10th December 2023 10.30am – 2nd Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

Posted on December 10, 2023December 9, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Isaiah 40. 1 - 11

Comfort, O comfort my people,
says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that she has served her term,
that her penalty is paid,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
double for all her sins.

A voice cries out:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

A voice says, ‘Cry out!’
And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’
All people are grass,
their constancy is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades;
but the word of our God will stand for ever.
Get you up to a high mountain,
O Zion, herald of good tidings;
lift up your voice with strength,
O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, do not fear;
say to the cities of Judah,
‘Here is your God!’
See, the Lord God comes with might,
and his arm rules for him;
his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
He will feed his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms,
and carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead the mother sheep.

Mark 1. 1 - 8

Jesus said, As it is written in the prophet Isaiah,
‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way;
the voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight” ’,
John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

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, Reader at St Mary's.

I’ve been reading the Bible almost every day for many years now. To start with I had a somewhat random approach then, although it’s not the best or recommended way to tackle it, I started at the beginning of Genesis and over a long period of time worked my way through to the end of Revelation so I know I’ve read everything at least once. There’s a lot of it that I can’t pretend to have understood! However, I keep trying and most of the time I read a particular book or reflect on a given passage, perhaps in preparation for writing a sermon and that usually works pretty well. Obviously some passages come up much more often than others and I’ve sometimes noted that it’s strange how something I’ve read many times can suddenly stand out in a way that hadn’t really struck me before. I think this is how and why the Bible continues to speak to us in new ways, even after centuries of people studying it. If we ever make the mistake of thinking we’ve got it all sorted, I have a feeling God would remind us that we haven’t.

Today is the second Sunday in Advent so we might reasonably be expecting to hear part of the Christmas story. But that’s not what we’ve heard in our readings. Perhaps it’s because I haven’t read Mark’s gospel for a while but I was a bit surprised that he begins where he does. This was one of those moments that I’ve just mentioned, where I was struck by something I hadn’t really noticed before. There’s no preamble about Jesus’s arrival in the world or about how his earthly parents came together or indeed about his life up to this point. Mark is straight into the story where John the Baptist; who he also hasn’t given us any background information on, is urging people to make ready to receive the Lord in the form of Jesus. Did Mark, whoever he actually was, assume that his readers would know all this so he didn’t feel the need to repeat it? That’s something we’ll never know. Fortunately for us though, we have been given a lot more information in Matthew and Luke’s gospels so we can see where this part of the story fits in. But why has it been chosen as part of our preparation for Christmas you may wonder? I think the key word here is “preparation”. This is the theme that links the passages from Isaiah and Mark.

I don’t know about you but when I’m reading pretty much anything, my mind is creating mental pictures and they’re often quite literal which isn’t always helpful to my understanding. When Isaiah speaks of levelling mountains and raising valleys to make a smooth way for the Lord, I’ve got a road and major civil engineering works in my head which is obviously not what the passage is about. If I’ve understood correctly, it’s a metaphor for what is likely to be a big task for us to make ourselves ready to receive our Lord.

However, my mental image of John the Baptist is helpful. There is nothing about this man that is self-aggrandising. Although he is clearly a strong and forceful character, John is humble about his relationship to Jesus. He lives in the desert; which isn’t exactly appealing. He wears camel hair clothes with a leather belt which sounds decidedly uncomfortable and lives on locusts and wild honey, again not very appealing. On the face of it, he is someone you might not want to associate with or who’s lifestyle you probably wouldn’t want to emulate, and yet by shouting his uncompromising message about repentance he was getting through to many people who were coming to him to be baptised because they wanted to be prepared.

Bringing things forward to today, this begs the question, how prepared are we? How should we prepare? Perhaps the questions we should ask are, if Jesus was to come back now, what would he make of us; our values, our words, our actions? Do they match up to what we profess to believe? How comfortable would we be to meet him now? That is something only we as individuals can ponder.

Our world is very complicated and very messy, perhaps more so now than it’s ever been and to a greater or lesser extent this has an effect on all of us. We may have to live with situations we really don’t like or make compromises that offend or trouble us deeply. Given some of what is going on we may genuinely struggle to know who and what is right when all the alternatives are awful and destructive and cruel. But it was the same in John and Jesus’s time. The Roman Empire was a harsh and cruel and devious place and life was very uncertain for most people. A few, like John we outspoken and courageous in expressing their faith and beliefs. Others, like Nicodemus felt the need to be more circumspect and quiet about it, and in the pages of the Bible we have just about every conceivable example of how people related to their faith in their own particular circumstances. It’s up to each of us, with God’s help and guidance, to decide how we do this. Although we will never get everything right, if we do our best to hold onto and live by the values Jesus taught us and as far as we possibly can, to do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do, we will be in a better place to receive him whenever that might be. Like those baptised by John, we will not be completely unprepared.

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.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

On this Second Sunday in Advent we hear and reflect on the words of
Isaiah. May we prepare the way for the Lord in our own lives at this time.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

We pray all those wounded, suffering, imprisoned and displaced in
Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, that the current crisis may be
brought to a just and peaceful conclusion. We pray for those who
have died in this conflict. We pray that other countries do not
become involved, and that a long-term solution be sought for the
region. We pray for the people of Ukraine and hope for a peaceful
resolution to that conflict.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

We pray for our community here in Walkley, and for the city of
Sheffield, and for our neighbours and friends. As we prepare for
Christmas, let us keep in mind those less fortunate than ourselves
who may be having problems with the necessities of life – housing,
fuel and food – before they can even think of celebrating.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

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.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

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.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Finally, Lord, we silently bring before you those special to us, and
those issues and concerns that we have in our own lives.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

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.

3rd December 2023 10.30am – 1st Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

Posted on December 3, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Isaiah 64. 1 - 9

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
so that the mountains would quake at your presence—
as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
From ages past no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
who works for those who wait for him.
You meet those who gladly do right,
those who remember you in your ways.
But you were angry, and we sinned;
because you hid yourself we transgressed.
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
There is no one who calls on your name,
or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord,
and do not remember iniquity for ever.
Now consider, we are all your people..

Mark 13. 24 - end

Jesus said, ‘But in those days, after that suffering,
the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light,
and the stars will be falling from heaven,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.
Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

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

Today is the First Sunday in Advent – it’s a time when we all start
looking forward to Christmas. Apart from the annual ritual of Advent
Calendars – and these days one seems to be able to get an Advent
calendar for everything, from chocolate, to cheese, to whisky – and
not forgetting the reverse Advent calendar, where we put something
aside each day of Advent to eventually give to charity – the meaning
of Advent as we understand it in the Church hasn’t made much of an
impact in society.

But within the Church, Advent is quite something. It is a period of
waiting; it’s a period of anticipation. It is a quiet period, a
contemplative period. With the hustle and bustle of modern life at
this time of year, I think that observing Advent is certainly something
that offers a lot of benefits!

The word Advent is derived from the Latin word ‘Adventus’, which
means ‘Coming’. In turn this was a translation of the Greek word
‘parousia’, which roughly means ‘a visit by someone to a specific
group of people’. In the Greek writings that made up the New
Testament, this referred to the coming of the Lord Jesus.

In the early Church, Advent was a period during which new Christians
were prepared for Baptism, which would take place in January at the
feast of Epiphany. However, by the 6 th Century, the Roman Christians
had tied Advent to the coming of Christ – but NOT the birth of Jesus
in Bethlehem! They were referring to Christ coming in judgement.
So, when we talk about Advent, there’s a great deal tied up in that 6
letter word.

We talk about ‘looking forward to the birth of Jesus at Christmas’,
even though that took place 2000 years ago. What we’re actually
doing is looking forward to our commemoration of Jesus’s birth. But
at the same time we’re looking forward from our own times and
waiting for the second coming of Christ when His kingdom will be
finally, completely and eternally established.

The readings we have today reflect the experience of waiting from
two perspectives. In our reading from Isaiah we are shown the
experience of the people of Israel as they wait to regain God’s
favour; in the Gospel reading we are told of what to expect at the
final coming of the Kingdom, and that we are to wait and remain
prepared in the meantime.

Our reading from Isaiah is a lament. The people have had experience
of a God who was the only God since ancient times, and who did
miracles for those who waited for him. A God who did unexpected
and amazing things, and who could make the mountains tremble.
But then, the relationship changed:

You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you
in your ways. But you were angry, and we sinned; because you
hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who
is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.

God hid from the people. No one calls upon Him any more, he is
absent from their lives. In fact, the people have been given over to
their sins; instead of ‘God’s will be done’, the will of the sinful people
is being done and God is simply leaving them to it.

But even in this situation, the people wait; they know what they are
lacking; they want God back; it’s just that they don’t really have any
idea of how to get there.

Their plea is simple:

Do not be angry beyond measure, Lord; do not remember our
sins forever.

They wait; they do not know what to do; they no longer do right in
God’s eyes; they do not call upon him. But they wait, unsure of what
the future holds, not even knowing whether God will turn his face to
them again, pleading and begging for God to not remember their sins
and to show mercy on them.

And then we come to our Gospel reading from Mark. There is no
uncertainty here about what we are waiting for. We are waiting for
the full and final coming of the Kingdom. We are waiting for the end
of the world. We are waiting for a time when:

the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light;
the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be
shaken. and Heaven and Earth will pass away.

And when is this supposed to happen? Well, Jesus initially says
Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until
all these things have happened.

Which has caused a lot of confusion over the years. What did Jesus
actually mean by this? It’s been pondered over for 2000 years.

Some theologians have suggested that in part Jesus was prophesying
the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in AD 70. However bad
as that was, the world didn’t end. A more commonly held
interpretation is that the generation mentioned in the Gospel is not
the generation who were alive, listening to Jesus, but the generation
who WILL be alive when these events come to pass.

To me, this fits well with the following text where He says:

But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels
in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father

The time is not known to anyone except God. But when it IS time, it
will happen quickly, suddenly, in the time it takes for a generation of
people to live and die.

So, we are waiting; again for a length of time unknown to us. But
here we are given guidance on what to do. Be watchful. Be on guard.
Be alert. Don’t be caught sleeping. Don’t think you’re going to get a
warning. The final coming of the Kingdom will be sudden and quick.
And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.

The late Pope John Paul 2nd said the following about the liturgy of
Advent:

"The liturgy of Advent…helps us to understand fully the value
and meaning of the mystery of Christmas. It is not just about
commemorating the historical event, which occurred some
2,000 years ago in a little village of Judea. Instead, it is
necessary to understand that the whole of our life must be an
‘advent,’ a vigilant awaiting of the final coming of Christ. To
predispose our mind to welcome the Lord who, as we say in the
Creed, one day will come to judge the living and the dead, we
must learn to recognize him as present in the events of daily
life. Therefore, Advent is, so to speak, an intense training that
directs us decisively toward him who already came, who will
come, and who comes continuously."

So, when we leave here today, let’s be prepared for this ‘run up to
Christmas’ to be more of a ‘run up to Christ’s Kingdom’ – like all good
surprises, it will come when we least expect it.

Let us be ready for it. As it says in today’s Collect:

Almighty God, as your kingdom dawns, turn us from the
darkness of sin to the light of holiness, that we may be ready to
meet you in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen

The Prayers
Prepared by David.

In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid
we pray to Jesus.

Come to your Church as Lord and judge.
We pray for our Bishop's Pete and Sophie and give thanks for all who minister in this Diocese.
Help us to live in the light of your coming
and give us a longing for your kingdom.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to your world as King of the nations.
We pray for all the peoples of earth, that they may walk in the paths of peace.
Before you rulers will stand in silence.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

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

Come to us as shepherd and guardian of our souls.
We remember those we have loved and see no longer.
Give us with all the faithful departed
a share in your victory over evil and death.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

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

26th November 2023 10.30am – Christ the King – Eucharist

Posted on November 26, 2023November 27, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Ephesians 1. 15 - end

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

Matthew 25. 31- end

Jesus said, ‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’

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

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

Once again we come to the end of the Church year, with the feast of
Christ the King. It’s a relatively recent addition to the Church
calendar, and was only added to the Western liturgical calendar in
1925, when it was celebrated in October, and was only moved to it’s
current position on the last day of the Liturgical Year as late as 1969.
It might seem strange to us to think that it took the Church 1900
years before it actually got around to adding the celebration to the
liturgical calendar, but that’s the way it was; whilst Christians
acknowledged Christ as King of Creation, the institutional Church just
took it’s time recognising it formally. 1925 was a lull in the
apocalyptic happenings of the first half of the 20 th Century; between
WW1 - the ‘War to end all Wars’ – and WW2, when we finally got to
a point where the horrific murderous and destructive potential of
humanity in terms of the Holocaust and Hiroshima was realised. But
1925 was also the year when Mussolini came to power in Italy – ‘Il
Duce’ – ‘The Leader’ – and perhaps this finally pushed the Roman
Catholic Church to take action and bring a celebration of the coming
of the Kingdom of God to be more ‘up front’ in the Church calendar.
Today’s readings both have elements of Eschatology in them….they
are about what we as Christians can expect at the end of all earthly
things.

In his letter to the Ephesian Church, Paul is explaining what is to
come for the faithful.

“God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the
dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far
above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above
every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to
come.”

Christ will be King - not just in the world they know, and in their time,
but everywhere and forever.

Paul’s audience would have great experience of the power of kings
and emperors – after all, the Roman Empire was the superpower of
the day and it’s quite likely that most people saw the Kingdom of
God as a big and different version of the Empire – and they probably
felt it would arrive in a similar way – through battle. But Paul tells
them ‘No, God has raised Jesus from the dead, and He is already
ruling. The job is done.’

Our Gospel reading from Matthew describes that final Judgement,
and it always makes me realise that there is a darker side about the
eventual total coming of the Kingdom. After the coming…what
then? What will happen to those who have turned away from God,
who have rebelled against his authority, who haven’t even been
reasonable human beings – the least we could be expected to be.
Being cast in to eternal punishment must surely make all of us a little
nervous at the very least.

When we look at what is expected – to doesn’t seem a hard hurdle
to jump. We hear the righteous being told:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave
me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and
you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and
you came to me.”

And they’re somewhat confused. They have no recollection of ever
having done such things for the King who sits in Judgement over
them. But then He clarifies it:

“Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my
family, you did it to me”

How hard is it for us at least attempt to reach out to those around us
to offer help and compassion? We are simply being asked to love our
neighbours in the same way that our King loves us.

And those who could not manage this are facing judgement. The
ones who never reached out a hand to feed and clothe others. Those
who ignored those lives were limited by any sort of imprisonment.
Those who failed to care for the sick; those who failed to look upon
their brothers and sisters without compassion.

“Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these,
you did not do it to me”

We need to avoid thinking of these ‘terms of judgement’ in purely
literal terms. That’s too simplistic; the Kingdom of God is a kingdom
where we will experience the Judgement but also the mercy and
grace of God. But we are expected to go at least part of the way and
do what we can to live in a Christ-like manner.

The coming of the Kingdom of God is not something that has
happened in the past or will happen in the future; it’s not tied to
time in our understanding of past, present and future. It’s happening
now; it’s a process, not an event. God’s Kingdom is coming in to
being with every person who joins the Church, with every act of
compassion or charity, every time we carry out an act of mercy or
justice, every time we show or experience grace.

This is where we come in; we’re the boots on the ground, the hands
offering help, the voices for the voiceless, the compassionate heart,
working to bring the Kingdom closer.

It’s our duty to challenge and resist all that is contrary to God’s will
and rule. This might be at the personal level – are we charitable; are
we just; are we merciful? Or it might be in matters of government
and political life; do our leaders work for peace; do they work for
justice; are they merciful?

Dietrich Boenhoffer once said “Politics are not the task of a
Christian."; And he is right; for us Christians, politics boils down to
the very basic proposition of ‘Is this action or belief supportive of the
coming of the Kingdom of God?’ If it is not, we have no choice but to
act in our capacity as priests in the Kingdom and work to bring the
Kingdom closer by speaking out.

Boenhoffer also said “One's task is not to turn the world upside
down, but to do what is necessary at the given place and with a due
consideration of reality."

And as our reading from Matthew reveals, doing what is necessary
for the Kingdom of God – and for our own place within that Kingdom
– can be as simple as acts of charity – feeding the hungry, nursing the
sick, welcoming the stranger, clothing the poor, visiting the prisoner.
Recognising Christ in others. What Hannah Arendt called ‘the
banality of evil’ starts when we DON’T recognise Christ in our fellow
people, but when we start treating them as ‘the other’ and stop
thinking of them as brothers and sisters of our same Father.
We are human; we work with our human limitations, our personal
sins, our abilities. It’s highly unlikely that any of us here today will
turn the world upside down in our priestly duties. But it is within our
abilities and our priestly duties to do what we can do within our lives
and circles of influence to bring God’s Kingdom closer.

This isn’t always easy, but Matthew’s gospel shows what we are
likely to experience when we come to our final judgement. Have we
seen and served the Christ in each other? For that is all that we are
called to do as priests of God, helping to usher in His Kingdom.
Amen.

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 or tyrannical regimes, thinking particularly of people in Ukraine,
Russia, the Gaza Strip and Israel. 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 affected by shortage of suitable housing, both here in the UK and abroad. Please help
us to recognise the importance of providing housing for everyone especially as winter approaches. Help us
to consider donating to charities that support those who are struggling and help us to consider possible
solutions when casting votes in both local and general elections.
We pray also for all those involved in trying to fight the climate crisis, especially those taking part in COP 28
in Dubai this coming week. 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 as we celebrate Christ the King and look forward to the season of advent. We pray for your
promise of peace on earth.
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 only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.

19th November 2023 10.30am – Second Sunday before Advent Eucharist

Posted on November 19, 2023 by admin

The Readings

1 Thessalonians 5. 1 - 11

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

Matthew 25. 14 - 30

‘For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

12th November 2023 6.30pm – Eucharist of Remembrance

Posted on November 12, 2023 by admin

The Readings

1 Thessalonians 4. 13 - end

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord for ever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Matthew 25. 1 - 13

‘Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.” Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.” But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.” And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.” But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

The Sermon
By the Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Remembrance Sunday.

Once a year the nation remembers.

But why?

Let me suggest two reasons, which seem to me to be important.

The first reason for remembering is because it is a way of saying thank you.
Tonight’s remembering takes place within a service that is already an act of
remembrance and a way of saying thank you. Every time we break the bread
and bless the wine we are remembering Christ’s death and resurrection and
thanking him for coming among us. This is why we call this service a
‘eucharist’, eucharistia being the Greek word for thanksgiving.

As we remember Christ and give thanks for what he did for us – eucharist -
so also tonight we remember those men and women whose names are
inscribed on our memorial boards and thank them for what they did for us.
Does that sound strange? That we are here to thank those who are not here,
those who are dead?

Not really, because remembering is the only way we can thank the dead. We
can’t meet them, shake their hands, hear from their own lips their stories –
what they endured, what they went through, what they suffered. We can’t
hear from them what they gave up, their hopes and dreams, so that we who
came after might have hopes and dreams of our own. They died to make our
hopes and dreams in a free society possible.

The only way we can say thank you to the dead is to remember.

I find I do this all the time when I remember my own family, my parents and
grandparents, my brother, all of whom have now died. When I think of them, I
am remembering with gratitude.

Once a year we take a moment to say thank you to all those commemorated
on our memorials for giving us the tomorrow they denied themselves.

And the second reason why we have Remembrance Sunday is to remind
ourselves that the type of society we live in, the freedoms we enjoy, were not
inevitable. They were a consequence of these men and women fighting and
dying.

I was born during the Second World War, after the British Expeditionary Force
had been defeated in France, leaving behind all the heavy artillery, the tanks
and armoured vehicles, rescued from Dunkirk by the little boats. It was a time
when it was impossible to say which way the war might go. If Hitler had sent
his victorious armies across the channel, we would probably have lost the
war.

I sometimes wondered as a teenager what my parents thought they were
doing, bringing me into a world in which they might have had to raise me as a
little Nazi. Perhaps having a child was their way of saying, we believe a batter
future is possible.

But they understood that that better future could only come if Hitler were
defeated. So my father enlisted and served in north Africa.

So we remember in the second place to remind ourselves that sometimes the
future can only be secured by forcibly and violently overcoming those who
make themselves our enemies and seek to do us harm – so that has
consequences not only for our soldiers and civilians but for those on the other
wide as well. This is something the Israelis are having to think long and hard
about now.

In any case, Christianity makes us struggle with the idea of using violence.
We picture in our churches and in our imaginations the crucified Christ. The
one who said ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’. Who told his disciples to put up
their swords in the Garden of Gethsemane. Who did not resist when they
came for him at the end. And who also said, ‘Father forgive them’, and ‘Love
your enemies’.

Christians are never going to be able to contemplate war easily. If war
becomes necessary, it can only be as a last resort. And if we seek to
commemorate it, we must do so by remembering the dead, not by glorifying
any victories.

This is why, when a more Christian nation than today decided to
commemorate the end of the First World War, it did so by constructing in
Whitehall not an arc de triomphe but a cenotaph.

So tonight we remember. We remember to remind ourselves that sometimes
a better future does not happen by chance but only because those with evil
intentions are overcome by force – with all the suffering that means on both
sides.

And we remember because remembering is how we thank the dead.

The Prayers
Prepared by Irving.

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

On Remembrance Sunday, we remember the sacrifice of those caught up in wars both present and past,
and the generations of men, women and children who have been killed in the courses of wars. We pray
for those who still bear the physical and mental scars and disabilities of their service.

Especially on this Remembrance Sunday we pray for:
All who serve in our armed forces their families and friends. We pray for peace in all those countries at
war, and for their peoples, particularly at this time Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. We
pray for those who are caught in crossfire, those who are used as human shields, and all who are forced
or desperate to seek refuge in other countries.

We pray too for all who strive to promote peace and stability in war stricken areas, both in settings such
as the United Nations and those who respond to what they see happening in the world.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

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

Especially we pray for:
All who minister to the armed forces, especially those who support troops in front line duties. At St
Mary’s we pray for and give thanks to all who have helped us to mark Remembrance in so many ways
from selling poppies, tending our local war graves, photographic displays and acts of remembrance in
our Church, Cemetery and War Memorial in Hadfield St.
Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer

We commend to your fatherly goodness all who are anxious or distressed in mind or body; comfort and
relieve them in their need; give them patience in their sufferings, and bring good out of their troubles.
Especially we pray for:
All who mourn loved ones lost in wars and all who are anxious about men and women currently in active
service. We pray for all who work to support and heal those injured and debilitated by war. We pray for
all who, like the Royal British Legion, keep alive support for all who suffered and gave their lives in the
service of our country.
We pray for all who are held hostage, that they may be safely returned to their homes.
Ever-living God, we remember those whom you have gathered from the storm of war into the peace of
your presence; may that same peace calm our fears, bring justice to all peoples and establish harmony
among nations, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Merciful Father
Accept these prayers, for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

12th November 2023 10.30am – Service of Remembrance

Posted on November 12, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Isaiah 2. 2 - 5

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

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

1 Thessalonians 4. 13 - 18

The Prayers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5th November 2023 10.30am – All Souls Memorial Service

Posted on November 5, 2023 by admin

The Reading

John 6. 37 - 40

Jesus said, ‘Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.’

The Sermon
By Kath, Reader St Mary's.

I’ve sometimes heard it said that we, as a society, are not very good at speaking about and dealing with death. Obviously it can be a difficult and often painful subject, especially when it’s close to home affecting someone we know or love or if we’re contemplating our own end, but for everyone’s sake, death shouldn’t be a taboo subject. That said, how we choose to refer to it is personal. Whether we call it death or loss or passing away or passing on or anything else is entirely up to us. What matters is that we don’t shut out all thoughts or discussions about it.

In the course of my own life I’ve noticed many gradual changes in how we deal with death and I think for the most part they are for the better. For very loving and well meant reasons, as children my sisters and I were “protected” from it. Death and the process of dying were spoken of in hushed tones and largely hidden away. We were not allowed to go to funerals, even of close family members because it was feared that we would be upset. When I was finally allowed to attend funerals I found they tended to be very solemn, somber occasions and rather lacking in warmth if I’m honest. Much better now, in my opinion, that we talk about the person who has died and their life as well as conducting the formalities of the service and it can also be helpful that people don’t feel constrained by an over prescriptive dress code. If the deceased was a riot of colour in their style or personality it hardly seems fitting for convention to dictate that everyone wears black.

But as our ways of conducting funerals have improved, I wonder if grieving has got a little squeezed out. Is it, like many other aspects of our culture, getting compressed, so that we’re expected to get over it fairly quickly and get back on with business as usual.

In previous times, such as the Victorian era, there were specified periods for mourning and codes of practice which in some ways may have seemed overly prescriptive but on the other hand they may have allowed much more space for people to grieve and shielded them from the pressures others may have put on them. Nowadays there can sometimes be an expectation that a couple of weeks or even days should be enough for people to sort out their feelings and the inevitable practicalities that follow a death and that they should get back to “normal” whatever that might be, in terms of work or running a home or caring for others for example. But we are all different and all relationships are different so it follows that our ways of grieving are different and very personal. Advisors and counsellors can provide help and guidance about what we might feel, the so called “stages of grief”, but ultimately there is no right way or set time or period for grieving. It can’t be forced and it shouldn’t be denied or buried.

For a long time I felt bad because I didn’t really cry when first my dad, then my mum then my youngest sister died. I loved them all very, very much but I couldn’t cry. I thought in time the tears would come and wondered whether I was losing my capacity to feel when they didn’t. It was only much later that I realised I had done much of my grieving as I watched each of them slowly robbed of their health and well-being, their independence and dignity and their abilities to be and do all the things that made them the unique and wonderful people they were. It was heartbreaking but I’m grateful that they allowed me to be alongside them in the final parts of their earthly lives and to grieve with them. However we experience grief it is important that we are allowed and allow ourselves to go through it in the ways that work for us and that includes the grieving that takes place before death.

The only proviso I would add is that we don’t become stuck in a place that prevents us living our own lives. When the time is right, gradually letting go of the pain of grief and moving on doesn’t take anything away from the deep love and respect we felt and always will feel for the person we have lost. When grief is raw that may be hard to comprehend but think about it another way, would we want our loved ones to grieve and be miserable forever when we die? I’m pretty sure the answer to that is no. We would hope they would miss us and not forget us but ultimately we would want them to find happiness and be able to smile again. Would our loved ones really want anything less for us?

I’d like to end by sharing with you a poem by the late Mosiah Lyman Hancock which I think expresses this beautifully.

When I’m Gone

When I come to the end of my journey
And I travel my last weary mile
Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned
And remember only the smile

Forget unkind words I have spoken
Remember some good I have done
Forget that I ever had heartache
And remember I've had loads of fun

Forget that I've stumbled and blundered
And sometimes fell by the way
Remember I have fought some hard battles
And won, ere the close of the day

Then forget to grieve for my going
I would not have you sad for a day
But in summer just gather some flowers
And remember the place where I lay

And come in the shade of evening
When the sun paints the sky in the west
Stand for a few moments beside me
And remember only my best

by Lyman Hancock

Amen.

The Prayers Prepared by Kath. God our Father, hear us when we pray to you in faith. We give you thanks for the lives of those who we have loved and lost. For all that we were to each other and all that we shared together. Hear us, risen Lord, our resurrection and our life. Comfort us in our times of grief and help us to help each other in our sadness. Hear us, risen Lord, our resurrection and our life. Guide and uphold us through the loneliness and darkness of loss, especially when it feels like our pain will never come to an end. Hear us, risen Lord, our resurrection and our life. But when the time is right, Lord give us the courage to live again, for our own sake and for those who love and need us, secure in the knowledge that those we have lost, rest in peace with you. Hear us, risen Lord, our resurrection and our life. May God in his infinite love and mercy bring the whole Church, Living and departed in the Lord Jesus, to a joyful resurrection and the fulfilment of his eternal kingdom. Amen.

5th November 2023 10.30am – All Saints Eucharist

Posted on November 5, 2023November 6, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Revelation 7.9-end

After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,
‘Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!’
And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, singing,
‘Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honour
and power and might
be to our God for ever and ever! Amen.’

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, ‘Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?’ I said to him, ‘Sir, you are the one that knows.’ Then he said to me, ‘These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’

Matthew 5.1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Sermon
By the Revd Dr Beth Keith.

When I was a teenager, we lived in a house with 3 stories. My bedroom was on the middle floor and my
sisters’ rooms were on the top floor. Most days we would return from school, and immediately drop our
stuff, our shoes, bags, PE kits, coats, on to the floor in the hallway. So, when my Dad returned from a busy
day at work, his first view of the house when he opened the door, was a complete mess.

It wasn’t unusual for us to be shouted down to clear it up. On various occasions this would begin with
‘Elisabeth, come down here’. Elisabeth, rather than Beth, was only used when I was in trouble. So out of
my room I would come, to an annoyed father, who wanted me to clear up the mess.

“But Dad, most of it is Rachel and Felicity’s mess, I’m only going to clear up my own mess.”

To which he would say, “well your down here now, please will you clear it all up.”

After this had happened a few times, I asked him, why, when he didn’t know which bits of the mess
belonged to which of his daughters, did he only shout for me.

“Well, it’s because your room is on the middle floor, when I shout for you, you come down, when I shout
for them, they can’t hear me.”

This felt deeply, tragically, unfair to my teenage mind. But when I protested, with a wink he would say,
“Life isn’t fair, ah well, great will be your reward in heaven”.

Little help that was, was Jesus really going to give me some king of heavenly gold-plated shoe monitor
badge?

But what will heaven be like? I imagine if we went round the room and shared what we think heaven
would be like, we would get many different ideas. Because, although there are pointers in the scriptures,
prophecies, and revelations, none of us know with certainty what life after death might be like.

There is, however, a thread throughout the Bible, that God will make things right; that there is more than
what we see before us. That God exists beyond our human interactions, and God’s justice, God’s kingdom,
has the final say. Some Christians emphasise God’s Day of Judgement, a day when we will all be held to
account for our actions. Other Christians emphasise God’s love, a time when God will gather us in, and we
will be made whole in love.

Knowing that there is more to life than this, can be a comfort and strength to us. When we experience
grave injustice or evil. When we are challenged to forgive someone who has done us great harm,
unspeakable harm which is almost impossible to forgive, knowing that we can leave that injustice with
God, can help us to move on from the harm caused. Knowing that there is more to life than this, can
challenge and encourage us to life lives based on God’s values. Putting the needs of other’s first, trying to
do what is right even when that is costly.

But this kind of theology can also be misleading. It can push us into thinking that this is some kind of
cosmic transaction, a cosmic tit for tat, where each deed of ours is measured and weighed up with specific
rewards allocated for specific deeds, specific judgement for others, and specific redress for injustice
experienced. Whilst the Bible does point to God’s rule of justice, there are plenty examples littered
throughout the Old and New Testament, where God stretches the rules. Where God’s justice is stretched
by God’s great mercy, and love. We might include the stories of Jonah, or Job, in these examples, where a
human call for a kind of cosmic tit for tat, is challenged by the mystery of the all-encompassing love of God.
This kind of stretching of justice is also seen in Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom of God. A rule which
seemed to stand opposed to the Kingdom of the Romans in which he lived. A kingdom that threw the
normal rules upside down. A kingdom where those who were most despised and most pitied, where
treasured, honoured, and healed.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

When we pray ‘Your Kingdom Come’ as we do each time we pray the Lord’s prayer, this is the kingdom we
are praying for.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you
and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

November marks the beginning of Kingdom Season in the Church. One of the prayers we pray in kingdom
season gives us the image of Jesus,
‘on the last day, gathering up all things,
that we may enjoy the fullness of God’s promises’.

It’s an image I take comfort in. Though I cannot fathom how this will happen, I have faith and trust in Jesus,
who has experienced and found a way through all the difficulties and injustices we may experience.
Kingdom Season is a time of remembering and mourning and looking forward with hope. And it is also the
season where we lift our eyes beyond what we can see. A season when we pray that God’s rule of justice
and love will become more evident here, more evident in our lives, more evident in our church, and in our
community. One way is which we do this, is to honour and remember the Saints that have gone before us.
Saints in the Bible and those saints since, who have shown us what following Christ can look like. Today we
may also want to think about the people in our own lives, ordinary folk who have discipled us, helped us,
and supported us in our own faith journey.

You may have noticed that before I started to preach, I took off some of my vestments. You may notice
that Janet is also wearing something similar to me. The clothes we wear for services, are all designed for a
reason. The white robes you see us wear come from the image from Revelation that we heard in our first
reading. The saints in glory appear in white robes. When we wear these for services, we remember, that
whatever part we may be playing in the service, we are merely saints, ordinary people following Jesus. It is
only through Jesus’ sacrifice and salvation that we are here. It’s not very practical, but really we could all
be wearing white robes to get the symbolism right. Perhaps when you were baptised or confirmed, you
wore white, as a symbol of this.

In a few moments I will put on the stole and chasuble, the chasuble is seemless garment which points to
Christ, and to the celebration of the feast we share at the Eucharist. Whereas this white robe fits me, the
chasuble doesn’t. It’s not mine, it’s the churches, worn by whoever come to celebrate Eucharist. I put it on,
I take it off. Whereas this white garment fits, I wear it each week, I take it home, I wash it when it gets
dirty. In some ways it is a good image for how we all stand before God.

God clothes us, give us an identity in Christ which is pure, and which also fits us. An identity as a child of
God, as we are, fully loved and forgiven. Through Christ we are counted among the saints, not through
great works or acts of service, not through our achievements, or our suffering, but through God’s great
love and mercy. And so today as we celebrate with all the saints who have gone before us, we come to this
table. We come to Jesus, who turns the rules of this world upside down, and invites us to join in with his
Kingdom.

So, let me finish with a prayer.
Eternal God, our maker and redeemer,
grant us, with all the faithful departed,
the sure benefits of your Son’s saving passion and resurrection
that in the last day,
when you gather up all things in Christ,
we may with them, enjoy the fullness of your promises,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The Prayers

Prepared by Catherine

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

Merciful Lord,
strengthen all Christian people by your Holy Spirit,
that we may live as a royal priesthood and a holy nation
to the praise of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Bless Pete and Sophie our bishops and all ministers of your Church,
that by faithful proclamation of your word
we may be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
into a holy temple in the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Empower us by the gift of your holy and life-giving Spirit,
that we may be transformed into the likeness of Christ
from glory to glory.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Give to the world and its peoples
the peace that comes from above,
that they may find Christ’s way of freedom and life.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

Hold in your embrace all who witness to your love in the
service of the poor and needy;
all who minister to the sick and dying;
and all who bring light to those in darkness.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

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

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

Hasten the day when many will come
from east and west, from north and south,
and sit at table in your kingdom.
Lord, in your mercy
hear our prayer.

We give you thanks
for the whole company of your saints in glory,
with whom in fellowship we join our prayers and praises;
by your grace may we, like them, be made perfect in your love.

Blessing and glory and wisdom,
thanksgiving and honour and power,
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen.

29th October 2023 10.30am – Simon and Jude, Apostles, Eucharist

Posted on October 29, 2023 by admin

The Readings

Ephesians 2.19-end

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.

John 15.17-end

I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.
‘If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, “Servants are not greater than their master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. It was to fulfil the word that is written in their law, “They hated me without a cause.”

‘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.

The Prayers
Prepared by Catherine.

God of Simon and Jude, we pray for your church. We give thanks that they
answered your call to follow Jesus and were among the earliest people to share
the good news of your kingdom. We pray for all churches worldwide, whether
they be long established or pioneering, like the early church. We pray for
church leaders, ministers, evangelists and pastors, and for all who give of their
time and resources to share the gospel in today’s world.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God of Simon and Jude, who lived and served you first in Israel-Palestine and
then perhaps in Persia, we pray for the Middle East. We ask for a safe return of
the hostages in Gaza, and an end to the violence. We pray for the leaders of the
Israelis and the Palestinians, and for those of countries worldwide, that all
might work wisely towards a peaceful and just solution to the conflict.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God of Simon and Jude, who were among Jesus’ circle of friends, we pray for
our own communities of family, church and friends. We give thanks for the
mutual support and care we receive from each other, remembering that you are
a God of community. We pray for any who find it difficult to make or maintain
friendships and ask that we be open and inclusive of all who might feel lonely.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God of Jude, patron saint of lost causes, we pray for all who are suffering or
find life a struggle. We ask that you bring comfort, healing and hope to all who
are in particular need. In a few moments of silence we think of Kath, and
others known to us.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

God of Simon and Jude, who followed you faithfully to the ends of their
earthly lives, we remember all those who have gone before us and who we see
no more. We remember those who have died recently or long ago, giving
thanks for their lives and examples to us and resting in the hope of everlasting
life.
Lord, in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

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

22nd October 2023 10.30am – The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity Eucharist

Posted on October 22, 2023October 21, 2023 by admin

The Readings

1 Thessalonians 1. 1 - 10

Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of people we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place where your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.

Matthew 22. 15 - 22

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, ‘Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

The Sermon
By the Revd Canon Dr Alan Billings.

