St Clement Church Community Sunday Service

 

Good morning to you all as we celebrate our service of the first Sunday of Lent, Oh my gosh, no chocolate for me until Easter day……..…..

Lent (the ‘lengthening of the days) is an old English word meaning Spring.  In earliest times it was observed by those who were preparing for their Baptism at Easter.  Later, the 40 days of Lent were identified with the 40 days when Jesus was tested in the wilderness.  It’s an opportunity for us to humbly re-examine our lives and through prayer, study and self-denial, to renew our love for God.

We will be holding our Eucharist in Church, this Service of the Word is for those of you who are unable to worship with us in person but will be with us in spirit at home.

May Christ’s love sustain you always.

Much love to you all,

Rev Di and family xx

 

Let us pray;

Lord God, as we begin our journey through Lent, give us the desire to seek first your Kingdom, the honesty to admit our failings, and the humility to receive your forgiveness, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

 

Hymn; ‘Praise to the Holiest’

 

 

Our prayers of Penitence

The first commandment is:

‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’

The second is this:

You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’

There is no other commandment greater than these.

Amen. Lord have mercy.

 

Let us confess to God our failure to keep his commandments:

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.

 

Let us pray our Collect for today

Heavenly Father, your Son battled with the powers of darkness and grew closer to you in the desert: help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayer that we may witness to your saving love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 2.15-17; 3.1-7

New Testament Reading: Romans 5.12-19

 

Hymn; ‘Fight the Good Fight’

Gospel: Matthew 4.1-11

(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. 

Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)

 

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 

But he answered, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

 

(This is the Gospel of the Lord.  Response: ‘Praise to you, O, Christ’)

 

Reflection

It could surprise us that the temptations Jesus faced when he fasted in the wilderness, weren’t things we might not be able to resist, like a slice of chocolate cake, or, once we’d eaten that, piles of money.

But the devil wasn’t working from a view of sin like that of our society.

He didn't concern himself with too many guilty calories or ill-gotten gain but instead presents temptations that would cripple the relationship Jesus had with his Father, creation, and us, his people.

But the temptations weren’t really about loaves made from stones, jumping off a tall building, or a chance for world domination, they’re more concerned with matters such as skill, trust, and power.
Let’s consider the first temptation, bread from stones, the one to do with skill.
Jesus has been fasting a very long time, and his hunger is severe. Matthew tells us He was famished.  No kidding!  I’d be circling the airport!  As you know, I have to test the biscuits before our services, and here we are, only on the first Sunday in Lent and I’m already dreaming of chocolate digestives………..

Anyway, back to the plot, the devil appears and challenges Jesus to prove his identity and satisfy his hunger at the same time.

He points to the desert stones and says; "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."

And Jesus counters this proposal with words from Scripture; "It is written," he says, "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God."

Thus showing us that this confrontation is about more than whether Jesus gets lunch that day.  It enables us to see that his identity as the Son of God, and our identity as children of God–doesn’t depend on what we have, but who we are, and who we listen to.

 Jesus is God's Son and listens to God. We too are God's children, and hence, we too should listen when God speaks to us.

By the grace of God we’ve been given skills, for instance, we can’t make bread from stones, but we can make bread from flour, a God-given miracle in its own right as part of creation. 

But just because we’re capable of doing something, doesn’t always mean we should do it. Certain choices, though technically possible, contradict what God hopes for us; they’re not consistent with our identity as God's children. Consider the atom bomb, all those years ago and the world is still suffering after-affects.

 So, a couple of questions this Lent we might consider:

 Do we look upon ourselves or others, simply in terms of what we have or don’t have, or do we identify each other for who we are: children of God? Do we view our skills and opportunities as simply ours to use how we see fit, or do we treat them as entrusted to us for use as God intended?

Consider the second temptation, jumping off a building, the one to do with trust. The devil takes Jesus into Jerusalem, to the very top of the temple, and invites him to prove who he is, and to do so in a spectacular way. "If you are the Son of God, then throw yourself down," says the devil. "For it is written; ‘He will command his angels concerning you. On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.'"  Jesus counters this temptation full of scripture quotes, with his own answer: "Again, it is written, do not put the Lord your God to the test.’’

True, the devil knows the words of scripture but is ignorant of its spirit. Yes, guardian angels are commissioned by God to help us here on earth. But to trust God doesn’t mean the assumption that He’ll protect us regardless, especially if performing some life-threatening stunt that goes against the law of gravity.

What it does mean is that we should accept the life God offers us with all its challenges, risks, and disappointments.

It means living our lives and trusting in God to help make sense of all that happen to us.

So, a couple of questions for us to consider this Lent;

 Do we trust God only about our own wants and plans, or do we trust even when God invites us to risk in a way that we might not see as beneficial to us? Is some hardship in our life a cup offered to us by God, like that offered to Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane? Or is it because of a leap we have stupidly taken off a tall building?

