Sunday Worship 23rd August

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 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 "Awake my Soul, and with the Sun"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 16:13-20                 Peter declares that Jesus is the Messiah

When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

Reflection

Jesus has been teaching and healing around Galilee for quite a while, but we are about to see him turn towards Jerusalem and His journey to the Cross.

Peter and the other disciples have been with Jesus for over two years, and witnessed everything he has said and done, including performing many miracles. Over that time they have, no doubt, constantly had to evaluate and re-evaluate their opinions of who Jesus is as well as revising their opinion of themselves. There must have been many times when they wondered why Jesus had chosen them to follow Him. 

And now at Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks them, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” So they tell him that people are saying he is John the Baptist, and others think he is the prophet Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets. 

It might seem obvious that Jesus cannot be John the Baptist, as many people saw them together at His baptism. However, the theories that he was one of the previous prophets are perhaps not so radical – it was believed by many Jews that Elijah would return before the Messiah came. The prophet Malachi [Chp 5], declared the promise of God: “I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes”.

Next, Jesus asks the crunch question - “But who do you say that I am?” The other disciples are silent, perhaps lost for words, we don’t know. Maybe they’re wondering if there is a reason behind the question – could it be that Jesus is asking why are following me? Why have you left everything to follow a humble carpenter from Nazareth when you know nothing about me?

Then, as ever, Peter jumps in - “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus is obviously pleased with Peter’s response, so much so that He blesses him! Peter has hit the nail on the head, he understands in his heart that Jesus is not just another prophet in a long line of prophets. His insightful answer points us in the direction of the fundamental truth that Jesus is the living God – God with us.

All this has been revealed to them, not by flesh and blood, or because they have been told by Jesus, it is a revelation from God. Jesus’ own Father in heaven has revealed the truth through Jesus’ words and actions and the relationship they have built with Him.

For us it might seem obvious that we know about Jesus and who he is, because we know about Jesus from the good news of the Gospels. But the essence of the message here is not just about Jesus through what we have been told or read.  

Like the disciples, Jesus is looking for a relationship with each of us. It’s not about knowing about Jesus, it’s about actually knowing Jesus, and through Jesus knowing God. It about recognising what God, through Jesus, is doing right here and now in our lives and how we might see His power at work in our midst. Jesus is the key to our relationship with God and everything God has made and continues to do. 

When we build a relationship with Jesus Christ and have faith in His love for us, we can be formed into His likeness and follow His example and live His values. Through getting to truly know Jesus, we can experience the joy of a loving relationship with Him, and open the gates of heaven. 

Jesus’ church is built on the rock of the knowledge of the revelation that Jesus is the living God, the Messiah. The early Church that we read about in the Acts of the Apostles was built on faith and the formation of the people in the community, empowered by the Holy Spirit.

A Church built on faith in Jesus, and also people working together to bring what they had and building a community built on fairness and justice. It wasn’t just listening to what the apostles told them about Jesus, it was the desire to know Jesus and live as He did. It was about understanding how each individual should respond to His call. 

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, we are reminded that, as Christians, we are all joined in the body of Christ and that not everyone has the same function. We each have gifts to offer according to the grace of God. Rev. Kirsten and I were talking earlier in the week about the encouraging signs of people coming forward and offering their help, even if they aren’t always sure what that help looks like yet. 

As Paul says, it’s not always about ministry or leadership – it can be about showing compassion, listening, maybe practical skills or many other traits we have. 

It may even be you have a gift that hasn’t been revealed to you yet – something for example that you’ve always fancied having a go at, but never got around to doing. A gift from God that you will find really fulfilling.

Paul also reminds us that we all have strengths and weaknesses, but thanks to God, they are balanced out in the Christian community. We are called to work together and help each other, but we are not expected to have all the virtues or skills as individuals, or to excel at everything. 

So, as Rev. Kirsten mentioned a few weeks ago, if there’s something niggling you and you think that God might be nudging to do something – then please think and pray about it or come and have a word with us.

Peter was probably not the most obvious candidate to be the leader of the early church. He could be quite outspoken and, as we will hear next week, he was quite capable of getting things wrong and putting his foot in his mouth. Peter’s main qualification was that he could recognise the activity of God when he saw it and could understand that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. That was all that was needed to start to build Jesus’ church.    Rev. Paul

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father,

Help us to recognise your power and hand at work in our lives and the world.

