25th January 2026 at 10.30am – Conversion of Paul Eucharist

Posted on January 25, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Acts 9.1-22

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. For three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah.

Matthew 19.27-end

Then Peter said in reply, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man is seated on the throne of his glory, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

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

Encouraged by our fellowship with all the saints,
let us make our prayers to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, your Son called the saints to leave their past behind
them and to follow him as his disciples in the way of the cross. Look
with mercy upon those whom he calls today, marks with the cross
and makes his disciples within the Church.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son is the Prince of Peace.
Strengthen the bond of peace among us and in our troubled world.
Disturb the hearts of all who would make war; touch the wounds of all who are afflicted by war.
Let the light of your love shine in all the dark places of our world,
and hasten the day when all peoples may dwell in peace with justice.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son formed around him a company who were no longer
servants but friends, and he called all those who obeyed him his
brother and sister and mother. Look with mercy upon our families
and our friends and upon the communities in which we share.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son sent out disciples to preach and to heal the sick. Look with
mercy on all those who yearn to hear the good news of salvation,
and renew among your people the gifts of healing.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son shows us how to be patient with one another in humility and gentleness.
May the light he shines on our path lead us towards unity
and help us heal the wounds of division and indifference
that often break communities apart.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son promised to those who followed him that they would sit
on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel and would share the
banquet of the kingdom. According to your promise, look with
mercy on those who have walked with Christ in this life and now
have passed through death.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Almighty God,
you have built your Church upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone:
so join us together in unity of spirit by their doctrine,
that we may be made a holy temple acceptable to you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

18th January 2026 at 10.30am – Second Sunday of Epiphany Eucharist

Posted on January 18, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings.

1 Corinthians 1.18-end

For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.’
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’

John 2.1-11

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The Sermon
Prepared by The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

We’ve just read about Jesus’ first miracle.

And I wondered if you thought there was anything strange about it?
What I mean is this.

When we think about the miracles we think of something amazing, but also
something that is done to meet a need, often a desperate need. A blind man
receives his sight. A woman, plagued by continuous menstrual bleeding, is
cured. Loaves and fishes are multiplied and hungry people are fed.

A miracle is something astonishing, but also something that meets great
need.

But this miracle is not like that.

There’s a wedding reception. They run out of wine. It’s an embarrassment but
hardly a desperate need. Yet Jesus turns water into wine and John records it.
So what is going on?

Some years ago, I went to a conference of theological college tutors in the
Holy Land. We were invited to attend Christmas midnight mass in the Greek
Orthodox Church in Bethlehem.

The service began at 9 o’clock in the evening and carried on for the next four
hours.

Bethlehem is not in modern Israel. No Jews live there now. It’s a Palestinian
town, with an Arab population of Christians and Muslims, but it’s under Israeli
occupation.

When we were there, the Arab population had been holding protests and all
Palestinian towns were under a night time curfew, enforced by the army.
Every night of the year, that is, except this one, Christmas Eve.

So all the Arab Christians had come out, by night, into the church, for these
four precious hours. The church was packed: children, teenagers, mothers
carrying babies, there were grandmothers and grandfathers, some barely
able to walk.

If you have ever been to an Orthodox service you will know that they are long.
Priests disappear for long stretches of time behind a screen at one end called
an iconastasis. There is nowhere to sit; people mill around, chatting and
talking until the priests reappear for the next piece of the action – to give out
blessed bread or light candles, or kiss a crucifix, or chant something in their
rich and deep bass baritone voices.

For those Arab Christians in Bethlehem living under curfew, the four hour
service gave them the chance to catch up on news of friends and neighbours
that they hadn’t seen for a while. It gave teenage boys the chance to chat up
teenage girls – which they were doing in every dark corner.

There was a lot of talk; a lot of laughter; almost a day out atmosphere. And
into this every so often a small procession of priests and nuns would appear;
the gospel would be read; the holy book would be kissed by as many as
could get to it. This is religion Orthodox style – very different from our more
solemn midnight mass.

We tend to make a separation between things that are religious – like this
service – and things that are not. But the Orthodox Christians don’t see it that
way. For them, everything is potentially religious, because religion is
everything that makes human life good and wholesome and worthwhile.

