St Clement Church Community Sunday Service 27.2.22
Good morning to you all as we celebrate our service of Sunday next before Lent. As I, Ken and Mum are away on holiday, Rev Alan Bashforth is officiating at St Clement on the 27th Feb, and I’m sending this Service of the Word out early for those who are unable to attend.
May Christ’s love sustain you always.
Much love to you all,
Rev Di and family xx
Let us pray;
Almighty God, as we prepare to enter the season of Lent, by prayer and discipline may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings, and by following in his Way come to share in his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Our prayers of Penitence
We hear the commandments which God has given to his people, and examine our hearts.
I am the Lord your God: you shall have no other gods but me…
You shall not make for yourself any idol…
You shall not dishonour the name of the Lord your God…
Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy…
Honour your father and mother…
You shall not commit murder…
You shall not commit adultery…
You shall not steal…
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour…
You shall not covet anything which belongs to your neighbour…
Lord have mercy upon us and write all these your laws in our hearts
Amen.
In a moment of quiet reflection,
We think of the times we have failed to keep God’s commandments…
and say together;
May almighty God, who sent his Son into the world to save sinners, bring us his pardon and peace, now and for ever.
Amen.
Let us pray our Collect for today
Holy God, you know the disorder of our sinful lives: set straight our crooked hearts, and bend our wills to love your goodness and your glory in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Old Testament Reading: Exodus 34. 29-end
New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 3. 12-4.2
Gospel: Luke 9.28-36
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
The Gospel According to
John
The Word Became Flesh
Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white.
Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
(This is the Gospel of the Lord. Response: ‘Praise to you, O, Christ’)
Reflection
Our faces are paramount to the relationships we have, not just with each other, but also with people we don’t know, perhaps the ones we see on TV.
For instance;
The false smile of the politician who wants our vote, or is trying to convince us that he didn’t have a party during the lockdown…..
The porcelain perfection of the fashion model, beautiful yet totally unreal.
The resigned expression of the homeless, eyes heavy with despair.
It’s through our faces that we recognise each other.
Some are masks, others are open.
But even if sincerity is faked, even when makeup is artfully applied, or even when all seems lost, our faces tell the truth. They reveal who we are to those with eyes to see.
Our faces reveal what we honour and desire, and this becomes increasingly true with the passage of time.
It's said that for our first fifty years, we wear the face that nature gave us, but from then on our faces tell of the sum total of our choices, our defeats and victories, and what it is we love.
If we spend our time looking on another race with hatred, our faces will show it.
If we fail to recognize that everything on God’s earth is holy, our faces will show it.
But on the plus side, if we see the beauty that surrounds us, even on ordinary days, our faces will show it.
If we recognise that God's children come in different colours, if we respect all God’s creatures, not just humanity, our faces will show it.
Yes, to those with eyes to see, our faces reveal who we are.
A gift is truly given to those three disciples who climb with Jesus to the mountaintop: they become able to recognise him for who he is. His clothing, body and face radiate the light of God.
These disciples gaze upon his glory, and in his face they see the one he looks at, honours and loves.
The light flowing forth from him comes from the Father, and the divine light surrounding him becomes visible even to sleepy disciples.
They see in his face not only where he comes from—but also the place where he is going.
His face is set toward Jerusalem, where, by the giving up of his body and by the emptying out his life, he’ll free forever the children of God, you and me among them. And all this was shown to three awestruck disciples up there on the mountain as they gazed on his glory.
Every day we see around us a world of human faces. On this Sunday next before Lent, we see the face of Jesus brilliant with eternal light.
But we have faces, too.
And like the faces we see every day, and like the transfigured face of Jesus, our faces reveal what we honour, what we do, and who we are.
But if we think about it personally, what does our own face reveal?
Does something keep the light of divine love from shining there?
It could be a burden of guilt we’ve yet to drop, or a refusal to respect ourselves, or a grudge that lingers.
Is anything keeping us from having a redeemed face?
Lent isn’t a time to look grim and terrible, but a time to give up that terrible and grim look we might have. It’s a time when our faces can be redeemed by looking at Jesus and reflecting his light.
So how can we, as the Lenten season begins, transfigure our faces?
I’m not suggesting we invade Boots cosmetic counter, but perhaps instead take the time to attend our 10am Ash Wednesday service on March 2nd and the informal discussion group over coffee afterwards. This year we’ll be looking at; ‘Living in Love and Faith’
Remember, there’s no right or wrong answer in theological discussion, everyone brings to it their own thought and ideas, its great!
And through our simple Lenten meeting we’ll encounter Jesus, and enlightened by his shining presence, our own faces will begin to reflect his light.
Through this simple form of worship, we’ll climb the Mount of Transfiguration together and look on the face of Jesus so that our own faces can be redeemed.
And afterwards, as we return down from the mountain and go out once again into the world of many human faces, we’ll offer to those around us the hope and testimony that only a redeemed face can provide.
Amen.
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 Liz Davies
Holy God, as we bow our heads in the quietness of this place, we bring before you all the concerns, hopes and fears that are in each of our hearts. We pray that each of us may have a realistic understanding of what you want for and from us in every aspect of our lives.
Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us..
Gracious God, we pray for your blessing upon this congregation, upon this church and upon this parish. We pray for your presence to be seen clearly in what we do and say each day. We pray that your joy and love will flow freely in and through us and that we may never be seen by those around us as falling short of the teachings of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us.
Creator God, as we think of your world with its wonderful scenery, its beautiful plant and amazing animal life we also look at the needs of your people. We, who are so fortunate must never forget those who struggle with everyday existence. Those who do not have enough or clean water. Those who do not have enough to eat. Those who do not have safe or secure homes. Those who live in fear in war torn countries or religious or sectarian communities.
Help us to show the hand of friendship to all. May all those countries and those people that can, work together to ensure that everyone on this earth may have enough of the basic needs of life – safe homes, enough fresh water and food.
May each one of us accept responsibility for ensuring good stewardship of your precious world, and we ask your help that the nations of the world and their leaders may seek ways of conserving all our finite resources for the good of all.
Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us.
Father God, there is much tension and division within the Church. There are many changes planned that will cause much heartache to many. We pray for our communities, that each one of us will make use of our individual talents enabling each church group to flourish as a witness to the ‘One Body’ of the church.
Over the next few weeks and months may we stir up the desire in all of us to serve where appropriate in order that your Gospel may be effectively taken out into every part of our communities and beyond.
Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us.
Loving God, we ask your healing touch on all who are ill or suffering. We especially pray for any we know who are experiencing emotional pain or are broken in spirit through personal or family problems.
We bring before you all those who are suffering in body, mind or spirit.
We especially remember today, Ken and Diane, Ollie, Alison and Rob, Margaret and all those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us.
Merciful God, we bring before you those who have died during this last week; those known to each one of us and those who have passed away, unnoticed by anyone but you.
Give courage and faith to those who are left behind, that, by casting their cares on you they may find the strength to face the days ahead.
Lord, hear us Lord, graciously hear us.
Dear God, into your strong hands we place our lives today, choosing to depend on YOU to light and guide our way.
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.
The Peace
‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name’ says the Lord,
‘I am there among them’
May the peace of God be always with us. Amen.
Blessing
May Christ give us grace to grow in holiness, to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him; 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.