Here below we have an outline of our service for you to follow at home if you can’t be with us. Choose a quiet reflective space and to make it more meaningful have a cross, bible and candle to make your sacred space.
INTRODUCTION
Good morning I hope you are all well, according to the government we will soon be out of restrictions but we will await the guidance from the diocese as to how we can deliver our services, so watch this space! I am sure some of you will still be hesitant so we will be keeping our “Worship At Home” for the time being.
Our Scout, Cub and Beaver organisations are in danger of folding if we do not get anyone to come forward to be leaders, if you can help please get in touch with Heather Colley 07967399832 or approach one of the wardens, it would be such a shame if we were to lose this excellent organisation.
Urban Outreach are looking for volunteers to make and pack lunches during the school holidays, if you wish to help or get info contact them admin@urban outreach.co.uk or telephone 01204 385848.
Our reflection today is by Rev Chris Jamieson in it he refers to the Old Testament reading of AMOS 7, 7-15 which I have not included in the service. The intercessions are by Mark Pearson, many thanks to them both.
Jan B.
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your glorious name; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
PRAYER OF PENITENCE
Almighty God our heavenly Father we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
GLORIA
This is the Gloria we use in the church parade service sing it if you know the tune remember there are 4 Alleluia Amens if you sing it.
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the Father (rpt)
In him be glory forever (rpt) Alleluia Amen.
Glory to God, glory to God, Son of the Father (rpt)
To him be glory forever (rpt) Alleluia. Amen
Glory to God, glory to God, glory to the spirit (rpt).
To him be glory forever (rpt). Alleluia. Amen.
THE COLLECT
Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as pass our understanding: pour into our hearts such love toward you that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
THE NEW TESTAMENT READING
EPHESIANS 1, 3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.
This is the word of the Lord – Thanks be to God
THE GOSPEL
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark. Glory to you O Lord.
Mark 6, 14-29
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
This is the Gospel of the Lord – Praise to you, O Christ.
REFLECTION
Our reading from Ephesians shows clearly God’s love for us from the very beginning of time. God chose us to be his children by adoption, to be brothers and sisters with Christ and to receive the riches poured out upon us. He has brought us redemption through the blood of Jesus, has forgiven our wrongdoings and wants to lavish upon us all the wonders and good things of this world and of the world to come. What wonderful news that is. God calls us to be his own; God calls us to be his children, his delight. God calls us no matter who we are; he calls us because he loves us for who we are not what we do.
In our Old Testament reading we hear Amos, a shepherd and dresser of sycamore trees, who is called by God to be a prophet to the people of Israel. Amos had no training, no preparation for his change of role and yet it was God’s desire that he should deliver the Lord’s message to the Israelites. Likewise, in his letter to the Christians of Ephesus, Paul tells the community that they have been specially chosen by Christ, to be co-workers with him in the spreading of the gospel. The whole essence of the passage is about choice – not our choice but God’s choice. God has chosen his Christian people to be singled out and marked with the seal of his Holy Spirit. The Ephesians,‘ heard the word of truth, the gospel of… salvation, ‘ and believed in Jesus because the message was brought to them by missionaries, people who went out to tell others about the saving power of Jesus. This is what God wants. He wants us to take the message to others so that all may come to know salvation through the love of Jesus. If Paul and other apostles down the ages had not chosen to take the news of the gospel to others we would not be worshipping together across the Turton Moorland Team, joined together as God’s chosen people in this place. We have so many saints’ apostles and martyrs to be thankful for because they stood up for what they believed in and made sure that others were made aware of God’s saving power through the salvation of Christ.
The first Christians realised that Jesus had a significance that extended not only to them but to the whole of humanity. When they thought about the ministry of Jesus they asked if its aim was to change the world or to build up the community of the disciples. The answer of course is that both are vital. Jesus did want to strengthen his group of believers but he also wanted to use them to go out into the world to bring about change. As a church, God’s chosen people; we are called to do what Jesus did which is both to build up the community of believers and also to extend this community by taking the news of salvation to all people.
