Musing Worship

(Translations: One: NRSV/ Two: The Message) One:    When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:            ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Two:   “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” One:    ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Two:   “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” One:    ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Two:   “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.” One:    ‘Blessed are those who hun...

CALL TO WORSHIP:   One: What does the Lord require of us? All:   To do Justice; One: ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.’ All:    To love kindness; One: ‘Blessed are the meek and humble, for they will inherit the earth.’ All:    To walk humbly with our God; One: ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ All:    We come to learn, to praise, to pray; One: We come to worship our God.

In the prodigal son the father welcomes the younger son, who's come back, with wide-open arms and many of us can relate with the older brother who has stuck by and seemingly slaved for his father as was expected of him. Now his younger brother returns after wasting money, time, and effort and is rewarded like a king with new shoes, jewels, and a great party in his honour. However this parable helps us to see an aspect of God that most of us can never really understand.   Every day we encounter people or situations and God is there; God's love is for them and sometimes it's hard for us to understand this. Perhaps the message of the prodigal son is for us to learn to love like God. We cannot be caught up in our own lives, in our own world and our selfishness.  For us to be like God gives others the grace that God gives each and every one of us every single day; from the saint like person who gives freely of themselves volunteering countless hours and money, right...

And Mary said, My entire being lifts God up to where God belongs and celebrates that God is my saviour.   God is giving me such an incredible opportunity even though the world considers me to be poor and unworthy.   From today on and always people will remember me as one who has been truly blessed by God because of this amazing gift God has given me and the many wonderful things God has done for me.   God is most holy indeed. God is kind to those who respect God no matter what age we live in.   God is very mighty and has brought down those who thought that they were better than others. God has the authority needed to make those in power to be weak and to make the weak to be in power. God will make those who are hungry for food, knowledge, or faith full with those good things – those who are rich however will not receive any of this from God.   God has helped me, God’s servant, to remember all the kind things God has always done for me – ...