Readings:
Genesis 29:15-28
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
Romans 8:26-39
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
This week’s Gospel reading includes 6, yes 6 parables, that’s a lot of parables! Each parable invites us to imagine the Kingdom of God, not through images of might, power or violence but through images of seed, yeast, pearl, hidden treasure and fishing nets.
It’s not a great selection of scripture if you don’t like stories.
In a way our lives are parables, each of us living out ordinary stories that imagine the Kingdom of God, our worship is also a parable of a lived out story of the Kingdom of God and, as we celebrate communion together we act out yet another parable where we’re invited to imagine the Kingdom of God as a meal of bread and wine with friends, strangers, enemies, neighbours and kin.
This week I invite you to start a Kingdom of God diary, use words or images to record the moments when you become aware of the Kingdom of God in your life. Perhaps you could use your camera to catalogue where you saw the kingdom break through this week.
Start each day with a prayer that you will be attentive to the moments where you are invited to witness the Kingdom of God this week, in yourself, in your home, in your neighbourhood. Keep your eyes open, look in the ordinary everyday things, for that’s where Jesus asks us to look this week.
End each day by giving thanks to God for every moment you witnessed the Kingdom of God this day.
*If you think it’s too difficult to look for moments of the Kingdom of God then perhaps you might look for moments where you see God at work each day.
Singing the Scripture
This week’s playlist invites us to enter the scripture through songs that reflect on Psalm 105 and the Kingdom of God.
Prayer
This week we invite you to use these prayers in your daily life. Perhaps you’d like to carry one of these prayers with you throughout the week, finding a quiet space every day to pray the prayer.
Perhaps you’d like to use the All Age Prayer as you start each day, or carry the confession to pray at the end of every day.
All Age Prayer
Source: Spill The Beans
Lord the cycle of nature works well.
Thank you!
From the plants and trees come seeds.They fall into the ground
or are carried by insects and birds
and are dropped into waiting earth.
The soil contains food; the skies give water.
Seeds grow, and grow and grow. New life is born.
Food for animals and people,
colour for creation.A cycle of life in nature that works well.
Thank you!
From the smallest seed comes a large tree.
Earth is full of the possibility of hope.Our Life too is like that, God.
Thank you.Amen.
Prayer of Confession
Source: Spill The Beans
Again, again, again Lord.
You just don’t stop!
You are always trying to reveal yourself,
teaching us of your Kingdom,
calling us to participate.Parables, conversations, shared journeys, fellowship round a table.
You spoke to people and opened up
the Kingdom of God.
Its values shining through like sunlight;
its vastness as deep as the oceans;
its power to give life
and grow whatever it touches
equal to only the work of the Spirit.How precious is the Kingdom? Nothing can compare
in the value it brings to human life;
a gift of your Love for all people.
Again, again, again Lord.
You just don’t stop!
You are always trying to reveal yourself,
teaching us of your Kingdom,
calling us to participate.But do we really see?
Do we stop to listen, to watch, to absorb what you reveal?
We are sometimes slow to adopt
the values of the Kingdom.
We think bigger is better,
thinking that nothing of value comes in or from what the world deems
of small consequence.We go for the quick fix, the instant hit,
not recognising that like the work
of making bread,
effort is needed to bring the constituent parts of life together
in a way that satisfies the hunger
not just of some, but of all.We succumb to the temptation
of acquiring more and more possessions;
especially those we deem trendy
and that others too would desire.
We miss what is truly precious
in the hunt for what we think is precious.Lord forgive us.
In your mercy and love for us
do not stop working away at us. Persevere in making us understand.
Again, again and again
open our eyes to the true values of the Kingdom;
how precious it is.Continue to reveal yourself, teach us, and call us to participate
in your work in the world.
This is our prayer;
in Jesus’ name.Amen.
Prayers for others
(Ron Reeson)
O God,
Sometimes our prayers feel as small as a mustard seed.
But we bring them to you in faith
that they will be added to thousands, even thousands and thousands
of other mustard seed prayers from the church worldwide.We pray, as we have done so often in recent days,
for those suffering and those in fear,
for overworked paramedics, doctors, nurses and medical aids,
for those struggling to survive
who do not have work, or not enough work,
and for the quick arrival of an effective vaccine.We pray for those in countries
where the pandemic is not being managed wisely
where many are dying
and for all those who are not believing in, or following, medical guidance.
Protect us all, dear God.We pray for relations between the superpowers
and for smaller countries directly or indirectly impacted by them.We pray also for the Queen, the Governor General and all our political leaders.
May they serve humbly,
using their power and authority with fairness and regard for all,
remembering that we are all equal and belong to each other.We pray for our country,
for those struggling in the middle of a messy court case
for those who have been abused physically or financially,
for children at school,
neighbours in our street or apartment building
and for those who struggle in the cold.We pray finally for our own congregation, its health and well-being,
and for those managing a safe return to gathered worship and community.
Give them good wisdom, insight and a sense of care for all.In the name of Jesus the Lord.
Amen
Prayer of Adoration
Source: Spill The Beans
Living, breathing, creating God,
your work in the world never stops:
growing,
kneading,
revealing,
sourcing,
sorting.
In every aspect of life Your Spirit works
as the energy that generates the potential
and activity of your Kingdom.We become before you,
ready to praise you
and ready to open our eyes,
our hearts and minds
to the values of the Kingdom.
Lift the veil this day
that you might reveal to us
the kaleidoscope of divine colour
that reveals the full variety
and brilliance of the activity
and work of the Kingdom.The Kingdom is real,
it is here and it is waiting to welcome all
for it is inclusive in its depth,
it is for the whole of humanity.
Amen.
Reflection
Story
Listening to Stories
Find a favourite story and read it, if it’s a picture book spend some time looking at the artwork. What do you like about the story the most? What grabbed your attention? Did the story make you feel happy, sad, scared?
If you’re reading this story with others note how different parts of the story grab your imagination and how each of you might be attracted to different parts of the story.
Read the gospel reading and talk about what parable, what image attracts each of you and why.