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  • Welcome to this child of grace

    At Hallfold this Sunday we shall include within the service a Thanksgiving for the Birth of a Child. I am finding that more parents are opting for this service in preference to Baptism as they realise that they are unlikely to fulfill the promises of Baptism. In looking to pick a suitable hymn I became increasingly frustrated with the selection offered by Rejoice & Sing which despite the United Reformed Church's supposed commitment to offering both forms of baptism slants all suitable hymns towards infant baptism.

    I had pondered writing a new hymn for some time and when in June 2005 I was preparing a Thanksgiving for a child called Emma, and remembered that we had a tune called Emma, I decided the time had come. Folk seemed to appreciate it's first airing and so on Sunday we will welcome Millie in word, prayer and song. Please hold Millie and her parents Andy and Nicola in your prayers.

    Metre 7777
    Tune: Emma (R&S 99)

    Welcome to this child of grace,
    Stepping out on holy ground.
    May she know her time and place,
    Ever walk where love is found.

    Take the love that's yours to share,
    Learn together all God's ways.
    Welcome her into your care,
    Let this love enrich her days.

    May God's Spirit give her voice;
    welcome her, give hope, inspire.
    Help her grow to make her choice,
    Speak with wisdom, soul afire

    May God bless where you belong.
    May you glimpse and know God's face,
    Trust God's peace to keep you strong;
    Welcome, Millie, child of grace.

    The name 'Millie' should be replaced by the child's name where appropriate. Where the name is more than two Syllables the final line should be:-

    Welcome now, this child of grace

    Where the name is one syllable :-

    Welcome, name, a child of grace

    © Craig Muir June 2005

    permission is given to copy this text for worship on a non-commercial basis using this acknowledgement and putting a Comment on here to let me know when it has been used.

  • Saint Andrew’s - 16 October 2005

    Isaiah 45:1-7

    1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

    Matthew 22:15-22

    To what do you belong? To whom do you belong?-Different answers, different levels? -To what extent do you belong to Caesar and to God?

    Pharisees are caught in their own trap – issue of loyalty – defy Rome or alienate people? -Who carries a denarius into the Temple? – the questioners.Jesus distances himself, whose head? What inscription?- Pharisees/Herodians owe position to Rome they are collaborators, idolators.

    Render – take back – take this coin and the system it represents give it back to him – you enjoy the fruits of collaboration, power, position, prestige, wealth – so pay Caesar for all you enjoy. But remember you have failed to pay God what you owe God.[Source]

    What belongs to God? Implication for Jesus is everything – what is it for you?

    It is our AGM today -looking back a year it has been a good year, a lot happening, new people, new iniatives – our own good work? Or do we owe it to God? -We belong to God and all that we do is God’s – recognise gifts, thank people for work well done – give glory to God.

    Thessalonians -  “in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it” in giving everything to God, the gospel is lived out, it bears fruit, -  in declaring Jesus is Lord – nothing else gets to make the same claim – when worldy powers – nation, employer, ambition, respectability, achievement claim your allegiance – ask them to show you the coin – to declare their loyalty – and give back to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar and to God whatever belongs to God.[Source]