Sunday Worship 1st February

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fourth Sunday of Epiphany, when we will be celebrating the Presentation of Christ at the Temple. 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

Luke 2:22-40 Presentation of Christ at the Temple

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

"Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."

And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed- and a sword will pierce your own soul too."

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

Reflection

How do you feel when you read the story about the presentation of Christ at the Temple?

Yes, it’s a lovely story and I could write at length about the Jewish traditions and customs dating back to Moses relating to purification rites - the reason why the Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple.

However, I want us to think about the emotions and feelings that Simeon and Anna must have been feeling when these events happened. 

In the busy world we now live in we are used to instant gratification, it seems like we can get everything on the internet – just a few clicks and what we want is delivered in a van the following day. Many of us are impatient, we generally hate queuing for things or having to wait. 

But not everything can be ordered on line or purchased from a visit to the shops, and not everything can be obtained quickly. Have you ever wanted something really badly? Maybe recognition by someone you care about, or a promotion that you think you’re long overdue for, maybe a first child, or something else that you yearn for in your life. And you want it so badly, you think about it all of the time. 

There is a saying, ‘if something is worth having, it’s worth waiting for’. That can feel like small consolation when your hopes and expectations are never going to be fulfilled. 

When I look at Anna and Simeon, I see two extremely devout and patient individuals. Simeon, blessed by the Holy Spirit, has been told that he will see the Messiah, the one who comes to save the world, before he dies. He has waited expectantly all of his life for this moment. How many times must he have visited the temple and prayed and waited for this moment? Hundreds, thousands, even more? Now guided by the Holy Spirit he immediately recognises who this child is. Can you begin to imagine the extent of his joy and delight in that moment? Luke describes Simeon ‘saying’ the words of the ‘Nunc Dimittis’, [Highlighted above], but I imagine him shouting this song of exaltation with total joy in his heart and tears in his eyes. 

Good things are worth waiting for, and God has fulfilled His promise – the Saviour has been revealed to Simeon. A light revealed to Israel and her enemies alike. This is a story of great wonder and astonishment – as momentous as the angels visiting the shepherds at Jesus’ birth.

Similarly, in Anna’s story, we learn of a marriage tragically cut short by the early death of her husband. We see a life of utter devotion, literally lived in the temple for over sixty years, praying and fasting. When she sees the infant Jesus she is compelled to praise God and tell everyone she can about the significance of who Jesus is. He is the Messiah, the one who has come to usher in the redemption of Jerusalem that the Jews have longed for across generations during their humiliation and exile by Babylonians, and now their occupation by the Roman forces. Like Simeon, Anna must have been overwhelmed with emotions of joy and happiness.  This scripture is all about the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises, not only to Simeon and Anna but for us.

It encourages us to trust in God's promises and to find comfort in the assurance of salvation through Jesus Christ. So we too should have joy in our hearts because God fulfils his promises.    Paul

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father,

We give you thanks for the example of your servants Simeon and Anna,

who waited with patience and devotion, 

for your promise to be fulfilled.

We pray for that same level of trust and devotion, 

and for happiness and delight in the knowledge that Jesus came to fulfil your promise and redeem all who believe in Him.   

Amen

Today's final hymn is "Lord, the Light of Your Love is Shining"

Notices

This coming Saturday is our Ladies of Leesfield Coffee Morning, and all are most welcome to come along.

On Shrove Tuesday, the 17th February, there will be a Pancake Party at St John's Church, please see the poster below for details.

Sunday Worship 25th January

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Third Sunday of Epiphany. 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 "Great is Thy Faithfulness"

Today's Bible Reading

Acts 9:1-22         The Conversion of Saul

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 

The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one. Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.  For three days he was without sight and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem,  and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptised, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” All who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?” Saul became increasingly more powerful and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Messiah. 

Reflection

A long scripture passage today and one that comes around frequently in the cycle of bible readings. It tells of the story of the conversion of Saul which we recount this week. Saul, later known as Paul, wrote many of the letters contained in the New Testament and was we might nowadays call ‘a wrong un’ . Well certainly up north anyway! 

He was despised and feared by the new Christian movement, (referred to as The Way, in verse 2 above), because he enjoyed persecuting them. He asked for permission from the High Priests to hunt them down and bring them back bound, to stand before the priests and Pharisees for their blasphemy. 

But, in this short reflection, I want, for a change, to spend a few moments reflecting on Ananias the faithful Christian, who also has a key role to play but who is often overlooked. 

The Lord comes to Ananias in a vision and asks him to go to seek out Saul in the house of Judas, and furthermore to heal him of his blindness. Ananias’ first reaction is one of shock, and horror. He has heard how terrible Saul has been and that he is in the region right now on a mission to gather up people like him and punish them. Imagine what your reaction might be. 

