(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 Thornton Methodist Church led by Rhona North one of our Circuit Local Preachers.
Click on the blue links to follow them for bible readings and associated links
Welcome: Come in the peace and quiet and sit in the shade of a tree. Feel the gentle breeze, smell the new leaves on the trees and newly mown grass. See the bluebells dying heralding the first strains of summer. Hear the gentle whisper of Father and Son, “Come and worship Me!” Come and find the peace that this hour brings.
Song – StF 34 – O worship the King all glorious above
Prayers:
Adoration: We climb up the edge of heaven Jesus as we hear your words, ‘Come up higher! We see you Father and Jesus on your amazing thrones with the background of your glorious green light like the Northern lights. Angels and archangels ushering us in to worship! The saints are dressed in white, their garments washed in your blood Jesus. We hear the chorus being sung, ‘Worthy are you oh Lord, to receive glory, honour and power. Jesus as we see you dressed in your shining resurrection garments we now the knee and bring our heartfelt worship to you….
We see the saints forgiven and we think of the times this last week: the times we’ve forgotten you, the times we’ve not worshipped or prayed nor read our bibles, , the times we’ve not shared about Jesus’ love to others and the times we’ve not cared about others. The times we’ve been unholy, been angry and frustrated, our unbelief, our self- centeredness. But you oh Lord know our frailty: our tiredness, ill health, our poverty of worship and amazingly you are quick and just in forgiving us:
Confession: We confess our sins…..
We see you face of love gently smiling at us, laying your hands on us and reassuring us that we are forgiven, for that is why you died for us Jesus
So that there is just so much to be thankful for:
Thanksgiving: Make your prayers of thanks….
Lord’s Prayer: Let us join together in saying together.. Our Father…
Song – StF 88 – Praise to the Lord Almighty
Reading
Jesus has just finished saying He is the ONLY way to know Father God. He states that if we love Him we will obey Him. Maybe you confessed disobedience? Jesus, in His love for us tells us He will give us a helper but it can only be received if we know Jesus and state He is Lord. The Holy Spirit will be with us forever. How amazing is that! For ever!! The Holy Spirit will teach us all we need to know about God, he will comfort us and give us peace. He will help us be obedient and live a holy life. For ever! Jesus’ love for us in wanting to do this for us is so amazing!
What are the signs that you have the Holy Spirit in you? Wanting to worship, wanting to say sorry, a deep sense of peace, a sighing and very deep breaths, a tingling, fluttering feeling on our eyes and so much more. How brilliant is that as Christians we can have Jesus’ own Spirit living inside us, clothing us on the outside with Jesus Himself. Let’s give thanks to Jesus that He would do that for us! Let him breathe on you now, feel his breath…
Song – StF 370 – Breathe on us breath of God
Reading
Philip had been busy spreading the gospel in the centre of Israel, Samaria and down to Jerusalem, He was a preacher and because God had given him the anointing for preaching thousands came and believed because of the power. Simon the magician was amazed at their power and offered to buy the power! How little he understood that it comes as an essential added extra to believing in Jesus.
We need the power of the Spirit in our lives to live and move as a Christian. Do you feel the Holy Spirit in you? Sometimes it’s because we don’t recognise Him. It’s just deep breaths when I pray. That feeling of love and or peace is just because Jesus loves me. Maybe I get pins and needles when I pray because my arm is stiff. Jesus said we can ask anything. If you feel you don’t recognise the Holy Spirit in you ask Jesus to show you. Have you you had hands laid on you to be filled at some point. If you would like that ask a minister to come and see you. Maybe you want filling for a new calling? A new era of your life? Being cared for? Healing and rest? Being at home so you have more time for prayer. Telling people that come into your home about Jesus’ love? Ask a minister to come and anoint you for that new calling.
Reflection: What do you need the power of the Spirit for today? Peace instead of fear? Health instead of disease? Strength to get through the day? Power to tell some member of family / friend or neighbour about Jesus’ love for them? Comfort after loss or bereavement? Ask the Holy Spirit now to touch you ….
Song – StF 385 – Holy Spirit we welcome you
Prayers of Intercession: You might like to light a candle for these….
Father God we pray firstly for nations and their leaders, for countries at war or suffering from natural disasters ( pray for those you know……. For fear of war being waged: Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Palestinian Territories, North and South Sudan, India, Pakistan… so many
And those countries ravaged by natural disasters: earthquake, tsunami, wind, fires ….
We pray for the work of the churches across the world, for a move of Your Spirit and a falling afresh on persecuted Christians.
Lord in Your mercy, let all know that you are alive offering peace and hope
Father God we pray for our nation, for King Charles and Princess Catherine, for the breakdown of relationship with Prince Harry, Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, Rachel Reeves as treasurer and all who hold office. Pray for all that you worry about in the nation……
For the churches, especially the Methodist Church and pray for a continued new move of your Holy Spirit that’s bringing douls to salvation.
Lord in Your mercy, let all know that you are alive offering peace and hope
For also those in Yorkshire West led by Kerry Tankard, for Bradford North Circuit led by Phil, Nick and Joy. For our churches: Allerton, Baildon, Bolton, Calverley, Christchurch, Northcliffe, Saint Andrew’s, Saltaire, Thackley, Thornton and Wilsden. Pray for the shops, businesses charities and organizations in your local area
For Christian’s persecuted here but most of all Lord continue to bring new people into our churches that they may know Jesus and be filled with Your Holy Spirit.
Lord in Your mercy, let all know that you are alive offering peace and hope
For friends, family, neighbours and colleagues that are struggling just now… name them. For those that need proof you have risen from the dead…. Name them. We lift them up. For those that need filling with your Spirit for peace comfort and salvation
May they be Into your arms, Jesus.
Lord in Your mercy, let all know that you are alive offering peace and hope
And lastly for ourselves that we be filled with your Spirit as we give you the things we have on next week, our worries hopes and dreams…. Fill us with Your Spirit, let us wait on you and tell those we meet the good news about Jesus. Take our diaries: the good things: birthdays, anniversaries, friends to chat and share a cuppa! For the difficult things: reconciliations, hospital visits and hard news, for treatments, for fear of dying, may we see you Jesus receiving us into Your loving arms and carrying us from earth to Heaven.
Lord in Your mercy, let me know that you are alive offering peace and hope.
We ask all our prayers in Jesus Christ’s name: Lord of Lords and King of Kings! Amen
Offering: We offer all who we are: our time, our talents, our weaknesses, our money, service, hopes and dreams for you to use, Father God, Amen
Song – StF 693 – Beauty for Brokenness
Blessing: May God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit for afresh on you and all those that you love, now and for evermore Amen
