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.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on Trinity Sunday. 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 "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus’ Great Commission
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Reflection
Today is Trinity Sunday, and in the Gospel passage from Matthew we read about Jesus addressing his disciples in Galilee before he leaves them. It comes at the very end of Matthew’s gospel, as from Matthew’s perspective it is the conclusion of Jesus’ time on earth in human form.
The disciples have gathered on a mountain in Galilee. This is not insignificant, because in Matthew’s narrative, the end of Jesus’ ministry finishes at the same place where it started, when Jesus called his first disciples – the place where fishermen left everything they had to follow him. And now he’s brought them back.
Jesus is about to empower his followers to pick up the baton and radically make new disciples by baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son and Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity. The mission that began quietly is now expanding outward. What started in obscurity will now reach the nations.
This passage in the bible is often referred to as The Great Commission! The risen Christ sharing his vision with his followers before ascending into heaven.
Jesus is calling on his disciples to go and make more disciples across all nations. And as we heard last week at Pentecost - he will send the Holy Spirit to help with this.
But for a moment let’s ask the question, what does it mean to be a disciple, or moreover what did it mean to be a disciple of a Rabbi in the first century?
You may know that a Rabbi was a learned teacher and to be a disciple might to some extent be compared to being an apprentice.
People became a disciple of a rabbi to learn what he knew and to do what he did. Just like you might in today’s world become an apprentice car mechanic – watching and gradually upskilling until you were able to do the work without supervision. And eventually you would be able to cope on your own and become competent.
But the essential thing to note in this is that you don’t just watch and learn, you have to do the doing. To practice what you preach for want of a better phrase.
When we look at the lives of the disciples who walked alongside Jesus in his ministry – they had listened to his teaching and learned from him and they also did the things he did. Remember in Matthew 10, where Jesus sends out the twelve to cast out demons and heal disease and sickness?
Similarly, when Jesus commissions his disciples to go out and make new disciples across all nations, he also gives them the guidance they need to do to the job.
He tells them to baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit – and to teach people to obey everything that Jesus has commanded them to do.
In other words, don’t just tell people about the Good News of the risen Lord who is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit – Jesus is commanding them to teach new disciples that they must also obey Jesus’ commandments and do as Jesus did. To live their lives in the same way according to God’s will.
To 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and to 'Love your neighbour as yourself as he loves us.
Jesus doesn’t just want people to know about the Kingdom of God, he wants them to inhabit the Kingdom - To do God’s will on earth as it is in heaven - and to lead by example and live according to his commandments.
It is not enough to know how Jesus wants disciples to live their lives, they have to get on and do it.
And as disciples, followers and Christians, we share that same commission that Jesus gave his disciples in Galilee over 2000 years ago.
We too are called to live as disciples and also make disciples of others.
We are called to bring people to faith. People of all kinds, irrespective of ethnicity, race, gender or any other type of diversity. Even maybe people we may not particularly like.
We are called to invite people to become Christians through baptism in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
We are called to invite people into a loving relationship with God and be part of God’s family.
And as disciples we are also called to live as Jesus showed us and commanded us.
And that can sometimes be hard - because none of us are perfect, and we all fall short in God’s eyes from time to time. We all sin and get things wrong.
But here’s the good news ..… at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus promised us that He will be with us always until the end of the age. Jesus who died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. And when we invite the Holy Spirit to live within us, we can be reconciled with the God that loves each and every one of us. Our relationship with God – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit can be restored.
Paul
Our Prayers
Lord, we commit ourselves to Your Great Commission.
Guide our words, actions, and hearts as we make disciples, baptise, and teach.
Remind us daily that we are never alone, for You are with us always.
May our lives glorify You and draw others into Your kingdom, now and forever.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "I, The Lord of Sea and Sky"
Notices
We had a fantastic day last Sunday as we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost with a joint Eucharist at St John's, a Procession of Witness around the village (stopping to sing along the way), and then a Churches Together in Lees and District joint service at St Thomas', followed by a special cake to celebrate the birthday of the Church. You can see some photos below, but there are many more on the Facebook pages -
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.
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