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The Readings

Romans 12.9-end

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

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

Matthew 16.21-end

From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But he turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
The Cross and Self-Denial
Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

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

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 Revd Sue Hammersley.

The church has set aside the weeks approaching Harvest as
Creationtide, a time for us to be mindful of the beauty of our
world, the damage we have already caused and the legacy
we leave behind for future generations. It is an opportunity
to reflect on how we might live more simply that others may
simply live.

Some of us are making enormous changes to our lifestyle to
reduce our impact on God’s wonderful world and people in
countries where the devastating effects are being
experienced most profoundly. Others of us are struggling
not to be overwhelmed.

Why does this matter to us as Christians? Because our
relationship with the world in which we live is part of the
outworking of our spiritual life. Understanding God as
Creator is woven through our scriptures and our liturgy. We
see God’s hand at work in the very fabric of the earth, in the
diversity of life forms and in the call to humanity to be
careful stewards.

As we see all kinds of species becoming extinct because of
the behaviour of the human race we come face to face with
the concept of sin – across the world we are becoming
separated from God’s call to us to care.

This morning’s readings don’t directly refer to our
responsibility for the planet, but there is much we can learn
from the encounter between Jesus and Peter.
Jesus is looking ahead to the time when he must suffer, die
and be raised. Looking at the future in this way is deeply
distressing for Peter and he tries to stop Jesus from speaking
in this way, “This must never happen to you!”
Jesus is angry with Peter because he doesn’t understand the
significance of what he is telling them. He utters those
much-quoted words, “Get behind me Satan!”

Jesus could not have been calling Peter, Satan. Peter was
the rock on whom he built the church… Peter was to
become one of the leaders of those first followers of the
Way.

But Peter needed to be more open to what Jesus was
teaching him. Peter’s understanding needed to be re-
formed, re-shaped, turned around, again and again. Jesus is
trying to tell his disciples about what is going to happen and
Peter thinks he knows better.

When we hear scientists telling us that the future of our
whole planet is at risk, we can’t take it in… It can’t be as bad
as all that, we are tempted to say.

In the Gospels “Satan” is described as the tempter (Mark
1.7-17; Matthew 3.13-4.6; Luke 3.34-4.6) the voice which
tries to tell us that there’s an easier way than God’s Way.

We don’t have to listen to God’s Word, we don’t have to do
the right thing because round the back there’s an easier path
which means we don’t have to face up to reality, we don’t
have to take responsibility.

This morning’s Gospel passage reminds us that Jesus doesn’t
always tell us what we wanted to hear. His voice can
unsettle, discomfort, turn us upside down… He calls us to
the life-giving path but that is often not the easiest route.
And it is life-giving for whole communities of people, it might
not be immediately clear how it is life-giving for me.
But just as Jesus predicted his death he also foretold his
resurrection. As people who are called to follow Jesus’ Way
we are not to be overwhelmed by despair; this does not
enable us to spread good news, to be people of hope, to
believe that in God all things are possible… We need to
recognise the voice of the tempter who is leading us away
from God’s beautiful Way and say, “Get behind me”.
The tempter is the stumbling block, the voice which says:
you are powerless, there’s nothing you can do, it’s too late,
all is doomed… Jesus says, attend to divine things and you
will find the life which is stronger than death.

Many climate campaigners recognise that change is not
motivated by fear but by hope. They encourage us to begin
by spending more time in the natural world, looking through
a window or going for a walk, noticing the changing seasons
and appreciating where our food comes from.

Yesterday’s Horticultural Show celebrated locally grown
produce. I’m so sorry that I wasn’t here but it was an
opportunity to celebrate the abundance of nature and it is
good that this is done here at church.
In Romans, Paul says,

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Jesus’ friends understood what it felt like to be heading
towards a catastrophe, but as we focus on that which is of
God, the source and fulfilment of life, abundant, fruitful life
for all, we are more able to make the small changes in our
own lives, to campaign for the larger changes in society and
to call for a greater corporate responsibility to protect this
beautiful and fragile earth, not just for humankind but for
every kind of living thing.

