22nd January 2023 10.30am – Third Sunday of Epiphany Eucharist

Posted on January 22, 2023January 21, 2023 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 9.1-4

But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.

Matthew 4.12-23

Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the lake, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
‘Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned.’
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.\

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

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 Rev Dr Alan Billings

In today’s gospel, two sets of brothers do something which we might want to say was either brave or foolish. They give up their jobs, they turn away from their homes and families and go off with a complete stranger simply because he asks them to. ‘Follow me’, says Jesus. And they do.

The way the story is told does make it sound like a sudden and impulsive thing. They don’t say, ‘We’ll think about it’. They don’t even ask, ‘What will we get out of it?’ They just down tools – well, fishermen’s nets – and follow this visiting teacher and healer from Nazareth.

Now I’m quite sure it wasn’t as simple as that. I expect they did in fact already know something about Jesus. His reputation my have gone before him. Perhaps they had even heard or seen him in the days before – and been moved or impressed by him. I’m sure there was something charismatic about Jesus – the way he spoke, the things he spoke about, the things he did, the way he noticed people, the way he treated people - high or low, rich or poor, men or women or little children. We know from many places in the gospel that all these things impressed and moved people as they might move people today who hear or read the gospels.

So although today’s gospel reads as if Peter and Andrew, James and John, had never met or heard of Jesus before, and just happen to bump into him as he walks along the seashore, I think we have to assume that they did know enough about Jesus to make them make this decision. ‘Follow me,’ he says. And they did.

But the brave or foolish part is what happens next. The point is that they don’t know, can’t know, everything about Jesus. And they don’t know or can’t know what will happen next. Because the future is a land no one has ever been in before. This is the start, then, of a story and a journey of trust. They make the decision that they will get to know Jesus better, intimately, and to have him as the one who will guide them through the unknown land that is the future.

For them, that means leaving behind a lot familiar things. Not just their jobs, their homes and families. They also must know that by following the teacher from Nazareth they will be leaving behind old ways of thinking and doing as well. That may be the hardest part. Is it brave or foolish?

Does all this seem a million miles away from us and our experience?

Well, of course, in a straightforward sense, yes it does. WE do not meet Jesus in the flesh. We are not being asked to give up our jobs, turn our backs on family and friends and go literally with Jesus on a journey. Our vocation is not that.

But in one crucial respect what we do is what those first disciples did.

Something has brought us to this time and place. We know something of Jesus Christ. By him we have been inspired, moved, disturbed, challenged, comforted – some or all of these things. We have committed to let him be our guide into that unknown land, which is our future. We don’t know what waits for us in that future. But we do believe he will be with us and give us whatever we need to make a difference for good or simply to face things. In this respect we are like the first disciples. We may not know everything yet about him but we want to know. We trust him.

One of the great twentieth century New Testament scholars was Albert Schweizer. He is remembered now, if he is remembered at all, because he gave up a career as an academic and indeed as a musician as well, re-trained as a doctor and founded a hospital in what today is called Gabon in west Africa. He came to see that we only really know Christ, as we know another person, over time. To follow Christ is to commit to get to know him over time, perhaps even a lifetime.

He once wrote some lovely words about this, comparing the way we follow Christ now with the way the first disciples Andrew, Peter, James and John - did. I’ll end by quoting what he wrote:

“(Christ) comes to us as One unknown, without a name, as of old, by the lakeside, He came to those men who knew Him not. He speaks the same word: ‘Follow thou me!’ and sets us to the tasks which He has to fulfil for our time. He commands. And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, He will reveal Himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and, as in ineffable mystery, they shall learn in their own experience Who He is.”

The Prayers
Prepared by Veronica

O God, the creator and preserver of all people, we thank you for sending your son Jesus to live among us and heal the sick and serve all he came into contact with. We bring before you the needs of your world now, all those who are suffering hunger and drought, cruelty and oppression, and above all, those suffering in the war in Ukraine. We pray that peace will be restored, and international and voluntary organisations will support all those suffering starvation at this time.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for the Church worldwide. In this week of prayer for Christian Unity, we pray that all denominations will work together to further your kingdom by showing love to all your people of all faiths and none, for all are your children.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

We pray for our City of Sheffield, and for our local community of Walkley. We give you thanks for all the groups that make it such a good place to live – its churches, the Library, Walkley Forum, the S6 Foodbank, those caring for our open green spaces, Langsett Advice Centre, Zest, and all working together to plan for this year’s Walkley Festival.

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Jesus went about, healing people who were ill. We pray for all those who are ill at this time, for those awaiting treatment or operations at a time when out Health Service is under great stress, or simply feel very unwell. We pray that all who work in the service, or need its care, may feel your grace, and in a moment of quiet we remember anyone known to us who is ill at this time…

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Hear us when we remember those we have known, both family members or friends and acquaintances, giving you thanks for all they have meant to us. We think of them in a short period of silence, particularly Liz...

Lord, in your mercy,

hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of Mary, Mark and John and all your saints,

we commend ourselves and all your people to your unfailing love.

