Sunday Morning All Age Service - christchurchcov.net · 7/19/2020 · Forever, God is faithful...

Christ Church Cheylesmore 19 July 2020

Sunday Morning All Age Service audio services during this time of coronavirus

Welcome,NoticesandBirthdays

There will be no Zoom Coffee Social after the service but a chance to come to the church parking lot for a chat instead this afternoon.

Like last month, we invite you to participate in praise and prayer tonight using the guide included in this service sheet. You also can come this afternoon to collect communion bread and wine and be with us in Holy Communion by extension. All the details are below.

Every Wednesday at 8:45am we gather for morning prayer using Zoom. Why not make this a part of your weekly rhythm? Use Meeting ID: 659 276 567 and Password: 062153. You can also telephone in using 0203 051 2874 and hear everyone.

IntroductiontotheTheme:“Godisalwayswithme”

Song-WaymakerYou are here, moving in our midst I worship You, I worship You You are here, working in this place I worship You, I worship You You are here, moving in our midst I worship You, I worship You You are here, working in this place I worship You, I worship You You are Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are You are Waymaker, miracle worker Promise keeper, light in the darkness My God, that is who You are

You are here, touching every heart I worship You, I worship You You are here, healing every heart I worship You, I worship You You are here, turning lives around I worship You, I worship You You are here, mending every heart I worship You, I worship You, Lord

You are Waymaker, miracle worker…

by Leeland, arranged by Rhys Mayes

Christ Church Cheylesmore Sunday 17th May 2020

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Reading:Genesis28:10-19,

Activity

SNAKESAND(JACOB'S)LADDERS

You will need a dice for this game of Snakes & Ladders.

Each time your dice lands on a numbered LADDER you need to answer a question about Jacob. Clues of where to find the answers in the Bible (NIV) are shown. If you don't give an answer you can't proceed up Jacob's Ladder!!!!!!!

BUT if your dice lands on a SNAKE, sorry, you still have to slither down it.

LADDER ON SQUARE 5

What was Jacob's brother's name?

Genesis 25 v 24-26

LADDER ON SQUARE 9

How did Jacob steal his father's blessing?

Genesis 27 v 15-19

LADDER ON SQUARE 21

After fleeing from home ,as night fell what did he use as a pillow to sleep on?

Genesis 28 v 10-11

LADDER ON SQUARE 28

What did Jacob see resting on earth with the top reaching up to heaven?

Genesis 28 v 12

LADDER ON SQUARE 42

What did Jacob see on the ladder?

Genesis 28 v 12

LADDER ON SQUARE 56

Who stood above the ladder? Genesis 28 v 13

LADDER ON SQUARE 62

What did God firstly promise Jacob?

Genesis 28 v 13&14

LADDER ON SQUARE 69

What else did God promise Jacob?

Genesis 28 v 15

LADDER ON SQUARE 94

What did Jacob do when he woke up and what did he call the place where he'd had the dream?

Genesis 28 v 16-19


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Reflection1:Jacobdidn’trealizethatGodwasthere

MusicInterlude:canyouseewhereGodhasbeenwithyouinthepast24hours?

Reading:John1:43-end

Reflection2:evenmoresowithChrist,challenge:canyouinviteGodtobemorepartofyourday?


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Prayers

including the Lord’s Prayer

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Do not bring us to the time of trial but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

See Jesus More Drinks Challenge Every time you have

a drink, stop and ask Christ to be

involved in what you do next.


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WorshipSongGive thanks to the Lord, our God and King His love endures forever For He is good, He is above all things His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise

With a mighty hand and outstretched arm His love endures forever For the life that's been reborn His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise Sing praise, sing praise…

Forever, God is faithful Forever, God is strong Forever, God is with us Forever

From the rising to the setting sun His love endures forever And by the grace of God, we will

carry on His love endures forever

Sing praise, sing praise Sing praise, sing praise…

Forever, God is faithful Forever, God is strong Forever, God is with us Forever

words and music by Mark Hayes © 1983, 1995 MCA Music Ltd.

Blessing

Let us bless each other with the grace.

