Today we remember the Holy Innocents. There is no Tuesday service of Holy Communion at St Thomas' Church this week, so our good friend Revd Paul Monk has kindly shared the service transcript from St Barnabas and Holy Trinity. You'll find it by clicking on this link - Medlock Head 2021-12-28
If you haven't been able to get to any of our services over Christmas you might like to listen to some carols and a message from the Archbishop of Canterbury on the YouTube video below - Carols and Chat -
There is also a video of Morning Prayer for St Stephen's Day here -
This Sunday we're hoping that our services will be back to their normal times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'.
Our Christmas services are shown below. All are welcome to join us, but we do ask that you wear a face covering and follow the precautions we have in place to ensure your safety.
Friday December 24th at 5 pm
Family Nativity and Crib Service with our Sunday School at St Thomas’ Church.
Friday December 24th at 11.30 pm
The First Communion of Christmas at St Thomas’ Church
Saturday December 25th at 9.15 am
Christmas Morning Eucharist at St Agnes’ Church
If you are not able to be with us in person, we'll be sharing Christmas Services from around the Diocese and the country on our facebook page - Leesfield Parish
Our good friend Revd Dr Paul Monk from St Barnabas Clarksfield and Holy Trinity Waterhead has also kindly shared his service transcript for Christmas with us. There is a great sermon, with prayers and some wonderful music, and you'll find it by clicking on this link - Medlock Head 2021-12-25
Sadly, our Parish Eucharist on Boxing Day has had to be cancelled due to an unexpected shortage of clergy. We will have some worship resources here on this page instead.
Finally, as Christmas draws ever closer, I'd like to share with you my favourite Advent hymn - "How Far is it to Bethlehem"
All are welcome to join us in our Sunday morning Eucharist services on the fourth Sunday of Advent, 9.15 m at St Agnes' Church and 11 am at St Thomas'. The wearing of face coverings is mandatory, and other precautions are in place to keep everyone safe.
This evening at 6.30 pm we have our traditional service of Nine Lessons and Carols at St Thomas' Church.
If you're not able to be with us in person, the Gospel, a reflection and prayers are shown below, with some hymns, and we will share a Church of England Carol Service this evening.
Our first hymn today is a beautiful version of the Magnificat, by Bernadette Farrell
Today's Gospel
Luke 1:39-45(46-55) Mary visits Elizabeth
In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."
[And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.]
Reflection
A few years ago, well December 2018 to be exact – Edith gave me the following short article to include in the parish magazine. I guess today many of our younger parishioners would call it a meme in todays parlance.
I recall wondering what sort of response it would provoke but to the best of my knowledge no one said anything.
The poignancy was obvious as at the time there were many people commenting in the media about the refugees ‘invading’ Europe from Syria, Africa and other countries. In addition, our streets had record numbers of homeless people, many of whom felt the need to resort to drugs and alcohol as an escape mechanism from the stark reality of their lives.
Yet here in today’s Gospel reading we have the wonderful story of Mary. By many accounts it is estimated that she was only around 15 years old when she became pregnant and to make matters worse, she was also unmarried. This would have brought immense shame and disgrace on Mary and her whole family. They would have been shunned, subject to constant gossip and condemnation.
No wonder that Mary flees from the small village and heads to the hills to her relative Elizabeth. The fact that a young girl would travel alone any great distance was also a cause for concern and would have been deemed most improper. But despite all the events that have turned her world upside down, Mary has utmost trust and confidence in God. She is truly blessed, for she knows because she is a virgin the words of the angel are true and that she is carrying the saviour of the world. This is re-iterated when Elizabeth too is filled with the Holy Spirit and says “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb”. And Elizabeth’s unborn child, John the Baptist, was filled with the Holy Spirit and ‘leapt for joy’ – a sign that he recognised Jesus and would be the one to prepare the way for his coming in later years.
