Worship at Home - By Ruth Lewis

WaH 14 September 2025 Lost and Found  - Ruth Lewis

Hello and Welcome to Middlesbrough and Eston Methodist Churches Worship at Home. I am Ruth Lewis a Local Preacher.  I hope you will join this service which I have prepared. There are lovely hymns from YouTube, the bible reading set for today and some of my thoughts about how we can apply Jesus’ words to our lives and finally prayers and a blessing. 

Opening words:

Have you ever lost something precious? A treasure? Maybe not a coin, but perhaps a ring? Maybe not a sheep, but perhaps a pet. My daughter’s family lost a cat a few weeks ago, and seeing the sheer time, tears and trouble they went through, searching nightly for this little creature, reminded me of this well-known  parable of the lost sheep. Their cat has still not been found, but I’m sure there would be great rejoicing should she turn up. If we can feel this about a pet animal, how much more does this show God’s love for us.  Here’s a lovely hymn about that love, followed by a filmed version of our reading: Luke 15:1-10. 

Hymn  Come thou fount of every blessing

The Pharisees complain that Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. His response is to tell two stories of the lost, and the rejoicing which ensues when they are found, having repented.

A shepherd loses one of a flock of sheep; a woman loses one of her ten coins. What is described in the stories doesn’t sound like  “repentance” at all, after all sheep and coins can’t repent. Instead we see the main motivation is the absolute commitment of the person who wants them back, the shepherd and the woman,  to finding them again. The shepherd does all the action, not the sheep. He  leaves, goes after, finds, lays it on his shoulders, rejoices, comes home, and calls together his friends. The same holds for the woman:  she lights a lamp, sweeps the house, searches carefully, finds, and calls together her friends.  

In both  the emphasis is on the finding and the one committed to search for the otherwise hapless lost sheep and passive lost coin, leads to Jesus’ stunning God-Statement  in both parables: “there will be more joy in heaven” and “joy in the presence of the angels of God.” when what is lost is found again. That is you and me, and the sinners, those people with whom Jesus has just been welcoming and dining.  

I repeat, neither lost sheep or lost coins can really repent. But the parable reveals a divine point of view that emphasises  why it’s the seeking and finding that matter. The lost, be they sheep, coins or sinners are found because of the sheer initiative and dedication of  the shepherd, the woman and the Saviour God.  

Jesus tells us God will tirelessly and relentlessly seek out the lost.   And God and heaven rejoices when they are found. Those sinners the Pharisees disapproved of are the people sitting around with Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who are welcomed, feasted  and now found. Sitting with Jesus, and so facing him , they have by definition repented, that is  “turned around to face” God. That is grace. That is God’s love.

Hymn: The Lord’s my shepherd  Sung by the choir of Westminster Abbey

Prayer:  

Good and gracious Shepherd, we rejoice in your protection and care, we know you will always seek us out and save us. We pray for all who have got lost in any way, especially any whose lives are in danger. We pray for the shepherds of your flock, all ministers and stewards in your church.  

In a dangerous world we pray for all who are suffering from storms and disasters, all who are caught up in conflict and warfare. We pray for all peacemakers.

We thank you for those who have looked out for us in times of trouble, who have been a source of strength for us and a joy.

Be with all who are in dark times, may your love lift the depressed and despairing. Bless all who are undergoing hospital treatment, or who are in a hospice, or those who are chronically ill, just getting on with it. We pray for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one.

We pray for all who have passed through the shadow of death and entered life eternal. Good and faithful Shepherd, find them and bring them to home and glory.

Lord’s Prayer. Our Father….

Our hymn  is sung by the choir of St Mark’s Church Maida Vale

Hymn I will sing the wondrous story…..I was lost but Jesus found me…

Blessing:  

May God, who cares for you as a shepherd cares for his sheep, protect you

May, Christ, the Good Shepherd, who seeks out and saves the lost, be with you.

May, the Holy Spirit, who is your Guide, lead you into the ways of peace.

Amen

Goodbye, have a good week.