Today's Service: 31 January
Leader: Meg Thomson
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.
Opening words from Psalm 111:
Praise the Lord!
With all my heart I will thank the Lord
in the assembly of his people.
2 How wonderful are the things the Lord does!
All who are delighted with them want to understand them.
3 All he does is full of honour and majesty;
his righteousness is eternal.
Our first hymn echoes those words of praise as we come before God, to worship and adore Him.
Hymn 104: Praise my soul the King of Heaven
tune: Praise, my soul, with Intro.
1. Praise, my soul, the King of heaven,
To his feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who like me his praise should sing?
Praise him! Praise him!
Praise the everlasting King.
2. Praise him for his grace and favour
To our fathers in distress;
Praise him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless:
Praise him! Praise him!
Glorious in his faithfulness.
3. Father-like, he tends and spares us,
Well our feeble frame he knows;
In his hands he gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes:
Praise him! Praise him!
Widely as his mercy flows.
4. Frail as summer's flower we flourish,
Blows the wind and it is gone;
But while mortals rise and perish
Our God lives unchanging on,
Praise Him, Praise Him, Hallelujah
Praise the High Eternal One!
H. F. Lyte (1709-1847) altd.
Prayers
Heavenly Father, we bring to you
our small minds, little lives, and scant understanding,
What we are we bring to you
with the most profound devotion of which we are capable.
Yours is the truth we crave, the beauty we worship,
and the love we adore.
Bless us as we gather,
for with your blessing, we who are poor,
have immense riches to celebrate and share. Amen
Let us join together in saying the words Jesus taught us:
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
Hymn: The Source 185: How Deep the Father's Love for Us
tune: How deep the Father's love for us, with Intro. (long bridge between vv 2 & 3)
1. How deep the Father's love for us, 
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
2. Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished:
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished.
3. I will not boast in anything,
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer,
But this I know with all my heart,
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Stuart Townend ©1995 Kingsway's Thankyou Music
Reading: Deuteronomy 18: 15 - 20
15 Instead, he will send you a prophet like me from among your own people, and you are to obey him.
16 "On the day that you were gathered at Mount Sinai, you begged not to hear the LORD speak again or to see his fiery presence anymore, because you were afraid you would die. 17 So the LORD said to me, 'They have made a wise request. 18 I will send them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will tell him what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command. 19 He will speak in my name, and I will punish anyone who refuses to obey him. 20 But if any prophet dares to speak a message in my name when I did not command him to do so, he must die for it, and so must any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods.'
Reading: Mark 1: 21 - 28
21 Jesus and his disciples came to the town of Capernaum, and on the next Sabbath Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught, for he wasn't like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority.
23 Just then a man with an evil spirit came into the synagogue and screamed, 24 "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are-you are God's holy messenger!"
25 Jesus ordered the spirit, "Be quiet, and come out of the man!"
26 The evil spirit shook the man hard, gave a loud scream, and came out of him. 27 The people were all so amazed that they started saying to one another, "What is this? Is it some kind of new teaching? This man has authority to give orders to the evil spirits, and they obey him!"
28 And so the news about Jesus spread quickly everywhere in the province of Galilee.
Our next hymn reflects upon an all-powerful God, master of the sea and sky, snow and rain, wind and flame and encourages us to think about our calling. Whom shall I send? Is it you?
Hymn Source 246: I the Lord of Sea and Sky
tune: Here I am Lord, with Intro.
1. I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Chorus:
Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart
2. I, the Lord of snow and rain,
I have born my people's pain.
I have wept for love of them, they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone,
Give them hearts for love alone.
I will speak My word to them,
Whom shall I send?
Chorus
3. I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them,
Whom shall I send?
Chorus
Daniel L. Schutte (b. 1947)
Reflection: Is it I Lord?
The Collins Dictionary states: Prophet - a person who speaks by divine inspiration. Prophecy - message of divine truth revealing God's will.
A prophet doesn't seek to be a prophet. My daily readings this week are from Exodus 3 and 4. It's the passage where God calls Moses to go from Midian back to Egypt. God calls to Moses from the burning bush (Exodus 3:4) "Moses! Moses!" and Moses answers "Here I am." It's then followed by a discussion as to why Moses isn't the right man for the job, from Moses point of view. "I'm a nobody" 3:11, "suppose they don't believe me." 4:1, "I've never been a good speaker." Moses was a reluctant prophet. Jeremiah too, his objection was that he is "only a boy" (Jeremiah 1:6), When Jeremiah tries to keep silent, he cannot (Jeremiah 20). Even when Elijah runs away, he cannot escape God's presence (1 Kings 19). Jonah gets himself into deep water when he tries to avoid God's calling. (Jonah 1) There are other examples I could have chosen. The more I read the Bible the more I understand that no prophet in the Bible wants to be a prophet. It is something, instead, that they do because they cannot avoid God's call.
