21st July 2024 10.30am – 8th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on July 21, 2024July 20, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

Ephesians 2.11-22

So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by those who are called ‘the circumcision’—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, so that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.

Mark 6.30-34 and 53-56

The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, ‘Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

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
By The Revd Canon Dr Matthew Rhodes, Associate Priest

Ephesians 2.11-22; Mark 6.30-34,53-56

Where do you find God? For many of us, I assume, one answer to that question would be here in church. These walls have been hallowed by the prayers of generations. St Mary’s has hosted countless baptisms, weddings and funeral. Its windows, furnishings and memorials are full of memories and meaning. They encourage us to look up and beyond the everyday. Away from the busyness of life to the eternal. This is a place of sanctuary. Of peace. We gather together in the nave, this upturned boat which is designed to evoke feelings of security and calm. It is a place where we can draw closer to God by hearing and reflecting on God’s word and by sharing in Holy Communion.

Church buildings have an important role in nurturing our faith. But they are not an end in themselves. As you know, I spend much of my time at St John’s Ranmoor. The building is very dear to the hearts of the people who come to it. It is always a pleasure to see the reaction of visitors when they first step through the door. But that reaction, that love, can sometimes run the risk of becoming a bit idolatrous. Worshipping the building rather than the one it points to. On a number of occasions, the congregation of St John’s have had to learn that the church is the people not the building. That lesson came early on in the history of St John’s when it burnt down nine years after it first opened. When I first arrived in Ranmoor six years ago the church building had been closed for nine months after a fall of plaster from the ceiling. The congregation worshipped in the parish centre. That wasn’t easy. People had a profound sense of loss at not being able to gather in the church building. But they would also say that they learned from that experience. There is less space in the parish centre so people got to know each other better during that time. It reminded them again that the church is not the building but the people of God. That was a lesson brought home to us by Bishop Pete at my induction. One of the readings from that service came from our first reading for today: St Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. Paul writes: So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God. The church is the people of God, built together spiritually with Jesus as the cornerstone into a dwelling place for God.

I think that’s a lesson that the congregation at St John’s will be reminded of again and again. It is something that we will be forced to reflect on in the coming years as we embark on a major building project. Unfortunately, St John’s church spire is in a rather parlous state. It is crumbling on the inside. In order to obtain the funds needed to repair it, we will have to make it much more available to the community. And that may well mean taking out the pews to create a more flexible space for different activities. And that will be hard for some. But we keep reminding ourselves that the church is not the building but the people of God. And the church does not stand still. We are people of the way, not the destination.

Some of us will find God very much in others. We love to be around people. We find them energising. We can see Christ in others. To use another of Paul’s metaphors, we are all members of the body of Christ and can appreciate the gifts that other parts of the body can bring. That’s partly why we gather together as a community to worship God. But again, that’s not the whole of the story. People can be annoying or tiring or confusing. In our Gospel reading, we heard that the crowds followed Jesus wherever he went. He was a celebrity. And Jesus’ had compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. But Jesus also knew that he could not just constantly teach and heal and care for the people who came to him. He needed to recharge his batteries from time to time. And he knew that the disciples needed to take time out as well. So he encouraged them from time to time to come away to a deserted pace by themselves and rest a while. To find space. To be rather than do.

We all need to take time out from time to time. We all need to get away. Have a rest. A change of scene. And I’m sure we all have different ideas about what that might look like. Some of us might fancy an all inclusive cruise with thousands of people. Others might imagine going to a deserted beach or island. But these opportunities to do something different are not just times of escape or absence. They can also be times of encounter. Times when the normal busyness of life with all its background noise subsides and God can get a word in edgeways. A rather extreme example for me is when I spend six days travelling on a lorry in Sudan when I was nineteen. I had been ill and was feeling rather low. But it was only then that I was really able to listen to God and it was in that situation that I felt able to hear the beginnings of a call to be a priest.

The Bible is full of examples of times when people encountered God in empty spaces. We think of Abraham talking to God in the desert under the stars. Or Moses coming across God in the burning bush. Or Jacob wrestling with the angel by the Jabok River. Jesus had some of his most important encounters in the wilderness and on mountain tops. Though the Temple was important to him as it was to all Jews, it was also a place of danger, corruption and political intrigue. Though it was God’s footstool on earth, God was often much more present elsewhere.

All of us will find God in different places and in different ways. And Christian discipleship is partly about learning where we can draw close to him. Where the thin places are. And just showing up. At this time of the year we tend to think a lot about taking time out. Time for rest and refreshment. Holidays which were once known as holy days. We all need to come away from time to time. But we should not imagine that by coming away from our normal routine, we can come away from God. Quite the reverse in fact. As we take our rest in these days of summer, it may be that we find God in new and unexpected places.

Amen.

The Prayers
Prepared by Catherine

Jesus Christ, cornerstone of the church, we pray for your church worldwide. We give thanks for the ministry of those recently ordained priest or deacon, and for those soon to be licenced as lay ministers. We think of all who faithfully give time week by week to their local churches in however ordinary a way, so that our buildings and communities can offer a welcome to all.
Hear us, Lord of life:
heal us, and give us rest.

Jesus Christ reconciler of the nations, who brought Jew and Gentile together as one, we pray for our world. We think of all those places where there is hatred, conflict or exploitation. We pray for people caught up in war and famine and for those suffering as a result of unwise, uncaring or malicious political actions. We continue to remember the people of Ukraine, Russia, Sudan, Gaza, Yemen and other places of unrest.
Hear us, Lord of life:
heal us, and give us rest.

Jesus Christ who cared about both friend and stranger, we pray for our local area, our friends, families and neighbours. We remember children, young people and teachers as the schools close for the summer holidays, that they might find rest and refreshment. We think of those families struggling to feed their children or find childcare over the summer and pray for all volunteers who give their time to provide holiday clubs or food-banks.
Hear us, Lord of life:
heal us, and give us rest.

Jesus Christ, healer of the sick, we pray for all who are unwell or struggling at this time. We ask that they might feel your love and strength through their time of ill-health, frailty or other difficulty. We pray for all who care for a relative or friend. In a few moments’ quiet we think of those known to us in particular who need our prayers.
Hear us, Lord of life:
heal us, and give us rest.

Jesus Christ comforter of the bereaved, we remember those who have died and all who mourn their loss. We pray in particular for..., and in a few moments quiet, we remember others known to us who are no longer with us.
Hear us, Lord of life:
heal us, and give us rest.

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

14th July 2024 10.30am – 7th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on July 14, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

Romans 12.9-16

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

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.

Matthew 28.16-20

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

The Sermon
By The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

In our service this morning we are celebrating two sacraments – Baptism and
the Eucharist – as our Lord told us to do.

