15th August 2021 – Reverend Andrew Prout – Circuit Service
I must apologise that there will not be a live streamed service this week as resources are not available to facilitate this. Instead below is a hybrid version of the Circuit Service produced for us this week by our own Minister Reverend Andrew Prout.
The hymns have been added so that you can sing along but the remainder of the service will have to be read on screen.
St. Albans and Welwyn Methodist Circuit Service for Sunday 15th August 2021
A Service prepared by the Rev Andrew Prout
Today we are invited to reflect on Jesus’ words ‘I am the living bread that came down from Heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world’ (John 6:51). Each of our first two hymns has been particularly chosen as a response to this week’s IPCC Report (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and chimes with the set Old Testament reading today, whereby Solomon prayed not for riches or long life, or the death of his enemies, but for wisdom when he assumed his role of leadership over the people of Israel in succession to his father David.
Call to worship (Prayer written by Tim Baker for ‘The Vine’ resource)
God is here, as we, God’s people, gather to praise, to pray and to reflect. Move amongst us, by your Spirit, that we might see your Kingdom come, your will be done. Amen.
Opening Prayer (Based on Prayer written by Ramona Samuel for ‘The Vine’ resource)
Faithful God, we are thankful for the example of Jesus. Thank you that when we feel overwhelmed you invite us to rest in you. We give thanks for your compassion to all who feel like sheep without a shepherd, and for whom the brunt of life’s disappointments weighs heavy. Help us so that we can offer compassion to others as well as receive the same when offered. Bring healing and wholeness to the world and to all of us. Amen
Prayer of Confession (From the Methodist Worship Book)
God of mercy, your love for us is strong but our love for you is weak. You call us to follow Jesus but we are slow to obey. You care for all that you have made but we ignore the needs of others and misuse your creation. We are sorry for our sins. Forgive us and help us to amend our ways through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Absolution
The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in love. Endless is His mercy. Through Him the whole of humanity and creation can be set free. Thanks be to God. Amen.
The Collect
God of the nations to whose table all are invited and in whose kingdom no one is a stranger: hear the cries of the hungry and mercifully extend to all peoples on earth the joy and hope of your salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
The Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings 3:3-14 (NRSV)
Solomon’s wise request
Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. 4The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt-offerings on that altar. 5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ 6And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. 7And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. 9Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. 13I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honour all your life; no other king shall compare with you. 14If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life.’
Hymn STF 727 (Fred Pratt Green 1903-2000 / Tune: Stewardship)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvW0KvnL9QU
Gospel Reading: John 6:51-58 (NRSV) – Jesus continues to teach the people
51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’ The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ 53So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; 55for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever’.
Address: What are we hungry for?’
It will be my privilege this Sunday to preside over the baptism of one of the children at Hatfield Road Methodist Church. Charles (Charlie) was born just over nine months ago, at that time in between the first and second national lockdown. It has of course been a challenging time for all new and young parents but the strength of the Church is that we are a community here to support one another in fulfillment of our own baptismal promises. All new born babies have a way, often a very loud one, of letting us know when they are hungry. I wonder what it is that you hunger for. You will no doubt grasp that I am not talking here about the Sunday roast, or fish and chips, or your favourite takeaway, or that delicious slice of chocolate cake.
When Solomon succeeded the throne of Israel from his father David he must have felt intimidated not only by following in his father the great King David’s footsteps, but also by the task before him of maintaining Israel’s prosperity and health as a nation. A devout man he prayed to the Lord on his succession to the throne, not for riches, or long life, or the death of his enemies but for wisdom that he might rightly govern the people and distinguish between right and wrong. His prayer reminds us of our own Queen’s promise on her 21st birthday to devote her whole life to service with God’s help, and on her coronation to maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel. Solomon as we have seen on his succession was hungry not for power or riches but for wisdom. His prayer and intention is one we herald and acclaim as we approach COP26 and hold before God the leaders of the world as they address the serious threat imposed by unabated Climate Change resulting from human activity. We know there are many other issues in these challenging times but perhaps none so pressing as made clear by the IPCC report published this week. I wonder are we hungry for action on Climate Change, are we hungry for justice and righteousness, are we hungry to confront prejudice and poverty?
Let us consider the words of Jesus to the people who had gathered to him as a result of his ministry in Galilee. When they came to him He saw that they had followed Him because of his earlier feeding of the multitude. He said to them as a result ‘I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, nor because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you’ (John 6:26-27). Jesus went on to say ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry and he who believes in me will never be thirsty’ (John 6:35). He concluded ‘Your forefathers ate manna in the desert, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever’ (John 6:58). These words should resonate with us deeply not least in the further context of holy sacrament. Bread is such a simple thing and yet it has emerged in every culture on earth as a staple part of their diet. It is packed with fibre and essential vitamins. When they journeyed though the desert it alone was able to sustain the Israelites. No doubt we also enjoy bread in all its shapes and forms not only for its taste but also its benefits. And nothing perhaps smells more lovely than fresh bread just out of the oven. Interestingly the word companion draws itself from the Latin words ‘Com’ meaning ‘with’ and ‘Panis’ meaning ‘bread’. A companion is somebody we literally break bread or share table fellowship with. Jesus said ‘I am the bread of life. He who feeds on this bread will live forever’. We may be hungry for many things but most important of all is our hunger for the wisdom, truth, mercy and grace that flow from Christ. Eat of this bread sent to us from heaven. Make Him our companion and friend, and the course that both our own life and the world should take will become clear, a course that leads to true happiness and contentment for all, and a course in which all humanity and the whole of creation can find peace. I wonder what it is that you really hunger for. I pray you will find in Christ food for the soul, strength for the journey, and the bread that alone satisfies. Amen.
Hymn STF 252 (Anonymous, Urdu / Tune: Yisu Ne Kaha)
Prayer of Intercession (Based on Prayer written by Tim Baker for ‘The Vine’ resource’)
Lord God, we thank you for the opportunity to encounter you in worship this day. We pray with all our hearts for a better, safer and fairer world. We hold in mind all who are suffering and in pain – all who we are worried about and who we wish in the quietness of heart or spoken word to bring into your light and love.
Lord, you know our pain and the challenges that we and all humanity face. You know the sorrow of grief and isolation, the burden of illness and tiredness, the trial of breakdown and confusion, and the weight of all that we carry heavily on our shoulders. This day, as we pray, help us to know how to become an answer for prayer for those most in need around us, and in our world. Show me what is mine to do dear Lord.
And so, too, we pray for our world knowing there are so many ‘big’ issues that seem beyond us. God who moves in ways we cannot understand, come amongst the conflicts, the poverty, the injustice, the abuse of power. Come amongst the climate crisis, the refugee camps, the rough-sleepers and the burnt-out. Come, Holy God, by your grace. Come as we hunger for justice and peace, for the care of creation, and for all that lies at the heart of your kingdom. Come as we feed on Him who is the bread of life, and who invites us to say together …
Our Father who art in Heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name …
Hymn STF 465 (William Williams 1717-1791 / Tune: Cwn Rhondda)
The Blessing and Dismissal
Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, Lord of all we have and are, inspire us by your Spirit to be a part of your mission, bringing hope to our neighbour, peace to all humanity and restoration for the whole of creation. And to this end and endeavor the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us, and all whom we hold in our hearts, on Earth and in Heaven, now and for evermore. Amen.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the Name of Christ. Amen.
