Morning Service for Epiphany 4 2024
HYMN – Christ whose glory fills the skies NEH 234 – Ratisbon
1 Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o’er the shades of night;
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Daystar, in my heart appear.
2 Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by thee;
Joyless is the day’s return,
Till thy mercy’s beams I see;
Till they inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.
3 Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
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
God our creator,
who in the beginning
commanded the light to shine out of darkness:
we pray that the light of the glorious gospel of Christ
may dispel the darkness of ignorance and unbelief,
shine into the hearts of all your people,
and reveal the knowledge of your glory
in the face of Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen
FIRST READING – Deuteronomy 18.15-20
The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the LORD my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” Then the LORD replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak—that prophet shall die.”
HYMN – Father of heaven, whose love profound NEH 358 – Rievaulx
1 Father of heaven, whose love profound
A ransom for our souls hath found,
Before thy throne we sinners bend:
To us thy pardoning love extend.
2 Almighty Son, incarnate Word,
Our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord,
Before thy throne we sinners bend:
To us thy saving grace extend.
3 Eternal Spirit, by whose breath
The soul is raised from sin and death,
Before thy throne we sinners bend:
To us thy quickening power extend.
4 Thrice Holy! Father, Spirit, Son,
Mysterious Godhead, Three in One,
Before thy throne we sinners bend:
Grace, pardon, life to us extend.
GOSPEL – Mark 1.21-28
They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
SERMON
So here we have a gospel passage we can all relate to. It’s all about Jesus going to church, or at least the Jewish equivalent.
Worship in the synagogue consisted of prayers, benedictions, readings from the Law and the prophets together with translations into Aramaic, and expounding of the readings. The service was not in the hands of a priest, they were exclusively concerned with worship in the temple in Jerusalem, the synagogue service was regulated by local elders who could call upon anyone thought competent to preach.
Obviously Jesus was thought competent, either by reputation or education, and he didn’t disappoint. He didn’t use the usual technique of the scribes, which drew upon the tradition of rabbinical teaching, largely learned by heart. He taught from his own perception of what was true, not that learned by rote from others. And of course this impressed, here was a man prepared to take risks, to stick his neck out, to give a bold opinion.
Which is all well and good, but fine words butter no parsnips, as they say. Which is perhaps why Mark does not leave it there. Jesus’ authority does not end with words.
This is the first of Jesus’ works of power that Mark reports and it is not haphazard in its telling. Firstly it takes place in Galilee, secondly it takes place in a Jewish synagogue, thirdly the unclean spirit confesses that Jesus is the Holy one of God and fourthly Jesus tells it to be quiet.
You may have noticed that this is year B in the Sunday lectionary, but you won’t yet have picked up that it is the year that St. Mark’s gospel is heavily featured. There is a great deal that can be said about St. Mark’s gospel, it is a fascinating piece of work, underestimated for far too long. It is the earliest as well as the shortest of the Gospels, it is full of wonderful detail, some of it repeated in a “cleaned up” version by Luke and Matthew. Mark writes to a clear structure and with a clear point to make, he is very suspicious of those in positions of authority. He is as unimpressed by the apostles as he is with the scribes and priests.
For Mark what Jesus is about is the inauguration of the kingdom of God. Not in some afterlife to come, but here and now in the hearts and actions of men and women – what they say and do now. The kingdom is possible because God has sent his son to proclaim it, and given him the power to begin its creation.
The first words Jesus speaks in Mark are “the time has come, the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” He then calls the first of his disciples, they must witness all that Jesus does, for it is they who must continue the work of the kingdom – their understanding is vital. Then Jesus is seen in this synagogue in Capernaum, in Galilee, the kingdom must first be proclaimed to God’s ancient people. In this context all evil is cast away. Notice that it is in this very place of worship that an unclean spirit is found. For the Jews, as for many faiths, what is unclean is a threat to the community because it acts against God, disrupts the relationship between God and the people. Jesus has come to heal that relationship, the relationship that is at the heart of the kingdom. Evil knows that its time has come and recognises God’s anointed. But Jesus commands silence, his identity will only be fully discovered on the road to the Cross – and from the Cross. In Mark the first man to call Jesus the Son of God is a Roman centurion standing at the foot of the Cross.
And why Galilee, for Mark it was always Galilee, because that is the polyglot place of many races that Jesus chooses to use as the place of his ministry, where he will teach his disciples the ways of the kingdom and how it must be preached to both Jew and Gentile.