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 used here,

is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council 2000

15th January 2023 10.30am – Second Sunday of Epiphany Eucharist

Posted on January 15, 2023January 14, 2023 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 49.1-7

Listen to me, O coastlands,
pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.
He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me away.
And he said to me, ‘You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified.’
But I said, ‘I have laboured in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
and my reward with my God.’

And now the Lord says,
who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honoured in the sight of the Lord,
and my God has become my strength—
he says,
‘It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.’

Thus says the Lord,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
the slave of rulers,
‘Kings shall see and stand up,
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.’

John 1.29-42

The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, ‘Look, here is the Lamb of God!’ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, ‘What are you looking for?’ They said to him, ‘Rabbi’ (which translated means Teacher), ‘where are you staying?’ He said to them, ‘Come and see.’ They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas’ (which is translated Peter).

The Sermon
By Rev Dr Matthew Rhodes

This coming Wednesday is beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It runs until 25th , when we celebrate the Conversion of St Paul. The ecumenical movement has come along way, particularly at the local level. It is important that we continue to work towards greater unity. But we don’t just do that because it’s a good thing to do. We do it because unity is at the heart of God the Holy Trinity. And we do it because of Jesus’ prayer. He prayed that his followers may be one so that the world would believe. We also do it for the sake of mission which, alongside unity, is another of the great themes of the Epiphany season. The incarnation of Jesus Christ, God sending his son into the world, shows us that mission is part of the nature of God. And by becoming human, Jesus invites us to
share in that mission.

Mission is part of our calling as Christians, as human beings. And it can sound a bit scary but mission takes many forms. Evangelism, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in an explicit way, is part of mission. But mission is bigger than that. It is about growing the kingdom, making God’s love known, bringing about peace and justice and caring for creation. And we may do that in our work. In our volunteering. At school. In our social activities. In our family responsibilities. Or through political involvement. God is at work in all sorts of areas of life and our job is simply to join in.

Our first reading this morning both talk about calling. Isaiah writes, ‘Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.’ Each of us is blessed with particular gifts that we are called to use in God’s service. And one of the great challenges of life is discovering what those gifts are and how we might best use them. And when we do discover that secret we can find huge fulfilment. We find our groove. Our meaning.

And that sense of calling applies to churches too. No church can do everything. Each one discovers its strengths. Its charisms. And part of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is being able to recognise and celebrate the gifts of other churches. We don’t need to feel threatened by other traditions. We can just give thanks for the ways in which God has blessed them and celebrate the things that they do well.

And we see a similar approach at play in our Gospel reading today. John the Baptist began his ministry before Jesus. He had his own disciples. But he knew that his purpose was not to point to himself or build up a power base. John’s purpose was to point to Jesus so that he could be revealed to Israel. And when Jesus came along John recognised him immediately. This was the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Previously, John had imagined that Jesus would come in judgement, which he did. But John soon realised that Jesus was much more than that. The lamb of God came not just to judge sin but to be a sacrifice for sins. To take the sins of the world away. John’s description of Jesus takes us right back to the sacrifice of Isaac and the Passover lamb at the Exodus.

When Jesus passes John and two of John’s disciples, John points Jesus out. Look, there is the Lamb of God. And that is our job too. Not to point to ourselves but to Jesus. We don’t have to have all the answers. We don’t need to make other Christians in our image. Sometimes we just need to point people in the right direction and let God do the rest.

John’s disciples follow Jesus. And, as he does on other occasions, Jesus asks them what they want. He doesn’t tell them what they need, although he probably knows. He puts the ball in their court. And that’s an important lesson in mission. Too often when people engage in mission they decide what other people need and do it to them. And that infantilises them and often frustrates them. And they don’t then own what is done. If we can meet people where they are, help them explore their needs and then empower them to find answers then those answers are often much more effective and long-lasting.

John’s followers ask Jesus where he is staying. And he invites them to come and see. It was the tenth hour - about four o’clock. Tea time. Sometimes mission is just about hospitality. About inviting people to come and see. Creating spaces where they can discover Jesus for themselves. Offering them a cup of tea and the chance to chat. St Mary’s has some wonderful spaces. This church and the hall next door. I really love coming here when the these spaces are open to everyone and different members of the community find a welcome here.

The ripples of that invitation from Jesus spread outwards. Having been invited to tea, Andrew, one of the two disciples of John, doesn’t just keep this encounter to himself. He goes straight out and finds his brother Simon Peter and tells him that they have found the Messiah. Because of this, St Andrew is particularly associated with the missionary work of the Church. Simon Peter of course became the leader of the church. The rock on which it was built. But that wouldn’t have happened without Andrew who made the introductions. Sometimes we just need to be the catalyst, the broker, the matchmaker. Sometimes we just need to spot the need or the gift in others.

As we enter the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity I hope that you will pray for our brothers and sisters in other denominations. And also for those who do not yet know Christ. Unity does not mean uniformity. God is at work in all sorts of people in all sorts of ways. And the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a chance for us to celebrate that and get involved in God’s mission. It is not about having all the answers but about being willing to share in the journey. Creating spaces
where God can be encountered and inviting others to come along too. Pointing always to Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Amen.