We pray that we may discern your will 

and the part you are calling us to play in building your kingdom.

Help us to come to truly know Your son Jesus Christ 

and be daily transformed into his likeness, and receive the keys to heaven.

In Jesus name we pray.    

Amen

Todays final hymn is "Lord, for the Years"

Sunday Worship 16th August

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 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 "As the Deer Pants for the Water"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 15:10-28           That Which Defiles & The Faith of the Canaanite Woman

Then he called the crowd to him and said to them, ‘Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.’ Then the disciples approached and said to him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?’  He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.’ But Peter said to him, ‘Explain this parable to us.’ Then he said, ‘Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer?  But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander.  These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile.’

Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.’ But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.’ He answered, ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’ But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ He answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly.

Reflection

"Momma Bear"

Can any of you think of a time when someone has excluded or hurt someone we love? How does that moment feel? How have we reacted? When someone hurts one of my family, I have the potential to flip into ‘Momma Bear’ mode. And it isn’t just my human family. I remember many years ago, I got a Blue Merle Border Collie pup. It did not end well. If ever a lesson was to be learned about buying dogs in pet shops (which you still could then), I learned it when I bought ‘Bluey’. He was beautiful – like a little polar bear with piercing blue eyes. One of his first walks after his jabs was to Tandle Hills. The pup jumped up at a man, (a proper ‘man mountain’ I recall), who promptly kicked out at him. As he went in for a second kick, the red mist overpowered me, and I launched. I can remember vividly, even 30 years ago as it now was, the verbal tirade I directed at this man, who towered over me, and the way he visibly shrank with each word. It was not pretty, it was certainly not what my Nan would have described as ‘ladylike’ and I suppose really, I took a risk – he could have retaliated, but he didn’t. I think he recognised the wrath of a ‘Momma Bear’ as it verbally hit him between the eyes – a bit like Mrs Weasley’s ‘Howler’ she sends to Ron when he has displeased her, (if you are familiar with the ‘Harry Potter’ stories)!

Today, Jesus encounters the Canaanite Woman, who is ready to turn ‘Momma Bear’ for the sake of her child. It is a strange reading today – it is certainly not one that brings instant comfort as some do. Matthew brings us face to face with a moment where Jesus sounds—at least at first—quite cruel. A desperate mother cries out for help, and Jesus seems to ignore her, dismiss her, even insult her. It is a story that makes us wince, and at first hearing, his harshness does not sound like the Jesus we know and love. 

Jesus begins by challenging purity rules. He says: “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles, but what comes out.”

But the disciples are nervous - “Jesus, you’ve offended the Pharisees” – and they are aware how risky that might be! But Jesus presses on: the things that ruin society are not dirty hands, but dirty hearts. 

And then, as if on cue, someone arrives who tests whether the disciples truly believe what he has just told them – a ‘Canaanite Woman’.

It’s important for us to understand that ‘The Canaanites’ are portrayed as historic enemies of Israel, because they occupied the land before Israel and were associated with rival religious practices. But by Jesus’ time, “Canaanite” was not a current ethnic group — Matthew uses the term deliberately to demonstrate the old hostility and feelings of animosity. So in first century Lebanon (where Jesus is, in this reading – in Tyre and Sidon), it is a choice of phrase used by Matthew to demonstrate that this woman, who has the courage and temerity to approach Jesus, is not ‘one of them’! And the disciples revert to those old hostilities, encouraging Jesus to ‘send her away’. They do not believe her ‘worthy’: She is a foreigner, a woman, a heritage long considered an enemy, and she is persistent and loudly seeking help for her daughter!

And Jesus says what the disciples expect him to say: “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” And then the line that makes us flinch: “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

It sounds cruel. It feels cruel. But actually – Jesus is exposing the disciples’ ignorance and exclusion. The woman, though, has full ‘Momma Bear’ mode activated - (remember back to the story from Tandle Hills earlier). She refuses to be silenced.

She kneels. She persists. She argues. She takes Jesus’ exclusion and says ‘so what if it is wrong to feed us – ‘the dogs’ before your children, and says “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

Her courage in arguing with Jesus – can you imagine in that time in history, a foreign woman doing that? And Jesus responds: “Woman, great is your faith.” (Interestingly, the only time in Matthew’s Gospel where the faith of anyone is described as ‘great’ – and it’s an accolade bestowed upon a foreign woman)!

