Worship at Home for Sunday 1st February 2026

Revd John Howard-Norman

Welcome

Grace and peace to you, wherever you are today. Whether you are alone or with others, you are warmly welcomed into this time of worship, held together by God’s love and by the prayers of the wider church.

Call to Worship

Blessed are those who seek God with open hearts.

Blessed are those who long for justice, mercy and peace.

Blessed are those who come weary, hopeful, questioning or trusting.

Come now and rest in God’s presence.

Let us worship the Lord.

Hymn: God is love; let heaven adore him

Prayer of Adoration and Confession

Loving God, we praise you for your faithfulness and grace. You are the source of life, the giver of hope, the one who meets us where we are and calls us onward. In your mercy you draw near to the poor in spirit, you comfort those who mourn, and you bless all who hunger and thirst for what is right. Your kingdom is not built on power or pride, but on love, humility and peace.

Yet, gracious God, we confess that we often live by different values. We cling to comfort rather than compassion, we turn away from suffering that feels too costly,

and we seek recognition rather than faithfulness. Forgive us when our hearts are closed and our vision is narrow. Renew us by your Spirit, that we may learn again the way of Christ, and reflect your blessing in all we do.

Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Bible Reading: Matthew 5:1–12

Hymn:  Blest are the pure in heart

https://youtu.be/Z8h3fvk9wGY?si=Ob9HSow31TrSdSUF

Responding to the reading

Jesus begins his most famous sermon not with rules or commands, but with blessings. And not the kind of blessings the world usually gives.

Blessed are the poor in spirit.

Blessed are those who mourn.

Blessed are the meek.

Blessed are the peacemakers.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

This is not a list of goals. It’s not a to-do list for spiritual success. It’s a radical reimagining of where God’s favour is found. In a world that glorifies strength, status, and self-sufficiency, Jesus blesses the broken-hearted, the humble, the merciful, the justice-seekers. He blesses those the world overlooks. For us, today, the Beatitudes can offer both comfort and challenge. They comfort us with the reminder that God is near to the hurting. That holiness isn’t reserved for the powerful or pious, but found in ordinary lives marked by vulnerability and hope.

But they also challenge us:

• To look again at who we consider “blessed.”
• To resist the pull of ego and status.
• To stand in solidarity with those the world pushes aside.
• To hunger not just for peace, but for justice, even when it costs us something.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus doesn't promise an easy life. But he promises that God is with us in the struggle – that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who refuse to give up on love, even when the world makes it hard.

So, as you reflect today, consider: - Where in your life are you being called to hunger for justice, even if it disrupts your comfort?

• Who around you is mourning, or poor in spirit, and how can you embody blessing for them?
• Which of these blessings do you most long to receive, and which do you resist?

The Beatitudes are not a ladder to climb, but a lens to see the world anew. A way of life that turns the values of empire upside down and insists that God's kingdom is already breaking in: through the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers.

May we live the blessing Jesus speaks. And may we recognise it, even when it comes in unexpected forms. 

Prayer for Others

God of compassion, we pray for your world and all who suffer through conflict, injustice or poverty. Bless your church, that it may live the values of your kingdom with humility and courage. We remember our communities, and all who care, serve and lead. Comfort those who are ill, grieving or afraid, and shape us to be bearers of your peace. 

Amen.

Hymn:  Make me a channel of your peace

Final Prayer and Blessing

Faithful God, thank you for meeting us in this time of worship. Send us out in the strength of your blessing, to live gently, love generously, and walk humbly with you.

And may the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, rest upon you now and always.

Amen.

With grateful thanks and acknowledgement to the Vine at Home for the response to the reading.

https://theworshipcloud.com/terms/free-weekly-resource