Fir Lane 19/9/2021

Call to worship

At this time, in this place, let us worship God – with open ears ready to listen and hearts ready to receive, minds willing to be challenged and attitudes given to God. Come, we worship God as one.

633 My soul finds rest in God alone

A gathering prayer

Lord God, you call us to live our best lives – for you, with you, in you. We may sometimes pause to smell the coffee or the roses, but we are often too busy to take time to be aware of you – that you are with us, in us, and in those around us. Quieten our hearts now to recognise you in this place today. Help us to reach out to one another with love, care and compassion, so that we can all live our best life for you. Amen.

A prayer of adoration

God, who loves little children, we adore you. We drink in the wonder of your presence, the specialness of our relationship with you. You are far beyond our understanding, your love is greater than our greatest dreams. We worship you, our Lord and our God. Amen.

A prayer of confession and an assurance of forgiveness

The response after each petition is: Lord, please forgive me, and teach me my rightful place in you. (Take a moment to think about what jostling for position means to you. Where do you see yourself in relation to others?) Jesus said: ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be last.’ Lord, for the times I’ve put myself first, or argued with people, because I think I know better than them or that I am better than them… For the times when I don’t want to be a servant because I think I’m capable of greater things… When I don’t recognise Christ in those around me because I’m too busy looking out for myself… When I don’t understand what people mean, perhaps not understanding their feelings of fear or inadequacy… When I jostle for position, rather than being happy where you put me…

Assurance of forgiveness

You challenge us, Lord, when we do wrong. You get us to focus by using questions, even though you know the answers. Your image is present in each one of us. When we confess our sins, you are always there to forgive us. We stand now, humbly in your presence. Forgiven. Acknowledging that you are the greatest (keep silence). Amen.

The lords Prayer

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation

but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours

now and for ever.

Amen.

682 God of grace and God of glory.

Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969)

God of grace and God of glory,

on your people pour your power;

crown your ancient Church’s story;

bring her bud to glorious flower.

Grant us wisdom,

grant us courage,

for the facing of this hour.

Heal your children’s warring madness;

bend our pride to your control;

shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

rich in things and poor in soul.

Grant us wisdom,

grant us courage,

lest we miss your kingdom’s goal.

Lo, the hosts of evil round us

scorn your Christ, assail his ways!

Fears and doubts too long have bound us;

free our hearts to work and praise.

Grant us wisdom,

grant us courage,

for the living of these days.

Reading:

Mark 9: 30-37

James 3:13-4:3-8

611 Brother, sister, let me serve.

Richard A. M. Gillard (b. 1953)

Brother, sister, let me serve you,

let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace

to let you be my servant too.

We are pilgrims on a journey,

and companions on the road;

we are here to help each other

walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ-light for you

in the night-time of your fear;

I will hold my hand out to you,

speak the peace you long to hear.

I will weep when you are weeping;

when you laugh I'll laugh with you;

I will share your joy and sorrow

till we've seen this journey through.

When we sing to God in heaven

we shall find such harmony,

born of all we've known together

of Christ's love and agony.

Brother, sister, let me serve you,

let me be as Christ to you;

pray that I may have the grace

to let you be my servant too.

Sermon

SERMON

Who is the greatest sports person? Musician? Superhero? (Add your own categories!) From among those named, who would be the greatest of all? How did you decide? Is the greatest person also the best?

Leaving aside celebrities and famous people – and no need to call out your answer this time – who do you think is the greatest person you know, and why? How do you measure greatness? Or, if you prefer, what does greatness mean? Where do you see yourself on the scale of greatness? In our worship today, we will think more about these questions.

In our reading from James he asks, ‘Who is wise?’.

What is our measure of wisdom today?

We have just looked at who is the greatest but are they wise?

In fact, what is wisdom? Our highly education-based systems tell us that qualifications are the most paramount, and a skilled workforce is, indeed, important. But there are many highly qualified people who aren’t much help in everyday situations.

Wisdom must be more than just qualifications.

Worldly measures of wisdom, intelligence and success don’t easily match with the standards set in the Bible. In his book.

The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical, Shane Claiborne, the American Christian activist says: ‘In an era of smart bombs, maybe the world needs more fools.’

Jesus, and the New Testament as a whole, tends to invert earthly measures of importance and success. Yet we find that hard.

Do our church publications have our leaders’ titles and academic qualifications on them? If so, why?

Is it to give more gravitas to the words they give?

In the passage from Mark, there is both literal and symbolic movement: the physical journey towards Jerusalem and the dawning understanding by the followers of Jesus.

Jesus disturbs his disciples by predicting his suffering and death. However, the disciples – whether through misunderstanding, or to avoid thinking about it – argue and jostle for position: which of them is the greatest?

Jesus obviously knows what is in their hearts asks “what were you talking about “

In Mark 3:4 we are told “They were silent” like the people in the synagogue, they felt guilty, and maybe a little ashamed.

Jesus responded with talk about the first being last and the last, first. He drew a little child into the middle of the group, saying that welcoming a child was an example of welcoming him. How might this relate to us?

Jesus used a child as an object lesson. He did not command his disciples to become like children but to welcome those who are like a little child. A child is an example of a person with no status and no rights.

