Printed Service – Sunday 2nd June 2024
Prepared by Rev. Saul Tadzaushe
‘Perseverance’
Call to worship read Psalm 139
Hymn STF476 – One more step along the road I go.
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One more step along the world I go
One more step along the world I go
From the old things to the new
Keep me traveling along with you
And it’s from the old I travel to the new
Keep me traveling along with you
‘Round the corners of the world I turn
More and more about the world I learn
And the new things that I see
You’ll be looking at along with me
As I travel through the bad and good
Keep me traveling the way I should
Where I see no way to go
You’ll be telling me the way, I know
Give me courage when the world is rough
Keep me loving though the world is tough
Leap and sing in all I do
Keep me traveling along with you
You are older than the world can be
You are younger than the life in me
Ever old and ever new
Keep me traveling along with you
And it’s from the old I travel to the new
Keep me traveling along with you
Prayer of Adoration
O Living God, in the life and ministry of your Son, Jesus Christ, you are revealed to us as mercy and grace yet you still beyond us, your compassion too great for us to fully understand.
All we can do is adore you.
O Living God in the death and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ,
You are revealed to us as forgiveness and love, yet you are still greater than we can imagine, your thoughts and ways more wonderful than we can grasp.
All we can do is adore you.
Prayer of Confession
We are sorry, Father God ,that when things have gone wrong for us, we give up, we surrender , we shift the blame to other people without examining ourselves. Forgive us, Lord Jesus Christ, for the wrong things we have done knowingly and unknowingly. Amen
Hymn STF563 – O Jesus I have promised
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O Jesus, I have promised
to serve Thee to the end;
be Thou forever near me,
my Master and my Friend;
I shall not fear the battle
if Thou art by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if Thou wilt be my Guide.
O let me feel Thee near me,
the world is ever near;
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear;
my foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but, Jesus, draw Thou nearer,
and shield my soul from sin.
O let me hear Thee speaking
in accents clear and still,
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will;
O speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control!
O speak, and make me listen,
Thou Guardian of my soul!
O Jesus, Thou hast promised
to all who follow Thee
that where Thou art in glory
there shall Thy servant be;
and, Jesus, I have promised
to serve Thee to the end;
O give me grace to follow,
my Master and my Friend!
Bible Reading: Mark 2:23-3:6
One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shrivelled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shrivelled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Reflections on the Theme Perseverance in the face of condemnation, opposition, negative criticism, and struggles.
Jesus Christ, our Lord was condemned for doing good. Healing the sick and feeding the hungry on the sabbath day.
There are people in the community who are just there to condemn others without giving an alternative or a solution to the problem.
Let us stand firm in showing love and compassion, justice, and mercy.
We need strength, courage, and faith in Jesus Christ. Our Lord to become overcomers.
Be prepared to endure challenges and setbacks on our own journeys of faith.
Our response will always shape our character and destiny.
My brothers and sisters in Christ Let us always remember that we are never alone. We are not alone. Christ is with us all the time.
We do everything in his name, for his name’s sake, and for his glory and honour.
May the good Lord bless. Amen.
Prayer of Intercession. Let us pray for the whole world and its challenges. Let us pray for our communities and church.
Hymn STF566 – Take my life, and let it be.
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Take my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee,
swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice and let me sing
always, only, for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
filled with messages from thee,
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
every power as thou shalt choose,
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne,
it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee,
ever, only, all for thee.
The Lord Prayer
Benediction
Dismissal