Opening Reflection
A very warm welcome to our service today and we pray that as you come to spend time today that you will surrender yourself to God, you will give thanks in our prayers and our praise, no matter what situation we are facing, for the Lord is always near.
Psalm 107:1
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever
Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, as I draw close with you today Lord, I pray that you will speak deep into my heart and I will take this time to listen to you for now is the time to worship, to praise you, to sing your holy name in every situation I face. Lord may I never want to stop praising your name for the joy of the Lord is my strength and my salvation. Thank you Lord for this new day, Amen.
Hymn:
Prayers of Confession:
Loving God we come before you for we need more of you. Lord help us we pray, as we read your word, speak deep into our hearts for we know we have wronged you and caused hurt to our family, friends, neighbour. Let us spend time as we reflect on Psalm 51
God, give me mercy from your fountain of forgiveness! I know your abundant love is enough to wash away my guilt. Because your compassion is so great, take away this shameful guilt of sin. Forgive the full extent of my rebellious ways, and erase this deep stain on my conscience. For I’m so ashamed. I feel such pain and anguish within me. I can’t get away from the sting of my sin against you, Lord! Everything I did, I did right in front of you, for you saw it all. Against you, and you above all, have I sinned. Everything you say to me is infallibly true and your judgment conquers me. Lord, I have been a sinner from birth, from the moment my mother conceived me. I know that you delight to set your truth deep in my spirit. So come into the hidden places of my heart and teach me wisdom.
Let us pause and offer our prayers to God, as we seek his forgiveness.
Purify my conscience! Make this leper clean again! Wash me in your love until I am pure in heart. Satisfy me in your sweetness, and my song of joy will return. The places within me you have crushed will rejoice in your healing touch. Hide my sins from your face; erase all my guilt by your saving grace. Create a new, clean heart within me. Fill me with pure thoughts and holy desires, ready to please you. May you never reject me!
Let us spend a few minutes as we offer up our own prayers of confession, seeking God's forgiveness before concluding with the prayer Jesus taught us,
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is 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 forever.
Amen
Hymn:
Prayers of Intercession
Father God, thank you for being with us this morning, thank you that you were waiting for us to get here this morning. Thank you that you are a God who is interested in our lives and longs To communicate with us at anytime and anywhere!
We thank you Lord for your creation, and for the way you speak to us through it, if only we would take the time to recognise it and enjoy it. We thank you Father for the different ways you speak to us, when we read our Bibles, when we listen to your word being preached, when talking with friends and family, directly, especially if we sit in silence and give you time and space as we come and listen to you. Help us to be expectant and eager to hear your voice and talk to you about the things that are important to us and you.
Heavenly Father we bring to you our world at times we don’t know how to pray about certain situations but we trust your Holy Spirit to give us the words to speak, and if we don't have any he understands the groaning we have in our spirit and hearts.
We pray for the people of Afghanistan as the Taliban have overthrown the government and are taken control of Kabul. Thousands of people are trying to leave the country and are terrified about what the months and years ahead hold for them.
We continue to pray for South Africa and the unrest that continues there.
We also remember the people of Greece and Turkey, America and Australia as they battle with soaring temperatures resulting in many fires and people losing their homes and are devastated as they watch people trying to put them out.
Lord we bring the people of Haiti to you in light of the recent earthquakes there so many losing loved ones and their homes.
Holy Spirit please have mercy on all people worldwide for living for themselves and not living as God would want us to. For being oblivious to what Father God requires of us.
Please pause and pray personal prayers for the countries above.
Father we look at the world and all the disasters we are witnessing and ask that you will raise up leaders that have a Christian faith and live their lives to glorify you. Leaders who care about their people, give them godly wisdom and discernment as they make decisions that affect the people of the country they serve. Raise up those with a prophetic voice and give them opportunities to speak them to those who make the decisions.
We pray for the people that St. Andrew’s Baptist Church supports at this time and that we will be known as a fellowship who love and serve the Lord and their love for Jesus is what motivates them to do what they do. We pray for the elders as they continue to lead us. Lord Jesus please speak to us as individuals and as a fellowship as we prepare for our new minister Rev’d Richard Sherlock and his wife Laurie joining us later this year.
