Seniors Minister

Jul 10, 202011 min read

July 12th

Service for Sunday July 12th

O Lord, open our lips and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever.

Amen.

As we rejoice in the gift of this new day, so may the light of your presence, O God, set our hearts on fire with love for you; now and for ever.

Amen.

Hymn - Praise, my soul, the King of heaven

Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; to his feet your tribute bring.

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, evermore his praises sing.

Praise Him, Praise Him,

Praise the everlasting King!

Praise him for his grace and favour to his people in distress.

Praise him, still the same as ever, slow to chide, and swift to bless.

Praise Him, Praise Him,

Glorious in his faithfulness!

Fatherlike he tends and spares us; well our feeble frame he knows.

In his hand he gently bears us, rescues us from all our foes.

Praise Him, Praise Him,

Widely yet his mercy flows!

Angels, help us to adore him; you behold him face to face.

Sun and moon, bow down before him, dwellers all in time and space.

Praise Him, Praise Him,

Praise with us the God of grace!

Psalm 65 v1-8

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;

to you our vows will be fulfilled.

You who answer prayer,

to you all people will come.

When we were overwhelmed by sins,

you forgave our transgressions.

Blessed are those you choose

and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the good things of your house,

of your holy temple.

You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,

God our Saviour,

the hope of all the ends of the earth

and of the farthest seas,

who formed the mountains by your power,

having armed yourself with strength,

who stilled the roaring of the seas,

the roaring of their waves,

and the turmoil of the nations.

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;

where morning dawns, where evening fades,

you call forth songs of joy.

Collect for the Fifth Sunday after Trinity

Almighty God,

send down upon your Church the riches of your Spirit,

and kindle in all who minister the gospel your countless gifts of grace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We confess our sins to God

Lord God,

we have sinned against you; we have done evil in your sight.

We are sorry and repent.

Have mercy on us according to your love.

Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.

Renew a right spirit within us and restore to us the joy of your salvation, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

We are assured of God’s forgiveness

May the Father of all mercies cleanse us from our sins, and restore us in his image to the praise and glory of his name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Isaiah 55:10-13

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

it will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

You will go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and hills

will burst into song before you,

and all the trees of the field

will clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn-bush will grow the juniper,

and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.

This will be for the Lord’s renown,

for an everlasting sign,

that will endure for ever.

Hymn - How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds

In a believer’s ear!

It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds,

And drives away his fear,

It makes the wounded spirit whole,

And calms the troubled breast;

’Tis manna to the hungry soul,

And to the weary rest,

Dear Name! the Rock on which we build;

Our shield and hiding-place;

Our never-failing treasury, filled

With boundless stores of grace,

Jesus, our Saviour, Shepherd, Friend,

Our Prophet, Priest, and King;

Our Lord, our Life, our Way, our End,

Accept the praise we bring,

Weak is the effort of our heart,

And cold our warmest thought;

But when we see Thee as Thou art,

We’ll praise Thee as we ought,

Till then we would Thy love proclaim

With every fleeting breath;

And triumph in that blessed Name

Which quells the pow’r of death

How does your garden grow? by D Clarke from St Michaels Monkton Combe

I am sure like many others if you have a garden you have spent a lot of time in it over the last few months. You may have achieved lots of things that you had always planned to do, that involved a lot of hard work. You may have just pottered, de-heading, pulling up the odd weed. Or like me you might not know the difference between a weed and a flower and so have been able to just sit and enjoy!

We see in Isaiah 55 v 10 onward, another picture of a garden.

As the rain and the snow

come down from heaven,

and do not return to it

without watering the earth

and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the

sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out

from my mouth:

It will not return to me

empty, but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

And then some of my favourite verses,

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace the mountains and hills will burst into song before

you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands

Creation celebrating Father God. But what was that about His Word???!

Jesus tells the parable of the Sower in Matthew 13 v 1-23

I am sure you know the story well, seed is sown. Not like you see on country file, the farmers of today, some with big machinery, that can tell how good the soil is, so more seed is sown on the best land, and a satellite tells it where paths are, so no seed is wasted.

The seed would have been sown by hand, scattered on the land as the sower walked, throwing the seed in front of him. As the parable tells us some, fell on the path and the birds came and ate it. Some fell on rocky ground with not much soil, so it soon shriveled and dies as it couldn't put down roots, some fell among thorns, and were choked by the competition. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop, a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

He who has ears, let him hear (Matthew 11 v5)

Jesus then leaves nothing to guess work. He explains the parable to his disciples.

