St Clement Church Community Sunday Service
Good morning to you all as we celebrate our 17th Sunday after Trinity Service, whether in your own home, or our church building, (or on holiday in South Wales as Ken, Mum and I shall be!)
This Sunday 9th October, Father David Wills is taking our Eucharist service in church using our usual service booklets. If you’re unable to be there I hope you join us with this service of the Word. May Christ’s love sustain you always.
With much love and prayers,
Rev Di and family xx
Let us pray;
Almighty God, you search us and know us: may we rely on your strength and rest on you in weakness, now and in all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Hymn: ‘Christ, whose glory fills the skies’
Let us pray;
God of constant mercy, who sent your Son to save us: remind us of your goodness, increase your grace within us that our thankfulness may grow, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Our prayers of Penitence
Let us confess our failings to the Lord:
When our deeds do not match our words:
Lord, have mercy.
When we let evil go unchallenged, and are afraid to speak the truth: Christ, have mercy.
When we are preoccupied with ourselves, and give little attention to others:
Lord, have mercy.
When we trust in earthly treasures more than in God’s unfailing care:
Christ, have mercy.
May our almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon and forgiveness of all our failings, time for amendment of our lives and the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let us pray our Collect for the 17th Sunday after Trinity
Gracious God, you call us to fullness of Life: deliver us from unbelief and banish our anxieties with the liberating love of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings:
2 Kings 5.1-3,7-15c
2 Timothy 2.8-15
Hymn; ‘Praise my soul the King of heaven’
Our Reading is taken from the Gospel of Luke (17.11-19)
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, ‘Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?
Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.’
(This is the Gospel of the Lord. Response: ‘Praise to you, O, Christ’)
Reflection
In my previous life when working away from home I often felt isolated from my friends and family, and sometimes, even though I was with other people all the time, I felt lonely. I should pause for sympathy here! But when I was away, I knew that eventually there would be an end to the tour, and I would go home. Our Gospel reading today made me think about what it would’ve been like to know that going home wasn’t possible, and to imagine the loneliness that would’ve caused.
In Biblical times, leprosy usually only had one outcome, death. People afflicted with the disease were kept isolated from any contact with friends and family, by law they were banned from living in the community, and you have only to read Leviticus 13 and 14 to find out how strict this ruling was.
In fact, any visible skin condition was considered to be leprosy until proved otherwise by the Priests, and meant isolation and purification rituals because of the Jewish uncleanliness laws. So these 10 men were considered to be a danger to the community’s health, they lived on the outskirts of the village, banded together in their common misery, dependent on food being thrown to them by family members, or by those who took pity on them, and even had to shout warnings to passers-by not to come too close because they were unclean.
After all, to touch a leper defiled a Jew almost as much as touching a dead body, as leprosy, and even death, was seen to be a sign of God’s disfavour. In Biblical history only 2 people had ever been cured of leprosy, Miriam, who’d been afflicted with it for 7 days after speaking against the leadership of Moses, as told in Numbers 12, and Naaman in our reading of Kings today.
Healing a leper hadn’t happened in Israel for about seven hundred years, and we can read in chapter 7, Luke that wrote it was thought to be an earmark of the Messianic age when leprosy would no longer afflict people.
Unfortunately in 3rd world countries, leprosy is still an issue today, there is modern treatment for the disease, but the poorer people it afflicts can’t afford the drugs needed.
However, Jesus encountered these men on his way to the final confrontation in Jerusalem, whilst travelling through the difficult border areas between Samaria and Galilee, remember the peoples of these two provinces hated each other and never the twain would meet given half the chance. We’re told that the men instantly recognised Jesus, but also acknowledged him as ‘Master.’
In asking for mercy did they mean healing? Probably not, though Jesus’ reputation for compassion was widely known, the men, used to shouting for pity from passers-by would’ve been content with food or clothes.
Jesus tells them to go and show themselves to the Priests, Leviticus 14 again, but the interesting thing is, they weren’t healed before they went, ‘as they went’ the text says, they obeyed the instructions of Jesus without question and so were healed by their obedience to him.
Instead of receiving a morsel of food to see them through the next horrendous day, they received a lasting gift, the freedom to live once more in society with their family and friends, an end to their loneliness, with a spectacular tale to tell.
And only one returns, to thank Jesus and praise God, a Samaritan, this time instead of shouting for pity, now able to shout for joy and praise, throwing himself at the feet of Jesus in humility, maybe not recognising Jesus as the Messiah, but certainly recognising Jesus as God’s instrument for his healing.
But the other 9 were more intent on being cleansed by their Priests in the Torah rituals, blind to the fact that they were already healed.
I think this story is another example of the Jews blindness then towards Jesus, we only have to read the sad observation at the beginning of John’s Gospel; ‘He came to what was his own and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, to all who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God.’
The Samaritan was healed with the others, but I think this leper was offered more than the others, he received a deeper salvation in addition, faith in the man to whom he returned to the feet of.
So, we’ve studied the reading, but what are we supposed to learn from this today?