May we all seek the way forward together and may your will be recognised by Richard and Laurie and our fellowship. May we have open hearts and minds as we allow your Holy Spirit speak to us regarding the way forward and the things that you want us to pick up and the things we may need to lay down for now.
We pray for all people that are struggling at this time for whatever reason that may be. Open our eyes to see where are you are working and give us the grace to be able to work with you in it bringing your light and love to those concerned. We pray for anyone who has received test results or are awaiting them and are unsure or worried about the treatment that they will have to have. Please Father give them your peace and an awareness of your grace and presence at this worrying time.
Please pause and pray your own prayers for anyone you know personally that need a special touch from God at this time.
Loving Heavenly Father we pray for the families of those who have recently passed away or are nearing the end of their time here on earth, please take away any worries or concerns they may have and give them your peace, the peace that surpasses all understanding. We pray that they will have someone with them and their passing will be peaceful.
Also comfort those who are morning and give them words that will ease their pain and grief. Give us ideas of how we can encourage and build up all people that we come into contact with and make them feel special.
We pray these prayers in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ Amen.
Hymn
Announcements
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Coffee morning via zoom: 11am see church email with details on how to join. To gather from the comfort of our homes, and share, Songs, word of encouragement, testimonies, prayer. We look forward to seeing you. If you would like further details on how to join contact office@standrewsbletchley.org.
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Offering
Whilst we appreciate this is a challenging time, we are grateful and give our thanks to God for all His provision, for your word says: 16 Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.
We are thankful Lord that you have blessed us with a church building, although whilst we are unable to meet there in person at the moment we know that we still have expenditure that we have to meet.
Lord place on our hearts what we are able to give, ensuring we do not give beyond our means.
Ways to Give - Please click on this link to see our Ways to Give.
Prayers of Thanksgiving
Thank you Lord that you hear our prayers, that you hear our cry, that though our communion with you, your Word builds up our faith and encourages us for we need you Lord to intervene in our lives and consume very fibre of our being, so that we stop and pause and say Thank You Lord.
The next opportunity you have may you step outside, stand there, in silence, look up to the sky and contemplate how amazing it is.
Thank you Lord for the gift of life, for your divine protection and your daily guidance.
Thank you Lord for giving me life, and allowing me to share with family and friends, creating beautiful memories.
Thank you Lord that we can feel pain and know sadness, Lord may you fill us with your compassion and so in turn we can share your love to all.
As you reflect on what Christ has done for you this last week, let us bring our own prayers of thanks and gratitude before God.
Pause
Lord help us when we don't thank you enough, for who you are, for all that you do, for all that you've given. Help us to set our eyes and our hearts on you in a real, relevant, radical and refreshing way. Renew our spirits, fill us with your peace and joy. We love you and we need you, this day and every day. We give you praise and thanks, for You alone are worthy!
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Hymn:
Reading: Psalm 107:1-31
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.
4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
and their lives ebbed away.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
to a city where they could settle.
8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
9 for he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.
10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11 because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.
17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them;
he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of his works with songs of joy.
23 Some went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Sermon
Closing Reflection
As we draw to a close, may you continue to allow God's Word to dwell within your soul, within your heart and consider, as you seek God's wisdom, spend time each day, asking God what He wants you to do and give thanks in all situations.
We give thanks to Pete for sharing God's Word for us today.
We are so thankful for all those who continue to pray and support us during our time of interregnum. for it is our faith, our unity, or diversity which makes church. What a wonderful blessing.
We give thanks to God for our families, our fellowship, our neighbours, our work colleagues. God people, the living body of our Lord Jesus Christ. God calls us into a deeper communion with Him. We are here to encourage, to serve our communities, seeking God's face, His wisdom as we walk together. Not our own wants but aligning our hearts desire to that of God. We look forward to the day the church doors are open wide, and we can celebrate, and we are thankful for all those in the preparation and participation for this to happen God will and purpose.
The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace
And the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the son and Holy Spirit
Be among you and remain with you always Amen
Numbers 6:24-25
Closing Hymn:
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