17th November 2024 10.30am – 2nd Sunday before Advent – Eucharist

The Readings

Daniel 12.1-3

‘At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

Mark 13.1-8

As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’ Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’

When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’ Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

Scripture Quotations are from: New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org

The Sermon
By Catherine, Reader at St Mary's.

Picture the scene. It's perhaps your first visit to Jerusalem. Here’s
the temple you've heard so much about - for real. It's big. It's
impressive. You're awestruck. You say so. And then your
respected friend and teacher declares that it will all come tumbling
down. Not one stone will be left. What do you think?

Perhaps you're aghast. How could he say this about the holiest
place of your faith, a place dedicated to worshipping God?

Or perhaps, like Peter, James, John and Andrew, your ears have
pricked up. Things are politically unstable – the Romans rule, and
times are tough. Prophetic voices, including some from your own
tradition have declared that the end is nigh. Things are so bad that
God will bring about the destruction of the world as you know it. A
new and greater order will take its place.

As a follower of Jesus, you’ve also heard him speak frequently
about the coming of the Kingdom of God. Now that you’ve reached
Jerusalem, it appears as though things might be about to happen.
So you ask Jesus when this might be.

But He doesn't give you a date. He gives you a warning. The end
will come. Before that there will be wars and rumours of wars.
There will be earthquakes, famines and suchlike. And there will be
people excitedly proclaiming "this is it! God is coming!" But it won't
be the end just yet. In fact it's just the beginning...

Jesus challenges the temple authorities. They have neglected the
weakest members of society focusing instead on protecting the
institution. He warns that the end will come. The Jerusalem temple
was destroyed a few decades later.

Within so many human institutions lies something ugly. Corruption.
Cover-up. Abuse of the weak. Failure to listen. It’s happened in
the Church of England. Senior people in the church were aware of
the horrific abuse perpetrated by John Smyth over decades, but
failed to act to stop it. His abuse continued overseas. This week
Archbishop Justin Welby resigned as a result of his own part in the
collective failure to respond properly. Sadly this is not the only such
case that has affected the Church.

The Church of England has rightly come under scrutiny. Over
recent years, it has begun to take a good, hard look at itself and
how it has responded to Safeguarding concerns. Survivors and
victims of abuse have warned that if the culture of the Church
doesn’t change, this institution will come crumbling down.

Today is Safeguarding Sunday. And I, your Parish Safeguarding
Officer, have, landed today’s preaching slot!

And I want to tell you that among the dire and very necessary
warnings are signs of hope. Signs that God’s kingdom is breaking
into the ugliness of the culture that has prevailed. Positive change
is happening. We can all help the nastiness crumble and a new
caring culture thrive.

It begins at parish level. What are we already doing at St. Mary’s?

-Over recent months members of the PCC have spent hours
making sure all the many policies regarding safeguarding,
health and safety, working on your own and such like are
robust, up-to-date, shared and followed.

-We are following the approved Safer Recruitment procedure
whenever we appoint someone to a role, be it a paid or
voluntary role. This means that some activities, such as our
new children’s activity have taken longer to get started than
they might have done 20 years ago, but we can be confident
that the activity is being run as safely as possible.

-Many more of us are taking part in training. For those of us
with particular roles, such as clergy, Readers, and PCC
members there are several different courses to do. I was
doing one of these myself only the other day. And there’s one
course that is open to anyone – it’s an online course called
“Basic Awareness” and helps to develop your confidence in
noticing when something isn’t right, and what to do next.

Jesus said about the coming of God’s kingdom: we aren’t at the end
yet, we are only at the beginning.

Sadly the national church has not yet done all that is needed to
become a safe and caring place for everyone. It has made huge
steps to help us achieve this at parish level. We are not there yet.
There are more things to do at national level. There are more
things to improve locally too, and hopefully over the next few weeks
and months you will notice some positive changes. We can’t do this
alone. But with the help of God and each other, together we can
help to make the church a safer place for everyone.

The Prayers
Prepared by Barbara.

In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.

O God, the creator and preserver of all, we pray for people in every kind of need; make your ways known on
earth, your saving health among all nations ...

We pray for all those affected by war, thinking of people in Ukraine, Russia, the Gaza Strip and Israel,
particularly, as they face the outcome of the US election. Please bring strength and comfort to all those
affected and help every one of us to be part of a path to peace throughout the world.

We pray also for all those involved in trying to fight the climate crisis, as we approach 1.5 degrees global
warming throughout the world. Please give all governments the political courage to resist further use of
fossil fuels and to invest in sources of renewable energy instead. In particular we pray that the UK
government faces up to its responsibility to help poorer nations achieve the necessary measures to bring
climate warming under control. Please help us to put pressure on our government to do so.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for your Church throughout the world; guide and govern us by your good Spirit, that all who
profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit,
in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life ...

We pray especially for our worshipping community of St. John’s Ranmoor, St. Mark’s Broomhill and St.
Mary’s Walkley, that we may continue to bear witness to our faith in the way we live our daily lives.

We pray for the whole of the Anglican Communion, but especially for the Church of England, and ask that
you help our church to recognise the wrongs done to children and others, where safeguarding measures
have clearly failed. We are sorry for this continuing problem and for our church’s tendency to export this
problem to other countries both in the recent past and in more historical times, thinking of affected
children in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Canada. This is not a new problem, and we need your help in
finding ways to make reparation and to ensure that it doesn’t continue to happen. Please help us to find a
way to peace and reconciliation.

It is not just the church that needs to improve its safeguarding policies. Our government also needs to
recognise its responsibility for ensuring that children who come into the care system do actually receive the
care that they deserve. People are reluctant to step forward to be foster parents, as they are seldom properly
recompensed for the money and time that they expend on behalf of looked after children. The previous
government outsourced more and more of this care to for-profit organisations, some of whom charged the
government a lot but delivered little. Please help us to recognise the need for reform and the need to finance
this reform through our taxes.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Tender God, look with mercy on all who have experience profound harm and any for whom faith is associated with hurt and damage. Bless those for whom this week’s events have stirred up memories and emotion that evoke grief and woundedness. Send your Spirit on your church, that it may be wiser and more rigorous even as it is sadder and humbler. Surround Archbishop Justin as he faces the glare of public scrutiny and blame. Guide your church to cherish all your children, exalted leaders and vulnerable members, that in your Son’s broken body we may see not only sorrow but also your everlasting faithfulness to us. In Christ we pray.
Amen.

We commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed, in mind, body
or estate; comfort and relieve them in their need, give them patience in their sufferings, and bring good out
of their troubles ...

We pray for all those caught up in waiting lists for health care. Please bring them healing and future good
health.

In moments of peace and contemplation, we name to you all those known to us who are suffering. Please
care for them and for all those of whose suffering we are unaware.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We remember those who have gone before us in the peace of Christ, and we give you praise for all your
faithful ones, with whom we rejoice in the communion of saints ...

We name to you in our hearts all those known to us both near and far who are suffering the loss of friends
and loved ones, asking that you bring your comfort and healing to them at this time of grief.

Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

St Marys Walkley

The Church on the Road: inclusive, eucharistic, a safe place to be with God

17th November 2024 10.30am – 2nd Sunday before Advent – Eucharist