Dear Friends,

When I refer to you as my dear friends I include both my Melbourne friends and my friends in Little Eaton. This small act of worship was put together for both of you. You are all very much on my mind, brothers and sisters in Christ in two places, but with one heart. Barry and I send our love and very best wishes to you all.

Thinking of others is probably something we are all doing at the moment, and not just our family and friends, but with those suffering elsewhere in the world. Our screens tell the stories of people having to cope with the most terrible situations, especially in Lebanon. Let us remember them in our prayers.

Here at Fairmount life is pretty much the same. Our garden is developing. It has some new additions. New plants, a string of coloured lights, hand-made benches and a fire pit. The fire pit has been a great success! The garden has always been a place of inspiration for me but more and more it is developing into a garden of prayer. And one day we hope to be able to share it with you all.

I am building a garden of prayer, and I am building it for you.

May the Spirit of the Lord, within this small space of green,

speak to your heart through the sound of the stream.

Refreshing, renewing and bringing you joy.

The fig, olive and the vine to give you shade from above,

and in a glade you will find the cross of love.

I do hope you can visit whenever it is allowed,

But, in the meantime know my garden prays for you.

You will notice I have written two reflections, but please use my suggestions as you wish. Don’t feel that you have to follow everything. I believe that just putting time aside to be with God is the most important thing. To tell God you love him, and to rest in His love for you.

Much love and blessings to you all.

Julie Ann

 

Julie Ann Heath

07801 467348

01530 414549

julieannheath@pottersmaze.co.uk

 

Melbourne & Little Eaton URC – A Time of Worship

Hymn:  Great is Thy faithfulness                                                                              Thomas O Chisholm (1866-1960)

Great is Thy faithfulness,

O God my Father,

there is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,

as Thou hast been Thou for ever wilt be.

 

Great is Thy faithfulness,

great is Thy faithfulness;

morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed Thy hand hath provided –

great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

 

Summer and winter, and spring-time and harvest,

sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

join with all nature in manifold witness

to Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

 

Pardon for sin, and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

 

An opening reflection you may wish to use:

What God has prepared for those who love him,

he has revealed to us through the Spirit;

for the Spirit searches everything.

Let us in penitence open our hearts to the Lord,

who has prepared good things for those who love him.

(a time of silence)

 

May the God of love bring us back to himself,

forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love

in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Bible Reading:                  Matthew 14: 22 – 33                                       Jesus walks on the Water

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying,

“It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said,

“Take heart, it is I; Do not be afraid.”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come.”

So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Jesus immediately reach out his hand and caught him, saying to him. “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Reflection.

There is so much to say about the suggested readings for today, my concern is where to begin and where to end.

My first observation is the use of the word ‘immediately’. Jesus’ actions are described as immediate. No hanging around, no waiting – Jesus acts. On three occasions Jesus acts to protect and assure his friends - the disciples.

This hadn’t been your usual day. They have all just been part of the great miracle of the feeding of the five thousand. And this miracle involved not only the physical but also the spiritual.

Imagine you have witnessed hundreds of people being healed, you have seen your friend show unbelievable compassion towards people he had never met before, not wanting them to be in need. And now stranded in a remote place the people were hungry. Can you imagine being surrounded by a crowd of five thousand people hungry? I get ever so slightly panicky when I have to make my own tea. 

And if they hadn’t seen enough, they then witnessed Jesus bringing together, the small earthly offering of five loaves and fishes, and the enormous grace of heaven, creating a fulfilling meal for all that were hungry.

This, for anyone, would have been amazing, but emotionally draining. Think of our own Christmas lunches or Harvest suppers? They are great, and we have a good time, and we love to see people enjoying themselves, but they are tiring!

Jesus immediately sends his disciples away in to a boat onto the water. Together as friends, they were probably trying to make sense of what had just happened. You know how it is. There are times when you have to process what has just happened to you.

Jesus takes this time to be alone to be with his Father in heaven. His Father loves him. And you know that when you are held by someone who loves you, it is restorative. The troubles of the world slip away, peace fills your soul and your strength is renewed.

The weather changes. His friends are being battered by the waves and the wind. They are in need.

Jesus acts. He goes to them. And he goes to them in a way only he can - Jesus walks across the water to his friends.