Mary reflects on all of this, and despite the hardship and contempt she has endured, her heart is clearly full of joy at the blessing that has been bestowed on her by God. Her confidence and trust in Him to make all things well and turn the world around is absolute as she sings what we now refer to as the Magnificat. I ask you to read it again and look once more at the meme.
Many of the issues that were concerning folk back in 2018 are still prevalent and arguably exacerbated by the Covid pandemic. Whilst we may not consider ourselves rich, most of us have a roof over our heads and food on our tables. Maybe we too need to count our blessings and think if there is any more we can do? How might we help our Lord turn things around?
As we all prepare for the coming of the Lord, what might make our hearts leap for joy? I wish you all a very happy and joyful Christmas.
Paul
Our Prayers
Most Holy and Blessed Lord,
We thank you for giving us Mary as our Holy Mother.
Thank you for her kindness, selflessness, wisdom and power.
Let us show the same confidence to trust you as she did,
And let our hearts too leap for joy and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
May the light of Mary’s enduring love shine upon every one of us
And may she guide us to You our Saviour and Divine Master.
Amen
Our final hymn this morning is "The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came"
Welcome to Leesfield Parish, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone is most welcome to join us, but please note that the wearing of face coverings is now mandatory in all places of worship. Here are some details of what's happening in our churches over the coming week -
Our Advent season of Worship for all Generations continues at St Agnes' Church, Knolls Lane this evening at 6.30 pm.
Tomorrow evening, Thursday the 16th December, we will be Carol Singing around the houses in Leesfield. As well as taking the real message of Christmas out into the community, we will be collecting money for the Booth Centre for homeless people in Manchester. We'll be adapting the way we usually stand and sing to make sure that we keep everyone safe, and all are welcome to come along.
Our Sunday morning services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas' (with Sunday School), and then at 6.30 pm at St Thomas' we have a traditional service of 9 lessons & carols. After the Carol Service we will gather for mince pies and mulled wine, and the draw for the Christmas Hamper raffle will take place.
The Tuesday morning service of Holy Communion will be at the usual time of 10 am on Tuesday the 21st December, and then we are invited to share carols & mince pies with the Ladies of Leesfield at 2 pm in the community room at St Thomas'.
All of our Christmas Services will be shown here next week, and there will be links to services which you can access on line if you're unable to be with us in person.
This Sunday’s services will be at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas', and this week they will be our annual Toy Services. Donations of toys in good condition will be gratefully received, and will be passed on to the local Women's Refuge along with the donations from this week's Worship for all Generations.
Our annual family Christingle service is at St Thomas’ Church, 3 pm on Sunday. It will be lovely to have the service in church once again - although the children were able to enjoy a Zoom Christingle in their own homes last year. All you need to bring is an orange, everything else will be provided, and the collection from the service will go to the Children's Society.
The latest guidance from the Government, the Church of England and Manchester Diocese is that wearing face coverings in places of worship is now mandatory for all over 12s unless they are exempt. All of the other precautions remain in place to ensure the safety of everyone who attends our churches, and we will regularly monitor the situation and update our risk assessments accordingly.
If you're not able to be with us in person, you can find the Gospel for today, a reflection, prayers and some hymns below.
This morning's first hymn is "Gaudete"
Today's Gospel
Luke 3:7-18 What then should we do?
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptised by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." Even tax collectors came to be baptised, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages."
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptise you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.
Our second hymn today is "Wait For The Lord"
Reflection
What then should we do? - I’ll come to that in a moment but first let’s pick up where we left off last week.
As David pointed out in his sermon last week, John had undoubtedly spent a considerable amount of time “hanging about” in the wilderness and in spiritual preparation for his role as a messianic prophet. He might have been seen as eccentric with his humble clothing of camel’s hair and diet of honey and locusts. He is God’s messenger - a voice crying out in the wilderness proclaiming the baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sin, paving the way for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As this passage begins it is clear that John already has a significant following with some even questioning whether John himself is the Messiah. So, imagine what the crowd must have thought when he starts preaching and refers to them as a “brood of vipers”. His demeanour and preaching style seem stark and aggressive, especially as he then goes on to challenge them about their heritage. The claim that being descendants of Abraham, Isaac and other important ancestors is meaningless would have been a massive and almost blasphemous statement to make.
