18th May 2025 at 10.30am – 5th Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

Posted on May 18, 2025 by St Mary's

The Reading

Acts 11.1-18

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?"
Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, "Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But I replied, "By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But a second time the voice answered from heaven, "What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, "Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, "John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'
If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."

John 13.31-35

When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, "Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

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 Kath, Reader at St Mary's.

I’ve always wanted to preach about Peter but believe it or not this is the first time in 23 years that a suitable reading has coincided with when I’ve been down to preach. So as the saying goes, everything comes to he or she who waits and at last I get to do it. The reason I wanted to talk about him is that for someone who is a saint, the courageous leader of the early Christian Church and in the Catholic Church, the first Pope, he’s always struck me as the most down to earth, genuinely human character and thus someone the rest of us mere mortals can relate to. Time after time he got carried away with enthusiasm, acted impulsively, opened his mouth and promptly put his foot in it. He often got things wrong or missed the point but in spite of this I don’t think anyone who hears his story could ever doubt the depth of love and devotion Peter had for Jesus. In his own mind he would do anything for Jesus, indeed he gave his all; left his family, his home, his livelihood, his security. Having chosen to follow Jesus he sincerely believed that he would never let him down and indeed would sacrifice his life for him if needed. But when it came to the crunch he failed. For very understandable, human reasons, he was afraid and he fell short of his own high ideals by abandoning the very person he loved so much. As failures go this was truly heartbreaking. And yet we know what he went on to do and to be.

The Peter we meet in our reading from Acts is very different to the one who so often went off half cocked. He’s calmer and more considered, thoughtful and measured in his reply to the group of men who take issue with him about mixing with gentiles. He quietly explains the vision he saw and how he was called to share God’s message about salvation with gentiles. The men who had criticised him are silenced when he makes it clear that God’s church is inclusive, not exclusive and to their credit they accept what he says. After all, the phrase “If God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we first believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God” shows great humility. It’s pretty powerful and hard to argue with.

For all sorts of reasons individuals and groups seek to exclude others, sometimes understandably. To their way of thinking, they have paid their dues and others haven’t, they’ve done the training, the studying, put in the work and served their time and others haven’t, they’ve sacrificed and saved and others haven’t. Why should those others benefit when they’ve put nothing in? A not unreasonable point of view and maybe one we’ve all shared on occasion. But if we all thought and acted this way all the time the world would be a pretty harsh and horrible place.

Sadly the church is not immune from practicing exclusivity. Parts of it still seek to exclude women, gay people and divorcees to name but some. Children can sometimes feel excluded when they are not allowed to fully participate in services; I know mine did. Different denominations sometimes seek to exclude each other’s members from aspects of their worship. In the church and in other institutions, organisations and indeed any groups, including some and excluding others can lead to the formation of factions and cliques which are seldom good. If you’re “in” you get favoured, get to set the rules, call the shots, use power plays to impose your will on those who are “excluded”. If you are among the excluded you have less power, less autonomy, less freedom, less security and less ability to do anything about your situation. It can be very lonely and frightening and stressful. We’re seeing a lot of examples of this throughout the world right now and seeing how dangerous it is. Seeing how so much of what we value and thought was solidly established is being undermined, stolen and destroyed. As some you know, from time to time I write the intercessions for our services and for a while now I’ve been referencing the need for us pay attention to and defend what we value like democracy, honour, decency and compassion lest we lose them to apathy or taking them for granted, assuming that they are set in stone because they aren’t. If we are not careful we may find that we are among the excluded with no one to call on for redress.

In our Gospel reading we hear Jesus give his new commandment, that we love one another thus showing that we are his disciples. He doesn’t say it will be easy or straightforward and certainly there are all too many examples of situations where it is hard to even contemplate loving some people given what they do and say and the massive negative impact they have on others. But we are called to go on trying.

We all need at least a little help, compassion and kindness from time to time, especially when things are not going as we’d hoped and planned. After all, no one sets out in life to be homeless or a refugee or desperately ill or any of the other curved balls and disasters that life can throw at us. When these things happen we need help and understanding, not exclusion. When we are the ones in a position to do the helping perhaps we should remember the many gifts and graces we have been given by God and be willing to share them. We don’t have to be naïve or lacking discernment about this. Balancing generosity with not allowing ourselves to be taken cynical advantage of and responding to genuine need as opposed to opportunism is a path we have to learn to navigate. Getting this right is incredibly difficult and however hard and sincerely we try, we won’t always get everything right. So when we feel that we are failing, not understanding, falling short in whatever way as Christians trying to live out our faith, we should not give up. What better example could we have than Peter to encourage us. God can and does work with our imperfections, just as he did with Peter.

