Welcome to our service this morning which is led by Rev Stephen Haward, the theme is A Hard Teaching

Next Sunday our worship includes communion, you may like to have bread and fruit juice/wine available so that you can share with us.


The hymns are all available on YouTube.


HYMN Mission Praise 1036’ Blessed be your name’ Beth and Matt Redman ©2002 Thankyou Music

Welcome and Prayer, Reading Exodus 16:2-4, 13-15

HYMN ‘We will trust’

Reading – Matthew 5: 38-48 Church News

HYMN Mission Praise 478 ‘My song is love unknown’ Samuel Crossman 1624-83

Sermon, Prayers, Act of Dedication, The Grace

Prayer please respond using the words in capitals.
Holy Jesus, you call us into a life that others have told us is easy, but it is not.  You challenge us to forgive, to love our enemies, to walk the extra mile.  We want the easy way, but you have set us on a hard path.
GRANT US THE PATIENCE AND ENDURANCE 
TO JOURNEY WITH YOU, TO ADMIT 
THAT SOMETIMES WE WILL STUMBLE, 
BUT TO KEEP GOING ALONG THE HARD WAY,
SO THAT WE MIGHT KNOW
YOUR LOVE, YOUR GRACE
AND YOUR PEACE IN THIS WORLD.

Thank you Jesus for your calling,

WITH THESE GIFTS AND PRAYERS
WE ARE YOURS.  AMEN.
(from a prayer by Rev Mindi Welton-Mitchell, altd.)


HYMN ‘He will hold me fast’ Ada Habershorn altd by Matt Mercker © 2013

Exodus 16:2-4, 13-15

2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat round pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.
13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.

Matthew 5:38-48

Eye for eye
38 ‘You have heard that it was said, “Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.” 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for enemies
43 ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.