Sunday Worship 24th May

 Sunday Worship - Pentecost

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish as we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost (also known as Whit Sunday). 

Our Service of Holy Communion this morning is at our neighbouring church of St John the Baptist, Hey at 9.15. 

We will then hold a traditional Whit Walk from St John's, around Lees, to St Thomas' Church for the Churches Together in Lees and District joint Service for Pentecost at 12 noon.

All are welcome to join us - full details are shown in the Notices section below.

If you are unable to attend in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.

Our first hymn this morning is "Breathe on me, Breath of God"

Today's Bible Readings

John 7:37-39                Rivers of Living Water

On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, "Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 

And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs-- in our own languages we hear them speaking about God's deeds of power." 

All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others sneered and said, "They are filled with new wine."

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, "Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

`In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams.

Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit;

and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist.

The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"

Reflection

Do you remember the way Whitsuntide or Pentecost used to be celebrated in Lees? When I first came to the Oldham as a young man, (just a few years ago), one of my colleagues at the bank where I worked invited me to Lees for Whit Sunday. I was ‘blown away’ - not by the sudden rush of a sound like the rush of a violent wind from heaven, but by the sense of occasion as dozens and dozens of people assembled to march around the village. Assembled to pay witness and celebrate this Holy Festival to commemorate the coming of the Holy Spirit – the advocate that Jesus had promised to empower his followers to spread the gospel and build his Church on earth. 

There were people of all ages from the very young Rainbows, Beavers  and Sunday School to the active members of the Mother’s Union and right up to the elder parishioners who continued to serve the parish after decades of service in many varied lay roles.  

But it wasn’t just an excuse for a jolly good get together, it was truly an occasion to show off our Christian identity. And it wasn’t just our church! As the proceedings continued, we were joined by congregations and families from all of the neighbouring churches, not only from the Church of England but all the other local denominations as well as we worshipped together in joy and harmony. 

Whether everyone knew it or not, we were celebrating that first occasion where ‘God poured put his Spirit upon all flesh’ and where more than 3,000 people were baptised.

Whether it is on Pentecost Sunday or any other day of the year, we too are called to embrace the power of the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the Gospel and share our belief and faith with others. We repeatedly hear messages that the Church is withering but we cannot just wait and hope that the pews will suddenly fill up. What we need is power, the power only God’s Spirit can give, the power to speak the name of Jesus out in our community.  We need to courageously harness the Spirit and be openly proud of our faith, as a Gospel-sharing church that loves the world as God does.

Sadly, over the years the Whit Sunday walks have dwindled and are a shadow of their former glory. This year, thanks to brilliant teamwork by representatives of both parishes, we are trying to re-energise and build the numbers of folk involved, starting with a service and procession from St. John Hey, to Zion Methodist and then to St. Thomas church and the local streets. It may not all happen this year, but if you are able, why not join us for some or all of this act of witness, as we celebrate the glory of God and His son Jesus. Let the power of the Holy Spirit fill you anew and also inspire new believers to be open to the power of the Spirit. If you are not able to join us, why not come to your doors and give us a hearty cheer and a wave, join us in our songs of praise and invite the Holy Spirit into your life. 

Never underestimate the power of the Spirit – after my first Whit Sunday in Lees, I started coming to St. Thomas’ church and later married the wonderful person from the bank who invited me to my first Whit Sunday parade.              Paul

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father, we come before You with a hungry heart, 

asking for a fresh outpouring of Your Holy Spirit upon our lives. 

Fill us with Your presence and power and let Your Spirit overflow in us afresh every day, 

empowering us to share your Gospel with those who have yet to know You. 

Amen

Today's final hymn is "Walk in the Light"

Notices

Here are the full details of our Pentecost Celebrations

Finally, the following announcement was made in St Thomas', St Agnes' and St John's churches last week -

The Bishop of Manchester is pleased to announce the appointment of the Reverend Kirsten Stott as incumbent of Hey, John the Baptist and the Parish of Leesfield.

Please pray for Kirsten as she prepares to continue her vocational and missional journey with the parishes where she has been serving as curate-in-charge, and for the benefice as they prepare for this new stage.

We don't have a date yet for Rev Kirsten's Licensing Service, but we're all really looking forward to this next wonderful stage in the life of both parishes.

