St. John's Meopham

14/07/2025

17/01/2022

Here is the link to the Meopham Review

15/07/2021

St John’s Meopham with St Mildred's Nurstead.

Worship at Home and Gathered in our buildings
Sunday 18th July 2021

9.45am Morning Worship (St. John’s)



Worship & other activities for August 2021

Sunday 25 July
945am Family Communion
1130am Family Service

Sunday 1 August
945am All Age Worship & Baptism
1130am Holy Communion

Sunday 8 August
945am Parish Communion
1130am Mattins

Sunday 15 August
800am Holy Communion
945am Morning Worship & Outward Giving

Sunday 22 August
945am Family Communion
1130am Family Service

Sunday 29 August
945am All Age Worship
400pm Evensong

Preparation
We come from scattered lives to meet with God.
Let us recognize his presence with us.

As God’s people we have gathered: let us worship him together.

We read & listen to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9bOiAxwi4U

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…

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…

Let us 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…
Marty Haugen (b.1950)
Time of Penitence:

The gospel calls us to turn away from sin
and be faithful to Christ.

As we offer ourselves to him in penitence and faith,
we renew our confidence and trust in his mercy.

Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy
forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

May the God of love and power
forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by his Spirit,
and raise us to new life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.


We read & listen to: -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eIQQayhpak

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
His goodness restores my soul.
And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,
And He anoints my head with oil,
And my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on His pure delights.
And I will trust in You alone,..

And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me, and Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know.
And I will trust in You alone,..
Stuart Townend (b 1963)

Reading: Mark 6, v 30-34, 53-56
30 The apostles gathered round Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’

32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognised them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognised Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried those who were ill on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed those who were ill in the market-places. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Sermon

We declare our faith in God:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.


Collect for 7th Sunday after Trinity

Generous God,
You give us gifts and make them grow;
Though our faith is small as mustard seed,
Make it grow to your glory
And the flourishing of your kingdom;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Intercessions

The Lord’s 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.

We read & listen to: -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUeNwAVMHEA

Name of all majesty,
fathomless mystery,
King of the ages
by angels adored;
power and authority,
splendour and dignity,
bow to his mastery,
Jesus is Lord!

Child of our destiny,
God from eternity,
love of the Father
on sinners outpoured;
see now what God has done
sending his only Son,
Christ the beloved One,
Jesus is Lord!

Saviour of Calvary,
costliest victory,
darkness defeated
and Eden restored;
born as a man to die,
nailed to a cross on high,
cold in the grave to lie,
Jesus is Lord!

Source of all sovereignty,
light, immortality,
life everlasting
and heaven assured;
so with the ransomed, we
praise him eternally,
Christ in his majesty,
Jesus is Lord!
Timothy Dudley Smith (b 1926)

Final Prayers

Creator God,
you give seed for us to sow,
and bread for us to eat;
make us thankful for what we have received
and generous in supplying the needs of others
so all the world may give you thanks and glory,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May God
who clothes the lilies and feeds the birds of the sky,
who leads the lambs to pasture and the deer to water,
who multiplied loaves and fishes and changed water into wine,
lead us, feed us, multiply us,
and change us to reflect the glory of our Creator
now and through all eternity.

The Lord God almighty is our Father:
he loves us and tenderly cares for us.

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Saviour:
he has redeemed us and will defend us to the end.

The Lord, the Holy Spirit, is among us:
he will lead us in God’s holy way.

To God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be praise and glory today and for ever. Amen.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included in this service, is copyright @ The Archbishops' Council 2020

"Name of All Majesty" was written by Bishop Timothy Dudley Smith in 1984.The tune is 'Majestas', composed by Michael Baughen in 1973.It is performed here by ...

08/07/2021

Here is the link to Meopham Review July 2021.

https://stjohnsmeopham.co.uk/media/meopham-review/

01/07/2021

St John’s Meopham with St Mildred’s Nurstead

Worship at Home and Gathered in our buildings
Sunday 4th July 2021

All Age Worship



Welcome to our worship today

9.45am All Age Worship (St John’s)
11.30am Holy Communion (St Mildred’s)



Worship & other activities for July 2021

Sunday 11 July
945am Parish Communion
1130am Patronal Festival for St Mildred’s

Sunday 18 July
945am Morning Worship

Sunday 25 July
945am Family Communion
1130am Family Service

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England (2000) (including the Psalter as published with Common Worship)

Welcome & Notices
At the beginning of our worship we acknowledge God’s presence
O Lord, our Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth.
You have set your glory above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.
(Psalm 8)

We read & listen to
https://youtu.be/5U4IMtvp6bg

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun
does its successive journeys run,
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore,
till moons shall wax and wane no more.

