APC Service Order 30th August 2020           “Love is not rude”
 
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning worship.  Today we continue our studies on what it really means to love using Paul’s description we find in 1 Corinthians 13.  So far we have discovered that true love ‘is not selfish’ that ‘it keeps no records of wrongs’ that ‘it is not jealous’, ‘it is not proud’, ‘it does not take delight in the misfortunes of others,’ it is patient, and it is kind.  Today we will be reflecting on the truth that ‘love is not rude’ and seeing what that means for us.  But as always, let’s begin by talking to God. Let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Loving Father, we thank you for your guidance during these difficult days, for leading us safely through times when the future seemed dark and the present uncertain. 
Whenever we have needed you, you have been there.
We thank you for the support you have given when we have felt disheartened, the courage to keep on believing when we have been tempted to doubt, the strength to persevere despite adversity.
Whenever we have needed you, you have been there.
Loving Father, may all we have experienced, force us to lean hard into you and to trust in your continuing purpose for us.  May you give us food for our faith that will sustain us in times of difficulty yet to come.  May you inspire us to serve you just as you have served us.
Whenever we have needed you, you have been there.
Lead us forward we pray and help us to continue in the path you set before us, secure in the assurance that whatever we face your grace will be sufficient for us and your strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Whenever we have needed you, you have been there.
Thanks be to God, Amen.
 
The Lord’s Prayer          (All say together)
 
Our Father, which 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.
 
Bible Reading 1      Ephesians 4 v 17-32
Instructions for Christian Living
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.
20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”[a]: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Bible Reading 2      1 Corinth 13 v 4-7           
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
 