So walking about the church, talking with your neighbour, building up your
friendships, that is religious. For the older girls, chatting with boys,
discovering who is going to make a good life partner, that is religious. For the
old men and women, being greeted and made a fuss of, that is religious. All
these things are religious because they are all about enabling people to
flourish.

And this surely is why the miracle of the water made wine at Cana in Galilee
is recorded in John’s Gospel.

We might find this miracle frivolous. We might not see it as meeting a great
need, only sparing someone’s blushes when the wine runs out. Yet Jesus
turns water into wine, so the party can go on.

We forget that Jesus said: ‘I have come that they might have life.’

Whatever enables us to flourish is true religion. So for us, yes, what we do in
here is important – the prayer and the sacrament put us in touch with God.
But what we do afterwards is just as important – building friendships, forgiving
one another, rejoicing with those who rejoice, weeping with those who weep.

Which is what we do Sunday by Sunday as a congregation over coffee as
much as in the service.

And in the light of this miracle, our vocation is to go from here and understand
what it means in a thousand different situations to turn water into wine.

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe.

Lord of grace and truth, as we gather in your presence, we
remember the words spoken over the early church: that you have
called us, enriched us, and will sustain us to the end. Help us to
hear again the invitation of Jesus: “Come and see.”
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for your Church: for integrity in our worship and
welcome; for generosity of spirit when we disagree. We pray for
our archbishops, bishops, and all who serve the Church in St
Mary’s and our sister Churches. Give us, each in our own way, the
grace to say, like John the Baptist, “Look — here is the one who
matters.”
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for all nations, especially those gripped by war and civil
unrest. We pray for those with power that they may use it for
peace with wisdom and compassion. We pray for those living with
and dying from the consequences of that power being misused.
May those who lead do so with wisdom, restraint, and
compassion, and speak the truth to all.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for those who may find themselves coming to Christ for
the first time in their lives, and we pray for those returning to Him
after being separated. We welcome these people into the Church
and our hearts and help them in their search for Christ.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for our Walkley, our city of Sheffield, and our country. We
pray for workplaces, schools, and families. We pray that where
relationships are strained, we give patience and the courage to
apologise. Where people feel lonely or overlooked, make us
attentive and kind. Bless those who volunteer, care, teach, heal,
build, serve, and keep things running — often unseen, often tired.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for anyone living with illness of body, mind, or spirit; for
those waiting for test results; for those in pain; for those who
cannot see a way forward. We remember those who are grieving,
especially when grief is private and the world has moved on.
Bring your peace where there is anxiety, your steadiness where
there the urge is to feel overwhelmed, your hope where there is
despair. In a moment of silence, we name before you those on
our hearts…
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We commend to your loving care all who have died, trusting your
faithfulness. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. And may
those who mourn find comfort, support, and, in time, gratitude
for shared love. We remember those important to us who we see
no more.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

And in a few moments of silence, we bring before you any
concerns or worries that we have in our own lives at this time.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

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

11th January 2026 at 10.30am – Baptism of Christ – Eucharist

Posted on January 11, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Isaiah 42.1-9

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.

Matthew 3.13-end

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’

The Prayers

Jesus calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Washed clean by the waters of baptism,
let us pray that we may live the life to which he has called us.

Lord Jesus, eternal Word,
proclaimed as the Christ by John the forerunner,
hear us as we pray for all who proclaim your word
praying especially for Beth as she takes up her new role
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, baptizing with the Spirit and with fire,
strengthen us to withstand all the trials of our faith.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, bringing forgiveness to all who repent,
teach your Church dependence on your grace.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, fulfilment of the promises of old,
give hope to all who suffer or are ignored.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, beloved Son of the Father,
anoint us with the gifts of your Holy Spirit.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus, bringer of hope,
share with all the faithful the riches of eternal life.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ,
in you the Father makes us and all things new.
Transform the poverty of our nature
by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
make known your heavenly glory.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

4th January 2026 at 10.30am – Epiphany – Eucharist

Posted on January 4, 2026January 11, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Ephesians 3.1-12

This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. In former generations this mystery^* was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see^* what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in^* God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.

