The Good News!
This short act of worship has been prepared for you, I invite you to share in a few moments with God knowing that other people within Paulton, Trinity and Chew Stoke Methodist Churches are sharing this act of worship with you.
Revd Martin Slocombe
Psalm 105
God’s Faithfulness to Israel
1 O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wonderful works.
3 Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually.
5 Remember the wonderful works he has done,
his miracles, and the judgements he has uttered,
6 O offspring of his servant Abraham,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
Our opening hymn is inspired by the words of St Paul in his letter to the Romans, which we shall read in a moment.
Hymn – Our God reigns
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mJWb1jPI78
How lovely on the mountains are the feet of Him
Who brings good news, good news
Proclaiming peace, announcing news of happiness
Our God reigns, our God reigns
Our God reigns, our God reigns
Our God reigns, our God reigns
You watchmen lift your voices joyfully as one
Shout for your King, your King
See eye to eye the Lord restoring Zion
Our God reigns, our God reigns!
Our God reigns, our God reigns
Our God reigns, our God reigns
Waste places of Jerusalem break forth with joy
We are redeemed, redeemed
The Lord has saved and comforted His people
Our God reigns, our God reigns!
Our God reigns, our God reigns
Our God reigns, our God reigns
Ends of the earth, see the salvation of your God
Jesus is Lord, is Lord
Before the nations He has bared His holy arm
Our God reigns, our God reigns!
Our God reigns, our God reigns
Our God reigns, our God reigns
Prayer
Jesus said: ‘Take courage, it is I. Don’t be afraid.’
God of the earth and the waves, we praise you this morning and every day, that you help us to overcome the storms of life, and provide more than all our needs.
You call us out from our security to experience your adventures and blessings. You don’t want us to be like a becalmed ship, or stuck in the harbour. You want us out in deep water –
and you’ll be there with us.
We come to you, trusting that even if we feel ourselves beginning to sink under the pressures of life that we all face from time to time, we know you are still there holding us up.
Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Lord God,
we are sorry for the times we take our eyes off you, seek to do things in our own strength, and fail to reach out for you when we are in trouble.
We are sorry for the times we doubt that you can keep us on the straight and narrow.
Lord, we pray that you will forgive our doubts and hesitations.
Show us your loving presence, especially when we most need it, and teach us to trust you at all times.
Amen.
Readings
Romans 10:5, 8-15 - Salvation Is for All
5 Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that ‘the person who does these things will live by them.’
8But what does it say?
‘The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart’
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11The scripture says, ‘No one who believes in him will be put to shame.’ 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. 13For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’
14 But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? 15And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’
Reflection
Last week our reading of the feeding of the 5000, encouraged us to think about the importance of our mission as disciples to feed people we meet spiritually as well as physically, by sharing the gospel story of Jesus, and this letter from Paul to the church in Rome is a continuation of that theme. In the 1st century AD, when these words were being written, Christians in Rome had something new to share. Stories of Jesus which had never been heard before. Today, it is quite likely that when we talk about our faith, the people we are talking to also know very little about Jesus. Even the words of the Lords Prayer are like a foreign language to many, and in most families there is now nobody who attends church. Our message is therefore still unheard, and if we don’t share it, how can we expect people to know about our faith? We cannot criticise others for not knowing, if we are reticent about telling them.
Paul reminds his listeners that God’s message of hope and love is not just for those of us who are “in the gang”, but is for everyone. But the task of sharing our faith is a challenging one, and we need to have faith that God will be there to support us in our mission, especially when we have doubts, as we all do from time to time.
Hymn – How shall they hear, who have not heard
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJD7z21q7-w
How shall they hear, who have not heard
news of a Lord who loved and came;
nor known his reconciling word,
nor learned to trust a Saviour's Name?
To all the world, to every place,
neighbours and friends and far-off lands,
preach the good news of saving grace;
go while the great commission stands.
Whom shall I send? Who hears the call,
constant in prayer, through toil and pain,
telling of one who died for all,
to bring a lost world home again?
Lord, here am I: your fire impart
to this poor cold self-centred soul;
touch but my lips, my hands, my heart,
and make a world for Christ my goal.
Spirit of love, within us move:
Spirit of truth, in power come down!
So shall they hear and find and prove
Christ is their life, their joy, their crown.
Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926- )
Matthew 14:22-33 - Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them.25And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake.26But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’
28 Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ 29He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ 32When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’
Reflection
I know that there are many of you who are feeling battered by the storms of life at the moment, and because of the restrictions on our lives due to the pandemic, feel vulnerable and unable to deal with problems in the way you might have done just a few months ago. The waves and winds blowing against us seem almost impossible to overcome.
