Music before we worship: Christafari – How Great is Our God (The link opens up youtube in a separate window)
Junior Church resources: Resources from Sermons4kids Bible Story Colouring page Activities Word search (opens up the website Sermons4kids)
Call to Worship: Psalm 19: 7-8
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the Lord are sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
Hymn: Holy Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty (The link opens up youtube in a separate window)
Opening prayers:
Adoration
Earth joins heaven in declaring your glory, Creator God. No words are spoken, no song is sung, but in the solitude of mountaintop or setting sun their voice can be heard above the murmurs of this world. Such beauty, such provision, such knowledge dispel the mists of doubt, until our hearts are joined in the one who is the source of all, and we are drawn to worship.
Thanksgiving
God of wholeness, God of grace, to you we bring our thanks and praise. To a world that searches, you are a lamp that shines; to a world that is hungry, you are food that sustains; to a world that suffers, you are hope of release; to a world that’s broken, you are one who restores; to a world full of hate, you are love that forgives; to a world that denies, you are truth that endures. To you we bring our thanks and praise, God of wholeness, God of grace.
Confession
Forgive us, Lord, who call ourselves your own but daily cause you pain, who see someone in need and walk across the road, hear about injustice and fail to say a word. Forgive us, Lord, who call ourselves your own. Renew our hearts, our souls and minds; strengthen our faith and make us a people of whom you can be proud, who are your hands, your feet and voice within this world.
We combine our prayers in saying the prayer that our Saviour taught us
Lord’s Prayer: 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.
Collect for the Day: Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Methodist Worship
Scripture readings:
John 2: 13-22
(Click the links above to go to Oremus NRSV online)
Hymn: My Song Is Love Unknown (The link opens up you tube in a separate window)
Reflection on Scripture:
The account of Jesus overturning the tables in the temple is well known, not least of all because many folk look to it as a seemingly out of character action by the loving gentle and calm Jesus. They see it as a vindication for their own sometimes disruptive impulsive behaviour or see it as an example of Jesus’ humanity in that he experienced the same frustrations as we do with sometimes dramatic outcomes.
The other reason it is well known is because the scene appears in all four Gospels. John’s account differs from those in the synoptic Gospels in regard to position and emphasis.
The synoptic Gospels place the account in the lead up to Christ’s passion, it serves as part of the tipping point in the decision of the Jewish leaders to pursue and silence Jesus.
However, John’s Gospel places the account directly after Jesus’ first sign at the wedding in Cana, following on from that first miracle it builds on John’s words in Chapter 1 regarding the nature and identity of Christ.
The passage we have today emphasises that Jesus is the location of God’s glory rather than the temple building in which he stands. The Jews had lost there way in relation to the role of the temple as a place of prayer but also in their focus towards the temple. The temple has assumed an importance and role that is challenged by Jesus, not only does he cleanse the temple temporarily he challenges the institution it has become and its very existence.
Jesus will replace the Temple, the temple itself will be destroyed but he will rise triumphant in 3 days and he will be God’s dwelling place. His words must have shook his audience as the temple had become the focal point of their faith, the sign that they seek will only be realised once Christ has risen from the grave.
There is of course a lesson for us here too. We rightly value our buildings they are visible reminders of the presence of Christian community in our communities, although I often wonder what a tired and out dated building says to our community.
Our Church buildings are places of prayer, the means, or rather one means, by which we worship communally as we are called to do.
But whatever we have learnt during the pandemic among those lessons is that our temples, our church buildings are not the focus of our Christian faith. They do not replace the true Church which we experience when we abide is Christ. Our buildings may have been shut for months over the last year but the Church still exists.
God doesn’t live in church buildings, be they humble chapels or grand cathedrals, God lives in human hearts. So with our buildings closed let us rejoice that God abides in us in Christ. And, when we reopen may our focus be that abiding in our hearts sure in the knowledge of God’s love.
To him be glory forever
Amen
Hymn: I Danced in the Morning (Lord of the dance) (The link opens up you tube in a separate window)
Prayers for others:
God of love
hear the cry of those who yearn for love;
fractured families, broken homes
neglected, unwanted, alone.
God of love
ALL: hear our prayer
God of justice
hear the cry of those who yearn for justice;
persecuted and oppressed,
exploited, ill-treated, broken.
God of justice
ALL: hear our prayer
God of peace
hear the cry of those who yearn for peace;
in battle zones and broken states,
frightened, fearful, anxious
God of peace
ALL: hear our prayer
God of healing
hear the cry of those who yearn for healing;
physical and spiritual
hurting, weakened, depressed
God of healing
ALL: hear our prayer
God of mercy
Hear the cry of those who yearn for mercy;
convicted, in need of your Grace,
contrite, humble, bowed down,
God of mercy
ALL: hear our prayer
I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
(Psalm 116:1,2)
May you know
The peace of God
The love of God
The justice of God
The healing and mercy of God
This day and all days
Amen John Birch
Hymn: All hail the power of Jesu’s name (The link opens up you tube in a separate window)
Blessing:
The UK Blessing — Churches sing ‘The Blessing’ over the UK (The link opens up you tube in a separate window)
God’s living way is before us, and we will move towards it. God’s place of justice is beside us, and we will wait here with the forgotten. God’s call for renewal is within us, and we will respond without counting the cost.
And may the blessing of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be among us now and forever more.
Amen.
Additional resources:
Video service from St Peter’s Methodist Church Canterbury click here
Lectionary Leanings: Public Service weekly lectionary reflection by our friend the Revd Dr Paul Glass and click here for Paul reading his reflection on video (The link opens up you tube in a separate window)
Daily devotions from the United Reformed Church. A radio-style / podcast service with hymns, readings, prayers and a sermon. Sign up on the page to receive The Sunday Service email which will contain an order of service and words for you to sing along with the hymns.
Worship at home 7th March from the Methodist church. A really great way to follow along at home worshipping with other Christians at home.
Acknowledgements:
Seasons of the Spirit. Prayers for All Seasons: Based on The Revised Common Lectionary Yr. B (Kindle Locations 378-379). Wood Lake Publishing Inc.. Kindle Edition.
Birch, John. The Act of Prayer: Praying through the Lectionary (Kindle Locations 2944-2948). Bible Reading Fellowship. Kindle Edition.
Methodist Worship
Birch, John, https://www.faithandworship.com/Lent_intercessions.htm#gsc.tab=0
Resources for Faversham United Church, Whitstable URC and Herne Bay United Church 