Reflection                       “Love is not rude” 
If you’ve ever thought that people are becoming more and more rude then let me assure you that you aren’t becoming senile nor are you just becoming boring in your old age.  In fact, rudeness is becoming so much of an issue in our modern world that Universities and Businesses are funding large research projects on the subject and popular writers are embracing the topic with enthusiasm.  In his very funny book “I can’t believe you just said that,” Danny Wallace investigates this new wave of rudeness that threatens to overwhelm us.
But what does rudeness look like in our modern world?  Well, when I googled “What is rudeness?” this week, I was surprised at the endless number of possibilities.  The exercise, definitely made me reflect on my own way of living, even though I probably consider myself to be someone who tries to be kind and polite.
At home rudeness can express itself as leaving cups and wrappers for someone else to clear, reaching across someone at the dinner table, entering a room before knocking, being noisy when someone else is trying to sleep, hogging the remote, not recharging the laptop, being late for dinner, leaving razors in the shower tray – and those are just the things that I need to work on!
At work rudeness can look like turning up late and clocking off early, constantly interrupting others with idle chit chat or irrelevant messages, taking the credit for other people’s work, whispering in the corridor or gossiping about the boss, belittling an employee or ignoring them when a superior enters the room, not answering an email or throwing work onto someone else at the last minute or making decisions with just a few people before the wider meeting even starts.
In church rudeness raises its ugly head when people talk or answer their phones regularly during the service.  When we refuse to sing a particular song, when we interrupt someone’s conversation to get home more quickly, when we embrace someone inappropriately or without asking their permission, when we constantly arrive late or ramble on too long in our preaching and praying, when we gossip about someone or ignore them entirely, when we always take the best seats or the first cakes and sandwiches at a function, when we go ahead and organize something without running it through the proper channels.
In the wider context of our day to day lives here are some of the most common examples of behaviors society considers ‘rude’-
Arriving late, checking your phone during a conversation, playing your music on speaker in a public place, rsvp-ing at the last minute, arriving at a party empty handed, talking exclusively about yourself, interrupting a conversation, not introducing someone, asking ‘prying’ questions, telling white lies, gossiping, bringing up touchy or controversial subjects, posting obnoxious comments on social media, texting or emailing rather than talking, littering, excluding someone from information or ‘forgetting’ to invite them, taking credit for the work of others, spreading rumors, being unkind to shop or restaurant staff, blocking aisles, not picking up your dog litter, not caring about your kid’s behavior, being noisy, skipping the queue, allowing your dog to bark incessantly, not returning your trolley, treating the elderly with disrespect, putting the nose of your car out at a junction or tailgating someone, using the last of something and not replacing it, taking a disabled spot or parking on double yellow lines, putting someone down, dressing inappropriately, pretending not to see someone you know, not greeting someone you pass or not thanking someone who lets you out in the car with a wave, not saying please or thank you, sharing information with a third party or ignoring the opinion of someone else, constantly questioning a referee’s decision.
When you really look into it, one thing is for certain, on occasions and in particular circumstances, all of us can be, and at times are, rude.
Given that fact, does it really matter?  I mean, if everyone’s rude at some point what harm can it be?  Isn’t it just something we should learn to shrug off with a bit of humor?
Well, no.  That’s why Paul says to the Corinthian Christians “love is not rude.”  If you read Paul’s entire letter to the Corinthians you will discover that they were being rude in a number of different ways.  They looked down upon others, they didn’t value the gifts or the opinions of others and they acted selfishly and disruptively in their worship services.  This manifested itself by people interrupting one another to speak during the service and by others shouting out difficult questions during the service rather than asking them more discreetly or at a more appropriate time.  We know that this created huge tension and division in the church and that ultimately history records that the church in Corinth had no lasting impact on its community.
The reason that businesses and universities are currently researching and publishing so many materials on this subject is because people are very concerned about the growth of rudeness in society.  It seems that rudeness is equated with strength and power and that politeness and humility are regarded as weak.  As such, rudeness is sadly often rewarded by promotion and the media spotlight.  Politicians rant and name call and get elected.  Journalists who shout the loudest get the most air time.  TV and radio hosts interrupt and belittle their guests.  Movie and book reviews that use the harshest language receive the highest google rankings.  Another worrying trend is the deeply negative impact all this is having on individuals’ lives and the effectiveness of businesses.
Scientists have discovered that just one rude comment in a life and death situation can decrease a surgeon’s performance by as much as 50%.
In a survey of 800 managers and employees who had been treated rudely, 47% decreased their time at work, 38% deliberately reduced their quality of work, and 78% were less committed to the organization.
One study called the ‘Looking Glass Effect’ examined the consequences of ignoring the common courtesy of maintaining eye contact with those with whom we work.  One group were positioned around work stations where eye contact was essential, the other were placed in cubicles and only communicated via computer terminals.  The group that interacted visually were less aggressive, more cooperative and more creative.  The study proves that when we see humanity, we receive a running commentary on how someone else is perceiving us.
Other studies have proven categorically that rudeness damages creativity and collaboration because people waste extra mental energy trying to avoid interacting or worrying about will happen if they do.  They have shown that witnessing just one unpleasant interaction leads customers to generalize about other employees, the organization and even to avoid the brand.
Where rudeness is not challenged, performance, team spirit and productivity soon deteriorate.
You know, it’s the same for us in the Christian church.  If we do not ‘love’, if we are ‘rude’ to one another and don’t take that seriously, it won’t be long before our relationships are affected and our witness to a watching world will be damaged irrevocably.  That’s why love is the most important thing and why we must learn by God’s grace to be polite and courteous instead of being rude.
So how can we do that?  Well one thing I would advise is to educate ourselves about the different ways that it is possible to be rude.  You know we all have blind spots.  It’s only when we read books like Danny Wallace’s “I can’t believe you just said that,” or when we research a topic online that we really begin to see areas of our lives where we might need to change.  God uses these things and we should not despise them.  But of course the other thing we must do in tandem with this, is to pray.  We need to regularly ask the Lord to search our hearts and lives by His Holy Spirit to see if there are areas of our lives either in our attitudes or our behaviors where we are being rude and actually causing hurt or offence to other people.  Even when we have discovered things about ourselves that we did not know, nor may not actually like to admit to, we then need to pray and ask God for the help and the power to change.  Unfortunately this is not something that is a one off experience that will do us for life.  This is something that we must do on a constant basis from now until we reach heaven.  Trust me, I wish there was some other way, I wish it was easier and more immediate than this but this is what it means to embrace the process of ‘sanctification’.  As the song says, “little by little every day, little by little in every way, Jesus is changing me, sometimes it’s slow going but there’s a knowing that one day perfect I will be”.  So read, reflect in quiet, and pray, pray, pray.
The last thing I want to mention is “How should we react to rudeness in others?”
Again there are so many things that I could say.  It’s really a whole topic on its own.  So I would encourage you to google it and to look for both scriptural advice and wise advice from people who have experience in this field.  Here are a few quick-fire tips to help stop the spiral of rudeness.
When someone is rude, try not to take it personally or to react immediately and in your anger.  Bite your lip, take a deep breath and pray.  Ask the Lord to help you to love, even if someone is treating you as an enemy.  Try to respond with a quiet word and with kindness.  If you can, use humor to diffuse a situation.  Try not to escalate the situation.  Try to empathize if you can.  It may be that behind someone’s rudeness there is constant pain, some stress at home or a deep hurt that is the root cause.  Take time to weigh up whether to let it go, or to have a face to face chat about your concerns or about how you are feeling.  Choose the right time and place to have this discussion.  Always be a good role model and remember there are times when we are rude too.  If all else fails despite all your efforts it might best to involve a superior or third party or to avoid the person as much as possible.

Conclusion
Paul says, Love is not rude.  Sadly rudeness is on the rise and it is part of all of our lives.  It’s something that is potentially very destructive for all our relationships and our witness as a church.  Therefore it’s something to educate ourselves about and to pray regularly for God to help us with.  If we do that God will guide us how to live in ways that are courteous and considerate and how to learn to live with difficult people.
 
