Worship

 

Opening Prayer

As the psalmist reminds us, let us cry out to the Lord this day in hope. Help me Lord to remember this day, that there is forgiveness in you, that you offer us steadfast love and have the power to redeem. Lord, I give you thanks this day that you redeem us from all our iniquities. Amen (Based on Psalm 130)

Hymn: And are we yet alive
(Singing the Faith 456)

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOEY-75qtnM

 

And are we yet alive,

and see each other's face?

Glory and praise to Jesus give

for his redeeming grace!

 

Preserved by power divine

to full salvation here,

again in Jesu's praise we join,

and in his sight appear.

 

What troubles have we seen,

what conflicts have we passed,

fightings without, and fears within,

since we assembled last!

 

But out of all the Lord

has brought us by his love;

and still he does his help afford,

and hides our life above.

 

Then let us make our boast

of his redeeming power,

which saves us to the uttermost,

till we can sin no more.

Let us take up the cross,

till we the crown obtain;

and gladly reckon all things loss,

so we may Jesus gain.

 

Praise ye the Lord, alleluia!

Praise ye the Lord, alleluia!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,

praise ye the Lord!

Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

 

Let us pray together:

Good and gracious God, I give you thanks for your steadfast love, enduring patience, and grace that I witness day by day.

Heal and restore me from all that harms me, and all that I do to harm myself and others.

Help and guide me to follow your way, so that I may be a forgiven, forgiving, grace filled and gracious, redeemed beautiful human person. Amen.

Today’s Reading from the Old Testament Psalm 130

Today’s Gospel Reading:
Mark 5: 21-43

Time to Reflect:

Today on conference Sunday, as our church leaders gather to confer, we reflect on Mark’s narrative of restoration and healing. Pause for a moment and ponder on what the world has been through in this last year. Consider how much we and the whole world needs the healing and restoration that Jesus models in this story.

We need healing and restoration from the Pandemic, healing and restoration from injustices, healing and restoration from the appalling ways humans treat other humans who are not like them.

The story within a story of the haemorrhaging woman, sees Jesus unpicking a long injustice that this child of God had endured for much of her adult life. Let alone the discomfort, pain, and weakness the condition brought to her, she would have been ostracised, kept apart from society and held at a distance because due to her condition she was considered to be “unclean”, “untouchable”. You did not want to be seen as “unclean” in 1^st Century Palestine.

Dramatically, Jesus makes a big fuss that he has been touched. The embarrassed disciples try to play down the issue. The woman, now embarrassed herself, owns up, expecting the wrath of the Rabbi she has now made unclean, through her touch. The crowd who knew the woman would have been offended on his behalf! Of course, there is no wrath from Jesus. Just as we would expect, there is the opposite - LOVE. There is acceptance, there is healing. Her supposed uncleanness is not a reality to Jesus, and he makes it known in his gracious reaction and words of healing.

Not only does Jesus heal her medical condition, He shows society that she was not unclean and as he has graciously welcomed and healed; so should they, and so should we.

Ponder this week: Who in our lives and our churches needs acceptance, inclusion, healing and restoration, or a seat around our communion table? And what can we each personally do, to model Jesus’ healing and restoration for church, society, and world?

Take a time to sit quietly

A time of prayer

Lord, today, I pray for the Methodist Church as conference opens. I pray for all who are gathered to confer, that you will help them in their deliberations and decision making, so that our church can be seen to shine out your Love to all in our land and be a place of welcome and inclusion. Lord in your mercy, hear my prayer.

 

Lord I give thanks for the outgoing President Revd Richard Teal, and Vice President Carolyn Lawrence and ask for your blessing upon them as they return to their daily lives. Lord in your mercy, hear my prayer.

 

Lord, I pray for your blessing upon our President and Vice President designates Revd Sonia Hicks and Barbara Easton, and all those who will be ordained, bless them in their ministries. Lord in your mercy, hear my prayer.

 

Lord I give thanks for the narrative of healing and restoration in our Gospel reading today and bring to you……….(name those you know who need healing and restoration today).. bring them to healing and restoration too.

Lord in your mercy, hear my prayer.

 

Thank you Lord, that you hear my prayers, and that you know my every need. Grant me sufficient love, forgiveness, grace, hope, healing and joy for this day, that I may follow you and shine your love out to the world. Lord in your mercy, hear my prayer. Amen

 

The Lord’s Prayer

Hymn: Listen to “All are Welcome
(Singing the Faith 409)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhPnjA7wsIY

 

Let us build a house where love can dwell

and all can safely live,

a place where saints and children tell

how hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions,

rock of faith and vault of grace;

here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

      All are welcome,

      all are welcome,

      all are welcome in this place.

 

Let us build a house where prophets speak,

and words are strong and true,

where all God's children dare to seek

to dream God's reign anew.

Here the cross shall stand as witness

and as symbol of God's grace;

here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:

 

Let us build a house where love is found

in water, wine and wheat:

a banquet hall on holy ground

where peace and justice meet.

Here the love of God, through Jesus,

is revealed in time and space;

as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:

 

Let us build a house where hands will reach

beyond the wood and stone

to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,

and live the Word they've known.

Here the outcast and the stranger

bear the image of God's face;

let us bring an end to fear and danger:

 

Let us a build a house where all are named,

their songs and visions heard

and loved and treasured, taught and claimed

as words within the Word.

Built of tears and cries and laughter,

prayers of faith and songs of grace,

let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:

Marty Haugen (b. 1950)

 

A prayer of blessing

As I rise from this time of worship and prayer, may I go out with joy, to seek and serve you, with your blessing and the knowledge of your Love. Amen.

Original Materials by Revd Phil Warrey

All Hymns reproduced under CCLi 1144191. 

Local Churches please insert CCCLi No here 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.