‘Christingle Service’ – Thursday 24th December 2020 – Christmas Eve

Posted on December 24, 2020December 24, 2020 by St Mary's

The Reading

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.

The Talk
by Catherine, a Reader at St. Mary's

I expect many of you will know today’s Bible story very well. Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem, but have to shelter in the stable because everywhere else is full. Mary is heavily pregnant and while they are there, it’s time for her baby to be born. So she gives birth in the stable, wraps him up in swaddling clothes, and then places baby Jesus in a manger.

Meanwhile there are a group of shepherds outside in the fields, keeping an eye on the sheep. And they have a strange experience. An angel appears to tell them about the new baby.

Who were these shepherds? We don’t know exactly. They would have been on the edges of society, because shepherding was a difficult, dirty and dangerous job. Other people might have kept away from them, because they would have been dirty and smelly.

Pictures on Christmas cards often show them as mature men with beards. But it’s possible that they might actually be quite a bit younger - teenagers even, paid a minimum wage to stay awake whilst the regular adult shepherds get some sleep.

Teenagers are often natural night-owls who like to stay awake at night and lie in late the next morning. So watching the flocks whilst the adults sleep might seem like a good plan.

But teenagers are still young, still really children themselves. And, with plenty of wild animals about to threaten them and their sheep, these young shepherds might find their job quite scary. But they do it anyway, because their families are poor and need every penny they can earn.

So they must have been very scared to see an angel suddenly appear in all the glory of the Lord. They might know how to deal with a wolf or wildcat. But this is a new and strange experience. They would have been terrified.

But the first thing the angel says is “Fear not! I have good news for you! The Messiah has been born. You will find him in Bethlehem, the city of David. Come and see for yourselves!” And suddenly a whole band of angels appear, singing praises to God.

The angels leave and the shepherds become bold. Young people are naturally curious and if these shepherds were teenagers, this experience would definitely have sparked their interest. “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see!” So they go. They see Mary and Joseph in the stable and the child in the manger. They tell everyone there why they’ve come, and everyone is amazed. And then, having seen for themselves, the shepherds return to their job, praising God as they go.

At our Christingle service we remember the work of the Children’s Society. The Children’s Society works with vulnerable children and young people, including those living in poverty on the edges of society, like the shepherds of our Bible story. The society helps these young people when they’re scared and enables them to thrive. They can then enjoy their curiosity to the full.

So as you enjoy your Christingle and your Christmas, you might like to say a prayer for the Children’s Society and all the children and young people they help. You might even like to give them a donation. If so, you can find details of how to do this in your order of service.

The Prayers
Prepared by the Children's Society

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.

Prayers (c) The Children's Society 2020
childrenssociety.org
christingle.org

‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord’ – 20th December 2020 – 4th Sunday of Advent (PM)

Posted on December 20, 2020 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 7.10-17

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on your ancestral house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria.’

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.

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 in training at St Mary's.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

How many of us here are on a rota? Either for church or some other voluntary organisation? I suspect most of us. We all have gifts and skills in different ways. Some in music, reading, leading prayers, preaching, others in administration, communications, organisational governance and welcoming people and creating a safe environment for them. That last one is very much in demand at the moment!

How did we end up on that rota, doing a specific task? It probably varied a little depending on the job and the organisation. Sometimes we bring skills from our paid working lives to our voluntary work. Sometimes we feel like we want to give something different a try. Sometimes a job just needs doing and there isn’t anyone else.

All of that helps explain the what, but not the how. How do we end up doing what we do?

For many jobs in the church the pattern has been that members of the congregation are asked by the vicar to take on a particular task. There may be different degrees of arm twisting involved. I’m sure this is something many of us can relate to, different clergy, different tasks but perhaps a familiar pattern. It could go something like this:

Vicar: ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’

Mary: Looks much perplexed by his words and ponders what sort of greeting this is and where this might be going.

Vicar: ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, would you like to put out the church bins on a Sunday evening? It’s a great job to do, and there will be no end to it.’

Mary: ‘How can this be, since I have to go home after the service and watch the Strictly results show?’

Vicar: ‘The Holy Spirit will enable you to get this done in time to get home for Strictly, your great aunt Elizabeth did this into her old age, so nothing will be impossible with God.’

Mary: ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’

Yes, this is a complete caricature. Yes, it is facetious. But it raises important questions about how we end up doing what we do in church.

Why is this important?

Well, several reasons.

At the beginning of the year we prepared to move into a different way of operating as a church, working with St Marks and St Johns, we began to think about how it might all work.

How would we continue to worship God in a way that honours the tradition of St Marys?

How would we continue to serve the community of Walkley?

How would we continue to maintain strong links with our church school, and our cemetery friends group?

How would we support and encourage those seeking to explore the Christian faith?

The list could go on and on.

We had ideas. We had begun to form groups to focus on different areas of ministry, but it was all in an early stage.

Then the impact of the covid pandemic changed the way of life for almost everyone.

Much of what we might normally do we couldn’t, at least not in the same way. We were already gearing up for a period of adjustment and change, but we had to rethink and respond to fluctuating circumstances. It’s been tough, it’s been hard work and we won’t have got everything right.

But we have still grown and adapted. We have continued to worship God in a way that honours our tradition, but also allows people to join online.

We have, with input from St Mary’s school, our friends at Walkley Ebenezer Methodist and others, put together an online Advent Calendar.

We have collaborated with the Friends of Walkley Cemetery.

