Sunday Worship
Welcome to our Worship on the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Our services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' Church, and 11.00 am at St Thomas'. If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find a Bible reading, a short reflection and some prayers below.
An alternative set of resources can be found by following this link to our neighbouring churches of St Barnabas and Holy Trinity Waterhead - medlockhead.co.uk/resources/2022-05-08
Our first hymn this morning is "All Heaven Declares"
Today's Bible Reading
Acts 7:55-60 The Stoning of Stephen
But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’ But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him.
Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he died.
Reflection
Something a little different this week. Instead of the Gospel reading I have chosen the New Testament reading from Wednesday which is also the Feast of English Martyrs.
The martyrdom of Stephen is part of both the Christmas and Easter story. Indeed, St. Stephen’s Day is commemorated on 26th December, the day after Christmas and perhaps because of the joy of Christmas is quite often overlooked.
Saint Stephen was one of the first deacons of the Christian Church and he was the first Christian martyr. Stephen is believed to have been a Greek Jew who converted to Christianity and he is described as a man full of God’s grace and power who did great wonders and miraculous signs. He was an excellent and well trusted orator and preacher, so much so that many Jews became worried about his success and even felt threatened. Many challenged Stephen and argued with him but they could not stand up against his teachings and his wisdom which came from the Holy Spirit.
So, the Jews conspired and had Stephen seized and brought before the elders and priests at the supreme Jewish law court where he was made to stand trial. They accused him of blasphemy and they produced witnesses who gave false testimony. In his defence, Stephen recounted the many mercies that God had given the children of Israel, and the ungrateful way in which they had repaid Him. He accused them of murdering Jesus, whose coming, he said, had been foretold by Moses. To put it another way, he told it as it was, and this angered the crowd even more.
Yet even when he was condemned to suffer a horrendously violent death, the witness of Stephen echoes the sacrifice of Jesus as he cried out to the Lord to forgive them just before he died.
We also see here the emergence of Saul who approved of the execution of Stephen and witnessed it himself. An act which would lead Saul to actively persecute Christians before his own miraculous conversion of the road to Damascus.
Like the crucifixion itself, in these passages there are many violent, disturbing and dark episodes that should trouble us. But also, we can see that sometimes atrocities happen so that we can experience the grace of a loving God in action and the power of the Almighty to turn things around for the better if only we will give him the chance.
Take a moment to speak with God and ask him a couple of things; ‘What more can I do or sacrifice in your name?’, then ask the Lord for whatever you need to follow Him. Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and everlasting Father,
We thank you for people of faith, who died so that we may know you.
We pray for people across the world who continue to be persecuted because of their faith.
Give us the courage to speak out and profess your glory with confidence and joy,
in the name of Jesus Christ our saviour and redeemer. AMEN