Some people are feeling abandoned by God. Others are questioning their faith in a God who can “allow” Coronavirus to cause so much death and suffering. You might be finding it difficult to sustain your faith when we are not refreshed by communal worship every week, and some may have found new activities to do on Sunday mornings. It will be a challenge to bring everyone back to church, some because of the virus, some because of fear, some because their faith has been damaged or broken. It will take time.
“Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid” – Jesus’ words of assurance and comfort speak to us today, as they did to Peter.
Despite all the problems we face, the good news of the gospel is that there is someone who is there for us, who reaches out to us in the darkest of moments, and supports us through them. If we had to support ourselves through this crisis then we would be limited to our own strength and abilities. But God is beyond our imagining. He is far greater than us, and he holds us when our strength, and even our faith, deserts us. We just need to reach out and take his hand. The waves will not disappear, but He will support us through the storm.
Peter is able to do the impossible, to walk on water, whilst he trusts in Jesus. But as soon as he starts to doubt, as soon as his fear overtakes his faith, he starts to sink. And yet, even in that moment of doubt and fear, he still calls to Jesus to save him. His faith runs deeper than his doubt. And Jesus reaches out to him, and saves him, both physically and spiritually.
Where is your life stormy at the moment? What do you need to help you walk on the waters?
Sharing our faith, being strong in our beliefs, will inevitably take a knock from time to time. The good news is that Jesus is always there to reach out his hand, and will stop us from sinking. That is good news – news that we should be sharing, especially at this time when so many are living in fear of what the future holds for them. Perhaps now, more than at any time for many years, as Christians, we have something to say to a world that is sinking under the waves of uncertainty and powerlessness in the face of an invisible threat. Perhaps this is the very time for us to speak out about the hope and love of God who enables us to overcome our fears, and even to walk on water.
To all the world, to every place,
neighbours and friends and far-off lands,
preach the good news of saving grace;
go while the great commission stands.
Reflection song – Dwell Among Us – Salt of the Sound www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZtCTWulguM
Intercessions & Lords Prayer
Picture a lifeboat going out to a rescue in stormy seas.
Lord, sometimes people who don’t know you
think we have the easy option. If only…
When I’m in the deep water of doubt, flailing about, nearly going under, can’t see land on the horizon, I thank you, Lord, that you are my lifeboat, and will always rescue me and bring me back to you.
As Peter stepped out of the boat, he risked all, but was kept safe by his faith. Lord God, we come before you to pray for all those people for whom taking risks is a way of life.
Lord, reveal yourself to them and keep them safe.
We pray today for those who are facing difficult problems and have nobody to help, and don’t know where to turn. We pray for the victims of the explosion in Beirut, those who are losing their jobs because of economic uncertainty, those who fear catching the virus, and those who grieve the loss of loved ones.
Lord, reveal yourself to them and keep them safe.
We pray for people who take risks in your name, Lord Jesus
– those who take your word where it is most needed
– and for people who grapple with faith and doubt.
Lord, reveal yourself to them and keep them safe.
Amen.
And now we pray for our families and friends, and for all those in need at this present time.
We pray for the churches in our Circuit, this week for Timsbury, and their minister, David Winstanley and for the MHA at Stratton House in Bath.
Lord, when so much is uncertain, remind us of your constant presence, your unchanging love, and your unending grace.
Amen
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who 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 those who 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.
Hymn – Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult www.youtube.com/watch?v=idAoS7at3nQ
1 Jesus calls us! O’er the tumult
of our life’s wild restless sea,
day by day his voice is sounding,
saying: ‘Christian, follow me.’
2 As of old apostles heard it
by the Galilean lake,
turned from home and toil and kindred,
leaving all for his dear sake.
3 Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying: ‘Christian, love me more.’
4 In our joys and in our sorrows,
days of toil and hours of ease,
still he calls, in cares and pleasures:
‘Christian, love me more than these.’
5 Jesus calls us! By your mercies,
Saviour, may we hear your call,
give our hearts to your obedience,
serve and love you best of all.
Cecil Frances Alexander (1818–1895)
Blessing
Peter only knew life as a fisherman. But he got out of the boat and followed you, Lord.
Help us to hear your voice, get out of our boats and follow you.
In the week ahead, may the world and its problems decrease as you increase in our lives.
Keep us focused on your way, looking ahead and trusting you.
Amen.
And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you, now and forever more. Amen
CCLI Licence 354889