To him shall endless prayer be made,
and praises throng to crown his head.
His name like sweet perfume shall rise
with every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue
dwell on his love with sweetest song,
and infant voices shall proclaim
their early blessings on his name.

Blessings abound where'er he reigns:
the prisoners leap to lose their chains,
the weary find eternal rest,
and all who suffer want are blest.

Let every creature rise and bring
the highest honours to our King,
angels descend with songs again,
and earth repeat the loud Amen.

Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

We come before God with all our human failings
so we ask his forgiveness.

God our Father,
We come to you in sorrow for our sins.
For turning away from you and ignoring your will in our lives;
Father forgive us.

For behaving just as we wish, without thinking of you;
Father forgive us.

For failing you by what we do, and think and say;
Father forgive us.

For letting ourselves be drawn away from you
by temptations in the world about us:
Father forgive us.

For living as if we were ashamed to belong to your Son;
Father forgive us.

You are both power and love,
free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by your Spirit,
and raise us to new life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Assurance and Thanksgiving

In Christ we gain redemption;
Through his blood our sins are forgiven

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

Special prayer for today (the Collect)
Almighty God,
send down upon your Church
the riches of your Spirit,
and kindle in all who minister the gospel
your countless gifts of grace;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reading: Mark 6 v 1-13

Jesus left there and went to his home town, accompanied by his disciples. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
‘Where did this man get these things?’ they asked. ‘What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him.

4 Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honour except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.’ 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few people who were ill and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
8 These were his instructions: ‘Take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9 Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10 Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11 And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed with oil many people who were ill and healed them.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Talk

We read & listen to
https://youtu.be/2zr9SMm1glI

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry,
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?....

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame,
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?....

Acknowledgement:1981, Daniel L Schutte & New Dawn Music

We affirm our belief in the words of the Creed

We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us with power from on high.
We believe in one God: Father Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Intercessions - We pray for the world and ourselves.
We gather these and all our prayers in the words Jesus taught.

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 forever. Amen.

We read & listen to
https://youtu.be/eAYM8pWCwWk

Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
In you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see
If I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free
And never be the same?
Will you kiss the l***r clean,
And do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean
In you and you in me?

Will you love the 'you' you hide
If I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
And never be the same?
To reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound
In you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
When you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
And never be the same.
In your company I'll go
Where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow
In you and you in me.
John L Bell (b 1949)
and Graham Maule (b 1958)

Final prayer

The Lord God Almighty is our Father;
He loves us and tenderly cares for us.

The Lord Jesus Christ is our Saviour;
He has redeemed us and will defend us to the end.

The Lord, the Holy Spirit, is among us:
He will lead us in God’s holy way.

To God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be praise and glory today and for ever. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.

The ministers and people depart.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included in this service, is copyright @ The Archbishops' Council 2020

Recorded remotely by the Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields in their homes, and edited together. Used with permission.John L Bell (born 1949) and Gra...