But John was not rejecting the lineage of the crowd, rather he is telling them that no one, no matter what their background or heritage has an automatic entitlement to be forgiven and enjoy the benefits of the promised kingdom. Or to put it another way, just turning up to get baptised and saying sorry for their sinful ways was not going to escape the wrath of God.
Which brings us back to the question the crowds asked John - “What then should we do?”
In language similar to that of the one who would come after him, John responded with examples that showed that we should change ourselves and look at how we treat our neighbours. John gave real examples based on the people in the crowd. The tax collectors of the time were renowned for adding extra tax and ‘skimming a little extra off the top’ for themselves - John made it clear that this was wrong. The soldiers were in a position of power because they were part of the Roman occupying force, but John again made it clear that was not an excuse to act without integrity or abuse their power. Moreover, as a general point he told the masses that if you have more than you need you should share it with those who have little whether that is food, clothing or even money.
What then should We do? When we look around the world and its troubles, it perhaps feels like a daunting or even impossible task to make a difference. What can we do to sort global poverty, fix corrupt economic powers, feed the starving, house the homeless and so on? But no one is asking us to fix the whole world - even Jesus didn’t do that! Instead, he gave himself to the world - one person at a time and one moment at a time and he changed lives. He demonstrated how we can change the world step by step by relating to each other as human beings. By loving our neighbours – even if they are not known to us. How we can make a difference by each and every act of kindness – be that giving food, clothes or just love.
If we want to bear the good fruits of repentance, we need to examine our own behaviour towards others and as well as saying sorry - looking at what we can do not only as individuals but as a community. If we can’t individually solve world poverty, what could we do? Maybe buy Fairtrade goods where we know producers are paid a fairer return for their efforts. If we can’t afford to solve the homeless crisis on our doorstep, what could we do? Maybe put some money in the beggar’s cup instead of averting our eyes or walking at a distance. Better still say a kind word at the same time to let them know they are loved. If we can’t afford to feed every hungry mouth, what could we do? Maybe donate to the foodbank or even volunteer to help at the many care centres like St. Barnabas. Or maybe make that donation to Christian or The Salvation Army this Christmas.
The good news is, that whilst each small act of kindness and humanity may not put the whole world right, each act will continue to hold the door open for the coming of “the one who is more powerful.” The good news is that our Lord has shown us a better way of relating to our neighbour he has offered us alternative priorities and shown us how we can all be a dwelling place for God.
So perhaps the question may not be ‘What then should we do?”, but moreover, “What then will you do?” Let us ponder and respond to this with Hope and anticipation as we wait patiently for the coming of our Lord in this advent period.
Paul
Our prayers
Almighty and everlasting Father,
Forgive us when we forget how well-off we really are,
Forgive us when we feel hard done to,
yet have relative comfort in our lives,
Forgive us when we get our priorities wrong.
We pray for the wisdom and courage
to examine our lives and actions more closely
And the confidence to change our ways
so that we too can make a difference
and bear the fruits of our repentance.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
This morning's final hymn is "Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending"
This Sunday’s services will be at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas', and this week they will be our annual Toy Services. Donations of toys in good condition will be gratefully received, and will be passed on to the local Women's Refuge along with the donations from this week's Worship for all Generations.
Our annual family Christingle service is at St Thomas’ Church, 3 pm on Sunday. It will be lovely to have the service in church once again - although the children were able to enjoy a Zoom Christingle in their own homes last year. All you need to bring is an orange, everything else will be provided, and the collection from the service will go to the Children's Society.
The latest guidance from the Government, the Church of England and Manchester Diocese is that wearing face coverings in places of worship is now mandatory for all over 12s unless they are exempt. All of the other precautions remain in place to ensure the safety of everyone who attends our churches, and we will regularly monitor the situation and update our risk assessments accordingly.
