Fourth Sunday of Lent, Mothering Sunday, 14 March 2021
Bede Methodist Worship
Fourth Sunday of Lent
Call to Worship
Psalm 105 v1-3
O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him, sing praises to him tell us of his wonderful works. Glory in his holy name let the hearts of those who seek the Lord Rejoice.
The right hand of God (StF 715)
The right hand of God is writing in our land,
writing with power and with love,
our conflicts and our fears,
our triumphs and our tears
are recorded by the right hand of God.
The right hand of God is pointing in our land,
pointing the way we must go,
so clouded is the way,
so easily we stray,
but we're guided by the right hand of God.
The right hand of God is striking in our land,
striking out at envy, hate, and greed.
Our selfishness and lust,
our pride and deeds unjust,
are destroyed by the right hand of God.
The right hand of God is healing in our land,
healing broken bodies, minds, and souls,
so wondrous is its touch
with love that means so much,
when we're healed by the right hand of God.
The right hand of God is planting in our land,
planting seeds of freedom, hope, and love.
In these Caribbean lands,
let people all join hands,
and be one by the right hand of God.
Patrick Eugene Prescod
Bible Reading Mark 20 1-16
Reflection
Grace abounding Our story is about love and grace – no one can work hard enough or long enough to earn God’s love. It is given – and we see that in Jesus Christ. The way that the world often works, those who are chosen last are the poor, the disabled, members of minorities, refugees, the broken and unwanted. In the kingdom of heaven, these are the honoured guests – those who sit at the top table. The story makes many of us uncomfortable because our default mode is to assume, we must earn our way into God’s love, or be good enough to pass some test of righteousness – it’s not easy to shift our thinking. Grace is often uncomfortable – we find it hard to accept that God loves us, just as much as God loves those we hold in high esteem. It can be even more uncomfortable when we realise that God loves those we disregard or find despicable just as much as God loves us. Surely, we have earned more love, more grace than those who hurt others, damage creation or don’t see the world the way we do?
`The Methodist Way of Life` Service
We will help people in our communities and beyond
We will care for creation and all God’s gifts
We will challenge injustice
Some questions to ponder
How are you seeking to serve others in your communities and beyond? What has helped or hindered you in your service of others?
How are you caring for God ‘s creation?
How are you using God’s gifts?
What issues if injustice are currently concerned about?
Prayers
Lord we pray for those are hungry in a world of plentiful supply, for those who do not know when there next meal will be placed before them., for parents unable to provide for their children.
The Lord hears our prayer.
Lord we bring you those in authority, leaders of nations who have the ability to make decisions that can improve people’s lives. Grant them your wisdom, that they may always seek the welfare and health of their peoples and not to look for their own strength in the weakness of others. Help them be aware of the pleas of those in need.
The Lord hears our prayer
Lord we bring to you aids agencies who work for the good of others, those who go across barriers of bureaucracy, civil war, and oppression to bring care for those in need. Grant them your courage and wisdom to find solutions to difficult problems in whatever field of conflict or need they find themselves in.
The Lord hears our prayer
Lord we pray for those who shout out for justice for the poor and those in need. Those that give a voice to those that cannot be heard and those who work for those who cannot work for themselves. Lord give them the strength to stand for the weakest in our communities.
The Lord hears our prayer
Lord we pray for those that do wish us to pity them but want a new chance, those that do not request our assistance but just want a bit of fairness in this world. Enabling them to get on and care for their families. Lord help us to balance the scales in this world to allow us to grow together
The Lord hears our prayer
Lord we pray for the church, help us as your people to stand up for those who need us now. Give us the courage to speak for those that cannot be heard. To help ease the pain of those that are hurting and give power to the powerless.
The Lord hears our prayer
We ask this in the name of Christ
Amen
From heaven you came (StF 272)
From heaven you came helpless babe
entered our world, your glory veiled
Not to be served but to serve
And give Your life that we might live
Chorus
This is our God, The Servant King
He calls us now to follow Him
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to The Servant King
There in the garden of tears
My heavy load he chose to bear
His heart with sorrow was torn
'Yet not My will but Yours, ' He said
Come see His hands and His feet
The scars that speak of sacrifice
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered
So, let us learn how to serve
and in our lives enthrone him
each other’s needs to prefer
for it is Christ we’re serving
Graham Kendrick b 1950
Closing Prayer
Lord, we commit ourselves to visit the lonely; to hold those who are hurting; to share the tears of the broken; to reach out to the lost; to comfort the fearful; to stand with the rejected; to seek justice for the oppressed; to feed the hungry; to speak in the name of Jesus; and all for the glory of God .Amen (David Clowes)