Sunday September 6th For use by the Central Circuit at 10.30 am or at another time

Today is the first Sunday of the new Methodist year. We welcome Rev Anne Richardson as a member of our Circuit Staff Team as well as thinking of the circuit churches re-opening today and the ministers and preachers who are taking services again after such a long time (not since March 23rd, of course).

Hymn StF 364 H&P 744 (We used this at Anne’s Welcome Service on Friday)

O for a thousand tongues to sing / my great Redeemer’s praise, the glories of my God and King / the triumphs of his grace!

My gracious Master and my God / assist me to proclaim to spread through all the earth abroad / the honours of your name.

Jesus – the name that charms our fears / that bids our sorrows cease; ‘tis music in the sinner’s ears / ‘tis life and health and peace.

He speaks; and, listening to his voice / new life the dead receive; the mournful, broken hearts rejoice / the humble poor believe. Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788)

Prayer

Take a moment to think of all the good things – and then the not-so-good – that have happened this calendar year so far, and turn them into a prayer of thanksgiving and confession.

Old Testament reading set for today: Exodus 12 v 1 – 14

To think about

If you can set aside the questions that naturally arise concerning what this passage says about God getting rid of first-born people and animals, think about what was asked of the Israelite people. Look particularly at verse 11 – what message do you think this gave the Israelites?

Hymn StF 476 H&P 746 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 travelling along with you: and it’s from the old I travel to the new / keep me travelling along with you.

Round the corners of the world I turn / more and more about the world I learn; all the new things that I see / you’ll be looking at along with me:

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 travelling 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 travelling along with you: Sydney Carter (1915 – 2004)

New Testament reading set for today: Matthew 18 v 15 – 20

Message from a Circuit Friend

For many, if not all of us, the start of September has usually meant getting back to the normal routine along with new starts for some. After the August break, schools, colleges, universities, church meetings, regular groups – they all start again – and for the young ones, it’s time to meet new teachers and maybe start new schools. I don’t need to tell you how different it will be this year! For many of us September will be the same as August and the months before, staying mostly at home, venturing out in masks for essential supplies. Reading through the lectionary readings set for today, there is a sense of urgency. The Israelites dressed, ready for the exodus from Egypt, eating their lamb and unleavened bread; the need to (gently?) confront your brother who sins against you; and a clear call to be ready, that we normally associate with the beginning of Advent: “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now that when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light.” (Roms 13:11b-12). Alongside Covid-19, there is another pandemic of apathy and complacency that always threatens to infect the Church. We are the body of Christ, called from darkness into his marvellous light. We have the same power in us as raised Christ from the dead. Where is our sense of urgency within our faith? What is God calling you to do? Where are you being challenged to change? As churches, what is our mission for today? Methodists are a people raised up to spread ‘Scriptural Holiness’ throughout the land, so let’s embrace our heritage and go forward together, in Jesus’s name. AMEN Anne Richardson (Minister in the Central Norfolk Circuit)

For Prayer

We pray for everyone for whom September is a time of new beginning. We pray for those for whom ‘the world is rough’ or for whom ‘the world is tough’.

We pray for our world, our country, the Methodist Church, our Circuit, our local church and fellowship, our community, our family and friends, ourselves.

We pray for the Circuit Churches re-opening for services this week or next: , Trinity, , , , Hingham, Holt, , Saham Hills, , , , Toftwood, Watton. We pray for those re-opening in October: , Pilgrim Church @ Blakeney, Wells & Wighton @ Wells, Wendling. We pray for those Churches not re-opening for the time being: , New , Sculthorpe & , Sporle, , Pilgrim Ch @ , Wighton.

We pray with Henry (aged 7) and James (5) for children back at school: that God looks after the reception children and helps them to make new friends. Also, for the children who haven’t been at school for months, that God helps them get up in time in the morning, and helps them get to know their friends again. We pray too for Henry and James and for all the children who are part of our circles of family, friends and neighbours as they get used to school again and to the new ways of doing things.

Offer to God your offertory for the week, and say the Lord’s Prayer…

Collect for a new year

Lord of history, to whom a thousand years are as a day: renew us by your Holy Spirit that, while we have life and breath, we may serve you with courage and hope; through the grace of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. Methodist Worship Book

Hymn StF 340 H&P 278

Ye servants of God, your Master proclaim / and publish abroad his wonderful name; the name all-victorious of Jesus extol / his kingdom is glorious, and rules over all.

God ruleth on high, almighty to save / and still he is nigh, his presence we have; the great congregation his triumph shall sing / ascribing salvation to Jesus our King.

Then let us adore, and give him his right / all glory and power, all wisdom and might, all honour and blessing, with angels above / and thanks never-ceasing, and infinite love. Charles Wesley (1707 – 1788)

May the blessing of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with us, and all those we love, this day and always, Amen.