Today's Service: 27 June
Leader: Revd Ray Anglesea
This is best viewed in Landscape orientation
You will appreciate the sound better if you use earphones or an external loudspeaker, whatever type of device you view on.
Call to Worship:
Healing God, we come together in our brokenness, to call to you in your mercy, to make us whole again. Restoring God, we gather to worship you, even as we hopefully seek to be renewed and restored again. Foundational God, we come to praise and thank you! In the depths of your Holy Being we find peace and rest.
(Based on Psalm 130).
Prayer:
Loving God, we are yours. We come as we are, with our cares and concerns. We long to touch you and find healing in your embrace. Strengthen our faith and heal our brokenness, that we may worship you with joy. Amen.
Hymn: R&S 97 King of Glory, King of Peace
tune: Gwalchmai, with Intro.
1. King of Glory, King of Peace,
I will love thee;
And that love may never cease
I will move thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
Thou hast heard me;
Thou didst note my working breast,
Thou hast spared me.
2. Wherefore with my utmost art
I will sing thee,
And the cream of all my heart
I will bring thee.
Though my sins against me cried,
Thou didst clear me;
And alone, when they replied,
Thou didst hear me.
3. Seven whole days, not one in seven,
I will praise thee;
In my heart, though not in heaven,
I can raise thee.
Small it is, in this poor sort
To enrol thee:
E'en eternity's too short To extol thee.
George Herbert (1593-1633)
Prayers of Thanksgiving and Confession
Loving God, Creator of all that has been, all that is, and all that is to come; You made us human and gave us hearts to love and follow you. We thank you for all of the blessings you have given us throughout our lives: food to eat, clothes to wear, shelter from the storm, medical support and help, people who love us unconditionally.
We thank you for the love of family and friends; we recognize that their love for us is a reflection of your love. Thank you for our schools and hospitals, our emergency services, key workers and all who work in our community who keep us well and safe.
Today we voice our gratitude for those who serve this country in the National Health Service and pray that God would prosper the work of their hands – that they would all be encouraged in their continued work of sacrifice and care amongst us. We particularly thank you for pioneering vaccine research academics recognised and honoured in the recent Queen’s birthday honours list.
Finally, Father we ask that you would forgive us of our sins. The things you asked us to do and we failed to do as well as the things you told us not to do but we did anyway. We are sorry and we ask for your forgiveness. Give us grace too to forgive one other. We ask these prayers in the name of Jesus, The Lord’s Prayer:
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
And 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
Psalm 130
A song of ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;
2 Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive
to my cry for mercy.
3 If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,
Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
so that we can, with reverence, serve you.
5 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
6 I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
7 Israel, put your hope in the LORD,
for with the LORD is unfailing love
and with him is full redemption.
8 He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
A Hymn for the Pandemic
tune: Kingsfold (R&S 201), with Intro.
1. O God who longs to make us whole in body, spirit, mind,
we praise you for the hopes and dreams you share with humankind:
for those in pow'r whom you inspired to share the nation's wealth,
that rich and poor alike might know security and health.
2. We give you thanks for those who strive that knowledge might increase;
for all in office, ward or home whose efforts never cease;
for those who give of wealth or self, who care or who campaign,
and all who bravely watch and wait to share your people's pain;
3. For those in countless walks of life who daily work and strive
to keep each other safe and well, and help the weak to thrive;
for those who go beyond the call in myriad other ways,
and keep alive the light of hope in dark and cheerless days.
4. Give us, O God, your loving zeal to comfort, heal and save,
to care for one another 'from the cradle to the grave'.
Then north to south, and east to west, let love and hope extend,
until the universe is whole and justice knows no end.
Michael Forster (b. 1946) (c) 1998 & 2021 (verse 3)
Lord to whom shall we go; you have the words of eternal life
The Gospel: Mark 5: 21 - 43
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
21 When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. 22 Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. 23 He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” 24 So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” 35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?” 36 Overhearing[a] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. 39 He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” 40 But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). 42 Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. 43 He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.
Lord to whom shall we go; you have the words of eternal life
Reflection:
As we continue this morning reading from Mark's gospel we come to Mark's intertwined stories of Jairus' daughter and the woman with haemorrhages, a story that can be read and understood at various levels. Here is one way of understanding this passage. I wonder if you are struck by the entwined parts of the 2 characters in the stories that resonate with your experiences? Enter Jairus. Here is a wealthy, rich and powerful man, a major figure in his synagogue, who I suspect likes to get his own way. 
He has no hesitation in coming before Jesus. Despite his affluence, his entitled status his beloved 12-year-old daughter is sick, and close to death. He falls at Jesus' feet and begs and pleads with Jesus to help. All very dramatic. When I read this, it puts me in touch with my own deepest needs. I know just how Jarius feels. I remember praying in anguish and desperation that my new born grandson would live; alas he sadly died within 8 hours of birth. I and my family were heartbroken. His funeral service was unbearable.