The Advent season of Worship for all Generations will continue at St Agnes' each Wednesday at 6.30 pm right through to Wednesday the 22nd December, and is recorded for our facebook page on Thursdays.
This Thursday, the 16th December, we'll be out Carol singing around Lees. This is a great way to take the message of Christmas out into the local community, and we also collect money for the Booth Centre for homeless people in Manchester. Meet at St Thomas’ Church at 6 pm - the weather forecast isn't looking too bad at the moment!
Please see the poster below for details of all our services and events for Christmas week, and you can find more news and photos on our facebook page - Leesfield Parish
All are welcome to join us at St Thomas' Church at 10 am for a Parish Eucharist on the Second Sunday of Advent. For the safety of all, we ask that you continue to wear a face covering if you are able to.
For those who are unable to be with us in person, the Gospel, reflection and prayers are shown below.
Our first hymn this morning is "On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry"
Today's Gospel
Luke 3:1-6 John the Baptist Prepares the Way
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah,
"The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
'Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low,
and the crooked shall be made straight,
and the rough ways made smooth;
and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"
Reflection
“… the Word of God came to John, son of Zechariah in the wilderness.” Luke 3; v 2
Airport terminals are strange places. They have a mixed-up atmosphere that seems to come from the excitement of holidays, the weariness of business trips, the anticipation of returning home, the boredom of some prolonged waiting at strange hours of the day or night. They have the clinical feel of a waiting room – except that you have to buy your own magazines. Even the shops selling exciting things such as watches, souvenirs and huge bottles of whisky cannot distract you for long from the fact that there is nothing to do except shop. And then, there are endless loud speaker announcements trying to find people who have got lost somewhere between the check-in and the take-off. In an airport, you are in a kind of geographical limbo – it is as if you belong neither to the country you are leaving, nor yet to the country you are going to. For however long you have to wait, you are neither here nor there, and there is little you can do except listen eagerly for your gate to be called.
The Bible has its own geographical limbo: the wilderness. Much more than a place of dust and rocks, the wilderness has a special spiritual significance in the relationship between God and his people. It is in the wilderness that God calls Moses from the burning bush to lead his people out of Egypt: and it is in the wilderness that the Israelites wander for forty years while they learn what it means to be the people of God. After his baptism, Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, and filled with the power of the Spirit.
So, when we read that the word of the Lord came to John, son of Zechariah in the wilderness, we know that something of real importance is about to happen. John has spent the best part of his life in this geographical and spiritual limbo; just a chapter earlier we read that he was in the wilderness from his childhood until the day he appeared publicly to Israel. Even allowing for the fact that we do not know how old John was, we can make a good guess that that is a long time to be hanging about in a desert. It is a measure of the importance of John’s future work that he required the kind of spiritual preparation that only the wilderness can give. And when the word does come to John, it sets off something that will change the world.
John’s call is the drum roll that announces that salvation is near, that something really new and really good is about to happen. It is a turning point in time, which is perhaps why Luke takes such care to locate this event in history, by giving us the names of the rulers of the day. John hears his call and sets off into public life to call people to repentance for the forgiveness of sins, and to baptise them as a mark of their decision to lead a new life. And so, he becomes John the Baptist, preparing the way of the Lord.
We all know what it is like to be in limbo: to feel that we are neither here nor there. Generally speaking, we are creatures who love to have a purpose, and we get restless and unhappy when we lack one. It may be that this “wilderness” is a stagnant time in our lives: a dead-end job, or relationship. Some people talk of retirement as a time when they feel lost and useless after many years of work. Some parents speak of feeling strangely empty when their children leave home, and for some children the school years have a kind of aching boredom that can also be described as a kind of wilderness.
