Stalbridge Congregational Church Prayer/Reflection June 28 th 2020

Welcome to worship – which we begin by saying the Lord’s Prayer together

A mind to see!
“Do not be shaped by this world. Instead be changed within by a new way of thinking.
Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you. and you will be able to know what
is good and pleasing to God and what is perfect.” Romans 12 v 2
Have you seen a starfish on the beach? Did you know it can regrow a broken off limb? More
amazingly it pushes its stomach out of its mouth into a shell to eat; has an eye on the end of every arm but doesn’t
have a brain to know what it sees; sensors in every foot along each limb so it just goes where its body tells it to!!!!
You are I on the other hand have been blessed with a fantastically marvellous brain with a mind to think and eyes to
see where we are going! Question is do we travel blindly or do we use our mind as God intends – following his
guidance in the bible, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit?

Let us pray together…..

Lord, teach me something new about You every day. Open my eyes, my mind, and my heart to see You in this world
all around me. Lead me on Your path of life, and open my mind to where You’re leading me. Amen.

Let us sing together : chosen by Abbie – MP 1003 My Jesus my Saviour

My Jesus, my Saviour, Lord, there is none like You, Shout to the Lord, all the earth let us sing,
All of my days I want to praise power and majesty, praise to the King.
the wonders of Your mighty love. Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
My comfort, my shelter, at the sound of Your name.
tower of refuge and strength, I sing for joy at the work of Your hands,
let every breath, all that I am, forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand.
Never cease to worship You. Nothing compares to the promise I have in You.

Let us Read together – Acts 8 v 1 – 8

We have already seen that life became challenging for the early church – these verses tell of Saul and his
persecutions – yet we began with words from Paul’s (aka Saul) letter to the Romans – the story of his transformation
included eyes which couldn’t see but were opened by the Holy Spirit by in his mind and physically to his world.
What happens here in this short passage has a significant effect of the future of the Good News…..

The believers were ‘scattered’ – how many of us are ‘scattered’ people – have you ever wondered what God had in
mind – or did you think it was all your idea?
My one desire when John and I got married was to settle down and never move house again! God has literally
moved us 4 times in his plan for us – each time to serve in a church – Dorset was our retirement home – God had
other plans!
Ponder your life’s journey – what part has God played in your travels – even if you didn’t recognise it at the time?
How has God used you in His plans and purposes during that time…… How much of St Francis’ prayer in the song
below has been part of that journey……

Let us sing together – MP 456 Make me a channel of Your peace

Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me bring Your love;
where there is injury, Your pardon Lord;
and where there’s doubt true faith in You.
Make me a channel of Your peace.
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness only light;
and where there’s sadness ever joy.
O Master grant that I may never seek
so much to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love with all my soul.
Make me a channel of Your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
in giving of ourselves that we receive;
And in dying that we are born to eternal life.
 Read Acts 8 v 26 – 40
We skip Philip’s time in Samaria – an continue – when an angel of the Lord said to Philip…….. as you read his
encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch we reflect on this man, who was an important official in the treasury of the
Queen of Ethiopia – here is a man who is an unlikely person in God’s plan – Why? He is Black; he is a eunuch; and he
had been to Jerusalem to worship God at the Passover – none of this is commented on in the passage – Why
because it isn’t important – it’s irrelevant to what happens next.
Just ponder for a moment – what might have been a major part of a T.V. news story if this had happened last
weekend?
Would Philip have just walked on by if the Holy Spirit hadn’t said to him, “Go over to that carriage and stay close to
it”? There is no way of knowing…..
Have you done something without knowing why which turned out to be God’s prompting?
When Philip saw what the man was reading – and asked him, “Do you understand what you are reading?” his reply
was he needed it explaining to be able to understand…. The conversation continued until the opportunity to tell the
Good News arose – and suddenly the man’s mind is opened – no longer feeling his way like a starfish – but
understanding dawned and faith began.
Are we ready to grasp the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus when it arises! Who have we shared our faith
with recently – is there anyone God is nudging us to go over to…… ?
Look at what happens next…… firstly at the first opportunity – as they drive past some water – the Ethiopian wanted
to be baptized – Philip didn’t wait until the Ethiopian had spent more time in study – he did it there and then!
Secondly, the Spirit whisked Philip away – he couldn’t claim a victory or stay to finish the job. He had somewhere else
to be. Thirdly the Ethiopian went on his way full of joy. Is there a lesson in there for us – What might it be?

Let us sing together – MP 857 – I, the Lord of sea and sky

I, the Lord of sea and sky, I, the Lord of snow and rain, I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I have heard my people’s cry I have borne My people’s pain. I will tend the poor and lame.
All who dwell in dark and sin I have wept for love of them. I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save. They turn away. My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night, I will break their hearts of stone, Finest bread I will provide.
I will make their darkness bright. Give the hearts for love alone. Till their hearts are satisfied.
Who will bear my light to them? I will speak my word to them. I will give My life to them.
Whom shall I send? Whom shall I send? Whom shall I send.
Here I am, Lord, is it I, Lord? I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if You lead me. I will hold Your people in my heart.

Let us pray together………

Heavenly Father, in these difficult times, when, just as we are easing lockdown in the UK, spikes of corvid19 are
being recorded elsewhere. Help to live in hope not fear – to use our minds to understand how to live your way. We
pray for all who are suffering from sickness, poverty, homelessness and in an environment of rejection, abuse,
violence and despair. Thank you for your word which guides us and comforts us, which brings us hope and a
direction for our journey through life both now and forever. In Jesus name we pray Amen.

Let us sing together – MP 32 – An army of ordinary people

An army of ordinary people,
a kingdom where love is the key,
a city, a light to the nations,
heirs to the promise are we.
A people whose lives are in Jesus,
a nation together we stand;
only through grace are we worthy,
inheritors of the land.
A new day is dawning,
a new age to come,
when the children of promise
Shall flow together as one:
a truth long neglected,
but the time has now come,
when the children of promise
shall flow together as one.
A people without recognition,
but with Him a destiny sealed,
called to a heavenly vision:
His purpose shall be fulfilled.
Come, let us stand strong together
abandon ourselves to the King;
His love shall be ours for ever,
this victory song we shall sing.

Let us say the Grace to each other…. A joke for John from John …. “how do you make
Holy Water?” Boil the hell out of it!!!!