HYMN – Jesus, where’er thy people meet NEH 390 – St Sepulchre
1 Jesus, where’er thy people meet,
There they behold thy mercy-seat;
Where’er they seek thee, thou art found,
And every place is hallowed ground.
2 For thou, within no walls confined,
Inhabitest the humble mind;
Such ever bring thee where they come,
And going, take thee to their home.
3 Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few,
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of thy saving name.
4 Here may we prove the power of prayer,
To strengthen faith and sweeten care;
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all heaven before our eyes.
5 Lord, we are few, but thou art near;
Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;
O rend the heavens, come quickly down,
And make a thousand hearts thine own!
PRAYER OF PREPARATION
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen
PRAYERS OF PENITENCE
Christ the light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts. In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.
Lord of grace and truth, we confess our unworthiness
to stand in your presence as your children.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
The Virgin Mary accepted your call to be the mother of Jesus.
Forgive our disobedience to your will.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
The wise men followed the star to find Jesus the King.
Forgive our reluctance to seek you.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
Your Son our Saviour in humility accepted the baptism of John.
Forgive our pride and rejection of your ways.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
At a wedding in Cana Jesus changed water into wine.
Forgive our failure to let your transforming presence change us.
We have sinned:
Forgive and heal us.
May the God of love and power
forgive you and free you from your sins,
heal and strengthen you by his Spirit
and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen
THE COLLECT
Almighty God,
whose Son revealed in signs and miracles
the wonder of your saving presence:
renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen
FIRST READING – 1 Corinthians 12.12-31a
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honourable we clothe with greater honour, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together with it.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.
HYMN – Thy kingdom come, O God NEH 499 – St Cecillia
1 Thy kingdom come, O God,
Thy rule, O Christ, begin;
Break with thy iron rod
The tyrannies of sin.
2 Where is thy reign of peace
And purity and love?
When shall all hatred cease,
As in the realms above?
3 When comes the promised time
That war shall be no more,
And lust, oppression, crime,
Shall flee thy face before?
4 We pray thee Lord, arise,
And come in thy great might;
Revive our longing eyes,
Which languish for thy sight.
5 O’er lands both near and far
Thick darkness broodeth yet:
Arise, O morning Star,
Arise, and never set.
GOSPEL – Luke 4.14-21
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
SERMON – Dr Keith Atton
Someone from somewhere else. Someone different. What to do about it?
I spend quite a lot of time recently searching genealogy. From time to time in say 18th century parish registers there was someone buried who is described as a stranger – someone just passing through, who no one knew and who had died there in that village; even the name of the stranger might have been unknown, he or occasionally she, was someone who was not local.
When I was asked by an officer of this Diocese to join the governing body of a primary school at some distance from here, I had the bad experience of not being taken seriously because I was not “local”; the other governors – except for the Headteacher – would meet in the pub or in the school yard unofficially to sort out school business!
I feel the church has not taken Paul’s epistles seriously enough; they are reflections on what he had been taught of Jesus and of his teaching; he was taught first in Damascus and then he spent some time with the leaders of the Jerusalem church, who had been eyewitnesses. I have no doubt he would have come across some of the early itinerant preachers who passed around the stories of Jesus. Neither Paul nor the gospel writers had been with the pre-resurrection Jesus. The gospel writers too were giving their reflections of the stories they had received from others, just like Paul.
So Paul in his reflection written to the Corinthians argues that all are needed – there is a place for everyone – human society is like a human body. Of course, I may be deluded as to where my talents lie; if I volunteered to join the choir, I suspect there would be a mass walk out if I was let in and rightly so. But if I reflect for a moment, for everyone, there is somewhere they can best be used for the common good. Think of William. He may be the only one qualified to carry out the priest’s functions here, he may be the best preacher, the best singer, perhaps the best sides man, churchwarden, flower arranger, PCC secretary, treasurer etc. etc. But William, like everyone else, cannot do everything. All are needed, in the church and in society in general; lack of intellectual abilities or physical abilities or lack of being “a local person” does not mean that they cannot contribute in some way. And Paul reminds us that all should be welcomed.
The local boy made good. What about that?
Our readings are always a selection; verses are missed out – perhaps for good reason –
some parts of the Bible are never heard or as is the case with this morning’s gospel reading, the story is stopped part way through. The rest is well known, but I will summarise it briefly; they approve of Jesus – their local boy becoming well known in the area – until he challenges them; he suspects they are hoping for at least as good things as he has done in Capernaum, but refers to 1 and 2 Kings in explaining that prophets do not do special favours for their own. This went down very badly and they threatened violence against Him.
I believe those attending in the synagogue were clearly thinking “we can benefit from our home grown prophet – what will he do for us?” So we should not be surprised that they were very cross when Jesus referred to their and our scripture to show them that that is not how it works. Unlike Matthew, Luke places this story straight after the temptations in the wilderness – it looks to me as if this story for Luke is used as a reflection on the temptations. If Jesus would do greater and greater miracles, He could gain great earthly power – everyone would fight on His side. He could be like the politicians who bring back home presents – miracles, fame – for the locals: in the USA called pork barrel politics. I hasten to add that this was written before suggestions that political support might bring rewards like a new school for an MP’s constituency. But Jesus made very clear that, as He put it, the Kingdom of God was not like that at all; the Kingdom of God is a challenge to their and to our ways of behaviour, not special presents or political power.
All are welcome – or should be – from far (like the Magi) or from nearby, with whatever talents they can bring. But there are to be no special rewards for Nazareth or even for CHO!
AFFIRMATION OF FAITH
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Christ died for our sins
in accordance with the scriptures;
he was buried;
he was raised to life on the third day
in accordance with the scriptures;
afterwards he appeared to his followers,
and to all the apostles:
this we have received,
and this we believe. Amen.
1 Corinthians 15.3-7
INTERCESSIONS – Sheila Forbes
In this time of fog, cloud and some sun, we give thanks for the light of small blessings which this week has given us. From our tranquil sanctuary in this benefice, we ask your blessing on those whose lives have been turned upside down by the completely unexpected, the pandemic, and for the people of Tonga, a tsunami -flattening homes and destroying the parameters of their daily lives.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer
As our government wrestles with its financial commitments, we give thanks and we pray for the continued work of The Children’s Society as it supports our youngsters, some just 11, who in rural areas are targeted as “Clean Skins” to be used in drug running. Lord no life should be so viewed and wasted. Shine your light on this darkness, putting your protective arms around all children who are in danger.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer
As the democracies of the world face the challenge of a possible threat to the freedom of Ukraine, we pray for those leaders called upon to respond- that they remain steadfast in their commitment to democratic rights. In The Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia and Afghanistan Lord we bring before you the horror of starvation and pray that all governments will see hunger as a global responsibility. We ask that you strengthen your light in hearts of those in power and banish any concept of lives which are expendable.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer
In this week of prayer for Christian Unity we join with fellow believers in the four corners of the world, uniting to pray for the sick, the suffering and the marginalised. To these people Lord, we add anyone about whom we are concerned, naming them silently in your presence (remembering in this parish…………………) May our prayers across the world and here in this church bring solace, relief and hope.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer
Lord we remember with deep gratitude those who have left their mark on our lives by giving us guidance and love but have now died. We hold them in our hearts, knowing that you hold them in yours.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.
HYMN – Lord the word abideth NEH 407 Ravenshaw
1 Lord, thy word abideth,
And our footsteps guideth;
Who its truth believeth,
Light and joy receiveth.
2 When our foes are near us,
Then thy word doth cheer us,
Word of consolation,
Message of salvation.
3 When the storms are o’er us,
And dark clouds before us,
Then its light directeth,
And our way protecteth.
4 Who can tell the pleasure,
Who recount the treasure
By thy word imparted
To the simple-hearted?
5 Word of mercy, giving
Succour to the living;
Word of life, supplying
Comfort to the dying.
6 O that we discerning
Its most holy learning,
Lord, may love and fear thee,
Evermore be near thee!
BLESSING
May he who who by his incarnation
gathered into one things earthly and heavenly,
grant us the fullness of peace and goodwill
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon us and remain with us always. Amen
HYMN – He who would valiant be NEH 372 – Monks Gate
1 He who would valiant be
‘Gainst all disaster,
Let him in constancy
Follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.
2 Who so beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound–
His strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might,
Though he with giants fight:
He will make good his right
To be a pilgrim.
3 Since, Lord, thou dost defend
Us with thy Spirit,
We know we at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away!
I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day
To be a pilgrim.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen