ST JAMES CHURCH

Sunday Bulletin

Fourth Sunday After Epiphany – 29 January 2012

Such teaching

As the school term and academic year are about to start the Gospel reading today becomes quite appropriate.  Twice in the reading there is reference to authority.  There is also reference to the scribes.  The scribes were teachers of the law but as time had gone on they had missed the mark in their interpretations, and had not had the kingdom of God as their central focus in their deliberations and communications.  Into this steps Jesus who seems to all present to have some different kind of teaching.  He seemed to know what he was talking about and could command the respect of the audience, whoever they may have been.  The whole passage, however, is really about healing the man with an unclean spirit and this occurs early in Mark’s gospel.  The healing takes place and Jesus orders the unclean spirit to come out of the man.  When this has happened those there were amazed at the ability of Jesus to handle the spirit, as well as his ability to do this in a teaching context.  The passage again refers to the exceptional authority of Jesus’ teaching.

What has happened is that Jesus has astounded all in the synagogue with his teaching, but this does not stop at the academic level.  It is not a hypothetical and abstract teaching for he immediately puts it into practical application.  His words become action and he demonstrates his teaching with a dramatic and public healing.  What has been taught has been put into practice.  The way it has been taught is with personal integrity and authority.  From that time many became followers because he was a good teacher.  Jesus cared for people and he was able to demonstrate this through his actions as well as in his teaching.  There is a message here for all teachers and learners as the new academic year commences.       Fr Clive

Sentence

Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.          Matthew 9.35

Prayer of the day

God of compassion, you have shown us in Christ that your love is never ending: enable us both to love you with all our heart and to love one another as Christ loved us. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading:  Deuteronomy 18:15-20

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. This is what you requested of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: ‘If I hear the voice of the Lord my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.’ Then the Lord replied to me: ‘They are right in what they have said. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak – that prophet shall die.’

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 111

1 O praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord with my whole heart:

in the company of the upright and among the congregation.

2 The works of the Lord are great:

and studied by all who take delight in them.

3 His deeds are majestic and glorious:

and his righteousness stands for ever.

4 His marvellous acts have won him

a name to be remembered:

the Lord is gracious and merciful.

5 He gives food to those that fear him:

he remembers his covenant for ever.

6 He showed his people the power of his acts:

in giving them the heritage of the heathen.

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just:

and all his commandments are sure;

8 They stand firm for ever and ever:

they are done in faithfulness and in truth.

9 He sent redemption to his people,

he ordained his covenant for ever:

holy is his name and worthy to be feared.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and of good understanding are those that keep his commandments:

his praise shall endure for ever.

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that ‘all of us possess knowledge.’ Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him.

Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that ‘no idol in the world really exists’, and that ‘there is no God but one. ’Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth – as in fact there are many gods and many lords – yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled . ‘Food will not bring us close to God.’ We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling-block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark 1:21-28.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching – with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

This is the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ST JAMES CHURCH

Sunday Bulletin

Third Sunday After Epiphany – 22 January 2012

Successful discipleship

Jesus didn’t waste any time in selecting helpers.  His team of disciples quickly grew as he called a group of people of contrasting personalities, occupations and skills.  In this case they were to work together over an extended period.  They needed to be easily moulded into a responsive and supportive group who could assist Jesus in his task of spreading the word, and carrying out his ministry of preaching, healing and healing.  It has been said of fishermen at the time that they were well suited to the job as they had to solve many problems and to be ever ready for change and innovation in order to be successful and keep their businesses going.  They also had ready access to networks and resources that would be of practical help as they followed Jesus throughout the countryside.

The disciples, while Jesus was present, were generally an effective support group.  After the resurrection there was a little bit of confusion, but after the gifting of the Holy Spirit, and they had time to process the events of the resurrection, they were successful in spreading Jesus’ message throughout the known world.  In fact Christianity spread quickly throughout the powerful and large Roman Empire.  When a group or individual is successful we can look back in history and say how well they did.  Another example of success comes from the reluctant Jonah.  He did not want to go to Nineveh, but God made that happen.  He did not want to do the task, and when he had done it he was surprised by its success.  He actually wanted to fail and to have the Ninevites destroyed, but this is a story of God’s grace and redemption.  By God’s grace the Ninevites were saved, and by God’s grace discipleship is successful.  Let’s thank God for his wondrous works achieved through the works of ordinary people.

Fr Clive

 
Sentence

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel.           Mark 1.15

Prayer of the day

Bountiful God, through your Son you have called us to repent of our sin, to believe the good news, and to celebrate the coming of your kingdom: teach us, like Christ’s first apostles, to hear the call to discipleship, and, forsaking old ways, to proclaim the gospel of new life to a broken world; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Reading:  Jonah 3:1-10

The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, ‘Get up, go to Nineveh,   that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, ‘Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!’ And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: ‘By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.’

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 62:5-12

5 Nevertheless, my soul, wait in silence for God:

for from him comes my hope.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation:

my strong tower, so that I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my deliverance and my glory:

God is my strong rock and my shelter.

8 Trust in him at all times, O my people:

pour out your hearts before him, for God is our refuge.

9 The children of Adam are but breath,

the children of earth are a lie:

place them in the scales and they fly upward,

they are as light as air.

10 Put no trust in extortion,

do not grow worthless by robbery:

if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

11 God has spoken once, twice have I heard him say:

that power belongs to God,

12 That to the Lord belongs a constant goodness:

for you reward each one of us according to our works.

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 7:29-31

I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

         For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark 1:14-20.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

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.’

