Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
What follows is a worship service which, I pray, you can participate in at a time(s) that are convenient to you. This 'service' will take about forty five (45) minutes.
I pray that you will feel called to ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE in this service.
The text that is in regular typeface (that is what you are reading at the moment) is to be read quietly, while the text that is in bold face (like you are reading right now) is meant to be read aloud.
Opening Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we commence our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A Call To Worship:
We meet in the name of God,
Creator of the universe,
source of true humanity,
mother and father of all. Amen.
An Assurance of Forgiveness:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
The Sentence For Today (let us say aloud):
I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; in his word is my hope.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
Almighty God, you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone: Grant us so to be joined together in unity of spirit by their teaching, that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Our first reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Our second reading for today:
(click the 'play' button below to listen)
Gradual Hymn:
Let us continue by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we raise out voices in praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
A reading from the holy gospel according to Saint Mark.
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Ordinary 13, Sunday, 30th June 2024
MAY the words of my mouth and the meditations in our hearts be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. <Amen>
In my music collection I’ve got several titles that contain the term “Greatest Hits” - they are ‘highlight’ collections from folks like Mozart, Bach, Leonard Cohen, The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Lindisfarne, and others.
Mark’s gospel is like the highlight CD of Jesus. His greatest hits. It’s short, fast-paced, and to the point. But that doesn’t mean it’s simple. It has layers, like the rest of the Bible. It’s simple enough for anyone to read yet so deep we’ll never reach the bottom.
Our gospel today (Mark 5:21-43) is two stories. It’s about “two touches” that, together, teach one biblical “mega-lesson”.
The lesson that the most crucial element of our life is - - - faith. <PAUSE>
Someone once asked Billy Graham the question, “What is faith?”. Billy said first, you must believe that God exists, and that He loves you so much that He sent Jesus to save you.
Second, you must trust wholly in Christ’s salvation, put your life into His hands, and believe Jesus not only can save you BUT WILL save you.
So, faith is complete trust in God for our entire lives.
Faith is not some kind of “leap in the dark”. It’s not hoping something is there on the other side to catch you. Faith is a complete trust in our trustworthy God who is there and who is not silent.
We see, in our gospel today, how faith took Jairus from a life of fear to peace.
We see how faith took the woman from a life of suffering to healing.
Yet faith does more than just makes us feel better. Faith connects us to Jesus, and right now, every person is on a faith journey, whether they realise it or not.
Every person is somewhere on the spectrum of faith - ranging from a complete lack of to the presence of deep, unshakeable faith.
On the one end, lack of faith says, “Okay, Jesus was a good guy. Great teacher. Did some cool stuff. I like him. But God? The Bible? Nah. Not going there.”
On the other end, deep faith says, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).
In the middle, there are the “maybes”. Maybe Jesus is trustworthy. Maybe he isn’t. Maybe I’ll follow. Maybe I won’t. Some in the group are making their way to Jesus with an honest heart. Some are just there for an interesting conversation.
Where are we on that spectrum?
I like to call today’s gospel,“The gospel of the two touches” and not only does it helps us to determine our place on the spectrum of faith but it also shows us the place Jesus wants us to move to.
If you were with me last week, you heard me say that life isn’t easy. Things happen. Well, today, look at Jairus, community leader, well-off, in an exalted position. Then his daughter got sick, grew worse and worse until she was at the point of death. Jairus decides to run to Jesus for help. He falls at his feet with an urgent plea, “Jesus, will you help me?”
Then we have this poor, suffering woman. For twelve years, she suffered a constant flow of blood. It’s made her ceremonially unclean, preventing her from worshiping in the temple. She’s a social outcast. She’s probably tried all that medicine has to offer. She’s at the end of her rope. As she sits in the street, she sees the crowd coming her way, and the one whom she’s heard about is among them. She thinks, “He can help me.”
In both cases, their circumstances were beyond their control.
Both reached a breaking point.
Both desperate for help beyond what this world could offer.
Their circumstances crashing on top of them summoned something from within, something that led them towards another whom they believed had what they needed.
Their circumstances summoned a faith that even they probably were previously unaware of. <PAUSE> When Jesus came walking by, they came to Him, trusting Him for something everyone else was powerless to do.
THAT is where Jesus wants us to be on our faith journey — always looking at Him as the one who can help and coming to Him for that help.
