Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Sixth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 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 "Thou Whose Almighty Word"
Today's Gospel
Luke 11:1-13Teaching about Prayer
Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial."
And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, `Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
Reflection
Last week I mentioned how important it can be to set aside some time on a regular basis and talk to God in stillness, as if sitting outside your own metaphorical tent like Abraham. [Gen. 18:1].
As we witness the disciples who have been observing Jesus praying, I wonder what was going through their minds as they watched Him? We know that Jesus prayed constantly, sometimes with others, and on many occasions He would go off on His own into hills or into the wilderness. Perhaps as they watched Jesus, they were in awe of His relationship with God the Father, and the sense of devotion and persistence in His prayer life.
They can obviously, sense the power of prayer that emanates from Jesus’ interaction with God and they ask, "Lord, teach us to pray." It is worth noting that they asked, ‘teach us to pray’ and not ‘how to pray’.
At first glance it might not seem that there is much difference but when we take the whole excerpt into account perhaps we may discern the subtleness of the wording.
Jesus starts by telling them the words of the Lord’s prayer which we say every day. But interestingly, the version we see here is slightly different from what we read in Matthew 6:9-13, when Jesus was telling people not to pray in public and not to babble on endlessly. Perhaps it was that Matthew remembered the wording differently to Luke's sources, or perhaps Jesus is showing us that we don’t have to be absolutely prescriptive in saying the words exactly the same every time. Praying is more than just a repetitive ritual repeated by rote. That is not to say that I am suggesting the words of the Lord’s prayer are not important, but praying is more than saying the same things over and over again – it’s about talking with God just as Jesus did.
It's also about understanding that God is always listening, and most importantly, He is ‘our’ Father. Whilst God is occasionally referred to as Father of creation, or Father of the nation Isreal in the Old Testament, Jesus was the first person to refer to God as ‘Our Father’ - Father of each of us individually.
In teaching the disciples to pray, Jesus is showing them how to build a personal relationship with God, our Holy and loving Father.
I will not dissect the whole of the Lord’s Prayer as I have done before – rather it’s worth looking at the parables Jesus tells the disciples to give them insight into praying. The story about the man shamelessly knocking his friend up in the middle of the night is about persistence. It’s also about the honour of the man in the house. In those days the whole family would live in one room and so to help his friend the whole house would be woken up – however it was the Jewish custom to provide hospitality to those in need. Jesus is implying that if providing for one another as humans is important, how much more so will it be with God who wants to give us what is good and life-giving.
In the second parable, we are invited to pray continuously – it’s not just about asking God for everything we want and asking to fix the world, it’s about being true in our convictions. This parable can sometimes feel really hard to come to terms with, especially if we keep asking God for something and our prayer doesn’t seem to be answered or it’s not answered in the way we might have wanted.
Perhaps rather then God ignoring us, it’s us who are not praying for the right thing, or maybe God is doing what is right for us but we can’t recognise it. It’s not about God’s wish to give us what He knows we need, it’s about our human inability to receive what He gives. It’s about recognising and trusting in God’s will being done. In teaching us to pray, Jesus is showing us how to build a relationship with God so we might understand his will. Paul
Our Prayers
Loving God,
As your Son, Jesus, showed us,
We pray for a deeper and more loving relationship with you.
Guide our hearts and minds to trust in your will,
and in your loving purpose for us.
Help us to see the blessings in all you do,
even when it is difficult for us to understand,
and remember that when we search, we will find you.
Amen
Our final hymn today is "Father, Hear the Prayer we Offer"
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Fifth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 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 "Lord, for the Years"
Today's Bible Reading
Genesis 18:1-15 The Three Visitors
The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, "My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on-- since you have come to your servant." So they said, "Do as you have said." And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes." Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.
They said to him, "Where is your wife Sarah?" And he said, "There, in the tent." Then one said, "I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son."
Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”
Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”
Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”
But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”
Reflection
Imagine you’ve just spent the last hour or so having a nice soaking bath and getting all dressed up ready to go for a meal out and then the phone rings – it’s your partner who sheepishly and apologetically says, “I’m really sorry but something important has come up at work and I have to work late. I’ll make it up to you and we can go out next week instead.”
How do you feel? Let down, disappointed even angry. A promise has been broken – even though it might seem like a genuine reason. It’s not a nice feeling especially when it’s something you’ve been looking forward to. Perhaps you’ll think twice about the promise to go out next week.