Sunday Worship 17th May

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Seventh Sunday of Easter. Today is our Annual Parochial Church meeting, and we have only one service in the parish - at 11.15 am at St Thomas' Church.

If you are unable to attend our services in person, you will find resources below to worship at home.

Our first hymn this morning is "I Cannot tell, why He whom Angels Worship"

Today's Gospel

John 17:1-11      Jesus Prays for Himself and His Followers

Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

“I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them. And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”

Reflection

A few years ago, one of our former vicars, Edith, started a prayer group. It was  attended by a few who would come together and explore prayer. Sometimes with candles, or hand held objects or music. We experimented with different things as we explored different ways of reaching out to God and one another guided by the Holy Spirit. 

Sometimes we discussed and prayed about things in the world, or in our schools and community, and sometimes, if people were comfortable sharing things, we prayed for and about each other. 

I have a similar prayer group with some of my friends from college which has been a true blessing as we journeyed together as ordinands over the years. We continue to pray through our ups and down, highlights and worries, and find spiritual strength guided by the Spirit as we reflect about what is going on in our lives, our old and new parishes and also across the wider world.

Prayer is always special but there is something even more powerful when we come together as a group and pray as friends, and even more so when we pray for one another. It can be an intense and also unifying experience. 

In John 17, it feels like John has invited us to eavesdrop into Jesus’ prayer group with his closest friends - Those who will soon become his apostles, charged with the responsibility of continuing to take His message to the wider world and build his Church.  John brings us into Jesus presence as he prays with his disciples just before he goes to the Cross.

It starts with Jesus praying for himself, not in a selfish way but for his glorification through what he knows lies ahead and also for the glorification of God the Father. He is praying for his coming re-unification with the Father and for the disciples to understand all that has happened and what will happen. 

During our Ascension Day service last Thursday, Rev. Kirsten talked about the contrast between Christmas and the Ascension – the former being Jesus’ human incarnation on earth and the latter being the reversal, where Jesus returns to heaven to be re-united with God. 

It reminds us that Jesus existed and was one with God the Father before he came to earth, and moreover, how much he set aside to become human and be with us. We are also reminded that Jesus has been with God since the beginning of time, before the world existed and will remain with God until the end of the ages. Jesus is eternal in unity with God and the Holy Spirit. At his ascension, he is re-united in heaven at the right hand of God. 

Whilst he is praying, Jesus is mindful of his faithful disciples. Amidst the talk of his glorification, he prays for his faithful and beloved disciples; he asks the Father to watch over them and protect them on the perilous mission that lies ahead after he has gone. He prays that they are protected so that they might know the sort of unity that exists within the Godhead. 

At first glance we might think that he is only praying for his disciples – But if we read the prayer carefully, we can see Jesus extends his prayer to all who have received the truth that came from the Father to us though Christ and who believe in him. He is not just praying for the disciples but for all who believe and have been glorified in him and for those who are persecuted or ridiculed for their faith.

I mentioned how powerful it can feel when you know people are praying with you and for you, even if you are not present when the prayers are said. How absolutely wonderful and beloved do you feel when you realise that Jesus is praying for you alongside his disciples and across time when he says - “Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.”? How marvellous is it to know that not only is he praying for our protection but also for our unity with him? As we eavesdrop on Jesus praying, we witness his invitation to join him in unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. How special does that make you feel today? Our unity is Jesus’ prayer for himself.                                                                                         Paul

Our Prayers

Loving heavenly Father,

Thank You that You sent Jesus to enable all who believe in Him

to be witnesses to the truth of Your Word.

Bind us together in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

to seek unity and reconciliation in our broken world,

as we spread the Good News of your wonderful plan of redemption,

through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ our Saviour.

 Amen

Today's final hymn is "Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning"

Notices

Next Sunday is Pentecost, and the arrangements are shown in the poster below

Sunday Worship 10th May

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 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 "Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness"

Today's Gospel

John 14:15-21     The Promise of the Holy Spirit

Jesus said, ”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

Reflection

Our Gospel passage today is a continuation from last week, where Jesus is comforting His disciples following his disclosure that he will soon die. It’s part of what is known as Jesus’ ‘farewell disclosure’ during the Last Supper. 