Baptism is a once in a lifetime sacrament. The Eucharist we celebrate every
Sunday.

I’ve said the word ‘sacrament’ a couple of times. Let’s pause for a moment
and think about what it means to speak about ‘sacraments’.

When I was a little older than Zoë and Asrai here – about a hundred years
ago – when I was about 12 years old, I was taught in the Sunday School I
went to, something called the Catechism. The Catechism was a series of
questions and answers about Christian faith and life which you learnt by
heart. The teacher would ask the question and you would recite the answer,
exactly as set out on the page.

The first question was dead easy. It was: What is your Name? You said your
name.

The second question was trickier. It was: Who gave you this Name? And the
answer was, My godfathers and godmothers in my Baptism.

A later question was: What meanest thou by this word Sacrament?

And the answer was: I mean an outward and visible sign of an inward and
spiritual grace.

An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.

There are then two parts to the sacrament.

A sacrament has an outward and visible sign – something you can see that is
external to you – something visible. In the case of Baptism that’s water. No
water, no baptism.

In the case of the Eucharist it’s the bread and wine. Something we can see.
But in each case, what is external also has an inward aspect. It affects us,
spiritually, emotionally. Or to use Christian language, we make way for the
Holy Spirit to come to us.

One way of understanding why Jesus gave us sacraments might be this.

Last week I went to visit three of my grandchildren who live near Winchester
– in the deep south. I took each of them a small present. The present had no
great monetary value. It was an outward and visible sign of my grandfartherly
love for them. What they received outwardly was a little gift. As they did so,
what they received inwardly was that love. It was a sacramental act – the
present was an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.
Of course, I didn’t have to take a present. I could just have said ‘Love you’.

But we human beings are not pure spirits. We are embodied creatures,
material, physical creatures, and sometimes we need that bodily
reassurance. This is why we give presents or bestow kisses or hugs. We are
material, embodied beings. This is surely why our Lord gave us these two
sacraments.

So, we shall baptise Toby and his and Rayna’s two daughters, Asrai and Zoë.
They will receive the outward and visible sign – water – of God’s inward and
spiritual grace – his abiding love for them.

Wherever life may take them and whatever may befall them, they will meet
that future as baptised Christians. No one can take that from them. We pray
that knowing that will be their anchor through all the days and years ahead.

The Prayers
Prepared by Veronica.

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

Jesus, light of the world,
bring the light and peace of your gospel to the nations.
We pray that the hearts of those who look to violence may be turned to peace, and swords beaten into ploughshares.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, bread of life, give food to the hungry and nourish us all with your word.
We pray for all those whose lack food, shelter, warmth and safety.
May we work for a just sharing of resources.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, our way, our truth, our life,
be with us and all who follow you in the way.
We give thanks for Zoë, Asrai and Toby, baptised this morning, and for Jacob, to be baptised this afternoon.
Deepen our appreciation of your truth and fill us with your life.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
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.
We give thanks for all who care for and heal others.
May we share in a ministry of loving service to those in need.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy, hear us.

Jesus, the resurrection and the life,
we give you thanks for all whom we have loved and who have shaped our lives and our faith.
Raise us with them to eternal life.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy, hear us.

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

Hymn verses copyright (c) of their respective owners.

7th July 2024 10.30am – 6th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on July 7, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

2 Corinthians 12.2-10

I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

Mark 6.1-13

He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, ‘Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.’ So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe.

We pray for the Church of Christ, for Bishop Pete and Bishop Sophie,
our Archbishops Justin and Stephen, all here who lead us in worship
and prayer, and all those whose time and talents are given to St
Mary’s, St John’s and St Mark’s.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

Lord, we pray for humility, that we may boast not in our own
abilities, but in our weaknesses, knowing that Your power rests upon
us. In our trials, let us find comfort in Your presence and rejoice in
our sufferings, for when we are weak, then we are strong in You.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

We pray all those wounded, suffering, imprisoned and displaced in
Gaza, that the current crisis may be brought to a just and peaceful
conclusion. We pray for those who have died in this conflict, and the
wider conflicts in the Middle East. We pray for the people of Ukraine
and Russia and hope for a just and peaceful resolution to that
conflict.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for our community here in Walkley, and for the city of
Sheffield, and for our neighbours and friends. As we reach the end of
the Walkley Festival, we thank you for the work of all those involved
in developing and growing our community.
We pray for those elected to Parliament on Thursday, and we also
pray that our new Government will act with compassion, justice and
skill to resolve the many issues that our country suffers from at this
time.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for the aged and infirm, and those sick in mind, body or
spirit, and those who find life especially difficult at this time. We pray
that you bring them strength, healing, and peace. In a few moments
of silence, we think of those we know who need your healing
presence in their lives.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

We pray for those currently close to death, and those accompanying
them on this final part of their Earthly journey. We pray for those
who have died, recently and in the past, and those who mourn. We
pray for Tony Thorpe and his family at this time, and in a few
moment of silence we bring those departed in our own lives before
you.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

Finally, Lord, we silently bring before you those special to us, and
those issues and concerns that we have in our own lives.
Lord, hear us:
Lord graciously hear us.

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

30th June 2024 10.30am – 5th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on June 30, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

2 Corinthians 8.7-24

Now as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in utmost eagerness, and in our love for you—so we want you to excel also in this generous undertaking.

I do not say this as a command, but I am testing the genuineness of your love against the earnestness of others. For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. And in this matter I am giving my advice: it is appropriate for you who began last year not only to do something but even to desire to do something— now finish doing it, so that your eagerness may be matched by completing it according to your means. For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has—not according to what one does not have. I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. As it is written,

‘The one who had much did not have too much,
and the one who had little did not have too little.’

But thanks be to God who put in the heart of Titus the same eagerness for you that I myself have. For he not only accepted our appeal, but since he is more eager than ever, he is going to you of his own accord. With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his proclaiming of the good news; and not only that, but he has also been appointed by the churches to travel with us while we are administering this generous undertaking for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our goodwill. We intend that no one should blame us about this generous gift that we are administering, for we intend to do what is right not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of others. And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found eager in many matters, but who is now more eager than ever because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker in your service; as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. Therefore, openly before the churches, show them the proof of your love and of our reason for boasting about you.

Mark 5.21-43

When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered round him; and he was by the lake. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, ‘My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.’ So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her haemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?” ’ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’

While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?’ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, ‘Do not fear, only believe.’ He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. When he had entered, he said to them, ‘Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha cum’, which means, ‘Little girl, get up!’ And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

The Sermon
By The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Sometimes, the gospel for the day is so familiar that we don’t always notice
everything that it might be saying to us. Today’s gospel is like that.