In the verses that precede todays passage [Gen. 17:16-22], God promises Abraham that He will bless Sarah and give him a son by her. In this next encounter, the Lord repeats this promise. Sarah’s reaction on hearing this is much the same as Abraham’s first reaction - “Yeah right – of course I’m going to have a son at my age”.
We should remember that at this time, Abraham was a hundred years old and Sarah was ninety years old and long past the menopause, so I guess we shouldn’t be too quick to condemn their doubt. So God has repeated the promise to both of them – he is reassuring them and feeding their faith.
God is greater than their doubts, He is greater than all our doubts, and instead of rebuking Sarah, He is reassuring her. ‘Even if we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself’ [2 Timothy 2:13].
And of course God keeps his promise because He always does – He is never going to say, I’m sorry but I’m a bit busy at the moment or something else has cropped up.
Despite how incredible the promise seems, God makes it happen. What’s more incredible is that the baby is not conceived through some spiritual miracle, Isaac is conceived through natural means and the relationship between Abraham and Sarah. Sarah’s physical body is regenerated to make this happen as promised.
God knew that having a baby together was something that Sarah and Abraham had wanted all their lives, and even though Abraham recognised the Lord he still struggled to believe it was possible. The same can be true for us, as we look at the world today and see the suffering, wars, exploitation and inequalities, it’s hard to imagine how the world can ever be right again. But we have to have faith and trust in God. For with God, nothing is impossible.
In the same way that God regenerated Sarah’s body, He can regenerate us and the world. Jesus promised us that when we believe and trust in Him we will have a place by His side in heaven.
Sometimes we just need to set aside our inner doubts and find some space to sit and talk with God and also listen to Him. Like Abraham, sitting quietly outside his tent, we should find some time to reflect in the stillness. God doesn’t make Himself known in the thunder or an earthquake but in the stillness of our lives.
Sarah laughed inwardly with disbelief, she didn’t scoff out loud, but God still heard her.
God hears our silent thoughts too, but He is forgiving and full of grace and will never break His promises to us even if we occasionally have doubts.
Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty God,
We thank you for your abundant grace and love for us.
We pray that though your Word,
we will be strengthened in faith,
and trust in your power to heal and save.
Father God, we pray for an end to the atrocities we see in the news,
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish. Today we have a Parish Eucharist at 11 am at St Thomas', with no service at St Agnes'.
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 "Longing for Light, we Wait in Darkness"
Today's Gospel
Luke 10:25-37 The Good Samaritan
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbour?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, `Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Reflection
Rather than look at the characters in this parable, including the lawyer, I want to focus on the Samaritan.
There are two key messages in this story; one about loving one another and the other about keeping the law. Jesus was the one who came to fulfil the law and the prophesies. Jesus is the one who demonstrated total obedience to the Father by taking on human form and living amongst sinners. As the Father loves us so did Jesus, showing his love for everyone, not just the Jews. He was obedient and loving, even to the extent that he was willing to be tortured like a criminal and die on the cross to redeem us – to rescue everyone who is willing to trust in him and repent.
Jesus is the Samaritan, and it us who are the injured person in need of help. We are all sinners at some point and it is the wounds of sin that need to be healed. Fortunately, like the Samaritan, Jesus is there for us – like the Samaritan who placed himself at risk and helped the wounded man at his own expense, Jesus in His love and obedience for us, was willing to rescue us at His own expense.
On the roadside, the Samaritan tended to the fallen with oil and wine. Similarly Jesus offers his body and his blood to save us. Next time you take Holy Communion, remember that in that sacrament he offers you that same love to sustain us and renew us until He comes again in glory. Paul
Our Prayers
Father God, we praise and thank you,
That when we sin and fall by the wayside,
you send your Son Jesus Christ to pick us up, heal our wounds and set us back on the path of righteousness.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Brother, Sister, Let me Serve you"
Notices
Revd John Faraday and his wife, Joan, have sent a message of thanks to all of us for our prayers, help and good wishes as they mourn the loss of their son, Alan. A memorial Service for Alan will be held at Saint Thomas Church, Church Street, Delph, Oldham at 11.00am next Wednesday, 16th July, and all will be welcome. If you would like to share in the service but will find it difficult to be there, there is a link available so that you could join remotely on Zoom (please use the contact form for details).
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Third Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "I, The Lord of Sea and Sky"
Today's Gospel
Luke 1-11, 16-20Jesus Sends Out the Seventy
The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'
"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Reflection
The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few.
