SEA SUNDAY
This short act of worship has been prepared for you. I invite you to share in a few moments with God knowing that other people within Paulton, Trinity and Chew Stoke Methodist Churches are sharing this act of worship with you.
Revd Martin Slocombe
Psalm 85: 8-9
8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
Hymn – StF 517 – Eternal Father, strong to save www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dVGZFlfGOs
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1 Eternal Father, strong to save, 2 O Saviour, whose almighty word 3 O sacred Spirit, who didst brood 4 O Trinity of love and power, |
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William Whiting (1825–1878) |
Prayer
Mighty God, we adore you.
We thank you that we can come to you
knowing that you care about each and every one of us, and all our needs, however big or small.
You created the heavens and the earth.
You put stars into space and filled the mighty seas.
Your power and your greatness is all around us – from mountain-tops to the intricacies of a tiny flower. We are small in comparison, but you love us all the same.
Thank you that your power is limitless.
We adore you, Creator God.
Amen.
Powerful God, forgive us when we have not used our power to influence for good, but for our own purposes;
when our actions have hurt and excluded others;
when we have allowed greed, fear and pride to get in the way.
Merciful God, forgive us.
Let our thoughts, our words and our actions
glorify you and reveal your presence and purposes.
Amen.
The almighty and powerful God forgives your sins.
When you have put yourself before others, God forgives you and heals you, giving you grace and mercy and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Readings
Psalm 107: 23-31
23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the mighty waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their calamity;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunkards,
and were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out from their distress;
29 he made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad because they had quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wonderful works to humankind.
Mark 4: 35-41 - Jesus Stills a Storm
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ 36And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ 39He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’41And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’
Reflection
A number of years ago, we went on a day trip to Jersey. It was a long day, and by the time we got onto the ferry to come home, Helen settled down and went to sleep. As we left the harbour, the wind picked up and the ferry started to move rather alarmingly, and still she slept. By the time we were halfway across the channel they had to close the shops and restaurants as everything was flying off the shelves and smashing on the floor, and still she slept. In fact, she didn’t wake up until we docked in Weymouth, and wondered why everyone was looking rather green, and the ferry was a mess. It is one of those family stories that keeps getting brought out, as we remember my wife sleeping through the roughest sea crossing you could have imagined. For those of us who remained conscious, we placed our trust in the crew to get us home safely, albeit rather shaken by the experience.
But for the disciples, in a small, wooden fishing boat, the fear that the boat would sink and that they would be killed was a very real possibility. And yet, Jesus slept peacefully in the stern of the boat.
When confronted by the overwhelming powers of nature, the fear we feel is derived from being out of control. In the middle of the sea, there is nothing that we can do to save ourselves, other than rely upon the skill of the crew and the sturdiness of the ship. But the disciples were the crew, and they were terrified.
Jesus did have control over the wind and the waves, and all was well, and perhaps he too was left wondering what all the fuss was about. But Jesus knew why the disciples were afraid, and he was disappointed in their lack of faith. Their trust was centred in their ability to save themselves, or lack of it, rather than being placed in God. It seems a rather harsh comment to ask them why they were afraid, and to criticise them for their lack of faith, but yet again the power of God was triumphant, whilst their own efforts were inadequate.
So is this story about a storm on a lake, is it an opportunity to reveal Jesus’ divine power, or is it a challenge to us to have faith in the power of God to act in the face of adversity?
Thankfully, not many of us will find ourselves in danger on the sea, but when we are, it is good to know that there are others who are prepared to put their lives in danger to help us, and it is these heroes that we give thanks and pray for today, on Sea Sunday.
What we will all have to do, at some point in our lives, perhaps many times, is to face situations over which we have no control. The storms of life visit us all, and in the face of this danger, we are constantly asked in what or in whom do we put our trust when our own efforts are insufficient?
We have to be careful that we don’t try to use our faith as an insurance policy. Faith in God will not prevent the storm from washing up on our shore, but in God we can trust to help us overcome. In despair, we have all prayed for God to still the storm in our lives, and perhaps been dismayed that He does not appear to do so, but we have then found the strength to deal with the aftermath of the winds and waves, and have found the strength to get through, if not to overcome, strength which can only come from God.
Sleeping in the bottom of the boat, Jesus is accused of not caring, but it was in turning to him that the disciples were saved. There are really lovely people that we know who seem to have storm after storm to overcome in their lives, and it just seems so unfair. When life throws up obstacles that we are ill-equipped to overcome, the danger is that we too rail against a God who seems not to care whether we live or die. Rather than turning away, Jesus calls us to turn to him to take away our fear, and place our trust in the God who rebukes the wind and stills the waters, and who leads us to a safe harbour.
The Psalmist writes, “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.”
May it be so. Amen
Prayers for others
Almighty God, we remember those whose lives are lived on your great oceans. For those who go down to the sea in ships, we give thanks that by their bravery they enrich our lives at great personal cost. May they daily feel the strength of your protection, the warmth of your presence and the love of your relationship as they seek the hope of safe passage. We pray for seafarers who are stranded at sea and forced to survive using only the resources available around them. Comfort them in times of loneliness and need and remind them that, in you, they are never alone, particularly when they are struggling with poor weather conditions or sickness.
We pray for the North East Somerset & Bath Circuit, of which we are a part, for it’s ministers, lay workers, churches and congregations – especially this week we join with the Circuit as we pray together for Keynsham Methodist Church, and their minister, Jane Wilson and for the staff and students at Kingswood School.
As part of Churches Together in Radstock & Westfield we pray for our siblings at St Nicholas’ Church in Radstock especially during this time of interregnum.
We pray for our families and friends, and for all those in need at this present time.
And we pray for ourselves …
Lord, in your mercy – hear our prayer
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
We say together the prayer that Jesus gave us:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as 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 for ever. Amen.
Hymn – StF 153 – Break thou the bread of life www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN9x8_F32sU
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1 Break thou the bread of life, 2 Thou art the Bread of Life, 3 O send thy Spirit, Lord, |
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v. 1 Mary Artemisia Lathbury (1841–1913) |
Holy Communion
Hymn – StF 238 – Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpkEeXWtWg0
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1 Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us 2 Saviour, breathe forgiveness o’er us; 3 Spirit of our God, descending, |
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James Edmeston (1791–1867) |
Blessing
Lord God, be the canoe that holds us in the sea of life, be the rudder that keeps us on the straight course. May your Spirit fill our sails to carry us through each day, and keep our bodies strong so that we may paddle steadfastly on in the voyage of life.
Amen
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