7th June 2026 10.30am – 1st Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on June 7, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Romans 4.13-25

For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us,

as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”) —in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become “the father of many nations,” according to what was said, “So numerous shall your descendants be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith “was reckoned to him as righteousness.”

Now the words, “it was reckoned to him,” were written not for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

Matthew 9.9-13, 18-26

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

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

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

Yesterday was our annual plant sale for Christian Aid. Beforehand, people will
have potted up cuttings, planted seeds, or divided existing plants so we had
something to sell. Perhaps you shared your surplus tomato seedlings. Or, like
me, potted up your spider plant babies. Hopefully these young plants will
grow, flower and maybe bear fruit for someone else to enjoy.

To grow something you have to get your hands dirty. You have to open that
shed or greenhouse, maybe do battle with the dust and cobwebs and find your
plant pots and compost. Your pots might need washing. Then you have to
physically touch the soil as you pour it into pots and plant your seeds or
cuttings.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus is getting his hands dirty. First he recruits a
new follower, Matthew, who is a tax collector. Tax collectors were reviled: not
only did they work for the oppressive Romans, but they would charge people
extra and keep a bigger cut for themselves. They weren’t people you wanted to
hang out with.

Next we find Jesus in someone’s house. He’s eating and chatting with more tax
collectors and people labelled here simply as “sinners”. The Pharisees
complain. Jesus is supposed to be a teacher of the faith. Why, then, is he
mixing with tax collectors and other undesirable people? Jesus says that those
who are well have no need of a doctor. It’s those who are sick who do. He
then quotes from the prophets, saying “I desire mercy not sacrifice”. Jesus has
not come to call the righteous but sinners.

Shortly afterwards a synagogue leader arrives suddenly, begging Jesus to lay
hands on his daughter who has just died. Jesus goes with him. Just as suddenly
a woman who has been bleeding for 12 years touches his cloak hoping at last to
be healed.

In Biblical times, both bleeding women and dead bodies were considered
unclean. Yet when this woman touches his cloak, making him unclean, Jesus
doesn’t chastise her or recoil. He treats her with compassion, praises her faith
and pronounces her healed. Then he goes on to the dead girl’s house. He is
mocked for doing so – she is already dead. But Jesus enters the house, then
deliberately makes himself further unclean by touching the hand of a dead body
and raises the girl to life. Her father’s faith in Jesus bears fruit.

In order to bring forth life, growth and healing, you have to get your hands
dirty.

As a church musician, I always relax a bit when the first Sunday after Trinity
comes round. We are now in the long season called “ordinary time”. Our altar
frontals etc. turn green, there are fewer “frills” and the order of service gets a
bit more straight forward music-wise.

But of course Green is the symbol of growth. The church is encouraged to use
this “ordinary” time to focus particularly on God’s mission outside the church.
We’re encouraged to go out in the world, meet people, and plant seeds of
possibility regarding the faith.

Ordinary Time last several months. So it’s helpful to have different focuses
every few weeks. First the particular focus is on vocation. Very soon the
annual ordinations of new deacons and priests will take place. Like Matthew,
these people have responded to God’s call in their own lives. Perhaps the call
came as a surprise. Perhaps they feel that they are unworthy or unlikely
ministers. But they have spent time training. And now they will be going out
into the world as they start life in their new parishes. Their training won’t have
covered everything they need to know. They will be very rough round the
edges. They will get things wrong. But these imperfect people will muddle
along, getting their hands mucky, and new life will emerge as a result of their
saying “yes” to God’s calling.

Ordinary time is a good time to consider where God might be calling us next,
both individually and together. We too are rough diamonds. We get things
wrong. But if God can call dubious characters such as Matthew, then he can
call us too. Ordained or lay we all have a part to play in showing God’s mercy,
in planting the seeds of the gospel, and in caring for the growth and healing of
others.

In following Jesus, we too sometimes have to put ourselves in situations that
might cause discomfort or even disgust. We might have to interact with people
we might naturally be wary of. And we might sometimes have to risk being
scorned, criticised or mocked by others for doing so.

