Create a peaceful space to pause, and allow yourself to feel God’s presence alongside you, as near to you as your own breath. In following the reflection below, as a church we will draw closer to God and to one another as we grow in faith and deepen our sense of belonging to God.
John 15: 7-8 ‘Jesus the True Vine’
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you,
ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 My Father is glorified by this,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Take my life, and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee;
take my moments and my days,
let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
at the impulse of thy love;
take my feet, and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
always, only, for my King;
take my lips, and let them be
filled with messages from thee.
Take my silver and my gold,
not a mite would I withhold;
take my intellect, and use
every power as thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it thine;
it shall be no longer mine;
take my heart – it is thine own;
it shall be thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
at thy feet its treasure-store;
take myself, and I will be
ever, only, all for thee.
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879) was an English poet and hymn-writer. Her best known hymn – and a favourite of mine – is ‘Take My Life and Let it Be’. I have found it too easy to waste valuable time during this pandemic period when everyone seems so busy helping others. A brief reflection on all the possible attributes for Christian living can be a tonic to any complacency. Each verse here is dependent on spiritual activitiy involving all parts of the body: our hands, feet, voice, lips, will, heart, can all be used in God’s service. Finally, our love and self-worth is laid before our Saviour Lord.
The life of Frances Havergal was expressed in an article about her as one who ‘glowed’ the Lord Jesus Christ and his truth. She was very widely known on both sides of the Atlantic: four million copies of her books were published between 1870-1910. As a child she was called ‘little quicksilver’; she became a Christian at 14 and had a rare gift in music. She loved the word of God and memorised all of the New Testament apart from the Book of Acts. Her sense of faith and devotion were expressed beautifully in many works, and it’s easy to see why several remain classics. Ten minutes before she died she sang faintly, but clearly, the first verse of a hymn by Mary Jane Walker, set to music by Frances herself:
Jesus, I will trust Thee, trust Thee with my soul,
Guilty, lost and helpless, Thou canst make me whole:
There is none in heaven, nor on earth like Thee:
Thou hast died for sinners, therefore, Lord, for me.
Prayer:
Loving heavenly Father, we thank you for the record of those who have inspired others to join them in worshipping you. We pray that we may continue during these difficult days to maintain our witness in genuine belief and hope for the future of your world. We give thanks for the generosity and willingness to go the second mile by those who are working on the front line of virus warfare. May we use this period of unrest to recharge our lives and consider what we can offer to all with whom we come into contact. In your Name. Amen.
Reflection, and Prayer © 2020 Derek Scott.
Image and hymn words freely available or no longer in copyright.
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All material within this order of worship is reproduced by permission under CCL 1226356