St Clement Church Community Trinity 2 Service 9.6.24
Good morning to you as we celebrate our 2nd Sunday of Trinity Service.
We are holding a Eucharist in our church building at 10.15, this Service of the Word is for those who aren’t able to be with us in person, but will be worshipping with us in spirit. Our first hymn is to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D Day landings.
Much love and prayers and may Christ’s love sustain you always.
Rev Di and family xx
Let us pray;
O Lord, open our eyes to see what is beautiful, open our minds to know what is true, and our hearts to seek what is good, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn: ‘Eternal Father, Strong to Save’
Our prayers of Penitence
Let us examine our lives in the light of St Paul’s teaching about the nature of love:
‘Love is patient, love is kind, is not envious, or boastful, or arrogant or rude. Does not insist on its own way, is not irritable, or resentful and does not rejoice in wrongdoing…..’
We confess to God that our attitudes and behaviour often fall short of these standards:
Most merciful God, we confess that we have not loved you with our whole heart, nor have we loved our neighbours as ourselves.
We ask that in you 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.
Let us pray our Collect for the 2nd Sunday after Trinity
Faithful Creator, whose love and mercy never fails: deepen our faithfulness to you and to your living Word, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Readings: Genesis 3. 8-15 2 Corinthians 4.13 – 5.1
Hymn: ‘Father Hear the Prayer we Offer’
Gospel: Mark 3. 20-end
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark
Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
Then the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’ And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’ And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. ‘Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’— for they had said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’
And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’
(This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.)
Reflection
Have you ever accused someone of being out of their mind? I expect most of us have at some time. I remember when my fellow Chaplain at Culdrose told me he was undergoing a parachute jump, I said; ‘are you out of your mind?’ Though he did reply come to think of it; ‘I don’t have a choice, the Fleet Air Arm are making me do it….
When a colleague took on a huge mortgage to buy a house obviously beyond his means to secure a home for his retirement, we all asked, ‘Has he gone out of his mind?’
But we might be surprised when in our gospel reading people were saying it of Jesus; 'He has gone out of his mind.’ We shouldn’t be that shocked though, if we think about the context in which it was said, after all, there were other prophets in those days who claimed to be the Messiah. And let’s face it, many a mental health patient in more modern times has claimed to be Jesus.
Like the story of the man lying in his hospital bed saying; ‘I'm Napoleon, I'm Napoleon, I'm Napoleon.’
His neighbour in the next bed says; ‘Who told you that?’
He said; ‘God did.’
The man replied; ‘Oh no I didn't.’
People viewed Jesus in many different ways during his early ministry. Our text tells us that some were quite alarmed by his behaviour, including his family.
But they must have struggled to cope with all that was happening.
And when they heard of some of the things he was saying, they no doubt wanted him to stop, not only were they were frightened for him and for themselves, he was bringing dishonour to the family name.
And if Jesus’ own family began to think he was mad, what was the wider public to make of him, particularly those who concerned themselves with the ancestral traditions of Israel?
The scribes, of course, didn’t like what Jesus was doing because he threated their authority and comfortable way of life. So they sought to label him in such a way that people didn’t take him seriously, he was just another mad-man.
And if they told folk Jesus was in league with the arch-demon Beelzebul, it would justify them silencing him forever. Jesus though, merely points out the flaw in their thinking, ‘how can satan cast out satan?
If civil war breaks out in a kingdom, it’s the end of the kingdom, likewise, if members of a household start fighting among themselves, it’s the end of the family unit.
So if the devil is fighting the devil, then surely the devil’s kingdom is coming to an end, heralding what Jesus had been saying all along, God’s kingdom was at hand. The stronger one had arrived; and no doubt there would be many who would try to fight against him.
The scribe’s reaction led Jesus to make his statement about the eternal or unforgivable sin, words which have often been misunderstood. Lots of people worry that they have committed an unforgivable sin, but usually that really means we can't forgive ourselves. Thankfully, God much more forgiving of our sins that we are, so perhaps the only eternal or unforgivable sin is to refuse the forgiveness of God and not accept his salvation.
At the end of our Gospel reading, Jesus again addresses the issue of family when he asks; ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’
In his reply, Jesus offered a redefinition of family and in the process gave a great definition of the church. We must remember that in those times the family bond was tight and long lasting, families weren’t dispersed as we so often are today, and the family unit would often be a business unit as well, sharing everything in common.
