24th December 2023 4.00pm – Christingle

Posted on December 24, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Luke 2. 1 - 20

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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 Prayers
Prepared by David.

Lord Jesus,
you were born into an ordinary family:
We pray for families everywhere,
especially for families in difficulty or in poverty,
and for families and relationships that are breaking down.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus,
your bed was in a manger,
because there was no room at the inn.
We pray for all those who have no home:
those who sleep on the streets,
and all who have lost everything
through violence or disaster.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus,
the animals shared their stable with you;
We pray for the earth, and for all living things,
that we might learn to live in peace and harmony with the natural world,
and treat all of creation with honour and respect.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus,
you were worshipped and adored by shepherds and kings:
We pray for the people and nations of the world,
and especially for peace and understanding
between different faiths.
You came as the light for the whole world,
so in you may we find that we have more in common
than that which divides us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, God with us,
we pray for people we know who are in need.
We pray especially for children who are in difficulty,
and for the work of The Children’s Society
in standing up for justice
and bringing light and hope into darkness.
Help us to show to one another
the same faithfulness and love
that you revealed at Bethlehem.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus,
you came to be with us on earth
so that we might be with you in heaven:
Keep safely all those who have died.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

24th December 2023 10.30am – 4th Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

Posted on December 24, 2023 by admin

The Readings

2 Samuel 7. 1 - 11, 16

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.’

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies.
Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever. .

Luke 1. 26 - 38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

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

Our Gospel this morning has several different titles. One is “The Annunciation of Our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary”. Another is “The Birth of Jesus Foretold”. These two different titles highlight differing views about Mary within Christianity. One where she is venerated above all others, and another where she doesn’t appear at all. It’s probably wise to chart a middle path between these two extremes. Maybe our passage today can help us with this?
The apostles and saints mentioned in scripture were very human, it’s easy to forget this. But traces of who they were can be seen. Peter was a passionate fisherman, John was fiery, Thomas doubted, Paul was a zealot and a tentmaker. But who was Mary? And why does it matter? Mary is often described as, and praised for being obedient and submissive. She is held up as role model for women – sinless, placid, ethereal, an extra holy saint, all of which can make her difficult to relate to.

The visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary was his second appearance in six months. Previously, while Zechariah was serving in the temple, Gabriel had revealed that Zechariah’s wife Elizabeth would have a child, John the Baptist. There are some stark contrasts between these two appearances.

Zechariah was a priest and serving in the sanctuary of the Lord at the temple in Jerusalem. He had high status in society and was engaged in important work. Mary was in Nazareth, a small town in Galilee. We aren’t told what she’s doing. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth are described as “righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord.” Mary is not described as living a righteous life before the angels visit. To quote Luke Timothy Johnson, “Mary is among the most powerless people in her society: she is young in a world that values age; female in a world ruled by men; and poor in a stratified economy.
“Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you!” These are Gabriel’s first worlds to her. A favoured one of God is not privileged or powerful or preserved from sin. God’s favour doesn’t depend on any of these. She has been chosen and gifted what she needs for her life ahead.

What does it mean to us to be favoured?

Many of us, young and old, will be judged, bullied or belittled for how we look, our level of education, the way we speak or any number of other things. To be favoured by God is to be affirmed for who we are. We are affirmed as God affirmed Mary in her vocation as Jesus’ mother.

Mary is understandably perplexed by the angels words. There is much to ponder. She doesn’t have all the answers. She has questions and worries, like anyone discovering they will be a parent. She is not unthinkingly obedient. Then she says yes to God because she wants to, not because she has to. Saying yes to God doesn’t make us less ourselves, but more so. In saying yes to God, we become the people we were always intended to be.

In saying yes to God Mary becomes the first to believe the good news of Jesus, the first disciple – the first faithful voice. Later on in Luke chapter 2 she bursts into song with the Magnificat, the Song of Mary, itself a powerful hymn of God’s promise. Her response echoes those of other faithful women and men in scripture. In the Old Testament Miriam sings as Israel is freed from Egypt and Hannah sings as she hands her son, Samuel, to Eli. Later in Luke’s Gospel Simon and Anna will sing about Jesus at his Presentation in the temple.