The Prayers
Prepared by Catherine

Father God, who called Israel to be your servant,

we pray for your servant church:

For those who serve in ordained and licensed or authorised lay ministries

For those who serve in chaplaincies

For those who serve on church councils, committees,

coffee and cleaning teams

For those who serve through their prayers.

Lord of glory,

Hear our prayer.

Jesus, who came into the world to show us how to serve,

we pray for those who serve in the world:

For diplomats and negotiators

For those working in trade or for charities

For those trying to keep the peace in places of unrest or conflict

For those working to protect endangered species and the environment

Lord of glory,

Hear our prayer.

Jesus, who came to the people of ordinary towns and villages,

we pray for those who serve in our community

For small businesses and schools,

For those running fitness, leisure and activity classes

For the library and its volunteers,

And for those who give up time to tidy up litter.

Lord of glory,

Hear our prayer.

Holy Spirit, healer of the sick,

we pray for those who serve as healthcare professionals,

particularly during this current time of crisis.

We pray for carers both paid and unpaid

And remember all who are sick or struggling at this time.

Lord of glory,

Hear our prayer.

Holy Spirit, comforter,

we pray for those who support the dying and the bereaved,

For hospices, funeral directors and celebrants,

For families and friends of those who are dying, or have died.

We pray for those known to us who have died or mourn the loss of a loved one.

Lord of glory,

Hear our prayer.

Holy Trinity,

Help us to serve you together as one

Build us up to strengthen each other

That with Mary, Mark, John and all the saints,

we might shine as a light to the nations

As you called your servant Israel to shine and serve.

Amen.

8th January 2023 6.30pm – Baptism of Christ Service

Posted on January 8, 2023 by St Mary's

8th January 2023 10.30am – Epiphany Eucharist

Posted on January 8, 2023 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 60.1-6

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
For darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will appear over you.
Nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up your eyes and look around;
they all gather together, they come to you;
your sons shall come from far away,
and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms.
Then you shall see and be radiant;
your heart shall thrill and rejoice,
because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you,
the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
A multitude of camels shall cover you,
the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
all those from Sheba shall come.
They shall bring gold and frankincense,
and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

Matthew 2.1-12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
“And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who is to shepherd my people Israel.” ’

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

The Sermon
By Catherine B

Year A Epiphany 8^th January 2023

Isaiah 60.1-6

Matthew 2.1-12

Did any of you see the “Planetary Parade” between Christmas and New Year? For a few evenings most of the planets of our solar system could be seen with the naked eye. Apparently. I heard about it on the radio and went out to have a look. The sky was clear and there were plenty of twinkly dots to be seen. Some of them might have been planets. But my knowledge about astronomy is basic at best, and I don’t have a phone app that would help me identify the dots. It was not obvious where this amazing display of planets was. I was confident only about correctly identifying the crescent moon...and the aeroplane. I didn’t have all the information I needed.

The Magi knew more about the night sky than me. They’d studied it for years and knew the movements of the stars and planets. They could even calculate when something interesting might be expected. Around the time of Jesus’ birth, people were expecting something big. Something that would change their lives dramatically. Something that would restore the status of Jerusalem and God’s people. It was foreseen in Isaiah 60 – Jerusalem once again the centre of worship. Solomon’s temple restored in full, gold and frankincense returned to their rightful place. A king, born from David and Solomon’s lineage back on the throne, ruling in God’s name, just as God wanted. Jerusalem shining out in the darkness – an example to the nations.

The magi were alert. They knew where to look. And when something new appeared in the night sky, they acted. They saw the star and set out. They knew roughly where this star was leading them. So off they went to Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the focus of Isaiah’s prophecy.

But it turns out that the magi didn’t have all the information they needed. They had Isaiah’s prophecy imagining Jerusalem radiating brightly like the rising sun, visible to all the nations around. The star seemed to be heading for Jerusalem, as they’d expected. So that’s where they went. But when they got there, something wasn’t quite right.

Instead of finding a new baby king from David’s line, they found a fully grown and wily king Herod. A king who new nothing about the new baby king, but whose fear of being usurped made him dangerous. The religious leaders provided the missing information needed by the magi, and confirmed the worst to Herod – there was indeed scripture (from Micah 5:2) that foretold the birth of the new king – in Bethlehem not Jerusalem.

Having realised their mistake, and with the encouragement of Herod, the magi went on beyond Jerusalem, just a little further, to Bethlehem. That’s where the star was going all along. When they reached the house where the child was, they were filled with joy and began to worship him – offering back to God the things that had been absent from the temple for so long. Gold for the temple vessels, frankincense to be used after prayers, myrrh to anoint the Messiah.

I didn’t have enough information the other day to identify the planets. But it didn’t matter. I was still able to enjoy my walk round the block on a crisp evening under a clear sky and appreciate the unidentified twinkly dots.