Her daughter is healed instantly – which was never in question. But Jesus teaches his disciples through this entire interaction that the dismissed outsider becomes the one gathered in.

So what does this mean for us today? It certainly poses some tough questions:

Who are we tempted to send away? Whose voices do we wish could be silenced? Who do we judge is deserving of God’s mercy? Who might God be gathering that we have not yet welcomed?

But the reading also offers great hope:

Sometimes the person we least expect becomes the one who teaches us what faith looks like. 

Matthew shows us what that looks like: A ‘foreign’ woman kneeling at Jesus’ feet, refusing to let go of the justice and mercy she seeks. 

Have a blessed week - Reverend Kirsten x

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father, 

We pray that we may always be a community that listens to the voices on the margins. 

May we strive to learn from unexpected teachers. 

And may our churches and our homes always be a house of prayer for all peoples. 

Amen

Today's final hymn is "In Christ Alone"

Sunday Worship 9th August

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Tenth Sunday after Trinity. Today we have just one service in the Parish - our 'Everyone Together Service' at 11.15 am at St Thomas' Church, and there is 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 "Be Thou My Vision"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 14:22-33                                 Jesus Walks on the Water

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake.  But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear.  But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’

 Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came towards Jesus.  But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’  Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’ When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

Reflection

As you are all getting to know me better, you may be realising I am so interested in the Saints – who they were, what they did and how they touched people’s lives in order to be considered significant enough to be Canonised following their death – sometimes many centuries after their death.

One such Saint is Saint Brendan. His ‘feast day’ is the 16th May, so we have missed it this year. He was born in County Kerry, Ireland in the 5th Century. He is often referred to as ‘Brendan the Navigator’, and his story involves the building of a wooden boat covered in animal hides, tanned and soaked in butter, and sailing off the edge of the horizon with 16 other monks on board after fasting for 40 days and nights. They were in search of the ‘promised land of the saints’, or as we might think of it, ‘The Garden of Eden’. They were pioneers, charting and mapping where none had knowingly gone before. Allegedly, after 7 years, they found what they believed to be the promised land, and then returned to Ireland, where they formed monasteries and convents, taught and converted and changed the lives of many people. His reputation travelled all around the world, and there are towns and places named after him throughout Europe, Africa, North and South America, Greenland and even Australia. There are such tales of bravery, sea monsters and fantastical creatures that we must assume folklore has mixed with fact, but for me the simple fact that most resonates is his unswerving faith. A prayer the crew prayed has remained and is as follows: ‘Christ of the mysteries, I trust You to be stronger than each storm within me. I will trust in the darkness and know that my times, even now, are in Your hand’. The faith that allowed Brendan and his band of monks to set sail into the unknown, not knowing what they would find when they reached the horizon, must have been immense, as they acknowledged that whatever they encountered, Christ was still bigger than it. I often wonder how much faith I have compared to such as Brendan, as I worry and catastrophise about possible outcomes.

That same faith is on display in another watery situation in today's Gospel reading, as Jesus walks on the water. His disciples on the boat are already uncomfortable when, into the early morning gloom, a ghostly figure walks towards them on the choppy sea. Peter, (who so often aims high, but regularly misses the target), challenges Jesus – ‘if it is really you, tell me to walk on the water, and I shall’. Jesus calls him and Peter's faith carries him into achieving the impossible, until his own fear and worry end the moment. Jesus then affectionately berates him, if only you had continued to believe, you would not have entered the water. Nevertheless, that moment of pure trust and faith allowed Peter to do something which no other human has ever been able to achieve. Simply beautiful - no wonder he became the rock on which the church was founded.

Peter knew that the waves were high, the wind was loud, and the boat felt like the only safe place. But when Jesus called his name, Peter did something extraordinary. He stepped out. Not because he was brave, but because he trusted Jesus who was already on the water.

Centuries later, St Brendan the Navigator stood at the edge of the Atlantic. He didn’t know what was out there. No maps. No guarantees. Just a small leather boat and a big God. Brendan pushed his boat into the unknown, trusting that God’s world was bigger than his fear.

Peter stepped out of the boat. Brendan set his boat free. Both trusted Jesus more than the waves.

