Faith in the fast lane

CALL TO WORSHIP

From a world of choices we choose to spend time with God. Let us offer him what we have and who we are, with faith that God calls us to a holy life.

       HYMN

I, the Lord of sea and sky (StF 663)

     GATHERING PRAYER

God of power, give us your Spirit of love and self-discipline, that we may live relying on your power and responding to your calling. Give us grace to make choices that will increase our faith and strengthen our obedience to Jesus Christ, who is our Lord and Saviour. Amen.

Creator of our world, Saviour of our souls, guardian of our hearts, we come to you today, acknowledging that we are yours. We belong to you, and in our belonging, we find faith – faith to live our lives, celebrating your goodness and faithfulness to us. Amen.

     PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

O God, where we have brought an agenda or expectation that is faithless or cynical, forgive us. Where we have considered ourselves better than we are, or more deserving than others, forgive us. Where we have forgotten the call to faithfulness and dismissed your importance in our lives, forgive us. Where we have demanded special treatment and disregarded that which truly matters, forgive us. Give us a renewed faith today, O God; remind us of your calling on our lives and restore us to community. In Jesus’ name and by your Spirit’s power. Amen.  

Blessed be you, Lord God, for your forgiveness. This is the God who calls us: a generous and forgiving God. This is the God who redeems us: the One who made us and treasures us. This the God who restores us: a leader worthy of our trust. We take a deep breath of God’s grace and know that we can begin again. Let us go forward in renewed faith. Amen.

        THE LORD’S PRAYER

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 trespasses,

As we forgive those that trespass against us,

And lead us not into temptation,

But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory,

Forever and ever Amen.

      READING 1

Lamentations 1: 1-6

How deserted lies the city,

 once so full of people!

How like a widow is she,

      who once was great among nations!

She who was queen among the provinces

    has now become a slave.

2 Bitterly she weeps at night,

    tears are on her cheeks.

Among all her lovers

    there is no one to comfort her.

All her friends have betrayed her;

    they have become her enemies.

3 After affliction and harsh labour,

    Judah has gone into exile.

She dwells among the nations;

    she finds no resting place.

All who pursue her have overtaken her

    in the midst of her distress.

4 The roads to Zion mourn,

    for no one comes to her appointed festivals.

All her gateways are desolate,

    her priests groan,

her young women grieve,

    and she is in bitter anguish.

5 Her foes have become her masters;

    her enemies are at ease.

The Lord has brought her grief

    because of her many sins.

Her children have gone into exile,

    captive before the foe.

6 All the splendour has departed

    from Daughter Zion.

Her princes are like deer

    that find no pasture;

in weakness they have fled

    before the pursuer.

READING 2

Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept

    when we remembered Zion.

2 There on the poplars

    we hung our harps,

3 for there our captors asked us for songs,

    our tormentors demanded songs of joy;

    they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”

4 How can we sing the songs of the Lord

    while in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, Jerusalem,

    may my right hand forget its skill.

6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth

    if I do not remember you,

if I do not consider Jerusalem

    my highest joy.

7 Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did

    on the day Jerusalem fell.

“Tear it down,” they cried,

    “tear it down to its foundations!”

8 Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction,

    happy is the one who repays you

    according to what you have done to us.

9 Happy is the one who seizes your infants

    and dashes them against the rocks.

        Thoughts on readings

Finding Hope in the Midst of Despair

Introduction

Lamentations is a book written by Jerimiah not famous for joy and happiness, its words are a raw and honest a reflection on grief, loss, and the aftermath of catastrophe. Lamentations 1:1-6 paint a vivid picture of Jerusalem sitting desolate and alone, mourning the consequences of devastation and exile. After 30 years of Jeremiah calling for repentance, falling on deaf ears and resulting in the destruction of the city.

The Text: Lamentations 1:1-6

In these verses, Jerusalem is described as a grieving widow, a queen reduced to servitude, full of sorrow over her losses.

The Reality of Lament

The lament is not a denial of God, and it’s not an act of faithlessness. Rather, lament is the language of those who trust God enough to bring him their pain to him.

The opening verses of Lamentations are an invitation for us to express our own grief honestly—to mourn what we have lost, to put a name our pain, and to stand before God without pretence.

For Jerusalem, the pain is both external—the ravaged city, the loss of home—and internal: guilt, shame, and the ache of abandonment. “She has no comforter,” the text repeats, emphasizing the depth of loneliness that follows her great loss.

The Consequences of Turning Away

Much of Jerusalem’s suffering is due to her turning away from God’s ways. The passage tells us, “After affliction and harsh labour, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place.” Choices made in the past have led to the pain of the present. This is not to say all suffering is deserved; rather, the text invites us to honest self-examination: Where have we turned away from what is right? In what ways have we contributed to our own current situation?

