Worship at Home - Sunday 13th March 2022
This short act of worship has been prepared for you to use at home. We invite you to spend a few moments with God, knowing that other people across the Methodist Connexion are sharing this act of worship with you.
Opening Prayer
Loving God, we come into your presence. Still our hearts and minds from all that would distract us. In stillness and quiet let us know your presence with us as we prepare ourselves to worship you. Amen.
Hymn: 357 Jesus the name
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSeAYKG-8Ko
Sing/ Read /pray /proclaim the words or listen to it here
Jesus -- the name high over all,
in hell, or earth, or sky!
Angels revere, and nations fall,
and devils fear and fly.
Jesus -- the name to sinners dear,
the name to sinners given!
It scatters all their guilty fear,
it turns their hell to heaven.
Jesus -- the prisoner's fetters breaks,
and bruises Satan's head;
power into strengthless souls it speaks,
and life into the dead.
O that the world might taste and see
the riches of his grace!
The arms of love that compass me
would all the earth embrace.
His only righteousness I show,
his saving grace proclaim;
'tis all my business here below
to cry:'Behold the Lamb!'
Happy if with my latest breath
I might but gasp his name;
preach him to all, and cry in death:
'Behold, behold the Lamb!'
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Let us pray together
Today we come to worship you all creating God. Be with us now as we come to you in prayer.
We thank you for your presence with us in the week that has passed and we are sorry for the times when we have not heard you speaking to us.
We thank you for the gifts we have received from you so many and bounteous that we can not name them all. We are sorry for the times when we have not acknowledged your generosity to us.
We offer you the week ahead with all that is holds may we be more aware or you speaking to us and be aware of all your wonderful gifts that you bless us with each day. May we more closely follow the path you would have us follow. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Today’s Gospel Reading: Luke 13 31-35
Time to Reflect
Todays reading starts with something we are not used too, the Pharisees warning Jesus about the danger to himself. We are so used to reading about the pharisees arguing or disapproving of Jesus actions it is not often that they are protective of him, perhaps something we wish that they were. Does Jesus take any notice of the warning – no he rejects their message, and showing no fear sends a powerful message back to Herod by calling him a’ fox’. The use of fox was symbolic of three things – foxes are cunning animals, they kill for pleasure and most inflammatory they are worthless and insignificant creatures. Jesus calling Herod a fox is certainty not a way of calming the situation.
Jesus intends to continue his work for three days before he turns his attention to Jerusalem. Again, he turns to animal imagery this time a hen gathering her brood under her wings. It’s been shown that during a farmyard fire some animals once they realise they cannot escape, they turn their attention to protecting their young – hens being one such animal. Hens that have burnt to death have been found with their young alive and well under their wings. They have given their lives to protect their youngsters. Jerusalem is a city where there is harm and destruction and Jesus wants to be like those hens and gather and protect, however the people are scattering in different directions and take no notice of the impending danger or the warnings of the one who could save them.
Jesus’ destiny is to go to Jerusalem, risking the threats of the foxes and adopting the role of the hen gathering together those in danger to himself. Whether they will accept his offer is another matter. Rejecting him they also rejected God’s offer of love. Jesus reaches out but he will not force himself on Jerusalem.
For us God offers us his love and protection but will not force himself on us. He offers us his kingdom, but we have the choice to accept or reject his offer.
Take a time to sit quietly
A time of prayer
Using the image of gathering under the protective wings we bring before God those who we wish to prayer for at this time- they may include the ill and bereaved, the homeless, those who are afraid….
Offer them all to God’s loving protection.
Loving God as we have brought before you in pray those people, places and situations that we are aware of we ask you will gather all under your protection. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father ……
Hymn: Listen to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gownwFF6DGo
A prayer of blessing
We have come together in to worship you in song, words, and prayers. Now as we go our separate ways may we know your constant presence with us whatever the week ahead might hold for us.
And the blessing of God, Father Son and Holy Spirit be with us and remain with us for evermore. Amen
Original Materials by Denise Williams
All
Hymns reproduced under CCLi 1144191.
Local Churches please insert CCCLi No here
We are grateful to all the Ministers and Local Preachers from around the Connexion who have contributed to Worship at Home. This resource is administrated by Ministries: Vocations and Worship in the Connexional Team.
Luke 13 31-35
The Lament over Jerusalem
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me,[a] ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when[b] you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”