transcript 2021 - Mariners Club

Introduction Music Amazing Grace (3.00) Under the white ensign

Good morning to you and a warm welcome to our studio service on this the 2nd Sunday in July, a Sunday which is kept by many different denominations as Sea Sunday, a time when the people of God give thanks for those who go to sea and those who minister to them.

Let us listen to our first hymn.

HYMN: Jubilate Deo 3.13 track 10 Choral Classics from St John’s

OPENING PRAYER.

We come together as the family of God in our Father’s presence to offer him praise and thanksgiving for the ministry of the church among seafarers; to hear and receive his holy word; to bring before him the needs of the world, the missionary work of his church and to pray for seafarers and their families of every nation; to ask his forgiveness for our sins and to seek his grace, through his Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen.

In Hong Kong mission and ministry to seafarers is provided by 4 Seafarers’ missions, working together to serve seafarers who are visiting Hong Kong. The Mission to Seafarers, The Apostleship of the Sea, the Danish Seamen’s Church and the German Seamen’s Mission.

I am the Revd Canon Stephen Miller, Senior Chaplain of The Mission to Seafarers. And joining us this morning for this service today are Revd Kim Kee Lee from the Mission to Seafarers and Father Valan Arocki-aswamy from the Apostleship of the Sea.

So we begin our worship this morning as we call to mind our sins and ask God for his forgiveness:

Confession

Lord of all creation, forgive us for the times we have ignored your teachings and wisdom. Help us to listen to your word and live by it each day. Father forgive us,

All: Save us and help us.

Lord of all creation, forgive us for the times we have ignored those in need around us. Help us to become more aware of the needs of others. Father forgive us,

All: Save us and help us.

Lord of all creation, forgive us for the times we have ignored your will for our lives. Help us to trust you and follow you more each day.

Father forgive us,

All: Save us and help us.

Lord of all creation, forgive us for the times we have ignored the needs of seafarers and have taken them for granted. Help us to remember the vital work they do in ensuring that we have our daily needs.

Father forgive us,

All: Save us and help us.

God our loving Father, forgive us our sins, keep your word alive in us and help us to know your peace and forgiveness in our lives each day. Help us to be a people who trust and follow you wholeheartedly as we live for you each day.

All: Amen

Hymn: Be Still My Soul (4.15) Essential Hymns 2 track 4

Collect

Almighty God on this Sea Sunday we pray for all who go down to the sea in ships, that you will protect them as they sail, keep them safe from all the dangers of the sea and give them courage when they face storms. May they know your blessing on the families that they leave behind. We ask this in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

All: Amen

Our First Reading comes from the New Testament from St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians Chapter 1. Verses 3-14.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

The word of the Lord…

All: Thanks be to God.

We continue our worship as we hear the words of Psalm 122 (6.25) Psalms for the spirit track 15

The Gospel

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to St. Mark, Chapter 6, verses 14-29.

All: Glory to you Lord Christ.

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, ‘John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.’ But others said, ‘It is Elijah.’ And others said, ‘It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.’ But when Herod heard of it, he said, ‘John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.’

For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.’ And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, ‘Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.’ And he solemnly swore to her, ‘Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.’ She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for?’ She replied, ‘The head of John the baptizer.’ Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, ‘I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.’ The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

The Gospel of the Lord

All: Praise to you, Lord Christ

Hymn: The Lord is my Shepherd (2.42) Sea Sunday Disc track 5

Anthem: A Gaelic Blessing (2.46) The Priests track 3

Intercessions

Let us thank God who has brought us together to this day, who sustains us by his power, strengthens us by his Spirit and nourishes us with his word.  May we worship him in spirit and in truth.  

Lord hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.

Today we pray for the work of Seafarers’ Missions, their

chaplains and ship visitors around the world as they care

for and welcome seafarers. We pray that you will help

them in their work of caring for and supporting seafarers.

Lord hear us Lord, graciously hear us.

We pray for seafarers as they work on ships, often many

miles from home, missing their families and facing dangers

and hardships such as piracy and storms with little time in port and dealing with isolation and loneliness.

In this uncertain time of Pandemic, we remember the many seafarers who do not know when or where they can finish their contracts and return home, help them to keep safe and well waiting for their time when they will be reunited with their families.

Lord hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for the families of seafarers who are left at home.

We pray for wives and husbands as they miss their partners and care for their families, for children as they miss a parent and for others as they miss a boy or girl friend, grandparent or son or daughter. Bless those who remain at home whilst a loved one is away at sea.

Lord hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for all ship owners and ship managers that they will take their responsibility seriously to care for those who crew their ships. We pray that all ships may be properly maintained and kept in a seaworthy condition. Lord Hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for ourselves that we may have grateful hearts

for all the food and other necessities of daily life that we so easily take for granted. Help us to remember the seafarers who work so hard so that we can enjoy the fruits and commodities of the world.

Lord hear us. Lord graciously hear us.

Let us join together in the words that our Lord Jesus himself taught us:

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.

Creator and Father of all, we pray for those who go down to the sea in ships and on whom we depend.  Bless them and those who long for their safe return and bring us all to your kingdom, where there is no sorrow, no tears, but joy and life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Hymn:    Eternal Father strong to save Ely Cathedral Choir (3.06) Sea Sunday Disc track 6

The Blessing.

May the love of the Lord Jesus

Draw us to himself.

May the power of the Lord Jesus

Strengthen us in his service;

May the joy of the Lord Jesus

Fill our souls.

May the blessing of God Almighty,

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

Be amongst you and remain with you always. Amen

Thank you for joining us for our worship this Sea Sunday, please remember in your prayers all Seafarers who go down to the sea, all who serve in the merchant marine, all who bring us the commodities we depend upon from around the world. May God bless them and be close to their families and love ones now and always. Amen

Finale  Sunset (1.42) Under the White Ensign