Oxford Methodist Circuit Worship

Thy Kingdom Come: 27th May

The Methodist Church has produced a prayer journal, “Jesus Loves All” for Thy Kingdom Come, written by the youth president, Thelma Commey. If you received a copy of the latest connexion magazine, you’ll have found a printed copy.

You can download an electronic copy here.

The text below is an extract.

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Day 7: Help

1 John 3: 16–18

Reflection:

When St John says, ‘Little children,’ he’s speaking to everyone, all the children of God. He says we shouldn’t just say we love people if we’re not doing anything to show that love – that if we have material possessions and yet we don’t show any pity for our brother or sister, how is that love? Not to say this is the only way to love people, but that’s a very practical way to love others. How generous are we as Christians? How caring are we as Christians? How hospitable are we as Christians, especially when it is not in our self-interest?

If we don’t act, it’s almost as if we think we deserve to be in a better position but it’s only by God’s grace that we’re not in the position of the one in need. Jesus himself says: ‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ (Matthew 25.35–36) Everything that we do to people, we do as if we do it to Christ.

Prayer:

Loving God, thank you for your costly love. Please may my five friends understand something of the strength of your love for them. Help us to use our money well.

Action:

Look for ways that you can use what you already have to help others today.

Thy Kingdom Come: 26th May

You can download an electronic copy here.

The text below is an extract.

Day 6: Pray

1 John 4:7

Reflection:

What would the world be like if everybody loved each other? Imagine that! Of course love is difficult because our human nature, although capable of great love, is imperfect. Our selfishness keeps getting in the way.

I think that the evidence that we actually know God is the fact that we have the ability to love everyone unconditionally.

All the commandments are fulfilled in this, that we would love one another. That’s it. God is asking us to love one another in our words and in our deeds. It’s not necessarily easy, let’s be honest! It is only possible with the Father’s love, Christ’s example and the Spirit’s power. And God teaches us to love as we pray. To pray is to love.

Prayer:

Loving God, help me to know you more. Through knowing you, may I show you more and love as you love. Please show your love to my five friends — through me and others who love you.

Action:

How could you remind yourself to pray for your five friends? Could you set an alarm on your phone every day?

Thy Kingdom Come: 25th May

You can download an electronic copy here.

The text below is an extract.

Day 5: Offer

Luke 15:1–6; see also Matthew 18:12–14

Reflection:

The loving God pursues us, just as the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine to find the one. From a rational perspective, the shepherd would do better to guard his ninety-nine and forsake the one that he’s lost because that would be more profitable. But God’s love doesn’t seek profit – every individual sheep is worth pursuing.

Sometimes we can be exclusive about the people for whom we want to show love and care. In verse 2 we read: ‘the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners, and eats with them.”’ But the Jesus that we claim to follow ate with all sorts of people. The sinners and the tax collectors were people that he came to find. Jesus went to Matthew’s house — Matthew the tax collector — to have dinner with him. Jesus went out of his way to spend time to eat with a group of people whom many in society rejected.

In the same way, Jesus left heaven and came down, not only to dine with us, but also to die for us. He has done everything to find us.

Prayer:

Loving God, thank you for coming to find us with your love. Please come to find my friends.

Action:

Instead of just expecting people to come to church, could we imitate Jesus and leave our comfort zones to be with them?

Thy Kingdom Come: 24th May

(Please scroll down for the circuit service of worship for 24th May)

You can download an electronic copy here.

The text below is an extract.

Day 4: Sorry

Romans 5: 6–8

Reflection:

What’s beautiful about the Christian story is that God loved us before we came to the realisation that we were sinners. Before we turned to accept God’s love, God already loved us.

The love of God we see shown in countless Bible stories comes from a broken heart. It is a love for someone that feels like an ache in the pit of the stomach. The kind of love that would do anything, however irrational it may seem to others, to find what is lost. As we shall read in tomorrow’s reflection, it is the love which risks everything for the sake of one who is lost.

Prayer:

Loving God, I am sorry for the times when I have not loved others as you love. Thank you that, before I thought of confessing, you had forgiven me. I confess all that is not right in my life today and ask for the forgiveness you so lovingly give. May this love transform my friends’ lives also.

Action:

This week, how will I lay aside something important to me, so as to better serve one of my five?