+ In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Greeting:
Grace, mercy and peace
from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
be with you
and also with you.
Prayer of Preparation:
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.
The Gloria:
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God, the Father. Amen
The Collect – Trinity 9:
Almighty God,
who sent your Holy Spirit
to be the life and light of your Church;
open our heart to the riches of your grace,
that we may bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
in love and joy and peace;
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:
Jeremiah 23: 23-29
23 “Am I only a God nearby,”
declares the LORD,
“and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide in secret places
so that I cannot see them?”
declares the LORD.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
declares the LORD.
25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the LORD. 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
Hebrews: 11:29-12:2
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. 32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Luke 12: 49-56
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” 54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
Homily:
The Letter to the Hebrews continues on from last week when we heard the story of Abraham and Sarah’s life of faith which took them from childlessness to becoming fathers of a great nation and from being nomads to becoming city dwellers. And as our reading goes on: the lives of those who have found faith continues to prosper. There is the miraculous capturing of the town of Jericho where the massive defensive walls just fell down after God told the Israelites to walk round them 7 times. Then there is a list of Prophets Judges and Kings who conquered the whole of the Promised Land and brought a settled life to the people. But then we begin to get into a list of people who were not so fortunate. Those who were imprisoned and tortured for living out God’s call to them and those who lost their lives. The writer to the Hebrews ends by talking of “a great cloud of witnesses” that surrounds us encouraging us to keep on with whatever our individual call may be. That great cloud of witnesses is taken to be the saints who have given us their example in the way they have lived their lives.
So, what are we to deduce from this reading? Well, that following God is never easy. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob went through many personal and national struggles in order to receive the promise. For many of those who came later, they sacrificed their lives in order for something good to be revealed. If we all talked about our life experiences this morning, there would be people who would talk of their earlier life being a struggle and then coming through to a much better time. There will be those who are still struggling to see what it’s all about. Wherever we are, however, what the writer of Hebrews appears to be saying is that if we have chosen to follow Christ, we do so in order for those who come after us to use us as stepping stones to becoming saints in the Kingdom.
Our job, of course these days in the Church is much harder because those we can teach and influence are not here on Sundays. It is not just our children who do not choose to attend church, it is also our grandchildren and we are moving towards the next generation after them. So, I think that we need a two-pronged attack these days. We cannot give up on doing all we can to encourage people into our churches. In this Benefice we are fortunate in that in some of our churches we have people who will do things to help us to function. We have flower arrangers who we can call on to make the churches look beautiful when it is our turn to host a benefice service or when we want to help our brides create their dream atmosphere. We have people who clean on a regular basis. We have people who will help with fund raising. Those people for whatever reason don’t feel comfortable coming to church or have other things they do on Sundays. They are essential, however, for the small numbers we are to continue to provide this witness to our parishes.
The second prong of the attack to is where we are able to witness to people out there who we do not expect to come to church. Jesus didn’t build any churches. When he said to Peter: “On this Rock I will build my church”, the words used are not about buildings. We have building of course, built over many centuries, but church is first and foremost about loving and caring for those God has given us: our families and friends and our parishes. Nearly every week, we pray here for our three schools and Thorp house. They are places we are responsible for as Christians in this Benefice. Our schools ask things of us. In the last little while, I have been to Thompson school to talk about the Bible to a class. I go to Caston school twice a term to take Collective Worship and some of the children have been to church to study Baptism and Marriage. Great Hockham school have asked us for end of term assemblies in church. As we do those things, the children get to know us and maybe one day one of them will return and ask for a wedding service because of what she experienced in school. Aside from that, we never know what effect we have by anything we say and who it is who is listening.
At Thorp House, we have just begun to reinstate a service to which our choir is also invited to take part. Last time, 13 elderly people came. It’s not one of those care home activities where the elderly people get wheeled in whether they want to be there or not. Those people chose to be there and appeared to really enjoy it. The relationship between them and us is deepening all the time. I was asked to take a funeral of one of the residents and another has started attending a church following us being there. We never know what we do or what we say that has an effect on people but sometimes God calls us to speak out about our faith. I’m not talking about standing on a podium as people have at Speakers Corner in London. It’s usually much quieter and simpler than that. Just a word or holding a hand is sometimes all that is required.
Finally, God knows our struggles before we even have to pray about them. God is a God, who numbers every hair on our head whether we have many or fewer. He knows about every sparrow that falls. He wants us to tell him about the things which upset or concern us. Not because he does not know but because he wants us to deepen our relationship with him by just telling him how it is. He wants to help but he wants us to talk to him about it. Then he will give us the strength to continue living this life of faith that the writer of Hebrews describes.
Intercessions:
In the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ,
let us pray to the Father.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
You promised through your Son Jesus Christ
to hear us when we pray in faith.
We pray for the Anglican Communion throughout the world and for Justin and Stephen our Archbishops. We pray for this parish of Griston and for our Benefice, for all who live and work within this area.
Strengthen Graham, Alan and Jane our bishops and all your Church in the service of Christ,
that those who confess your name may be united in your truth,
live together in your love and reveal your glory in the world.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
We pray for our world, particularly areas where there is oppression and persecution, particularly Russia, Ukraine and Afghanistan. For those who are having to leave their homes as a result of harsh governments or natural disasters.
We pray for world leaders and our own government and MPs as they try to balance the return to a healthy economy with the need still to be cautious about the spread of Covid 19. We pray for the election of the new Prime Minister by members of the Conservative Party.
We continue to pray for all those who work in the National Health service and in medical research.
Bless and guide Elizabeth our Queen; give wisdom to all in authority;
and direct this and every nation in the ways of justice and peace;
that we may honour one another and seek the common good.
Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer.
We pray for the roads and streets where we all live, for everyone who lives and works or visits there. We ask You to bless all of our friendships and give peace and health to all those we live amongst.
Give grace to us, our families and friends, and to all our neighbours,
That we may serve Christ in one another, and love as he loves us.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
We pray for all those who are in need at this time. For those who are still suffering as a result of the virus, physically, economically or emotionally. We pray for those whose mental health has deteriorated as a result of lockdowns and not being able to see family. We pray for those who have no one to pray for them and no one to care for them.
Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind or spirit, especially …….
Give them courage and hope in their troubles;
And bring them the joy of your salvation.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.
Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ, particularly Peggy Vincent,
according to your promises,
grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Peter and Paul and all your saints,
we commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father,
Accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen
The Peace:
Peace to you from God our Heavenly Father.
Peace from his Son Jesus Christ who is our peace.
Peace from the Holy Spirit, the life-giver.
The peace of the triune God be always with you
And also with you.
The Lord’s Prayer:
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.
Final Prayer:
Holy Father,
who gathered us here around the table of your Son
to share this meal with the whole household of God;
in that new world where you reveal the fullness of your peace,
gather people of every race and language to share in the eternal banquet of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing:
God the Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side, and guide you in truth and peace …
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you
always. Amen