Morning Service for Trinity 19
HYMN Ye servants of God NEH 476 – Paderbourne
1 YE servants of God, your Master proclaim,
And publish abroad his wonderful name:
The name all-victorious of Jesus extol:
His kingdom is glorious, and rules over all.
2 God ruleth on high, almighty to save;
And still he is nigh, his presence we have:
The great congregation his triumph shall sing,
Ascribing salvation to Jesus our King.
3 Salvation to God who sits on the throne!
Let all cry aloud, and honour the Son:
The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,
Fall down on their faces, and worship the Lamb.
4 Then let us adore, and give him his right:
All glory and power, all wisdom and might,
All honour and blessing, with angels above,
And thanks never-ceasing, and infinite love.
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
We recall our Lord’s command to love and in a moment of silence we confess
the many ways we fail to keep his command:
Most merciful God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we confess that we have sinned
in thought, word and deed.
We have not loved you with our whole heart.
We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves.
In your mercy forgive what we have been,
help us to amend what we are,
and direct what we shall be;
that we may do justly, love mercy,
and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen
May the God of love and power
forgive us and free us from our sins,
heal and strengthen us by his Spirit,
and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord. Amen.
THE COLLECT
O God, forasmuch as without you
we are not able to please you;
mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit
may in all things direct and rule our hearts;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING – Job 23.1-9,16,17
Then Job answered:
“Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning.
Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling!
I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me.
Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me.
There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge.
“If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him.
God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me;
If only I could vanish in darkness, and thick darkness would cover my face!
HYMN Father hear the prayer we offer NEH 357 – Sussex
1 Father, hear the prayer we offer:
Not for ease that prayer shall be,
But for strength that we may ever
Live our lives courageously.
2 Not for ever in green pastures
Do we ask our way to be;
But the steep and rugged pathway
May we tread rejoicingly.
3 Not for ever by still waters
Would we idly rest and stay;
But would smite the living fountains
From the rocks along our way.
4 Be our strength in hours of weakness,
In our wanderings be our guide;
Through endeavour, failure, danger,
Father, be thou at our side.
GOSPEL – Mark 10.17-31
As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’ ” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”
Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”
SERMON
“As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him.”
The account of that rich man’s meeting with Jesus is extraordinary, it contains numerous puzzling details; for example, why did Jesus refuse to be called good? Because he didn’t think he was, or because he refused to let the man flatter him? But it’s not the detail that bothers us. It is the fact that we could be that rich man – we come to church because we sense that there is more to life than what you can see and touch, more to the experience of living than the daily round, more to the purpose of living than the cycle of birth, reproduction and death.
The rich man did what his religion told him too, he kept the commandments – at least he thought he did – but he knew that that wasn’t enough. Mark writes that Jesus loved him, I think he tells us this because, unlike all the Scribes and Pharisees who try to catch Jesus out, this man is sincere, he really does want to know what else he should do. And Jesus has immense sympathy for him; he who has absolutely nothing but the clothes he stands up in sympathises with the man who has everything. Because he can see his poverty, because he can look deep into his eyes and see the need that is within them. Jesus knows how difficult it will be for this rich man to do what will make his life a life of true abundance.
He must give up all that he has and join Jesus on his journey – this is what he was lacking. No wonder he doesn’t want to take Jesus up on his offer, this was serious money, and although Mark says that it grieved him, he just couldn’t give it all away. He’d rather stick to the commandments and his uneasy conscience, and the deep sense that his life was incomplete, and keep hold of his money. To give up so much of the world, so much security, so much possibility, so much power, so much fun, was just too much to ask.
And why would he give it all up? After all, Jesus wasn’t offering very much, just a dusty road and a life of poverty. But what he offered was what this man needed, a journey of faith, a journey that was fraught with uncertainly, with nothing neatly written down, with no detailed map – just with the knowledge that the way was his way and journey’s end home.