It has two intertwined stories – about a woman who is burdened by a
continuous flow of menstrual bleeding. And a twelve year old girl who is
gravely ill. We take in what the stories are saying – that both the woman and
the girl are made well through the intervention of Jesus. But we may miss
much else that is there, things that should matter to us and to the continuing
life of the church.

In this case. while we focus on the healing, we may overlook something else
that the two stories have in common: they are both about people who are not
male.

That’s easily done anyway because we are so used to thinking about Jesus
with the twelve apostles who are all male, and their opponents – the scribes
and Pharisees – who are also male. Jesus comes into what these days we
would call a patriarchal society.

But if you stand back from the story of Jesus as we have it in all the gospels
and look at it as a whole – from what we know of its beginning to its end –
what we see is that women played a key role, from its beginning to its end -
and indeed beyond.

Mary gives birth to Jesus, she’s with him at various points during his teaching
ministry and she is there at the foot of the cross. Jesus talks to women. The
unnamed woman at the well. The unnamed woman in today’s gospel. Those
who go with him from the Galilee to Jerusalem - not just eleven male disciples
but also a wider group of women. After all, who baked the bread and set the
table for the Last Supper if it wasn’t this group of women.

And its the women who are there when the body of Jesus is taken from the
cross and placed in the tomb. That’s why they, not the men, can bring spices
to put round the body when the Sabbath is over: they alone know where it
has been taken. And this is why it is a woman, Mary Magdalen, who is the
first to encounter the risen Lord on the morning of the resurrection.

The women were always there and rather more reliable, more faithful, than
the men.

It’s easy to overlook this and to fail to recognise how significant it all is.

At the time of Jesus, rabbis did not have conversations with women. And in
that society few men would risk their reputation by having an extended
conversation with a woman as she drew water from the village well.

Similarly with children.

People thought children were important to have. One of the psalms sums it
up rather well, comparing children with arrows – Happy is the man who has
his quiver full of them. The man - the man - is happy because it means his
line will continue and he will have someone to look after him in old age.

But the idea that children might have value for their own sake, seems
missing.

But Jesus sees things differently. On one occasion when people bring
children to Jesus for him to lay his hands on them and pray with them, the
disciples tell them off. Jesus intervenes. Let the children come to me,
because this is what the kingdom of heaven looks like.

If we can understand this bigger context to the life and ministry of Jesus, we
can see more clearly why the two stories we have today are so significant.

First, the woman in the crowd with the utterly debilitating menstrual condition.
In her distress the woman seeks out Jesus. But she is not sure what sort of
reception she might get. After all, she is a woman; and she will also know that
the Jewish scriptures are very clear that menstruating women should not
touch other people – it defiles them. But she is so desperate that she comes
up behind Jesus and touches him.

Jesus notices. Despite the crush of bodies, he is aware of what this touch
means for this woman. He senses her despair. And he is clear that the
healing that comes for the woman is possible because whatever he brings,
she also brings something: her determination, her refusal to give up, her
bravery – all summed up as her faith. Daughter, your faith has made you well.

And then there’s the twelve year old girl – a child and female. Jesus makes
the time to go to her house, ignoring all those who say it’s not worth the
bother, and, in the room with her parents, she is made well. And afterwards,
when everyone else is focussed on him and the amazing thing that has
happened, he is still thinking of the child: Get her something to eat.

All these things in these two entwined stories have enormous implications for
all Christian who come after, including us. They go to the heart of how we
should treat one another – male and female, adults and children.

Things which, down the Christian centuries we have not always got right.

The Prayers
Prepared by Barbara.

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

O God, the creator and preserver of all, we pray for people in every kind of need; make your ways known on earth, your saving health among all nations …

We pray for all those affected by war, thinking particularly of people in Ukraine, Russia, the Gaza Strip and Israel, but not forgetting conflicts such as those in Myanmar and Sudan. Please bring strength and comfort to all those affected and help every one of us to be part of a path to peace throughout the world.

We pray for all those who will be voting this year to choose a new government for their country, thinking particularly of those in France, the USA and the UK. Help us to consider the future we want for our countries and what governments would be best placed to achieve that future, rather than just considering our own immediate fortunes. Help us to vote for a world that is more considerate of all its inhabitants, both human and non-human.

We pray also for all those involved in trying to fight the climate crisis, as we approach 1.5 degrees of warming throughout the world. Please give all governments the political courage to resist further use of fossil fuels and to invest in sources of renewable energy instead.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We pray for your Church throughout the world; guide and govern us by your good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may be led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace and in righteousness of life …

We pray especially for our worshipping community of St. John’s Ranmoor, St. Mark’s Broomhill and St. Mary’s Walkley, that we may continue to bear witness to our faith in the way we live our daily lives.

We pray for all those here in Walkley, as we celebrate Walkley Festival. Please help us to participate fully and to use the events and activities to help to build a stronger and more compassionate community for all to enjoy. We pray for all those involved in organising the Festival, that they may feel that they have achieved their goals successfully and that they can enjoy a rest when it is through.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We commend to your fatherly goodness all those who are in any way afflicted or distressed, in mind, body or estate; comfort and relieve them in their need, give them patience in their sufferings, and bring good out of their troubles …

We pray for all those caught up in waiting lists for health care. Please bring them healing and future good health.

In moments of peace and contemplation, we name to you all those known to us who are suffering. Please care for them and for all those of whose suffering we are unaware.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We remember those who have gone before us in the peace of Christ, and we give you praise for all your faithful ones, with whom we rejoice in the communion of saints …

We name to you in our hearts all those known to us both near and far who are suffering the loss of friends and loved ones, asking that you bring your comfort and healing to them at this time of grief.

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

23rd June 2024 10.30am – 4th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on June 23, 2024June 23, 2024 by admin

The Readings

2 Corinthians 6. 1 - 13

As we work together with him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For he says,

‘At an acceptable time I have listened to you,
and on a day of salvation I have helped you.’

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation! We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labours, sleepless nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit, genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honour and dishonour, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see—we are alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians; our heart is wide open to you. There is no restriction in our affections, but only in yours. In return—I speak as to children—open wide your hearts also.

Mark 4. 35 - end

On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’

The Sermon
By The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

You may find this hard to believe, but I love washing up. Some people go into
the kitchen and see the chaos of piles of unwashed dishes and their hearts
sink. I go in and feel exhilarated. It brings me joy to be able to take control
and bring order out of chaos.

If I wonder why this should be, I think of the first chapter of the Book of
Genesis – the story of the creation. We tend to think that Genesis says that
God created everything from nothing – and the story is not incompatible with
that idea. But what Genesis actually says is that the Spirit of God made
something out of what was already there, taking something that was without
form and void, where darkness was over the face of the deep, and brining
order out of chaos.

