Mission Sunday 14th February 2021

Under normal circumstances (pre-Covid) we would have been holding our Mission Breakfast and have a guest speaker. For obvious reasons breakfast will not be served but we are fortunate to be able to welcome Josphine Burgess to talk about Save the Children. Julie our pastor will lead worship and Josephine will tell us about the wonderful work that Save the Children do. They are a Registered Charity with Charity No. 213890 (England & Wales) and SC039570 (Scotland)

Later in the year we hope to be able to run an event to raise money in aid of Save The Children as we have not been able to send them the profit from our usual Mission Breakfast.

The service is published below along with Josephine's PowerPoint.

Opening words: Matthew 18:1-5

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

Hymn - When I needed a neighbour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fExR7eOhJO0

Prayers

Father God, holy and majestic, what an impression faith in you has made on our lives! God of all wisdom, you are the source of all authority in heaven and earth.

Compassionate Lord Jesus, what an indelible impression you have made on our spirit! Lovingly speaking through your life on earth: your sacrificial authority on the cross breaking through the barriers of sin.

Awesome Holy Spirit, what an impression you make on our life! Through our faith, you continue to impress upon us the supreme wisdom of God, Gracious and Fair.

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, source of all authority in heaven and earth, eternal praise belongs to you.

Great God, your arms are wide open in welcome. Father God, we are your children and your family. Creator God, we thank you for the wonderful world. Shepherd God, we are your sheep and you care for us. God of many names, we have many names, too, and you love us all. Thank you. Amen.

Lords Prayer

Bible Readings

Matthew 25:34-40 and Luke 7:1-10

Hymn 1261 Brother, sister let me serve you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JahFRDrSCs

Talk by Josephine Burgess - ‘Save the Children’ This is found on the attached pdf's - the first one has the picture slides from the PowerPoint and the second one Josephine's notes. She has spoken on the PowerPoint and I can send anyone the link to this if they email me.

Hymn 857 I the Lord of sea and sky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zr9SMm1glI

PRAYERS

God of glory, open our eyes and open our hearts. Help us to see Jesus.

God of glory, change us and renew us by your Spirit. Make us more like Jesus

God of glory, we see you in the beauty of the universe, we meet you in the love of our friends and families, we find you in our joys and in our pain – faithful and true. We see you revealed to us in Scripture, we hear you speaking to us in the silence, we know you in our hearts, and we find you in the person of Jesus. As we look at the events in our world, help us to see where you are at work. In our homes and in our daily lives, help us to notice the glimpses of your glory shining through the ordinary fabric of our lives. You are the God who comes close to us: though we are far apart from each other Surround us with the light of your presence.

God of glory, we live with so many uncertainties. Today we pray for people whose lives are always uncertain: for people in war torn parts of the world; for all who wonder where their next meal will come from; for people who are jobless or homeless; for all who are fleeing from domestic violence. Help us to make our churches sanctuaries of peace and safety. May we be ready to respond to the need of others and to do what we can to tell the story of the love that will never let us go, the love that can change us and the world. Help us to love one another as you have loved us. You are the God who comes close to us: though we are far apart from each other Surround us with the light of your presence.

God of glory,

we pray for situations in the world that need hope and healing.

And in particular for Yemen, for Russia, and for Myanmar. We ask for words and actions that are full of hope and not hate, of forgiveness and unity and not division. May we all be mindful of the power of our words, and use our speaking to build others up, not to tear them down. When conflict comes may our words be controlled and kind, and may we always shine a light of truth in the darkness of discord and lies. As a second impeachment trial begins in the United States, we ask that the truth would be told and honoured. We pray for all who work in communications and the media, that they would report with honesty and integrity, and that they would use their roles to speak truth to power. This week, may we seek to respond to the needs of others with messages, words and actions of hope and comfort. You are the God who comes close to us: though we are far apart from each other Surround us with the light of your presence.

God of glory, we thank you for the tireless effort of nurses, doctors and consultants, caring for patients, especially those who are suffering from Covid-19. We ask that you would give all medical staff peace as they care for the sick, and peace as many of them wait at the bedside of those who are at the end of life. We thank you that the ordinary tasks of routine, order and gentleness can bless the boundary between life and death. As discussions begin about a future return to school, we pray that the needs of children and young people would be central to the thinking. We pray for all who have been kept apart from those they love; for those who have not been able to mourn for friends and family who have died, and we pray especially for relatives of people in care homes – surround them all with your healing presence. We remember people in our own communities who are suffering asking that you would lighten the pain and distress of daily life. You are the God who comes close to us: though we are far apart from each other Surround us with the light of your presence.