Our experiences are all different, but the thing to note is this: that just like the airport, the wilderness is a place where things are about to happen, a place of preparation. It may be a long wait; it may seem painfully boring; it may seem pointless, but the wilderness is where the seeds of change are sown and nurtured. It may not be an easy time (although for some it may be too easy, and that can be a problem with it) but it is a time to embrace. It is a time for waiting and listening carefully to the voice of God. And when it comes, who knows where God might lead us?
David
Our Prayers
Forgiving God,
We confess that we often fall short of expectations,
Your prophet, John the Baptist, cried out from the wilderness
and proclaimed a baptism for the repentance of sins.
He came to pave the way and clear the path for your coming.
Help us to listen to his words
that implore us to turn to you and away from our sinful ways.
Guide us along the path to righteousness and goodness,
That leads us to welcome you into our daily lives
As we wait patiently for Christ our hope and salvation.
Amen
This morning's final hymn is "Long Ago, Prophets Knew"
There is so much happening in Lees this weekend. On Saturday the 4th December from 1 pm we'll be dressing the Christmas Trees at St Thomas' Church in readiness for the Harvest Queen Christmas Tree Festival, and then at 4 pm the Lees Christmas Lights will be switched on.
This Sunday, the 5th December, there will be a Parish Eucharist for the second Sunday of Advent at 10 am at St Thomas' Church, and no service at St Agnes'.
The Lees Christmas Market takes place on the High Street on Sunday, so please do come along and support your local businesses.
A poster for all the Advent events and services is shown below - more details next week.
Everyone is most welcome to join us as we celebrate the beginning of a new Church Year on the first Sunday of Advent. Our services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas', and although some of our Covid precautions remain in place for your safety we will still be able to sing some favourite Advent hymns and share refreshments after the service.
How very different it will be to last year, when Zoe and Louie lit the Advent candles in an empty church (see the picture below). We're all praying that it will not be necessary to close our churches again, and we ask that, if you are able to wear a face covering in church, you continue to do so and be kind to one another by observing safe distancing.
This afternoon at 4 pm there is also a special Advent Carol Service with our friends from Churches Together in Lees and District. The service is at 4 pm at the Salvation Army hall on Roundthorn Road, and all are invited.
This morning's first hymn is "Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness (Christ be our Light)
Today's Gospel
Luke 21:25-36Signs of the End of the Age
Jesus said, "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Then he told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
"Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
Reflection
As you can see from the heading of todays reflection, this week is the first week of the season of Advent. It is also the start of the new Church Year. I could wish you all a ‘Happy New Year, but I suspect after reading the Gospel passage you might be tempted to ask the question, “What’s so happy about it?”
It reminds me of old movies, usually westerns, (or cowboys and Indians films, as we used to call them when I was a young boy) - There would be a man in a dark suit walking up and down the street with a sandwich board on proclaiming “the end of the world is nigh!”. He would proclaim impending doom.
This contrasts with the experience of most people at this time when everyone is focussed on Christmas and looking forward to celebrations, presents and feasting. Indeed, since the beginning of November our TV screen and radios have been awash with well-known Christmas jingles and adverts.
For the studious among you, the word advent comes from Latin – with “ad” which means towards and ‘veni’ meaning ‘coming’. As Christians we are also focussed with hope on the coming of the ‘Light of Christ into our world’, as we prepare to celebrate the nativity and the incarnation of our Lord Jesus as a humble infant. So yes, it is right that we spend time during Advent focussing on the first coming of Christ two millennia ago. During the third and fourth weeks of Advent we look at just that. But for now, we are asked to look at the Second Coming of Christ as foretold in Daniel 7:13 and todays Gospel.
To some extent, the scene was already being set for us in the Gospel reading on Remembrance Sunday, [Mark 13: v1-8], where Jesus at the Mount of Olives, begins to describe the signs of the end of the age “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains”.
He is not describing what is imminent but what will happen before his second coming. Similarly, Luke is setting the scene when writes about what Jesus tells his disciples about the end of the world and the signs that will be a precursor to his coming again.
