St Clement Church Community Sixteenth after Trinity Sunday Service
Good morning to you all and welcome to our service.
Our readings for today continue to be a challenge – for me, anyway.
They certainly emphasise that, if I had been present two thousand years ago, I would have been a follower who ‘didn’t understand,’ just like the disciples.
What about you?
My love to you all
Liz
Let us pray:
This is your day
and we shall praise you!
This is your day
and we shall declare your name. This is your day
and we shall worship
a risen Saviour and our King!
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 our fellowship,
the prayers that will be heard.
Bless us as we meet together,
dear Lord, we pray.
Amen
Hymn: 351 Come ye faithful, raise the anthem
Our Prayer of Penitence
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy,
Slow to anger and of great kindness.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is his mercy upon those that fear him.
SILENCE
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he set our sins from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits
Amen.
The Collect for the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you: pour your love into our hearts and draw us to yourself, and so bring us at last to your heavenly city where we shall see you face to face; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, whop is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Readings:
Isaiah 50. 4 – 9a
James 3. 1 - 12
Hymn: 339 Be thou my vision
Gospel: Mark 8. 1 – 8, 27 - 38
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’
Jesus asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’
Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’
And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.
Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
He said this quite openly.
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them, ‘ If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel will save it.
For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?
Indeed, what can they give in return for their life?
Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
It starts in childhood. We grow up in a world of magic where when we lose a tooth a fairy comes and takes our tooth and leaves us money. A rabbit hides eggs for us to find on Easter morning.
A portly old man with a beard as white as snow leaves us wonderful presents under the Christmas tree in exchange for mince pies and a glass of milk.
Quixotic tales our parents told us turn to ash and we grow up feeling disillusioned and short-changed.
While the truth may have set you free the feeling of disillusionment lingers.
Disillusionment is defined as dissatisfaction that you feel when you realise something you thought was true turned out to be a lie, or when you realise that something you thought was good is not as good as you believed it was.
Jesus’ disciples are undergoing a very intense apprenticeship with Jesus, and it is about to get even more intense as He begins His journey to Jerusalem.
Before He embarks on His journey south, Jesus asks His disciples a question.
‘Who do people say that I am?’
Well, that’s not a difficult question, is it?
The disciples answer it easily. They’ve heard what people have been saying … ‘John the Baptist; Elijah; one of the prophets.’
But then, Jesus asks the key question – ‘Who do you say that I am?’
It’s impetuous, impulsive Peter who gets all excited and professes that Jesus is the long-promised Messiah.
But then, Jesus begins to explain things to His disciples; how He must go through great suffering, be tried and found guilty by the elders, high priests and religious scholars, be killed and after three days rise up alive again.
As soon as Peter hears this, he immediately backs away and rebukes Jesus. Jesus’ words shatter the glamour of following this long-expected Messiah. This is certainly not the kind of life that Peter wants to undertake. While Jesus seems to be the Messiah, the Jewish people had never expected a leader who must suffer and die. That is simply ludicrous and irrational. Who on earth chooses to ‘proceed to an ordeal of suffering’ as Jesus says He is doing? And, let’s be honest, who in their right mind wants to follow a leader who is on his way to die?
Disillusionment – I don’t know about you, but I can’t help feeling that it seems to be a major part of our lives; a common disease from which we’re all suffering. There’s disillusionment with our leaders and political system; economic opportunities; with endless wars and violence; with prejudice and oppression; with religion and the church.
Every one of us could tell a story about our own personal disillusion, the disillusion that is unique and particular to our own life and life’s circumstances. Haven’t you had times of disillusionment when you recognised that your life or the world wasn’t what you thought it was, and may never be.
Disillusion happens when the story we’ve told ourselves, the story on which we have based our lives and beliefs, the story to which we committed ourselves, no longer makes sense, is no longer relevant, no longer works, or is no longer true.
Disillusionment is an in between time, a time when we have lost faith in the old familiar story but haven’t yet embraced another story. It leaves us panicked and fearful about the future. The world feels like a dangerous and chaotic place, out of control, and somebody needs to do something.
Disillusionment – it isn’t only about what’s going on around us. It begins within us. It’s a spiritual issue, and it’s one Peter knows well. He is a picture of disillusionment.
He’s confessed that Jesus is the Messiah. He has a particular image, a story about who the Messiah is and what the Messiah should do and be about. Jesus, however has undone and rewritten Peter’s story. “The Son of Man,” He says, “must undergo great suffering and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” So much for Peter’s understanding of the Messiah.
That’s neither what he expects nor what he wants. So, he takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him, as if he knows more and better than Jesus.
Can you see and hear Peter’s disillusionment? Peter confesses and Peter rebukes, all in the same conversation. He’s speaking with a forked tongue or as someone I heard once say, ‘out of both sides of his mouth.’
The arrogance of panicked disillusionment can quickly lead to self -assertion. We can see that in Peter and his rebuke of Jesus.
Jesus has no time or interest in Peter’s arrogant self-assertion. “Get behind me, Satan!” These are the same words Jesus speaks during His temptations in the wilderness. Jesus hears Peter’s rebuke as a temptation to be less than He is and as a distraction from the work He is about. Maybe that’s true for Peter, and for you and me. Disillusion tempts us to be less than we truly are, tempts us to be arrogant and self-assertive, tempts us to lose sight of what we are really about.
Despite what the prophets of doom say or what we feel, the world is not coming to an end, falling apart, or ‘going to hell in a hand-basket.’ It wasn’t for Peter and it isn’t for us. The truth is when we don’t understand what is happening, we feel lost, scared, angry and confused. The old story of power and self-assertion no longer fits. It never did, but we heard that story and told it to ourselves enough times that we began to believe and invest in it. We need to embrace a different story. Jesus gives Peter and us a new story. He is the story.
It's a story of self-denial. "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves, take up their cross and follow me.”
It’s not just a story that Jesus tells. It’s the story He lives, and if any want to become His followers, it must become their story.
So, what is self-denial for each of us? Maybe, it means re-examining our beliefs and attitudes about who we are, who another is, and who God is. And maybe, self-denial means we don’t take ourselves more seriously than we take God.
Amen
Affirmation of faith
Do you believe and trust in God the Father, source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son, who took our human nature, died for us and rose again?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world?
We believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the Church.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Hymn: 360 Firmly I believe and truly
Our Intercessions by Daphne Hawkins
In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ let us pray to the Father.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we gather together here at our beloved St Clement with those who join us in prayer and praise from homes scattered far and wide, united in friendship, care and love.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Dear Lord, we pray for your Church world-wide, for all faiths as they face the many challenges they encounter in the modern ways of life. We pray for Archbishop Justin, all bishops, priests, and church leaders who take us forward on our earthly journey. We pray for our own Reverend Diane, her work in our church, her work with our service personnel and the needs of our scattered community. Give her, Ken and her family strength and vision to carry out the unending tasks she meets every day.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Dear Lord, we pray for King Charles, Queen Camilla, and the Royal Family during this time of ill health. We are comforted to see them resume their royal duties and ask you to restore them to good health.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Most merciful Father, we bring to you your broken world marred by evil, greed, and terrorism.
We pray for peace. We pray that governments, heads of state and parliaments work together to bring an end to so many hostilities in so many countries.
The suffering does not end with war and conflict. We have so many vulnerable families, homeless, hungry, without basic everyday needs. Please guide those in power to open their eyes to these urgent needs and strive to make life easier especially the little ones too young to understand.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we pray for our community, for our friends especially those we share our Christian services with. We pray for our families and the bonds of love and care we share; may that closeness be always strong and always there.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we bring to you all who suffer in body, mind or spirit; those who have no one who loves or cares for them; those whose family is far away or those who are estranged from the family fold.
We pray for: Ken and Reverend Diane, May, Susan, Lauren, Lynda, Terry and Dot, Margaret, Maureen, Pam and David, Barrie and Sandra, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Stella, Jeremy, William, Jane, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Andy, Ann, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, and those in need of your presence and prayers. May all in need at this time be comforted by your divine presence, your healing hands and everlasting love.
Lord, welcome into your kingdom all whose earthly journey has come to an end. May they join and be reunited with you and all who are at rest and peace, those loved ones who have gone before.
In the year’s mind, we remember Bill Davies.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
TW Mason – The Living Christ has two hands – one to point the way. The other to help us on our journey.
Lord, we need both your hands as we go through the world. Your guiding hand to direct us, for we do not know what lies on the road ahead; and dare not rely on our own wisdom. We need your helping hand to support us; for the going is hard and we may stumble and fall.
Be near us on life’s journey and lead us safely home.
Amen
Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Andrew, St Allen, St Clement and the Blessed Virgin Mary, we commit ourselves and all Christians 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 our risen Lord 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 Game of Life’ by Lisa S. Satcher
Life – it’s not about the wins and losses
nor struggles along the way.
It’s Christ living in you.
It’s how the game is played.
It’s about my relationship with Him, in the end.
He’s my All, my Everything, my Teacher, My Friend.
He’s my Saviour, my Father, and mostly my Coach.
He guides me, protects me, and must not be reproached.
He draws me closer and closer, gently leading the way.
Teaching and directing me how to play.
He gives me the play book each and every day.
If, I simply, get down on my knees and pray.
It’s how we respond to life’s ebbs and flows.
It’s how others witness our ultimate lows.
We must remember; spectators are watching the game.
When it’s all over, “will we have struggled for fame?”
The question I’ll ask,
“Will they see Jesus in us?”
“Will they want to know more and learn to trust?”
“Will others see a difference in how we played the game?”
“Will we give God the Glory and All the Fame?”
I’ve learned far more from losses,
than from any win attained.
It’s during the crossroads, dead-ends, and pitfalls
where everything is gained.
Character is built. Integrity is gained.
Nothing could replace all that I’ve learned.
Put me in Coach. I’m ready to play.
All by the rules of Your Book today.
The Peace
God will speak peace to his people, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Let us greet one another as a sign of God’s peace.
Hymn: 365 God moves in a mysterious way
The Blessing
For your goodness and generosity in giving us all that we need,
help us to praise you O God.
In every circumstance of life, in good times and in bad,
help us to trust you, O God.
In love and faithfulness, with all that we have and all that we are,
help us to serve you, O God.
As we speak or write or listen, to those nearby or far away,
help us to share your love, O God.
In our plans and work for ourselves and for others,
help us to glorify you, O God.
In every thought and word and deed, by the power of your Holy Spirit,
this week, may we live for you, O God.
Amen