The Spirit of God separated light and dark, bringing day and night, sun and
moon. The Spirit of God brought the land out of the water and populated both
with fishes, plants, birds and beasts, and people.

In other words, the Spirit of God brought order out of chaos, which is what we
do when we do the washing up. We take control and establish order. And that
gives me, at any rate, a good feeling.

I don’t know whether that will give you something to think about when you
next do the washing up – assuming you don’t just put it in a dishwasher – but
the idea of having control, of being able to overcome chaos and bring order
and stability is an interesting psychological insight. It’s something that seems
basic to human living, something we seek to do all the time.

But washing up is a trivial example. There are many ways in which chaos
threatens our lives and our well-being and they are ways that are less easy to
control.

Foundational things.

The relationships between parents and children, between partners, between
friends. They can be fractured. The jobs we have, the homes we live in, our
savings, our health, our ability to grow old with dignity. All can be at risk. The
chaos of anxiety, worry, even fear, is never far away. And our ability to control
externals of this kind may amount to little or nothing.

Now this, I think, is what today’s gospel is getting at. The story is simple. After
a day of teaching, by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus gets into a boat with his
disciples to go across to the other side. Exhausted, he falls asleep on a
cushion. A storm gets up. The waves crash against the boat and it starts to
take on water. The disciples are frightened. They wake up Jesus. He stills the
wind and the waves.

These are, if you like, the externals. But the focus is less on the externals and
more on the disciples and what is going on with them internally. We can
imagine the emotions they would have gone through as the wind starts to
increase. They are concerned. Their concern turns to worry. Their worry
becomes fear. A fear compounded by the fact that Jesus is asleep and seems
not to care.

This is a pattern of emotions we may well recognise from things that have
happened to us in life.

Think of health. We notice something wrong with us. We spot signs and
symptoms. We are concerned. We Google it up. We become worried. We go
the GP and are referred to the hospital. Our worries become fears. Or think of
finances. We lose our job. We are concerned. We write endless job
applications. Our worries become fears.

These are journeys any of us may have made or may yet make from
something external that impacts us. And for people of faith, such as us, we
may well feel that Christ is asleep in the boat.

The disciples need to hear the voice of Jesus, his re-assuring voice: ‘Why are
you afraid? Have you no faith?’

‘Peace! Be still,’ he says – and he says it as much to the disciples at to wind
and wave.

We cannot tell whether or not we will experience any of these moments when
chaos seems about to break in and rob us of our security, our happiness, our
peace of mind.

What today’s gospel is saying to us is this. There was once an occasion when
the hearts and minds of the disciples were threatened by external factors that
almost frightened them to death. They thought they had been abandoned,
that Christ did not care. Until they heard his voice.

If our inner peace is threatened, we ned to draw on that memory and hear
that same voice: ‘Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? Peace! Be still’.

The Prayers
Prepared by David.

Jesus calls us o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea;
Day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying ‘Christian, follow me.’
We pray for the church, for our Bishops Pete and Sophie, for all who minister in our Mission Area
We give thanks for the calling given to each of us to serve in many different ways. Give us wisdom and strength to fulfil our calling, working together with you for the coming of the Kingdom.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

I cannot tell how he will win the nations, how he will claim his earthly heritage,
how satisfy the needs and aspirations of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
We pray for the world and the leaders of the nations.
For places where human greed, hatred and hardness of heart cause pain and suffering.
We give thanks for peace makers, peace keepers and those work for the relief of pain and suffering.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

Eternal Father strong to save, whose are doth bind the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep its own appointed limits keep.
We pray for all those who travel the worlds waterways in a time of increased danger.
We give thanks for the crucial role they play in the transportation of food and other goods around the world.
We pray for their safety and the free flow of marine shipping throughout the world.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

I cannot tell how silently he suffered,
As with his peace he graced this place of tears,
Or how his heart upon the cross was broken,
The crown of pain to three and thirty years.
We pray for all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, the lonely, the anxious, the depressed and those in pain.
We give thanks for those who care, offering support through companionship, diagnosis and treatment and pain relief.
We silently hold in our hearts those known to us.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

O Jesus, thou hast promised to all who follow thee,
that where thou art in glory there shall thy servant be.
We pray for those who have died and those nearing the end of their earthly lives.
We give thanks for all that they have given us and the ways they have shaped our lives.
We name them silently in our hearts.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

O let me see thy foot-marks and in them plant mine own;
My hope to follow duly is in thy strength alone:
And, Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end:
O give me grace to follow, my Master and my friend.
We pray for ourselves, for all that lies ahead of us in the coming week.
We give thanks for the people we will meet and for time spent in work and relaxation.
May we each take something of God’s love out into the world.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

Merciful Father
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ,
Amen.

Hymn verses copyright (c) of their respective owners.

16th June 2024 10.30am – 3rd Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on June 16, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

2 Corinthians 5.6-13

So we are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord— for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.

Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.

Mark 4.26-34

He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’

He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

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

How would each of us complete the sentence “The Kingdom of God is like…”?

Many years ago, as a student, I was on a Christian retreat weekend in the peak district. A group of us were out walking and were stopped by a couple of street evangelists from a non-mainstream denomination. They had literature they wanted to share with us which showed what the Kingdom of God was apparently to be like.

It was a rather quaint, rural scene. There were lots of different animals, none of them eating each other. There was a nice blue sky, green grass, trees and flowers and humans, all nicely paired off, were walking about. This was their way of completing the sentence “The Kingdom of God is like…”.

In the Bible we don’t find just one way to complete this sentence.

Jesus talks about the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of Heaven, throughout the synoptic gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. He uses parables, or stories, to convey some understanding of the Kingdom. Some of these parables appear in all three of these gospels, others only in one or two.

Some of the parables Jesus gives start as follows “The Kingdom of God is like yeast”, or “a fine pearl”, or a fishing “dragnet” or, in our Gospel today, “a mustard seed”. At first glance quite a collection of random items, with no real connection. Yet, each gives us a glimpse into one facet or aspect of the Kingdom of God.

A pearl was worth a lot of money, for God’s Kingdom is beyond price. A dragnet catches as many fish as possible, both those good for eating and those which aren’t edible, those which are of the Kingdom and those which are not. The fishermen then separate them out. Yeast is essential for making bread rise, giving growth.

But what about the mustard seed?

A black mustard seed is tiny, maybe one millimetre across but grows into a plant almost three metres tall. It wasn’t grown in gardens in Jesus’ time, but out in the fields and was often considered to be weed, yet used in cooking across different cultures. It seems an odd choice for describing the Kingdom.

