St John’s Meopham with St Mildred's Nurstead.

Worship at Home and Gathered in our buildings Sunday 20th September 2020

Morning Worship

8.00am St Mildred’s 9.45am St John’s

Welcome to our worship today.

May each one of us meet with God and find our lives changed, enriched and filled with power by Him on this and every day.

Preparation

So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20 v 16

O Lord, open our lipsand our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Give us the joy of your saving helpand sustain us with your life-giving Spirit.

We have come together in the name of Christto offer our praise and thanksgiving,to hear and receive God’s holy word,to pray for the needs of the world,and to seek the forgiveness of our sins,that by the power of the Holy Spiritwe may give ourselves to the service of God.

We listen to https://youtu.be/ZAN4EojeF0Y

Guide me, O thou great redeemer,Pilgrim through this barren land;I am weak, but thou art mighty,Hold me with thy powerful hand;Bread of heaven, bread of heavenFeed me till I want no more;Feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountainWhence the healing stream doth flow;Let the fire and cloudy pillarLead me all my journey through:Strong deliverer, strong deliverer;Be thou still my strength and shield;Be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,Bid my anxious fears subside;Death of death, and hell's destructionLand me safe on Canaan's side:Songs of praises, songs of praises,I will ever give to thee;I will ever give to thee.

William Williams (1717-1791)translated by Peter Williams (1727-1796)

Time of Confession

Jesus says, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.’ So, let us turn away from our sin and turn to Christ, confessing our sins in penitence and faith as we say together.

Confession

Lord God,we have sinned against you;we have done evil in your sight.We are sorry and repent.Have mercy on us according to your love.Wash away our wrongdoing and cleanse us from our sin.Renew a right spirit within usand restore us to the joy of your salvation;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of forgiveness May the Father of all merciescleanse us from our sins,and restore us in his imageto the praise and glory of his name,through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Prayer of Thanksgiving Blessed are you, creator God,to you be praise and glory for ever.As your Spirit moved over the face of the watersbringing light and life to your creation,pour out your Spirit on us today

that we may walk as children of lightand by your grace reveal your presence.Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Blessed be God for ever. Amen.

The Word of God

Today, we read silently and reflect upon Psalm 105 v 1-5 1  O give thanks to the Lord and call upon his name;    make known his deeds among the peoples.2  Sing to him, sing praises,    and tell of all his marvellous works.3  Rejoice in the praise of his holy name;    let the hearts of them rejoice who seek the Lord.4  Seek the Lord and his strength;    seek his face continually.5  Remember the marvels he has done,    his wonders and the judgements of his mouth,

Glory to the Father and to the Sonand to the Holy Spirit;as it was in the beginning is nowand shall be for ever. Amen.

First Reading Exodus 16 v 2-15

2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the

morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” 8 Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”9 Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.

This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Pause and reflect on what has been read.

We listen to https://youtu.be/zbBUFSOkbdM

For the fruits of all creation,thanks be to God;for the gifts of every nation,thanks be to God;for the ploughing, sowing, reaping,silent growth while we are sleeping,future needs in earth's safe keeping,thanks be to God.

In the just reward of labour,God's will is done;in the help we give our neighbour,God's will is done;in our world-wide task of caringfor the hungry and despairing,in the harvests we are sharing,God's will is done.

For the harvests of the Spirit,thanks be to God;for the good we all inherit,thanks be to God;for the wonders that astound us,for the truths that still confound us,most of all that love has found us,thanks be to God.

Words © 1970 Hope Publishing Company, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188

Second Reading Matthew 20 v 1-161‘For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.3 ‘About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the market-place doing nothing. 4 He told them, “You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.” 5 So they went.‘He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, “Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?”7 ‘“Because no one has hired us,” they answered.‘He said to them, “You also go and work in my vineyard.”8 ‘When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, “Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.”9 ‘The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first,

they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 “These who were hired last worked only one hour,” they said, “and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.”13 ‘But he answered one of them, “I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?”16 ‘So the last will be first, and the first will be last.’

This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God.

Pause and reflect on what you have read.

Sermon

The Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried;he descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again;he ascended into heaven,he is seated at the right hand of the Father,and he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

We listen to

https://youtu.be/CFoactKMJHQ

Father, hear the prayer we offer: not for ease that prayer shall be, but for strength, that we may ever live our lives courageously.

Not for ever in green pastures do we ask our way to be ; but the steep and rugged pathway may we tread rejoicingly.

Not forever by still waters would we idly rest and stay; but would smite the living fountains from the rocks along our way.

Be our strength in hours of weakness, in our wanderings be our Guide; through endeavour, failure, danger, Saviour, be thou at our side.

Love Maria Willis (1824-1908)

Intercessions

Collect for Trinity 15

Lord God,defend your Church from all false teachingand give to your people knowledge of your truth,that we may enjoy eternal lifein Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Intercessions follow here

then

Gathering our prayers and praises into one,as our Saviour taught, so we pray

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 sinsas we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power,and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

We listen to https://youtu.be/JWiFYJMGas0

In Christ alone my hope is found,He is my light, my strength, my song;This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.What heights of love, what depths of peace, When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!My Comforter, my All in All,Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! - who took on flesh,Fullness of God in helpless babe!This gift of love and righteousness,Scorned by the ones He came to save:‘Til on that cross as Jesus died,The wrath of God was satisfied –For every sin on Him was laid;Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain:Then bursting forth in glorious DayUp from the grave He rose again!And as He stands in victorySin’s curse has lost its grip on me,For I am His and He is mine –Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,This is the power of Christ in me;From life’s first cry to final breath,Jesus commands my destiny.No power of hell, no scheme of man,Can ever pluck me from His hand;‘Til He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand!

Words: Stuart Townend. Music: Keith GettyCopyright © 2001 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music,P.O. Box 75, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 6NW

The Blessing

May the world continue to surprise you,love continue to astonish you,life continue to captivate you, and faith continue to sustain you; and the blessing of God Almighty,the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always. Amen.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England,material from which is included in this service, is copyright @ The Archbishops' Council 2020

Services for September and October. 2020

Sunday 27 September

945am Harvest Thanksgiving (St John’s)1130am Harvest Thanksgiving (St Mildred’s)

Sunday 4 Ocotber

945am Morning Worship (St John’s)1130am Morning Worship ( St Mildred’s)

Sunday 11 October

945am Morning Worship (St John’s)1130am Morning Worship ( St Mildred’s)

Sunday 18 October

800am Morning Worship (St Mildred’s)945am Morning Worship (St John’s)

Notices.

St John's Community Cafe fundraising for Macmillan on Friday 25th September 2-4pm

All monies taken at the cafe this week will go to Macmillan. Their annual coffee morning is their biggest fundraising event, we will be playing our part in the afternoon.Please join us for tea or coffee and cake if you are able.

Harvest Services at St John's and St Mildred's, Sunday 27th September - Donations for Gravesham Foodbank

If you would like to bring offerings to next week's services, please note that the following items are most needed currently: Small bottles of squash; Tinned meat; Tinned fruit; Savoury biscuits; Cereal bars; and Jam.