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
Prepared by The Revd Shan Rush.

The turning of the calendar to a New Year often invites reflection. We may look back on the paths
we have walked, the moments that have shaped us, and look forward to the hopes we quietly carry
into what lies ahead. Our journey of faith mirrors this rhythm. Like any pilgrimage, it begins
without full knowledge, requires trust, and discovers meaning along the way.

Recently, I have been trying to plan a journey I have wanted to undertake for several years: to walk
100 kilometres of the Camino de Santiago. Planning it has not been straightforward. Flights, buses,
and trains must align with annual leave. Routes must be manageable, long enough each day to be a
bit of a challenge but not so far that it becomes exhausting or unrealistic to achieve.

Accommodation must be booked. Each step of planning seems to introduce a new challenge.

Amongst the enthusiasm, uncertainties remain - enough to raise doubts and fears. The excitement
of the idea is real, but it is dampened by not knowing exactly how everything will unfold.

My experience has made me wonder how the Magi managed without technology, timetables, or
carefully planned itineraries.

Their journey began with attentiveness. As part of their working lives, they noticed a star - and
recognised it as significant. That recognition stirred them to act. Following the star gave them
direction, but not certainty. They came from the East, from outside of the land of Israel. They
were not Jews, but gentiles. They had no map, no detailed destination, no guarantee of what they
would find. In order to follow the star, they would have travelled in the dark, both literally and
metaphorically, at night, against convention. They did not know how long the journey would take,
whether they would be welcomed or mistrusted as foreigners, or even whether they had
interpreted the sign correctly. Some people at the time believed the promised Messiah would
come only for the Jews, but Matthew turns this idea upside down, illustrating that the Church is
not an elite club open only to specific people, but welcomes anyone committed to exploring their
relationship with God.

The Magi’s pilgrimage was filled with uncertainty, yet they were willing to risk it. They were
seekers - open, curious, and unafraid to approach others for help and subsequently to share what
they had seen and learned.

Along the way, they were sidetracked to Jerusalem, expecting to find a king in a palace. Instead,
they were redirected to Bethlehem, to somewhere far smaller, humbler, and more profound than
they had imagined. There, not in power or splendour, they encountered the Christ child. Their joy
was overwhelming - but even then, having reached the unknown destination, the journey did not
end neatly. They had to trust in a message received in a dream rather than the authority of Herod
and return home by another way.

For the Magi, seeking truth did not remove uncertainty; it required them to walk through it. The
joy was not found in control or full understanding, but in faithfulness to the light they had been
given. They returned changed, carrying a quiet certainty that they had encountered something real,
even if they did not fully understand it and could not fully explain it.

This is the heart of Epiphany. Epiphany means revelation - God making known what was hidden. In
Matthew’s Gospel, God reveals Christ to the Magi, outsiders and Gentiles. In Ephesians, Paul
proclaims the great mystery now revealed: that Gentiles are included fully in God’s promises.
God’s salvation is not limited to one people; it is for all. Before his encounter with Jesus, Paul
violently opposed the church, particularly its common life that encouraged Greek and Jew to
worship God and live in fellowship together. Following his conversion, an act outside of his control
and a result of God’s grace, we are told they “are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow
citizens.”

Again and again, God chooses to reveal himself not first to the powerful or expected, but to those
on the margins. Paul, who persecuted Christians, The Magi - foreigners and scholars - find and
worship Christ, while Herod responds with fear and control. Epiphany asks us a question: when
God reveals himself to us, will we respond with seeking and joy, or with resistance and fear?

The Magi respond with worship. Paul responds with mission. Revelation always calls for a response
- not just to see Christ, but to follow, to serve, and to share the good news.

The Magi gave Jesus gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh but what can we offer him today? A
recent cartoon on Facebook showed 3 wise men having a conversation with each other. Two of
them are holding the gifts we expect to see whereas the third is holding an envelope. In response
to the puzzled look on their faces, he says “ yes, I know. But a token is so much lighter.” Will our
response to God be a token gesture or will we offer something much more precious?

