SUNDAY SERVICES AT 10:30 AM
SUNDAY SERVICES AT 10:30 AM
Please refer to the HOME page of the website for details of forthcoming live services at Torrisholme. Places are limited due to ongoing Covid-19 regulations so you must book your reservation.
Susan Wilson kindly organised a "rota" of preachers for online Sunday Worship and we hope to keep these going, even when live services are available. Each week designated preachers will provide materials for us to use at home. I hope, if we are able to use these at the same time that we will feel that we have worshiped together, we will sense fellowship and a shared experience. These will be published on both Wesley's & Torrisholme's websites to which the there are links from the Circuit website.
We are not always able to print the hymns in full, you might like to "google" them and listen to the music on YouTube, alternatively you might find them in a book that you have, or read the text on line. This is a developing project, it won't be perfect, but please let me have feedback; we'll work on it together!
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Please remember that there would customarily have been a collection at a point in the service. Please set aside your offering as part of your worship, to be brought to Church when we re-open. It might even give us a sense of continuity.
Perhaps you have a candle, or flowers which will help you worship and, of course, a comfortable chair
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Future Services at Torrisholme Methodist Church will be led by:
- 23 May Rev David Philo
- 30 May Susan Wilson
- 6th June Rev Andrew Champley
13th June Sandra Lucas
20th June Sister Vivien
27th June Rev David Philo.
To attend, you need to book in advance as places are limited due to continuing Covid-19 restrictions.
Ring Mervyn on 01524 418348
Worship for Sunday 13th June 2021
Sandra Lucas
Call to Worship:
Heavenly Father we have come together this morning to praise and worship you, to glorify your name,
and to hear your word for each one of us.
Open our hearts and minds so that we may each hear you more clearly and follow you more nearly all our days.
We ask this through Jesus Christ your Son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
***
HYMN 36 Singing the Faith
There’s a quiet understanding when we gather in the Spirit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTfESpt74Ig
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Prayers of Praise Adoration Confession and Thanksgiving.
Gracious and heavenly Father, source of every blessing, giver of every good gift,
we worship and adore you and bless your holy name.
We praise you for the revelation of yourself in our Lord Jesus Christ and every glimpse we have of your nature.
May our love and worship of you so fill our lives that we share you with other people.
We praise you for all the joys of life, and the everyday blessings which we receive from you.
Yet even when we know all that you have done for us and have given us, there are still times when we fail you.
Father there have been times when we have failed to see the needs of others, when perhaps all that was needed
was a helping hand, a friendly smile or a wave, just to show them that we care and want only the best for of them.
Let us take some moments to offer our own prayer of confession to our Father in heaven.
We know that when we are sorryl our sins will be forgiven,
we know this because your Son, Jesus Christ, shed his blood to wash away all our wrongs.
Father we thank you for that forgiveness and pray that with your help and guidance we will not make those mistakes again.
Help us to express our thanks not only in our praises and prayers, but also through the lives we lead.
We offer this prayer to you now, in and through your Son, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen
The Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
For ever and ever, Amen
Reading Mark 4:26-34
He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”
Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”
With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.
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HYMN 531 Singing the Faith
What a friend we have in Jesus
Prayers of Intercession
Heavenly Father we come before you now with our prayers for others in the knowledge that you hear and answer all our prayers, both the spoken and the unspoken. There is so much suffering in the world today, and that suffering takes many forms. Millions of people are suffering because of the pandemic. We pray that they will know that there are many many people doing what they can at this time. We think of the extra pressure that this has put on doctors and nurses not just here in the UK but throughout the world. May they each know that they are in our thoughts and our prayers.
Lord in your mercy- Hear our Prayer
We pray for people who are living in countries where there is unrest. Places where some will go to any length to get what they want, regardless of the suffering that they may cause . We remember people bringing help to those suffering in war torn countries often putting their own life at risk. May they know that we are thinking of them, wanting only the best for all of them, young or old. May they feel the warmth of your love surrounding them each day.
Lord in your mercy- Hear our Prayer
Finally Father we bring before you people known to us individually. They may be members of our own family, they may be members of our church family. Perhaps they may be feeling isolated because of Covid-19, perhaps they are waiting for hospital appointments, and we all know of people who are wondering when will this situation come to an end.
