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

Posted on December 21, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Isaiah 7.10-16

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah^* said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman^* is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.^* He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Matthew 1.18-end

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

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 The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

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

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

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

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

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

While Matthew’s gospel is Joseph’s story.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on December 14, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Isaiah 35.1-10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, “Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.”

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people; no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Matthew 11.2-11

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7th December 2025 at 10.30am – The Second Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

Posted on December 7, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Isaiah 11.1-10

A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide by what his ears hear; but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Matthew 3.1-12

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The Prayers

In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid
we pray to Jesus.
Come to your Church as Lord and judge.
Help us to live in the light of your coming
and give us a longing for your kingdom.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to your world as King of the nations.
Before you rulers will stand in silence.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to the suffering as Saviour and comforter.
Break into our lives,
where we struggle with sickness and distress,
and set us free to serve you for ever.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to us as shepherd and guardian of our souls.
Give us with all the faithful departed
a share in your victory over evil and death.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come from heaven, Lord Jesus, with power and great glory.
Lift us up to meet you,
that with Mary, Mark, John and all your saints and angels
we may live and reign with you in your new creation.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay;
give new courage to your people,
who trust in your love.
By your coming, raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom
on earth as in heaven,
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

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

30th November 2025 at 10.30am – The First Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

Posted on November 30, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Isaiah 2.1-5

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills;
all the nations shall stream to it.
Many peoples shall come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob;
that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’
For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples;
they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!

Matthew 24.36-44

‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son,* but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day* your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.

The Prayers
Prepared by Kath.

God our Father, hear us when we pray to you in faith.
We give you thanks for the many gifts you give to us each and every day from the ordinary to the extraordinary. May we take time to realise what we have and to appreciate it with heartfelt gratitude.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer

We pray for your church throughout the world, especially for our fellow believers who are not free to worship you freely. We ask God to keep them strong in their faith and protect them from those who would do them harm and we pray for better times when they too can worship freely.
We give thanks for all who give of their time, talents and resources to make St Mary’s, St Mark’s and St John’s the special places they are and we pray for their respective communities.
Father be with us all and help us to travel thoughtfully and prayerfully through the advent season and as we make our preparations for Christmas. With all that there is to do may we not lose sight of its true meaning.
We pray for Joe who was confirmed recently and welcome him anew into the Lord’s family.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer

We pray for our world, for all peoples, communities and nations who face injustice and great distress through war, oppression, disaster or need. May true justice prevail rather than the abuse of power and extreme wealth that we so often see. Lord inspire and empower us all to stand against this in whatever ways we can rather than seeking our own best interests or leaving everything to others. Give us the courage and confidence to hope and work for a better and more just world for everyone.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer

We pray for all who are ill or unwell at this time, especially those nearing the end of their lives and those dealing with difficult and painful diagnoses and treatments. May they be lovingly supported as they navigate the changes and challenges they face. 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 we call to mind anyone known to us who is in particular need of our prayers

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 find their own peace and be comforted.
Especially we pray for all those killed in the terrible fires in a large apartment complex in Hong Kong and for Sarah Beckstrom, the young US National Guard soldier who had died after being shot while on duty. We pray for their families and loved ones so suddenly bereaved.
Lord, in your mercy
Hear our prayer

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

23rd November 2025 at 10.30am – Christ the King – Eucharist

Posted on November 23, 2025November 22, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Colossians 1.11-20

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled^* you^* to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.^*

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.

Luke 23.33-43

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

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

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

Like many other people I rather like going to the cinema so it’s great that one of the rewards I receive from my bank is 6 free cinema tickets per year. In the past I’ve used them to see some excellent films. However, this year I’ve struggled to find anything I actually wanted to see, so as the deadline to use these tickets is fast approaching I spent some time the other day trawling through the films on offer. To say I wasn’t blown away by the offerings would be something of an understatement. But one that caught my eye as a possibility was “Nuremberg”. The publicity describes it is a fictitious thriller that uses the Nuremberg trials of 1945-46 as a backdrop and fictionalised versions of some actual cases are also used. It’s getting some media attention in part because this year is the 80th anniversary of the original trials.

Now you may possibly be thinking “well this is quite interesting but what’s it got to do with the theme of our service today which is Christ the King. Hopefully this will become clear.

To start with I was a bit lost as to what I could say on this theme. Like all Christians I believe that Christ is our King and that he is very different in all respects to the usual images of earthly kings, even the nice, benevolent ones but this wouldn’t exactly have constituted a sermon so I did a bit of research, the results of which quite surprised me.

