Canvey Methodist Church - Sunday 5th July 2020
1).Introit. You are beautiful beyond description. CCl Licence No: 425086
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depths of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above
And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depths of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above
And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You
Yes, I stand in awe of You
I stand in awe of You
Mark Altrogge
2).Welcome: https://youtu.be/U0-hI0hyvmM
Hello welcome to Canvey Island Methodist Church and to today’s service of worship and praise on a Sunday 5th July 2020. Things are continuing to move forward in our National life as more CoronaVirus restrictions are lifted and more people are returning both to work and relaxation in pubs and restaurants, albeit in a Covid secure way. At Canvey Methodist Church we are also still considering when our buildings can safely reopen and so we would welcome your prayers for the Church Trustees as they discuss and decide upon these matters. In the meantime we meet again today virtually; we may be physically separated in our meeting but we are joined in harmony together in and through the Holy Spirit as He enables our praise in Spirit and in Truth. Let us join together in praise and worship to Almighty God as we sing our first Hymn.
3). Almighty God we bring you praise.
CCl Licence No: 425086
Almighty God, we bring You praise
For Your Son, the Word of God
By whose power the world was made
By whose blood we are redeemed
Morning Star, the Father's glory
We now worship and adore You
In our hearts Your light has risen
Jesus, Lord, we worship You
Austin Martin. © 1983 Kingsway�s Thankyou Music
4). Our Prayers of Praise and Confession
Almighty God, our loving Heavenly Father, we are here today to praise and worship you. As we bow our heads before you and consider the work of your hands and the expression of your love in Jesus Christ we are amazed and humbled by your love and wisdom. Your Wisdom as shown by Jesus, Lord God, is far greater than that of the world and has the power to confound all our expectations. Lord God, please open our hearts today to receive you in ways beyond whatever we could ask or even think.
Loving God we confess that we have not always lived our lives as you would wish. For those occasions when our image, understanding and expectations of you have been too small; for when we have tried to fit you into that tiny box that we think we can cope with, For when we have been too nervous or frightened for you to let loose your power in our lives. Forgive us Lord and make us whole. As we approach you as your children, sitting at your feet and bathed in your love may we know, not only your forgiveness but also your cleansing in and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer.
Our Father, which 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 them that 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.
5). Introduction to Old Testament Reading.
We hear the first of our readings from the prophet Zechariah. He lived in the sixth century before Christ and after the exile when some of the people of Israel had returned to their ancestral lands. But these were not free but were still under foreign rule. God through Zechariah promises a better future of restoration for Israel and a further hope for a coming kingdom with a king who is humble, who brings peace and who sets prisoners free. Zechariah 9v9-12.
6) Old Testament: Zachariah 9:9-12;
The Coming of Zion’s King
9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!
Shout, Daughter Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
lowly and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim
and the warhorses from Jerusalem,
and the battle bow will be broken.
He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His rule will extend from sea to sea
and from the River[a] to the ends of the earth.
11 As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you,
I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.
12 Return to your fortress, you prisoners of hope;
even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.
Read full chapter
Footnotes: a. Zechariah 9:10 That is, the Euphrates
————————————————
7). Hymn: We’ll walk the land- CCl Licence No: 425086
We'll walk the land
With hearts on fire
And every step will be a prayer
Hope is rising
New day dawning
Sound of singing
Fills the air
Two thousand years
And still the flame
Is burning bright
Across the land
Hearts are waiting
Longing, aching
For awakening
Once again
Let the flame burn brighter
In the heart of the darkness
Turning night to glorious day
Let the song grow louder
As our love grows stronger
Let it shine, let it shine
We'll walk for truth
Speak out for love
In Jesus' name
We shall be strong
To lift the fallen
To save the children
To fill the nation
With your song
Let the flame burn brighter
In the heart of the darkness
Turning night to glorious day
Let the song grow louder
As our love grows stronger
Let it shine, let it shine
Let the flame burn brighter
In the heart of the darkness
Turning night to glorious day
Let the song grow louder
As our love grows stronger
Let it shine
Let the flame burn brighter
In the heart of the darkness
Turning night to glorious day
Let the song grow louder
As our love grows stronger
Let it shine, let it shine
Let it shine, let is shine
Graham Kendrick
8. Introduction to Epistle and Gospel Readings: https://youtu.be/LGfRM7e015g
Zecheriah’s prophetic words came to fruition when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, not on a war horse as a mighty earthly potentate, but on a donkey as the Son of Man, the Lord of Love, the Good Shepherd. Jesus did often confound people’s expectations of him and he still does. He meets all of us as we struggle with the daily realities of human living and he offers us the freedom of being yoked to him. He says to each of us “My yoke is easy and my burden is light”. (Matthew 11 v30).