Last week we looked at Jesus’ message to follow Him, and what that meant following His commandment to love one another and follow His example. Here we see Jesus emphasising that same message – He starts by making it clear that the only way to show how much they love Jesus is keep His commandments. Jesus isn’t looking for signs of sorrow and mourning, He is looking for positive love in the way they love others as He loved them. 

As I think about this, I try to put myself in the disciples’ shoes – they’ve been following Him for a few years and witnessed some pretty awesome events, and heard first hand how Jesus interprets God’s word in a new and refreshing way. So they must be thinking, How do we follow an act like that? How can we possibly follow Jesus’ commandments and live up to His example without Him by our sides to guide us?

Jesus, of course, knows and understands their innermost doubts and so He promises to ask the Father to send another advocate - the Holy Spirit. A comforter who will abide in them and be constantly guiding and encouraging them, strengthening them as they grow in the power of Christ to go forward and spread the good news of the risen Lord. 

Jesus is addressing the questions and doubts that we heard about in last weeks  reflection.  But more than that, He is alluding to nature of the Spirit and the need to be open to it through our faith in Jesus and the Father. 

When he says, “This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him”, Jesus is describing those who are still alienated from God and the knowledge of His son. Importantly, that does not mean that an unbeliever cannot become a believer. Everyone is capable of becoming a believer and turning to faith - that happens to people every day. It is up to the disciples and followers here and now, who have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to channel that precious gift and share it as widely as possible. 

I mentioned the doubt that the disciples must have felt, being daunted at the challenge of carrying on Jesus’ footsteps after He had gone. How would they spread the message without Him? 

I suspect many of us feel like that from time to time, and I’ve heard the worry expressed by several people in our churches. Sometimes it is voiced in words such as, ‘Why do so few people come to church nowadays?’

 

We too need to have faith and follow Jesus’ commandment to love one another and trust in the Holy Spirit that was sent for all to enable us to be active disciples. We can follow the examples of the first disciples and pray together and for each other, especially those who have yet to come to faith. 

Perhaps as part of our personal prayer and reflection, we could pose these questions to ourselves – “ When and how did I show love to someone today?” Or maybe, when did I fail to show love to someone today?  Whatever our answer is, we can pray that the Holy Spirit will help us to be truthful in our response, and if need be, encourage us to do better next time. 

Because the Holy Spirit is not sent to judge us or to make us feel bad The Holy Spirit is sent to be alongside us, to guide us and comfort us and help us to carry on Jesus’ mission. 

When was the last time you talked to someone about your faith either to your family, friends or even a stranger? If we don’t talk about Jesus to anyone outside church, how can we share the our faith effectively. Pray that the Holy Spirit will guide us to share our faith and give the Spirit an opportunity to bring more people into the joy and love of our gracious Father. 

Paul

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the blessing of your Holy Spirit,

to be alongside us, 

guiding, comforting and strengthening us.

Send us out each day in confidence,

to proclaim our faith to those we meet in our life journeys,

And bring new followers into your kingdom.

Amen

Today's final hymn is "Breathe on me, Breath of God"

Notices

Ascension Day is this Thursday, and there will be a service at St Thomas’ Church at 7 pm.

This week is Christian Aid Week, and we are having a ‘Big Brekkie’ on Friday 15th May from 8.45 to 10.45 am to raise funds for Christian Aid, so please come along and join us if you can. 

Sunday Worship 3rd May

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fifth Sunday of Easter. Our Church Service this morning at St Agnes' is at 9.15, and St Thomas' service is at the slightly later time of 11.30.

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 "New Every Morning is the Love"

Today's Gospel

John 14:1-14                  Jesus Comforts His Disciples

Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”

Reflection

You could be forgiven if you feel a little confused after listening to John’s Gospel reading today. Here we are 5 weeks after Easter, when Jesus has risen and has been seen by Mary, the disciples and many others since his resurrection, and yet we find ourselves back in the room at the last supper. 

So to remind ourselves of the context, Jesus and the disciples are at the Passover meal and in the course of the evening he had told them some pretty bad news. Firstly, He’s told them one of the disciples will betray him to the Romans, then He’s told Peter that he will deny knowing Jesus 3 times before day break, and last but not least that He will soon be killed. Even as He is now speaking to them, Judas is undertaking his act of treachery. 

