A short service and reflection for Candlemas

 

You may wish to light a candle before you begin.

May the grace, mercy and love of God be with us all. Amen.

Collect 

Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: make your home among us, and present us pure and holy to your heavenly Father, your God, and our God. Amen.

Confession

Christ the Light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts. In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.

When we have failed to share the light of life in our dark and needy world, Lord, have mercy:

Lord, have mercy.

When we have failed to reach out to those who are lost, afraid and hungry, 

Christ, have mercy:

Christ, have mercy.

When we close our hearts to the glory of your saving love, offered to the world,

Lord, have mercy:

Lord, have mercy.

The Lord is our strength and our comfort; he meets us with compassion, and will not forsake us or forget us. The Lord is our saviour and redeemer: in Christ we are forgiven.  Amen.

God’s Word - Malachi, chapter 3, verses 1 to 5 :-

I am about to send my messenger to clear a path before me. Suddenly the Lord whom you seek will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight is here, here already, says the LORD of Hosts. Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand firm when he appears? He is like a refiner’s fire, like a fuller’s soap; he will take his seat, testing and purifying; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver, and so they will be fit to bring offerings to the LORD. Thus the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as they were in former days, in years long past. I shall appear before you in court, quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers, and perjurers, against those who cheat the hired labourer of his wages, who wrong the widow and the fatherless, who thrust the alien aside and do not fear me, says the LORD of Hosts.

    Luke, chapter 2,  verses 22 to 40 :-

After the purification had been completed in accordance with the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as prescribed in the law of the Lord: ‘Every firstborn male shall be deemed to belong to the Lord’), and also to make the offering as stated in the law: ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons’.

There was at that time in Jerusalem a man called Simeon. This man was upright and devout, one who watched and waited for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the law required, he took him in his arms, praised God, and said:  ‘Now, Lord, you are releasing your servant in peace, according to your promise. For I have seen with my own eyes the deliverance you have made ready in full view of all nations: a light that will bring revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel.’

The child’s father and mother were full of wonder at what was being said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘This child is destined to be a sign that will be rejected; and you too will be pierced to the heart. Many in Israel will stand or fall because of him; and so the secret thoughts of many will be laid bare.’

There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was a very old woman, who had lived seven years with her husband after she was first married, and then alone as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer. Coming up at that very moment, she gave thanks to God; and she talked about the child to all who were looking for the liberation of Jerusalem. 

When they had done everything prescribed in the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew big and strong and full of wisdom; and God’s favour was upon him.

Thanks be to God, for this his holy word. Amen.

Reflection 

So the great season of Christmas and Epiphany comes to its close, with the child brought into the temple, and recognised there by Simeon and Anna, both of whom had waited long to see with their own eyes the salvation God had promised.

I want to make four simple points about this story. Firstly, these events took place as Mary and Joseph did what the law required. There is a duty of religious observance, a discipline of service and praise, and it’s as we make this a part of ourselves that we are made aware of God’s light and grace and love. And in particular, what Mary and Joseph were doing that day was to say that their child was not only their child, but was also God’s child - every first born was “deemed to belong to the Lord.”

Secondly, with the birth of this child everything changes. The birth of any child changes things - the dynamics of relationships within and beyond a family, the way we see things, plan things, look forward. A first child in particular changes things hugely: lovers become also parents, and the stretch of the future they look towards now goes beyond the span of their own lives and into the span of the life they have made. There will be joys, and there will also be problems and pains. But as Simeon tells them, this child will change not only their lives, but the world, not only the future they look towards, but the whole course of history. And Mary especially will bear some of the pain of that.

The third thing I want to say is about “The Quiet in the Land”. Simeon and Anna are two examples of those people who were simply waiting quietly and prayerfully for what God would do. Despite their age, and despite the pains and sorrows that had come their way, they had never ceased to hope, and they had never ceased to believe. There are those who want to make things happen, those who lack patience and want to force the issue; and there are those within whom the pains and disappointments of life have stirred up bitterness and resentment, so that they’ve switched off, opted out, and ceased to hope. Simeon and Anna were neither of those types of people: they were the sort of people I’ve met many a time and valued hugely in my ministry - people of quiet and trusting faith and regular prayer. People like that provide the bedrock on which the Church is built.