[Our] God, you with the Maker’s eye
can tell if all that’s feared is real;
and see if life is more than what
we suffer, dread, despise and feel.
If some by faith no longer stand
nor hear the truth your voice intones,
stretch out your hand and help your folk,
from stumbling blocks to stepping stones.

Iona Community,
Love from Below

Amen.

The Prayers
Prepared by Catherine

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The Readings

Isaiah 51.1-6

Listen to me, you that pursue righteousness,
you that seek the Lord.
Look to the rock from which you were hewn,
and to the quarry from which you were dug.
Look to Abraham your father
and to Sarah who bore you;
for he was but one when I called him,
but I blessed him and made him many.
For the Lord will comfort Zion;
he will comfort all her waste places,
and will make her wilderness like Eden,
her desert like the garden of the Lord;
joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the voice of song.

Listen to me, my people,
and give heed to me, my nation;
for a teaching will go out from me,
and my justice for a light to the peoples.
I will bring near my deliverance swiftly,
my salvation has gone out
and my arms will rule the peoples;
the coastlands wait for me,
and for my arm they hope.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens will vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and those who live on it will die like gnats;
but my salvation will be for ever,
and my deliverance will never be ended.

Matthew 16.13-20

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

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 Joe, Reader at St Marys.

May I speak in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit –
Amen. Please be seated.

As is often the case with readings from the Gospels, it’s worth taking
a little time to place today’s reading from Matthew in context, to
allow us to get the wider picture.

Chapter 16 in Matthew is often seen as revealing who Jesus is and
what He came to do. I actually came across the teachings in this
Chapter long before I became a practising Christian – they’re actually
used in a short story by the brilliant (if slightly oddball) American
science fiction writer Phillip Dick. What you read when you’re 15
tends to stick with you…..

In this Chapter the disciples are warned that they shouldn’t expect a
multiplicity of signs of the coming of the Messiah, and that they need
to be aware of false teachings and resist them. As we see in today’s
reading, the future of the Church is placed in Simon (now Peter’s)
hands. Jesus explains to his followers what is going to happen to
him, and he utters the famous words ‘Get behind me, Satan’ to Peter
when Peter says that they won’t let Jesus die. And the disciples are
told to deny themselves and take up their crosses should they wish
to follow him, even though it means death. They learn that they will
gain life by losing their lives, and they would see the coming of the
Kingdom of God. Chapter 16 is rich – go and take a look!

Jesus is speaking with the disciples in a place called Caesar Phillipi.
This was a city built by Caesar – it even contained a temple to him -
about 25 miles north east of the Sea of Galilee, and had a mainly
Gentile population. It was also near to a number of old ruined places
of worship to Baal, and a nearby cave was said to be the birthplace of
the Greek god Pan. It’s a place steeped in paganism, and it’s pretty
safe to say that whilst teaching the disciples there Jesus is not going
to be bothered to much by Jewish people wishing to be taught by
him!

At the start of today’s reading, Jesus asks the disciples who the
people think He is, referring to himself as ‘The Son of Man’.:
He asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and
still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

So – some folks think that Jesus and John are one and the same. This
may seem strange to us – after all Jesus and John are preaching at
the same time and in the same general region - but don’t forget that
there’s no social media, regular news or media. It’s all word of
mouth; and people could easily conflate the two itinerant teachers
who had no time for human authority in to one man. Others say
Jesus is one of the prophets returned; and some say he is Elijah. It’s
worth bearing in mind that these were all men who’d preached the
word of God whilst standing up to the political authorities of their
day. The people were longing for an ‘old school’ political Messiah to
lead them out of the grip of Rome.

Despite the importance of these men, by comparing Jesus to them
the people had totally under-estimated the nature and identity of
Jesus. They did get some of it right; they appreciated the
relationship between Jesus and God, but they still regarded Him as a
man.

Jesus continues with the disciples:

“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
He’s expecting more from his disciples, his pupils, his followers. He
wants to know what they think after their experiences with him.
They originally were attracted to Jesus as a teacher, but their
experiences with him gave them the insight that He was much more
than that. Jesus was expecting His disciples to go somewhat further
than the general public. And he was not to be disappointed.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the
living God.”

