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GLORIFY MY NAME
'God always gives you all the grace you need. So, you will only have to suffer for a little while. Then God himself will build you up again. He will make you strong and steady. And he has chosen you to share in his eternal glory because you belong to Christ. Give him the power for ever and ever'. (1 Peter 5:10-11)
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Gathering Prayer Lord of all glory, we come before you seeking your wisdom, that we may glorify you through our thinking; seeking your love, that we may glorify you through our emotions; seeking your strength, that we may glorify you at all times; seeking your perseverance, that we may glorify you in all places. Show us how to live, that our lives shine with your glory, and those who encounter us may know you and that you are at work in your world. Amen. Today's theme is 'Glorify my name'. So we'll start with that lovely song 'Father we love you', in which we sing that we shall "glorify your name in all the world". This week’s reading is John 17:1-11 Read those 11 verses in your own version of the bible. They tell of how Jesus prays for himself to be glorified as His father is glorified in him. But not just glory for Jesus – but for his friends, the disciples, who belong to him. Today we are celebrating Well Dressing Sunday 2020 with a difference, and for obvious reasons. Instead this Sunday’s ‘virtual worship’ has another format, looking back over a few of the images from previous Well Dressings; often inspired by words from a bible passage or prayer, and created with precision, perseverance, and lots of patience, but always to the Glory of God.
IN MY LIFE LORD, BE GLORIFIED Well Dressing has been a Derbyshire tradition for centuries, originally as a way of giving thanks for water, but it took on a special significance in 17th century Derbyshire as various villages gave thanks for their deliverance from the Plague, which had decimated the inhabitants of nearby Eyam. It was thanks to their selfless act of self- isolation, that others were spared. 
I have chosen five well-dressings from the past 10 years to show how God is glorified through art and creativity as much as through words. The first one is the Well Dressing of 2015, shown above; it features the rose window at Wellspring, our usual place of worship. Also, our first strap line ‘doing things differently’, perhaps difficult to see in this photograph.Doing things differently as church, has certainly been the case in recent weeks and months, but we have adapted and stayed in touch through all the usual ways and means and of course through technology, so when I popped into Wellspring recently, it struck me that the church building had become like an empty shell, the life had gone out of it-it was deserted. Then suddenly the words from Isaiah depicted in the 2015 design became a poignant reminder. “THE DESERT SHALL BLOOM AS THE ROSE” - and sure enough, we shall return to our deserted building to ‘bloom’ again. Even so, Church was never about the building, but about God always with us where we’re at, Jesus among us, visible in the simple things that we now appreciate far, far more in this lock- down time. Seeing the Glory that might feel hidden! WE ARE THE CHURCH
There seems to be a Well Dressing for every occasion; this much earlier Well Dressing below (2011, the year of the Bible), picks up some of the themes from recent previous weeks of virtual worship. Highlighting as many stories from the Bible as we could squeeze on to the clay, the main board features a ‘Pop-up Bible’ Jesus coming through the open door, standing at the threshold, returning the sheep to the fold, because we are his and he cares for us, inviting us to Glorify His name. 
And in an echo from last week’s service came a message of caring as found in a well-watered garden, our own gardens, a place to escape to, a haven of peace.That was part of the inspiration for the 2017 well dressing (below) based on Isaiah 58:8-12. 11 “You will be like a garden that has plenty of water. You will be like a spring whose water never runs dry. 12 Your people will rebuild the cities that were destroyed long ago. And you will build again on the old foundations.You will be called One Who Repairs Broken Walls". (From The Message) O, how we can glorify the Lord’s name when we are so close to the beauty and wonder of nature, new growth, seeds germinating, leaf buds opening, the colours, the scent of the evening air, something so magical and mysterious is God’s creation. God’s Glory is in every moment; we just have to see it. LORD I LIFT YOUR NAME ON HIGH 
You’ll remember the Well Dressing (above) from 2019; it's just last year but feels like a lifetime away. I very much hope that it’s message will have an even deeper meaning after the pandemic. “TOUCH THE EARTH LIGHTLY” A prayer for others We bring before God our concerns for our world: where there is war, we pray for peace; where there is sickness we pray for health; where there is despair we pray for hope. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. We pray that you would be active in health care, in the work of doctors and psychiatrists and psychologists, nurses and administrators, pharmacists and researchers. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Guide our activity in the church: may we find ways to grow; may we always honour you; may we serve our communities. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. We hold in your love those whom we love: those who are sick; those who are sorrowful; those who need guidance and direction. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Come to us, God of glory. Hear us, heal us and shine through our lives. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Amen. My final choice out of a selection of 26 photos, is this one (below) from 2018. ‘Well Dressing Sunday’ fell on Trinity Sunday that year, so how was I to represent this theme in a Well dressing design? It ended up, naturally, as ‘God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy spirit’ Perhaps take a closer look, at this one... 
Gods Glory is everywhere but it’s not always visible, yet is persists….
In name of Father, In name of Son, In name of Spirit, Three in One. To God be the Glory A BLESSING The blessing today comes from The Northumbria Community. We've used it from time to time at Wellspring, but today we'll hear it sung (rather than spoken) by members of the Northumbria Community. "May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you..." |
S O N G W O R D S Father we love you Father we love you, we worship and adore you. Glorify your name in all the world. Glorify your name Glorify your name, Glorify your name in all the world. Jesus, we love you.... Spirit, we love you.... Words & Music : Donna Adkins © 1976, 1981, Maranatha! Music In my life Lord, be glorified In my life Lord Be glorified, be glorified In my life, Lord Be glorified today. In Your church, Lord Be glorified, be glorified In Your church, Lord Be glorified today. In my heart, Lord Be glorified, be glorified In my heart, Lord Be glorified today. In my praise, Lord Be glorified, be glorified In my praise, Lord Be glorified today. In my life Lord Be glorified, be glorified In my life, Lord Be glorified today. Public Domain The Words and Music are by Tom McKinley We are the church I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together! All who follow Jesus all around the world! Yes, we're the church together! The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple, the church is not a resting place, the church is a people. Refrain We're many kinds of people, with many kinds of faces, all colours and all ages, too, from all times and places. Refrain Sometimes the church is marching, sometimes it's bravely burning, sometimes it's riding, sometimes hiding, always it's learning. Refrain And when the people gather, there's singing and there's praying, there's laughing and there's crying sometimes, all of it saying: Refrain At Pentecost some people received the Holy Spirit and told the Good News through the world to all who would hear it. Refrain Words © 1972 Hope Publ. Coy, 380 S Main Pl, Carol Stream, IL 60188 Lord I lift your name on high Lord I lift Your name on high Lord, I love to sing Your praises I'm so glad You're in my life I'm so glad You came to save us You came from heaven to earth to show the way From the earth to the cross my debt to pay From the cross to the grave From the grave to the sky Lord, I lift Your name on high. Lyrics by: Rick Doyle Founds © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP To God be the Glory To God be the glory, great things He has done, So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life our redemption to win, And opened the life-gate that all may go in. Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice; Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice. Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory; great things He hath done. Oh, perfect redemption, the purchase of blood, To every believer the promise of God; The vilest offender who truly believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives. Praise the Lord.... Great things He has taught us, great things He has done, And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; But purer, and higher, and greater will be Our wonder, our transport when Jesus we see. Praise the Lord.... Fanny Crosby Public Domain |