{"id":17394,"date":"2021-07-04T09:45:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-04T08:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotions-sunday-worship-for-4th-july-2021-mr-peter-pay"},"modified":"2021-07-04T09:45:00","modified_gmt":"2021-07-04T08:45:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotions-sunday-worship-for-4th-july-2021-mr-peter-pay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotions-sunday-worship-for-4th-july-2021-mr-peter-pay\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotions Sunday Worship for 4th July 2021 – Mr Peter Pay"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
United Reformed Church Daily Devotion<\/strong>
Service for Sunday 4th July 2021<\/strong>
 
Mantas Hesthaven: Embarking on an Adventure, Unsplash
 
 
Peter Pay, Moderator of General Assembly <\/strong><\/div>\n

 
Prelude \u2013 He Was Despis\u00e9d \u2013
from the Messiah <\/em>sung by Jakub J\u00f3zef Orli\u0144ski with the Warsaw Philharmonic.
 
Introduction<\/strong>
Good morning, my name is Peter Pay. I am one of the two current serving Moderators of the General Assembly of the URC. I am a member at Salisbury URC and an assembly accredited Lay Preacher.
 
Call to Worship<\/strong>
 
We meet in the name of God, the Holy Trinity of Love who knows our needs, hears our cries, feels our pain,  and heals our wounds.<\/strong> God is our light and our salvation.  In God\u2019s name we light this candle and are reminded of Jesus, the Light of the World, God\u2019s own Voice who came to live with us. May our hearts be open to you, O God, now and always. Amen.<\/strong>
 
Hymn:<\/strong>      Lord of All Hopefulness, Lord of All Joy
                  Jan Struther \u00a9 1931, 1982 Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP
BBC Songs of Praise<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

Lord of all hopefulness,
Lord of all joy,
Whose trust, ever child-like,
No cares could destroy,
Be there at our waking,
And give us, we pray,
Your bliss in our hearts, Lord,
At the break of the day.
 
2: Lord of all eagerness,
Lord of all faith,
Whose strong hands were skilled
At the plane and the lathe,
Be there at our labours,
And give us, we pray,
Your strength in our hearts, Lord,
At the noon of the day.
 
3: Lord of all kindliness,
Lord of all grace,
Your hands swift to welcome,
Your arms to embrace,
Be there at our homing,
And give us, we pray,
Your love in our hearts, Lord,
At the eve of the day.
 
4: Lord of all gentleness,
Lord of all calm,
Whose voice is contentment,
Whose presence is balm,
Be there at our sleeping,
And give us, we pray,
Your peace in our hearts, Lord,
At the end of the day.<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

Prayers of Approach, Confession and Forgiveness<\/strong>
 
Heavenly father, heavenly king
we come before you today just as we are.
We come to listen and to learn.
We come and lay everything down to stand in your awesome presence.
 
We bow before you O God,
and we confess that we have let you down.
We have allowed material things to dominate our lives
and to occupy our minds.
We are sorry, and we lay everything at your feet.
We are sorry that we over complicate everything.
Help us to learn how to be still and know that you are God.
 
Help us to seek simplicity, to slow down and not to hurry,
to require nothing more than what you give,
or to fear being vulnerable,
so that we can be complete in your presence. Amen
 
The Lord, Jesus Christ died and rose again
that we might be released from all the worldly things that weigh us down. Thank you, O God, that we are forgiven, that our chains are gone,
and we have been set free to serve you again. Amen
 
Prayer of Illumination<\/strong>
 
Lord as we listen to our gospel passage, may we be inspired. guided
and encouraged. Amen
 
Reading: St Mark 6. 1-13<\/strong>
 
Jesus left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, \u2018Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?\u2019 And they took offence at him.  Then Jesus said to them, \u2018Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.\u2019  And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.  And he was amazed at their unbelief.
 
Then he went about among the villages teaching.  He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.  He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;  but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.  He said to them, \u2018Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.  If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.\u2019  So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.  They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
 
Hymn:<\/strong>      God\u2019s Spirit Is In My Heart<\/em>
Alan Dale \u00a9 1982 Kevin Mayhew Ltd, from The Worship Collection Vol 10<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

God\u2019s Spirit is in my heart
He has called me and set me apart.
This is what I have to do,
what I have to do
 
He sent me to give <\/em>
the good news to the poor,<\/em>
tell prisoners that they <\/em>
are prisoners no more,<\/em>
tell blind people that they can see,<\/em>
and set the downtrodden free;<\/em>
and go tell everyone the news that the Kingdom of God has come,<\/em>
and go tell everyone the news that God\u2019s Kingdom has come.<\/em>
 
2: Just as the Father sent me
so I\u2019m sending you out to be,
my witnesses throughout the world,
the whole of the world.
 
3: Don\u2019t carry a load in your pack,
you don\u2019t need two shirts on your back:
a workman can earn his own keep,
can earn his own keep.
 
4: Don\u2019t worry what you have to say,
don\u2019t worry because on that day
God\u2019s Spirit will speak in your heart,
will speak in your heart<\/p>\n

  <\/p>\n

Reflection<\/strong>
 
Whenever I meet One of our retired ministers, someone who I have known and admired for many years, he always tells those around us and reminds me to my embarrassment that when I was a child, I fell in the pond at his father\u2019s house during the Kingston Church garden party. I guess we will all be remembered by those who knew us as we grew up and matured, in our earlier lives such as in work, in our faith journey or situations where they have known us.
 
As people develop we ourselves will also on occasion, find the need to reassess our view and understanding of them and we may be surprised by them. May discover new depths, new skills, new wisdom we had not previously seen. Sadly, and too easily our past image of folk can form prejudice that makes it hard to accept or see them differently or more fully.
 