The Magi didn’t have enough information to find the baby king at first. Had they kept their eyes on the star as they approached Jerusalem, maybe it wouldn’t have mattered. But as it was, they were put back on the right path. They made it to Bethlehem and offered the new king their long-desired worship. Isaiah’s prophecy wasn’t fulfilled in exactly the way they were expecting. The new age was here, but it was very much also still to come. The baby was born, but he was helpless and vulnerable, and his life was already under threat from a dangerous king. It was right to worship, but the time had not yet come for the complete and total restoration of the holy city. A glimpse of God’s glory was all that the Magi had. But it was there, and they gave thanks.

Our world is still full of unrest and danger. Restoration of God’s kingdom is still work in progress. But we celebrate Epiphany because the king is already here. And if we care to look up at the stars on a clear night, maybe we like the Magi will have the occasional momentary sense of God’s glory. When we do, let’s give thanks.

1st January 2023 10.30am – Naming of Jesus Eucharist

Posted on January 1, 2023 by St Mary's

The Readings

Numbers 6. 22 - end

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.

Luke 23. 33 - 43

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[ Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

The Sermon
By Rev Dr Alan Billings

We don’t know, we can’t know, when human babies were first given names. That is shrouded in the mists of remote time. Nor do we know why they were given names. Why not just give new-borns a number or a registration, like a car.

Mind you, I don’t suppose many of us would be altogether content to go through life known as BW66RCY.

But it might have happened that way.

We might have been given not a name but a number.. And for large parts of our lives, that is how we are known. The state, for instance, knows us by a number or series of numbers, as much as a name. You have a national insurance number. An NHS number. A passport number. And so on. It would make life a little simpler if the state knew us by one number. I might remember one number. But there we go.

Of course some people don’t like the name they are given by their parents, so they change it. I have a sister-in-law who has never wanted to be known as Felicity – she never felt like a Felicity – but is always called Sue.

So we have names, names that are personal to us and that somehow, we feel, capture us and who we are. We are comfortable with our names. This is why the first step in getting to know someone who is new to us is to ask them their name. It’s why in older age it can be distressing if we can’t remember someone’s name. It’s as if we are losing not just what they answer to, but them.

The naming of Jesus is, then, a very important moment for him and his family.

Jesus is Jewish. Eight days after his birth, therefore, in the Jewish tradition, he is circumcised and named. And the name his parents give him is Jesus. In Hebrew that’s Yeshua, which we sometime translate as Joshua. And it derives from words meaning saviour or physician or healer.

By naming him Jesus, his parents are giving him a name that reminds them of the nature of God. God is the saviour, the healer, the spiritual physician of all people.

But let me return again to the matter of numbers. We are given a number when someone wants to count us. Social services. The insurance company. The bank. The housing department. And so on. It’s a feature of the complex, modern world in which we live. And while that number may be unique to us – no one else has it – it has the effect of dehumanising us. Those who count us in this way are not interested in us, our unique personality, but only in being able to see where we are in a queue or in a digital filing cabinet. A number enables us to be counted, classified, filed. So they give us a number.

The naming of a child – whether at a Jewish circumcision or a Christian baptism – is the great antidote to this aspect of modern life. At circumcision and at baptism, you are given a name, not a number. Because Jewish and Christian faith is not about counting, classifying, categorising or filing, it is about celebrating a particular person, loved by God, not because we fit in some category of people, but because we are this unique individual.

So, on this day when we call to mind the naming of Jesus, remember you too have a name. You count.

Remember that when you are next asked for your number.

Remember that when you next get a heating bill that identifies you as a ten digit number and says you owe them 0 pounds and 0 pence and have seven days in which to pay up or they will send the bailiffs round.

Remember that in those times when you feel lost or lonely or despairing.

You have a name. You count.

Whatever you have done or not done, you cannot be reduced to a number. Like Jesus, you have a name. You don’t exist merely to be counted. You count.

The Prayers
Prepared by David.

In and through the name of Jesus let us pray to the Father.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
in a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
and drives away his fear.

We give thanks for the name of Jesus …
We pray for the worship and mission of Christ’s Church …
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
and calms the troubled breast;
’tis manna to the hungry soul,
and to the weary rest.

We pray for the world and for its healing …
We pray for all who carry heavy loads …
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
and cold my warmest thought;
but when I see thee as thou art,
I’ll praise thee as I ought.

We pray at the beginning of this new year
for renewed discipleship and consecration to the way of the Lord …
Lord, hear us.
Lord, graciously hear us.

Till then I would thy love proclaim
with every fleeting breath;
and may the music of thy name
refresh my soul in death.

We remember with thanksgiving all who have run the race before them …
We pray that, surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses,
we may run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

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

25th December 2022 10.30am – Christmas Day Eucharist

Posted on December 25, 2022December 23, 2022 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 62.6-end

Upon your walls, O Jerusalem,
I have posted sentinels;
all day and all night
they shall never be silent.
You who remind the Lord,
take no rest,
and give him no rest
until he establishes Jerusalem
and makes it renowned throughout the earth.
The Lord has sworn by his right hand
and by his mighty arm:
I will not again give your grain
to be food for your enemies,
and foreigners shall not drink the wine
for which you have laboured;
but those who garner it shall eat it
and praise the Lord,
and those who gather it shall drink it
in my holy courts.

