29th September 2024 10.30am – Harvest – Eucharist

Posted on September 29, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

1 Timothy 6.6-10

Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

Matthew 6.25-33

‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

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 David, Reader at St Mary's.

This morning’s Gospel reading is one I’ve become familiar with over the years. It’s been read at a family funeral, and the version that appears in Luke’s Gospel was part of the Gospel reading at our wedding service.

It’s always been a source of comfort and reassurance.

But sitting down to preach on it forces you to read and reread the passage in a critical way. You end up stripping layers of meaning away to get to the next one.

It’s a bit like peeling an onion.

As I read through the passage and books exploring the passage, our two cats, Ellie and Fergie, began miaowing. I would say in the background, but these two don’t do anything half-heartedly, least of all asking for food.

For medical reasons they’re house cats, aren’t able to hunt for themselves and so rely on us for food. Despite what they would have you think, they are well fed!

But before we took them in, their life experience included abandonment and lack of food.

They still worry about where their next meal is coming from.

This is partly a result of their experience, but also natural for most mammals.

In our Gospel it appears Jesus is asking us to do something that goes against how we are programmed. That we should not worry about our basic needs of food, drink, clothing and shelter. That we should trust that they will be provided.

It’s a sentiment it’s easy to support when you live in relative comfort, as some of us do. When you don’t have to worry about where the next meal is coming from, or how to afford shoes for your children.

But when you live from pay check to pay check, with little to no safety net, or in poverty, it can be a platitude, at best, to be told not to worry about the basics of living.

The final verse of our Gospel makes this particularly difficult. “But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”. At first reading it seems that all we have to do is strive for God’s kingdom and our basic standard of living will be met.

But what does that feel like for those faithful Christians, or anyone else, who, for all their striving, doesn’t have their basic needs met?

Are they not striving for God’s kingdom strongly enough?

Some Christians would say yes. They would subscribe to a “gospel of prosperity”. Where your health, wealth and success are linked to your faith, and how much you give to church. That worldly success, measured by money and possessions, is a sign of God’s grace and favour.

This “prosperity gospel” is, quite rightly, criticised as being exploitative and false.

We don’t exist in isolation. We can strive for the kingdom and its values of humility, truth and love, but if others are striving for a world with vast inequality and for unjust power structures that keep people in poverty we will have an uphill struggle.

It is by transforming these unjust structures that we strive for the kingdom of God. In this way will the necessities of life be available to all.

Our God is one of abundance, not excess. There is enough food to eat, if it’s equitably shared.

We celebrate harvest today. A harvest of fruits and vegetables. Of grains and pulses. Of ingenuity and imagination. Of artistic talent and skilled craftsmanship. We give thanks for all that we are as God’s children and pray for a just and equal sharing of all that the earth offers.

The Prayers

Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world
and for all God’s people in their daily life and work.

God, the beginning and end of all things,
in your providence and care
you watch unceasingly over all creation;
we offer our prayers
that in us and in all your people your will may be done,
according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for all through whom we receive sustenance and life;
for farmers and agricultural workers,
for packers, distributors and company boards;
as you have so ordered our life that we depend upon each other,
enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,
and to produce abundant life among those who hunger
and whose lives are at risk.
Prosper the work of their hands
and the searching of their minds,
that their labour may be for the welfare of all.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for governments and aid agencies,
and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation.
By the grace of your Spirit,
touch our hearts
and the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty,
and make us wise stewards of your gifts.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for those who are ill,
remembering those in hospital and nursing homes
and all who are known to us.
We pray for all who care for them.
Give skill and understanding
to all who work for their well-being.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We remember those who have died,
whom we entrust to your eternal love
in the hope of resurrection to new life.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We offer ourselves to your service,
asking that by the Spirit at work in us
others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

Merciful Father:
Accept these prayers
For the sake you Son
Our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

22nd September 2024 10.30am – 17th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on September 22, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

James 3.13-4.3

Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Those conflicts and disputes among you, where do they come from? Do they not come from your cravings that are at war within you? You want something and do not have it; so you commit murder. And you covet something and cannot obtain it; so you engage in disputes and conflicts. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures.

James 4.7-8

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Mark 6.25-33

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.

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.

The Sermon
By The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Jesus and his followers are on the road. They are making a journey from the
north of the country – up near present day Lebanon - to the south.

They stop at the different small towns and villages on the way, and Jesus
speaks to the crowds that gather in each place, gives his message, heals the
sick. Its an exhausting time, constantly on the move. The final destination will
be Jerusalem.

If you want to get some idea of the terrain they were travelling through, next
time you see television pictures from the West Bank, that is largely the land
through which Jesus passes. Its hot. Its dry. Its dusty. Its hilly. The land is
hard to cultivate. The few trees there are – mainly olive trees – are often
stunted and brown.

Jesus speaks to people about how to live the good life, a morally good and
worthwhile life. However tough just living may be, this is how to do it well, to
do the right things, so that at the end of your life you can say to yourself, not ‘I
did it my way’, but ‘I did it the right way’; I did it well.

As he journeys, between villages, there is plenty of time for the men and
women who go with him to talk among themselves. And on the occasion we
have just heard about in the gospel, Jesus asks his followers what they have
been talking about.

At first they are silent – and we can soon see why. Because when they do tell
him, it must have made him quite depressed.

They could have been talking about some of the weighty matters he had been
speaking to the crowds about. They might even have had some cheerful
gossip.

It’s none of these. They’ve been discussing which of them is the greatest.
Who is the greatest!

The people they have been meeting in the towns and villages of the Galilee
want help. Their lives are hard. Getting a living is hard. They want to live a life
that will seem good and worthwhile, in their own eyes and in God’s. And all
the disciples seem bothered about is deciding who is the greatest.

It’s depressing. Will they never learn? Will they never understand what the
mission is?

Somehow he has to break their way of thinking before it becomes a habit.
He calls to his inner circle, the twelve.

He tries again. Don’t bother talking about who will be the greatest because in
the world as he envisages it, the first will be last. And if you want to be first
then you must learn to be last, by being the servant of all others.

That is the message. But how do you get people to hear that message? How
do you help them to understand, to see things differently?

Wherever Jesus goes, there are always men and women, and people of all
ages, including little children. We know that people often wanted to bring their
children to him because once the disciples tried to stop them and he has to
tell them off. Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them.

On this occasion he sees a child and leads him into the middle of the twelve.
Then he takes the child into his arms. ‘Receive this child’, he says.

It’s an invitation for them to reorder their thinking.

Receive is another way of saying welcome. Welcome this child. How do you
welcome him? You welcome the child by doing things that will be in his best
interests.

Welcome this child, welcome all children. Change your perspective on things.
Put him and his well-being at the centre. Ask yourself how you have to
behave so that he can live well, live securely, live the kind of life that God
would want for him.

Jesus picks a child out because children are often among the least in society,
often overlooked, not taken into account. But you must receive children,
welcome children.

Whatever that requires the disciples to do, it doesn’t start with a discussion
about who is the greatest. In fact, there is no place for that kind of thinking at
any point.

Is this a lesson for all time? How would our perspective on life shift if we
heard Christ saying to us now, Receive this child? Welcome this child. If we
heard him saying it in the land where he first said it?

We have to think differently if we are to act differently. And the way Jesus
banishes all the silly talk about who is the greatest is to set a little child in the
middle and say, Start here. Start with this: receive, welcome the children.

The Prayers
Prepared by Veronica.

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

Oh God, you sent your Son to teach us how to live according to your will. Help us to listen to his
teaching. May we respond to the needs of all people whether at home or abroad, especially where
there is real suffering. We think today especially of your children in need. We pray you will guide the
leaders of the rich world to reach out to all who suffer at this time.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the church worldwide, for our bishops Pete and Sophie, and for all Christian leaders of
whatever denomination, that they may work together in accordance with the teachings of Christ.
We thank you for the many Christian organisations which work for the greater good of all people.
We thank you for our partnership with St John’s and St Mark’s which enables us to continue to serve
our area of Walkley.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our city of Sheffield, that it may continue to be a City of Sanctuary, and make all who
arrive in our city welcome. We pray for all the students at our two universities, some of whom mat
be leaving home for the first time.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are ill at this time, and think also of all who are in special need of your comfort.
We thank you for the work of doctors, nurses and carers. We ask you to give them strength in their
work. In a moment of quiet we remember by name those known to us in need of your saving grace
at this time.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We remember before you all who have died recently. We ask for your comfort for those who mourn
their loss. We think of those we have lost and see no more.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of Mary, Mark and all your saints, we commend ourselves and the whole
creation to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our lord. Amen.