On the window ledges around church you may have noticed a number of different nativity scenes. These are part of a private collection, on loan for Christmas from one of the congregation. They are beautiful in many different ways. They showcase the breadth of human skill and crafts in different mediums, wood, glass, wool, clay and others. They show the diversity of human culture and the worldwide reach of Christianity. But more than this, they show us that Mary’s experience and song of faith transcends the boundaries of time and place and can resonate with each of us.

But it can sometimes be hard to sing the song of faith. When life is difficult and the world seems a desolate place, we can lose sight of the hope of God’s promise to us. When that happens we should remember that we are not alone. The song of faith is communal.

In these times of difficulty if we listen attentively, we may be lifted up by the song of countless Mary’s around the world, of faithful women and men in scripture, and others known more personally to us. When we can’t sing - they take up the song.

The Prayers
Prepared by Catherine.

In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid we pray to Jesus.

Come to your Church as Lord and judge.
We pray for your Church throughout the world
And especially the churches in the Holy Land and other areas of conflict.
We pray for local churches up and down our country
celebrating your birth with many visitors
Help us to live in the light of your coming
and give us a longing for your kingdom.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to your world as King of the nations.
We pray for all continents and countries
remembering especially those places struggling with war, famine, poverty and
disaster.
Before you rulers will stand in silence.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to the suffering as Saviour and comforter.
We pray for all who are ill, bereaved or lonely at this time
thinking of....[and] others known to us.
Break into our lives,
where we struggle with sickness and distress,
and set us free to serve you for ever.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to us as shepherd and guardian of our souls.
We remember all those we love and see no longer.
Give us with all the faithful departed
a share in your victory over evil and death.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come from heaven, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory.
Lift us up to meet you,
that with Mary, Mark, John and all your saints and angels
we may live and reign with you in your new creation.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

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

17th December 2023 4pm – Candlelit Christmas Carol Service

Posted on December 17, 2023December 17, 2023 by admin

17th December 2023 10.30am – 3rd Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

Posted on December 17, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Isaiah 61. 1 - 4, 8 - end

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me;
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,
to bind up the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to provide for those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a garland instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.
They shall build up the ancient ruins,
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.

For I the Lord love justice,
I hate robbery and wrongdoing;
I will faithfully give them their recompense,
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants shall be known among the nations,
and their offspring among the peoples;
all who see them shall acknowledge
that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.
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.

John 1. 6 - 8, 19 - 28

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.
This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said,

‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
“Make straight the way of the Lord” ’,
as the prophet Isaiah said.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

The Prayers
Prepared by Veronica.

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

O God our Father, you sent your servants John and Isaiah to tell people about your coming Son,
who would do great things. At this time of year we await the birth of Jesus, not as a great king, come
to rule the earth, but as a little baby, born in a stable because there was no room in the inn. We pray
that we shall observe his birth by coming to worship at the manger, always giving you thanks for his
wonderful life which showed us the way to salvation through his death.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all people for whom this Christmas is not a happy time, for those in countries at war, for
people struggling financially, for the homeless. May we do whatever we can to help them at this
time. Show us how we can best help all those for whom this is not a happy time with family and
friends, both through prayer and by giving to charity.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We give you thanks for the wonderful Walkley Christmas Market held in our Church and Hall and all
along South Road yesterday. May we always be here to serve our local community by providing
venues, and also worship Sunday by Sunday, and make everyone welcome in this place. We give you
thanks for our City of Sheffield, with its amazing countryside on our doorstep, and also its very
friendly people.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are ill at this time, and for those approaching the end of this mortal life. We give
you thanks for the work and skills of our doctors, nurses and care workers who do amazing work,
often under very difficult circumstances. We pray also for family members giving support to the ill
and dying. Give them strength to maintain their efforts. In a moment of quiet we pray for all known
to us who are ill or reaching the end of their life and those who care for them…………….
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We remember before you all those we have known – friends and family members – who have
passed on into your nearer presence. We pray for the recently bereaved, including many of my
friends, that they may find comfort. In quiet reflection before you, we remember them all…………
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of our partner churches, St John’s, St Mark’s and our congregation here at
St Mary’s, and all your saints, we commend ourselves and the whole creation at this coming
Christmastide to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father:
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

10th December 2023 10.30am – 2nd Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

Posted on December 10, 2023December 9, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Isaiah 40. 1 - 11

Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

A voice says, ‘Cry out!’
And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand for ever.
Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
‘Here is your God!’
See, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.

Mark 1. 1 - 8

Jesus said, As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight” ’,
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

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

I’ve been reading the Bible almost every day for many years now. To start with I had a somewhat random approach then, although it’s not the best or recommended way to tackle it, I started at the beginning of Genesis and over a long period of time worked my way through to the end of Revelation so I know I’ve read everything at least once. There’s a lot of it that I can’t pretend to have understood! However, I keep trying and most of the time I read a particular book or reflect on a given passage, perhaps in preparation for writing a sermon and that usually works pretty well. Obviously some passages come up much more often than others and I’ve sometimes noted that it’s strange how something I’ve read many times can suddenly stand out in a way that hadn’t really struck me before. I think this is how and why the Bible continues to speak to us in new ways, even after centuries of people studying it. If we ever make the mistake of thinking we’ve got it all sorted, I have a feeling God would remind us that we haven’t.

Today is the second Sunday in Advent so we might reasonably be expecting to hear part of the Christmas story. But that’s not what we’ve heard in our readings. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t read Mark’s gospel for a while but I was a bit surprised that he begins where he does. This was one of those moments that I’ve just mentioned, where I was struck by something I hadn’t really noticed before. There’s no preamble about Jesus’s arrival in the world or about how his earthly parents came together or indeed about his life up to this point. Mark is straight into the story where John the Baptist; who he also hasn’t given us any background information on, is urging people to make ready to receive the Lord in the form of Jesus. Did Mark, whoever he actually was, assume that his readers would know all this so he didn’t feel the need to repeat it? That’s something we’ll never know. Fortunately for us though, we have been given a lot more information in Matthew and Luke’s gospels so we can see where this part of the story fits in. But why has it been chosen as part of our preparation for Christmas you may wonder? I think the key word here is “preparation”. This is the theme that links the passages from Isaiah and Mark.

I don’t know about you but when I’m reading pretty much anything, my mind is creating mental pictures and they’re often quite literal which isn’t always helpful to my understanding. When Isaiah speaks of levelling mountains and raising valleys to make a smooth way for the Lord, I’ve got a road and major civil engineering works in my head which is obviously not what the passage is about. If I’ve understood correctly, it’s a metaphor for what is likely to be a big task for us to make ourselves ready to receive our Lord.

However, my mental image of John the Baptist is helpful. There is nothing about this man that is self-aggrandising. Although he is clearly a strong and forceful character, John is humble about his relationship to Jesus. He lives in the desert; which isn’t exactly appealing. He wears camel hair clothes with a leather belt which sounds decidedly uncomfortable and lives on locusts and wild honey, again not very appealing. On the face of it, he is someone you might not want to associate with or who’s lifestyle you probably wouldn’t want to emulate, and yet by shouting his uncompromising message about repentance he was getting through to many people who were coming to him to be baptised because they wanted to be prepared.

Bringing things forward to today, this begs the question, how prepared are we? How should we prepare? Perhaps the questions we should ask are, if Jesus was to come back now, what would he make of us; our values, our words, our actions? Do they match up to what we profess to believe? How comfortable would we be to meet him now? That is something only we as individuals can ponder.

Our world is very complicated and very messy, perhaps more so now than it’s ever been and to a greater or lesser extent this has an effect on all of us. We may have to live with situations we really don’t like or make compromises that offend or trouble us deeply. Given some of what is going on we may genuinely struggle to know who and what is right when all the alternatives are awful and destructive and cruel. But it was the same in John and Jesus’s time. The Roman Empire was a harsh and cruel and devious place and life was very uncertain for most people. A few, like John we outspoken and courageous in expressing their faith and beliefs. Others, like Nicodemus felt the need to be more circumspect and quiet about it, and in the pages of the Bible we have just about every conceivable example of how people related to their faith in their own particular circumstances. It’s up to each of us, with God’s help and guidance, to decide how we do this. Although we will never get everything right, if we do our best to hold onto and live by the values Jesus taught us and as far as we possibly can, to do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, we will be in a better place to receive him whenever that might be. Like those baptised by John, we will not be completely unprepared.

