Sunday Worship 1st March

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday of Lent, also the day for Church Action on Poverty. 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 "Beauty for Brokenness"

Today's Gospel

John 3:1-17 Nicodemus visits Jesus

There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

Reflection

Today we reflect on the visitation of Nicodemus with Jesus. 

Many argue that it is one of the most important stories in the Gospel, because of the important teaching about being ‘born again’ and ‘being born of the Spirit’. It highlights the concept of spiritual transformation which is fundamental to Christian faith and salvation. And as Nicodemus illustrates, it is not immediately easy to understand. 

This passage also reminds us of the unconditional love that God has for us in the that much loved and often quoted passage [John3:16]. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

But I want today to think about Nicodemus and who he was. Moreover, to reflect on his transformational journey which is often overlooked. 

Nicodemus is only mentioned in John’s account of the Gospel but is clearly significant. He is mentioned three times in John’s Gospel.  However, we do not always join the dots and see how Nicodemus’ journey of faith, and confidence and his recognition of Jesus as the Son of Man develops throughout John’s narrative. We will see how, each time Nicodemus is mentioned, his faith and his support for Jesus is growing as he is transformed by the Holy Spirit. 

We start with the first encounter in the reading above. We know that Nicodemus is a pharisee and a senior one at that because he is member of the Jewish ruling council, (the Sanhedrin). He would therefore be a learned and respected member of the Jewish community and also a man of influence and status.

It is reasonable to assume that not only has Nicodemus heard accounts of Jesus’ teaching and healing, he has also witnessed these first hand. He acknowledges that Jesus is seen as a ‘teacher who has come from God’. Yet he chooses to visit Jesus by night. 

He is clearly more than a little curious about who Jesus actually is and he obviously wants to know more albeit he is also cautious, because he is aware that many of his fellow pharisees see Jesus as a nuisance and a threat. Hence the reason why he visits at night under the cover of darkness. In this first encounter, Nicodemus is open minded about Jesus and his teaching and is also open to receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit, even though he has not yet fully grasped what Jesus is saying.  

We next encounter Nicodemus in [John 7:50-52]. By this time, Jesus is really becoming a thorn in the side of the Jewish religious establishment. So much so that the Pharisees have issued arrest warrants for Him and sent the temple police out to arrest him on sight. It is now that Nicodemus finds the confidence to challenge the other religious leaders and question their decision to arrest Him. He argues that Jesus should be given a fair hearing, and in doing so, Nicodemus is berated for defending Jesus and is accused of being led astray by a false prophet. 

The final mention of Nicodemus by John is at the Cross. It is poignant event where Nicodemus helps Joseph of Arimathea take Jesus’ body down from the Cross, to lovingly prepare His body with spices, and wrap it linen according to the burial custom of the Jews.  [John 19:39-40].

For me this completes Nicodemus’ transformation, from cautiously curious enquirer to someone  who, despite the obvious danger, is willingly to publicly align himself with our Lord and Saviour. He now fully appreciates the message that Jesus shared with him on that first night. 

We don’t all get an epiphany moment where we are instantly enlightened. We don’t fully understand the divine mystery of God. But if, like Nicodemus, we are open to the work of the Holy Spirit, and we are willing to listen to and read what Jesus teaches, he will lead us on our journey of transformation of faith and fulfil His promise that we will have eternal life. Paul

Our Prayers

Loving Father, we thank You that,

You gave your only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

As we journey through our earthly lives,

let us be open to the work of your Holy Spirit. That our faith and belief will be stronger every day. 

Amen

Today's final hymn is "All My Hope in God is Founded"

Notices

Events for next weekend can be found in the posters below -

Sunday Worship 22nd February

Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the First Sunday of Lent. Our Church Services this morning are at 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 "Forty Days and Forty Nights"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 4: 1-11      The Testing of Jesus

Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written,

‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ 

and ‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’”

Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; and he said to him, 

“All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’”

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

Reflection

The story of Jesus; sojourn in the wilderness is hopefully familiar to many of us. It happens immediately after his Baptism at the River Jordan and before he starts his public ministry. 