What’s more, for Jews the close family bond was part of the God-given fabric of everyday thinking and living. Loyalty to the family was the outward sign of loyalty to Israel as God’s chosen people; family solidarity was up there with Sabbath observance, the food laws and other rules of the Torah.
But as Mark has already shown us earlier in his gospel, Jesus was quite capable of challenging the symbols and outward signs that lay at the heart of the Jewish sense of identity.
Despite his disappointment that his family and the scribes appeared to reject him, Jesus proclaims the good news that all who do the will of God will be accepted into the family of God. His statement moves the value of human relationships beyond the physical to the spiritual.
Who is my family? It’s those who do the will of God, those who love like Jesus loved, those who, regardless of their biological relationship, reflect the sacrificial love that God clearly demonstrated in Jesus Christ.
We are His brothers and sisters. All who listen to His life-giving Word are the family of Christ, and here in this sacred space we gather around Him like the people crowded into that house in Galilee.
But as we go from this place today, let us not forget it should be our duty and our joy to demonstrate the love of Jesus to all we meet, even if we occasionally get the reaction; ‘They have gone out of their minds’ Amen.
Hymn: ‘Dear Lord and Father of Mankind’
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 are written by Liz Davies
We come before God to pray for ourselves and our world, knowing that the Lord sees our hearts and knows our needs. We therefore bring our prayers to him with confidence in our Heavenly Father.
Father God, we come before your throne of grace with our concerns, our burdens, and our thanksgiving for all your people throughout the world. Help us to put our trust in you and in our Saviour Jesus Christ who taught us that you love us as a parent and want only what is right for us.
May the seeds that are being planted in our churches grow into branches that reach out into every part of our county and beyond and help us as we try and focus on the big issues that so often threaten to overwhelm us.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
We pray for the Christian Church throughout the world and especially for churches in places where religious faith is suppressed or where Christianity is an unwelcome minority.
We pray for the priests who serve your Church and pray for guidance and wisdom in all the work that they do. We especially pray for Reverend Diane and her family as she carries such a heavy workload.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we pray for our world which seems to be forever caught up in violence and conflict. Through the media we are witnesses to terrorist violence in so many parts of the world.
As we continue to pray for peace and goodwill towards all people we also pray for the innocent victims and their families caught up in conflicts which are not of their making.
Lord, we pray for those who govern the nations of our world on behalf of the people. Give them strength in time of trouble, grant them your light and wisdom, and support them through the prayers of our hearts. Lord of compassion, guide all those who bear public office that they may use their power for the common good. May they remember their promise to serve all the people and take from them, we pray, the thirst for power and wealth.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we ask for your help in all our efforts at building communities within our community. You have promised that, no matter how small the initiative, if we plant it and tend it, you will send the sun and the rain to help it flourish. Though we may not succeed in the first attempt, give us the courage to try again, and the readiness continually to persevere, should that be needed. May all that we do be to your greater glory.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we bring before you all those who pray for shelter from the storm, and protection from thunder, lightning, and rain. Teach us instead how to undergo the tempests of life, which come to us all. Instead of craving security above all, show us the comfort of sheltering with friends and sharing the bare necessities. Help us to comfort each other in moments of shared danger or distress. Bring us hope out of our emptiness, energy out of fear and new life out of grief and loss.
Loving Lord, we bring before you all those in need in our own community and further afield; the elderly, the housebound, those in care homes, hospitals, and hospices.
We remember the victims of violence, abuse, and cruelty; those tormented with mental health issues; those lonely and afraid. We give thanks for all those who care for the sick within the family, and for all our medical and voluntary services. We especially pray for: Reverend Diane and Ken, May, Susan, Lauren, Linda, Barrie and Sandra, Pam and David, Terry and Dot, Margaret, Maureen, Alison and Rob, Jan, Anita and Stephen, Michael and Patricia, Jeremy, Stella, Alison, William, Callum and Elaine, Ann, Jay, Andy, and all who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, your love reaches beyond the grave and so we bring before you those whose earthly journey is now at an end. Welcome them into your eternal kingdom. We pray for those who face the pain of grief at the loss of a loved one. Help us to support all those who mourn, both with our prayers and with practical help both this day and in the weeks to come. May they be comforted by the light of Christ which eternally shines and brings so much hope.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we ask you to lead us into the coming week. Help us to believe that you are close by us. Keep us from making mistakes and help us never to disappoint you. When we face hard decisions or difficult work, when we enjoy ourselves and have fun with others, may we know that you share these times with 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.
Hymn: ‘Guide me, O thou great Redeemer’
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, to the end of the age. Amen.