Sunday 8th November 2020 (Remembrance)

Welcome

Welcome to our ‘Church at Home’ service for Sunday 8th of November. Today is remembrance Sunday, when we reflect on those who gave up their lives in the service of others. On this page you will also find prayers, readings, hymns, and a short video message to help you to worship God this morning wherever you are. Today we are continuing our sermon series looking at the New Testament letter to the Philippians.

Call to Worship – Psalm 20 (NIv)

1 May the Lord answer you when you are in distress;
    may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2 May he send you help from the sanctuary
    and grant you support from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices
    and accept your burnt offerings.
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
    and make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory
    and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

6 Now this I know:
    The Lord gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
    with the victorious power of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
    but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall,
    but we rise up and stand firm.
9 Lord, give victory to the king!
    Answer us when we call!

Hymn 136 – o God, our help in ages past

Opening Prayer

Eternal God,
you are the shepherd of our souls,
the giver of everlasting life.

On this day
when we commemorate and commend to you
those who lived and died
in the service of others,
we are glad to remember
that your purposes for us are good,
that you gave Jesus Christ
for the life of the world,
and that you lead us by his Holy Spirit
into the paths of righteousness and peace.

With sorrow we confess
that in our hearts we keep alive
the passions and the pride
that lead to hatred and war.
We are not worthy of your love,
nor of the sacrifice made by others on our behalf.

God of mercy,
pardon and deliver us from all our sins,
confirm and strengthen us in all goodness,
and keep us in life eternal:
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God of unlimited grace,
you declare your reconciling love and power
in the death and resurrection
of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Teach us, who live only in your forgiveness,
to forgive one another.
Heal our divisions,
cast out our fears,
renew our faith in your unchanging purpose
of goodwill and peace on earth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen

Act of Remembrance

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

Children’s Story – Paul’s Philippians Friends: Luke

Children’s Praise – Be Happy (I’m gonna Jump up and Down)

Reading Philippians 3:12-4:1

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

Sermon – ‘Press on’ (Philippians 3:12-14)

Hymn 491 – be Thou My Vision

Final Prayer

God of hope,
fill us with all joy and peace
as we trust in you,
so that we might overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

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