Those of us who got our hands dirty planting seeds and cuttings for yesterday’s
sale may never hear how the young plants fare in their new owner’s hands. So
it is with doing God’s work in the world. We may never know the impact a
kind word or chance conversation may have on someone else. But if we have
the faith of Matthew, the unnamed woman and the synagogue leader, anything
could be possible.

The Prayers
Prepared by David.

We come boldly to the throne of grace,
praying to the almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
for mercy and grace.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Father of heaven, whose love profound
a ransom for our souls has found:
We pray for the world, created by your love,
for its nations and governments.
Extend to them your peace, pardoning love, mercy and grace.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Almighty Son, incarnate Word,
our Prophet, Priest, Redeemer, Lord:
We pray for the Church, created for your glory,
for its ministry to reflect those works of yours.
Extend to us your salvation, growth, mercy and grace.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Eternal Spirit, by whose breath
the soul is raised from sin and death:
We pray for families and individuals, created in your image,
for the lonely, the bereaved, the sick and the dying.
Breathe on them the breath of life
and bring them to your mercy and grace.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Thrice holy! Father, Spirit, Son,
Mysterious Godhead, Three in One:
We pray for ourselves,
for your Church, for all whom we remember before you.
Bring us all to bow before your throne in heaven,
to receive life and pardon, mercy and grace for all eternity,
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

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

31st May 2026 10.30am – Trinity Sunday – Eucharist

Posted on May 31, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 40.12-17,27-end

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure,
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
Who has directed the spirit of the Lord,
or as his counsellor has instructed him?
Whom did he consult for his enlightenment,
and who taught him the path of justice?
Who taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
Even the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
and are accounted as dust on the scales;
see, he takes up the isles like fine dust.
Lebanon would not provide fuel enough,
nor are its animals enough for a burnt-offering.
All the nations are as nothing before him;
they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

Why do you say, O Jacob,
and speak, O Israel,
‘My way is hidden from the Lord,
and my right is disregarded by my God’?
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and strengthens the powerless.
Even youths will faint and be weary,
and the young will fall exhausted;
but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
they shall walk and not faint.

Matthew 28.16-end

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’

The Prayers

We come boldly to the throne of grace,
praying to the almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
for mercy and grace.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

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

24th May 2026 10.30am – The Day of Pentecost – Eucharist

Posted on May 24, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Acts 2.1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, ‘Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.’ All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, ‘What does this mean?’ But others sneered and said, ‘They are filled with new wine.’

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
“In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

John 20.19-23

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

The Prayers

We pray for God to fill us with his Spirit.

Generous God,
we thank you for the power of your Holy Spirit.
We ask that we may be strengthened to serve you better.
Lord, come to bless us
and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the wisdom of your Holy Spirit.
We pray that the peoples of the earth may care for natural world around us.
We ask you to make us wise to understand your will.
Lord, come to bless us
and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the peace of your Holy Spirit.
We pray for those living in war zones, including Ukraine and the Middle East.
We ask you to keep us confident of your love wherever you call us.
Lord, come to bless us
and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the healing of your Holy Spirit.
We ask you to bring reconciliation and wholeness
where there is division, sickness and sorrow.
Lord, come to bless us
and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the gifts of your Holy Spirit.
We ask you to equip us for the work which you have given us.
Lord, come to bless us
and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the fruit of your Holy Spirit.
We ask you to reveal in our lives the love of Jesus.
Lord, come to bless us
and fill us with your Spirit.

We thank you for the breath of your Holy Spirit,
given us by the risen Lord.
We ask you to keep the whole Church, living and departed,
in the joy of eternal life.
Lord, come to bless us
and fill us with your Spirit.

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

17th May 2026 10.30am – Sunday after Ascension Day – Eucharist

Posted on May 17, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

John 17.1-11

After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people,* to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

‘I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

Acts 1.6-14

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

10th May 2026 10.30am – 6th Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

Posted on May 10, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Acts 17.22-31

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

John 14.15-21

”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

The Prayers
Prepared by David.

