Morning Service for Trinity 7 2024
HYMN How sweet the name of Jesus sounds NEH 374 – St Peter
1 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
2 It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
‘Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary rest.
3 Dear name! the rock on which I build,
My shield and hiding-place,
My never-failing treasury filled
With boundless stores of grace.
4 Jesus! my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.
5 Weak is the effort of my heart,
and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.
6 Till then I would thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath;
And may the music of thy name
Refresh my soul in death.
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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
Lord of all power and might,
the author and giver of all good things:
graft in our hearts the love of your name,
increase in us true religion,
nourish us with all goodness,
and of your great mercy keep us in the same;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,. Amen.
FIRST READING – 2 Samuel 6.1-5,12b-19
David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. David and all the people with him set out and went from Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned on the cherubim. They carried the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were driving the new cart with the ark of God; and Ahio went in front of the ark. David and all the house of Israel were dancing before the LORD with all their might, with songs and lyres and harps and tambourines and castanets and cymbals.
So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before the LORD with all his might; David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.
As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul looked out of the window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart.
They brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt offerings and offerings of well-being before the LORD. When David had finished offering the burnt offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes.
HYMN Teach me, my God and king NEH 456 – Sandys
1 TEACH me, my God and King,
In all things thee to see;
And what I do in anything
To do it as for thee!
2 A man that looks on glass,
On it may stay his eye;
Or if he pleaseth, through it pass,
And then the heaven espy.
3 All may of thee partake;
Nothing can be so mean,
Which, with this tincture, ‘for thy sake’,
Will not grow bright and clean.
4 A servant with this clause
Makes drudgery divine;
Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws,
Makes that and the action fine.
5 This is the famous stone
That turneth all to gold;
For that which God doth touch and own
Cannot for less be told.
GOSPEL – Mark 6.14-29
King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptiser has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.” But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him. But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee. When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.” And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptiser.” Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
SERMON
Politics – so much is about politics, the exercise of power – how those who have it legitimate their hold on it, and how those who don’t have it seek to win it. Nothing is outside the province of politics, especially anything that can affect the opinions and inclinations of the people.
David, as we heard last week, had finally been acknowledged as king over all Israel – his next task was to unite a divided nation, formed from an ancient tribal confederacy, under his absolute rule. To achieve this he creates a centralised military and civil authority centred in a new capital city, a fortified city on a rocky escarpment, a city he has just captured from the Jebusites, a city which will become known as his city. But it will be no more than another captured town if David cannot find some way to make it the focus of national life.
And then David comes up with his stroke of genius – he will tap into the heart and soul of what brought the tribes of Israel together in the first place – their common worship of Yarweh. And so the city of David must become the city of Yahweh. And what better way to do that but to find again the old Arc of the Covenant, the symbolic throne of God, and move it in great and magnificent procession to Jerusalem. Twenty years it had lain forgotten, looked after by one Abinadab. Now 30,000 troops descend upon him to ensure his happy compliance.
And so, accordingly to the writer of the books of Samuel, David brings the arc to its new home, a tent in Jerusalem, where it will stay for some 300 years until stolen by the Babylonians – and David is ecstatic, outrageously so, he revels in the coming of the arc and all that that means. He assumes the role of priest and leads the ritual – an action that caused the Lord’s disfavour to fall upon Saul when he tried it. He also leads the rejoicing in a most un-anglican and un-kingly way.
So begins the whole panoply of religious life in Jerusalem which will culminate in Solomon’s building of the Temple and the exclusive concentration of Hebrew religious ritual in Jerusalem, the city of the king. Religion is too dangerous to be allowed outside the control of the king.
The story of the killing of John the Baptist is told by Mark in all its gory detail, though with a little licence as to the somewhat confused state of Herodian family relationships. Mark’s account suggests parallels with the story of Elijah and King Ahab and Jezebel, as well as giving us a dark foreboding of the coming fate of Jesus – and his disciples. Even a prophet universally respected, and feared, was unlikely to survive the attentions of an autocrat. Two thousand years and nothing has changed.