Throughout the Bible we see that the wilderness as a place for meditation and preparation, a place of learning to listen to the Spirit and to trust in God. 

I once heard someone describe this as a sort of probationary period where Jesus was being tested to see if he was ready for the job. I sort of get the analogy, but it does not entirely sit comfortably with me. If we accept this at face value then we would have to ask, who is testing Jesus?

We know that it is Satan who is setting the challenges, but normally in a probationary period, it would be your new manager or employer who does the evaluation. So if we follow that through to its logical conclusion then it is God who is testing Jesus.  

We know that Jesus has been in the wilderness for 40 days and nights without food or drink, presumably sustained by the Spirit, as he awaits what is next in God’s plan for him. 

I prefer to see this as Satan, up to his evil tricks and trying to win a victory through deceit and trickery, coming to take advantage of a situation where he thinks Jesus is weak. Because, that’s what Satan does!

Jesus is tested with three scenarios, which can briefly be described as;

Personal needs and security – an abundance of food, 

Power - to test God and have Him command the angels to save Him. 

Leadership – to become leader of the kingdoms of the world.

Arguably, we all desire some or all of these at times, and it is not always wrong to do so. But part of the message here is that there is a time and a place to do so. Ultimately each of these scenarios will face Jesus again and play out in His life’s ministry with different outcomes.

Consider Jesus’ refusal to turn stones into bread relieve His own hunger. – Yet when Jesus is faced with hungry hordes He uses His power to feed thousands of people with just five loaves and two fishes. Jesus is doing this for others, not just himself.

He declines to test God by throwing Himself from the Temple. Yet at the Cross, He willingly submits to mockery and an agonising death. In doing so He is not testing God but demonstrating His absolute trust in God to fulfil His promises. 

Jesus refuses Satan’s offer to lead the Kingdoms of the world, but later He will extend the offer of the kingdom of heaven and eternal life to all those who follow Him in the way of righteousness.

We all have decisions to make about how we live our lives. How much are we tempted to use the money, power or leadership we’ve been given to look after ourselves and how much we think about how we can extend the kingdom of God by loving and helping others? 

How often are we tempted to nurture our day to day physical needs at the expense of our spiritual needs?

If you were to take yourself off to the wilderness, or just a quiet room, and think about your life as a probationary period, how well do you think are doing? How often do you spend a bit of time reflecting or meditating on your day and listening to the Holy Spirit? How much do you trust in God rather than yourself.  Is there anything you might want to change?  Paul

Our Prayers

Loving Father, we thank you for all you have given us.

Forgive us when we forget that all we have comes from you.

Help us to use the talents, time and resources you have given us

to help others and not to be self-centred.

Lord we pray for faith to trust in you 

that when we put our lives in your hands

you will guide us in righteous ways. 

Amen

Today's final hymn is "Jesus, Good Above all Other"

Notices

Please see the posters below for extra services through Lent.

Sunday Worship 15th February

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Sunday next before Lent.

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 Gospel

Mark 9:2-9          The Transfiguration of Christ

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Reflection

As I looked at this reading, a couple of things came to mind.

The first thing that happened was a TV programme I noticed, called the Summit. It’s a reality TV show with Ben Sheppard, where a group of people have to climb a mountain in New Zealand. 

It reminded me of the years I worked in Scotland, when we often hiked up mountains at weekends. There were always spectacular views and vistas to see, taking in the majesty and magnitude of God’s creation in the breathtaking views of the peaks, glens and lochs. It almost always felt spiritual and made me feel genuinely nearer to God. 

Perhaps that’s because – subconsciously I associate mountains with God’s presence. 

In the OT reading [Exodus 24] and Gospel passage, we see two such examples of God appearing on mountains, on each occasion He is manifest in the form of a cloud. 