Prayer for others
Father today we pray for all those we know who have been recently bereaved, especially those who have lost loved ones in tragic circumstances.  Bring your comfort, strength, patience and hope for all who are passing through difficult days of grief.  Thank you that our loved ones who have died are safe in your presence and that one day in the future we will be reunited with them.
We pray for all those who are in residential care.  We remember especially Hilda and Johe.  May they know that they are deeply loved by you, by their families, by the staff who care for them and by us, their church family.  Give them the grace they need and help them to find little things to delight in each day.
We pray for all who are struggling with their emotional health in these strange and difficult times.  Give them the courage to talk about their feelings and enable them to receive every encouragement and every help that they need to feel better in time.
We pray for all those in positions of leadership in government, in health care, in businesses, in sports cubs, in schools and colleges and in churches.  Give each person great wisdom, courage and perseverance to make good decisions and to enable life to continue to move forward as safely as possible.
Be with our children as they start back to school.  Calm their fears, keep them safe and enable them to have good fun and to make good friends.  Help them to be happy in themselves, to discover the gifts and abilities you have given them and to continue to develop emotionally, physically and intellectually.
Father we pray for all the people of Lebanon as they attempt to rebuild their lives following recent explosions. Comfort those who have lost family members and bring courage, hope and the necessary resources to enable people to start afresh.
We pray too for many Christians throughout our world who face hardship and severe persecution because of their faith.  We think especially of the situation in Nigeria.  Lord God, hear the cries of your people. May what is happening in Nigeria to Christian people be brought to the attention of influential leaders in many other countries.  May diplomatic efforts come to pass that will bring an end to the suffering of your people and may there be peace once again between neighbouring Christians and Muslims.
Take a few moments now to bring your own prayers to God…
All these we offer in Jesus’ name and for His sake,  Amen.
 
Closing Words
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thanks again for logging on.  I hope that you have felt part of our congregation as they are meeting at the same time as this online broadcast.  We are sorry that you aren’t able to join us because of your current circumstances but we hope that in the near future  you will be able to be with us. 
I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s reflection on the nature of Christian love.  Please do spend some time in quiet over the next few days asking the Lord to show you any blind spots in your own life and what it means for us to live in ways that are courteous and polite.
 
Last week and this week in church we announced an appeal from our Moderator to help alleviate the suffering of people in the Lebanon.  If you would like to find out more about this appeal and how you can contribute to it please visit our website where you will find out the details or alternatively you can write a cheque to Arklow Presbyterian Church and post it in an envelope marked ‘Lebanon Appeal’ or make an online debit to our church bank account and marking it ‘Lebanon Appeal’.  The details of the church bank account are on the website.
 
Also, we are hoping to restart our midweek bible study.  This year we are holding it on a Monday night from 7 - 8pm in the church starting on the 7th of September.  We will observe all recommendations for hand hygiene and social distancing and all participants are advised to wear face coverings. For the first semester we will be running a short course on Prayer called ‘The Prayer Course’ designed by Pete Greig.  Each week we will watch a short video focussed on one line of the Lord’s Prayer.  Afterwards there will be opportunity to discuss the video among ourselves and then to spend some time together in prayer.  There is a book which accompanies the course which you can read at your leisure.  If you would like to come to the bible study please let Philip or myself know in advance.  If you would like to pre-order a book, then again please speak to Philip or myself.  Even if you can’t come to the bible study for the whole year, it would be fantastic to see as many of us make time to come to this amazing course.  It will inspire all of us to go deeper in our prayer as individuals and as a community of God’s people.  There is a link on our website to the course if you would like to find out more…
 
We are currently looking tentatively at what it might look like for our Sunday School and Youth activities to restart.  Our denomination has advised that if these do recommence, they should not start until nearer October.  This will allow children time to readjust to returning to school and give us time to assess how that is progressing.  There will be further details on this soon. 
 
There will be no midweek recording this Wednesday.  Remember if you are planning to come to church next Sunday- do bring your signed Covid 19 policy if you haven’t already emailed that to us. 
Remember, we will aim to start at 10.00am as usual but if you can be there earlier than normal that will enable us to get everyone safely seated before we start.  Don’t forget to let us know you are coming by emailing Aleida before next Friday evening.  That will give us time to arrange the seating for Sunday.  In the meantime, let me lead you in a Benediction after which I invite you as always, to say the grace together…

Benediction   
Go into your week knowing you are loved perfectly, saved eternally, and empowered as a disciple of Jesus to share God’s love with everyone you meet.
 
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.”
 
 

APC 23rd August 2020           “Love is Kind”
 
Welcome and Introduction
Good morning everyone and welcome to our Sunday morning worship.  I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for all the ways you have supported me and our family through these very difficult days of mum’s illness, her passing and her funeral.  Thank you for all your lovely cards expressing your condolences.  Please do continue to pray for dad, my sister Karen and myself in the days ahead.
 