Amen.

11th May 2025 at 10.30am – 4th Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

Posted on May 11, 2025 by St Mary's

The Reading

Acts 9.36-end

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.
And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.
And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.
And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.

John 10.22-30

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter.
And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon’s porch.
Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
I and my Father are one.

The Prayers

Lord, hear us as we pray for your creation.
We pray for an end to the destruction of the natural world.
We hold before you communities who are watching their land become parched and their rivers dry up.
We pray for farmers who carefully tend their crops, only to see them wither and die.
We grieve for what has already been lost and damaged.
Show us how to act now to help those most affected by the climate crisis.
Energise us, that we may use our power to make change happen.
We watch in hope for the Lord:
our God will hear us.

Lord, hear us as we pray for all people living in poverty.
For children who will not be able to eat a nutritious meal today, or cannot afford to attend school.
Fill us with a fierce determination to end the outrage of poverty.
May we hear the cries of those who are marginalised in our world.
May we speak up with them for a more equal and just society.
We watch in hope for the Lord:
our God will hear us.

Lord, hear us as we pray with thanksgiving for peacemakers and changemakers.
We give thanks for community leaders.
We pray for Congcoop, Christian Aid’s partner in Guatemala, who support communities through training.
Strengthen those working for peace and protecting human rights. And we pray for a just peace wherever there is conflict.
We watch in hope for the Lord:
our God will hear us.

Lord, you welcome us when we are heavy laden with sorrow or pain, in you we find rest.
We pray for all those known to us who are sick or suffering.
We pray for all those who are grieving.
Bless those who mourn and give them your comfort.
We watch in hope for the Lord:
our God will hear us.

Lord, hear as we pray for those whose hope overflows into action.
We give thanks for all those giving, acting and praying this Christian Aid Week.
May each of us seek to serve our global neighbours.
Help us to see the value of our loving service and make us your witnesses, proclaiming your kingdom.
We watch in hope for the Lord:
our God will hear us.

4th May 2025 at 10.30am – 3rd Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

Posted on May 4, 2025 by St Mary's

The Reading

Acts 9.1-6

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

John 21.1-19

After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.
There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdest thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

The Prayers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

27th April 2025 at 10.30am – 2nd Sunday of Easter – Eucharist

Posted on April 27, 2025 by St Mary's

The Reading

Acts 5.27-32

And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

John 20.19-end

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

The Sermon
Prepared by The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Before I finally retired from full time work last year, I was the Police and Crime
Commissioner for South Yorkshire. I spent time with officers involved in the
different types of policing. But I found particularly interesting the work of the
Major Crime Unit.

These detectives deal with the most serious crimes - such as murder. They
would go through with me what they were working on, explaining how they
built a case in order to get a guilty verdict. The case had to be strong,
because it’s a serious business getting someone convicted of a grave crime
and put away for, quite possibly, the rest of their natural life.

Different sorts of evidence had to be brought together and assessed: CCTV,
DNA, fingerprints, footprints, tyre tracks – and statements from witnesses.
Each individual piece of evidence pointed towards a suspect but was never
enough on its own to remove all doubt. Only when it all came together would
the team feel confident enough to say they had proved their case beyond
reasonable doubt.

Beyond reasonable doubt. That phrase kept popping into my head as I read
today’s gospel. Beyond reasonable doubt.

It’s the evening of the first day of the week. The Risen Jesus has made
himself known to Mary in the Garden that morning and he now appears to his
disciples who are meeting behind locked doors, for fear of the authorities. He
greets them, showing them his hands and his side, his wounds, so they can
be in no doubt that it is indeed he, the one who was crucified, who is risen
and with them.

But one of the disciples, Thomas, is not there, and when they tell him later,
‘We have seen the Lord’, he can’t accept what they say. He has reasonable
doubts.

Reasonable, because he is being asked to set aside, suddenly and out of the
blue, so much of normal experience.

