If you’re viewing this page as a group, pick someone to be the reader to read the normal print, while everyone else can respond with the words in bold. 

Praise 

We open our service with words from Psalm 96:2-3 

Sing to the Lord, praise his name; 
proclaim his salvation day after day. 
Declare his glory among the nations, 
his marvellous deeds among all peoples. 

Our musicians have done us a great service in recoding some songs for us to sing together. Let’s join in with them now  

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Apostle’s Creed 

We meet in isolation, yet we share common beliefs with Christians in all locations. Let’s say together the Apostle’s Creed, a summary of what we believe 

Do you believe and trust in God the Father? 
We believe in God, the Father Almighty, 
creator of heaven and earth. 

Do you believe and trust in God the Son? 
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, 
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 
born of the Virgin Mary, 
suffered under Pontius Pilate, 
was crucified, died and was buried; 
he descended to the dead. 
On the third day he rose from the dead; 
he ascended into heaven. 
and is seated at the right hand of the Father; 
from there he will come again to 
judge the living and the dead. 

Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit? 
We believe in the Holy Spirit, 
the holy, catholic Church, 
the fellowship of the saints, 
the forgiveness of sins, 
the resurrection of the body, and life eternal. Amen. 

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Bible Reading 

As we prepare to hear from the Bible, let’s ask God to be helping us. 

Thank you Father for making yourself known to us, showing us the way of salvation through faith in your Son. We ask you now to teach us through your word, so that we may be ready to serve you, for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.  

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Mark 10:13-31

The Little Children and Jesus

¹³ People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵ Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ¹⁶ And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

The Rich and the Kingdom of God

¹⁷ As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

¹⁸ “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother.’”

²⁰ “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

²⁴ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

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Sermon 

Mark Carpenter will now preach this week’s sermon: Cost of Following Jesus

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Prayers 

In Acts 17:30-31 we read  

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. 

In light of these facts let’s confess our sins together 

Merciful God, our maker and our judge, we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed: we have not loved you with our whole heart, we have not loved our neighbours as ourselves: we repent, and are sorry for all our sins. Father, forgive us. Strengthen us to love and obey you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

God is slow to anger and full of compassion. 
He forgives all who humbly repent and trust in his Son as Saviour and Lord. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

Allow Emily Carpenter to lead you in prayer. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer. 

Our weekly prayer points: 

Let’s conclude our time of prayer with the Lord’s Prayer 

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, 
your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours  now and for ever. Amen. 

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Song 

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Concluding Prayer 

Loving God, we thank you for hearing our prayers, 
feeding us with your word, 
and encouraging us in our meeting together. 
Take us and use us 
to love and serve you, and all people, 
in the power of your Spirit 
and in the name of your Son, 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Thanks for sharing with us! See you next week.