We come now to the third temptation Jesus experiences out in the wilderness; a chance for world domination, the one to do with power.

This time the devil takes Jesus to a very high mountain that offers a panoramic view of the countries of the world. Not only are all the kingdoms visible, but so too is their splendour.

 No longer does the devil raise questions about the identity of Jesus, nor does he have scripture to misquote. He simply proposes a deal.

Do we detect a note of impatience here? "All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me."

 Ah, now Jesus senses that he has gained the upper hand. "Away with you Satan! For it is written; ‘worship the Lord your God and serve only him.' For whatever reason, Jesus doesn’t contest Satan's claim of control over the countries of the world. What he attacks instead is the total incorrectness of treating Satan as the ultimate entity.

Only God alone is worthy of worship. Just as Jesus doesn’t condemn technique or trust when addressing earlier temptations, here he doesn’t condemn power. What he does insist on though, is that power must only be used for the benevolent purposes of God. Power sought, bought, and used for its own sake, amounts to devil worship.

Each one of us exercises some power in life, and we should recognise that by using such power, we end up serving someone.  For instance, every time we buy something not ethically sourced, goes toward marring God’s creation.  The choice of whom we serve is a moral and spiritual matter of the greatest consequence, and we should consider such choice wisely.

 Two more questions, then, for us to consider this Lent.

 Where are the places in our life where we exercise power?

 Do we worship God alone through our use of power or do we worship something else?

Skill, trust, and power. These themes appear in the story of Jesus, not only during his wilderness temptation, but at other times in his life as well.  For instance; Jesus refuses to turn stones into bread at the devil's suggestion. On several occasions, however, he multiplies bread to feed the hungry.  Jesus refuses to jump off the top of the temple, but he does accept the cup of suffering God offers him at Gethsemane and does so because he trusts his Father.

Jesus turns down the devil's bargain of gaining all the world in exchange for worship of someone less than God.  And then goes on by his death and resurrection to show the glory of his Father’s Kingdom, attainable for all who follow him, and him alone. Jesus makes it possible for us to decide about skill, trust, and power in a way that acknowledges such triumph, and frees us to find our identity as children of God, heirs of the kingdom by grace.

 Yes, Jesus refused to turn stones into bread. But he turns bread into himself at every Eucharist, and we are here today to share that meal as we trust in God and enjoy a taste of his kingdom.

 May it always be so.  Amen.

 

Hymn; ‘O Jesus, I have Promised’
 

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 Helen Dunbar

Our God knows us and the temptations we face.

Let us pray to him now.

As the Church begins this season of Lent, we ask you Lord to remind us of what is important and what is not; of where we are wandering away and what we need to change; so that by Easter we will be renewed and strengthened for your service in the world.

Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer

 

Dear Lord, we pray for the Christian Church throughout the world and also our own communities and churches. We pray for all church leaders and all who work to further the Christian faith. Lord, we ask your blessing on our own Revd Diane, her supportive husband Ken, and her family, as well as Revd David who supports us here.

Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer

 

Heavenly Father, we pray for all who seek to make peace and stability; for all leaders of countries and all in powerful positions, that they may have the wisdom and courage to do what is right for all, give them the gift of your wisdom and a right discernment in all things, that their hearts may be turned to you in the search for righteousness and truth. We pray for those working to improve international relationships, that they may find the true way of reconciliation, and bring an end to the poverty and suffering that so many people in this world have to endure.

Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer

 

We pray for Charles our King and Queen Camilla and for all in authority.

We pray for our neighbours and friends and everyone in our local area. Lord, make us alive to the needs of our community, help us to share each other’s joys and burdens and look with kindness on our homes and families.

Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer

 

Dear Lord, comfort all who suffer in body, mind or spirit, give them courage and hope in their troubles, and bring them the joy of your salvation. Give comfort and reassurance, healing, wholeness and peace. We pray for all those known to us and those who have no one to pray for them,

we remember especially: Reverend Diane, Ken, Brian, May, Susan, Tony, Jan, Lynda, Dot, Maureen, Pam and David, Sandra, Roger, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Mary, Jeremy, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Coral and Paul, Barbara, Simone, Felicity, Dinah, Daphne and David, David and Jeanette, Stanley, Carol, Rachael, Liz, and Lorrie, all those known to each of us and those who have no one to pray for them.

We remember those who, freed from the ageing and pain of their bodies, can live now with you in the peace and joy of heaven.

From our anniversaries book we remember – Ken Brand and Tony Hams.

Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer

 

Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Allen, St Andrew, St Clement, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, we commend ourselves, and all who stand for love and peace, to your unfailing love.

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; ‘Forth in Thy Name’
 

 

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.