Worship

 

Opening Prayer

Lord and Father of all

Jesus taught us that greatness

is not as the world sees it,

but comes when we humble

ourselves in service to others. 

Help our minds and hearts be open to your teachings today. Amen

 

Hymn: 362 from Singing the Faith – Meekness and majesty

Sing/ Read /pray /proclaim the words or listen to it here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yW5NVGQi5LM

 

Meekness and majesty,

manhood and deity,

in perfect harmony --

the man who is God.

Lord of eternity,

dwells in humanity,

kneels in humility

and washes our feet.

      Oh, what a mystery --

      meekness and majesty:

      bow down and worship,

      for this is your God,

      this is your God!

 

Father's pure radiance,

perfect in innocence,

yet learns obedience

to death on a cross:

suffering to give us life,

conquering through sacrifice --

and as they crucify,

prays, 'Father forgive.'

 

Wisdom unsearchable,

God the invisible,

love indestructible

in frailty appears:

Lord of infinity,

stooping so tenderly,

lifts our humanity

to the heights of his throne.

 

O what a mystery meekness and majesty
Bow down and worship for this is your God

This is your God
This is your God        Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)

 

               

Let us pray together

Lord God, we give you thanks and praise for your Son Jesus who showed us, that true greatness is known in serving others. 

The way of wisdom is found in childlike humility, with hearts lifted high, we offer you our thanks and praise for loving us and showing us the way to be your disciples. Amen

 

Confession

Loving Lord,

We know that in your eyes, it is not social status, or wealth or reputation that count.

Forgive us we pray when our lives are taken over by these worldly values. Amen

Here is the good news for all who put their trust in Christ. Jesus says your sins are forgiven. Amen

 

Today’s Reading: - James 3:13 to 4:3 & 7-8a

Today’s Gospel Reading: Mark 9:30-37

Time to Reflect

The media is full of people who claim that they are great, but what really makes a person great? The media uses it to say, what people have done or said, and sometimes they promote a person to idol status.

Mohammed Ali used to have a saying that he was the greatest, because he could beat anyone in the boxing ring.

In our readings today Jesus teaches the disciples about greatness. The disciples had been having an argument as they were walking along the road. Not about what they heard, or where they were going, but about who among them was the greatest. I did wonder how they were measuring their greatness, perhaps it was

• The one who learnt the most, or
• The one who had provided the most or
• The one who had brought the most people to Jesus. 

They all felt they had reasons for thinking that they were the greatest.

In his letter James was addressing the churches, about this kind of rivalry, which was happening in the churches, he says it stems from the desires that are within them, and when they do not get what they want they fight and quarrel.

We can see the same in our churches today.

When I started attending church, I sat on the back pew next to someone I knew. On the 4^th week I was there, a woman came and stood in front of me and said, I was in her place, and then lectured me on how she had worked her way up from the front pew to the back to earn that seat. What I eventually found out was; that in winter, the pew was a warmer seat because it had a heater behind it.

Jesus wanted the disciples to understand that the role of discipleship is not about power and status, but about serving. Jesus called a child over to help Him explain. 

A child in their culture had nothing to offer, he or she had no status. A child would be at the beck and call of the adults and was expected to be obedient and serve the adults. 

Jesus told the disciples that one who serves those who can offer nothing in return will be the greatest.

Today Methodists along with other churches are learning this way of discipleship with Nightstop, Foodbanks and charity groups that help the vulnerable people in their towns and villages across the whole of Britain. The vulnerable people, are those perhaps through no fault of their own, have come to the edge of society. They may have been made redundant, or their benefits have not been paid, and in some cases, they have sold everything they have to settle their debts and are left with nothing. With this work, people are now beginning to revise their opinion of those who go to church. They no longer see us as a load of goody goodies, but as a group of people who care for others in our community. 

The people who we help, ask ‘are we getting paid for the work’ after all, a lot of the people who they meet, would not do work for nothing. When our answer is ‘No’, they want to know why do we do it? The answer is; because our faith teaches us, to love and care for our neighbours.

A time of prayer: - Let us offer our prayer with all God’s people through Jesus Christ our Lord who ever lives to pray for us.

We pray for the needs of the world…

We pray for the Church…

We pray for all in trouble or distress…

We pray for all who make a new beginning today…

God of compassion and mercy

Listen to our prayer

May what we ask in Jesus’ name be done according to his word Amen

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father ……

Hymn: Listen to StF 272 - From heaven you came helpless babe From Heaven You Came Helpless Babe (The Servant King) (Singing the Faith 272 / StF 272) - YouTube

From heaven you came, helpless babe,

entered our world, your glory veiled,

not to be served but to serve,

and give your life that we might live.

      This is our God, the Servant King,

      he calls us now to follow him,

      to bring our lives as a daily offering

      of worship to the Servant King.

 

There in the garden of tears

my heavy load he chose to bear;

his heart with sorrow was torn,

'Yet not my will but yours,' he said.

 

Come see his hands and his feet,

the scars that speak of sacrifice,

hands that flung stars into space

to cruel nails surrendered.

 

So let us learn how to serve

and in our lives enthrone him,

each other's needs to prefer,

for it is Christ we're serving.

Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)

A prayer of blessing

May God our Father, strengthen us,

May Christ Jesus show us the way to serve,

May the Holy Spirit make us fruitful in all we do. And May the peace and love of our God

be always with us. Amen

Original Materials by Linda Ashworth

All Hymns reproduced under CCLi 1144191. 

Local Churches please insert CCCLi No here 3382 / 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.