my Lord, I pour at thy feet its treasure-store; take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for thee. Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–1879)
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Blessing
May God the Father who called you in his love lead you to the heights to meet with him. May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you to walk with him, May the presence of the Holy Spirit lead your way till the end.
Amen