He acknowledges Jesus as the Messiah, but also refers to Him as the
son of the living God – accepting the divinity of Christ. It’s been
suggested that the phrase ‘living God’ was deliberately spoken by an
inspired Simon Peter to reflect the place in which this discussion was
taking place. Remember that the area around Caesarea Phillipi was
rich in relics of old religions – deserted altars to Baal, the alleged
birth place of Pan – and new attempts at religion – temples to
Caesar. By specifying the ‘living God’ Peter is reinforcing that Jesus is
the son of the true, eternal, living God.

Jesus is delighted with the response, and blesses Simon Peter, telling
him that he didn’t come to this conclusion about Jesus by himself,
but that it was inspired within him by God. He goes on to add:
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build
my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Simon Peter becomes Peter, a name that means ‘rock’ – but it’s not
totally certain that when Jesus refers to building His church upon this
rock, he’s referring to Peter or Himself. At this stage of his live, Peter
isn’t exactly a rock-like character – he’s hot-headed, and will
eventually betray Jesus after his arrest. But Peter will become a
much more stable, solid and reliable disciple with time, and will be
instrumental in building the early church. It’s worth adding that this
is the first time the Greek word for ‘church’ turns up in the Bible; it
appears only three times in the Gospels, all in Matthew, and then
appears frequently after that in the rest of the New Testament.
Church was not then a necessarily religious place; Jesus is referring
to a community that He is building of his disciples.
And that community will be eternal; not even death – Hades, the
land of the dead – will be able to overcome it.

Jesus continues:

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you
loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”

Jesus is here telling the disciples that they’re going to be creating the
new church – setting up the rules, so to say. They’ll be responsible
for determining which aspects of the Jewish faith are to be binding
on the people of Christ, and which aren’t. The keys refer to opening
up the new church to people. Peter is a sort of ‘first amongst equals’
within the disciples, but all the disciples are to be involved.
What can we gain from today’s reading?

First, we can take a more active look at our faith. Jesus says “Who
do you say I am?” This is a question that is asked of all of us who
follow Jesus Christ – who is Jesus to us? Who do WE say Jesus is to
us? How often do we ask ourselves this question? Perhaps we
should ask it more often than we do, and be prepared for the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit to enlighten us about our beliefs, as it
did Peter.

Secondly, we might ask about what we can contribute to the church?
Peter was possibly that last person that you might regard as a ‘rock’
at this time. But Jesus still placed great faith within him. There is a
saying ‘Jesus qualifies the called; he doesn’t call the qualified’ – the
disciples – perhaps especially Peter – would not appear on paper to
be the best qualified for the job of building Jesus’s church. But they
did a good job.

What is the Holy Spirit inviting us to contribute to?

Amen

The Prayers
Prepared by David.

For the unity of the Church in witness and proclamation of the Gospel.
let us pray to the Lord:
Hear us, Lord of life:
heal us, and give us rest.

For the peace and stability of all peoples
and for the leaders of the nations. We pray for ongoing conflicts in the world, that peace may overcome violence and swords be beaten into ploughshears.
let us pray to the Lord:
Hear us, Lord of life:
heal us, and give us rest.

For places of work, education and leisure. For our community of Walkley and all those enjoying a period of rest of over the summer.
let us pray to the Lord:
Hear us, Lord of life:
heal us, and give us rest.

For a blessing on our homes;
for our relations and friends and all whom we love.
let us pray to the Lord:
Hear us, Lord of life:
heal us, and give us rest.

For the sick and suffering and all who minister to their needs. We pray for Kath and for all those known to us.
let us pray to the Lord:
Hear us, Lord of life:
heal us, and give us rest.

Let us commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray,
to the mercy and protection of God.

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

Download The Order of Service for 23 08 20 11th Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

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The Readings

Isaiah 56.1, 6-8

Thus says the Lord:
Maintain justice, and do what is right,
for soon my salvation will come,
and my deliverance be revealed.