In our gospel passage where it starts \u2018Jesus left there\u2026.\u2019, Jesus has just raised Jairus\u2019 daughter from death and cured a haemophiliac woman.  Following these great demonstrations of Jesus\u2019 power He now returns to his home town. So to the extent that they are aware of these miracles, Jesus\u2019 hometown folk would have reason to be proud of him.  We would surely expect them to welcome him as a local hero with a ticker-tape parade perhaps\u2014but they don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

In Nazareth people thought they knew who he was and what he was. They remembered the boy who had grown up there. His actions, his teaching amazed the people . \u201cWhere did this man get these things?\u201d they asked. \u201cWhat\u2019s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? \u2018.  Too easily the people start to discount him with Prejudice. He is only the carpenter\u2019. \u2018Just Mary\u2019s son\u2019.<\/p>\n

You can almost hear them muttering \u2018what right has he to teach and preach? What is his status? Is he qualified? They seem let in any old riff-raff to preach these days.\u2019 Their prejudice blocks their willingness to hear and accept his message. That message was not what they expected or were used to hearing. A radical, inclusive message. A kingdom message  but not a welcome one.  His powers are also evident but perhaps that also made them feel uncomfortable. So they reject him.  They take offense.<\/p>\n

\u2018This is not the first time either. Look at Mark 3 19-31. Where Mark tells us that on a previous visit to Nazareth. \u2018People\u2019, particularly scribes started to suggest that Jesus must be mad or possessed of the devil. Even his mother and brothers and sisters then tried to restrain him. So Put down by his neighbours and even by his family, perhaps we shouldn\u2019t be surprised that the hometown folk fail to welcome Jesus more warmly in this later visit.<\/p>\n

It is hardly surprising either how it affected his ability there and how he was amazed at their lack of faith. A painful rejection. As he says \u201cA prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.\u201d
 
In contrast, you may notice in the Acts of the Apostles that James the brother of Jesus takes on a leading role in the early Chistian church. It is therefore reassuring to see that earlier rejection can later turn to acceptance and more.
 
How easy is it still today for new unexpected voices to be discounted, for our previous image and memories of others to block our hearing or acceptance. perhaps that can happen in the church too. We are approaching our General Assembly meeting as we seek to hear God\u2019s will. May we too be ready to listen and to hear.
 
The joy of this gospel passage is what happens next. Despite this rejection, Jesus continues his ministry. He then goes from village to village teaching and then sends his newly called disciples out. Two by two. Empowered. With clear instructions. To take nothing, no resources, no reserves. No food, no money, no spare clothes. He is Sending them out as a sign of his trust and confidence in them.
 
I confess that during my working life I travelled a lot on business and I would always did take those sort of things with me. I wouldn\u2019t even have considered going without tickets, a confirmed hotel booking, money, a credit card, spare clothing etc.  I do also recall just how vulnerable I sometimes felt. Going to unknown places and contexts, to hostile environments or people, to unpredictable situations and uncertain outcomes.  
 
What Jesus is asking of his disciples is essentially, to travel in trust. To live a minimalist life as material beggars. No privileges, no rights. To depend on hospitality. To be vulnerable. A big ask!
 
And as perhaps, an echo of the incident in Nazareth, they are clearly told not to waste time where they are not welcomed. Not to dwell on it and then to simply move on to the next place.
 
We then hear that that they start preaching repentance, casting out demons and healing the sick.
 
A bit further on in Mark\u2019s gospel we will hear their report when they come back. Mark sandwiches that report between the news of John the baptist\u2019s death; another prophet rejected.
 
We too are called to share the Good News of Jesus wherever we are. News that will in some cases be welcomed, in others rejected. We can have no privileges, no expectations. As Disciples walking the way. We too are on a journey. We travel in hope and in faith.
 
May God bless us in all that we do in His name. Amen
 
Hymn       <\/strong>It Is A Thing Most Wonderful<\/em>
William Walsham How (1823 – 1897) BBC Songs of Praise<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

  <\/p>\n

It is a thing most wonderful
almost too wonderful to be
that God’s own Son
should come from heaven
and die to save a child like me.
 
2 And yet I know that it is true:
he chose a poor and humble lot,
and wept and toiled,
and mourned and died,
for love of those
who loved Him not.<\/p>\n

3 I sometimes think
about the Cross,
and shut my eyes, and try to see
the cruel nails,
and crown of thorns,
and Jesus crucified for me.
 
4  It is most wonderful to know
His love for me, so free and sure,
but \u2018tis more wonderful to see
my love for Him so faint and poor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

  <\/p>\n

5 And yet I want to love Thee, Lord: O light the flame within my heart,
and I will love Thee more and more until I see Thee as Thou art.
 
Affirmation of Faith<\/strong>
 
We believe in God.<\/strong>
Despite His silence and His secrets we believe that He lives.<\/strong>
Despite evil and suffering we believe that He made the world<\/strong>
so that all would be happy in life.<\/strong>
Despite the limitations of our reason <\/strong>
and the revolts of our hearts,<\/strong>
we believe in God.<\/strong>
 
We believe in Jesus Christ.<\/strong>
Despite the centuries which separate us<\/strong>
from the time when he came to earth, we believe in His word.<\/strong>
Despite our incomprehension and our doubt,<\/strong>
we believe in His resurrection.<\/strong>
Despite his weakness and poverty, we believe in his reign.<\/strong>
 
We believe in the Holy Spirit.<\/strong>
Despite appearances we believe He guides the Church;<\/strong>
despite death we believe in eternal life;<\/strong>
despite ignorance and disbelief,<\/strong>
we believe that the Kingdom of God is promised to all.  Amen.<\/strong>
 
Intercessions<\/strong>
 
Lord we hold before you:<\/p>\n