Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.‘May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.’(Ps. 126:5-6)Hymn: We Plough the Fields and Scatter...1 Timothy 6:6-10The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.Let us now confess our disobedience to him:Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for the day: Creator God, you made the goodness of the land, the riches of the sea and the rhythm of the seasons; as we thank you for the harvest, may we cherish and respect this planet and its peoples, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Matthew 6:25-33‘Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.’ (Matthew 6:28b-29)As we give thanks for God’s good gifts around us, let us join in prayer asking for God’s loving presence to be known to everyone as we live day by day:We pray for St Peter’s Church and the Church throughout the world, that people will be drawn together by God’s love. We pray for the world, for compassion and loving kindness to grow in people’s hearts so that all will flourish. We pray for our friends, families and neighbours as we continue to share God’s love and build relationships.We pray for people who are sick or suffering, that they will know God’s healing presence.We pray for the departed, remembering Jill Morley and all who mourn.Let us pray for the coming of God’s kingdom in the prayer that Jesus 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.Hymn: Come, Ye Thankful People, Come...May the love of our Lord Jesus draw us to himself, the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in his service, the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our hearts: and may the blessing of God Almighty who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon us and remain with us always.Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
I’ve got a dog, a female dog biologically but one who demonstrates stereotypical male behaviour - which sometimes includes hugging people’s legs. She simply does what comes naturally according to who she is and how she’s treated - she has no enculturation, and no gender identity to wrestle with.Some people say that they prefer dogs to human beings, because they’re faithful companions. It’s sad that they’ve been so hurt by other people that they feel that way. We’ve all been let down by someone at some point in our lives. It hurts more when it’s someone we’re close to, someone we love dearly. Loyalty and love are inextricably linked.The themes of loyalty and love are woven throughout the biblical texts. God was disappointed with those who were unfaithful, people who practiced all manner of harmful rites to try to appease or please false gods.God was pleased when the people listened to the guidance he gave them through the prophets, and who flourished as a result. There was a good reason for each of the laws in their time, those who adhered to them would be healthy as a nation. That in turn would please God, and promote God’s good name so that more people would listen. God was loyal, and wanted loyalty in return. It’s good to have love reciprocated.Jesus came to show the way as well as to tell it. He was far more than a prophet. He didn’t speak on his own, he said, but told people what he was given by the Father (John 12).Sadly, many of the practices and strict laws insisted upon by the religious leaders of his time brought God’s name into disrepute as they were oppressive: they were harmful to people rather than helping them to flourish. Jesus upset the Pharisees because he spoke out against them, and so they kept trying to test him, to trap him into saying something they could use against him, as in today’s reading. Once again Jesus foiled them as he knew the scriptures better than they did.Adultery has been considered throughout history to be a serious matter for all kinds of reasons, not least the health and welfare of those practicing it. It’s damaging to relationships when people are disloyal, it destroys trust. Jesus said that even considering it was harmful (Matthew 5:28). He gave the Pharisees a lesson by reminding them of the importance of faithfulness - to God as well as to each other. The next lesson was for his disciples, who tried to prevent people from bringing their children to Jesus. It’s sad that some modern-day atheists do the same thing. Children have a sense of innocent awe and wonder which we often lose as we grow up. Little ones simply do what comes naturally, according to who they are and how they’re treated. To keep them from knowing about Jesus is to deny children the joy of embracing God while it’s easier for them to do so. To be loyal to God is to share the love of Christ with our families, friends and all around us, whoever they are - to try our best not to let people down. Perhaps some will learn to trust others again, and begin to build relationships with fellow human beings as well as with their dogs, and to flourish. This in turn will promote God’s good name, by reflecting God’s love and loyalty into the world for all to see. Amen.Julie Rubidge, Lay Minister
Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ‘O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.’ (Psalm 8:1)Hymn: O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder...Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12The gospel calls us to turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ. As we offer ourselves to him in penitence and faith, we renew our confidence and trust in his mercy. Let us confess our sins: Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen. May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer for the day: God, our judge and saviour, teach us to be open to your truth and to trust in your love, that we may live each day with confidence in the salvation which is giventhrough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Mark 10: 2-16Please see the message from the minister.Let us pray: We pray for St Peter’s Church and the Church throughout the world: for the strength and courage to share God’s love; We pray for the world: for reconciliation where there is conflict, for justice and peace; We pray for our communities, families and friends: for relationships to flourish; We pray for all who are sick or suffering: for healing in mind, body and spirit; We pray for people who have been bereaved: for comfort in their grief. Let us pray the prayer that Jesus 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. Hymn: At the name of Jesus...May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself, the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in his service, the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our hearts, and may the blessing of God Almighty who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon us and and be with us always. Amen. Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
How to be Church…‘Church’ is so many different things to so many different people.. To some it is a building, a place we gather to pray and worship, a place for activities and social events. To me, above everything else, it is ‘the people of God’. We see ourselves as ‘Disciples of Jesus’, loved and empowered to share God’s love with the world, but a particular church has no monopoly on goodness. One church community has no corner on the ministry of healing and liberation. In the Gospels, Jesus continually urges the 12 disciples not to draw dividing lines between themselves and others, and not to feel threatened by other successful groups and ministers. We see a prime example of this in the story about the disciples’ failure in an exorcism and their reaction towards a minister, not in their group, who then performs a successful exorcism. Professional jealousy reigns supreme!At times, perhaps inevitably, even the people of God need a swift reminder as to how they should be living their lives, individually and communally. We all need to remember that the radical freedom of God’s Spirit is not the property of any individual or group. God rejects any undue ill-will towards people who do not belong to our circle of believers. Jesus challenges us to to examine our view of others as competitors or rivals in the reign of God. As disciples, we need to nurture the gift of graciousness and generosity. We should resist the general human tendency to draw the circle of friendship far too narrowly and to secure our own positions by excluding others.In our Gospel reading today (Mark 9.38-end), Jesus let’s the disciples have it! He uses symbolic, hyperbolic and deliberately scandalous language to challenge the disciples’ denial of the fact that he is about to suffer and die. They cannot grasp the paradox of losing life to gain it. So Jesus uses mystery and awe coupled with arresting metaphors to force the disciples into serious reflection about what Jesus’ life and ministry is all about. Jesus is forcing his followers to broaden their minds and understand what God’s Spirit offers to humanity. Jesus wants the disciples to seriously reflect upon God’s love and what God wants from them.So what is Jesus focusing on?HospitalityTo serve as Christ serves means recognising and caring for those who are the focus of Christ’s care. Hospitality is to be practised freely and minimal requirement. Even a cup of cold water given and received is not unnoticed or unrewarded. Such hospitality is part of Christian servant hood and is done and received ‘in Christ’s name’. Jesus proposes a radical servant hood of all believers. We need to be able to receive ‘charity’ as well as offer it. Some disciples entertained ‘holier-than-thou’ delusions. Jesus insists that it is not important to be recognised by others, but to recognise others. The desire to receive recognition can corrupt our best intentions and blind us to the accomplishments of others. Basically, Jesus is pointing out that the smallest, unrecognised act of kindness is as important as a public recognisable act.Care for the WeakInstead of criticising and judging others outside of their circle, the disciples are invited to engage in a bit of self-criticism. Recognise the good outside, but also look for the bad ‘inside’. Jesus asks the disciples to look at themselves. Is there anything they say or do that is a stumbling block to fellow believers, particularly the weak and young? Anything that prevents community solidarity must be dealt with. Christian solidarity demands concern for the well-being of the ‘Little ones’, the ‘least of these’ who have nobody to advocate on their behalf.Moral earnestnessJesus is serious about sin. However, his teaching is not about self-mutilation but about self-mastery. Nowhere in the Gospels is Jesus’ language more vivid or emphatic. Self- discipline is everything. The disciples are urged to keep their distinctiveness and not adopt the standards and ethos if the world. Salt and fire represent the characteristics of Christian discipleship to preserve, heal, refine and purify.In our Gospel today, Mark insists that the good ‘outside’ should be appreciated and the bad ‘inside’ should be dealt with. In all situations, it is imperative that Jesus’ community works for conflict resolution and the re-establishment of unity and peace. An inclusive and caring community, which is serious about its mission of hospitality, will not have much time for petty games and rivalries.Today, we welcome Christina Rees as our new Curate at St Peter’s. She brings a wealth of ministry experience with her and will continue, along with her husband Chris, to help our church community to focus on what Jesus demands of us all. Inclusivity, care, hospitality - may St Peter’s Church continue to quietly get on with helping to build up the Kingdom of God, may God’s blessing rest upon our sister churches in Sheringham and our collective ministry and may God bless Christina and Chris, and all of us, as we journey on in God’s love.Every blessing,Christian