Go through, go through the gates,
prepare the way for the people;
build up, build up the highway,
clear it of stones,
lift up an ensign over the peoples.
The Lord has proclaimed
to the end of the earth:
Say to daughter Zion,
‘See, your salvation comes;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.’
They shall be called, ‘The Holy People,
The Redeemed of the Lord’;
and you shall be called, ‘Sought Out,
A City Not Forsaken.’

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 Sermon
By Rev Dr Alan Billings

One of my sons has three children. Two are lovely, unobtrusive and mild. The third is also lovely but – well – noisy and in your face.

He was in his school nativity play last week. I asked what part he played. He was an angel.

Of course he was. He had to be very still and look as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. It was probably the hardest thing he has had to do in his young life so far.

In the run up to Christmas there have been countless nativity plays like this across the country in schools, town centres and churches, and we may have been sending and receiving Christmas cards that tell the same story: depictions of Mary, Joseph and the baby, lying in a manger.

I looked at our cards just before writing this. Like the school plays, they had one thing in common. They were all about as far away from the reality of Christ’s birth as you could get. They were sanitised. The holy family were in immaculately laundered robes, the baby nestled in straw as soft as tissue and the animals knew nothing of mud or blood or manure. Christmas as Walt Disney might imagine it.

But I think there will be people in some parts of the world this morning who will hear the Christmas story quite differently. They will not sanitise it or Disneyfy it but rather marvel at it.

Think of someone who woke up this morning in Ukraine. Woke up in a basement under the bombed and battered building where last year, before the war, they had a very different Christmas in their apartment on a floor above.

Today, they will identify immediately with this young couple who, like them, during the night just gone, had no heating, little light, probably not much food, no one they could contact if they needed medical help, and whose overwhelming emotion was one of anxiety, if not fear. Many Ukrainian families will find echoes of their own lives in today’s gospel.

And some, like Mary, may have had a baby born last night in such conditions. The Christmas story they will hear today is a story of people who have very little and who struggle to survive. Yes, there is joy that a new life has come safely into the world. But it is joy amid hardship and nagging worry about an uncertain future.

But because they hear the story of this birth unsanitised, the Ukrainian family will also marvel at it. They will marvel at what is the central message of today, that in this child, God comes among us, takes human flesh, becomes one of us.

And God does that in these harsh conditions and circumstances. He makes himself known in a way no one could have predicted or guessed, a way which, at first glance, seems unpromising and hard to understand. As a baby. In a manger. To people who have nothing.

We are not celebrating this birth in the stable. Nor are we celebrating it in a ruined apartment block in Ukraine. So what can we take from it? What might resonate for us?

Look again at the final part of the gospel reading. Notice Mary’s response. The angels depart, the shepherds go back to their flocks rejoicing and ecstatic. Mary notes what they say, treasures the words and ponders them in her heart.

I think we can all do that this morning. Treasure what you see and hear and experience in this Christmas morning eucharist. The one who brought all things into being, the one who holds all time eternally in his hands, is not remote from us, or disinterested in us, or unmoved by our circumstances. He knows what it is like to live our sort of life, not by observing it from the outside, but by living it from the inside, the inside of a human skin.

From this day, our human life is also the lived experience of the one from whom we come and to whom we go.

Let us leave church this morning, then, treasuring those thoughts and pondering them in our hearts. For in them is our comfort and joy.

The Prayers
Prepared by Veronica

Jesus, Saviour of the world, we thank you for coming to this world, not as a great ruler, but as a baby, born in a stable, because there was no room in the inn. You reached out to ordinary people from the start.
Jesus, Saviour,

Hear our prayer.

We thank you that the first people to be called by the angels to come and worship you were humble shepherds, watching their flocks by night.
Jesus, Saviour,

Hear our prayer.

We pray for all in need this Christmas, suffering war, oppression or hunger. Give us grace never to forget those who are anxious, worried that they cannot afford to eat or heat their homes. Above all, may we never forget all your people in other lands who are suffering real hunger and need.
Jesus, Saviour,

Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are suffering in mind, body or soul at this time. May they know your healing grace, and know something of the peace and joy of Christmas. In a moment of quiet we pray for all known to us who are sick at this time…………..
Jesus, Saviour,

Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who have passed into your nearer presence, our relations, friends and close family. We remember those especially dear to us, and commend them to your gracious mercy…………
Jesus, Saviour,

Hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of Mary, Mark, John and all your saints, we commend ourselves, our partner parishes, and all your peoples to your unfailing love.

Jesus, Saviour, Child of Mary,

You know us and love us,

you share our lives and hear our prayer.

Glory to you for ever and ever.

Amen.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material which is reproduced here is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council 2010

24th December 2022 11.30pm – Midnight Christmas Eucharist

Posted on December 24, 2022December 24, 2022 by St Mary's

The Readings

Hebrews 1.1-4

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

John 1.1-14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

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. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

The Sermon
By Kath B

Well here we are again! After all the build up, Christmas has finally arrived. I don’t know whether you’re one of those who plans and prepares for it methodically and meticulously for weeks or even months in advance or whether you’re the opposite and it’s all a mad last minute rush or maybe like me you’re somewhere in between these approaches, just doing the best you can to make it as good as possible for everyone. Whichever you are, I hope that your way of marking Christmas has come together or that you’re at least on the home straight and a time of relaxation is in sight.

