A Short Service for Sunday 12th July 2020

A Short Service for Sunday 12th July 2020

BURTON JOYCE COMMUNITY CHURCH

Sunday 12 July 2020                                                    

working with Nottingham North East Circuit of the Methodist Church

This short act of worship has been adapted from one prepared by Deacon Helen Snowball for you to use at home. Spend a few moments with God, knowing that other people are sharing this act of worship with you 

Let us pray:

Creator God, we come in adoration to worship & praise you. God of love & wisdom, although we are apart, we are together in our love of you. Amen. 

Psalm 119 v 105-112 

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path … 

111 Your statutes are my heritage forever; the joy of my heart. 

112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end. 

Songs of Fellowship 51 Breathe on me, Breath of God

Prayers 

We lift our hearts in worship to you, Lord, and bless your Holy name.

Your Word lights our way across the rough & stony ground. 

We reach out for your hand. 

Lead us to firmer ground where we can rest in safety. Amen

Lord, we are truly blessed: 

Set us free in Christ to live life in all its fullness. Amen

Reading: Romans 8 v 1-11
1 There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus … 

11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 

Reflection

There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

Being in Christ is like being in a team - Team Christ! - and that brings with it a certain amount of responsibility. A team works together for the benefit of everyone and, in Christ, that means everyone not just our Christian friends. But you’ve done that, haven’t you? You’ve all been looking after each other, phoning each other, checking; supporting, as far as you can, people in need. 

Teresa of Avila said: “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, the feet, the eyes; you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” 

This means that, together, we are to be as Christ on earth. It’s a tough ask, but we have his Spirit to help. Paul writes that those in Christ walk in the Spirit. The Spirit guides, leads and encourages us. The Spirit of Christ is alive in us. This is the way to live a good life, a Team Christ life.

 

I’m not sure I always live by the Spirit. No condemnation doesn’t mean we never do anything wrong. I know I fail when I think I can do it all on my own, or I’m in a bad mood, feeling selfish or just thoughtless. But Christ doesn’t give up on us and leave. Christ stays with us: abiding in us, renewing us and filling us to overflowing; strengthening, nurturing & guiding. When we feel tired or alone, we can be renewed and strengthened when we seek Christ because his Spirit is with us; he is for us, and he will always help us. 

 

Being under no condemnation, we know comfort & courage: we have comfort to share & courage to speak out; courage to live by what we believe & to stand up for what is right, as Jesus did. We are Christ’s hands and feet. Is there something he wants us to do or say, or to be thinking about? Are we ready to act as Christ here & now, in Nottingham? 

We’re all God’s got! Amen

Songs of Fellowship 21 And can it be

My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed Thee. No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine ...

Prayers of Intercession 

We pray for family and friends and for all key workers.
We pray for people with no food or clean water & people in war zones.
We pray for the lonely, afraid or depressed and, finally, for ourselves. 

Lord’s Prayer 

Songs of Fellowship 1555 The Spirit lives to set us free

Walk, walk in the light.

Blessing

May the God of eternity surround you.
May his Son, Christ Jesus, live in your heart
May the Spirit of God guide you and give you strength
May the peace of our Triune God comfort you now and evermore. Amen. 

Go in peace, to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.

 

Phil Colbourn / Deacon Helen Snowball