In our reading from Paul’s letter to the Roman Church we find Paul grappling with the temptation and rejoicing that Jesus rescues him from its consequences. And then in the Gospel, Matthew records Jesus reflecting upon the variability of human response to those who speak in God’s name. How, irrespective of approach, people find excuses to keep God at arm’s length. But for those who really listen and come to Jesus, there is rest, peace and a relationship with Father God to be found.
9).Today’s letter to an Early Church: Romans 7. 15-25a
15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[a] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[b] a slave to the law of sin.
Footnotes
a.Romans 7:18 Or my flesh
b.Romans 7:25 Or in the flesh
10. Today’s Gospel Reading: Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30.
16 “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
17 “‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.
27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
———————————————-
11). Hymn: Love divine, all loves excelling (Singing the Faith No 503)
CCl Licence No: 425086
Love divine, all loves excelling,
joy of heaven to earth come down,
fix in us thy humble dwelling,
all thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesu, thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation,
enter every trembling heart.
Come, almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return, and never,
never more thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish then thy new creation,
pure and spotless let us be;
let us see thy great salvation,
perfectly restored in thee:
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise!
Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
12). Prayers For Others.
Prayers for others week 15
Dear Lord,
We have learnt from our study of your word this week that you are called various names in the bible. We want to come before you today to worship and praise the name of YAHWEH, which means - the great I AM. And, as well as being the creator God most high, you are also our ABBA father, and we know that we can bring our prayer requests before you, knowing of your great love for us.
We pray for our dear church family and thank you for each one and pray for your comfort and strength. We rejoice and thank you for every blessing we have received this week and for answered prayer.
Dear Lord, we are thinking and planning for the re-opening of our church building and we thank you for your help and guidance. We thank you so much for looking after us as a fellowship during this time of closure and we ask for your wisdom to guide and lead us. Dear Lord, you are our YAHWEH NISSI (which means the Lord is my banner) and we pray that we can follow your banner in our decision making.
We lift Colin and Cathy before you. We thank you for them and for everything they do for your church. We ask you to continue to lead them in their work for you and to protect them. We pray for a special blessing on them and their family.
We pray for our world. – You are the creator God Most High, you are named ELO HIM. You hold the universe in Your hands. You have all authority and power over everything and you are King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Please give wisdom and guidance to all World leaders so they can look after their citizen’s safety and their economy.
We pray for the Lebanon. We pray for the political situation and their economy. We bring the people before you and ask that you will care for them.
Please keep Anna safe as she does your work in Beirut. May she feel your special blessing right now as we pray.
We pray for Apolina, Romania. Thank you for your protection and care for that area. Thank you God for your provision and that the work on the orphanage has started. We pray for the people there and especially for Pastor Attila as two members of his family have recently passed away. Please comfort and support him.
We pray for our country and for our leaders, that you will lead and guide them in all their decision making. We pray for businesses who are making decisions about re-opening.
We pray for our NHS and for all the key workers. We ask you to bless them and have them in your care.
And now Lord, We ask you to BE ‘JEHOVAH RAPHA’ ( which name means -The Lord who heals us) TO EVERYONE MENTIONED in our church prayer book.
Dear Lord, You know who these people are and know all about them. May your peace surround them and your loving arms heal them. May they know that they are not alone, that You are always with them and may they hear your still, small voice whispering your healing and peace.
We Pray for all those known to us who have caught COVID-19 .
We ask you to be OUR YAHWEH NISSI to all of us (which means The Lord is my Banner) and ask you to bring an end to this COVID-19 virus.
We pray for all hospital chaplains that they will be protected and will be able to give your strength and support to the patients and staff.
We bring before you all who are mourning. Please have these dear people in your care. We ask you to BE THEIR YAHWEH SHALOM (which name means the Lord is Peace) And Please surround them with the comfort and strength that only you can give.
