St Clement Church Community Sunday Service
Good morning to you all, today we not only commemorate the Festival of Christ the King on the last Sunday of the Church year, but also our Patronal Festival of St Clement, which is being taken by Father David Wills. This Service of the Word is for you to read at home if you’re unable to worship with us in person at St Clement.
Some of you may know this day as ‘Stir-up Sunday’ originally a day for encouraging us to be stirred up in faith, but nowadays is regarded as more of a reminder to get the Christmas puddings and cakes made! May Christ’s love sustain you always.
Much love to you all, Rev Di and family xx
Let us pray;
Creator and Father of eternity, whose martyr Clement bore witness to you with the love he proclaimed, and the gospel that he preached:
give us thankful hearts as we celebrate your faithfulness, revealed to us in the lives of your saints, and strengthen us in our pilgrimage as we follow your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Hymn: ‘Jesus shall Reign’
Our prayers of Penitence
As we anticipate the rule of Christ over all things, we recognise all that disfigures God’s world, and accept our shared human responsibility for it. Lord Jesus Christ, we confess:
The widening gap between the comfortably off and the desperately poor….
Lord, have mercy.
The deep divisions between nations, races and religions….
Christ, have mercy.
The damage inflicted upon the earth through insatiable consumer greed….
Lord, have mercy.
May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our failings, and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray our Collect for today
God the Father, help us to hear the call of Christ the King and to follow in his service, whose Kingdom has no end; for he reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings:
Proverbs 15.1-4 1 Peter 5.1-4
Hymn; ‘Thy Hand, O God, hast Guided’
Gospel: Matthew 16.13-19
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say “John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
(This is the Gospel of the Lord. Response: ‘Praise to you, O, Christ’)
Reflection
Who is Jesus?
That’s the question Christians to this day are all still trying to answer adequately, as were the disciples in our Gospel passage.
I used to know the answer, when I was about 7. I could tell you without any hesitation whatsoever the truth about Jesus: Jesus was tall. From my 7 year old perspective, this was the defining feature of Jesus, who, according to my Sunday school teacher, in the story of Zacchaeus, could see over everyone’s head to notice the tax collector up in the Sycamore tree, and was tall enough help him down. After hearing that story I knew that Jesus was tall, and from my 7 year old view of the world, being tall was enough to be the hero of the story. There was no doubt about it in my mind; I believed it.
By the time I reached high school I’d left all that stuff about Jesus being tall behind. Being very mature by then, of course, I knew that there was much more to the answer of who was Jesus than just physical appearance. I learnt in R.E lessons that Jesus was Emmanuel; Mighty God; Prince of Peace. But I didn’t think too much about what all that meant, from my 12-year-old perspective all these things were words and concepts beyond my understanding, offered as a nice little salvation formula told to us by the R.E teacher.
But the question seemed to get even more and more complicated as the years went by. Who is Jesus?
The disciples were certainly put on the spot the day Jesus put the question to them, Matthew tells us that Jesus took his disciples into the region of Caesarea-Philippi, one of the most beautiful areas of Galilee, up high on a hill overlooking the Jordan River, where he asked them; “Who are people saying that I am?”
But meaning, as most commentators would tell you, that Jesus wasn’t so much interested in that, as he was in what his disciples were thinking. After all, they’d be the ones left behind to carry on his message, and it would ease the process, as it were, if they could sum up who Jesus was.
The disciples had trouble answering the question, and they stumbled around a bit, reporting what they’d heard, but of course Jesus knew he hadn’t yet heard the real answer. It’s a good thing, then, that he rephrased the question saying; ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Because word on the street aside, that’s what really matters, isn’t it? And this was when Peter made his now famous confession; ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’
Result! Jesus must have thought! Because at the end of the day, Jesus wants to know, who am I. to you?
As the years went by, my ideas about Jesus changed yet again.
They changed when I met a nun at St Anne D’Auray Convent in Brittany called Sister Francoise, who invited me one evening to go with her to a nearby town where she helped look after a group of women who lived in a shelter for the homeless. These women were battered by abuse and poverty, and lived lives that were totally void of hope. ‘Where is Jesus in all this, who is he?’ I asked Sister Francoise, and she replied, ‘Jesus is God in human form. Did you know Christianity is the only major world religion in which God comes to earth and feels what it’s like to be human?’
Sister Francoise is a woman who has devoted her entire life to serving the poor because she believes so much in Jesus, and when she said that it all made sense to me. When I looked at her sacrifice and the women who were desperately searching for hope, it all made sense. Right then I knew who Jesus was: Jesus was God in human form, one who had felt what it was like to be hungry and homeless, to face pain and uncertainty, to know sorrow and fear and grief, all of the things that are big parts of human living. Jesus Christ lived the human experience, and by that he knows what it’s like to be me and you.
Our answer to the question may keep growing and changing, but that’s okay, that’s what believing is about, remembering that the word ‘believe’ means; ‘to give your heart to’—to take a risk.
But on this day, when we remember what it is we believe about Jesus, we want to ask the same question Jesus did to Peter: Not “who is Jesus?” but “who is Jesus to us?”
Living our lives working to answer this question is the very essence of why we gather every Sunday, either in the church building or at home, to worship God, expressed to us in the person of Jesus Christ.
We can’t explain who he is completely, and none of us would ever explain it the same way. But we do know this: there’s a power in Jesus Christ that calls us to live our lives in such a way that flies in the face of secular convention.
Such power was evident in St Clement Church a few years ago, when we gathered for a baby’s funeral. I stood at the front and brokenly said the words, and in the same way, accompanied the family to the baby’s graveside, because I admit, I was totally drained by then.
Not only because of the huge funeral service I’d taken that same morning at St Agnes, but also because of supporting the baby’s fractured family through the previous three weeks.
So, I stood at the front and said the words necessary, but it was members of our church community who, by their actions demonstrated the love of Jesus far more than I ever could have on my own. From doorkeeper, to hospitality, by their supporting presence, they walked with the baby’s family through every minute of the time they’d been dreading since his death. And a miracle occurred that day. Over the funeral tea so lovingly prepared, and by looking at the sunflowers and colours they’d so tentatively asked for, the baby’s fractured family became whole. Relationships were mended and restored, past hurt and pain forgiven, so much so that they didn’t want to leave the church building, they marveled themselves at what had happened.
The baby’s name was ‘Raphael’ which means; healer.’
Perhaps therefore he was given by God to the family to do that task, and given to us, so, as they said their farewells to him in our beloved church, I would realise that I’d never again have to ask the question; ‘Who is Jesus?’ Because I see his face, and his love in action, in our St Clement Church community. Our Patron Saint would be proud of you all, as am I. May God Bless you always. Amen.
Hymn: ‘God is Working His Purpose out’
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
Dear Lord and Father of mankind, Forgive our foolish ways! Re-clothe us in our rightful mind, In purer lives Thy service find, In deeper reverence praise.
On this the day that we celebrate the Feast of St Clement, our Patronal Festival, we humbly bow our heads before You and, wherever we are, we feel Your presence with us. Dear Lord, we are all so different and yet made in Your image. May all nations, communities and individuals learn to respect each other, to accept and delight in differences and to work for peace throughout the world.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
We pray for your Church across the world that it may grow not only in numbers but in faith. We pray for the Church in this country and in our own diocese. We pray for Bishop David, Bishop Hugh, our own vicar our dearly loved Reverend Di, and Father David who is so much part of our little church. We give thanks for all they do and ask that they may be given the strength and Your blessing to continue their service to You and us.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
As we worship You here, in the safety of our little church, our thoughts go to those in Ukraine, Lebanon and all other war-torn countries. We pray for all who suffer in war, terrorism, violence, abusive relationships, and all innocent people caught up in situations where an individual’s or a group’s need and demand for power disregards the well-being and safety of so many. While we know and can see how destructive a demand for power can be, we pray that somehow reason and an appreciation of the safety of life of all may finally bring peace throughout the world.
Lord, hear us. Lord, graciously hear us.
Lord, we bring before You all those across the country and world-wide who have this year, suffered severe weather conditions and natural disasters – flooding, extreme heat, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, erupting volcanoes, which have destroyed life, homes, and businesses.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Dear Lord, we pray for the hungry, the homeless and the broken; for all for whom this day brings sadness and little joy; for the sick, the lonely and the helpless; for those whose hope has been shattered and their faith destroyed. We pray for the sick in our community. Comfort and heal all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. We think of all those we know, remembering: : Reverend Diane, Ken, Brian, May, Susan, Tony, Jan, Lynda, Dot, Maureen, Pam and David, Sandra, Roger and Helen, 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, John, and all those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we offer into Your safe keeping all those who have died – may they know Your love and be accepted into Your eternal kingdom. We also remember those who are grieving for loved ones they will see no more; enfold them in Your loving arms. We remember those whose year’s mind occurs at this time: Sheila Joan Warr (Secker), Elizabeth Mary Russell
Dear Lord: Drop Thy still dews of quietness, Till all our strivings cease; Take from our souls the strain and stress, And let our ordered lives confess The beauty of Thy peace.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Clement, St Allen, and St Andrew.
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: ‘Ye Servants of God, your Master proclaim’
The Peace
May the peace of Christ sanctify us: may he so strengthen our hearts in holiness that we may be blameless before him at the coming of our Lord Jesus with his saints. Amen.
Blessing
May God give us grace to follow his saints in faith, hope and love; 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.