Sunday Service Marsden Road Uniting Church 19 January 2014

 

Joyce welcomed Christopher to our service and then he gave the

Call to Worship A prayer that we should open our hearts and minds to God's voice this morning, approaching Him with humility. That we should think of God's greatness and think on how badly we have fallen short of what He intended for us. That we should clear our minds of all inconsequential thoughts and be open to God's transforming spirit.

Hymn AHB 166 "Jesus loves me" We think of this as a children's hymn but a line like "wanting as a friend to give light and life to all that live" applies to anybody of any age. And if only we accept that "light and life" we will be relieved from the weight of the darkness that stops us from being the people we are intended to be.

Announcements Significant was a letter from Benny explaining why he is unable to continue attending MRUC. The letter told how his stay in Sydney has been tarnished by his landlord doubling his rent in a period of two months, his employer not paying the agreed rate of pay and the attempted robbery of his wallet. However it also told of his gratitude to the people of MRUC for the warmth and kindness shown to him. There's a lesson there for all of us.

Prayer of Adoration, Confession and Thankfulness

Christopher prayed on our behalf to God, saying that we were approaching Him, our Father and Mother, as children. He asked that God would protect, guide and provide for us. Christopher prayed that God would give each of us His whole love, not just a shared fraction, a magical feat performed by all parents everywhere.

Christopher acknowledged that anything that is lovely, pure, beautiful or just is a reflection of those qualities in God and when we look at our own reflection we are embarrassed because our own reflection in our "pitted mirrors" is distorted. On our behalf, Christopher confessed that we can be rude and short tempered and asked forgiveness for this. He confessed that we can be lazy and insensitive and asked for forgiveness for this too. Christopher thanked God for the gifts of time, money, health and our minds and then asked forgiveness for putting these gifts to unworthy pursuits or not giving them proper care. He prayed for those whom we live with and asked forgiveness for our anger and meanness, our unwillingness to pull our weight, our sarcasm and gossiping that makes living with us difficult.

He prayed for those we meet socially or casually and who suffer from our poor behaviour and then thanked God for the opportunities we have to show love.

Hymn AHB 239 "As with gladness" A reference to the Magi and their journey but it could apply to each and every person ever born. My we willingly let God's light lead us to Him.

Bible Reading Bob read from Matt 18: 1 - 7; 19: 13 - 15 and 1Corinthians 13: 1 - 13. The Matthew reading begins with the disciples asking Jesus about who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus answered them by saying that unless they (we) became humble like small children they would never enter the kingdom of heaven and that whoever welcomed a small child welcomed him.

Then came a heavy warning, " If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones...it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened round your neck..."

I often wonder about this last part. What if our conduct, or the way we operate the church, or the way we present what we believe to be the gospel, is keeping people away from God?

Then 1Corinthians 13. Despite any gift we might have, if we have not love...we are a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal...we are nothing...we gain nothing...love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things...love never ends. And a new thought, or an answer to a following question- Now I know only in part; then I will know fully...

 

I suppose one thought could be that if we are developing some sort of pride about any achievement or if we think we can be more effective spreading of the gospel with some talent we have than by simpler means, this message from Corinthians says otherwise.

Reflection Christopher spoke to us today of the necessity of returning to the outlook of a small child if we are to enter unto the spiritual realm of God.

He introduced his reflection with a reference to Pope Francis' welcome to small children and babies as members of his congregation, saying their little baby noises brought him closer to God than even the wonderful music of the anthem that had been played. Christopher then told of the VIPs(Three Wise Men) who visited the VUP (Jesus). Very unimportant in the world's eyes, that is.

Christopher added the point that the Christian faith is the religion of the young which you would never suspect, visiting a Uniting Church congregation. But in Matthew 18 we hear, "I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven"

Christ expects us to become spiritually like children. So what do children know, that adults have forgotten? As well as the physical skills that babies and toddlers have without being taught, there are spiritual skills that, as adults, we could do well to emulate.

Children aren't concerned with status, they are humble beings. They are instinctively trusting - we should learn to be open and trusting with God. Children still see the wonder in simple things and are curious about their world and are very imaginative. They are open to possibilities.

But the most important thing that babies and children know about is love. We must be prepared to leave behind our hates, prejudices, resentments, irritations and just love our fellow beings.

We have to start again to build a different person. Impossible? Of course it is but if we hand ourselves over to God and let Him steer our lives, surprising things happen.

We are often unwilling to let go of the reins and hand them to God. We can do it in some areas of our lives but keep a firm grasp on them in other areas. It's not even logical to do that. God knows what He is doing - in every sphere. We often try to let ourselves off the hook by saying, "it's understandable"  or "it's only human" . That's true but that doesn't mean we should keep doing whatever it is we are trying to excuse ourselves for. Hand that over too.

Hymn AHB 526 "Jesus friend of little children" Our confession should be: "Never leave me or forsake me, ever be my friend, for I need thee from life's dawning to its end."

The Offering Our attempt to return a little of God's goodness to us was collected by our little children, Kalliope and Oliver, both serving the Lord in their own little way.

Prayers for the People Christopher prayed that we should feel secure in God's love and for families all over the world, especially those with desperate needs such as families in detention.

He prayed that we may look beyond legalities, and look with compassion on the situation of human  people with human needs. He, for us, also prayed for the volunteers who support the detainees. He prayed for the families in our own community; the parents of disabled children who never get a good night's sleep or a holiday because of their children's needs. Christopher also prayed for divided families; for our own families and all with young children and then we joined together in The Lord's Prayer.

Hymn AHB 138 "And can it be that I should gain" A hymn of one in pain, knowing what pain he (and all of us) have caused and the mystery that even God was prepared to make such a sacrifice.

This hymn works like a heat-seeking missile: "'Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God It found out me"

Benediction Now may God our King, Jesus Christ our friend and the Holy Spirit our constant companion, be with us forever.

Amen.