Today we continue our studies on what it really means to love using Paul’s description we find in 1 Corinthians 13.  So far we have discovered that true love ‘is not selfish’ that ‘it keeps no records of wrongs’ that ‘it is not jealous’, ‘it is not proud’, ‘it does not take delight in the misfortunes of others,’ and it is patient.  Today we will be reflecting on the truth that ‘love is kind’ and seeing what that means for us.  But as always, let’s begin by talking to God. Let’s pray…
 
Opening Prayer
Loving God, we thank you for the world you have given us and all within it that speaks of you. 
You have blessed us in so much and we are glad.
We thank you for all that is beautiful, all that causes us to catch our breath in wonder and points to your hand in creation.
You have blessed us in so much and we are glad.
We thank you for the gift of love, given and received, speaking to us of your own great love for us.
You have blessed us in so much and we are glad.
We thank you for family life, reminding us of the great family of your people to which we belong.
You have blessed us in so much and we are glad.
We thank you for our food, our clothes, our homes; all the comforts we enjoy and the innumerable ways you provide for us.
You have blessed us in so much and we are glad.
We thank you for this new morning, for the warmth of the sun and the richness of life, giving a foretaste of your gift of eternal life.
You have blessed us in so much and we are glad.
Loving God, open our eyes to your presence around us, to your love that surrounds us each day, and to your hand that is always at work.
You have blessed us in so much and we are glad.
Speak to us through both the ordinary and the special things of life, that through them we may know you more fully and serve you more truly.
You have blessed us in so much and we are glad.
Receive then our praise and thanks for all your kindness to us.  We offer them to you in the name of Christ our Lord.  Amen.
Please join with me as we gently say the Lord’s Prayer together…
And so we pray…
 
The Lord’s Prayer
 
Our Father, which 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.
 
Bible Readings
Psalm 107
1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story--
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3 those he gathered from the lands,
    from east and west, from north and south.[a]
4 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
    finding no way to a city where they could settle.
5 They were hungry and thirsty,
    and their lives ebbed away.
6 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
    to a city where they could settle.
8 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
9 for he satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.
10 Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering in iron chains,
11 because they rebelled against God’s commands
    and despised the plans of the Most High.
12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;
    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
    and broke away their chains.
15 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
16 for he breaks down gates of bronze
    and cuts through bars of iron.
17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways
    and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18 They loathed all food
    and drew near the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them;
    he rescued them from the grave.
21 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
22 Let them sacrifice thank offerings
    and tell of his works with songs of joy.
23 Some went out on the sea in ships;
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
    that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
    the waves of the sea[b] were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.
33 He turned rivers into a desert,
    flowing springs into thirsty ground,
34 and fruitful land into a salt waste,
    because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35 He turned the desert into pools of water
    and the parched ground into flowing springs;
36 there he brought the hungry to live,
    and they founded a city where they could settle.
37 They sowed fields and planted vineyards
    that yielded a fruitful harvest;
38 he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
    and he did not let their herds diminish.
39 Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
    by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40 he who pours contempt on nobles
    made them wander in a trackless waste.
41 But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
    and increased their families like flocks.
42 The upright see and rejoice,
    but all the wicked shut their mouths.
43 Let the one who is wise heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.
 
1 Corinthians 13 v 4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
 
Reflection                               “Love is Kind”
In writing to the Corinthians Paul says that ‘love is kind’.  But what does he mean?  And what will it look like for us to live this way?  In the dictionary kindness is described as being friendly, generous and considerate, without expecting reward or credit.  In the bible we don’t get a definition of kindness but we do see it in the way that many people act towards each other and especially when we look at the life of Christ.  It’s also interesting that the word Paul uses for kindness in his letter is the same word that is used in many of the Psalms to describe the ‘goodness’ of God.
Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in Psalm 107. 
As we read this Psalm we see how God’s actions towards His people, show us what true goodness and kindness looks like.  Seeing God’s kindness in turn motivates us to be kind to others.  So what do we discover about God’s kindness when we read this psalm and how can we apply it to our lives? 
 
1      The nature of God’s kindness
 
The first thing we discover is the nature of God’s goodness.  The Psalm writer here tells us that God is good and that his love endures forever.  The word the Psalmist uses to describe God’s kindness and love is a word used throughout the Old Testament and it is very important for us to understand its meaning because it tells us so much about the nature of God.  It is the word ‘hesed’.
 
‘Hesed’ is the word used to describe God’s covenant love.  It means love and loyalty.  It implies commitment, faithfulness and a generosity of Spirit.  It is similar to the promises people make when they get married.  It is a binding commitment to love and to cherish someone in every circumstance of life.
 
The amazing thing is that this is what God does for us when we embrace Christ by faith.  He says to us ‘from now on I am committed to loving you, no matter what.’
 
Isn’t it amazing to know that because he is so deeply kind and good that in Christ God has committed himself to loving us unconditionally.  Even on those days when we let God down, when we fail to thank Him, or to even acknowledge Him, God remains committed to us.
 
You know if that’s how kind God is to us, then we should be kind to ourselves.  Let me encourage you to meditate on the truth that God loves you ‘just because’ He made you and that He is committed to you no matter what.  Let that begin to create within you a healthy love for yourself, the way God made you, no matter how different you are from anyone else and no matter what other people have said to try and knock your self-worth.  You are unique, beloved of the father.  He is committed to showering you with kindness, so be kind to yourself- love yourself for who you are and delight in the person God has made you to be.  Look after yourself, take time to rest and relax and to do the things you enjoy.  Forgive yourself when you make a mistake, don’t listen to those who would constantly try to put you down.  Feel the freedom that God gives you to choose to do the things you love rather than being driven by someone else’s agenda.
 
God is love and love is kind.  If God has committed himself to loving us and being kind to us then we need to learn to love and be kind to ourselves.
 
