Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Third Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services today 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 will find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Abba, Father, Let Me Be"
Today's Gospel
2 Corinthians 5:6-10,[11-13],14-17 The Ministry of Reconciliation
We are always confident; even though we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord - for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we do have confidence, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil.
[Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we try to persuade others; but we ourselves are well known to God, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences. We are not commending ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast in outward appearance and not in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.] For the love of Christ urges us on, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died. And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
Reflection
In my last reflection, there was much about God knowing us and our motives. Nothing is hidden from God. So when we read the following line in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians it is perhaps somewhat sobering: “For all of us must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may receive recompense for what has been done in the body, whether good or evil”.
But before you start to despair, let’s look at the wider context of what Paul is saying. He starts with the words, ‘We are Confident’.
Confidence is a wonderful thing, we might rephrase it as reassurance or even faith. Paul is speaking after Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. Jesus is no longer with us.
But Paul advises us that while we are away physically from the Lord, we should always be looking to please Him. However, that is not just because of a fear of judgement day, but because Jesus loves us so much that He died for us, so that we may live no longer just for ourselves, but also for Jesus and to follow Him.
Yes of course Jesus has left us in the physical sense, but He promises that we can be reunited with Him through confidence and faith in a lasting relationship that will endure forever.
Sometimes it’s hard when someone we love has to leave. Think perhaps about the first day a child leaves home for school. You worry about them; are they having a good time? Are they overwhelmed and crying because they miss you, or have they fallen and grazed a knee?
Then they come home and tell you all about everything and all is hopefully good. They may only be away for a short while but, because we have a loving relationship with them, we want to make sure that they are still fine and we miss them.
Similarly, some families have relationships where one of the parents work away from home for extended periods. Think of people in the armed forces, oil rigs or maybe long distance lorry drivers. Just because they aren’t physically with their families doesn’t mean for one minute that they love them any less that someone who is fortunate enough to come home every day. It doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking about each other all the time.
Though we may be physically distanced, we still live in the bonds of a loving relationship. I think that is the message that Paul is making to the Corinthians in his letter. We as Christians all have a personal relationship with Jesus. While He is no longer physically present among us and we do not know when he will come again, we can live our lives in the knowledge that we are deeply loved, forgiven and treasured by Him.
That is what gives us confidence and spiritual meaning in our lives. That is our faith.
There are times in all our lives when we feel down; whether it’s about work, finances or the state of the world in general. Sometimes it’s because we regret things we may have done wrong or have deliberately avoided. As I said last week, we are all human and make a mess of life at times.
But, because God loves us, He sent His only son, so that through Him we may be reconciled by His grace and love. Because God wants to have that lasting and loving relationship with every one of us.
As Paul says, We can be confident we are loved. Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and everlasting Father,
We praise and thank you
for your presence in our lives
For the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us
and to bring us ever closer to your Son
For your love and mercy,
even when we get things wrong.
Help us Father to have faith and trust in you.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing"
Notices
The Confirmation Service for our Mission Community will take place at 2.30 pm this Sunday at St Thomas’ Church. Most of the candidates are from our own churches, so please do come along to support and pray for them as they take this important step on their Christian journey.
St Thomas’ Sunday School, with the help of the Ladies of Leesfield, invite you all to a Wimbledon Afternoon Tea on Saturday 29th June, 2 pm in St Thomas’ School Hall.
Tickets are £10 per adult (children free), and are now available from Karen or Lesley.
Everyone is most welcome to join us for an afternoon of lovely food and great fun.
