Seventeenth 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):
The Lord looks down from heaven upon us all, to see if there is any who is wise,
if there is one who seeks after God.
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
The Special Prayer For Today (let us pray aloud):
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; 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 John.
Listen to David speak to this gospel
or, if you prefer, you can read the sermon, below:
Sermon for Ordinary 17, Sunday, 28th July 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>
A couple of weeks ago, and very early one morning, Kim and I found ourselves ordering breakfast at a stall in Singapore. After ordering a simple breakfast, cost $6.50, we were horrified to discover that we had no way to pay the lady. She didn’t take credit cards and we had no Singapore cash. Right out of the blue, a young lady, a complete stranger, intervened and bought that breakfast for us before walking off. It wasn’t a lot of money but the effect it had on Kim and I … well, little is much when God is in it.
John includes seven of Jesus’ miracles in his Gospel, and in each wondrous, perplexing miracle we are brought closer to God. Each miracle invites us to reflect on what the rich imagery contained in the account of the miracles tells us about Jesus … Little is much, when God is in it!
For the early Christians, these miracles got to the heart of something they knew was truly important - they revealed who Jesus was, what He was up to, and what He found to be important and that little is much, when God is !
John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000 showed the creative power of Christ and set the stage for Jesus’ talk about the “bread of life” in the remaining verses of Chapter 6.
John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000 is designed to show God at work in the lives of his people and that Little is much, when God is it! <PAUSE>
The feeding of the 5,000 recalls both the manna that came from heaven while the Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years AND faith in Jesus to do what others can not … proving that, little is much, when God is in it!
The barley loaves refers back Elisha’s feeding of 100 people with a small supply of barley loaves (see 2 Kings 4:42-44). Barley bread was “humble” bread; bread of poor quality that was eaten by poor people; bread that was less nutritious, less tasty and harder to digest than bread made with wheat.
Yet that humble basket of five loaves and two fish represents the great things that God can do with whatever WE bring to him, no matter how big or how small. No matter how grand or how humble. You see, no matter what we bring … little is much, when God is in it!
The twelve baskets of leftovers represent both God’s abundance (which means that there is always enough for everyone) and the twelve tribes of Israel.
The crowd’s desire to make Jesus an earthly king represents our desire to fit God into our expectations of him instead of fitting ourselves into God’s expectations of us.
Jesus walking on the water in the midst of the storm represents God in our midst and God coming to us when we are in trouble. <PAUSE>
Jesus used His miracles to point people to God, and it was God’s power that made the miracles of Jesus possible because - little is much, when God is in it!
In other words, Jesus opens peoples eyes to see and their hearts to believe, to have faith in God … but do people only call on Jesus when they want a provider for their earthly needs? <PAUSE>
This is a question that much of humanity continues to wrestle with !
In order to make room for the spiritual food Jesus offers, we must starve our human weaknesses and feed on compassion (remember my message last week?), kindness, community and generosity.
In other words, we must feed on the characteristics of Jesus in order to become more like him. <PAUSE>
Humanity often does not understand this … but believe me … a full stomach can leave the spirit hungry.
We must realise and believe that if we accept the spiritual food Jesus offers, we will never be spiritually hungry again.
Our gospel today shows us how bewildered disciples learned, first-hand, that little is much, when God is in it, and this gave them confidence that they could trust Him for their daily needs.
Likewise, at times, The Lord will set a seemingly impossible task before us and we are challenged to react in faith NOT fear.
That reaction comes about because Jesus is continually training us to have faith in Him, and trusting Him means looking beyond what we can see and to go out and do what He is able to accomplish … when He works through us.
We can trust God in the trials and storms of life. Faith IS the key. When we trust in God, we will have rest and peace in our lives. In spite of opposition, Jesus will enable His people to achieve the goals He has set for them because little is much when God is in it!
Can you imagine what would happen if every believer took that advice to heart?
No? Well - like those confused disciples, like them, we are not perfect, but God uses imperfect people to do His perfect work in the world. In fact, He seems to go out of his way to find imperfect people to work through … just look at Moses, David, Samson, Peter, Paul, look at imperfect me as I offer these words … little is much, when God is in it!
So go … go and find a way to have God in your “little” and God will make it “much” … and may God bless you all.
I runga e te Ingoa o te Atua, te Matua, te Tama me te Wairua Tapu. <AMINE>
In the name of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit <AMEN>
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:
Holy God Make us receptive and open as we lay our intercessions before you. May we accept Your kingdom like children taking bread and fish from the hands of their Father or mother.
(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
We thank You for all those who are working faithfully to lead provide spiritual food for Your people in our communities, and that You work through them. May they always be aware of the blessings you bestow on them; strengthen and uphold them when they grow weary in their ministries. Constantly remind us all that You who began all good work in us will ultimately perfect it through Your son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Creator God we pray for your whole creation; for our brothers and sisters throughout the world and for their lives to be respected and revered regardless of creed or colour, gender or sexuality, wealth or status and for a responsible sharing of precious resources and the conservation of our fragile and beautiful world. We pray for all world leaders and the responsibilities that they have in bringing these things about.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God, we raise before you those in our communities trying to grow or produce our food under difficult circumstances as climate changes continues to affect farmers and producers around the world. We also pray for folk who are struggling to cope with extremes of temperature, especially the frail and elderly and any others at risk.
(Short Silence) Lord, in Your mercy: hear our prayer
Loving God bring healing to all who are wounded, make whole those who are broken, and shed light wherever there is darkness. Hear now those we name before you who have asked for or are in need of healing prayer.
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
Merciful God we thank you for those who have travelled before us on the way of the cross and are now at peace in Your eternal presence. Help us to live always mindful of Your promise to us that the road of faith will lead into your heavenly kingdom.
(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, Fill our hunger with the food that lasts, the bread of God which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
(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.