Jesus had two main types of enemy.

First, were those who were jealous of him. His words and his actions
attracted and inspired people in ways they couldn’t match. They couldn’t
compete. So they resented him. They were jealous.

Then second were others who felt threatened by him. People listened to what
he had to say – about God, about how to live well. People took notice of him,
not them. He spoke with authority. So they felt undermined, threatened.

Both those who were jealous and those who felt threatened were the more
educated, the more powerful, the better off. They thought of themselves as a
cut above the ordinary people.

So his enemies – the resentful and the disturbed - come together to find ways
of diminishing the standing and authority of Jesus among the ordinary people.
Today’s gospel tells us what they tried to do.

Being educated and clever, they decide to trap him into saying something that
would make the ordinary people angry and might even get him into trouble
with the authorities.

They ask him whether paying taxes is lawful – which means morally and
religiously right as well as a legal duty. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the Roman
Emperor? Remember, the land in which Jesus lived was occupied by foreign
soldiers, who made sure that taxes were paid to Rome.

Of course, people resented the occupation, resented the presence of Roman
soldiers, resented having to pay taxes to the Emperor, to Caesar. So if Jesus
said, It is lawful, there would be many who would no longer trust him in
matters of morality and religion. He was siding with the regime that had
conquered their land. On the other hand, if he said it was morally and
religiously wrong to pay taxes to the Emperor, that would get him into serious
trouble with the authorities. He would look like a troublemaker, someone
trying to lead the people astray.

So it was a trap either way; and his enemies must have thought themselves
very clever in devising a question where either a yes or a no would bring
trouble.

Before they put the question, they try to get Jesus to lower his guard,
pretending to be on his side with a bit of flattery: ‘Teacher, we know that you
are true, and teach the way of God truthfully..... Tell us then, is it lawful to pay
taxes to Caesar or not?’

Jesus recognises the malice behind the flattery and he gives a clever neither-
yes-nor-no answer. ‘Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to
God the things that are God’s.’

We can see how this got Jesus out of a tricky spot at the time; but what about
all those Christians who come after? What about us? Did Jesus mean his
words to have any on-going relevance?

It’s possible that Jesus was only meaning to get himself out of a potentially
difficult situation. That what we have here is just an example of how his
enemies conspired against him and how he outwitted them. In which case we
shouldn’t read too much into what he said.

But I think he does say something that has continuing relevance for us – in
two respects.

First, he says Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s. In other words,
Christian people should be in no doubt that there is a proper place and role
for rulers, for government, for the state. Those Christians who don’t believe
this and who refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy under God of worldly
rulers – like Jehovah’s Witnesses or the Amish – are wrong.

Human communities need good governance if they are to thrive. Without
good governance human communities fall into pits of lawlessness or squalor.
So even if rulers and governments are secular or anti-religious, they are still
what God wants for us. Their role is to protect and safeguard their people and
to seek their well-being. This is why it is right that we should pray for our
rulers. That is not to say that all forms of government are the same and none
is better than another. But it is a sharp warning to Christians that even a bad
government – like the Roman Emperor – is better than no government, better
than anarchy and chaos. That is not always an easy message to hear.

But we also render to God the things that are Gods. We acknowledge that the
values by which we as Christians live come to us from God, not the state. So
we give our ultimate loyalty to God not to any earthly ruler – which can put
Christians in a tricky place if rulers like Emperors or dictators demand worship
or unconditional obedience, which Christians can’t give.

We are lucky in this country. We can render to the state the things that are the
states. We can give thanks for good governance. There are many Christians
in the world who are not as fortunate and we must pray for them and their
rulers.

For whether they acknowledge it or not, those rulers too are under God and
one day they too must answer to him. And render to God the things that are
God’s.

The Prayers
Prepared by Joe.

In these difficult times we pray that we too can become imitators of
the Lord, and welcome the Gospel in to our lives with joy. We pray
that we can become inspire others to come to Christ through our
faith and deeds.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray all those wounded, suffering, imprisoned and displaced in
Gaza, the West Bank and Israel, that the current crisis may be
brought under control, and that a non-military solution that is just to
all involved may emerge. We pray for those who have died in this
conflict. We pray that other countries do not become involved, and
that a long-term solution be sought for the region. We pray for the
people of Ukraine and hope for a peaceful resolution to that conflict.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

We pray for those affected by storm Babet, that communities will
have the resources to repair the damage. We pray for those who’ve
lost their lives, and their families and friends.
We pray for our community here in Walkley, and for the city of
Sheffield, and for our neighbours and friends.

Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Finally, Lord, we silently bring before you those special to us, and
those issues and concerns that we have in our own lives.
Lord in your mercy,
Hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the communion of Mary, Mark, John and of all the Saints,
let us commend ourselves, and one another, and all our life, to God.
Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our
Saviour, Jesus Christ.

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

St Marys Walkley

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

Category: Sermons

10th December 2023 10.30am – 2nd Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

3rd December 2023 10.30am – 1st Sunday of Advent – Eucharist

26th November 2023 10.30am – Christ the King – Eucharist

19th November 2023 10.30am – Second Sunday before Advent Eucharist

12th November 2023 6.30pm – Eucharist of Remembrance

12th November 2023 10.30am – Service of Remembrance

5th November 2023 10.30am – All Souls Memorial Service

5th November 2023 10.30am – All Saints Eucharist

29th October 2023 10.30am – Simon and Jude, Apostles, Eucharist

22nd October 2023 10.30am – The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity Eucharist