The feast of Christ the King is celebrated by many branches of the Christian church but it only dates back to 1925 (this was the bit the really surprised me as most of the events or people we celebrate in the church have long if not ancient origins). According to what I read it was instituted by Pope Pius XI following the First World War in an attempt to counteract the rise of atheism, secularism and ultranationalism. In view of what people had been through during this war, especially those who had actually done the fighting it is understandable that some people had their faith severely damaged or lost it altogether and others became fanatical about their own national identity and values which they perceived as being threatened by others. The war poet Arthur Graeme West wrote of his gradual loss of faith in some of his poems, written as he fought in the trenches. But he said he found the loss of his faith more painful than the loss in any battle. It’s difficult to say what impact the Feast of Christ the King had in those early years but as we all know, the Second World War took place just a few short years later, no doubt creating even more atheists.

The theme for this year is hope but given the many terrible and seemingly intractable situations we see around the world hope can be hard to hold onto. Anger, hatred, violence and intolerance are on the rise and the lust for power and extreme wealth we see in many authoritarian political leaders and their lack of respect for decency, the law and for others appear to be not only tolerated but admired by a lot of people. Frighteningly this sort of behaviour is becoming normalised and it can be hard to know how to stand against it.

Turning to our readings, they struck me as being quite contrasting. The one from Colossians seems to have two parts to it. The first speaks of how, through our faith in God we are given the wherewithal to keep going, even in adversity or when progress is painfully slow or seemingly absent. The second part describes who and what Jesus is but it does so in a way that to me, feels serene but almost detached from the down to earth reality of his life. By stark contrast the passage from Luke recounts the utterly brutal facts of his death and how, even as he was dying he was being tormented and derided. But in spite of this he gave hope to the crucified criminal alongside him. “Today you will be with me in paradise. “

As I have already said, hope can be hard to hold onto right now but what we see and hear in the media, awful and depressing as much of it is and sometimes making us feel despairing, it is not the whole story. If it were I suspect that worldwide society would already have fallen apart. In reality there are millions of good people doing good things every day that keep society and thereby the world, as we know it, going.

What do I mean by “good people” and “good things”? By good people I don’t mean perfect, flawless individuals who always get everything right because they don’t exist. I mean ordinary people who do their best day by day to be decent, honest, honourable, kind, unselfish and compassionate. In other words using the fruits of the spirit.

By good things I don’t necessarily mean big, spectacular things like giving away a fortune or finding a cure for some terrible disease, fantastic as such acts are. I mean the sort of things we can all do like helping each other with small acts of caring and kindness. Never underestimate the value of these acts to those on the receiving end. They can mean a great deal and even be life changing. Collectively they can be world changing.

Going back to the example of the Nuremberg Trials, they took place at the end of an horrific period in history and tried to hold war criminals to account for what they had done. The hope was also to deter others, individuals, states and nations from committing similar crimes. They were much criticised but they and the similar Tokyo Trial were the start of what has eventually become International Criminal Law. This too is not perfect or entirely successful because we still have terrible acts of war but undoubtedly less than we would have had without it.

So in spite of the constant diet of misery and failure we are fed, don’t give up on hope. Keep doing your bit in whatever way God asks and enables you to and bit by bit we will turn the tide and make the world a better place for all. A kingdom more worthy of our King.

Amen.

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe.

We give thanks for Christ our King — the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of all creation. May the Church on earth reflect
his kingdom of love and peace. Bless all who lead your Church,
here in our parish of Walkley and throughout the world.
Strengthen us to serve with humility and faithfulness, that Christ
may truly reign in our hearts and in our communities.
Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the world over which Christ reigns — a kingdom not
of domination, but of justice, mercy and reconciliation. Bring
peace where there is conflict, hope where there is despair, and
unity where division has taken root. We pray especially for those
suffering under war, oppression or poverty, that your redeeming
power may bring freedom, justice and dignity to all.
Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our nation, and for the world, for all who hold
positions of authority and responsibility, and for those who shape
public life. Grant them the wisdom and courage to act with
justice, integrity and compassion, mindful always of the needs of
the weakest and most vulnerable. May your kingdom come, on
earth as it is in heaven.
Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our local community of Walkley, for the city of
Sheffield, and for our families, neighbours and friends. May Christ
the King be known not through power or privilege, but through
service, kindness and care. Help us to recognise his face in those
we meet, and to build together a community founded on love.
Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.

