18th February 2024 10.30am – 1st Sunday of Lent – Eucharist

Posted on February 18, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

1 Peter 3.18-22

For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water. And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.

Mark 1.9-15

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’

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

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe - to be added shortly

We pray for the Church of Christ, for Bishop Pete and Bishop Sophie,
our Archbishops Justin and Stephen, all here who lead us in worship
and prayer, and all those whose time and talents are given to St
Mary’s, St John’s and St Mark’s.
Lord, meet us in the silence:
give us strength and hear our prayer.

Lord, as we enter into the quiet and thoughtful Season of Lent, we
pray that we have the strength, patience and courage to give up
what really matters for Lent; anger, greed, hatred and turning our
backs on your teachings. We pray that through our Lenten discipline
we learn how to give ourselves to you and to your service in the
world. We pray for those preparing to enter the body of your Church
through Confirmation and Baptism at this time.
Lord, meet us in the silence:
give us strength and hear our prayer.

We pray all those wounded, suffering, imprisoned and displaced in
Gaza, that the current crisis may be brought to a just and peaceful
conclusion. We pray for those who have died in this conflict, and the
wider conflicts in the Middle East. We pray for the people of Ukraine
and hope for a just and peaceful resolution to that conflict.
Lord, meet us in the silence:
give us strength and hear our prayer.

We pray for our community here in Walkley, and for the city of
Sheffield, and for our neighbours and friends. We keep in our
prayers those who are homeless at this time. We pray that during
this season we remember all those less fortunate than ourselves and
do what we can to support them.
Lord, meet us in the silence:
give us strength and hear our prayer.

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

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

Finally, Lord, we silently bring before you those special to us, and
those issues and concerns that we have in our own lives.
Lord, meet us in the silence:
give us strength and hear our prayer.

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

14th February 2024 7.30pm – Ash Wednesday – Eucharist

Posted on February 14, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

2 Corinthians 5.20b-6.10

We entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,
‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’
See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Matthew 6.1-6, 16-21

‘Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Sermon
Prepared by David, Reader at St Mary's.

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

Treasure is such an evocative word isn’t it? What do you think of when you hear it? Old English coins found buried in a field? Spanish galleons stuffed with gold and silver chased by pirates? Chests of jewels: diamonds, rubies and emeralds? Or something else?

In ancient societies treasure was stored in palaces and temples, under guard, and these places were often plundered when nations fought, or were the target of the thieves Jesus refers to in our Gospel reading.

To store up treasures for ourselves in secure places is a fairly human thing to do. It’s part of how we are wired. Like many other mammals we have a need to ensure we have sufficient to eat and drink and live comfortably. In our society that means having enough to pay for those necessities of life. There is nothing inherently wrong with ensuring we, and those we care for have enough to live. We might think that there is a ceiling to this though. That we reach a level of comfort and don’t need any more money or things.

There was a survey conducted of the ultrarich in the 1990s. They were interviewed and found to suffer from high levels of anxiety related to not having enough money. There were asked how much would you need to be financially secure? Those worth 1 million dollars said 2 million. Those worth 10 million said 20 million and those worth 100 million said 200 million. However much treasure they had, it wasn’t enough. They were still afraid of moth, rust and thieves. Make of that what you will.

But treasure doesn’t have to be something of great monetary value. In the bible treasure is also used to describe something less tangible, like wisdom, the message of the gospel, the kingdom of heaven or people such as the nation of Israel.

I wrote this sermon sat a few feet away from a cardboard box, several of them in fact. This one is different from the others. As well as carrying the name Panasonic, the electronics company that made the video cassette recorder it previously contained, it has written on it the words “Jean’s treasures”. The contents belonged to my mother, who kept things she placed value on. I haven’t fully unpacked it, but most of the items it contains relate to her father. There are notebooks and tools, he was a carpenter by trade, postcards of Italy and North Africa, he served in World War 2, and a carved woodcut he made of the crest of the Royal Engineers.

These were things she cared about, not because they have monetary value or are particularly shiny, but because they belonged to someone she loved and cared for. There were other boxes, old exercise books and children’s art made by my sister and I, or photos of us all as a family, on our own, or with various friends.

Treasure doesn’t have to be worth money to be valued highly. It can have an emotional value due to where it’s come from and who it’s associated with.

We gather possessions, some may have monetary value, others emotional value. This is part of the human condition. Having possessions, to a degree, isn’t an issue for God. Greed, craving more or trying to hold on to all of them is.

I will let some of these possessions go, not because I’m particularly holy or good at shedding possessions, but because they don’t have the same emotional value for me that they did for mum. And what I consider treasure now will likely find its way on eBay or be thrown away after I’m gone.

Our treasures, whether of monetary or emotional value will pass away. Postcards fade, wood rots, metal rusts.
So what does storing treasures in heaven look like? And why heaven?

Store up treasures in heaven because, unlike the palaces and temples of old or the banks and safety deposit boxes of the now, God ensures no moth or rust will consume, and no thief will come in and steal.