Hymn verses copyright (c) of their respective owners.

15th September 2024 10.30am – 16th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on September 15, 2024September 14, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

James 3.1-12

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.

How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh.

Mark 8.27-38

Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’ And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’

The Sermon
By The Revd Canon Dr Matthew Rhodes, Associate Priest.

Two weeks ago I was lucky enough to go to Greenbelt, a Christian festival that currently takes place
near Kettering. It’s probably the most inclusive Christian event that I know of in all sorts of ways and
there’s a wonderful variety of people who attend it.

Greenbelt has some great music and it also has some wonderful speakers. I was fortunate to hear
Professor Jason Arday talking. He is Professor of the Sociology of Education at the University of
Cambridge and he is the youngest black person ever to be appointed to a Cambridge Professorship.
Jason’s parents came to this country from Ghana and he grew up on a council estate in Clapham,
South London. He was diagnosed as autistic at 3 years old and he didn’t speak until he was 11. He
didn’t read and write until he was eighteen.

Professor Arday spoke with enormous grace and humility. But he is a man on a mission. He feels that
our current education system is failing too many young people. Too many are falling through the
cracks. Too many fail to get their voices heard. And he is trying to change that. It is wonderful that
Jason is a professor at Cambridge but I’m sure he looks forward to the day when he is not the
exception.

Today our readings challenge us to think about our voices. About who is heard and who isn’t. And
about the words that we use to talk about Jesus. Our first reading from the Letter of James warns
about the power of our tongues. While some animals can be tamed, no one can tame the tongue.
James describes it as a restless evil, full of deadly poison. I wonder whether James had had recent
experience of malicious gossip or unfounded rumours. Today his words might also be applied to
social media. James warns us to put a bridle on our tongues. To think before speaking. And there is
great wisdom in that. The noise of our world can be overwhelming sometimes. So many voices
clamouring for attention. So much news. So much chatter. In order to seek God, many of us have to
retreat to places of quiet. To a corner of our homes or to open spaces. We all need to cultivate
silence. To find peace.

But in shutting out the noise we have to be careful that we don’t shut out every voice. Those with loud
voices who command airtime may need turning down but there are other voices that need to be
heard. The poor, the vulnerable, the dispossessed. Those who are refugees. Those who are
homeless. Those who live at the periphery. These are dear to God. They were dear to Jesus. And
their voices need to be heard. The terrible riots in Rotherham and around the country during the
summer were appalling. But they didn’t come out of nowhere. In part they were the result of lies and
half truths about immigrants and asylum seekers on the internet. But some of those rioters were also
people who felt that their voices were not being listened to. Who felt ignored. Left behind. And if we
are to become and more cohesive society then there needs to be better listening. Better
communication. It was really moving to hear that members of the Abdullah Quilliam, Britain’s
oldest mosque in Liverpool, invited rioters to come into their mosque and have food and talk.

St James encourages us to use our words sparingly and wisely as indeed we should. But few of us
manage that all the time. And that was certainly true of the disciples. They frequently misunderstood
Jesus and said the wrong thing. And Peter is a prime example of that. In one moment he has real
clarity about Jesus and what he is about and the next he really puts his foot in it. In our Gospel today,
Jesus is doing some market research. ‘Who do people say that I am?’ he asks. I imagine that people
weren’t always sure what to make of him. And just as we compare new musicians or sports people to
their predecessors, people likened Jesus to John the Baptist or Elijah or one of the prophets. On
other occasions people likened Jesus to King David. It was quite unusual to imagine that God was
doing a completely new things. And it was verging on blasphemy to suggest that Jesus was the
Messiah. But that’s what Peter did. This humble fisherman really saw Jesus for who he was.

