The world belongs to God
The earth and all its people
How good and lovely it is
To live together in unity
Love and faith come together
Justice and peace join hands
Song “Make me a channel”
Let us in silence remember our faults and failings
Christ have mercy on us, deliver us from ourselves and help us to put right our lives.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer in our own language
Reading- Matthew 25v1-13
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take extra oil with them; 4 but the prudent ones took oil in flasks with their lamps. 5 Now while the groom was delaying, they all became drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there finally was a shout: ‘Behold, the groom! Come out to meet him.’7 Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish virgins said to the prudent ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 However, the prudent ones answered, ‘No, there most certainly would not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the groom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 Yet later, the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Be on the alert then, because you do not know the day nor the hour.
Song “Come thou O prince of peace”
Reflection
What will heaven be like? It will be like 10 bridesmaids and their lamps! The lamps were made of clay in a bowl with a hole at one end for the wick. The bowl was filled with oil to fuel the lamp. The foolish bridesmaids were not prepared. They had no oil. The wise bridesmaids did have oil. The oil is olive oil, although any oil was used for the lamps. The wise bridesmaids had even taken jars of extra oil so were very prepared. The bridegroom was delayed and they all fell asleep.
At midnight someone shouted that the bridegroom had arrived. They all woke up and the foolish bridesmaids asked the wise ones for some oil and they wise refused because there wasn’t enough to share and told them to go and buy some oil (at midnight!).
So the foolish girls were buying their oil when the bridegroom came to the feast and the doors were shut and only the br with oil went in to the wedding feast.
Later the others came back and asked to be let in but the groom refused to let them in. He said honestly, “I don't know you" an Aramaic phrase that means I have nothing in common with you.
So are we prepared for God, are we prepared for important choices and events in our lives? Only by keeping oil a symbol of Gods Spirit in our lives will we be prepared. We need God’s Spirit more than ever at this time. Today we remember the price of freedom, the deaths and destruction of two world wars. We the Christian communities are a cutting edge along which there can finally be peace. Lets remember that call on our lives to be peacemakers in Gods world. Amen
Our Prayers
We pray for peace in the US this week, the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Greece, people in lockdown, people with Covid19, countries at war, rising fascism, the government, Hong Kong, the Rohinga Muslims, Muslims being persecuted in China, protection for key workers and adequate PPE, protection for Black and Asian people, for people on low or no incomes, for those with underlying health conditions and those over 60, care for those who are alone, those struggling, those suffering with depression, protection for asylum seekers and refugees and ensuring that food is reaching the vulnerable and global warming.
May we not fail you. Amen
Song “Holy Spirit living breath of God”
The blessing of God be upon you
On those you love and those you meet
This day and for evermore. Amen
With thanks to the ©Iona Community adapted
