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Twelfth Sunday in ordinary Time

This is an alternative act of worship that has been prepared for you to use this Sunday or midweek. The worship newsletter also includes some additional prayers, meditations and

details of live services for this coming Sunday.

Call to worship The steadfast love of the Lord is good. God’s mercy is abundant. Let us draw near to God’s presence. Hymn: Blessed be your name www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnWKehsOXu8 Blessed be your name in the land that is plentiful, where your streams of abundance flow, blessed be your name. And blessed be your name when I'm found in the desert place, though I walk through the wilderness, blessed be your name. Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise. And when the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say: Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your name. Blessed be the name of the Lord, blessed be your glorious name. Blessed be your name when the sun's shining down on me, when the world's 'all as it should be,' blessed be your name. And blessed be your name on the road marked with suffering, though there's pain in the offering, blessed be your name. Every blessing you pour out

I'll turn back to praise. And when the darkness closes in, Lord, still I will say: Blessed be the name of the Lord ... You give and take away, you give and take away. My heart will choose to say, 'Lord, blessed be your name.' Blessed be the name of the Lord ... Matt Redman (b. 1974) and Beth Redman Prayer of Adoration Psalm 9 verses 7-10 "The Lord sits enthroned forever. He has established his throne of justice and he judges the world with righteousness. He judges the peoples with uprightness. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know His name put their trust in God, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you." Dear Lord, You are always faithful. You never change in Your enduring love and justice. Nothing that has ever happened, is happening now or will happen in the future is a surprise to You. You are faithful today, tomorrow and forever.

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We can rest in the fact that You know all and that You are our refuge and stronghold. We give our thanks and celebrate all that you are; our just, loving, righteous, gracious and faithful God. Amen A prayer of confession Dear Lord, You reveal your presence and glory to me through your love, through your word of truth and through the cross. Sometimes I forget that the God of glory who appeared before Abraham and Moses is the same God of Glory who reveals Himself to me today. Your Spirit continually speaks to me through the holy scriptures, which are filled with the glorious wisdom and revelation of almighty God. I pray that I will listen more intently to your voice of encouragement. That I will turn more to you in my times of trouble and give thanks and praise to you for all that you have done and will continue to do. I once again turn to you in faith, repenting of all the things I have knowingly done wrong. Thank you for your gracious mercy and forgiveness, which are never ending. Amen Reading: Matthew 10:24-39 24 “The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from

the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Reflection: Do not keep the good news of Jesus Christ, who died for your sins to yourselves; broadcast it from the rooftops, shout out the name of the Lord. For good news kept in dark places and whispered is of no use to anyone. You may as well say nothing at all; a hashtag, a blacked-out screen, your rage over an event that if not for the main-stream media of our world, would not be broadcast itself. If no-one can hear the good news, none will know it.

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But here, in sight of God, all voices are equal and carry the same weight; regardless of race, creed or colour; wealth or political background; those with friends in high places or no friends at all. Do not be afraid of your fellow man, for the right to kill is one of the chief props in the façade of human political power, your fellow man can only take your body; rather fear God who can take both your body and your soul. Therefore, God alone is the one we should fear. A warning for all, you are not above the teacher; like a servant, you are not above the master. Who is this teacher, who is the master? Jesus. Praise him with your agape love –praise him with Godly love, putting him first and above all others in your life; above your mother and father, above your friends and above your enemies – for in doing so you will be rewarded in heaven. Jesus will acknowledge those that acknowledge him as the master, to his Father. For God knows every hair on our heads better than we do, all numbered and accounted for. Therefore, turning away from Jesus will result in your favour with God also lacking; when we turn away from Jesus, we also turn away from God (since Jesus is his Fathers’ Son). You can’t have one without the other. An easy life without struggle is not a fulfilling life. Just because you find your life doesn’t mean you’ll keep it, bearing the cross is worthless if then you do not follow the master. However, if you lose your life because you are following Jesus, then your life will be repaid to you. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

In these verses from Matthew (10: 24-39), the gospels proclaimed and lived are the most powerful tools at the disciples’ disposal against the powers of this world. God alone can destroy both body and soul; therefore, God alone, is the one we should fear. God’s power is surpassing, but similar in kind to that of human rulers. Jesus reassures the disciples that God is not, in fact, like the powers possessed by human rulers. The threat of violence and death are real concerns for the disciples, persecuted for their beliefs. Yet it is no longer the determining force in their lives, for the one who has ultimate power over our whole being exercises that power with mercy and love. Turn to Jesus and find God. Amen. Prayer of Response Lord life can be hard when we try to follow the true way. Help us to push aside those things which constantly distract us from hearing Your tender whisper, a whisper that pierces the darkness with Your light. And let us not be afraid to share Your whispered words; give us courage, in fact, to shout them from the rooftops. We know You love us, each one of us. You know everything about us: where we go — what we do. You hold us in the palm of Your hand — we are precious to You and, if You can love two sparrows, surely You are bound to love us too. You know every hair on our head — that’s how much You care for us, so why should we be afraid? So, despite all the obstacles of the day and the pressures of modern day life, let us take up our Cross and live life abundantly for Your sake and for the sake of others. Amen

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Lord’s Prayer 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: Will you come and follow me www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk6IUalJ3sk Will You Come And Follow Me If I But Call Your Name? Will You Go Where You Don’t Know And Never Be The Same? Will You Let My Love Be Shown, Will You Let My Name Be Known, Will You Let My Life Be Grown In You And You In Me?

Will You Leave Yourself Behind If I But Call Your Name? Will You Care For Cruel And Kind And Never Be The Same? Will You Risk The Hostile Stare

Should Your Life Attract Or Scare? Will You Let Me Answer Prayer In You And You In Me?

Will You Love The ‘You’ You Hide If I But Call Your Name? Will You Quell The Fear Inside And Never Be The Same? Will You Use The Faith You’ve Found To Reshape The World Around, Through My Sight And Touch And Sound In You And You In Me?

Lord, Your Summons Echoes True When You But Call My Name. Let Me Turn And Follow You And Never Be The Same. In Your Company I’ll Go Where Your Love And Footsteps Show. Thus I’ll Move And Live And Grow In You And You In Me.

Iona Community

Blessing May you have discernment to see whom to serve. May you have wisdom to know how to serve. May you have strength to serve as a faithful disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Time to Meditate

TakeTime Meditations Taketime meditations use your imagination to provide a calm, comfortable space in which to meet God. At the heart of Taketime is the Ignatian idea of an imagined encounter with the Jesus of the Bible in which we are invited to step into an episode from the New Testament and imagine a conversation with Jesus. This week’s Meditation is based upon: Matthew 10:28-40 Link: https://taketime.org.uk/journey-meditations/159-dont-be-afraid-inevitable-conflict/ Take time to sit quietly with these Thoughts: If, Jesus asks us to love him more than our own parents and children, our own flesh and blood, then he also does so with everything else about our lives.

Whoever loves friend more than me is not worthy of me.

Whoever loves work more than me is not worthy of me.

Whoever loves power, reputation, or wealth more than me is not worthy of me.

Whoever loves politics, agendas, or ideology more than me is not worthy of me.

Whoever loves church, denomination, beliefs and practices more than me is not worthy of me.

Whoever loves self more than me is not worthy of me.

Whoever loves anyone or anything more than me is not worthy of me.

What is your most important relationship? Whom do you love the most?

Take time to sit quietly with this image and questions:

• How would you feel about being presented

with a challenge like this?

• How could you finish the sentence ‘When the going gets tough…’?

• How can you support one another through the

challenging realities of being a disciple of Jesus?

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Additional Prayers for use at Home

This week we are think about St Luke’s & Third Avenue Church who would have been

celebrating their anniversaries this weekend.

Gracious God we give thanks as we celebrate the Church anniversaries of St Luke’s & Third Avenue, we give thanks for their journey’s that started so many years ago – and so many plans ago – and so many dreams ago.

We celebrate all the joys that have been birthed in these churches. We celebrate all the happy times, all the accomplishments, and all the triumphs.

We give thanks for all who have been members of these congregations, those who have given freely of their time and money, and for those whose wisdom guided our congregation:

We give thanks for all who have preached and taught here: for all who have confessed here that Jesus is Lord; and for all who lead worship, witness, and service in their surrounding communities. Thank You, Lord, for blessing these churches.

Gracious God, as they celebrate their past and rejoice in their present, they also look forward with eager eyes to the future. We pray that You would continue to make Your love known among them. Give them a zeal for mission. Help them to look beyond their walls to those who do not know You. Make their churches a blessing to those around them, and embolden them to move forward with strength toward what lies ahead. Amen

A prayer for others

A Celtic prayer and reflection For the homeless and the refugee, God of welcoming arms, we pray. For the hungry and the starving, God of welcoming arms, we pray. For the unloved and the lonely, God of welcoming arms, we pray. For the abused and the exploited, God of welcoming arms, we pray. For the oppressed and downtrodden, God of welcoming arms, we pray. For the sick and those in pain, God of welcoming arms, we pray. For the bereaved and the grieving, God of Welcoming arms, we pray. Amen

Psalm 145 verse 18. "The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." Dear Lord, When I am in trouble, I call to You. When I am sad, You comfort me. When I am happy, You rejoice with me. When I am afraid, You wrap loving arms around me. When I am sorry, you forgive me. I am Your child and I trust that whatever I am going through, whatever the circumstance, You are always near.

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Sunday & Mid-week Worship BBC 1 – Second Sunday after Trinity at 11.45am A service for Father’s Day from Holy Trinity Platt Church in Manchester led by the Rector, Rev Dr Paul Mathole. With songs and hymns recorded by Songs of Praise in 2017.

Circuit live streaming You are warmly invited to join others in the North Kent Methodist Circuit in worshipping from home on Sunday 21st June at 10.30am. If you have access to the Internet, the service will be ‘live streamed’ at 10.30am.

Via the North Kent Methodist Circuit website

www.nkmethodists.org.uk/news/invitation-to-worship-from-home.html

or

Facebook page (www.facebook.com/groups/northkentmethodistworship/) to find the live stream.

You can download the order of service from the same page.

Alternative worship: Swan Bank Methodist Church in Burslem, this worship will be studio based, contemporary style. Sunday 10:45am

www.youtube.com/user/SwanBank and www.facebook.com/swanbank/

Mid-Week Prayers

A short service of prayers to set you up for the day. Join the Wesley’s Chapel for morning Prayer. The service uses the Methodist Worship Book but it doesn’t matter if one doesn’t have it in one’s own possession. The services lasts about 15 mins and is led by either, Rev Jen Smith, or her husband Rev Keith Raglan or Rev Steve Cooper. www.wesleyschapel.org.uk/livestreaming/