The Hope Within the Lament

While these verses are heavy with sorrow, the act of lament itself is a step towards hope. To lament is to refuse to give in to despair; it’s to believe that our cries are heard, even if the answer is not immediate. In acknowledging brokenness, we create space for healing.

Lamentations doesn’t end in chapter one. The book moves towards hope and restoration, ending in the conviction that “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.” But first, there is a time of sitting among the ruins, to weep, and to wait.

Application: Lamenting Today

In our own lives, we may encounter moments when hope seems far away, when our choices—or the circumstances we face in life—leave us feeling abandoned or overwhelmed. The words of Lamentations teach us that it is all right to grieve. We don’t need to mask our sorrow or pretend all is well. God hears our lamentations.

As a community, we are called to be present for one another in times of loss, to offer comfort rather than judgement, and to look together for signs of hope. Just as Jerusalem’s exile was not the end of the story, so it is with our moments of deep sorrow can become the starting point for new beginnings.

Conclusion: Faith Through the Tears

Let’s remember: to lament is a deeply faithful act. It is an act of trust in a God who sees, who hears, and who ultimately redeems. As we sit, for a while, with the words of Lamentations 1:1-6, may we find courage to bring our whole selves to God, trusting that even in the depths of sorrow, that hope, and trust will come.

Finding Faithfulness in Exile

Introduction

Psalm 137 stands as one of the most haunting passages in the Book of Psalms. It is a Psalm of exile, expressing raw emotion, that echo’s our reading from Lamentations it shows deep sorrow, and the painful memory of the lost home Jerusalem. We find words not only of grief from people in captivity but also hope and faith that can be found even in the darkest places.

Reading Psalm 137

Context: Exile and Grief

This Psalm was written by Israelites taken into captivity in Babylon, far from their beloved Jerusalem. You can sense their grief. The rivers of Babylon were not just bodies of water, but symbols of their sorrow and displacement. The people are asked to sing songs of joy, but we are told their harps hang silent in mourning. It is a scene of profound loss and longing.

Anyone who has felt exiled from a place of comfort, from home, or from a sense of belonging can relate to this. The question is, "How can we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?" echoes in the hearts of all those who struggle with grief, trauma, or alienation.

The Challenge: Faith in Hard Places

The Psalmist’s lament reveals the struggle of maintaining faith when circumstances seem hopeless. The captors’ demand for joyful songs is a cruel irony, expecting that the people will mask their pain and pretend all is well. Yet, the Psalmist’s response is honest, there are times when singing is impossible, when faith feels far away.

And yet, even in this pain, the Psalm doesn’t end in despair. It continues:

If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill.

May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you,

if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.

Here is a stubborn faithfulness, a refusal to let go of identity and hope. Even in exile, the memory of Jerusalem, of God's promises, and of worship is still there.

The Power of Remembering

Remembering is an act of hope. To remember Jerusalem is to remember God's covenant, to cling to the belief that exile is not the end of the story. The Psalmist’s words invite us to carry our faith even when the world seems hostile or indifferent. To hang up the harp is not to break it.

In our own experiences of exile—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—we are reminded that to remember God’s goodness is to resist despair. Our memories become anchors, holds us when storms rage.

Justice, Anger, and Honest Prayer

The later verses of Psalm 137 confront us with difficult language of anger and a cry for justice. These words are uncomfortable, yet they reflect the reality and longing for retribution that sufferers may feel. Rather than dismiss these feelings, the Psalm invites us to bring even our anger and pain before God, trusting Him with our rawest emotions.

As Christians, we are also called to seek forgiveness and reconciliation, but we must not ignore the reality of suffering.

This Psalm gives us permission to be honest in our prayers and to trust God with the full range of our feelings.

Conclusion: Singing in the Dark

Psalm 137 teaches us that there will be times in life when singing is hard and faith is tested. In moments of grief or displacement, we may feel like our harps are hanging on distant trees. Yet, God meets us in exile. Our longing, our remembrance, and even our anger is not wasted—they become prayers, and they bear witness to our hope.

Let’s remember, as the Psalmist did, that exile is not our final home. God’s promises endure. One day, the rivers of Babylon will give way to the streets of Jerusalem, and sorrow will be turned to joy. Until then, may we remain faithful, honest, and hopeful, carrying our memories and our faith into every place we find ourselves.

HYMN

O come, O come, Immanuel (StF 180)

      READING 3

       Luke 17: 5-10

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

7 “Suppose one of you has a servant ploughing or looking after the sheep. Will he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Won’t he rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Will he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

HYMN

In Christ alone my hope is found (StF 351)

SERMON

A 15-Minute Sermon on Luke 17:5–10

Introduction

We turn now to a short but deeply profound passage from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 17, verses 5 to 10. In these verses, Jesus offers his disciples powerful lessons about faith and the nature of Christian service. Let’s listen reflect on how these words speak to our lives today.