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.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

On this Second Sunday in Advent we hear and reflect on the words of
Isaiah. May we prepare the way for the Lord in our own lives at this time.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

We pray all those wounded, suffering, imprisoned and displaced in
Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, that the current crisis may be
brought to a just and peaceful conclusion. We pray for those who
have died in this conflict. We pray that other countries do not
become involved, and that a long-term solution be sought for the
region. We pray for the people of Ukraine and hope for a peaceful
resolution to that conflict.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

We pray for our community here in Walkley, and for the city of
Sheffield, and for our neighbours and friends. As we prepare for
Christmas, let us keep in mind those less fortunate than ourselves
who may be having problems with the necessities of life – housing,
fuel and food – before they can even think of celebrating.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

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.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

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.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Finally, Lord, we silently bring before you those special to us, and
those issues and concerns that we have in our own lives.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

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.

3rd December 2023 10.30am – 1st Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

Posted on December 3, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Isaiah 64. 1 - 9

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
so that the mountains would quake at your presence—
as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
From ages past no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who gladly do right,
those who remember you in your ways.
But you were angry, and we sinned;
because you hid yourself we transgressed.
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
There is no one who calls on your name,
or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord,
and do not remember iniquity for ever.
Now consider, we are all your people..

Mark 13. 24 - end

Jesus said, ‘But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

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

Today is the First Sunday in Advent – it’s a time when we all start
looking forward to Christmas. Apart from the annual ritual of Advent
Calendars – and these days one seems to be able to get an Advent
calendar for everything, from chocolate, to cheese, to whisky – and
not forgetting the reverse Advent calendar, where we put something
aside each day of Advent to eventually give to charity – the meaning
of Advent as we understand it in the Church hasn’t made much of an
impact in society.

But within the Church, Advent is quite something. It is a period of
waiting; it’s a period of anticipation. It is a quiet period, a
contemplative period. With the hustle and bustle of modern life at
this time of year, I think that observing Advent is certainly something
that offers a lot of benefits!

The word Advent is derived from the Latin word ‘Adventus’, which
means ‘Coming’. In turn this was a translation of the Greek word
‘parousia’, which roughly means ‘a visit by someone to a specific
group of people’. In the Greek writings that made up the New
Testament, this referred to the coming of the Lord Jesus.

In the early Church, Advent was a period during which new Christians
were prepared for Baptism, which would take place in January at the
feast of Epiphany. However, by the 6 th Century, the Roman Christians
had tied Advent to the coming of Christ – but NOT the birth of Jesus
in Bethlehem! They were referring to Christ coming in judgement.
So, when we talk about Advent, there’s a great deal tied up in that 6
letter word.

We talk about ‘looking forward to the birth of Jesus at Christmas’,
even though that took place 2000 years ago. What we’re actually
doing is looking forward to our commemoration of Jesus’s birth. But
at the same time we’re looking forward from our own times and
waiting for the second coming of Christ when His kingdom will be
finally, completely and eternally established.

The readings we have today reflect the experience of waiting from
two perspectives. In our reading from Isaiah we are shown the
experience of the people of Israel as they wait to regain God’s
favour; in the Gospel reading we are told of what to expect at the
final coming of the Kingdom, and that we are to wait and remain
prepared in the meantime.

Our reading from Isaiah is a lament. The people have had experience
of a God who was the only God since ancient times, and who did
miracles for those who waited for him. A God who did unexpected
and amazing things, and who could make the mountains tremble.
But then, the relationship changed:

You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you
in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you
hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who
is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.

God hid from the people. No one calls upon Him any more, he is
absent from their lives. In fact, the people have been given over to
their sins; instead of ‘God’s will be done’, the will of the sinful people
is being done and God is simply leaving them to it.