It is likely that the Christians were in hiding keeping well away from Saul, so the thought of going to visit him would be like asking him to volunteer to put himself in grave danger. Maybe, for a moment, he has doubts about following Jesus - why would he be asked to do such a thing? He is so dubious, that he even challenges the Lord, as good as saying, “you cannot be serious!”

The response he gets is, “I have chosen Saul to be my instrument …… I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name”. [v16]. Despite his fears and reservations, Ananias immediately puts his apprehension aside and obeys the Lord, seeking Saul and healing him. We don’t even know if Ananias was a healer, all we are told is that he was a disciple of Jesus. I think it is fair to say that his faith was strong and he believed he would be safe, and also that the Lord would give him the power to do whatever he was asked to.   

As disciples of Christ, how far would we be willing to go to follow Him? Would we befriend someone who was an ex-convict or someone whom other people despised for some reason? Do we just want to love those we find acceptable or are we willing to face those we don’t relate to. Like Ananias, we need to have faith in Jesus that He will give us the power we need to do His will and bring the kingdom of God into our whole community. 

    Paul 

Our Prayers

Loving Father,

You call  us to play our part

in bringing your kingdom here on earth.

Give us the faith and confidence to do so

with love, compassion and impartiality.

Keep us safe and help us to do your will,

knowing you will give us the power we need.

In Jesus name we pray.     

Amen

Today's final hymn is "Give me Joy in my Heart"

Sunday Worship 18th January

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday after Epiphany. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.

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

Our first hymn this morning is "All People that on Earth do Dwell"

Today's Gospel

John 1:29-42 The First Disciples of Jesus

John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him; but I came baptising with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptise with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon. One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed). He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

Reflection

Let’s start with a quiz question. 

What are the first words that Jesus says in the Gospel according to John?

We see them in today’s passage in John 1: verses 38 and 39. 

“What are you looking for?” They said to Him,  “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” 

Of course these aren’t the first  words Jesus said, and we know from the other Gospels that Jesus knew John Baptist beforehand. Indeed, this passage opens with the story of John the Baptist baptising  Jesus in the River Jordan. His testimony about the Holy Spirit descending upon Jesus from heaven and remaining with Him. John’s testimony that Jesus is the true Messiah. 

This is a moment of recognition and transition as John points towards Jesus as the true Son of God. Up until now it has been John who had a huge following, and people were coming from hundreds of miles to be baptised in the Jordan to be John’s disciples. Some thought he was a prophet and some also believed that John was the Messiah.

But now John is fulfilling his role and pointing people towards Jesus when he says “There goes the Lamb of God”. And the following day he repeats the same words in front of his own disciples. John is acknowledging that his role is complete and that he has achieved his purpose in paving the way for Jesus. He is not resentful or jealous, he is full of joy. In John 3:30 he speaks of that joy and how he must become less and allow Jesus to become greater. And so he is pointing own disciples and others towards Jesus.

Now we turn again to Jesus’ words when John’s disciples went to him and asked where he was staying.  Jesus responds, “Come and see.”  This not a command or an instruction, it’s an invitation.  In my mind, I imagine Him saying it quietly, almost in a whisper. 

But it’s not just an invitation to come and see where Jesus is staying, it’s a welcome to be with Jesus, to follow Him as his very first disciples. It’s a loving response to the desire of the two to want to be with Jesus and to follow Him willingly. Andrew and his friend believe the wonderful testimony of John and yearn to follow the anointed one – ‘Lamb of God’.

Jesus’ first question isn’t “Who do you want?”  but, “What do you want?” 

They don’t just want to meet Jesus, they want to be with Him. They want a relationship with Him, to follow Him and devote themselves to Him. They want to become his first disciples. And Andrew’s experience is so overwhelming that he wants to share it with others; he goes away and invites his brother, Simon Peter who will become known as the ‘rock of the church’. 

 

They want to remain with Jesus and abide with Him. They answered Jesus’ quiet invitation to be with Him and had courage to believe in Him. We too are invited to come and see and meet Jesus, and we are asked to courageously put our trust and faith in Him. 

We are invited by those who point to Him and have experienced the love of Jesus for themselves - and we are personally invited by Jesus Himself to open our hearts and ‘come and see’ for ourselves.

Like his first disciples, Jesus invites us to ‘come and see’ and also abide with Him, uniting us with the same Spirit that anointed and remained with him.

Paul 

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for the testimony of John the Baptist,

and all those who came after him

who point us towards Jesus the Lamb of God.

We pray that we may willingly respond to Jesus’ gracious invitation,

to follow Him and commit ourselves to Him, 

to  abide with Him and witness your glory

in our lives.

Amen

Today's final hymn is "Will You Come and Follow Me"

Notices

The Ladies of Leesfield monthly meeting is on Tuesday 20th January at 2 pm in St Thomas’ Community Room. All are most welcome to join us for companionship and refreshments.

The Week of Christian Unity starts today, and runs until Sunday 25th January, and Churches Together in Lees and District will be celebrating with a special service at 3 pm at Springhead Congregational Church on the 25th.