If we’re fortunate Christmas may involve the giving and receiving of gifts and this is generally regarded as a nice thing to happen, especially if the gifts are given thoughtfully and considerately. However, as we probably all know from experience, selecting the right gift for someone can be difficult. What would they like? What would be useful to them or what might be a real treat that they wouldn’t get for themselves? All these questions can go through our minds and there can be a lot of stress and angst involved as we scour the shops or wrack our brains as we try to decide what to buy or make as our gift. In order to give though, we need a recipient who is willing to accept our offering. Without one, we wouldn’t be able to give. Assuming this goes ahead though, I know we’re not supposed to have expectations when we give something but I think we all secretly hope that our gift will be liked and appreciated and used otherwise it’s all a bit pointless.

We’re here tonight to celebrate the birth of Jesus. God’s ultimate gift to us of his only Son. But our reading from John tells us that many of the people at the time were not willing to receive his gift which is very sad because they deprived themselves of so much. It would be easy for us to be judgmental about what appears to be their ungracious refusal to accept God’s gift but perhaps we should bear in mind, we have the benefit of hindsight and know more of the story than they did.

When we long for something and we’ve waited a very long time for it, if it finally arrives in a very unexpected way, we might take some convincing that what has arrived is really, genuinely what we had been longing for. The people were awaiting a messiah, a king and the manner of Jesus’ arrival probably didn’t fit with their expectations so maybe we should be a little bit understanding of their behaviour. Would we have been any different?

Fortunately for us though, some of them did accept God’s gift of his Son. They believed in him, stuck with him and by him so the light that John speaks of did not go out. We are here this Christmas to celebrate the arrival and continuation of that light and to play our part in showing it to others in a world that is in some ways just as hostile and unaccepting as when Jesus first arrived. What we might wish to consider is, what are we each doing with this ultimate gift from God? A question I was struck by when I read it recently was “How do my actions reveal the light and love of Christ to others?”. From the same publication I read this quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer which reminds us of Jesus’ earthly as well as divine nature.

“As long as there are people, Christ will walk the earth as your neighbour, as the one through whom God calls you, speaks to you, makes demands on you. - He lives in the form of a human being among us.”

Lord please give us the courage to let your light shine through us in the way we live our lives and thank you for your ultimate gift of making your Son one of us.

Amen.

The Prayers
Prepared by Oli.

In peace let us pray to the Lord.

Father, in this holy night your Son our Saviour
was born in human flesh.
Renew your Church as the Body of Christ.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night there was no room for your Son in the inn.
Protect with your love those who have no home
and all who live in poverty.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night Mary, in the pain of labour,
brought your Son to birth.
Hold in your hand all who are in pain or distress.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night your Christ came as a light shining in the darkness.
Bring comfort to all who suffer in the sadness of our world.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night the angels sang, ‘Peace to God’s people on earth.’
Strengthen those who work for peace and justice
in all the world.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night shepherds in the field heard good tidings of joy.
Give us grace to preach the gospel of Christ’s redemption.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night strangers found the Holy Family,
and saw the baby lying in the manger.
Bless our homes and all whom we love.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night heaven is come down to earth,
and earth is raised to heaven.
Hold in your hand all those who have passed through death
in the hope of your coming kingdom.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

In this holy night Christians the world over celebrate Christ’s birth.
Open our hearts that he may be born in us today.
Holy God
hear our prayer.

Father,
in this holy night angels and shepherds worshipped at
the manger throne.
Receive the worship we offer in fellowship with Mary,
Joseph and the saints
through him who is your Word made flesh,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

24th December 2022 4.00pm – Christingle Service

Posted on December 24, 2022 by St Mary's

The Reading

Luke 2. 1 - 20

The Prayers

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.

18th December 2022 10.30am – Fourth Sunday of Advent Eucharist

Posted on December 18, 2022December 22, 2022 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 7.10-16

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.

Matthew 1.18-end

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel’,
which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

The Sermon
By Rev Dr Matthew Rhodes

Isaiah 7.10-16 and Matthew 1.18-25

My wife Cathy is the diocesan environment officer but before that she was an
obstetrician. Obstetrics is a very demanding but also very fulfilling profession. Over
the years Cathy has looked after hundreds of mothers and their babies. She has a
vast family of children that she has helped to bring into the world. As her husband I
have heard a bit about some of them. Always anonymously of course. Sometimes I
have baptised them, but on the whole I have been a bystander. One step removed
from these miracles of new life. And I’ve always felt a slight sense of a connection
with Joseph who appears every three years in the lectionary on this Sunday. He
stands on the edge of the story of Jesus’ birth. He doesn’t get many mentions and
then he fades into the background. We assume that he was older than Mary and that
he probably died before Jesus began his public ministry.