But even in this situation, the people wait; they know what they are
lacking; they want God back; it’s just that they don’t really have any
idea of how to get there.

Their plea is simple:

Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord; do not remember our
sins forever.

They wait; they do not know what to do; they no longer do right in
God’s eyes; they do not call upon him. But they wait, unsure of what
the future holds, not even knowing whether God will turn his face to
them again, pleading and begging for God to not remember their sins
and to show mercy on them.

And then we come to our Gospel reading from Mark. There is no
uncertainty here about what we are waiting for. We are waiting for
the full and final coming of the Kingdom. We are waiting for the end
of the world. We are waiting for a time when:

the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be
shaken. and Heaven and Earth will pass away.

And when is this supposed to happen? Well, Jesus initially says
Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until
all these things have happened.

Which has caused a lot of confusion over the years. What did Jesus
actually mean by this? It’s been pondered over for 2000 years.

Some theologians have suggested that in part Jesus was prophesying
the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in AD 70. However bad
as that was, the world didn’t end. A more commonly held
interpretation is that the generation mentioned in the Gospel is not
the generation who were alive, listening to Jesus, but the generation
who WILL be alive when these events come to pass.

To me, this fits well with the following text where He says:

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels
in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father

The time is not known to anyone except God. But when it IS time, it
will happen quickly, suddenly, in the time it takes for a generation of
people to live and die.

So, we are waiting; again for a length of time unknown to us. But
here we are given guidance on what to do. Be watchful. Be on guard.
Be alert. Don’t be caught sleeping. Don’t think you’re going to get a
warning. The final coming of the Kingdom will be sudden and quick.
And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.

The late Pope John Paul 2nd said the following about the liturgy of
Advent:

"The liturgy of Advent…helps us to understand fully the value
and meaning of the mystery of Christmas. It is not just about
commemorating the historical event, which occurred some
2,000 years ago in a little village of Judea. Instead, it is
necessary to understand that the whole of our life must be an
‘advent,’ a vigilant awaiting of the final coming of Christ. To
predispose our mind to welcome the Lord who, as we say in the
Creed, one day will come to judge the living and the dead, we
must learn to recognize him as present in the events of daily
life. Therefore, Advent is, so to speak, an intense training that
directs us decisively toward him who already came, who will
come, and who comes continuously."

So, when we leave here today, let’s be prepared for this ‘run up to
Christmas’ to be more of a ‘run up to Christ’s Kingdom’ – like all good
surprises, it will come when we least expect it.

Let us be ready for it. As it says in today’s Collect:

Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the
darkness of sin to the light of holiness, that we may be ready to
meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen

The Prayers
Prepared by David.

In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid
we pray to Jesus.

Come to your Church as Lord and judge.
We pray for our Bishop's Pete and Sophie and give thanks for all who minister in this Diocese.
Help us to live in the light of your coming
and give us a longing for your kingdom.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to your world as King of the nations.
We pray for all the peoples of earth, that they may walk in the paths of peace.
Before you rulers will stand in silence.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to the suffering as Saviour and comforter.
We pray for who find life difficult.
Break into our lives,
where we struggle with sickness and distress,
and set us free to serve you for ever.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to us as shepherd and guardian of our souls.
We remember those we have loved and see no longer.
Give us with all the faithful departed
a share in your victory over evil and death.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come from heaven, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory.
Lift us up to meet you,
that with Mary, Mark, John, all your saints and angels
we may live and reign with you in your new creation.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

26th November 2023 10.30am – Christ the King – Eucharist

Posted on November 26, 2023November 27, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Ephesians 1. 15 - end

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Matthew 25. 31- end

Jesus said, ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

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

May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit –
please be seated.