And much more besides.

As it looks like a vaccine will, over the next year, change our way of life again, we will need to reflect on the last 10 months. We will need to build on what we have accomplished, acknowledge what we have dropped and work out what we want to pick up again.

We won’t be going back to exactly what it was like before the pandemic.

Some things will return. I for one can’t wait to sing hymns again.

Some things will stop, we don’t know what those are yet. But let’s not be afraid of letting go.

I had an unusual experience in the church about 18 months ago. I stopped doing a task. It was quite weird. Of course the reason I stopped doing this task was because I had started doing another and the two were incompatible. But still I wasn’t sure it had really happened before, outside of paid employment. The new task is more rewarding, it feels like being in the right place at the right time.

We need to acknowledge that it’s healthy to review what we do from time to time. Better to do a few things well, than lots badly.

Mary, as a mother in the first century AD will have had her fair share of tasks, probably more than her fair share, it was after all a patriarchal time and place.

Did she really understand what she was getting into? Did she feel she had a choice? All questions we should ask when we take on a new task at church, or as will become more common as lay people, when we ask someone else to take on a task.

We will hear over the next month the Christmas story, the visit of the magi, the presentation of Christ in the temple at Candlemas. Mary is told by the prophet Simeon in Luke 2 that a sword will pierce her own soul. A sign of the grief to come at the foot of the cross on Good Friday. She didn’t know where her acceptance would lead.

Did she think she was taking on parenthood by herself? She would have known the implications of a having a child outside marriage. Luckily Joseph stands by her, though he is assumed to have died by the time Jesus is crucified.

Her task was lifelong. The details changed, she didn’t continue doing the same thing for God throughout her life. No doubt she said yes to God many times over the years, and who knows probably the occasional no. Many of us will have done that.

When we take on a task, however small it might be, and I say small, because no task done for God is insignificant. When we contemplate taking on a task let us remember it is one part of our pattern of loving service to God. Amen.

The Prayers
Prepared by David, adapted from Common Worship.

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 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 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 in all their diversity,
and keep under your protection all those whom we love.
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.

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.

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.

‘Reaching out to each other’ – 20th December 2020 – 4th Sunday of Advent

Posted on December 20, 2020December 19, 2020 by St Mary's

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

The Sermon
by Canon Dr Matthew Rhodes

This morning on the fourth Sunday of Advent we focus on your patron saint, Mary, the mother of our Lord. In the past few months I’ve been very conscious of women having to give birth alone because of Covid. Some have had to do that without having their partners present. And many have done it without having their extended families to support and celebrate with them. Mary did have Joseph with her when she gave birth to Jesus but she was far from home and among strangers. It must have been hard and possibly quite frightening for Mary, a young woman, to give birth to her firstborn son like that.

I think we also forget how potentially dangerous it would have been for Mary to be an unmarried mother in that society. We are used to that in this country now but we don’t have to look very far back in our history or very far around the world to find women for whom pregnancy brings enormous risks. Risks to their reputations and position in society. And risks to their lives. Maternal mortality is still horribly common around the world. And it is important that we celebrate Mary’s bravery and willingness to say yes to God. Although there are lots of things that we cannot do at the moment, we too need to be brave sometimes and say yes to God. We can cooperate with him in bringing new things to birth, if not now then in the months to come. With the news of the vaccine it feels as if this Advent is pregnant with possibilities. Though so much is dark and difficult at the moment, we also catch glimpses of light and hope for the future.

My wife Cathy is a retired obstetrician so pregnancy and childbirth have been a bit of a family business. The calls in the night. The rush to the labour ward. I have heard more than my fair share of hair-raising birth stories but I’ll spare you those. Instead, I want to share with you a bit of medical science which my wife passed my way recently. We’re all learning a bit about science these days but I’ll try not to blind you with it too much. I’m not a scientist myself so there won’t be time for questions afterwards. This bit of science come via the University of Michigan. And it concerns the placenta and something called fetomaternal microchimerism (microkimerism).

You may not have thought much about placentas but they are extraordinary things. The placenta is the only organ in human biology that is made by two people together, in cooperation. It is ‘built’ from tissue that is partly from mother, and partly from the growing baby. Because of this, the placenta is referred to as a ‘feto-maternal’ organ. In the creation of the placenta, cells from the embryo, ‘reach down’ towards the wall of the mother’s uterus. At the same time, the spiral arteries from the mother’s uterus are ‘reaching’ up towards the embryo. And this leads to the creation of the placenta. This reaching out might make us think of that picture from the Sistine Chapel where God and Man reach out to one another. Or more topically of the annunciation in our Gospel where God reaches out to Mary via the Angel Gabriel and she reaches out to God by agreeing to collaborate with him.

The placenta is the only organ that is designed to be disposable but unlike every other organs it has many different functions. It eliminates waste like the kidneys. It facilitates the transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, like the lungs would do, and it provides nutrients, just as our digestive system does. The placenta even has an immune function. It is a magnificently complex shared organ that supports the formation of children in the womb.

In addition to all this, the placenta enables something called ‘fetomaternal microchimerism’ (microkimerism). This refers to the presence of a small population of genetically distinct and separately derived cells within an individual. During pregnancy, small numbers of these cells travel across the placenta. Some of the child’s cells cross into the mother, and some cells from the mother cross into the child. The cells from the child integrate into tissues in the mother’s body and start functioning like the cells around them.