Reflect    Do you know how precious you are to God?  Have you learned to love yourself?  How can you be good and kind to yourself?
 
 
2      The way God expresses His kindness
 
The second thing we learn in Psalm 107 is the way God expresses His kindness.  In this Psalm the writer recalls the goodness and love of the Lord in His faithfulness to listen to the cries of his people in distress and to deliver them out of trouble.  The writer describes four different types of people in four different circumstances of life. 
 
First there are the migrants, searching for somewhere to live, unable to provide for themselves, hungry and thirsty, almost at the point of starvation.  Next he describes the plight of the prisoner, depressed and confined, reaping the consequences of their own foolish actions, isolated and with no one to help.  Then there are those who are seriously ill, who have lost their appetite and whose lives seem to be ebbing away.  Lastly the writer recounts the tale of a fishing crew- tossed about on huge seas like a cork in the ocean, frightened to their core that they are about to drown.
 
Having explained graphically the tragic circumstances of each group of individuals the psalmist repeats a wonderful phrase of reassurance and hope-
 
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble and He delivered them from their distress.”
 
In each case the Psalmist explains how God answers the prayers of these people in their distress.  He provides the wanderers with somewhere to live, with food to eat and water to drink.  He sets the prisoner free and delivers them from their despair.  He brings healing and reassurance to those who are ill.  He stills the storm and guides the endangered crew to the safety of the harbour.
 
This is who God is.  He is the God who so often hears the cries of those in deepest need and who does everything in His power to help them.
 
If this is what it means for God to be kind, then this is what it will mean for us too.  It will mean opening our eyes as we go about our daily lives to look out for the needs of others especially those who are in trouble or distress.  We will stop to let people out at a junction, or to help someone stuck at the side of the road.  We will welcome the newcomer to our classroom or sports team.  We will want to help those who are trapped by addiction rather than avoiding them or looking down our noses at them.  We will care for our elderly parents, our children and our teenagers.  We will do all we can to eradicate disease and ensure that all people are enabled to live and work in a safe environment and given a fair wage for their labour.  We won’t judge people by the colour of their skin or the estate they grow up in, and so much more besides.  Kindness includes being considerate of the feelings of others and learning to empathise by putting ourselves in other people’s shoes.  It expresses itself in politeness, being willing to say sorry and taking care not to cause offence.  At times it will mean pointing something out to someone in a caring and diplomatic way.  It will mean we don’t take offence easily, we won’t gossip and we won’t speak down to someone or offer unsolicited advice.  It is to be positive, supportive, helpful and encouraging. 
 
As well as being kind to ourselves and other people love includes caring for the planet whether that expresses itself in rescuing a dog from the shelter, planting trees in a park, picking up rubbish from the shoreline or by practicing the 3 r’s - reduce, reuse, recycle.
 
Christian goodness is not about wrapping ourselves in spiritual cotton wool so that we aren’t somehow contaminated by the world.  It is about seeing and hearing the cries of the needy, rolling up our sleeves and getting involved in the work of helping to alleviate their suffering and to do all that we can to help our planet.  This is what it means to live a righteous life.
 
Reflection       Who are the people, animals or things most in need in our community?  How might God be calling us to get involved in helping them?
 
3      How we should respond to God’s kindness
 
The last thing we discover about God’s kindness from this Psalm is how people should respond when they realise how good God has been to them and how He has answered their prayers.  The Psalmist repeats this wonderful phrase:
 
“Let them give thanks to the Lord, for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds to men.”
 
On September 8th 1860, The Lady Elgin sank in lake Michigan.  A young ministerial student named Edward Spencer dove repeatedly into the icy waters and rescued seventeen people.  The prolonged exposure permanently damaged his health, however, and he was unable to complete his studies.  Some years later at his funeral it was noted that not one of the seventeen people he saved ever returned to thank him. 
 
Thankfulness is basic to Godliness and goodness.
If we are to be kind, it will mean cultivating an ‘attitude of gratitude’.  It will mean that we regularly take time to thank people for the ways they have helped and blessed us.  It will mean that we regularly take time to thank God for all the good gifts he has given us.
Conclusion
 
Paul says, ‘true love is kind’.  Let me encourage you to meditate on how kind God has been to you and your family over the years.  Let me encourage you to read Psalm 107 and to think deeply about the goodness of God.  When you’ve done that spend some time in prayers of thanks.  Ask God to fill you afresh with the wonder of His goodness.  Invite Him to help you appreciate just how kind He has been to you, not least in the fact that He came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sins.  Allow that knowledge to help you to love and be kind to yourself.  Ask God to help you to express your gratitude in ways that are tangible - by being generous to God and by living a life of kindness, concern and generosity for others, especially those who are in greatest need.
 
Today we are going to pray for children parents and our school communities as they prepare God-willing for a return to school.  Let us pray…
 
Prayer for others
God our heavenly teacher,
thank you for the gift of learning,
that enables us to grow in wisdom and stature, 
in relationship with you and others. 
We pray for school life as it resumes again,
after months of lockdown and the long summer break.
Be with governors, principals, drivers, cleaners and others,
who have responsibility in arrangements,
for the smooth running of the school day.  
Be with teachers and classroom assistants,
as they help pupils settle again into learning.
Be with parents, grandparents and carers,
as they gently help loved ones readjust to the return of school.
Be with children and young people,
as they renew relationships with staff and peers,
embrace new rhythms and routines in familiar places,
pick up the threads of the curriculum again -
remembering what they have learned before,
and quickly making sense of new knowledge coming their way.
Be especially with those in crucial exam years,
taking away fear of months of learning lost,
giving confidence in what can yet be gained. 
Help whole school families grow in these days -
physically in their new environments for learning, 
mentally as new thinking is required,
emotionally as strains and stresses have to be negotiated,  
socially in community with one another,
spiritually as they recognise God at work among them.
Lord Jesus,
whose teaching amazed and astounded,
with its stamp of authority,
and left its lasting mark on many lives,
hear these our prayers for our schools this new term.

Take a few moments now to bring your own prayers to God…
All these we offer in Jesus’ name and for His sake,  Amen.
 
Closing Words
 
It’s been a joy and privilege to share with you again today.  Thanks again for logging on.  I hope that you have felt part of our congregation as they are meeting at the same time as this online broadcast.  We are sorry that you aren’t able to join us because of your current circumstances but we hope that in the near future  you will be able to be with us. 
 
I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s reflection on the nature of Christian love.  Please do spend some time in quiet over the next few days reading Psalm 107 and reflecting on the goodness of God.  Take time to thank Him.  Ask Him what it will mean for you to be kind to yourself, and others. 
 
Today in church we announced an appeal from our Moderator to help alleviate the suffering of people in the Lebanon.  If you would like to find out more about this appeal and how you can contribute to it please visit our website where you will find out the details or alternatively you can write a cheque to Arklow Presbyterian Church and post it in an envelope marked ‘Lebanon Appeal’.
 
Also, we are hoping to restart our midweek bible study.  This year we are holding it on a Monday night from 7 - 8pm in the church starting on the 7th of September.  We will observe all recommendations for hand hygiene and social distancing and all participants are advised to wear face coverings. For the first semester we will be running a short course on Prayer called ‘The Prayer Course’ designed by Pete Greig.  Each week we will watch a short video focussed on one line of the Lord’s Prayer.  Afterwards there will be opportunity to discuss the video among ourselves and then to spend some time together in prayer.  There is a book which accompanies the course which you can read at your leisure.  If you would like to come to the bible study please let Philip or myself know in advance.  If you would like to pre-order a book, then again please speak to Philip or myself.  Even if you can’t come to the bible study for the whole year, it would be fantastic to see as many of us make time to come to this amazing course.  It will inspire all of us to go deeper in our prayer as individuals and as a community of God’s people.  There is a link on our website to the course if you would like to find out more…
 
There will be no midweek recording this Wednesday.  Remember if you are planning to come to church next Sunday- do bring your signed Covid 19 policy if you haven’t already emailed that to us. 
Remember, we will aim to start at 10.00am as usual but if you can be there earlier than normal that will enable us to get everyone safely seated before we start.  Don’t forget to let us know you are coming by emailing Aleida before next Friday evening.  That will give us time to arrange the seating for Sunday.  In the meantime, let me lead you in a Benediction after which I invite you as always, to say the grace together…
 
Benediction
 
To the one whose kindness is without equal, whose love is beyond comparison, whose mercy is beyond understanding, and whose power is beyond words, be praise and glory, worship and thanksgiving now and always…
And
 
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all now and for evermore, Amen.”
 
 

Restart to Midweek Bible Study – ‘The Prayer Course’
 
After a long delay because of the Covid restrictions we are hoping to restart our midweek bible study.  This year we are holding it on Monday nights from 7 - 8pm in the church starting on the 7th of September.  We will observe all recommendations for hand hygiene and social distancing and all participants are advised to wear face coverings.
 
For the first semester we will be running a short course on Prayer called ‘The Prayer Course’ designed by Pete Greig.  Each week we will watch a short video focussed on one line of the Lord’s Prayer.  Afterwards there will be opportunity to discuss the video among ourselves and then to spend some time together in prayer.  There is a book which accompanies the course which you can read at your leisure. 
 
If you would like to come to the bible study please let Philip [email protected] or myself [email protected] know in advance.  If you would like to pre-order a book, then again please email or speak to Philip or myself. 
 
Even if you can’t come to the bible study for the whole year, it would be fantastic to see as many of us make time to come to this amazing course.  It will inspire all of us to go deeper in our prayer as individuals and as a community of God’s people.  If you would like to find out more about ‘The Prayer Course’ then please follow the link below…
 
24-7 Prayer - The Prayer Course
Utube Link to Promotional video:
https://youtu.be/uNLIFykoBfY

 Dear Friends,
 
Around 6 pm on 4th August, a 2,750 tonne stockpile of highly explosive chemicals was detonated in the port area of Beirut. As a result of the devastating explosion, more than 150 people were killed, and some 5,000 injured, with 300,000 residents made homeless as shock waves hit buildings up to 10 km away.
 
