Sunday, May 3rd 2020
Welcome to Worship
Start with this link if you are new
Our God sometimes puts us in uncomfortable positions
where we are asked to do things we don’t really want to do. But it is always for our good or the good of
the world.
We invite you to have your bible beside you
for the service, and then take a moment to remember the Presence of God who is
with you.
Call to worship
We’ve come to worship God,
who loved
us before we were yet born,
who knows
us even better than we know ourselves,
whose
presence never leaves us,
and whose
love for us never ceases.
This is
our God.
Let’s
worship together!
Our opening prayer
The Psalm writes says “Where could I
go to escape from you?
Where could I get away from your presence?
Where could I get away from your presence?
We wonder why anyone would want to
get away from you God – for your love is better than life.
Your grace and compassion are
amazing – more than we could dare hope for or expect.
Yet Sometimes you disturb our
comfortable existences – calling us to love our enemies or to speak of our
faith.
Sometimes You confront our prejudices
– some we are not even aware of until you uncover them.
Sometimes You challenge our indifference
to the poor or hurting or needy, to those different to ourselves.
We don’t like this side of you God - we like the nice God, the safe God, the God
who comforts the afflicted not the God who afflicts the comfortable.
Yet you know that you always have the
best interests of us and also others in mind.
That there is never any malice or
indifference in your actions.
Open us to respond to the gentle
nudges of your spirit before you need to use the bigger stick.
Give us willing and responsive
hearts we pray.
That our worship may not just be
what suits us or is comfortable – but what is truly honoring to you.
So that we may indeed pray for your
glory and your kingdom and your will to be done on the earth.
Let us say the lord’s prayer together
Our Father, who art in heaven, Hallowed be your name
Your kingdom come and your will be
done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins as we forgive
those who sin against us. And Lead us not into temptation
And deliver us from evil.
For yours is the Kingdom, the power and
the glory. Forever and ever amen
If you are with
others share your highs and lows for the week. If you are doing this with just
you and God, pause and ponder the things of your week that you are grateful
for: the people you know and love, the
company you have shared….
Don’t forget the low
points – what have you struggled with this week?
Opening Song (Click the underlined words)
Bible Readings:
Psalm 139:1-12 read by Zoe and Dylan Steyn
Jonah 1:1-17 Read by Steven Magill
Brett’s Message:
Jonah a whale of a tale
It is nice to have a little more freedom from Isolation
this week. We ventured out to the beach
one day and even went to Hastings because my computer broke and I needed a new
one. Our reading from Jonah made me ask
myself:
·
Could
God be using uncomfortable circumstances to show us new dimensions of his mercy?
·
Could
God be using uncomfortable circumstances to call us to walk more closely with
him – and to care for what he cares for?
·
Could
God be using uncomfortable circumstances to challenge our understanding and
prejudices?
God uses unlikely circumstances and he certainly uses unlikely
characters – Jonah is one. He is not the most endearing character. But he is
only one of many unlikely characters who follow God and were used by God– David
the youngest son becomes king, Peter the hothead fisherman becomes a leading
disciple, Paul the Persecutor becomes a Church leader… AND I am certainly one of the Unlikely ones who
are called by God to lead. I don’t think
I am not the most skilled, or even
have the best character for this role.
There is a saying “God is not interested in your
ability –but your availability”. But the
story of Jonah was one who god used despite his willingness initially.
In the book of Jonah – God uses Jonah but more than
that God is teaching Jonah (and us)– about undeserved, unexpected and unlikely
grace.
There is a degree of Irony in Jonah.
The characters do the opposite of what you might
expect. Jonah who knows God is the God
of the land and sea –still runs away to sea- He is The Prophet who rebels, heading West – to Spain rather than East
to Ninevah where God sent him. Jonah
should have known psalm 139 as it was written hundreds of years before by David. He does say he fears the Lord, the God of
heaven, who made the sea and the dry land (v9) yet he is resentful to God for loving
his enemies and is indifferent to them.
The
contrast is the Pagan sailors who pray when the storm hits while
Jonah sleeps on. And they care about him
being unwilling to throw him overboard as he suggests. Whereas Jonah doesn’t care about the Ninevites
((Jonah would rather die than pray or go preach to them. In v16 their response when the storm was
calmed was to “greatly fear the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to
the Lord and made vows to him to follow.
I.e. they were worshippers of God, thankful and became dedicated
followers. Yet Jonah was still running
and would rather die than go to Ninevah.
God keeps Thwarting Jonah’s Plans. He sends a storm. He sends a
fish. He calls him again to preach (Chapter 3).
God doesn’t give up on Jonah – and he won’t give up on you. Whether God is calling you to believe in him
or calling you to some leadership role, God is relentless.
If you have that nagging feeling you ought to be doing
something specific, perhaps something difficult maybe this is the time to be
doing it. I know that feeling and also
the regret when I didn’t follow through doing what God as nudging me to do.
There
were reasons Jonah wasn’t keen to go to Ninevah (we learn them in Chapter 4 and
from History). Ninevah was the Capital of Assyria (modern Syria) and it was the
height of their empire under kings like Sargon II, Tiglath Pileser III and Sennacherib ( you can read some of his stories in 2 Kings
18-19)
A phrase often repeated by Assyrian kings in
their inscriptions regarding their military conquests is "I destroyed,
devastated, and burned with fire" those cities, towns, and regions which resisted
Assyrian rule.
Or
as an example of their extreme violence - “I flayed all the chief men who had revolted and I covered the pillar with
their skins.” It was a place that
the Jews associated with the worst of
barbarism, blasphemy, and decadent sin and idolatry.