01/07/2021

Sermon for Sunday July 4th 2021

Mark 6 vv1-13

Over the last year or so there were probably times when you felt a great need to be once more with family and friends, but were prevented by the considerations of ‘lock-down’.
In our reading we have heard that Jesus, presumably after some long time, had returned, along with a group of disciples, to his home town of Nazareth. But it was not to be just a visit to see his family and friends once more; it was a teaching and evangelising visit. He goes to the synagogue and begins to preach to his former neighbours.
Like them we know little of what Jesus had been doing since he left the small town but here he was in the midst of them – the carpenter from down the road - telling them about religious things and how they should be living! They were affronted. Where did he get all this stuff? We have known him since he was knee high to a grasshopper or perhaps a locust! How dare he come back and tell us how to live. He should stick to making furniture and doors! That’s what he supposed to know about.
They found it difficult to think that this local lad could know about other things.
And here is the lesson for us. The Holy Spirit doesn’t always follow our expectations! We need to be open to new ideas and be prepared to accept that the information and help we need can, and often does, come from unexpected or unusual sources.
Most importantly it is from the younger generations we must learn. Unlike the townsfolk of Nazareth, we must be prepared to look outside of our own circumstances for clues about the way forward. We must also accept that growth can come from within and we should not reject the ideas and practices of those from within our community just because they seem odd and outside our experience.
We began our worship with a quotation from Psalm 8, although you may be more familiar with the form of words used in the Authorised Version “from out of the mouths of babes and suckling”. Sometimes the solutions to difficult problems are found by looking at it with fresh eyes, using a different perspective. Jesus did just that when he preached, yet he was rejected by some who did not want to change their old way of thinking!
Jesus knew that there was little point in challenging such intransience and we see this reflected in the instructions he gave to his disciples as he sent them out to spread the word. He told them “And if any place will not welcome or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave.”
But, of course, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try!
We have a responsibility to ensure that everyone has access to Jesus’ message and we can’t afford to give up when we see little success. We have that same instruction, to go out and preach the Gospel to all those in the neighbourhood.
In order to do that we need young voices with new ideas. Not just babes and suckling, but young adults too who may be more in touch with the fast-changing society in which we live. Without them this congregation will literally die out.
We’ve tried a few things in the recent past, Messy Church and occasional youth activities, and maybe they worked to an extent, but we still need to come up with new and better ways to spread the gospel message into the coming generations.
Jesus told his disciples not to take extra supplies or equipment on their journey. They were to rely on what they found in the places they visited. For us perhaps that means being open-minded; not expecting that what we have done in the past to be the only way to approach things.
Over the past year or so we have had to think hard about what and how we offer worship. We have turned to new technologies in order to provide worship that can be shared when we could not meet together. We tried, with some success, providing ‘Zoom’ gatherings and not just for worship but for social contact as well. We also used older technology, phoning around to a group of friends to maintain contact. I might add that in the Methodist Church they have had a similar system for many years. When a new member joined the Church, they were assigned to a Class with the Class Leader responsible for their Church ‘welfare’. Perhaps that is something we might adopt!
Other Churches have managed to organise ‘on line’ broadcasting of their services.
Hopefully, in a few weeks, we should start to return to ‘normal’, whatever that is! When that happens, we shouldn’t just abandon all these new ideas, but look again at our worship provision to see if there is anything we have learned from our situation that we ought to continue with or develop further. It is important that we are not clinging to the old ways just because we are familiar with them. We need to reappraise what we do and how we do it. Of course, rejecting what we know and enjoy would be silly. The phrase, ‘throwing the baby out with the bath-water’ comes to mind, but to reject new ideas or techniques because we feel that we don’t completely understand them is also silly, rather we should work at them so that we feel competent in their use.
We need to ensure that what we do and say in the future will refresh the message we have of God’s love and redemption and if that means change then we should change.
Let’s not be like the people of Nazareth, who couldn’t accept that the boy from down the road might have the right idea, and reject the truth because we are not prepared to accept the messenger.
In our service we have included a hymn which contains the words which ask “Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same? Will you use the faith you've found to reshape the world around, through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?” Being brave enough to explore new ways of relating the Gospel to others is what God wants.
There is another hymn, that we often sing, which we might consider that uses the words, “Jesus, you are changing me, by your Spirit you’re making me like You”. Let us act on that, listening to his Spirit and allowing Him to speak to us and through us – even digitally!.

Clive Adams

19/06/2021

Meopham with Nurstead
Sunday 20 June 2021
Trinity 3 8am Said HC
Reading: Mark 4 v 35-41 Alyson Davie

****************
One of the many words that has been heard a lot over the last 15 months, along with the words and phrases like furlough, zoom and social distancing, is overwhelmed.

People have been
• overwhelmed by the statistics communicated during the pandemic,
• overwhelmed by illness, physical and mental health illness,
• overwhelmed by sorrow, bereavement and all that has been lost because of the lockdowns and then restrictions put in place.
• overwhelmed because of loss of jobs, routine, friendships, and family life.

