Welcome to our Worship on the last Sunday after Epiphany. At present both churches in Leesfield Parish are closed for Public Worship, but you're most welcome to join us for worship at home. You'll find everything you need to do that here on this page.
We'll also be sharing recorded services from the Church of England, and St Barnabas & Holy Trinity on our facebook page - Leesfield Parish
Our first hymn his morning is "Love is His Word"
Today's Gospel -
Mark 9:2-9
Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Reflection -
This year the last Sunday after Epiphany falls on St. Valentine’s Day, so I thought I might use this opportunity to share his story. Traditionally St. Valentine’s Day is an occasion for celebrating our love for another, usually with cards, flowers and chocolates; so perhaps convenient that it falls just before the beginning of Lent.
But who was St. Valentine? He was a priest that lived around AD 270 in the times of the Roman Empire. At that time, Emperor Claudius II dictated that men should be banned from getting married as he believed single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families. Some of you may recall similar attitudes expressed by football and cricket managers a few years ago who banned their players from taking their wives and girlfriends on tours.
Valentine considered the decree to be unjust and so defied the Emperor by conducting marriage ceremonies to young couples who came to him. When knowledge of his acts of defiance were reported to Claudius, he ordered him arrested. St. Valentine was then accused of ministering to prisoners who the Romans had incarcerated and persecuted for being Christians and so he was sentenced to be put to death.
The legend has it that his jailor’s daughter regularly visited Valentine while he was confined in gaol and fell in love with him. Some Catholics also believe that he cured her blindness. It is said that shortly before he died, Valentine requested writing materials and wrote a farewell letter to her and signed it… “From your Valentine.”
It’s a centuries old love story that has become a tradition that is celebrated the world over. However, it is more than an entertaining story that you may find in a Mills and Boon novel. It tells of the love of St. Valentine for his fellow man, a love that comes from God, the ultimate source of all love.
What do we mean by love and how would we begin to describe it? Many poets have tried to write about it but tend to put it in the context of romance or simile. It is as hard to describe love as it would be to try and describe a sunrise to a blind person who has no concept of colour and shape. It is something we can experience and know when we see it, but is too hard to put into words.
There is the love felt between a man and a woman and the love we feel towards family, friends and those close to us. There is the love that is shown to others when we act selflessly to help someone in need, especially if that is someone we don’t even know. There is the love that we show when we share another’s burden, as the song goes… “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother”.
Then there is ‘perfect love’. The love of God. A love so pure and magnificent that we as mortals cannot fully comprehend. As John wrote, “let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God”.
Every time we show love to another no matter how great or small, there is a piece of God’s love embedded in it. For God himself is the source of love and as John goes on to tell us in no uncertain terms... “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. God sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins”.
We all want to be loved and need to be loved. But for some people there are dark times when for whatever reason we may feel unloved. I suspect that in these current times some of those who are very isolated and haven’t seen or spoken with people for such a long time may be feeling that way.
But no matter how uncared for we may feel, we must remember that God will always love us, irrespective of our circumstances and no matter how much we have sinned. God is there for us. God’s love is unconditional and so should ours be. We shouldn’t just show love to someone because we expect to be loved back. We should be there for each other. Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." So this week let’s put discipleship into action. Why not call someone and tell them that they are loved?
After all, Valentine’s Day is a day to tell others we love them.
Our Prayers -
Let us pray that we come to know God’s perfect love for us,
that His love will be reflected by us towards others,
not only on Valentine’s Day,
but every day,
and that we can realise the fullness of God’s love for us.
Caring God, source of all love
Be with those who are lonely and feeling unloved or uncared for.
Let them feel your presence beside them
And let their hearts be filled and refreshed
by the greatness your perfect love.
Amen.
This morning's final hymn is "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" -
