As an introduction to the service, this clip of the Watoto Children’s Choir is provided.

Welcome: –

Call to worship: –

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”    John 6:68-69  Call to worship 

We say together 

We say together
Our God offers us hospitality, and we know God’s welcome is generous.
and God is here among us, meeting with us
in our worship and in our fellowship.
God longs to meet our needs
as we come with hands open
and arms outstretched.               

 And so we pray together

Welcoming God,
we come to you with open hearts
and with open hands.
We come with our faith and hope,
and with our doubts and fears.
Send your Holy Spirit to work among us,
filling us and changing us
to become more like Jesus. Amen.

SONG 1 – TIS 511  Let us sing to the God of Salvation

STORY TIME

THE GOAT WHO WANTED TO BECOME A LION.

One of the Jungle Doctor tales by Dr Paul White, medical missionary to Africa.

Daudi, the Jungle Doctor’s assistant told this story around the campfire.  This story is of a goat Mbuzi, who believed he was a goat of great strength – a splendid creature and because of this he shouldn’t remain a mere goat.  In fact he decided to become a lion.  He sought the wisdom of the jungle animals

How do I become a lion?  He asked Nyani, the wise old Monkey advised;

You must go where lions go  –  Do what lions do  –  Say what lions say  –  Eat what lions eat.

So he stalked down the middle of the road, controlling his twitchy tail, practised his best roar which was more like a goaty squeak, saw a large bone and began to gnaw.  He roared and gnawed

GO – DO – SAY – EAT

Along the road he met Twiga, the giraffe and tried his best lion impersonation.  Twiga advised him to go home and rest his head on a cool stone.  When that didn’t work he went back to Nyani the wise old monkey.  Nyani made him a sign which read L – I – O – N and stuck it on the goat’s horns.  Now everyone in the jungle would know he was indeed a lion.

When Zebra witnessed Mbuzi’s strange antics he broke down in fits of laughter and advised him to go home and rest his head on a cool stone.

On walked Mbuzi, the goat, to the place where the lions lived, roaring loudly as he went.  He strode around a great rock and his goaty roar echoed in the rocks  that surrounded him.

As he strode further into the cavern his echoed roars became louder and deeper.  “I have become a lion!” he roared.  He stopped suddenly when he saw a great tail moving majestically.

Fear gripped him as hot, hungry breath swept into his face and huge paws hurled at him.  The thunderous noise changed to the crack of bones and the chomping of great jaws hard at work.

Goat had become  “a lion’s dinner” interrupted Mboga.

Truly there is only one way for a goat to become a lion is for goat to be reborn a second time as a lion cub.

Jesus said “You must be born again.”  It isn’t what you do or say or where you go or what you eat that makes you a Christian.  Jesus is the only one who can do that. He died.  Men crucified him, but he came back to life to make it clear to us that He is God.  He came to earth not to produce better people of the old kind, but a new kind of people and He does this so willingly when you come to him and ask him to forgive your sins and to make you one of His family.

Those who listened sat quietly.  Mboga smiled  “Surely there is small profit in following the combined wisdom of goat and monkey.”

 SONG 2 –    SIS 27 Be still and know that I am God. (3 verses)

 Be still and know that I am God,

Be still and know that I am God,

Be still and know that I am God,

I am the Lord that healeth thee

I am the Lord that healeth thee

I am the Lord that healeth thee

In you O Lord do I put my trust

In you O Lord do I put my trust

In you O Lord do I put my trust

SIS 318 Jesus take me as I am

Jesus, take me as I am

I can come no other way

Take me deeper into you

Let my flesh life met away

Make me like a precious stone

 Crystal clear and finely honed

Life of Jesus shining through

Giving glory back to you.

Prayer of confession

When we turn away from you, O God,
and go our own way:
forgive us, and turn us back to you.
When the way ahead is not clear,
when everything feels too much
and we turn our backs on you:
forgive us, and turn us back to you.
When we make wrong decisions
and our actions hurt others:
forgive us, and turn us back to you.
When we want to give up because it’s too hard:
forgive us, and turn us back to you.
When we cannot see beyond ourselves and act selfishly:
forgive us, and turn us back to you.
When we do not put you and others first:
forgive us, and turn us back to you.
Turn us back to you, O God.
Amen.

Assurance of forgiveness

 In the knowledge that we are truly forgiven we can say together

 Despite going our own way and not following you,                                            
despite our doubts and fears of your presence,
you are there gently leading us,
reaching out your arms of healing and forgiveness.
Thank you, eternal God.
Thank you that you are our rock and our salvation, our strength and our high tower.
Thank you that as we choose to go on this journey with you,
as we make decisions and plans,
you are there, gently leading and guiding, always present.
Praise you, Lord, for your constant love and faithfulness.   Amen.

