Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession:
Brothers and sisters, as we prepare to celebrate, let us call to mind 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.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, +pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
.
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Let us pray
O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed through Jesu Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Our readings today have been recorded for us by Euan, Callum and Paula Brackenridge
Exodus 19: 1-8
Exodus audio
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord. 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
This is the Word of the Lord Thanks be to God
Romans 5: 1-8
Romans audio
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
Glory to you, O Lord.
Matthew 9: 35- 10:8
Matthew audio
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon – Michael Tonkin
Sermon audio
You will all know by now that Kew Gardens are once more open to visit, which is great news. Carolyn and I have visited twice and our first visit was, for both of us, the furthest we have been since March and the start of the ‘lockdown’. It is fair to say we were a little apprehensive at this first ‘long distant’ outing, and a little unsure how the ‘outside world’ would be and seem after so long out of public view.
I feel sure that those twelve disciples would have had the same anxieties on being sent out by Jesus on their own to proclaim, “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” as we have just heard in today’s Gospel reading. They were just everyday folk, not great evangelists, they depended on Jesus for guidance, leadership and reassurance, to think of going out, even among their own people, must have indeed seemed very daunting
But were they actually on their own? We are told that Jesus “gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.” Surely this power that was instilled in them was that of The Holy Spirit, and would work through them, by that power granted to them all by Jesus.
Probably, the one thing that the disciples did need was faith; faith in the one who had called them out of their everyday lives, the one who had that great power of healing, understanding, gentleness and love, Jesus Christ. That same faith that Paul wrote about to the young church community in Rome:
“Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.” “Sharing the glory of God” as those twelve disciples were to do, with the power instilled in them by Jesus.
I wonder how many of us, gathered as we are, hope to go out later today, or even during this coming week in the hope and desire “of sharing the glory of God“?
It is, if we are honest, one of those things that in theory sound great, but actually in practice often slips us by. That is not to say that we won’t be good Christians in the way we behave, or in the many good acts of help and kindness we may do. But how often are those acts ended by words like, “may God go with you”? Interestingly, the lady who used to be outside Tesco Express in Kew village before this Pandemic, selling the Big Issue, would always thank God for your kindness when one bought a copy of the magazine, or even bless you when she saw you walking by. Perhaps she was a worshiper of a different faith, yet with the same universal God? We are all, at times, far better at being Christians than actually proclaiming it!
It has been an interesting observation nationwide, how many more people are actually happy attending Zoom Services, in these times we are living in, than would actually turn out for a Sunday Service in church. There is maybe a certain feeling of security and distancing from being in ones own surroundings, of being part of something without fully committing to it. After all, one has only to press the button to escape, no filing past the vicar or excusing oneself from coffee.
We are so lucky that in this country we can live our Christian lives without the fear of persecution, which is not the case in so many other parts of the world. Those twelve disciples, in the years ahead, would face in many cases persecution and death, as did the Apostle Paul and many more in that young church in Rome. Paul writes of the suffering that new followers of Christ would have to bear, but as he wrote, “suffering produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
That fact is as true today as it was when Paul wrote to the church in Rome. We today have that same Holy Spirit within us as we go about our daily lives. Maybe, we should all have the courage and excitement to let that gift of the Holy Spirit be apparent and known to those we meet? For as the psalmist wrote in today’s Psalm 100:
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the Lord is gracious; his steadfast love is everlasting, and his faithfulness endures from generation to generation.” Amen.
