ST CLEMENT CHURCH
SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY COMMUNITY SERVICE
Good morning
Are you a Wheat, Weeds or a ‘Maybe’ person? No, I haven’t lost the plot … well, no more than usual! Will today’s Gospel reading take you on the path that it led me or will it take you on a completely different one?
My love to you all
Liz
We meet together in the presence of a God whose love is freedom, whose touch is healing, whose voice is calm. We meet not in our own strength but in the knowledge that God’s Spirit abides within us, in our worship today and in our daily lives when we depart from this place. The blessing received is shared, in the hope that others might be drawn to the God we serve. Amen
We say together:
Bless us as we meet together, dear Lord, we pray. Bless the singing of your praise, the reading of your Word, the sharing of your fellowship, the prayers that will be heard. Bless us as we meet together, dear Lord, we pray. Amen
Hymn: 494 Christ is the world’s true light
Prayer of Confession
God of healing, God of wholeness, we bring our brokenness, our sinfulness, our fears and despair, and lay them at your feet.
God of healing, God of wholeness, we hold out our hearts and hands, minds and souls to feel your touch, and know the peace that only you can bring.
God of healing, God of wholeness, this precious moment in your presence and power grant us faith and confidence that here broken lives are made whole.
Amen
The Collect
Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good things: graft in our hearts the love of your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of your great mercy keep us in the same; 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 for ever.
Amen
Readings:
Isaiah 44. 6 - 8
Romans 8. 12 - 25
Hymn: 294 Just as I am, without one plea
Gospel: Matthew 13. 24 – 30, 36 - 43
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
Jesus put before the crowd another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everyone was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?”
He answered, “An enemy has done this.”
The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?”
But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’
Then Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’
He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Let anyone with ears listen!’
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
Here we are again … a parable … and you know how challenging they can be!
A farmer works hard on his land planting good seed and having done a good day’s work he sleeps soundly that night. But, during that night an enemy comes and plants weeds in amongst the good seed.
Later, when the workers go to look how things are growing, they can see that there are weeds growing in amongst the wheat plants … sounds like parts of my garden!
What do the slaves want to do? Pull up the weeds … well you would, wouldn’t you? But, what does the farmer say? “Let both of them grow together.” Why?
Well, if you think about it, in Spring, when there is new growth everywhere, it is very difficult to be certain which is the plant you want and which is one you don’t. They can look very similar, so there is a high risk of pulling up the wrong one.
In my garden many different plants suddenly appear … I didn’t plant them and they’ve appeared since Martin was the gardener… he loved an immaculate garden. But, if I didn’t plant them, does that make them weeds?
Let’s be honest, it’s very difficult to tell until they are full grown. I didn’t plant the berberis by the steps but it gives me great pleasure and entertainment as it does the blackbird family. The strawberries that grow in amongst the flowers in the flowerbed in front of the kitchen window … I didn’t plant them there but I do enjoy sharing the fruit with birds and animals that sneak in before me, so I’ve left them there. I’m so glad I didn’t pull them up when I first saw them.
So, wisely, the farmer says, “Let them grow together.” If you can’t tell which is wheat and which is weed, let them grow together until you can.
Our lives are like this, aren’t they? What is growing in each of our gardens of life? What do we classify as wheat and what do we classify as weeds? Have we ever changed our mind about what is wheat and what is a weed? Sometimes it’s just not as clear cut as we think it is or would like it to be.
There’s an ancient Chinese story …
Once upon a time there was a farmer who lost a horse. It ran away. His neighbours came that evening and said, “That’s unfortunate.” And the farmer said, “Maybe.”
The next day the horse returned and brought with it seven wild horses. The neighbours came back and said, “That’s great, isn’t it?” And the farmer said, “Maybe.”
The next day the farmer’s son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses when he was thrown and broke his leg. Again, the neighbours came to the farmer and said, “Well, that’s too bad, isn’t it?” And the farmer said, “Maybe.”
The next day the conscription officers came looking for people for the army but they rejected the farmer’s son because he had a broken leg. The neighbours came around that evening and said, “Isn’t that wonderful?” And the farmer said, “Maybe.”
Is that wheat growing in our garden? ‘Maybe.’ Or is it a weed? ‘Maybe.’
I wish life was as simple as weeds or wheat. I wish it was as easy as pulling up some weeds. But it’s not. I have wheat and weeds growing in the garden of my life. I suppose you do too. More and more, however, I’m finding my life to be an intertwined and complicated ‘Maybe.’
It’s so easy and tempting to categorize events, experiences, others, even parts of ourselves as either wheat or weeds. That’s what the workers do in today’s parable. They want to pull some weeds. They’re sure they can tell the difference between the wheat and the weeds. But the weeds referred to in this parable aren’t just ordinary weeds. They’re what is sometimes called false wheat or tares. It grows alongside wheat and it looks like wheat. Its roots and the roots of the wheat intertwine. You can’t really tell the difference until both plants are mature. Until then, it’s ‘Maybe.’
That’s why the farmer tells the workers, “Let them grow together.”
So, what would it be like and what would it take to live more in the ‘Maybe’ of life than in the separation of wheat and weeds? What if ‘Maybe’ is what holds the door open for the future?
‘Maybe’ keeps us from claiming to know more than we really do or can know. It’s slow to make a final judgement or conclusion. It asks us to be surprised and live with curiosity. It offers others and ourselves the benefit of the doubt. It allows time for growth, change and new possibilities. ‘Maybe’ keeps our hearts soft and our eyes open.
When you look at the garden of your life today – all the things that look like wheat, all the things that look like weeds, all the things you’re unclear about – what’s the ‘Maybe’ for you? What’s the ‘Maybe’ you need today? To whom or what do you need to say, “Maybe”
Amen
Hymn: 296 Lord, enthroned in heavenly splendour
Our Intercessions
No prayer is made on earth alone; the Holy Spirit pleads; and Jesus on His eternal throne, for sinners intercedes.
Gracious God, we are gathered here to offer our praise and thanks to you. You are the Creator for you made us, our world and everything in it and so we pray with one voice, proclaiming your presence to all the earth.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Almighty God, as a Church we daily pray that ‘Your Kingdom Come,’ but most of the time we live in ways that prevent its coming. We spend too much of our time trying to build our own human kingdom, putting ourselves, rather than you, at the centre of our lives. Send your Spirit to remind us that You are ‘First,’ others are ‘Second, and we are ‘Third.’
Holy God, we pray for your Church worldwide. We pray that it may be strengthened and protected by the Holy Spirit. We pray for all who are joining us in worship wherever they may be, whether in churches, home groups or quietly on their own. Unite us all in our faith in you, your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we pray for our own Reverend Di who not only does so much for us here at St Clement but also in her support of the bereaved and her work at Culdrose. We pray for Father David who is such an important part of the St Clement family. Strengthen them both in their service to you and us.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
We pray that the leaders of all countries around the world may truly work for the good of their people and not for their own power. We pray for all people in war-torn countries, particularly those whose lives have been torn apart through no fault of their own. May international and local disagreements be decided by diplomacy and not by military intervention. We pray for all victims of terrorism and for a new determination to end the spiral of violence which brings with it so much fear, heartache, and suffering. May all work together for the good of each other.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
We pray for our Royal Family – for King Charles and Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and all other members of the family carrying out royal duties.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Gracious God, we pray for the people of Cornwall especially for those who feel excluded, exploited, or ignored. Help us, your people, to work together to build a community which is as open and generous as your love, shown to us in the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Father God, we worship you as the one who has given us this life and we ask that you will help us live it to the full. At home may we be the friends and neighbours that we really want to be. Help us to spread the warmth of your love to everyone we meet.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Loving God, we pray for the sick and the troubled, for the fearful and the alone, for those in pain and those who have lost their way. We pray that all who suffer may feel the Spirit’s healing presence.
We especially bring to you: Ken and Reverend Di, Sabie, Brian, May, Susan, Lauren, Lynda, Sandra, Daphne and David, Dot, Pam and David, Maureen, Mary, Alison and Rob, Jan, Anita and Stephen, Michael and Patricia, Jeremy, Callum and Elaine, Barbara, Roger and Helen, Lorrie. Jeanette and David, Kate, Katharine, all those known to us and those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful God, we bring before you all those whose earthly journey has come to an end. Please welcome them into your heavenly kingdom; grant them forgiveness and eternal rest and peace.
We also bring before you all those mourning the loss of their loved ones – be with them and bring them comfort.
We remember those whose year’s mind occurs at this time: Sheila Mary Libby
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
God of heaven and earth, companion in life, Spirit of Truth, to you alone we turn our eyes and lift our hearts. Be with us and guide us as we go out into the world to keep your commandments and to love one another as you love us.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Clement, St Andrew and St Allen.
Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
We say together:
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
Wheat, Weeds, ‘Maybe’
We look in our garden of life
And what do we really see?
Are there plants of wheat tall and strong
Or weeds entwined tight and long?
Is it always easy to see
Which is which? Is it plain, clear?
Or is it, well I can’t be sure?
What if I’m wrong? I can’t do more.
Can we be sure of wheat and weeds,
Or is there another door?
Should we be thinking of ‘Maybe’
The truly opening key?
‘Maybe’ – the door to so much more;
The chance to be free and see
Whether there’s so much more to be,
For each of us, you and me.
The Peace
Jesus says: ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled,
Neither let them be afraid.’
The peace of the Lord be always with us.
Hymn: 487 You, living Christ, our eyes behold
The Blessing
May the Father’s hand keep us from stumbling,
the footprints of Jesus give us confidence to follow,
and the fire of the Holy Spirit keep us warm and safe
in our walk with God this day.
Amen