A short while before, he was washing their feet and giving them a new commandment to love one another, and now he’s turned the whole mood upside down. It’s hard to imagine the atmosphere in the room and how the disciples must have felt. After all, they have left everything behind to follow  Jesus, and they realise as well that their own lives are also at risk. Apart from being confused they must have felt very vulnerable and frightened. 

So Jesus tries to reassure them. He loves them and wants to set their minds at rest. He shifts their minds and their focus away from fear, and calls them to have belief and faith. He wants them to understand that death is not the end, and that they can have eternal life through faith and trust in him. He says; “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”  Jesus starts to outline why they should trust in Him, even after he is gone.  He lays out the case in plain language and says, “I am going to prepare a place for you”. 

When Thomas is still puzzled, Jesus elaborates and says to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”  

Then Philip joins in the questioning, asking Jesus to show them the Father. Thomas and Philip were willing to ask the questions that were no doubt troubling the whole group, because at this stage of course, they had not experienced the glorious resurrection of Jesus. In their minds they didn’t know where Jesus was going to. They hadn’t yet fully grasped that Jesus was divine and was God. 

Of course they wanted to believe and trust in Jesus, but they were totally perplexed. So, in the short time they had before Jesus left them all alone, they absolutely wanted to understand how they would go about following him. 

They needed to know how to get to this wonderful dwelling place which Jesus was going to prepare for them.  It must have felt like Jesus was making lots of reassuring promises but hadn’t given them all the pieces to the jigsaw. And perhaps there is a hint of frustration from Jesus when he says to Philip, How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? “ 

The disciples were looking for a physical map to follow, but Jesus wasn’t talking about following a route map, He was talking about following in His ways and teachings. Something that the disciples wouldn’t fully understand until after his resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, when the missing pieces of the jigsaw would fall into place.

So what does this say to us here in Hey and Lees? The message is exactly the same. Jesus calls each and every one of us to follow Him. To live the way that He showed His disciples, following His commandment made at the last supper, to love one another as He loved us. He calls us to believe in Him and whilst we haven’t physically seen Him, we witness Him in the Good news of the Gospels, and we see God in all creation and His grace in the miracles that continue to happen across the world. 

When we believe and trust in Jesus, He will show us the way to God’s dwelling place where He prepares a place for all who believe and trust in Him. But He won’t send us a link to Google maps in our ‘in box’, because in verse 3,  Jesus promises “I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”  Paul

Our Prayers

Risen and reigning Lord, 

Strengthen our faith and trust in you,

that our troubled hearts may be assured 

that you have gone to prepare a place for us, 

so that where you are, we may be also and

that the Father will come to us through you.  

Amen

Todays final hymn is "Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer"

Notices

Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) will take place at St Thomas’ Church at 12.15 pm on Sunday 17th May. On that day we will have a Parish Eucharist at 11.15 am at St Thomas’, and there will be no service at St Agnes’.

The APCM is where we review the parish activities and finances for the previous year, and elect Churchwardens and parish officers for the coming year, so it’s really important that as many people as possible attend.

There is a great need at both churches for people to step up into various roles, not only for what we see at worship on Sundays and midweek, but also for everything that happens in the background to enable Leesfield Parish to continue to thrive at the heart of our community. 

 

Sunday Worship 26th April

 Sunday Worship

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 11.15 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 "Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep"

Today's Gospel

John 10:1-10           The Shepherd and His Flock

Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. 

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 

They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

Reflection

In various translations of John 10 we may read about sheep pens, rather than folds. For many, this conjures up the image of the type of sheep pens we often see in the UK which are used for temporarily restraining small numbers of  sheep before they are sheared.

If you walk along the hills above Oldham you will invariably see sheep roaming the fields and moorland day and night and they are seldom locked up. 

Part of the reason for that is that we have very few predators such as wolves who would attack and kill them. 

So, like me, you might find it hard to visualise what a sheep pen or sheepfold looks like. In the picture above, is a typical example of a sheepfold from ancient Israel which would not be dissimilar from those in biblical times when Jesus was alive. They were often built of stone and sometimes topped with thorns to deter thieves and predators. Shelters like this would vary in size and were usually built in a valley or on the sunny side of hill where there was protection form cold winds. In smaller folds like the one above, a watchman or shepherd would sleep at the gate or entrance overnight and act as a human gate.