When Tony Blair was in America Alistair Campbell was asked a question touching upon the Pime Minister’s religious faith – he is famously said, “We don’t do God.” Probably a wise move. But not ‘doing God’ does not obviate the need to understand the strength of religious feeling and its ability to motivate men and women to do the most extraordinary things. Capitalism works on the assumption that people are mostly strongly motivated by self-interest – when that assumption breaks down the system cannot predict outcomes and the holders of political power panic. The extraordinary thing is that Western governments constantly refuse to acknowledge religious faith that is prepared to undergo real sacrifice and suffer real cost for its integrity.
Our lectionary reading from 2 Samuel missed out 6 1/2 rather important verses. En route from Abinadab the oxen pulling the cart with the arc stumbled and Uzzah, one of Abinadab’s sons, reached out to save the arc from tipping out. For his pains he was struck down dead. David was furious with Yahweh for this unjust display of wrath and he called the place Perez Uzzah – the outbreak against Uzzah. The account goes on to say that David was afraid of the Lord that day and was not willing to take the arc into his city, he left it with a man called Obed-Edom for 3 whole months and didn’t resume the arc’s progress to Jerusalem until he had seen that Obed had prospered!
Those who hold political power may decide the fate of the religion, but not its object. They may seek to control its prophetic voices but they cannot – in the end – keep them silent. Because, ultimately, Yahweh will ‘break out – often inconveniently – and the world will be changed – taboos broken, senseless laws repealed, and just occasionally, even political leaders appointed who are worthy of their office.
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 Father hear the prayer we off 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.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION – Jenny Walmesly
With so many political upheavals in the western world and conflict, drought, hurricanes and other climate disasters affecting much of our planet, it is difficult to maintain a sense of security and calm in our own lives. Our faith and beliefs are tested and we pray for a clear vision of what we can do to help ourselves, our families, our neighbours and communities to live contented and productive lives. We need to ensure that we keep our close relationship with you so that we can perceive our way forward in these troubled times.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
We pray for all churches and for all religious leaders so that they can set an example of tolerance to humanity and lead us into the light. We also pray that our secular leaders can put aside differences and extreme views so that we can all live in a more equal society. We think especially of Ukraine, Russia, Gaza and Israel.
In our benefice we pray that we may make the right decisions for our future and not be discouraged by apathy and the efforts required to keep our worship going in the interregnum.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
We pray for our schools, for the Year 6s whose SATS results came out this week, for our Year 11s and 13s who will find out theirs next month. It is a time of transition for all children and teachers and we hope that the summer holidays will give them a much needed break to reassess their futures.
We think of the children who have little family support and to whom the holidays are unsettled and unpredictable, may they receive the help that they desperately need.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are ill in body or mind. Refresh their spirits with your love and care so that they have the strength to recover their health.
We also remember those who have died, comfort those who mourn them and help them to concentrate on the joy they experienced with their loved ones rather than the loss they suffered.
Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
And so Lord, we pray for ourselves:
God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change; the courage to change the things we can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as we would have it; and trusting that He will make all things right if we surrender to His Will.
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 Praise to the Lord the Almighty NEH440 – Hast du Denn Jesu
1 PRAISE to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation;
O my soul, praise him, for he is thy health and salvation:
Come ye who hear,
Brothers and sisters draw near,
Praise him in glad adoration.
2 Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under his wings, yea, so gently sustaineth:
Hast thou not seen
All that is needful hath been
Granted in what he ordaineth?
3 Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work, and defend thee;
Surely his goodness and mercy here daily attend thee;
Ponder anew
All the Almighty can do,
He who with love doth befriend thee.
6 Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath come now with praises before him!
Let the Amen
Sound from his people again:
Gladly for ay we adore him.