Gate of Heaven

Order of Service: Prestongrange Church

SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY

Date: 16 February 2025

Reading: Genesis 28: 10-22

Light Reflective Music

Bible Enters (Organ)

Welcome / Intimation (Rev. Bosch)

I greet you in the Name of God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe - in the care of Christ Jesus.May it be that we receive mercy, peace and love.

Intimations, Funerals, Baptisms (remember to share this before Sunday Worship)

Prayer Watsup Group - free to join.

Tuesday, Ladies Bible Study, 07:15

Prayer Breakfast, Saterday, 08:30

Prayer Worksop, Wednesday, 26th February, 19:00

Funeral, Mary Brass (May), 4 March, Warriston Crem.

The last two Sunday we reflected on two stories in the book of Genesis. The first was The tower of Babelon and the second is the story “Sodom and Gamora”. Both of these stories reveals God’s impatience with evil and sin. God does not mind acting against darkness. In both stories he reveals his willingness to act. He espessially showed his hand of grace to the family of Lot, who was in a very difficult position. Today we will continue exploring Genesis. We will read of how Jacob flead from his brother. Whilst sleeping in the open he experiencins God through a dream. We will explore the dream and try to unpack it so that it will be relevant for us in Prestongrange.

Call to Worship: 

Minister: Blessed is the person.

All: Who delights in the Lord.

Minister: Blessed is the person.

All: Who delights in the Lord.

Let us worship God!

Hymn: CH476 - Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord

Declaration:

Blessed be the name of the Lord now and evermore.From the rising of the sun to its setting, the Lord’s name be praised. Let us pray:

Prayer of Approach and Confession (Rev. Bosch)

Lord, we have gathered for worship, but it is your Word that brings us hope;

we have come to sing your praises, but it is your almighty power that declares your glory; we have come in the name of Christ, whose living presence transforms our souls into songs of heaven, giving you glory. Father, we delight in your love and rejoice in your kindness, and your grace all but overwhelms us. You are our creator, our sustainer, and our Saviour, the one to whom we owe thanks and praise for all eternity. Father, your Word teaches us that you are a holy. And you demand us to be holy, set apart for your service. We confess that deep within us we know we fall short of being the reflection of your holiness. There are times when your presence makes us feel uncomfortable; espessially when we think of our tendency to be bitter and to have grudges. We bring to you today that which stop our praises reaching the heights of heaven. By your grace enable us to deal with the blocage that hinders us to experience your holyness. Help us through your Holy Spirit to become channels of hope. We ask in the name of Christ, who taught us to pray. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Hymn: CH641 Seek ye first

(Children enter.)

Children’s Address: Open the door, for God to come in!

Hymn: This little light of mine

(Children exit.)

Reading: Genesis 28: 10-22

Sermon: (Rev. Bosch)

Jacob was not a very nice brother. Prior to our reading, Jacob deceived his brother. He stole a blessing that should have gone to Esua, his older brother. The reason for Jacob sleeping outside in the open was because Esua wanted to kill him. Jacob was fleeing for his life. In many stories in the Bible, we read how God turn bad situations into opportunities. God has this tendency to bring good out of the bad. Jacob was such a case, as well, were God reveals his grace and mercy. God meets Jacob, even though there was deep turmoil between him and his older brother. Once again, we see how God gives a helping hand to someone who did not entirly deserve, almost like Lot.

The scene is set of how Jacob goes to bed. As he is in the open with no comfortable bedding, he finds a stone to rest his head on. A stone for a pillow. The significance of a stone is the symbolic message that in the mits of Jacob fleeing he finds a place of rest and stability. It is the same stone that became the pillar of worship after he woke up. 

The theolgy then is: When we flee or need to hiding for some reason, there is alway rest with and in God. God brings stability during turmoil. We may rest in God when needed.

It is during this time of rest that he dreams of a connection between Heaven and Earth. The dream stipulates who God is and what Jacob will be one day. 

13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed (Ge 28:13–14)"

In the dream God communicates that He will give Jacob a place to belong. God stipulated that Jacob has a home. God makes also clear Jacob's purpose. The reading gives clarity that this space in which Jacob is finding himself will be a connection between earth and heaven. Jacob's home will be holy. He is finding himself in a holy place which is the entrance of a portal to heaven.

It is not just a place to stay (a normal home), but rather, it is also a place to connect to God. A home that connect to God. Verse 15 is the key verse in our reading, were God clearly communicates who He is for Jacob. 

15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."

This quote is an example of God revealing himself as a covenant God. A covenant God means to declair his faithfulness and consistent to his people. 

The declaration of this reading is God being faithful and trustworthy.

When we flee or need to hiding for some reason, God is faithful and trustworthy during those times. 

God tells Jacob that He will be His God even though we know Jacob (he knows) has messed up. No wonder Jacob wakes up afraid because God just acknowledge that He knows him, despite.

God knows Jacob. After this realisation, Jacob was convinced that the place he was lying on was holy. He acknowledges the Holyness of that place. Why was it holy? 

It was holy because, wherever God promises to be faithful. Wherever God promises to be our God, that place becomes a place of holyness.

In other words, it becomes God's house there where God promises to be faithful.

The place where Jacob was became a portal between two realms, that of the world and the heavens. 

God gave Jacob a home, stability and a connection to Heaven. Jacob's home becomes a holy place. A portal (a staircase) connecting holiness to the ordanary.  

Just imagine if our homes were like this. A home where you walk over the threshold, and then you know that God's stability, faithfulness, and rest are present. 

Just imagine you enter a home and you know that it is holy. God is there.

Just imagine we strive to make our homes like this. Through how we live and interact in that space and even seriously considering the interior of your home. 

Is my home really reflecting the God of Holyness?

Just imagine our church building becoming a place that declares God's consistency. 

How wonderful will it be if people assosiated this building with the faithfulness of God. When you meet those people… 

Jacob realises the importance of place and space, consequently, he erect the pillow (the stone). The stone of rest then simbolicly becomes the beacon/pillar that indicates where God's House. 

If someone askes, “Where is God's house”? God's house is at the stone where He declared His willingness to be Jacob's God. To signify this amazing realisation, Jacob anoints that stone with oil, and he call's the place "House of God" / Bethel. 

Jacob then makes a vow to God and promising to give his tenth as sacrifice to God. Biblical sacrifice should not be understood as tax collection but rather a voluntarily responds to God's goodness and faithfulness.  

This story highlights the importance of belonging, home, holiness and God's faithfulness even though Jacob wasn't very nice to his older brother. These highlights are also important for the vitality for our own Christian well-being. In other words, because God is faithful towards us,  because God has promised to be our God, consequently our lives become holy. Our homes become holy. Our dwelling places at work, places of lesure and at church becomes holy, because God is there revealing his faithfulness. 

How we portray and display this holiness of God is so important to consider in the Church and in our personal lives. Just imagine our homes and lives becoming portals to the heavens.

May we in Presongrange be like the stone of Jacob, revealing God’s rest and signifing God’s trustworthyness, so that everyone will know that this place and its people is a portal to the heavens. Amen. 

Hymn: Sun of my Soul, Thou saviour dear

Prayer for Others: We pray for those whose work of caring is in our community; for those who work in nursing homes and homes for the elderly as they seek to provide an atmosphere of peace and understanding; for care workers, social workers whose support enables many to continue to live in their own homes. Lord, your love knows no limits and your grace is abondont. We pray for those who work with young people;for youth workers, church family workers, and Sunday school volunteers who seek to support and share their faith; We also think of the leaders of youth groups and youth fellowships. Lord, your love knows no limits. We pray for those whose work is a blessing to the community; for those who serve as police officers, who seek to bring law and order. We pray for them cleaning our streets, recycle our waste, and collect our rubbish. Lord, your love knows no limits. We pray for those who work in the National Health Service; espessially cleaners who silently work in the background. Lord, your love knows no limits. We pray for those involved in education; for primary and secondary school teachers, teaching assistants and for those who work with those with special needs. We pray for all who care for the planet; for those involved in scientific study and research. Lord, your love knows no limits. We pray for those who offer care to the wider church family; for pastoral visitors, ministers, and deacons who offer fellowship, a listening ear, and love to the members and for every church member who is a source of blessing to others. Lord, your love knows no limits.We offer our prayers as servants of Christ. Amen.

Offering (The person at door duty brings the plate to the table.):

Prayer of Thanks:

Hymn: My heart is filled with thankfulness

Rethink and Blessing (Rev. Bosch)

When we flee or need to hiding for some reason, there will always be rest with and in God. God brings stability during turmoil.

Go and know that God is faithful and trustworthy. 

In the presence of the Holy Spirit, may the peace of God, which is beyond all understanding, 

guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Amen

Sing/Play Amen (Organ)

Bible Exits (Organ)