The expression, “you don’t know what you have until it’s gone” is so true. Mum having a fall and
lockdown being announced meant I moved to Somerset without full knowledge of what would be
involved. The time I spent with her revealed new pleasures and joys alongside questions and
doubts. With the recent death of my mum, this New Year has prompted me to look back not only
at the last 5 years but to my lifetime and the precious gifts she has given me. The most important
ones are not the physical objects I’m sorting through and trying to decide what to keep, but
memories of her presence, her encouragement and most of all her never ending love.

It’s made me recognise once again that often when we give something to others, we also receive
something we were not expecting in return. Mum was the vulnerable one, dependent on my
brother and I to care for her, and yet she was able to give me gifts I will carry with me for the rest
of my life. My hope is that I’ll not hoard these gifts keeping them only for myself, but allow the
abundance of her gifts to overflow as blessings that will also benefit others.

The wise men left gifts but their epiphany moment was taking away the gift of knowing who Jesus
is, of being blessed and enriched by that encounter and of taking the knowledge of that encounter
beyond geographical boundaries to new places and people.

Pilgrimage, then, is both gift and risk. Faith is not about knowing everything in advance, but about
daring to follow the light we are given. As we celebrate the journey of the Magi, we are invited to

reflect on our own journeys - open to discovering more about ourselves, the world we inhabit,
and the God of love who sustains us.

God reveals Jesus as the Saviour of the whole world. That revelation has the potential to
transform seekers into worshippers, and believers into witnesses. Our presence here today at the
very least puts us into the category of seekers. Some of us have taken a further step and are
worshippers and believers, even though this comes with questions, doubts or fears. At the end of
the Eucharist we are asked to be witnesses, sent to share the light that has been revealed to us
through what we have experienced or heard with others. May we, like the Magi, have the courage
to follow the light - even when the road ahead is uncertain.

I’ll end with words of an Epiphany Eucharistic Prayer written by Ann Lewin.

Come freshly to us now, Lord God,
as we offer you our lives,
renew in us your gifts:
the gold of our potential,
the incense of our prayers and aspirations,
the myrrh of healing for our pain;
feed us and nourish us,
that we may grow in the life of Christ;
fill us with your Spirit
that we may overflow with your love,
and transform the world to your glory. Amen.

Prayer for Venezuela

God of power and might, your broken world cries out from the depths,
a world dominated by the darkness of war, terror, pain and suffering.
We pray for the rapidly evolving situation in Venezuela,
We share the pain and anguish of those whose lives are affected,
desperate for a new start free from fear and war.
May they see your light, feel your strength and power
and know the truth of your promise
that we shall not be overcome by the dark shadows of life
or the darkness of human nature. Amen

The Prayers

Today the Magi knelt before our Saviour.
Let us also kneel to worship him with great joy,
and to make our prayer to his heavenly Father.

Father, the Magi came from the east to worship your Son:
grant to Christians everywhere a true spirit of adoration.
Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

Father, your Son is the King of kings and Lord of lords:
grant an abundance of peace to your world.
Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

Father, the Holy Family shared the life of the people of Nazareth:
protect in your mercy our neighbours and families,
together with the whole community of which we are part.
Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

Father, your Son was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor:
show your love for the poor and powerless,
and strengthen all those who suffer.
Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

Father, the Magi presented to your Son gold, incense and myrrh:
accept the gifts we bring,
and the offering of our hearts at the beginning of this new year.
Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

Father, you are the King of heaven, the hope of all who trust in you:
give to all the faithful departed the wonders of your salvation.
Lord of glory,
hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of Magi, shepherds and angels,
and of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph,
we commend ourselves and all people
to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

28th December 2025 at 10.30am – The Feast of Holy Innocents – Eucharist

Posted on December 28, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Jeremiah 31.15-17

Thus says the Lord:
A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more.
Thus says the Lord:
Keep your voice from weeping,
and your eyes from tears;
for there is a reward for your work,

says the Lord:
they shall come back from the land of the enemy;
there is hope for your future,

says the Lord:
your children shall come back to their own country.

Matthew 2.13-18

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”

The Prayers

In peace let us pray to the God of love.

Righteous God,
your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ dwelt among us
and shared our grief and our pain.

