Sunday Worship 27th March

 Sunday Worship

Everyone is most welcome to join us for our worship on Mothering Sunday, the Fourth Sunday in Lent. The services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11.00 am at St Thomas'

If you're not able to be with us in person, you'll find some worship resources below.

Our first hymn this morning is "Bread is Blessed and Broken"

Today's Gospel

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32                The Parable of the Lost Son                

All the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, "This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them." 

So Jesus told them this parable:

"There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.' So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and travelled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. 

So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many of my father's hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands."' 

So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate.

"Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.' Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, 'Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!' Then the father said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.'"

Reflection

If you have a few minutes to peruse the Bible this week you may want to look at verses 4-14, (which are in the gap between the opening of today’s reading and the end verses). 

First there is the parable of the Lost Sheep followed by the parable of the Lost Coin. I’m sure when you read them you will be as familiar with both passages as you are the one above which is of course the parable of the Lost Son or some of you may know it as The Prodigal Son. 

All of these parables tell us about the loss of something or someone important to the us, the trials and stress of the search, the relief and joy when what has been lost is found and the celebration that ensues afterwards.  

In the story of the prodigal son there are also moral considerations apart from just the sense of the father’s loss. 

The prodigal son made some conscious decisions and not only did he waste part of his life and squander a considerable amount of his father’s wealth - he acted from total selfishness. He hadn’t stopped for a moment to consider the impact on his father, brother or the rest of the family who must have suffered some hardship from having to dispose of half their assets and farmland. 

Even when he has his ‘eureka’ moment and decides to go back to his family, this is still motivated by the selfish thought that he would be better off as a servant for his father. He considered that the ‘grass would now be now greener on the side on the fence he had come from’.

Nonetheless, despite the selfish ways of the prodigal son, the father is overjoyed when he sees his son. We read that he saw him coming whilst he was still far off and we can only image how much he must have missed him and how many hours he stood watching in hope that he would return some day. He obviously still loves him deeply. 

As the father explains to his elder disgruntled son, his love is abundant enough to go around and encompass both the loyal and obedient offspring and the one who strayed from home. 

More importantly it is his decision alone to love them both and not the responsibility of the other son to pass judgement or dictate his father’s actions. That is the point that Jesus needed to make in order to reassure the great and the good in the religious community who were grumbling that he was also associating with the tax collectors and sinners.

Likewise, it is not for us to say that one person is more deserving of God’s grace than another or make our own judgements.  That is indeed Good News for us all, for we have all sinned at some time 

Thankfully, God’s love is so vast that He sent his only Son to die for our sins.   

Paul

This week's Lent reflection by Bishop Mark Davies can be watched here -

Our Prayers

Holy Father,

we thank you for your abundant love,

and that when we stray,

you are there to guide us

and call us back to your ways.

Caring Lord,

Help us seek your grace,

your endless your compassion

and the blessings you are eager to give us.

Amen

Our final hymn today is "For All The Saints, Who From Their Labours Rest"

Sunday Worship 20th March

 Sunday Worship

Today's services for the Third Sunday of Lent are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'. If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find resources below to worship from home.

Our first hymn this morning is "Just as I am, Without one Plea"

Today's Gospel

Luke 13: 1- 9                                           Repent or Perish

At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them--do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did."

Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, 'See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?' He replied, 'Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"

Reflection

I am writing this reflection as the war in Ukraine enters it’s third week. Only yesterday there was news about the bombing of a hospital in the already devastated town of Mariupol – a hospital caring for expectant mothers and those needing post-natal care. It seems incomprehensible to grasp that in the twenty first century, we are seeing such atrocities in Europe and some people might reasonably ask, “What have these people done to deserve this?” 

As we are seeing today, there are many times over the centuries and across the world where terrible things have happened. Jesus refers to the disaster at the tower of Siloam - where 18 people were killed. Similarly, He listens to the stories of the malicious treatment of the Galileans by the blood thirsty Pilate - a portent of the fate that he too would face. However, none of these events are as a result of a vengeance seeking God punishing humanity. These dreadful things are at the hands of human beings; because of our misguided beliefs, our fears and mistrust, our fallibility in allowing ourselves to be misled and other selfish weaknesses.  

