18th October 2026 10.30am – Luke the Evangelist – Eucharist.

Posted on October 18, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 35.3-6

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;

Luke 10.1-9

After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 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 The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Today the world-wide Christian church remembers a doctor who wrote a
gospel. Luke.

When we say a doctor, we shouldn’t picture someone in a white coat with a
stethoscope round their neck. The physicians at the time of Jesus may well
have known less about medicine and illness - at any rate the science of them
- than you or me. But they would have had the same commitment as the
modern doctor to the welfare of the patient.

When men – it was a male profession – when men qualified as doctors in the
ancient world they affirmed the so-called Hippocratic oath. This dated back to
the fourth or fifth century before Christ and is the earliest form of medical
ethics. The physician swore to uphold what we now call patient confidentiality
and to do nothing that would cause harm to his patient.

This could put doctors who worked for the powerful in a difficult spot when
they were asked, for example, to prepare poison for a political assassination
or judicial execution.

Keeping confidentiality and not doing harm to patients have been key to
doctor’s professional ethics to this day. And there was one other
characteristic of the doctor throughout the ages which I think also shows itself
in Luke’s gospel.

You wouldn’t become a doctor then, perhaps not now, unless you had an
interest in people. Not just people’s medical problems, but people. It’s often
said now that the doctor doesn’t treat an illness but a person with an illness.
Doctor’s are interested in, curious about, people.

When I think about the way Luke writes the story of Jesus, as compared with
the other gospel writers, I find that same interest in people: women as well as
men; older people as well as children.

It’s Luke who gives the fullest account of the birth of Jesus in a manger in
Bethlehem. It’s Luke who tells us that two people in their eighties – Simeon
and Anna – greet Jesus when his parents bring him to the temple as a baby.
It’s Luke who recounts how Jesus came, perhaps for his bar mitzvah in
Jerusalem at the age of 12 and was left behind by his parents when they
returned with the rest of the villagers to Nazareth. And so on.

So what is Luke telling us in the gospel for today that we might not pick up
from the other gospels?

We tend to think that as Jesus makes his way, teaching and healing, from
Galilee to Jerusalem, he is accompanied by twelve men, the apostles. But
Luke tells the story a little differently. His doctor’s interest and curiosity about
people lead him to note and speak about a wider group of disciples. This
included women. He tells us the women were part of the travelling disciple
group from the beginning. As my wife once said, Of course there were
women. Who else did the shopping and the cooking? Indeed – which is why
there were women at the tomb on Good Friday and on Easter morning.
And here in today’s gospel Luke speaks of 70 people, chosen from that wider
disciple group. Now seventy people don’t just appear as if by magic. They
must have been with Jesus all along, mentored on the road together with the
twelve who were closest to Jesus.

The task of the 70 was to alert people in the villages ahead that Jesus was
coming. These are days when there is no radio or TV or newspapers, no
social media. So they will tell people that Jesus, the young Rabbi from
Nazareth, is coming and he will be worth hearing. I daresay they would give
some personal testimony as well: ‘His words inspired me. Made me hopeful
again. Restored my faith. You’ll want to meet him.’ They prepared the ground
for Christ’s coming.

So is there any message in this for us today?

Well, our situation is quite different. But there is surely a similar role for us,
Christ’s latter day disciples, to prepare the ground.

Wouldn’t our equivalent be to say to family, or friend, or neighbour, or
colleague, if the opportunity arose, ‘I go to St Mary’s because I find the
prayer, the scripture readings, receiving the sacrament, the quiet time, the
singing, helpful. It gives meaning and shape to my life. I come away
refreshed, revived, hopeful, each week. You should try it.’

In that way we can prepare the ground. That could be our part in helping
someone to know that the kingdom of God can be near.

The Prayers

Encouraged by our fellowship with the apostles and evangelists,
let us make our prayers to the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Father, your Son called the saints to leave the 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.
We pray especially for all those elected to General Synod over the last few weeks, may they make decisions for the benefit of all.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Your Son told his disciples not to be afraid and at Easter breathed on
them his gift of peace. Look with mercy upon the world into which
he sent them out, and give it that peace for which it longs.
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 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.
In a few moments of silence we pray for all those known to us.
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.
In silence we give thanks for those from our own lives.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

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

11th October 2026 10.30am – 19th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist.

