We’re not able to meet together as church family today and for the coming weeks. Although, by necessity, we have to stay apart physically, we’re standing together to love, support and encourage one another. So, in around 90 different homes, we’ll sing the same songs, pray the same prayers and look together at God’s word to us, as we look to Matthew 15:1-20. There are some activities for those aged 14 or under to do and a bible talk from Rich for us to listen to.
For each person in your home, you’ll need a copy of this service sheet, a bible, print outs of the children’s sheets (if needed) and your computer or tablet to click on the links below. Please note that the songs are being played from YouTube, if one of the annoying adverts pop up, click on the ‘skip ad’ button.
Today’s service sheet can be downloaded here
Today’s resources for E Kids can be found here
The thinking behind the song choices is explained in italics
WELCOME AND OPENING PRAYER
Watch the video of Alex’s welcome and intro by clicking here
In our first song we celebrate the power of God who sees the depths of our hearts and yet loves us the same.
SONG – listen by clicking here
From the highest of heights to the depths of the sea,
creation’s revealing Your majesty.
From the colours of fall to the fragrance of spring,
every creature unique in the song that it sings.
All exclaiming:
Indescribable, uncontainable,
you placed the stars in the sky
and you know them by name:
you are amazing, God.
All powerful, untameable;
awestruck, we fall to our knees
as we humbly proclaim:
you are amazing, God.
Who has told every lightning bolt where it should go,
or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow?
Who imagined the sun and gives source to its light,
yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night?
None can fathom:
Indescribable, uncontainable,
you placed the stars in the sky
and you know them by name: you are amazing, God.
Incomparable, unchangeable,
you see the depths of my heart
and you love me the same.
You are amazing, God.
BITESIZE
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BIBLE READING – Psalm 51
David, King of Israel, wrote this Psalm as a confession of his son. Why not use the words to confess your own sin to God and ask for his forgiveness.
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Saviour,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.
May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.
As those trusting in Jesus, we can be confident that we are forgiven because of him.
SONG – listen by clicking here
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong, a perfect plea:
a great High Priest, whose name is Love,
who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
my name is written on his heart;
I know that while in heaven he stands
no tongue can bid me thence depart,
no tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair
and tells me of the guilt within,
upward I look and see him there
who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Saviour died,
my sinful soul is counted free;
for God, the Just, is satisfied
to look on him and pardon me,
to look on him and pardon me.
Behold him there, the risen Lamb;
my perfect, spotless righteousness,
the great unchangeable I AM,
the King of glory and of grace!
One with himself, I cannot die;
my soul is purchased with his blood;
my life is hid with Christ on high,
with Christ, my Saviour and my God,
with Christ, my Saviour and my God.
PRAYERS
Click here as Abby leads us in our prayers this morning.
As we come to look at the bible together, our next song is prayer that God’s Holy Spirit will renew our hearts.
SONG – listen by clicking here
Holy Spirit, living breath of God
breathe new life into my willing soul.
Bring the presence of the risen Lord
to renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me.
Give me faith for what I cannot see.
Give me passion for Your purity.
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Holy Spirit, come abide within.
May Your joy be seen in all I do.
Love enough to cover every sin
in each thought and deed and attitude.
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my striving into works of grace.
Breath of God, show Christ in all I do.
Holy Spirit, from creation’s birth,
giving life to all that God has made,
show Your power once again on earth.
Cause Your church to hunger for Your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise.
Lead us on the road of sacrifice
that in unity the face of Christ
will be clear for all the world to see.
Watch the bible talk video for the reading and bible talk from Rich by clicking here
BIBLE READING
Matthew 15:1-20
15:1 Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 2 “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” 3 He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? 4 For God commanded, ‘Honour your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ 5 But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,” 6 he need not honour his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
8 “‘This people honours me with their lips,
but their heart is far from me;
9 in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
10 And he called the people to him and said to them, “Hear and understand: 11 it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” 12 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?” 13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” 15 But Peter said to him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16 And he said, “Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? 18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. 20 These are what defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.”
BIBLE TALK
The shadow of sin
Talk outline:
1. Don’t focus on appearances
2. Focus on the heart
3. We need to turn to Jesus
Our closing song praises God for saving us when our hearts were far away.
SONG – listen by clicking here
Who, O Lord, could save themselves?
their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea;
your grace is deeper still.
And you alone can rescue, you alone can save.
You alone can lift us from the grave.
You came down to find us, led us out of death:
to you alone belongs the highest praise.
You, O Lord, have made a way,
the great divide you healed,
for when our hearts were far away,
your love went further still.
Yes, your love went further still.
We lift up our eyes, we lift up our eyes:
You’re the giver of life! (repeat)
Now we are more than conquerors,
through your deathless love.
Nothing Lord will have a hold on us.
You’re the saving promise,
You will never fail;
to you alone belongs the highest praise.
to you alone belongs the highest praise.
to you alone belongs the highest praise.
CLOSING PRAYER
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. Amen.
That’s the end of our service but do link up now with others from Emmanuel!
Some material in this service is © Used by permission CCL Licence # 1102690. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.