St Clement Church
Passion Sunday Community Service
Good morning
On our journey through Lent, we should be questioning our actions and motives. It is a perfect time to give without expecting anything in return; to help others; to do something for someone just because we can, not because of what might be in it for us.
That’s alien in our world today, isn’t it? But, what a better world it would be.
Let’s try it.
My love to you all
Liz
Gracious God, we gather here today, hearts open to your presence. May our worship be a reflection, of your love and a celebration of your grace. Guide our voices, and fill our hears with joy as we come together in your name.
Amen
We say together:
Almighty Father, we ask for your help in being a light in every place you’ve given us to walk. Give us care and wisdom as we live and work with one another.
Help us to look to another’s needs before our own, and to be always ready to serve those around us by the power of your love within us.
Even in every dark and broken place, for the times we feel like we’re barely making it through, give us your joy Lord, your grave, and the powerful presence of your peace.
Amen
Hymn: 64 Be thou my guardian and my guide
We say together our Prayer of Penitence:
God of mercy, I confess that I have not always been the person you’ve created me to be.
Too often I have failed to love you with my whole heart, mind, and soul.
I do not always love my neighbours as you love them.
Please forgive me, O God.
Transform my heart and renew my mind so that I can draw closer to you,
In Jesus’ name.
Amen
The Collect for the Fifth Sunday in Lent
Most merciful Lord, who by the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ delivered and saved the world: grant that by faith in him who suffered on the cross we may triumph in the power of his victory; 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 43. 16 - 21
Philippians 3. 4b-1a
Hymn: 92 There is a green hill far away
Gospel: John 12. 1 - 8 (Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
There they gave a dinner for him.
Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.
Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair.
The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’
He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
I wonder, when was the last time you did something for someone else without any expectations, with no strings attached, without any conditions or preconditions? There was no why to what you were doing. You were just doing what you were doing because that’s what you were doing.
I’d like to say that that’s what I always do, but truth be told, I can’t. I may not be aware that somewhere, tucked away, there’s a not so selfless motive, but sadly, too often, it’s there.
Angelus Silesius, a seventeenth century German priest, writes this:
“The rose has no why; it blossoms because it blossoms.
It pays no attention to itself, nor does it ask whether anyone sees it.”
What if we were to live like the rose, without a why? What if we blossomed simply because we blossomed. What if there was no motive or seeking to our blossoming; to be noticed, to be praised, to accomplish? What if we fragranced the world because we couldn’t do anything but fragrance the world?
The rose is going to do what it’s going to do regardless of whether anyone sees it or smells it. Its beauty and fragrance are not a means to an end. It has no why.
I want to live without a why. I want to give and do unconditionally (at least that’s what I want to do on my better days.) I think that’s often how we see ourselves and how we want to be and live, unconditionally and without strings attached, but it’s harder than it sounds.
We live in a world of economy, exchange, and transaction. You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. We live in a world in which you pay for what you want. There is, as the saying goes, no such thing as a free lunch. We’re expected to return the favour, pay off the debt, or reciprocate in some way. In short, you get what you pay for. And we pay in all sorts of ways.
Think about all the ways that happens and how commonplace and acceptable it is.
We exchange our time for money, sacrifice our families for success, and trade our dreams for the practicalities of making ends meet.
Have you ever received a gift and felt indebted to return the favour, or at least send a thank you note? Even the best-intentioned gifts can leave the recipient with an unintended debt of gratitude. And how did you feel when you didn’t receive a thank-you note or other acknowledgement after giving a gift, or didn’t receive an invitation to dinner at their house after you’d had them to dinner at your house.
Have you ever argued over the coffee or lunch bill? “You paid last time, it’s my turn.” Or “I’ll get it today. You can get it next time.”
Have you ever said or done something, as a means to an end? Have you ever wondered why somebody was doing something for you, wondered what was in it for them?
It’s even in Church and Faith. Theologians call it ‘the economy of salvation.’ Believe in Jesus, follow His way, and you too can have salvation. Sometimes we believe that our prayers and good behaviour are the currency that pays for God’s favour.
We can’t always do everything for the payoff, and sometimes we don’t. There are times when we do or need to do something simply for the sake of doing it; things like love, forgiveness, truth, hospitality, justice, compassion. In those times something is being affirmed for itself not for what it might achieve or accomplish. There is no why.