AllThegraceofourLordJesusChrist,andtheloveofGod,andthefellowshipoftheHolySpirit,bewithusallevermore.Amen.

CoffeeTime

Why not give someone a call, or come and chat in the parking lot this afternoon as you come for communion elements.

With thanks to the whole All Age Team. Please send any feedback to [email protected] or call Arthur at 024 7767 0741. We’d love to hear how the Spirit of God spoke to you in this service.

Christ Church Cheylesmore Sunday 19th July 2020

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Evening Prayer and Praise Please join us for an evening of prayer and worship. Our normal practice is to start at 5pm with study and meditation on scripture, then listening and prayer from 6-8pm, all culminating in an informal Holy Communion service at 8pm. You can join us for as much or little as you wish while remaining at home and there are suggestions for each section below. You can come to Christ Church between 1pm and 3pm, to pick up consecrated bread and wine for Communion at home according to this schedule.

If you surname begins with the letters A to F, between 1 and 1:30pm.

If you surname begins with the letters G to M, between 1:30 and 2pm.

If you surname begins with the letters N to S, between 2 and 2:30pm.

If you surname begins with the letters T to Z, between 2:30 and 3pm.

Receiving consecrated communion elements for sharing at home is very unusual for us at Christ Church so I want to offer some reflections so that we might all understand what is going on. We are motivated by Jesus’ request, even commandment, to ‘do this in remembrance of me’. The meal that we share together with Christ unites us as a community in Christ, especially important in this time of isolation.

There are 3 forms of Holy Communion in the Church of England.

1. Normally, an ordained priest leads prayers in the presence of a congregation in church. Our spiritual unity is made visible by our gathering together, sharing the same food, and serving one another. Only a priest can preside at this, a public service of the Church of England. This is important for those with a high view of the priesthood and the traditions of the church. It also preserves good order in the church.

2. There are provisions for ‘Communion by Extension’ for those who cannot attend the main service. Those in good standing within the church take consecrated bread and wine to those who cannot attend.

3. There is yet another form of communion called an ‘agape meal’ where regular Christians gather to break bread and share in the one cup following the example of Jesus and the disciples before he was crucified. The bread and wine are not supplied by the church, nor is there the requirement for an ordained priest to lead the service since this is not a public service of the Church of England.

I recommend you come to Christ Church this afternoon to pick up some communion elements. You will be celebrating Communion by Extension since I will have consecrated the bread and wine. Although our unity will not be made visible by our gathering, it will still be made visible by our sharing and serving, especially if you volunteer to help those who cannot come to Christ Church because of lockdown restrictions. You and your family are always free to celebrate an agape meal using the words that are provided below or other words of your own choosing. In this case, there is more focus of unity within


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the family and less with the wider family of Christ Church. Nevertheless, this may be entirely appropriate for your family.

If you come to Christ Church, please bring clean food containers suitable for pieces of bread and some wine. The Howards and the Woos will be in the porch walkway and you can leave your containers on the table. We will fill them, pray with you (privately if you wish), and then you can take them home. We will keep 2m distancing at all times. At home, arrange a table with table cloth, a bible, a candle and a cross if you have one. Choose an appropriate plate to serve the bread, and a cup or goblet for the wine. If you find there is not enough wine, add ordinary water to make up more. If you are celebrating Communion without following the prayers below, take time to follow the shape of a communion service that should as a minimum include

• an act of repentance and renewal, • a reading and listening to his Word, • a recalling of the events of and significance of the cross, • sharing of bread and wine, • prayers of thanks for what we have received, • and a blessing.

Please finish all the bread and wine rather than throw any excess away.

Finally, your comments on how this might work better, and how you felt this communion was encouraging or not, would be appreciated. Please email me your comments.


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Part1:StudyandMeditationonScriptureThereare4readingswithcomments.

Genesis28:10-19a

This is reading we had this morning and there was some good reflection and interaction with this story. If you haven’t had a chance to listen to the service, this would be a good time to. If you have, take this opportunity to read the passage again and ask the Holy Spirit about your day since this morning.