But to know times when we might be overwhelmed by all going on around us is not new.
Being fearful is nothing new for us or members of our families, for each one of us there are things we fear, which threaten to overwhelm us
Fear is a natural reaction - a God given reaction - to those things that threaten us. But fear - while natural - can - if it is listened to too much - if it is indulged – leads to paralysis - Fear can prevent us from dealing with what threatens us; and it can - in the end – allow the thing we fear, to destroy us; not just our bodies, - but our hearts, and our minds, and even our souls.
In our reading today from Mark chapter 4 we hear the account of a situation which caused great fear. We heard that Jesus and the disciples were out on the lake at night.
Jesus, tired by a day of preaching and teaching to the vast crowds, asked the disciples to take him by boat to the other side of the lake. While they travelled, he slept on a cushion in the stern.
On the Sea of Galilee, storms were and are in fact quite frequent and one of them suddenly sprang up and threatened to swamp the boat.
It was fierce enough to make seasoned sailors afraid for their lives because they realised the power of the forces of nature which they had to battle against.
So, no doubt astounded, that in the midst of all this Jesus was still asleep, they woke Jesus and said “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” v 38
showing very clearly, their lack of trust in Jesus’ care for them.

Jesus woke and responded to their situation of extreme need, he rebuked the wind and told the sea to be still. With the result that the wind instantly dropped and the sea became calm.
Having done this, he then turned and said to his fearful disciples.
Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?

Their fear of the storm turned to fear about who Jesus was/is, because they knew from the Old Testament scriptures, that the one who can control the raging of the waters was none other than the God of Israel himself, posing for them the question just who is this in our midst?

At this point the disciples’ faith in Jesus was weak, they still saw Jesus as someone who must “do things” for them, rather than as someone in whom they could always have confidence and trust whatever the situation.
They were still growing in their walk with Jesus.
What Jesus wanted was their fledgling faith in him to grow, beyond only believing in what he could do, beyond the pull of the miraculous events,
to trust that his very presence amongst them, was enough for them to survive and more than survive but live life to the full.

Scholars think that the reason the story may have been told in Mark’s community in Rome, was that the Roman church was facing persecution and like the disciples was very much afraid.

The point Mark is trying to get across to them here, is that they too, should not be afraid because Jesus is with them.
Lo, I am with you always to the close of the age Matthew 28 v 20
The Holy Spirit is sent as a Comforter to encourage and uphold and challenge us to trust that God is with us.
We may not be facing persecution from an emperor who was mad, bad and dangerous to know, but currently we are all deep down afraid/ overwhelmed given the pandemic, the restrictions and all that has resulted because of it.

The message for us too, is not to be like the disciples lacking faith because Jesus appears to be inactive but trusting because he is with us and as God, he is stronger than anything that can possibly threaten us.
As one commentator has put it,
in the midst of persecution and all manner of perils, if Jesus be truly with his church, then, even though his help may not at once be felt,
his own must never doubt him and need have no fear. (C E B Cranfield “St Mark”)

As Christians we do not know what may happen to us tomorrow, next month, next year.
We have no guarantees that we will not run into our own particular “storms” that will cause us to be very much afraid and overwhelmed.
Nor do we have guarantees that God will give us immediate and miraculous deliverance.

What we do have and what we can hang on to are Jesus’ promises that:-
he is with us to the close of the age (Matthew 28 v 20)
And that the gates of hell will not be able to overcome his church (Matt 16 v 18)

and that even when we think he is not doing anything he is in fact still there looking after us.

What we must do as individuals and as a church, is to be courageous enough to acknowledge our fear and bring it to Jesus, asking him to give us the faith we need to cope with what he wants us to do.

Let us pray…

19/06/2021

St John’s Meopham with St Mildred's Nurstead.

Worship at Home and Gathered in our buildings
Sunday 20th June 2021

Patronal Festival
Morning Worship





Welcome to our worship today.

A very warm welcome to The Ven. Andy Wooding Jones
Archdeacon of Rochester joining us today at 945am

800am BCP Holy Communion (St Mildred’s)
945am Morning Worship (St. John’s)



Worship for June 2021

Sunday 20 June
800am Holy Communion
945am Patronal Festival Morning Worship

Sunday 27 June
945am Family Communion
1130am Family Service



1In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar……
the word of God came to John, son of Zechariah, in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Luke 3 v 1-3

Welcome, Banns & Notices

Acknowledging God’s presence

The Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Let us rejoice and shout for joy, giving God the glory.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.