It might not be unreasonable for us to look at current events and think we too are at the brink of the end of the world. We see endless wars across the globe and are worried about terrorist acts in our own country. There news stories about floods, drought, wildfires, hurricanes and earthquakes. Then to put the icing on the cake, there is the very real threat of climate catastrophe and adverse impacts of global warming.
However, in past years people have also looked at their own times and read into events that the we are near that time. In some our lifetimes been other natural disasters – earthquakes and tsunamis, World Wars, the cold war with the threat of nuclear annihilation and numerous wars in the Middle East which is after all bible country.
As has always been the case, we don’t have to look too hard to see signs but that doesn’t necessarily mean it be tomorrow. It is not for us to know exactly when that time will be, only God knows that. But for Christians there is a far more positive message amongst all these portents of doom. Jesus did not say this as a threat to us – so that we would walk through our lives with foreboding and gloom.
Jesus’s parable of the fig tree enables us to understand that if we can see the signs, then we can interpret them. Just as we can predict the coming of summer and new growth when we see new shoots and leaves. As with Jesus first coming, the signs are our hope and reassurance that God has not abandoned us, that God cares for us, he loves us and he notices us. He takes part in our daily lives.
His return will not be catastrophic for believers because his return will usher in their redemption. It will be a time for hope, anticipation and glory. Jesus is telling us to watch out for the signs of his return, so like when the fig tree has new growth we know to prepare for summer, when we begin to see the signs of his second coming, we have time to prepare and be alert. We need to “stand up and raise our heads” and "Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life”
In the meantime, we must work as disciples and spread the Good News and love of God. We must love one another and play our role in the community. We must continue to prepare for Christ’s return. We must be ready, because he could return at any time. The promise of his return offers us hope, that is the promise and good news of the Advent signs.
There’s certainly a lot to think about during this Advent season – I hope you can find a little time amongst the chaos to reflect on all that it means over the coming few weeks.
Paul
Our Prayers
Most merciful Lord,
As we patiently wait for the day of your coming,
in a cloud with great power and glory,
help us to put aside the burdens that weigh us down,
and let us trust in your love
knowing that you hold us all in the palm of your hand.
In this time between times,
teach us to use this time wisely, watching and praying,
and to make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with you.
Amen
Our final hymn this morning is "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"
Everyone is most welcome to join us for our Sunday Eucharist at St Thomas' Church at 11 am or at St Agnes' at 9.15 am. Some of our Covid precautions remain in place to keep everybody safe, but we'll be singing a couple of hymns and offering refreshments after the service, and Sunday School is now back at St Thomas'.
Our first hymn this morning is "Bread is Blessed and Broken"
Today's Gospel
John 18:33-37 Jesus before Pilate
Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”
“Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
“You are a king, then!” said Pilate.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Reflection
I have borrowed this week’s reflection from a new website that I came across called refectionary.com. It is written by Fay Rowlands (aka Mother Clanger) and I am sure you will find it enjoyable as well as thought provoking.
I love the Lord of the Rings films. Mostly because I love the books, but it certainly helps to have drool-worthy Aragorn flashed across the screen from time to time.
He’s an interesting fellow, Aragorn, or Strider as he is known when we first meet him. If you don’t know the stories, he is introduced as a shady character, a lone wanderer with a non-too-glorious past. Who is he? Can we trust him? What is the secret he is hiding? Two thousand pages later, he turns out to be the rightful king of men and he Gets The Girl.
No-one would have believed that at the start – he neither looked like a king, nor acted like one. But appearances can be deceptive, as we see in today’s reading. Jesus and Strider have a lot in common.
All the time that Strider was wandering around Middle Earth in a grubby cloak, he was the king. It didn’t matter if people knew that or not. It didn’t matter if they acknowledged his authority or not. They could reject him, insult him, try to kill him. Yet he was still the king. Sound like anyone else?
A lot of people were confused about Jesus. They had heard about his being a king, supposedly, but he didn’t dress like a king, he didn’t talk like a king, he certainly didn’t act like a king. So perhaps he wasn’t a king, not really.
