Sunday 31st Jan

Whitewater Benefice

Introduction

Welcome to our online worship on the fifth Sunday in 2021, over the next three weeks we are reflecting on Faith.  In what or who do we trust. 

There will be a live worship service using zoom at 10am, which will be open 15 mins beforehand for technical sound checks & notices.  For any children we have weekly activities which follow the same theme and are used for junior church and for children joining the Zoom Meeting - click here for activity sheets for this week.

Welcome To Worship

Welcome to our online worship at the end of January 2021. Today we begin a three week series reflecting on our faith. In what or who do we trust? There is no more pressing question as we listen to the news, and as we seek God’s help with our lives and the things that matter to us. Can we have confidence in God, and place our feet on solid ground? Even as our circumstances continue to be a strain and demand all our focus and energy. We gather together to seek the Lord and his strength.

We are pleased to have Canon David Bracewell (photographed on the right) join us today, he was Rector of St Saviour’s Guildford from 1984-2010, and now comes to us via Zoom from Derby.

You may like to light a candle as a reminder that the love of God is like a light in our darkness

Music: “Majesty" by Martin Smith, Stuart Garrard; played by Caroline Bushman

Majesty

A welcome prayer

Welcome in the name of Christ,
God’s grace, mercy and peace be with you.
And also with you.

Words of praise from today’s Psalm 111

Alleluia, I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.
In the company of the faithful and in the congregation.
The works of the Lord are great,
sought out by all who delight in them.
His work is full of majesty and honour
and his righteousness endures for ever.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
his praise endures for ever. Amen.

Hymn

All my hope on God is founded

Words of faith and prayer

St Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome:
“I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor demons, nor the present or future, nor any powers, height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8.38

Lord, we hear St Paul’s confident declaration,
and sometimes our faith wobbles.
Help us to hear your word of invitation,
and help us to trust in you. Amen.

Confession

God be gracious to us and bless us,
and make your face shine upon us.
Lord, have mercy.               Lord, have mercy.

May your ways be known on the earth,
your saving power among the nations.
Christ, have mercy.             Christ, have mercy.

You, Lord, have made known your salvation,
and reveal your justice in the sight of the nations.
Lord, have mercy.               Lord, have mercy.

Absolution

May the God of love bring us back to himself,
forgive us all our sins,
and assure us of his eternal love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Collect

God of heaven, you send the gospel to the ends of the earth
and your messengers to every nation:
send your Holy Spirit to transform us
by the good news of everlasting life
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

A Famous Painting

Sometimes an image helps us to think more deeply about our faith. This painting reflects words from the book of Revelation. Jesus speaks words of invitation, to open the door of our hearts, to let him in. To trust him with our lives. To open up and find a relationship with him. Let us hear his words as we read and listen to the Bible read and preached.

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me”
Revelation 3.20

Image – I stand at the door and knock. The light of the world, painting by William Holman Hunt (1827-1910), he painted 3 versions, this one is in Manchester Art Gallery, there is also one at Keeble College, Oxford and a third in St Paul's Cathedral.

Readings

New Testament Reading

Today’s New Testament reading comes from the last book of the Bible which is full of strong imagery. David Bracewell’s sermon will help us to unpack the meaning of this extraordinary book, and its relevance to our lives today.

Revelation 12.1-12

1A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. 4Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5She gave birth to a son, a male child, who ‘will rule all the nations with an iron sceptre.’ And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. 6The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.

7Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient snake called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

10Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
‘Now have come the salvation and the power
    and the kingdom of our God,
    and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
    who accuses them before our God day and night,
    has been hurled down.
11They triumphed over him
    by the blood of the Lamb
    and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
    as to shrink from death.
12Therefore rejoice, you heavens
    and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
    because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
    because he knows that his time is short.’’

Gospel Reading

Mark 1.21-28

21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!’

25‘Be quiet!’ said Jesus sternly. ‘Come out of him!’ 26The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching – and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.’ 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee..

Talk from David Bracewell

Hymn

There is a Hope that burns within my heart

A Prayer of Declaration

We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen

Prayers

As we gather in God's presence, let us pray

A Prayer for Faith

Heavenly Father,
there are times when it is easy to trust in you, easy to have faith in you,
and there are times when it is really difficult.
We pray now, asking that you will give us an awareness of your presence,
and the ability to see you at work.
Thank you for every answer to our prayers,
those spoken and those unspoken.
Thank you for the support of others who have prayed for us.
We ask you to help us to respond to your invitation, that you come into our lives, and share with us, that we may then go forward into the challenges and joys of our lives with peace and thankfulness.
Through Jesus Christ who has given his life that we might know life in all its richness.
Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

The response to Lord of love is: Hear our prayer.