Psalm139

This psalm resonates with the theme of God being intimately involved in our lives, more than we often assume. Perhaps this is both comforting and scary at the same time. To underline the point, the psalmist explains how this can be starting at verse 13. God is the one who ‘formed’ (v. 13) us from the beginning, and we were found to be ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (v.14) in the same way God, when he created the heavens and the earth, looked back at all that he had made and found it to be ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31). The same God who breathed life into all creation breathed life into us, and remains our sustaining breath.

Verses 19-22 can strike the modern reader as slightly inappropriate and out of place. Did Jesus not command us to love our enemies? Would the psalmist have been better to avoid violence in an otherwise comforting Psalm? It is better for us to acknowledge that when we draw close to the heart of God so we begin to know the heart of God, whose hatred of evil is as strong as his love for good. To be one with God is to join in the redemptive plans of God. We should remember that the wicked enemies lie everywhere, including within us.

May we draw closer to God, and know more his amazing peace and love.

Romans8:12-25

Paul acknowledges the difficult dual reality of the Christian life of being drawn into God’s kingdom on one hand, yet needing to live in the worldly realm at the same time. On one hand, we are considered sons and daughters of God crying, ‘Abba! Father!’ On the other hand, we are tempted to live ‘according to the flesh’. Paul’s use of the word, ‘flesh’ is complex but I understand it broadly as those things that would draw us away from God. To understand ‘flesh’ as simply matters of the human body is too narrow for there are so many tangible things and attitudes that draw us away. For instance, many of us are tempted to work to gain value, monetarily and emotionally, and both forms of work can draw us away from a true relationships with God. Pauls commends us to ‘suffer with him’ (v. 16) taking courage knowing that the Holy Spirit within us (verses 9-11) will lead us (v.14) to life eternal.

Paul’s argument is based on the legal principle that you cannot charge a dead person for crimes of their past. For those who have died with Christ and been risen to new life in Christ, are given the Holy Spirit as their advocate. To those who would accuse us of sin and death, God himself will stand and proclaim the accusation null and void because of the death of Christ. Praise be to God.


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Matthew13:24-30,36-43

Here is yet another fascinating insight into the role of angels and the nature of our sin. Our earthly nature is likened to field of wheat infested with weeds – there is both good and bad. Paul’s description of ‘suffering’ because of sins of the ‘flesh’ (see above) opposed to life in the Spirit is the same thing. The servants, and this includes us, ask the master whether they should remove the weeds – not surprising. But the master insists the weeds be left until the end times when the reapers, those angels whom Jacob encountered, will enact God’s judgement and final purification. The reason for this delay is given in verse 29 – the sin ‘that clings so closely’ (Hebrews 12:1) is in fact so deeply ingrained in us that to remove it this side of eternity would destroy us.

Jesus finishes the parable with the words, ‘He who has ears, let them hear.’ (v. 43) It’s an invitation, and even a warning, that we should reflect on what we have heard. The series of readings today gives us much to think about.

There is a battle between good and evil in the world and within each of us, and the battle must be fought in God’s strength, not our own. This is not to say that we can sit back and let God do all the hard work. Rather, God and his angels are all around us to support us and bless us as we seek the transformation of the world and ourselves. Christ showed us how we will achieve this – through dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ. In this time of coronavirus especially, when we face social, economic, church and personal upheaval, we need to keep this cycle of grace forefront in our mind. We can’t fix the world or ourselves with our cleverness or might, but we can let go of that which stops God’s grace to flow in us, and let the Spirit lead us forward.


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Part2:listeningandprayerThestructuredsequencebelowisonlyasuggestion.Pleaseprayasyouareled.

TaketimetobestillbeforeGodItmayhelptofocusonyourbreathing.

As you breathe in say, ‘Come, Spirit of God’.

As you breathe out say, ‘Take away my distractions’

AtimeofgivingthanksandpraiseTakesometimetoofferthanksandpraisetoGod.

1 Praise the LORD.

Praise God in his sanctuary;

praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his acts of power;

praise him for his surpassing greatness.

3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

praise him with the harp and lyre,

4 praise him with tambourine and dancing,

praise him with the strings and flute,

5 praise him with the clash of cymbals,

praise him with resounding cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD.