Thank you for hearing all our prayers - and we rejoice and are thankful for your great love and care.
We bring all these prayers to you in the great and powerful name of Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Our healer and redeemer.
AMEN
-----------------
13). I CANNOT TELL WHY HE, WHOM ANGELS WORSHIP. CCl Licence No: 425086
1). I cannot tell why He, whom angels worship,
Should set His love upon the sons of men,
Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wand’rers,
To bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that He was born of Mary,
When Bethl’hem’s manger was His only home,
And that He lived at Nazareth and labored,
And so the Savior, Savior of the world, is come.
2. I cannot tell how silently He suffered,
As with His peace He graced this place of tears,
Or how His heart upon the Cross was broken,
The crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, He heals the broken-hearted,
And stays our sin, and calms our lurking fear,
And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,
For yet the Savior, Savior of the world, is here.
3. I cannot tell how He will win the nations,
How He will claim His earthly heritage,
How satisfy the needs and aspirations
Of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see His glory,
And He shall reap the harvest He has sown,
And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendor
When He the Savior, Savior of the world, is known.
4.I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
When, at His bidding, every storm is stilled,
Or who can say how great the jubilation
When all the hearts of men with love are filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
And myriad, myriad human voices sing,
And earth to heaven, and heaven to earth, will answer:
At last the Savior, Savior of the world, is King.
William Y Fullerton
14). Sermon.
Great Expectations! A famous book by Charles Dickens and one with a brilliant, eye catching title. Straight away the wondering starts. What are these great expectations? Were they ever met? Some expectations in life are reasonable and the outcomes obvious. If, for example, I get on a train to London, where do I expect to arrive? Train breakdowns aside, the tracks and the train will take me to London. If I eat 20 huge bars of chocolate, what might I expect to happen to my body weight? No weight loss that week I suspect! Such expectations kind of speak for themselves! We expect something to happen, often as a result of what we or someone else does, and what actually then happens is generally linked to what was done. Sometimes our expectations of a person or event are even exceeded. Other times people or events don’t match up to our expectations, and we are left feeling deflated or disappointed.
When Jesus was speaking to the crowd in our gospel reading today, he addressed this matter of expectations; more specifically, their expectations of the messengers of God. How, no matter what style of approach was adopted, how their collective expectation was used then as a distancing tool to keep God and necessary life changes at arms length. ‘What are you like? Said Jesus. You are like little children playing wedding and funeral games. You sit and watch and shout to each other, “We played the flute and you did not dance.” “We were sad and wept and you did not cry with us.” He then reminded them about their contradictory response to God’s attempts to reach them. ‘John the Baptist came. He did not go around eating too much or drinking. And what did people say? They said, “He has a demon in him!” Then I came along, eating and drinking and what did they say? They said, “That man eats too much! He drinks too much! He is a friend of tax collectors and even sinners!’’ But God’s wisdom is proved by its results.’
Rather than be discouraged by such variable and misplaced expectations though, Jesus remained grounded in the certainty of God’s love and mission of which he was, not only a part, but was, in fact, the principal player.
Jesus started to pray, ‘Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You have hidden these things from the wise and the clever and revealed them to children. This is what you want. My Father has given me everything. Only he truly knows the Son. And only the Son truly knows the Father. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father too.’
He said to the crowd, ‘Come to me, anyone who is tired and carrying a heavy load, and I will give you rest.’ Then he looked at the people around him and said, ‘Take the yoke I give you and learn from me. I am gentle – my yoke is easy and the load I give you is not too heavy. You will find rest for your souls.’
Paul in Romans picks up the theme of mixed expectations and outcomes, only he is speaking of personal expectations of living and how the human condition seems to be at war with itself with expectations in conflict with one another.He agonised within himself at his failures, “Romans 7v15. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do, I do not do, but what I hate I do. Thankfully he recognised that by taking on the yoke of Jesus, there was peace and victory to be found, “ v.24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Similarly Jesus calls us in our struggles of living and conflicting personal expectations to come to him and to learn from him. To give over our anxieties, concerns and ‘to-do’ lists to God and learn to rest in him.