Father we ask that you be with each one of them and help them through these difficult times.
Lord in your mercy- Hear our Prayer
Father we offer these our prayers for others to you in and through your Son, Our Lord and Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Message :
We know from many stories in the Bible, that Jesus often told the people and the disciples parables. He did this to get a point across to the people without the people getting confused. The reading from Mark is a good example of this. In our reading from Mark Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower: Jesus tells us that no matter how much seed the sower scatters, some of it may grow while some may not. The sower does not have control over all the seed that he scatters. The ground where the seed is scattered plays a significant plays a major role in the size of the crop that will be gathered . Jesus reminds the people that the farmer when he sows his seed has limited control. This is because there is a hidden power at work in the process of the crop growing. Nature plays a significant part in the process of growing crops even with human assistance there is power for new life and growth at work.
Often in life we have tried to do something and it has not worked. My favourite time of the year is Spring, when we are able to see the power of nature at work. The wild flowers that we can see growing, from the daffodils to the daisies. I have walked past gardens where there are flowers and plants starting to grow. All showing the beauty of God’s Kingdom here on earth. Nature works in a way that we cannot see. Nature showing us through the growth of things its hidden power. Jesus did not wait for the people to come to him and listen to what he was saying. Jesus went to where the people were and told them the many parables that he knew to explain things. He spoke to them in words and with concepts that they would understand. Jesus was seeking to lead them to faith. Often we will hear people say that they heard something and it got them thinking. This parable is telling the people then and telling us here today that we must never be daunted by small beginnings. Many small beginnings lead to something much bigger. We know that everything has a beginning, nothing emerges full grown. The church began with an individual and it has spread to the ends of the Earth.
The Church is an empire in which all kinds of opinions and all kinds of theologies can find a place. The church is an empire in which all people meet. We know there are many denominations of the Christian Church, all worshipping God the Father through the Son Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit. We also know that many people have yet to come to God the Father through his Son Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. The church itself is the family of God, and that church began over two thousands years ago in Palestine. It began as that small mustard seed the farmer was sowing and now that church has room enough for every nation God’s love is for all people, not just for a chosen few. There are no barriers in the church of God.Imagine, if we each were to tell one person about the love of God for his people how much the church would grow. Let us share that love so that more can come to know and love him as we do.
Jesus spoke in a way that people would understand the point that he was making -from a small seed a large plant can grow. - there was hidden power at work when Jesus walked the Earth, and that hidden power is at work today. Jesus told people to go and tell others, not keep the good news to themselves. With the power of God all things are possible.
Final Words
HYMN 418 Singing the Faith
We have a gospel to proclaim.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hqNT45GnXY
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May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all, now and for evermore.
Amen
Service for the 6th Sunday of Easter - 9th May 2021
Sandra Lucas
Call to Worship
Psalm 95
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music.
For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods.
Come let us bow down in worship,
for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.
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Hymn 334 Singing the Faith
.
Praise to the holiest in the height,
and in the depth be praise;
in all his words most wonderful,
most sure in all his ways!
O loving wisdom of our God!
when all was sin and shame,
a second Adam to the fight
and to the rescue came.
O wisest love! that flesh and blood,
which did in Adam fail,
should strive afresh against the foe,
should strive, and should prevail;
And that the highest gift of grace
should flesh and blood refine:
God's presence and his very self,
and essence all-divine.
O generous love! that he who came
as man to smite our foe,
the double agony for us
as man should undergo:
And in the garden secretly,
and on the cross on high,
should teach his brethren, and inspire
to suffer and to die.
Praise to the Holiest in the height,
and in the depth be praise;
in all his words most wonderful,
most sure in all his ways!
( J.H. Newman );
Prayers and Readings
Praise Adoration Confession & Thanksgiving
Heavenly Father
we praise and worship you and glorify your holy name.
You are all powerful, all knowing,
you know each and every one of us,
you know of the highs and the lows that we face each day. You are there with us all as we travel the path of life,
you are with us helping us through difficult times.
There are times when we fail to see the needs of others, those people less fortunate than we are;
times when we have put our own needs first,
when all that was needed from us
was may be a friendly smile or a helping hand.
We take a moment
to bring before all those times when we fail you.