We don’t tend to read the beginning of Matthew’s Gospel. It starts with a long
genealogy from Abraham to Jesus via Joseph. It is important for Matthew, writing for
a Jewish Christians audience, that Jesus is a descendant of Abraham, and more
importantly of David. That’s why he was born in Bethlehem, David’s town, because
Joseph was of the house and lineage of David. But then we have today’s Gospel.
Which makes very clear that Joseph was not Jesus’ biological father.
So is this the punchline to a very elaborate joke on Matthew’s part or is this a way of
saying that Jesus was both human and divine? Matthew is ambiguous. As Paul puts
it in his Letter to the Romans, as to his human nature Jesus was a descendant of
David, but through the Spirit of holiness he was declared to be the Son of God.
In the very patriarchal culture into which Jesus was born, it was very important that
Mary was a virgin when she was married. Matthew sees this as the fulfilment of
Isaiah’s prophecy. The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will
call him Immanuel. But this passage from Isaiah was written for a particular historical
context which deserves a bit of unpacking.

At the time, Israel was divided into two kingdoms, Ephraim in the north and Judah in
the south. Ephraim had joined forces with Syria to wage war on Judah. So far, they
had not been successful but the King of Judah, King Ahaz, was afraid that his
kingdom might be conquered. In our reading, Isaiah tried to tell King Ahaz to trust in
God because the alliance between Ephraim and Syria would fall apart. But instead,
Ahaz turned to their common enemy Assyria for help. He failed to trust in God. And
this was in marked contrast to Mary and Joseph who were able to trust.
In the passage from Isaiah, we have the Hebrew word almah which means ‘young
woman’ rather than virgin. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old
Testament, this is translated as parthenos which does mean virgin, and Matthew
uses this translation too. In the past, the church has got very hung up about whether
Mary was a virgin or not. You may remember the controversies around David
Jenkins the former Bishop of Durham in the 1980’s. Nowadays with things like IVF
and egg and sperm donors and surrogate mothers we are less concerned about
whether Mary was a virgin or not. The way in which we treat Mary says as much
about us as it does about her. She reflects our humanity back to us which is
important for many Christians around the world. The only thing we have to watch is
that because Mary can appear to be a fairly blank canvass, her image has been
used to manipulate people, and especially women.

The reason why Isaiah talked about a young woman being with child is that the
timescale for what was about to happen to Judah was nine months. And this of
course is the time it takes for a woman to carry a child. At the end of nine months
Isaiah prophesied that the crisis would be over. By then it would be clear that God
had really been with Judah all the time and the name of the child would reflect this.
He would be called Immanuel which means God with us. Not only would the alliance
between Ephraim and Syria have broken down by then but Assyria would have
invaded them and scattered their people.

We are told that this child would eat curds and honey which sounds lovely. But if we
read on in Isaiah, we find that Assyria turned on Judah and scattered its people. The
reason why the child would eat curds and honey rather than bread and figs and
grapes is that the people became nomads, refugees, wandering the land with
perhaps just a cow or a few goats. Mary and Joseph of course became refugees in
Egypt and we see them in the lives of so many on the move today. As ever, the Bible
has echoes, not just within itself but through history.

The fall of Judah came as a great shock. The coming of Immanuel is not just about
peace and security. God is with us but if we do not acknowledge and trust God then
things can go badly wrong. In our Gospel Joseph is inclined not to trust God. Just as
Ahaz forms a strategic alliance rather than listen to Isaiah, so Joseph is initially
inclined to break off his engagement quietly. That would probably have been the
sensible, worldly thing to do. And yet Joseph does not do this. He takes Mary as his
wife and Jesus as his own son. Sometimes we too need to listen to dreams and
angels and step out in faith as Joseph and Mary did.

Every Advent and Christmas I am struck again by how different the story could have
been. How vulnerable Mary and her baby were. Birth in this country is not without
risk and around the world, maternal mortality is still very high. Being an unmarried
mother is not really an issue in this country but it is in many other parts of the world.
In the culture of his time, no one would have blamed Joseph for breaking off his
engagement. But he took a risk He played his part in the drama and took on Jesus
as his own. In the story of the nativity, God risks everything with the human race and
challenges us to take risks as well. Jesus comes to us in the vulnerability of a tiny
baby and he invites us to be vulnerable too. Amen.

11th December 2022 10.30am – Third Sunday of Advent Eucharist

Posted on December 11, 2022December 10, 2022 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 35.1-10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly,
and rejoice with joy and singing.
The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God.

Strengthen the weak hands,
and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
‘Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God.
He will come with vengeance,
with terrible recompense.
He will come and save you.’

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then the lame shall leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
the burning sand shall become a pool,
and the thirsty ground springs of water;
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

A highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Holy Way;
the unclean shall not travel on it,
but it shall be for God’s people;
no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray.
No lion shall be there,
nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
they shall not be found there,
but the redeemed shall walk there.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
and come to Zion with singing;
everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Matthew 11.2-11

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’

As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written,
“See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.”
Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The Sermon
By Joe P

Life has changed for John the Baptist since our last Lectionary reading.