When you stand at the edge of the sea, something happens inside you. It’s beautiful… but it’s also big. It’s the kind of place where you realise how small you are, and how much you cannot control. I think most of us acknowledge that we are in no position to tackle the sea, with its unpredictability and sheer power compared to us.

This week is our ‘Everyone Together’ service, and we are going to each make an origami boat. Our boat will symbolise something different for each one of us as we think about what we will put into our boats – maybe an area where our own faith is lacking. Maybe our boat carries a worry. Maybe it carries a hope. Maybe it carries someone you love. Maybe it carries something you’re afraid to try.

Whatever you place in your own little boat, remember this: Jesus meets us in the waves, not just on the shore. He reaches out when we sink. He guides us when we set sail. And he never leaves us alone in the deep.

When I first started discerning what God was asking me to step out and do, someone recommended a book to me. It’s by an American theologian – John Ortberg. We certainly do not share all the same theological perspectives, but his book, ‘If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat’ had a profound effect on me. I bought the audio book and used to listen as I drove along to work (which was usually a long journey as I travelled to my teams across the North West). The author invites you to consider in what ways might Jesus be telling you (in the same way as he did Peter) ‘come’. What did he say to Brendan as he prayed and pushed off his boat into unchartered territories? 

I know what he said to me as I worried, doubted and catastrophised about his call on my life – and I also know how patient He was as I took my time and tried to bargain with him…but that’s for another day!

So, what is he calling to you? Where are the waves lapping at your toes? Are you ready to head into the shallow water and test it, or are you still stood on the sand? Wherever you are, tell people about Jesus and let him meet them and let him lead you, even if only into the paddling pool or a shallow puddle! He loves you and will never let you go! Amen.  

Have a blessed week - Reverend Kirsten x

Our Prayers

Jesus, you meet us in the middle of the waves. 

You call us to step out even when we feel unsure. 

You guide us when we set sail into something new. 

Take the hopes, worries and fears we may place into our own boats and hold them close. 

Strengthen our courage and grow our trust, 

And lead us safely, faithfully and joyfully, wherever you call us next. 

Amen.

Today's final hymn is "Shine, Jesus, Shine"

Notices

From Tuesday this week, Morning Prayer will be said at St Thomas’ Church at 9.00 am and Evening Prayer at 3.30 pm every Tuesday, and at the same times every Thursday at St John’s. Anyone who would like to attend is very welcome, but there is no obligation. 

Sunday Worship 2nd August

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Ninth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 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 "All my Hope on God is Founded"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 14:13-21                       Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

Jesus withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They replied, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.” And he said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all ate and were filled; and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Reflection

How many of you are familiar with this Gospel story? One of the reasons we might be so familiar with it is because it’s the only account of a miracle that is featured in all four gospels.

Some think this is because it resonated with the Jews, who related it to the story in Exodus of the feeding of the Israelites who were complaining about the lack of food as they wandered through the desert. God told Moses that he would rain down bread from heaven and each morning there was bread that tasted like wafers coated with honey and everyone had just as much as they needed. 

But in this miracle of the feeding of the five thousand there are some key messages for us - it’s not just about how miraculous the whole story is, it’s about how Jesus responds to the needs of the people and how he uses others to help.

At the very beginning Jesus is looking for a deserted place to be alone with his disciples and have a bit of peace and quiet, because he had been surrounded by people all day wanting to witness the signs he had done and hear his teaching. 

I think we can all empathise with that. Times when it seems like just about everybody wants a piece of you. Someone wanting some of your time - if it’s not a conversation, it’s another email or a WhatsApp message or yet another meeting with someone. Sometimes it seems unrelenting and you just want to find a quiet spot to chill out and relax – to recharge your batteries. 

But it’s clear that was not going to happen for Jesus on this occasion, because people were so eager to be with Jesus that they pursued him wherever he went – there was just no escape.  

And then we have this wonderful moment when, even though he is hungry and tired, Jesus looks at the crowds and is moved with compassion for them. So he rolls his proverbial sleeves up and starts curing and healing the sick who had been brought to him. He puts his own need aside to care others. 

As time goes on, the disciples are clearly getting a bit fed up, and so they suggest that it’s about time Jesus stops and send the people away. They say to him, “the hour is now late; send the crowds away…., so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves”. 

I don’t know if it’s just the way I read the passage but I find Jesus’ response almost comical when he then says to his disciples, “you give them something to eat.” I can just imagine in my head, the utter look of bewilderment and astonishment on their faces. The ‘are you being serious’ expression as they look at the meagre food supplies they have – just five loaves and two fishes! In John’s gospel their shock and disbelief is clear when they reply, “but that would cost half a year’s wages to feed so many!”

But Jesus response is not one of anger, instead he asks them to bring what little they have to him and the first thing he does is to look up to heaven, give thanks and bless the food. In this action he is reminding them and us of God’s presence. He would no doubt have used a Jewish form of ‘grace’, such as, “Blessed are you our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth”. Again reminiscent of God proving manna from heaven in Exodus.” – reminding us that everything we have is provided by God.

And Matthew is also prompting us to think about the Last Supper and what Jesus would go on to sacrifice for the whole world.  

Having blessed the food, Jesus then gives it back to his disciples to share and give to the people who are sat in groups. Jesus doesn’t do everything by himself, he turns to his disciples and asks them to feed the people. He has taken what little they had, blessed it and then returned it to them to do his will, just like God wants us to play our part in building his kingdom on earth.

And though the disciples are embarrassed by how little food there is, Jesus knows all along that, however small their contribution may seem, he is capable of blessing it and making it sufficient to feed everyone and still have some left over. 

How does this story resonate with aspects of our modern lives. Sometimes we can feel almost helpless to make a difference in the world. It can be so easy to cry out in despair, “what can I do?” 

Society is breaking down, there are too many people struggling to feed and clothe their children, there is too much violence and crime happening in our towns, too many youngsters getting caught up in drugs and so much hate around. We might feel overwhelmed by the pressures of work and life in general. 

But we should not give up. When Jesus told the disciples to give the crowds of people something to eat, he took what little they had blessed it and gave it back to them to feed everyone.  

When we feel at our wits end, we too can look at what we have, no matter how small, and we can recognise that we have a friend in Jesus and offer to him what gifts we have, no matter how small, and he will bless them and make them sufficient. 

Jesus can help us to stop focussing on how little we can do, and help us instead to focus on how much He can do. He can help us see how every simple act of kindness can make a real difference in the world.  

This wonderful story of Jesus feeding the five thousand illustrates three key messages: 

- Jesus sought solitude but was compelled by his compassion and desire to change his plans and help those that sought him out instead. Just like the times in our lives when we are called to reprioritise our lives a little when others need us – be that our own children or responding to the needs of a stranger.

- No matter how helpless we may think we are to help, we should never give up in despair and walk away. When it feels like chaos is taking over, God is with us  - he never gives up on us.  

- Jesus shows us that God is always pleased when we play our part - however small we may think that is, be that food, money, time or skills. Because  when we offer what we have to Jesus, he will take it, bless it and make it go further than we can imagine.    Rev. Paul

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father, 

We thank you for all the gifts and blessing in our lives.

Help and guide us to share these with one another

With a joyful and grateful heart.

In Jesus name we pray.

Amen

Today's final hymn is "How Lovely on the Mountains are the Feet of Him"

Notices

We had a joyful celebration on Tuesday at St Thomas' Church to welcome the Reverend Kirsten Stott as Vicar of Leesfield Parish, St Thomas, St Agnes & St Hugh, and St John the Baptist Hey. A brass band, a joint choir from the parishes, bellringers from around our area and a large congregation made for a wonderful start to this new chapter, celebrating God’s faithfulness. 

Please note that next Sunday, the 9th August, is our 'Everyone Together' service at 11.15 at St Thomas' Church, and that there will be no service at St Agnes' Church.

Sunday Worship 26th July

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Eighth Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 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

Matthew 13:31-33,44-52                  Parables about the Kingdom of God

Jesus put before the crowds another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” 

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”

Reflection

Today we have a whole bunch of parables about the Kingdom of God, but I’m going to give you just a few thoughts to get you started and some questions, in the hope that you might explore the meaning for yourselves. After all, this was the intended purpose of parables.

We start with two really tiny things – the mustard seed and a small amount of yeast. The mustard seed was the tiniest and most insignificant seed known to the people in the Middle East. Yet as Jesus reminds them, when it has grown it becomes a large and sturdy bush-like tree capable of supporting many nesting birds in its branches. How might we compare this to the growth of God’s Kingdom and those who want to be a part of it?

The yeast only requires a small amount to be mixed with a large volume of flour, but with patience and work to spread it though the dough, it is capable of transforming the dough into something far better and bigger. How might God’s word with our help grow his kingdom and what role might we play? Jesus is showing us what a massive transformative effect the Kingdom can have. 

The next two objects are things of great value. The man who buries the treasure ends up spending a fortune just to keep it to himself and hide it of sight where no one can see it. Do we, who know about the wonderful Kingdom of God, do all we can to show other people or do we perhaps keep it to ourselves? And if so why? What more might we do to share the good news of the Kingdom?

Lastly we have the merchant who searches for a valuable pearl and fully understands its value - so much so that he is willing to give everything he has for it. God’s kingdom is not of this world and is far more precious. What are we willing to give and commit of ourselves in order that we may be transformed to take our place in God’s precious kingdom?     Revd. Paul

Our Prayers

Abba Father, open our eyes to recognise how precious and wonderful your kingdom is.

Let us give you our hearts and minds, that we may fully trust in you,

and help us to spread the seeds of your word,

confident that your kingdom will continue to grow and spread around us. 

We ask this in Jesus’ name. 

Amen

Today's final hymn is "Lord of all Hopefulness"

Notices

We hope that you will join us for Rev Kirsten's Licensing Service on Tuesday. Please see the invitation below.

Sunday Worship 19th July

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Seventh Sunday after Trinity. 

Our Church Services this morning are at the usual times of 9.15 at St Agnes' and 11.15 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 "Morning Has Broken"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Parable of the Weeds

Jesus put before the crowd another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”

Reflection

If you’ve ever grown plants from seed you will probably have observed that nearly all seedlings look alike. First there is a tiny little shoot and then one or two leaves start to appear. Nearly all plants look a bit like cress until they start to develop and grow to maturity.

At the early stage, therefore it is impossible to sort out the good plants from the weeds, so nothing can be done about them until they are clearly distinguishable. 

However, once the weeds begin to get established, digging them out may not be that easy. Their roots will be intertwined with the roots of the plants we want to keep, and by removing the weeds, we often damage the good plants and so they are less healthy and produce less flowers and seeds. 

So the approach of the farmer in todays story is very wise, and provided the weeds don’t starve the wheat they are doing less harm than digging them up. We only have to worry if the weeds are really invasive or like the thorns in last weeks parable, likely to choke and damage the crop. 

Ironically, the weeds in our garden are usually wheat stalks which are dropped amongst the flowerbeds or vegetables and herbs when the birds are eating at the bird-feeder.  

I have to admit I generally don’t fuss too much about the weeds in our garden, but that’s not because I am lazy and can’t be bothered to get down on my knees and endlessly pull them out – it’s because sometimes I am pleasantly surprised by what grows and, like the seedling in the picture above, I can’t be sure how it will turn out until it has developed into what it is destined to be. It can be quite wonderful when you get something growing that you hadn’t expected.

The message usually focussed on in this parable is that there are bad people and good people in the world, and on the day of judgement, the good people will be saved and the bad people will not. 

That is all well and good, but a little too simplistic for me because people are like a field of both wheat and weeds. Everyone has their good sides and bad sides, and we all fall short of what God wants us to be from time to time. Nonetheless, we are all capable of being what God wants us to be, and like the farmer, God doesn’t give up on us. 

Because He loves, He is always willing to hear us when we reflect and say sorry, and give us the opportunity to change our ways. We are given the opportunity as we go though our lives to develop and mature into the wheat plant we were intended to be. 

In the field in which we live, there will be amongst us those who are bad people, criminals, and those who would harm one another or take advantage of us. There are also those who we dislike because they associate with the wrong sort of people. But it’s important that we are not too quick to make assumptions about people, based on where they live or who they mix with; because like the immature plant,  (which is not easy to distinguish from any other plant), we may be making harmful and incorrect judgements. 

It’s not our job to judge others, and certainly when we don’t know enough about them or their circumstances. Sometimes, people are dragged into situations or lifestyles they don’t want to be part of, and looking for the chance to change their lives and grow into the ‘good wheat’. Even good people make mistakes and we need to give everyone chance to mature and become what God wants us to be.

Let’s not worry about the weeds in the other fields, but focus on the weeds in our own lives. Despite the dire warning of judgement in this passage, there is a message of hope, that when we focus on looking after the garden that is our own life, we can all be saved.

Happy gardening. Revd. Paul

Our Prayers

Heavenly Father, 

You plant us as seeds, to grow to what you call us to be;

Help us not to judge others in the field as good or bad,

Help us to acknowledge what is good and bad in ourselves,

And help us to develop and grow the good in ourselves, and in others.

In Jesus name we pray, 

Amen

Today's final hymn is "God Forgave my Sin in Jesus' Name"

Sunday Worship 12th July

 Sunday Worship

Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the Sixth Sunday after Trinity. Today we have just one service in the parish - our 'Everyone Together' service at 11.15 am at St Thomas' Church.

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 "My Jesus, My Saviour"

Today's Gospel

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 Parable of the Sower

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Reflection

In today’s story, Jesus tells us about a farmer throwing seeds onto the ground. God’s word is like the seed that the farmer sows, which needs to be fed and nourished, and our hearts are like the ground that the seed lands on – they need to be soft and fertile.

Some hit the path - What happens to the seed on the ground? Nothing, the birds took it away. In this example we hear about God’s word but we are much too busy with other things in life to take any notice. Maybe, playing games or looking at our mobile phone. We don’t really listen and so it has no impact on us. It never has any chance to grow in our hearts - and God’s word is simply wasted on us.

Some hit rocks - In this case we might hear the story and understand what it means - but we don’t let it take root. We actually like what Jesus stands for because he’s always doing and saying good things. 

But although we hear the good news, deep down we don’t have the heart to live like Jesus – because being good all the time can be hard at times. Sometimes other people might make fun of us for being a do-gooder. So whilst we like what we hear our faith is weak because we don’t let it put down roots in our hearts. 

Some fell among the thorns and the weeds - In this instance we let our everyday business crowd out our good intentions. We care about God and doing what is right – but we don’t always follow through with things because we are more concerned about ourselves. 

The weeds and thorns represent worries and concerns that we face in our daily lives. Sometimes we are so concerned for ourselves and our family that we have little time or energy to think about anyone else.

We want to have the best lifestyle possible and do the things that make us happy. We are too busy thinking about how we look after ourselves that we completely forget about all those who are less well off or those suffering in the world. 

So whilst we have the means or ability to love and support one another, even if it’s in a small way, we simply don’t get around to it.

 

Some of the seeds landed on good soil - They didn't just grow; they exploded into a harvest that was many times bigger than the tiny seed! 

Think about a seed for a second. It looks small and weak, kind of like a tiny speck or pebble. You could step on it and never even notice. But inside that tiny shell is the blueprint for a giant tree that can provide shade for hundreds of birds and fruit for an entire village. 

God’s Word is the same! When we hear God’s word at school or in church, he is planting his seeds of goodness in our hearts. That might be just a "small" thought, but if you remember it and think about it, it will sink into your heart and grow. 

It might be a thought like, remembering God loves each of us and wants us to love one another. Instead of letting the seed die or wither, how might we make that seed grow in our hearts? What might we do to show love or kindness to someone?

Perhaps a kind word to someone who looks upset or sad. Saying hello to new children at school or new workmates. Sharing something like sweets or crisps in the breaktime, or giving a small donation to charity.

Maybe, giving someone a lift to school or work, or maybe a simple smile – have you ever noticed how people nearly always smile back. How do you feel when someone who passes by smiles at you? Does it make you a little bit happier? There are lots of little things we can all do that don’t even cost us anything, but can make other people feel happier.

And when people feel happier they want to make even more people feel happy, and they feel like doing something kind for someone else, and then those people want to make someone else happy – and before we know that one simple act of kindness has turned into hundreds of acts of kindness. Like the seed in the story, it has multiplied hundreds of times.

When we hear the good news of Jesus, let us take time to listen and let it flourish within us. Let us keep listening even if we don’t get it right first time, because Jesus does not give up on the field - when we let him, he is willing to clear the rocks and the weeds and plant more seed in our hearts.

              Rev. Paul

Our Prayers

Let’s all pray for good and soft hearts.

"Jesus, I want my heart to be good soil.

Come into our lives and grow something amazing in us."

Amen

Today's final hymn is "You Shall Go Out With Joy"

Notices

We are really pleased to announce that the Licensing Service of Rev Kirsten will take place on Tuesday 28th July at St Thomas' Church. More details are included in the poster below.