Shipley Church Self-ServiceSunday 25th October 2020Thought for the Week – Thou shalt love the Lord thy GodJesus was asked by one of the Pharisees, “what is the greatest commandment in Jewish Law?” For the answer we have only to look in the service book of the Eucharist we use every Sunday. The first and greatest commandment is to, “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second is like it, love your neighbour as yourself.” (Matthew 22:34-40) We are very familiar with these phrases, but what does it mean to love God and love your neighbour? These two commandments form the core of the Christian religion. But do we live according to their teaching? Paul explains that we are to love one another with “brotherly love” (Romans 12:10) which is not so much brother-like as a special relationship of unity with fellow members of God’s family. Neither meticulous observance of the Ten Commandments nor rigorous attention to the rigmarole of Jewish law in the books of Moses attains anything without keeping the first and greatest commandment of all, to truly love God. In her Christmas broadcasts to the nation, the Queen is often remarkably open about her Christian faith as the inspiration for her life. “Jesus’s simple and powerful message, to love God and our neighbour in ways that treat others as we would like them to treat us, gives spirituality a practical purpose”, she has often said. Hymn for TodayMy song is love unknown, My Saviour’s love to me, Love to the loveless shown, That they might lovely be. O who am I, that for my sake My Lord should take frail flesh and die?PrayersWe pray: Lord, it is our chief complaint that our love is weak and faint; yet we love thee and adore – oh, for grace to love thee more! William CowperNote: The Gospel and Readings for today can be downloaded from the top right hand corner of this page.
Shipley Church Self-ServiceSunday 18th October 2020Thought for the Week – Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’sThere was a deliberate plot made against Jesus in the gospel, today. Two groups of people with different opinions – one opposed to the rule of Rome, and the other supporting it – tried to trick him by forcing him to reply to their question whether or not they should pay taxes to Caesar. (Matthew 22: 15-21) The point, here, is to distinguish what belongs to the Emperor and what belongs to God? Jesus’ reply made clear that if we give only to Caesar and not to God, we shall forfeit our promise of eternal life. Clearly, it is desirable and our obligation to submit to earthly authority – for we pray for our earthly leaders; we practice civil obedience (especially because of the current pandemic); and we participate in public life. But it is our principal duty also to give to God what is his, and to offer ourselves unto him. He, after all, created us in his own image, died for us, saved us from sin and yet, as we believe, now lives, bringing love into a world without end. How amazing is that? (Romans 6:13) Hymn for Today1. The kingdom of God Is justice and joy, For Jesus restores What sin would destroy; God’s power and glory In Jesus we know, And here and hereafter The kingdom shall grow. 2. The kingdom of GodIs mercy and grace,The captives are freed,The sinners find place,The outcasts are welcomed,God’s banquet to share,And hope is awakenedIn place of despair.PrayersWe pray for our leaders that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.Note: The Gospel and Readings set for the Feast of St. Luke can be downloaded from the top right of this page.
Shipley Church Self-ServiceSunday 11th October 2020Thought for the Week – Many are called but few are chosenThis Sunday’s reading is another parable in which Jesus teaches that the kingdom of God is open to everyone who believes in him. But some who will choose to refuse his call or fail to respond properly to it, will be left out. For many reasons the Jewish people, who thought of themselves as God’s chosen people, did not accept him as their Messiah. The symbolism of today’s story of the wedding banquet, to which people who were invited refused to come, is not unlike the labourers in the vineyard (Sunday 20th Sept) when “the last could be first, and the first last”, depending on their readiness to accept him. (Matthew 22: 1-14) The Law according to the Old Testament was a great and imposing system of ritual and religious observances. Jesus’ coming swept away all those ceremonies by affirming the whole of religion and godliness is fulfilled in one word, Love. Whereas, in today’s difficult circumstances, we have to observe “The Rule of Six” and “Social Distancing”, our religious guidelines, according to St Paul, are to Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say, Rejoice! We are to think on what is true and honourable, just and pure. Quite a positive challenge to us all. (Colossians 1,4:1-9)Hymn for todayJerusalem the golden,With milk and honey blest, Beneath thy contemplation Sink heart and voice oppressed.I know not, ah, I know notWhat joys await us there,What radiancy of glory,What bliss beyond compare.PrayersWe pray that, as a contrast to the misery and pollution that’s around us, the beauty of the earth may be restored, and the rare and unmatched peace and glory of the coming of God’s kingdom may be revealed to us.Note: The Gospel and Readings set for today can be downloaded from the top right of this page.
Shipley Church Self-ServiceSunday 4th October 2020Thought for the Week – The heavens are telling the glory of GodWe celebrate Harvest Festival today, by singing, praying and decorating the church with baskets of fruit and flowers grown in our fields and gardens. Increasingly, churches have linked their celebrations of thanksgiving with awareness and concern for people in the developing world for whom growing crops of sufficient quality and quantity remains a struggle. We are also called upon to recognise the impact we humans are having on the planet, and to care more for our world. The well-known chorus “The heavens are telling . . .” from the oratorio The Creation (1798) by Joseph Haydn celebrates God’s creation as described in the book of Genesis. The psalms also explore the context of our existence in relation to the universe (Psalm 19). Who are we, and do we matter? We are given answers in the person of Jesus Christ whose life and ministry asserted the value and dignity of every human being. In times past, we would have laughed at the idea of the hairs on our heads being numbered. But in the age of DNA and other scientific advances, we make the staggering discovery that each one of us is unique, and, according to Jesus, known. Our understanding of the God of Creation is also enhanced by its intimacy with us as well as its existence in the vastness of the firmament.Hymn for the DayCome, ye thankful people, come, Raise the song of harvest-home! All is safely gathered in, ‘Ere the winter storms begin; God, our maker, doth provide For our wants to be supplied; Come to God’s own temple, come, Raise the song of harvest-home.PrayersWe pray for the protection of Creation and the promotion of sustainable lifestyles that reverse our contribution to climate change. (Romans 8: 18-21)Note: The Gospel and all set readings for today can be downloaded from the top right of this page.