Is it I Lord? It has been said that "God does not call the qualified but qualifies the called."
A prophet speaks God's words not his own. Deuteronomy 18:18 "I will send them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will tell him what to say, and he will tell the people everything I command". Time and time again the prophets declare, "Thus says the LORD." Peter heals in the name of Jesus Christ (Acts 3:6) Stephen boldly proclaimed God's word (Acts 7). Jesus speaks and teaches with 'authority' (Mark 1:22, 27) Jesus calls us ALL to "Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptise them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19,20) Are you willing to take up the challenge and, in God's strength, tell others about Jesus?
Is it I Lord? James F. Clarke says, "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way."
Deuteronomy 18:15-20 begins with the reason why prophets are needed. It reaches back to the giving of the law in Exodus 19 and 20. When the people heard God speak, they were so frightened, they begged Moses to speak with God and be their mediator. Prophets, then, are selected by God for the sake of the people. Prophets answer to God, not to the people, so they are free to speak the truth. Prophets also come "from among their own people" (verse 18). These speakers of truth are home grown. They know the ways and the hearts of the people they speak to and connect with them. They who speak for God must also be paid attention to, for to ignore their calls is the same as ignoring God (verse 19).
Could you be a modern-day prophet who speaks for God? The answer to that question requires discernment and prayer. Scripture gives us some guidelines. In all that we do, of course, as we hear and study God's Word, and as we are given the great privilege and the responsibility to proclaim it ourselves, we must do so with a healthy dose of humility, pointing always to Jesus, our great prophet, priest, and King.
Is it I Lord? A quote from 'Encounter with God', 25th January 2021, Tanya Ferdinandusz: "In every generation, our world stands in need of rescue. In every generation, hopeless people cry out in desperate need of God's help. And in every generation, God calls and commissions his people to proclaim his good news and to 'go and make disciples'. In what ways have you heard this call in your life? How are you responding? What makes you hesitant? What keeps you hopeful?
Heavenly Father, every day, show me ways in which I can be a more eager and effective instrument in bringing your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Amen
Prayer
Merciful God, Heavenly Father
In love You created us,
and in love You sustain us, day after day.
So, it is with confidence that we bring our prayers to You,
knowing that You will hear and respond.
Father we pray for those who find themselves far away from You,
struggling to overcome their doubts or disillusionment,
and who wonder how to find their way back.
Heavenly Father hear our prayer.
For those watching someone they love try to cope
with serious illness or injury,
and who long for Your miraculous intervention.
We pray particularly for ...................
Heavenly Father hear our prayer.
For the many others in our world who are suffering this day -
from grief, or loneliness, hunger, poverty, violence, or illness.
Heavenly Father hear our prayer.
God of every land and nation,
you have created all people
and you dwell among us in Jesus Christ.
Listen to the cries of those who pray to you,
and grant that, as we proclaim the greatness of your name,
all people will know the power of love at work in the world.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
God calls you to do amazing things in ordinary ways. Be like Moses and trust God to give you the words to say and the deeds to do. Have courage and go in the strength of the Lord.
Hymn SA 959: I'll go in the Strength of the Lord
tune: Hymn of Eve, with Intro.
1. I'll go in the strength of the Lord,
In paths he has marked for my feet;
I'll follow the light of his word,
Nor shrink from the dangers I meet,
His presence my steps shall attend,
His fullness my wants shall supply;
On him, till my journey shall end,
My unwavering faith shall rely.
Chorus:
I'll go, I'll go in the strength,
I'll go in the strength of the Lord.
I'll go, I'll go in the strength,
I'll go in the strength of the Lord
2. I'll go in the strength of the Lord
To work he appoints me to do;
In joy which his smile doth afford
My soul shall her vigor renew.
His wisdom shall guard me from harm.
His power my sufficiency prove;
I'll trust his omnipotent arm,
And prove his unchangeable love.
Chorus
3. I'll go in the strength of the Lord
To conflicts which faith will require,
His grace as my shield and reward,
My courage and zeal shall inspire.
Since he gives the word of command.
To meet and encounter the foe,
With his sword of truth in my hand.
To suffer and triumph I'll go.
Final Chorus
I'll go, I'll go in the strength,
I'll go in the strength of the Lord.
I'll go, I'll go in the strength,
I'll go in the strength of the Lord
I'll go in the strength of the Lord
Edward Turney (1816-72)
Blessing
May the God we serve pour grace and blessing into our lives!
May the face of God shine light upon us!
May we celebrate God's love and justice in such a way that everyone around will come to know God and will experience God's grace and blessing for themselves.
God go with you!
Amen
Next week, the service will be led by Revd Val Towler
Don't forget the live streamed hymns on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. from Zöe (via Facebook)
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.