(All our songs this morning are from Singing the Faith (StF) numbers will be given where available)
Welcome to our Sunday Service, today shared on paper across our circuit and with the congregation at Thackley Methodist Church led by Roy Lorrain-Smith one of our Circuit Local Preachers.
Click on the blue links to follow them for bible readings and associated links
Come, let us worship God together, with those who who can’t get to church, and those who can.
Song – StF 148 – Come, let us with our Lord arise
Story: When Susie ran away
I used to have a little dog called Susie. I was really very fond of her. I took her for walks, and one of the places we went most often was down by the River Aire. I had to keep her on the lead till we got there, because there were busy roads to cross. But then I could let her off and she could run about as she liked.
She was quite a good obedient little dog. But as she got old she went quite deaf, so was harder to call her. I had to wait till she was looking at me, and then clap my hands as I called. A really good dog watches its master more or less all the time to check what he wants. Of course, the master has to train the dog to be good, and I worked quite hard to make her into a good obedient dog. So she was a good companion to have on a walk – mostly! One Friday we were down by the River Aire as usual, and I had stopped to have a seat on the bank and read a bit. After a while I noticed that Susie had picked up some foul, vile something from the water’s edge and was eating it. I don’t know what it was, but I have a nasty suspicion. I know dogs are dogs, but honestly! It was disgusting.
And I’m afraid she often did that kind of thing, more and more as she got older. Usually all I had to do was to shout “No!” and she’d drop it. So I shouted “No!”, but she didn’t drop it. I got up and shouted again, and she ran away. I ran after her a bit, but she only ran away even more, carrying whatever it was. So I stopped. But she didn’t stop. She ran away right out of sight along the river bank back towards home.
So I went back to where I’d been sitting and waited. I thought she’d come timidly along the bank to see where I was. Then we could go on with our walk. But she didn’t come. I waited for about ten minutes. Then I thought, “What if she’s gone right home? She might think she was safe there.”
All very understandable if she did think that, but I knew about the traffic on that road. By now it was evening – the time of the Friday rush hour. And she was not good on roads. If she tried to cross the road to get home she could be run over. Worse still, she could cause an accident. Really, it wasn’t the house where she’d be safe, whatever she thought – she’d only be safe with me.
I realised I couldn’t wait any longer. I would have to go and find her, or find out what had happened to her. I got up and walked back along the bank, but I didn’t see her. I came to where we had joined the river, but she wasn’t there. I started up the slope away from the river and came to the factories. Then I saw her. She was standing in a factory yard, quite lost. She was staring about her, looking this way and that. I whistled, but she didn’t hear. So when she looked my way I clapped my hands, as I do when I call her. She stared at me, ears up. I slapped my leg, and she saw it was me. She came running towards me at once.
And she was filthy! All down her front she was covered with whatever it was she’d been eating, and it stank! I put her on the lead, took her home and washed her clean so she was fit to have in the house. Then I gave her some proper food so she didn’t have to eat that horrible filth from the river bank. And then I thought, that’s a bit like Jesus the Saviour with me, and how I should be with him. He loves me, and likes to have me with him. Not only that, he goes on loving me when I do dirty things, and refuse to do what he tells me. He’ll even come and
look for me when I’ve run away from him, and turned a deaf ear to his call. There are dangers when I do that – dangers I may not be able to see or understand. But he knows about them, which is why he wants to keep me close to him where he can lead me safely. But if I do stray, and he does find me, he takes me home and washes me clean from my disobedience. And the food he provides is better than anything the river bank of the world can offer, however tempting.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Song – StF 332 – Lord I lift Your name on high
Reading: Mark 13:1-8
Comment
The disciples admired the huge and majestic temple building, but more important was its function:
- It was God’s chosen central place of worship for all Israel
- It was where heaven and earth met, spiritually
- The presence of God was there, in the holiest of holy places
But Jesus made the shocking prediction that it would be destroyed! It was, in AD 70, by the Romans after Israel revolted against their rule.
How could God, whose house it was, allow that? Because Jesus had replaced it. Now:
- He is the focus of worshipping God, his chosen Messiah
- In him God and man meet, for he is both
- Through him we can meet God the Father (Jn 14:6)
The disciples also asked about the future, how to see the end coming, and Jesus replied:
- See that no one leads you astray. Many will claim they’re saving the world: eg, money; conservation; technology; education – but Jesus is the only Saviour of the world (Jn 3:17)
- Do not be alarmed – by wars, natural disasters, famines, etc (that doesn’t mean don’t care or try to help). God is in control.
- They are but the beginning of the birth pains (of the new age). Keep your faith; trust in Jesus right to the end, which will be sudden and unexpected (Mt 24:27, 44).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, convinced and convincing voices on all sides call to me that only if I do this, or do that, can the world be put right. And they warn of disaster if I don’t. Please help me, Lord, to listen first and above all to your words, and the counsel of your Holy Spirit, and see all else with eyes enlightened by your truth – so that I may not be deceived and led astray from the path you have chosen for me.
And Lord, when the words of those doomsayers frighten me, or the tribulations of the world get me down, please help me see your majestic power – far greater and more secure than any building, however solid it may seem – and take courage from your promises to be with us always, now and into eternity, through Jesus. Amen.
Song – StF 455 – All my hope on God is founded
Reading: Psalm 16
After the warnings about ‘the end’, this Psalm offers us reassurance of God’s care. Read and reflect on each verse (my comments are in italics). Take your time, and let God speak to you:
1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
The Lord can preserve us, and he will, when we take refuge in him, through Jesus.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
Recognise, and reflect, that we have no good apart from him: for Jesus is our righteousness, and is leading us to God as Father,
3 As for the saints in the land,
they are the excellent ones,
in whom is all my delight.
Don’t neglect to gather and rejoice with other believers (saints) for mutual encouragement and support (Heb 10:24-25).
4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out
or take their names on my lips.
Think of anything you are tempted to trust instead of God, ie, false gods. Then realise the folly of pursuing them, and reject them.
5 The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
Thank God for all his care that we, or others we know of, have experienced.
6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
And also thank God for his blessings, both now and promised: something to look forward to.
7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
Seek and accept the Lord’s counsel (by Holy Spirit, our Counsellor) and bless him.
8 I have set the Lord always before me;
because he is at my right hand,
I shall not be shaken.
Remember your resolve to stick with him , because he is your unshakable cornerstone, whom you can trust with your life.
9 Therefore my heart is glad,
and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
Be glad, glad, glad that whatever happens you are secure in Jesus, now and eternally.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
God has seen Jesus through death and into heaven, and he will see you through too.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures for evermore.
Glory in the prospect of the full joy to come: pleasures for evermore. Praise God afresh.
Song – StF 633 – My soul finds rest in God alone
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to feel the strength of the words of this Psalm, and be reassured, encouraged and strengthened. For in Jesus you have an invincible plan to save the world, beginning with us, but in the fullness of time extending to all your beloved creation (of which we were made your vice-regents, your image, on earth).
So please, Lord, guide us, each and all, to see how we fit into your plan and what you want us to do: for you are the Lord, and you know best, always. Teach us, and guide us, and help us with yur strength and for your glory. All this we ask through Jesus. Amen.
Dedication of offerings
Offer afresh whatever you give or do for the Lord.
Song – StF 186 – Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
The Grace
As you say and ponder these words, think also of those you want to bless.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore. Amen.