If not a king then what? Maybe we can dismiss him as a good teacher. Then we can pick and choose the nice bits he said and agree with them, but ignore the harder stuff. If he’s not a king, we don’t have to obey when we don’t fancy it. We can keep our own little kingdoms.
That certainly would make things easier. When Strider was found to be the rightful heir to the throne of men, not everyone was pleased. The appointed stewards, who had been keeping the throne warm for the last few generations, were none too pleased at the thought of losing control of their kingdom – even though they were only looking after it for the long-awaited king.
It was the same with Jesus. When he turned up and started fulfilling prophecies of another long-awaited king, there were plenty of ‘stewards’ who had become quite used to their borrowed thrones and were not keen to move aside.
Pilate – he had a throne to defend, but he needn’t have worried. Jesus was not after earthly power, although everyone from Satan in the desert to his disciples thought he should be.
The religious folk – They certainly had a kingdom to protect. They had been maintaining the faith of the children of Abraham for centuries and they were not about to let some jumped-up messiah carpenter from the ill-educated north start rocking the boat.
We find it easy to wag a finger at them from the safety of 2000 years, but would we so easily see the truth had Jesus been ruffling feathers here today? These people we criticise for their blindness were the church elders, the well-respected theologians, the conference speakers, the ministers, the house-group leaders of the day. Let us make sure we are not building our kingdoms when we seek to build his.
But what about the smaller kingdoms? We are all stewards of our own little domains. How easy do we find it to hand the reins of power to the rightful king when he asks for them back? The rich young man of Mark 10 wanted to keep a firm grip on the reins of his riches, and money can so often be the place where it is hardest for us to let go.
The uncomfortable truth is that Jesus is king, whether we like it or not. If we welcome him with rejoicing or if we fight to keep the power we think is ours, he is king. If we gladly bow in worship or if we turn our backs and ignore the commands we don’t like, he is king. If we freely offer all our gifts and possessions back to the one who gave them or if we snarlingly guard them as a dog his food bowl, He Is King.
Fay Rowlands
Our Prayers
Almighty and everlasting Lord
Let us remember that Jesus is our king
The Lord of our lives and master of all kingdoms great and small.
As we bow in worship before Him,
help us to put aside delusions of our own power
And submit to Jesus’ will.
Give us the courage to devote our skills, time and possessions,
to serve our Lord and remember that we belong to Jesus.
“It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.”
Amen
Our final hymn today is "Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning"
What a beautiful Remembrance Day Service at the War Memorial in Lees Cemetery last Sunday. There was a fantastic turnout from our Community; Royal British Legion - Lees and District Branch, Veterans, Churches, Uniformed Organisations, Sunday Schools, Councillors . . . . all marching proudly as we remembered those who gave their today for our tomorrow.
This Sunday our congregations would usually have gathered at St Hugh’s School to celebrate St Hugh’s Day, but we were unable to do that due to the ongoing Covid situation. Instead, Revd Amy-Elizabeth led a lovely service for the children in school last Tuesday morning. We’re looking forward to sharing their special day with them next year.
The PCC will meet on Monday 22nd November, 7 pm at St Thomas’ Church, and we’ll be making all the final arrangements for the services and events throughout Advent and Christmas. When complete - the details will all be on these pages.
On Sunday the 28th November at 4:00 pm, we are all invited to the Churches Together Advent Carol Service at the Salvation Army, Roundthorn. This is the first joint service that we've been able to hold for nearly 2 years, so it will be great to join together in worship once again.
This morning's Parish Eucharist is at the earlier time of 9.15 am at St Thomas' Church, and there will be no service at St Agnes'. Following the service at St Thomas' we will assemble at Lees Library along with the Royal British Legion to process down to Lees Cemetery for a united Act of Remembrance.
Our first hymn this morning is "O Valiant Hearts"
Today's Gospel
Mark 13: v1-8 Signs of the End of the Age
As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
“Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.”