Almost immediately PCI were in contact with their partners located in Beirut. The National Evangelical Synod of Syria and Lebanon (NESSL), a longstanding partner church, is responding through their development wing, the Compassion Protestant Society, seeking to provide emergency food aid and shelter for the homeless, regardless of a person’s faith background.
 
NESSL’s General Secretary, Rev Joseph Kassab writes, “We cling to the One who holds the whole world in his hand…. may the Almighty bring peace to our wounded humanity and city…It is a time where the Church has to step into the pain and suffering of innocent people”.
 
Dr George Sabra, President of the Near East School of Theology (NEST), writes, “We thank God that no one was injured at NEST …the damage to the building is extensive. All eight floors above ground and two basements were hit. Glass windows, glass doors, glass panels inside the building, as well as many internal wooden doors were shattered. Never has NEST been hit so badly…The devastation in the rest of Beirut is vast….the Beirut Port which was almost totally annihilated by the explosion is the storage place for all the necessary imports that Lebanon needs at this difficult time in its severe economic and pandemic crisis: wheat, medications, medical equipment, food, … all of these have been severely damaged, if not totally destroyed…”
 
The Television production studios of SAT7, Christian broadcasters in the Middle East and North Africa and a longstanding partner of PCI, was also damaged. Maroun Bou Rached, Executive Director of SAT 7 in Lebanon said, “We really need a lot of prayer for Lebanon to be able to get up and move forward. We are focusing now on what we can produce to help and encourage people and to look to God. We need a miracle to continue in this small country. Please pray for calm for everyone in Lebanon.”
 
These and others with whom PCI have related in Lebanon over many years, are not only expressing their shock and great need but also the feeling of being overwhelmed by expressions of support. Alia Abboud, Chief Development Officer of the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development (LSESD) said, “Hope is a very rare commodity in my country today…yet we are deeply touched by the genuine concern and solidarity expressed from dear friends and partners from various parts of the world”. With their lives brutally disrupted and hope hanging by a thread, may I ask you, despite all the challenges we face here on the island of Ireland, to encourage your congregation to see that our prayerful, practical support for the people of Lebanon is paramount in the coming days.
 
While much thought is being given to launching a special appeal towards the end of this year aimed at tackling the impact of Covid-19 on the world’s poorest communities, PCI’s Mission Department is ready to channel any donations you may wish to make at this time to the emergency initiatives being undertaken by our partners in Lebanon.
 
Donations (with the option of gift aid) can be designated to any of the above-named partners by sending a cheque made out to “Arklow Presbyterian Church” or cash then placing it in an envelope marked “The Lebanon Appeal” and either putting it in the collection box on Sunday or posting (the cheque only) to our Treasurer (Aleida) or the church address.  Once all monies have been collected our Treasurer will forward the final amount to the The Presbyterian Church in Ireland ’s Mission Department.
 
Alternatively you can donate by electronic transfer.  Details of how to give by electronic transfer or online can be found on PCI’s website -www.presbyterianireland.org/donate.
 
PCI’s development partners, Christian Aid Ireland and Tearfund, are also engaged in the emergency response and details of their initiatives can be found on their websites: www.christianaid.ie and www.tearfund.org.
Thank you for taking time to stand with PCI’s partners and the people of Lebanon.
Rev Michael Anderson on behalf of our Moderator Rev David Bruce.
 