We pray for those who are suffering — the sick, the lonely, the
anxious and the bereaved. We remember especially those who
feel abandoned or forgotten, and those who long for healing or
hope. As the thief on the cross heard Christ’s promise of paradise,
may all who suffer find comfort in his compassion and the
assurance of his presence.
Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.

We remember those who have died, in recent days and in years
past. We give thanks for their lives and commend them to Christ’s
eternal kingdom, where sorrow and pain are no more and every
tear is wiped away. May we, with them, share in the inheritance
of the saints in light.
Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.

Finally, Lord, we bring before you our own prayers and the issues
that concern and affect us.
Lord, in your mercy:
Hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the communion of Mary, Mark, John and of all the
Saints, let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our
life, to God.

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

16th November 2025 at 10.30am – 2nd Sunday before Advent/Safeguarding Service – Eucharist

Posted on November 16, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

James 2.14-26

What good is it, my brothers and sisters,^* if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill’, and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I by my works will show you my faith. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. Do you want to be shown, you senseless person, that faith without works is barren? Was not our ancestor Abraham justified by works when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was brought to completion by the works. Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’, and he was called the friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. Likewise, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another road? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.

Luke 21.5-19

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.’

They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’ And he said, ‘Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and, “The time is near!” Do not go after them.

‘When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

‘But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

The Sermon
Prepared by The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

One of the temptations for people of faith is to suppose that having faith
guarantees that bad things won’t happen to us.

In today’s gospel, Jesus warns his followers that this is not right. This is not
how faith works in our lives.

He’s speaking in the Temple in Jerusalem. A magnificent building. Solid.
Impressive. Beautifully adorned. For Jews, this was the place they wanted to
go to as often as they could. It was the rock-solid centre of their faith. A place
of stability and reassurance.

And yet, Jesus says, the days will come when there shall not be left here one
stone upon another.

This upset people. It undermined their belief that their faith, centred on this
building, guaranteed that life would go well for them, for ever.

And Jesus goes on to list other bad things that will happen. Wars and tumults.
Nations rising against nation. Earthquakes, famine, pestilence and terrors.
And all through history there have been times when the natural world
threatened human communities.

In Europe, the most catastrophic was probably the Great Lisbon earthquake
of 1755. If you’ve ever been to Lisbon, you will know that the city was almost
completely destroyed when an earth tremor, 120 miles out at sea, caused
earthquakes and a tsunami. They hit the city out of the blue on a November
morning. Buildings collapsed, fissures as wide as 16 feet opened up. Thirty
thousand people lost their lives. Many simply disappeared. Christian Europe
was terrified and shaken. How could this happen to people of faith?

They had forgotten these words of Christ. There will be natural disasters.
And not only natural disasters. There have been other times when we have
been threatened by human ones: conflicts we inflicted on ourselves; but just
as frightening.

We were reminded of that on Remembrance Sunday, when we laid wreaths
at the war memorial boards in church. So many names, especially from the
First World War.

Our last vicar, Melanie Fitzgerald, traced many of those names, discovering
who the men were, and where they lived in Walkley. A blacksmith from Fulton
Road, a farrier from Palm Street, a cutlery worker from Freedom Road …
Practically every street had someone who was killed in the war. It touched all
Walkley families.

War seems a long way from us now. But it came closer when Russia invaded
Ukraine. And every day we watch the relentless destruction of villages and
towns there.

How do people live without lapsing into total despair, when their home has
gone, loved ones killed, and there seems to be no hope for a better future.
What is the role of faith?

In the past, when shocking events occurred, people often felt that what they
were living through was not just the end of their world but the end of the world
itself.

And this is what Jesus is getting at in today’s gospel.

He speaks of the destruction of war. He speaks of earthquakes. He speaks
too of a time when his followers would be persecuted, simply because they
were his followers. How that might lead parents to betray their friends, their
family, even their children. Times when it would be only too easy to fall into
utter despair and feel that the end of the world had come.

By the time Luke wrote his gospel – about fifty years after the death and
resurrection of Jesus - the temple had indeed been pulled down by the
Romans and the persecution of Christians was happening.

That was surely one reason why Luke wrote. He wanted to capture in his
gospel how Christ’s followers should think and react when life around them
seemed threatening or uncertain, when they were tempted to feel despair and
give up.

What the passage we have read today seems to be saying is this.