We know that if we are truly sorry our wrong doings will be forgiven.
We know this because your Son Jesus Christ,
Our Lord and Saviour shed his blood
to wash away all our wrongs.
Father we thank you for your forgiveness and pray
that with your help we will not make those mistakes again. Father we thank you for all that you have done for us,
and all that you continue to do for every one of us.
We offer this prayer to you now in and through your Son, Our Lord and Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
The Lord’s Prayer
Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name
Your kingdom come
Your will be done in earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours
now and forever.... Amen
Gospel- John 15 v :9-17
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.
Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands,
you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.
This is my command: Love each other. "
1 John 5 v1-6
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
HYMN 531 Singing the Faith -
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
3 Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge--
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
Message
from John:15:9-17
Today we are going to take a closer look at the passage, part of the reading headed “The Vine and the Branches”.
What it was saying to the people then and what it is say to us today.
In this passage we hear much about abiding with Christ. If we were to look at the people who were about when Jesus was on Earth, and we look at people today there is a likeness that we all have, and that is that none of us is perfect. There are times when, if we were to look back, we can see that we have not gone the right way, and sometimes have made a mess of things. We also know that if we are sorry, we will be forgiven and the error will not be held against us.
There are times when people have no where to sleep and do not know when they will eat again.
These people need help and as we know there are organisations to help to them.
We know that sometimes people have opened up their homes to those in need. Unfortunately there are some people who will not accept help from others and things may get worse for them. We know from the many stories that we read in the bible that Jesus never turned his back on those in need. Jesus would help people where ever it was possible, regardless of cost.
Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches.
We know that throughout his earthly life Jesus needed to go somewhere where he could be alone. He needed time to talk to God, his Father, He may have wanted guidance or help;Jesus knew that the best source of help was his Father.
He knew that with others around him he would be distracted from what he had to do. Jesus turned to God the Father to find what and where the Father wanted him to go. We know that the disciples asked Jesus what was the right thing to do,and what was the right way to go. We know that Jesus told them what they needed to do to further God’s kingdom .Again we see Jesus helping other people to go the right way.
Important words in this passage are where Jesus says that his disciples have not chosen him, but that he has chosen the disciples. It is not we who chose God, but God who in his grace, approached each of us with a call and an offer of his love .
We are chosen for joy. There are people who say that the Christian way of life is hard, may be we have to travel to do things, but there is always joy when we do the right thing. William Barclay in his commentary on this passage says that Christians are men and women of joy. We know that we have all sinned, for none of us is perfect, but the joy is that we as Christians are redeemed sinners, and there lies our joy.
We have been chosen for love. God the Father loves us, and he showed this by sending his Son Jesus who died on the cross for each one of us . As Christians we have a responsibility to show that love to others, so that they too will come to know Jesus and learn of what he has done for them. God loves us and we can show this love in many ways: firstly we can love our neighbour, some would say that is difficult; secondly we must show that love to others so that they to will share in the love of God. We can share the love of God by offering a helping hand to those who may have a difficulty in dealing with something. We can show God's by not turning away from something that is hard to do,
God will help each and every one of us through difficult times.
The third thing Jesus calls us to be are his friends. Jesus told his disciples that he does not call them slaves but friends. Jesus says “ I have something greater for you yet, you are no longer slaves you are each a friend” ; he is saying that to you and me today. Christ offers us an intimacy with God the Father that not even the greatest of people had before Jesus came.
Jesus is the vine and we are the branches and with that comes a responsibility to show others the love of God.is for everyone no matter who they are, no matter what they have done, God’s love is for all and not a chosen few. We live in very difficult times; it's hard to know the right way to go. As Christians we are to share the love of God with others, so that no matter what they face they know that God the Father is with them.
We have a wonderful example in Jesus and what he did for us.
So let's tell others so that they too will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.
Prayers of Intercession
Grab interest
. Jesus, light of the world, bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations, we especially think of those nations where there is fighting; places where people are afraid to venture outside for fear of what may happen to them. We pray that all these countries affected this way will see that more can be achieved through love than through war. Jesus, Lord of life in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, the bread of life, give food to the hungry;
we especially think of nations where there is little food: people not knowing where their next meal is to come from. We pray that these people will be nourished with your word. Jesus, Lord of life in your mercy, hear us.
