Dear Friends,
"We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable,
and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place,
until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." (2 Peter 1:19)
I am deeply thankful that in these troubling times, God has spoken to us and has given us his great and precious promises. I do hope you are staying warm and well. I’m greatly missing being able to meet together as church and if you’d like to get in touch, I’d love to hear from you and know how you are. This week’s service is below. It has been kindly prepared by Rev. Alan Reynolds and marks the First Sunday of Lent.
First Sunday of Lent – February 21st 2021
......” Make me a clean heart, O God ... and renew a right spirit within me” .. ...Ps. 51
Welcome to this time of worship and reflection as we begin the season of Lent. Your Bible, hymn book and Prayer Book may be useful.
Hymn: Be still for the presence of the Lord
Preparation: Collect for Purity:
Almighty God to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden; cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Summary of the Law. (Matt. 22.38)
The first Commandment is this: “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” The Second is this: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other Commandment greater than these. On these two Commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Scripture Readings
Psalm 51:1-11.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Gospel Reading. Mark 1 vs. 9-15
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven. ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.
Reflection: Theme: We all face – testing – challenges – temptations.
Life is always throwing up challenges. One came along during some lock-down exercise. Due to the then recent heavy rains and snow melt we had taken to walking along dry lanes. That is until we came upon several extensive puddles stretched across the lane. Fortunately the hedgerows had a narrow grassy bank that we could edge along avoiding the build up of water. Feeling pleased at surviving the challenge, we turned a bend to find something more like a canal – some 100 metres long, with water right up to the hedges. What to do? Wade through? Turn back (adding time and distance)?
Life in general often rises up to set some tricky problems. Practical problems are one thing, but what about those situations that test us morally and spiritually? These kind of problems are linked to what we believe, about life, about others, about God. They test our integrity as a person and the quality of our responses to life each day. Other people are always involved some way in what we do. As the Dean of St. Paul’s, John Donne wrote some 400 years ago in his now famous phrase, “no man is an island, entire unto himself.” It means we cannot turn our backs on life or others. We are involved. We are dependent upon them, and our attitudes and actions always affect others and perhaps one day we shall need those whom we choose to ignore.
Today’s Gospel Reading (Mark 1.9-15) present Jesus at the turning point in his life. He faces his great testing moment. First to commit to public life in the act of Baptism. Then to face the inner challenge this will bring, by being in the Judean wilderness in spiritual reflection and prayer. We note that throughout this time Jesus is being watched over by the Holy Spirit – at the Baptism with blessing and anointing, and then, surprisingly ‘driving’ him into the wastelands. Here, Jesus will do some soul searching that will be the foundation of an earth shaking saving ministry that will follow.
No one can walk into a great work without preparation. For Jesus it involved coming to terms with the huge responsibility resting upon him. How will he set about his new ministry? With other people’s lives involved there can be no mistakes or personal ambition creeping in to spoil everything. Fundamentally it always comes down to being sure why we do something. Who are we serving in doing this? For what do we put our lives on the line?
Its all too easy to paper over the cracks - pretend, even to ourselves, that we always act from the highest motives – at least most of the time. Do we know what our inner psychological, emotional needs are? Rather than examine our inner motives, it is easy to simply go on presenting our caring, helpful and well meaning face to the world.
Mark deals with Temptation time in just one verse. Matthew and Luke give us the familiar 3 fold assault on Jesus by the ‘adversary’/’Satan’. It is presented as a dialogue. Each part comes as a thought that sounds good but when on reflection turns out to be profoundly false.
(i) ‘turn the stones into bread’. Surely God does not want you to die here. You have gifts and power to help yourself and then others. Jesus replies with the well known quote, “man does not live by bread alone ....” (Deut. 8.3.) a reference of God’s provision of manna (sort of bread) in the wilderness for the people during the Exodus. The implication is that God can meet my needs now. And with hindsight, we have communion with God through Jesus in the spiritual food of the bread and wine.
(ii) “Jump off the high temple wall” - demonstrates that God will look after you, and the people will come flocking to you. Jesus replies with, “do not tempt the Lord your God”, (Deut 7.16) God does not work through the false glamour of dubious ‘miracles’ - smacking of the Romans in keeping people happy with ‘bread and circuses’. Again, later we can add that God’s care/love is shown through the Cross and Resurrection.
(iii) “All the Kingdoms – everything could be yours”. I can give you this, just follow and honour my lead. This is a huge lie. It is selling ones soul to the highest bidder for personal gain. Jesus replies with a quote from Deut. 6.13. There is only one who is worthy of such – following and serving – God our Creator. Again we can now add – there is a far greater Kingdom freely available – seek this one and not self glory.
All the testings, temptations, challenges are about revealing our truest integrity in life and actions. It leads to questions, What are our real aims? Who is the real source of our life? Whom do we serve – ourselves and our needs or God and his Kingdom?
It becomes clear that the path to which Jesus calls us - ‘follow me’ - involves at times some deep soul searching. The siren call of our unhealed ‘wants’ within, and the seduction of the world’s ambiguous calls, will always keep us on our toes.
If we are to be spiritually alert:
we shall see that we need to keep on growing. We do not come ready made. We need to ensure that as our heart and soul grow in God’s love, we are re-clothed in “love, joy, peace.....”
we shall need protection. It’s a tough world, with many possible pitfalls. Jesus uses the Scriptures to see a way through. He is not deflected or undermined from the chosen path. We too can have a well stocked biblical mind if we set aside a little regular time.
we shall need companionship. Jesus has the constant life with the Father/Abba. He is not alone. There is the sustaining Spirit who walks with him through the trials. Later he will encourage those who follow his path. “I am with you always.” (Matt. 28,) An abiding Presence.
Lent is given to us as a time of both recalling our particular problems and weaknesses before God, and for discovering more of the treasures available to help in life’s journey. It does no good to be continually beating ourselves over our seemingly endless shortcomings. That would be like the gardener forever digging up the weeds and never quite getting around to planting those beautiful flowers. Far better to use our Lent time (and many do have extra time at present!) to allow ourselves to be ‘hugged’ by the Love that loves us first. Far better to stay ever closer to the One who passed through his testing times, with us in mind. Far better to immerse ourselves in His Life that ever flows into our souls with His hope and joy.
PS. You may remember the challenge we faced on the lane with flood water in front and behind. Well, I carry an old battered map and it indicated a field path we could take. It was very muddy but proved to be more than adequate. We do not have to listen to the voices of hopelessness and gloom.
Apostles Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his Kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Prayer of Intercession
Most holy Lord, be our strength in times of weakness.
We bring to you – all who are struggling in life this day.
all bringing help, healing, hope.
all serving through the churches
all who carry responsibility in these challenging times
all who have gone before us in life’s journey.
Lord in your mercy – Hear our prayer.
Lord’s Prayer
Collect for Lent
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted 40 days in the wilderness and was tempted as we are, yet without sin, give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit : and as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Hymn: Lead us Heavenly Father, Lead Us.
Closing Prayer
Go before us Lord, in all we do, with your gracious favour and guide us with your continual help: that in all our work, begun, continued and ended in you we may praise your holy name. Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, In the name of Christ. Amen.