And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,
to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,
and to be his servants,
all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it,
and hold fast my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples.
Thus says the Lord God,
who gathers the outcasts of Israel,
I will gather others to them
besides those already gathered.

Matthew 15.21-28

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

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 Catherine, Reader at St Mary's

The Prayers
Prepared by Kath

Download The Order of Service for 23 08 13 10th Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

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The Readings

1 Kings 19.9-18

At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’

He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.’

Matthew 14.22-33

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

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 Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings

We use the word ‘miracle’ in many different ways, and sometimes we use it in
a way that is the opposite of what we normally mean by it.

What we normally mean when we speak about a miracle is an occurrence
that seems to defy all rational explanation, something that seems to go
against the laws of nature, like walking on water.

Yet we sometimes speak about a miracle when we mean the exact opposite.
For instance, I read the other day about a new drug that was going to cure, or
at least arrest, a rather rare type of cancer. It was called by the media a
‘miracle’ drug.

But this new drug didn’t defy rational explanation or go against the laws of
nature. It was the exact opposite.

It had been developed by medical scientists not by defying nature but by
understanding nature better. They had discovered how the particular cancer
cells in question could be inhibited by an injection of certain chemicals, a
certain drug. And this new drug caused the cancer cells to shrink. The
miraculous drug was not against nature but working with it.

So why was it called miraculous?

Two reasons, I think. First because this had never been done before. It had
gone beyond what past medical science was capable of doing – and that
seemed miraculous.

And second, because those occurrences we want to call miraculous are
things that take our breath away, things we find amazing. This new drug, that
was going to revolutionise the treatment of one form of cancer, did take your
breath away, it was amazing. It was miraculous.

So I don’t think something has to defy rational explanation or go against
nature for us to call it miraculous. It just has to bowl us over and be
astonishing – and bring us hope and cheer.

In the Bible, there is a third factor for something to be called a miracle. As
well as being out of the ordinary and awesome, it also tells us something
about God or powerfully discloses God’s presence.

So what about the gospel for today and Christ’s walking on water? Is this
something that defies rational explanation and goes against nature or not?

I don’t know.

Part of the reason I don’t know is because the gospels were written in a pre-
scientific age. Unlike us, who have the benefit of a scientific understanding of
the workings of the world, the people at the time of Christ largely didn’t. Of
course they knew that if you throw a stone in the air it will not stay up but will
fall to the ground. Of course they knew that water does not flow uphill. They
could see these things with their own eyes. But they had no understanding of
gravity and how it works. So with a more limited knowledge they might call
many occurrences miraculous if they didn’t understand why they happened,
and if they caused them to gasp in wonder and to give praise to God.

So I don’t altogether know how to answer the question is Christ’s walking on
water capable of a rational explanation or not? But I think I can see why for
the disciples this is a miracle and why St Matthew wants to record it in his
gospel.

Because this is a story that contrasts Jesus and his disciples. They have
spent the day together, while Jesus talked to the crowds. The crowds have
now gone home and Jesus wants to stay behind for a while on the hillside to
pray alone. So he tells the disciples to get into their boat and go across the
lake. They do so, but they don’t get far. There is a head wind and the waves
get up. Late on, Jesus comes to them, seemingly walking on the water.

And, whatever that is, it is the contrast between Jesus and the disciples that
we are being pointed to. At first, the disciples are fearful and not sure whether
it is Jesus or not. He reassures them ‘Take heart, it is I; have no fear.’

But when Peter tries to reach Jesus, he can make no headway against the
wind, starts to sink and is afraid. Jesus has to support him; and says he has
little faith.

We can picture the scene. While the waves crash around the disciples and
their hearts are in their mouths with anxiety and they turn to jelly, Jesus is
calm and rock-like.

We can see why the first Christians wanted this story in the gospel - because
it says something to all of us who come after.

There will be times when we might not be in a boat and on a lake, but it will
seem as if the world around us is like a choppy sea, the headwinds are
against us, and everything is beyond our control. At those times we need to
hear the voice of Christ as he comes to us, ‘Take heart, it is I; have no fear.’

When we are anxious and turn to jelly, we need to be calmed by his voice,
coming to us over the waves, ‘Take heart, it is I; have no fear.’