Our scripture for the day

In the first reading we find Joshua making his farewell speech.  He has achieved God’s purposes for him and followed faithfully.  He reminds the people to take up the baton and continue to serve God in sincerity and truth as he has done. We, the people respond enthusiastically., that we will serve the Lord too!

The reading from the gospel of John follows on from last week’s where Jesus delves into deeper teaching about that He and the Father are one, so too, His followers must have that same relationship with Him.  But for many this too hard to understand and many turn away.

Bible Reading 

Joshua 24:1,2  14 – 18 The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem.   He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.                                                                                                                               

Joshua said to all the people,“Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness.   Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.  But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” 

Will you forsake the Lord?

We will not forsake the Lord      

Will you serve other gods?

We will not serve other gods.

 Will you remember that God brought you out from slavery in Egypt?

We will remember that God brought us out from slavery in Egypt.

Will you remember that the Lord did great signs in the desert?

We will remember that the Lord did great signs in the desert. 

Will you remember that God protected you on your journey?

We will remember that God protected us on our journey

Will you remember that God gave you this land?

We will remember that God gave us this land.

Who is your God?

The Lord is our God. 

Will you serve the Lord?

We will serve the Lord!

John 6: 56-69                                                                                      

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.  Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven.  Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”  He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”  Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?  Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!  The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.  The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit^[a] and life.  Yet there are some of you who do not believe.”  For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.  He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.  Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.   We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

This is the Gospel of our Lord.

Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.

SONG 3 – TIS 526 Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us   

   

Message

ONE OF THE TWELVE

 Last night, I dreamt I was back near Capernaum.  It was the moment when I finally began to understand who he was, what he is; the time when some of us decided that this Jesus really is the one, the Holy One of Israel.

It had been a long, few days. Days of watching bread fill thousands, and not running out – that was just miraculous.  Days of seeing Jesus come to us in the night across the surface of the Sea of Galilee; of listening to him talking and arguing.  And days of me being completely unable to understand – what was he talking about?

He’d been talking to the Jews about the manna with which our heavenly Father fed our ancestors.  He said he was ‘the bread of life’.  And I was just wondering – wondering what he was talking about.

He’d also spoken of his relationship with the Father, of being ‘the Son of Man’. He’d challenged the Jews.  He’d changed the questions – turned them round. He’d fed us and taught us…and scared us.  Yes, scared us a bit…and changed us.

He knew who would believe as soon as he met them.  What was it about those people?  Was it their heart that he could see?  Or could he read their minds? But some said they could not follow and left us.  Others said they could but left later – until there was just a handful us left: the women and the central 12.

And, at the end of those few days, he watched more turn and walk away.  He turned to us, he turned to me and said, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’  And I looked at him.  And I saw the pain etched in his face – I think it was for what he knew was coming.  But I also saw the joy of companionship alive in his eyes.

And Simon Peter said, for all of us, ‘Lord, to whom would we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.

APPREHENDED BY JESUS.

Have you ever been apprehended by Jesus?

The first thing that crosses my mind when I hear the word apprehendbrings thoughts of police, handcuffs and marched off to the local lock up, because it does mean arrested, seized, detained.  It also means a grasp of the mind and when our minds have been grasped, we are made to think, and think beyond everyday thinking.  It requires crunchy eyebrows thinking and we could respond “It’s all too much for me.” 

Whereas Joshua spoke to all Israel, each person is given an opportunity to respond.

Choose this day whom you will serve.  But together they responded we will serve the Lord.

Throughout Old Testament writings we come across God apprehending individuals by name.

Moses, Gideon, Samuel, Isaiah, Fear not I have called you by name to name a few called into action, not by their own strength but God’s,  as God promises to be with them, despite their protestations that they were ill-equipped for the task.

You can probably name quite a few others.

Jesus apprehends his disciples by name

 The calling of Nathanael stands out.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”  “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.  Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”  Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

Jesus was able to see into the hearts and minds of those he encountered.

Peter stands out in with his impetuous nature, full of bravado, full of enthusiasm, very capable of getting it right.

When Jesus says “Who do you say I am?”  Peter replies. “You are the Christ, the son of the most high.” 

When Jesus says to those who remain “You do not want to leave too, do you?” 

Peter responds.  ‘Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

but Peter is quite capable of getting the wrong end of the stick.  

When Jesus taught that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.   Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”  But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me. For you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”…

Let alone Peter’s falling away after Jesus was arrested.

Jesus had called Peter, stuck by him.  Even when Peter seemed to fail the test, Jesus in that memorable passage at the seashore spoke to Peter and asked “Do you love me?” 3 times.  Peter fimally replies. “Lord, you know I do.” Peter, forgiven leaves with a task to fulfill. 

