“God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: plants yielding seeds and trees on the land bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds.” It was so. 12 The land produced vegetation—plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. God saw that it was good. 13 There was evening, and there was morning, a third day.” Genesis 1:11-13 NET
“Remember the Sabbath day to set it apart as holy. 9 For six days you may labour and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your cattle, or the resident foreigner who is in your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, and he rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.” Exodus 20:8-11 NET
God of creation and rest,
The forth time God spoke in creation it was both productive and reproductive. Does it marry up with the forth commandment about Sabbath rest!? They look like opposites at first glance. W. H. Davis wrote the well known stanza, “what is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?” Sometimes we do need to stop and rest and get a God perspective on what is in our hands and what is in Yours. You hold all creation in perpetual growth and development. Amazing. We just need to do what we can and trust You for the things which we cannot.
You taught by example from the very beginning. Time to work, time to rest, time to consider what is good. Jesus knew how to take rest and withdraw and rest in You (Luke 5:16). If he needed to take time to pause, how much more do we. The third day saw creation bursting with nature’s activity. The world will not end if we stop and rest.
Jesus showed us that Sabbath was not about rules and regulations (Matthew 12:1-8). Thou shalt not. But a day to relax, allow ourselves to unwind, know You are in control. And even consider all the wonderful lavish creation You have set in motion. Time to recharge and rejoice. Tomorrow has enough worry of its own ( Matthew 6:34). Creation is free to view, each single flower.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
God of creation and rest,
We pray:
For all our family, friends, neighbours, our church family. Those we are not close to any more.
Those living in our street or road or cul-de-sac or area. For hospitals and our Doctors surgery.
For our town, our local council and the well being of our surrounding area.
For Gaza and the Middle East, to an end to the terrorism there without more bloodshed.
For Putin, the Russian people and for change. An end of war in Ukraine.
For help, relief and comfort for those in the earthquakes zones in Afghanistan, and for those in the devastated areas in Libya and Morocco. For the ongoing aid and medical agencies.
For our world, for help to farm without harmful chemicals and room for wildlife to coexist.
For ourselves, for Your gentle guiding, support and encouragement.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 20th October 2023
A hymn to reassure
This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas,
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!
Lyrics: Maltbie D Babcock