When we let that happen, it will be our miracle too.

The Prayers
Prepared by Oli

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The Readings

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 Revd Dr Alan Billings

The Prayers
Prepared by Oil G

Download The Order of Service for 23 07 30 8th Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

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The Readings

1 Kings 3.5-12

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, ‘Ask what I should give you.’ And Solomon said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart towards you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?’

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.

Matthew 13.31-33, 44-52

He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’

He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’

‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’

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 Joe, a Reader at St. Mary's

The Prayers
Prepared by Catherine

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England and Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council 2000 and 2010

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The Readings

Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43

He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!

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 Kath B, a Reader at St. Mary's

Ever since I started writing sermons; which amazingly is twenty years ago now, I’ve given them titles; usually related to their theme and from a practical perspective it makes them easier to find on the computer. I’ve titled this one “Bringing the Harvest Home” which may sound a bit strange but it’s what kept coming back to me, much as I tried to think of a better one. Panic not though, you haven’t lost a couple of months, it isn’t September and time for our traditional harvest celebrations. The reason I’ve alighted on the theme of harvest a little earlier than usual is because the readings from Matthew for today and last Sunday are on the theme of sowing and growing and gathering and in his sermon last week Matthew spoke about this. Given that the readings go together so closely it seemed worth continuing to look at their common theme. The “Parable of the Sower” from last week focuses mainly on planting whereas today’s “Parable of the Weeds” is more concerned with the practicalities of bringing the crops to harvest, in other words “bringing the harvest home”.

Jesus uses parables a lot to convey his messages and they are very effective because he uses images that the people he is speaking to are familiar with. But sometimes they need a little extra help to fully understand and this is the case with his disciples here. The explanation Jesus gives them shows just how well he understands the realities of peoples’ lives and his approach to dealing with the inevitable problems and challenges they face is pragmatic.

To look at this in the context of our own lives, sometimes, when we’re trying to deal with something that, in spite of our best efforts, isn’t going according to plan, it can be very tempting to just throw it all away, wipe the slate clean and start afresh. This is understandable and on occasion it is the best thing to do but more often than not, in doing so we may actually be throwing away much that is of value and worth persevering with. Instead of giving in to our frustrations and desire for an instant fix, of sorts, we would probably find it more effective to be patient and work towards giving whatever is worthwhile a chance to come to fruition. I know this flies in the face of much that we see around us in terms of how problems and challenges are dealt with from individuals to big organisations (including the church) and even governments. A “new initiative” or a “re-branding” or a “root and branch shake up” can sound very appealing and enable us to feel like we’re really taking action and doing something positive, but if we haven’t carefully examined a situation and understood what is already happening before we start messing with it then we may be wiping out someone else’s slow but good work and possibly doing more harm than good. If that is the case then we would be kidding ourselves and others that it was the right thing to do. For all sorts of reasons some people want to look dynamic and go-getting, indeed it might be expected of them, but if their actions are ill considered or without regard to the impact they may have on others or if they are just plain self-serving then ultimately the results will not be good. They may even be very bad!

Our world is in a mess in so many ways, largely due to short term thinking and policies and sacrificing long term benefits for instant rewards. Climate change, poverty, economic and political strife and wars are issues that instantly spring to mind. But trying to wipe everything bad out in order to start again isn’t a realistic option; many situations are too complicated for this to be possible. Just as with the wheat field in Jesus’s parable, we would risk destroying what is worth keeping. Instead we have to work with what we have got however imperfect it may be; work patiently, diligently and persistently to make things better. We will never be perfect. God knows this and still he does not give up on us so we shouldn’t give up on ourselves or our fellow people. We can’t let the enormity of the tasks we face in our world overwhelm us. If we can be brave enough to look and really see what is wrong, then either noisily or quietly (whatever is your style), stand against it by living according to the good standards our faith has instilled in us then we can keep making a difference for the better. This may be in the face of hostility, mockery or perhaps worst of all indifference. In a world where there are so many temptations to take easier, more enjoyable or lucrative paths we shouldn’t be surprised that sometimes people choose them and we shouldn’t make the mistake of thinking that we are immune. We can all get it wrong! Bearing this in mind I’d like us to reflect for a moment on the message in our first reading from the Book of Wisdom. God is all powerful; he can do whatever he wants with us or to us. Given some our behaviour throughout the ages it’s a wonder that he hasn’t given up on us, wiped the slate clean and started again. But he has chosen not to do this. He’s persevered with us because he loves us and sees our potential to be what he created us to be. He’s giving us the time and opportunity to bear good fruit.

We are part of God’s harvest and for good or ill we have the ability to powerfully affect everything else he has created. Let us pray that it will for good rather than ill; that we will be the wheat rather than the weeds. He’s given us the choice and it’s up to us what we decide to do with it.

The Prayers
Prepared by Veronica

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

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, you promised through your Son, Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith. We pray for the Church worldwide, that all who profess the Christian faith may work together to preserve for future generations the wonderful world you created for your children. As we see the results of climate change, help us all to do what we can to halt and reverse its progress. We pray for all who are currently suffering its effects, excessive heat, floods and drought, and also that those fleeing climate change as well as war and oppression may find sanctuary in countries not experiencing these things. Give generosity of spirit to welcome and accept new migrants from their distress in those countries.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for our City of Sheffield, a City of Sanctuary, and also for our neighbourhood of Walkley. We give you thanks for all the many organisations and individuals who contributed to the recent Walkley Festival which does so much to bring people together in fellowship.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for all who are unwell at this time, for Alan, and Kath, James’ mother, and all family members supporting them. We give you thanks for all medical staff and nurses who do so much to help people to recover from their illness and support relatives.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We remember before you all who have died recently, especially Julie of Carr Road who for several years organised the Horticultural Show in our Hall, also my sister Margaret, and all others known to us whom we still miss. Grant them all your peace.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of Mary, Mark, John and all you saints, we commend ourselves and all people to your unfailing love.

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

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is used here is copyright (c) the Archbishops' Council 2000

Download The Order of Service for 23 07 16 6th Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

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The Readings

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 Canon Dr Matthew Rhodes

to be added shortly

The Prayers
Prepared by Kath B

God our Father, hear us when we pray to you faith.
We give you thanks for this day, for our lives and the amazing world you have given us to live in. Help us to be good stewards and to look after it for this generation and the generations to come.
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. May we find ways to live together peaceably and handle our differences respectfully and with open minds that we might learn from one another. We pray that those engaged in the inter-faith strife still taking place in Israel and Palestine will find better ways to deal with their differences so that more lives will not be lost or ruined. Father please give us the patience and vision to see how you work in all our lives.
We give thanks for the opportunity to welcome a group of school children a few days ago; some of whom have never been inside a church, and to tell them a little about our church and how we express our faith. We pray that this will broaden their understanding and give them the confidence to come into your house again if they so wish.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

We pray for the world and all peoples, especially those who live in troubled places because of wars, oppression, natural disasters, political strife, economic problems and great need for the basics of life. Father help us to work together to end these terrible situations wherever possible and to share the earth’s resources fairly for the good of all. Bless all who strive for these things. We pray for those suffering the effects of climate change such as excessive heat, drought, wild fires and flooding. Help us to change our ways so that we do not destroy our home.
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 also for those who accompany them on their journey who also need to be supported.
We pray also for all those hurt by excessive and cruel intrusion into their lives and the lives of their loved ones by the media and others.
By name we pray for Anne and Chris

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.
Especially we pray for Val, Frank and our friend Ken who have died recently.
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.

Common Worship: Services and Prayers for the Church of England, material from which is used here, is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council 2000

Download The Order of Service for 23 07 02 4th Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

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Read St Mary's Walkley Church News for 2nd July 2023

The Readings

Jeremiah 28.5-9

Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord; and the prophet Jeremiah said, ‘Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord fulfil the words that you have prophesied, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles. But listen now to this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes true, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.’

Matthew 10.40-end

‘Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward; and whoever welcomes a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive the reward of the righteous; and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.’