Jesus, our exalted Lord, has been given all authority.
Let us seek his intercession that our prayers may be perfected by his prayer.

Jesus Christ, great high priest,
living for ever to intercede for us,
pray for the Church, your broken body in the world, that your light and your presence may be seen in and through her.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus Christ, King of righteousness,
enthroned at the right hand of the majesty on high,
pray for the world, and make it subject to your gentle rule, that those who lead may do so with humility and compassion.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus Christ, Son of Man,
drawing humanity into the life of God,
pray for members of your family who are in need, distress, or sorrow.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, pioneer of our salvation,
bringing us to glory through your death and resurrection,
surround with your saints and angels
all those who have died, praying for those whom we have loved and lost and whose who have no one to pray for them.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus Christ, Lord over all things,
ascended far above the heavens and filling the universe,
pray for us who receive the gifts you give us for work in your service, help us to use them for the building of your Kingdom.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us,

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

3rd May 2026 10.30am – 5th Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

Posted on May 3, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Acts 7.55-end

But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.

John 14.1-14

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

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

I have a confession to make. I’m not a fan of psalm 23. Heresy I know.

I can’t give one specific reason why.

It might be because I find many of the musical settings of it a bit twee, like the opening credits to the vicar of Dibley. It might be because, as a hay fever sufferer, the thought of being forced to lie down in green pastures starts my eyes watering. It might be because of how the psalmist comes across as passive or the trivialisation of the shadow of death or the assurance of abundance in the presence of the enemy.

Or maybe all of these together. Regardless, its definitely not my favourite psalm.

So, in the, hopefully, distant future, when the Lord calls me home, I intend to have the hymn we’ve just sung for the gradual at my funeral Eucharist in place of psalm 23.

This hymn came to mind as I read through our first reading.

Stephen was one of the first deacons in the church. Appointed to oversee the distribution of bread amongst the Greek speaking widows following allegations of discrimination against them by the Hebrew community. Stephen was a doer. Someone charged with the practical expression of the gospel while the apostles focused on their apostolic ministry.

This gets him into trouble.

He preaches and baptises, alongside the acts of social justice, and in doing so angers other local religious leaders. Much of Acts chapters 6 and 7 cover his trial, including a passionate defence, where he criticises the historic treatment of Moses and God’s prophets by God’s people. He finishes with the accusation that they have treated Jesus in the same way, culminating in the events of Holy Week. He then receives a vision of the risen and ascended Christ at Gods right hand, which he relays to those around him, sending them into a violent frenzy resulting in his death. With his death he becomes the first recorded martyr for the Christian faith.

It is his life, not his death, which makes me associate him with our gradual hymn. Stephen lived a life of vigorous and active Christian discipleship. Not a life of ease, but a courageous one. Not a life beside still waters, but one using his fullness of God’s word and God’s Spirit to strike living fountains in those he baptised and who heard his preaching.

A disciple on a mission.

We don’t have to look far to find modern contemporaries to Stephen. Those who stand up for the values of Christs gospel in todays world. Whether they be preaching and baptising in countries where this is a death sentence, or resisting tyrannical oppression by acts of social justice for others. Both can and do pay the ultimate price.

As a side character in this reading we have a young Saul, later to become Paul. He is guarding the coats of those stoning Stephen. Not actively participating in his lynching, but there, enabling, willingly or forced to be there, we don’t know. But given his later zeal for persecution we could make an educated guess.

An important reminder of the slippery slope between enabling tyranny and participating in it.

Thankfully, through encounter with the risen and ascended Christ, Saul becomes Paul. He retains his zeal, but it is refocused into the Gospel mission. God becomes his guide in his wanderings, and enables him to rejoice while treading the steep and rugged pathway till he too is martyred.

We are lucky, currently in the UK we aren’t likely to be called on to pay that price, but a glance across the Atlantic to the United States shows how easily that could change. A warning sign which should make us pause and reflect on the values of those we elect to lead us.
Closer to home, the diocese currently has a strong focus on “enabling the whole people of God for the whole mission of God” and being “lights for Christ in the world”. Whatever ones thinks of the language used and the glossy pamphlets produced, and one could say many things, it’s a sentiment Stephen, and Paul, could recognise.