The presence of these cells is extraordinary for several reasons. One is that these cells have been found in various maternal organs and tissues such as the brain, the breast, the thyroid and the skin. These are all organs which in some way are important for the health of both the baby and the mother. They help to signal to the mother’s body that it needs to making milk. And they help to produce collagen which helps the mother’s body to heal. So that baby is actually helping the mother to recover from giving birth.

Usually, foreign or ‘other’ cells are detected by the host’s immune system and are destroyed. The fact that these foetal cells ‘survive’ and then are allowed to integrate into the mother’s body speaks of an amazing ‘cooperation’ between the mother and her child. It suggests that the physical connection between mother and baby is even deeper and more beautiful than was previously thought. Research in into these cells suggests that may help protect mothers from breast cancer many years after they have given birth.

This radical mutuality at the cellular level is something that we are just beginning to understand. We are not the singular autonomous individuals that we sometimes imagine. We know that at a theological level. We have a sense of our mutual interdependence. We have a deep sense of God’s presence in each one of us. And Christmas is a wonderful reminder of that. But now we have a profound biological illustration of that mutuality. We speak of Mary not just being the God bearer but of her being redeemed by her son. And now we can see that at a biological level. Mary’s body didn’t just help to bring Jesus into the world. It was also changed by that experience. Jesus brings life and healing to each one of us and he brought life and healing to Mary in a very particular way.

There was a time when science and religion seemed to be at loggerheads. Virgin births were dismissed as superstition. These days, virgin births are quite common technically speaking. And instead of being antithetical to religion, so much of science seems to demonstrate the wonder and majesty of God and his creation. The creation of Covid 19 vaccines is just one miracle that we have seen recently. Like Mary, we too need to be open to the miraculous and new. For, as the Angel Gabriel reminded her, nothing will be impossible with God. Amen.

The Prayers
prepared by Oli

Lord, as we look back on a year of grief, turmoil and restrictions, we look to your coming to bring a renewed hope to the world. may we humbly welcome and nurture this hope, as you were humbly welcomed in a stable, nurtured in a manger lined with straw.
Lord Jesus, within the darkness,
Let us celebrate the coming of your light.

Lord, where we have experienced division and uncertainty - in the world, in our country, in our close relationships, and within ourselves; may we experience your healing peace and unite these fractures, seeking reconciliation in every broken place
Lord Jesus, within the darkness,
Let us celebrate the coming of your light.

Lord, in the quiet moments of prayer, in the chaotic buzz of Christmas preparation, in the ordinary and extraordinary, may we experience your joy, mercy and simplicity
Lord Jesus, within the darkness,
Let us celebrate the coming of your light.

Lord, as we approach the coming of Christ into the world and into our hearts, may we be always aware of your ever present love, unconditional and without end nor limit.
Lord Jesus, within the darkness,
Let us celebrate the coming of your light.

Lord, as we look back on a year of loss and grief, we ask that your loving, healing presence be with all those who have lost family and friends and that your presence is also felt by all those who are sick in mind, body or spirit including those known personally to each one of us.
Lord Jesus, within the darkness,
Let us celebrate the coming of your light.

‘The promise of hope’ – 29th November 2020 – Advent Sunday

Posted on November 29, 2020November 29, 2020 by St Mary's

The Readings

Genesis 12.1-4a

Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’

So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.

Matthew 1.1-17

An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of King David.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Salathiel, and Salathiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.

So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the deportation to Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the deportation to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

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 Joe, a Reader at St. Mary's

May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Advent. The start of the period of waiting for the birth of Christ. This year it seems that we’ve spent a great deal of time waiting, in one way or another. From when we entered in to Lockdown 1 (and yes, you know you’re in trouble when you start numbering these events) half-way through Lent, this year has been a strange time of uncertainty, with few of the usual ‘anchor points’ of our daily lives left unaffected.

At first glance, some readings would appear to give little for a preacher to go on. I have to say that that was my first feeling about tonight’s lectionary pairing. But I slept on it, prayed, and concluded that, if nothing else, these readings do go to show that our Lectionary isn’t just thrown together, and that there are frequent connections, even if at first glance the links between readings may seem tenuous.

We’re once again talking about waiting; this time the long and patient wait of the people of Israel for the coming of the Messiah.

Our first reading, from Genesis, takes place after the destruction wrought by the Flood. God now takes a new approach with Humanity. He takes a particular couple – Abram and Sarai – of an age where the idea of children seems impossible – and from them he intends to bless the world with His people. He tells Abram to leave his country – in fact, God tells him to even leave much of his family behind when He tells Abram to “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” And promises that He and Sarai will be the start of a great nation. God is focusing on a single family from all the branches of man that have emerged after the Flood. And from this unlikely start, He will create His Kingdom on Earth. It’s a big job…and a long game.

And then in our second reading, the opening of the Gospel according to Matthew, we see the genealogy of Jesus. And yes – it starts with Abraham (after he changed his name from Abram).

Jesus’s genealogy turns up in two forms in the Gospels. There’s the one in Matthew, and there is a further one in Luke Chapter 3. The version in Luke traces Jesus right back to Adam; indeed, it finishes with the words ‘the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.’ Luke’s version of the family line also gives attention to Mary. The lineage in Matthew, on the other hand, follows the line back from Joseph – Jesus’s legal father – back to Abraham.

