A call to worship:
Let us worship the God who gives, who fills our lives with the beauty of creation, who offers comfort and counsel to humanity,
while demanding nothing but that we share in filling the world with kindness and justice.
Amen.
A gathering prayer:
God, you call us to walk with you in justice,
in kindness, in humility. Help us to see this is what you require, to leave behind all other expectations and be free to walk into the future you want for us as the people of God.
Amen.
‘Grace’ by Michael Smith
I was lost when you found me here
You pulled me close and held me near
And I’m a fool but still you love
I’ll be your fool for the king of love
He gave me wings so I could fly
And gave me a song to colour the sky
And all I have is all from you
And all I want is all of you
It’s grace, grace I’m nothing without you
Grace, your grace Shines on me
And there’ve been days when I’ve walked away. Too much to carry Nothing left to say
Forgive me Lord when I’m weak and lost
You traded heaven for a wooden cross
And all these years you’ve carried me
You’ve been my eyes when I could not see
And beauty grows in the driving rain
You’re oil of gladness in the times of pain
It’s grace, your grace I’m nothing without you
Grace, your grace Your grace, your grace
I’m nothing without your Grace, your grace
Shines on me oh yeah Shines on me
Shines on me I’m everything with you
Shines on me Shines on me It’s your grace
Shines on me Your grace
Oh, your grace it shines on me Your grace
Your grace Shines on me Shines on me
Your grace it shines on me Your grace o!
Bible Readings
Psalm 119:137-144
צ Tsadhe
137 You are righteous, Lord,
and your laws are right.
138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous;
they are fully trustworthy.
139 My zeal wears me out,
for my enemies ignore your words.
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested,
and your servant loves them.
141 Though I am lowly and despised,
I do not forget your precepts.
142 Your righteousness is everlasting
and your law is true.
143 Trouble and distress have come upon me,
but your commands give me delight.
144 Your statutes are always righteous;
give me understanding that I may live.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
Unity and diversity in the body
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptised by one Spirit so as to form one body – whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free – and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 And so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ And the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Reflection:
The Bible uses several descriptive names for the church to highlight unity in the Church, calling the Church a Bride, a Body, a Building and a Brotherhood. I Corinthians 12:12-27 addresses Christian unity amidst diversity, and mutual care. We need one another, we differ from one another, and we are to care for one another. However, there are some severe attacks on the church, and they come from our differences, dissatisfactions, and divisions. Are you on the outside attacking or are you declaring all you are in Christ?
Differences: – We are one body with many parts baptised into one body by one Holy Spirit. It all starts well until some say I do not belong. v12 – 14. Paul explains that they have a common experience of the Spirit and we were all baptised by one Spirit to form one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free. People in the world have separated race and religion. Alistair McGrath says, ‘There is no room for arrogance within the body of Christ, nor can one member declare that others are not required’. It may be in this passage that some of the Corinthians felt like second class citizens.
Dissatisfactions: – ‘As it is, there are many parts, but one body 15 – 20 therefore we need each other. Verses 15-16 say, ‘Now if the foot should say, Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason stop being part of the body’. Any Christian who operates independently from others is reducing their own effectiveness and therefore that of the body as a whole. A foot bearing the weight of the body might easily envy a hand swinging free and think they do not belong. In verses 17-18 it reminds us that God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. The emphasis is on God’s plan, choice and appointment; a body needs many components to carry out its varied functions. John Stott suggests, we differ from one another, there are round pegs in square holes and vice versa. There are also many pegs trying to fill many holes at once. We differ from one another and only God, who made us different, can hold us together.
Divisions: – People should give equal concern for each other, v21-26. When one part suffers, we all suffer and when one part is honoured, we are all honoured. We are to care for one another. God has composed and adjusted the body mixing different parts together with a specific purpose in mind. Therefore, there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. Divine wisdom has ordered things in a manner that members of the body should not cause division within the Church. Verse 26 reminds us that if one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it. When a Christian Church is functioning well all the members feel involved.
Conclusion: – Paul uses the idea of the body to demonstrate unity and a oneness as we need each other saying the Church is one body with many parts. John Stott suggests we need one another. And we are the body of Christ past, present, and future. ‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, (Romans 15 v 13).
Prayer
Tree of Calvery, send your roots into our hearts. Tree of mercy, enfold us in your branches. Tree of life, overshadow us with your presence.
Taken from the Methodist Prayer handbook 2025 / 2026 “Our story our song”.
A prayer from India.
Loving Christ, source of all truth and restorer of tunefulness. I have accepted a place in your choir but spoiled its harmony by my pride. I have known your love song but remained impervious to its transforming beauty. I have learned the music of our graceful story but hindered the performance by my selfishness.
Forgive me.
Make me tender hearted that the power of your music might change me; make me modest, that I might humbly sing the part you give me; make me generous, that others might hear your choral symphonies. Loving Christ, source of all truth and restorer of tunefulness, sing through me I pray.
Amen.
Johnathan Hustler, Secretary of the British Methodist Conference.
The Lord's Prayer
Please use the version that you prefer
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.
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.
God And God Alone by Chris Tomlin
One church, one faith One anthem raised
God and God alone.
One cross, one grace One name that saves
All praise to You belongs All praise to You belongs.
We lift You higher, higher God and God alone
Your name be louder, louder than any other song You are forever seated on Your throne
You are forever God and God alone.
Who else can wash our sin away God and God alone Who else can raise us from the grave All praise to You belongs.
Jesus, all praise to You belongs
We lift You higher, higher
God and God alone
Your name be louder, louder than any other song
You are forever seated on Your throne
You are forever God and God alone
And what could separate us from this amazing love
What could say it’s greater than our God
Every knee will bow down
Oh, what could separate us from this amazing love
What could say it’s greater than our God
Every knee will bow down Oh, every knee will bow down We lift You higher, higher God and God alone Your name be louder, louder than any other song You are forever seated on
Your throne We lift You higher, higher God and God alone Your name be louder, louder than any other song You are forever seated on Your throne You are forever God and God alone You are forever God and God alone
And what could separate us from this amazing love.
What could say it’s greater than our God Every knee will bow down What could separate us from Your amazing love What could say it’s greater than our God Every knee will bow down Oh, every knee will bow down
Yes, every knee will bow down Oh, every knee will bow down
A sending out prayer:
O God, what do you require of us? Do you require us to be the best and do the most? No. Do you require us to turn our hearts to you and live with justice, kindness and humility? Yes. Give us what we need to adopt the beautiful attitudes you want for your people.
Amen.