Thomas knows that people do not survive death. And there was a death. A
very public death. Brutal and final, on a cross. He knows that before the
bodies were taken down, the Roman soldiers made sure that Jesus had died.
He knows that a lifeless body was placed in a tomb.

But now he is being asked to consider different evidence. And he weighs it
up. How is it to be interpreted? An empty tomb. But surely bodies can be
stolen? The witness of Mary Magdalene. But wasn’t it still dark when she
went to the tomb? And didn’t she have tears in her eyes? And now the other
disciples who say they have seen the Lord. But weren’t they in an emotional
state?

Thomas does not find the evidence convincing. His doubts are not
unreasonable. So what would persuade him?

He thinks that if he could see and touch the wounds for himself, that would be
the final piece of evidence that would enable him to bring everything together
and believe.

Thomas says he must touch – not just see – as if the evidence of his eyes
would not be as compelling as the evidence of his fingers. I find that
interesting.

Eight days later this is what happens. But it is eight days later. A whole week
goes by during which, surely, Thomas continues thinking deeply again and
again about what has happened. The tomb is still empty. No body is
produced. Mary and the disciples remain certain that the Lord has risen. He
can see the conviction in their faces, in their changed attitude to life. No
longer beaten down but full of hope. No longer simply left mourning for a lost
past, but daring to look forward to a different future, one with new
possibilities.

Now, the disciples are again in the house. This time Thomas is with them.
The Risen Jesus comes and invites Thomas to reach out and touch his
wounded hands and side. And Thomas is then able to say, beyond
reasonable doubt, ‘My Lord and my God’.

Reaching out and touching.

What is important for Thomas is surely important for us as well, the ones who
come after, who do not see, yet believe.

Before he died Jesus told us to go on breaking bread to remember him. And
the bread we break, he said, is his wounded body, broken on the cross.
When we extend our hands in the communion to take the bread, we do what
Thomas did. We reach out. We touch. We touch the bread which is his body.
We touch the wounds of the Risen Lord.

And with Thomas we too can say, beyond reasonable doubt, ‘My Lord and my
God.’

20th April 2025 10.30am – Easter Day – Eucharist

Posted on April 20, 2025 by St Mary's

The Readings

Acts 10.34-43

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

John 20.1-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

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

19th April 2025 7.30pm – Easter Eve Vigil and Service of Light

Posted on April 19, 2025April 19, 2025 by St Mary's

18th April 2025 2.00pm – Good Friday at the Foot of the Cross

Posted on April 19, 2025 by St Mary's

13th April 2025 at 10.30am – Palm Sunday – Eucharist

Posted on April 13, 2025 by St Mary's

The Reading

Isaiah 50.4-9a

The Lord God has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens—
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord God has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backwards.
I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.

The Lord God helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
It is the Lord God who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
All of them will wear out like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.

Luke 19.28-40

After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.” ’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,
‘Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!’
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’

Luke 22.14-23

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!’ Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.

The Prayers
Prepared by Kath.

God our Father, hear us when we pray to you in faith. We give you thanks for the many wonderful gifts you have given us. Help us to truly appreciate all that we have and to look after our world for this generation and the generations to come. Please help and encourage us in our continuing efforts to mitigate against climate change in spite of challenges we may face.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Father, we pray for your church throughout the world and for those of other faiths who worship you. Now, more than ever, help us to seek ways to live together peaceably and respectfully in your name rather than clinging to what divides us. Help us to remember that we are all your children.

We pray for the churches of our mission partnership and give thanks for all who contribute to their life and work with their time, talents and resources and we pray for the communities we serve. Be with us in the upcoming events that bring so many people together.

As we begin the final phase of our individual and collective Lenten journeys through Holy Week we ask God to be with us and help us to truly take to heart the stories and reenactments we may hear and see. May we use these experiences to grow in faith and understanding and to allow them to shape the people we are and the way we live our lives.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We continue to pray for our increasingly troubled and turbulent world and for all peoples who are caught up in and suffering because of wars, oppression and need. We pray for those facing great and frightening uncertainty because of recent economic and political turmoil. Father, guide us and especially our leaders to know what is right and strengthen the nations to work together for it, so that everyone can live in peace. Please be with all who are courageous in standing against tyranny and corruption and help us to value and defend the freedom and liberty we have rather than taking it for granted because it really is precious.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are ill and those who are nearing the end of their lives. May they receive the care, comfort and compassion they need. We pray for those who accompany them on their journey who also need our loving care and support.
We continue to pray for the recovery of Pope Francis and for our own dear friends Harry & David.