Jesus, our way, our truth and our life, be with all who follow you in the way. We remember those people who spend their days bringing the good news of your gospel to others. We think of those people who hear the love that you have for them, through what others say. We pray that you deepen our appreciation of your truth; fill us with your life. Jesus, Lord of life – in your mercy hear us.
Jesus the Good Shepherd,you gave your life for the sheep. Surround with your care, those in particular need and we especially think of those people who are having to deal with the effects of Covid-19. We pray for each and every one of the doctors and nurses who are dealing with this problem, that they will know how much they are appreciated in all that they do..
Jesus, Lord of life in your mercy hear us.
Jesus the resurrection and the life, we give you thanks for all who have lived and believed in you, we remember those who bring your word to us.
We remember those people
who take your word and visit those who can not get out,
Each one is showing your love to others.
We remember those who are not longer with us,
who showed us the way,
Raise us with them to eternal life.Jesus,
Lord of life in your mercy hear us.
We offer these our prayers for other people to you now,
in and through your Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen
HYMN 736 Singing the Faith
1 In heavenly love abiding,
no change my heart shall fear:
and safe is such confiding,
for nothing changes here:
the storm may roar around me,
my heart may low be laid;
my Father's arms surround me,
how can I be afraid?
2 Wherever he may guide me
no want shall turn me back;
my shepherd is beside me
and nothing can I lack:
his wisdom is for ever,
his sight is never dim;
his love deserts me never
and I will walk with him.
3 Green pastures are before me,
which yet I have not seen;
bright skies will shine with glory
where threatening clouds have been:
my hope I cannot measure,
my path to life is free;
my saviour has my treasure,
and he will walk with me.
Benediction
The Grace
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all,
now and forever more. Amen
Service for the 5th Sunday of Easter - 2nd May 2021
Sister Vivien Ward
Call to worship
God is the Creator: we are the created
let us abide in the Creator
Jesus is the vine:we are the branches
let us abide in the Vine
The Spirit can live in us: we want live in the Spirit
let us abide in the Spirit
Our God is a Trinitarian God: abiding in relationship
we, too, shall abide in the Trinity
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Hymn 608 - Singing the Faith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGOxFpcQk44
All praise to our redeeming Lord,
Who joins us by His grace,
And bids us, each to each restored,
Together seek His face,
He bids us build each other up;
And, gathered into one,
To our high calling's glorious hope,
We hand in hand go on,
The gift which He on one bestows,
We all delight to prove;
The grace through every vessel flows,
In purest streams of love,
We all partake the joy of one;
The common peace we feel;
A peace to worldly minds unknown,
A joy unspeakable,
And if our fellowship below
In Christ yet be so sweet,
What height of rapture shall we know,
When round His throne we meet,
(Charles Wesley 1707-1788)
Prayers
Adoration
Eternal God, the origin of all that is,we draw together
to worship and praise of You.
We know, from the depths of our hearts
to the top of our minds
that everything we have and everything we can yet become is rooted in Your provision and care for all of us.
Help us to worship You as the source of our being.
Enable us to adore You as the beating heart of our life. Amen
Confession
Honest God, true confession forces us to look beyond the superficial, and so we look deeper into our souls today.
We dig below our healing or hurting words and
our thoughtful or thoughtless actions.
We search for what truly motivates our words and deeds. We think of the people we have become –
of our ego,our pride, our desire.
In the quietness of Your nurturing presence reveal
where we are in need of pruning.
Cut out that which does not bud through the life of Christ
or blossom with the love of Christ.
Weed out what causes You, ourselves and others pain.
Nourish with living water the very roots of who we are.
In the name of the One in whom we seek to abide always, Christ our Lord. .. Amen
Thanksgiving ‘
O give thanks to the Lord,
who sends His angels with sure words.Faithful God,
You direct Your followers to take the road from successful events to challenges that break new ground.
You strengthen those who journey in the expectation
that You will provide opportunities for service.
Your presence supports the humble,who wait patiently to hear Your whisper “Come near”.
Use us, Lord, for Your glory: Right here, right now
and in any place at any time.
