Sunday 4th July 2021

 BURTON JOYCE 

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Sunday 4th July 2021 

Prepared by Phil Colbourn. 

Hymns in Songs of Fellowship (SoF) 

Call to worship Psalm 48 

SoF 1483: One more step along the world I go 

Opening prayer 

Lord, our God, we bless you with our whole heart. You are above all joy, above all peace, above and beyond all love. All goodness comes together in you and we praise your name. We thank and adore you. Hear us as we pray. Speak to us. Be with us. In Jesus name, Amen

Let’s share the prayer Jesus taught us: Our Father …

Bible reading 2 Corinthians 12:9 

SoF 533: The King of love my shepherd is 

Reflection Troubled times

If you are an American, today is Independence Day.

On July 2, 1776 the Second Continental Congress approved a resolution that "these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, ..." 

The Declaration of Independence was approved on 4^th July 1776.

Those were troubled times. There was a war on. And in some ways the readings set for today from both the Old and New Testaments reflect the same kinds of dis-ease and disturbance. 

In 2 Samuel 5, David is embroiled in the anarchy following the death of Saul. He tries to establish a new way of doing things (a “new normal”) but people go on doing things in the same bad old way.

In Mark 6 Jesus visits his home town and gets a dusty reception. So, he “shakes the dust off his feet” and redoubles his efforts elsewhere.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul tells a story of a vision someone had (most likely Paul himself) and shares about some of his personal troubles. He has, he says, “a thorn in the flesh” but one thing overrides all the difficulty: (verse 9) God says “My grace is sufficient for you”.

I don’t know how many of us have visions but I’m sure we all have “thorns in the flesh”, those physical ailments that inhibit or hurt us. Things don’t always go our way. People misunderstand us and we often mistake God’s intentions. Trouble and grief come.

We all need to hear God say: “My grace is sufficient for you.”

I’m reminded of the vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 where, by the river of grace that flows from the “throne” of God, are trees whose leaves are for the healing of the nations. Both David in his day and Jesus, the Son of David, introduce a “new normal” or a “new, and better, different”. Perhaps we can catch something of the vision; see something of God’s new, and different, Kin-dom. Amen.

Hymn SoF 120: From heaven you came 

 

Intercession

Father, we pray for those in need.

For those on our minds and in our hearts.

For our neighbourhood and local community.

For those in positions of power and responsibility.

For those who live out your grace in humble obedience.

For ourselves, that we may take the next step along the way. 

Silence 

Hear our prayers for the sake of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Hymn SoF 297: Jesus, lover of my soul

Closing prayers

Thank you, Father, for your love that, in Jesus, brings in your new way of doing things. Thank you for the grace which is sufficient and more than sufficient. May we catch and live in your vision. Amen.

Blessing 

The blessing of God, who makes all things new and gives grace upon grace and love beyond love, be upon you and remain with you, and with all you love, this day and all the days of your life. Amen.