Luke, the Gentile, emphasises Jesus’s relationship to the whole of mankind; Matthew, writing as a Jew, puts more emphasis on the lineage of Jesus as a figure of Jewish history. I always feel that the inclusion of the genealogy in Luke is almost a secondary thought, whereas in Matthew it’s ‘up front and centre’, starting the whole Gospel off.

This would probably have been a deliberate decision by Matthew. Although the Gospel was written in Greek, it’s quite likely that it was aimed heavily at Jewish readers. Matthew quotes Old Testament sources more than any other New Testament author; he assumes that his readers will have a knowledge of Jewish custom and terminology, and the family lineage he uses starts with Abraham – the name which Abram took when he became the ‘father’ of the tribes of Israel.

Matthew is setting out from the very beginning to show his Jewish readers that Jesus Christ is their Messiah. And he does this by building upon existing Jewish scriptures, using Old Testament scriptures to show how Jesus fulfils the prophecies to be found in the OT.

It's also worth noting that some scholars have suggested that in the 1st Century AD, Chronicles was regarded as the last book of the Hebrew scriptures. The first part of Chronicles – what we know as Chronicles 1 – is very much a set of genealogical data, and so if Matthew is writing with the intention of making it clear that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, then starting his Gospel with the genealogy of Christ provides a continuity between old and new scriptures that would be obvious to his readers.

Matthew’s intended audience would be at home with the idea of a lineage starting his version of the Gospel. If we take a look at the reading, we see that it states:
“Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.”
Now, a quick examination of the lineage given reveals the fact that there aren’t actually 14 generations in each of the three sections; it would be more accurate to say ‘about 14 or so generations’ but that wouldn’t have read as well. There are also a few names missing in this lineage, if you compare the list here to the similar list in Chronicles. And – note that it’s only David who is marked as ‘King David’ in the list – no other ruler is so described in the genealogy.

Matthew uses his ‘rule of 14’ to split this list along lines that emphasise the role of David in the family tree of Christ – the first 14 generations end with David becoming King; his ‘regnal line’ continues for the next 14 generations until the Exile, and then, 14 generations later, the Messiah is born in to the line.

From the very start – in the opening lines of the Gospel – Matthew is asserting the continuity of the line from Abraham, through David and other well known kings and events in Jewish history, right through to the Messiah, born in this generation as Jesus Christ.

So, what’s in a number? To be precise, why does it look like Matthew is working hard to create this association with the number 14?

An aspect of Jewish spiritual beliefs was the practice of ‘Gematria’ – a process whereby numerical values are assigned to characters in the Hebrew text. The value that comes from David’s name is 14; so Matthew, with his focus on 14, is reminding his readers – who’d be aware of this – that as well as Jesus being descended from David, that descent also involves 2 lots of 14, which links the Messiah and David at a deeper, almost mystical, level in the minds of the readers.

Matthew knew his stuff. What he was saying to his readers is ‘The long wait is over; the promise given to the people is being fulfilled now, in this generation. The promised Messiah is here.’

We experience this wait every year; we experience the waiting, the anticipation, the looking forward to the light in the darkness. The Jewish people had also waited for, and anticipated the coming of the Messiah – and Matthew was letting them know. He is coming; the one we have waited for is here.

This Advent finds us waiting, uncertain, perhaps a little fearful of what is coming in the future, at the end of a year when certainties have been cast aside. But we have one certainty; one source of hope, one source of light in the darkness. The Messiah IS coming. May we all have a blessed and enlightening Advent season as we wait.
Amen

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe

The bidding for our prayers this evening is “Lord, have mercy” and the response is “Christ, have mercy.”

With thankful hearts we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father.

As we enter the season of Advent, 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.
In these uncertain times, we know we can rely on you, Lord, to keep your promises to us, as you kept them to Abraham and Sarah.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

We pray for all those in authority, and those who have influence in the world, that their power and influence be used compassionately for the good of all. In this time of uncertainty, people are fearful; we pray that leaders work to calm those fears, not inflame them. We pray that people speak the truth to each others, and that we have discernment to know when we are being deceived.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

We pray for our community here in Walkley, and for the city of Sheffield, and for our neighbours and friends. We pray that the levels of Covid-19 infection continue to fall, and that the health services in our city and region are not overwhelmed. As we plan for coming out of lockdown, we people will be careful and care for one another, keeping our homes, schools and workplaces ‘Covid Secure’.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

We pray for the aged and infirm, and those sick in mind, body or spirit, those that need your grace and blessing. We pray that God’s power and spirit will strengthen them and bring them the healing and peace that belong to Christ’s kingdom. We pray that the scientists working on vaccines and treatments for Covid19 are successful, and that we may soon be able to be with friends and family without fear.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

We pray for those close to death at this time, 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. We pray for those who have died without the comfort of their family around them, that they were comforted by your presence, Lord. We pray that you give strength and love to all those close to death and caring for the dying at this time.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Finally, Lord, we silently bring before you those special to us, and also those issues and concerns that we have in our own lives.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Rejoicing in the communion of Mary 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.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council 2000

‘Multiplying talents’ – 15th November 2020 – 2nd Sunday before Advent

Posted on November 15, 2020 by St Mary's

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

Jesus said:
‘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.”

Scripture Quotations are taken 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 Canon Dr Matthew Rhodes.