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 Catherine B, a Reader at St. Mary's

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe

Download The Order of Service for 23 06 25 3rd Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

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Read St Mary's Walkley Church News for 25th June 2023

The Readings

Jeremiah 20.7-13

O Lord, you have enticed me,
and I was enticed;
you have overpowered me,
and you have prevailed.
I have become a laughing-stock all day long;
everyone mocks me.
For whenever I speak, I must cry out,
I must shout, ‘Violence and destruction!’
For the word of the Lord has become for me
a reproach and derision all day long.
If I say, ‘I will not mention him,
or speak any more in his name’,
then within me there is something like a burning fire
shut up in my bones;
I am weary with holding it in,
and I cannot.
For I hear many whispering:
‘Terror is all around!
Denounce him! Let us denounce him!’
All my close friends
are watching for me to stumble.
‘Perhaps he can be enticed,
and we can prevail against him,
and take our revenge on him.’
But the Lord is with me like a dread warrior;
therefore my persecutors will stumble,
and they will not prevail.
They will be greatly shamed,
for they will not succeed.
Their eternal dishonour
will never be forgotten.
O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous,
you see the heart and the mind;
let me see your retribution upon them,
for to you I have committed my cause.

Sing to the Lord;
praise the Lord!
For he has delivered the life of the needy
from the hands of evildoers.

Matthew 10.24-39

‘A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!

‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground unperceived by your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

‘Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to set a man against his father,
and a daughter against her mother,
and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.

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 David, Reader at St Mary's.

Our Gospel passage this morning is one of the most difficult in the Gospels. It can challenge our understanding of Jesus and his ministry. Alongside the assurance of faithfulness from God we hear challenging words promising conflict and bodily harm. It’s not an easy read, it’s messy. Passages like these call us to a deep, thoughtful reading and interpretation of the bible. They call us to recognise that faith can oftentimes be messy and difficult rather than straightforward.

Some context might be helpful in our understanding. This passage comes at the end of chapter 10 of Matthew’s Gospel. In this chapter Jesus has been commissioning the twelve apostles to “go and proclaim the good news”. He has told them “Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, to give without payment”. Following on from our passage today Jesus talks about the rewards of discipleship.

So sandwiched in the middle we have a passage that focuses on the cost of discipleship. That if we follow Jesus then there is the potential for conflict and suffering. Conflict with the powers and rulers of this world, keen to maintain their place. But also potentially conflict with those closest to us. Our opening verses tell us to expect this. “A disciple is not above teacher”. If we follow Jesus, try to imitate him, and bring about his kingdom, then those who benefit from the world as it is, will treat us as they did Jesus. It’s the part of discipleship we don’t tend to talk about, particularly in relatively safe countries where we can practice our faith openly.

We can fall into the trap of thinking that God will protect us from any kind of harm. That the more closely we follow Jesus the more blest our life will be, the less pain and suffering will happen to us. Which, when we stop and reflect on it, is a bit odd. Jesus lived a difficult life on the road, challenging authority and was ridiculed, mocked, denounced, persecuted. If we are called to live a life that imitates Jesus, then we open ourselves up to all of these. As disciples, we don’t get an easier life than our teacher, Jesus.

But, and this is really important, suffering pain, ridicule and persecution by the those in authority doesn’t mean God doesn’t love us.

Our passage then offers reassurance. God follows and loves each small sparrow and counts all the hairs of our head. We are individually as a small bird, when compared with the universe. Seemingly insignificant, without power, wealth, or status. Yet to God all are valued, and acknowledged. Each of us is of more value to him than a sparrow.

We need to be a bit careful here. Reassurance doesn’t magically make the world a better place. But it can strengthen us to do the right thing. Knowing that God will go with us into the dark places, through whatever stumbling blocks the self-interested powers of this world put in our way, can hearten us. God being with us doesn’t mean we won’t fall, we just won’t fall beyond God’s love.

The final verses of our Gospel are some of the most difficult of Jesus’ teachings. We associate Jesus with bringing in a reign of peace. At Christmas we hear the angels message of “peace on earth.” At funeral services we hear the words “my peace I give you”. Earlier in Matthews Gospel Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers”, and later on “All who take the sword will perish by the sword”.

