Christmas Day

Wingrave Methodist Church

Introduction

Hark, hark, the wise eternal word, like a weak infant cries! In form of servant is the Lord, and God in cradle lies.

Invitation to Confession

The sun of righteousness has dawned with healing in his wings. Let us come to the light of Christ, confessing our sins in penitence and faith. Amen

Absolution

May the God of all healing and forgiveness draw you to himself and cleanse you from all your sins, that you may behold the glory of his Son, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect

Almighty God,
you have given us your only-begotten Son
to take our nature upon him
and as at this time to be born of a pure virgin:
grant that we, who have been born again
and made your children by adoption and grace,
may daily be renewed by your Holy Spirit;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen

Ist Reading Isaiah 52

⁷ How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    ‘Your God reigns!’
⁸ Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
    together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
    they will see it with their own eyes.
⁹ Burst into songs of joy together,
    you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
    he has redeemed Jerusalem.
¹⁰ The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
    in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
    the salvation of our God.

2^nd Reading Hebrews 1

God’s Final Word—His Son
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. ³ The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. ⁴ So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say,

‘You are my Son;
    today I have become your Father’?

Or again,

‘I will be his Father,
    and he will be my Son’?

⁶ And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’

⁷ In speaking of the angels he says,

‘He makes his angels spirits,
    and his servants flames of fire.’

⁸ But about the Son he says,

‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever;
    a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom.
⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions
    by anointing you with the oil of joy.’

¹⁰ He also says,

‘In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth,
    and the heavens are the work of your hands.
¹¹ They will perish, but you remain;
    they will all wear out like a garment.
¹² You will roll them up like a robe;
    like a garment they will be changed.
But you remain the same,
    and your years will never end.’

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory. All Alleluia.

Gospel John 1

The Word became flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. ⁸ He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God –¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Christmas Eve–Midnight Mass at Bow Brickhill

Up high in the trees, dark and remote above the ancient village with candle light, organ and choir. A special place as we pause on the Eve of Christmas

Introduction

Hark, hark, the wise eternal word, like a weak infant cries! In form of servant is the Lord, and God in cradle lies.

Invitation to Confession

Hear the words of the angel to Joseph: ‘You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ Therefore let us seek the forgiveness of God through Jesus the Saviour of the world. Amen

Absolution

May the God of all healing and forgiveness draw you to himself and cleanse you from all your sins, that you may behold the glory of his Son, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect

Eternal God, who made this most holy night
to shine with the brightness of your one true light: bring us, who have known the revelation of that light on earth,
to see the radiance of your heavenly glory;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen

Ist Reading Isaiah 52

⁷ How beautiful on the mountains
    are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
    who bring good tidings,
    who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
    ‘Your God reigns!’
⁸ Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;
    together they shout for joy.
When the Lord returns to Zion,
    they will see it with their own eyes.
⁹ Burst into songs of joy together,
    you ruins of Jerusalem,
for the Lord has comforted his people,
    he has redeemed Jerusalem.
¹⁰ The Lord will lay bare his holy arm
    in the sight of all the nations,
and all the ends of the earth will see
    the salvation of our God.

2^nd Reading Titus 3

⁴ But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory. All Alleluia.

Gospel Luke 2

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.’

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Sermon

Just as our world revolves around the North and South poles, so the church’s year turns on the two poles of Christmas and Easter.

Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. In the worship book Times and Seasons, the season is introduced in these words:

The wonderful mystery of God’s dwelling among us in the fullness of humanity, as Emmanuel, foretold by the prophets and born of Mary, provides the material of the feast. The introduction goes on to quote from the 16^th century poem “A Psalm for Christmas Day” by Thomas Pestel:

Hark, hark, the wise eternal word,
like a weak infant cries!
In form of servant is the Lord,
and God in cradle lies.

Tonight we read from Luke’s gospel, about the shepherds and the angels, but tomorrow it is significant that the great Christmas Day readings do not come from the infancy narratives of Matthew and Luke but from the opening of John’s gospel and Hebrews. This is because the task of the Christmas liturgy is to recall us, amid all the joyful customs and celebrations of Christmas, to this central truth of the Word made flesh for our salvation.

Even so, there is no time in the church’s year when we feel the weight of tradition quite as strongly as during the Christmas season. Christ’s nativity has provided the occasion for the feast of the incarnation since at least the 13^th century.

The Christmas crib and the nativity play can both be traced back to the tableau of Christ’s birth that Francis of Assisi arranged in 1223. Christmas carols are a medieval tradition, which were developed from the end of the nineteenth century. The Festival of Lessons and Carols is itself an English creation of the late nineteenth century, made popular by the choir of King’s College, Cambridge, in the first half of the twentieth. New Year’s Day is not a church festival, but forms the backdrop to the Covenant Service in the Methodist tradition. In our own time, the commercial pressures of Christmas are spreading backward into Advent, with Black Friday and other excuses for promotional activity.

So, here we are, celebrating Christmas as a Christian festival marooned like castaways on an island within the commercial and secular pressures of a traditional British overindulgent feast. These few moments of Christmas in church are valuable ones, recalling as they inevitably do, the Word made flesh, which came among us in the form of Jesus, and through faith in Him has led to our salvation. Pause, if you will, between the courses of turkey and the trimmings to remind yourself of the real foundation of the two poles of Christmas and Easter in the story of our salvation and the coming of the Kingdom. Amen

On Jordan’s Bank–Advent 3

Wingrave Methodist Church – 11 December 2016

Introduction

Gathering

Loving God, we have come to worship you. Help us to remember that you are here with us. May we pray to you in faith, sing your praises with gratitude, and listen to your word with eagerness. Show us your glory as far as we can grasp it, and shield us from knowing more than we can bear until we may look upon you without fear; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

Hymn 1

· Be still for the presence of the Lord

Confession and Absolution

A voice cries out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’ So let us listen, and turn to the Lord in penitence and faith.

God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven:
Christ, have mercy:
Christ, have mercy.

Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect

O Lord Jesus Christ,
who at your first coming sent your messenger
to prepare your way before you:
grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries
may likewise so prepare and make ready your way
by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just,
that at your second coming to judge the world
we may be found an acceptable people in your sight;
for you are alive and reign with the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen

Prayers of Thanksgiving

MWB pages 32/33

Old Testament Isaiah 35

Joy of the redeemed

35 The desert and the parched land will be glad;
    the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, ² it will burst into bloom;
    it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
    the splendour of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the Lord,
    the splendour of our God.

³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees that give way;
⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
    ‘Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    he will come to save you.’

⁵ Then will the eyes of the blind be opened
    and the ears of the deaf unstopped.
⁶ Then will the lame leap like a deer,
    and the mute tongue shout for joy.
Water will gush forth in the wilderness
    and streams in the desert.
⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,
    the thirsty ground bubbling springs.
In the haunts where jackals once lay,
    grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

⁸ And a highway will be there;
    it will be called the Way of Holiness;
    it will be for those who walk on that Way.
The unclean will not journey on it;
    wicked fools will not go about on it.
⁹ No lion will be there,
    nor any ravenous beast;
    they will not be found there.
But only the redeemed will walk there,
¹⁰     and those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing;
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

New Testament James 5

Patience in suffering

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. ⁸ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. ⁹ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 

Hymn 2

· On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry

Gospel Matthew 11

Jesus and John the Baptist

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

² When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’

⁴ Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. ⁶ Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.’

⁷ As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

‘“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.”

¹¹ Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Sermon

Waiting
Does anyone like waiting?—bus is late—ordering goods for delivery—single and multiple queues

Some is good?—children for presents—sleeps to Christmas—Advent is all about waiting and experiencing

Waiting and preparing for 1^st coming of Christ at Christmas—Epiphany manifestation of Christ to Gentiles

Readings about Waiting

· Isaiah—people of Judah in exile—feeble hands—shaking knees that give way—fearful hearts
God says:
    ‘Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    he will come to save you.’
Highway will be built leading into Zion—no threats or dangers

· James—people impatient for 2^nd Coming, end time—suffering—God says:
⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.

o Like farmers waiting for harvesting valuable crop

o Like those waiting for Spring and Autumn rains

o Like the Prophets of old—waiting for Messiah

o Like Job patiently suffering—refusing to condemn God or yield to his fate

· Matthew

o John the Baptist—in prison

o Messiah—waiting
² When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’

o Jesus replies with list of healing actions—could only be accomplished by Messiah
⁴ Jesus replied, ‘Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

o Waiting for healing—examples of years of patience

· You and Me—we are waiting too—story of the people of Israel in wilderness of Sinai or in exile = our story in wilderness of sin or in exile from God

o Isaiah speaks of Highway to Zion in desert

o We are saved by walking a different path—our faith in Jesus Christ—Israel's story has become our story—Christians have been adopted into an epic narrative—driven by promise, obedience, judgment, and redemption.

o The confession we pray on Sunday is true every day of the week: “We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.”
We daily need water in the wilderness to strengthen our weary knees and to renew our faltering faith.

· John’s Question is Our Question

o ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’

o The question of John the Baptist to Jesus is one of the most important questions of Advent and of Christian theology. We too are waiting for the end-time—we call it the Kingdom of Heaven—the reign of God.

· What is the Kingdom like?

o Different groupings in NT have varying interpretations of eschatology—end time. Other parts of the Anglican and Methodist churches have separate visions of the future—as do other denominations, sects and even faiths.

o Jesus hints at what the end time will be like—people with physical weaknesses and limitations will be freed from them—those in poverty can look forward to economic regeneration—death will be no more

o Later in this chapter, we read the promise of Jesus—it refers not to his suffering and death but to the end time:
²⁸ ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’

· We cannot fully know Jesus for the moment—but will know God fully in his Kingdom

o ²⁷ ‘All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

o The Kingdom is only partially here—so is our revelation given to us by God’s Son—but at the end our hope and promise is to know fully, as we ourselves are known

o Maranatha—two words from Aramaic, language spoken by Christ—in Greek Μαραναθα. Can mean “Come Lord” or “Our Lord has come”—the word is used in Christian meditation

o After the next hymn in our prayers—the response to Maranatha is “Amen, Come Lord Jesus.”

Amen, Come Lord Jesus.

Hymn 3

· Lord for the years

Intercessions

In joyful expectation of his coming to our aid we pray to Jesus. Come to your Church as Lord and judge. We pray for …

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 …

Before you rulers will stand in silence. Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to the suffering as Saviour and comforter. We pray for …

Break into our lives, where we struggle with sickness and distress, and set us free to serve you forever.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to us as shepherd and guardian of our souls. We remember …

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 John the Baptist and all your saints and angels we may live and reign with you in your new creation.
Maranatha:
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Silence is kept.

Come, Lord Jesus, do not delay; give new courage to your people, who trust in your love. By your coming, raise us to share in the joy of your kingdom on earth as in heaven, where you live and reign with the Father and the Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer MWB page 37

Hymn 4

· God of mercy, God of Grace

Blessing

May God the Father, who loved the world so much that he sent his only Son, give you grace to prepare for life eternal.
Amen.

May God the Son, who comes to us as redeemer and judge, reveal to you the path from darkness to light.
Amen.

May God the Holy Spirit, by whose working the Virgin Mary conceived the Christ, help you bear the fruits of holiness.
Amen.

And the blessing …

Hymn 5

· Tell out my soul the greatness of the Lord

Remembrance Sunday at Great Brickhill

12 November 2016

Absolution

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. All Amen.

Old Testament Micah 4:1—5

The mountain of the Lord

In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and peoples will stream to it.

² Many nations will come and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.’
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
³ He will judge between many peoples
    and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.
They will beat their swords into ploughshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war any more.
⁴ Everyone will sit under their own vine
    and under their own fig-tree,
and no one will make them afraid,
    for the Lord Almighty has spoken.
⁵ All the nations may walk
    in the name of their gods,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord
    our God for ever and ever.

NEW TESTAMENT Matthew 5

Love for enemies

⁴³ ‘You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.” ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Sermon

What is Remembrance all about? Giving thanks for sacrifice of all those who served in armed forces for country to maintain and preserve peace and freedom and oppose evil. Our promise – ‘we will remember them.’

What not about? — glorifying war. Glamorising conflict. Making out that armed conflict is somehow desirable. It is not. It is a failure.

My generation too young to remember WW2. Born 1947. Have been wars throughout my lifetime. Fear of Cold War. Nuclear age. Arsenals big enough to obliterate human kind. Dr Strangelove. Bay of Pigs.

This feeling is back — ‘war on terror’ — fear of attack going about daily business — wars in name of religions, faiths or sects.

Now added poignancy of tragedy of young men and women killed or maimed through war. Remembrance now as popular as Harvest.

But this service is not about all that. It’s about Peace. How to avoid war.

I don’t have the answer – but I can say something about our faith and what it tells us about Peace.

Book of James poses this question:
From James 4: 1, 6-7
What causes wars and fighting among you?
Is it not your selfishness at war inside your hearts? Greed, pride, envy etc.
But God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.
Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.

Peace is God’s gift to us. Those who work for peace are specially favoured by Him. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says:
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
   for they will be called children of God.

As long ago as time of Micah, the prophet foretold a time when wars would cease:
He will settle disputes among the nations, among the great powers near and far. They will hammer their swords into ploughs and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again. Everyone will live in peace among his own vineyards and fig trees, and no one will make him afraid. The Lord Almighty has promised this. Micah 4

This time, which we call the Kingdom of God, is not yet come, or only partially here. My and my father’s and grandfather’s generation made a mess of the 20^th century. Yours is the responsibility to do better.

If the answer lies in the peace of God, then the voice of truth must not be masked by a perverted view of religion, where a faith based on peace and brotherhood is used to justify terrorism and hate.

I’m not just talking about Islamist terrorism – Christians have been responsible for many acts of barbarity over hundreds of years as a perversion of their faith.

I said I don’t have an answer. Perhaps I do. Love God, and love your neighbour. Isn’t that what it all comes down to? Removing misunderstanding and fear. Walking in each other’s moccasins. Striving for the peace that comes from Christ.

²¹ Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. Anyone who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Prayer at the Memorial

Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of

conflict, and ask that God may give us

peace:

for the service men and women who have

died in the violence of war, each one

remembered by and known to God;

for those who love them in death as in life,

offering the distress of our grief and the

sadness of our loss;

for all members of the armed forces who

are in danger this day, remembering

family, friends and all who pray for their

safe return;

for civilian women, children and men

whose lives are disfigured by war or terror,

calling to mind in penitence the anger and

hatreds of humanity;

for peace-makers and peace-keepers, who

seek to keep this world secure and free;

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.

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.

Salvation

3rd Sunday before Advent – 6 November 2016 at SS Peter & Paul Wingrave

Introduction

‘When you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. I will let you find me,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes.’ Jeremiah 29.12,14

Invitation to Confession

Christ calls us to share the heavenly banquet of his love with all the saints in earth and heaven. Knowing our unworthiness and sin, let us ask from him both mercy and forgiveness.

Collect

Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Epistle II Thessalonians 2

The man of lawlessness
2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, ² not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us – whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter – asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. ³ Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. ⁴ He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.

⁵ Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

¹⁵ So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

¹⁶ May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,¹⁷ encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

Gospel Acclamation

Alleluia, alleluia. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of man. Alleluia.

Gospel Luke 20

The resurrection and marriage
²⁷ Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. ²⁸ ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁹ Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless.³⁰ The second ³¹ and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. ³² Finally, the woman died too. ³³ Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?’

³⁴ Jesus replied, ‘The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.³⁵ But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, ³⁶ and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.³⁷ But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord “the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob”. ³⁸ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.’

Sermon

All Saints to Advent—gospel reading about marriage of deceased brother’s wife sounds odd and archaic, if not irrelevant to modern ears. We know—trick question—handled by Jesus—used to say something about salvation.

Could talk about Sadducees and Pharisees, destruction of Temple by Romans in 70AA, beliefs about resurrection—better to base sermon on salvation.

Other texts this Sunday focus on death and resurrection too—but Paul in II Thess. writes about salvation—more in the ‘here and now’ than the afterlife.

Epistle readings cane be hard going—long complex sentences—dense theological arguments—exhortations about behavior. Benedictine monks practice lectio divina—in today’s epistle reading you might stop and reflect on first fruits in vv13-14.

¹³ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. ¹⁴ He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Much to rejoice about—much to reflect on.

Peter George grew tomato plants—first fruits the best—burst with flavour—hot from sun—no blemishes or damage.

You are first fruits—chosen by God—loved by him. What is our obligation? What do we have to do in return? What pre-conditions are there?

Two requirements only—belief in the truth—sanctified by Holy Spirit—so that’s one as the other depends on allowing yourself to be influenced by work of God’s Spirit—lost sheep that waits to be found.

Naturally our response is to live our lives as befits God’s chosen people—not as Israelites failed to do in Sinai—but as children of God. How come the difference?—wanderings in Sinai OT—pre-Christ—dependent on justification through sacrifice by priests and deeds of Law—now in Christ belief in the truth is sufficient.

In today’s gospel, Jesus said:

³⁵ But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead … can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection.

Did you realise that’s how God regards you and me? Like his children? Like the angels? As those taking part in the age to come? Sharing in his glory? His words not mine.

This means there’s nothing we can do to qualify—only believe and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. Did you know you are being sanctified each moment—you are being made holy. This is good news for those of us who worry we have not done enough, and cannot see a way of being one of the elect. When you are reminded of the themes of death and resurrection from the other texts read today—remember II Thess. Links resurrection with salvation.

Response
God’s grace still demands a response—cannot sit around and wait for salvation to come to us—rather we are to be comforted by the gospel that we are strengthened in every good work.

Whatever our situation, ability, age, or anything else we are still called to be good news to all people. This is because God is with us—all we have to do is open ourselves up to the working of the Holy Spirit, and not rely on ourselves alone—if we do that, however smart we think we are, we will surely fail.

Kingdom of Heaven
Is this what Jesus means when he refers to the Kingdom having come close to us on earth?—that we are living in the presence of God as inheritors and sharing in his glory?—is this not the sign of the Kingdom here with us on earth?

Whilst this may be a pale reflection of what is to come—still means we can experience something of salvation right now, and not only in the end time. Heaven—breaking through into our own reality.

With such a knowledge and experience to call on—how can we fail to reach out to others and share the good news that is within us? We are God’s first fruits—chosen and sanctified by God. First fruits are only the beginning.

Amen

Intercessions All Saints to Advent

We pray for the coming of God’s kingdom. You sent your Son to bring good news to the poor, sight to the blind, freedom to captives and salvation to your people: anoint us with your Spirit; rouse us to work in his name.
Father, by your Spirit bring in your kingdom.

Send us to bring help to the poor and freedom to the oppressed.
Father, by your Spirit bring in your kingdom.

Send us to tell the world the good news of your healing love.
Father, by your Spirit bring in your kingdom.

Send us to those who mourn, to bring joy and gladness instead of grief.
Father, by your Spirit bring in your kingdom.

Send us to proclaim that the time is here for you to save your people.
Father, by your Spirit bring in your kingdom.

Lord of the Church, hear our prayer, and make us one in mind and heart to serve you in Christ our Lord. Amen.

Peace

May the God of peace sanctify you: may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before him at the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints

Offerings

God of life, saviour of the poor, receive with this money gratitude for your goodness, penitence for our pride and dedication to your service in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Preparation of the Table

To you we come, Father of lights, with angels and saints, where heaven and earth unite. May Jesus meet us in the breaking of the bread. Amen.

Short Preface

And now we give you thanks because in him you have received us as your sons and daughters, joined us in one fellowship with the saints, and made us citizens of your kingdom.

Extended Preface A, B, E

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should always sing of your glory, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. For you are the hope of the nations, the builder of the city that is to come. Your love made visible in Jesus Christ brings home the lost, restores the sinner and gives dignity to the despised. In his face your light shines out, flooding lives with goodness and truth, gathering into one in your kingdom a divided and broken humanity. Therefore with all who can give voice in your creation we glorify your name, forever praising you and saying:

Post Communion

You have opened to us the Scriptures, O Christ, and you have made yourself known in the breaking of the bread. Abide with us, we pray, that, blessed by your royal presence, we may walk with you all the days of our life, and at its end behold you in the glory of the eternal Trinity, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Blessing

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross, and follow him; and the blessing …

Bible Sunday

Wingrave Methodist Church

23 October 2016

Opening — Psalm 119

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
    that I will follow your righteous laws.
¹⁰⁷ I have suffered much;
    preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.
¹⁰⁸ Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,
    and teach me your laws.
¹⁰⁹ Though I constantly take my life in my hands,
    I will not forget your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a snare for me,
    but I have not strayed from your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your statutes are my heritage for ever;
    they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹² My heart is set on keeping your decrees
    to the very end.

Gathering

Loving God, we have come to worship you. Help us to remember that you are here with us. May we pray to you in faith, sing your praises with gratitude, and listen to your word with eagerness, through Christ our Lord. Amen

O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining and whose power we cannot comprehend: show us your glory as far as we can grasp it, and shield us from knowing more than we can bear until we may look upon you without fear; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

Hymn 1

· Lord for the Years

Confession and Absolution

When our eyes have seen the Lord of hosts, we echo the words of Isaiah, ‘Woe is me! I am doomed.’ We long for the fire of God’s cleansing to touch our unclean lips, for our iniquity to be removed and our sins wiped out. So we meet Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with confession on our lips.

Father, you come to meet us when we return to you:
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, you died on the cross for our sins:
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Spirit, you give us life and peace: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect

Blessed Lord,
who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
help us so to hear them,
to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them
that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word,
we may embrace and for ever hold fast
      the hope of everlasting life,
which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen

Prayers of Thanksgiving

MWB pages 32/33

Old Testament Isaiah 45

²² ‘Turn to me and be saved,
    all you ends of the earth;
    for I am God, and there is no other.
²³ By myself I have sworn,
    my mouth has uttered in all integrity
    a word that will not be revoked:
before me every knee will bow;
    by me every tongue will swear.
²⁴ They will say of me, “In the Lord alone
    are deliverance and strength.”’
All who have raged against him
    will come to him and be put to shame.
²⁵ But all the descendants of Israel
    will find deliverance in the Lord
    and will make their boast in him.

Psalm 119

¹²⁹ Your statutes are wonderful;
    therefore I obey them.
¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it gives understanding to the simple.
¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant,
    longing for your commands.
¹³² Turn to me and have mercy on me,
    as you always do to those who love your name.
¹³³ Direct my footsteps according to your word;
    let no sin rule over me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from human oppression,
    that I may obey your precepts.
¹³⁵ Make your face shine on your servant
    and teach me your decrees.
¹³⁶ Streams of tears flow from my eyes,
    for your law is not obeyed.

New Testament Romans 15

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. ² Each of us should please our neighbours for their good, to build them up. ³ For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: ‘The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.’⁴ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

⁵ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn 2

· We have a gospel to proclaim

Gospel Luke 4

Jesus rejected at Nazareth

¹⁴ Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.

¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

¹⁸ ‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’

²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.²¹ He began by saying to them, ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’

²² All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked.

²³ Jesus said to them, ‘Surely you will quote this proverb to me: “Physician, heal yourself!” And you will tell me, “Do here in your home town what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.”’

²⁴ ‘Truly I tell you,’ he continued, ‘no prophet is accepted in his home town.

Sermon

Week in Dordogne and Languedoc.
Holiday — Cathars. Thought good Christians — regarded by Catholic Church as heretics.

· Dual nature of God

· Rejected church buildings and priesthood

· Reincarnation — women equal to men

· Lived in poverty — worked at trades — refused meat — other lifestyle rules

Cathars rejected feudal system — regarded by Pope as natural order — refused to pay tithes — with other challenges to church Pope Innocent III launched crusade to eradicate Cathar religion.

Local preachers toured Languedoc — people read Bible for themselves, capital offence — pursued by Inquisition that started life as means of eradicating Albigensian heresy. Estimated ½ million lives lost in carnage that followed lasting over a century. Wiped out.

Martyrs
These Cathar martyrs interrogated, mutilated, burned at stake are numbered among millions over the centuries who died for their faith — essentially because their interpretation of what they read or heard read from their Bibles conflicted with what the rich and powerful believed, often because it was in their best interests and authority.

William Tyndale — my greatest often unsung hero — essentially translator of Authorised Version.

Bible
Rt. Revd. John Pritchard:
“On Bible Sunday we celebrate the most popular — but often un-read —book in the world. Under-read in the West at any rate. And yet when the new sovereign is given a Bible at his or her coronation it’s with these words,
‘We present you with this book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom; this is the royal law; these are the lively oracles of God.’”

Ordination in St Pauls — presentation of Greek NT — sits on shelf, consulted only to find interpretation of a word. Yet countless people died to be able to read it for themselves. Most important and valuable item given to Queen at solemn moment of coronation.

Jesus was more respectful of Scriptures — most could not read — few scrolls so each synagogue had one or two — treated with great reverence.

Judaism, like Christianity and Islam, are religions of the Book. All adult males were permitted to read from scroll and comment on it. That’s what Jesus did in reading from Luke.

What actually read is from Isaiah 61:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, ² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour

Jesus rolled up scroll — ‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’
Rarely was Jesus clearer about how saw his role — what he came to do — identified messianic role with himself.

Messiah
Jesus will bring reality to hopes and longings of the poor, oppressed and imprisoned — usher in year of Jubilee when all debts wiped out, all people freed, all hopes fulfilled.

Amazement quickly turned to anger — this local boy who they hoped would make them proud — had become biggest blasphemer and heretic they ever heard.

Conflict
The greatest good news of all had become the biggest condemnation — like the Cathars the conflict was not between the believers and Scripture, but the Church — similarly the conflict in Nazareth was not between Jesus and the Judaism but the Jews and their own scriptures.

Jesus observes his reception was more open in Capernaum, where there are more non-Jews than his home in Nazareth with its predominantly Jewish population.

For us, the lesson is not about the nature of the Messiah the Jews were waiting for, but the Book — and its power for good and ill.

Good and Ill

1. Neglect — sitting on shelf unread — the most valuable thing so many people died for. Our lukewarm attitude reminds us of the criticism of the church in Sparta:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realise that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so that you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so that you can see. (Revelation 3:14)

2. Magic — treated as talisman — we swear with our hands on it — wave it in the air — try to find hidden messages and codes, like Dan Brown

3. Literature — it’s complex — 66 books in various genres — not sure when written and who by — law, history, poetry, prayers, love songs, visions, letters and apocalyptic literature, as well as the gospels. But complexity invites engagement, not avoidance.

4. Interpretation — dangers of fundamentalism — taking words of Bible out of context and time — treating it over-literally

5. Instruction manual — not to be regarded as a literal guide and instruction manual to the human life. Inspired by God — yes of course — but to be approached with the head as well as the heart.

John Pritchard suggests we approach Scripture on 3 different levels:

1. Literal or historical — like today’s account of the synagogue in Nazareth — what happened happened — we want to know how and why

2. Theological — what do we learn about God? — how does it enhance our understanding? — How can we work out our own salvation, through grace?

3. Personal and Mystical — what is the impact on our inner being and outward behaviour of what we have read and studied? Do we hear from Jesus the words of salvation recorded in Luke’s gospel? — has he opened our eyes that were previously spiritually blind? — has he freed us from the shackles that oppressed us? — do we enjoy the glorious liberty of the children of God?

The Word of God is freely available to us — it’s out there and will not be revoked or changed. We have the wonderful privilege of dusting off that Bible, or better, buying a new one — ask he which version would suit you best — without persecution and fear. In today’s OT reading from Isaiah we read:

²² ‘Turn to me and be saved,
    all you ends of the earth;
    for I am God, and there is no other.
²³ By myself I have sworn,
    my mouth has uttered in all integrity
    a word that will not be revoked.

What is certain is that no book has had more influence on the life of the world or effected more change in individual human lives than this one — ‘the most valuable thing that this world affords.’

But first — we have to open it. Amen

Hymn 3

· Seek ye first the kingdom of God

Intercessions

We come boldly to the throne of grace, praying to the almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for mercy and grace.
We stand before your throne in heaven.

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

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

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

Thrice holy! Father, Spirit, Son, Mysterious Godhead, Three in One: We pray for ourselves, for your Church, for all whom we remember before you … Bring us all to bow before your throne in heaven, to receive life and pardon, mercy and grace for all eternity, as we worship you, saying,
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer MWB page 37

Hymn 4

· Lord thy word abideth

Prayers and Dismissal

Lord of all time and eternity,
you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father
in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son:
by the power of your Spirit
complete the heavenly work of our rebirth
through the waters of the new creation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hymn 5

· God is working his purpose out

Are you ready?

7th August 2016 – 11th Sunday after Trinity – BCP Holy Communion at Great Brickhill

 

Lectionary Readings

THE EPISTLE

Hebrews 11

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

² For by it the elders obtained a good report.

³ Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

⁹ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

¹⁰ For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

¹¹ Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

¹² Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

¹⁴ For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

¹⁵ And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

¹⁶ But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

THE GOSPEL

Luke 12

³² Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

³³ Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

³⁴ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

³⁵ Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

³⁶ And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

³⁷ Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

³⁸ And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

³⁹ And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

⁴⁰ Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

 

Sermon

Fan of period drama on TV — Pallisers, Downton Abbey, Grantchester. Glimpse into a past age — simpler — no internet, little if any TV, fewer possessions. Life moved at slower pace — somehow what was important to a person was more obvious than today.

Anglican vicars had curates to do the work — could dabble in detective work using superior deductive skills — not possible in modern age.

Strong feeling of right and wrong — politicians still misbehaved but did so, somehow, more honourably. People had more time to focus on essentials of life — less distractions from mobile phones, emails, social media, and the need to be connected at all times. Vicar of Grantchester more likely to be knocked off bike when cycling down country lanes than walk into lamp post when concentrating on a device with small screen.

Simplicity of life in the past is a big part of the appeal. That’s what makes today’s readings sound so relevant.

With so much going on all around us — danger of losing all touch with reality — easy to neglect what is really important in life through sheer busyness and constant intrusive distractions.

Risk of being called out of touch or living in the past — my defence is I DO have time to stop and stare, and I probably WILL revert to what is really vital as I get older and am reminded more often of my own mortality.

Jesus is making much the same point
³³ Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.

³⁴ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

So many things clamour for attention it’s easy to lose touch with what we hold dear — what is Jesus actually saying? — seems to me he wants us to centre our activities on God — to always keep in mind those things that lead to eternal life, and not get distracted by all the demands for attention we are bombarded with, every moment of every day. If we don’t — we are most likely to be unprepared.

Today’s gospel reading has 3 distinct parts:

1. In earlier teaching on money (Luke 12:22 – Ravens and Lilies — Jesus continues here. Our treasures (what we think of as critical to our spiritual lives) should be in heaven not on earth.

2. We should at all times be in readiness — use every opportunity to act out our faith and spread the good news.

3. If we are not found wanting, whatever the hour, we will be inheritors of the Kingdom of God — that which in our present lives we should long for and pray for — do we not do so at Jesus’ command in the word of the Lord’s Prayer?

If all this worries us — and maybe it should — we can go back to the beginning of the text.
³² Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Jesus is telling us not to fear — just like lilies and ravens God has given us all we need. But we also have God’s promises — gift of Holy Spirit to guide and counsel us — body and blood of Christ through his sacrifice of himself for us a Easter, and continuing presence of Jesus in communion — grace and promise of the Kingdom.

Reading from letter to Hebrews saying same thing in different way — faith is all. After giving many examples of faith — text ends with promise of the Kingdom:
¹⁶ But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Of course we cannot opt out of the electronic universe — we cannot pretend we are unconnected — we cannot enter a hermitage and avoid all distractions that way — but we can decide on our priorities and still remain part of the modern world.

Having set our priorities, we are reminded of the closing words of Christ in this teaching about the end of time:

⁴⁰ Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Amen

Is God unjust?

Trinity 9 – 24 July 2016 – WING Buckinghamshire

Gospel Luke 11

Welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.

Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer

11 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

² He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
³ Give us each day our daily bread.
⁴ Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.’”

⁵ Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; ⁶ a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ ⁷ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ ⁸ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

⁹ “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Sermon

Daily repetition of Lord’s Prayer — masks shocking nature of Jesus’ words.

· God addressed by name

· Jesus calls God by familial Abba

· We are to pray with shameless audacity (11:8)

· God may otherwise deliberately lead us into temptation

Jesus was praying probably aloud— disciples asked — they wanted to be taught to pray in practical way — like John the Baptist taught his followers. Did Jesus’ disciples not already know how to pray?

God portrayed as unjust — like Unjust Judge in Parable of Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-18) — parable taught by Jesus ‘to show them that they should always pray and not give up.’ Here again in Lord’s Prayer — householder does help through neighbourliness but petitioner’s shameless audacity.

Jesus says Ask and it will be given to you — is that your experience? — are ALL prayers answered? — if not, what did Jesus actually mean? — or are we doing it wrong?

These are contentious issues — should not discourage us from prayer — we should seek to understand its place in our daily lives.

Not optional — Jesus prayed regularly

· Commenced as Holy Spirit descended on him at baptism

· Wrestled with God in Gethsemane

· But encouraged active listening — previous chapter with advice to Mary and Martha — better way is to listen and learn rather than busy yourself with activity all the time however helpful.

Whatever difficulties in interpretation — God is compassionate — wants to give us what he wants us to have — including daily bread although that might sound hollow in places of famine and deprivation.

Our ultimate aim — to be tucked up in bed as inheritors and members of God’s household — not outside knocking with our petitions as “friend of a friend” or even neighbours. We long to become full members of God’s household and share God’s mind in the fullness of the Kingdom.

Lord’s Prayer — 5 petitions:

1. Hallowed be thy name — hallowed and sanctified mean made holy — having received gift of Holy Spirit

2. Coming of the Kingdom — we are asking for something God longs to give — Kingdom is revealed in Jesus. Kingdom not yet fully come — has come near or is at hand (references throughout the gospels)
Kingdom like rising dough — all ingredients are there — will in fullness of time come to finality — we are to proclaim the Kingdom even though it is not yet come in all its fullness

3. Daily Bread — trust in God’s mercies every day — God knows our needs before we ask for them — be like lilies or ravens.
Beware of excess — we only need essentials of life not excess that leads to inequality and sin of possession
God is present to us through Jesus in breaking of the bread — Lord’s Prayer comes in Eucharist

4. Forgive sins and debts — different translations affect meaning — forgive also means Release — debtors released from indebtedness at Jubilee — word debt also means sin
Jesus offers release of captives and eyes for those who are blind:
Nazareth in Temple — quoting Isaiah 58 and 61
‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
God will not forgive us unless we forgive others.

5. Lead us not into temptation — NRSV “time of trial” — Jesus himself was tempted in wilderness and elsewhere — when Satan’s moment came, the Holy Spirit led him through — and the Spirit will also guide us in time of trial — this is what Jesus told the disciples to pray for in a number of references in the gospels.

What is Prayer? — to petition God? — to remind him of his duty towards us? — to seek to change his mind?

Amusing yes, but how often do Christians treat prayer in these and other ways that are wrong?

How would you define prayer?

· Shape our mind to God’s

· Align our thoughts and intentions to those of the Creator

· Make us fit for the Kingdom?

· Help us live the only life worthwhile — one rooted in God’s love.

¹³ If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Amen

Good Samaritan Redux

Sermon Notes – Trinity 7 – Sunday 10 July 2016 at Great Brickhill

Gospel Luke 10

The parable of the good Samaritan

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

²⁶ ‘What is written in the Law?’ he replied. ‘How do you read it?’

²⁷ He answered, ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind”; and, “Love your neighbour as yourself.”’

²⁸ ‘You have answered correctly,’ Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half-dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he travelled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.”

³⁶ ‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’

Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

 

Sermon

Good Samaritan — Luke 10

What more can be said? You all know it backwards.

Next week Little Brickhill — Baptism

· Brought up-to-date

o Lawyer/Judge — hurry — might have to try the case — probably dead anyway — no time to get involved with police

o Bishop — big service on TV at cathedral — vestments tainted blood

o Doctor — insurance would not cover intervention — did not have equipment — liability insurance

o Shady second hand car dealer — did not want white leather seats in SUV get dirty

o Illegal immigrant wanted by Border Agency? Escaped convict from local prison? Name your own…

· Love others, even those we hate? — is that all there is to it? What should children learn from it?

Context

· Who is Jesus? Who do characters represent?

· Why told to a lawyer? Why his question? Seems obvious answer.

· What is it teaching — message?

o Treat everyone as you would have them treat you?

o Don’t judge book by cover?

o Expect the unexpected in others

o People expected to help often fail — others who do pitch in are often the most unexpected

Justification

· Behind his question, lawyer asking about Justification — follow the Law not enough

o “Who is my neighbor?” he asks

o Jesus responds with Good Samaritan story

· Virtue of Philanthropy practiced in ancient world — expected as part of Law

o Lawyer and audience would have been surprised no recognized official would help

o also surprised aid given by Samaritan

· Esplagnisthe — Jesus had compassion

o Occurs 3 times in Luke

§ Father of Prodigal son

§ Jesus and the widow’s son who had died[i]

§ Good Samaritan who took pity on the hurt man before giving first aid

o First two — God
Why not Good Samaritan stand for God or God’s agent?

· Compassion belongs to God

o We must emulate it

o Lawyer could not even pronounce name of Samaritan ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’

o Shows how far the Lawyer was from showing compassion and acting it out in his dealings with others

Example Story

· Jesus says ‘Go and do likewise’

o But is this just an example for us to follow?

o Yes — but not only

· Primary focus not man in ditch

o If Samaritan stands for God, Samaritan must be at centre of parable

o Lawyer is admonished — Go and do likewise means he has not been showing compassion — Lawyer is told to emulate Good Samaritan — we don’t have his reply

Profound implications

· Jesus identifies with Samaritans

o James and John had just offered to call down consuming fire from heaven on them

o Have we heard such violence and antipathy towards people not like us on other people’s lips — or even perhaps our own?

· Image of Samaritan as a Christ figure changes whole interpretation of the parable

o Parables have different interpretations based on hearer, age, stage in life, state of mind etc.

o What does Good Samaritan now say to you?

Having worked that through, ‘Go and do thou likewise.’ Amen

---

[i] Luke 7:13 Jesus raises the widow’s son

Thomas

Thomas the Apostle – Sunday 3 July at Stewkley

Gospel John 20

Jesus appears to Thomas

²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’

But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’

²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’ ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’

²⁸ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

Sermon

Put Jesus’ appearance to Thomas in context — opens with Empty tomb — discovered by Mary Magdalene, runs to tell Simon Peter — Peter and “other disciple” run to tomb — find it empty — go home.

Jesus appears in Garden to Mary M — takes him for gardener — is persuaded it is the Lord — tells disciples — no mention of whether or not believed.

Jesus appears in Upper Room — breathes on them Holy Spirit — Thomas not present. Disciples told Thomas — did not positively disbelieve — wanted physical evidence — to see what other disciples had seen.

Week later — all in Upper Room together. Jesus targets Thomas (twin Aramaic; Didymus Greek) — sees and believes.

John ends with purpose of gospel
³⁰ Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. ³¹ But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Most scholars agree chapter 21 later addition. Does this increase importance of Thomas encounter?

Angela Merkel Chancellor of Germany — “fear has never been a good advisor” — growing up in DDR she knew about fear. Fear led Mary M, Simon Peter, the “other disciple” to draw no particular conclusion — only reported what they had seen with own eyes.

Our modern scientific way of thinking is based upon physical evidence — scientists propose hypotheses, test against physical evidence, see which best fit the data. Before our Easter services — Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed!! — how many of us say this with absolute conviction? Want facts — we are not stating our absolute conviction but our faith that sustains belief. This is how Thomas thinks.

Look closer at Thomas. Many people inclined not to be too hard on him — bad press. We associate with Thomas and the way he acted — would do the same ourselves. We want to call him believing Thomas rather than branding him a doubter for all time. They feel the message of Thomas is that we are like him.

Thomas, people say, represents us — we would have done the same — the words Jesus spoke to Thomas are effectively spoken to us — Christians and non-believers for all time. But are we being too soft? Do we excuse Thomas too readily — mainly to gloss over our own wavering faith?

At this point, let’s recall Thomas’s words:

‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’

Look again at events — empty tomb reported by Mary M — verified by Peter and ‘other disciple’ — Mary M then says she has seen the Lord — this time, she proclaims her encounter to the disciples.

Jesus appears to 10 disciples in Upper Room — Jesus does not just appear, but in a Pentecost moment he bestows the Holy Spirit of God on them:

²¹ Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ ²² And with that he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’

So when Thomas arrives, there is the witness of 10 manifestly changed people — plus Mary M the first to discover the truth. Perhaps we should be harder on Thomas — it’s not surprising we associate with him, but Jesus did not let Thomas off too easily does he?

²⁹ Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

To Thomas’s eternal credit, let’s remember he was the one who made one of the most positive and insightful statements of belief in the whole gospels:

²⁷ Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’

²⁸ Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

We don’t know the end of the story, but oral tradition has it that Thomas the Apostle travelled to India. Wikipedia says:

Traditionally, he is said to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as Tamilakam in present-day India in AD 52 and baptized several people, founding what today are known as Saint Thomas Christians.

What is not in doubt is that the words spoken by Jesus to Thomas are also addressed to us — clear from words spoken to Thomas — those who have not seen yet have believed are particularly blessed compared to those who had the benefit of sight.

But that carries its own sting in the tail — Jesus chided Thomas for his doubt — that’s why he called him doubting Thomas. Of course we will continue to associate with Thomas — we are failing human beings — but the words of encouragement are tempered with disappointment — that applies to us too, not just Thomas.

‘Stop doubting and believe.’ Jesus said to Thomas. He says the same words to us today. Amen

What does Elijah have in common with Lewis Hamilton?

Wingrave Methodist Church – Sunday 26 June 2016

Gathering

Loving God, we have come to worship you. Help us to remember that you are here with us. May we pray to you in faith, sing your praise with gratitude, and listen to your word with eagerness, through Christ our Lord. Amen

O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining and whose power we cannot comprehend: show us your glory as far as we can grasp it, and shield us from knowing more than we can bear until we may look upon you without fear; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen

Hymn 1

· Lead us heavenly Father 238

Confession and Absolution

When our eyes have seen the Lord of hosts, we echo the words of Isaiah, ‘Woe is me! I am doomed.’ We long for the fire of God’s cleansing to touch our unclean lips, for our iniquity to be removed and our sins wiped out. So we meet Father, Son, and Holy Spirit with confession on our lips.

Father, you come to meet us when we return to you: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy. Jesus, you died on the cross for our sins: Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy. Spirit, you give us life and peace: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect

Collect Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

Prayers of Thanksgiving

MWB pages 32/33

Old Testament 1 Kings 19

The Lord appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

¹⁰ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’

¹¹ The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

New Testament Galatians 5

Life by the Spirit

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Hymn 2

· Lord for the years 470

Gospel Luke 9

Samaritan opposition

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. ⁵² And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; ⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’⁵⁵ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ Then he and his disciples went to another village.

The cost of following Jesus

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’

⁵⁸ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

⁵⁹ He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’

But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’

⁶¹ Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’

⁶² Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’

Sermon

xxx

Hymn 3

· Jesus calls us o’er the tumult 250

Intercessions

We come boldly to the throne of grace, praying to the almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for mercy and grace.
We stand before your throne in heaven.

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

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

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

Thrice holy! Father, Spirit, Son, Mysterious Godhead, Three in One: We pray for ourselves, for your Church, for all whom we remember before you … Bring us all to bow before your throne in heaven, to receive life and pardon, mercy and grace for all eternity, as we worship you, saying,
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Amen.

Lord’s Prayer MWB page 37

Hymn 4

· O Jesus I have promised 563

Prayers and Dismissal

Lord of all time and eternity,
you opened the heavens and revealed yourself as Father
in the baptism of Jesus your beloved Son:
by the power of your Spirit
complete the heavenly work of our rebirth
through the waters of the new creation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Hymn 5

· Ye holy angels bright 69

The Sound of Sheer Silence–God the Gentle Whisperer

Trinity 5 – Sunday 26 June 2016 at Wingrave Methodist Church

Old Testament 1 Kings 19

The Lord appears to Elijah

And the word of the Lord came to him: ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

¹⁰ He replied, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.’

¹¹ The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

New Testament Galatians 5

Life by the Spirit

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

¹³ You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ¹⁵ If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶ So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Hymn 2

· Lord for the years 470

Gospel Luke 9

Samaritan opposition

⁵¹ As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. ⁵² And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; ⁵³ but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. ⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, ‘Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?’⁵⁵ But Jesus turned and rebuked them. ⁵⁶ Then he and his disciples went to another village.

The cost of following Jesus

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’

⁵⁸ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’

⁵⁹ He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’

But he replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’

⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’

⁶¹ Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.’

⁶² Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’

Sermon

Lewis Hamilton — world champion — suddenly everything conspired against him — sullen and depressed — kept trying.

Elijah — everything went his way — confronted kings and priests of Baal — raised dead — called down lightning from heaven. Chapter 19 — intimidated by opponents esp. Jezebel — lost all confidence in God — ran away.

Ran away from peril, or ran to God? Mt. Horeb / Sinai — presence of God. After Q Jezebel’s threat to kill him — 40 days and nights in wilderness — arrives Mt Sinai. Story like Moses in Exodus — given commission by God — 40 years in wilderness — meets God on mountain. Story like Jesus — tempted 40 days — emerged stronger.

Direct encounter — persistent God v. despondent prophet. Elijah (like many agents of God) expresses frustration, discouragement and apparent failure. Why does God allow this? Why don’t others pull their weight and help him? Retreats into self-pity — borders on suicide — “end it all”

All know people “on a high” — nothing go wrong — tipped into despair — build up no resilience. Ministers. Suffer depression — lose all confidence — give up.

Where is God in all this? Elijah claims he has done his part — been zealous for God — done wonders in God’s name — in return God allows persecution, despondency, even threats to his life. So Elijah heads for Sinai to confront God face to face.

Goes to cave where he knows God has been present. Looks for God in wonders of nature. God sends Elijah out of cave.

1. Great and powerful wind

2. Rocks shattered

3. Earthquake

4. Fire

God was not manifesting himself in any of these devastating marvels of creation. He was in all — but not as Elijah expected.

God was a gentle whisper — God was the sound of sheer silence — God there all the time but not where or how expected to be.

Like a diesel engine running in next road — not aware of its presence until the noise shuts off. Like peace when no mobile phones or other distractions. Like somewhere no cars can be heard, and no constant traffic or sound. God in candle not searchlight. God is in the sound of no sound.

Elijah recognised God at once:

¹³ When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Other readings teach the same lessons. Paul in 1 Corinthians talks about pitfalls in the Christian life:

¹¹ These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!¹³ No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Paul in Galatians — fruits of the Spirit. Popularity? Zeal? Making presence felt? Getting your words and actions noticed by all? No.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control.

In today’s gospel — Samaritans rejected Jesus — did not call down fire and consume them — just went on to another place. Likewise the man who wanted to go home and wait for his inheritance money to come through — not ready to put his hand to the plough in service of God.

Our god is not a noisy God. We do not expect to trip over him in everything we do. We are not guaranteed success (as we see it) nor does God prepare a way for us to smooth out the bumps and potholes of life — lurking to trip us up.

That phrase — No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back — was probably a well-known saying used by Jesus — same as others in today’s reading. In one contemporary work by an author by name of Hesiod, a ploughman is described as one “who attends to his work and drives a straight furrow and no longer gapes after his comrades, but keeps his mind on his work.” In other words, to look back from the plough (whether to family living or dead) was to risk cutting a crooked or shallow furrow and thus ruining the work altogether!

There is no place for looking back or even trying to look sideways, or in two directions at once (being “two-faced”). The message to would-be disciples, and to us today, is that we must be single-minded in purpose, setting our faces like Jesus on the task at hand, and looking nowhere else but to him. Amen