Jesus told the disciples to tell no one about him. That happens a lot in Mark. And as many of us
know, that’s often the way to spread news. ‘Don’t tell anyone I told you this but…’ is a surefire way to
spread gossip.

In Matthew’s later version of this story, Jesus really commends Peter for his insight. ‘Blessed are you
Peter, son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. And I
tell you, you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.’ In Mark’s version, however, Jesus goes
on to explain what his being the Messiah will mean. That he will have to experience great suffering
and be rejected by the authorities and be killed. And after three days rise again. This isn’t what Peter
wants to hear. This doesn’t sound like Peter’s idea of a Messiah. And Peter tries to talk him out of it.
That must have sounded tempting to Jesus in that moment. And he reacts harshly. ‘Get behind me,
Satan!’ he says. You need to see this differently. You need to see this as God sees it.

And Jesus goes on to explain what following him means. He knows that some of his disciples think
they can ride on his coat tails. Throw out the Romans and take power. But they need to listen. They
will have to take up their crosses too. They will lose their lives but by doing do they will find life
everlasting. Jesus tells them all this. But they are not really listening. They don’t hear him. He will say
it again, but it will only be after the resurrection that his words will be fully heard. And yet, Jesus
doesn’t give up on them. He still loves them. And still listens to their nonsense.

Jesus asks us, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ And there will be times when we give the right answer.
When we can say, you are the Messiah. You are God. You are friend and brother. Our shepherd and
our king. When we know that our redeemer liveth. When we comprehend his amazing grace. And
sometimes we think we understand what that means as Peter did. But then Jesus will often challenge
us. Shake us up. Question what we mean. Sometimes Jesus needs to expand our understanding of
those words and we will need to listen hard. And sometimes, like Peter, we will get it wrong. We will
deny Jesus. Be ashamed of him. Give up on him. But he will not give up on us. Throughout it all, in
the good times and the harder times, Jesus continues to love us. He is always listening to us. Amen.

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe.

We pray for the Church of Christ, for Bishop Pete and Bishop Sophie,
our Archbishops Justin and Stephen, all here who lead us in worship
and prayer, and all those whose time and talents are given to St
Mary’s, St John’s and St Mark’s. We pray for those who lead your
Church in Gaza, the wider middle east and Ukraine.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

Help us to recognize You for who You are and to trust in Your
purpose for our lives. Give us strength to follow You, even when the
path is hard, and to deny ourselves so that we may fully embrace
Your will. Let our hearts be open to Your teachings and our spirits be
willing to take up our cross, as You took up Yours.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for all those impacted by war and civil unrest throughout
the world. In Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Russia, Haiti, Sudan, Myanamar
and all places where people live in fear.
We pray for those affected by storms and floods throughout Eastern
Europe and the world.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for our community here in Walkley, and for the city of
Sheffield, and for our neighbours and friends. We keep in our
prayers those who are homeless at this time. We pray that during
this season we remember all those less fortunate than ourselves and
do what we can to support them. We pray for those who will be
affected by changes in pensions and welfare payments, that they
may be safe from harm in the coming winter.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for the aged and infirm, and those sick in mind, body or
spirit, and those who find life especially difficult at this time. We pray
that you bring them strength, healing, and peace. In a few moments
of silence, we think of those we know who need your healing
presence in their lives.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for those currently close to death, and those accompanying
them on this final part of their Earthly journey. We pray for those
who have died, recently and in the past, and those who mourn.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

Finally, Lord, we silently bring before you those special to us, and
those issues and concerns that we have in our own lives.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

Rejoicing in the communion of Mary, Mark, John and of all the
Saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life,
to God. Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your
Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen

8th September 2024 10.30am – The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Eucharist

Posted on September 8, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 61.10-11

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

Luke 1.46-55

And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

The Prayers

As we pray to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
we say with Mary:
Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.
Holy is your name.

Your prophet of old foretold a day when a virgin would conceive
and bear a son who would be called God-with-us.
Help us to look forward to your deliverance
and to seek the fullness of your kingdom.
Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.
Holy is your name.