That point where we let go of our control, our pride, our self-importance and just say to ourselves, “I just don’t have what it takes. I can’t do this. I need help. But I need a kind of help this world can’t offer. I need Jesus’ help.”
That admission, that honesty then allows a person to turn their life over to Jesus and let God direct where your faith will lead. <PAUSE>
Wow - what a journey that’s gonna be for us … and to God will be the glory.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu.
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit <AMINE>
Pause and Reflect
Just take a moment now to pause. Bow your head, close your eyes.
Allow these words of Holy Scripture and this interpretation of them today to speak to you.
An Affirmation of Our Faith
Let us affirm our faith by saying aloud, and together, "The Apostles Creed":
... and now let us pray for the Church, the World, and Ourselves, giving thanks for God's goodness.
Let us pray aloud, and together:
We lift our prayers to you, O Lord, for all people everywhere, those close to us and those far away.
We pray for those who minister and preach that they may never find themselves rejected out of hand as our Saviour Jesus Christ was in his home town synagogue.
We pray for all Christian communities and for the “FaithaLight” communities scattered around the world asking for Your help to grow in faith.
Help us also to respect the beliefs of others even if we do not share them, to celebrate what we have in common and accept our differences. Guide us in our ministries as we live each day determined to spread the Good News of Your son Jesus Christ.
(LONGER pause for silent, personal reflection)
In response to the call today “Lord, in Your mercy” Our response is, “hear our prayer!”
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Creator God look with compassion on the whole human family; take away arrogance and hatred that infects the hearts of those who pursue war, violence and terrorism; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love and peace.
We pray today for peacemakers throughout the world, may they bring hope out of despair, peace out of conflict and prosperity out of poverty.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God we pray for our families and friends and especially for young people that they may grow up knowing love and hope, valuing life and respecting others. We pray for those who are about to leave school and move on to the next stage in their lives, and for those for whom what happens next depends on exam performance.
We pray for those who may be visiting our communities that they may travel safely, find a warm and generous welcome and return home refreshed.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Holy God, we thank You for the joy of human love, and for all those among whom we live and work. We especially pray for those among our friends and families who do not know You, or whose faith has been shaken.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Loving God we pray for healing in body, mind and spirit for all who are in need. We pray that in lives darkened by any kind of pain, distress or grief the light of Christ will bring comfort, hope and a sense of your all-encompassing love.
We especially raise before You now all those who have asked for our prayers from around the world … those we know in New Zealand, in Singapore, in Argentina, in France, in Australia, in the US, in Canada, in Austria, in Ukraine, in China and any others we now name aloud, or in the silence of our hearts, and those who are known only by You.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them, for members of our families who have died and whose anniversary we recall. Help us to experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit within us, and the fellowship of our sisters and brothers around us until we are reunited once more in Your heavenly kingdom.
May all the saints who have gone before us now rest in Your eternal peace as they most surely have risen in glory.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your Mercy: Hear our prayer
In a moment of silence we pray for ourselves, our families, friends, for all whom we love and for our personal ministries. Make the things that we choose to do be worthy of the sacrifice of Your Son.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Faithful God we pray for ourselves; as we go from our worship today to start the week ahead, we ask that in all we do, we may we walk more closely with You at our side safe in the knowledge that Your Fatherly love and care knows no bounds.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Forth in the peace of Christ we go; Christ to the world with joy we bring; Christ in our minds, Christ on our lips, Christ in our hearts, the world’s true King.
Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Remembering that we are confident to pray this day, and every day, because Jesus Christ continues to teach us:
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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
Let us conclude our prayers by praying together and aloud:
God of mercy,
you have given us grace to pray with one heart and one voice,
and have promised to hear the prayers
of two or three who agree in your name,
fulfil now, we pray,
the prayers and longings of your people
as may be best for us and for your kingdom.
Grant us in this world to know your truth,
and in the world to come to see your glory. Amen.
The Blessing
May The Risen Lord Christ turn His face towards each and every one of you.
May He cause His light to shine upon you, and
may He grant you His peace, and
The blessing of Almighty God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with you and all of those whom you love,
on this day and forever more.
A Closing Hymn:
Let us conclude our worship today by watching, and please do feel free to sing or read aloud the lyrics, as we unite in another hymn our praise and thanksgiving.
When you are ready - click the "play" button on the video window, below:
The Dismissal
Go now, go out into the world
to love and serve The Lord.
Go in peace.
AMEN, we go in the name of Christ.
