Sunday Morning Service – 22nd March 2020
Good morning all! Sadly we cannot meet this morning, but please do scroll down this page to find scriptures, youtube songs, prayers and my first online sermon! I do hope this page is a blessing and I intend to make another one like it next week! Every blessing. Ben
Opening Scripture
Psalm 46 (New International Version)
1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. 5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. 6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Songs
Mothers’ Day
Mothers’ day is a day of celebration for some, but can be difficult for others. The video I have linked in reminds us of the nature of steadfast love. It is not always fancy, but it is always there. In the sermon we’ll be thinking about God being “with us” through everything. Let’s take our inspiration from him and all those who have loved us in a truly steadfast way.
Ideas for Prayer
Below are items for prayer from the Baptist Union President Ken Benjamin, in relation to the Coronavirus outbreak. There are quite a few items, so you may prefer to focus on just one or a few this morning.
- Reflecting on the world-wide situation
Let’s continue to pray for all our sisters and brothers across the world who have been, and are continuing to be, affected by COVID-19. We pray that all will know God’s overwhelming, steadfast love.
Pray for the countries currently suffering from the greatest outbreaks:
- China
- Italy
- Iran
- South Korea
- France
- Spain
- Germany
- USA
Psalm 46
- We pray for those who are particularly fearful at the moment.
Pray for those in our communities who may feel vulnerable and scared.
Pray that the love of God might be their peace. That they may know that even in the darkest times God’s love brings hope.
Psalm 23
- We pray for the most vulnerable and isolated in our neighbourhoods.
Pray for those who are currently self-isolating in our neighbourhoods.
Pray for older people who are concerned about shopping, regular hospital appointments and general day to day contact with other people.
Bring to God the regular activities for older and more vulnerable people provided by our churches. Pray for wisdom for church leaders to know how to keep people connected and safe.
John 14:27
- We pray for the medical staff on the frontline of care, we pray that they will be sustained physically, emotionally and spiritually in the coming weeks.
Pray for medics in our own congregations.
We pray that God will be their shield and their strength.
We pray for wisdom and insight as to how to support those in our congregations and communities involved in frontline care.
Isaiah 40:28-31
- Pray for our world leaders and for the leaders in our own country that they will seek the wisdom of God as they make decisions over the coming days.
Pray for physical strength for our leaders
- We pray for all those leading the scientific response to COVID-19 across the world.
Pray for the scientists from across the globe as they look for ways to alleviate symptoms and as they seek a vaccine for the future.
- Pray for all God’s people in this time of uncertainty and concern. That our eternal hope would make an earthly difference.
Pray for a sense of calm and clarity as well as strength to face what is ahead. That Christians will be ‘beacons of hope’ and ‘carriers of the message of peace’ at this time.
- Pray for the work of BMS overseas
Pray for BMS Personnel overseas, our partners and local communities, especially those who are living in countries where the health services and infrastructure might not be adequate to protect a global pandemic.
Pray that God will use His servants to accompany people pastorally and missionally through this valley of uncertainty, fear and even potential death. May we be a people of Hope in encouraging others in the face of crisis to lean on God’s sustaining presence and unfailing providence.
- We pray for others in all parts of our world who daily face the uncertainty of life.
We pray for those caught in war
We pray for those who face hunger today
We pray for those struggling with sickness and ill health because of other diseases, such as malaria.
We acknowledge the Lord’s sovereignty in and through all things and pray using the words of Paul to the church in Ephesus:
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NRSV)
Sermon
Song
Blessing
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. (Numbers 6:24-26 NIV)