(All our songs this morning are from Singing the Faith (StF) or Mission Praise (MP) numbers will be given where available)
Welcome to our Sunday Service, today shared on paper across our circuit and with the congregation at Baildon Methodist Church led by Rev Phil Drake, our Circuit Superintendent Minister.
Click on the blue links to follow them for bible readings and associated links
Opening liturgy
Presents get wrapped with tape and glue,
Tidy parcels neatly wrapped,
Names on labels with “love from”,
O hush the noise,
Let’s hear the angels sing!
We’ve sorted gifts and who needs what,
What will they like, what will be good?
But are there more we need to include?
O hush the noise,
Let’s hear the angels sing!
What of those alone, adrift, forgotten and neglected?
What of those whose life’s been hard?
What gift of help needs wrapping too?
O hush the noise,
Let’s hear the angels sing!
Sing along with or listen to an Advent song or hymn:
Song – StF 175 or MP 1086 Light of the world (Here I am to worship)
or StF 330 or MP 393 Joy to the world
Opening prayer
God of life,
in a world prone to despair, we thank you for the joy of hope.
In a world wracked by uncertainty, we thank you for the joy of your promises.
In a world tempted by greed, we thank you for the joy of your goodness.
In a world of so much loneliness, we thank you for the joy of your presence.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we thank you. Amen.
Introducing the theme
‘Hush the Noise’ is the title of the Advent and Christmas campaign. The title comes from the well-known Christmas carol ‘It came upon the midnight clear’, and we are encouraged to explore ways that we might ‘hush the noise’ around us in order to hear the message of Christ’s coming. If you have not already seen it, you may wish to watch the campaign video
Each Sunday during Advent and Christmas focuses on a phrase taken from the carol, and this week’s theme is ‘Babel Noise’. The carol was written in America in 1849 as a response to geopolitical unrest, and as a protest about the horrors of slavery. It describes a “weary world” filled with “Babel sounds”, “sin and strife” and war. A little over a decade later the United States descended into 5 years of Civil War. Sadly, 175 years since it was written the carol is just as relevant. We long for harmony, justice and restoration.
Gospel reading:
John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore, bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
And the crowds asked him, “What, then, should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none, and whoever has food must do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Food for thought
Last month I visited the ‘Repair Café’ at Wilsden Trinity Church. Some of you may have been to something similar or at least seen ‘The Repair Shop’ on television where people bring beloved items in needs of repair and restoration. At Wilsden there were tables repairing clothes and textiles, tools and mechanical items. Amongst the items brought for repair were some garden ‘loppers’ with a sheared off bolt, and a cuckoo clock that no longer kept the right time. Seeing this activity of repair taking place in a church reminded me that the Church’s mission is one of seeking repair in relationships between people and with God.
In the carol ‘It came upon the midnight clear’, the phrase ‘Babel sounds’ is a reference to the Old Testament story in the book of Genesis, where a human quest for power (the building of a tall tower to reach to the heavens) brings division and misunderstanding. We live in a world where such disharmony often leads to increasing tension and conflict. The same is true of personal relationships as well as international ones. Nor is the church immune to such difficulties. But we are a people of Good News, seeking to share the gospel message of forgiveness and restoration. We need to work to end division, selfish ambition, disconnection and fragmentation.
Interlude – song to listen to:
You may wish to listen to a new version of ‘It came upon the midnight clear’ produced by the Methodist Church for the ‘Hush the Noise’ campaign. Or read the words here:
A way to respond
Take a couple of minutes now to hush the noise. Consider how God is calling you to share what you have with others, and where you might bring connection and harmony.
Questions for personal reflection or discussion
What does it feel like to share your resources with someone?
Are there any deep wounds in your life or your community that seem too hard to address and acknowledge? How might you do something about these?
When have you been able to suspend judgement about a person/group/ idea in order to seek a different kind of less-oppositional relationship?
Prayers of intercession
God of judgement and of mercy, we pray
for those entrusted with great wealth,
that they would see where they could make changes and enrich others;
for those entrusted with great power,
that they would make changes for the good of those they serve;
for those entrusted with great influence,
that they would make changes that would inspire others.
We pray for ourselves, that we too might change,
and become more approachable, more open, more generous,
and more like your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.
Song – MP 420 or StF 176 – Like a candle flame
or choose a favourite carol
Blessing
The angels are still singing. Prophets are still speaking.
Hush the noise, hear them sing, repeat the song, bring harmony.
And the blessing of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be yours/ours, now and always. Amen.
Acknowledgments: Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicised Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Opening prayer and Prayer of intercession taken from Roots resources, copyright Roots For Churches Ltd. Photos: Advent Candles, Alan M Barker downloaded from theworshipcloud.com ; Repair Café, Phil Drake.
