Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fifth Sunday of Easter. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Jesus is Lord, Creation's Voice Proclaims it"
Today's Bible Reading
Acts 16:9-15 The Conversion of Lydia
During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshiper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home." And she prevailed upon us.
Reflection
We start this reflection with God giving instruction to Paul to change his plans. Paul had been spreading the Gospel with his companions and intended to carry on this work by going to the Roman province of Asia Minor. He was convinced that his next mission was to preach to the gentiles in that region.
Then he has a vision and that changes everything. God has another plan. Without question Paul changes his plans – “we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia” I don’t think this would come as a surprise to his fellow disciples as this wasn’t the first time Paul had experienced God making clear that he had plans for Paul’s destiny.
So he sets off by the best route possible to get to Macedonia in the south east of Europe. We are told that he immediately headed for Philippi, ’which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony’.
Philippi was a Roman colony, taking its name in 356 BC from Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great.
Being a leading city, he expected to find Jewish gatherings and a synagogue to continue his mission, but there weren’t many Jewish men around now he had crossed into Macedonia.
Instead he found the next best thing - a group of God-fearing women who were worshipping on the Sabbath. These being people who were not Jews but had converted to believe in the God of Abraham.
Amongst them he found Lydia. If we just read the passage as a story we may miss how important she is to the new Christian movement and also miss how God uses her.
She is described as a dealer in purple cloth. Why is this significant? It tells us that she is a woman of significant means. There were no mass produced dyes in dozens of colours in this period and purple cloth was prized above all others. As someone of means she would be respected and people would be likely to listen to her.
The Lord had also ‘opened her heart to listen eagerly to what Paul had to say’. We should always bear in mind that no matter how faithful and evangelical we may want to be, it is always God through the Holy Spirit who opens our hearts to receive Him.
In Acts we hear about the many new Christians that were created as the church expanded, but it was always the Holy Spirit that enabled this, not Paul, or Peter or any of the other disciples. It was their job to spread the word for others to hear – but we can only converted to Christianity through the power of the Spirit.
When we open our hearts to receive Him, He will work though us to do His will and follow His plan.
Lydia was a Godly person – not because she was a successful business woman, but because she had faith in God. She prayed devotedly to God, she was willing and ready to listen to what Paul had to reveal to her and, despite her standing, she was servant hearted, willing to share her hospitality and her house with others. So much so that her house became a meeting place for the new Christians and became the first church in Europe. She wanted to be part of the fledgling movement of life in Christ. She was baptized and persuaded Paul and the others to go to her home. A Church was born.
These are the qualities that we know Jesus told us that will help to build God’s kingdom on earth. No matter what our personal wealth or circumstances are, these godly qualities that Lydia demonstrates are within the reach of all of us.
The one exceptional message about Lydia is that she wanted to hear God, and actively listened for His voice even before Paul arrived in Philippi. It wasn’t a case that she happened to be in the right place at the right time, she was listening eagerly. When we make the time to listen for God, sooner or later we will hear Him – it’s not about being in the right place, because God is everywhere listening to us; and He will share His plan for us when it is His time. Paul
Our Prayers
Father God,
We pray that we will follow Lydia’s example.
Help us to listen eagerly for your voice.
Open our hearts to receive Jesus,
and share the gospel message with confidence
as we continue to build your church.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Bless the Lord, O my Soul"
Notices
It is with great sadness that we advise you of the death of Brian Hayes. Brian has served as a bellringer at St Thomas’ Church for over 65 years, and Tower Captain from 1979, in addition to faithfully winding up the church clock every week.
When we celebrated the 150th Anniversary of the clock and bells, Brian published a book, ‘Song of the Bells’, which is still available to view at St Thomas’ Church.
Brian’s other passion was walking, and he is pictured here with Kingsley and Kelvin Wood on a Leesfield Parish Boundary Walk. Brian will be greatly missed, not only here in our parish, but amongst the wider community of bellringers.
We will let you know of the funeral arrangements as soon as they are available.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fifth Sunday of Easter. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Lift High the Cross"
Today's Bible Reading
Acts 11:1-18 Peter Explains His Actions
Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?"
Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, `Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But I replied, `By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But a second time the voice answered from heaven, `What God has made clean, you must not call profane.'
This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us.
These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?"
When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."
Reflection
Have you ever been called to account for something that you have done or said? Maybe at work or school or in a group of friends. It can be a very uncomfortable feeling having to justify your actions, even if you think you are in the right.
That’s the situation Peter finds himself in with the Jerusalem church. But before we look into this I will give a little historical context.
At the end of Matthew’s gospel Jesus instructs His disciple to, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.” [Matt. 28:18-20]. A lot of this is what the book of Acts is about – how they spread out far and wide sharing the good news of the Gospel and building up the early church.
But who were they inviting to join this church of the new Jewish Messiah?
Peter and the others were all Jews, so it was only natural that they would want to convert their Jewish neighbours to become Christians, or to put it another way, to become Christian Jews. Jews also believed that as part of their covenant with God they must be circumcised, hence the reference in verse 1 to ‘circumcised believers’. The practice of circumcising men as a mark of being God’s chosen people goes all the way back to the time of Abraham. [Genesis 17:10-14].
All other people who were not believers in the God of Abraham were called Gentiles - no matter what or who they believed in or where they came from. Moreover, because they were not considered to be Children of God descended from Abraham, they were considered unclean.
By the time Peter visits Cornelius, a Roman centurion, (and therefore a Gentile), the disciples have been growing the church significantly for more than 7 years. But all the converts were previously Jews.
That is why, when the elders of the church in Jerusalem learn that Peter has not only been to the house of a gentile but also shared a meal with them – the are outraged. Especially so because Peter was probably the strongest preacher and evangelist in the name of Jesus who had brought thousands of people to the new church. He had also been empowered by God to work miracles in the name of Jesus curing the sick. How could he possibly associate and what’s more, eat food and socialise with unclean people?
Peter finds himself being dressed down and held accountable for his terrible behaviour. As a result Peter has to stand his ground and tell them how it is. Hey guys, this was not my idea, it was God’s. It was God who sent me repeated visions and told me to go and visit the Gentiles and eat with them.
What’s more, the Holy Spirit gave the same gift to them as was given to us all on the day of Pentecost. God has made everything He has created clean and it is not for us to challenge His way. Peter challenged the elders and said – who am I to stand in the God’s way? God has made it clear that from now on, everyone who is willing to believe in Jesus will be offered the gift of the Holy Spirit and may be baptised in the name of the Spirit.
This was indeed a totally momentous revelation. The Jews are no longer the only chosen people of God. God is at work amongst the Gentiles just as much as with the Jews. Jesus offers salvation to everyone. They were learning what the salvation of Jesus was truly about. Not surprisingly they were stunned into silence and as the message sank in they became jubilant, and glorified God who offers repentance to the whole world.
They were beginning to realise that the covenant through Jesus was much more powerful than the covenant through the ancient Jewish laws.
I leave you with one last thought. Sometimes, no matter how good we try to be and how much of God’s work we do – we will still be criticised. But that’s Ok because Peter has been in that place too.
Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and everlasting Father,
We thank you that we are all included
in your promise of salvation through repentance.
Let us all praise you for your grace and all inclusive love for everyone.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Meekness and Majesty"
Today's Gospel
John 10:22-30Jesus the Good Shepherd
At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one."
Reflection
As I start this week’s reflection, the new Pope, Leo XIV has just been elected by the Roman Catholic conclave in Vatican city. So it seems appropriate for me to use a quote from his first address as the new pontiff.
“Allow me to continue that same blessing (as Pope Francis on Easter Day). God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs his light. Humanity needs him like a bridge to reach God and his love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.”
