Worship for Sunday 2nd August

GreetingWelcome in the name of Jesus. Peace be with you. Amen, and also with you!

Light a candle You might like to light a candle in your home as a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world, and the light of his love is always with us.

Gathering PrayerDear God,you look deep inside us,seeing not only our outer but our inner needs, too.Have compassion on us, we pray.

Feed us today from your holy word,and we will be filled.Amen.

CollectLord God,your Son left the riches of heavenand became poor for our sake:when we prosper save us from pride,when we are needy save us from despair,that we may trust in you alone;through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Song: This little light of mine

Confession (Saying Sorry to God)Trusting in God’s forgiveness, let us confess our failingsand acknowledge our part in the pain of the world:

We come believing in our emptiness,believing that we will never have enough,believing that what we have is unworthy.Forgive us and help us.

We come fearful of sharing,fearful of losing our tenuous grip on security,fearful of touching and knowing the pain of others.Forgive us and help us.

We come overwhelmed by the hunger,overwhelmed by the suffering of children near and far,overwhelmed by the endless tales of senseless violence, greed, and death.Forgive us and help us.

We come carrying the weight of responsibility,doubting that what we have to offer is enoughand struggling to imagine that with you, Lord, all things are possible.Forgive us and help us.

God’s forgiveness is declaredMay the God of lovebring you back to himself,forgive you your sins,and assure you of his eternal lovein Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Bible Reading: Matthew 14:13-21Feeding the Five ThousandNow when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Pause for thoughtIf you would like to do today’s craft activity, you will need: 2 paper plates

Glue or a stapler to join the plates together Scissors Crayons or felt tip pens Paper, out of which you cut out some simple bread

and fish shapes (like these here: https://www.firstpalette.com/pdf/fish-shape4.pdf)

Song: I will offer up my life

PrayersTransforming God,ever at work among the poor,the hungry,the weak,the lowly,teach us to live not by our values but by yours.

When we feel feeble and powerless,incapable of meeting the challenges before us;when we feel our resources are too smalland the demands put upon us too great;when we feel we can achieve littleand so set limits of what you can do through us,teach us to live not by our values but by yours.

When we look around us and see no sign of you kingdom,when so much evil seems to triumph over so little good,when the problems of our world seem manyand the answers to them few,when hope seems futile and despair more than justified,when truth and love appear overwhelmedby falsehood and hatred,teach us to live not by our values but by yours.

Transforming God,help us to recognise that you can usewhat seems small in our eyes beyond all our imagining,that from the smallest of beginningsyou can bring the greatest of results. Teach us that you can use others,that you can use us, that you can use anyone. teach us to live not by our values but by yours,to the glory of your name, Amen.

As our Saviour taught us, 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 sinsas we forgive those who sin against us.Lead us not into temptationbut deliver us from evil.For the kingdom, the power,and the glory are yoursnow and for ever.Amen.

Statement of FaithLet us declare our faith in God:We believe in God the Father,from whom every familyin heaven and on 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 uswith power from on high.

We believe in one God;Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Amen.

Song: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Closing PrayerBy the end of the day, the crowds must have been exhausted.They left with full stomachs and full hearts.They had met with Jesus.You have fed us this morning, Lord,and we go out to live the lives you call us to.May we be conscious of your perfect timing in our lives,as we reach out to the outsiders as well as to our own.Bless us, Lord.Amen.

BlessingThe love of the Lord Jesusdraw you to himself,the power of the Lord Jesusstrengthen you in his service,the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts;And the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,be among you and remain with you always.

EndingWe go into the worldto walk in God’s light,to rejoice in God’s loveand to reflect God’s gloryin the name of Christ, Amen.

Chorus:This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.Let is shine, let it shine, let it shine.

The light that shines is the light of love,Lights the darkness from above,It shines on me and it shines on you,And shows what the power of love can do.I’m gonna shine my light both far and near,I’m gonna shine my light both bright and clear,Where there’s a dark corner in this landI’m gonna let my little light shine. Chorus

On Monday He gave me the gift of love,Tuesday, peace came from above,On Wednesday He told me to have more faith,On Thursday He gave me a little more grace,Friday, He told me to watch and pray,Saturday, He told me just what to say,On Sunday He gave me the power divineTo let my little light shine.Chorus

I will offer up my life in spirit and truth Pouring out the oil of love as my worship to You In surrender I must give my ev’ry part Lord, receive the sacrifice of a broken heart

Chorus:Jesus, what can I give, what can I bring To so faithful a Friend to so loving a King Saviour, what can be said, what can be sung As a praise of Your name for the things You have done Oh, my words could not tell not even in part Of the debt of love that is owed by this thankful heart

You deserve my ev’ry breath For You’ve paid the great cost Giving up Your life to death Even death on a cross You took all my shame away There defeated my sin Opened up the gates of heav’n And have beckoned me in Chorus

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!Come, all who hear; brothers and sisters draw near,Praise him in glad adoration!

2 Praise to the Lord, above all things so mightily reigning;keeping us safe at his side, and so gently sustaining!Have you not seen all you have needed has beenmet by his gracious ordaining?

3 Praise to the Lord, who shall prosper our work and defend us;Surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend us.

Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,who with his love will befriend us.

4 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.Let the ‘Amen!’ sound from his people again;gladly we praise and adore him.