Sunday 25th July 2021

Burton Joyce

COMMUNITY CHURCH 

with the 

Nottingham North East Circuit  

Sunday 25th July 2021 

Welcome to today’s act of worship, prepared by Deacon Jenny Jones 

Adapted for Burton Joyce Community Church by Phil Colbourn 

Hymns from Songs of Fellowship (SoF)

We start with a moment of silence, to set our hearts & minds on Jesus 

Call to worship from Psalm 145

The LORD is good to all, his compassion is over all that he has made 

Our first hymn lifts my heart. Occasionally, I arrive at church tired and moody and, to be honest, I do not want to be there, but this hymn always lifts me out of the doldrums and reminds me of what God has done and is doing for me. I hope that, if you are feeling down today, this hymn will remind you of the blessings God has poured out for us. If you are feeling joyous, let the words express your praise to God. 

Hymn SoF 147 

Great is thy faithfulness 

Let us bring to God our Prayers of Adoration 

Holy God, you have done wonderful things, a merciful God with power to save, lifting us from our self-made shackles, releasing us to live life in all its fulness, showing the world the way of love. 

Shout praise to God, everyone! 

Gracious God, you draw us into fellowship, showing the way of steadfast love and faithfulness, straightening out the crooked ways, 

giving us new songs to sing. 

Shout praise to God, everyone! Sing a new song! 

Sustaining God, you have given us a brand-new vision, writing hope on our hearts and lips, drawing us into your way of love, justice and mercy, accompanying us in our dance of joy.
Shout praise to God, everyone! Sing a new song! Amen! 

Our Bible reading comes from Psalm 145: 8-21 

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 

Reflection

Like anyone else training for ministry, I had to undergo a number of placements in various locations. The aim was to work alongside other Deacons to experience the work and to see how I reacted in certain situations, using what I had been taught in the classroom in ‘real’ life. I had one placement at the University of Hertfordshire, two with churches, and a life- changing couple of weeks at Belmarsh Prison. 

Until then, I had never been in a prison. I had not spent weeks getting authority to enter the establishment nor undergone physical searches required every time you enter or leave; nor known the claustrophobic atmosphere or noise levels: every sense and emotion are bombarded. And yet I found God moving and transforming lives, including mine. 

As part of her work, the Deacon who was one of the chaplains at the prison ran a creative writing group. Many of those attending had no interested in writing (all they wanted was time away from their cells and to earn points from the activities), but I was astonished by some of the work produced. Two pieces stick in my mind. The first line of one was, ‘My gun was fun’. It told his story of how his gun initially brought him self-worth, respect and material goods but then stopped being his friend. It destroyed his relationships, made him afraid as others got guns and threatened him, and led to prison sentences. The poem ended with the gun becoming his enemy when he shot and killed a former friend. He was now serving a life sentence. The piece was raw with emotions and when he read it there was a stunned silence as other reflected their own experiences with guns. 

The second piece was from the most beautiful-looking Muslim man I think I have ever seen. He had written a piece for his twin two-year old boys about his God. I remember listening in awe as he described God in words and phrases that I could only imagine using. The piece was beautiful and summed up many of my feelings about my God and I remember wishing I could express my love for God in such an eloquent way. It was only later, when I was with the chaplain, that I learnt that this wordsmith was a terrorist and that in ‘serving’ his God he had committed multiple murders. My experience of Muslims is that they are peaceful people and, while I understand radicalisation, I was devastated to find that the words had come from a person who had committed such atrocities. 

As part of my preparation, I had reflected on the term Imago Dei – that we are made in the image of God – and I was now challenged as to whether I could really embrace that concept.  But God takes our doubts and, if we allow him, shows us how he transforms lives. My daily Bible reading later that week was Psalm 145 where David expresses the wonders of the Lord in exquisite language. The words just pour out. Each line is an expression of the nature of God. Words bubble over conveying the goodness and mercy, love and faithfulness, splendour and authority of God. They gush like a waterfall: a torrent of the riches and blessings that God pours on us. 

And yet these words were written by David. A king who had so many flaws and failings. He committed adultery; ordered the murder of his lover’s husband; he didn’t condemn his son’s incestuous rape. Other failings can perhaps be overlooked in the context of the times, but David - warrior, king, composer, conqueror, unifier, organiser - was a flawed human being. And yet God used him. David had a heart for God and God had a heart for David. In the words of 1 Samuel 16:7:

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 

What did God see in David’s heart that covered all the weaknesses? 

I wonder, if like me, you sometimes beat yourself up that you are not good enough for God; that you don’t do enough kingdom work; that your prayer life isn’t as good as others; that you’ve done things that don’t honour God; that you make promises to God and fail to keep them. Sometimes, I feel I must be a huge disappointment to God. At those times God comes and surrounds us in the embrace of his grace and the Holy Spirit prompts us to remember how God’s love has been shown to us in practice. The story of God throughout history reminds us that God will never leave us, but instead sent his Son to reveal more about this love, manifest on the cross when Jesus took all our sins. He redeemed us – the good, the bad and the ugly. 

At Belmarsh Prison, I realised needed to be less judgemental. Justice has to be done for crimes committed but, in that situation, God needs people who listen, to hear the stories that led to their incarceration; to offer love (not sentimentality), encouragement and hope in something different. To use opportunities to tell people about Jesus in relevant ways – not to radicalise or manipulate them – but to reveal goodness and joy, mercy and compassion. Those lessons transformed me and my approach to ministry. Our faith can help us build relationships, break down the barriers that keep others from encountering God and reveal the glory of God’s kingdom to those around us. 

Forgiving is hard. Some crimes seem too atrocious to forgive, but if we believe in the cross and God’s forgiveness, we should try to forgive and, in that action, we might restore their relationship with God and who knows where that might lead. Let’s not imagine our God is too small to do amazing things in people’s lives. Amen

During July the Samaritans have their annual awareness campaign. Most of you know that the Samaritans provide emotional support for people; you may not know they respond every day to 10,000 people. 

Today, in our Prayers of Intercession, will focus on their work. 

Gracious God, we all know times of despair with mental health; finance; health or tragedy. We lift before you now all who find life hard to bear; who wonder if there is any purpose, or if anyone will miss them if they disappear. We pray that they reach out, that their cries are met with kindness & compassion. 

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayers 

We pray for all volunteers in support services, especially today for the Samaritans. May they know your peace as they deal with distressing situations and may their words bring strength to those in need. 

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayers 

We pray for families affected by suicide, left in an agony of confusion and regret, having been unaware of the desperation their loved one was experiencing. Bring your peace to their lives and homes. 

Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayers 

Lord, stir up in us hearts of kindness and compassion so that we can offer hope to those in dark places. We offer up all our prayers in your precious and holy name. Amen

The Lord’s Prayer 

Our final hymn SoF 1412 

Lead us, Heavenly Father, lead us 

A Blessing 

May the love of God surround you, surprise you and sustain you, this day and for evermore. Amen