Having faith does not guarantee you a smooth path through life. You may well
get caught up in natural disasters or conflicts. You may well be attacked
because of your faith.

But don’t think of faith as if it were some sort of magic talisman that wards off
all evil, all harm. There are no lucky charms and we shouldn’t think of faith
that way.

Faith does not prevent evil happening to us. Rather it gives us the resilience
we need to come through, to be a survivor rather than a crushed victim.

Faith is a resource. It builds us up inwardly so that we can face what
happens to us outwardly.

And in that way, Jesus says, ‘by your endurance you will gain your lives’.

The Prayers
Prepared by David.

United in the company of all the faithful and looking for the coming of the kingdom, let us offer our prayers to God.

Give to the world and its peoples
the peace that comes from above,
that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.
Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the
service of the poor and needy;
all who minister to the sick and dying;
and all who bring light to those in darkness.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Bless Pete and Leah our bishops and all ministers of your Church.
As they set the culture, and seek to lead us in our worship and witness,
give them wisdom, humility, and courage to follow Jesus’ example of servant leadership.
Help us support them in their role, to pray for them,
and ensure they have others around them who can help, challenge, and encourage them
so that we might be a safer place for everyone.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for all those who have suffered hurt and harm within the family of the Church,
whether they are known to us or not, we know that you know them by name.
For those who feel trapped, grant them a way of escape,
For those in pain, bring comfort and healing,
For those who seek justice, may they have courage and strength.
As Church we are one body and if one part suffers, every part suffers with it.
Give to all who suffer, people who will listen, support, and walk with them
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for all those who serve in a safeguarding role within our Church.
We especially pray for Catherine, our Parish Safeguarding Officer and the Diocesan Team,
Sian, Rachel, Elina, Debs and Claire.
Thank you for their willingness and time they give to fulfil this important task.
Give them your wisdom, discernment, and strength.
Help us support them in their role, and respond to their requests and advice
so that we might be a safer place for everyone.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Touch and heal all those whose lives are scarred by sin
or disfigured by pain,
that, raised from death to life in Christ,
their sorrow may be turned to eternal joy.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Remember in your mercy all those gone before us
who have been well-pleasing to you from eternity;
preserve in your faith your servants on earth,
guide us to your kingdom
and grant us your peace at all times.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We give you thanks
for the whole company of your saints in glory,
with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises;
by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.
Blessing and glory and wisdom,
thanksgiving and honour and power,
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen.

9th November 2025 at 10.30am – Remembrance Service – Eucharist

Posted on November 9, 2025November 8, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Ephesians 6. 10 - 17

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

John 15. 9 - 17

As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

The Sermon

Prepared by Joe, Reader at St Mary's.

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

Each year, on this Sunday closest to Armistice Day, we gather to
remember those who gave their lives in two World Wars, and in the
many conflicts since.

We remember the courage of those who stood firm in the face of
tyranny, the pain of those who mourned, and the quiet endurance of
those who came home changed forever.

But remembrance is not only about looking back. It is also about
asking what the past – what those who suffered - asks of us today.
In our reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, Paul exhorts us to
“Put on the whole armour of God.”

His words are not about glorifying war; they are about spiritual
resilience — about what it takes to live faithfully in a world that still
wrestles with division and evil.

Paul is writing to a community under pressure. He speaks of truth,
righteousness, faith, salvation, and the Spirit — not as weapons of
destruction, but as the protective armour of those who seek to do
good.

Each of these pieces of armour represents a virtue forged not in
battlefields of earth, but in the inner battlefields of the heart:
The belt of truth — honesty and integrity that hold everything else in
place.

The breastplate of righteousness — doing what is right, even when it
costs.

The shield of faith — trust in God when fear threatens to overwhelm.
The helmet of salvation — the confidence of knowing we are loved
and redeemed.

The sword of the Spirit — the Word of God, living and active, calling
us to peace and justice.

This is the armour of those who stand, not for conquest, but for
compassion.

We often think, rightly, of those who fought in the great theatres of
war – The Somme and Passchendaele, the beaches of Normandy, the
deserts of North Africa, the skies above Britain and Europe, the cold
seas of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans.

But today I want us also to remember those who were, here in the
UK, for too long, the forgotten warriors — those who served in the
Far East.

Men and women who fought in Burma, Malaya, Singapore, and the
Pacific Islands — many of whom endured captivity in conditions that
defy description.