Yet despite all this God loved them and wanted
them to change their ways and to know him.
In conclusion we learn that GOD WILL SOMETIMES ASK YOU TO DO THINGS YOU
DON’T WANT TO DO. You might be able to find a boat going in the opposite direction but
God is still calling you and it is better to respond with faith than force God
to send a storm to get your attention.
Is
there other connections between your bible readings and your highs and lows for
the week?
·
Was there a word, sentence, or phrase
that stood out to you in the readings today?
Pray
for those who shared their highs and lows giving thanks for the blessings and
asking for God’s help with the struggles.
A further Prayer
Written and spoken by Nancy Bryan
Prayer for others– 3rd May
Let us pray
May
3rd – Prayer for others and
ourselves: Lord God, we ask that You would direct our hearts and minds
towards You, and fill us with Your Spirit, bringing peace and joy. You remind us in Your word that You are
faithful to carry our burdens and You tell us that You will renew our strength
and promise to give us rest as we come to You. We thank You Lord for the
amazing weather we have experienced lately which helps us to continue to follow
the recommended strategies for controlling this pandemic. Help us to serve You faithfully, watching for
You to be revealed in our own lives.
We
pray for our Government and scientific community, who have been leading the
strategies to flatten the curve of Covoid 19 : God give them knowledge, wisdom
and a persuasive voice. Lord help
the media to be committed to providing up-to-date information without causing
fear and doubt.
Lord we pray for all who work in our health
service and social care, we ask for continued strength and give them compassion
for every patient in their care. Deliver
them Lord from anxiety for their own loved ones – be they aged parents,
spouses, children or roommates. We pray for people in our region in need of
regular treatments that have been postponed – God help them to stay patient and
positive. We pray for all who are sick
whether with the virus or with other illnesses.
Draw near to them and strengthen them, especially those in hospital who
are unable to see loved ones. We pray
for all who mourn, especially at a time when they cannot be with loved ones at
their death, cannot hold the kind of funeral they would wish to have. Draw
close to and comfort them. We bring before you now those known to us who are
in need of prayer …
Lord
we lift to you the Outreach workers, pharmacies, police and local council workers,
Civil Defence staff and supermarket staff in our community. We pray for those
who keep essential services working, who empty our rubbish bins, deliver
letters and parcels. Bless each one and the work they do. In our community we pray for those who feel
powerless having lost their jobs; those fearing redundancy and are worried over
future financial hardship; those who have spent time at Level 4 in abusive
relationships and are fearful of no respite in level 3. We pray for those with mental health
challenges, those who feel isolated, anxious and helpless. – all are in need of
Your special touch and comfort
Father
God we pray for those who work and serve in care homes, for elderly and sick
people, and for the carers who look after family and friends in their
bubble. We thank You for the Salvation
Army, Red Cross, Student Volunteer Army and other online supportive groups who
raise money and provide supportive services such making up and delivering boxes
of food to those who have suddenly found themselves out of work, those who have
been housed temporarily and have been helped in the past by the Foodbank.
Lord
we pray that You will protect with Your loving care those we love, our families,
friends and neighbours. As our schools seek to continue their
important work in stressful and difficult circumstances, please keep teachers
and students safe, and help them to care for each other.
Lord
God we pray for all world leaders that they will continue to seek to support
initiatives to flatten the curve of the pandemic in their countries and provide
finances for the medical researchers seeking an effective vaccine.. We pray for Christian missionaries throughout
the world, especially in areas with high rates of infection. Lord provide them with words of hope and
equip them to love and serve those around them
Lord
in the midst of all that is happening, help us to be Your church in the
community around us – reaching out in any way we can with Your compassion and
love. Be with Brett and his family as he
continues to face the challenges of social distancing, and help him in
ministering to our church family in creative ways. We pray for Steve Demetrius in his active
role with the Youth in Taradale, grant him good health and encouragement in his
ministry. Bless those in our church
who phone around to our church members,
keeping in touch where there is extra need or concern.
Father, all our hope is in You. Teach us to be Your faithful people in this
time of global crisis. Help us to follow
in the footsteps of our faithful Lord Jesus, who laid down His life for the
sake of love. It is in His name we pray.
Amen
Final HYMN Amazing grace
Say this to one
another – (and yourself)
The Lord bless you
and keep you;
May the Lord be kind and gracious to you;
May the Lord be kind and gracious to you;
the Lord look upon
you with favour and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24ff
Go now in peace, Go now in peace. May the love of God surround you, Everywhere,
everywhere, you may go.
NOTICES
Help during the health crisis: We are wanting to be able to offer help where
we can and where it is needed. For
example, this might be to pick up some groceries and leave them at the door of
someone who feels unable to be in contact with people at that time. It might be a ride to an appointment. If you wish your name to go onto a list of
those willing to help please let anyone Brett or the church office know. Please note - in order to protect everyone,
you must be in good health yourself to be involved in this.
The Prayer Team: If you or someone you know would benefit from having some prayer
support we have a prayer chain so please feel free to send your requests to office@stcolumba-taradale.org.nz and the team will spring into action.
(You can be assured of confidentiality).
Zoom Meeting after worship (BYO cuppa and chat)
We are having a get together on Zoom on Sunday after worship at 10:30am.You can also use your regular phone and dial in the numbers below and add the meeting id when asked.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 376 981 534,
Password: ID:: 014488.
Ministers all the people Parish contact
details
Website: www.stcolumba-taradale.org.nz
Church office Will be unstaffed but Anna will answer
emails for all needs or questions Phone Brett Walker
Home 06 8442256
Mobile 0274083658
or go to
https://brett-walker.blogspot.com
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