Posted on October 11, 2026 by admin

The Readings

Isaiah 25. 1 - 9

O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
For you have made the city a heap,
the fortified city a ruin;
the palace of aliens is a city no more,
it will never be rebuilt.
Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
For you have been a refuge to the poor,
a refuge to the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
the song of the ruthless was stilled.
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-matured wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-matured wines strained clear.
And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
he will swallow up death for ever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
It will be said on that day,
Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, so that he might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.

Matthew 21.23-32

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.” But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, maltreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’

4th October 2026 10.30am – Harvest Festival – Eucharist.

Posted on October 4, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Deuteronomy 28.1-14

If you will only obey the Lord your God, by diligently observing all his commandments that I am commanding you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth; all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the Lord your God:

Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, both the increase of your cattle and the issue of your flock.

Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading-bowl.

Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you; they shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways. The Lord will command the blessing upon you in your barns, and in all that you undertake; he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord will establish you as his holy people, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. All the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. The Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the land that the Lord swore to your ancestors to give you. The Lord will open for you his rich storehouse, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all your undertakings. You will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow. The Lord will make you the head, and not the tail; you shall be only at the top, and not at the bottom—if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, by diligently observing them, and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I am commanding you today, either to the right or to the left, following other gods to serve them.

Luke 12.16-30

Then he told them a parable: ‘The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, “What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?” Then he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” So it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich towards God.’

He said to his disciples, ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?* If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;* yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

The Prayers

Let us offer our prayers to God for the life of the world
and for all God’s people in their daily life and work.

God, the beginning and end of all things,
in your providence and care
you watch unceasingly over all creation;
we offer our prayers
that in us and in all your people your will may be done,
according to your wise and loving purpose in Christ our Lord.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for all through whom we receive sustenance and life;
for farmers and agricultural workers,
for packers, distributors and company boards;
as you have so ordered our life that we depend upon each other,
enable us by your grace to seek the well-being of others before our own.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for all engaged in research to safeguard crops against disease,
and to produce abundant life among those who hunger
and whose lives are at risk.
Prosper the work of their hands
and the searching of their minds,
that their labour may be for the welfare of all.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for governments and aid agencies,
and those areas of the world where there is disaster, drought and starvation.
By the grace of your Spirit,
touch the hearts of all who live in comfortable plenty,
and make them wise stewards of your gifts.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for those who are ill,
remembering those in hospital and nursing homes
and all who are known to us.
We pray for all who care for them.
Give skill and understanding
to all who work for their well-being.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We remember those who have died,
whom we entrust to your eternal love
in the hope of resurrection to new life.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

We offer ourselves to your service,
asking that by the Spirit at work in us
others may receive a rich harvest of love and joy and peace.
Lord of the harvest,
in your mercy hear us.

Merciful Father:
Accept these prayers
For the sake you Son
Our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.

27th September 2026 10.30am – 17th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist.

Posted on September 27, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Ezekiel 18.1-4, 25-end

The word of the Lord came to me: What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Know that all lives are mine; the life of the parent as well as the life of the child is mine: it is only the person who sins that shall die.

Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? When the righteous turn away from their righteousness and commit iniquity, they shall die for it; for the iniquity that they have committed they shall die. Again, when the wicked turn away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is lawful and right, they shall save their life. Because they considered and turned away from all the transgressions that they had committed, they shall surely live; they shall not die. Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is unfair.’ O house of Israel, are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair?

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, all of you according to your ways, says the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions; otherwise iniquity will be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live.

Matthew 21.23-32

When he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

“What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him.

The Prayers

Prepared by David, Reader at St Mary's.

This morning’s prayers draw on a Song of Francis of Assisi.

