Welcome to the Hawkinge Baptist Church Service

24 May 2020

Act of worship

As we begin let us have a few moments of quiet.

Opening Prayer

Mighty God, We praise you with our lips, declaring your greatness in word and song, for You are sovereign over all,
the source of our being and the goal of our striving, the Lord of heaven and earth.

Majestic God, we praise you in our minds, declaring your greatness in all we think,
for you are ever at work, active in our world, involved in our lives, present in countless ways around us.

Marvellous God, we praise you from our hearts, declaring your greatness in all we feel, for you are a gracious God,
loving, forgiving, compassionate, caring, always there to strengthen and sustain, to equip and enable.

Matchless God, we praise you in our lives, declaring your greatness in all we do,
for to love you is to serve you, to know you is to work for your kingdom,
to honour you is to respond to others, to revere your name is to respect your will.

Magnificent God, we do praise you here and now.
we come with joy and with worship, adoration and reverence.
In the name of Christ. Amen

Please sing (read /pray or proclaim out loud the words of this song.)

Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Come bow before Him now
With reverence and fear
In Him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here

Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
He burns with holy fire
With splendour He is crowned
How awesome is the sight
Our radiant King of light
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around

Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal
To minister His grace
No work too hard for Him
In faith receive from Him
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place

Please read our first reading from John 5 verses 1 to 17

The healing at the pool and the authority of the Son

1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie - the blind, the lame, the paralysed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?' 7 'Sir,' the invalid replied, 'I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.' 8 Then Jesus said to him, 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.' 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, 'It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.' 11 But he replied, 'The man who made me well said to me, "Pick up your mat and walk."' 12 So they asked him, 'Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?' 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, 'See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.' 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defence Jesus said to them, 'My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.'

Listen to today's reading, Acts 1 verses 1 - 11 and message with Rev Ali Boddngton

Let us continue in a time of prayer

Dear God, as we continue in worship, through prayer, help us to focus upon you and listen as well as speak. We think of the local churches in Hawkinge, Folkestone and the surrounding areas. Thank you that we are part of your body, even though we are apart. Thank you for all the different ways churches are seeking to share the Good news in this difficult and unusual time……moment of silence……. We remember before you all world leaders and those working to find a way forward during this crisis. We pray for wisdom, support and strength for all those on the front line. We give thanks for those who work to combat disease; for scientists, doctors, nurses and all who care for the sick, the aged and the vulnerable and we ask you to bless and strengthen them. We also pray for all those working in other areas of our communities. Shop workers, post workers, binmen and women, delivery drivers, teachers, and so many more. Thank you Lord……moment of silence……. We remember before you Lord all those we know with particular prayer needs at this time. We now lift them to you by name……………………we pray for those who are ill, or anxious, or grieving. We pray that the presence and power of your Holy Spirit may surround and sustain them. Lord we thank you that we can come today and bring these prayers to you, and that you hear them. Help us to continue to pray each and every day and spend time with you. in your name

Amen

Let us sing: In Christ alone my hope is found

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 day
Up from the grave He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin'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 pow'r of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand

Closing prayer:

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all forever more.

Amen

Trouble streaming? - The above files can be downloaded here:

Music - Be still for the presence of the Lord

Music - In Christ alone my hope is found

Bible reading and message with Rev Ali Boddngton - Sunday 24 May 2020

The Government has recently updated their advice regarding coronavirus.

More detail can be found at:

Latest Government Advice

Church services and activities:

Due to the current situation all activities are cancelled until further notice.

The Baptist Union has recently updated their advice regarding coronavirus.

More detail can be found at:

Baptist Union Latest on the Coronavirus

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(Last updated 23 May 2020)