Prayers – with thanks to Diane Morris
Prayers audio
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus. Give those who lead us vision, wisdom and understanding. We pray for Pastor Peter, Readers Richard and Michael, and all who are making our worship possible. Give them compassion, wisdom and the mind of Christ. Let us celebrate today that the Church will soon be open for individual prayer, while we continue with the innovative use of technology to bring us all together. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Grant that we and all who confess thy name be united in thy truth, live together in thy love, and go forth in the world. O eternal Son of God, who came from the Father, the fountain of light, to enlighten the darkness of the world, shine upon us today that in whatever we do shall reflect your light, for your Name’s sake.In this time of uncertainty about the future, we pray for strength, we pray that your Spirit is with us.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the needs of the world, for peace in the Middle East, in Sudan, Libya, and the Yemen; with Covid-19 infections rising in Latin America and in Bangledesh, India and Pakistan where people are struggling for help.The legacy of George Floyd has inspired protests all over the world and sparked global soul searching.Let us pray for amicable solutions, understanding and compassion. Let us pray for stability at home , for our political leaders and their advisors at a time of fear and uncertainty We pray for our country, may people of whatever creed or colour enjoy the same freedom and respect, with justice being upheld for all. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Give grace to us, our families and friends, and too all our neighbours in Christ, that we may serve him in one another, and love as he loves us. Forgive our enemies, and help us to forgive, as we hope to be forgiven. Let us be aware of the lonely, the neglected and unloved, especially those in these times who find themselves isolated.Let us celebrate the ‘social bubble’ of the single household, which will bring comfort to many. We pray for all those missing school, those who are worried about their jobs and their financial future and ask that they are not forgotten. Let us pray for all our family and friends throughout the world.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Let us pray for the sick. We pray today for Alan Hay, Julia Holboro, Annie Kunz, Luci Mitchell – Fry, Joan Pritchard, Johanna Procter,Kevin Willoughby and Max Weston.
Let us give thanks to all the medical help and the carers, professional and voluntary.
God our Father, who is the source of all life and health, all strength and peace: Teach us to know you truly; take from us all that hinders the work of your healing power; all our sins, all our anxieties and fears, all resentment and hardness of heart; and help us to learn to enter stillness and peace with you, and to know that you are our healer and redeemer; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Save and comfort those who suffer, that they may hold through good and ill, and trust in thy unfailing love.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer
Grant, O Lord, to all who are bereaved, for those families who relatives have passed away. Give them the spirit of faith and courage, that they may have strength to meet the days to come with steadfastness and patience; not sorrowing as those without hope, but in thankful remembrance of your great goodness in past years, and in the sure expectation of the joyful reunion in heavenly places: and this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. We remember today Gulam Abu Saleh,Mary Smith, John Axell, Joy Dyer, Pattie Johnson, Norma Williams and Rex Thorne
Hear us as we remember those who have died in faith, and grant them a share in thy eternal kingdom.
Merciful Father: accept these prayers,for the sake of thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. AMEN
And now we give you thanks, most gracious God, holy and undivided Trinity:
because your have given us the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ,
that we may grow into your likeness and be changed from glory to glory. Therefore with angels
and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we sing for ever of your glory.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. +Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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
The love of the Lord Jesus draw you to himself, the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen you in his service, the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. In the name of Christ. Amen.
We are pleased to let you know that The Barn and St Luke’s churches will be open for private prayer on the following dates and times.
The Barn: Monday 15th June 12noon – 1pm Sunday 21st June 9.30 – 10.30am
Please enter by the porch as usual.
St Luke’s: Thursday 18th June 10-11am Thursday 25th June 10-11am
Please enter by the gates as usual.
There will be a one way system in operation and members of the congregation will be on hand to welcome you and guide you to where you can sit and then exit the church.
This is just a start and we will be reviewing these opening times in the near future.
Prayer: Open your word to us, Lord God, that we might read with understanding, and so walk closely with you day by day. Amen
Read the passage through twice:
On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. 3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord. 9 The Lord said to Moses, “I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.” Then Moses told the Lord what the people had said.
Background
This map shows the route taken by the People of Israel, from leaving their homes in Goshen in the north of Egypt to the crossing of the Red Sea, their arrival at the foot of Mt Sinai and then their movement northwards to the Promised Land (eventually). Today’s passage relates to their time at the foot of Mt Sinai, just before God gives Moses the Law. In those previous two months they had got used to the presence of the fiery pillar of God at night and the pillar of cloud during the day. They had run out of water, and God had provided them with it. They had cried out for food, and God had sent quails and manna for them to eat. Now they are gathered as a free nation in the middle of the desert at a critical moment in their relationship with the God who had liberated them from slavery.
Some questions
After two months of travel, how must the people of Israel have been feeling at this moment?
How are the people feeling about their God?
Is confidence high or low at this point?
There is a lot of interplay between God and Moses throughout this passage. Some of it seems a little repetitive. Can it be sorted out into a coherent narrative, or is something else at play?
Why does God only speak through Moses? Why doesn’t he speak out loud so that all the people can hear?
The words that God gives to Moses to relay to the people are extraordinary. What insight do they give into the heart of God?
Why should God choose one set of people to be his own?
What is a “priestly kingdom”? Can a kingdom be priestly? At this time Israel did not have a king
What is a “holy nation”? What does “holy” mean in this context?
“if you obey me fully and keep my covenant” is all that God asks of his people. In return for obedience, they will become God’s treasured nation. Who gains more – God or the people of Israel?
Which is the harder part – to obey God and keep his covenant – or to make a nation holy?
Does this relate to us at all, today? If so, how?
Is our God the same as the God who spoke to his people in these words at Mt Sinai? If so, what more have we learned about him since this point in history?
Have any of these promises been made to the Church? If so, where, and how?
What part does obedience play in our discipleship?
Which is harder – to love God, or to obey God?
Read the passage through again, out loud if possible
Review
What has this passage taught you about
God?
Jesus Christ?
The Church?
Our current situation?
Prayer: Give us obedient hearts, good Lord, and loving souls, that we may live as kings and priests in your kingdom and show forth your glory in the world. Amen.
Section 2: Romans 5: 1-8
Prayer Loving God, as we read your word, may we hear you speaking to us. Make us responsive to all that you have to say to us. Amen.
Read the passage through twice:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Background
Paul has been working through the nature of humanity’s relationship with God from the beginnings of time until the present. He has discussed what does not work between us and God – sin, disobedience, confidence in our own ability to make ourselves right with him – and what does work – God’s initiative of grace and forgiveness, and faith, especially as exemplified by Abraham.
Some questions
The “therefore” which opens this passage relates to Paul’s example in the previous chapter of Abraham’s faith, and how he gained righteousness because he trusted God to provide an heir. We are included in that same “therefore”, because it is by the same faith that we are made right with God. Do you believe that?
The main thrust of Paul’s argument is that God takes the initiative, and all that we are asked to do is respond in faith. God has granted us righteousness with him if we believe and trust in him, so out of that comes peace between God and us. Is that peace a reality for you? Do you feel “at peace” with God? If yes, how? If no, why not?
Christ is the means by which God makes peace with us – how?
We spoke last week of grace meaning undeserved favour. Paul will develop this further in this passage, but he becomes a little distracted by boasting – which does not sit well with our current sensibilities.
“Boasting” and “glorying” are effectively the same thing.
Have you ever boasted of the hope of God you have? If so, to whom? What was the reaction? If never, why not? And why shouldn’t we? Or more pertinently, why should we and how do we go about it?
Boasting about hope that God has granted us is one thing, but boasting about suffering is quite another. How well do you feel this sits with your current understanding of your faith?
Have you experienced any suffering for Christ that you could boast about? Would you boast about it, given the opportunity?
Paul is a lover of lists and sequences – “suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope”, Firstly, is this sequence true? If it is, what help does it give us in our Christian life? If Paul is barking up the wrong tree, where has he gone wrong?
In vv 5-8, Paul returns to his theme of the gift of God to us, and his language expands as he warms to his task. The love of God is “poured” into our hearts, not just given. It speaks of excess, of abundance, of generosity. And it is the Spirit’s role to make us aware of that. Is that an everyday reality?
Now Paul can really let rip. It is in the death and resurrection of Christ that all of God’s extraordinary generosity and grace is revealed. He posits the possibility of men and women offering to die on behalf of another – there have been numerous examples in history and literature – is Paul right to do so? Might one human being genuinely offer themselves to die if it spared another human being? Would you do this, if the circumstances offered it?
But Paul can demonstrate that God, in Christ, dies for us when we were the least deserving of such love and favour. We were “powerless”, “ungodly” and “sinners”, the very antithesis of righteousness, holiness and love which characterise God.
Paul has reached the high point of his argument – “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Why is this such a radical statement?
Paul is visibly amazed at what God has done for us in Christ as he writes these lines, and he wants us to be too. Are you amazed?
We are left hanging at his point by our prescribed reading for this week. Feel free to read on – there is more to come, as Paul is heading towards the extraordinary statement that “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.”
This passage ought to be both comforting and challenging.
What comfort do you take from it?
How does it challenge you?
Read the passage through again, out loud if possible
Review
What has this passage taught you about
God?
Jesus Christ?
The Church?
Our current situation?
Prayer: Gracious God, we cannot fully comprehend your love for us, and all you did to bring us back to yourself. Help us by your Holy Spirit never to leave you and always to trust you. Amen.
Section 3: Matthew 9: 35- 10:8
Prayer: Loving God, may your Gospel word come alive as we read it, and may your Holy Spirit inspire us as we understand it. Amen
Read the passage through twice:
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
Background
It takes some time in Matthew’s Gospel before Jesus’s ministry really gets going. After the temptations in Chapter 4, the next 3 chapters are taken up with the Sermon on the Mount. Chapter 9 is therefore when things take off in earnest, with healings and parables, debates with pharisees and the call of some of the remaining 12 disciples.
Some questions
The passage opens with a generic list of Jesus’s activities. However, it becomes much more personal when Jesus’s reading of the crowds becomes clear, “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd”. What exactly does this mean?
Who is harassing them? Why are they helpless?
Why don’t they have a shepherd? Who should be their shepherd? Remember, this is written for a predominantly Jewish readership
What is Jesus’s reaction to this assessment of the crowds?
Is the task that great that he has to recruit his disciples to do some of his work?
How does this compare to Moses having to speak God’s words to the people?
Who is the “Lord of the harvest”?
What is the answer to the request for more workers in the harvest? Is this still the answer today?
The group of 12 disciples is set from this moment on. Why is the phrase “who betrayed him” appended to Judas’s name? Is this not a bit of a spoiler?
The call of some of these people has been narrated earlier, but most of them are simply named here for the first and only time in Matthew’s Gospel. Why?
What is the range of skills present in this group? Are any of their abilities and range of knowledge particularly useful for the task Jesus gives them?
Jesus gives his disciples authority “to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness”. How and why?
Does he still give people that authority today? And does he give it to everyone?
Why are the disciples told not to go to the Samaritans or the Gentiles? Why shouldn’t they?
Does that set a precedent for our ministry?
Who are the “lost sheep of the house of Israel”? Do they still exist?
What does their message, “The kingdom of heaven has come near” actually mean?
Would people have understood what they were talking about?
Do their message and their healings necessarily go together? ie. could they do one and not the other, or must both be present for the one to be effective and the other understood?
The phrase “Freely you have received; freely give” is well known. Why is it here? How does it fit in with the rest of the disciples’ mission?
Does any of this still apply to us today?
If so, how do we carry this out in a time of lockdown?
Are we to be selective of those to whom we take Christ, in word and practical support?
Are words enough?
Do you believe that you have the authority to do any of the things that Jesus sent his disciples out to do? If not, why not? If you think you have, why? How? And do you use them?
Read the passage through again, out loud if possible
Review
What has this passage taught you about
God?
Jesus Christ?
The Church?
Our current situation?
Prayer: Loving God, you called us to be your disciples at our baptism, and you equip us to carry out your kingdom mission with you Holy Spirit. Help us today to be faithful to our calling, and lead us always in your ways of compassion and love. Amen.
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession:
Holy, holy, holy. When our eyes have seen the Lord of hosts, we echo the words of Isaiah, “Woe is me! I am doomed.” We long for the fire of God’s cleansing to touch our unclean lips for our iniquity to be removed and our sins wiped out. So we meet Father, Son and Holy Spirit with confession on our lips.
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.
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon you, +pardon and deliver you from all your sins, confirm and strengthen you in all goodness, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
.
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Let us pray
Holy God, faithful and unchanging: enlarge our minds with the knowledge of your truth, and draw us more deeply into the mystery of your love, that we may truly worship you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
Isaiah 40: 12-17, 27-end
Isaiah reading
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord, or instruct the Lord as his counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?
Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires, nor its animals enough for burnt offerings. Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing.
Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
2 Corinthians 13: 11-end
Corinthians reading
Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All God’s people here send their greetings. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John
Glory to you, O Lord.
Matthew 28: 16-20
Matthew reading
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon – Revd Canon Nicholas Darby– Revd Canon Nicholas Darby
Sermon audio
Thank you for inviting me to contribute to your worship this morning, Trinity Sunday.
Trinity Sunday is the only Sunday in the year which focuses on a doctrine rather than an event, when we’re encouraged to think a bit about the Christian understanding of God.
You might think that holding to a view of God as Trinity as complicating things unnecessarily or posing the main obstacle to shared understanding with Muslims and Jews. We may have some sympathy with the lady in Stevie Smith’s poem who dismissed God-talk as idle speculation. ‘ Mrs Simpkins, having nothing else to do, Decided that the Trinity wasn’t true, Or at least but a garbled version of the truth And that things had moved on since the days of her youth’.
Well, it is important, and today, Trinity Sunday, we try to summarise what we can say about God, the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It’s an impossible yet necessary task. It is necessary for at least 3 reasons. First, our belief about God is not simply a matter of opinion, it is about truth. It seems to me that the best and ultimately the only reason for being a Christian is because we believe it to be true. Our faith may make us better people;it may bring comfort, it may be enjoyable, but the only satisfying reason is because it is true. Otherwise religion becomes privatised, as we say today, no more than of personal opinion – I can follow my God, while you follow yours – and we know what disasters, distortions and terrors that can lead to. The Christian faith has a particular understanding of God – Trintarian which distinguishes us from the other great Abrahamic faiths -0 Judaism and Islam. We do people of other faiths a disservice- and indeed ourselves if we say that all religions are the same, and ignore our differences.
Second, our understanding of God must have some continuity with the God of the Bible and the first Christians- their God and our God is essentially the same ( which is why the say the creed week by week. ‘ We believe in one God’ ‘ We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ’. ‘We believe in the Holy Spirit’.Together as part of the church, we embrace for ourselves a list of beliefs that point to truths which no words may encompass. We read the signposts pointing us in the right direction towards God, and away from concepts that might lead us astray or leave us with a distorted idea of who he is.
Belief about the Trinity didn’t fall as some fully formed philosophical concept from the deliberations of a working party of theologians. It came out of the prayers and reflections of a community of faith over several centuries – ordinary people who encountered God in their lives – an experience which at times was deeply held and sometimes fiercely defended.
The early Christians came to understand that with Jesus- and his risen life, that had experienced a little of the Kingdom of God. Jesus showed the human face of God himself, But it didn’t stop there. The New Testamentparticularly the Acts of the Apostles tell us that even after Jesus’ acension they still knew the presence of God with them, guiding their life and work together, enabling, empowering and enlivening them – as the spirit of God in their midst. Their God is our God!
Today’s scripture readings hint at how the idea of the Trinity is beginning to emerge – it’s there implicitly in both the epistle and the gospel. ‘ Jesus takes his leave of the disciples at the Ascension with these words;” Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the holy Spirit’. And in the epistle, P:all signs of his letter to the Corinthians with that formula which the church has used ever since.: “ the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you’.
And thirdly, the Trinity is important because it gives us a precious insight into God’ nature. God is love and so at the heart of God himself is relationship – mutuality, community, a giving and receiving . Unity, yes, but not static, its dynamic – the Father ( giving love), Jesus ( receiving love ) and the spirit communicating love. Thinking of God in this way enriches our understanding of his nature. God isn’t an object – he is love, which implies movement, community, relationship.
But all this remains rather abstract unless it connects with us. And the connection is this – Jesus relationship with God is opened up to us too.We are invited to join in the relationship of love that flows within the life of god himself. These things are more effectively conveyed by metaphor, analogy, or visually rather than words alone., and here is one well-known exampleRublev’s icon of the Trinity. ( clear relationship between the three persons, open at the front drawing the viewer, you and me to participate in the life of the Trinity)
I have suggested why the idea of the Trinity is important for us. I haven’t explained the Trinity – but I don’t think it isn’t a matter for explaining. It is a mystery – a truth which in the end we can only contemplate and worship.
Prayers – with thanks to Michael Tonkin
Prayers audio
The mystery of God, Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, is beyond our human understanding, yet closer to us than breathing.
Let us pray for the Church throughout the world, for those of other faiths and beliefs. May the power of the Holy Spirit help to break down barriers between different peoples allowing the love of God to bring us all closer together in understanding and fellowship.
Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer.
We pray for the Power of the Holy Spirit to allow us to see the world and its needs and problems through the eyes of love, hope, justice and mercy; for the grace to abandon prejudice and build bridges of reconciliation. We remember those Christians being persecuted and driven from their homes in so many parts of our world, because of their beliefs. We pray for the power of The Holy Spirit to bring peace and understanding in the Middle East, in Sudan, Libya, Yemen and between all warring factions.
Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer.
We pray for our country, may all people of whatever creed or colour enjoy the same freedom and respect, with justice being upheld for all. May our Politians also look beyond their own party political wellbeing to the good of the whole country and those they are meant to represent. As we hopefully move slowly out of the grip of the coronavirus may our prayers be directed to those parts of the world where this Pandemic is still at it’s worst and many third world countries struggle to contain it.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer.
We ask for a spirit of loving-kindness to fill our homes. May those children now allowed back to nurseries and schools do so in a spirit of excitement and enjoyment in a safe environment. We also pray for those children still left at home where learning opportunities are not always easy. Encourage us all in an outgoing spirit of love, and let us all be aware of the lonely, the neglected and the unloved, especially those in these times who find themselves isolated at home without family or friends at hand.
Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer.
We pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to restore those who are sick to wholeness and wellbeing. For courage and patience in all who are suffering, and understanding and kindness for all who are called to care and look after those in need. For all our Nurses and Doctors in the NHS and all those carers in many different environments.
We pray especially today for Alan Hay, Julia Holboro, Annie Kunz, Luci Mitchell-Fry, Joan Pritchard, Johanna Procter, Kevin Willoughby and Max Weston.
Lord in your mercy…..hear our prayer
.
We pray for those who walk the dark journey of death and all who mourn and are distressed or angry with God for their loss. May those who mourn be comforted with our Lord’s promise that all those who ‘die in Christ’ are now at rest in the peace and joy of heaven. We remember today Mary Smith, John Axell, Joy Dyer, Pattie Johnson, Norma Williams and Rex Thorne.
Lord in your mercy…. hear our prayer.
We ask for a deeper knowledge and love of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the One God, who knows and loves us completely.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son Our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
And now we give you thanks, most gracious God, holy and undivided Trinity:
because your have given us the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jesus Christ,
that we may grow into your likeness and be changed from glory to glory. Therefore with angels
and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we sing for ever of your glory.
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. +Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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 Spirit, who hovered over the waters when the world was created, breathe into you the life he gives. Amen.
May the Spirit, who overshadowed Mary when the eternal Son came among us, make you joyful in the service of the Lord. Amen.
May the Spirit, who set the Church on fire upon the day of Pentecost, bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ. Amen.
And the blessing of God almight, the +Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with you and those you love, today and always. Amen.
Filled with the Spirit’s power, go in the light and peace of Christ. Alleluia!