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”
Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Reflection
In this Gospel Jesus makes reference to the constancy of war and nations rising against nations which is perhaps apt given this coincides with Remembrance Sunday. Last year we did not have a service for Remembrance Day due to the lock down. So I have chosen to share with you the sermon that would have been preached in 2020.
It is eternally important that we remind ourselves of the dreadful cost of war if we are ever to live in peace. The most compelling outward sign of our remembrance is the simple red flower, the Flanders Poppy. It has become the symbol of the Royal British Legion, but more than that, across the world, it has come to represent the sacrifice made by all those men, women and children who have given their lives in conflict.
From early history flowers have become symbols; Clover leaf for the Holy Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Lilies for purity, Roses for love and for England, Daffodils for the Marie Curie charity and for Wales, Thistle for Scotland and the Shamrock for Ireland. But, how was the poppy chosen as the universal symbol of remembrance?
As you might expect, it began with a death, the death of a friend of a man called John McCrae in 1915 in Belgium. John McCrae was kneeling at the grave of his friend and was moved to write a poem reflecting the scene around him. He wrote:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard among the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields
In 1921, the British Legion began the Poppy Day Appeal to raise money for poor and disabled veterans, and now the Poppy campaign is the Royal British Legion’s most important activity.
As we know, the appeal continues to raise the funding needed to help all service-men and women and their families in the most practical way. However, critically, the appeal serves to maintain our awareness of our past, and present, in order that our prayers for peace, and the future of our families, our children and grandchildren, will be fulfilled.
The bible records much violence, many wars and countless deaths, especially in the Old Testament, and it is a heart breaking reflection that there has probably never been a time when conflict has not existed somewhere in the world both in the past, currently and dare I say it..in the future.
The book of the prophet Micah was written around 700 years before Jesus, and in our reading today he prophesied a future of hope, an ideal world, a world when nations come together in peace instead of war. His words came against a background of violence with the fall of Samaria in the North and instability in the region created by the aggressive superpower of Assyria. However, Micah never lost faith for the future. His vision saw a time when the arms of war would be turned into farming tools and people would live in peaceful community.
Jesus was born into an occupied land, and he lived and died in that occupied land. The Jews were waiting for their king, the Messiah, and they expected him to overthrow the Roman invaders by the traditional, violent, means. You see Peace was not really on the agenda in those New Testament times. Jesus came and taught peace to the disciples and anyone who would hear him, he said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.”
The message that Jesus carried did not suit the Pharisees and religious leaders because he threatened the norm, whatever that is, and anyway he did not fit their idea of the anticipated mighty and all-conquering Messiah. The local Roman authorities were worried that any unrest would reflect badly on them. They wanted a quiet life; peace on their terms was just fine.
So Jesus, the light of the world, died for us in an act of darkest violence. Three days later, as the Son of God, he rose again in light for us.
Peace is a precious commodity; it comes from trust, patience, tolerance and faith. It is not unilateral, it cannot be “Peace only on my terms”, it results from mutual agreement and understanding. Peace has never been easy to achieve; it is very hard work to establish and keep the peace at any level in our society. Yet regardless of the difficulties, peace must be what we all strive for, what Micah foresaw, what Jesus taught us. The driving force for peace must come from us, it must come from our remembrance of those who have given their lives in war; it must come from those injured in conflict and for their families and loved ones. Peace will not come if we forget; it won’t happen if we wait for others to work for it.
It is through our vigilance, our voice, and our prayers that peace and light will emerge. The poppies, wreaths and crosses that we lay at memorials on Sunday remember not only those from this community who have given their lives. We also remember the injured and their families for whom we have no recorded names.
The Poppy is our symbol of Remembrance, but let us remember through the remembering of pain and loss that there is always the light of hope, love and faith through Jesus Christ.
Our prayers
God of Peace
May each of us be instruments of Your peace.
Help us be aware of the many opportunities we have to promote peace and justice.
May we never underestimate the power of our actions.
Help us to know best to promote peace and justice.