Most High, all powerful, good Lord,
to you be praise, glory, honour and all blessing.
Only to you, Most High, do they belong
and no one is worthy to call upon your name.
We give thanks for your gift of life. Help us to live ours in fulfilment of your calling for us.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

May you be praised, my Lord, with all your creatures,
especially brother sun,
through whom you lighten the day for us.
He is beautiful and radiant with great splendour;
he signifies you, O Most High.
Be praised, my Lord, for sister moon and the stars:
clear and precious and lovely, they are formed in heaven.
We give thanks for vast wonders of the universe. Help us to grow in knowledge, but equally in wisdom and understanding.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Be praised, my Lord, for brother wind;
for air and clouds, clear skies and all weathers,
by which you give sustenance to your creatures.
We give thanks for the gift of changing seasons. Help us to recognise our dependency on fragile weather patterns and ocean currents.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Be praised, my Lord, for sister water,
who is very useful and humble and precious and pure.
Be praised, my Lord, for brother fire,
by whom the night is illumined for us:
he is beautiful and cheerful, full of power and strength.
We give thanks for the essentials of life, food and water, shelter and warm. Help us to share these equitably with all our siblings.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Be praised, my Lord, for our sister, mother earth,
who sustains and governs us
and produces diverse fruits
and coloured flowers and grass.
We give thanks for the difference in colour, texture and shape found in creation. Help us to rejoice in it and steward it wisely.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Be praised, my Lord, by all those who forgive for love of you
and who bear weakness and tribulation.
Blessed are those who bear them in peace:
for by you, Most High, they will be crowned.
We give thanks for those who bring healing and care. Help us to support the lonely, the anxious and the suffering.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

Be praised, my Lord, for our sister, the death of the body,
from which no one living is able to flee;
Blessed are those who are found doing your most holy will,
for the second death will do them no harm.
We give thanks for those who have died. Help us to live knowing they rest in your eternal care.
God of life:
hear our prayer.

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

20th September 2026 10.30am – Eucharist for the Feast of Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.

Posted on September 20, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

2 Corinthians 4.1-6

Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For we do not proclaim ourselves; we proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 9.9-13

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.’

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

Today we are celebrating the feast of St Matthew. If you have been coming to church for any length of time you will, no doubt be familiar with hearing many readings from his Gospel and if you’re fairly new to church, you soon will be familiar with it because it’s one of four gospels that we read from regularly in our services. Coincidentally it happens to be my personal favourite. Perhaps this is because, being one of Jesus’ twelve original disciples, Matthew tells the stories about him so well and there is a great deal of wisdom in there too.

Well we may be familiar with hearing from what Matthew wrote in his gospel but how much do we actually know about who he was and what he did? The Bible doesn’t tell us a great deal so I’ve had to rely on other sources, who are far more knowledgeable than I am, for my research. Hopefully what I’ve discovered will provide some background and context about Matthew’s life and work, and in so doing help us to relate to him more meaningfully.

Perhaps we can start with one of the things we do know and have just heard in our reading, namely that Matthew was a tax collector. He was a Galilean Jew and he worked in Capernaum where Jesus had been staying for a time. In our own times, and indeed throughout much of history, paying tax is not generally popular and I think it’s fair to say that the Inland Revenue probably doesn’t have the biggest fan club, but in Matthew’s time tax collectors, or publicans as they were known, were really hated. So much so that they were excluded from religious worship and shunned in civic life and in business. One of the ways the tax system worked was that the Romans, who were an occupying power, set the rates of tax and the publicans bought the right to collect the taxes. They made their money by charging extra on top of the basic rate and needless to say, some of them were very greedy and corrupt. Some were not above using violence and intimidation to enforce collection of the debts and, if they wanted it, they had the backing of the Romans, who were not exactly known for their subtlety or delicacy in such matters. No wonder the tax collectors were hated. Whatever kind of tax collector Matthew was, when Jesus said “follow me”, he left his booth and followed him.

We can only wonder what Matthew thought as he walked away from the life he had known up to that point and the financial security it had given him. Perhaps he was tired of being hated and grabbed at the chance Jesus was giving him to change. It seems he promptly invited fellow tax collectors to join him as he ate with Jesus and they came. Maybe they could hardly believe that Jesus was choosing to be in their company. When the Pharisees learned that Jesus was mixing with these “sinners” they made it very clear that they didn’t approve. As far as they were concerned these men were social pariahs who were beyond redemption. Rather hypocritical in a way because all complex societies need funds in order to function and taxing is the usual way of getting these funds. Looking down on those who do the dirty work of collecting the money so that others can keep their hands and consciences clean is hardly fair. But then some of the Pharisees didn’t seem to have a problem with fairness or being hypocritical. However, Jesus is quick to put them straight about why he is spending time with these so called “sinners” and how they, the Pharisees, were missing the point.