Once again we come to the end of the Church year, with the feast of
Christ the King. It’s a relatively recent addition to the Church
calendar, and was only added to the Western liturgical calendar in
1925, when it was celebrated in October, and was only moved to it’s
current position on the last day of the Liturgical Year as late as 1969.
It might seem strange to us to think that it took the Church 1900
years before it actually got around to adding the celebration to the
liturgical calendar, but that’s the way it was; whilst Christians
acknowledged Christ as King of Creation, the institutional Church just
took it’s time recognising it formally. 1925 was a lull in the
apocalyptic happenings of the first half of the 20 th Century; between
WW1 - the ‘War to end all Wars’ – and WW2, when we finally got to
a point where the horrific murderous and destructive potential of
humanity in terms of the Holocaust and Hiroshima was realised. But
1925 was also the year when Mussolini came to power in Italy – ‘Il
Duce’ – ‘The Leader’ – and perhaps this finally pushed the Roman
Catholic Church to take action and bring a celebration of the coming
of the Kingdom of God to be more ‘up front’ in the Church calendar.
Today’s readings both have elements of Eschatology in them….they
are about what we as Christians can expect at the end of all earthly
things.

In his letter to the Ephesian Church, Paul is explaining what is to
come for the faithful.

“God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the
dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far
above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above
every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to
come.”

Christ will be King - not just in the world they know, and in their time,
but everywhere and forever.

Paul’s audience would have great experience of the power of kings
and emperors – after all, the Roman Empire was the superpower of
the day and it’s quite likely that most people saw the Kingdom of
God as a big and different version of the Empire – and they probably
felt it would arrive in a similar way – through battle. But Paul tells
them ‘No, God has raised Jesus from the dead, and He is already
ruling. The job is done.’

Our Gospel reading from Matthew describes that final Judgement,
and it always makes me realise that there is a darker side about the
eventual total coming of the Kingdom. After the coming…what
then? What will happen to those who have turned away from God,
who have rebelled against his authority, who haven’t even been
reasonable human beings – the least we could be expected to be.
Being cast in to eternal punishment must surely make all of us a little
nervous at the very least.

When we look at what is expected – to doesn’t seem a hard hurdle
to jump. We hear the righteous being told:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave
me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and
you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and
you came to me.”

And they’re somewhat confused. They have no recollection of ever
having done such things for the King who sits in Judgement over
them. But then He clarifies it:

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my
family, you did it to me”

How hard is it for us at least attempt to reach out to those around us
to offer help and compassion? We are simply being asked to love our
neighbours in the same way that our King loves us.

And those who could not manage this are facing judgement. The
ones who never reached out a hand to feed and clothe others. Those
who ignored those lives were limited by any sort of imprisonment.
Those who failed to care for the sick; those who failed to look upon
their brothers and sisters without compassion.

“Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these,
you did not do it to me”

We need to avoid thinking of these ‘terms of judgement’ in purely
literal terms. That’s too simplistic; the Kingdom of God is a kingdom
where we will experience the Judgement but also the mercy and
grace of God. But we are expected to go at least part of the way and
do what we can to live in a Christ-like manner.

The coming of the Kingdom of God is not something that has
happened in the past or will happen in the future; it’s not tied to
time in our understanding of past, present and future. It’s happening
now; it’s a process, not an event. God’s Kingdom is coming in to
being with every person who joins the Church, with every act of
compassion or charity, every time we carry out an act of mercy or
justice, every time we show or experience grace.

This is where we come in; we’re the boots on the ground, the hands
offering help, the voices for the voiceless, the compassionate heart,
working to bring the Kingdom closer.

It’s our duty to challenge and resist all that is contrary to God’s will
and rule. This might be at the personal level – are we charitable; are
we just; are we merciful? Or it might be in matters of government
and political life; do our leaders work for peace; do they work for
justice; are they merciful?

Dietrich Boenhoffer once said “Politics are not the task of a
Christian."; And he is right; for us Christians, politics boils down to
the very basic proposition of ‘Is this action or belief supportive of the
coming of the Kingdom of God?’ If it is not, we have no choice but to
act in our capacity as priests in the Kingdom and work to bring the
Kingdom closer by speaking out.

Boenhoffer also said “One's task is not to turn the world upside
down, but to do what is necessary at the given place and with a due
consideration of reality."

