During the lock-down, we regret that public and live-streamed worship is suspended.
The text versions of this week's readings, sermon and prayers can be found below:
The Readings
Acts 19.1-7
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.
Mark 1.4-11
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.’
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
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 Alan Billings
Dost thou, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be led by them?
If you were baptised anytime before 1980 in the Church of England, that is one of the key questions that would have been put to your godparents.
Compare it with the modern service. Do you reject the devil and all rebellion against God? Do you renounce the corruption of evil? Do you repent of the sins that separate us from God and neighbour?
Comparing the new words with the old is like comparing a prefab with Levens Hall. There is no comparison. The new words have similar sentiments but the blood has been drained out of them.
The language of the old prayer book is magnificent, as is most of the language of the Book of Common Prayer. It is magnificent not just because it sounds so wonderful – dignified, sonorous and musical. It is magnificent because the words do justice to the seriousness of what is being asked.
Dost thou, in the name of this Child, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be led by them?
There are those who find talk of the devil difficult. Yes, I can see that - if devil-talk makes you think in terms of creatures in red leotards with horns and a pitchfork. The popular imagery does not help if you have a rather prosaic and unimaginative mind – and some of us have. Let me say a word - in fact two words - for the devil.
The first point about the symbol of the devil is this: it directs us to an aspect of our experience which is absolutely and frighteningly real. Namely, that there are forces in the world impacting on us, spiritual forces, that are every bit as real as physical forces. And we ignore them at our peril.
The Bible personalises them – it speaks of the devil – because they are at their most frightening when they get a grip on people.
The Book of Common Prayer baptism question reminds us of the points in our life where we may be most vulnerable to these forces for evil that assault and hurt the soul – more prayer book language.
It speaks of the need to renounce the devil and all his works. That is really robust language. It suggests that overcoming evil will be for the baptized like a struggle with an enemy.
The Bible often speaks this way too. Overcoming evil is a war or a battle. That suggests powerful opponents, constant vigilance, and considerable effort. And that surely is right? When we look back over those things in life – bad things, dodgy people, serious temptations – those things that we have had to avoid or overcome, it did seem like a struggle, a fight. It wasn’t easy. We got bruised, if not battered.
And the question in the baptism service hints at the shape some of those forces for evil take. Not being taken in by the vain pomp and glory of the world. Not succumbing to its covetous desires. Hard. Hard in a consumerist society. Resisting the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be led by them. Again, hard in a society that has sexual imagery everywhere.
So talk of the devil first of all alerts us to the existence of evil and by personalising it as the devil makes it clear to us that overcoming evil will be like doing battle with some powerful and rather crafty opponent. An opponent whose first brilliant line of attack is to get us to think he doesn’t exist and we don’t have to worry about him.
The second reason for insisting on the devil is to save us from too much blaming and moralising. After all, if there are no forces for evil in the world pulling us, tempting us, luring us, tricking us, then everything evil that we are and do, and everything evil that other people are and do, is all our fault without remainder. That is a huge burden to put on our own shoulders and the shoulders of others.
Yes, of course, we shall have to give account for the evil we do. And yes, of course, so will others. But what enables God to be compassionate towards us, and what enables us to be less judgmental towards others, is the realisation that we have not necessarily been totally wilful, but we have been caught up in a struggle against the devil and all his works.
People who believe in the devil know how hard it can sometimes be to do the right thing or avoid the wrong thing. People who believe in the devil know how much they need spiritual resources if they are to win the battle.
This is why Jesus goes to the Jordan River to be baptised by John. And he is given those resources: he is filled with the Holy Spirit. Only then dare he go out and begin his life’s work.
Dost thou, renounce the devil and all his works, the vain pomp and glory of the world, with all covetous desires of the same, and the carnal desires of the flesh, so that thou wilt not follow nor be led by them?
Thou hadst better.
The Prayers
From Common Worship: Times and Seasons
Jesus calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.
Washed clean by the waters of baptism,
let us pray that we may live the life to which he has called us.
Lord Jesus, eternal Word,
proclaimed as the Christ by John the forerunner,
hear us as we pray for all who proclaim your word.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, baptizing with the Spirit and with fire,
strengthen us to withstand all the trials of our faith.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, bringing forgiveness to all who repent,
teach your Church dependence on your grace.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, fulfilment of the promises of old,
give hope to all who suffer or are ignored.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, beloved Son of the Father,
anoint us with the gifts of your Holy Spirit.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus, bringer of hope,
share with all the faithful the riches of eternal life.
Lord of truth,
hear our prayer.
Lord Jesus Christ,
in you the Father makes us and all things new.
Transform the poverty of our nature
by the riches of your grace,
and in the renewal of our lives
make known your heavenly glory.
Amen.
Common Worship: Times and Seasons, material from which is included here is copyright (c) The Archbishops' Council 2006