As one of Jesus twelve disciples, Matthew travelled with him and learned from his teachings. After Jesus death, resurrection and ascension, Matthew originally preached and taught among the Jews in Judea who had converted to Christianity but later he is thought to have taken Christ’s teachings to other countries, possibly as far as modern day Iran. He is venerated in quite a number of churches and faiths, some of whom believe that he was martyred around AD 68.

Given his background it probably won’t surprise you to know that Matthew is the patron saint of accountants, bankers, tax collectors, civil servants and more obscurely of perfumers. Also he is the patron saint of Osorno in Chile and Salerno in Italy where his tomb lies in the cathedral.

It seems Matthew was respected by his fellow disciples who called him Levi. But according to St Jerome he called himself Matthew and he never shied away from being open about his past role as a tax collector. His attitude was if Christ forgave and chose him then there was hope for everyone. I think this is his most powerful personal message throughout the ages and it still holds true for us to us today.

Amen.

The Prayers

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

Your Son sent out disciples to preach and 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.
We pray for Lucy and Paul’s grandson and family.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.

Almighty God,
Grant that your Church
may faithfully hold and make known
the faith that has come to us through the apostles,
that with them and all your saints
we may inherit the glories of eternal life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

13th September 2026 10.30am – The 15th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on September 13, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Colossians 1.15−20

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

Matthew 8.23–27

And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

The Sermon

By The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry!

I expect you recognise those words - the first verse of William Blake’s poem
The Tyger!

In the following verses, Blake poses a question. If God created the tiger – a
magnificent but ferocious and frightening beast – what does that tell us about
God and his creative work?

Blake goes on to picture God as a blacksmith, hammering out the shape and
sinews of the tiger in some deep, distant and fiery furnace.

But what is this God that could bring into being something so terrifying as a
tiger?

And then comes a verse which, when I first read it as a fifteen year old,
completely knocked me sideways. He writes this:

When the stars threw down their spears,
And water’d heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Did he who made the lamb, make thee?

Can the one who made something as innocent and gentle as a lamb also
have brought into being a creature as terrifying and violent as a tiger? And did
he smile? Was he pleased?

Blake doesn’t answer these questions but he does make us stop and think
about the creation – in all its aspects – the gentleness of the lamb; but also
the ferocity of the tiger – and the tiger stands for all aspects of nature that are
terrifying and violent. Nature red in tooth and claw. Earthquakes and storms
at sea.

We need to think about this because otherwise we could have a cosy but
inadequate understanding of God and nature and our place in nature.
Something we see in some favourite Christian hymns. Hymns like
All things bright and beautiful.

Lovely hymn, lovely tune. But it teeters all the time towards the sentimental:

Each little flower that opens,
each little bird that sings,
he made their glowing colours,
he made their tiny wings.

And it can lead us, subconsciously perhaps, to suppose that God made the
natural world as a sort of stage on which our human lives are played out.
Ours is the important story. Nature is just the scenery and the props that we
can manipulate any way we want.

But there is more to nature than things bright and beautiful. There is also the
tiger. And there’s nothing about tigers in All things bright and beautiful –
though in fairness, the hymn was written for children.

Blake’s poem makes us think then about nature in all its aspects. Because if
we are serious in saying that God is the creator of all things, then that
includes the tiger as well as the lamb. And we do think God created all things.
We shall say so shortly in the creed.

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.

In the world into which Jesus came, that idea that there was one God who
made all things in heaven and earth – that was a minority belief. It was the
faith of the Jews, but it was not what most people around them believed. The
pagan world was full of gods and goddesses who could be held responsible
for this or that in the natural world. But Jews believed, as we believe, in the
one creator of all that is, seen and unseen, responsible for everything.

And because we human beings are only one small part of God’s creation we
must suppose that he has a purpose for the whole of it, and not just for our
human story, or just for the parts we are comfortable with – the lamb but not
the tiger.