So back to our passage about Jesus’ visit to church. How can we in our church relate to that? Certainly not in the authority of the preacher! But just look at what we have already done. Our first prayer asks for the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God and Christ, to “cleanse the thoughts of our hearts”. Our second prayer confesses our uncleanness and prays for the cleansing of God’s forgiveness. And in response to that cleansing, to that removal of what divides us from God, what spoils our relationship with him, we give glory to God and name Jesus as the “only Son of the Father” and “Holy One”. And then we hear the teaching of Jesus in the words of the gospel.
There may not be any convulsing and crying out, but make no mistake there is much that we can relate to about that Sabbath day service in Capernaum 2000 years ago.
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
HYMN Judge eternal throned in splendour NEH 490 – Rhuddlan
1 Judge eternal, throned in splendour,
Lord of lords and King of kings,
With thy living fire of judgement
Purge this realm of bitter things:
Solace all its wide dominion
With the healing of thy wings.
2 Still the weary folk are pining
For the hour that brings release:
And the city’s crowded clangour
Cries aloud for sin to cease;
And the homesteads and the woodlands
Plead in silence for their peace.
3 Crown, O God, thine own endeavour;
Cleave our darkness with thy sword;
Feed the faithless and the hungry
With the richness of your word:
Cleanse the body of this nation
Through the glory of the Lord.
INTERCESSIONS – Vera Oldham
Heavenly Father, creator of a universe full of wonder and many hidden mysteries, help us in our modern, sometimes confusing and fast changing world to pause and reflect on your glory and in the stillness, to listen for your voice speaking to us all. We bring to you now our prayers and concerns for others confident in the knowledge that they will be both heard and answered.
We pray for our fellow Christians throughout your world, thinking particularly of all those for whom worshipping will lead them into dangers and difficulty. Be near them and give them courage and strength in their witness. Make them aware at all times that you are with them.
We pray for our church here in this benefice, for William and his family, for our Worship Leaders and Churchwardens, our organist and choir and all those who serve our Benefice by giving so freely of their time and skills on a voluntary basis. We rejoice in all who answer to your call and pray that we may all be one, united in love of you and in service to your world.
Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer.
We pray for our troubled world its peoples and their leaders. We pray for those caught up in war, violence, and hatred, especially the innocent victims of these evils. We pray for those parts of this world where life is a continual struggle and where all hope of peace is lost in a sea of violence. Help us in our everyday lives to be instruments of your peace wherever and whenever we can.
Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer.
We pray for our own nation, for Charles, our King, his ministers and for all who serve the people at all levels of government and responsibility. We pray for all charities who work to improve the lives of those blighted by misfortune and ask that you will help us all to play our part in creating and maintaining a just, equitable and loving society with Christ at the centre of our lives.
Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer.
We bring before you today in the quietness of our minds those people for whom we have especial concern and we turn our thoughts and prayers to those who are in physical, mental or spiritual need. Let those for whom we pray feel your healing touch and come to know your peace in their lives.
Let our prayers extend to those who faithfully and lovingly care for them in whatever location or capacity.
Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer.
We give you thanks for the opportunities in the life of our church to offer support and comfort to those bereaved. We pray today for the families of those who have come to the end of their lives and for all those whose anniversaries fall at this time. Let the knowledge of your resurrection in glory be a comfort to them all.
Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer.
Lord, as we go from your house today to start the week ahead, we ask that in all we do, we may walk with you at our side, safe in the knowledge that your Fatherly love and care knows no bounds.
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.
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 At the name of Jesus – Camberwell – NEH 338 – Camberwell
1 At the name of Jesus
Every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess him
King of glory now;
’Tis the Father’s pleasure
We should call him Lord,
Who from the beginning
Was the mighty Word.
2 At his voice creation
Sprang at once to sight,
All the angel faces,
All the hosts of light,
Thrones and bright dominations,
Stars upon their way,
All the heavenly orders,
In their great array.
3 Humbled for a season,
To receive a name
From the lips of sinners
Unto whom he came,
Faithfully he bore it
Spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious
When from death he passed:
4 Bore it up triumphant
With its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures,
To the central height,
To the throne of Godhead,
To the Father’s breast;
Filled it with the glory
Of that perfect rest.
5 In your hearts enthrone him;
There let him subdue
All that is not holy,
All that is not true:
He is God the Saviour,
He is Christ the Lord,
Ever to be worshipped,
Trusted, and adored.
.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord
In the name of Christ. Amen