1. The Disciples’ Request: “Increase Our Faith!”

Notice how the disciples come to Jesus with a heartfelt plea: “Increase our faith!” As they sense the challenge of following Christ—his teachings on forgiveness, compassion, and discipleship—and they feel inadequate. How often do we also feel our faith is too small to face life’s challenges?

They don’t ask for more miracles or greater authority, but more faith—a deeper trust in God.

This humble request is something we can all relate to. Faith is not just an abstract belief but a living trust, a relationship with God that helps us to journey on, even when the way ahead seems daunting.

2. Jesus’ Response: The Power of Small Faith

Jesus responds in an unexpected way. He doesn’t set out a complex process of spiritual feats. Instead, he says, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed…” The mustard seed was known for being tiny—the smallest of all seeds used by farmers in ancient Israel.

Yet, Jesus says, even the smallest measure of authentic faith can achieve the impossible: telling a mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey.

What does this mean for us? Jesus is teaching that the issue is not the amount of faith, but where our faith lies. Even a little genuine faith, trusting wholly in God, is powerful. Faith is not about feeling strong or confident in ourselves, but about recognising our dependence on God, who is able to do all things.

3. The Parable of the Servant: Humble Service

Then immediately after speaking about faith, Jesus tells a parable about a servant returning from the fields. Instead of being invited to sit and eat, the servant is expected to continue serving. Only after the master’s needs are met does the servant eat. And, importantly, the servant is not praised for doing what was expected; he is simply doing his duty.

This sounds harsh to our modern ears, but Jesus is making an important point about the attitude of Christian service. We are called to serve God—not for recognition or reward, but out of humble obedience. Our service is not about pride, but humility. As Jesus says, “When you have done all you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”

True faith expresses itself in humble, obedient service. We serve not to earn God’s favour, but because we have received His grace. Our acts of love, kindness, and sacrifice are simply the natural response to God’s mercy towards us.

4. Applying the Passage to Our Lives

So, what does this passage call us to do?

· Trust in God with what faith you have. You may feel that your faith is small, but God can do great things through small faith.

· Serve with humility. Let us not seek praise or recognition but serve God and others out of love—knowing that we are responding to the grace we have received.

· Remember our identity. We are God’s beloved children, not because of our deeds, but because of His love and grace.

Conclusion

As we leave this place today, may we be people of mustard seed faith—small, perhaps, but real, and wholly placed in God’s hands. May we serve with the humility that recognises all we have and all we do is by God’s grace. And may we, like the disciples, continually ask the Lord to increase our faith, trusting that He will meet us in our weakness and do more than we could ever imagine.

Amen.

HYMN

Be still and know that I am God (StF 18)

COLLECTION!!!!

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

We are those who hope in you, gracious God, for we know your mercy and are thankful for your provision. Thank you for giving us strength for today. Thank you for your Holy Spirit, who surrounds us and dwells within us, fanning into flame the gifts you have given us. Thank you for giving us a place to belong. Amen.

God of all hope, we your people, lift before you the world.

We pray for those fighting in the Ukraine, for those suffering in Russian hands. We think too of the innocent, those who have had to flee their homes and country and long for the day they can return. We pray for the people in Russia who have been arrested for protesting against the war with Ukraine and for those leaving rather than having to stay and fight for something they don’t believe in.

God of all hope, who frames our faith with loving freedom, we put into your hands our prayers for peace, unity and justice.

We lift before you all who are concerned about today’s economy as the pound sterling falls. We pray for all people concerned about paying bills, for businesses in our local communities struggling to keep going. We pray for those who, as the weather gets colder and energy bills spiral, will have to decide between heating or eating.

God of all hope, who frames our faith with loving freedom, we put into your hands our prayers for trust and provision.

We pray for your church, God, that in these difficult, unpredictable times it will stand firm upon your word. We pray for all ministers and leaders who guide and nurture your people. We pray too for all Christians in parliament. May their voices be heard as they follow your path.

God of all hope, who frames our faith with loving freedom, we put into your hands our prayers for wisdom and guidance for all who lead.

We pray for the sick and all who look after them. We pray for all suffering with mental health issues, particularly social media’s influence today on young people’s mental health. We pray for the bereaved, those who are having to adapt to life without a loved one in it, We pray for those we know who are in need of your healing touch and name them in our hearts.

God of all hope, who frames our faith with loving freedom, we put into your hands our prayers for healing and comfort. We lift all people who are grieving and entering a new phase in life. May they walk in the power of your love.

We your people, pray for all those trapped by boundaries not of your making; the exploited, the abused. May they know your loving freedom as even the tiniest seeds of faith root and grow in loving trust. In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

HYMN

Teach me, my God and King, in all things thee to see (StF 668)

BLESSING

Help us, Lord, to make the most of whatever you have given us. Thank you that our faith has grown during our life’s journey, and we can look back on all the ways you have helped us. Show us how our faith can continue to grow, and help us to do whatever is necessary for that to happen, in Jesus’ name. Amen.