And that brings us to the disciples in the boat with Jesus on the Sea of
Galilee. This is their wake up moment. When Jesus emerges from sleep and
speaks, they have to ask themselves: ‘Who is it that can rebuke the winds
and the sea?’ And the answer is clear: Only the one that made heaven and
earth, can do this. And in that moment the disciples’ understanding of who
Jesus is must change.

Christ is one in whom all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.
Therefore, as the psalmist says, though the waters rage and swell, we will not
fear. Because our God is the God who holds the whole of creation in his
hands, the tiger and the lamb.

6th September 2026 10.30am – The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Eucharist

Posted on September 6, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Isaiah 61. 10 - end

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my whole being shall exult in my God;
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its shoots,
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.

Luke 1.46-55

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

The Prayers

Let us proclaim the greatness of the Lord
and rejoice together in the God who saves us.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

Your prophet of old foretold a day when a virgin would conceive
and bear a son who would be called God-with-us.
Help us to look forward to your deliverance
and to seek the fullness of your kingdom.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

Your angel declared to Mary that she was to be
the mother of the Saviour.
Help us all to be open to your word
and obedient to your will.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

Mary rejoiced with her cousin Elizabeth and sang your praise,
‘My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.’
Help us to live joyful lives that sing your praise.
We pray today for Hanna and Mariam
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

Mary bore a son of David’s line,
a king whose reign would never end.
Bless all the nations of the world with Christ’s gift of peace.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

The child Jesus grew in wisdom and stature
in the home of Mary and Joseph.
Strengthen our homes and families,
and keep under your protection all those whom we love.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

The apostle John saw a vision of a woman in heaven,
robed with the sun.
Bring us with all those who have died in the faith of Christ
to share the joy of heaven with Mary and all the saints.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

At the foot of the cross of Christ stood his mother,
and from the cross she received his lifeless body in her arms.
Give comfort and healing to all who suffer
and all who watch the suffering of those they love.
Lord, you do great things for us:
Holy is your name.

Almighty and everlasting God,
your handmaid Mary magnified your name
and rejoiced in your saving love:
trusting in that same love,
we ask all these our prayers
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

30th August 2026 10.30am – 13th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on August 30, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Romans 12.9-end

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honour. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 16.21-end

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.’

The Sermon

By Catherine, Reader at St Marys.

Our prisons are full. So some prisoners are being let out earlier than usual.

People are concerned, especially the victims of their crimes. If prisoners
haven’t served their time, has justice been done? Are they safe to be released?
Has there been enough time for rehabilitation? News stories like this can be
scary. How can we keep our communities safe? How can we ensure offenders
are sentenced appropriately?
I recently read of a pilot scheme running in two prisons, based on Scandinavian
methods. Things are being done differently on the selected wings. So, for
example, the walls of the wings have been painted a calming colour. There are
house-plants, a well-stocked library, a garden, a gym, a pool table and a café.
Prisoners can join a choir, take dance lessons or play the piano. When it’s a
prisoner’s birthday, they get a card from the staff. Staff and inmates get
together each week over a cup of tea to discuss how things are going.
Is this trial happening in low security open prisons with model prisoners? No.
It’s happening in Wandsworth and Pentonville, two of the most challenging
prisons. And the prisoners picked for the trial are chosen completely at
random.

I was reminded of this article when reading today’s passage from Paul’s letter
to the Romans.
The passage is a good summary of Christian discipleship: Paul tells the Roman
Christians to be genuine and generous with their love. They should do what is
good and hate what is evil.
Charity begins at home. They should support each other whether times are
good or difficult. They are to provide for each other’s needs, whatever their
social status.
Charity begins at home. But then Paul says “now look beyond your immediate
circle of fellow-believers. Care for strangers – people you don’t know, people
from other lands, communities or backgrounds.”
Charity begins at home. It then extends to (perhaps benign) strangers. But
then, Paul says: “Extend your love further still – extend it to those who have
actively done you wrong”.
A large part of this passage focuses on caring for this hardest group of people to
love. Don’t react with evil if someone has treated you evilly, but instead think
of what is best for the whole community. It is God, not you, who is the
ultimate judge. So, if an enemy is hungry or thirsty, give them food and water.
Paul uses a rather curious image of how doing so is like heaping burning coals
on the enemy’s head. Does this mean that providing food and water will be
killing the enemy with kindness, and that’s how they will be punished?
No. In a society where you need fire to cook your food and keep your house
warm, burning coals are a good thing. If your fire goes out, you pop next door
and ask for some burning coals to get it going again. Thus your neighbour
helps you to live and thrive.
So, by meeting your enemy’s basic human needs, you help them to live, to
thrive. You give them the chance to repent and become the best version of
themself they can be, the person, indeed, who God wants them to be.