Cathy and I had a meeting with our financial adviser recently. On Zoom of course. And I was rather dreading it. The economy has had such a turbulent time recently that I thought that the Rhodes family fortune would have been badly depleted. Had it been down to me I might have been tempted to stick it all under the mattress. Which is why I am a vicar not a financial adviser. So many people are suffering at the moment and it feels as if that pain needs to be shared. And certainly our savings and investments have not grown all that much in the past year. But actually the news from our adviser was better than I had feared. The people who look after the Rhodes millions seem to have looked to the future. To have taken some intelligent risks. I’m not sure if they have invested in Zoom or Pfizer but they have put money into green technologies. Industries that will play an important part in the post Covid recovery.

In the midst of all the chaos and upheaval of the past year, some people are investing for the future. At St John’s we have been refurbishing the Parish Centre. Looking forward to the day when it can reopen properly and serve our community better. We have also used this time to restore the organ and that work is nearly completed. We are investing in technology to improve the way we stream our services. The Diocese is investing in new structures of ministry which mean that in addition to St John’s, I now have responsibilities at St Mary’s Walkley. And hopefully, the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, is investing wisely for the future, laying the foundations for a greener, more sustainable, economic recovery.

In today’s Gospel, a wealthy man distributes his property to his slaves. To one five talents. To another two and to another one. And then he goes away. And I think we can all identify with that sense of absence at the moment. We are separated from our loved ones. From the people who give us security. Some of us are separated from work. And if the rich man is God, we can all identify with that sense of him feeling a bit absent sometimes. It’s not a new feeling. In our first reading, the prophet Zephaniah addressed a people that had given up expecting God to return. They had grown complacent and sinful. But Zephaniah warned them that the day of judgement was near. Their wealth and property would be no protection from his wrath. And we are going to hear a lot about God returning in judgement in the next few weeks.

The Thessalonians in our second reading, were more expectant and hopeful of the Lord’s return but Paul warned them that it was not for them to know when that would be. The Lord would come like a thief in the night. But they were not to be fearful. As children of the light, he told them to keep awake. To encourage one another and build each another up. We can identify with that sense of not knowing when things are going to happen. What will things be like after 2nd December? What will Christmas be like? We have had some good news about a vaccine this week but we don’t quite know when that will be rolled out. Like the Thessalonians, we need to be open and hopeful, encouraging each other and building each other up.

Some have suggested that this parable was aimed very much at the disciples. Jesus was preparing them for his departure. When the rich man returns, the first two slaves have doubled the talents that he gave them. They have gone out into the market. They have speculated to accumulate. And the master commends them for their efforts. Although they were given different amounts and made different profits, they are both commended in the same way. Like the workers in the vineyard they both receive the same reward. They are to be put in charge of many things and are to enter into the joy of their master. We cannot all be Captain Tom or Marcus Rashford. The size of our efforts is not really what is important. It is our faithfulness. Whether in small things or large things.

The third slave is quite different. He has a very different picture of his master. A distorted image. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden were persuaded by the serpent that they were somehow in competition with God. That he wanted to deny them things. In the same way, the slave has absorbed the idea that the master is mean and vengeful. And his actions reflect that image. He hid master’s money in the ground. Burying it as Jesus was buried by the religious authorities. The slave had taken no risks but neither had he increased what he had been given.

In response, the master lives up to the slave’s image of him. He strips the slave of his talent and gives it to another. And he has the slave thrown out into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Sometimes we get the sort of God we believe in. If our God is narrow and judgmental then that may be the God we experience. But if we can have a bigger picture of God. A more generous, open, loving God then that may be the God we encounter instead.

The talents are a bit like the mustard seed or the yeast in Jesus’ other parables. They are to be used. Shared. Multiplied. Our attitude to them reflects our attitude to God. Our picture of the kingdom. Not all of us can use our God given talents to the full at the moment. But this is not just a time of waiting. Not just a time to keep our talents buried. All of us can do something. As we prepare for Christmas, whatever that looks like, many of us can use our spending power to support local businesses and vital charities. I continue to be very thankful for the ongoing generosity of so many to the Foodbank. Cathy and I have felt very blessed by all the prayers and messages of support and the practical help that we have received while we have been ill. In this second lockdown with the colder weather and shorter days, there is such a need for that ministry of love and care which so many people exercise. God has given us so much. Entrusted us with so many talents. How can we use them, multiply them, in this extraordinary time?

Amen.

The Prayers

prepared by Siobhan

In the power of the Holy Spirit and in union with Christ we pray to the Father. You promised through your Son, Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith. We pray for the church, the world and those whom we love.

We give thanks for St Mary’s leadership team who continue to serve our church community with their gifts and talents during this challenging time. May they be inspired by your love and wisdom as they continue to answer your call to embody your truth and love in Walkley. We pray for the continuing strengthening of links with St John’s and St Mark’s as we invest in joint ventures.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for a world that is hurting. May world governments seek solutions which protect the health and wellbeing of the global community. As health services continue to experience increased demands may frontline workers receive the support they need. We give thanks for the work of scientists committed to developing safe and effective vaccines for Covid.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all those who are vulnerable especially remembering those in nursing and residential homes. We pray for those suffering because of Covid 19 that they may have good care. We pray too for those whose treatment may be delayed at this time. Be with all people who are unwell in mind, body or spirit. Give healing, compassion, support, and courage to all who need your love.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the bereaved that they may know the compassion of Christ. In silence we remember those known to us who have died. May they rest in peace and rise in glory.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We remember in silence our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers.