The seed is the Word of God, the message of the Kingdom.

The seed that falls on the path, the hard ground, is a picture of someone who hears about Jesus’s love, but they don’t understand, they don't want to know, they think they know best, they don't think Father could love them, they will think about it on another day, they harden their hearts, and do not accept Jesus’s love. So so sad!

Let’s take a minute to pray for those we know, we have seen Father God reach out to them, but they don't know how to or don't want to accept his love. Let’s pray for them now.

The seed that fell on rocky ground is the man or woman who hears the word, receives it with joy…..but there are not roots, it doesn't last long. I am sure we all know people that have started well, they are very enthusiastic, but when something hard happens, or things don't work out the way they thought, or when they realise that Father God wants all of them, not just an hour on a Sunday. They fall away. Let’s take a few minutes to pray for those we know, who have fallen away…… I don't think it is too late for anyone to come back……remember the prodigal son!

Then there is the seed that is sown among the weeds, both grow, but the weeds choke the seed. I remember years ago, when I was in a youth group being warned about not going out with someone who was not a Christian, with the example, it is so much easier for them to pull you off the table, than for you to pull them up onto the table. I am sure that we can all think of people that thought they could happily grow among the weeds and still thrive, I am not saying we should not have non-Christian friends…we should, or mix with those that have different viewpoints or religions…….we should. How else will they hear the good news? But we all know when Father God says no, to something, and it is always for our own good!

Although He can and does forgive us, there are often consequences that we have to live with. When I look back there are three significant people in my life that really helped me to grown my faith, none of which today are going on with Father God!

Let’s stop and pray for those we know who have been choked by the weeds of the world.

Then there is the seed that falls on good soil it grows and produces fruit, let’s stop and praise and pray for those around us that continue to grow closer to Father God, those, we can see that Father is producing fruit through!

I was watching the news this weekend, and my ears pricked up when I heard the name Tufnell, a vicar who had performed one of the first weddings since lockdown….. I know that boy (man)….he and his brothers and sister where at Monkton School, he used to be in my bible study group……he is going on with Father God, producing fruit. Let’s stop and pray!

Well I could finish there, we have thought of others, thanked Father for others, prayed for others, but of course we have heard the word of God this morning, and it can’t return void, as we have listened, it has to affect me, us, and YOU.

So perhaps it would be good to spend a few minutes, looking at ourselves and asking the question, Father how do you want to cultivate me this morning?!

We all have the seed inside of us, how do I make the most of that seed. When I listen to the word of God, does it take root in me? Shift me? Change me?!

We need to keep our heart soft so the word of God, can make us, shape us, as He wants us to be, remember the picture in Isaiah 64 v8 ‘you Father are the potter, we are the clay’. A potter can’t do much with hard clay, it has to be soft. Why not take a minute to ask Father God……is there any part of me that needs softening?!

Do I have stones or weeds in my life, things that distract me from believing in the Fathers love for me, worries that seem bigger than my Fathers love? During this lock down, especially if you live on your own, or have been confined to home, worries can take over. Someone once told me that it says in the bible 366 times, do not worry or be anxious; one for every day of the year, even if it's a leap year.

I must admit I have not counted, but I am sure you have your favourite, ‘do not worry verses’. One of mine is 1Peter 5 v 7 ‘cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you’. I love it ….. Simple…. How many of our anxieties…all of them…….Why?… Because He cares!

Why not take a minute……to give anything or anyone you are worried about to Father God now, if you find yourself taking it back and worrying again, then give it back again, again and again. However many times it takes to leave it with Him.

I am reminded of the hymn……what a friend we have in Jesus……..What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

As we hear Fathers words, as they take root in our lives, let’s look for opportunities this week, to bear fruit, to talk about Him, Our Father, Our Friend, Our Lord.

AMEN!

We declare our faith in God

We believe in God the Father who has revealed his loving kindness to us; and in his mercy saved us, not for any good deed of our own, but because he is merciful.

We believe in Jesus Christ, who gave himself up for us to be free from our sin, and set us apart for himself, a people eager to do good.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, whom God poured out on us generously through Christ our Saviour; so that justified by grace we might become heirs with the hope of eternal life.

Amen.

Hymn - What a Friend we have in Jesus

What a Friend we have in Jesus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?

Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Saviour, still our refuge—

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

Thou wilt find a solace there.

We offer our prayers to God

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.

We pray for God’s grace.