May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen.
Collect
God of truth, help us to keep your law of love and to walk in ways of wisdom,
that we may find true life in Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.
Confession
Let us call to mind our sins, and make confession to our heavenly Father.
Most merciful God, we have sinned in thought and word and deed. We are truly sorry, and we ask you to forgive. Help us by your Spirit to live the new life in Christ, loving you with all our heart, and our neighbours as ourselves; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.
May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love, in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
God’s Word - Romans, chapter 5, verses 1 to 8 :-
Now that we have been justified through faith, we are at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given us access to that grace in which we now live; and we exult in the hope of the divine glory that is to be ours. More than this: we even exult in our present sufferings, because we know that suffering is a source of endurance, endurance of approval, and approval of hope. Such hope is no fantasy; through the Holy Spirit he has given us, God’s love has flooded our hearts.
It was while we were still helpless that, at the appointed time, Christ died for the wicked. Even for a just man one of us would hardly die, though perhaps for a good man one might actually brave death; but Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, and that is God’s proof of his love towards us.
Matthew, chapter 9 verse 35 to chapter 10 verse 8 :-
Jesus went round all the towns and villages teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every kind of illness and infirmity. The sight of the crowds moved him to pity: they were like sheep without a shepherd, harassed and helpless. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The crop is heavy, but the labourers too few; you must ask the owner to send labourers to bring in the harvest.’
Then he called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out unclean spirits and to cure every kind of illness and infirmity. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first Simon, also called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax-collector, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the man who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Do not take the road to gentile lands, and do not enter any Samaritan town; but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go proclaim the message: “The kingdom of Heaven is upon you.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. You received without cost; give without charge.’
Thanks be to God, for this his holy word. Amen.
A Reflection on the Reading
Many years ago, just before I went to theological college in 1978, we had a big mission campaign in my home church. Franciscans were coming to do the actual mission, but we were sent out first to prepare the way. Every house was visited. We had a simple questionnaire, the aim being to help the mission team decide who to prioritise when they started on the mission proper. It was a bit scary, but we did a lot of praying beforehand, and set out, each with our list of streets to cover.
I was reminded of this by the last words of our Gospel reading - “You received without cost; give without charge” - because to be honest many of the people I called on expected me to be asking for money. And on the whole they were quite prepared to give money, if only to get rid of me and with a clear conscience watch me go. “No, I’m just here to ask some questions,” I said. “Oh dear,” I could see them thinking. “This could be more complicated than we thought!”
At the moment of course I am having to ask for money. The reality of it is that our churches have no money coming in, or not very much, but there’s still money going out, including of course our parish offer to the diocese. “Why are we still sending money to the diocese?” I was asked the other day. “What do they do with it all?”
An amazing amount, is the short answer to that question. On what is quite a small budget our Diocesan Board of Finance manages to enable a lot of mission and ministry to happen, and it’s still happening, even though we’re locked down. By and large, what the parish offer pays for is mission and ministry. Put at its simplest, it pays for vicars, including me. And vicars are doing our best to keep working, and to keep doing mission, even though most of our visiting has to be done by phone or Zoom, and our services are mostly streamed or (like this one) Youtubed.
We clergy are spread quite thinly these days, but then again Jesus sent out only twelve men in our Gospel reading - and look what happened when they really got going! Of course, in today’s story they were doing exactly what I was doing back in 1978 and in the parish of Rickerscote. They were preparing the way. They had Jesus with them to do the actual mission work. It was only after Pentecost that the disciples ceased to be just disciples - learners, students - and became also apostles - folk with a story to tell, and a message to give, and a love to share.
Now asking for money could get in the way of mission. I see that. What Jesus gave, on the cross, he gave for free, for people who neither paid for it nor deserved it. In Rickerscote we had built a new church, in, I think, 1956, and many of the people I visited remembered buying a brick or two to help raise the cost of a building they’d perhaps hardly been to since, though they were glad it was there. Some of them I think resented me calling again on them - they reckoned they’d done their bit.
But, as Paul writes to the Romans, Christ died for us while we were yet sinners - in other words, while we didn’t care, while we went our own way, while we could only think of ourselves, while we didn’t deserve it. Whatever I do, and whatever I give, I can never repay such amazing love. And that’s what motivates not only my Christian preaching, but also my Christian giving - even if what I give ends up being sent to the diocese. And in any case the diocese isn’t them, it’s us (or should be): all of us doing what God calls us to do, to prepare the way, and share the love.
Statement of faith
We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high. We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayers
Pray for the world: for those discriminated against because of race or language or creed; for those living under the shadow of tyranny or conflict; for those who have no land or settled place to call their own; and for all still suffering and fearful as the Covid 19 crisis continues. Pray for wise leadership and clear vision, and that efforts to find a safe and effective vaccine meet with success.
Pray for the Church everywhere to be strong in discipleship, in mission and in service. Pray for Christians in Kenya, and for the Anglican Church of Kenya. In our own Diocese, give thanks for our global mission links, for the mission done in our own churches and communities, and for our links with other denominations and other faiths.
Pray for all who are struggling or in need today: for all who are grieving and for those who are lonely, or worried, or anxious. Pray for all who are ill, including all who are infected by Covid 19, for their care and treatment and recovery. Continue to pray for the safety of all front line workers, especially those in hospitals, health centres and care homes.
Pray for families and friends, and for the life of our communities. Pray for our schools, shops and other premises beginning to re-open, and that we may do this safely; pray those continuing to self-isolate because of other health conditions or age. May we continue to act with care, looking out for one another and keeping safe.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Blessing
May we be on our guard, standing firm in the faith, as people of fortitude and courage; and may all that we do be done in love; and so may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, surround and sustain us now and always. Amen.
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