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

Common Worship - Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is included here is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council 2000

‘Wait Quietly for the Lord’ – Sunday 1st November 2020 – Eve of All Souls Day

Posted on November 1, 2020November 1, 2020 by St Mary's

The Readings

Lamentations 3.17-26

My soul is bereft of peace;
I have forgotten what happiness is;
so I say, ‘Gone is my glory,
and all that I had hoped for from the Lord.’

The thought of my affliction and my homelessness
is wormwood and gall!
My soul continually thinks of it
and is bowed down within me.
But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in him.’

The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

The Reflection
by Catherine, a Reader at St. Mary's

Bereavement is never easy. Bereavement in the time of a pandemic is especially difficult. And some of you here with us this evening or following online may be feeling this really keenly. The loved ones we were not able to be with during their final days and hours. Saying our goodbyes over video call or phone. The funerals we would have attended, the memories shared, the mutual support of hugs, or the conversations had with friends and family over food and drink. In-person attendance restricted to a select few people, with everyone else following via video link. Having to grieve alone. Yes, bereavement is especially difficult this year.

The opening verses of our reading from Lamentations may have resonated with you, echoed what you have been, or are still feeling inside.

“My soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is…

The thought of my affliction and my homelessness is wormwood and gall!
My soul continually thinks of it
and is bowed down within me”

Normal human feelings. Feelings of turmoil, feelings of loss, feelings of bitterness. Feelings expressed by an exiled people centuries ago and from a different place and culture. Feelings expressed in the Bible itself. And this in itself can be comforting. The stark reality of grief and loss is there in the Bible. It is not covered up or watered down. It is there in all its rawness.

And yet even in one of the Bible’s bleakest books, there is a flicker of light. The people have lost everything, but still just manage to call to mind what will give them hope in this bleakest of times:

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness”

You get the sense here of the people taking one day at a time, giving thanks for whatever little thing happens to be good that morning. This is not a quick fix to happiness. It won’t solve their immediate crisis. But it will sustain them until the next day. And then the next.

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him,
to the soul that seeks him.
It is good that one should wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.”

Sometimes in the midst of our grief all we can do is sit with the pain and wait. We may have no words. We may have no energy to act. Waiting is all we are capable of. And that is all OK.

It will be some time yet before we can fully celebrate the lives of those we have lost this year. It will be some time before we can freely gather with all our families and friends, hold each other physically, sing, cry and laugh together, then begin to build a new life. It’s a time of upheaval and uncertainty. Sometimes all we can do at the moment is wait. We don’t know what the future will bring. But in our reading from John’s gospel we have a glimpse of what it might look like. A house with many rooms, enough for everyone, past, present and future. Rooms that Christ himself will prepare for his friends. And his presence forever alongside us. Let us take hope from that.

Scripture Quotations are taken from: The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The Prayers

Let us pray to the Lord, who has conquered death.

Jesus, bread from heaven,
you satisfy the hungry with good things:
grant us a share with all the faithful departed
in the banquet of your kingdom.
Hear us, risen Lord,
our resurrection and our life.

Jesus, the light of the world,
you gave the man born blind the gift of sight:
open the eye of faith
and bring us from darkness
to your eternal light and glory.
Hear us, risen Lord,
our resurrection and our life.

Jesus, Son of the living God,
you summoned your friend Lazarus from death to life:
raise us at the last to full and eternal life with you.
Hear us, risen Lord,
our resurrection and our life.

Jesus, crucified Saviour,
in your dying you entrusted each to the other,
Mary your mother and John your beloved disciple:
sustain and comfort all who mourn.
Hear us, risen Lord,
our resurrection and our life.

Jesus, our way and truth and life,
you drew your disciple Thomas from doubt to faith:
reveal the resurrection faith to the doubting and the lost.
Hear us, risen Lord,
our resurrection and our life.

May God in his infinite love and mercy
bring the whole Church,
living and departed in the Lord Jesus,
to a joyful resurrection
and the fulfilment of his eternal kingdom.
Amen.

‘All Saints’ – 1st November 2020 – All Saints Day

Posted on November 1, 2020November 7, 2020 by St Mary's

The Readings

Revelation 7.9-end

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing,
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honour
and power and might
be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

Matthew 5.1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Sermon

by Revd. Sue Hammersley

Today we meet, once again, at a time of uncertainty.
It looks very likely that the Church of England will expect churches to close for congregational worship during this month of even greater restrictions.

But we know that our country, our world, is facing an ordeal which is unlike any we have had to deal with before. We have come to realise that drastic measures are needed to prevent the spread of an invisible threat…

We must pray for those who are seeking vaccines and more effective tests, and that their skill is used for the benefit of the whole world and not just those who have money. If we are learning nothing else it’s that this virus is no respecter of boundaries – it affects rich and poor, young and old – but there is a vast difference in the effect it has on those who have compromised immune systems or access to the most excellent health care.

As has been noted before, this virus is not a leveller but a revealer of inequalities.

Today is the feast of All Saints and it is a day when we give thanks for those who have gone before us who have helped to reveal God’s goodness in our world.

Our first reading from Revelation could speak powerfully to us today, if we let it. It is a vision… Crowds of people have gathered together to praise God but one of the elders asks – who are these people? The response is, “You are the one that knows” And the elder replies, “These are they who have come out of the great ordeal.”

Sometimes we don’t need to be given the answers, we just need to be given the confidence to trust our own judgement.