In a way, that’s part of the point. We can never get a full view of God’s Kingdom. It defies human understanding. It’s why Jesus uses parables to teach people. Yet each parable gives some insight into the nature of the Kingdom.
So, the mustard seed. What can it teach us about God’s Kingdom?

Sometimes the Kingdom can appear very small, or very far away. Life can be hard, and the cares of the world can overwhelm us. Yet the Kingdom is still there. There is the possibility of it growing, beyond expectations or predictions, from a small seed to a massive plant.

We carry this seed of the Kingdom within us. It was planted by others, maybe our parents or Godparents. Sometimes it lies sleeping for a while, other times it sprouts and grows. When it is time, we are called to plant new seeds spreading the Kingdom to others.

Which can seem like quite a daunting task.

What do we know about growing seeds of the Kingdom? Especially in others?

Jesus’ other statement about the Kingdom of God in our Gospel this morning is helpful here. “The Kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, they do not know how.”

We aren’t called to grow the seeds into plants; this is beyond our control. We cannot force God’s Kingdom into a particular shape or size. The Kingdom is a mustard plant, weedlike and vigorous. We aren’t trimming a hedge of topiary into a shape that suits us. The Kingdom isn’t subject to our will, but God’s.

Yet we can plant seeds. But how?

Part of the reason the Kingdom defies definition by words is that it isn’t ultimately a Kingdom of words. It’s not a Kingdom of philosophy or rhetoric, creeds or catechism. All these can give us glimpses, can point us to the Kingdom, but they can never fully describe or contain it.

God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom of action. God’s Kingdom is one of love and joy, justice and mercy, peace and compassion, kindness and gentleness. These are the fruits of the Spirit.

We plant seeds in others through our interactions with them. We sow seeds in their lives through love, acts of kindness and compassion, making peace and sharing in joyful celebration.

In this way are the seeds of Kingdom spread far and wide. Amen.

The Prayers
Prepared by Catherine.

We pray for the worldwide church. We remember all who are being ordained
deacon or priest this month asking for God’s blessing as they begin their
ordained ministry. We remember those known to some of us – Lizzie and
Claire – shortly to be ordained deacon. We pray too for evangelists and
missionaries and all who work to spread the Good news of God’s kingdom.
And we pray for our own role in scattering the seeds of the Gospel in our daily
lives, and for the often unseen fruit that this bears.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for the world. We remember all places holding elections this year. We
pray that those recently elected to the European parliament and in India may
work wisely to enable equity, peace and harmony. We pray for the upcoming
elections here and in France, that campaigning be robust but respectful, and
that policies reflect the needs of the wider society.
We continue to remember places where there is conflict – thinking especially of
the people of Sudan, Ukraine and Gaza. We pray for an end to violence and
suffering, and think of all those who have lost lives, loved ones or limbs as a
result of war.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for our city and local area. We give thanks for those who work night
shifts whilst most of us sleep. We remember cleaners, road repairers,
infrastructure engineers and carers whose essential work often goes unnoticed.
We pray for all those planting seeds of community and togetherness as part of
the upcoming Walkley Festival.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for all who are unwell at this time. We remember those suffering from
long Covid and other chronic conditions. We give thanks for all who work in
science and medicine and for the seeds of hope sown by their increasing
understanding of diseases and discovering possible new treatments.
We think of anyone known to us who is in particular need this week...
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

We remember those who are now away from their earthly bodies and at home
with the Lord. We give thanks for the life of Michael Mosley and for the seeds
of simple ways to boost good health and well-being he sowed in his TV
programmes and podcasts. We pray especially for his family and friends at this
time.
And we remember those known to us who have died, thanking God for their
lives, and asking for comfort for all who mourn.
Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

Merciful Father
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ,
Amen.

9th June 2024 10.30am – 2nd Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on June 9, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

2 Corinthians 4.13-5.1
But just as we have the same spirit of faith that is in accordance with scripture—‘I believed, and so I spoke’—we also believe, and so we speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will bring us with you into his presence. Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Mark 3.20-end

and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’ And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’ And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

‘Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’— for they had said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’

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

“The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not
know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born
of the Spirit”

These words, from John’s gospel, seem to reflect well the opening stories of
Mark’s gospel.

Following his baptism by John in the Jordan, and time of temptation by Satan
in the wilderness, Jesus barely seems to keep still. Mark’s pacey narrative has
him
proclaiming the kingdom of God, and
healing numerous people, and
driving out demons, and
teaching and
calling many to follow him, including the twelve named disciples.

All this in less than three chapters.

He’s attracting huge crowds wherever he goes, and seriously upsetting the
religious authorities. In this precarious time of Roman occupation, Jewish
worship and customs are allowed...but only if the people don’t stir up trouble.
Someone proclaiming an alternative kingdom, ignoring the Sabbath rules, and
attracting large crowds is not good news for the scribes.

It’s also embarrassing his family, who think he’s out of his mind. In this
conservative society, family honour matters. A family with a son drawing
attention to himself like this may be treated with suspicion and shunned.

Now Jesus returns to his home town, surrounded by a crowd so big that no-one
has space to eat. Both his family and the Jerusalem scribes learn of it and
determine to stop him. His family try to restrain him. The scribes try to
persuade the crowds not to listen to him. They declare he is casting out demons
because he is possessed by the chief demon.

Jesus rebukes both the scribes and his family. The scribes get the sterner
rebuke. He is casting out demons because he has a demon? “How absurd!”
Jesus says. “How can Satan cast out Satan? How can evil cast itself out? It’s
nonsense!”

Then he points out that if a house is divided amongst itself, it is unlikely to
thrive. And he also says that you can’t plunder the property of a strong man’s
house unless you have first tied up the strong man. Evil won’t thrive where
there is division amongst those perpetuating it. Evil won’t thrive if it has been
disabled.

Jesus says to the scribes “It is the Holy Spirit you are seeing at work here, not
Satan”. It is God’s Spirit who is working through Jesus casting out evil, and
healing the sick. Those who recognise this will have all manner of sins
forgiven. But those who declare that the Holy Spirit is Satan are committing
blasphemy! If the scribes maintain this viewpoint, there is no hope of
forgiveness – they cannot let God in to forgive them.

Harsh words against those scribes who are in league with the occupying empire
and allowing evil to take root.

Jesus’ rebuke to his family is a little softer. He won’t be restrained by them, so
he refuses to come outside to talk to them. If they won’t do the will of God,
they are not his mother or his brothers.

In the earlier stories, Jesus has called people to follow him, people of many
different backgrounds, men, women, old, young, some in powerful positions,
others on the fringes of respectable society. These are the people who surround
him now. They have said “yes” to God and “yes” to the Good News of his
kingdom. So Jesus proclaims:

“Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my
brother and sister and mother.”

The stubbornness of the religious authorities to see the Holy Spirit at work
leads to them having Jesus arrested, tried and ultimately crucified. But unlike
the strong man in Jesus’ mini parable, he won’t be kept tied down. Two days
later God raises him from the dead. The scribes cannot keep the Holy Spirit
from acting. God’s kingdom is here whether they accept it or not.

Jesus seems to distance himself from his family at the end of today’s story.

However, we know from later in the new Testament that this estrangement is
only temporary. His mother stands at the foot of the cross, standing with him
during his time of greatest need. She and his brothers are present in the upper
room, following Jesus’ Ascension, and they became an active part of the early
church following Pentecost.

So I’ll end with some questions:

Where is God’s Spirit at work today? Is the Spirit working in some unexpected
way that challenges us to rethink how we understand and practise our faith?
Who makes up Jesus’ family today? Where are they living out the good news
of God’s kingdom?

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. May we take the time to see and truly appreciate all that we have and help us to look after it for this generation and the generations who follow us.
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. Help us to seek ways to live together peaceably and respectfully in your name rather than clinging to what divides us.

We pray for all in our mission partnership giving thanks for the time, talents and gifts which our churches and communities benefit from.
This week we have been commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Among those whose service we remember, let us give thanks for the work of the padres or military chaplains who were alongside those they ministered to. Many of them went beyond their duties, helping to tend to and bring comfort to the wounded and dying and writing to their families. Demonstrating your love in the midst of adversity. We pray for those who continue in this quiet, courageous and loving service.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Again thinking of the sacrifices of D-Day and all it represents, we pray for our very troubled world and all peoples who are suffering because of wars and oppression. Father, guide us and especially our leaders to know what is right and strengthen us to work together for it, so that everyone can live in peace. Be with all who are courageous in standing against tyranny and help us to value the freedom and liberty we have that has been won for us at so great a price. Help us not to squander it by thoughtlessness and apathy. May we never forget that price or those who paid it.
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 to be supported.
By name we pray for Anne & Michael & their family,
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 concerns and needs.
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 and cared for in their grief. We give thanks for the life of Rob Burrow and for his great courage in advocating for the sufferers of Motor Neurone disease right to the end of his life.
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.

2nd June 2024 10.30am – The Visitation of The Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth – Eucharist

Posted on June 2, 2024June 3, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

Romans 12.9-16

Luke 1.39-56

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leapt for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.’

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

And Mary remained with her for about three months and then returned to her home.

The Sermon
By The Revd Shan Rush.

Today, we recall the visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth as recorded in Luke’s Gospel. It’s
one of those rarer occasions when we are made more aware of the role of women in the story of
our faith. Mary is honoured as the mother of Jesus but Elizabeth gets little mention although we
know John’s birth was equally miraculous. These are important women, who, albeit briefly, stand
centre stage in this important Christian story. These two women enable life, making possible the
gift of God’s life in all its fullness, as John’s gospel would say.

Zachariah was a priest and along with his wife they were faithful to the Jewish traditions.

Zechariah and Elizabeth were both elderly and this couple’s sadness was that they were childless.
They lived in hope that one day, the long awaited ruler of Israel that the prophet Micah had
prophesied long before their lives began would be born in Bethlehem. Zechariah doubted God’s
message that he would father John the Baptist, but God fulfils the promise he has made and
Elizabeth conceives.

The news of Elizabeth’s pregnancy was shared with Mary by the angel Gabriel who greeted Mary
as someone specifically favoured by God and announced to her she would bear a Son who would
be the fulfilment of the promises made to their ancestors. Mary questions this news, afraid of
what God is asking of her, a young, unmarried woman who could be ostracised by her community
for being pregnant. The Angel reassures her by saying your “relative Elizabeth in her old age has
also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing
will be impossible with God.” Hearing this, Mary agrees to God’s proposal saying, ‘Here am I, the
servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Unlike Zechariah, Mary responded
to Gods call with grace and humility, not only out of obedience, but with a willing heart. She hears
God’s word and accepts it, letting the word become flesh in our midst, and in doing so aligning
God’s choice with her own choice. From my own experience I imagine her decision brought her a
sense of peace. The closest I can get to understanding how this felt was when I stopped putting
obstacles in the way of accepting I was was being invited to be ordained. When I finally said Yes to
the invitation to explore this vocation, it felt as though God’s choice and my own to continue the
journey met, and instead of walking separate paths, God and I were on the same path and each of
our choices were complimentary. Suddenly I was ready to share my news with others.

Returning to our story, who better for Mary to share her surprising and amazing news with than
someone in a similar situation, so Mary set out to visit Elizabeth, her cousin. There’s a beautiful
painting depicting the moment they met in which you can sense the joy and love between these
two women.

Elizabeth knew instantly that Mary’s child would be the long awaited Messiah. Elizabeth is able to
read the signs with the mind of prophesy, the gift of God’s Spirit. She also acts as a kind of
midwife, not in the literal sense, since she is not named in the nativity narratives of the Gospels,
but as one who helps bring to birth. It’s John, still in the womb who gets the credit from Luke as
he uses John the Baptists leaping in Elizabeth’s womb as the first time he bears witness to Christ as
that promised Messiah.

Many mum’s are encouraging and supportive of their children and Mary was no different, not solely
as his mother whilst he was at home , but also by becoming one of his followers as his ministry
extended beyond his home town. In many ways this is not surprising as we know she was called to
be a servant of the Lord by God, and that calling is not usually only for one specific purpose. In
todays Gospel, not only did we have it affirmed that, although it may take a long time, God keeps
promises, we also see in Mary, someone whose life is shaped by her commitment to honouring the
calling she has been given. Mary puts God and subsequently Jesus at the centre of her life. She
does not do this passively, but through sharing what is happening in her everyday life.

In her wonder at having been chosen to be the bearer of God, the mother of the Messiah, Mary
praises God. This song or prayer of praise is what we know today as The Magnificat.

In it, she praises the God of surprises who turns the world upside down and transforms lives. She
expresses delight that God has chosen her, but goes on to voice the subversive view that

“He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.”

In Mary’s Song there is a reversal. The reign of God, she asserts, turns upside down the values of
the world. Under God’s reign the poor are to be lifted up, regarded as of highest value. The rich
will be sent away, as of no account.

This is echoed in the Good News of Jesus Christ so whether or not you have a devotion to Mary
as you seek to follow as a disciple of Jesus, her influence is embedded in our faith journey. It was a
theme picked up by Oscar Romero in answer to the question, ‘What must the rich do to be
saved?’ He replied, ‘they must be converted to the poor,’ because it is with the poor, the
marginalised, the rejected, that we will find God, and our lives will be transformed.

Jen Norton is an artist and author who creates colourful and prayerful artwork that celebrates the
traditions of the Catholic faith. She writes;

“A good starting point for a deeper appreciation of the Song of Mary is simply recognising that it
could be our song, too. If the Magnficat is the prayer of the Church, then it is our prayer; and if it
is our prayer, then Mary’s words become our words, and praying those words helps us to respond
to God as she did.”

At Common Worship Evening Prayer, The Magnificat is said daily, revealing the God of justice who
acts on behalf of those who are marginalised.

As we pray the Magnificat, we are not just praising God for what he has accomplished in the past,
but for all the ways in which he acts in our lives today. The Magnificat prompts us to ask: How is
God showing his strength in my life today? How is he scattering the proud? How is he casting
down the mighty from their thrones? How is he exalting the lowly, filling the hungry with good
things, and sending the rich away empty? How is he helping his people? How is he helping me?
These questions through our prayers don’t always come with immediate answers, but when the
time is right, the way forward will become clear and God’s love for humanity will be revealed.
Amen.

The Prayers

Let us proclaim the greatness of the Lord
and rejoice together in the God who saves us.
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

You have mercy on those who fear you in every generation.
We pray for your Church for our Bishops Pete and Sophie and all who minister
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

You show the strength of your arm
and cast down the mighty from their thrones.
We pray for the nations of the world and their leaders.
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

You lift up the lowly and fill the hungry with good things.
We pray for all those in any kind of need.
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

You come to the aid of your servants
and remember your promises with mercy.
We remember all who have died in the faith of Christ.
Bring us with them to share the joy of heaven
with Mary and all the saints.
Lord, in your mercy:
hear our prayer.

Father most holy,
so guide us in the way of humility and obedience like Mary,
that our lives may be a constant hymn of praise
to you from whom all good things come.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.

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

26th May 2024 10.30am – Trinity – Eucharist

Posted on May 26, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

Romans 8.12-17

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’ it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

John 3.1-17

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, “You must be born from above.” The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can these things be?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

‘Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

The Sermon
By The Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

In 1934, an American theologian called Reinhold Niebuhr, wrote a book about
human behaviour. He wanted to draw attention to the fact that people could
be very moral, very ethical, in their personal lives, but sometimes behave
quite differently when they were part of a social group – groups like
businesses or trade unions or churches.

This was because – to put it simply – individuals could decide to act
unselfishly, but social groups found that more difficult. An individual could
decide to be loving to their partner, kind to their children – even teenagers –
and generous to their friends and neighbours.

But if, say, you were running a business, you had to make the business
viable; you could find yourself taking decisions that impacted badly on those
you employed – paying rubbish wages, having little regard to their well-being,
that sort of thing.

So Niebuhr spoke about individual morality and social morality and called his
book Moral Man and Immoral Society.

Remembering what Niebuhr wrote was the only way I could make sense of
the behaviour of some of those we have been hearing about recently in two
great scandals that have shaken our country: the scandal of contaminated
blood in the NHS and the scandal of IT failures in the Post Office.

In the first of these, men and women, and even children, who needed, for
example, blood transfusions, had been given blood products in the 1980s and
1990s which came from America. The blood had been donated by prisoners
and drug users and was infected with HIV and Hepatitis C and passed on,
therefore, to patients in this country.

Many people knew about this: the company that supplied the products, those
who received and administered it here, doctors and consultants, and so on.
Yet no one told the patients and no one said, Stop, this is wrong.

Similarly with the Post Office scandal. For years, sub-postmasters and
mistresses had been using for their financial transactions an IT system that
was flawed. A random fault made money disappear from their accounts. It
looked as if they were stealing it.

They had signed contracts to say they would be responsible for any losses so
they had to find the missing money or face prosecution. Many were ruined,
Some went to prison. At least one committed suicide. Many people in the
Post Office knew about the faults, but no one told the sub-postmasters and
no one said, Stop, this is wrong.

I have no doubt that many of those who made bad decisions or kept quiet in
both scandals - contaminated blood and the Post Office IT – were, in their
personal lives good people. They were loving, they looked out for their
neighbours, they helped old people over the road and gave to charity. But in
their social groups – businesses, parts of the NHS, the Post Office – they
made decisions that had fearful consequences for others and they couldn’t
stop.

We tend to think of sin as something highly individualistic - bad behaviour by
bad individuals. If you want to rid the world of sin, therefore, you need to
make bad people into good ones. What Reinhold Niebuhr realised was that
this was only ever part of the story – because even good people can make
bad decisions when they are part of a social group.

And sometimes those bad collective decisions can spring from motives that
are not unworthy. I dare say those who allowed infected blood to be used
persuaded themselves that this was better than having nothing to offer the
patients at all. I don’t know.

The Post Office managers and bosses didn’t want the reputation of the Post
Office damaged by having to admit publicly that there were faults in their IT
system. Because that could have brought the business crashing down. They
wanted to protect the business and its reputation.

But those worthy motives became unworthy as soon as innocent people
began to suffer and pay the price for collective decisions.

Niebuhr was a Christian theologian who understood from his reading of the
New Testament that sin could be social as well as individualistic; that even
good people could be led astray when they acted as part of a social group.
Once you understand that, you understand also why Christians have to be
wary of becoming too judgemental – because unless we keep our Christian
wits about us, any of us is capable of being influenced by collective behaviour
– because we all belong to some sort of social group – family, church, work,
community group: they all tend to act in their own self interests – they all tend
to act selfishly.

So we must keep in mind those words from today’s gospel: For God sent the
Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be
saved through him.

We need the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to deliver us from evil - all evil –
and that includes the evil that even good people can do when part of a social
group.

The Prayers

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

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

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

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

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

19th May 2024 10.30am – Pentecost – Eucharist

Posted on May 19, 2024May 20, 2024 by St Mary's

The Readings

Acts 2.1-21

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

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

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: ‘Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

“In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.
Even upon my slaves, both men and women,
in those days I will pour out my Spirit;
and they shall prophesy.
And I will show portents in the heaven above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and smoky mist.
The sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day.
Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

John 15.26-27

‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

John 16.4b-15

‘I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement: about sin, because they do not believe in me; about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; about judgement, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

‘I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

The Sermon
By The Revd Alison Wragg.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all
our hearts be acceptable unto you O, Lord our rock and
our redeemer. Amen.

Today we are celebrating the Feast of Pentecost, the
coming of the promised Holy Spirit. Our reading from Acts
this morning describes Pentecost in the most expansive
way... all the stops on the organ are out, so to speak. We
hear of a heavenly sound like the rushing wind,
descending fire and patterns of transformed speech.

Pentecost is a pregnant moment in the life of the people
of God and in the relationship between those people and
God. It is the moment when gestation ceases and birthing
begins. It is both an end and a beginning, the leaving
behind of that which is past and the launching forth into
something new. Pentecost is the birth of the church and
is often referred to as the churches birthday.

I remember as a little girl growing up in Crookes, that it
was also known as Whitsuntide or Whit Sunday. I
remember always wearing my best summer dress and
new ankle socks and sandals for the occasion. I remember
the sandals vividly.

They had a leather top and crape soles. We would parade
from church, which for me at that time was St Thomas’ to
Weston Park for the celebrations there. I guess some of
you here this morning can remember this too.

The lectionary readings over the last seven weeks have
been preparing us for this moment. Twice, in connection
with Jesus’ ascension, the coming of the Holy Spirit has
been promised... in Acts chapter 1, v8 it says, “you will
receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
That promise is now realised in a manner far surpassing
the expectation of even the most faithful disciples.

The coming of the Holy Spirit brings new life for the
church. New life for individuals within the church. New
life through the Spirit of God. No one present is excluded
from this display of God’s grace. Unlike other important
moments in the history of God’s mighty acts of salvation,
the transfiguration being an example, only the inner few
are witnesses to the work of God’s Spirit. But at Pentecost
everyone is included. It is a moment of inclusiveness.

Notice that with the coming of the Spirit the diverse
individual languages of those present are not abolished in
favour of a single common language.

Those gathered continue to speak different languages but
can now be understood by one another. As one of the
pivotal events in the formation of the early Christian
church, this remains important for the church today. The
church should be a place where we rejoice in our
diversity, as we are brought together in community.

In the Acts reading the barriers between different
geographical identities are broken down. As a ‘Pentecost
people’ we are united with our neighbours whether they
are close by here in Walkley or are across the world.
Over the last seven days we have been supporting
Christian Aid week 2024. The theme has been ‘pushing
back against poverty.’ The focus has been on a lady called
Aline and the people of Burundi, the smallest country in
Africa. In Burundi more than 70% of the population live in
poverty.

In the areas where Christian Aid work people without
their own small business or income will typically head out
on an empty stomach each morning. They must look for
casual work to buy food for that evening. Most only eat
once a day and how much they eat depends on the work
they find that day. Making plans for the future is
impossible when you can’t make plans beyond the day.

This was the situation Aline found herself in when an
early marriage ended in abuse and violence. Separated
from her children, she was forced to sleep on the streets
of Burundi. Hungry, scorned and alone, Aline was pushed
to the brink of survival, but her life was about to change.

Aline’s love for her children drove her to transform her
life. Her first step back from the brink came when she
participated in a three-day community workshop with
Christian Aid funded trainers. Aline learnt how to
establish a steady income and make long term plans. She
says, “I came out with amazing knowledge and skills. The
trainer restored a sense of hope and energy in me.”

With a small start-up loan, Aline started trading avocados
and peanuts locally. With her profits, she bought a bicycle
so she could transport greater quantities of goods to
markets further afield. Eventually, her hard work had
earned the money she needed to rent a house and be
reunited with her three eldest sons.

Aline's faith has guided and comforted her through the
darkest of times. She says, “We pray together as we are
still alive thanks to God's grace.

God comforts you through troubled times and gives you
hope for a better future. With God's help you can
overcome obstacles and be victorious.”

The small grocery business that Aline built not only pays
for a home for her and her children, but food, clothes and
essential healthcare too. Aline's also purchased solar
panels so her children can do their evening homework by
electric light, and further their education. Aline's home is
a sanctuary for her and her children. A place where they
can nurture their ambitions and make plans for the
future. A home filled with prayer and praise.

Burundi continues to be one of the toughest places on
earth to live. The future is uncertain, and challenges wait
for families like Aline's around every corner. As the
climate crisis deepens, people in Burundi find themselves
in an increasingly precarious position in the face of the
droughts, floods and landslides that are becoming more
frequent.

Burundi's fragile economy is built on agriculture, and
many homes are built of unbaked mud bricks. Extreme

weather undermines the stability of both, often with
devastating consequences.

When a ferocious storm destroyed Aline's home, almost
killing her and her children, she was able to recover by
selling the cows she'd been keeping. Now when a crisis
threatens her family's survival, Aline has options. Even a
small business can provide just enough resources to
weather a brutal storm in Burundi.

Today, Aline's using her experience to help 25 other
families in her community to build their resilience. And
she's baking her own bricks to build a strong home for her
and her children in every sense. Aline’s story really is a
story of hope, of God’s Holy Spirit at work throughout the
world.

The Holy Spirit is sometimes referred to as the Counselor,
or Comforter or Helper. In our reading this morning from
John’s gospel the Holy Spirit is identified as the Advocate.
The Advocate being the one who comes in place of Jesus
and who enables testimony on Jesus’ behalf.
Of course it is not just Burundi where people continue to
live in poverty. Poverty is present in many places in the
world including on our doorsteps here in Sheffield.

We as disciples of Christ who shine the light of Christ into
the world are called to be advocates for people who live
in poverty... for those people who live on the margins of
society in our city. We are called to shout out for those
who are powerless to speak for themselves. We must
shout out for the day when everyone has all they need...
then we can say truly the kingdom of God has come.

Aline said that the three-day training she had in the
community workshop by the Christian Aid funded trainers
had restored a sense of hope and energy in her. This is
what happens at Pentecost. It’s no inner mystical
experience but it is an outpouring of God’s energy that
ripples across the world and touches and reaches out to
every life.

Imagine throwing a stone into a calm, still pond. There is
a splash of energy and then watch the ripples gently
move across the water until they flow to the edge and out
into the world.

I wish you all a Pentecost filled with God’s Spirit and
energy...

Amen.

The Prayers

We pray for God to fill us with his Spirit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

St Marys Walkley

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

Category: Sermons

21st July 2024 10.30am – 8th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

14th July 2024 10.30am – 7th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

7th July 2024 10.30am – 6th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

Mark 6.1-13

30th June 2024 10.30am – 5th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

23rd June 2024 10.30am – 4th Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

16th June 2024 10.30am – 3rd Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

9th June 2024 10.30am – 2nd Sunday after Trinity – Eucharist

2nd June 2024 10.30am – The Visitation of The Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth – Eucharist

26th May 2024 10.30am – Trinity – Eucharist

19th May 2024 10.30am – Pentecost – Eucharist