We thankfully don’t ostracise people with skin conditions anymore, but what I think springs from Luke’s story is the fact that outsiders are sometimes more responsive than God’s own people.
Sad to say, but being a believer can sometimes result in spiritual blindness, like the 9 lepers.
Being a member of the church for years doesn’t make us spiritually mature, and we’re wrong to assume that only Christians are spiritually aware.
Jesus doesn’t discriminate on the basis of an apparent lack of faith, and neither should we, but should always keep asking ourselves, how can we make our church more inclusive and welcome to all?
Another clear lesson is that Jesus expects us to show gratitude, and I think it’s understandable that Jesus commented about the absence of the other 9 men’s thanks.
After all, it would be like us giving 9 members of our family and 1 stranger a marvellous gift and only getting thanks back from the stranger.
How many of us as children were made to write thank you letters to Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, after receiving Christmas or Birthday presents? I know I had to, and often considered it a chore. And as time went by, I too nagged my daughters until thank you letters were written after gifts received.
I’m now at the stage of life where I hope to be on the receiving end of those letters, I wait for such after sending a present to one of the Grandchildren, and can’t help but feel disappointed if I don’t get one, and question the relationship there.
Thankfulness is sometimes time consuming, like writing those letters, but thankfully, our letters of thanks to God are our prayers. A life of thanksgiving is a life of prayer, prayer first, before all the things we have to do in the day, before we get immersed in our everyday activities, thanksgiving for what we have, what we have been given, as well as our thanks before we take our rest.
Gratitude is an important part of our salvation, and may God grant that we, like that Samaritan, may on occasion be thankful enough to shout it in praise for all to hear, as well as whisper it in prayer. Thankful enough to voice the question Jesus asked, ‘where are the other nine?’ and help to bring them home too.
Let us pray,
Heavenly Father, put thankfulness in our hearts and souls, let us speak it, sing it, live it, that we may be visible, not silent, examples of those you have healed, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.
Top of Form
Hymn; ‘Just as I am without one plea’
Affirmation of our faith
Let us declare our faith in God.
We believe and trust in God the Father, source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist.
We believe and trust in God the Son, who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again.
We believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world.
This is the faith of the Church. This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our Intercessions this week are written by Helen Dunbar
God can always use even seemingly hopeless situations for good.
God has proclaimed his love for us. We can trust him with all our cares and concerns.
Compassionate God, we pray for your Church here in St Clement and across our country. Lord, heal the Church of all its splits and divisions, and bless its growth towards unity; heal it of all its introspection and bless its commitment to loving outreach.
Lord hear us; Lord graciously hear us
We pray for Archbishop Justin, for Bishops Philip and Hugh and we ask God’s blessing on our own hard working Revd Di and family. And we wish Di and Ken a happy and restful holiday.
Lord hear us; Lord graciously hear us
Let us pray for all leaders of nations and everyone in positions of power, that they may have a desire for peace, justice and freedom that will prove stronger than a desire for power with injustice and oppression.
Lord hear us; Lord graciously hear us
We give thanks for being blessed to live in such a beautiful county, surrounded by the sea and beautiful countryside, and the wonderful colours of the autumn leaves. We also give thanks for all the animals and birds and not forgetting our pets that give us so much love and happiness. Teach us how to make spaces in the day to do the things we most enjoy. Just as you rested from your work, help us to practice the discipline of recreation. And may we not forget all who live in places where life has become much more difficult due to our changing climate.
We pray for all those across the world who have been caught up in hurricanes and floods; for the thousands of people in Pakistan struggling to survive with no food, shelter, or clean water and all the people in the United States affected by the very destructive Hurricane Ian.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us.
We ask your blessings and guidance on our new King, Charles 111 and all the royal family; be their light and guide in all that they are called to be and do in life. Enfold them in your love now and always.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us.
We pray for all suffering from leprosy and other infectious and life-threatening diseases. Give courage to the long-term and chronically ill and give respite to those who are at their wits’ end.
Dear Lord, comfort all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit and we bring before you Ted and Felicity, Ken and Diane, Alison and Rob, Karen, Margaret, Terry and Dot, Sally, Gavin, Paul and Jan, Stephen, Lyn, Maureen, Sue, and Ollie.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us.
Merciful God, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone dear to them, for members of our families who have died and whose anniversary we recall. Help us to experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit within us and the fellowship of the church family around us until we are reunited once more in your heavenly kingdom.
Lord hear us, Lord graciously hear us.
We pray for all whose anniversary falls at this time and we pray for Frank Smith, Cedric Davies and Peter Williams. We pray for the recently departed – for Tony Batchelor, a much-loved husband and father and we pray for his loving wife Linda, his son James and daughter Charlotte and all his family.
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
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.
Hymn; ‘O for a thousand tongues to sing’
The Peace
We are the body of Christ. In the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body. Let us then pursue all that makes for peace and build up our common life. May the peace of God be always with us. Amen.
Blessing
May God the Holy Trinity make us strong in faith and love, defend us on every side and guide us in truth and peace. And may the presence of God watch over us, the power of God protect us, those whom we love, and may we never forget that wherever we are, God is with us always.
Amen.