Bad things happen every day but we must not blame God for this. God loves each and every one of us and he wants to forgive us. We all do things wrong and commit selfish or unfair acts throughout our lives, but God still wants to forgive us. Like the gardener in the parable, God’s desire is to nurture us and give us one more chance. 

Jesus tells us that for God to forgive us, we must first examine our own actions and demonstrate a willingness to repent and say sorry. More than that, we must show a commitment turn things around, to follow a different path - His path. Crucially, Jesus is not saying that bad things don’t happen to good people or that if we repent, then nothing awful will happen to us. Rather, he is showing us that if we turn to God’s way, we will be better prepared for the time when we look for a place in God’s kingdom.                          Paul

This week's Manchester Diocese Lent reflection is by Revd Canon Nick Smeeton

Our Prayers

Almighty Father,

We pray that we can make space in our lives to listen you.

To accept that you are wiser than us

and to set aside our own human wisdom and self-righteous ways.

Loving God,

You understand our nature and failings

Forgive us our transgressions 

and give us the humility and courage to ask for one more last chance

and to find a path to return to you.

Amen

Today's final hymn is "And Can It Be, That I Should Gain"

Notices

The Churches Together in Lees and District Lent Lunches continue at Zion Methodist Church, 12 noon on Tuesday.

Please see the notice below about Worship for all Generations during Lent.

Finally, next week is Mothering Sunday, and our services will be at the usual times in both churches. The clocks go forward on the previous night, so don't forget or else you'll be rather early for church.

Sunday Worship 13th March

 Sunday Worship

This morning's services are at the usual times - 9.15 am at St Agnes' Church and 11 am at St Thomas'.

If you're not able to be with us in person, the Gospel, reflection and prayers are available below.

Today's first hymn is "Do not be Afraid, for I have Redeemed You"

The Gospel

Luke 13: 31-35       Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem

Some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.' Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, 'Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Reflection

I can remember one really dreadful night when my children were young. A tooth was coming, and she was sleeping very badly. As was I. 

I understood perfectly. In her small world, she was in unendurable pain (she didn’t know about the wonders of paracetamol) and she was suffocating (it’s hard to blow the nose of a 1-year-old). So in her anger and frustration at the pain, in her fear and distress at the (she felt) life-threatening danger, she flailed. Oh, how she flailed! She screamed and writhed and twisted and yelled.  I picked her up from her cot to comfort her and was rewarded with a long scratch down my cheek from her needle-sharp baby nails. Ouch! Because she was hurting, she hurt me. But it was not meant. She was just tired and angry, and when we’re like that, we flail. We all do it, and for most of us it is not solved by 5ml of Calpol, a bottle of milk and a cuddle. Well, maybe the last one.

I’ve done it myself, too. Before I had my children, I experienced the pain of over a decade of childlessness. Thoughtless hints dropped by well-meaning relatives only worsened the pain. So when a kindly church worker asked me if I wanted to talk about it one day, I pretty much bit her head off. 

That’s what Jesus’ lament was about. He looked out over this city that was supposed to be the one place on earth that should have understood; the place when Solomon built a home for God; the place of pilgrimage and prayer – and it was flailing. God’s children were hitting out in anger born of hidden guilt; screaming for the blood of the one sent to save; scratching the face of the caring parent.

Jesus wanted to hold the people. He saw their inner hurts. They were “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matt 9:36) and needed to receive forgiveness and comfort, “but … would not”. What sad words.

We all do it. We all have bits of anger tucked away inside. For some it is better hidden, for others more obvious. A raw nerve, a subject we avoid, a topic that riles us far beyond what it deserves, flailing when a hidden pain is touched.

God knows that we do it. God knows why we do it. Like a parent with a teething baby, he longs to hold us, to comfort us and to take away the pain that makes us scream at him and writhe out of his hold. If we bring our anger and our hurts to God then there is the possibility of healing and resolution. If we burying them deeply, then they will only continue to fester and gnaw.                        Fay Rowland courtesy of Reflectionary.org 

This week's Lent reflection from the Venerable Karen Lund, Archdeacon of  Manchester, can be seen here - 

 

Our Prayers

Compassionate Lord,

In the face of persecution and death,

you refused to be distracted from your mission

and you continued to care for suffering and the needy.

We pray that we too can have the same clarity of purpose.