The presence of a large number of sheep in the Holy Land was significant, as both Jews and Arabs relied on them for their livelihood, which is one of the reasons sheep are referred to so much throughout the Bible.

The shepherd would lead the sheep out to pasture every morning and would look after them, making sure they are well and not lame. I suspect most of us have never worked on a farm but it is not difficult to appreciate that over a short period of time the shepherd gets to know his sheep well, their habits, idiosyncrasies and behaviours very well. If you’ve ever had pets I’m sure you will be able to relate this. Similarly the animals get to know and trust the shepherd and they are wary of strangers. You can see this if you go for a walk in fields - sheep will always run away, but when the farmer comes along they run towards him or her.

So it was in the scenario Jesus outlines. The sheep would recognise the shepherd and be happy to follow him out of the fold to graze, knowing that he would lead them to good pasture where they would be safe. But if a stranger tries to entice them out they would be reluctant. Perhaps they remember past times when they were led out by a stranger and were separated from each other and their lambs were taken. Or they were abandoned in a place where there was little pasture to graze on. 

Jesus says, “they will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.” John points out that some did not understand Jesus, so Jesus clarifies that the point of the parable is not about the shepherd – it’s about the gate. A closed gate serves to keep the sheep in safety within the fold, but an open gate is the way to a source of life giving food and sustenance. To find that source of abundance of life we must go through the gate and follow the one that we can trust.

We are invited through Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross to walk through the ultimate gateway – because what God has given us through Jesus is ultimate security in the knowledge that we are forgiven people. We are free to wander in God’s unending pasture as His children and help one another flourish. We are free to put aside our fears and uncertainties to embrace the grace of God. We are free to live as God wanted us to live when He created humankind - loving caring people being what he intended us to be.

Paul 

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father, 

You call us by name and know every one of us.

When we are tempted to stray, guide us by your voice. 

You are the gate that leads to eternal life,

strengthen our faith to trust in you

and guide us into the pasture of everlasting peace.

In Jesus name we pray.      

Amen

Today's final hymn is "All People that on Earth do Dwell"

Sunday Worship 19th April

 Sunday Worship

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 11.15 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, Stand Among Us"

Today's Gospel

Luke 24:13-35       The Road to Emmaus

Now on that same day two of Jesus' disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.    

Reflection

Today’s passage is full of emotion. Grief, sadness, hope, fulfilment and joy.  

As we begin, we encounter the disciples, dejected and forlorn. They have are leaving Jerusalem, the place where they had hoped their friend Jesus, who they believed was the Messiah, would lead them into glory and overthrow the ruling Roman empire. 

Instead, they wander away in a state of loss, discussing what has happened over the recent days, since Jesus triumphant entry on Palm Sunday. Can you put yourself into their state of mind? They have lost both a dear friend and also hope for the future.

When they are joined by Jesus, like Mary earlier in the day, they don’t recognise Jesus as he offers to walk with them. They are astounded that this stranger seems oblivious to the momentous events of the last few days – they question how can that even be? Then Jesus gently prompts them to explain everything to him as they journey together. They pour out their hearts to him as they lament the loss of their friend. Jesus allows them to go over everything in detail, even telling Jesus that there were some who claimed to have seen the Messiah alive earlier that day. 

Still Jesus does not reveal who he is, he just listens patiently, allowing them to offload all their pain and disappointment. Then he says, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!” In my mind I don’t picture this as a remark of rebuke or scorn, rather something that is softly out of compassion, he understands their sorrow and loss. He doesn’t admonish them for interpreting the scriptures wrongly, rather he takes time to explain and unpack all the prophesies of people like Malachai, Isaiah, Samuel and Jeremiah, gently explaining how all the events that had happened were totally necessary and that the true Messiah was destined for suffering. Even before he reveals himself, he fills their hearts with fire, expectation and hope once again. 

