Shipley Church Self-Service Sunday 24th January 2021 Thought for the Week – Getting to know you, getting to know all about you! The song “Getting to know you” from the Rogers & Hammerstein musical “The King and I” concludes with … “haven’t you noticed? Suddenly I’m bright and breezy, because of all the beautiful and new, things I’m learning about you, day by day”. The coming of Jesus into human history introduced something new and dynamic, that the old ways of thinking were not capable of grasping. To the amazement of the disciples, Jesus turned a large quantity of water into wine, at a wedding feast in the Galilean village of Cana. There were suddenly “new” things to see and understand as Jesus’ ministry gathered momentum with the first of his miraculous signs. (John 2: 1-11) People find in Jesus a reason for living, a firm stronghold in times of despair, and joy and confidence in what they find so compelling about him – even without fully understanding who he is - that they choose to follow him. The incident that took place at Cana catapulted forward the process of working out Jesus’ identity. Might what once was inconceivable have actually happened? And, if so, who was it that the disciples had chosen to follow?Hymn for todayLead us, heavenly Father, lead us O’er the world’s tempestuous sea; Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us, For we have no help but thee; Yet possessing every blessing If our God our Father be.Prayer for TodayWe pray that God will give skill, wisdom and gentleness to all who minister to the sick. We pray that he will continue his work of healing amongst us, and regard with tender compassion the anxious and bereaved. Help us also to know who he is, and what he wants us to be.Note: The Gospel and Readings set for today can be downloaded from the top right corner of this page.
Shipley Church Self-Service Sunday 17<span style="font-size: 12px;">th</span> January 2021 Thought for the Week – Will you come and follow me? Jesus called for twelve men – mostly fisherman, one a tax collector – to be his disciples: Peter, James, John, Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Jude, Simon, & Judas. His call to them appears so compelling that they follow almost without question. Jesus’ personality and character must have displayed a quality of leadership and charismatic charm so compelling, that it enabled him to exercise magnetic persuasion in inspiring the devotion of others. The main purpose that Jesus had for the 12 disciples was for them to witness the beginning of his public ministry, and to accept a commission for teaching every nation to observe his commandments. (Matthew 28:19) St Paul recognised that no one would be fooled by a so-called Christian preacher trying to sell a lifestyle that they themselves were not living. So the way to promote Christianity was to live it yourself (1 Timothy 4:16) How, then, should we become effective evangelists? Have we listened for, and responded to, God’s call to us? (John 1: 40-51) Hymn for TodayO Jesus, I have promised to serve you to the end; Be now and ever near me, my master and my friend: I shall not fear the battle if you are by my side, Nor wander from the pathway if you will be my guide.Prayer for TodayWe pray to our God, the servant king; he calls us now to follow him: Help me, Lord, to speak your name, my daily labour to pursue. You alone, I long to know, in all I think or speak or do.Note: The Gospel and Readings set for today can be downloaded from the top right corner of this page.
Shipley Church Self-Service Sunday 10th January 2021 Thought for the Week – A New Beginning Many of your Christmas cards will have expressed the hope that times will be better and more enjoyable in the New Year. The difficulties and disappointments suffered by so many during the pandemic in 2020 will reverberate in modern history. And now, here we are in another “lockdown”! But, really, it’s a new beginning, because we read in Mark’s gospel, that John’s baptism offered a new beginning, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Isaiah); “In the beginning was the Word” (John). And now God is made Man; this is where the way of life that Jesus taught is established and begins! (Mark 1: 4-11) We trust in the Lord, that – even through the hopes and fears of all the years - 2021 will be better for us all. With the wonderful support of the Shipley Volunteer Hub, and the reassurance of vaccination, we can expect to be able to meet again with our friends and loved-ones before too long. Gradually, day by day, the night-time hours will shorten, as the early morning light awakens folk, whose keen sense of belonging, knowledge of being valued, and a sense of mutual care and optimism about the future, characterises our precious Shipley community. “Let nothing you dismay, remember Christ our Saviour was born on Christmas Day”. Happy New Year!Hymn for todayJoy to the world, the Lord has come! Let Earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare Him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven and heaven, and nature sing.Prayer for TodayWe pray: Make us thankful, Lord, for all the possibilities ahead in this new year. Give us wisdom, courage, and discernment in the face of despair and uncertainty. May we come to know your peace wherever there is doubt.Note: The Gospel and Readings for today can be downloaded from the top right of this page.
Shipley Church Self-Service Sunday 3rd January 2021 Thought for the Week – God makes himself known to Humanity Epiphany commemorates the visit of the Three Wise Men (the Magi) to the infant Jesus, and is seen as evidence that Christ the Messiah came also to manifest himself to the Gentiles (those who were not of the Jewish faith), and thus to the world and all its inhabitants. Their gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh represented spiritual significance for a King. It is not immediately obvious to people of the 21st century, but virtually everyone in the ancient world believed in the supernatural and, as part of their religious duty, used to burn incense in their temples. The gifts brought by the Wise Men were worthy for one who was to be anointed and proclaimed Divine. Gold was for Kingship, Frankincense for Divinity, and Myrrh for sacrificial death – a prophetic gift because Jesus would die for the sins of the world. As we watch a baby gently opening its eyes on the world for the first time, we might ask, “What Child is this?” This child was Christ the King; Creator of the stars of night; and His glory was to be revealed - to all, without any exclusion! (Matthew 2: 1-12)Hymn for the weekO worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Bow down before him, his glory proclaim; With gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness, Kneel and adore him, the Lord is his name!Prayer for todayGlory to the new-born King! By prayer, we thank you, Lord, for calling us into the company of those who trust in Christ and seek to obey his will. May your spirit guide and strengthen us in mission and service to your world, as we begin another New year.Note: The Readings and Gospel set for Epiphany can be downloaded from the top right of this page
