Call to worship

Jesus on the boat in the storm said: ‘Peace! Be still!’…and there was a great calm. We meet with our Lord, just as we are. Sometimes at ease; some-times confused by life’s storms. Let us trust him with our big questions, and listen for his still small word to restore us to a sense of peace.

Welcome Joys and Concerns ActivityOffertory Prayer

Hymn : 250: by Cecil Frances Alexander

Jesus calls us o'er the tumultof our life's wild, restless sea;day by day his sweet voice soundeth,saying "Christian, follow me."

As, of old, apostles heard itby the Galilean lake,turned from home and toil and kindred,leaving all for his dear sake.

Jesus calls us from the worshipof the vain world's golden store,from each idol that would keep us,saying "Christian, love me more."

In our joys and in our sorrows,days of toil and hours of ease,still he calls, in cares and pleasures,"Christian, love me more than these."

Jesus calls us; by thy mercies,Saviour, may we hear thy call,give our hearts to thine obedience,serve and love thee best of all.

The Lectionary : Job 38.1-11; Psalm 107.1-3,23-32; 2 Corinthians 6.1-13; Mark 4.35-41

Bible Reading : 2 Corinthians 6.1-13

Paul’s Hardships

3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:

in great endurance;in troubles, hardships and distresses;

5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots;in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;

6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness;in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;

7 in truthful speech and in the power of God;with weapons of righteousness in the right hand

and in the left;8 through glory and dishonour, bad report and good

report;genuine, yet regarded as impostors;9 known, yet regarded as unknown;

dying, and yet we live on;beaten, and yet not killed;

10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;poor, yet making many rich;

having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.

12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us.

13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also.

Word

Christ Church Stocksbridge

“Together at Home”

with Crane Moor and Green Moor

Sunday 20th June 2021

Big Questions

Prayers

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on

earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Hymn : 351: by Stuart Townend

In Christ alone my hope is found,he is my light, my strength, my song;this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,firm through the fiercest drought and storm.What heights of love, what depths of peace,when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!My Comforter, my All in All,here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! – who took on flesh,fullness of God in helpless babe.This gift of love and righteousness,scorned by the ones He came to save:till on that cross as Jesus died,the wrath of God was satisfied –for every sin on Him was laid;here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,light of the world by darkness slain:then bursting forth in glorious dayup from the grave He rose again!And as He stands in victorysin’s curse has lost its grip on me,for I am His and He is mine –bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,this is the power of Christ in me;from life’s first cry to final breath,Jesus commands my destiny.No power of hell, no scheme of man,can ever pluck me from His hand:till He returns or calls me home,here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

The Grace and the Vesper

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and fellowship together in the Holy Spirit, be with us all, now and evermore.

Take, oh take me as I am; summon out what I shall be; set your seal upon my

heart, and live in me. Repeat

Now let us all enjoy a cup of tea or coffee together.

Hymn : by John Bell and Graham Maule, tune ‘Sally Gardens’

Inspired by love and anger, disturbed by need and pain,informed of God’s own bias, we ponder once again,‘How long can some folk suffer? How long can few folk mind?How long dare vain self-interest turn prayer and pity blind?’

From those forever victims of heartless human greed,their cruel plight composes a litany of need:‘Where are the fruits of justice? Where are the signs of peace?When is the day when prisoners and dreams find their release?’

From those forever shackled to what their wealth can buy,the fear of lost advantage provokes the bitter cry:‘Don’t query our position! Don’t criticise our wealth!Don’t mention those exploited by politics or stealth!’

To God, who through the prophets proclaimed a different age,we offer earth’s indifference, its agony and rage:‘When will the wrongs be righted? When will the kingdom come?When will the world be generous to all instead of some?’

God asks, ‘Who will go for me? Who will extend my reach?And who, when few will listen, will prophesy and preach?And who, when few bid welcome, will offer all they know?And who, when few dare follow, will walk the road I show?’

Amused in someone’s kitchen, asleep in someone’s boat,attuned to what the ancients exposed, proclaimed and wrote,a saviour without safety, a tradesman without toolshas come to tilt the balance with fishermen and fools.

Prayer. A song by Miley Cyrus

Everybody needs inspiration, Everybody needs a songa beautiful melody, when the night's so long.'Cause there is no guarantee that this life is easy.Yeah, when my world is falling apart,When there's no light to break up the dark, that's when I look at you.When the waves are flooding the shore and I can'tfind my way home anymore, that's when I look at you.

When I look at you, I see forgiveness, I see the truth,You love me for who I am, like the stars hold the moon right there where they belong,And I know I'm not alone.Yeah, when my world is falling apart,When there's no light to break up the dark that's when I look at youWhen the waves are flooding the shore and I can'tfind my way home anymore, that's when I look at you…