Lord of love: Hear our prayer.

We thank you Lord, for your good news. And we pray for all who teach and preach in your church, and those training for ministry. We pray that your Holy Spirit will inspire them, bring them clarity in thinking, and warmth in their relationship with you, that they will understand your word and bring light to others.

Lord of love: Hear our prayer.

Lord, we ask for justice in the governments of the world; and not only in places that seem distant, but also here in the UK. We pray for honest police and fair courts, for laws that uphold the poor and the weak. We ask that our politicians speak the truth, and our churches filled with integrity. We pray that our lives too will speak of justice, and we live in ways that are true and pleasing to you.

Lord of love: Hear my prayer.

We pray for schools and colleges. Young people are finding it tough right now, Lord. And so are their families, friends and teachers. Please would you give them help and encouragement to keep on going. Please would you give creativity and energy for the tasks, hope for the future. And even fun too.

Lord of love: Hear our prayer.

We pray for people on the front line. Thank you so much for all the people who are making massive effort and even risking their own lives to help others, whether they are in ambulance crews, in hospitals, sitting at bedsides, or at vaccination and research centres.  In a moment of quiet prayer, we hold before you those in our mind today.

Lord of love: Hear our prayer.

We remember all those who are ill at this time: for those in hospital and at home and for all those recovering, especially if they are missing the support and companionship of loved ones. We also pray for those suffering in other ways: those with mental health issues, money or work problems, the lonely and the grieving. In a moment of quiet prayer we name those we know. Send your Holy Spirit upon them and surround them with your healing love.

Lord of love: Hear our prayer.

A prayer for myself. Make me resilient, Lord. Give me a faith that lasts, that survives the knocks. When things go wrong, or don’t work out, may I know you still. Place in me a quiet and undeniable knowledge of you, so that, whatever comes, I will always say: My God endures.

Lord of love: Hear my prayer.

Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

As our Saviour taught us, so we pray,

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen

The Peace

We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, that we may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called us out of darkness into his marvellous light. Gathered as his people we share his peace.  
The peace of the Lord be always with you. Amen

Offertory

Please let us consider our calling to be the ‘light on the hill’ during this season of ongoing challenge and isolation for so many. If you are able to donate online as one off, or regularly, your gifts will be gratefully received. Please do ask if you would like further information about how your giving is being spent by the churches.

Giving to our Churches

See our giving page for more information about how you can give to our churches

Reflecting on Holy Communion

We are not able to offer Communion in church at this renewed time of lockdown. However you may still like to take time to reflect on what it means to each of us that Jesus gave his own life that we might live life in freedom.

1 Corinthians 11: 23 - 26

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
and whose power we cannot comprehend:
show us your glory as far as we can grasp it,
and shield us from knowing more than we can bear
until we may look upon you without fear;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen

Hymn

In Christ alone, written by Keith and Kristin Getty, sung by Kristin Getty & Alison Krauss
Link to In Christ Alone (from YouTube, opens in a new tab)

A prayer after the hymn.
I respond Lord, to the words of this hymn. “The power of Christ lives in me”. This is what I wholeheartedly believe. Help me not to hide or shade the light of the world, but through me may it lead others to you, until you return or call me home. Amen.

Blessing

The Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the living God,
teach us to walk in his way more trustfully,
to accept his truth more faithfully,
and to share his love more lovingly;
that by the power of the Holy Spirit
you may come as one family to the kingdom of the Father.

And the blessing of God almighty the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

Copyright details

Liturgy and prayers from Common Worship. Services and Prayers for the Church of England. Times and Seasons © 2006. The Archbishops’ Council. Church House Publishing.
Prayer resources also from Martin Saunders, ‘500 prayers for young people’ © 2011. Monarch Books.
Readings taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Images:
The Light of the World, William Holman Hunt (1827-1910) - from Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository - this version is in Manchester Art Gallery
Music:
opening music: “Majesty" by Martin Smith, Stuart Garrard; played by Caroline Bushman, CCLI Song 4219071, © 2003, 2004 Curious? Music UK (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Hymns: A Church near you (ACNY): CC: Church of England/Videos and music Copyright Church of England. Licensed under Creative Commons. Recorded by singers from St Martin’s in the Fields. Creative Commons Attribution - NonCommercial - NoDerivatives 4.0 Inter national License  http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by - nc - nd/4.0, and from YouTube under under appropriate licensing
CCLI - St Johns Hook, 827213