Here is a vision of salvation:
The Lamb will be the shepherd and the people will not hunger or thirst or suffer exposure to the sun;
He will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

This is the vision which inspires the saints, the vision of a better world, the vision that God does not want people to suffer but wants to bring them life and sustain them on their journeys.

Today I want to encourage us, rather than thinking about people who have been named as saints, to consider the qualities which might be considered to be saintly, or blessed.

Each of us has the capacity to open our hearts to God and be blessed or close our hearts to God and reject God’s blessing.
God knows this and this is why Jesus constantly taught us about the dynamic of faith. It is not that we love God but that God first loved us. Go and sin no more.

The revelation that God’s love can make a difference in our lives is what gives us the courage to keep looking for God in our midst.

As we live through rising numbers of infections we are bound to feel anxious, the uncertainty ahead is profoundly disturbing, for ourselves and for those we love who are particularly vulnerable.
When we faced the first lockdown in March we became aware of saints all around us: the neighbours who offered to shop for us, the refuse collectors and bus drivers who risked the invisible virus to keep the residents of our city going; NHS workers of all descriptions: cleaners and porters, nurses and doctors, receptionists and administrators. We made a point of clapping on Thursday evenings to let them and all those who were responding to the pandemic, know how full of gratitude we were for them and their sacrifice.

Who are the hidden saints in our lives at this time?
Who reveals God’s goodness in the world we are living in?
Who are the people who embody Christ’s living presence, the people to speak up for those who have been silenced by the pandemic? The ones who work in care homes and nurseries, in schools and health centres across the world trying to ensure that we continue to educate people for the future which is yet to emerge.

Of course it is good to read the stories of the saints, strange and bizarre though many of them are, but the lives of the saints must point us towards the living God, not an abstract idea but a God who knows our name and calls us to life; a God who understands why we close our hearts and turn away – we are afraid – God knows this and gently reminds us that we all have the potential to be sinners and saints, every moment of every day.

Don’t let’s look to the saints and feel inadequate because we can’t possibly reach their lofty heights, let’s look at the saints and be reminded that they struggled with their own imperfections and doubts because they had a vision of a better world, they could see God at work within it and they wanted to be part of that.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew’s version of the Beatitudes reminds us that the kingdom of heaven is near. Why might the “poor in spirit” be holy? Surely when we feel poor in spirit we feel that we are letting God down, that we have little faith?
One translation of this verse that speaks to me is, blessed are the poor in spirit for they know their need of God.

As we continue to navigate our way through this time of fear and uncertainty, may we not allow our anxieties to get the better of us. May we recognise our need of God. May we remember those things which have helped us so far – our walks or phone calls, the place church plays in our lives in these challenging times and how we have learned a different kind of prayer.

May we draw strength and courage from those who have had a vision for a better world, a fairer world, a simpler world and may we play our part in seeking peace and pursuing it, in hungering and thirsting for righteousness and showing mercy.

"All shall be well and if, today, all is not well, then this is not the end…" - Thought for the Day, Lucy Winkett (Wed 28/10)

After finishing my sermon I saw a copy of this week’s Tablet.
On the cover is a photograph of a nun. It reminds me of Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring but could equally be a portrait by Rembrandt. It is a picture of beauty.
The nun’s face literally radiates peace and joy.

The nun is called Marie-Ange Chamas and she died recently.
One of the reasons this picture is so arresting is that Marie-Ange was a sister who had Down’s Syndrome.
The article about her, written by Erik Varden, asks all the right questions about possible exploitation but concludes that the Order to which she belonged understood the spiritual gifts of people with this condition.

This is best illustrated by the story of one of the other sisters who also had Down’s:
“One of the nuns had to attend a medical appointment. In the waiting room was a woman in distress who had begun to kick and scream, unable to contain whatever anguish possessed her.
All withdrew in dismay, with one exception. The nun with Down’s stood up, approached the panicking patient, and told her, Tu es belle Madame (Madam, how beautiful you are). She established instant peace, unselfconsciously enacting a parable of humanity resplendent in its applicability to all". Erik Varden

The Prayers

United in the company of all the faithful
and looking for the coming of the kingdom,
let us offer our prayers to God,
the source of all life and holiness.

Merciful Lord,
strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit,
that we may live as a royal priesthood and a holy nation
to the praise of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Bless Pete and Sophie our bishops and all ministers of your Church,
that by faithful proclamation of your word
we may be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
into a holy temple in the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Empower us by the gift of your holy and life-giving Spirit,
that we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ
from glory to glory.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Give to the world and its peoples
the peace that comes from above,
that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the
service of the poor and needy;
all who minister to the sick and dying;
and all who bring light to those in darkness.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Touch and heal all those whose lives are scarred by sin
or disfigured by pain,
that, raised from death to life in Christ,
their sorrow may be turned to eternal joy.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Remember in your mercy all those gone before us
who have been well-pleasing to you from eternity;
preserve in your faith your servants on earth,
guide us to your kingdom
and grant us your peace at all times.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Hasten the day when many will come
from east and west, from north and south,
and sit at table in your kingdom.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

We give you thanks
for the whole company of your saints in glory,
with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises;
by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.
Blessing and glory and wisdom,
thanksgiving and honour and power,
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included here,
is copyright © The Archbishops' Council 2006 and published by Church House Publishing.

