Service

Opening sentences

The Lord be with you; AND ALSO WITH YOU. We meet in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

AMEN.

God of truth, fan the flame of your Spirit within us, that though we have troubles and brokenness, we might bring glory to you. In Jesus’ name we pray.

AMEN.

Song

Shine, Jesus, Shine by Graham Kendrick

A reading from the 2nd Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians Chapter 4 from verse 6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you…. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Reflections on the Bible Reading

Effort… Trying to be a good person, a strong person, a successful person can take so much effort. It can be like trying to climb a never-ending ladder; trying to show others how wonderful we are, or how worthy we are. But that often leaves us feeling like a failure, and at the end of the day is just self-serving.

Another way to be…

In the reading from a letter written by St Paul to Christians in Greece, he shows us another way to be…
In your brokenness, welcome in Jesus - the Light of the world. Let the light of Jesus’ love and truth shine in your heart. Not only will he bring life to you, but because of your brokenness, others will be able to see that God is at work in your life. They won’t be thinking – how wonderful you are, but how wonderful God is. And ultimately, according to St.Paul, that should be our aim.
This calls for a different sort of effort… humility… the skill of climbing down the ladder!

Hymn

Before the throne of God above by Charitie Lees Bancroft

Prayer

We pray for all who seek God’s goodness, but feel hard pressed on every side; that they might not be crushed BUT BE STRENGTHENED THROUGH JESUS,

We pray for all who seek God’s goodness, but feel perplexed; that they might not despair. BUT BE STRENGTHENED THROUGH JESUS

We pray for all who seek God’s goodness, but feel persecuted; that they not be abandoned BUT BE STRENGTHENED THROUGH JESUS

We pray for all who seek God’s goodness, but feel struck down; that they might not despair. BUT BE STRENGTHENED THROUGH JESUS

We pray that through all our sufferings and troubles, we might not lose heart, BUT BE STRENGTHENED THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST,

CONQUEROR OF DEATH AND GIVER OF ETERNAL LIFE. AMEN.

Prayer

Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us…

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, FOR EVER AND EVER.
AMEN.

Hymn

Hyperlink to Hymn by Mary Byrne Be Thou my vision

Blessing

May the light of the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, Shine upon you,
Scatter the darkness from before your path, And make you ready to meet him When he comes again in glory,
And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Be upon you now and remain with you always
Amen

Contact

To contact Chaplaincy email kmpt.chaplaincy@nhs.net