Your angel declared to Mary that she was to be
the mother of the Saviour.
Help us all to be open to your word
and obedient to your will.
Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.
Holy is your name.

Mary rejoiced with her cousin Elizabeth and sang your praise,
‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.’
Help us to live joyful lives that sing your praise.
Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.
Holy is your name.

Mary bore a son of David’s line,
a king whose reign would never end.
Bless all the nations of the world with Christ’s gift of peace.
Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.
Holy is your name.

The child Jesus grew in wisdom and stature
in the home of Mary and Joseph.
Strengthen our homes and families,
and keep under your protection all those whom we love.
Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.
Holy is your name.

The apostle John saw a vision of a woman in heaven,
robed with the sun.
Bring us with all those who have died in the faith of Christ
to share the joy of heaven with Mary and all the saints.
Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.
Holy is your name.

At the foot of the cross of Christ stood his mother,
and from the cross she received his lifeless body in her arms.
Give comfort and healing to all who suffer
and all who watch the suffering of those they love.
Lord, have mercy on those who fear you.
Holy is your name.

Almighty and everlasting God,
your handmaid Mary magnified your name
and rejoiced in your saving love:
trusting in that same love,
we ask all these our prayers
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Hymn verses copyright (c) of their respective owners.

1st September 2024 10.30am – 14th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on September 1, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

James 1.1-27

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Let the believer who is lowly boast in being raised up, and the rich in being brought low, because the rich will disappear like a flower in the field. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the field; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. It is the same with the rich; in the midst of a busy life, they will wither away.
Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. No one, when tempted, should say, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil and he himself tempts no one. But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. Do not be deceived, my beloved.

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfilment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.

If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Mark 7.1-8

Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ He said to them, ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
“This people honours me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.”
You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.’

Mark 7.14-15

Then he called the crowd again and said to them, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.’

Mark 7.21-23

For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.’

The Prayers
Prepared by David.

In peace let us pray to the Father, through the Son
and in the power of the Holy Spirit, who make, sustain and renew all things.

Heavenly Father,
we pray for your Church throughout the world, that we may be faithful to our baptism.
We prayer for Elinor to be baptised this afternoon, and for her parents Rose and Tom.
With the dawn of each day, may we be awakened to the beauty of the earth
and rejoice in the wonder and diversity of creation in all its forms and colour.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Lord of life,
as all living things depend on the good quality of the air, the soil, and water,
may your wisdom guide us as we care for the environment.
Deliver us from selfishness and rapacious greed.
Help us to share the rich resources of this world gladly and justly,
in the cause of stability and peace between nations and peoples.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Lord of mercy,
we bring before you areas affected by chronic shortage of water,
and pray for those suffering as a result of drought or the lack of safe water to drink.
We pray for those suffering from the effects of extreme weather
and whose environment has been damaged by cyclones, floods or destructive wildfires.
May we better understand the effects of the changing patterns of weather on our planet.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Lord of abundant life,
we give thanks for the rich harvest of the seas;
may we cherish the good things you have created
and be successful in reducing the pollution in our oceans, rivers and lakes that life may flourish.
May your wisdom help us to maintain the biodiversity of our fragile planet.
Strengthen our resolve and bless the efforts of all who seek to protect the marine, animal, insect and plant life that are threatened with extinction.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Lord of creation,
you have placed us on the earth to care for it, and call us to be co-workers with Christ your Son.
Bless our farmers, those who work in our nature reserves and National Parks,
in our Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Sites of Scientific Interest,
and all who are custodians of our landscape.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Lord of the universe,
you have made us from the stuff of the earth,
and to earth we shall return.
By your grace, may we tread lightly upon this earth and live our days wisely, and sustainably,
and at the last come with all your saints into paradise and enjoy creation made new.
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

Month: September 2024

29th September 2024 10.30am – Harvest – Eucharist

22nd September 2024 10.30am – 17th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

15th September 2024 10.30am – 16th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

8th September 2024 10.30am – The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Eucharist

1st September 2024 10.30am – 14th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist