I wonder what sort of mood you are in today? I guess it depends not only on which side of the bed you got out of, but more importantly upon your experiences in the past week – what you’ve done, what’s been done to you, who you’ve seen, what you’ve seen in the news or maybe what your close family have been up to. It is also dependent upon your physical and mental well-being.
But however you may be feeling this morning, I hope you are ready to rejoice in the Lord this morning – as Paul exhorts his readers “Rejoice in the Lord always” – not just when everything is going well.
Our first hymn today reminds us that the One we’ve come to worship this morning is King, and he is still reigning, and his kingdoms cannot fail.
SONG: 482 Rejoice, the Lord is King!
Prayer
Revelation 1: 5(b) – 6 To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father – to Him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
There are many songs we could use to uplift the wonderful name of Jesus – a name which we love so much, and whom we worship today Time for just one – I’ve chosen…
SONG: 379 Majesty, Worship His majesty (x2)
That verse we read just now reminds us of our salvation – yes, we’ve been freed from our sins by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Jesus is our Redeemer – he has taken away our guilt for ever, we’ve been set free – so we’ve really got something to rejoice in, even when other things seem to be against us.
Our next song takes up the theme of Jesus as our Redeemer, the One who takes our guilt away. He deals completely once and for all, with the problem we have of sin – past, present and future – He as it were casts them into the depths of the deepest sea – gone forever. He remembers them “NO MORE”. Isn’t that great.
SONG: 937 My lips shall praise you
That of course is our decision, whether we look upwards beyond the short-term problems of everyday life, look to the One who does know all about us, and is able to strengthen us as we look in faith to Him
Isaiah 40: 31 “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
SONG: 2034 Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
Whatever role God has for us in life at this time, we need by God’s grace to see people as Jesus would have seen them, to react to their needs as Jesus would, with compassion and sympathy.
The words of Jesus “Love one another as I have loved you” – how these words ring out in a world so fractured by hatred, leading to innumerable wars between people who should be living alongside each other in peace and harmony.
God does however call each of us to be peacemakers in a troubled world.
SONG: 381 Make me a channel of your peace.
Prayer
Breaking of Bread
Before we Break Bread together, I’d like us to sing a hymn which we tend only to use at Easter time.
It speaks quite vividly about our Saviour’s last hours as He was tried, beaten, and nailed to a cross. As He hung there bearing the wrath for sin – not His own, but ours – so that we can be forgiven. Let’s remain seated as we very thoughtfully sing this hymn together, contemplating as we do the price Jesus paid to set us free.
SONG: 1988 Oh, to see the dawn of the darkest day: Christ on the road to Calvary
“Through your suffering I am free …Life is mine to live… What love! What a cost! We stand forgiven at the cross.”
Sharing of Bread & Wine
Notes on talk by Martin Shorey
- Introduction to book of Ecclesiastes
- Book is part of the Wisdom literature, which comprises the books of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes
- Shows God’s interaction in people’s lives, applying principles from the OT to our lives today.
- Proverbs suggests that if we do good things, then good will come to us. But that is not how it works out, as it seems that in many instances it is the good who suffer, while the bad do well for themselves.
- The writer uses the word “Meaningless” about 40 times in the book. It refers to the idea of breath, smoke, or vapour, which you cannot get hold of. Life is meaningless, if it is not related to God.
- The most likely writer of the book is Solomon.
- READ Ecclesiastes 2: 1 -11
- Martin referred to the preparations a runner has to make to run even a half-marathon, especially diet control.
- The discipline of this was seen as worthwhile, because at the end was the promise of an ice lolly and a medal. The race resulted in thirst – especially for the lolly.
- What are we thirsting for? Something to finally make life really good.
- Advertisers spend their lives trying to persuade us that life really will be better once we have purchased their amazing new product. Be it a new drink, mobile phone or car.
- The writer declares in this passage some of the things he has tried – laughter, wine, great building projects, singers, a harem etc. We know he had 700 wives and 300 concubines. He really believed life would be better with all these things.
- But none of this made him happy, it was all a chasing after the wind. He had gained nothing.
- It is interesting how many people who have become rich and famous particularly in the entertainment industry finish up later in life declaring how miserable they had become – their riches didn’t produce what they really wanted in life.
- SO, what are WE thirsting for?
- READ John 4: 9 – 15
- The account of Jesus meeting a Samaritan woman at a well in Sychar.
- As a woman, one of ill repute, and a Samaritan, Jesus would not have been expected to get into a conversation with her.
- But Jesus knew her deepest need and was able to offer her something to fill the hole in her life. She had had 5 husbands, without any apparent satisfaction.
- Jesus claimed to be able to give her living water to completely quench her thirst and satisfy her needs.
- Are you thirsty? Where and to whom are you going to seek satisfaction in life?
- We can only find true satisfaction in Jesus, the one who can quench our thirst completely now and forever.
Closing Hymn – I heard the voice of Jesus say