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.

Sunday Worship 8th February

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday before Lent, which is also Racial Justice 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 "When I Needed a Neighbour"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 6: 25 - 34                   Do Not Worry

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. 

Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 

And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your span of life?  And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,  yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith? 

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’  For it is the gentiles who seek all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Reflection

Do not worry!

Perhaps that is easier said than done. I have to admit I am a natural worrier at times. We all worry about our health and wealth; our families, be that young children or aging relatives. We worry about our future and our job security and so many other things. It’s human nature isn’t it?

So what is Jesus saying here? It almost seems impossible. Don’t worry about the basics in life, food, drink clothing, and first and foremost seek the kingdom of God. That is more important than anything else. I wonder how easy that is to do for people who are starving around the world, or the homeless and those having to rely on foodbanks for their next meal?

It feels like a really hard message. Someone once told me that worrying never helped anything, it just makes us feel bad and sad. Indeed on their 1985  album – Brothers in Arms  recorded a poignant song called Why Worry? It contained the following lyrics:

Why worry?

There should be laughter after pain, There should be sunshine after rain

These things have always been the same, So why worry now? 

It is a message of hope not despair. 

If you ask your doctor, I’m sure he or she will tell you that worrying is one if the worst things you can do unless you want high blood pressure, a heart attack or an ulcer.

Jesus is not saying that food and drink are not important, but endlessly worrying about the future does nothing to make our lives better. Neither is he saying that we can just sit at home doing nothing and just hope that God will feed us. God feeds the birds but that doesn’t mean they don’t have to dig the worm out of the earth or peck the seeds from the ground.

What Jesus did teach His disciples is that our relationship with God is to be the paramount focus of our lives – seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. It’s about getting our priorities right. When we are consumed with fret over our circumstances – whatever they may be – that wrongly becomes the priority of our lives above God. When we succumb to worry, it demonstrates our lack of faith, and our inability to appreciate what the hand of God has provided today, because we are fretting about what He may not provide tomorrow. We need to remember that ultimately everything we have has come from God by His grace. 

It is no coincidence that just before Jesus tells us not to worry, He shows us how to pray to the Father in the words of the Lord’s Prayer. We start by recognising God’s name is to be hallowed and pray that His kingdom may come and His will be done, before we ask for him to provide our Daily Bread. Seeking the kingdom of God is our priority. Jesus reminds us to hunger and thirst for righteousness and to put God and His work before our own needs. 

By stating that we should seek “first” the kingdom of God and his righteousness, Jesus is not saying we should not seek anything else, provided the first thing we seek is God’s kingdom and righteousness. God wants us to put Him first and not treat Him as the icing on the cake after we have everything else we want. 

There is more to life than worrying about what our lives will be like in the future, although this may be difficult for some. God will and does provide. 

Jesus wants us to put our energy into things that give more meaning to life. We need to strive to discern how God is working in the world and how to participate in acts of justice, to build His kingdom here on earth to look after one another. When we do, other things will come naturally.                  Paul

Our Prayers

Loving Father

Amidst all the strains and stresses of our lives,

we pray that we can look past the distractions of this world.

That we may appreciate all that you do for us,

and count our many blessings. 

Help us trust in you with all our hearts and minds. 

In Jesus’ name we pray. 

Amen 

Today's final hymn is "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God"

Notices

Bellringing is making a comeback at St Thomas' Church. We haven't been able to ring the bells at St Thomas' for quite some time now due to lack of ringers, but we have started up again from Tuesday 3rd February from 7 to 8.30 pm. Our Tower Captain is Eric Whitehead, a former ringer at St Thomas', and we will have help from ringers at local towers to start our own band of ringers here. New learners of all ages (9 - 90) are most welcome to join us in this traditional and skilful activity, which is particularly great for families. 

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.