He is starting with the statement of our belief as Christians that God loves us all and we are all in His loving hands. His address focusses much on peace and belief.
In today’s short Gospel passage Jesus also draws attention to the importance of belief. "I have told you, and you do not believe.” From the very beginning of John’s version of the Gospel, in the prologue, we hear the words: “He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God." [John 1:11-12]
In the preceding verses of this chapter, Jesus has given the first part of His declaration of His role as the Good Shepherd – the one who will be willing to lay down His life for His flock. It is not long after He has healed a blind man on the sabbath. When He describes Himself as the Good Shepherd there are mixed feelings amongst the Jews. Some believed that He is possessed by demons where others believed He is the Messiah because no one possessed by demons would be capable of opening the eyes of a blind man.
It would be unfair therefore, to generalise that all the Jews who were present rejected Jesus – it was mainly the Jewish leaders and Pharisees who saw Jesus as a threat to their power and wealth. Those who were looking for a way to trap Him and condemn Him for blasphemy and have Jesus stoned.
As the Pope said, “God loves us and we are all in God’s hands.” And John says, “God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." [John 3:16].
However, He does not compel us to believe in Jesus. God has given man free will to accept or reject His only Son.
When we have faith and truly believe in Jesus and are willing to follow Him and trust in Him we are His flock and He knows who we are. He will love and tend for us and give us eternal life with Him in heaven. When we believe, we have the ultimate promise that no one will be able to snatch us out of his hand.
How reassuring do you find it to know that because you believe in Jesus you are known personally by Him? We all want to be known and recognised by others, and to be acknowledged for who we are. And when we tell Him we accept Him, Jesus offers us that friendship and understanding at the most deep and intimate of levels. How wonderful is that thought?
What’s more, this an unconditional friendship and permanent relationship. The voice of the Good Shepherd is a voice that frees us rather than oppresses us.
It is not reliant on what we have achieved in life, how many good deeds we have done, how rich we are or how much we know about the bible. It is a promise that we have all been given by God to be part of Jesus’s flock and all we have to do for Him to know us is to listen to His voice and believe in Him.
The voice of the good shepherd is a voice of promise — a voice that calls us by name and claims us as God’s own.
In closing, let us pray for Pope Leo XIV in his mission of evangelism and peace, that through him and the work we do in our own parish, that we can show new people the face of the Good Shepherd and help them to hear the voice of Jesus calling. Paul
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father,
We thank you that you sent your only Son, Jesus Christ.
To be our good shepherd.
To Know each one of us,
And lead us to the eternal glory of heaven
In the promise of everlasting life.
May we have true faith in Him always.
Amen
Our final hymn today is "When I Needed a Neighbour"
Notices
This week is Christian Aid Week, and we will be collecting donations in our churches and around the village. If you would like to add a gift, you can donate using the following link - Paul D Christian Aid Fundraising or this QR Code -
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Third Sunday of Easter. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "As we are Gathered, Jesus is Here"
Today's Gospel
John 21:1-19 Jesus and the Miraculous Catch of Fish
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, ‘I am going fishing.’ They said to him, ‘We will go with you.’ They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, ‘Children, you have no fish, have you?’ They answered him, ‘No.’ He said to them, ‘Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.’ So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’ When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the lake. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, ‘Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.’ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.
This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Jesus and Peter
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Tend my sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.’ (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, ‘Follow me.’
Reflection
When we look at today’s gospel from John, we can see a wonderful example of the healing and restoring power of Jesus and how He restores faith and belief back to Peter and the other disciples with him.
Disciples, who - after all they’d been through, had had their confidence and faith shaken to the core and had decided to return home and go back to their former lives.
In this passage, it is the third time Jesus has appeared to them since His resurrection. On this occasion, it’s by the Sea of Galilee where he first called some of them to be His followers.