At a time when the parish is still in vacancy with no immediate sign of a new vicar on the horizon, and no vicars in the neighbouring parishes in our Mission Community, you might argue that we are in the same position now.
Who is there to spread God’s word and the Good News of the Gospel?
The first two ‘Marks of Mission’ for the Church of England are:
-To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
-To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
Yet we have no Vicar! That gives rise to a number of questions:
1.How will the church manage its missional objectives then?
2.Who are the labourers that will do the missional outreach and spread the Gospel in and around Lees?
3.Who did Jesus send ahead of him to the places that he intended to go afterwards?
To answer each question in turn;
1.We are the people who are called to do mission in our community. The Marks of Mission are not guidelines for the clergy but for all of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus.
2.We, are therefore Jesus’s modern day labourers.
3.Jesus sent out ‘seventy others’ ahead of him. We don’t know who they were, but they weren’t the 12 apostles and it wasn’t Jesus himself doing the legwork.
I am writing this sermon on Petertide, the weekend when new deacons and priests are ordained. They will all have undertaken rigorous theological training on subjects such as doctrine, church denominational history and spirituality to name but a handful of topics.
But that won’t prepare them to be able to answer every question anyone might ever ask about God. No matter how well prepared they might think they are – their knowledge will still be very limited.
Many of them will have put a ‘dog collar’ on for the first time and be wondering, “what on earth have I got myself into?” That feeling is often referred to as ‘imposter syndrome’, where they doubt themselves, and question their worthiness, their abilities, and even if they are good enough to be a minister of the church.
So when I say we are all called to be Jesus’ labourers and spread the missional good news of the Gospel, you might rightly ask, who am I to do that? I am just one of the ‘others’. One of the folk that sits in the pews and listens.
Like the ‘others’ in today’s reading from Luke, we don’t need to be experts to answer Jesus’s call. Jesus didn’t send the ‘others’ to theological college for years to study before he sent them out.
When you speak about Jesus, he will give you words – he doesn’t call the knowledgeable but he will equip those he calls with what you need to know. Indeed, as one of the others, the bar is set lower; people won’t be expecting a profound theological discussion from us. To be fair that’s probably the last thing most people want. When we talk about Jesus, it’s fine to talk from our heart about what He means to us.
Jesus didn’t identify people with gifts for mission - He gave his followers the gifts that they would need for the mission.
Then he sent them, knowing that they wouldn’t always be well received, and that some would be shunned. He sent them as lambs amongst the wolves. But all seventy returned with joy in their hearts. Jesus had given them the authority and equipped them with all they needed.
He will give that same authority and power to you as and when you need it. And when you are prepared to talk with love and confidence about your names too will be written in heaven.
Paul
Our Prayers
Father God,
We thank you that we have been blessed,
To receive the good news of the gospel
and the ministry of your Son Jesus Christ
who died for the forgiveness of our sins and conquered death.
We pray that we may never be afraid to confess that good news to others
and that by the power of the Holy Spirit,
we may live and work to your praise and glory
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Lord, The Light of Your Love is Shining (Shine, Jesus, Shine)"
Notices
Next Sunday we have a Parish Eucharist at 11.00 am at St Thomas', and no service at St Agnes'.
For all of the upcoming services and events in Leesfield Parish, please click on the 'Calendar' tab in the page header.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in leesfield Parish on the Second Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 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 "Guide me, O Thou Great Redeemer"
Today's Gospel
Luke 9:51-62Following Jesus
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." To another he said, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home." Jesus said to him, "No one who puts a hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."
Reflection
People sometimes refer to this extract as ‘The cost of following Jesus’.
I see it more as the problem of procrastination. How do we avoid getting distracted in life and putting off doing the things that we ought to do?
Sometimes we can’t help ourselves, especially if it’s doing something we don’t particularly want to do or are not really interested in. Maybe it’s cleaning the garage out, or weeding the patio or repairing that squeaky door that’s been annoying everybody for months.
There are some things that have to be done at a certain time, such as getting up and going to work, or going to a meeting – so they’re ‘no brainers’.
Then there are some things we really want to make sure we do because we enjoy them; maybe going out with a friend for drink or a meal.
Sometimes, I struggle to get around to writing this reflection – I know it has to be done by Saturday and I always intend to get it done well before then, but here I am on Saturday evening wondering how late it will be before I get it completed.
I always intend to get it done, but then things get in the way – life gets in the way.
But this message is not just about prioritising our time – it’s about following Jesus to Jerusalem.