Which brings me back to the Scandinavian approach being tried in Wandsworth
and Pentonville prisons.
Early results of this trial has shown nearly half as many assaults as in the rest of
the prison. Self harm is down by 57% and disorder by 62%. There has been
almost no problem with drugs. So it seems that the trials are working well in
rehabilitating the prisoners. And things are better for the staff too. Staff
sickness rates have halved and staff retention rates are much longer than
elsewhere in the prison.
And all this because someone thought it was a good idea to treat prisoners as
human beings.
So what can we take away from this today?
Well firstly, we should note verse 18. Paul says “If it is possible, so far as it
depends on you, live peaceably with all”. There may be times when it is not
possible, or indeed, wise, to interact personally with someone who has caused
us harm.
But we can speak out for humane and decent treatment of those in prison. We
can urge our politicians to fund meaningful activities within prisons, so that
prisoners have the best possible chance of rehabilitation.
And we can support the work of organisations which provide alternatives to
prison. Indeed we are already doing this at St. Mary’s. The Community
Payback team currently provide regular help with our cemetery maintenance,
for example.
And in doing so, we play our part in bringing about God’s kingdom here on
Earth.

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 day and the many gifts you give to us. Help us not to take any of these for granted. May we truly appreciate and care for our world and all with whom we share it both now and in the future.

Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

We pray for your church throughout the world, especially for our sisters and brothers in places where they are not yet free to worship you openly.

We pray for all here at St Mary’s, at St Mark’s and at St John’s, both lay & ordained who work so committedly to sustain our churches and to serve our respective communities. Be with us and look kindly on all that we try to do.

Father, we ask your blessing on our well dressing, our patronal festival and the Walkley Horticultural Show, all of which will take place here in the coming week. We pray that the well dressing will be a wonderful opportunity for people of all abilities to come together to share in gentle, creative work and conversation and that the end result will be enjoyed many people.

Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

We continue to pray for our very troubled world, for all peoples, communities and nations who are going through dark and difficult times. Lord please do not let us lose hope that we can resolve our differences peacefully and make the world a better, more just and compassionate place for everyone. Especially we ask you to protect those who put themselves in harm’s way for the sake of others.

At this time we pray for the people of Nepal and those visiting that country who are caught up in the terrible flooding and mud slides that have devastated such a large area and caused such great loss of life, homes and livelihoods. May they receive the help and comfort that they need.

Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer

Five years on from the Taliban retaking control of Afghanistan, we pray for the people of that country who are struggling to survive. Especially we pray for the women and girls who suffer ever greater repression. We pray for enlightenment and a change of heart by those in power so that all the people can live and flourish.

Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

We pray for all children and people in education and training as they return to their studies after the summer break, especially the youngest children starting school for the first time. We pray also for those newly entering the world of employment. Father be with them as they find their place and settle into new roles, experiences and opportunities to grow in knowledge and confidence. May there be meaningful work for everyone who seeks it.

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, cared for and appreciated. We pray for all who are lonely, that they may find the companionship they long.

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.

We give thanks for the life and work of Dolly Parton who used her own early struggles in life to help others overcome their difficulties and challenges. May her family, friends and fans be comforted and cared for in their loss.

Again in a short time of quiet we remember our own loved ones who are no longer with us.

Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

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

Amen

23rd August 2026 10.30am – 12th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on August 23, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Romans 12.1-8

I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think, but to think with sober judgement, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.

