St Clement Church Second before Advent
Community Service
Good morning to you all
As we come towards the end of the Church’s year, may we look back with gratitude for all the blessings we have received. May we also, in the year ahead, look to put right where we have failed to ensure the safety of others.
My love to you all
Liz
Dear God, we thank you for everyone gathered here and at home today and ask that you surround us with your powerful, life-changing presence. Thank you for loving each of us and for calling us to walk with you. We come before you as we meet and declare our dependence on you. Be a lamp unto our feet and a light upon our path.
We say together:
Dear Lord and Father, thank you that you promise us that where two or three are gathered together you are there in the midst.
Lord, we welcome You amongst us today and celebrate the gift of life that you have lavished upon each of us.
We ask that You would open our ears so that we may hear Your voice.
Open our minds so that we may receive Your eternal wisdom.
Open our spirits so that we may know Your leading and guidance.
And open our hearts so that we may receive Your wonderful love.
We ask this in the glorious name of Jesus.
Amen
Hymn: 79 Christ whose glory fills the skies
We say together our Prayer of Penitence:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
The Collect for the Second before Advent
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son was revealed to destroy the works of the devil and to make us the children of God and heirs of eternal life: grant that we, having this hope, may purify ourselves even as he is pure; that when he shall appear in power and great glory we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen
Readings:
Daniel 12. 1 - 3
Hebrews 10. 11 – 25
Hymn: 207 Hallelujah sing to Jesus
Gospel: Mark 13. 1 - 8
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark.
Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’
Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’
Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray.
When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place. But the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.’
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
I find it interesting that, so close to Advent, when we will be preparing for the birth of our Lord, we have a reading that is Jesus’ final teaching in the Gospel of Mark before He goes to his death.
My mind obviously doesn’t work in the same way as those in the Church of England who chose the weekly readings!
Chapter 13 – of which this morning’s reading is a part – is Jesus’ longest discourse. It’s Jesus’ teaching on the end times and His second coming. It’s important because it is the bridge connecting Jesus’ public ministry and His death. It’s the very last sermon Jesus gives His disciples before He dies. He wants to make some things clear about His return before He’s killed. He doesn’t want to give them, or us, a timeline of future events but to call them, and us, to present faithfulness. Jesus wants His disciples to focus on being faithful in the present, not on predicting the future.
When one first reads today’s Gospel one could be forgiven for thinking that it is rather threatening; but don’t be alarmed, because that is what Jesus tells His disciples. Do not be disturbed or troubled or frightened by all these things. Jesus isn’t talking about an ending but rather about a beginning, the start of new life. He’s describing a movement towards wholeness, fullness and completion.
Today’s reading is about hope. It’s a Gospel about opportunities and possibilities. It’s about finding meaning and new life. It’s about your and my future. And, let’s be honest, who amongst us doesn’t sometimes wonder, worry, or even become alarmed about our future and the future of the world.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve realised that when I become alarmed about the future, I’m not really focused on the unknown and a time yet to come, rather, I’m more focused on the known and the present time. I want to know if the ‘temples’ I’ve built will withstand the test of time. Will the centre hold? Will my relationships endure? Will my acquisitions and accomplishments continue to give identity, meaning and security (or at least an illusion of these things)? Will the systems that I’ve created for my life, well-being, and happiness remain intact? Are the foundations of my life stable and strong enough to last?
In other words, I’m focused on the large stones and large buildings of my life. So, when Jesus says, “Not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down,” I get a bit twitchy. Jesus says that the very things that I am most focused on are coming down. So, I can’t help wondering whether I’ve missed the point and been distracted from what really matters, from the new life that is waiting and wanting to be created through me.
Jesus is never more compassionate than He is during these times. He speaks with such tenderness and reassurance. “Do not be alarmed.” “This must take place. “This is but the beginning of creating the new future.” It’s as if He is saying, “Don’t worry. This is normal. You’re going to be OK, I’ll see you through this.”
There was once a girl who was scared – not scared, petrified. Scared of what? Scared of everything. She grew up believing that the world is a dark and cruel place. Ever since she could remember she felt as if danger was lurking around every corner, so she decided to be cautious; cautious not only with where she went and what she did but also with what she said and who she let inside her heart. For, if she could protect her heart from ruthless people who had no regard for the damage they caused, she could feel safe, peaceful and at ease. So, she put up her guard. She avoided crowds, meeting new people, and everything different from the norms her family taught her. The only moment when she dared to be brave and lose herself in her imagination was when she was in the library. She dared to read every line no matter how scary, meet every character and she refused to skip a verse, even when she felt the strong urge to quickly check if there was a happy ending in the story. Somewhere between the dusty books and scented candles in the safety of her room, she realised that the same truth could be applied to her life. If she wanted to grow and get to her ‘happy ever after,’ she must step out of her comfort zone into the unknown. She didn’t believe in half-measures, so she packed a bag and started walking. What she didn’t realise, at that moment, was that this walk and this journey was unlike any other. Along with people from all over the world, she was walking Camino de Santiago – the Way of St Joseph, which people take for a variety of reasons. At first overwhelmed with a multitude of cultures, languages, and stimulates, she remained quiet. Listening to conversations of strangers she felt intrigued. How was it possible that these people still found glory despite their sufferings? Why were they convinced that the world was worth exploring despite the dangers? Then she started writing down what she heard. She wrote about the 80- year-old French man who was walking with a life-support machine on his back, in case he needed it. He was convinced that the effort wasn’t worthless because his urge to explore was too strong to let him stay at home. She wrote about the young German couple who had met during the pandemic. They had been working in the same hospital, fighting to save lives, never talking to one another, but their eyes had kept meeting, smiling from behind their facemasks. This journey was their honeymoon, finally enabling then to take care of each other. She wrote about people who opened their hearts and homes to welcome pilgrims, families, the elderly, and the youth; those who put one foot in front of the other to find answers, ideas, and experiences. Finally, she allowed herself to be present throughout the entirety of the trial; to witness every step and make every mistake. It was hard, and scary. She did it anyway. When you conclude that the intimacy of being seen and understood is accessible even if people come from different backgrounds, you are ready to act. When you realise that a different culture, religion, sexual identity, or race is not something that separates you from another person, but enriches your shared experience, you are ready to start a dialogue. And when you see that the flaws you carry within, as an armour separating you from others, only make you more human and capable of forming meaningful connections, you pack your bags and go as far as you can.
So, instead of worrying about the future – let us step out in the footsteps of our Lord, today, assured that He is with us and will be with us no matter what the future may bring.
Amen
We say together in faith
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.
We believe in God the Father, who created all things:
For by his will they were created and have their being.
We believe in God the Son, who was slain:
For with his blood, he purchased us for God, from every tribe and language, from every people and nation.
Believe in God the Holy Spirit:
The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’
Even so come, Lord Jesus!
Amen
Hymn: 575 Rejoice, the Lord is King
Our Intercessions
Everlasting God, as we approach the end of another Church Year we look back with gratitude and thankfulness for all of the blessings you have given us this year.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Loving Father, we pray that your Church will always work for the good of all, taking special care for the young and the vulnerable. May it always set an example and ensure the safety of all.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
We pray for those suffering from the effects of conflict, terrorism, and persecution in all parts of the world; for those who feel undervalued, ignored, forgotten in their work or life and for those who do not have enough of life’s basic needs, food, clothing, shelter.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Although we are sometimes separated by language and culture from the people we live amongst, we pray for them and their families and as we pray for our neighbours may they not only be mere words, but also, day by day, moment by moment, in action, in the things we do and the way we do them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Dear Lord, when our lives seem beset by worries, fears, and seemingly insurmountable difficulties, may we feel the assurance of your presence, knowing that we never face things alone. May we always put our trust in you knowing that if we have faith, all will be well.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
We pray for all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit and for those who care for them. We pray for the sick, for those who are afraid, for the homeless, for the lonely and those who have no one to pray for them. We especially pray for: Ken and Reverend Diane, May, Susan, Lauren, Lynda, Terry and Dot, Margaret, Maureen, Pam and David, Barrie and Sandra, Roger and Helen, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Stella, Jeremy, William, Jane, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Andy, Anne, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Dave and Jeanette, Jane, Carrie and John Paul. May they all feel your loving presence with them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Merciful God, we pray to you for those whom we love but see no longer. Give to the departed your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the holy purpose of your perfect will.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Holy God, we pray for ourselves: as we go out from your house today to start the week ahead, we ask that in all we do, so may we walk more closely with you at our side safe in the knowledge that your Fatherly love and care knows no bounds.
Merciful Father: Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen
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.
Don’t Quit by Edgar Albert Guest
When Things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you’re trudging seems all up h ill, When the funds are low and debts are high, And you want to Smile, but have to sigh. When care is pressing you down a bit, Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns, As everyone of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won if he’d stuck about.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow,
You might succeed with another blow.
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup.
And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint of clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.
Notices
The Peace
God has called us to live in peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Hymn: 159 Forth in Thy name, I go
The Blessing
May the road rise up to meet us.
May the wind be always at our backs.
And may the sun shine warm upon our faces;
the rains fall soft upon our fields
and until we meet again,
may God hold us in the palm of His hand.
Amen