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[Music] we take this time apart to listen to learn and reflect with prayer and praise draw near to our god and offer this time of worship with all your hearts and minds let us worship god [Applause] [Music] [Applause] is [Music] is [Music] is [Music] [Applause] [Music] peace [Music] he is [Music] jesus [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] one day jesus and his followers went to a town called capernaum when the sabbath came jesus went straight to the synagogue and started teaching people were astonished by the way he spoke unlike the other teachers he taught them with authority they listened carefully and wanted to hear more suddenly a man in the synagogue filled with an unclean spirit shouted out angrily what do you want of us jesus of nazareth have you come to destroy us i know who you are you are the holy one of god the crowd was shocked but jesus didn't stop straight away he turned to the man be quiet and get out of him he commanded the man fell to the floor with a huge cry and the unclean spirit was gone everybody was amazed they turned to each other excitedly and said what is this he teaches us in a new way with authority and from then on everyone wanted to know about jesus let's pray god you're amazing wonderful and wise we're your children and long to know you better thank you for jesus he helps us to know you and he shows us that we need to love each other and you with all our heart we want to be more like jesus to love everyone the same to help those who are in need and to share what we know with others thank you for listening to our prayer in jesus name he taught us to say 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 the lioness the kingdom the power and the glory forever and ever amen hello and welcome to our service today whether you're a member of second ball easton or an all-night visitor we are incredibly pleased to have you as part of our online community services will continue to be online during february please let us know of anyone who cannot access the internet but would like a cd or dvd copy of morning worship in the weeks ahead we will be sharing more all-age resources to help you stay connected with your congregation and encourage each of us in our christian discipleship as we prepare for easter please sign up on our website to make sure you get all the latest news psalm 111 praise the lord i will extol the lord with all my heart in the counsel of the upright and in the assembly great are the works of the lord they are pondered by all who delight in them glorious and majestic are his deeds and his righteousness endures forever he has caused his wonders to be remembered the lord is gracious and compassionate he provides food for those who fear him he remembers his covenant forever he has shown his people the power of his works giving them the lands of other nations the works of his hands are faithful and just all his precepts are trustworthy they are established forever and ever enacted in faithfulness and uprightness he provided redemption for his people he ordained his covenant forever holy and awesome is his name the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom all who follow his precepts have good understanding to him belongs eternal praise thanks be to god let us pray a holy god creator of the universe powerful and wise beyond our understanding we are gathered to offer our praise and to remember your wondrous deeds since time began till now we gather here in the name of your son the one who called us by name and invited us into a relationship with you an invitation that came with authority and demands a response from each one of us we are continually surprised by jesus and now he reveals more of you and helps us to know you and trust you more each day we wonder at the authority shown in the gospels by jesus an authority that does not seek power for power's sake nor does he use authority to serve himself instead jesus uses his authority to help others to heal to teach to encourage to invite and include lord forgive us both individually and as part of the body of christ when we have used the authority given to us to take rather than give to abuse rather than serve lord remind us that we are but a tiny part of creation that we are to seek justice and offer mercy and grace to all people may we seek to always serve rather than be served and proclaim your kingdom in jesus name amen a reading from mark's gospel jesus drives out an impure spirit they went to capernaum and when the sabbath came jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach the people were amazed at his teaching because he taught them as one who had authority not as the teachers of the law just then a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out what do you want with us jesus of nazareth have you come to destroy us i know who you are the holy one of god be quiet said jesus sternly come out of him the empire spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek the people were also amazed they asked each other what is this a new teaching and with authority he even gives orders to the empire spirit and they obeyed him news about him spread quickly over the whole region of galilee thanks be to god [Music] [Music] i worship you you are here working in this [Music] place [Music] light in the darkness my god that is who you are you are we make miracle work a promise keep light in the darkness my god that is who you are [Music] you are here touching every heart i worship i worship you you are here [Music] [Applause] [Music] that is [Music] [Music] is [Music] my god that is [Music] most junk mail that lands in my inbox is routinely ignored but this one caught my eye with its title vaccines to all church leaders it was spam from a fundamentalist christian group who are spreading misinformation about covet vaccines a harmful effort that you might have seen also on facebook or twitter groups like this claim everything from vaccines being ineffective to