‘Render unto Caesar’ – 18th October 2020 – 19th Sunday after Trinity

Posted on October 18, 2020October 17, 2020 by St Mary's

The Readings

1 Thessalonians 1.1-10

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

Matthew 22.15-22

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

The Sermon
by David, Reader-in-training at St. Mary's

The question raised by Jesus in our Gospel passage today is one worth considering. It’s not something many of us often think about, and it has the capacity to divide as well as unite us. We shouldn’t avoid it because of this.
How should we, as Christians, relate to secular authorities?

The passage opens with the Pharisees, religious teachers, sending followers to test Jesus. With them come the Herodians, followers of King Herod, the local ruler who governs with the occupying Roman Empire’s permission.
They begin with flattery, hoping to feed Jesus’ ego and catch him off guard. Then the question to trap him. Here is the moment of danger:
“Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?”

Why is this dangerous for Jesus?

If he says it is not lawful to pay taxes to the Emperor then the Herodians, whose master owes his position to the Romans, will label him as subversive, seditious and a threat to Roman authority. More than enough for his arrest and execution.

If he says it is lawful to pay taxes to the Emperor, then his disciples and the crowds gathered around him will feel betrayed by his apparent acceptance of the occupying Roman force.
It’s a no-win situation.

Jesus, aware of their intent to trap him, turns the question back upon them.
“Show me the coin used for the tax.” forcing them to handle the Roman coin used for the census tax. It would likely have had the image of the emperor Tiberius and carried the inscription “Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus, high priest.” A problem for devout Jews who viewed the Emperor’s claims of divinity, and his image, as blasphemous. A problem also for Jesus, the actual son of God.

Jesus then questions them about the coin: “Whose head is this, and whose title?” getting the obvious response: “The Emperor’s”.

The climax of the story follows with Jesus declaring: “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” He leaves the Herodians and Pharisees shocked and speechless.
Jesus appears to be separating some things as belonging to God, and some to earthly rulers. This feels like it goes against our understanding that everything we have comes from God, and we offer back to him. See 1 Chronicles 29.14 “For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you”.

It can appear as if Jesus is setting up two equal and different authorities here, Caesar and God, and that we are called to give to both with equal weight.

But the context is important.

The Jewish people were not minting coins during Jesus’ lifetime; all currency used was Roman or Greek. During Jewish rebellions against the Romans between AD 66-73 and again between AD 132 and 135 they did begin to mint their own coinage. It seems odd this was a high priority when defending against the Roman army.
It highlights how much a symbol of occupation and oppression these coins were. Which helps us see that in Jesus’ eyes these coins did not come from God, but earthly rulers.

Giving the blasphemous coins back to the Romans as tax wasn’t giving away something that was God’s. The Jewish people could, and can, follow the rules and expectations of secular rulers and society without breaking their covenant with the living God. The Emperor could have their money, but not their allegiance. The people belonged to God, not to Caesar.

How does this impact our interaction with secular rulers and authorities?

If we belong to God, then we should offer to God the first fruits of our labours, rather than what we have left over.
I’ve often wondered why the Church of England’s teaching on giving, 5% to the church and 5% to other charities, is based around gross income, the money we are paid before taxes, national insurance and pension contributions are taken off. It always seemed a bit unfair, particularly for those on lower incomes. Surely using the net value, what is left once the contributions to the state are paid, would be more just? Here is an answer: we are called to give to God from all that we are given, regardless of any given to the modern-day Caesar.

This could equally apply to our time as our money. How often do we give God the time when we are tired, at the end of a long day?

Neither of these points are supposed to add to the burdens of those who are poor in time or money, especially as time and money offered to God can take many different forms, and doesn’t always take place through the church.
How then should we, as Christians, relate to the secular authorities?

At the heart of this question is one of citizenship.

Theresa May uttered in 2016: “if you believe you are a citizen of the world, you are a citizen of nowhere”. This felt odd when I heard it, particularly from someone who professes the Christian faith. It fails to knowledge people often feel ties of citizenship to multiple places. We might be citizens of Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, the UK, as well as the world.

But for Christians this goes one stage further, Paul reminds us in Philippians 3.20 “our citizenship is in heaven” and Jesus at his trial tells Pilate “My kingdom is not from this world”.

This is not to advocate a complete rejection of secular authority. HMRC, if you’re watching, I’m not telling people to evade paying tax. But we must remember that our primary allegiance is to God and our citizenship is of his kingdom.
The practical outwork of this will mean potentially coming into conflict with secular authorities over issues where our faith tells us one thing, and secular authority another. An example of this includes the Conscientious Objectors, many of whom refused compulsory military service in the First World War on the grounds of Christian pacifism and were subsequently jailed, being treated appallingly. Or more recently the members of Christian Climate Action, associated with Extinction Rebellion, engaging in civil disobedience to highlight the damage done to God’s creation, who also face criminal charges for ultimately telling truth to power.

Whether we agree with their methods or not, one has to admire their faith and recognise that their primary allegiance is to God and his kingdom. How would we react when faced with such a difficult choice?

May we set the example of Jesus, and those who have followed him with faith before us when we are similarly tested.

Let us pray:
Now to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
be ascribed as is most justly due,
all might, majesty, dominion and power,
now and for evermore. Amen.

The Prayers
prepared by Joe

With thankful hearts we bring our prayers to our heavenly Father.

We pray for the Church of Christ, for Bishop Pete and Canon Sophie, all here who lead us in worship and prayer, and all those whose time and talents are given to St Mary’s. On this day when we recall the life and work of Luke the Evangelist, we pray that the Gospel continues to be preached truthfully and widely, and that in these difficult times we find new ways to spread God’s word.