Welcome Today's
service focussed on the children who had been baptized during the last few
years at MRUC and how they were welcome, not just today but every day within
the congregation. Jan had designed a service to accommodate their inner needs
and to speak to them as growing people. In doing so she also delivered a
message that spoke strongly to all members of the congregation.
Call to worship
The heavens are telling the glory of
God
And the firmament proclaims
God’s handiwork.
Yet their voice goes out through all
the earth
And their words to the end of
the world. Psalm 19
My mind ran on, thinking about
the joy brought to parents, grandparents and all who meet the lovely young
creations of our God who were the centre of attention in today's service. The
liveliness in their very being and the hope they bring for the future lifted us
all to another plane.
Hymn TIS 156 ‘Morning has broken’ Praise to
God for his enlivening presence amongst us, especially noticeable at the
beginning of the day.
Prayers of Praise and
Thanksgiving
Another way of praising God.
Sometimes we are very aware of the great blessings God showers upon us but
forget to give thanks. A huge temptation is to think the wonderful gifts
offered to us are a matter of 'nature' or that we deserve them. Nup! Say
"thank you" for God's loving generosity to us
Prayer of Confession and Words
of assurance
If we are sorry and admit that we
have crossed the line and then ask for forgiveness, it is ours. It's that
complicated (or that simple).
‘Remembering our Baptism’
A DVD Clip from Vicar of Dibley.
Series 3 Spring episode Scene ‘The Christening’
Was your baptism like this? You may
not even remember it if you were a baby.
What did we do? Jan led the parents
and children who had been baptized at MRUC through the Baptismal liturgy,
reminding them (and all of us) of the commitment we all have made.
She also reminded us all of God’s love and
grace for us in Jesus, that’s with us every day and gave out
little cards and a token for each child.
Song God Gives Bk 1 No 4 ‘The Butterfly Song' a song to
thank God for making me "me". We all have good stuff going for us and
we should be thankful for those gifts and talents we have and not be bothered
about the ones other people have.
Bible Reading Alan brought us the readings: Psalm 19:7-10.
Following on from the "Call to Worship" we hear of God's laws and
wisdom on which we should not try to 'improve'. Say after me: "I am not wiser
than God."
Ephesians 6:10-20. Using the battle uniform of a
Roman soldier as a metaphor, Paul tells us to be strong in God's power. To be
true and to be righteous. To tell out the Gospel of Peace, keeping true to our
faith in Jesus who has shown us the way to salvation
Talk/reflection - ‘Staying strong for Jesus’ with
power point slides and Roman soldier costume. Oliver helped
Jan display the soldier's protective battle gear, as she led us through the
Ephesian's reading, encouraging us to take the words to our hearts and build
our lives on the message they brought us. The belt of truth that holds
everything in our lives together. To this we add the breastplate of
righteousness so that we can believe in
ourselves. We need the shoes so that we
are ready to run to spread the good news. The shield of faith is so important
to protect us from any harm which might come to us from things around us and
the helmet is needed to protect our knowledge of God as is the Sword of the
Spirit that leads us in the right way. And finally - we must pray, trusting in
Jesus to be with us every step of the way.
Song- God Gives Bk 1 No 16 ‘Put on love
everyday’ A very
practical message to us all, to make carrying love with us each day as routine
as putting on our jumper or other item of clothing. The other side of the
message was to let that love show
Musical interlude for
private prayer and contemplation.
Prayers of Intercession- Jan prayed for
needs of the church, the congregation and the world after which we joined together
in The Lord’s Prayer
Hymn TIS 491 ‘Father welcomes all his
children’ Our Father welcomes us each day anew
and each day anew we have a responsibility to remember our commitment and what
that means in a practical way in our daily dealings.
Blessing The blessing
of God the Creator, redeemer and life giving Spirit, be with you now and always
AMEN.
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