But as the story progresses, we notice a very different approach.
Enter the woman with haemorrhages. I imagine her to be a quiet, reserved type of lady, maybe has an introvert personality who isn't the kind of person who assumes Jesus will clear his diary anytime soon to meet her. She doesn't think she's worth a moment of his time. She comes up from behind him. She touches the hem of his cloak.
See how the story is developing: one person comes to meet Jesus' face to face, loud and in his face, demanding his attention, and another comes round the back, quietly and unobtrusively, not daring to meet his eye. Which way do you come to Jesus? Do you come through the front door or through the back door? Which way do you pray - through articulate requests or silent touch? And then we notice that though their approach is very different indeed, both people find health - or salvation, which is the same word in Greek.
The story moves on. The first thing Jairus says to Jesus is, 'My daughter'. The young girl comes as a member of a loving, supportive family. By contrast the woman with haemorrhages comes before Jesus alone, and in fear and trembling. She has no support team, no network of love and trust to help her through her life's struggle. But Jesus says to her that same word, 'Daughter.' In other words, 'If you've no family, be a part of mine'. Hear Jesus saying that: 'If you've no family, be a part of mine'.
And we notice both stories involve touching; a gesture during the pandemic which has been discouraged. 'Keep in touch' we say - when we all know that touch is the one thing we can't do. Touch becomes more precious, more vital, the more we can't do it. The less we can touch physically, the more we yearn to touch virtually. Long before the virus, touch had been among the most controversial things in contemporary society. How many disputes in the workplace or at home or running URC Pilots and Messy Church are about when and how to touch, and when not to touch? Touch is electric; infectious; can be unwelcome, or coercive; yet can be healing, and transformative. The less we can touch physically, the more we yearn to touch virtually.
But what happened in this story is a different kind of touching. Jesus touches Jairus' daughter: he takes her by the hand. But in the case of the haemorrhaging woman, it's the other way round. She touches him. It's a powerful story about touch, because it reverses our usual fears. You'd expect the sickness of the haemorrhaging woman somehow to jeopardise Jesus. But it turns out the other way round. Jesus' grace proves more infectious than her infirmity.
I think this action shows us something wonderful. With Jesus, it's not just that he touches us - moves us, restores us, inspires us, forgives us, heals us: it's that we touch him - he is moved, affected, touched by our gesture, neediness, faith. He feels the power go out from him. He notices the difference made in his life by a poor, outcast, friendless woman. He notices us.
And look at the subtle difference between the prayer of Jairus and the prayer of the woman. Jairus' prayer is for his daughter; the woman's prayer is for herself. Both prayers lead to healing and salvation. We see the faith of Jairus, and the faith of the woman. We know nothing about the faith of the young girl. The young girl is saved by the power and love of Jesus and the faith and persistence of her father. Does that not inspire us, as we shape our intercession list?
Many of us live comfortable lives: we don't face the social exclusion that the woman with haemorrhages knew every moment of the day. We may face personal torment, like the agonizing illness of a young daughter, but when we look at this story, we know we are Jairus. Well, let's be Jairus: let's get on our knees and plead with Jesus for the sake of the desperate and those at the gate of death; let's keep faith, even when the bystanders tell us it's hopeless; let's discover that we and the socially excluded are as one when we come into the presence of Jesus. Amen.
Song: A Touching place: Iona Community
tune: Dream Angus, with Intro.
1. Christ's is the world in which we move;
Christ's are the folk we're summoned to love;
Christ's is the voice which calls us to care,
and Christ is the one who meets us here.
Chorus:
To the lost Christ shows his face,
to the unloved he gives his embrace,
to those who cry in pain or disgrace,
Christ makes, with his friends, a touching place.
2. Feel for the people we most avoid —
strange or bereaved or never employed.
Feel for the women and feel for the men
who fear that their living is all in vain.
Chorus
3. Feel for the parents who've lost their child,
feel for the women whom men have defiled,
feel for the baby for whom there's no breast,
and feel for the weary who find no rest.
Chorus
4. Feel for the lives by life confused,
riddled with doubt, in loving abused;
feel for the lonely heart, conscious of sin,
which longs to be pure but fears to begin.
Chorus
John L. Bell (b. 1949) & Graham Maule (1958-2020)
Prayers of Intercession
Heavenly Father, you belong to all people, and treasure each individual. Gracious God, Healer and Liberator, we lift up before you those people who are at this very moment suffering from either accident, disease, their own folly, or the cruelty of others. We remember many fellow humans crying out against the cruelty of captivity: hostages and abducted children, prisoners of war and political detainees, and many mistakenly convicted. We too pray for the thousands who are in terror or despair because of natural disasters: flood and house fire, cyclone and earthquake, avalanche or bushfire, drought or lightning strike, storm waves or volcanic eruption. Heavenly father, help your church to do whatever we can to lesson the multiple sufferings of humanity. Encourage each of us to rest our own pain and grief in your infinite mercy, and to not cease from righteous anger, prayer and appropriate action while injustice and neglect exist anywhere on this planet.
