St Clement Church Community Sunday Service
Good morning
Happy New Year!
Today we celebrate the Naming of Jesus, eight days after His birth. With Christmas Day being on a Sunday, today is eight days after the birth of the Christ Child and so we are following exactly what happened all those years ago.
God Bless
Love to you all.
Liz xx
Let us pray
Dear Lord, as we rise to meet each new day, please let us be filled with Your Spirit. Wherever we go, let us spread love, joy, peace, goodness, and faithfulness. Let us desire to become mor like You and to worship You in all we do. Help us desire these things so much more than the earthly pleasures that entice us. Thank you for always going before us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen
Hymn: 28 In the bleak midwinter
Our Prayers of Penitence
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy slow to anger and of great kindness.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.
Holy God Holy and strong Holy and immortal have mercy on us.
As far as the east is from the west so far has he set our sins from us.
As the father has compassion on his children so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him.
Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits.
Amen
Collect for The Baptism of Christ
Eternal Father, who at the baptism of Jesus revealed him to be your Son, anointing him with the Holy Spirit: grant to us, who are born again by water and the Spirit, that we may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children; 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.
Readings
Numbers 6. 22 - 27
Philippians 2. 5 - 11
Hymn: 495 God is working his purpose out
Gospel reading – Luke 2. 15 - 21
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke Response: Glory to you O Lord)
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So, they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in a manger. When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel.
(This is the Gospel of the Lord Response: Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
Today’s Gospel reading is mainly about the shepherds coming to visit the baby in a manger, but today we celebrate the ‘Naming of the Baby.’
What’s in a name?
Names are more than just labels. In some way names capture and express the essence of a person. They reveal qualities and characteristics.
Today, 1st January, the world is concerned about a new year and resolutions. The Church, however, is focused on a name, Jesus. It is the name that reveals God’s life and purpose, claims us as God’s people and changes our lives. Today is the fulfilment of Gabriel’s annunciation to Mary. Everything the Archangel said would happen has now happened.
If you have children, you can probably remember how you chose their names? I suspect there were long discussions or maybe even ‘heated’ ones over what would be suitable. I seem to remember that I suggested a name and if there wasn’t an emphatic ‘NO!’ it went on the list!
My children have a Cornish mother and a Welsh father and I certainly felt their names should celebrate that. I’m not so sure that they have appreciated my reasoning as the two boys have names that are not even well known in the respective ‘homelands’ and being brought up partly in England, were totally foreign! My daughter was quite happy with her name until suddenly, out of nowhere, it became one of the top girl’s names one year!
In Palestine, all those years ago, the first-born son would automatically be named after the father – it was the ‘done thing.’ It must have caused quite a ‘stir’ for this baby not to be named after Joseph.
But why Jesus?
The New Testament was written in Greek. Jesus is the anglicised form of the Greek name ‘Iesous,’ which is the Greek version of the Aramaic name Yeshua, which derived from the ancient Hebrew ‘Yehoshua’ which is translated in the English Old Testament as ‘Joshua.’
Yehoshua or Yeshua means ‘Yahweh is salvation’ or ‘The Lord is salvation.’ So, whatever other-name could the Christ Child be given?
As believers in Jesus, we know that He fulfilled dozens of Messianic prophecies that are central to Judaism and Messianic prophecies. We also know that many first century Jews recognised this and became early followers of Yeshua as the Jewish Messiah, while retaining their Jewish identity and continuing to observe Jewish practices.
The Jews believed that the Messiah was for them but, it was always God’s plan for the Messiah to bring the Gentiles into His Kingdom. God says to Abraham, ‘I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ This promise to bless the entire world through Abraham’s descendants has two meanings. First, the Jewish people have fulfilled this promise by blessing the world through the advancements they have brought to medicine, science, literature, and culture. In fact, although Jews make up only 0.0025% of the world’s population, they have won 23% of the Nobel Prizes since the award was established in 1901. Second and more importantly, God’s promise to Abraham refers to the fact that the Messiah, the Saviour of all humankind, would come into the world through God’s Chose people.
