It's For Him

St Bartholomew's Family Service

Things I need:

Baptism cards

Services sheet

Hymn book

News sheet (for collect)

Props for children's activity (Jail bars)

Thanksgiving service sheets (x3)

Gospel to give to Olivia

Practice 541 One shall tell another

Welcome and Introduction

A special welcome to the newest members of our church.

Pittaways

Harries

Olivia

We are going to be thinking this morning how it can be quite hard to be a Christian sometimes.

The Bible sometimes talks describes the Christian faith as a race, which we need to run with great determination. ...or as a battle, in which we need to keep on fighting to the end.

Both these themes are picked up in our first hymn.

Please stand.

Song: 143 Fight the good fight

The Lord is here.

His Spirit is with us.

Please be seated.

Let us have a moments quite in which we can think back over the last week, and remember those things for which we want to say sorry.

We ask God's forgiveness for our sins

Let us return to the Lord our God and say to him:

Father,

we have sinned against heaven and against you.

We are not worthy to be called your children.

We turn to you again.

Have mercy on us,

bring us back to yourself

as those who once were dead

but now have life through Christ our Lord. Amen

May almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us our sins,

and bring us to everlasting life,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The Collect of the day

Children's activity: Facing Opposition

Can I have three volunteers who are willing to go to prison?

Can the children tell me some of the bad things that people do, for which they can be sent to prison.

If someone kills someone, would they be sent to prison, (hands up if you think 'yes', ...'no'?). If yes give them a jail car to hold in front of their face.

Repeat for other two children.

I have one set of bars left. Hold it up. Now listen to this.

Read Acts 16.20-24.

Is there another reason why someone might be sent to prison?

In many countries in the world today it is a criminal offence to be a Christian, just as it was in the days of the apostles.

Talk about Rachel in the Sudan.

Jesus never promised his followers an easy life. In fact he warned them that they could expect to receive many hardships simply for being his followers.

But if we have decided to follow Jesus there can be no turning back.

Song: 272 I have decided to follow Jesus

During the next few weeks we are working our way through Paul's letter to the Christians in Philippi. As Chris mentioned last week, Paul was himself writing this letter from prison, and this is what he had to say about it.

Reading: Philippians 1. 12-26

(Read by Garry with his jumper inside out)

Talk - It's For Him

Imagine what it must be like, being a Christian in a country where you could be persecuted. Where you might lose your job, ...or your children might be barred from going to college, ...or your children might be taken away from you and put into care, ...or you might be thrown into prison, ...even killed?

Yet knowing what might happen to his followers Jesus said, ..."Go to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples".

Do you think they found it easy?

I'm sure they didn't, ...but nevertheless, they did exactly what Jesus had told them.

Now, how many people here this morning have faced persecution like this for being a Christian?

...presumably no-one here has been killed for being a Christian,

...has anyone been thrown into prison?

...has anyone had their children taken from them for being a Christian?

...has anyone lost their job for being a Christian?

No? Me neither!

We must live in a very tolerant society, ...so who finds it easy to talk about their faith, ...and to tell people about Jesus?

Well why's that?

If we don't face this kind of persecution, why do we find it so difficult?

Can some of the adults tell me why?

(Take feedback)

For many of us I think it's simply a matter of being a little embarrassed.

Would Garry come up here a moment.

Does anyone notice anything different about Garry this morning?

Did you dress yourself this morning Garry?

How many people noticed that he had his jumper on inside out?

But we didn't say anything because we didn't want to embarrass him, and didn't want to embarrass ourselves.

(Garry sits down).

[How do you feel when you meet someone who has got a bit of spinach stuck in their teeth, ...or their flies are undone, ...or they've got their jumper on inside out.]

But if we see something that is wrong, and don't say anything about it, then they wont be able to put it right.

Everyone's greatest need is to know the loving forgiveness of our heavenly Father, and the gift of eternal life which Jesus offers, ...but people just can't see it. (Like Garry with his jumper on inside out).

If the early Christians were willing to face prison, and even death, to tell others about Jesus, ...let's not fail to do so because we face a little embarrassment?

Songs: 541 One shall tell another

We affirm what we believe about God

Do you believe and trust in God the Father, who made all things?

We believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ, who redeemed the world?

We believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in his Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God?

We believe and trust in him.

This is the faith of the Church:

This is our faith. We believe and trust in one God,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Prayers

...finishing with the Lord's Prayer.

Thanksgiving for Olivia Knight

Ask Graham, Liz, Lucy and Olivia to come to the front.

Read paragraphs 1 & 2 from yellow sheet.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God my saviour.

Glory and honour and power are yours by right, O Lord our God;

for you created all things, and by your will they have their being.

Holy, holy, holy is God, the sovereign Lord of all,

who is, and who was, and who is to come.

Great and marvellous are your deeds, O Lord God;

just and true are your ways, O king of the ages.

Praise our God, all you his servants,

you that fear him, both great and small.

His mercy rests on those who fear him,

now and for countless ages. Amen.

Songs: 133 Father I place into your hands

Prayers for Olivia

Read paragraph 7 & 9 from yellow sheet.

God our Father,

we pray for Olivia

that in due time

she may be received by baptism

into the family of your Church,

and become an inheritor of your kingdom;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Offertory Hymn:

Song: 445 Shine Jesus Shine

Blessing

Read paragraph 12 from yellow sheet

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

In the name of Christ. Amen.