(PSALM 150)


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Usingthe‘Iam’statementsofJesustopray

Below is a table showing the 7 ‘I am’ statements of Jesus found in John’s gospel.

Anyone following our daily reflections will already have spent time reflecting on Jesus question from Matthew 16v15 “Who do you say I am?”. If you were not following you may like to take some time now to reflect on this.

For our prayers tonight ‘let us fix our eyes on Jesus’ (Hebrews 12v2) by using these statements to guide our prayers. Some suggestions are given but please pray as God guides you.

‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening’ (1 Samuel 3: 10)

‘I am ………’ Prayer suggestions

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. (John 6 v 35)

That we at Christ Church may hunger and thirst after Jesus.

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8 v 12)

For the light of Christ to shine where there is darkness in the world (spend time asking God to show you specific areas he would like you to pray for).

9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)

For anyone you know who does not yet know Christ.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10 v 11)

For God to show you what sacrifices we need to make so that He may be glorified in all that we do.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11 v 25-26)

Ask God to show us at Christ Church how we might reach those in our community who do not know Christ.


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6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me you would know my Father as well.” (John 14 v 6-7)

For those who lead us (in Christ Church, in our local community, in government) to seek ‘the way, the truth and the life’ in all the decisions they have to make so they would know God’s will.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15 v 5)

For those who may be struggling in their faith; maybe by falling into temptation or simply because of what life has thrown at them.

SerenityPrayer(ReinholdNiebuhr(1892-1971))

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.

Closingprayer(fromCompline)

In peace we will lie down and sleep; All for you alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety.

Abide with us, Lord Jesus, All for the night is at hand and the day is now past.

As the night watch looks for the morning, All so do we look for you, O Christ.

The Lord bless us and watch over us;

The Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us; The Lord look kindly on us and give us peace.

All Amen


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Part3:HolyCommunionathomeNominateonepersontoreadtheleaderparts.

Grace,mercyandpeacefromGodourFatherandtheLordJesusChristbewithyouAllandalsowithyou.LettherebesometimeforrepentanceandaskingforChrist’shelpforrenewal.

AllLordGod,wehavesinnedagainstyou;wehavedoneevilinyoursight.Wearesorryandrepent.Havemercyonusaccordingtoyourlove.Washawayourwrongdoingandcleanseusfromoursin.Renewarightspiritwithinusandrestoretousthejoyofyoursalvation,throughJesusChristourLord.Amen.

MaytheFatherofallmerciescleanseusfromoursins,andrestoreusinhisimagetothepraiseandgloryofhisname,throughJesusChristourLord.AllAmen.

Youmaywanttorereadoneofthepassagesyoustudiedearlier.Ifyouarejoiningusatthispoint,wesuggest…

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

This is the Word of the Lord. All: Thanks be to God. Atimeofopenprayer.Letthepassagesinspireyourprayers.Prayalsofortheneedsofthefamily,church,andtheworld.Youmaycloseyourprayerswiththecollectforthe2ndSundayafterTrinity.

Lord, you have taught us that all our doings without love are nothing worth: send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtues, without which whoever lives is counted dead before you. Grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

AllAmen.


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As our Saviour taught us, so we pray

All Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

AswecometosharethebodyandbloodofJesusChrist,areadingof1Corinthians11:23-26tohelpusremembertheoriginalevents.

23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Wegivethanksforwhatweareabouttoreceivesaying,

Together we pray,

All We do not presume to come to this table, merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in your manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table. But you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

Inyourownwords,givethankstoGodforthegracewehavereceived.Wheneveryonehasfinished,concludewiththeblessing.

ThepeaceofGodwhichpassesallunderstanding,keepourheartsandmindsintheknowledgeandloveofGod,andofhisSonJesusChristourLord;andtheblessingofGodalmighty,Father,SonandHolySpirit,bewithusandremainwithusalways.AllAmen.

Sunday Morning All Age Service - christchurchcov.net · 7/19/2020 · Forever, God is faithful...

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Transcript of Sunday Morning All Age Service - christchurchcov.net · 7/19/2020 · Forever, God is faithful...