In a moment of quiet let us call to mind anyone known to us who is in special need of our prayers at this time and let us also pray for ourselves and our own needs and concerns.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We remember all who have died, some recently and some long ago. We pray that they are at peace and that those who love and miss them will be comforted in their loss. We pray for the victims of the helicopter crash in the United States and the collapse of a nightclub in the Dominican Republic.

Again in a short time of quiet let us remember those special to us 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.

6th April 2025 at 10.30am – 5th Sunday of Lent – Eucharist

Posted on April 6, 2025 by St Mary's

The Reading

Philippians 3.4b-14

If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

John 12.1-8

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’

The Sermon
Prepared by The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

The gospel readings on Sundays are now taking us at speed to the last days
of the life of Jesus.

Today, Jesus and the twelve disciples are in Bethany, a small village a few
miles from Jerusalem.

Next Sunday they will arrive in Jerusalem, when people will welcome Jesus,
waiving branches of palm, and shouting hosanna. By the end of the week,
Jesus will have died on the cross.

Between now and Christ’s crucifixion, the gospels record two evening meals,
two suppers, that Jesus and his disciples go to – the one mentioned in
today’s gospel and the other on the night before he died, the Last Supper.
Two evening meals - at which something unusual but similar happens. At
both meals, feet are washed. And it’s interesting to compare the two.

Let’s begin with today’s gospel and the meal at Bethany. This is at the house
of Lazarus and his two sisters, Martha and Mary.

They must be a relatively well-off family. They have a house that is big
enough to seat at table Jesus and his twelve disciples. And they have
sufficient money to buy food for everyone.

We’ve met Lazarus and the sisters before. So we’re not surprised to find
Martha doing what Martha does best – making herself busy. We guess that
she’s already done the shopping, the cooking, the baking of bread, and now
here she is, serving the meal.

Her sister, Mary, however, does something unexpected. She anoints the feet
of Jesus with a perfumed oil called nard.

Nard. Now this is not something from Home Bargains. Remember, this is a
relatively wealthy family; so this is top of the range, Prada, Dolce and
Gabbana. I looked up nard on the internet so see whether it was still sold. It
is. A one hundred millilitre bottle will set you back £600. Bathing the feet of
Jesus in nard is an extravagant gesture on Mary’s part.

It’s also an astonishing gesture because soothing the weary feet of her visitor
is not something she should be doing at all. In the more prosperous
households, such as theirs, this was something that the servants –
sometimes they were slaves – would do. Travel in those days was mainly on
foot. You walked everywhere. But the roads were hot and dusty and by the
time you arrived, your aching feet were sweaty and grubby. The servant
poured water on them, dried and soothed them. This is what Mary does.
Anointing Christ’s feet with the oil and drying them with her – presumably long
- hair.

And the fragrance fills the whole house.

I wonder whether Jesus remembered this action of Mary at the last supper. If
Mary’s anointing of his feet made an impression on him, perhaps he saw the
washing of the disciples’ feet as a way of making an impression on them.

For Jesus, doing what the servant did, made the point that he had come to
serve people – and those who follow him should likewise be the servants of
others.

Here at Bethany, Mary intends something different. She is expressing her
love for Jesus through an action.

Judas objects. He regards what Mary has done as a waste. He says the nard
could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Though the gospel
writer suggests he had no real interest in the poor. He just wanted to get his
hands on the money.

Whatever Judas’s motive, Jesus will have none of it, because he sees what
Mary does as as worthy as giving the money to the poor. He pushes the
objection aside. ‘Let her alone.’

In another gospel, Jesus goes further and says, ‘Wherever the gospel is
preached in the whole world what she has done will be told in memory of her.’
Yes, told in memory of her, but told also because it makes a point. What she
did for Jesus was a spontaneous, loving act. And that takes us to the heart of
what God is like.

When Mary anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair she was
preaching the gospel every bit as much as giving to the poor.

This is why Jesus didn’t want her story lost but told in every generation so
that we would be equally loving, caring, generous in our relationships with
one another.