And as our reading from Matthew reveals, doing what is necessary
for the Kingdom of God – and for our own place within that Kingdom
– can be as simple as acts of charity – feeding the hungry, nursing the
sick, welcoming the stranger, clothing the poor, visiting the prisoner.
Recognising Christ in others. What Hannah Arendt called ‘the
banality of evil’ starts when we DON’T recognise Christ in our fellow
people, but when we start treating them as ‘the other’ and stop
thinking of them as brothers and sisters of our same Father.
We are human; we work with our human limitations, our personal
sins, our abilities. It’s highly unlikely that any of us here today will
turn the world upside down in our priestly duties. But it is within our
abilities and our priestly duties to do what we can do within our lives
and circles of influence to bring God’s Kingdom closer.

This isn’t always easy, but Matthew’s gospel shows what we are
likely to experience when we come to our final judgement. Have we
seen and served the Christ in each other? For that is all that we are
called to do as priests of God, helping to usher in His Kingdom.
Amen.

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 or tyrannical regimes, thinking particularly of people in Ukraine,
Russia, the Gaza Strip and Israel. 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 for all those affected by shortage of suitable housing, both here in the UK and abroad. Please help
us to recognise the importance of providing housing for everyone especially as winter approaches. Help us
to consider donating to charities that support those who are struggling and help us to consider possible
solutions when casting votes in both local and general elections.
We pray also for all those involved in trying to fight the climate crisis, especially those taking part in COP 28
in Dubai this coming week. Please give all governments the political courage to resist further use of fossil
fuels and to invest in sources of renewable energy instead.
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 as we celebrate Christ the King and look forward to the season of advent. We pray for your
promise of peace on earth.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

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 only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

19th November 2023 10.30am – Second Sunday before Advent Eucharist

Posted on November 19, 2023 by admin

The Readings

1 Thessalonians 5. 1 - 11

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Matthew 25. 14 - 30

‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

12th November 2023 6.30pm – Eucharist of Remembrance

Posted on November 12, 2023 by admin

The Readings

1 Thessalonians 4. 13 - end

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Matthew 25. 1 - 13

‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The Sermon
By the Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Remembrance Sunday.

Once a year the nation remembers.

But why?

Let me suggest two reasons, which seem to me to be important.

The first reason for remembering is because it is a way of saying thank you.
Tonight’s remembering takes place within a service that is already an act of
remembrance and a way of saying thank you. Every time we break the bread
and bless the wine we are remembering Christ’s death and resurrection and
thanking him for coming among us. This is why we call this service a
‘eucharist’, eucharistia being the Greek word for thanksgiving.

As we remember Christ and give thanks for what he did for us – eucharist -
so also tonight we remember those men and women whose names are
inscribed on our memorial boards and thank them for what they did for us.
Does that sound strange? That we are here to thank those who are not here,
those who are dead?

Not really, because remembering is the only way we can thank the dead. We
can’t meet them, shake their hands, hear from their own lips their stories –
what they endured, what they went through, what they suffered. We can’t
hear from them what they gave up, their hopes and dreams, so that we who
came after might have hopes and dreams of our own. They died to make our
hopes and dreams in a free society possible.

The only way we can say thank you to the dead is to remember.

I find I do this all the time when I remember my own family, my parents and
grandparents, my brother, all of whom have now died. When I think of them, I
am remembering with gratitude.

Once a year we take a moment to say thank you to all those commemorated
on our memorials for giving us the tomorrow they denied themselves.

And the second reason why we have Remembrance Sunday is to remind
ourselves that the type of society we live in, the freedoms we enjoy, were not
inevitable. They were a consequence of these men and women fighting and
dying.

I was born during the Second World War, after the British Expeditionary Force
had been defeated in France, leaving behind all the heavy artillery, the tanks
and armoured vehicles, rescued from Dunkirk by the little boats. It was a time
when it was impossible to say which way the war might go. If Hitler had sent
his victorious armies across the channel, we would probably have lost the
war.

I sometimes wondered as a teenager what my parents thought they were
doing, bringing me into a world in which they might have had to raise me as a
little Nazi. Perhaps having a child was their way of saying, we believe a batter
future is possible.