​Prodigal Son - Loving Father

Over the last few weeks Michael has been teaching us about real Christian love. How we should be less selfish, less proud, more patient, not keeping records of wrong and not delighting in evil. I have been very struck each week that the quality we look at is shown to perfection by God our Heavenly Father. I would like to spend a few minutes this morning looking at how God’s love for us is manifested by looking at the story of the Prodigal son. The parable is maybe better titled as the story of the Compassionate and Loving Father.
In the beginning we see the younger son ask his father for his inheritance. Our video showed an immediate response with a bag of gold being handed over. But in those times and also now getting a share of inheritance generally means selling land, livestock, building and property and shares. In doing that the remaining estate is less profitable. But the father in our story is willing to do that and give his son what he has asked for. The father is also willing to let his son go – a child he loves and delights in and also potentially an extra hand on the farm and someone to care for him in later life. Very unselfish traits. We see this again at the end of the story when the father is willing to put aside his own joy and celebration to go and chat and encourage the older son who refuses to come to the party. He puts his own interests aside for the benefit of his son. Also those words he says – everything I have is yours are again very unselfish. He leaves nothing for himself, no little nest egg for a pleasant life in old age, he has and will give it all away.
And God our heavenly Father does the same with us. He gave us His most precious possession- He beloved only Son, to come to this world and die to save us from our sins. We have heard it said that our salvation is a free gift , and it is for us, but it was a very costly act on God and Jesus’ part- it cost them everything, they kept nothing back. And just because they love us so much.  Our Father loves us with a truly unselfish love.
The younger son goes away, wastes all his money, eventually comes to his senses and heads back home. In verse 20 we read – while he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His father could only have seen him if he was looking out for him. I like to think that from the time the son left, the father spent a lot of his time sitting on his front porch or at the town gates watching and waiting and hoping that his son would come back. We are led to believe that he was a wealthy man and could have well afforded to send his servants to go looking for the son to see if he was ok. But he didn’t, he waited and waited, for weeks, months, years we don’t know but he waited patiently letting the son decide for himself when or if to return. A very patient love.
And our Heavenly Father is also very patient with us. He wants each person to come to Him, to be in relationship with Him, to fulfil the unique plans and purposes He has for everyone. But He is a real gentleman, He doesn’t coerce, force, push or pull us. It must be so hard for Him watching us struggle and go the wrong way, knowing all the rich blessing He has in store for us, that he could very easily give us. But He loves us and He waits for us to come to Him in our own time. He loves us with an amazingly patient love.
When the father sees his son, he runs to him. Men of his position and stature didn’t run in those days and certainly didn’t associate with dirty, stinking wretches which is what his son had become. But the father was willing to break all those cultural rules, without caring who saw him and run to his son, maybe even getting down on the dirty road, put his arms round him and kiss him. He probably got filthy and smelly in doing that, but he didn’t care, pride in his position didn’t matter any more because his son had come back. He was willing to humble himself in the eyes of his peers and get down on the same level as his filthy son.
And isn’t that what Our Heavenly Father has done for us. He the creator of the world, all powerful, all seeing, all knowing, everywhere present, King of kings. He was and is willing to come down to our level, to associate with us, human sinners, who really are filthy in His totally pure and Holy eyes. But He in Jesus came to this world to become one of us and as Philippians 2v8 tells us He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross- the worst and most cruel kind of death possible. And He did that because of His love for us – a love that is very humble and not proud.
The son begins on his prepared speech – Father I have sinned against heaven and against you, I am no longer worthy to be called your son. The message translation adds in some amazing words – But the father wasn’t listening, he wasn’t listening to the apology. I don’t know about you, but if I was in that position I would want to know that the son was sorry for all the wrong things he had done, and boy had he done a lot of wrong. He had forced the division of the estate. He had an arrogant disregard for his father’s authority as head of the family. He squandered his inheritance in wild living. He went to work for a pig farmer. Jews of that day did not go near pigs because they are seen as unclean. But this guy wanted to eat pig feed – he had really sunk to the lowest level possible. But his father wasn’t listening, he was not interested , he had no intention of keeping any record of the wrongs done to him. He was overjoyed to have his son back again.
And isn’t that a picture of how God deals with us when we come to Him in repentance. 1 John 1 v 9 tells us – if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Yes we do need to confess our sins to God and turn away from doing them again, But God will forgive us and cleanse us. And He even goes further. Hebrews 8 v 12 tells us – I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Our loving Heavenly Father keeps no record of our wrongs. What an amazing blessing- there is no list, there is no record, all our sins are washed away and forgotten because of the blood that Jesus the perfect Lamb shed for us.
The father in our story doesn’t take the opportunity either to show some schadenfreude, or as the message translates it – he doesn’t revel while others grovel. Again if it was me there would probably be a bit of well you deserve what happened to you because of what you did. Bad actions always have consequences.  Didn’t I tell you this would happen. But the father isn’t doing any of that. He isn’t listening. He is planning a party. The past is in the past and will stay there. The only thing that matters is that the son is home again.
And our heavenly Father is the same. He won’t revel while we grovel in our confession and repentance. He is just so happy that we have come back to Him and ask for His forgiveness. The past is forgotten and He is celebrating our return to Him.
There is another quality of love that I think runs throughout this whole story. Kindness. Or as the message translates it – love cares more for others than for self. The father in our story is really only interested in making his sons happy. He knows the proposed course of action of the younger son is not beneficial, but he lets him find out for himself that that course of action is not the way to make himself  happy long term. The father spends time with the older son as well trying to encourage and help him see the bigger picture. When the son comes home, the father doesn’t tell the servants to put his son in the bath, launder his clothes and return them to him. No. There is a clean set of clothes, new sandals and even a robe and a ring. The father is restoring the younger sons position to a son at the heart of the family and not just a servant. And the party – that wasn’t just a family dinner for the household, I suspect everyone in the town was invited and it was an amazing party, an amazing celebration.
Our Heavenly Father is just as kind and caring to us. He didn’t let us take the punishment for our sins, He let that fall on Jesus. He watches over us 24/7, doesn’t sleep on the job. He has our names carved on the palms of His hands so He can look at us all the time. He has even numbered the hairs on our head. When we repent of our sins and come back to Him in repentance, He restores us and He even goes further. He adopts us into His family and makes us His heirs, co heirs with Jesus. He is so kind to us. But He is also very generous. We read in the Bible the words – how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him. How much more – there is always an abundance with God in His dealings with us. Those lovely words in Ephesians 3 v 20 – God does more than we could ask or even imagine. That is how generously and kindly He loves us.
There is within each of us some of the qualities of the younger son. There is within each of us some of the qualities of the older son. But God wants us to become like the father, loving others with the same love that He loves us with. A love that is not proud or selfish. A love that is patient. A love that keeps no record of wrong and doesn’t revel while others grovel. A love that is kind and generous. And may God help us as we strive for that ideal. Amen.
I would like to close with some words of saint Paul in his letter to the Ephesians.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3 v 16 – 19)