14th June 2020 The Barn
Our worship together is in the name of the + Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you:
and also with you.
Hymn: All people that on earth do dwell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-1dQ8t03mE
Let us pray
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 holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession:
Brothers and sisters, as we prepare to celebrate, let us call to mind our sins.
Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you, +pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
.
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Let us pray
O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed through Jesu Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Our readings today have been recorded for us by Euan, Callum and Paula Brackenridge
Exodus 19: 1-8
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord. 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
This is the Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Romans 5: 1-8
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This is the Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Hymn: All I once held dear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxpPIa-BskY
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
Glory to you, O Lord.
Matthew 9: 35- 10:8
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon – Michael Tonkin
You will all know by now that Kew Gardens are once more open to visit, which is great news. Carolyn and I have visited twice and our first visit was, for both of us, the furthest we have been since March and the start of the ‘lockdown’. It is fair to say we were a little apprehensive at this first ‘long distant’ outing, and a little unsure how the ‘outside world’ would be and seem after so long out of public view.
I feel sure that those twelve disciples would have had the same anxieties on being sent out by Jesus on their own to proclaim, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” as we have just heard in today’s Gospel reading. They were just everyday folk, not great evangelists, they depended on Jesus for guidance, leadership and reassurance, to think of going out, even among their own people, must have indeed seemed very daunting
But were they actually on their own? We are told that Jesus “gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.” Surely this power that was instilled in them was that of The Holy Spirit, and would work through them, by that power granted to them all by Jesus.
Probably, the one thing that the disciples did need was faith; faith in the one who had called them out of their everyday lives, the one who had that great power of healing, understanding, gentleness and love, Jesus Christ. That same faith that Paul wrote about to the young church community in Rome:
“Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” “Sharing the glory of God” as those twelve disciples were to do, with the power instilled in them by Jesus.
I wonder how many of us, gathered as we are, hope to go out later today, or even during this coming week in the hope and desire “of sharing the glory of God“?
It is, if we are honest, one of those things that in theory sound great, but actually in practice often slips us by. That is not to say that we won’t be good Christians in the way we behave, or in the many good acts of help and kindness we may do. But how often are those acts ended by words like, “may God go with you”? Interestingly, the lady who used to be outside Tesco Express in Kew village before this Pandemic, selling the Big Issue, would always thank God for your kindness when one bought a copy of the magazine, or even bless you when she saw you walking by. Perhaps she was a worshiper of a different faith, yet with the same universal God? We are all, at times, far better at being Christians than actually proclaiming it!
It has been an interesting observation nationwide, how many more people are actually happy attending Zoom Services, in these times we are living in, than would actually turn out for a Sunday Service in church. There is maybe a certain feeling of security and distancing from being in ones own surroundings, of being part of something without fully committing to it. After all, one has only to press the button to escape, no filing past the vicar or excusing oneself from coffee.
We are so lucky that in this country we can live our Christian lives without the fear of persecution, which is not the case in so many other parts of the world. Those twelve disciples, in the years ahead, would face in many cases persecution and death, as did the Apostle Paul and many more in that young church in Rome. Paul writes of the suffering that new followers of Christ would have to bear, but as he wrote, “suffering produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
That fact is as true today as it was when Paul wrote to the church in Rome. We today have that same Holy Spirit within us as we go about our daily lives. Maybe, we should all have the courage and excitement to let that gift of the Holy Spirit be apparent and known to those we meet? For as the psalmist wrote in today’s Psalm 100:
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the Lord is gracious; his steadfast love is everlasting, and his faithfulness endures from generation to generation.” Amen.
Prayers – with thanks to Diane Morris
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus. Give those who lead us vision, wisdom and understanding. We pray for Pastor Peter, Readers Richard and Michael, and all who are making our worship possible. Give them compassion, wisdom and the mind of Christ. Let us celebrate today that the Church will soon be open for individual prayer, while we continue with the innovative use of technology to bring us all together. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Grant that we and all who confess thy name be united in thy truth, live together in thy love, and go forth in the world. O eternal Son of God, who came from the Father, the fountain of light, to enlighten the darkness of the world, shine upon us today that in whatever we do shall reflect your light, for your Name’s sake.In this time of uncertainty about the future, we pray for strength, we pray that your Spirit is with us.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the needs of the world, for peace in the Middle East, in Sudan, Libya, and the Yemen; with Covid-19 infections rising in Latin America and in Bangledesh, India and Pakistan where people are struggling for help.The legacy of George Floyd has inspired protests all over the world and sparked global soul searching.Let us pray for amicable solutions, understanding and compassion. Let us pray for stability at home , for our political leaders and their advisors at a time of fear and uncertainty We pray for our country, may people of whatever creed or colour enjoy the same freedom and respect, with justice being upheld for all. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give grace to us, our families and friends, and too all our neighbours in Christ, that we may serve him in one another, and love as he loves us. Forgive our enemies, and help us to forgive, as we hope to be forgiven. Let us be aware of the lonely, the neglected and unloved, especially those in these times who find themselves isolated.Let us celebrate the ‘social bubble’ of the single household, which will bring comfort to many. We pray for all those missing school, those who are worried about their jobs and their financial future and ask that they are not forgotten. Let us pray for all our family and friends throughout the world.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the sick. We pray today for Alan Hay, Julia Holboro, Annie Kunz, Luci Mitchell – Fry, Joan Pritchard, Johanna Procter,Kevin Willoughby and Max Weston.
Let us give thanks to all the medical help and the carers, professional and voluntary.
God our Father, who is the source of all life and health, all strength and peace: Teach us to know you truly; take from us all that hinders the work of your healing power; all our sins, all our anxieties and fears, all resentment and hardness of heart; and help us to learn to enter stillness and peace with you, and to know that you are our healer and redeemer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Save and comfort those who suffer, that they may hold through good and ill, and trust in thy unfailing love.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Grant, O Lord, to all who are bereaved, for those families who relatives have passed away. Give them the spirit of faith and courage, that they may have strength to meet the days to come with steadfastness and patience; not sorrowing as those without hope, but in thankful remembrance of your great goodness in past years, and in the sure expectation of the joyful reunion in heavenly places: and this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. We remember today Gulam Abu Saleh,Mary Smith, John Axell, Joy Dyer, Pattie Johnson, Norma Williams and Rex Thorne
Hear us as we remember those who have died in faith, and grant them a share in thy eternal kingdom.
Merciful Father: accept these prayers,for the sake of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN
Hymn: Let all the world in every corner sing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_NoW2Hz52w
The Peace
Christ is our peace.
He has reconciled us to God
in one body by the Cross.
We meet in his name and share his peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you: and also with you.
Be present, be present, Lord Jesus Christ, Our risen high priest;
Make yourself known in the breaking of bread
Hymn: Rejoice the Lord is King https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xA0jM77Qers
The Lord be with you
and also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give thanks and praise.
And now we give you thanks, most gracious God, holy and undivided Trinity:
because your have given us the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ,
that we may grow into your likeness and be changed from glory to glory. Therefore with angels
and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we sing for ever of your glory.
Holy, holy, holy Lord,
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
+Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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.
Blessing
The love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself,
the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen you in his service,
the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.
Hymn: We have a gospel to proclaim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2FX0-kS7wA