Elmwood United
Reformed Church
Sunday 13th June 2021
Welcome to Elmwood
Call to Worship
Psalm 48 Vs 1-5,9-14
Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God in the mountain of His Holiness.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king.
God is known for her palaces for a refuge
For lo, the kings assembled, they passed by together
They saw it and so they marvelled they were troubled and hasted away. We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple.
According to thy name, O God so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth, thy right hand is full of righteousness
Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments.
Walk about Zion and go round about her, tell the towers thereof.
Mark ye well her bulwarks consider her palaces that ye may tell it to the generation following
For this God is our God forever and ever, he will be our guide even unto death
Song - Here I am to worship
Opening Prayer followed by the Lord's Prayer
This morning help us sweet Jesus to fix our eyes on You. You are our Lord, our Savour and our King
Come fill our hearts with your endless love and send the wind of your Holy Spirit to blow away any doubts and fears that we have and let us be filled with new hope in and through our lives.
Sweet Jesus, come light up our hearts, our minds and our souls to rise in faith, to stretch out and take in your many blessings that you have for us. Even when we don’t deserve them, You are a merciful and awesome God full of forgiveness for all who come and kneel at Your throne.
Sweet Jesus pour out your Spirit upon us this morning, as we stand together as brothers and sisters in Christ. Come lift up our hearts, brush away the anxieties, fears, worries that last week may have brought to us and shine your grace and mercy into our minds providing us with refuge and Your strength.
Sweet Jesus guide us this morning as we worship and magnify your precious name. Help us to shake off the shackles and burdens of the world around us, so we can join with heaven to sing your praises. Help us to continually declare your goodness now and celebrate your greatness forevermore!
Now we say the Lords Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come; thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
forever and ever.
Amen.
Song: Oh Lamb of God I come
Welcome, Notices and celebrations
We come to a time in the service to share good news, birthdays, celebrations or anything good that God has done in your life this week. Any birthday? Anniversaries? Good news? Thank you to all those who have contributed to the service.
Bible Reading - 1 Samuel 16 vs 1-14.
Offertory and prayer
Song: Standing on the promises of God
The Message by Pastor Bryan Byfield - What makes God choose who he chooses
Song: Amazing Grace
Prayer of Intercession and Healing
Father God we come before your throne this morning, we bring ourselves and our broken lives. We come to offer up our prayers to you not just for ourselves but for those in need of divine healing and Your supernatural intervention. We ask you to change us Lord from the inside out, so we can live by Your ways and Yours alone. We pray You protect our minds and our hearts with Your divine powers so we may continually think about things that pertain to life and Godliness. Help us to choose to use the knowledge of You so we can be immersed in your glory and excellence. We want to receive your precious and very great promises that you have for us, which will lead us to be vessels that you can use to help shape this world into a better place.
Father God we come before your throne this morning to ask for redemption for those who are who are in need of a life changing experience over their lives. We take the time to think about those who are suffering through grief and mourning for loved ones who have departed of this world, those suffering from illness, poverty, anxiety, financial difficulties, symptoms of COVID and long COVID, those in need of the vaccine, the unemployed, the homeless, those who are victims of war, refugees, asylum seekers and victims of gun and knife crime.
We pray in particular for the family of Dea John Reid who was murdered in Kingstandings, for the 14-year-old boy stabbed to death in the street in northeast London last week and for the 16 year old young male person who was stabbed several times during the school rush hour in Lewisham High Street on Friday morning.
We seek help for the people who are committing crimes against others and we ask that they are supported to see that their life choices are ungodly, we pray that you release them from their bondage of living in sin, to help them to see the error of their ways and heed the word of repentance, they need help to make the choice to seek your ways, seek forgiveness and deliverance because without you they cannot receive salvation and everlasting peace.
Father God we come before your throne this morning to pray for an ending to the COVID pandemic, we thank You for the development of the vaccines that are helping and protecting so many people. However there are new deviants forming and we ask that the doctors and scientists are provided with the knowledge they need to bring this virus under control and stop the spread of it. Teach us to be patient and caring towards each other while we are waiting for this virus to be eradicated. Provide spiritual guidance for world leaders to recognise that the richer and more powerful nations should share their vaccines with countries who are not as fortunate, so that everyone has the opportunity to be protected and the world can move on from this horrible disease. Guide their consciences so they can act honourably and with integrity.
Father God we come before your throne this morning to pray for our communities in the UK, we ask that you encourage us all to be strong and compassionate, so by our lives we can be examples of your son, Jesus Christ who was filled with lovingkindness to everyone He met. Let us live by this example to spread the Good word to everyone around the UK. We pray for our politicians, locally and nationally that they will make the right decisions and choices for the benefit of the people they serve. Let their actions be just and fair for all.
We pray for the people on our prayer list who need your divine intervention in, over and through their lives as they cope with medical, physical, spiritual and emotional difficulties. Let them be healed by their faith and Your healing power to restore their good health and wellbeing.
Have mercy and compassion on us as we go into the week ahead. Help us to continually put prayer first as an essential to your deliverance of us, our families, our friends, our homes and our communities. Provide us with the faith to follow proverbs chapter 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will make your paths straight.
Shower us with your grace and undeserved favour, Your mercy and hopefulness for us to share with others who might be experiencing a difficult time. Help us to remain safe and provide support to those who do not have a strong faith in your everlasting love and protection.
Mark 11:24 says therefore let me tell you whatever you ask for in prayer believe that you will receive it and it will be yours. So we end this prayer by asking for all these things in Jesus' name.
Amen
Song: Oh Jesus I have promised
Blessing:
Walk with the Lord when you heart needs company
Take His hand when you feel alone
Turn to Him when you want someone talk to.
He is the only one you can always rely on
God is Good
All the time
God bless you and have a blessed week ahead!
Amen.