Sitting in different chairs, joining in at different times throughout the day, God’s people still gather for worship on this, the Lord’s day. Welcome, to Sunday worship.
Call to Worship – say aloud the parts in bold type.
Back then there was the twelve.
Here and now there is us.
We are your disciples today
and today we gather to worship you.
Back then they followed you in the flesh.
Today we follow in your Spirit.
We are your disciples
and today we gather to follow you.
Back then there were but a few.
Today we, numbering billions,
are part of a worldwide Church.
We are your disciples today
and today we gather to serve you.
HYMN Jesus Calls us O’er the Tumult
All-Age Prayer
Lord Jesus,
you call us to follow
in your footsteps,
to live a life of love;
by serving our neighbours,
by being kind,
by being generous,
by welcoming people,
by forgiving those who hurt us.
You did this
when you lived on the earth,
you have shown us
by your example and
now you ask us
to do the same.
It is hard Lord,
but we promise to try.
Help us Lord Jesus
to be more like you.
Amen.
Reading: Matthew 9:35-10:8 read by Luke, Hannah and Tracy Teasdale
Reflective reading of the passage:
All this week we have been reflecting on multi screen images in our Thought for the Day as a metaphor for the church and ministry.
Let’s share in the Lord’s Prayer with the virtual choir from the Philippines.
Reflection:
HYMN – The Church is Wherever
Sunday School Activity – for all ages
Team Picture
You will need: A4 paper, crayons, felt tip pens, glue sticks, collage material, scissors, frieze paper or lining paper.
Give each child (or adult!) a sheet of A4 paper and ask them to draw a self portrait (head and shoulders) using materials provided. Encourage the children to use the full size of the paper rather than draw a very small face in the centre of the page.
Ask the children to cut out their picture and then at some point these can be stuck onto the frieze or lining paper or take photos to make the frieze online. Write the words “We are a team” or “We are Jesus’ disciples” or whatever your group thinks appropriate for themselves along the top or bottom of the poster.
Talk about the story. Talk with the children about how we are all called to be part of a team, working with each other to tell the good news of Jesus. Discuss the different roles/workers in the church and how they can contribute, participate and lead.
Workers In Your Church
You will need: paper and pencils for everyone and a list of questions for everyone to ask (such as: Why do you help out in our church doing what you do? Do you have any other roles in the church and if so what are they and why do you do it? Are you employed in another job? Do you talk about church or your faith there? Are you a member of any organisations or clubs and if so what are they and do you talk about your church/faith there?).
List the leaders and helpers in your church. Think of how to ask your prescribed questions and find out the answers. The workers are few, Jesus says, and to be a worker we need to talk about Jesus. That is what the disciples did.
Ask the children if they talk about church, Jesus or Sunday School when they are with friends or family? Explain that there are lots and lots of children and adults out there who know nothing about Jesus or the bible.
Prayer of Dedication
Lord Jesus you gave your life that
we might know the full extent
of God’s love for all creation.
Today, we offer our very selves,
all that we are, all that we can be,
with your help.
Receive all that we offer,
time, talents, money,
take and use it all for your glory.
Amen.
HYMN – When Jesus Saw the Fishermen
Prayers for Others and Ourselves
God of compassion,
in a world in which we sometimes struggle
to understand what it might mean today
to have a plentiful harvest,
but know all too well what it means
to have few labourers,
we bring our prayers for other people
and our prayers for ourselves
as a community of faith,
endeavouring to live out our commitment
as your disciples.
We pray for all those who feel
the weight of oppression and persecution
in their lives individually and as a community;
may they know a sense of belonging
and may we speak up
to confront injustice wherever
and however we find it.
We pray for all those who are grieving
a loss of someone special to them,
and who sense so viscerally
the division and isolation that loss can bring;
may they know your comforting presence
and may we open our hearts
in whatever way we can
to be a supportive friend.
We pray for all those who worry
and know the struggle that the next
months and years will be for them,
with less income and greater costs,
with job insecurity and fewer opportunities;
may they know your steadfast companionship
and may we be generous
in our solidarity.
We pray for all those whose labour
is not recognised or appreciated,
and those who feel they have been excluded
from the riches and opportunities
that have blessed others;
may they demand recognition
and may we stand with all those
whom others seek to make scapegoats.
We pray for all those in positions of leadership
with difficult decisions to make
and responsibilities to heed;
may they be guided by a spirit of duty to all,
and with a clarity of thought
that will help them navigate
competing demands,
and may we be supportive and questioning,
generous and honest.
Hear our prayers, Lord God,
offered in your name.
Amen.
HYMN – Will you Come and Follow Me
Sending
God, help us shake the dust off our feet,
and go into the world with a spirit of healing love.
Faith, belief and discipleship are to be lived out.
May we, your followers in this generation,
go to meet our world:
with your blessing,
with the example of Jesus ever before us,
and the energy of the Spirit driving us. Amen