For years after 1945, their stories were scarcely told. The focus was
on victory in Europe, on rebuilding. Yet in jungle heat and prison
camps, British and Commonwealth troops suffered, persevered, and
held fast.

Their battle was one of endurance — of faith, of hope, of sheer
human will to survive.

They knew, perhaps better than most, what Paul meant when he
said, “Stand firm.”

Among them was the Chindits — the long-range units who fought
behind enemy lines in Burma. Many of them never returned. And
there were the thousands taken prisoner after the fall of Singapore -

forced to work on the Burma railway, where cruelty and exhaustion
claimed so many lives. And then there were those like the runner
and Christian pastor Eric Liddle – of Chariots of Fire fame – who
spent time interned as civilians under brutal conditions.

One chaplain, the Reverend Eric Lomax, later wrote that faith in such
places was not a set of comforting words, but a flicker of light that
refused to be extinguished. “The war,” he said, “taught me the cost
of forgiveness, and the depth of love.”

And that takes us to our second reading, from John’s Gospel.
Jesus says:

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I
have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that
someone lay down his life for his friends.”

These words have been engraved on memorials and spoken at
gravesides for generations. They are not about sentiment, but about
self-giving. They remind us that true love is costly - it involves giving
oneself for the good of others.

In wartime, that love took the form of sacrifice - lives given, families
broken, futures surrendered so that others might live in freedom.
But in peacetime, that same love calls to us to live lives of service, to
work for reconciliation, to resist hatred and injustice in all their
modern forms. The forces of nationalism and fascism that
precipitated the two world wars still survive today – even in our own
communities.

Christ’s love, the love He commands us to share, is not soft or easy.
It is love that takes up the cross.

It is love that refuses to let fear, bitterness or hatred have the last
word. This love is a kind of battle - one that continues in every
generation.

The two readings together give us a vision of Christian remembrance.
Ephesians tells us to stand strong - to be clothed in truth, justice, and
faith.

John reminds us what we are standing for - love.

On this day, as we wear poppies and observe silence, we do not
glorify war. We honour courage. We lament suffering. And we
commit ourselves anew to the hard work of peace.

Because remembrance is not simply nostalgia. It reminds us what
happened. And instructs us that it must not happen again.

Many of those who fought and returned carried invisible wounds.
Some could never speak of what they had seen. My own
Grandfather, who fought on the Somme, would never discuss it with
my mother; my Uncle, who experienced the slaughter of Monte
Cassino remained silent.

In their silence, too, there is remembrance — the cost of endurance,
the burden of memory.

For us, remembering is more than looking back — it is about what
we do now.

To “put on the whole armour of God” today might mean speaking
truth when falsehoods are easy.

It might mean standing with the lonely or the displaced.

It might mean being peacemakers in our own communities, our
workplaces, our politics, our homes.

The same courage that was expressed in the trenches and jungles
can live on in acts of kindness, patience, and faithfulness.

The same love that led men and women to risk everything for others
can live on in how we treat the stranger and the refugee.

As we approach the two minutes’ silence today, let us do so in that
spirit:

not just to remember the fallen, but to commit ourselves to the
values they fought for — truth, justice, mercy, and peace.

To remember the forgotten warriors, and all who serve in conflicts
far from home, often without recognition.

To remember, too, that Christ Himself laid down His life — not for
one nation, but for all humanity — that love might overcome hatred,
and life triumph over death.

So, wear the armour of God with pride - not for battle, but for peace;
live by Christ’s commandment to love; and honour the memory of all
who gave their lives - by living ours with courage, compassion, and
hope for peace.

Amen.

The Prayers

Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of conflict,
and ask that God may give us peace:

for the service personnel
who have died in the violence of war,
each one remembered by and known to God;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

For those who love them in death as in life,
offering the distress of our grief
and the sadness of our loss;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

For all members of the armed forces
who are in danger this day,
remembering family, friends
and all who pray for their safe return;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

For civilians, children and adults
whose lives are disfigured by war or terror,
calling to mind in penitence
the anger and hatreds of humanity;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

For peacemakers and peacekeepers,
who seek to keep this world secure and free;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

For all who bear the burden and privilege of leadership,
political, military and religious;
asking for gifts of wisdom and resolve
in the search for reconciliation and peace;
may God give peace.
God give peace.

O God of truth and justice,
we hold before you those whose memory we cherish,
and those whose names we will never know.
Help us to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world,
and grant us the grace to pray for those who wish us harm.
As we honour the past,
may we put our faith in your future;
for you are the source of life and hope,
now and for ever.
Amen.