What do heavenly treasures look like? Our Gospel gives us some good pointers. Give generously to those who need it and pray privately and humbly. Other than that I recommend some light reading for Lent and suggest Matthew 25.31-40, the parable of the Sheep and the Goats.

Here we will find what God expects us to treasure.

11th February 2024 10.30am – Sunday next before Lent – Eucharist

Posted on February 11, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

2 Corinthians 4.3-6

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Mark 9.2-9

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

The Sermon
By the Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Some years ago, I remember watching an interview on Channel 4 television
which moved me very much.

The interviewer was Melvyn Bragg, the broadcaster. The person being
interviewed was Dennis Potter, a writer, well-known at that time for his
television plays. Those among us of a certain age may recall ‘The Singing
Detective’.

Melvyn Bragg – whose daughter, by the way, is an Anglican priest – knew
that when he interviewed Dennis Potter it would be the last interview Potter
would give, because he was dying. He had an incurable pancreatic cancer
and died a few weeks later.

Bragg asked Potter how he was doing which prompted him to say how, when
you only have limited time left, you learn to live, as he put it, in the Now.
He sits, he said, at his desk and writes, looking out of the window into his
garden. Then he spoke about how recently, as he looked out, he saw a tree:
“...at this season, the blossom is out in full bloom … It’s a plum tree. It looks
like apple blossom, but its white, and looking at it, instead of saying, ‘Oh,
that’s nice blossom’.... last week, looking at it through the window... I see it is
the whitest, frothiest, blossomest blossom that there ever could be … The
nowness of everything is absolutely wondrous, and if people could see that,
you know. There’s no way of telling you; you have to experience it, but the
glory of it, if you like, the comfort of it, the reassurance.”

When I first heard him speak like this about the plum tree in blossom – the
whitest, the frothiest, blossomest blossom that there ever could be - I thought
immediately of today’s gospel.

Potter sees his plum tree transfigured. It’s the same old plum tree as it ever
was, but having but a short time to live, living therefore in the Now, he had
this remarkable experience: ‘...the whitest, frothiest, blossomest blossom that
ever could be ...’

All because his illness caused him to focus absolutely on the Now of the
present moment.

I think something like this happens to the disciples with Jesus on the
mountain. They have put aside the everyday concerns and for a little while
they live in what Dennis Potter called the Now. Their focus is on the one who
has brought them there, and as they look towards him his garments became
glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could bleach them.

The blossom of the plum tree became the whitest, the frothiest, blossomest
blossom that ever could be.

And as Jesus is transfigured before them, the disciples are transported to
another level of understanding. Jesus is not just another teacher, another
rabbi, but one who embodies in his own person the authority of the moral law,
the Torah, which Moses brought to the Jews, and the authority of the
prophets, who taught what the Torah meant for everyday living, as Elijah did,
the greatest of the prophets.

Potter spoke about how wondrous his experience was, and the glory of it, and
the comfort and reassurance.

I think the disciples experienced all of that on the mountain: the
wondrousness; the glory; and the comfort. And it was all a great reassurance
– a reassurance that they were right to put their trust in Jesus. That he was
the one who was to come.

And there was something else that Dennis Potter showed to me in that
interview. It was this: that these moments of transfiguration are not
experiences of a religious past, but experiences that any of us might have at
any time. When something happens that absolutely holds our attention and
we are for the moment living in the moment, in the Now, we too can know
these experiences of transfiguration.

His garments became glistening, intensely white, as no fuller on earth could
bleach them. The blossom was the whitest, the frothiest, blossomest blossom
that ever could be.

I don’t know whether we can make these moments of transfiguration happen
– by taking ourselves off to somewhere quiet, perhaps. In this church. When
we sing or pray. I don’t know whether we can make them happen or whether
they just happen, catch us out perhaps. But when they do happen let us
recognise them for what they are and be glad in them: the wondrousness; the
glory; the comfort.

Moments of transfiguration that reassure us that this is God’s world and it is
good.

We need those moments of reassurance when we come down from the
mountain and return to business as usual in the plain.

The Prayers
Prepared by Veronica.

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

Oh God, as we prepare for Lent and think of Good Friday to come, we ask for your grace that we
may observe Lent dutifully. May we keep to any disciplines we have decided to maintain, and also
reach out to help those in need of support.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the peace of the world, especially in those places where there is currently war. We pray
especially for the Holy Land, that Israelis and Palestinians and surrounding countries may learn to
accommodate each other, rather than try to dominate. We pray also for Ukraine, that Putin may
accept that country’s right to decide for itself how it wants to be ruled.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray that humankind may learn to cherish your earth before it is too late, and that the richer
countries of the world will take measures to protect poorer areas in tropical zones to relieve global
warming, by switching to more environmentally sources of energy.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the City of Sheffield, and all who are working to make it an even better place to live. We
give you thanks for our suburb of Walkley, and all its organisations working together to improve it
still further.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We ask your blessing on all who are ill at this time, and also all who are caring for them, both family
and professional health workers. We remember the king at this time, and all other sufferers of
cancer. In a moment of quiet we think of those known to us…………
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who have died recently, whether from advanced age, illness or warfare. We entrust
them all, and all who mourn to your tender care…………….
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 creation to your unfailing love.

