Take heart!

In our Holiday Club with St Luke's we have been having fun in Rocky’s Plaice, a fish restaurant a little bit like Fawlty Towers, and exploring the story of Simon Peter, the fisherman who was given the name ‘Peter’, the rock by Jesus.

Jesus turned to the disciples and asked them, “Who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.”

And Jesus answered him, “On this rock I will build my church.”


And so our service begins in a spirit of praise and worship as Hy-Spirit lead us in singing …


A time of Praise and Worship with Hy-Spirit

Prayer – led by Robert …
The Lord’s Prayer

Psalm 95 – the congregation – led by Robert

Jesus called Peter ‘the Rock’ – often in the Psalms God is seen as the very rock of our salvation. I am going to read one of those psalms, Psalm 95, when I say the words
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
we all say together the words in capitals ---
LET US MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION!

We begin with that response …

O come, let us sing to the Lord;
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LET US MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION!
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Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
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O come, let us sing to the Lord;
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LET US MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION!
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For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.---
In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also.
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O come, let us sing to the Lord;
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LET US MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION!
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The sea is his, for he made it, and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
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O come, let us sing to the Lord;
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LET US MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION!
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For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. O that today we would listen to his voice!
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O come, let us sing to the Lord;
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LET US MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE TO THE ROCK OF OUR SALVATION!


At the heart of the faith we share is the conviction that Jesus Christ is none other than the Rock of our salvation … and so let us join in singing our next hymn …


Hymn: In Christ alone, my hope is found, he is my light, my strength, my song

Rocky’s Plaice – the Story – Becky

Grace

Recap the story

Winnie – the sketch

Song: Jesus is the Rock

Peter’s Story

The Memory Verses

Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.

Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid!

I will be with you always to the end of the age

Rocky’s Plaice – the song

Talk – Richard

Jesus is the rock – he calls Peter the rock – then Peter turns to the stones – and suggests we are all living stones, held together by the corner stone – Jesus himself.

Lorraine is going to read some of the words Peter shared in a letter he wrote …

Reading: 1 Peter 2:1-5 and 9-10 - Lorraine

Rid yourselves, then, of all evil; no more lying or hypocrisy or jealousy or insulting language. 2 Be like newborn babies, always thirsty for the pure spiritual milk, so that by drinking it you may grow up and be saved. 3 As the scripture says, “You have found out for yourselves how kind the Lord is.”

4 Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable. 5 Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.

But you are the chosen race, the King's priests, the holy nation, God's own people, chosen to proclaim the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his own marvellous light.
At one time you were not God's people, but now you are his people; at one time you did not know God's mercy, but now you have received his mercy.

How can we be living stones?

Those three verses contain an invitation and then wonderful words of promise.

Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.

We follow Jesus … not for our own reward, but for the sake of other people.

Twice yesterday at Greenbelt African Ubuntu theology was mentioned.

Once, in a powerful and moving talk about dementia by a superb speaker from Aberdeen university, John Swinton – where James Gregory is studying - And the second time from Solomuza Babuza, a Lutheran minister.

We live in an individualistic society that owes so much to the European way of thinking that goes all the way back to Descartes – I think, therefore I am.

All too often that has led us to think of Christianity as all to do with the individual and individual salvation.

Africa thinks rather of people collectively – Ubuntu theology.

I am because you are.

Jesus doesn’t say Follow me and I will give you the best reward you can ever imagine. Jesus says,

Follow me and I will make you fish for people.

Follow me and you will live your life not for your own sake, but for the sake of other people.

How can we do that?

By holding on to two promises.

In the stormy moments, especially when we venture to do something that’s scary or that is on the verge of defeating let’s see Jesus stretching out his hand to us, taking hold of us securely, and saying

Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.

And in those moments when we feel alone, let’s hold on to that promise of Jesus …

I am with you always to the end of the age.

introducing Jonathan

Happy Birthday to Sybil

Prayers – Yvonne

Hymn: Amazing Grace

Through every danger, trial and snare
I have already come;
his grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

Closing Prayer and Blessing

Thank you, Lord, for giving us Winnie
Thank you, Lord, for giving us Rocky
For the games we’ve played
For the friends we’ve made
Thank you, Lord, for giving us fun

May God’s joy be in our hearts
May God’s peace be in our world
May God’s love be known between us
And the blessing of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Be with us now and for ever more.
Amen