Luke uses the words, ‘Jesus face was set toward Jerusalem’. This recognises the turning point where the direction of Jesus’ life doesn’t just become a journey toward the city of Jerusalem, it’s the start of his journey towards the Cross. A journey of unwavering obedience and sacrifice in order to save us all.
A journey of absolute commitment and determination exemplifying the courage and relentless faith needed to follow God’s calling.
So when we Jesus asks us to follow him, he is asking us to follow in the example he has set us and taught us through his ministry.
It’s a lot more than tweaking our priorities to spend a little more time praying each day or making sure we arrive at church on time on a Sunday morning.
It’s about following his example and doing the things he has shown us make to make that path to follow him, a straight path.
The path to follow Jesus is about loving your neighbour and entertaining strangers. It’s about forgiving people and looking after the poor, sick and vulnerable without hesitation. And more.
That’s where we come to the hard bit. The bit where we say yes of course I want to follow Jesus but just before I do…… ‘ I need to’ plough the field or say goodbye to my family.
Just like in the Luke’s story we say we want to follow Jesus but then start to think of reasons to delay. That’s the point where we procrastinate and say to ourselves, ‘I just need to …..’
For example, we know I should give money to the beggar – before I do ‘I need to’ be sure she isn’t a drug addict or an alcoholic.
I know I should forgive the other person but – ‘I need to’ know they have said sorry first.
I know I should give to charities and good causes, but ‘I need to know’ that all of the money will go the people we are giving to.
I’m not saying any of this is easy – it is to some extent human nature, because we have heard tales which cast doubt and affect our judgement.
But Jesus’ example is one of unconditional and steadfast commitment to everyone he met and also to us.
He never hesitated to heal the sick or lame. He doesn’t set limitations or pre-conditions and he doesn’t worry about who we are; what race, colour, creed, or sexual identity we assign ourselves. He doesn’t even mind what religion we are – he is there for everyone.
It’s hard in our crazy modern society with wild opinions all over social media and mainstream media, intent of causing prejudice, but when we see people in need, let’s just think before we press pause and say to ourselves… ‘ I just need to’. Let’s take a leaf out of Jesus’ book and do what we know he wants us to do - however uncomfortable or uneasy we feel. Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and everlasting Father,
You pour out your endless love upon us.
Your Son Jesus Christ
showed us how to love one another
and the path to righteousness.
Help us to follow in his tracks
That we may show that same unconditional love
without hesitation,
to those who need our help.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Will you come and Follow Me"
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the First Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 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 "New Every Morning is the Love"
Today's Gospel
Luke 8:26-39Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac
Jesus and his disciples arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As he stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me" -- for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.) Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.
Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
Reflection
For many of us, the first thing we think of when we read this passage is about Jesus’ power and authority over evil and devil.
There are many more examples of Jesus and the disciples casting out demons.
But let’s think about the poor man who has been possessed by demons for so long. He has been cast out by the society that he lives in – condemned to make a home in the tombs of the dead. I wonder how that made him feel?
This story takes place in at the country of the Gerasenes. Jesus is now in gentile territory and no longer amongst the Jews, The people here don’t know who he is, and it is clear from the their reaction that they are not particualrly keen to have him stay around. They were afraid of his power and of the unknown.
Just like the possessed man they wanted Jesus out of the way.
I recently spent some time at a mental hospital alongside a chaplain. We were working with people who had all sorts of mental challenges – there were patients there who were bi-polar, or psychotic, or suffering from acute dementia. Others had messed up their minds though a lifetime of taking street drugs, and many were suffering from acute depression.
For some, they were there under a ‘hospital order’ because they had committed serious or heinous crimes and were in hospital as an alternative to gong to prison.
In the six weeks at the hospital I was humbled by the way that the chaplain, psychiatrists and all the clinicians responded and cared for these people. They listened to their sometimes bizzarre claims or rantings and they responded with compassion and respect and human kindness no matter what their background or circumstances were.
Some of the people who had committed serious crimes asked to be prayed with and some even cried. Maybe they were just delusional or maybe they really felt the need to reach out looking for Jesus and forgiveness. Looking for that healing power that Jesus shows in today’s passage.
Through God’s grace and mercy for us, we are by the power of Jesus all capable of being transformed and healed, no matter what we have done or why we have done it. – “for He makes the sun rise on the evil and the good”. [Matt. 5:45].
We are reminded of the restorative and healing power of Jesus’ love for us and his absolute compassion for those who are suffering and tortured. He feels for us all when we are in need.