And finally, we see how the revolution God starts among us begins in an ordinary and humble setting. You might not think of the temple as “ordinary and humble”, but the parents of Jesus were doing what all believing parents would do. And they did so making, in place of the lamb for burnt offering laid down in the law, the “poor person’s offering” of a couple of pigeons. We will find the glory of God’s love not so much in the palaces of this world but wherever people of faith contend with the uncertainties and insecurities of ordinary life; and the Holy Child is identified right from the start with those who know about struggle and stress.

And in this very Jewish setting, of the law being fulfilled, and the offerings and prayers made as they should be within the temple, the child Mary and Joseph brought there is hailed as one born not just for one people but for all: he is the glory of Israel, but he will also be a light to enlighten every nation. 

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 - We pray we may be ready to recognise in Christ the one who is light to all the world, and in his name to be lights ourselves to lift the darkness of human hatred, mistrust and need. We pray today for Christians in Brazil, and for the work and witness of the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil. We pray for our own diocese, and for Richard our Bishop, and today give special thanks for the ministry of our Dean, Michael Tavinor, whose last Sunday this is.

We are asked this week especially to pray for children living with mental health issues, and for all that is done for the support, protection and care. We pray for those who continue to battle against the Covid virus in our world, and for those helping in the work of vaccination.  

We pray for all who are ill, and for their care and recovery, and we continue to pray for health workers and for our hospitals, health centres and care homes, that they may not be overwhelmed by the present crisis. We pray for all who are waiting for tests, treatments and therapies for a range of conditions, where Covid has had to take precedence, and that waiting lists may not grow too long.

We pray for our families and friends, and for the life of our churches and communities. On the weekend of the Great Garden Birdwatch we pray for care of our wild spaces and wild creatures. We pray for people to keep to the rules and to ensure their own safety and that of others.  And may we look out for each other through this testing time, and keep safe ourselves.

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 Christ the Sun of Righteousness shine upon us, and scatter the darkness from before our path; and may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.  Amen.

A short service and reflection for Epiphany 3

You may wish to light a candle before you begin.

May the grace, mercy and love of God be with us all. Amen.

Collect 

God of all mercy, your Son proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed: anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession

Christ the Light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts. In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.

Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.

May the God of love and power forgive us and free us from our sins, heal and strengthen us by his Spirit, and raise us to new life in Christ our Lord.  Amen.

God’s Word - Revelation, chapter 19, verses 6 to 10 :-

I heard what sounded like a vast throng, like the sound of a mighty torrent or of great peals of thunder, and they cried: ‘Hallelujah! The Lord our God, sovereign over all, has entered on his reign! Let us rejoice and shout for joy and pay homage to him, for the wedding day of the Lamb has come! His bride has made herself ready, and she has been given fine linen, shining and clean, to wear.’ (The fine linen signifies the righteous deeds of God’s people.)

The angel said to me, ‘Write this: “Happy are those who are invited to the wedding banquet of the Lamb!”’ He added, ‘These are the very words of God.’ I prostrated myself to worship him, but he said, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow-servant with you and your brothers who bear their witness to Jesus. It is God you must worship. For those who bear witness to Jesus have the spirit of prophecy.’

    John, chapter 2,  verses 1 to 11 :-

There was a wedding at Cana-in-Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also among the guests. The wine gave out, so Jesus’ mother said to him, ‘They have no wine left.’ He answered, ‘That is no concern of mine. My hour has not yet come.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ 

There were six stone water-jars standing near, of the kind used for Jewish rites of purification; each held from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’ and they filled them to the brim. ‘Now draw some off,’ he ordered, ‘and take it to the master of the feast’; and they did so. 

The master tasted the water now turned into wine, not knowing its source, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. He hailed the bridegroom  and said, ‘Everyone else serves the best wine first, and the poorer only when the guests have drunk freely; but you have kept the best wine till now.’

So Jesus performed at Cana-in-Galilee the first of the signs which revealed his glory and led his disciples to believe in him.

Thanks be to God, for this his holy word. Amen.