Looking back, what does this tell us about how Jesus showed love for these disciples. He chose not to reveal himself straight away, but he chose to walk alongside them in their grief, and he chose to let them vent their frustration and sorrow, maybe how we might come alongside others who are suffering loss and disappointment. He was also showing us how, at times of sorrow in our own lives, God will be by our side, whether that is in our thoughts, or in the presence of a stranger or friend who is willing to listen and let us pour out our grief and other emotional feelings.  Perhaps you have looked back on a time of sadness and realised that God was with you all the time. 

The same goes for times when, like the disciples, we lose hope because of set-backs in our lives or on a bigger scale we begin to lose hope for the world. If we offer our concerns and frustrations to God and read scripture, God will help us to find new hope, and our hearts also may burn within us in the knowledge that God is with us always. Paul 

Our Prayers

Loving Father,

Thank you that you are always with us.

We pray that even in the darkest of times, 

our faith in you will remain strong and we will never give up hope.

We ask you to guide us to support those around us at times of grief, or sadness. To show love, compassion and to be a listening ear and source of strength in their time of need.

We ask this in the loving name of Jesus.           

Amen

Today's final hymn is "My Jesus, My Saviour"

Sunday Worship 12th April

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday of Easter. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 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 "Alleluia, Sing to Jesus"

Today's Gospel

John 20:19-31      Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’ When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’

Jesus and Thomas

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.’

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’

The Purpose of This Book

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Reflection

As I have been reflecting on all that has ‘been’ over Lent and Easter, there is so much to be grateful for – God has been at work in Leesfield for sure!

A particular highlight for me has been the children from all our primary schools attending ‘Experience Easter’ – together with children from Clarksfield Primary (Oasis), over 240 children have come through the doors of church to learn more about Jesus and the ultimate sacrifice he made. Their questions were consistently amazing and have made me think about so many aspects of Easter.

Our gospel reading today sees the resurrected Jesus, still performing miracles. His disciples are locked into a house ‘for fear of the Jews’. Of course, they were reeling that they have lost Jesus, and so could not be overtly ‘out and about’, as they have a bounty on their head, so they are covertly locked away. 

Jesus miraculously appears to them, in a locked room, and says ‘Peace be with you’. He then shows them his wounds and they rejoice when they believe it is him. He then breathes the Holy Spirit upon them, and they are gifted the ability to forgive sins. (This will antagonise those who believe they have disposed of Jesus, as ‘absolution’ or ‘forgiveness of sin’ is a gift only bestowed by God under the old laws). 

As I was reading ahead this week, the news was also on the television. Threats were being made, ‘annihilation of entire nations’ an agenda item. The contrast of everything we have experienced and prayed for at Easter suddenly exposed and vulnerable in the most volatile way. 

I wondered where is the ‘locked room’ for the people who are at risk from this scenario? Being covert is not so easy when you cannot see your attacker as they are in another land. I imagined Jesus going to those innocents, fearful of the next drone attack or bomb, and blessing them with ‘Peace’, then breathing the ‘Ruach’ the very breath of God onto them and leaving the Holy Spirit for protection and guidance.

 

How would he be received amid the current conflict, I wondered?  Jesus, in admonishing Thomas for his disbelief, tells his disciples, ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet come to believe’ - all that is needed is faith. A fact that we all need to be reminded of sometimes. 

John finishes his chapter, telling the reader that these things are written so we can believe Jesus is the Messiah. His miracles were and are still amazing, death could not contain him, and the promises of a resurrected life for all who believe just as longed for now as then. His disciples needed their faith to be sharpened to believe he was with them, Thomas needed proof - we are no different. When our faith is weakened, when it feels the world is spiralling out of control, we need to be back in that locked room and remind ourselves of the events of ‘Easter’. 

Aggressors and loud voices will come and go, but the ‘Ruach’ breathed into us, the very breath of God, is enough to make us rejoice that our leader is the saviour of the world, and to him we must pray for those who have no locked room just now.             Rev Kirsten

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father 

Your son Jesus appeared to his disciples in a locked room 

And they rejoiced when they believed.

Help us share that news with the whole world,

especially where there are no locked rooms for safety. 

In the beautiful name of Jesus. 

Amen.

Today's final hymn is "God Forgave my Sin in Jesus' Name"

Notices

Today the Parish Electoral Roll opens until the 26th April. Please see the poster below for details.