Even though the Gentile Magi came to honour Yeshua’s birth, His ministry while on earth was directed solely to the People of Israel. So, for the first thirty years of what later became known as Christianity, the community of faith was limited to Jews and proselytes to Judaism. In addition, the Jews who followed Jesus had no idea that this New Covenant faith would include Gentiles. Yes, it was prophesied. Yes, it was part of God’s plan, but it was still not clear to the early believers. Even the apostles believed the Messiah was just for God’s Chosen People. It was only after Yeshua’s death and Resurrection that God began to carry out His plan to reach the Gentiles with the message of salvation through His Messiah. To do this, He used a zealot named Saul whose aim in life was to arrest Jews who dared to profess belief in Yeshua. Saul, of course, became known as Paul.
Jesus – the name is, contains, and reveals the fullness of God’s life, love, and longing.
Every time we say ‘Jesus.’ We claim God’s salvation. Every time we say ‘Jesus,’ we acknowledge our need of God and salvation. Every time we say ‘Jesus,’ we open ourselves to God’s mercy, forgiveness, and healing. Every time we say ‘Jesus,’ we remember that God is with us. Every time we say ‘Jesus,’ we renew our relationship with Him. Every time we say the name ‘Jesus,’ His response is always the same, ‘Here I am.’
What’s in a name? Everything when that name is ‘Jesus.’ Amen
Affirmation of faith
We say together:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, 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.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
Hymn: 234 Christ whose glory fills the skies
Intercessions
Everlasting God, at the start of a New Year we may find ourselves apprehensive for what it might bring. Reassure us with your loving presence that whatever we may experience in the coming twelve months will not be more than we can bear and that you will never be more than a prayer away from us.
Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us
Holy God, we bring before you our church here at St Clement. We lay before you our plans, our hopes, and the problems that we may face. Constantly remind us that in our church, results are never measured in terms of winners and losers but in how much our activities glorify your name and bring your Son Jesus Christ closer to others.
Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us
Creator God, help us to know and to understand what it means and what it takes to make disciples and so help to transform the world. May this new year bring peace to those parts of the world where it has been absent for far tpp long especially in Ukraine.
Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us
Father God, as we reach out into the community through our worship and social activities, inspire us and enhance our creativity as we seek to develop and fund the ministries of our church and draw others in to know and love your ways.
Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us
We bring before you all those who are sick in body, mind or spirit. We pray for them in their hour of need especially if the New Year fills them with doubts and fears. May they be aware of your presence holding them and encouraging them towards healing and wholeness.
We remember at this time those known personally to us: Revd Diane and Ken, Alison and Rob, Terry and Dot, Margaret, Maureen, Brian, Rupert and Linda, Paul and Jan, Lyn, Stephen, Alison, Carole, and baby Willow, those known to each of us and those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us
Merciful God as we remember before you those who will not journey into this New Year, we thank you for the gift of hope beyond death that you have given us through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son.
Lord, hear us: Lord, graciously hear us
Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new and so we thank you for this New Year, for all the potential it holds. Move us every single morning through 2023 to look forward to the future with hope and to give you thanks for the wonders of your creation and the wonderful gifts that you have given us.
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.
What’s in a name? by James Tipp
The name is everything so thought the ancient world Your naming gave you ambition or gave thanks for your existence Knowing a name meant power and bought fear because of knowledge So ‘I am’ was ambiguous and intimidating all in one announcement So they called you El, Jehovah, to give substance to the ambiguity. The world turned and in its turning man found a use for Jehovah The vengeful god, the storm god who hurled his punishment down Casting man into an abyss of fire and brimstone a god to be feared So that the powerful could control the ignorant keep them in line.
The meekness of Jesus held no appeal to the men of old, the jihads Who frightened friend and foe with their images of an ungraceful god. The world turns and the people of power long for the old days They want to use the names and ideas of yesterday but nobody understands They have lost the idea of a god who terrifies more frightened of themselves What science can do or the environment, or the tiny virus that virulent killer. We view the cosmos in such detail and find it awesome and intimidating What name can we evoke today to describe the mind behind creation A name that will resonate with people in their world and bring the hope.
Perhaps we need to return to our beginnings, that ambiguity of presence ‘I am what I am’ somehow can reflect todays images for better than most We cannot name the mind behind the glory, it is beyond our comprehension Merely recognise the presence in all we see and wonder at the marvel of it all.
The PEACE
Jesus says to his disciples ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid.’
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Hymn: 186 Tell out my soul
The BLESSING
The Lord, bless us and keep us. The Lord make His face to shine upon us and be gracious unto us. The Lord, lift up His countenance upon us and give us peace this day and evermore. Amen