e-Service with Communion - 6 December 2020

 

Mexborough Baptist Church           Sunday 6th December 2020    

2nd Sunday in Advent with Communion

We begin our service for the second Sunday in Advent by lighting the Advent Candle  click on this link  

Paul, in Titus 2:13, says that "we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ."  Advent is a time when we remember Israel's hope for their Messiah to come and deliver them.  It's also a time when we look forward to Jesus coming back to deliver us.  Our first song reminds us that all the hopes and fears of all the world meet in Bethlehem at the birth of Jesus, who is the answer to them all.  We sing 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' click on the link  

Advent Family Corner

Last week the children and their parents enjoyed making their Advent wreaths.      

In the goody bag this week were the ingredients to make salt dough, so that the children could have a go at making their own Christmas tree decorations.  Here's Lisa to show us how to do it click on this link  

 

The mention of decorations made us think of some of the oldest Christmas decorations and we found what we think is a brilliant version of 'The holly and the ivy'  click on this link  

Lisa leads us in a prayer....
Thank you, Lord, for the families within and around our church; those families by blood and those by love.  Though we may be scattered around our community we know that we are joined together in you, that we may uphold one another, and support and encourage each other in all that we do.  Thank you for inviting us to be a part of your family, Wonderful Father.  Amen.

This week Trevor and Enid share with us their reflections on the Christmas Story around another phrase of 2020 - Locked down, but not locked out!....

Enid's thoughts. 

Have you ever been locked out – of the house, of the car, the garage or the shed etc.?  I am sure we all have and it is very inconvenient, but these situations can usually be easily resolved by getting the right key – and our only loss is the time we spend while we are waiting for it.  But have you ever been locked out of a  relationship?  Now that is much more painful and difficult.  As we approach Christmas this year, I have wondered how Mary and her family felt when she knew that she was expecting a baby.  She knew she had experienced the visit of an angel, but later on, while on her own, how could she explain this to her family and, as she told them, how would they react?  It could have been a great disgrace to them, and they and her friends must have asked, "Can we believe this story?”  Then there was Joseph to whom she was engaged to be married.  How would he react and would he believe her?  She went to her cousins while the family came to terms with it.  Did she want to go, or was she encouraged by her family to go as they considered what to do?  Was she on lockdown, in disgrace and unable to mingle with her family and friends?  However, she knew that she could talk to Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah about spiritual things and they would most likely believe her story with Zechariah being priest.  Mary would have definitely needed reassurance that her story was believed.  She arrived at the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah and she didn’t have to wait long for that assurance.  When Mary reached the house, Elizabeth’s unborn baby leapt for joy in his mother's womb, enabling Elizabeth to declare, “Why am I so favoured that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”  Luke 1 v 41 - 43.  Her unborn child, who also was promised by God.  A child so unlikely because of their ages, that his father Zechariah was struck dumb because of his unbelief.  Now Mary, so thrilled, sings praises to God.  Now she could return home in confidence.  Joseph. her betrothed, is waiting.  We know that he had considered whether or not he could marry Mary and had planned to ‘divorce’ her  Matthew 1 v 19, but an angel of the Lord appeared to him also, Matt. 1 v 20 - 21.  So Mary was not locked out of her family at all and she and Joseph set off together as a new family and Mary gave birth to her child in Bethlehem.  The most joyous story that we all love.        

Trevor's thoughts.  

LOCKED OUT.   The dictionary definition of this term means, ‘to be excluded – to have no means of participation – to be denied access to be where you want to be.’   Pause for a moment and think of the times you have experienced one or all of these things.  How did you feel at the time?  Disappointed?  Dismay?  Despair?  Not wanted?  All these negatives lead to the feeling of hopelessness and being helpless.  As we have read and seen for ourselves, this is the position many people are in at this present time of lockdown.  Wanting and waiting for their situation to change when they can be free from all these restraints on their lives.

It was the same in the world to which Jesus was born.  People waiting and wanting an end to being a defeated people, an end to waiting for a promised Messiah to save them and to transform the world in which they lived, to set them free!   Many are still waiting.  For them Advent has not happened.  Thankfully our title for today is  ‘Locked down NOT Locked out.’  Christmas will be different for the majority of people with the restraints that Covid 19 has brought but, no matter what, the spirit of the true Christmas is never locked out.  For God revealed His great love for all of us in His gift of Jesus  2 Corinthians 9 v 15,  John 3 v 16 - 17.  As the hymn writer puts it, “There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin, He only could unlock the gate of heaven and let us in.”  The coming of Jesus opened the way for all mankind to come into God’s presence.  Through Him no-one is excluded, no-one is denied access, no-one need be locked out.  Jesus was born into our world in the stable, a stable where rich and poor alike can enter in, where kings and shepherds can worship and where all are accepted.  We lock ourselves out of the Heavenly Kingdom by denying the gift of a Saviour that God gave to the world.

For our physical wellbeing to fight Covid 19, we expectantly wait for the vaccine to be made available so that the R number - the rate of infection, can be reduced.  In Jesus, God provides another R that treats the whole of a person’s wellbeing physically, mentally and spiritually, that is through Repentance 2 Peter ch 3 v 9, Revival, Restoration Psalm 85 v 4-7 and Redemption Ephesians 1 v 7.  Let us pray that, along with ourselves, our loved ones, our friends and neighbours all experience a Renewed Relationship with Jesus as Saviour as we patiently wait for His coming again Colossians 3 v 9-10.