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

4th February 2024 10.30am – 2nd Sunday Before Lent

Posted on February 4, 2024February 7, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

Colossians 1.15-20

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

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 Shan R

Lord, open our eyes to your presence, open our minds to your grace, open our lips to your praises,
open our hearts to your love, open our lives to your healing, and be found among us. Amen.

Our Gospel reading today is one many of us associate with midnight mass at Christmas, a time
when we gather with a sense of anticipation and expectancy, waiting for that moment that the clock
strikes midnight and Christmas truly begins as Jesus’s presence in the world is announced.

Through his incarnation, Jesus was revealed to us, the Word made flesh, the light of the world, the
revealer of the heart and mind of God. In Jesus, we discover a teacher and a saviour who came to
comfort us with love and light before challenging and commissioning us to share that love and light
with others.

Nothing can take away the presence of God in our lives or our communities across the world. It’s
easy for me to say this when I’ve got a roof over my head, a regular income, food, clean water,
physical security, family and friends, health and a sense of purpose.

Some of you may well be asking, where can I find God when I’m sad, sick, anxious or lonely.
Where is God in the ups and downs of life? Where is God in situations like Gaza or Israel, in the
small unstable boats crossing the Channel, in the knife-crime present on our cities streets?

John, one of Jesus’ chosen disciples writes to inform his readers of the truth concerning Jesus
Christ. Near the ending of his gospel, John states that he has written that his audience “may
believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing they may have life in his
name” (John 20:31). John is writing in a historical and biographical genre. He is writing, partially
from eye-witness testimony, the history of his teacher while attempting to convince his readers of
what he believes to be the truth, that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah, the person
prophesied in the Hebrew Bible who would deliver the Jewish nation. In the rest of the gospel,
John shows us Jesus in action, interacting with troubled people, performing healings, and teaching
truth. John uses the imagery of light and darkness telling us that in the midst of darkness we have
Light in Jesus, and as a result of that, we have Hope.

When people are suffering in any way, it’s hard to look on the positive side of things, to feel
optimistic, to see the light and look for signs of hope. Rather than watching the news and only
hearing the dark things like the rising death tolls, the desperation of people who are having to
move from place to place, the hunger and asking where is the presence of God shining in this,
might we be able to focus our attention on what is less reported and less seen, the people of light
and hope searching amongst the rubble, the doctors and nurses continuing to care for those who
are sick or injured despite lack of resources, both here in the UK and abroad, the people
campaigning for peace, the Muslim family I saw in Manchester kneeling down to pray at their set
prayer time despite the clamour of a noisy protest resounding around them. Each of these people
offers a glimmer of light into the direst of situations, bringing help, hope, love and comfort to others.
Jesus is present as an every day God, in ordinary people and ordinary acts of kindness,
compassion and love. Our Diocese encourages us to be Lights for Christ, to live out our baptismal
calling by being lights in the world – to live for Jesus in our everyday lives, not just on one
occasion, but as a lifelong commitment. Let us pray and seek God’s will for us as we gather and
participate in the life and worship of the Church, read and reflect on the Scriptures, receive
Communion and most importantly go out into the world with hearts and minds open to our lives to
the Holy Spirit working in us and through us as we go about our daily lives.

Last week, I found a version of the Gospel we have heard today which has been rewritten into the
present tense by Deidre Morris. Rather than making it feel like God was present in the past, it
brings a sense of immediacy and presence to the reading.

In the beginning is the Word, and the Word is with God, and the Word is God, He is with God in the
beginning. Through him all things are being made; without him nothing is being created. In him is
life, and that life is the light of all people. The light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness did
not understand it.

Here is a man sent from God, whose name is John. He comes as a witness to testify concerning
that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself is not the light, he comes only as a
witness to the light. The true light that gives light to every person is coming into the world. He is in
the world, and though the world is ever being made through him, the world does not recognise him.
He comes to that which is his own, yet his own people do not receive him. Yet to all who do receive
him, those who believe in his name, he gives the right to become children of God - children born
not of natural descent, nor of human decision, or of a husband’s will, but of God.

The Word is becoming flesh and living among us. We can see his glory, the glory of the one and
only, who comes from God, full of grace and truth.

We are called to be like John in the world, witnesses to our knowledge of Jesus, and people who
reflect the light of Christ into the world. Amen.

The Prayers
God our Father, hear us when we pray to you faith.We give you thanks for this day, for our lives and the amazing world you have given us to live in. May we take the time to see and truly appreciate what we have. Help us to be good stewards and to look after it for this generation and the generations to come.