Sunday 25th June 2023
Prepared by Rev. Andrew Sankey
Core Values: Getting to the heart of things

Call to worship:          And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.  Not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing nearer.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Hymn StF 317     At the name Jesus
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At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow,
every tongue confess him King of Glory now.
‘Tis the Father’s pleasure we should call him Lord,
who from the beginning was the mighty Word.

Humbled for a season, to receive a name
from the lips of sinners unto whom he came,
faithfully he bore it spotless to the last,
brought it back victorious when from death he passed:

Bore it up triumphant with its human light,
through all ranks of creatures to the central height,
to the throne of Godhead, to the Father’s breast;
filled it with the glory of that perfect rest.

In your hearts enthrone him;
there let him subdue
all that is not holy, all that is not true;
crown him as your captain
in temptation’s hour:
let his will enfold you
in its light and power.

For this same Lord Jesus
shall return again, with his Father’s glory,
with his angel train;
all the wreaths of empire meet upon his brow, and our hearts confess him
King of Glory now.

Caroline Maria Noel (1817–1877)

Prayer : Creator God, accept our praise.

Creator God, immortal, intimate and imaginative, your breath brings life to all creation,
your spark of love is at the heart of each atom: With all of creation we offer You, our praise.

From the moment before time began you have loved and known each person here
You have been concerned with our thoughts, words, and actions: With all of creation we offer You, our praise.

There is not an hour when you abandon us, You are constant: loving, protecting and guiding us.  You are wise beyond our knowing: With all of creation we offer You, our praise.

To you the darkness and light are the same. You see, love and understand your children night and day.
we are painstakingly and wonderfully made: With all of creation we offer You, our praise. Amen

Reading : Philippians2:1-11
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father.

Sermon

What are you core values? For CYM (Christian Youth Ministries, Ipswich) they are Collaborative, Generosity, Creative and Joyful. These are basic Christian values.

Why is collaboration important?  Collaboration improves the way a team works together, and problem solves. This leads to more innovation, efficient processes, increased success, and improved communication.  Through listening to and learning from each other, we can help each other reach our goals.

We have a generous God. John wrote “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life”.  God loves us while we were still sinners – he offers forgiveness, he offers abundant life, he offers us his presence.  When you look at his creation you see abundance. Paul wrote to the Corinthians encouraging cheerful giving. It’s not just about finance – acts of kindness shown to someone, brings blessing both to the one receiving the blessing, but also the giver of that blessing and potentially anyone observing that blessing- itis a win, win, win, situation!

We have a creator God who made us in his image! If we are in his image, we too are made to be creative. The ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations. We have imaginative creative ideas in so many areas. And teams working collaboratively can be even more creative.

Paul urged his readers to “Rejoice in the Lord always”. We can all think of moments where we have experienced joy: in the birth of a child, a beautiful sunset, a gift of a wonderful present.  James writing to Christians takes it to a higher level wrote “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (James 1:2).
It is about knowing that our lives are in God’s hands, and we are secure there, even though outward circumstances may not be favourable. We know that God is with us and can use these circumstances for our benefit and his glory.

Looking at our reading today from Philippians 2, we see collaboration involved in our “encouragement from being united” (v1) and “common sharing” (v1), in “our relationship with one another” (v5) in our “being like -minded” (v2).  We see the generosity of God in sending his Son, Jesus, to be one of us (v6-8). We see the creativeness again in his Son (v5-8), and in the “comfort of his love” and the “tenderness and compassion” inspired in us (v2). We see the Joy in Paul as he reflects on his relationships with the Philippians (v2) and in God in his exaltation of Jesus (v9-11)

For your reflection.
How can you collaborate more effectively?      What might prevent you from collaborating well?

How can you show more generosity that you already do?   How can you use creatively to encourage others?

What can the church do creatively?     Where is the joy?     Do you need to cultivate a culture of joy?.

Prayers  in the confidence of God’s concern for the smallest details of human living, we offer our prayers for the world and ourselves.

We pray for those who find themselves in despair today:  People who have no sense of their own value, People who have no confidence in the future, People who suffer the effects and stigma of mental illness. God of grace Hear our prayer.

We pray for those whose days are formed of fear and longing: Parents who have no food for their children. Children who live in war zones and places of conflict carers who long for a break and a rest. God of grace Hear our prayer.

We pray for those whose thoughts are too weighty to bear: People living with guilt of a past action, People living with the shock of a difficult diagnosis, people living with the burden of grief.
God of grace Hear our prayer.

We pray for those in our churches and community who need comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
God of grace Hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves. Help us to remember that we are wonderfully made: teach us to rely on your presence and to see signs of you glory teach us to replace hate with love, and fear with knowledge, teach us to care for others as you care for us. God of grace Hear our prayer. Amen.

Hymn StF 331  King of Kings, Majesty
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KING OF KINGS, MAJESTY,
God of heaven living in me.
Gentle Saviour, closest Friend,
Strong Deliverer, Beginning and End:
All within me falls at Your throne.
Your majesty, I can but bow;
I lay my all before You now.
In royal robes I don’t deserve,
I live to serve Your majesty.

Earth and heaven worship You,
Love eternal, faithful and true,
Who bought the nations, ransomed souls,
Brought this sinner near to Your throne:
All within me cries out in praise.
Your majesty, I can but bow;
I lay my all before You now.
In royal robes I don’t deserve,
I live to serve Your majesty.

Jarrod Cooper  © 1996 Sovereign Lifestyle Music

Blessing : May God who knows you intimately, and cares for you passionately, Bless you and lead you in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.