I always thought that this story was mostly about money, how sticky it is, how hard it is to give away, and how controlling it can be – and I am sure all that is true, but the real edge to the story, where it is a truly tragic tale, is that this man missed his opportunity, missed his golden moment, to walk with Jesus through the gates of Jerusalem, to accompany him to the foot of the cross, to be a part of the new Easter community of the resurrection. He sat in his wealth and comfort, continued to work hard to keep it all, and every commandment he’d ever been taught, and missed it all. By seeking to save his life, the life that he knew, he lost the life that could have been. But which of us would have done any different?
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 Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour NEH 296 – St Helen
1 Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour,
First-begotten from the dead,
Thou alone, our strong defender,
Liftest up thy people’s head.
Alleluya,
Jesu, true and living Bread!
2 Here our humblest homage pay we;
Here in loving reverence bow;
Here for Faith’s discernment pray we,
Lest we fail to know thee now.
Alleluya,
Thou art here, we ask not how.
3 Though the lowliest form doth veil thee
As of old in Bethlehem,
Here as there thine angels hail thee,
Branch and Flower of Jesse’s stem.
Alleluya,
We in worship join with them.
4 Paschal Lamb, thine Offering, finished
Once for all when thou wast slain,
In its fullness undiminished
Shall for evermore remain,
Alleluya,
Cleansing souls from every stain.
5 Life-imparting heavenly Manna,
Stricken Rock with streaming side,
Heaven and earth with loud hosanna
Worship thee, the Lamb who died,
Alleluya,
Risen, ascended, glorified!
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION – Jenny Walmsley
Father, we know how fortunate we are to live in a country where we can celebrate the bounty of the harvest. We pray for everyone who lives in those parts of the world where drought or floods have ruined their harvests and where violence has caused them to flee their homes, especially those in Afghanistan, Yemen and Syria. We pray for the aid workers without whom many of these people would have no food or shelter.
May we never forget those less fortunate than ourselves and we pray that you will help us to become caring and responsible guardians of the world. Let us always remember that we do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
Lord in our mercy, hear our prayer
We pray for your church throughout the world and especially for our benefice. Help us to appreciate the ministry of our rector, William, and rejoice in our freedom to be worshipping Christians without fear of persecution.
We pray that our faith in God remains steadfast and we believe, unlike Job, that he is always there for us. We pray that you will help us to be prepared to make sacrifices with our time and money to follow His teachings and care for each other.
Lord in our mercy, hear our prayer
We thank you Lord for our comfortable homes, for our nourished bodies and for the love of our families and friends. We thank you for the dedication and expertise of the scientists who have developed both the Covid and the flu vaccine. We also give thanks that a vaccine against malaria is finally likely to be rolled out in sub Saharan Africa.
We pray for those who are sick and those who mourn, comfort them in their illnesses and grief, and we pray for all who are struggling to make ends meet as prices rise. Give our leaders the vision to develop an equitable and sustainable lifestyle for all.
Lord in our mercy, hear our prayer
Lord of life, in this time of crisis for our families and communities, our nation and our world, we turn to you in faith, to seek your guidance and receive your blessing, knowing that nothing in all creation can separate us from your love made known to us through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
We ask this in the name of him who offered his life to atone for our sins, who suffered the cross and rose again triumphant, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end.
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
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face to shine upon and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
The Lord God almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
the holy and undivided Trinity, guard you, save you,
and bring you to that heavenly city,
where he lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen
HYMN Jesu, lover of my soul NEH383 – Aberystwyth
1 Jesu, Lover of my soul,
Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high:
Hide me, O my Saviour, hide
Till the storm of life is past;
Safe into the haven guide,
O receive my soul at last.
2 Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on thee;
Leave, ah, leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
All my help from thee I bring;
Cover my defenceless head
With the shadow of thy wing.
3 *Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
More than all in thee I find:
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name,
I am all unrighteousness;
False and full of sin I am,
Thou art full of truth and grace.
4 Plenteous grace with thee is found,
Grace to cover all my sin;
Let the healing streams abound,
Make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
Freely let me take of thee,
Spring thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.