Subject: God’s beautiful people.
Call to Worship
Gen 1v31-2v1:
God looked over everything he had made;
it was so good, so very good!
It was evening, it was morning — Day Six.
Heaven and Earth were finished,
down to the last detail.
Song: Let all the world in every corner sing
Prayers
Prayers of approach, confession and the assurance of forgiveness
Most gracious Lord as we gather in worship together we bring our small minds, little lives, and scanty understanding to you, our Holy Friend. Yet what we are we bring to you with the most profound devotion of which we are capable. Yours are the truth we crave, the beauty we worship, and the love we adore.
Please bless us as we gather, for with your blessing we who are poor are given immense riches to celebrate and share. To your honour and praise. Through Christ Jesus our Brother and Lord.
Amen!
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
Let us bring our fallen ways before the Lord of all mercy. Let us pray.
With you, loving God, is the beauty that shows up the defects in us,
with you is the goodness which shames the evil in us.
Yet also with you is the love that embraces us,
that Christ-grace that welcomes common sinners and eats with them.
Many are the times we have turned our back on you,
but never has there been a time when you have turned your back on us.
Today we come again,
some of us feeling guilty,
some feeling frustrated with ourselves,
some feeling despondent,
and maybe some feeling apathetic.
Enfold us all, we pray, within your saving grace.
Please deal with us in the way we most need;
speak comfortable words or rebuke us,
tend our wounds or lance our infections,
awaken our conscience or calm our nagging anxiety.
Holy Friend, give to the timid the courage to accept your mercy,
and give the proud the humility to seek your forgiveness.
Please touch every person with the redeeming grace of Christ Jesus.
In whose name we pray. Amen!
FORGIVENESS
Family of God, God knows our need before we ask for help. There is enough mercy to cover all our sins, and not ours only, but those of the whole world. Therefore put the past and its errors behind you. Live as forgiven people, for in Christ, we are being made beautiful and perfect! Thanks be to God!
Notices and Offering
Setting the Scene: Coronation Street scene
Song: I’m special
Bible Readings:
Luke 10 vv 30-37
30Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. 31Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. 32Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.
33"A Samaritan travelling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. 34He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. 35In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, "Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill--I'll pay you on my way back.'
36"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbour to the man attacked by robbers?"
37"The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
Hymn: Beauty for brokenness
Talk:
Spot 1 The year is a few thousand years ago (Paul)
Song: Be still and know that I am God 1st verse only
Spot 2 The year is the turn of history
Song: In Thee O Lord I put my trust 3rd verse only
Spot 3 The year is 2005Beautiful (song & images)
Hymn:Can it be true
Intercessions
Powerpoint
In a world that judges on onward beauty……
Thank you Lord for those who express the beauty of peace and justice
In a world of splendour and tranquillity
Raise up people of peace in war torn lands
In a world that seeks truth, wisdom and clarity
May we be confident in the Good News of forgiveness and grace
In a world where we flourish and prosper
We remember those who need much more than our prayers
In a world that seeks the body beautiful
Thank you that we are to be the beautiful body of Christ
And as the body of Christ this morning we bring to you those people and concerns near to our hearts:
We remember in prayer Deandra Allen as she is moved to the Middlesex hospital this week. May the next few days and week be times of healing and gaining strength.
We remember Jerry Clark recently bereaved of his wife Shirley. As Jerry and the family prepare for the funeral may these be days of comfort and strength .
We remember Mr King and Lilian Austin - and those who are far from well - May your goodness and mercy be theirs.
And in the silence we pray for ourselves.
Loving God - you hear and answer our prayers - may we always live with this great assurance and faith. Amen.Benediction
The gathering of the people of God is ending,
the scattering to be agents of Christ in many places
is about to begin.
Remember how great are our resources.
As we bestow the grace of God on one another: The grace of our Lord……….