The first is on Mount Sinai where God gave Moses instructions for the people of Israel as to how they are to live together in peace, and how to worship and honour God. God revealed detailed instructions for building the tabernacle, (a holy place of worship), priestly vestments, and keeping the Sabbath. He also revealed rules about cleanliness, how to treat one another and punishments. And most important of all, The Ten Commandments. The mountain was where God, in the cover of cloud, renewed His covenant with the people of Israel. 

When Moses comes down from Mount Sinai a second time his face is shining like the sun, because Moses has been in the presence of God. And the Israelites were so frightened that Moses had to cover his face. 

In the Gospel passage, Peter, James and John share a similar experience as they witness the Transfiguration of Christ. This again takes place on a mountain. Many people believe the mountain was probably Mount Hermon, in the region of Caesarea which had a position of extreme grandeur and beauty, overlooking the whole of Palestine. 

I wonder what was going through the minds of Peter, James and John as events unfolded.

To some extent they sort of know that there is something special about Jesus. They’ve been with him for a while and have seen some pretty awesome things: They’ve seen Him heal the sick and cast out demons, not to mention a few miracles along the way such as feeding of the 5,000 and walking on water. And they’ve listened to his teaching, interpreting the scriptures in new ways and referring to God as His Father. A few days before they went up the mountain to pray with Jesus, Simon Peter has even acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah and Son of the Living God.

Now Jesus was revealing everything to his closest apostles and His true nature was being made visible before their very eyes.

Just like the Israelites had been when they saw Moses face shining, Peter, James and John were also frightened when they saw Jesus’ face ‘shining like the sun.’

But Jesus has not changed. He is still the same Jesus, but the glory of God has been revealed. The veil of Jesus’ flesh is pulled back and the disciples can see the light of the glory of God shining forth. This is the revelation that Jesus is both fully human and also fully divine. This is a revelation not only to the apostles but to all of us. 

The other thing that influenced my thinking this week was a conversation with Rev. Kirsten. It was about how some churches seem to focus less on the Old Testament and just on the Gospel readings. In doing so they miss much of the context and significance of God’s whole plan for us. 

It is therefore important that we understand the implication of the appearance of Elijah and Moses appearing on the mountain alongside Jesus. The presence of Elijah and Moses points us to the importance of the whole Word of God and God’s plans for humanity - from the beginning of time to eternity. 

As we heard, Moses was the one who brought the Law of God to the people of God. Elijah was one of the greatest prophets. Their presence highlights how Jesus is the fulfilment of God’s law and the prophecies of the Old Testament.

However, His incarnation, life, death and resurrection does not supersede everything that goes before His birth at Bethlehem. 

Whilst Jesus argued with the scribes and Pharisees from time to time, he was highlighting how they often manipulated or misinterpreted the law for their own purposes. He was not challenging the law. 

As Jesus says in Matthew 5:18 ‘…. until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.’ 

In other words, every element of God’s law outlined in the scriptures of the Old Testament remains complete and totally unchanged, and even the smallest part must not be disregarded. The Old Testament remains essential to our understanding of God’s word. Jesus’ actions and teachings show us how to live by God’s law. As God said to the apostles on Mount Hermon, we need to listen to Him. 

In the Epistle reading, Peter recalls the transfiguration event stating that; he was a witness to the voice from heaven confirming the majesty of Christ Jesus, telling us that Jesus is the One to whom we must listen and whom we must obey. Like Peter, we are called to witness the glory of God manifest in Jesus - fully human and fully God. And we too are called to listen and obey Him.

Paul

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father, 

We thank you that you revealed your glory in your Son Jesus Christ.

And that through Him you renewed your covenant with Israel and also the Gentiles.

Help us to worship you as Jesus showed us how to,

And love and help each other and to obey your laws.

In Jesus name we pray.

Amen

Today's final hymn is "I Cannot Tell, Why He whom Angels Worship"

Notices

This week we enter the Season of Lent, and there will be lots of additional services and events.

Please see the posters below for what's happening this week, and there will be more to follow next week.