From Ezekiel, we read that God said “there will come a time when I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

Jesus apprehended Nicodemus, “You must be born again. You must have a total renewal of the heart. Your whole being must be born from above.” Nicodemus found that hard to grasp.  It is by this new heart we are able to discern the Sprit of God in the Scripture daily.

It is by this new God-given heart and mind and through God’s spirit that we are able to be God’s people.

It is when we are apprehended by Jesus by the scripture we read we are able to be led along a new pathway into a closer relationship with the Lord and creator God himself.

When Jesus stops us in our tracks and puts the hard word on us and asks us to make a choice, We can faithfully say, “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.”

Each day brings new challenges and as we walk daily with Jesus, and so we need to hear his encouraging voice and sometimes his voice of rebuke as he puts the brake on us.  Each day is a one more step along the way experience.

A few ideas that may be of practical help.

1. Find the time to read and meditate on God’s word.  This may need guidance through  a published daily devotional.  I don’t know if or how anyone does this or has something they would recommend. (SU Encounter with God, Daily Bread, Everyday with Jesus)  Is this something we can share? Is this something you would like to try?
2. At the beginning of each day make it a habit to dedicate the day to God asking him for guidance to show you the way.

A simple prayer may start you off.

Precious Jesus, You have blessed me with a new day.  With every breath and new moment, I feel Your gifts around me.  I feel Your compassion as the sunshine on my skin.  I feel Your presence as the wind through my hair.  Your gifts are plentiful and abundant in this marvellous world. Please renew my eyes, so I can see these gifts with gratitude and joy.  I love You, Jesus, and I sing to You in praise.  In Your glorious name, Amen

3. At the end of the day make it a habit to review the day

The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for us.  The Examen is an ancient practice in the Church that can help us see God’s hand at work in our whole experience.

This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practised.

Become aware of God’s presence.
Review the day with gratitude.
Pay attention to your emotions.
Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.

Look toward tomorrow.

This is something we can explore and learn together.

• Share our faith journeys and learn from each other for each of us has a different journey and story to tell.  As we share our stories, we become confident in our faith.

How can we help each other to tell the wondrous story through our experiences.

Our small but faithful congregation must journey together and we can:

Become aware of God’s presence in the life of the congregation.
Review the past with gratitude.
Pay attention to our emotions. Allow ourselves to express the ups and downs of our lives. Grief and joy can go hand in hand.
Choose one feature of our lives and pray from it.

And finally

            Look toward tomorrow in strength and hope.

Don’t forget being apprehended by Jesus is a good thing. Amen       

Offertory – We bring our whole selves as an offering to the Lord.                                                                                       

Song 4 – Source 97 – Father I place into your hands

(the offering is received during last verse)

Offering Prayer

(Source: Words4Worship)

Let us all pray together                                                                                        

For the wondrous gift of life, we are thankful, O God.                                       

Your generous outpouring of grace reminds us of the fruitful life we are called to bear.

May these gifts of time and labour, therefore, embody our desire to share and contribute to your coming reign among us.

Amen.

Prayers of the People

O God, who answers prayer, we hear the words of Paul the apostle.
You exhort us to pray on all occasions and with all kinds of prayers and requests.
We pray for communities that have seen tragedy.
For vulnerable people who struggle to face what life throws at them.
May they be built up in your love and strength.
Lord, we pray in your Spirit.

We pray for people who suffer for their faith.
For ministers and evangelists who seek to spread your word.
For us all as we share the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May they, and may we, be built up in your love and strength.
Lord, we pray in your Spirit.

We pray for people who feel bound by chains of unemployment and poverty,
chains of disability or illness, chains of sorrow.
Lord, we pray in your Spirit.

We pray for ourselves when we feel vulnerable.
May they, and may we, be built up in your love and strength.
Lord, we pray in your Spirit.
Amen.

We join together as we pray The Lord’s Prayer       

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil,

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,

Now and forever.  Amen.

SONG  TIS 233 v1,2,5 I will sing the wondrous story 

                              

SENDING OUT  

Ephesians 6: 10 – 18                                                                                   

 Finally, my brothers and sisters, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Put on the whole armour of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the whole armour of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your waist girded with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace, and above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the fiery arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 Pray in the Spirit always with all kinds of prayer and supplication.  To that end be alert with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. 

Words of Encouragement.                                                                                

Lord Jesus Christ, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life, and we have come to believe and know
that you are the Holy One of God.

We go into your world. with your generosity, your love, your inspiration to live life in all its fullness, offering our lives back to you.

We go in your strength putting on the whole armour perfectly fitted for each one of us. Amen

Benediction song:

Here I am Lord:

     

This clip is provided for your listening at the end of the service.