I think this is what’s going on with Mary in today’s gospel reading. She loves because she loves. She anoints because she anoints. She fragrances because she fragrances. There is no why. It’s a gift. There’s nothing in it for her. It’s unconditional. It looks reckless and irresponsible but she’s doing what she’s doing, because that’s what she’s doing. She breaks the chain of means and ends. And it makes no sense to Judas. He is calculating and practical. He’s an investor looking for a return. He wants to turn Mary’s gift into a profit. Judas has a why.
Gift stands in contrast to economy, even as Mary stands in contrast to Judas.
It would be easy to say that Mary is good and Judas is bad. Mary is right. Judas is wrong. But, I know times when I have lived as Judas and other times when I have lived as Mary, don’t you?
So, what if they’re not two opposite lives, two opposite people but two aspects of our lives, two ways of living and relating? What if we hold both Mary and Judas within ourselves, images of our charitable self and our economic self, images of our unconditioned life and our conditioned life?
When have you been Mary and when have you been Judas? What’s your experience of the two? In what ways have they shaped or misshaped your life?
I don’t think it’s ever a question of choosing one or the other, gift or economy, Mary or Judas, but in living in the tension of the two. That tension is what sometimes keeps us awake at night, calls us into question, awakens us as to how we truly want to live. That tension is the call to be discerning and thoughtful about how we respond to others and engage in life. That tension pushes us to look within ourselves at our motives and desires. That tension reveals that Mary and Judas, gift and economy are interwoven, and each has the possibility of the other. It reminds us that the fragrance of life can be neither bought nor sold. It’s priceless.
I don’t know if we ever truly live without a why. I can’t answer that, but I know that’s the direction I want to go. I know that’s how I want to shape my life. What about you?
Amen
Let us declare our faith in God
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 God 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: 84 It is a thing most wonderful
Our Intercessions by Helen Dunbar
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. He can transform death and despair, in any form, into life and hope.
As the people of the living God, let us join together in our prayers for the Church and for the world.
Dear Lord, we pray for all Church leaders, teachers and pastors, and all who are being called into particular ministries, both lay and ordained. We pray especially for any who are wrestling with the demands of such a calling, that they may be given courage to offer themselves in your service. We give thanks for our own hard working Revd Diane, as she continues with her busy work schedule, and ask your blessing on her husband Ken and all their family.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
We pray for all who worship here in our little church at St Clement and we ask your blessing on our friends, relations, neighbours and all those who live in the surrounding area. Lord, help us to live in harmony with one another and show love and kindness to all we come into contact with.
We think of the difficult journeys in life encountered by so many people in this world and we pray that in their time of need, they may find the strength through faith to see their way ahead and to overcome the problems they face.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
Heavenly Father, we pray for those who seek to make peace in this divided world; for all leaders of nations that they may have the wisdom and courage to do what is right for all, that their hearts may be turned to you in the search for righteousness and truth; for those working to improve international relationships, that they may find the true way of reconciliation, for those who suffer as a result of war; the mentally depressed, the refugees, the homeless and hungry.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer
Bless and guide King Charles, Queen Camilla and all members of the royal family.
We pray for all affected by the severe earthquake impacting Myanmar, Thailand and China in which many hundreds are feared dead; with many injured and without shelter.
Dear Lord, please 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 especially remember: Reverend Diane, Ken, our much-loved May, Susan, Lynda, Terry and Dot, Pam and David, Sandra, Roger, Michael and Patricia, Rob and Alison, Stella, Jeremy, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Sue and Martin, Margaret and John, Dave and Jeanette, Carrie and John Paul, Nan, Barry, Paul and all those with no one to pray for them. We are asked to pray for Richard and his family, as Richard starts treatment for brain cancer.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Father, we call to mind all those we have known and loved who lived among us and now have died. We pray for all who have made that journey unnoticed and alone. We ask that they may all know your mercy and the everlasting peace and joy of heaven.
From our anniversaries book at the back of the church we remember Percy Trudgeon.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Andrew, St Clement and St Allen and all your saints, we commend ourselves and all Christian people to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen
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
Unburdened Giving
A gentle hand, a whispered word,
A kindness shown, unheard, unstarred.
No expectation, no reward,
Just giving freely, unburdened, unfurled.
The sunbeam’s touch, the bird’s sweet song,
A moment shared, where we belong.
To give without a reason strong,
And let the joy within, prolong.
The Peace
‘Where two or three are gathered together in my name,’ says the Lord, ‘there am I in the midst of them.’
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Hymn: 86 My song is love unknown (omit verses 4 & 6)
The Blessing
May God’s Word be in your heart.
May God’s Word be on your lips.
May God’s Word be in your touch.
May God’s Word direct your feet.
On this day and all your days to come
May God’s Word be the life you live.
Amen