Sunday Worship 21st June

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship on the Third Sunday after Trinity. 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 "New Every Morning is the Love"

Today's Bible Reading

Jeremiah 20:7-13                                                                              Poor Jeremiah 

Now the priest Pashhur son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of the Lord, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. Then Pashhur struck the prophet Jeremiah and put him in the stocks that were in the upper Benjamin Gate of the house of the Lord.  The next morning when Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, Jeremiah said to him, “The Lord has named you not Pashhur but ‘Terror-all-around.’  

For thus says the Lord: I am making you a terror to yourself and to all your friends, and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies while you look on. And I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon; he shall carry them captive to Babylon and shall kill them with the sword. I will give all the wealth of this city, all its gains, all its prized belongings, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah into the hand of their enemies, who shall plunder them and seize them and carry them to Babylon. And you, Pashhur, and all who live in your house, shall go into captivity, and to Babylon you shall go; there you shall die, and there you shall be buried, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied falsely.”

Jeremiah Denounces His Persecutors

O Lord, you have enticed me, and I was enticed; you have overpowered me,  and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long;   everyone mocks me.

For whenever I speak, I must cry out;  I must shout, “Violence and destruction!”

For the word of the Lord has become for me a reproach and derision all day long.

If I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” then within  me there is something like a burning fire shut up in my bones;

I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. For I hear many whispering:  “Terror is all around! Denounce him! Let us denounce him!”

All my close friends are watching for me to stumble. “Perhaps he can be enticed,  and we can prevail against him and take our revenge on him.”

But the Lord is with me like a terrifying warrior; therefore my persecutors will stumble, and they will not prevail. They will be greatly shamed, for they will not succeed. Their eternal dishonour will never be forgotten.

O Lord of hosts, you test the righteous; you see the heart and the mind; let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.

Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers. 

Reflection

Poor Jeremiah

I thought I would concentrate on the Old Testament reading today – my heart goes out to Jeremiah, often called the ‘Weeping Prophet’ because of how deep his lament is. God has given Jeremiah a fairly big task – he has called him at a very young age (maybe only about 17 years old) to prophesy to the people of Judah about the error of their ways and instructing them basically, to ‘surrender’ to the Babylonians. Jeremiah tells God at the start of his book that he is too young to manage the people and to prophesy to them, and God simply tells him ‘I have called you by name – get on with it’! he touches Jeremiah’s mouth and tells him ‘I have given you the words now’. Jeremiah is ridiculed and mocked by the people, he is thrown into prison, he is beaten relentlessly by the priests and put in the stocks. Wherever he goes, people are quick to tell him they wish he was dead rather than them have to put up with him. No wonder he is weeping!

By our reading today, Jeremiah is desperately raging at God – telling him he is a laughing stock, that even his close friends plot to be rid of him. He complains that when he tries not to mention God, it rises up in him like a burning fire, and he is forced to do God’s will. But he finishes his angry tirade by saying, ‘God’s desire for the people will overshadow whatever they do – that they will be shamed for their actions, and justice will prevail’. 

I was in a situation this past week where it felt like a tiny percentage of what Jeremiah was encountering. I had been asked to talk and deliver a message to a group who were about to encounter change and to try and ease them through it. My best attempts mainly fell on deaf ears, loud voices that challenged and drowned out everything that was said to them. I was challenged, and the words used were mocked and ignored. It felt at times that there was a definite ‘Spiritual block’ at play, a force that did not want any mention of the gospel to be shared in that room. Over the course of the afternoon, I could have run away at a number of points, but I didn’t – I knew that what we were delivering was good and useful to the group, even though we could only skim the surface because of their reluctance to engage. 

As I left that place, feeling a bit bewildered and very low in spirits, I began to reflect on what had occurred. What I had encountered was only what we are all guilty of, some of the time. When we ‘cherry pick’ what we might want to hear and quickly disregard the bits that don’t sit so well. I had done the same at Clergy Conference recently – engaging fully with the parts I enjoyed and wanted to be a part of and being less open to the parts I personally found uncomfortable. (Granted not quite so vocally or rudely, but internally, the same – which is known to God who knows what is on our hearts and minds)!