It’s why we are hearing it today.

The Prayers
Prepared by Veronica.

Lord God.
As we draw near to the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray for grace to observe this time with
awe and reverence as we contemplate the great sacrifice he made for us in dying on the Cross for
our salvation. We pray for the Church worldwide, that we may grow ever closer to each other as we
observe this most solemn of times for all Christians.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for the world, and for all your people experiencing war, famine, excessive heat or floods.
Help us to understand their needs and do all that we can to help them, whether as individuals
supporting charities, or as citizens of what remains one of the richer countries of the world. Your Son
told us to love one another: inspire governments of richer countries to continue to put aside .7% of
their riches to help those in dire need. We remember before you also those in our own country for
whom life at present is very difficult, as everyday items get ever more expensive, and help us to help
them also.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our City and local community of Walkley. As local elections approach, inspire all
candidates to think of the needs of the city as a whole, and the particular needs of the area they
hope to represent. Help all candidates to think of the needs of the city, and those of the area they
seek to represent.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are ill at this time, and remember Lazarus whom Jesus loved. We pray for all
doctors, nurses and care-workers, both professional and family members, that they may find the will
to continue their work and eventually receive the recognition they deserve in terms of pay. We pray
for all known to us in special need of your healing grace at this time including the Pope………
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We remember before you all reaching the end of their natural life, that they may find their resting
place with you, alongside all others who have already died. We remember by name John Hawthorne
whose funeral Alan is taking at Stannington next week. We remember those especially dear to us by
name in a moment of silence…..
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of Mary, Mark and John, and all your saints, we commend ourselves and
all Christian people to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

30th March 2025 at 10.30am – Mothering Sunday – Eucharist

Posted on March 30, 2025March 31, 2025 by St Mary's

The Reading

Exodus 2.1-10

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him for three months. When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him, and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

The daughter of Pharaoh came down to bathe at the river, while her attendants walked beside the river. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her maid to bring it. When she opened it, she saw the child. He was crying, and she took pity on him. ‘This must be one of the Hebrews’ children,’ she said. Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, ‘Shall I go and get you a nurse from the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?’ Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Yes.’ So the girl went and called the child’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, ‘Take this child and nurse it for me, and I will give you your wages.’ So the woman took the child and nursed it. When the child grew up, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and she took him as her son. She named him Moses, ‘because’, she said, ‘I drew him out of the water.’

Luke 2.33-35

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

The Sermon
Prepared by The Revd Canon James Wilson.

Mothering Sunday is one of those strange Sundays that people don't know quite what it's all about. Mainly because we have all got it muddled up with Mother's Day, which is an American invention that is to come in in a few weeks’ time. A celebration of mum’s with cards and flowers and if lucky chocolates!

Yet originally Mothering Sunday was and is strangely much more than just being about mothers. The clue is in the name of this service, that word mothering. And mothering is something that we all do, even though of course, mothers are the source of much of it. We all nurture each other in some way.

In our first reading today the story of the birth of Moses. When the mother of Moses (who is not named, sadly not seen as important enough). As she gives away her child, which she is doing the safety of her child. Our reading did not include that earlier on in the story Pharoah had ordered that every male child that was born of a Hebrew was to be murdered. she was saving her son from that fate, despite the cost to herself. She never could imagine that one day her son would lead the people of Israel out, called by God to take them to the Promised Land. She simply wanted him to have a chance of life.

What she was doing was doing the best thing she could for her child, which in her view, was let the Nile take him and pray that fate would be kind. But it's the boy’s sister that stands by it is the sister that probably was watching and protecting him from crocodiles get him and take him away before he was snapped up. It's the sister that was there for him not his mother.

We as a community gathered here today, that protection and nurturing is something that we all do for each other. We watch out for each other we nurture, and we care. It is not just the mothers that's sitting here today that will receive flowers, it is all of us to remind us to do that. As everything that is good and kind that is given by us stems from God, who is both mother and father to everything.

We think of God as this stern chap with bright white hair sitting on a throne. But that's our invention to cope with the enormity of what God is. The all-powerful God, the all loving God. God the creator. God the giver of life. God that fashioned a universe so wonderful that in the whole of eternity we will never be able to understand it fully.

As we sit here celebrating this Eucharist and rightly thinking about our mothers, we also must remember about the relationships that we hold within the love given by God.

