Lambeth Methodist Circuit Sunday 3 January 2021

This Sunday many of our churches will be open for worship but under various restrictions to make sure that they are Covid safe. We recognise that not everyone is able to get to worship or feels comfortable about mixing with others indoors and so we will continue to produce this worship from home sheet for you to use. Please find a quiet space and even if you are on your own, know that you are joining with others in spirit as we worship God together.  This Sunday is Covenant Sunday and this short act of worship has been prepared with this in mind. If you have one, it will be helpful to have a copy of the Methodist Way of Life Commitment card to hand, as you begin.  If you do not have one do not worry. (If you have access to the internet you can download the card at: www.methodist.org.uk/mwol/ )

Call to Worship

This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

StF 443 Come let us sing of a wonderful love

Come, let us sing of a wonderful love,

tender and true;

out of the heart of the Father above,

streaming to me and to you:

wonderful love

dwells in the heart of the Father above.

Jesus, the Saviour, this gospel to tell,

joyfully came;

came with the helpless and hopeless to dwell,

sharing their sorrow and shame;

seeking the lost,

saving, redeeming at measureless cost.

Jesus is seeking the wanderers yet;

why do they roam?

Love only waits to forgive and forget;

home, weary wanderer, home!

Wonderful love

dwells in the heart of the Father above.

Come to my heart, O thou wonderful love,

come and abide,

lifting my life, till it rises above

envy and falsehood and pride;

seeking to be

lowly and humble, a learner of thee.

Robert Walmsley (1831-1905)

Let us pray together

Gracious God,

on this day, I and many others seek to renew our covenant with You. Your love is strong and faithful. You never stop loving us. Our love for You is weak and fickle and we often fall short of what we have committed ourselves to be and do. Forgive us for our reluctance to follow Christ, our half-hearted worship, our failures in caring, service and witness, and our unwillingness to challenge injustice.

Have mercy on us, O God, and renew in us both the desire and the ability to be people of love.

Thank you for your gracious words:

 ‘Your sins are forgiven’.  Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 31.33-34

This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, "Know the LORD," for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Today’s Gospel Reading: John 15.1-9

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower.  He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.

Time to Reflect

The image of the vine is an organic picture.  The branches are growing in the vine. They are connected to every other branch through the vine and fruit grows naturally on the branches. The branches have no choice. They are part of the Vine. But Jesus’ use of this image to speak of our relationship with him offers choice and invites our participation. We are asked to abide in the vine and so grow and be fruitful.

Today, we choose again to trust God, to walk with Jesus and to live in the ways of the kingdom.

Take the Methodist Way of Life Card (if you have one )  Before you say the covenant prayer, read through the commitments on the card (they are summarised below) and reflect on which of these you want to grow in during the coming year.

As far as we are able, with God’s help:

Worship

We will pray daily.

We will worship with others regularly.

We will look and listen for God in Scripture, and the world.

Learning and Caring

We will care for ourselves and those around us.

We will learn more about our faith.

We will practise hospitality and generosity.

Service

We will help people in our communities and beyond.

We will care for creation and all God’s gifts.

We will challenge injustice.

Evangelism

We will speak of the love of God.

We will live in a way that draws others to Jesus.

We will share our faith with others.

A time of prayer

Take time to sit quietly. Then say the Covenant Prayer aloud:

I am no longer my own but yours.

Your will, not mine, be done in all things,

wherever you may place me,

in all that I do and in all that I may endure;

when there is work for me and when there is none;

when I am troubled and when I am at peace. Your will be done when I am valued and when I am disregarded;

when I find fulfilment and when it is lacking;

when I have all things, and when I have nothing

I willingly offer all I have and am

to serve you, as and where you choose.

Glorious and blessd God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

you are mine and I am yours.

May it be so for ever.

Let this covenant now made on earth

be fulfilled in heaven. Amen

Prayers of intercession

Pray for your church … that it may be a faithful witness to God’s love.

Pray for the church worldwide …that in word and action it may help people to see God’s glory

Pray for the leaders of nations… that they act justly and guide wisely.

Pray for those pushed to the margins of society …that they and their gifts may be made welcome.

Pray for those in need…especially people we known

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father ……

 StF 345 And can it be

1 And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Saviour's blood? Died he for me, who caused his pain? For me, who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

2 'Tis mystery all: the Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? In vain the first-born seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. 'Tis mercy all! Let earth adore, let angel minds enquire no more.

3 He left his Father's throne above — so free, so infinite his grace — emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race. 'Tis mercy all, immense and free; for, O my God, it found out me!

4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay fast bound in sin and nature's night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

5 No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine! Alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach the eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ, my own

A prayer of blessing

May the God of heaven and earth bless us and keep us; may his face shine upon us that we might know God’s peace and live in ways that reflect his love, now and always.  Amen

Original Materials by Roger L Walton

We are grateful to all the Ministers and Local Preachers from around the Connexion who have contributed to Worship at Home. This resource is administrated by Ministries: Vocations and Worship in the Connexional Team. We aim to continue to provide these resources until the end of August 2021. Please note that the sheet is generally edited each week by the Lambeth Circuit (for example we might change the hymns to more widely known ones or include items of local news or interest) before we send it out or post it on our website