Matthew 16.13-20

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

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

I think it would be hard for anyone, unless they lived in complete seclusion or denial, to be unaware that our world is a very troubled place right now. Granted there have always been troubles somewhere and no doubt there always will be, but over the last few years and even more so over the last few months, the number of bad situations and the pace at which they appear to be developing seems to have accelerated massively. At least that’s how it feels when we follow the news and current affairs programmes or even as a result of our own experiences. With wars, mass migration, climate change and the effects of extreme weather conditions, shortages of money, food, housing and work, natural disasters, political strife and so on all happening at once, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and tempting to think “I am so small and the issues are so enormous, what possible difference can I make? I’m not wealthy or powerful and even many of the people who are seem to be struggling to make any impact for the better, so what can I do?” This can be disheartening to say the least and leave us feeling powerless.

Well, in the face of such worrying questions, I think we can take heart from both our readings this morning. In the passage from St Paul’s letter to the Romans he first of all urges Christians not to be “conformed to this world”. For us I would take that to mean that we don’t just go along with things because that’s how they are and it’s easier. He says “be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern the will of God - what is good and acceptable and perfect.“ Well I think that pretty much speaks for itself and applies just as much to us today as it did to the Romans. Our faith gives us a good, solid grounding from which we can discern right from wrong and work out how we should behave in even the most difficult and complex of situations. Paul then goes on to remind us that each and every one of us has been given gifts and abilities which we should use accordingly and that we should work together. “We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another.” In other words by using our talents and what we have, we can make a difference for the better, and by working together we can greatly amplify that difference.

A real example of this has taken place right here in St Mary’s. Not that many years ago the congregation had gradually dwindled from sixty plus on a Sunday morning to the low twenties in number. It mirrored a national decline in churchgoing but even so, it was very worrying. I know numbers aren’t everything, nor should they be but realistically it’s hard for very small congregations to survive, especially with the upkeep of an old, listed building and all the formalities of running a church properly with a very small team. We could have given up, but we didn’t. In spite of the many difficulties we faced we kept on working together, using our collective gifts and abilities and bit by bit we have grown because, you’re all here, bringing with you even more gifts, abilities and talents and just by being who and what you are this adds to the richness and diversity of our worship and our community. The fact that we have survived has an effect on the wider local community. They may not come to services or not be believers but they do enjoy and benefit from the many and varied activities and events that take place here providing companionship, friendship, hospitality, creativity and opportunities to serve. We are an anchor within this community, helping to maintain its identity and character. We together, are all a part of making this happen. Relatively speaking we are still not a big church and probably never will be but perhaps that’s no bad thing because we have been able to discern and respond to the needs of the people who find their way here and make this place their home. Our home in God’s house.

I mentioned at the start that we can take heart from both our readings. In the one from St Matthew’s gospel we hear how Jesus says he will build his church on Peter who he describes as a rock. We know from all the stories in the bible, that although Peter loved Jesus with all his heart, he often misunderstood and got things wrong and when it came to the ultimate test he denied that he even knew Jesus. And yet, Jesus did entrust his church to Peter and as he said, nothing would prevail against it. However hard and sincerely we try though, like Peter we will never get everything right so I personally find the fact that he was a fallible human being very encouraging. He is the torch bearer for the rest of us. In the same vein, I really liked a line from Shan’s recent sermon, “We bring what we have, not what we wish we had”. In spite of our imperfections and shortcomings we can and do make a difference and together we make an even bigger difference. Progress can be very slow or seemingly nonexistent at times in both church life and the issues of the wider world but we are not powerless and we do have a voice. We have to raise our eyes above the current difficulties and continue to dare to hope that things can be better. So however tempting it may be, may we not give up on what is worthwhile, on what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Amen.

16th August 2026 10.30am – 11th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on August 16, 2026 by St Mary's

The Readings

Romans 11.1-2a, 29-32

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says of Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?

for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

Matthew 15.21-28

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

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

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

Today’s readings are likely to challenge us at least as much as they comfort us.

Our Gospel paints Jesus as a callous, sectarian, judge. Someone whose attention, mercy and grace are for an elect few. His description of the Canaanite women, her daughter, and by extension all non-Jews, as dogs, would have been offensive. The Canaanite woman persists, indeed she takes Jesus’ insult and turns it back against him. One has to wonder what Jesus makes of this. He is normally the one delivering the pithy retorts, not receiving them. Jesus appears impressed with the woman’s faith and her daughter is healed.

