In touch	Check-in	Intercessions
In touch begins immediately below	Scroll down or click for Check-in	Worship Together subscribers only: see intercessions

 

In touch

Up-to-the-minute jumping-off points for sermons, linking the reading to the latest news and global issues.

 

Offering hope and blessing

In a world where many are battered, bruised or ignored, how can we bear Christ-like mercy and hope? (Matthew 9:13)

 

Context

• Tax collectors were not popular at the time of Jesus’ early ministry, although Jesus – to the annoyance of the pompously pious – was quite happy to make friends of tax collectors like Matthew and Zacchaeus. To this day tax collectors remain unlikely to top any popularity poll of people’s favourite public servants. In recent days there has been a debate about the possible introduction of tourist taxes in the UK. One BBC headline declared ‘Resorts worry tourist tax will put families off’. But where would we be without those who (honestly) collect taxes? There would be no NHS physicians (Matthew 9:12) for example.
• The month of June is ordination season in the Church of England and the Methodist Church in Britain at least. Like Abram and Sarai (Genesis 12:1-9) men and women will be publicly responding to God’s call to go – often into the unknown and, what may be for them, strange lands - and be a blessing with the only assurance that of God’s blessing for them. It is a time of both trepidation and hope. A lovely example of this can be seen in the story of Revd Jane Barlow who had to be ordained early (on Pentecost Sunday) as she and her husband are expecting their third child at the beginning of July.
• In contrast to Jane, many young people in the UK are growing up with little hope. More than one million young people in the UK between the ages of 16 and 24 are not earning or learning. A major review by former government minister Alan Milburn has called for urgent action. The numbers can be overwhelming but hope begins - as it did for the woman who had been haemorrhaging (Matthew 9:20) - one person at a time. Sixteen-year-old Chloe found when her careers adviser helped her find a place on a vocational childcare course.

 

Ideas for sermons or interactive talks

• You might like to reflect on who you pray for regularly in your Church. Physicians and other health care workers may feature regularly but what about those who work for HMRC processing the taxes that pay for the health service? Did you know there is an organisation called Christians in Government that supports those who work in the Civil Service including HM Treasury?
• If you have anyone in your church who works for HMRC or any other finance-related occupation, why not interview them about their work and how they see it being an outworking of their faith.
• In this month of ordinations ask your vicar/minister/pastor what it was like for them (and their family if appropriate) to take the step of faith and respond to the call of God and to go from their kindred and friends to a place not of their choosing. If they will be elsewhere at the time of your service ask them to record a short video.
• With the amount of need we see at this time – both at home and oversees – we can feel overwhelmed. What can we possibly do in the face of so much? It is helpful to see how Jesus, in the face of crowds and commotion, responded to need one person at a time: the woman who was unwell (Matthew 9:20-22) and the synagogue leader’s daughter (Matthew 9:26). Invite people to think of one person they could bring the hope of God to this week and one person they could bless as Abram was sent to bless (Genesis 12:1-9).

 

Questions for discussion

• Is it time to review who you and your Church pray for?
• Tax: good or bad?
• What is it like for those called to a ministry that makes them leave their homes?
• Who else may have to do this? e.g. those in the armed forces or young people seeking a first job in the present job market. How can we support them?
• When there are so many people in need, where do we start to offer hope and blessing?

Andrew Roberts is a husband, father, Methodist Minister and the author of Holy Habits. He enjoys watching football and cricket and once appeared on national TV dressed as a giant sunflower (BBC Get Your Own Back).

 

Check-in

Connecting faith with everyday, real-life issues for young people

Football’s ‘Spygate’ scandal has been in the news again this week as Dragan Solak, owner of Southampton, denied any knowledge of spying and supported manager Tonda Eckert. Eckert has claimed he was unaware of the rules, with such practices being widespread in Germany and Italy where he previously worked. In the meantime, the young intern caught spying says he knew it was unethical but felt pressured.

The Bible passage this week describes Jesus being criticised for associating with tax collectors and sinners, to which he responds that he has not come to call the righteous but sinners. Jesus suggests that the pharisees go and learn what this means, the implication being that they are also sinners.

Like the Bible passage, spygate seems clear: Southampton are the ‘sinners’ and Middlesborough the ‘righteous.’ But is it really that simple?

 

For discussion

Use the following statements and questions to start a discussion about how easy it is to judge others as sinners. We are all sinners and all forgiven by God.

• The stakes for Southampton were high. Did the manager feel under pressure from the owner or even the fans?
• The intern knew what they were doing was wrong, but felt pressured to do it. Are they righteous or a sinner?
• If Southampton spied, how many other clubs have done so, but have not been caught?
• The FA have punished Southampton but, with £200 million at stake, does the financial structure drive clubs to desperate measures?

Victoria Etherington is University and Young Adult Chaplain in the York Methodist Circuit.

 

Views expressed are the authors' own. Hypertext links to other websites are for the convenience of users only and do not constitute any endorsement or authorisation by Roots for Churches Ltd.

The week in focus is also available via facebook and Instagram.

Roots publishes weekly lectionary-based worship and learning resources online and in two magazines. FIND OUT MORE.