Another miracle. A miracle of compassion.

What his friends witnessed was once again beyond their comprehension – they couldn’t make sense of it and cried out in fear. And I would suggest that neither would we have done. When we don’t understand why something is happening, when we haven’t experienced something before, and when we don’t know how to respond to something that is coming towards us, it is likely that fear is the first emotion to show itself.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Jesus knows when we are afraid. Jesus knows when we can’t make sense of something, when we don’t know how to respond. I suspect many of us are feeling this way at the moment, but if this story tells us anything it tells not to just sit there assuming the worst. Ask Jesus for help. Put your trust in Him and step forward.

Peter was drawn to the love of Jesus and he walked. It was another miracle. Just like watching a toddler take their first steps knowing their loved one is there to catch them if they fall. Yes they wobble when the surface is uneven, but you are there – you catch them because you would move heaven and earth to stop them from hurting themselves. Just as Jesus does for Peter.

Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Why did you doubt that I love you Peter? Why did you think that I wouldn’t save you Peter? Don’t you know that I will always save you? Don’t you know that you will always be with me? Don’t you know that when we walk together we can achieve unbelievable things?

It is not a rebuke. How many times do I have to show you I love you before you believe me? Jesus had brought the power of heaven and earth together as one to show how much he loved Peter, and all of his friends, and us. They had witnessed everything.

Then, as they say, the penny dropped.

The Lord had saved them. God had revealed Himself and they believed.  “Lord, save me!”

Shall we call it out? Lord forgive us. Lord be with us, and Lord tell us what you want of us.

And immediately He will hear and respond.  Amen.

 

Hymn: I, the Lord of sea and sky.                                         From Isaiah 6 - Daniel Schutte 1981

I, the Lord of sea and sky,

I have heard My people cry.

All who dwell in dark and sin My hand will save.

I who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright.

Who will bear My light to them? Whom shall I send?

 

Here I am, Lord.

Is it I, Lord?

I have heard You calling in the night.

I will go, Lord, if you lead me.

I will hold Your people in my heart.

 

I, the Lord of snow and rain,

I have borne My people’s pain.

I have wept for love of them.

They turn away.

I will break their hearts of stone,

give them hearts for love alone.

I will speak My words to them.

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord….

I, the Lord of wind and flame,

I will tend the poor and lame.

I will set a feast for them.

My hand will save.

Finest bread I will provide

Till their hearts are satisfied.

I will give My life to them.

Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord….

 

Bible Reading:                  Romans 10: 5 -15                                                              Salvation is for All.

Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart. ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or, ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But 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); because 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. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

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 unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Reflection.

I’m writing another book at the moment. It is a book about my spiritual journey and little bits of shared experiences I have gained along the way. My story begins with the quote St. Paul refers to in this reading.

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

It comes from the book of Isaiah, and I first became aware of it when it was given to me by someone who had written the bible reference on a very small scrap of paper. I was told by that the person that they had been asked to give me this by the Lord. As you can imagine I was surprised. At the time, having just gone back to church, I didn’t know, or understand that it was possible that the Lord gave out messages directly to people, and why was He sending me a message?  I didn’t know anything much about the bible, or about the Church, or anything to do with religion for that matter.

I am still trying to work out what it means.

St. Paul stresses the fact that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

St. Paul tells of that good news where ever he goes.

I spend every day of my life trying to do the same, and I know that you do too! We all have our own way and that is exactly how it should be. Our individual stories are unique, our encounters with God are special and specific to us, and yet out there will be someone that will be blessed by hearing your story. You bring hope where ever you go. You are the living evidence of the good news.

You carry the message.

You are beautiful!

Amen.

Prayers of Intercession.

Let us now take a short time to pray for the world, the Church, and those we know to be suffering whether body, mind or spirit. Let us also give thanks for those dear to us.

The Lord’s Prayer.

 

Hymn: Let there be love shared among us                            Dave Bilbrough 1979

Let there be love shared among us,

let there be love in our eyes;

may now Your love sweep this nation,

cause us, O Lord, to arise;

give us a fresh understanding

of brotherly love that is real;

let there be love shared among us,

let there be love.

(x2)

 

 

The Grace.

 

©Mission Praise

© Church of England Common worship – New patterns