Matthew 11: 28-30
‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
With Jesus, people can do amazing things that exceed not only their own expectations but also those of others. One of the aspects of Methodist Christian living is the way we help and support each other. It is in the Learning and Caring section of our “Methodist Way of Living” statement. As well as existing to Worship, service and to evangelise “The Church exists to help people to grow and learn as Christians through mutual support and care”.
And we do that in our church through fellowship, WhatsApp, email and telephone conversations, all very important, especially during this time of lockdown. Just as the prophet Zechariah encouraged the people of Israel by offering them hope during their period of exile, so we can during ours away from church and fellowship physical meetings.
Who can forget the beautiful picture of mutual support offered by
Alistair Brownlee during a race when he helped his brother Jonny over the over finishing line. If you need a reminder, grab a tissue or a hanky and watch the following
clip:
Alistair and Jonny Brownlee
The commentator – and even Jonny himself – wasn’t expecting Alistair to help Jonny finish the race in such an amazing way; he exceeded expectations! Maybe you can think of when someone has done something life affirming for you or perhaps when you might have done something kind and unexpected for another person in trouble?
Jesus said that he was offering a new way to God. Like the old way, it aimed for salvation, but in this new way He offers us strength and comfort on our path to God. He calls each of us to accept the need for forgiveness, and the salvation He offers to us. Then we can receive the Spirit to follow God’s way with the knowledge of His Love.
All this is through God’s love for us, shown in the grace we are offered when he sent His Son to die for our forgiveness and salvation.
Take a time to sit quietly
A time of prayer
Thank you Lord for the gift of your Son: for His life, His sufferings and death and for His Resurrection and Ascension, for the witness, salvation and hope He gives.
Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit to those who have come to you, and especially for the gift of that Spirit in your Church.
We rejoice in the work and witness of your Church and pray that it may continue to strive to fulfil your work and proclaim your Love.
Help us dear Lord to go where you lead, to love as you have loved, and to serve beyond the expectations of others through your love, grace and power.
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
15).Thanks and Benediction:
My grateful thanks to Ade, Kofo and Hilary for reading the Bible Lessons to us this morning and to Sue Sandling for leading our prayers for others.
Benediction:
And now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ , the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and forevermore. Amen.
16).Hymn:“Lord of the Dance” Singing the Faith no 247. CCl Licence No: 425086
I danced in the morning
when the world was begun,
and I danced in the moon
and the stars and the sun;
and I came down from heaven
and I danced on the earth,
at Bethlehem
I had my birth.
Dance, then, wherever you may be,
I am the Lord of the Dance.' said he,
'and I'll lead you all wherever you may be,
and I'll lead you all in the Dance,' said he.
I danced for the scribe
and the pharisee,
but they would not dance
and they wouldn't follow me;
I danced for the fishermen,
for James and John;
they came with me
and the Dance went on.
I danced on the Sabbath
and I cured the lame:
the holy people
said it was a shame.
They whipped and they stripped
and they hung me on high,
and they left me there
on a Cross to die.
I danced on a Friday
when the sky turned black;
it's hard to dance
with the devil on your back.
They buried my body
and they thought I'd gone;
but I am the Dance
and I still go on.
They cut me down
and I leapt up high;
I am the life
that'll never, never die;
I'll live in you
if you'll live in me;
I am the Lord
of the Dance, said he.
Sydney Carter (1915-2004)
17).Vesper: Learning to Lean-Heritage Singers. CCl Licence No: 425086
Chorus
I'm learning to lean, learning to lean,
Learning to lean on Jesus.
Finding more power than I'd ever dreamed,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus.
The joy I can't explain fills my heart,
Since the day I made Jesus my King;
His blessed Holy Spirit is leading my way,
He's teaching and I'm learning to lean.
Chorus
I'm learning to lean, learning to lean,
Learning to lean on Jesus.
Finding more power than I'd ever dreamed,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus.
There's glorious vict'ry each day now for me,
Since I found His peace so serene;
He helps me with each task, if only I'll ask;
Ev'ry day now I'm learning to lean.
Chorus
I'm learning to lean, learning to lean,
Learning to lean on Jesus.
Finding more power than I'd ever dreamed,
I'm learning to lean on Jesus.
John Stallings
May God Bless you all.
In Christian Love
Colin
—————————————————
With grateful thanks for ideas from ©ROOTS for Churches Ltd, www.rootsontheweb.com and Methodist Church Worship at Home.