This interaction raises a number of questions for me. Any of these could be the subject of a whole book, nevermind a sermon.

Did the woman change Jesus’ mind? Did her persistence, quick wit and ultimately her faith, move Jesus to a healing he wasn’t already going to perform? Or was Jesus going to heal the daughter regardless? Neither of these readings is particularly palatable. Neither sound like the Jesus I have come to know and follow.

If Jesus’ interaction with the woman changed his mind, how does that feel to those of us whose loved ones have not been made well, despite our persistence, theological sparring with God in prayer and our faith?

If Jesus was going to heal the daughter regardless, why make the woman jump through a rather degrading interaction? Something doesn’t make sense.

I find it helpful to approach this episode by recollecting that Jesus’ disciples are on a learning curve. That’s part of how we get to learn with them. And that the Gospel according to Matthew is written with a contemporary Jewish audience in mind.

But let’s not fall into the trap of thinking that because Jesus was Jewish, and his disciples, and the audience of this Gospel, that Jews (in any time) have a monopoly on xenophobia and boundary-keeping. Many nations, including all of ours, have put themselves at the centre of the universe.

The disciples have asked Jesus to send the woman away. She is a Canaanite, she’s also making a lot of noise. They attempt to exclude her. It doesn't work and she gets what she wants, her daughter is healed. Regardless of the exact mechanism, God’s mercy and grace are extended to both her and her daughter. Both the disciples and the early recipients of Matthew’s Gospel are challenged to recognise the extension of God’s mercy and grace to the gentiles.

Our reading from Romans acts as a counterpoint to our Gospel.

The lectionary misses out a large chunk of Paul’s argument—admittedly a rather rambling one. Paul uses the metaphor of vines, just as Jesus did. He speaks of grafting branches onto roots without removing the existing branches.

Has anyone here ever grafted a tree onto root stock? No, I haven't either/Okay, well you may know this next bit better than me. It's a process that's delicate and requires a lot of care and skill. We have in our garden an apple tree my uncle has grafted in order to preserve a particular variety -- a favourite of my grandmother -- using suitable root stock. When this is done, typically, all the existing branches are removed so what is grafted can benefit from the vigorous roots. The new flourishes at the expense of what was there before.

It is much rarer to leave existing branches in place. That's why Paul's metaphor is all the more powerful. It goes against conventional wisdom and makes us stop and assess what's being suggested. There is clearly something of worth in the existing branches and fruit can be borne from them as much as from the new branches.

Paul is using this metaphor to talk about the relationship of the Church to the Jewish people...

He is making clear that Christianity does not eclipse or replace the people of the first covenant, people God chose.

Why is this an important message for us to hear today?

The history of Jewish Christian relations is a turbulent one. Some New Testament texts, including the Gospel according to John, have strong overtones of anti-Jewish attitudes. It is easy to fall into the trap of othering a group of any kind. Christians have a particular history of derogatory attitudes and actions towards Jews, including blaming them for Jesus’ death. Paul is clear that that's a mistake. If we spend more time sitting with the Passion story, we see how nearly everyone deserted Jesus. We must accept that we occupy the place of Christ's accusers due to our own rejection of his ways.

Being branches of the same vine, we are siblings under God.

If the Canaanite woman teaches us that God's grace and mercy exists in abundance and there are enough crumbs to go round, Paul reminds us that it is not the sole preserve of Christians. These are deeply theological texts, wrangling with a complex inherited relationship. The pushing at boundaries can and should remind us to be thoughtful about how we relate to others in society, and to be careful not to let our prejudices translate into habits of violence and exclusion.

St Marys Walkley

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

Category: Sermons

18th October 2026 10.30am – Luke the Evangelist – Eucharist.

11th October 2026 10.30am – 19th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist.

4th October 2026 10.30am – Harvest Festival – Eucharist.

27th September 2026 10.30am – 17th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist.

20th September 2026 10.30am – Eucharist for the Feast of Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.

13th September 2026 10.30am – The 15th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

6th September 2026 10.30am – The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Eucharist

30th August 2026 10.30am – 13th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

23rd August 2026 10.30am – 12th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

16th August 2026 10.30am – 11th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist