Sunday 5 September 2021

 BURTON JOYCE 

COMMUNITY CHURCH

Sunday 5 September 2021 

Welcome to today’s act of worship prepared by Phil Colbourn

Let us start with a moment of silence, stilling our minds and bodies, to listen for the small, quiet voice of God speaking into our hearts. 

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts 

The whole earth is full of God’s glory 

Let’s sing SoF 557 Thou whose almighty word

Let us pray

You have done so much for us, O Lord our God; there is no one like you! You have so many wonderful plans for us, even if we do not know what they are. We thank you for your constant love. Amen

We come to you, O Lord, in the morning, through the day, during the night. Hear us as we pray. Hear us, loving Lord, and answer. Your constant love is better than life and we praise you and give you thanks. We rejoice and sing glad songs of praise to you. Amen

Loving Lord, teach us how to live as your people in this world. We depend on you. Help us understand your way of living, because we don’t always know what to do. Forgive us when we get things wrong. We are sorry and we come to you for help. Restore us, strengthen us and inspire us, we pray; in Jesus’ name. Amen

Hymn SoF 72 Come let us sing of a wonderful love

Readings Proverbs 22, vv2, 8, 22; James 2, vv14-17

Hymn SoF 685 Christ’s is the world

Reflection

‘The poor you will always have with you’, Jesus says, when a woman is accused of wasting valuable oil on his feet (Mark …). It can sound desperately sad, depressing, almost fatalistic, almost as if Jesus does not care. But we know Jesus does care. He is being realistic: this is the way the world is, this will be the case. Always. Regrettably. 

Poverty and our response to it make a powerful theme throughout the whole of scripture as illustrated by our two readings. It is always on the heart of God and so uppermost in our hearts too. But it is not just helping the poor, although that is part of it. It is honouring them. And not only about economics because there are many kinds of poverty. 

James puts his finger on it early in this passage (2, vv1-4): ‘This is discrimination.’ All discrimination puts people in at a disadvantage. You can almost hear James saying (as he does later, chapter 3, v10): ‘Brothers, sisters, this should not be.’

So, what to do? Love, honour and welcome people who are deprived and disadvantaged. Give them ‘the best seat in the house’, respect and learn from them. Don’t always assume that ‘we know best’ or ‘we can sort this’. Perhaps they know something and have something to give.

‘The poor you will always have with you’. Listen. The woman with the expensive oil knew something the rest of them didn’t, or was it perhaps that she was brave enough to express what she knew? Yes, speak up on behalf of the poor, feed the hungry, but don’t think you know everything. Give space for others to make their contribution.

Let’s sing SoF 659 As water to the thirsty

Intercessions 

O Lord, teach us what you want us to do, show us the way forward and come with us into the unknown, as we go with you. Amen

We bring to you everything in our hearts. O Lord, there is so much hurt and harm in the world. Come, Lord Jesus! Help, Lord Jesus.

We pray for our home, this Earth, the planet. O Lord, there is so much hurt and harm being done. Come, Lord Jesus! Help, Lord Jesus.

We bring before you the people we know. O Lord, people cope with so much hurt and harm. Come, Lord Jesus! Help, Lord Jesus. Amen

Now, let’s share together in the Lord’s prayer: Our Father …

Hymn SoF 664 Beauty for brokenness

Closing prayer & Blessing

Thank you, Father, for your love. Meet with us in the way. Help us to honour in love all whose lives we touch. In Jesus’ name, Amen

The Lord of love, peace & joy, bless you, now and always. Amen