Reflection on the Readings

Weddings feature quite a lot in scripture, partly because of the symbolism of the two becoming one - so the marriage supper of the Lamb, in our reading from Revelation, refers to Christ and his Church becoming one, within John’s great vision of the fulfilment of all things, and the new heaven and earth; and also simply because a wedding was a huge occasion anyway in the lives of ordinary folk. These days when planning a wedding - pre or post Covid, anyway - we might agonise about who exactly should be invited. But in those days that wasn’t a problem. Everyone would come, and it was a celebration for the whole community.

Hospitality was seen as a sacred duty in the Middle East - still is, in traditional communities, at least. No-one seeking shelter would be turned away from a Bedouin encampment in the desert. Even one’s worst enemy would be welcomed and treated as a guest. The enmity might resume as soon as he left the following morning, but for now, hospitality took precedence. At a wedding, wine would be an important component of the hospitality offered: one Rabbinic saying puts it very simply: “If there is no wine, there is no joy.” It wouldn’t be a raucous or drunken occasion, and the wine would always be taken with water, but for the wine to give out would be a tremendous disgrace and humiliation.

For whatever reason, the wine did give out at Cana. And Mary says to her son, in effect, “Do something!” His reply sounds somewhat discourteous, dismissive anyway - but that might just be the difficulty of translating a phrase in Greek that perhaps had a more straightforward meaning as a phrase and in context. The literal words are “What to me and to thee, woman?” - which sounds even more discourteous than the translation in the version we read. But it was actually a common enough phrase in spoken speech, likely, if spoken gently, to mean no more than “Leave things to me.”

So Mary can then say as she does, with confidence, to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” And then we have the remarkable story of the water-pots. These were seriously large pots, holding between twenty and thirty gallons, we’re told. The original Greek simply tells us that they held two or three measures each - and that Hebrew measure, the bath, would be around eight or nine gallons.

Were I one of those servants, I would be quaking in my boots. The pots were filled to the brim with water. Just water. Then I’m instructed to draw some of that off, and take it to the master of ceremonies, for him to taste. So what’s going to happen to me once he tastes it? Am I ever going to work again? Mary must have been very persuasive when she said, “Do whatever he tells you.”

But of course, what the master of ceremonies tastes is wine, and so the first miracle performed by Jesus takes place, of all things to save the day and save face at a wedding feast. But it’s more than just that. John calls it “a sign that reveals his glory” - and which led his disciples to believe in him.

So we should ask, in what way does this reveal his glory? On one level, this seems exactly the same sort of magic trick that might be performed in a Saturday night variety show by some professional magician - leaving those who watch it amazed, and trying to work out how it was done. But stage magic is always about sleight of hand - it may produce some oohs and aahs, and a round of applause, but that’s all.

In the Epiphany season we see Jesus revealed as God’s chosen one, as the one in whom God’s love is proved, and God’s salvation proclaimed. And if Jesus is glorified here as Messiah, then he’s glorified not by the turning of water into wine so much as by the generous measure of that change. Just as, later, he will take a few loaves and fishes and feed five thousand people, with twelve baskets left over at the end.

God’s grace is revealed in Jesus here - and in that grace there is enough and to spare for all who come to him. That’s what John is wanting us to see here. There’s hardly a wedding on earth that could drink one hundred and eighty gallons of wine, six pots with thirty gallons each. No need on earth, no weight of sin, could ever exhaust the gracious love Christ comes to share - it is by the superabundance of saving grace that Christ’s glory is revealed, and recognised by his disciples.

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 - 

We pray we may be ready to recognise in Christ the one who brings salvation to the world, and to respond to the generosity of God’s grace by living generously ourselves. Within the worldwide church we pray for Christians in Bangladesh, and for the Church of Bangladesh within the Anglican Communion. We pray for our own Diocese and for Richard our Bishop, and for the churches and communities of the Bromyard deanery.

Today is World Leprosy Day, and we pray for all in our world who suffer from this disease, and for all who work to bring cure and comfort, and rehabilitation, where this is needed, including the Leprosy Mission in its work worldwide. Holocaust Memorial Day falls this week: may we rid our world of all race hatred, and all that labels fellow human beings as less than ourselves. 

We pray for all who are ill, and for their care and recovery. We pray also for hospitals under pressure and health workers feeling overwhelmed by the present crisis. We pray for all who are working, many as volunteers, to enable mass vaccination to happen, and that we may soon begin to feel safer and more secure as this work continues.

We pray for our families and friends, and for the life of our churches and communities. On the weekend of the Great Garden Birdwatch we pray for care of our wild spaces and wild creatures. We pray for people to keep to the rules and to ensure their own safety and that of others.  And may we look out for each other through this testing time, and keep safe ourselves.

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 the love of Christ bring unity and peace to his Church, and strengthen us in joyful praise and faithful service; and may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.  Amen.

A short service and reflection for Epiphany 2

You may wish to light a candle before you begin.

May the grace, mercy and love of God be with us all. Amen.

Collect 

Eternal Lord, our beginning and our end: bring us with the whole creation to your glory, hidden through past ages and made known in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession

Christ the Light of the world has come to dispel the darkness of our hearts. In his light let us examine ourselves and confess our sins.

Lord our God, in our sin we have avoided your call. Our love for you is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes swiftly away. Have mercy on us, and deliver us from judgement; bind up our wounds and revive us; in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

God’s Word - Revelation, chapter 5, verses 1 to 10 :-

I saw in the right hand of the One who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth able to open the scroll to look inside it. And because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and look inside, I wept bitterly. One of the elders said to me: ‘Do not weep; the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the shoot growing from David’s stock, has won the right to open the scroll and its seven seals.’

 Then I saw a Lamb with the marks of sacrifice on him, standing with the four living creatures between the throne and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, the eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent to every part of the world. The Lamb came and received the scroll from the right hand of the One who sat on the throne. 

As he did so, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before the Lamb. Each of the elders had a harp; they held golden bowls full of incense, the prayers of God’s people, and they were singing a new song: ‘You are worthy to receive the scroll and break its seals, for you were slain and by your blood you bought for God people of every tribe and language, nation and race. You have made them a royal house of priests for our God, and they shall reign on earth.’

    John, chapter 1,  verses 43 to the end :-

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He met Philip, who, like Andrew and Peter, came from Bethsaida, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ Philip went to find Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the man of whom Moses wrote in the law, the man foretold by the prophets: it is Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.’  ‘Nazareth!’ Nathanael exclaimed. ‘Can anything good come from Nazareth?’ Philip said, ‘Come and see.’ 

When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said, ‘Here is an Israelite worthy of the name; there is nothing false in him.’ Nathanael asked him, ‘How is it you know me?’ Jesus replied, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip spoke to you.’ ‘Rabbi,’ said Nathanael, ‘you are the Son of God; you are king of Israel.’ Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe this because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.’ Then he added, ‘In very truth I tell you all: you will see heaven wide open and God’s angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’

Thanks be to God, for this his holy word. Amen.

Reflection on the Readings

The Book of Revelation, the very last book in our Bibles, has John setting down the dream or vision he had in which the glories of heaven were revealed to him. It is apocalyptic literature, looking forward to the final end of time and history, when everything will be sorted out, and all will come under the reign of God. Written at a time of great persecution of the Church, it was an assurance to Christians that the great victory is already won, that our Lord Christ has already taken his throne, and that the troubles of these times, though real and desperate, will pass.

It is a much misused book, in that its often strange and sometimes extremely violent imagery has been interpreted in all sorts of ways - for example related to human leaders from Genghis Khan to Donald Trump, plagues from the Black Death to Covid, and wars from the Crusades of Medieval times to whatever war we might imagine comes next. And there are lots of numbers to play with too, for those who like to do that. But I don’t see it as a prediction, to be used like Nostradamus or Old Moore. It’s an assurance that God’s purposes will be worked out, are being worked out, indeed, and an encouragement to hold firm, even when times are tough.

The song of the elders in our reading today is used as an anthem in some of our services, and entitled “The Song of Christ’s Glory.” It bears some relationship with the ancient hymn of the Church quoted by Paul in his Letter to the Philippians, in which every knee shall bow to Christ, in heaven, on earth, and in the depths.