Our passage from Jeremiah shows us that firstly, it is fine to disagree and be sad and frustrated with what God asks of us – hand it up in prayer and leave it with God!

Secondly, just as Jeremiah felt, when we try to avoid what God has asked of us, it bubbles up like a fire and we find it hard to avoid.

But for me the strongest lesson is that we will, sometimes, be ridiculed for our beliefs – exactly as Jeremiah was. He was standing up for the truth as God has asked – I was delivering a message that I had been asked to do. But we must persevere – keep telling the gospel and reassuring people of how much God loves them, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves in. Thankfully, my endurance just left me feeling sad and needing a couple of paracetamols – poor old  Jeremiah was beaten, imprisoned and had threats on his life wherever he went – (I did say I had only encountered a tiny percentage)!

Whatever God asks of you this week, be honest, persevere and know that his love will conquer all.

Amen.

Rev Kirsten

Our Prayers

(The Collect for Purity)

Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may love you completely,

and rightly magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord. 

Amen.

Today's final hymn is "There are Hundreds of Sparrows"

Notices

Next Sunday there will be no morning services at either St Agnes’ or St Thomas’ due to Paul’s ordination as deacon.

The Ordination Service is at 10.30 am at Manchester Cathedral 

Bring and Share drop-in buffet at St Thomas’ from 3 to 5 pm

Joint Benefice Eucharist at 6.30 pm at St  John’s

Sunday Worship 14th June

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday after Trinity. Today we have only one service in the parish, at 11.15 am at St Thomas' Church, and there is no service at St Agnes'.

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

Our first hymn this morning is "I Danced in the Morning"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 9:35-10:8                                                        Like Sheep Without a Shepherd 

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.”

Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus and Thaddaeus;  Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not take a road leading to gentiles, and do not enter a Samaritan town, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick; raise the dead; cleanse those with a skin disease; cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment.

Reflection

‘Like Sheep Without a Shepherd’

I watched the first instalment of the new Clarkson’s Farm on Amazon the other evening. During the episode, Jeremy Clarkson decided to take part in the Farmer’s Protests that took place in London last year. The farmers were fearful and protesting about the Inheritance Tax changes to farms. There was genuine fear, distress at a lack of leadership they felt they could trust, and genuine alarm at how they could fulfil their commitment to feeding our country in the current climate. Sometimes, we can’t help but wonder, ‘are people actually aware where the food on their plate is coming from’. Is the connection between farming and feeding the family always made?

I don’t particularly have a vested interest in anything specific that Clarkson might say, but I do enjoy learning about agriculture and making the obvious comparisons that arise as Christians as we encounter and reflect on our Good Shepherd. 

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus looks at the crowds and doesn’t see troublemakers or complainers. He sees people who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” It’s a line that could just as easily describe many in our society today—farmers facing impossible margins, families stretched thin, communities feeling unheard, and a nation often more divided than connected.

Jesus’ response to this is incredible - he doesn’t turn away, or blame them for their misfortune, he doesn’t harden his heart. He is moved with compassion.

And then he does something even more incredible, by sending his ‘ordinary people’  - fishermen, tax collectors, the unqualified and the undesirable – telling them to be the answer to the very prayer he asks them to pray. “The harvest is plentiful… go.”

In a world where loud voices overshadow and frustration and anger spill out so easily, Matthew invites us to rediscover this rhythm of discipleship:

• See people as Jesus sees them - not as problems to solve, but as neighbours to love.

• Feel compassion rather than contempt - especially for those whose lives look different from ours.

• Step into the harvest - bringing healing where there is hurt, hope where there is despair, and generosity where sometimes there seems to be none.

We may not be able to fix national policy or calm every storm, but we can choose to be the kind of people Jesus sends: people who mend, who listen, who lift up, who give freely because we have received freely.