God has gathered us here today, to meet with him, to offer him our worship, to ask his forgiveness, to learn what he would teach us and to bring our prayers and praises to him.
Let us praise his holy name

We read & listen to: -
https://youtu.be/vNGIrgPTxLU

On Jordan's bank the Baptist's cry
announces that the Lord is nigh.
Awake and harken, for he brings
glad tidings of the King of kings!

Then cleansed be every breast from sin:
make straight the way for God within,
prepare we in our hearts a home,
where such a mighty guest may come.

For thou art our salvation, Lord,
our refuge and our great reward.
Without thy grace we waste away
like flowers that wither and decay.

All praise to you, eternal Son,
whose advent sets thy people free,
whom with the Father we adore,
and Holy Ghost for evermore.

Charles Coffin (1676-1749)
A prayer of confession

John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said:
Look the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world
(John 1 v 29)
So let us confess our sins to God who forgives us in Christ.

We have not always worshipped God, our creator.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
We have not always followed Christ, our Saviour.
Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.
We have not always trusted in the Spirit, our guide.
Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

May God who loved the world so much
that he sent his Son to be our Saviour
forgive us our sins
and make us holy to serve him in the world,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Acclamation of Praise

Let us give thanks to the God of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.

Before the world was made, God chose us in Christ:
That we might be holy and blameless before him.

Let us praise God for the glory of his grace:
For the free gift he gave us in his dear son.

To Father, Son and Holy Spirit:
Give praise and dominion, honour and might,
for ever and ever. Amen.

We read & listen to: -
https://youtu.be/iu83WQdQ7-Y

I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry,
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, if you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.

I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people’s pain.
I have wept for love of them
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak my word to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?

I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame,
I will set a feast for them.
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give my life to them.
Whom shall I send?

Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?

Acknowledgement:1981, Daniel L Schutte & New Dawn Music

Today’s Reading: Luke 1 v 57-66, 80

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah, 60 but his mother spoke up and said, ‘No! He is to be called John.’
61 They said to her, ‘There is no one among your relatives who has that name.’

62 Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.’ 64 Immediately his mouth was opened, and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. 65 All the neighbours were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, ‘What then is this child going to be?’ For the Lord’s hand was with him.
80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Sermon by The Ven Andy Wooding Jones
Archdeacon of Rochester

The Apostles Creed

Together we say

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary.
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers

The Collect for the birth of John the Baptist
Almighty God, by whose providence
your servant John the Baptist was wonderfully born,
and sent to prepare the way of your Son our Saviour
by the preaching of repentance:
lead us to repent according to his preaching
and, after his example,
constantly to speak the truth, boldly to rebuke vice,
and patiently to suffer for the truth’s sake;
though Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Intercessions follow here.

The following responses may be used.

Lord in your mercy. Hear our prayer.

And to end

Merciful Father, accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Gathering these prayers and praises into one,
as our Saviour has taught, so we pray

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.

A time to say thank you to Bob Bareham
as we mark his retirement from ministry as a Reader.

We read & listen to: -
https://youtu.be/U-EZ_JpHFf0

I will sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me;
How He left His home in glory
For the cross of Calvary.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with his saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.

I was lost, but Jesus found me,
Found the sheep that went astray,
raised me up and gently led me
back into the narrow way.
Days of darkness still may meet me,
Sorrow’s path I oft may tread,
But His presence still is with me;
By His guiding hand I’m led.

He will keep me till the river
Rolls its waters at my feet;
Then He’ll bear me safely over,
made by grace for glory meet.
Yes, I’ll sing the wondrous story
Of the Christ Who died for me,
Sing it with his saints in glory,
Gathered by the crystal sea.
FH Rowley (1854-1952)
Final Prayers

Merciful Lord,
Whose prophet John the Baptist,
proclaimed your Son as the Lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world:
grant that we who have known your forgiveness
and your life-giving love
may ever tell of your mercy and your peace.
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessing

God, give you grace to follow his saints
in faith and hope and love,
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
be with you all evermore. Amen.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England,
material from which is included in this service, is copyright @ The Archbishops' Council 2020

A BRITISH CHRISTIAN MUSIC PROGRAMME-LENT 2013