This we pray. Amen
Supplication
Loving God, who cares for us
as a gardener tends the plants
Help us to remain in Your love
When our lives are flourishing filled with success
and the joy of community.
Help us to remain in Your love
When our hopes are withering,
bent down under the weight of disappointment and despair Help us to remain in Your love
When we feel cut off for others,
isolated by illness or pain or aloneness.
Help us always to remain in Your love .
St. John’s gospel ch.15 vs 1 – 8
Jesus is the Vine – followers are branches
Jesus said “I am the true Vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He repeatedly prunes, so that it will bear more fruit even richer and finer fruit.
You are already clean because of the word which I have given you the teachings which I have discussed with you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith unless you remain in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for otherwise apart from Me - that is, cut off from vital union with Me - you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown out like a broken off branch, and withers and dies; and they gather such branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you - that is, if we are vitally united and My message lives in your heart -, ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified and honoured by this, when you bear much fruit, and prove yourselves to be My true disciples
HYMN 443 singing the Faith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7PlkktF2QQ
Come let us sing of a wonderful love, tender and true;
out of the heart of the Father above,
streaming to me and to you:
wonderful love dwells in the heart of the Father above.
Jesus, the Saviour, this gospel to tell, joyfully came;
came with the helpless and hopeless to dwell,
sharing their sorrow and shame;
seeking the lost, saving, redeeming at measureless cost.
Jesus is seeking the wanderers yet; why do they roam? Love only waits to forgive and forget;
home! weary wanderer, home!
Wonderful love dwells in the heart of the Father above.
Come to my heart, O thou wonderful love,
come and abide, lifting my life till it rises above
envy and falsehood and pride:
seeking to be lowly and humble, a learner of thee.
Prayers of intercession
Let us pray to the Lord God Almighty in whom
we live and move and have our being.
Father, we want to produce good fruit in abundance; Nurture us as branches of the true vine,
train and prune us where necessary and may our spiritual harvest make rich wine wine of Your kingdom.
Father, clearly we see around our world the tragic
and expensive consequences
of branches cut off from the true vine.
We pray for a seeking after Your truth and a desire to act rightly and justly in all areas of human society.
Father, we pray for those to whom we are linked by family, friendship or work;
Especially we pray for those separated from their loved ones, their homes, their friends and their work mates.
Father, we long for healing and wholeness in all who suffer. physically, mentally emotionally or spiritually or live in dysfunctional communities;
Guide us to see how we might be part of the healing.
Father, we know that death cannot separate us from Your love; In that knowledge we commend to Your keeping those who have died and all who miss them.
Your kingdom, let it come
Your will, let it be done.
Father we thank You that we can live in the joyful freedom of Your love, as we dedicate ourselves to serving others Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of Your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Lord’s Prayer
Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name
Your kingdom come
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours
now and forever.... Amen
Sermon
Now, why do you think Jesus was talking about vines, branches, fruit and a vinedresser?
Vineyards were a plenty in Israel, they were everywhere, a very familiar sight indeed and not only that they were part of the identity of Judaism.The description of Israel in the Old Testament, is often that of a vine or vineyard. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel (Isaiah 5:1–7) and the vinedresser was God. The Temple that Jesus knew was known as Herod’s Temple. In around 20 BC, the building that had been desecrated by the Romans was renovated and expanded by Herod the Great. It was later destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD during the Siege of Jerusalem. The temple had white columns and above the columns was a Golden Vine. It is recorded that “A golden vine stood over the entrance to the sanctuary”,
So, you see, the people of Jesus' time would have readily understood the use of such imagery it was a part of their culture and religion. In the New Testament, vines and vineyards feature frequently in the parables which Jesus told his followers.
Now, I hesitate to say I am a gardener but I do like to potter and when something comes right like flowers bloom - fruit appears on the trees and soft fruits grow and the vegetables are edible ... I’m over the moon.
I read books and look up things on the internet and take advice from those who know – even so ... I still make mistakes.
I know trees need pruning but I do have to leave some branches on the tree or else there is never going to be any fruit at all – so it’s a job that has to be done carefully. Jesus said , “I am the true vine and My Father is the Vinedresser”.
Jesus then tells us that we are branches of the true vine and that we should be producing good fruit and that ev.the Vinedresser prunes every branch that doesn’t produce good fruit so that we might produce good fruit.