And why? Because he has lived our life, and lived it to completion; because, as a servant, he has been uniquely and fully obedient to his Father’s will; and because on the cross he presents himself as the one true and perfect sacrifice, and in so doing delivers us from the deadening impact of our wilfulness and sin. John in his dream sees that Christ has done what only he can do, and he sees him as a Lamb, bearing upon his body the marks of sacrifice.

John also writes, in his Gospel, about the meeting between Jesus and Nathaniel, who has been brought to Jesus by Philip. Nathaniel only appears in John’s Gospel, and most scholars agree that he is the same person as Bartholomew, who appears in the others but not in John. Bartholomew is a surname, meaning “Son of Tolmai”, while Nathaniel is a first name, so that seems reasonable. Philip must have been pretty persuasive, since Nathaniel’s first response to being told about Jesus was highly sceptical. As a person who clearly studied the scriptures, Nathaniel would have known just how unlikely it was, if not impossible, for the Messiah to come from such a place as Nazareth, in the racially very mixed region of Galilee.

As he approaches Jesus, Jesus hails him with some very complimentary words, and in so doing indicates that he already knows him - that he had noticed him, and noted his faith, before Philip ever spoke to him. And that’s enough to totally convert Nathaniel - he goes from “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” to “You are the king of Israel” in moments, it would seem. What converted him was not just that Jesus saw him, but that he seemed to already know him, to see into his heart. That Jesus knew him in the way that Nathaniel hoped in faith that God would know him.

And Jesus says to him, “You will see heaven wide open, and angels ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” Nathaniel would have recognised the reference, to the dream that Jacob had at Bethel, of a golden ladder leading up to heaven. Jesus was saying to Nathaniel, “Come with me, and I will be that ladder, for you and for all the world, remaking the connection that human sin has broken.”

At a time when the world is in turmoil, we need to be reminded of that ladder, set up not at Bethel but at Calvary, set up by the one who laid everything down, for his friends and his enemies alike. In another place, Jesus says: “No-one comes to the Father, except through me.” It is to reassure us of this that the book Revelation was written; and in this season of Epiphany, it’s not just as a good man and a great teacher that Jesus is revealed, but as the only one who in all the mess and turmoil of human life can assure us of God’s peace and the ultimate triumph of his 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 - 

We pray we may be ready to offer ourselves as disciples to the one who calls us and is our salvation, and as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins this week, we pray for all that brings us to work together in mission, in worship and in service. Within the Anglican Communion we pray especially for the Church of Australia, and in our own Diocese we pray for Richard our bishop and for the intergenerational missioners working across the diocese.

In the week in which Martin Luther Day falls, we pray for harmony between races and cultures and faiths, and for all who face discrimination because of skin colour, language, or the faith they follow. Today is World Religion Day, and we pray for faith not be misused as a means of division and an incitement to violence. We pray for the United States of America, as its new President is inaugurated this week, and for a rebuilding of unity and trust. 

We pray for all who are ill, and for their care and recovery. We pray also for hospitals under pressure and health workers feeling overwhelmed by the present crisis. We pray for all that is being done to maintain services, and to bring help and support to those most at risk from the Covid virus.

We pray for our families and friends, and for the life of our churches and communities. In the week of National Reading Day we pray for all that helps young people to read and to have a love of books. We pray for people to keep to the rules and to ensure their own safety and that of others.  And may we look out for each other through this testing time, and keep safe ourselves.

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 the love of Christ bring unity and peace to his Church, and strengthen us in joyful praise and faithful service; and may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.  Amen. 

A short service and reflection for Epiphany 1 (The Baptism of Christ)

You may wish to light a candle before you begin.

May the grace, mercy and love of God be with us all. Amen.

Collect 

Heavenly Father, at the Jordan you revealed Jesus as your Son: may we recognize him as our Lord and know ourselves to be your beloved children; through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

Confession

The grace of God has dawned upon the world with healing for all. Let us come to him, in sorrow for our sins, seeking healing and salvation.

Friend of sinners, you bring hope in our despair - Lord, have mercy:

Lord, have mercy.

Healer of the sick, you give strength in our weakness - Christ, have mercy:

Christ, have mercy.

Destroyer of evil, you bring life in our dying - Lord, have mercy:

Lord, have mercy.

May the God of all healing and forgiveness draw us to himself and cleanse us from all our sins, that we may behold the glory of his Son, the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

God’s Word - Acts, chapter 1, verses 1 to 7 :-

In the first part of my work, Theophilus, I gave an account of all that Jesus did and taught from the beginning until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To these men he showed himself after his death and gave ample proof that he was alive: he was seen by them over a period of forty days and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. While he was in their company he directed them not to leave Jerusalem. ‘You must wait’, he said, ‘for the gift promised by the Father, of which I told you;  John, as you know, baptized with water, but within the next few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 

When they were all together, they asked him, ‘Lord, is this the time at which you are to restore sovereignty to Israel?’ He answered, ‘It is not for you to know about dates or times which the Father has set within his own control. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will bear witness for me in Jerusalem, and throughout all Judaea and Samaria, and even in the farthest corners of the earth.’ 

After he had said this, he was lifted up before their very eyes, and a cloud took him from their sight. They were gazing intently into the sky as he went, and all at once there stood beside them two men robed in white, who said, ‘Men of Galilee, why stand there looking up into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken from you up to heaven will come in the same way as you have seen him go.’

    Mark, chapter 1,  verses 4 to 11 :-

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness proclaiming a baptism in token of repentance, for the forgiveness of sins; and everyone flocked to him from the countryside of Judaea and the city of Jerusalem, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. John was dressed in a rough coat of camel’s hair, with a leather belt round his waist, and he fed on locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed: ‘After me comes one mightier than I am, whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and unfasten. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ 

It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. As he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens break open and the Spirit descend on him, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my beloved Son; in you I take delight.’

Thanks be to God, for this his holy word. Amen.

Reflection on the Readings

We don’t know whether Theophilus, to whom Luke addresses his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, was a real person. His name means “Lover of God,” so it may be that Luke is using this name to address all who come to read his words.

But, whoever he is, as Theophilus begins Luke’s second book, the Acts of the Apostles, he reads of Jesus ascending into heaven, after he has given his disciples some final teaching and instructed them to wait for the gift of the Holy Spirit. And a distinction is made between the baptism of John, with water, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But of course John himself makes the same distinction in our second reading: “I baptize you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Clearly there is both water and Spirit when Jesus comes to be baptized; the Holy Spirit descends like a dove to rest upon him. But perhaps our own experience of baptism, the christenings of infants and children, feels less to do with the Holy Spirit and more about just what we do with water.

So can we distinguish between two different baptisms? Baptism with water, and baptism of the Spirit? Infant baptism and believer’s baptism? The Church has always said no. All the member churches of the World Council of Churches and the British Council of Churches share a stated belief in “one baptism”. There may be differences in practice and belief, but it’s one baptism, wherever and however it’s done.

But in that case, there must be more to baptism than just the event. There is the event by which a person is made a member of the Church, and that ceremony involves water, together with declarations of faith made by the candidate or often by others on behalf of a child too young to answer for him or herself. But there is what God offers - of himself, of his power, of his love, of his Spirit.

There’s what we do, and what God does; and what God does doesn’t happen automatically, just because of what we do. For it has to do with engagement and discovery; it may take time, maybe a lot of time. It may never happen, for God gives us freedom not to engage, not to even ask. So though we may think of baptism as an event, it’s really a process. There’s always more to discover, more to know, more to receive, and more to give, as we take the road of faith, as a lifelong journey.

The disciples waited in Jerusalem for the gift of the Spirit. When it came, it knocked them off their feet - and straightaway they began to minister and teach, with joy, with power, and with authority. But they’d still plenty to learn, mistakes to make, things of which to repent. The Spirit will lead you into all truth, Jesus promised them - but not all in one go - even for them it would be a process of discovery. 

They would discover new things about God, and about the wonders of his grace; and they would discover new things about themselves, and what they were called to be and do as God’s people. Baptism is a commissioning into God’s service. It was for Jesus - as he joined those who flocked to hear John and respond to his call, and was baptized to identify himself with all who are searching for God, the Spirit descended upon him as a sign of his Father’s call and commission.

Our baptism testifies to God’s gracious response to our search for grace and a new beginning. But it’s an assurance of God’s promise to send his Spirit to "Theophilus", to each lover of God. Why? So we can go for him, and do what he has for us to do, so we can share his love, and be lights to a dark world, and bring faith and comfort to those in doubt or despair. So the work to which he commissioned Jesus at the Jordan can continue in us, whom Jesus calls - with his first disciples - sisters and brothers.

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 - We pray we may be faithful to the promises made at our baptism, following in the steps of our Lord, and sharing his love in acts of mercy and forgiveness. Within the Anglican communion we pray for the Province of New Zealand, Aotearoa and Polynesia. We pray for our own Diocese and Bishop Richard, and for the churches and communities of the Bridgnorth Deanery.

We continue to pray for the peace of the world, and for the welfare of all who are treated badly or exploited by others. We pray for all in high positions in government and society, that they may act with wisdom and for the good of all, and honour the democratic institutions that preserve our freedom. We  continue to pray for co-operation among nations in the struggle to counter the Covid virus, and for vaccines to be widely available. 

We pray for all who are ill, and especially for the work of our local hospitals and health centres. We pray for the safety of staff, and for all involved in ensuring that those who are vulnerable receive the vaccination they need. We pray too for all whose wait for diagnosis and treatment has been made longer by the present crisis.

We pray for our families and friends, and for the life of our churches and communities. We pray for all who teach and instruct others, in our schools and colleges, and in apprenticeships and training schemes, and for all who are embarking on new courses of learning.  And may we look out for each other through this testing time, and keep safe ourselves.

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 - 

ay Christ the Light of the nations bring love and peace into every dark place; and may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.  Amen.

A short service and reflection for the Epiphany

 

You may wish to light a candle before you begin.

May the grace, mercy and love of God be with us all. Amen.

Collect 

Creator of the heavens, who led the Magi by a star to worship the Christ-child: guide and sustain us, that we may find our journey's end in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession

Christ the Light has come to bring light and peace to all the world. In his sight let us examine our hearts and make confession of our sins.

Christ came to bring good news to every nation. When we fail to recognise our sister and brother, and instead raise up barriers - Lord, have mercy:

Lord, have mercy.

Christ came to show the gracious love of God in a human life. When we fail to care as we should, and place our own selves first - Christ, have mercy:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ came to offer himself as a sacrifice for sin. When we fail in our giving, and instead demand the service of others - Lord, have mercy:

Lord, have mercy.

May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

God’s Word - Isaiah, chapter 60, verses 1 to 6 :-

Arise, shine, Jerusalem, for your light has come; and over you the glory of the LORD has dawned. Though darkness covers the earth  and dark night the nations, on you the LORD shines and over you his glory will appear; nations will journey towards your light and kings to your radiance. Raise your eyes and look around: they are all assembling, flocking back to you; your sons are coming from afar, your daughters walking beside them. You will see it, and be radiant with joy, and your heart will thrill with gladness; sea-borne riches will be lavished on you and the wealth of nations will be yours. Camels in droves will cover the land, young camels from Midian and Ephah, all coming from Sheba laden with gold and frankincense, heralds of the LORD’s praise.

    Matthew, chapter 2,  verses 1 to 12 :-

Jesus was born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of Herod. After his birth astrologers from the east arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the new-born king of the Jews? We observed the rising of his star, and we have come to pay him homage.’ King Herod was greatly perturbed when he heard this, and so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together the chief priests and scribes of the Jews, and asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ‘At Bethlehem in Judaea,’ they replied, ‘for this is what the prophet wrote: “Bethlehem in the land of Judah, you are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a ruler to be the shepherd of my people Israel.”’

Then Herod summoned the astrologers to meet him secretly, and ascertained from them the exact time when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem, and said, ‘Go and make a careful search for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, so that I may go myself and pay him homage.’

After hearing what the king had to say they set out; there before them was the star they had seen rising, and it went ahead of them until it stopped above the place where the child lay. They were overjoyed at the sight of it and, entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother and bowed low in homage to him; they opened their treasure chests and presented gifts to him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then they returned to their own country by another route, for they had been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod.

Thanks be to God, for this his holy word. Amen.

Reflection on the Readings

My Christmas sermons this year have mostly grown out of the crib service just before Christmas at Middleton, and my reflection on the lovely crib figures that local children and families make each year afresh for that crib. Kings are among them, and what splendid kings they often are! Tall and with flowing robes, very out of place, one would think, in a stable.

So - spoiler alert - Matthew never says they are kings. They are, rather, magi, astrologers who from their study of the heavens have decided that the star they have seen, a new and different and especially bright light in the sky, must be the sign of the birth of someone very special. So they travel - not, I think, to a stable, for Matthew makes no mention of a stable, and you’d think he would, if that’s where they ended up, but certainly to little Bethlehem, and not to anything as grand as a palace - though of course that is where they went to start off with.

Well, why wouldn’t you? When a star tells you someone great has been born, you’re unlikely to suppose that the parents are going to be a small town carpenter and his not-quite-married-yet betrothed. No, important babies are the children of kings, so they head for Herod, who is alarmed and outraged to hear of the birth of yet another possible claimant to his throne. And he would have been even more alarmed when his advisers mentioned Bethlehem. Bethlehem was David’s city, and Herod, though a king called “great” even in his own lifetime, was not a descendant of David, and therefore very vulnerable to anyone who might be.

Anyway, another thing Matthew doesn’t tell us is how many magi there were, and though the carol “We three kings” has verses for Melchior, Balthazar and Casper, those names are legendary rather than Biblical. Matthew does tell us they brought three gifts - gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each one is the sort of costly present one might present to a king. But each has something to say about this king, too.

First, though, the magi themselves. Who were they, and where had they arrived from? We don’t know. Persia is a reasonable guess, though the three figures in the large and ornate crib in a previous parish were clearly African, Indian and Chinese. Though again not Biblical, that does express one important detail of the story - that they weren’t Jews. The prophet Isaiah makes great play of the fact that what the Lord will do will bring people in from foreign lands to recognise his greatness and bow down in worship. And fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy is an important theme in Matthew’s Gospel. So, in what is arguably the most Jewish of the Gospels, non-Jews are among the first to kneel before the Christ-child.

Epiphany means revelation, and the season that begins this Sunday will include many events and situations in which Jesus is revealed for who he is, the Saviour, God’s anointed, God’s Son, until at Candlemas we hear Simeon describe him as “The light to lighten the gentiles, and the glory of God’s people Israel”.  The gentiles, the people of the wider world, are represented here by the Magi.

And what God’s anointed one will do is foreshadowed in the gifts they bring, the gold and incense and myrrh: gold, because he will speak and act with authority, with the authority of a king; incense because he will be the bridge between humanity and the God he teaches us to call “Our Father”; and myrrh because the road he travels is the Way of the Cross. He is here to give all of himself, for us, for love.

And perhaps those gifts can also stand for what God calls from us. Gold stands for obedience, that with purity of heart we place ourselves in God’s service. Incense is a sign of holiness and of prayer: we should seek God’s presence regularly, not just on special days, but in every part of our lives. Myrrh - it won’t always be easy, sacrifice is part of the deal. But if we follow Jesus, he also walks with us.

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 - We pray at Epiphany for the mission of the Church throughout the world, giving thanks that the message of his love has crossed all kinds of human boundaries and continues to do so. Within the Anglican communion we pray for the Province of Alexandria, in Egypt and North Africa. We pray for our own Diocese and Bishop Richard, and for all that encourages prayer and spiritual awareness and commitment.

We continue to pray for peace, wherever in the world there is conflict or division. In the week in which World Braille Day falls, we pray for all who live with blindness and severe sight problems, and for that helps them play a full part in society. We pray for co-operation among nations in the struggle to counter the Covid virus, and for vaccines to be widely available. 

We pray for all who are ill, and especially for all who have started this New Year with health issues. We pray for our hospitals and health service, and for the safety of staff. And we pray for all whose wait for diagnosis and treatment has been made longer by the present crisis.

We pray for our families and friends, and for the life of our churches and communities. We pray for all who are starting this New Year with a desire to make changes in their lives, and for the keeping of resolutions.  And may we look out for each other through this testing time, and keep safe ourselves.

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 - 

ay Christ the Light of the nations bring love and peace into every dark place; and may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.  Amen.