Worship

Opening Prayer

Lord you promised that you are always with us. Wherever we may be and whatever we may be facing as we come to worship you may we know your presence with us. Draw us closer to you in this time of worship. Amen.

Hymn: StF 415 The Church of Christ in every age. Sing/ Read /pray /proclaim the words or listen to it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGG9ht_wzK0

The Church of Christ, in every age

beset by change but Spirit-led,

must claim and test its heritage

and keep on rising from the dead.

Across the world, across the street,

the victims of injustice cry

for shelter and for bread to eat,

and never live until they die.

Then let the servant Church arise,

a caring Church that longs to be

a partner in Christ's sacrifice,

and clothed in Christ's humanity.

For he alone, whose blood was shed,

can cure the fever in our blood,

and teach us how to share our bread

and feed the starving multitude.

We have no mission but to serve

in full obedience to our Lord:

to care for all, without reserve,

and spread his liberating Word.

Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000)

Let us pray together

Loving God we come to offer you our praise for everything that you have done for us and continue to do for us each day. We praise you that no matter what we face and whatever circumstances we find ourselves in, you are always with us walking beside us even when we don’t realise you’re there.

We are sorry for those times when we have let you down. We haven’t always said or done the right thing. We have sometimes hurt others through our words and actions. We are sorry for the times when we have put ourselves first instead of helping those who needed our help. Forgive us and help us to be the people you want us to be.

Thank you for always being there for us no matter what we face. Help us to remember that when we find things hard and we struggle to cope with what life throws at us. Help us to share your love with others each and every day.

We ask these and all our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Today’s Gospel Reading: John 6:1-21

Time to Reflect

Today’s Gospel reading from John looks at the story of the feeding of the 5000 and Jesus walking on water. But let’s focus on that story of the feeding of the 5000. A familiar story to many of us. But I wonder what it would have been like to have actually been there when it happened? I wonder what the boy who donated his loaves and fishes thought when he realised his meal had fed so many people? We may not know what it was like to be there but what we do know from reading this story is two things. 1) The little things are just as important to God as the big things. 2) We are reminded of God’s faithfulness to us.

1) The little things are just as important to God as the big things. When that young boy gave Jesus his loaves and fishes he probably wondered what difference they would make. But with just a few loaves of bread and some fish Jesus was able to feed 5000 people. Here we see that God can use the little things, the things that we think can’t make a difference in doing his work and spreading the kingdom to do a lot. We may think that the gifts and skills we have are not enough to offer to God’s service but actually it doesn’t matter how much we can offer God for he can use it all big or small it all contributes to the building of his kingdom and he invites us all to be a part of it.

2) We are reminded of God’s faithfulness to us. He will never let us down. He will never leave us he is always there for us even when it feels like he isn’t. He walks alongside us each day. The story of the feeding of the 5000 reminds us of the faithfulness of God. It reminds us that God can help us overcome obstacles so that we don’t face them alone we face them with him. We just need to continue putting our trust in him and he will help us get through it. In the times we are living in it can be hard to do that but we just need to keep on going. It can sometimes feel like God has let us down but he hasn’t and he never will. He is always with us and always will be.

Let us continue to answer his call and do the work he has called us to do knowing that he is beside us every step of the way.

Take a time to sit quietly

A time of prayer

Lord,

We come to pray for your world. A world of hurt and pain. A world where so many are struggling because of war, disaster or poverty. Sometimes we look at your broken world and wonder what we can do to help mend it. Show us Lord how we can play a part in mending your broken and troubled world.

We pray for the church. As we continue to respond to the pandemic and seek to share the good news we ask for your guidance in the weeks and months ahead. Be with all our church leaders as they seek the way forward that they may know your presence with them. We pray for our own individual churches as we all seek the way forward in sharing your gospel with the world.

We pray for all those who are in need of our prayers at this time thinking of those in hospital, those struggling for lots of different reasons due to the impact of the pandemic on their lives. Be with all those who need our prayers right now Lord and give them the strength and peace that they need.

We place into your hands those who have died knowing that you welcome them home into your waiting arms. Be with all who mourn and may they know your peace, love and strength at this difficult time.

We pray for ourselves. You know the challenges that each of us face. We ask that you will give each one of us what we need to face them. When we struggle remind us of your faithfulness to us. Help us to serve you and build your kingdom. We ask these and all our prayers in Jesus’ name Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father ……

Hymn: Listen to Mercies (New Every Morning) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpC-dTewHaI or sing a verse of a hymn that comes to mind

A prayer of blessing

Loving God help us to share the good news with others that they may come to know your love for them. May we always be reminded of your faithfulness to us. Amen.

Original Materials by Rebekah Fairhurst

Bolton Methodist Mission

All  Hymns reproduced under CCLi 1144191.  Local Churches please insert CCCLi No here3382 / 761

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. We aim to continue to provide these resources until the end of August 2021.