Help us to see what we can do for others,

give us the strength to resist distractions that waste our time

so that we may persevere in doing good in the face of difficulties

We ask this in the name of Jesus our saviour and redeemer.   Amen

Our final hymn this morning is "The King of Love My Shepherd is"

Notices

The Churches Together in Lees and District Lent Lunches continue on Tuesdays weekly, at 12 noon in Zion Methodist Church. All are welcome to join us in discussion, prayer and reflection, followed by a simple lunch and the opportunity to socialise with our friends from the different churches in our neighbourhood.

Also on Tuesday, the Ladies of Leesfield meet in St Thomas' Community Room at 2 pm. Everyone is invited (you don't have to be a lady, or from Leesfield) to come along for a companionable afternoon.

Today we end our worship with a special Blessing, sung in Ukranian with subtitles in English. Please do continue to hold the people of Ukraine and all those around the world affected by the war in your prayers.

Sunday Worship 6th March

 Sunday Worship - The First Sunday of Lent

Our services on the First Sunday of Lent are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11.00 am at St Thomas'. If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find the Gospel, a short reflection and a prayer below. 

Our first hymn this morning is "Wait for the Lord (Taize)

The Gospel

Luke 4: 1-13             The Temptation of Jesus

After his baptism, Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread." Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone.'"

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, "To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours." Jesus answered him, "It is written,

'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'"

Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

'He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,' and

'On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

Reflection

Today’s reading comes right at the beginning of Lent. A time when after the excess of Shrove Tuesday, people often make resolutions give things up for Lent. Often things such as eating chocolates, toffees, or other treats. At first, it may seem easy to put aside some of these indulgences especially if there are other incentives such as health benefits or saving money. But as time goes by it can get harder to resist our desires. The temptation seems too much.

But there are many other sorts of temptations we might also want to reflect on, such as talking about people behind their back, bending the rules a little because it benefits us, losing our temper when stressed or being judgemental about others, (particularly if it’s about folk less fortunate than ourselves who we don’t even know). Not least there are temptations of omission, for example when we fail to speak out against wrongs or inappropriate behaviour because they don’t want to stand out. We may even be tempted to excuse our behaviour by blaming cultural norms.  

When you read Luke 4 it would be easy to think that Jesus was tested by the devil only 3 times. However, if you read closely, you will see that Jesus was tempted for all of the 40 days. The final three tests that are specifically mentioned were aimed at coaxing Jesus display his identity in self-serving ways. The devil even uses the words of the scriptures to try and trap Jesus. But Jesus also knows the word of His Father and that if he gave in to temptation, it would undermine his identity as the Son who relies on the good gifts of the Father and who must be free from all sin to enable him to die for us and free us from our sins. 

The reality is similar for us – temptation is all around us every hour of every day and we too need to sometimes pause and take a moment to think if what we are doing, saying or thinking is right. Regrettably we will not always get it right, but we are fortunate that when we don’t, we can turn to Jesus for his love and forgiveness.        Paul

Our Prayers

Caring Lord, You taught us to pray the words...

‘Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil’

We ask you for the gift of forethought 

To think about our actions before we do them,

To guide us to not be driven by self-centred motives 

And to put the needs of others above our own wants or desires.

Heavenly Father,  

we thank you that you sent your only Son Jesus

who was prepared to live a life without sin and

who gave his life for us and for the sins of the whole world.  Amen

Our final hymn this morning is "To God be the Glory"

Notices

This evening there is to be a Peace Vigil for Ukraine at Oldham Parish Church, 6 pm

The Churches Together in Lees and District Lent Lunches start this Tuesday - please see the poster below for details.

Ash Wednesday

 Ash Wednesday

The Leesfield Parish Ash Wednesday service is at 7.30 pm at St Thomas' Church. If you're not able to be with us in person you can find a full transcript of the service from our good friends at St Barnabas Clarksfield and Holy Trinity Waterhead (including a rather special sermon) by following this link - medlock head resources Ash Wednesday

Praying about the war in Ukraine

Today we ask you to join us, and Christians around the World, in a Day of Prayer for all who are affected by the war in Ukraine. Below you can find Galoba (the Prayer), sung in Ukranian by Trio Mandili, and a Prayer for Ukraine from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York.