My mother turns 90 this year, which is frightening because that means I turn 60 this year.

Time flies. And I was tasked by the rest of the family to put together a photo book of her, photographing old photographs that chronicle her life. And for the first time, I feel I am understanding my mother.

She was just always there, always just giving, making tea or often not coming in from work and dad making egg and chips. She was there always looking after and it's always been there for me. It has surprised how little I knew her. As I started looking at the photographs, I realised she was a beautiful young woman and that mum and dad fell in love. They did all the foolish youthful adventures. Mum and dad went to war and went through so many experiences growing and maturing in their relationship. Ever changing but the constant was she was always mum to my siblings and me.

And isn't that incredible? Living with someone and only seeing them through your own relationship with them.

Often, we do that with God, yes, God is unchanging but our understanding and relationship with God is not. Sometimes we can even fall out with God. We get angry because we do not fit in the same way as other people. I don't know about Tom, but I grew up not wanting to be gay. I most hated the thought of it because the thing that I wanted more than anything else was to have a family.

But God had other plans. I would never have become a priest if I had just gone out and followed what my parents had done. Worked hard, married and had children. I don't know how straight people ever have the time to bring up children. But I wish I had been given that option. But God was looking for me I don't have the time to tell you, how much joy I have received because I was given the opportunity of loving a congregation even though it takes so much time, so much effort. Sometimes! Especially loving the people, you don't really like. I like you all. Mostly!!!

That is what mothering is, freely giving of love even when life works out differently from what we want. I know my sister and my mother don't get on sometimes. It is only recently, after nearly 90 years, they have finally found a truce.

The way that they can work together in their love. They have worked out their relationship and work out how to care for one another. Who cares for who and how. 90 years is a long time working out, and some people never actually manage to do that, for they don't have a relationship with their mother because it wasn't nice or right. It's difficult and it's never perfect, it's never like how the cards say that we gave each year to recognise our mothers’ love.

But we have hope, and we have joy, in this place. We have bright flowers that symbolise that we are reflecting is the goodness of God and the goodness of mothering.

We will have simnel cake! For this Sunday is a day to rejoice even though we are in Lent,

This was the moment we pause, rest and refresh before we started on our journey towards the Passion of our lord. Passion Sunday, Palm Sunday and Good Friday.

Today is a time of refreshment, of joy. A day when we eat special cakes.

In some churches, I would be wearing pink at this time. It doesn't suit me, so I'm glad we don't have it. But that pink expresses the joy and beauty of this life. And we must not lose that Joy. I mean, we enjoy the fact that we matter one another as we matter to God.
So when you take your flowers out, do not just think about your mother, but think about each other. Think about how we can react to each other’s needs and care for each other better. Think about the laughter we can share and the hope that is in this day.
This day where we are fed by God so that we can grow into the likeness and follow our Lord into the promised land.

Amen.

The Prayers

As children of a loving God who always listens to our cries, let us pray to our Father in heaven.

Loving God, you have given us the right to be called children of God. Help us to show your love in our homes that they may be places of love, security and truth.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

Loving God, Jesus, your Son, was born into the family of Mary and Joseph; bless all parents and all who care for children; strengthen those families living under stress and may your love be known where no human love is found.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

Loving God, we give thanks for all those celebrating significant milestones in life, praying especially for Mela.
O Lord God, from whom we come,
in whom we are enfolded,
to whom we shall return,
bless us in our pilgrimage through life:
with the power of the Father protecting,
with the love of Jesus indwelling,
and the light of the Spirit guiding,
in life and love eternal.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

Loving God, we thank you for the family of the Church. We pray that all may find in her their true home; that the lonely, the marginalized, the rejected may be welcomed and loved in the name of Jesus.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

Loving God, as we see the brokenness of our world we pray for healing among the nations; for food where there is hunger; for freedom where there is oppression; for joy where there is pain; that your love may bring peace to all your children.
God of love,
hear our prayer.

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

Category: Sermons

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18th April 2025 2.00pm – Good Friday at the Foot of the Cross

13th April 2025 at 10.30am – Palm Sunday – Eucharist

6th April 2025 at 10.30am – 5th Sunday of Lent – Eucharist

30th March 2025 at 10.30am – Mothering Sunday – Eucharist