Pruning is about cutting away diseased parts and getting rid of pests and sometimes cutting away healthy but unwanted shoots so that the branch can grow stronger and in the right direction.
And what about the branches that are not pruned?
Either they are perfect or the Vinedresser is about to prune them. As in the case of Judas?
What is the fruit?
The fruit is love and obedience; they are the marks of true discipleship, the desires and intentions of every Christian.
Jesus and His 11 disciples have left the upper room and are now on their way to Jerusalem and all that that meant.
He speaks to His disciples about the true Vine and the Vinedresser, He says ,
“You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you”.
What does that mean?
It means they have been pruned. The true believers are pruned through the Word and their experience of union with the vine.
That doesn’t mean that they won’t get things wrong in the future, or make mistakes and become dirty, so to speak.
So how do they become clean again?
They become clean through Jesus, the Word of God, the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will clean them whenever they get dirty
The best vine is Jesus, because He is the true vine and what better place can we be, if not attached to the true vine. True vines produce the best fruit.
So you see, when we don’t produce good fruit something needs to be done. Pruning has to be done very carefully indeed.
God knows what has to be done and we have to let Him do what He must do.
May be we are not eager for that to happen? Then what?
Our fruit isn’t as good as it could be. Then what?
The goodness of the true vine fails to get through to the branch and then what?
It either produces bad fruit, no fruit - or dies.
This is what Jesus is saying “I AM THE TRUE VINE-
not Tom Dick or Harry or wealth, status or importance is the true vine ............. IT’S ME ... I AM THE TRUE VINE”
You must be attached to ME. To no body else. To no thing else. TO ME.
It’s about relationship. Having a relationship with Jesus.
“Abide in Me and I in you” What lovely words and what a lovely relationship
What can the branches do without this abiding? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
Some branches grow without abiding in Jesus, the Word of God, but they are not on the ‘true vine’ and their fruits are neither of, nor for God. What happens to them? Jesus says that they are gathered together and thrown on the fire.
“Abide in Me and I in you."
The relationship is such, that an answer is given to all requests, for they are asked in His name
and in line with the Father’s will. God is glorified in such fruitfulness
How do we abide in Jesus?
By keeping His commandments
That is important because Jesus wouldn’t have kept repeating it while giving His final instructions to His disciples.
Keeping His commandments is so important because ... we can’t stay on the vine unless we do, and that makes Jesus happy
What does it mean for us?
It means we have to abide, reside, dwell in Jesus and have Jesus abide, reside and dwell in us –
it’s called a loving relationship.
We do that by reading His word, learning what it means for us by using a commentary and letting Jesus speak to our heart. We must listen to Him as well as speak. That means obeying His commandments:
To love God with everything we have and are;
To love our neighbour, whoever, in whatever condition they are and wherever they are- as much as we love ourselves whether we like them or not and whether they like us or not.
He put it this way, “Love one another as I have loved you”.
That is a big ask; it’s not always easy, sometimes it goes against our natural inclinations- but we do it – OK.
Keeping His commandments makes Jesus happy and what more could we want to do - than to do that?
*
Lord God, You don’t make life easy do You?.
You ask a lot of me and sometimes, just sometimes,
I might think You go too far and I can’t possibly do what You ask.
I know I can’t do it but with You living in me I know I should and I know I can.
Lord abide in me help to be that person You want me to be because I know I shall make you happy,
and I like that. Amen
.. Hymn 297; Singing the Faith
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KuRkldWAgc
Christ is alive! Let Christians sing.
His cross stands empty to the sky.
Let streets and homes with praises ring.
His love in death shall never die.
Christ is alive! No longer bound
to distant years in Palestine,
he comes to claim the here and now,
and conquer every place and time.
Not throned above, remotely high,
untouched, unmoved by human pains
but daily, in the midst of life,
our Saviour, with the Father reigns.
In every insult, rift and war,
where color, scorn or wealth divide,
he suffers still, yet loves the more,
and lives, though ever crucified.
Christ is alive! His Spirit burns
through this and every future age,
till all creation lives and learns
his joy, his justice, love and praise.
(1936-)
Benediction
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
andthe love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
is with us now and for always.
Amen