We pray for the children of our world,
that they may grow up knowing love and security.
Jesus, saviour,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all children who suffer neglect or abuse.
Jesus, saviour,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all communities in our world
who live with the memories of massacre and gross cruelty.
Jesus, saviour,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are corrupted by power
and who regard human life as cheap.
Jesus, saviour,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for parents who have suffered the death of a child.
Jesus, saviour,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for parents and guardians,
that they may be given grace to care for the children entrusted to them.
Jesus, saviour,
Hear our prayer.

As we celebrate the coming of the Christ-child,
we rejoice in the fellowship of the Holy Innocents
and commit the children of this community,
our nation and our world to you,
our righteous God.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

25th December 2025 at 10.30am – Christmas Day Eucharist

Posted on December 25, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 9.2-7

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.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Luke 2.1 - 20

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

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

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

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

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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

The Prayers

Let us pray to Jesus, the Word made flesh.

Christ, born in a stable,
give courage to all who are homeless.
Jesus, Saviour,
hear our prayer.

Christ, for whom the angels sang,
give the song of the kingdom to all who weep.
Jesus, Saviour,
hear our prayer.

Christ, worshipped by the shepherds,
give peace on earth to all who are oppressed.
Jesus, Saviour,
hear our prayer.

Christ, before whom the wise men knelt,
give humility and wisdom to all who govern.
Jesus, Saviour,
hear our prayer.

Christ, whose radiance filled a lowly manger,
give the glory of your resurrection to all who rest in you.
Jesus, Saviour,
hear our prayer.

Jesus, Saviour, child of Mary,
you know us and love us,
you share our lives
and hear our prayer.
Glory to you for ever. Amen.

24th December 2025 at 11.30pm – Christmas Midnight Eucharist

Posted on December 24, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 52.7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.
Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

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 the Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

We have just read the opening verses of the gospel according to
John. His Christmas gospel.

You may have realised that if this were the only account we had of
the birth of Christ, we would know little or nothing about what
actually happened.

We have to turn to the gospels of Luke and Matthew to learn about
all those things that are in carols and nativity plays. How Joseph
and the heavily pregnant Mary made their way from Nazareth to
Bethlehem to be registered. How Mary gave birth in a stable and
laid her baby in a manger, because there was no room for them in
the inn. How shepherds from the surrounding fields visited. And so
on.

These gospel writers want us to know what happened. John wants
us to know why it happened. What does the birth of Christ mean for
all who come after, including us.

He sums it up by saying: when we look at this child, we see God
himself. God has become flesh in Jesus Christ.

But why does God become human?

In the nineteenth century there was a philosopher who was asked
this. He could have given a long, scholarly answer. He was after all
the most famous philosopher of his day. Instead he told a folk story.

This story, if you think about it, gives us the clue.

This was the folk story he wrote:

There was once a prince who lived in a great castle. He had
everything he could wish for. He had servants. He dressed in fine
clothes. He ate sumptuously. He wanted for nothing – save one
thing. He had no wife.

One day while hunting with his courtiers in the forest, they came
across a clearing with a few cottages. The villagers, poor peasants,
came out to give loyal greetings to the Prince. Among them was a
beautiful young woman who, despite her patched clothes, stirred
the heart of the Prince.

He tried to speak to her. She was terrified and averted her eyes,
looking down at the ground.

The Prince did this over several days, but had the same response
every time. The young woman could not look at him.

Then he realised what he must do.

He set aside his princely clothes and put on the ragged dress of a
peasant. He left his horse and servants at the castle and went into
the forest on foot.

He came to the village. No one took any notice of him. He was just
a peasant, like them.

He saw the young woman and spoke to her. Now she was not
terrified because this was no great prince, but someone poor like
her. She was able to look him in the face and see a kind and loving
young man.

And so, as in all good folk tales, they fell in love and lived happily
ever after.

The point of the folk story was that the social gap between the
prince and the young woman was so great that she could never
look him in the face and see him for the person he was – until he
set aside all the trappings of his princely life and met her at her level
in peasant’s dress. Then she could find him, as he had found her.

And this is the clue to Christmas. The distance and the difference
between us and God is vast – beyond our comprehension. How can
we look upon the face of the Almighty, the one who made all things
in heaven and earth, seen and unseen? How can we ever know
what the unseen God is truly like?

John tells us in his gospel. On this night, God set aside all the
trappings of divinity and came among us as one of us. But this was
no pretence at being human. God came as a little child, in a
manger, in Bethlehem, someone we could see and touch and know.
This is what the birth of Christ means.

Tonight God stoops down to us, so that we can look him in the face,
see his grace and truth, and know with confidence the love he has
for us.

The Prayers

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 2025 at 4pm – Christingle Service

Posted on December 24, 2025 by St Mary's

21st December 2025 at 10.30am – The Fourth Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

Posted on December 21, 2025 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
Prepared by The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

We are very near now to Christmas when we celebrate Christ’s birth.

Although there are four gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - if you
want to know what happened on the first Christmas, only two of them will tell
you.

Mark has nothing at all. He starts his account of the life of Jesus when Jesus
is already a man. John is more interested in the meaning of Christ’s birth,
than what happened.

For a matter of fact account we must turn to Luke and Matthew. But what they
each say is very different.

Those who study the Bible often say that what Luke writes is very much from
the point of view of Mary. You could call the start of his gospel, Mary’s story.

While Matthew’s gospel is Joseph’s story.

Mary’s story speaks of things which are very familiar to us. They are the basis
for children’s nativity plays, Christmas cards and carols. Mary’s story tells how
an angel appeared to her and told her she was to give birth to the saviour.

How she and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered,
how Jesus was born in a stable and laid in a manger because there was no
room for them in the inn, and how shepherds visited them that night. This is
Mary’s story in Luke’s gospel. None of it is in Matthew’s gospel.

Mary is celebrated by the Church because she was willing to be the mother of
the Lord, despite not yet being married. An awesome decision for one so
young to have to make. As a mother, she would be accepting responsibility to
raise her son in such a way that he could mirror in his life the nature of God
himself.

One of the best known prayers of the church in every age, perhaps second
only to the Lord’s prayer, is a prayer that captures this central role that Mary
plays: the Hail Mary.

Hail Mary, full of grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death.

And down the centuries, because the Church has had such a focus on Mary,
as the mother of the Lord, Joseph’s story has tended to be overlooked.

But why? If you think about it, Joseph has to accept similar responsibilities as
Mary.

In a dream he realises that this must start with a willingness to marry Mary, to
whom he is betrothed, even though he knows he is not the father of her
unborn child.

That is a big deal. Even if he accepts that the child is of God, he knows that
he runs the risk of family, friends, neighbours, speculating on what is going
on. They have not been visited by angels, not even in dreams. If the rumour
mill starts, life will be uncomfortable or worse. We still see in some countries
and cultures in our own day how people can behave if they feel shame or
dishonour has been brought on their family.

Imagine what social media might have made of the pregnancy of the as yet
unmarried Mary.

But Joseph is a decent man. A caring man. He takes Mary as his wife and in
doing so takes on, with her, the responsibility of raising Jesus.

And this, surely, is why we should try to hear Joseph’s story as well as
Mary’s, as we approach Christmas. And that was the gospel for today.

It’s a gospel that should speak directly to us. Like us, Joseph is an ordinary
man doing an ordinary job. A person of faith and a person with values. His
faith tells him that he must accept the pregnant Mary as his wife. His values
tell him that he must be a loving husband and a caring father.

If Jesus is to become a loving adult, showing God’s love to the world, he must
be raised in and shaped by a loving family, with people who are kind and
generous and unselfish towards one another.

The message to us could not be clearer: Christian faith, Christian civilisation,
begins with this poor family, because big changes always have small
beginnings, then and now.

If our country, our culture, is to renew itself, it has to start with people like us.
People with faith and values, who, whatever others may think or say, like
Joseph, are prepared to do the right thing.

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe.

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

Holy God,
You promised a sign to your people and you have given us Jesus,
Emmanuel, God-with-us. Strengthen your Church to bear witness
to that presence in our own day. Give to your people the quiet
courage of Joseph, ready to listen, to change course, and to trust
your strange and gracious purposes.

Bless our bishops, our clergy and lay leaders, and all who will
preach and minister in this Advent and Christmas season in St
Mary’s and our sister churches.

May our churches be places where the anxious find calm, the
doubtful find honesty, and the weary find rest in you.
Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

God of all nations, you spoke to Isaiah in a time of fear and
political upheaval, and you still speak your word of hope into our
troubled world. We pray for places where conflict and terror seem
stronger than peace, for leaders who are tempted to trust only in
power and not in justice or compassion, for all who live under
occupation, oppression or threat of violence.

Be with those who today have no safe home, for refugees and
displaced families, for those facing winter without shelter or
security.

Turn the hearts of the powerful to the ways of justice, mercy and
peace and away from the lust for power and greed.
Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

God who came to dwell in an ordinary family, we bring before you
our own community, our streets and neighbours. We pray for
families under financial or emotional strain, for relationships that
are fearful, fragile or broken, for single parents, and those who
carry heavy responsibilities alone.

We remember expectant parents and babies soon to be born, and
those who long for children but cannot have them. Bless our
schools, care homes, local services and workplaces, and help us to
be signs of your compassion where we live.
Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Jesus, we pray for all who need your healing and your hope today.
For the sick in body, mind or spirit, for those waiting for or
recovering from treatment, for any weighed down by anxiety,
depression or addiction. We remember people who are lonely,
housebound or in care, those in prison and those living on the
streets of our cities.

In a moment of quiet we name before you any who are on our
hearts this day … May they feel your presence in their lives,
bringing light into their darkness and strength in their weakness.
Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

God of eternal life, we remember before you those whom we love
but see no longer, and all who have died recently. We pray for
families who will feel their absence keenly as Christmas
approaches. Give to all who mourn the assurance that you are
with them in their grief, and bring us, with them, to that place
where every tear is wiped away and your joy is complete.
Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

And finally, Lord, we open our hearts to you as we bring our
personal issues and concerns to you at this time, along with our
thanks for the gift of Jesus in the world.
Maranatha: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Rejoicing in Mary who bore your Son, and in Joseph who trusted
your word, and in all your saints, we commend ourselves and all
for whom we pray to your unfailing love.

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

14th December 2025 at 10.30am – The Third Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

Posted on December 14, 2025 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 traveler, 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

Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.
And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

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

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

The season of Advent asks us to stand in two places at once.
We’re invited to look back to the first coming of Christ, and at
the same time we look forward to His return. We live our day-
to-day life in the very messy middle bit; a world that can be
weary, confusing and horrifying. It’s a world that can sometimes
feel hopeless.

Today’s readings reflect the tension that exists between those
two viewpoints. Isaiah gives us a picture of God’s new creation
bursting into life. Matthew gives us a picture of a man waiting
for death in prison, wondering if hope has somehow missed
him.

Isaiah speaks to people who feel as though the life has gone
out of them. In scripture, places described as wilderness,
desert, and parched ground are not just geographical
descriptions. They are allegories for the human condition at
those moments when joy, hope and purpose feel far away. A
spiritual desert, so to say.

But Isaiah dares to say that even such places can blossom. He
speaks of feeble hands strengthened, fearful hearts reassured,
and blind eyes opened. He describes a road through the
wilderness that is safe enough for anyone to walk on it. All of
this is the work of God restoring His people.

And then we turn to Matthew and find John the Baptist sitting in
a cell. This is the fellow who we heard referring to the spiritual
leaders of his day as ‘a brood of vipers’ as he preached to
hundreds or even thousands of people in the wilderness. He is
imprisoned and waits in the darkness of his cell, away from the
world, ignorant of what’s happening. He has prepared the way;
but now he sends messengers to ask Jesus, “Are you the one
who is to come, or are we to wait for another?”

Is John losing his faith? No. He is trying to understand why the
Messiah he proclaimed is not doing what he expected. John
was also in a ‘no man’s land’ between the old prophetic
scriptures and the new covenant with Christ. It’s only normal
that he would expect the Messiah to be more like the Old
Testament prophets; after all, he had nothing else to go on. But
John’s world was shifting.

Many of us will know something of that feeling. We do our best
to follow Christ. We try to trust Him, and yet life throws
situations at us that leave us wondering whether the story is
unfolding the way it should. There’s a line in The Simpsons,
uttered by God-fearing Ned Flanders in a moment when he is
questioning why bad things have happened to him "I've done
everything the Bible says, even the stuff that contradicts the
other stuff' Ned has hit that point where blind faith is not
enough; like John, he needs answers.

Jesus doesn’t rebuke John in his reply. Instead, He sends the
messengers back with a gentle but firm reminder. Tell John
what you hear and see. The blind receive their sight, the lame
walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised,
and good news is proclaimed to the poor.

Jesus is telling John that through Jesus’s actions in the world,
Isaiah’s vision is happening, though perhaps not in the way
John expected. God is still acting, still transforming, still
renewing – but through the human heart and ministry of Christ.
The kingdom might not be coming through thunder, fire and
sword, but through Christ’s actions, the spiritual wilderness is
beginning to bloom.

Many of us, like John, know that a life of faith involves a LOT of
waiting. We wait for clarity, healing, peace, reconciliation, or
simply the strength to manage another day. And in those
waiting places it is easy to feel forgotten by God. Advent
reminds us that God meets us in the waiting, not just in the
fulfilment. Isaiah’s promise does not deny the reality of barren
places; it reminds us that they can also bloom.

Jesus also goes on to speak very warmly about John. John is
no reed shaken by the wind, but a prophet, and more than a
prophet. This is important for us all to hear. John’s struggle
does not diminish his calling; his doubts do not disqualify him.
In fact, Jesus honours him. Faith is not measured by never
asking questions, but by holding steady even when the
answers come slowly or sometimes don’t seem to come at all.

Isaiah’s vision shows a road through the wilderness. It is not a
road out of trouble but a road through it. God does not always
remove the wilderness from our lives. Instead, He provides a
path to walk, companions for the journey, and the strength
needed to continue. We travel through difficult places, and God
is with us.

This is where Isaiah and Matthew meet. Isaiah declares that
God will restore His people. Matthew shows us what restoration
looks like when it arrives in Jesus. Sight returned. Walking
restored. The dead revived. The poor lifted. Grace made
visible. These signs tell us that the kingdom is already breaking
in. But it’s just not yet fully realised.

So – this Advent – what does this mean for us?

We are invited to notice where the signs of God’s kingdom
might already be appearing around us. These signs are not
going to be enormous, written on the sky, epic events. These
signs will be acts of reconciliation and compassion between
people; someone may find hope after despair; someone finds
freedom after a period of addiction. We might see the signs in
our own lives – for example – finding persistence in faith, even
when times are hard. Isaiah reminds us that the faintest bloom
in the desert is still a miracle.

We are called to show the active patience that holds on
because God is faithful. John the Baptist teaches us that even
the greatest servants of God live through seasons of confusion.
Jesus’s response teaches us that God does not scorn such
moments. He answers with reassurance, never contempt.

Third, we are reminded that the work of Christ continues
through us. Advent calls us to be part of the blooming of the
wilderness, gardeners in the desert. How can we do this? By
showing compassion, strengthening in the faint hearted by our
presence, being generous, kind and just. We bring the gifts of
the Holy Spirit to bear on the world around us.

Advent asks us to lift our eyes beyond the moment. The One
John waited for has come. The One we wait for will come
again. And in between those two comings we walk that ‘dark
desert highway’ that Isaiah describes. And we might recognise,
even in the smallest moments, the signs that the deserts are
indeed beginning to bloom.
Amen.

St Marys Walkley

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

Category: Sermons

25th January 2026 at 10.30am – Conversion of Paul Eucharist

18th January 2026 at 10.30am – Second Sunday of Epiphany Eucharist

11th January 2026 at 10.30am – Baptism of Christ – Eucharist

4th January 2026 at 10.30am – Epiphany – Eucharist

28th December 2025 at 10.30am – The Feast of Holy Innocents – Eucharist

25th December 2025 at 10.30am – Christmas Day Eucharist

24th December 2025 at 11.30pm – Christmas Midnight Eucharist

24th December 2025 at 4pm – Christingle Service

21st December 2025 at 10.30am – The Fourth Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

14th December 2025 at 10.30am – The Third Sunday of Advent – Eucharist