If we look back through the history of Christian growth we can see in the Celtic church an example of non-exclusive community life in which the faith of the community was developed and from which outreach was made to others so that they could learn of the freedom of Christ and could be made more fully human. This is a model that we could do well to emulate today; to live as a Spirit inspired community which reaches out to others seeking to draw them into the family of God, as brothers and sisters with Christ. This is God’s desire that he should be our father and that we and all humankind should be his children. So it is vital for Christian people to come together in worship and fellowship but it is also vital that we take the word out into the world. We need the rhythm of worship, fellowship and mission if we are to be truly God’s church in the world. This involves acceptance of God’s love, offering ourselves to one another and going out in love and service to others. Living as a Christian means turning to God and being prepared to make sacrifices for the sake of the kingdom.
Sometimes we forget just how truly wonderful it is that God loved us enough to die for us no matter what we have done wrong. God, through Jesus, calls us to be his own. He has chosen us; we have not chosen him. This is such a staggering fact that it can be hard to fully comprehend, and yet it is true. ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that all who believe in him will not perish but have eternal life.’ We need to take this truth to heart; to thank God for the incomparable gift of Jesus and to be a church that seeks to bring the divine and the human worlds together in such a way that God is glorified and that all peoples can come to know of his saving power.
Amen.
THE CREED
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Here we pray for the church, for the world,
those in need and those who have died,
you can follow your own prayers or these below on today’s theme.
Everlasting God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, hear our prayers which we offer in his name and by the power of your Holy Spirit working among us that we might tell “The word of Truth” and live the Gospel of Salvation as a living example for all mankind.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Holy God, we pray for your Church for our Bishops David and Mark and all those who minister in the Turton Moorland Team. We pray that they will be strengthened and protected by the Holy Spirit in all they say and do. We pray for the work of the General Synod having a “physical” meeting in the Church House, Westminster this weekend.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Creator God, we pray for the leaders of the world carrying responsibilities for the lives of their people. We pray for all still affected by the Coronavirus and for a new determination to end the pandemic. Guide the UK Government and the devolved governments as we move forward to a new stage in the response to the virus. We pray for those who are anxious about the relaxation of restrictions and those whose livelihoods and general well-being are impacted by continuing restrictions. We ask that all may be respectful and considerate of others.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Gracious God, we thank you for the joy of sports, for the challenge of becoming stronger and fitter; for the excitement and entertainment from watching sport. We pray for the teams in tonight’s Euros final that they may be ambassadors for their sport. We ask your blessing on the fans that in sharing their passion they remain open to friendship. We pray for humility in victory and dignity in defeat.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Lord, teach us to be sensitive to each other in our homes and with our friends. May we give time and attention where it is needed. We ask your blessing of peace upon our homes and all who are dear to us.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Loving God, we pray for healing in body, mind and spirit for all who are in need. We pray that in lives darkened by any kind of pain or distress the light of Christ will bring comfort, hope and a sense of your all-encompassing love. We especially pray today for Linda Platt and Sue Roberts.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
Hear us as we remember friends and loved ones who are departed from us. Give to them the perfect joy of your eternal love and to those bereaved by their passing, the consolation of your perfect love. We remember those whose anniversaries fall this week, Annie Greenhalgh, Janet Jepps, Harold Wood and John Jones.
Lord in your mercy, Hear our Prayer
And so heavenly father as we look forward to the week to come, we pray for an awareness of your love and support in all we do.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, 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. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
THE BLESSING
Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe-
To you be glory and praise for ever.
From the rising of the sun to its setting, your name is proclaimed in all the world
To you be glory and praise for ever.
When the time had fully come you sent the Sun of righteousness.
In him the fullness of your glory dwells. To you be glory and praise forever.
The blessing of God almighty, the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore Amen.