In encouraging a servant mentality, Jesus is not advocating a Uriah Heep-like false humility, but a commitment to devote our skills and abilities to the benefit of others, rather than for our own importance of position. This is generally counter-intuitive and counter-cultural. Perhaps this is the reason for the ‘child in the midst’ example, which is worth some serious consideration. Jesus’ use of a child is liable to be seen as sentimental.

Today we need to appreciate the lack of esteem for children in first-century culture, so that offering a child as an example would be shocking and subversive. The status of children is different now.

There are those who warn of the dangers inherent in seeking to ‘serve’ the poor and powerless (in food banks or soup kitchens, for example) – the ‘servants can become patronising and the ‘served’ dependent. The child-based example also aids us here. A good parent supports their child in becoming a fully-fledged individual, encouraging not independence, but interdependence. We must serve each other, being humble enough to serve and be served. Here lies wisdom, and greatness.

When Jesus asks the disciples what they were arguing about, they are silent, perhaps out of embarrassment. What arguments dominate the agenda of our Church? Might we be embarrassed if Jesus was to ask us what we are arguing about? Are our disagreements a marker of our priorities, and are our priorities Jesus’ priorities?

I like us to look at this picture and ask three questions

Where might these pilgrims be going?

Who are you in the crowd?

Why do you think Jesus has a child on his shoulders?

In the light of this morning’s reading, we know this is the last time Jesus retuned to the house in Capernaum.

Jesus is leading His disciples to Jerusalem, and as they went, He reminded them of what would happen to Him there.

Jesus tries to prepare the disciples for the harrowing events that lie ahead. He is the Son of man, but his road to glory must pass through death. Mark is very frank in admitting that the disciples can’t understand what Jesus is talking about.

And as we have already heard, they were not grieved enough to set aside their personal dispute over which of them was the greatest! After they heard what Jesus had said about His own suffering and death, you would think they would have forgotten their own selfish plans and concentrated on Him.

True humility means knowing yourself, accepting yourself, being yourself—your best self—and giving of yourself for others. The world’s philosophy is that you are “great” if others are working for you, but Christ’s message is that greatness comes from our serving others. Since the words “child” and “servant” are the same in the Aramaic language, it is easy to see why Jesus connected the two. If we have the heart of a child, we will have little difficulty being servants; and if we have the attitude of servants, we will welcome the children as the representatives of Jesus Christ and the Father.

409 Let us build a house where love can dwell

Marty Haugen (b. 1950)

Let us build a house where love can dwell

and all can safely live,

a place where saints and children tell

how hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions,

rock of faith and vault of grace;

here the love of Christ shall end divisions:

All are welcome,

all are welcome,

all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where prophets speak,

and words are strong and true,

where all God’s children dare to seek

to dream God’s reign anew.

Here the cross shall stand as witness

and as symbol of God’s grace;

here as one we claim the faith of Jesus:

All are welcome,

all are welcome,

all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where love is found

in water, wine and wheat:

a banquet hall on holy ground

where peace and justice meet.

Here the love of God, through Jesus,

is revealed in time and space;

as we share in Christ the feast that frees us:

All are welcome,

all are welcome,

all are welcome in this place.

Let us build a house where hands will reach

beyond the wood and stone

to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,

and live the Word they’ve known.

Here the outcast and the stranger

bear the image of God’s face;

let us bring an end to fear and danger:

All are welcome,

all are welcome,

all are welcome in this place.

Let us a build a house where all are named,

their songs and visions heard

and loved and treasured, taught and claimed

as words within the Word.

Built of tears and cries and laughter,

prayers of faith and songs of grace,

let this house proclaim from floor to rafter:

All are welcome,

all are welcome,

all are welcome in this place.

A prayer of thanksgiving

Thank you, Lord, that we can always find our place in you. Thank you that we belong to you, and no one can take that away from us. We are secure in your loving arms. We need never be afraid to ask you anything. Thank you for the people who give us a cup of water, and much more, because we belong to you. Thank you for the times we can meet blessing with blessing. Amen.

Prayers of intercession

Lord, we pray for all who have decisions to make today, or who face difficulties or challenges in their lives. We pray for those who are making decisions on behalf of others, and those whose decisions affect lives other than their own. We pray that they may have courage to do what is right, and the vision to see what is important, when there are so many other distractions. We pray that they may all have the wisdom that comes from you – pure, peace-loving, gentle and merciful. We pray for your Church, in all her diversity, that she may seek you above all, that you may grant her discernment and compassion. We pray that we may yield good fruit in our lives, not ‘lording’ it over others or squabbling about what we deserve but instead considering the needs of others first. Let us receive as we have been received, forgive as we have been forgiven, and love as we have been loved. For Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

238 Lead us heavenly Father lead us.

James Edmeston (1791–1867)

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us

o'er the world's tempestuous sea;

guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,

for we have no help but thee,

yet possessing every blessing

if our God our Father be.

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us;

all our weakness thou dost know,

thou didst tread this earth before us,

thou didst feel its keenest woe;

tempted, taunted, yet undaunted,

through the desert thou didst go.

Spirit of our God, descending,

fill our hearts with heavenly joy,

love with every passion blending,

pleasure that can never cloy;

thus provided, pardoned, guided,

nothing can our peace destroy.

Sending out and blessing

Lord, Jesus, may we go out into the world to shine with your love, listen with your ears and speak words of kindness and hope to everyone we meet – in your name. Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face towards you. and give you peace;

and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.