Yet here Jesus states he will actively cause conflict and came to bring a sword? Was he having a bad day?

There is a form of peace, discussed in Micah chapter 7, which hides injustice and exploitation. The peace of the oppressed people, who can’t challenge a settled authority and an unjust society. This is a peace which Jesus comes to shatter.

The sword he brings is the sword of the spirit. A sword which cuts through pretence and bluster to the heart. Like a scalpel it separates the light from the darkness, the good from the bad. It’s metaphorical, Jesus comes to refine us and remove that which causes people to stumble and keeps them in chains.

None of this is easy, faith is messy. We are at odds with society around us. Sometimes the church, or our fellow Christians. We disagree about what faithfulness to God means. Sometimes we confuse imitating Jesus with being Jesus.

We’re not always good at expressing difficult emotions within the church, or in some cultures. Our reading from Jeremiah can help. It’s a poem of lament about his vocation and calling. What we can call his journey of discipleship. It’s a type of speech and writing which allows him to express negative emotions to God in a safe and structured way. It’s something worth thinking about as a tool in todays world, where it’s hard to find spaces to express these negative emotions.

Jeremiah has had enough. As a prophet he’s called to hold a mirror up to society. Essentially speaking out God’s critical judgement on the people generally and those in power specifically. Unsurprisingly it’s not a popular calling! He is fed up with being given a message to challenge authority and of being ridiculed, mocked, denounced, persecuted.

Sound familiar?

People are waiting for him to stumble. He can’t run away like Jonah. When he doesn’t speak out he feels “something like a burning fire” inside him. He has no choice, he knows how difficult it is to speak truth to power and to work for the transformation of our society.

On these two tasks of disciples, I’m going to leave you with something to ponder. There have been two stories about the Church of England in news in the last week or so. One on the dismissal of the Independent Safeguarding Board. The other on the Church Commissioners decision to no longer invest in energy companies using fossil fuels. This comes after years spent trying to engage with those companies in the hope of them being more climate friendly.

I wonder what Jeremiah would make of these?

These final words are from a hymn. It was written by an American woman called Annie Johnson Flint, who died in 1932. I first encountered them on a prayer card many years ago. They could be considered a platitude, but they cut to the heart of what we have considered here this morning.

God has not promised sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God has promised strength for the day,

Rest for the labour, light for the way,

Grace for the trials, help from above,

Unfailing kindness, undying love.

The Prayers
Prepared by Catherine

We pray for the church...
thinking this week of all those preparing for ordination as deacons or priests. We ask for blessing on their ministries. We remember too all those people worldwide whose profession and practice of faith brings them into conflict, derision and danger. May they continued to be assured of the love and presence of God. Following yesterday’s diocesan Parish Safeguarding Officers’ Commissioning Day, we pray for all who undertake this ministry at a local and national level, and pray that all may work well together to ensure that our churches truly reflect the love of God.

Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for the world…
thinking of all who have lost their lives at sea in the past fortnight, and for their grieving families and friends. We pray for refugees, that they might find safety and welcome. We pray for areas of war and conflict, continuing to remember Sudan, Ukraine and Russia. We pray for areas of drought and famine, of flood and earthquake, of places affected by the climate crisis. And we pray for peacemakers and all who are striving to protect the world’s environment for all creation.

Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for our community…
thinking of this year’s Walkley festival, its organisers and events. We give thanks for the opportunities to celebrate with art and craft, music and food, games and laughter, and being able to meet with one another. We pray for our schools, voluntary organisations and local businesses.

Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

We pray for those who are suffering...
thinking of those who are ill, lonely, anxious, or struggling in other ways. In a few moments’ silence, we name them before God…

Jesus, Lord of your Church,
in your mercy hear us.

We remember all who have died, giving thanks for their lives. We pray for those who mourn their loss asking God for comfort and strength. We think of those known to us…

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

Common Worship: Service and Prayers for the Church of England, and Times and Seasons, material from which is used here is copyright © The Archbishops’ Council 2000 and 2010