The last we heard about him, he was the ‘new kid in town’ prophet, preaching – literally – in the wilderness to all who would come and visit him. We saw him referring to members of the religious establishment who were present as ‘a brood of vipers’ and asking people why they wanted to be baptised. He was also pretty ‘hard core’ about what might be expected; “Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” – and John reminded his audience that the fires were already being lit.

This was certainly what his audience would expect from a prophet, even if it was quite uncomfortable and scary!

But today – John’s in jail. Some of his preaching hit a little too close to home for King Herod, and John experienced the usual consequences of preaching truth to power.

But he is still in touch with his followers, and sends them out to find Jesus, who John has heard of. And the question he asks is “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”

Those of you with a long memory may recall that when I preached about John the Baptist some years ago, I mentioned the following observation made by John Meynard Keynes about Sir Isaac Newton:

“He was the last of the magicians, the last of the Babylonians and Sumerians, the last great mind which looked out on the visible and intellectual world with the same eyes as those who began to build our intellectual inheritance.”

Newton’s work started the changes in scientific thinking that led to where we are today. And similarly, John the Baptist; a wildman, a voice crying out in the wilderness, carried on in the prophetic tradition of God’s people, whilst at the same time looking forward to something new; the presence of God incarnate amongst the people.

Like Newton, John sits between two traditions; he is in many ways the last traditional Hebrew prophet, looking out on the relationship of God with His people like all the people and prophets before him. But he is also looking forward to the coming of Christ, and the changing of the relationship between God and His creation that Jesus’s coming will bring about.

In this season of Advent, John’s prophetic ministry provides a pause, a wait, a sense of anticipation between the Old Testament and the Gospel. And John is now doing that waiting in jail, hearing about what’s happening through his followers, unable to preach himself.

John’s followers turn up at one of Jesus’s gatherings. We hear:

Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’

They leave to go back to John and pass Jesus’s word on.

Now, does Jesus explicitly answer John’s question?

John asks is “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”

I get the feeling that John’s followers, taking Jesus’s message back to John, might have said to each other ‘John isn’t going to like this…’

After all, John has been preaching his version of ‘hellfire and damnation’ to the people. He’s been the wild man of the wilderness, preaching wrath towards those he felt needed it. He’s been threatening the unrighteous with God’s axe and winnowing fork, and reminding them that the axe is nice and sharp at the foot of the tree, and that the flames are good and hot.

And this Jesus fellow – who looks like he could be ‘the one’, is going on about healing people and preaching good news to the poor.

We don’t hear what John himself has to say, but after John’s followers have left, Jesus speaks to the people about John the Baptist – some of whom will have been to see John speak.

“A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.”

He suggests that what the people expected to see when they went to hear John is not what they got – we gathered that from our earlier readings about John’s preaching style. But they did go to see a prophet, and he was the prophet that spoke of Jesus’s own coming.

Not mentioned in our reading today, Jesus finishes his words to the crowd with the sentence:

“Yet Wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.”

Wisdom is shown to be right by what it does.

And surely – healing the blind, the lame, the deaf is good and righteous. It is a sign of Wisdom.

We should be able to see Wisdom by its actions. And it might not always be what we expect it to be.

He’s not said it explicitly to John’s followers, but I think that Jesus is expecting John to take heart from his words, that good things – life-changing, righteous worthwhile things – are being done for people by Jesus in his ministry.

John may be taken by surprise that Jesus’s way of bringing about the Kingdom of God is not what he expects – but he will have to admit that the good things that Jesus is doing are worthwhile.

And then there’s the last part of Jesus’s answer to John’s followers:

“And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.”

This is very reminiscent of the Beatitudes – we could add this on to the end of the Beatitudes with a small change:

“Blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.”

I think this is John’s answer.

Jesus is saying ‘Whatever I do that impacts you, that might cause you offence or dismay, don’t be offended by it. In fact, you’ll be blessed if you’re not offended.’

This sounds a bit strange – but we need to remember that Jesus is a rule breaker; a game-changer; He is here to radically change the relationship of God and man. With Jesus, God is with us – in the flesh. Jesus’s preaching and actions would give people as many questions and concerns as John’s would.

Many would be offended; but to follow Jesus, and be blessed by him – do not be offended by Jesus’s teachings.

A lesson that should also be aware of; Jesus’s teachings may offend our personal beliefs; we may be taken aback by some of the things He says and does, but by refusing to take offence and embracing His teachings – we will be blessed.

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.

Come to our local churches as we prepare for, and hold,

our Christmas services and events.

Come to the worldwide Church.

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.

Come to this world where war, violence or environmental disaster have made deserts of places.

Come to this world of displaced, homeless and hungry people.

Come and enable our deserts to blossom.

Come into the hearts of governments and leaders.

Before you rulers will stand in silence.

Maranatha:

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to the suffering as Saviour and comforter.

Come to all who are without heat or comfortable homes this winter.

Come to those coping with illness or stressful situations.

Come to those known personally 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.

Come to all who mourn the loss of a loved one.

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.

Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay;

give new courage to your people,

who trust in your love.

By your coming, raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom

on earth as in heaven,

where you live and reign with the Father and the Spirit,

one God for ever and ever.

Amen.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council 2006

St Marys Walkley

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

Author: St Mary's

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