As a society, sadly it is sometimes necessary to keep people out of harm’s way, but we should never turn our backs on them. As doctors continue to unlock the mysteries of the mind we see many new disgnoses of mental disorder at various levels of severity. Thankfully most do not result in hospitalisation.
There are many who are suffering or tormented but able to hide it at work and in the community. Folk who have enormous burdens dealing with stresses like financial hardship, caring for loved ones who are sick, or facing enormous pressures at work. They might seem like they are coping, until they have a breakdown. It is then that we are called to follow Jesus’ example and surround them with love.
Jesus even showed mercy on the demons – he didn’t expel the evil spirits to the dark abyss for eternal sufferring – rather he ‘gave then his permission’ to go into the pigs and die.
Jesus gives us his permission to and even commands us to look after one another and never turn our backs on the stranger. Paul
Our Prayers
Loving Father,
We thank you for your grace and mercy.
We bring before you all who are inflicted in any way by mental illness.
And we pray for all those who feel they are sinking
under the pressures of daily life.
Loving Lord, we pray for all those working in mental health services;
for Psychiatrists, clinicians, nurses and carers.
We also raise to you dedication of chaplains of all kinds,
Who provide spiritual support and guidance to those in despair.
Lord heal us and save us.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind"
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on Trinity Sunday. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.00 at St Thomas'.
If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Father, I Adore You"
Today's Bible Reading
Romans 5:1-5 Peace and Hope and the Holy
Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Reflection
Today is Trinity Sunday – A day that strikes fear into the hearts of many vicars and curates that scratch their head trying to think of a new way to explain the nature of the Triune God. The one in three and three in one.
Last week I mentioned how we declare our belief in the Holy Trinity every time we say the Nicene Creed, however we do need to think about the meaning of what we recite in this statement of faith.
I have written previously about how difficult it is for us as humans to visualise the concept of the unity of the Trinity and at the same the distinct nature as separate entities.
Indeed Jesus himself doesn’t make it any easier – sometimes He speaks of the Father as if God is someone distinct from himself whilst, as we saw last week He tells Philip that, that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him.
But don’t worry, because instead making a befuddling theological argument, I have chosen the passage from Paul’s letter to the Romans. I hope by doing so we can, through Paul’s letter, explore the relationship and nature of how God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit work together.
In the short passage we can see how faith, peace and hope are interwoven.
Paul starts by telling us that when we have faith in God the father, we are at peace with Him. It is easy just to read this as a statement and move on, but when we pause for thought there is also the inference that it is possible to not be at peace with God. For us to be in a state where we are at odds with God.
In the old Testament there are examples of where God was angry with the people of Israel – for example in Exodus 32 where they turned their backs on both God and Moses and ordered Aaron to make an idol of a golden calf to worship. In response God sent a plague on those who had broken His commandment. Similarly in Genesis 19 where God destroys Sodom and Gomorrah. We too need to acknowledge that we also fall short of God’s expectations when we sin.
Paul goes on to reassure that it is only because of Jesus working with God that we can be saved. It is through Jesus who died on the cross as payment for all our sins, that we can be assured of the ongoing grace of God and share in His continued glory. But we also have to commit to Jesus, to declare our belief in the risen Christ and continually repent of our sins.
Jesus, son of God who is in the Father and the Father is in Him makes this possible. It is through Jesus’ obedient sacrifice that mankind can be liberated from the strain of our sinful ways.
When Paul refers to the Spirit, he expresses how God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. The Spirit that, because of God’s unbounded love, has been shared with us – it is only by the power of the Spirit that we can even begin to know God.
A Spirit that enables us deep down to listen to God when He speaks to us – ‘the still small voice’ [Kings 19:12], that whispers gently in our heart. A Spirit that is there to guide us and keep us on the road to the eternal life that Jesus promises and who is there to intervene and help us when we find it hard to pray.
I do not expect that this reflection has massively opened up your understanding of the Holy Trinity, it is after all a divine mystery . But maybe through the words of Paul we might appreciate a little better how God the father, Son and Holy Spirit interact as one for the benefit of humankind.
Peace with God comes about through Jesus Christ. God’s love is poured out into human hearts through the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is given for us by God.
Paul
Our Prayers
Lord God, Heavenly Father,
We thank you that with your Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit,
you share your love and grace with us and give us hope.
We give you thanks and praise for the knowledge
that you are three persons, each distinct and wonderful,
yet so joined in love and harmonious action that you are one
leading us to the promise of eternal life in you.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Holy, Holy, Holy"
Notices
There is still time to participate in the “Churches Count on Nature Week”, as we will be extending this into the coming week. There are forms at the back of church for you to record what you have seen, together with leaflets and a book to help with identification of species.
The Ladies of Leesfield Monthly meeting is on Tuesday 17th June at 2 pm in St Thomas’ Community Room. Everyone is warmly invited to share in light refreshments and companionship, and please feel free to bring a friend.
The funeral of Brian Hayes is at 1.30 pm at St Thomas’ on Thursday 19th June. Please do come and join us as we bid farewell to our Captain of Bellringers, who has served our parish faithfully for many decades.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on Pentecost Sunday. This morning we have a Parish Eucharist at 9.15 am at St Thomas' Church, followed by our Proceesion of Witness around Lees at 11 am, and a Churches Together in Lees and District joint service at 12 noon at St Thomas'.
We do hope that you can join us, but if that's not possible you can find resources below to worship at home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Our Blest Redeemer, Ere He Breathed"
Today's Gospel
John 14:8-17 (25-27)
Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?
The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.
Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."
"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid."
Reflection
We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Do you recognise these words? They are of course extracts from the Nicene Creed. The statement at the heart of our Christian faith. This year we celebrate the 1700th anniversary since it was agreed by very many learned theologians. In fact it took several hundred years for various Christian Councils to finally agree on the wording. Since then there have been many scholarly debates about the nature of Christ – fully human and also fully divine – but the Creed has stood the test of time.
John’s gospel this week goes to heart of the question about who is Jesus? The subject is referred to as Christology.
Philip blatantly says to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied”. We might be surprised that he asks this, given he has been around Jesus so long and has been listening to his preaching and ministry.
But let’s not judge Philip too harshly. Philip’s plea is innocent and honest. It expresses the same longing that we would hope all people have deep in their soul: to see God, to know God, to understand the mystery and presence of the divine with clarity.
Philip is arguably just saying what many people might think at time. We all hunger to know God better.
Let’s look at Jesus’ reaction for a moment. The text doesn’t offer any description of how Jesus reacted. It doesn’t say was angry, or surprised or disappointed or give any other indication as to how he might have felt. Jesus could easily have performed another miracle to prove His divinity – but He doesn’t.
Instead Jesus gently prompts Philip to recall the previous miracles he has witnessed - Jesus says, “Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.”
He is as good as saying, what more proof do you want? You are stood in the very presence of God the Father who has been made incarnate.
But then Jesus reveals a far greater message, that is the promise of what we read about in Acts 2:1-20 – The coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promises that He will ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to be with us forever – The spirit of truth. That’s the marvellous story of Pentecost that we celebrate today where the Holy Spirit descends on the masses. The fulfilment of Jesus’ promise. If you don’t get the chance to attend a celebration today please look this wonderful story up in your bible or online.
So what does this mean for us? Unlike Philip and the other disciples, we have never seen the physical manifestation of Jesus incarnate or heard Him speak in person. But by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we are all invited to experience the power of God in the world and in our lives, and to suspend thoughts of disbelief and uncertainty about what seems to be impossible. Because as the Angel Gabriel says, with God, nothing is impossible [Luke 1:37]
By the power of the Holy Spirit we are invited to feel the presence of God deep within us, guiding and forming us. We are invited to know God – not by seeing Him in the flesh or by witnessing awesome miracles performed before our own eyes; rather the Holy Spirit offers us the opportunity get to know God more intimately, to hear God speak to us in our own language and to understand Him as He understands each and every one of us.
Isn’t that all that Philip was asking?
Paul
Our Prayers
Loving Father God,
We thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to us;
to reveal you to us, through the power of the Gospels.
To guide and us and fill our hearts and minds
with the knowledge of your unending grace and love.
To give us the ability to set aside human reason
and see your magnificence revealed
through your work in our lives.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "This Is The Day"
Notices
From Saturday 7th to Sunday 15th June is “Churches Count on Nature Week”, and we will be taking part at St Thomas’ as part of our work to become an ‘Eco Church’. If you would like to be part of a team identifying and counting wildlife in our churchyard, please contact Liz.
Harvest Queen Amelia invites you to her ‘At Home’ on Saturday 14th June at 3 pm at St Thomas’. There will be refreshments, stalls and a raffle in the school hall afterwards, and donations of raffle/tombola prizes will be gratefully received. Please ask Karen or Vikki for more details.
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