In our own church and synod we face many challenges in uncertain times following this global pandemic with difficult decisions to make. Where we encounter difference or diversity, grace us with gifts to listen with care and courage to share openly. When we find it difficult to believe, multiply our trust, when we find it difficult to believe that the world is in your hands, multiply our faith, when we find it difficult to believe that your kingdom will come, multiply our hope. In our synod cycle of prayer this week we pray for St Columba’s URC, Billingham; Ms Ann Honey (Church Related Community Work Minister); Fliss Tunnard CRCW student trainee, Stockton URC; St Andrew’s Mission, Thornaby and St George’s URC, Hartlepool; together with own synod link country of Mozambique. We too remember and pray for Dave Herbert our moderator on sabbatical leave.
As we pray, we’re especially conscious today of the needs of all who still feel engulfed or overwhelmed in this time of pandemic. Where the effects of the pandemic are devastating bring healing, hope and endurance. Where there is poverty, opportunity, endeavour and courage and where there is injustice truth, wisdom and solidarity. We continue to remember the people of India, in Palestine and Israel, and to give thanks for all working hard to serve, support and save others, particularly through the work of Christian Aid.
God of love you know our hearts and hear our sorrows, visit those who we carry close to us who struggle with danger, fear, grief, pain and regret; transform our darkest hours that in our anxiety we may know you closer than we have ever known you before and in our isolation may we know you near and at hand. Bless all who are hurting, be close to those who feel raw with sorrow or grief at this time. Touch our hearts and help us to be signs of your hope and grace for others. We remember with affection loved ones who have died and who now partake of the bread of eternal life at the great banquet of the resurrection. Comfort all who mourn and are bereaved; give them hope in your resurrection promises.
And finally, we pray for ourselves: Almighty God, by your Holy Spirit you have made us one with your saints in heaven and on earth. Grant that in our earthly pilgrimage we may always be supported by this fellowship of love and prayer here at Northgate, and know ourselves to be surrounded by their witness to your power and mercy. We ask this for the sake of Jesus Christ, in whom all our intercessions are acceptable through the Spirit, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
Hymn 661: How shall I sing that majesty
tune: Coe Fen, with Intro.
1. How shall I sing that majesty
which angels do admire?
Let dust in dust and silence lie;
sing, sing, ye heavenly choir.
Thousands of thousands stand around
thy throne, O God most high;
ten thousand times ten thousand sound
thy praise; but who am I?
2. Thy brightness unto them appears,
whilst I thy footsteps trace;
a sound of God comes to my ears,
but they behold thy face.
They sing, because thou art their Sun;
Lord, send a beam on me;
for where heaven is but once begun
there alleluias be.
3. Enlighten with faith's light my heart,
inflame it with love's fire;
then shall I sing and bear a part
with that celestial choir.
I shall, I fear, be dark and cold,
with all my fire and light;
yet when thou dost accept their gold,
Lord, treasure up my mite.
4. How great a being, Lord, is thine,
which doth all beings keep!
Thy knowledge is the only line
to sound so vast a deep.
Thou art a sea without a shore,
a sun without a sphere;
thy time is now and evermore,
thy place is everywhere.
John Mason (1646-94)
Benediction
Go out into the world to bring forth new life and healing. Dream dreams, pursue visions and speak of God's goodness in the words of those who would hear. And may the God who breathed life into creation be your delight. May Christ Jesus give hope to your dreaming, and may the Holy Spirit, your advocate and supporter, set your hearts ablaze with love for his Kingdom. We go in peace to love and serve the Lord, All: In the name of Christ. Amen.
Next week, the service will be led by Maranny Jones
Don't forget the live streamed hymns on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. from Zöe (via the 'Northgate URC Darlington' Facebook page)
These are available to view later as well. (via YouTube, for those without Facebook, and also Facebook)
The streamings are a great success - well done, Zöe!
The recorded streamings are now, thanks to Harry Marshall, available to all on YouTube - search for 'Northgate URC Darlington'.
Ask Harry to invite you to the Northgate Facebook Group 
and you will get a notification of the live stream.
- Or you can just search for 'Northgate URC Darlington' in Facebook.
The URC denominational church audio Services (podcasts) at https://devotions.urc.org.uk/ are excellent, with well-delivered prayers and readings using a selection of voices and well-presented hymns.
Do give these a try - they are excellent.
(Just start the sound playing and scroll down to the written words)
Why not put the time aside for Zoe at 10:45, our preacher's service after that and follow up with the podcast - you will feel as if you had been IN church, as well as WITH church.