The world is still full of crowds longing for shepherds. And Jesus still whispers the same invitation: “Go – and be my compassion in the places that feel forgotten.”

Amen. 

Rev Kirsten

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the guidance of Jesus and the obedience of the disciples.

We pray for all the times we are like sheep without a shepherd,

and we especially pray for those in our world who are without leadership, 

and who do not yet know that Jesus is the only shepherd they will ever need.

Amen.

Today's final hymn is "In Christ Alone"

Apologies to everyone who likes to read the words, but this is my favourite version by Celtic Worship, and I wanted to share it with you all. The bagpipe solo at the end is amazing!

Notices

We are really pleased to announce that we now have a date for Rev Kirsten’s Licensing Service, which is to be at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 14th July at St Thomas’ Church. More details will follow later. 

On Saturday 4th July, our Harvest Queen Grace is 'At Home' - please see the poster below for details -

Sunday Worship 7th June

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the First Sunday after Trinity. 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 is Lord, Creation's Voice Proclaims it"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26                  The Calling of Matthew 

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him.

And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax-collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax-collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard this, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.’

While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, ‘My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.’ And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute-players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, ‘Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.

Reflection

‘Follow Me’

I don’t know about you, but I have found the news this week particularly difficult to watch. The court case relating to the death of Henry Nowak has been harrowing to say the least, and the bile and hatred that has spewed forth ever since is equally sickening. Sometimes it is hard to wonder where God is in a situation, and for me, this week, I have been searching for where God is or was when Henry was murdered.

The most moving moment I saw came from Henry’s Father, who announced ‘We do not want [Henry's] death to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone’.

In our Gospel reading for this Sunday, Matthew is instructed by Jesus to ‘follow him’. The choice of Jesus to eat with tax collectors and sinners is a matter of grave concern to the Pharisees. In answer to their criticisms, Jesus advises them that people who are not ill do not need a doctor, only those who are sick. He tells them he desires mercy and not sacrifice. 

In the midst of his grief, Henry’s father asked for calm, not retaliation – mercy not sacrifice.  Mercy is not passive or weak, it is not something to be sneered at. It is the courage to choose compassion when anger feels easier.

Henry was the one murdered and badly treated. His father’s voice - steady, compassionate, refusing to let pain become vengeance - echoes the very heart of Christ. It was the voice of mercy, the voice that heals rather than harms.

In that moment, I recognised where God was in the situation. He was with Henry in his final moments of life. He was with Henry’s family as they received the news no parent would ever want to hear, and he was with them still as they requested peace and calm, and not the rage and hooliganism that their plea was met with. Violence and rioting from people who will barely remember Henry’s name in 6 months’ time, as his family will only be scratching the surface of navigating life without their child.

Retaliation can only multiply suffering. Jesus consistently interrupts cycles of violence – as he tells the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane ‘Enough now - Put your sword back.’  Jesus’ words point to God’s instinct to move toward the injured, not to inflame the crowd. 

Grief and anger are valid human emotions – we are designed to lament, especially where we feel helpless. In moments of public pain, people look for direction. Henry’s father chose the path of dignity and restraint- mirroring the God who desires mercy and guiding the community towards peace. Justice will be done where it is needed, judgement will be made in this life and in the next. Henry’s family need a community and a country surrounding them in love, not more bloodshed and horror. Let us pray that those leading with rage will follow the path of Henry’s Father, because that is the only path where we will find what we might be searching for. Amen

Rev Kirsten

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father

We pray today for the victims of crime and suffering.

We lift before you those who are hurting.

We pray they can turn their anger into mercy

And their rage into empathy for those who grieve.

We pray for all families who have lost a child, that they can be upheld in your love and the love of the people around them.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

Today's final hymn is "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind"

Notices

Next week we have only one service in the Parish, our 'Everyone Together Service' at 11.15 am at St Thomas' Church, and there will be no service at St. Agnes' or Sunday School.