John’s account carefully mirrors that first encounter [Luke 5], where after a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus encourages them to cast their nets again, and just like before they are filled with fish. He is replaying their story of becoming the first disciples.
Slowly but surely, Jesus is setting about to heal and restore them.
Jesus is also sending a message that He forgives them.
Yes they did all run away when He was arrested, Yes, Peter did deny Him 3 times – just as Jesus had predicted. Yes, their faith had been tested and found wanting. They had failed in so many ways but Jesus was showing them that He still loves them.
He is saying, it’s OK – I know you all messed up after the crucifixion - but I forgive you. But let’s press the reset button and go back to how it was before when I first called you here in Galilee.
Slowly, but surely, Jesus is continuing to heal and restore them!
Then he invites them to share a meal with Him on the beach. An act of mutual sharing, friendship and hospitality – Just like at the last supper – Jesus is serving them and looking after their needs. Caring and loving them.
He invites them to share their catch with Him. He is showing them how much He values them and what they have to offer – He is affirming them.
He wants to rebuild them and show that relationships with Him and between one another can be mended.
Slowly, but surely, Jesus is continuing to heal and restore them!
Then Jesus focusses on Peter. The one who denied Him 3 times around a fire similar to the one they were stood near now.
Jesus asks Simon Peter, ‘Do you love me?’
Again, just as on that first occasion when Jesus first called him, Jesus uses his full name – Simon Peter and also calls him Simon – ‘Son of John’.
Jesus is treating him exactly the same as He did before – He wants to show him that in His eyes, despite all that has happened, Peter is the same as when they first met.
Slowly, but surely, Jesus is continuing to heal and restore them!
Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves Him.
He is giving him the three opportunities to confirm his love for Jesus. A love which, despite his denials, he has never lost.
It would be hard to believe that there isn’t a link with the number of times Peter denied Jesus the number of times Jesus asks him to affirm his love. Jesus is giving Peter the opportunity to put things behind him and move on.
Jesus is showing Peter that his denials were not the end of his discipleship. Like Paul he is offering Peter a new beginning and an expansion or deepening of his call.
Like Paul, Jesus has plans for him, and Peter will indeed become the rock on which his church will be built.
Slowly, but surely Jesus is healing and restoring Peter.
At the end of this passage, Jesus asks them once again to follow Him. They are back where they started on the beach in Galilee.
He is telling them, I believe in you just as much as you believe in me. He is completing the reconciliation process and he wants them to be in no doubt that they are forgiven.
Slowly, but surely, Jesus is healing and restoring them.
Now they are ready to resume their mission of discipleship.
Despite the ups and downs that have happened to them and despite the ongoing risk of persecution and even death, they are ready to follow Him again.
Jesus has rebuilt their faith and restored them.
Like Paul and Peter, we too know that there are times when we are less than perfect.
We all fall short of expectations in the eyes of God.
When despite our best intentions and what we know in our hearts is right, we are still tempted to do what is best for us, even if it’s at the expense of others.
We know that despite our good intentions to help others - we still let ourselves be distracted and don’t always do it.
We know we promised to set more time aside to pray and talk with God, but we didn’t get around to it as often as we should have.
We know that we haven’t always shown compassion for others as we should.
But, when we feel bad about letting ourselves and others down, we need to remember that Jesus doesn’t want to see us in that space.
We just need to tell Him that we know our best is not always good enough, and we are sorry and will to try give Him the best we can offer.
And like Jesus’s response to Peter, He will look at us with love and compassion and say to us – ‘You are forgiven’. The best you have to offer is good enough for me.
Jesus still says to us - Follow me.
And he wants us to know,
…… that He will heal and restore us.Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and loving Father,
We thank you that through your Son Jesus,
we are all offered new beginnings.
We pray that we will always try to do our best
to love one another
and to show compassion to everyone.
Like Paul and Peter,
show us what you want us to do,
and give us the will and determination to do it.
Amen
Our final hymn this morning is "Father God, I Wonder"