vaccines being part of a global conspiracy to track you with a microchip which is ironic given that they use computers to spread their dangerous lies it's hard to believe that there are people actively undermining attempts to save people's lives but the reason for conspiracy theories are complex rooted in paranoia prejudice and insecurity at their worst they have been used for some of the evilest actions ever as holocaust memorial day this week reminded us when conspiracy theories were used to justify the murder of six million jews alongside the millions of other people killed under nazi persecution and in genocides that followed in cambodia rwanda bosnia and darfur it is a horror of human history that faced with the choice to do good there are those who choose evil and believe anything in order to justify themselves our gospel story today is a story of hope being met with resistance jesus comes to the synagogue and begins to teach amazing those present with his authority suddenly a man screams out described as being possessed by an unclean spirit interrupting those listening this is not an ancient story about mental health mark the writer of the gospel wants us to know that when good news is proclaimed there will be opposition following on from satan's tempting in the wilderness which jesus overcomes here the man with the unclean spirit stands as another example of demonic opposition to god's kingdom he is someone trapped by evil yet once again the authority of jesus cannot be overcome satan's power is being broken up as the lord comes to redeem god's people it is a reminder for christians in every age that faithful service will encounter evil but jesus is the holy one of god and sets us free from anything that would diminish us as god's children listen to him christ's authority was not demonstrated by political power or wealth or fame but by his death and resurrection love in action listen to him as we confront the evils of her age there will be unclean spirits that seek only harm rather than healing the conspiracy theories rampant on social media a culture obsessed with image rather than substance a politics of false promises or the underlying selfishness that reduces our capacity for everyone to flourish we need to listen to jesus the world and its problems feel so overwhelming right now a pandemic global poverty climate change what can you do as the preacher david lowes points out the world wasn't changed after just one man was healed but the world was changed for that one man one simple act of healing stands as a witness to an entire community you don't attempt to change everything you just change what you can and by god's grace that is a witness to others be encouraged that you are part of a fellowship listening to jesus the legacy of all those who have been faithful to jesus in every age today at home parents are teaching their kids a bible story about jesus to gift them a vision of a world bigger than themselves others are praying for those ill or anxious and taking the time to phone others are giving what they can in the knowledge that god can use all that we have others are making friends and welcoming newcomers others are helping those in need because they are grateful for the generosity god has shown them others are slow to judge because experiences taught them the mercy of god even those taking part in our service today sharing in worship calling each of us to listen to jesus not much on their own but by god's grace we are all changing the world together in such difficult times we are grateful for those who contribute their offering through a standing order with their bank others give faithfully week by week right now you can text ballet followed by an amount to 785 each text costs the amount plus one standard rate message you can also donate online at www dot let us pray healing god our world needs your gentle healing touch today as covet 19 continues to spread and cause chaos for billions of people we need your gentle healing touch for all who are trying to develop a vaccine for all who serve on the front line medical services for all who are helping our young people to stay in education for all who are delivering to the isolated for all who are working to keep the peace for all who are putting themselves at risk to help others lord in your mercy hear our prayer as wars and threats of violence continue to rage in many places today we need your gentle healing touch for all who have been taken from their families and forced to take up arms for all who have been at war for longer than they have been alive and for whom peace seems impossible for all who continue to profit from war mongering and to endanger others lives for all who abuse their authority or use it for personal gain lord in your mercy hear our prayer as our brothers and sisters suffer from all manners of illnesses and anxieties we need your gentle healing touch for all who are unable to access healthcare for all who have had to wait for investigations or treatments for all who have had have been isolated from loved ones for all who have fierce death alone lord in your mercy hear our prayer in a moment's silence we name those people and situations known to us where your gentle healing touch is needed today lord in your mercy hear our prayer thank you for listening to our prayers o lord give us patience to wait for answers and courage to be the answer where we can in the name of christ our healer and savior we pray amen [Music] is [Music] [Music] my [Music] oh [Music] so [Music] my [Music] is [Music] is [Music] me [Music] oh [Music] is [Music] is [Music] is today we have listened and now we go to act we go to listen to others we go to love others we go to be a blessing to others and we do all these things by the authority of jesus and now may the blessing of god almighty father son and holy spirit rest and abide with each one of you now and always and all god's people said [Music] amen [Music] oh [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] [Music] oh [Music] so you