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St Clement Church Community 3rd Sunday of Easter Service
Printable services for those unable to attend St C
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St Clement Church Community Easter 2 Service
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St Clement Church Community Good Friday Liturgy
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St Clement Church Community Easter Sunday Service St Clement Church Community EASTER DAY Service Happy Easter – Jesus Christ is Risen today, Alleluia At this time of so much darkness and sadness in so many countries and places around the world, may we hold tight to what happened two thousand years ago when darkness and sorrow was overcome by the glorious Resurrection of our Lord. May we trust that the light of our Risen Lord will always shine through the darkness and sadness of our lives. Jesus Christ is Risen today, Alleluia! God Bless With my love Liz Let us pray: Lord God, you loved this world so much that you gave your one and only Son, that we might be called your children too. Lord, help us to live in the gladness and grace of Easter Sunday, every day. Let us have hearts of thankfulness for your sacrifice. Let us have eyes that look upon your grace and rejoice in our salvation. Help us to walk in that mighty grace and tell your good news to the world. We ask this in the name of the Risen Christ. Amen. Hymn: 95 When I survey the wondrous cross Our prayers of Penitence Loving God, we confess that at times we do not share in the joy of the resurrection but are caught up in the worries of the world. We confess that we do not always live in the spirit of new life but remain discontent, grumbling and anxious. Forgive us when we find it more comfortable to worry and complain than to risk the joy and encouragement of new life in Christ. Call us back to your ways, O God, to seek hope and reconciliation, restoration and peace. In the name of the Risen Christ. Amen. Let us pray our Collect for today. Lord of all life and power, who through the mighty resurrection of your Son overcame the old order of sin and death to make all things new in him: grant that we, being dead to sin and alive to you in Jesus Christ, may reign with him in glory; to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be praise and honour, glory and might, now and in all eternity. Amen Old Testament reading: Acts 10. 34 - 43 New Testament reading: 1 Corinthians 15. 1 - 18 Hymn: 120 Thine be the glory (Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John (20. 1 – 18) Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So, she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. The two were running together but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her. (This is the Gospel of the Lord.) Response: Praise to you, O Christ. Reflection On Good Friday we listen to the Miserere by Allegri. This is something we have done for a number of years. It is a time of quiet reflection as we join in the darkness of our Lord’s death on Calvary. The first Easter Day also begins with darkness as Mary Magdalene makes her way to the tomb before dawn with her whole body wrapped in the darkness of grief. On arrival at the tomb, Mary is further dismayed to find that the stone is pushed aside, indicating to her, that someone has been tampering with the tomb for some untoward, ghastly purpose. Mary doesn’t investigate any further, nor does she think she needs to – to her it’s obvious what’s happened. She runs to get help. (There’s a lot of running in this story but it’s mostly frightened, confused running, not leaping and shouting for joy.) Peter and the other disciple, presumably John, run to check out Mary’s terrible news. They investigate more thoroughly than Mary does. They do indeed confirm that not only is the stone pushed aside, but the tomb is empty save for the burial wrappings. That is the odd thing, the wrappings are both still there and neatly folded too. Jesus isn’t there. The most obvious and logical reason is grave robbery, but whoever hears of a neat burglar? If you come home one evening to discover a burglar has been in your house, you expect to find a mess. The drawers the thief has searched for jewellery and money would have their contents rifled through and maybe even strewn across the floor. There might well be CDs, DVDs and books littered about. What you would not expect to see is that thief, who has stolen things from you, has also neatly put everything back in its proper place, straightening the curtains on the window he has broken and putting your drawers back, just so. Scholars claim that it is highly unlikely some ancient grave robber would have taken the time required to unwrap a well-embalmed body. Thieves are usually interested in speed so as to limit the chances of getting caught. Also, at the end of chapter 19 we are told that Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea have covered Jesus’ body with about 75 pounds of aloe and myrrh and that would cause the wrappings to stick to the body like glue. If some thief has done the highly unlikely and arduous unwrapping of the dead body, you would not expect him to then be so neat and tidy as to fold and roll everything in the orderly fashion that Peter and John find. Verse 8 tells us that John ‘believes.’ But, just what does John believe at this precise moment – that Jesus has been raised from the dead by the miraculous power of God? No, verse 9 makes it clear that both Peter and John do NOT understand this as a possibility, much less believe it. So, it seems likely that what John believes is, that there is no body there and maybe also that something funny is going on - this is NO grave robbery. Whatever tentative conclusions they come to at this moment, they are reported as- simply going home. Isn’t it strange – the most important of all Bible stories is told without a single emotion being described. We’re not told that they’re happy or sad, confused or elated, curious or oddly inquisitive. Nothing. They just go home. They don’t even say goodbye to Mary. They just silently walk away leaving Mary to weep by herself in the garden. Mary weeps. We begin this chapter ‘while it was still dark’ but no matter how much higher the sun has crept over the horizon by this point, there is a metaphorical sense in which the darkness persists. The very first emotion we have described for us is one of sorrow. Mary is bawling her eyes out. This is where the Easter story begins: in darkness and lament, in confusion and the shadow of death. God has clearly done something to and with Jesus’ body, but more than that, God has done a wholesale transformation of that body, not just a resuscitation of it. Our Lord is transformed into a new form of resurrection life – one effect of which is, as reported in all four Gospels – that Jesus’ form is not quite recognizable. There is something profoundly different about the Risen Jesus. He has to keep showing off his scars just to prove that He really is the Jesus who dies on the cross and the one who stands before them after Easter. Mary looks right at him but at first mistakes him for a stranger. It is only when Jesus says her name in exactly the same way that He has said it – goodness knows how many times before – that she recognizes who it is standing there. The rest of the story flows from there – Mary Magdalen becomes the first ordained evangelist as Jesus commands her to go out and preach the good news to the disciples. She discharges this duty gladly, though you have to admit the disciples don’t seem to take her seriously. Thomas, for instance, will keep on doubting for some time. Mary’s sadness is definitely lifted, and nothing anyone says to her, can make her question who it is that she has met in the garden that morning. It's strange isn’t it, Easter doesn’t so much burst onto the scene in John’s Gospel as it creeps onto the scene, emerging from the darkness and confusion, from the death and sadness that set this chapter’s tone. But, here’s the good news of John 20: Easter still creeps up on us in the darkness! Easter comes to those who, like Mary, find themselves crying their eyes out some days (maybe many days.) The triumph of God’s life is real. Jesus lives! It is finally life and death that has the last, best, most glorious word. We serve a Risen Saviour who is worthy of every ‘Alleluia’ we can muster this morning and every day. We must not forget that Gospel Good News emerges from the shadows of the real world in which we live. Death, darkness and sadness are the context of Easter. Death is Easter’s precursor not just in the sense that Jesus has to die before He can be resurrected; but death is Easter’s forerunner in also the widest sense – that Easter’s light shines more brightly precisely because it finds us in the very shadowlands of our lives. Christ is here, now. He knows each of our names. No matter how deep the darkness of our lives may seem, we must listen for that voice, calling each of our names. Because He is calling, listen. Listen for that voice. Listen and then start living Jesus’ new life, right now, even while it is still dark. Jesus Christ is Risen today, Alleluia! Amen An Easter Affirmation of our faith Do you believe and trust in God the Father? I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. Do you believe and trust in his Son Jesus Christ? I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again, He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. Amen Hymn: 271 Alleluia, sing to Jesus Our Intercessions this week are by Helen Dunbar Jesus lives for all time in glory; we can live the fullness of Resurrection life straight away. Let us pray to the God who gives us so much and loves us so completely. We pray for all people throughout the world of every race and religion. For the leaders of the nations of the world that they may give priority to those with greatest need in the distribution of the world’s basic resources. We especially pray on this special day, for peace in the world and for countries where there is war and conflict. Our thoughts go to all the people of the Ukraine, for all who are displaced and suffering terrible abuse at the hands of their aggressors. Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer. Lord, give us courage and strength on this day to follow you and have trust; help us to work in harmony with one another and deal with the difficulties we sometimes face in our daily lives, with love patience, and understanding. Here at home we pray for our own congregation and community at St Clement and the surrounding area. We ask your blessing on our teachers, doctors and health care workers and all people in public service. We pray for our Archbishop Justin and our bishops Phillip and Hugh and our own much-loved Revd Diane and her family and ask God to guide her in her very demanding role in the diocese. Ever-living Lord, help us to celebrate our joy in the resurrection of your Son and to express in our lives the love we celebrate. Let us work to break down barriers between us, while learning to distinguish with sensitivity between our neighbours’ possible loneliness and need for company and their possibly real desire for privacy. May all relationships be strengthened and hurts be healed. We pray for Elizabeth our Queen and all members of the royal family. May they be guided by you, as they go about their duties. Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer. Lord we pray for those who are anxious or troubled about the future; for the chronically ill and for all who walk in darkness; for all who are in pain and all have lost hope and are filled with anxiety: may they find a new vision and comfort in the power and promise of the resurrection. Here at home we pray for all known to us: Margaret, Ollie, Brian, Gavin, Paul and Jan, Terry and Dot, Daphne and Dave, Ken and Diane, June, Sally, Gill and family. Lord, we remember all who have lost those whom they love and for whom they sorrow greatly. May they be comforted this Easter by the promise of the resurrection. And bring us, we pray, at our last awakening into the house and gate of heaven, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling but one equal light; no noise nor silence but one equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity, world without end. Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer. We remember those whose anniversary falls at this time. Merciful father: accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, Amen. Gathering our prayers and praises into one, let us pray with confidence as Jesus taught us; 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. Easter Joy by Joanna Fuchs Jesus came to earth, To show us how to live, How to put others first, How to love and how to give. Then He set about His work That God sent Him to do. He took our punishment upon Himself. He made us clean and new. He could have saved Himself Calling angels from above, But He chose to pay our price for sin He paid it out of love. Our Lord died on Good Friday But the cross did not destroy His Resurrection on Easter morn That fills our hearts with joy. Now we know our earthly death Like His, is just a rest. We’ll be forever with Him In heaven, where life is best. So, we live our lives for Jesus Think of Him in all we do. Thank You Saviour; thank You Lord. Help us love like You! The Peace Lord Jesus Christ, you know our faults and have heard our prayers. You have ripped apart the barriers that separate us from God and opened us to the grace of God through Your sacrifice of love on a cross, and Your resurrection from the dead. Promise of God, fill Your people and give us peace. The peace be with us all. Amen Hymn: 375 Lord of the dance Blessing May the glory and the promise of this joyous time of year bring peace and happiness to us all and those we hold dear. May Christ our Risen Saviour always be there by our side to bless us abundantly and be our loving guide. Lord, we lift our hearts to You. Jesus Christ is Risen today – Alleluia! Amen
Printable services for those unable to attend St C
Service of the Word for those unable to attend the Palm Sunday Eucharist at St Clement St Clement Church Community Palm Sunday Service Good morning to you all as we celebrate our Palm Sunday Service, the beginning of Holy Week. We will be commemorating the day with a Eucharist service in our church building, this Service of the Word is if you are unable to attend, but we know we are all united in our worship and prayers. We will be holding a Good Friday service in church at 10.15, but I shall endeavour to email round a Service of the Word for that day too. May Christ’s love sustain you always. Much love to you all, Rev Di and family xx Grace mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with us all. This is the day which the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let us pray: We have come in the name of Christ to offer our praise and thanksgiving, to hear and receive God’s holy word, to pray for the needs of the world, and to seek the forgiveness of our sins, that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may give ourselves to the service of God. Amen. Hymn; ‘There is a green hill far away’ The Beatitudes: We hear God’s blessings bestowed on his people; Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. Blessed are those who suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Confession We have a time of quiet as we recall the times we fail to meet God’s ideal for us, his people. Let us pray: 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. Absolution May God who loved the world so much that he sent his Son to be our Saviour, forgive us our sins and make us holy to serve him in the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Palm Sunday Collect Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: Grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, And also be made partakers of his resurrection; Through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, In the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Liturgy of the Palms Gospel: Luke 19. 28 - 40 (Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’) After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, “Why are you untying it?” just say this: “The Lord needs it.” ’ So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ They said, ‘The Lord needs it.’ Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord Response: ‘Praise to you, O Christ) Liturgy of the Passion Isaiah 50. 4-9a Philippians 2.5-11 Hymn; ‘All people that on earth do dwell’ Gospel: Luke 22.14-23.56 (Hear the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’) When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed!’ Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this. A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. ‘You are those who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ‘Simon, Simon, listen! Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ And he said to him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death!’ Jesus said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you have denied three times that you know me.’ He said to them, ‘When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?’ They said, ‘No, not a thing.’ He said to them, ‘But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you, this scripture must be fulfilled in me, “And he was counted among the lawless”; and indeed what is written about me is being fulfilled.’ They said, ‘Lord, look, here are two swords.’ He replied, ‘It is enough.’ He came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’ Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me; yet, not my will but yours be done.’ [[ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and gave him strength. In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.]] When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief, and he said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not come into the time of trial.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him; but Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, is it with a kiss that you are betraying the Son of Man?’ When those who were around him saw what was coming, they asked, ‘Lord, should we strike with the sword?’ Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed him. Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple police, and the elders who had come for him, ‘Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a bandit? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness!’ Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest’s house. But Peter was following at a distance. When they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. Then a servant-girl, seeing him in the firelight, stared at him and said, ‘This man also was with him.’ But he denied it, saying, ‘Woman, I do not know him.’ A little later someone else, on seeing him, said, ‘You also are one of them.’ But Peter said, ‘I am not!’ Then about an hour later yet another kept insisting, ‘Surely this man also was with him; for he is a Galilean.’ But Peter said, ‘Man, I do not know what you are talking about!’ At that moment, while he was still speaking, the cock crowed. The Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.’ And he went out and wept bitterly. Now the men who were holding Jesus began to mock him and beat him; they also blindfolded him and kept asking him, ‘Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?’ They kept heaping many other insults on him. When day came, the assembly of the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, gathered together, and they brought him to their council. They said, ‘If you are the Messiah, tell us.’ He replied, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.’ All of them asked, ‘Are you, then, the Son of God?’ He said to them, ‘You say that I am.’ Then they said, ‘What further testimony do we need? We have heard it ourselves from his own lips!’ Then the assembly rose as a body and brought Jesus before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, ‘We found this man perverting our nation, forbidding us to pay taxes to the emperor, and saying that he himself is the Messiah, a king.’ Then Pilate asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ He answered, ‘You say so.’ Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, ‘I find no basis for an accusation against this man.’ But they were insistent and said, ‘He stirs up the people by teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee where he began even to this place.’ When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him off to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him and was hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at some length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. Even Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him; then he put an elegant robe on him, and sent him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies. Pilate then called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, and said to them, ‘You brought me this man as one who was perverting the people; and here I have examined him in your presence and have not found this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Indeed, he has done nothing to deserve death. I will therefore have him flogged and release him.’ Then they all shouted out together, ‘Away with this fellow! Release Barabbas for us!’ (This was a man who had been put in prison for an insurrection that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again; but they kept shouting, ‘Crucify, crucify him!’ A third time he said to them, ‘Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no ground for the sentence of death; I will therefore have him flogged and then release him.’ But they kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that he should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. So Pilate gave his verdict that their demand should be granted. He released the man they asked for, the one who had been put in prison for insurrection and murder, and he handed Jesus over as they wished. As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him. But Jesus turned to them and said, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are surely coming when they will say, “Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.” Then they will begin to say to the mountains, “Fall on us”; and to the hills, “Cover us.” For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?’ Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they are doing.’ And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, ‘He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’ The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’ There was also an inscription over him, ‘This is the King of the Jews.’ One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, ‘Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!’ But the other rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly this man was innocent.’ And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things. Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment This is the passion of the Lord (No response is made) Reflection: Sermon on Luke for Palm Sunday St Clement 2022 May the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer, amen. I’d like us to consider where is it that we look for leadership in these troubled times? Our government from the Houses of Parliament? Mmmm, they’ve got their hands full with the situation in the Ukraine escalating, and closer to home the Covid pandemic continuing……. Perhaps we look towards the Church, Mmmm, the current ‘On the Way’ initiative doesn’t bode well for us there……. We naturally look for good leadership, because know when that happens, the entire community benefits, and we realise that we share a common lot. We are well aware that when leadership is toxic, poor or non-existent, then everybody suffers, the vulnerable and the powerless suffer more than the rest, but the entire communities are adversely affected. So perhaps this Palm Sunday we could consider looking in a different direction for leadership, a direction which could transform not only what happens in our government, but also the leadership each one of us offers, however plainly and simply, in our community, our church, and our family. Today I suggest we stand at the foot of the cross and look for leadership from the one who speaks from there. In Luke's version of the Passion story, Jesus speaks three times from the cross. Firstly, he speaks to his Father about the people who put him there. Secondly, he promises paradise to the robber who acknowledges him as king. Then with his last breath, he places himself into his Father's hands. These three brief sentences from Jesus constitute a course in leadership of a kind all too rare, an example worthy of a king, yet one that anybody can follow. Let's consider each sentence in turn; Justice is miscarried, Jesus is beaten and condemned, nailed to the wood, the cross is raised, and he is left to die a death of shame, a death of slow, excruciating torture. Under similar circumstances some would people lash out in defiance, others would be paralysed by pain, broken by their torture. Jesus however chooses a different alternative, a regal one, which shows his cross isn’t an instrument of torture, but a throne. He forgives those who are mocking, shaming and killing him. They condemn him by word and action; and he prays for them: "Father, forgive them; for they know not they do" He excuses their ignorance, their hardness of heart, their thirst for blood, and the moral blindness which allows them to put to death the giver of life. Why does he do this? Because he sees them for who they truly are; not powerful, but weak, ignorant, blind, and fearful. In the midst of his execution, he recognises how miserable their circumstances are, and at the same time, he declares them redeemable. God can forgive them. God can open their eyes and start them on a new road in life. And there’s leadership in this, because leadership means even in the darkest moment, seeing past how things appear and recognising what they can become, if given the chance. The cross of Jesus stands between those of two criminals, one criminal rails against Jesus, demanding that he save the three of them. The other criminal rebukes the first, recognising that Jesus is innocent. This criminal, tradition calls him Dismas, even sees his crucified neighbour as a king, and near to death, he makes a bold request: "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." To which Jesus responds, "Today you will be with me in paradise." Jesus is a leader, but he isn’t a bureaucrat, he doesn’t set obstacles in the way of someone who has so little time. What he does is seize an opportunity, the vultures are circling Calvary, and soon both Dismas and Jesus will be dead men. We don’t know what motivates Dismas, and Jesus doesn’t ask. Instead he's willing to take the criminal at his word and meet him again on the other side, in paradise. And there’s leadership in this, because leadership means a willingness to risk, to seize an opportunity when the time is right, to believe people are better than their failures. Jesus manages only one more sentence before he expires on the cross, he dies having just uttered a prayer, a prayer that sums up his life and begins to make sense of his death: "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" Here Jesus quotes a verse from Psalm 31 that goes on to say, "For you have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." Thus his prayer isn’t desperate, it isn’t a clinging to God just in case God exists, this prayer is a declaration of faith, even a shout of triumph, Jesus has done what he came to do; now it's time for him to go home. The world of the Passion story is a world of cruelty and chaos, dignity and life are very cheaply priced; there’s no true justice to be had from human courts or authority. But in this chaotic, cruel world, Jesus remains a steady leader. He walks the course that is his, from the crowds' adulation on Palm Sunday to the scorn he encounters on Calvary. And through it all, Jesus remains a true king, because he knows that not only he, but the whole world, is held in his Father's hands. There’s lots of leadership in this world. Some of it is toxic, unsafe at any price, we only need to look to Putin for an example of that. Some leadership struggles to maintain things much as they are, but some leadership changes this world for the better. There’s an unending need for true leadership in our world, some positions have impressive titles, offices, budgets, expense accounts. Others, no less important, depend more on face-to-face relationships, and the titles are less obvious: parent, sibling, teacher, priest, friend. There are plenty of people who take a crack at teaching leadership, the Diocese run them, numerous titles on the topic are available in any bookshop, and probably there's something to learn from every one of them. But what we learn from the cross is simple, and continually challenging, and of immense importance. "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they are doing." Leadership means, even in the darkest moment, seeing past how things appear and recognising what they could be if given the chance. "Today you will be with me in paradise." Leadership means a willingness to risk, to seize an opportunity when the time is right, to believe people are better than their failures. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" Leadership means commitment to our God who is not ours only, but who is at the centre of every person and every place, the one Jesus prays to as Father. Leadership from the cross. This approach may not make us popular, it may even get us in trouble, but it will not be toxic leadership, it will not prove ineffectual, it will not merely make things a little better. Because eventually, this leadership will produce resurrection, new life, and a world reborn. I have spoken to you today in the name of the One whose leadership is manifest on the cross for all of us to see: the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. Hymn; ‘Ride on, Ride on in majesty’ Affirmation of Faith We say together what we believe about our faith. We declare our faith in God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 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. Our Intercessions this week are written by Liz Davies ‘Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here; come bow before Him now with reverence and fear: in Him no sin is found – we stand on holy ground. Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.’ As we sit here quietly remembering your triumphant procession into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday and the events of the following week, we acknowledge our human frailty. How often we, in our lives, have succumbed to temptation; how often we have been led astray, sometimes by others, but mainly because we have not been true to our beliefs and faith. Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us As we look around the world, we see groups that are using different media to ‘persuade’ so many, often young, people to go against their true beliefs. The main religions of the world believe in peace and harmony, in living side by side with others of different faiths. Yet there are those who, under the ‘umbrella’ of particular faiths are emphasising and demanding the use of violence purely to gain power. We pray that the world may become a place of peace and trust. Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us Dear Lord, we ask your forgiveness on all who do not ‘love their neighbour as themselves.’ We ask your forgiveness for our frailty – please help us to live our lives, true to Your calling, in peace and love with all. Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us We ask your blessing on all, in so many parts of the world, who are suffering from both natural and man-made disasters. We especially remember, at this time, the people of Ukraine – those still in the country suffering bombardment and trying to stay safe; all the families who are separated from their loved ones and those who have escaped the country but do not know what the future holds for them. We also remember the people of Ethiopia suffering from an internal war and the people of Yemen still suffering from the effects of war. May other nations, free from such traumas, reach out the hand of friendship and support them. Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us O Lord, we ask your blessing on all those who are sick in body, mind or spirit. May they feel your love and may those who care for them know that they are never alone and that you will be with them always to help them through the difficult times. We remember at this time Ken and Diane, Margaret, Maureen, Terry, Ollie, June, Paul and Jan, Brian, those known to each one of us and those who have no one to pray for them. Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us We remember those who have died in the faith of Christ this week. Be with their loved ones as they face the future without them. Give them strength and envelop them in your love. Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place: He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister His grace – no work too hard for Him, in faith receive for Him. Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place. Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Clement and St Andrew and all the saints, merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen The Lord’s Prayer 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. Hymn; ‘Christ is made the sure foundation’ The Peace: Once we were far off, but now in union with Christ Jesus we have been brought near through the shedding of Christ’s blood, for he is our peace. May the peace of the Lord be always with us. Blessing May Christ the Son of God, born of Mary, fill us with his grace to trust his promises and obey his will; and may the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us, those whom we love, and remain with us always. Amen.
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