2nd November 2025 at 10.30am – All Saints – Eucharist

Posted on November 2, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Ephesians 1.11-end

In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Luke 6.20-31

Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
‘Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
‘Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.

‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you^* on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
‘But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
‘Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
‘Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.

‘Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.

‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

26th October 2025 at 10.30am – Bible Sunday – Eucharist

Posted on October 26, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

Romans 15.1-6

We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbour for the good purpose of building up the neighbour. For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.

May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 4.16-24

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’ He said to them, ‘Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, “Doctor, cure yourself!” And you will say, “Do here also in your home town the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.” ’ And he said, ‘Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town.'

19th October 2025 at 10.30am – Luke the Evangelist – Eucharist

Posted on October 19, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings.

2 Timothy 4.5-17

As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. As for me, I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Do your best to come to me soon, for Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica; Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful in my ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will pay him back for his deeds. You also must beware of him, for he strongly opposed our message.
At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.

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 labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers 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 labourer 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.’

The Sermon
Prepared by The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Each week at the start of the Eucharist, this book is solemnly brought into
church - the book of the Gospels. Then solemnly carried into the centre of the
church for a reading from one of those gospels. It’s a high point in the service.
If you look at the cover you will see four symbols on it in gold reminding us
that there are four gospels. The symbols are for Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John. A winged man, a winged lion, a winged ox and an eagle.

Today we give thanks for one of those gospel writers, St Luke. St Luke, who
was, we learnt from that reading from the letter from St Paul to Timothy, a
companion of Paul on his travels. So at some point, Luke must have sat down
and written his account of the life of Jesus, his gospel.

Luke’s gospel is my favourite.

You may think that is an odd way to talk. Surely, the good news about Jesus
is the same whether in Luke's gospel or any of the others.

Well, yes and no. Yes, it's the same Jesus they are telling us about. But no,
they don't tell us exactly the same things in exactly the same way. The
gospels were written by four very different people with some different
interests.

The reason I like Luke's Gospel is because of things he tells us about which
none of the others do. And in doing so he gives us some different ways of
thinking about what it is to have faith.

For example, if Luke had never put pen to paper, we wouldn't know much
about Christ's birth. Mark doesn't mention it at all. Matthew tells us about
three wealthy visitors, the wise men. St John simply says, loftily, The Word
became flesh.

But Luke records how Christ was visited by simple, working men, shepherds,
from the fields around Bethlehem. Only Luke tells us that ordinary people like
you and me were the first visitors.

And then at the end of that story he adds a few words which are typically
Luke. Beautiful words that make you pause. After the shepherds have gone
with their talk of angels and heavenly voices saying this baby is the one so
long expected, he adds these words, 'But Mary kept all these things,
pondering them in her heart.'

Mary pondered. Luke seems to be saying: moments of ecstasy and high
religious emotion have their place; but we need to think about what they
might mean. We need to ponder.

This is something Mary often does and Luke clearly believes its important
because he returns to it again at the end of another lovely story that you will
only find in his gospel.

It's the incident when Jesus is twelve. His parents take him from their home in
Nazareth to the capital city, to Jerusalem, to the Temple. It's something they
do every year with their wider family and neighbours. The whole village
makes the trip, all looking after one another's children as they travel.
But on the return journey, Jesus lags behind in the Temple and his parents,
supposing that he is somewhere in the crowd, don't realise he's missing until
the end of the day. Anxiously they return to Jerusalem and find him in the
Temple, listening to the teachers and asking them questions. And Jesus says
to his parents that they should not be surprised that he was doing this in his
Father's house.

Then Luke says again: 'And his mother kept all these things in her heart.'

'And his mother kept all these things in her heart.'

We are living at a time when faith is hard pressed and some Christians think
the way forward has to be by frenetic activity and exuberant worship. I'm sure
each has its place. But let's not lose sight of what Luke is telling us in these
little snapshots in his gospel.

There has to be a time for just sitting still and thinking. Bringing together what
we have prayed and sung in church with what we have experienced in daily
life. What is God saying to us through all of this.

We need quiet time when we can – as we say these days – process things. In
other words, to do what Luke tells us Mary did.

Like Mary, we must find moments when we too can take what we have heard
and what has moved us, and ponder it in our heart. This too is how we build
up our faith.

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 the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah,
and for General Synod, that it may 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.
We pray for Ukraine and Israel/Palestine.
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.

St Marys Walkley

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

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