At St Marys we try to live this out by enabling all to participate in worship, in service of the local community through helping at events and the use of our spaces by external groups. We support and fundraise for different charities, like the S6 Foodbank and Christian Aid. If anyone wants to learn more about these or work with those currently leading on them, please speak to the Team Wardens.

We all have our own challenges in our lives and in our faith. No two of our journeys will be alike. The same can be said of the world and the church, fractured into factions, different groups on different pathways, just as it was in Stephen and Paul’s day. But there is hope.
I was moved by images of the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope sharing in prayer together this week. The visuals were carefully crafted and the photos showed a meeting of fellow disciples of Christ, rather than making an statement around relative position. I wonder what Stephen, a Greek speaking Hellenic jew, and Paul, a Hebrew born of Hebrews, would make of it?

I think they would recall the opening verses of our gospel reading. “in my fathers house there are many rooms”.

Amen.

26th April 2026 10.30am – 4th Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

Posted on April 26, 2026April 26, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Acts 2:42-end

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

John 10.1-10

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.
And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.
Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

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

Do any of you share my guilty pleasure of watching YouTube videos?

One of my recent favourite channels is by a guy called Mack from rural Illinois. He loves clearing and cleaning houses that have got into a dreadful state. He does this for free, if he can film as he cleans. The houses are often so severely hoarded with stuff that the people who live there can no longer cope safely. Sometimes the house is cluttered, but clean. Other houses are so full of dirt and vermin that you need a mask and hazmat suit to clean safely. You need a strong stomach to watch some of Mack’s offerings.

Watching these videos could be an uncomfortably voyeuristic experience, but Mack is full of understanding and compassion for the people whose homes he is cleaning. As he narrates the video, he explains, without identifying the residents, why the house has reached this state. Trauma, poor mental or physical health, conditions such as autism and ADHD can all lead to a home becoming hoarded, dirty and unsafe. Mack, who is autistic himself, explains how these things overwhelm the ability to make decisions, or to let go of excess stuff. He does this without judging the person, and encourages his viewers to have compassion too. In the process he educates his viewers, many of whom also have these difficulties, or are trying to help someone who does. And he gives practical tips on the best ways to clear and clean – tips that anyone can use.

Mack loves cleaning and creating order. He likes sharing cleaning tips. But what he wants most from his channel is for his viewers to practise empathy and compassion too. People comment below each video in their thousands, many of them describing similar situations in their own lives. Those who live with these disabilities themselves say that they feel understood, heard and validated, sometimes for the first time in their lives. They say they would trust Mack to come and clean their own house.

Mack’s team block harmful and nasty posts, but he seldom responds to comments personally. He doesn’t need to. He’s built up an online community of followers who now encourage each other through their own difficulties with hoarding, clearing and cleaning. They learn from his videos and then support each other. I spend almost as long reading their thoughtful comments as I do watching the videos.

Building trust. Building up a community of followers who can take this forward. Two themes found in this morning’s Bible readings.

In our gospel reading, Jesus describes a picture familiar to his first audience. A sheepfold, sheltering the sheep of several different shepherds. A place of safety from wild animals and thieves, particularly at night. When it’s time to take the sheep out to graze, the shepherd arrives at the gate of the sheepfold and calls his or her flock. The gatekeeper knows the shepherd. The shepherd knows his own sheep by name, and they know his voice. And because they know him, and trust him, they follow him when he calls. Jesus likens himself to the gate, the trusted way to leave the fold. Then a few verses after our reading ends, he likens himself to the shepherd, the trusted person to follow.

The early disciples knew Jesus. They’d accompanied him long enough to know that he was someone they could trust and follow. They followed him through his ministry, to Jerusalem, and to the cross. Their faith was severely challenged when he was cruelly put to death, but when they saw the risen Christ a couple of days later, their trust began to return, and the next stage of their lives began.

Our reading from Acts takes place very early in the story of the early church. It’s shortly after Pentecost. Filled with the Holy Spirit, the disciples and closest companions share the good news of the risen Jesus. People hear them speaking their own language, meeting them on home ground, as it were. Peter has preached effectively – three thousand followers join them and are baptised.

Then what?

The three thousand pick up the baton. They devote themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.

The apostles do what Jesus did. Their followers respond. They share what they have, sell what they don’t need and give to people who do. They spend time together in the temple, but continue their new faith at home, breaking bread with thanks, praising God. Simple acts. Powerful acts. It’s infectious – others see the simple generosity radiating outwards and want to join too.

An example we can all follow.

The Prayers

We pray to Jesus who is present with us to eternity.

Jesus, light of the world,
bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, bread of life,
give food to the hungry
and nourish us all with your word.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, our way, our truth, our life,
be with us and all who follow you in the way
Deepen our appreciation of your truth
and fill us with your life.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, Good Shepherd who gave your life for the sheep,
recover the straggler,
bind up the injured,
strengthen the sick
and lead the healthy and strong to new pastures.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, the resurrection and the life,
we give you thanks for all who have lived and believed in you.
Praying in silence for those known to us.

Raise us with them to eternal life.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us,

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

19th April 2026 10.30am – 3rd Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

Posted on April 19, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Acts 2.14a, 36-41

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.

Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah,^* this Jesus whom you crucified.’

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, ‘Brothers,^* what should we do?’ Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.’ And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.’ So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

Luke 24.13-35

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

The Prayers
Prepared by David.

In joy and hope let us pray to the Father.

That our risen Saviour may fill us with the joy of his
glorious and life-giving resurrection.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

That God may grant us humility
to be subject to one another in Christian love.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

That he may provide for those who lack food, work or shelter and
that by his power, war and famine may cease through all the world
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

That he may reveal the light of his presence to the sick,
the weak and the dying,
to comfort and strengthen them.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

That, according to his promises,
all who have died in the faith of the resurrection
may be raised on the last day.
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

That he may send the fire of the Holy Spirit upon his people,
so that we may bear faithful witness to his resurrection,
Jesus, Lord of life,
in your mercy, hear us.

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

12th April 2026 10.30am – 2nd Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

Posted on April 12, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Acts 2.14a, 22-32

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. "

“You that are Israelites, listen to what I have to say: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with deeds of power, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you, as you yourselves know— this man, handed over to you according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of those outside the law. But God raised him up, having freed him from death, because it was impossible for him to be held in its power. For David says concerning him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand so that I will not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; moreover my flesh will live in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One experience corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ “Fellow Israelites, I may say to you confidently of our ancestor David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would put one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’ This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.

John 20.19-end

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

The Sermon
By The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

I have good friends in the United States. But my feelings towards their country have been complicated this past week.

Admiration for the achievement of their scientists in sending astronauts to the other side of the moon and bringing them back to earth safely. But horror and dismay at their President’s threat to bomb Iran back to the stone age. How could a Christian statesman speak in such terms?

But let’s stick with that journey into space and hold it alongside today’s gospel.

In the gospel, one of the apostles, Thomas, is not with the others when the Risen Jesus first makes his presence known to them. When they tell Thomas they have seen the Lord, Thomas is not convinced. For him, seeing is not believing. He has to reach out and touch.

I think we can see why Thomas thinks like this. Our eyes alone can deceive us. We can have hallucinations. In deserts we can see water that isn’t there. Mirages. We know that the witnesses to a road traffic collision often fail to agree about what they have seen. Was the car blue or black? Was the driver a man or woman?

Thomas thinks the evidence of his touch will be more reliable than the evidence of his eyes alone. And especially if he can touch the wounds of the crucifixion. Then he will be sure that this really is the one who died on the cross who has been restored to them.

Yet when the moment comes and Thomas does encounter the Risen Jesus, he doesn’t seem to have reached out at all. Neither sight, nor touch, in the end, lead him to say: My Lord and my God.

How could they? His senses – sight, sound, touch – and so on, can only take Thomas so far. They can assure him that this is no figment of his imagination, no apparition. But they can’t tell him that he is in the presence of the Lord his God.

So there is something else at work here, something that stirs what I can only call the soul of Thomas. It’s that, not sight or touch, that tells Thomas he is in the presence of the Risen Lord and the presence of God.

And I’m sure this is true for each one of us: what convinces us in the end that we have the presence of the Risen Lord with us, is not what we see or think or even feel, but what speaks to our very soul. And how that happens for each of us is different.

I was reading about Thomas just as the astronauts were looking back to earth from the far side of the moon and shared what they were seeing with us. And what they saw, and what we saw, was this tiny blue globe, planet earth, so far away, so small, in the endless universe.

It made me think of those wonderful words in psalm 8. The psalmist, of course, was on earth looking up, and said this:

When I look at thy heavens, the works of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast established;
what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou dost care for him. (Ps 8.3-4)

The psalmist looks up and his very soul is stirred – that the one who made this vast array - the moon and the stars - can be bothered with us.

Surely, similar thoughts must have passed through many of our minds as we saw what the astronauts saw as they looked not from earth to the moon but from the moon to earth.

But these soul stirring moments can happen at any time, not just when we look heavenwards.

Someone who joined my last congregation said that she had been washing dishes in her kitchen when she was overcome with a sense of the presence of God. It was only a moment, but it changed her life.

A member of this congregation, whom some here will have known, some years ago now, told me he was driving his bus along Langsett Road when he felt the presence of God – disconcerting for a non-believer. He had to stop the bus briefly to settle himself.

The psalmist beneath the stars, Thomas in the upper room, my parishioners going about their daily lives, but all in different ways experiencing moments when they were transported beyond the things of this world into the timeless presence of God.

Easter, knowing the presence of the Risen Lord, that experience, can be ours. And it can be here and it can be now.

5th April 2026 10.30am – Easter Day – Eucharist

Posted on April 5, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Acts 10.34-43

Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

Matthew 28.1-10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Prayers
Prepared by Kath, Reader at St Mary's.

God our Father, hear us when we pray to you in faith.
We give you thanks for this very special day and the many gifts you give to each of us every day of our lives. Help us not to take any of these for granted, especially all the beauty that is in the world. May we appreciate it with heartfelt gratitude.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for your church throughout the world as together we celebrate the rising of our beloved Lord, Jesus Christ. And we pray for our sisters and brothers in places where they are not yet free to worship openly.

At the end our Lenten journey, may we hold on to all that we have found meaningful and that brings us closer to you in both our prayers & spiritual life and in the stuff of everyday life.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our very troubled and turbulent world, for all peoples, communities and nations who are going through dark and difficult times. Lord please give us hope that we can resolve our differences peacefully and make the world a better, more just and compassionate place for everyone.

We pray for our local community and all that makes it the special and creative place that it is.

We give thanks for the successful start to the Artemis 2 mission. May the amazing images of our world from space give us a new perspective and appreciation of your creation and encourage us afresh to take better care of it and all for whom it is home. We pray for the safe return home for the astronauts.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are ill or unwell at this time. May they be lovingly supported as they navigate the changes and challenges they face as a result of their illness. We pray also for those who will be alongside them that they too will be supported and cared for. In a few moments of quiet let us call to mind anyone known to us who is in particular need of our prayers and let us also bring before God our own needs and concerns.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died, some recently and some long ago. May they rest in peace and may all who mourn and miss them be comforted and find their own peace.

Especially may we pray for
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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

St Marys Walkley

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

Category: Sermons

7th June 2026 10.30am – 1st Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

31st May 2026 10.30am – Trinity Sunday – Eucharist

24th May 2026 10.30am – The Day of Pentecost – Eucharist

17th May 2026 10.30am – Sunday after Ascension Day – Eucharist

10th May 2026 10.30am – 6th Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

3rd May 2026 10.30am – 5th Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

26th April 2026 10.30am – 4th Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

Acts 2:42-end

19th April 2026 10.30am – 3rd Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

12th April 2026 10.30am – 2nd Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

5th April 2026 10.30am – Easter Day – Eucharist