 

There is a sense in which we could say Jesus was locked out when he came to earth - there was no room in the inn for Mary and Joseph and they were relegated to a stable where Jesus entered our world.  Our next song takes up this idea 'Thou didst leave thy throne' click on the link  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4Bf0IowI3k&ab_channel=RoryMcClure

Now Trevor Hughes leads us in our Advent Communion

INVITATION TO THE TABLE
In this season of Advent you are invited to share our table.  Advent is a season where the scriptures revive old stories with new understandings.  In today’s troubled world, our faith cries out resilient like a baby from a manger bed.  From His beginning in Bethlehem, Jesus lived to serve and to share his knowledge of a loving God.

We sing together 'Once in royal David's city'  Click on the link 

 

CONFESSION

Pam leads us in a prayer of confession...

Loving heavenly Father and creator of all things, I offer my praise and worship to you in adoration and appreciation of your goodness and mercy to me, that I don't deserve.  I confess that I'm not always what you want me to be, and that I don't always listen or act according to your word or promptings from your Holy Spirit.  Father, I want to thank you for your never-ending patience with me when you know that I know I have been disobedient, and yet, you continue to show me your love and forgiveness and continue to hold me in your favour.  Thank you for listening to my prayers and thank you for answering them.

Your people are on my heart, Lord, and I ask that you will open their hearts and minds to you so they will know, as I do, that we are all your treasures.  Help them, Father, to understand and accept that your ways are not our ways, and everything you cause to happen is for a reason for your glory in your world.  Forgive us our arrogance when we forget that you are God.  Still us and reveal your power that we may know that you are indeed God!  And let us all remember that you gave your son Jesus Christ as a sacrifice of your love and commitment to reconcile each and every one of us to you.  Through Jesus' name.  Amen.

COMMUNION PRAYER
Dear Jesus of Advent, You remain a sacred mystery to us.  You have brought Good News for all the people and we will not be afraid, for you are here.  We are hungry for your love which surpasses all understanding; we are thirsty for your spirit that never runs dry.  In this meal nourish our souls, feed our minds, quench our deepest longings and forgive our transgressions, that we may glorify you everyday of our lives.  Amen.

SHARING THE BREAD
The bread may now be broken and shared with the following words

Jesus said. This is my body which is for you; do this in memory of me.

SHARING THE WINE
The wine may now be lifted up and shared with these words

In the same way, he took the cup after supper, and said; ‘this cup is the new covenant sealed by my blood. Whenever you drink it, do this in memory of me.’

THANKSGIVING PRAYER
Holy Creator, Bread of Life, Everlasting Salvation, a light shines in the night and the night will not overcome it.  In this meal we have been replenished and strengthened, the light of our love rekindled within us.  We will be bold to carry this light into the world.  Thank You for recharging our batteries and reviving your ambient glow within us.  You are the power source that never gives out  - eternally renewable and sustainable.
Thank you God
Thank you Christ
Thank you Spirit.  Amen

We continue with our wave of prayers....

Carol

Dear Lord, surround our loved ones with your protection, shine your light and love onto them. Amen

Adam

Jesus, like those who met in homes in the early church, let our homes be beacons of hope during this season.  Let our homes be filled with your Spirit, rooted in your word and a place of prayer to see the gospel shared and our community saved.  Disrupt our normality to see those in need.  Let us connect with and share your love with them.  Remind us every morning of our calling to go and make disciples, to be the light of the world and to take care of the poor.  Let us live sacrificially in our community that they would know we are your people by our love.  Amen.

Linda Foster

We pray for all those who are looking forward to joining up with families to have a "festive" time, but don't know you or why they are celebrating.  In this time of covid-19 pandemic, Lord, we pray you will speak to them and show your constant love.  May lives be changed by your simple message of love and that people will call on you during these days of restrictions and rules during Advent.  Bless your church, Lord, as we focus on the coming of Jesus Christ into our lost world.  Help us to be His voice and hands this Advent.  Amen.   

Carol Pollard

Loving God, Healer and Comforter, we pray for those who suffer from the anxiety, ambiguity and confusion of dementia, and in a special way for their caregivers.  Give them patience as they work through familiar daily scripts and questions asked, answered and asked again.  Give them long memories to recall the fullness of their loved one's life beyond these moments of forgetting.  Give them the grace to let go of what was and embrace what is in love.  When the pain of being forgotten and the grinding trials become too much, comfort them with the promise of your Resurrection where every tear shall be wiped away and we shall know each other once more.

Maureen

Give us listening ears and a compassionate heart and mind.  Soften our hearts and fill us to overflowing, that we may do your will with loving kindness.  Many times, in the Bible we hear the words LET US.  Inspire us precious Lord to take this into our hearts to bear fruit.  We can love, because you first loved us.  Help us, Lord, to be the best we can, by showing your love to one another.  

Hear these prayers, Merciful Father, for the sake of your son Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

Our closing song reminds of the true source of hope - 'All My Hope On God Is Founded'  click on this link  

Benediction

by Angela Huntington

God of hope who brought love into this world, be the one who dwells between us.

God of hope who came with peace into this world, be the peace that dwells between us.

God of hope, who brought joy into this world, be the joy that dwells between us.

God of hope, the rock on which we stand, be the focus of our lives always, and particularly this advent time may those who grieve know your hope, peace and love with them now and always.  Amen