But they understood that that better future could only come if Hitler were
defeated. So my father enlisted and served in north Africa.

So we remember in the second place to remind ourselves that sometimes the
future can only be secured by forcibly and violently overcoming those who
make themselves our enemies and seek to do us harm – so that has
consequences not only for our soldiers and civilians but for those on the other
wide as well. This is something the Israelis are having to think long and hard
about now.

In any case, Christianity makes us struggle with the idea of using violence.
We picture in our churches and in our imaginations the crucified Christ. The
one who said ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’. Who told his disciples to put up
their swords in the Garden of Gethsemane. Who did not resist when they
came for him at the end. And who also said, ‘Father forgive them’, and ‘Love
your enemies’.

Christians are never going to be able to contemplate war easily. If war
becomes necessary, it can only be as a last resort. And if we seek to
commemorate it, we must do so by remembering the dead, not by glorifying
any victories.

This is why, when a more Christian nation than today decided to
commemorate the end of the First World War, it did so by constructing in
Whitehall not an arc de triomphe but a cenotaph.

So tonight we remember. We remember to remind ourselves that sometimes
a better future does not happen by chance but only because those with evil
intentions are overcome by force – with all the suffering that means on both
sides.

And we remember because remembering is how we thank the dead.

The Prayers
Prepared by Irving.

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

On Remembrance Sunday, we remember the sacrifice of those caught up in wars both present and past,
and the generations of men, women and children who have been killed in the courses of wars. We pray
for those who still bear the physical and mental scars and disabilities of their service.

Especially on this Remembrance Sunday we pray for:
All who serve in our armed forces their families and friends. We pray for peace in all those countries at
war, and for their peoples, particularly at this time Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. We
pray for those who are caught in crossfire, those who are used as human shields, and all who are forced
or desperate to seek refuge in other countries.

We pray too for all who strive to promote peace and stability in war stricken areas, both in settings such
as the United Nations and those who respond to what they see happening in the world.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

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

Especially we pray for:
All who minister to the armed forces, especially those who support troops in front line duties. At St
Mary’s we pray for and give thanks to all who have helped us to mark Remembrance in so many ways
from selling poppies, tending our local war graves, photographic displays and acts of remembrance in
our Church, Cemetery and War Memorial in Hadfield St.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

We commend to your fatherly goodness all who are anxious or distressed in mind or body; comfort and
relieve them in their need; give them patience in their sufferings, and bring good out of their troubles.
Especially we pray for:
All who mourn loved ones lost in wars and all who are anxious about men and women currently in active
service. We pray for all who work to support and heal those injured and debilitated by war. We pray for
all who, like the Royal British Legion, keep alive support for all who suffered and gave their lives in the
service of our country.
We pray for all who are held hostage, that they may be safely returned to their homes.
Ever-living God, we remember those whom you have gathered from the storm of war into the peace of
your presence; may that same peace calm our fears, bring justice to all peoples and establish harmony
among nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father
Accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

12th November 2023 10.30am – Service of Remembrance

Posted on November 12, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Isaiah 2. 2 - 5

In days to come
the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways
and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations,
and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob,
come, let us walk
in the light of the Lord!

1 Thessalonians 4. 13 - 18

The Prayers

Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of conflict,
and ask that God may give us peace:

for the service personnel
who have died in the violence of war,
each one remembered by and known to God;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

For those who love them in death as in life,
offering the distress of our grief
and the sadness of our loss;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

For all members of the armed forces
who are in danger this day,
remembering family, friends
and all who pray for their safe return;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

For civilians, children and adults
whose lives are disfigured by war or terror,
calling to mind in penitence
the anger and hatreds of humanity;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

For peacemakers and peacekeepers,
who seek to keep this world secure and free;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

For all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership,
political, military and religious;
asking for gifts of wisdom and resolve
in the search for reconciliation and peace;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

O God of truth and justice,
we hold before you those whose memory we cherish,
and those whose names we will never know.
Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world,
and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm.
As we honour the past,
may we put our faith in your future;
for you are the source of life and hope,
now and for ever.
Amen.

St Marys Walkley

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

Author: admin

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