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake – for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fish for people.’ And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

This is the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ST JAMES CHURCH

Sunday Bulletin

Second Sunday After Epiphany – 15 January 2012

Come and see

Come and see.  ‘Come and see’ is the excited and expectant call of Philip as he encourages Nathaniel to come and meet Jesus, the Messiah, the one about whom Moses in the law and the prophets wrote. Surely this was a surprise?  It certainly was for Nathaniel who speaks the memorable line: “Can anything good come out of Nazareth”.  Certainly we have a sceptic here.   But it was through Philip’s encouragement that Nathaniel did come, he did see, and not only this but Jesus offered him even greater revelation.  The thing about all this is that it was Nathaniel the individual who had to have the real experience of encountering Jesus before there was the personal conversion to absolute belief.  That is, belief in the person of Jesus, who he was, and what he stood for.  There is a parallel in the first reading where Samuel hears the call but does not at first understand that it is God calling.  He needs Eli to be the discerner of the experience, to point Samuel in the right direction, but in the end it is not Eli but Samuel who has the personal encounter of call by God at this time.  Eli probably had a similar experience when he was young so could draw on this experience to mentor the young Samuel.

The message for us is to mentor those who seek the Lord and those who ask questions about their faith.  We can invite those seeking into our fellowship, to worship, to bible studies, to social events, to special services, yet in the end, it is the Holy Spirit that ignites a person’s heart and it is the Holy Spirit who enables a person to have that special encounter with the risen Lord.  We can call ‘come and see’ and hope that the person we call follows.  It is for the person to have their own personal experience and that special encounter can lead to even greater and surprising experiences.

Fr Clive

Sentence

We have found the Messiah: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the king of Israel!

John 1.41, 49

Prayer of the day

Eternal God, whose Son, Jesus Christ, is now exalted as Lord of all, and pours out his gifts upon the Church: grant it that unity which only your Spirit can give, keep us in the bond of peace, and bring all creation to worship before your throne; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Reading:  1 Samuel 3:1-10

Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.

2  At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; ³the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. ⁴Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’^* and he said, ‘Here I am!’ ⁵and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. ⁶The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ ⁷Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. ⁸The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10  Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 139:1-5, 12-18

1 O Lord, you have searched me out and known me:

you know when I sit or when I stand,

you comprehend my thoughts long before.

2 You discern my path and the places where I rest:

you are acquainted with all my ways.

3 For there is not a word on my tongue:

but you, Lord, know it altogether.

4 You have encompassed me behind and before:

and have laid your hand upon me.

5 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me:

so high that I cannot endure it.

12 For you have created my inward parts:

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

13 I will praise you, for you are to be feared:

fearful are your acts, and wonderful your works.

14 You knew my soul,

and my bones were not hidden from you:

when I was formed in secret,

and woven in the depths of the earth.

15 Your eyes saw my limbs when they were yet imperfect:

and in your book were all my members written;

16 Day by day they were fashioned:

and not one was late in growing.

17 How deep are your thoughts to me, O God:

and how great is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them, they are more in number than the sand:

were I to come to the end, I would still be with you.

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 6:12-20

‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but I will not be dominated by anything. ¹³‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’,^* and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. ¹⁴And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. ¹⁵Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! ¹⁶Do you not know that whoever is united to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For it is said, ‘The two shall be one flesh.’ ¹⁷But anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. ¹⁸Shun fornication! Every sin that a person commits is outside the body; but the fornicator sins against the body itself. ¹⁹Or do you not know that your body is a temple^* of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? ²⁰For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body. 

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John 1:43-51.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ ⁴⁴Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ ⁴⁶Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ ⁴⁷When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ ⁴⁸Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ ⁴⁹Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ ⁵⁰Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’ ⁵¹And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you,^* you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ST JAMES CHURCH

Sunday Bulletin

The Baptism of Our Lord – 8 January 2012

Baptism

At the beginning of the year we think of new beginnings.  The sacrament of baptism is also associated with new beginnings. When we are baptised, as a child or as an adult, the sacrament signifies new life now fully lived in Christ; total immersion.  For children, the parents and sponsors agree to bring the child up as a child of Christ and an inheritor of the Kingdom of Heaven.  The water represents the washing away of sin and the past, and signifies new life with a clean fresh start.  When Jesus was baptised he came to John the Baptist and asked to be baptised.  While Jesus did not need to be baptised, he was and this enabled people to see that he had a baptism like other persons.  It also opened the way for the word of God to be heard, affirming that Jesus was indeed the Son of God and that he was living a life pleasing to God.

At the final service at Atwell, the day before the two parishes amalgamated, in the middle of the service all present reaffirmed their baptismal vows.  The text was:

Do you turn to Christ?                                       I do.

Do you repent of your sins?                               I do.       

Do you renounce all that is evil?                       I do.

Will you each, by God’s grace, strive to live as a disciple of Christ, loving God with your whole heart, and your neighbour as yourself, until your life’s end?

 I will, with God’s help. 

  The reason for including this was to remind everyone present that they are constantly living out their baptismal vows wherever they find themselves.  Once we are baptised we have a responsibility to live as disciples of Christ and to accept the cost of whatever that may mean.  This is a constant challenge but also a privilege.

Fr Clive

Sentence

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; and he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.            Acts 10.38

Prayer of the day

Loving God, your Son came to seek the lost, and was baptised with sinners: grant that we, who have been baptised in his name, may reach out in love to those in need with the mercy of Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading:  Genesis 1:1-5

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you powers of heaven:

ascribe to the Lord glory and might.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the honour due to his name:

O worship the Lord in the beauty of his holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters:

the God of glory thunders, the Lord upon the great waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is mighty in operation:

the voice of the Lord is a glorious voice.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar-trees:

the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

6 He makes them skip like a calf:

Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord divides the lightning-flash:

the voice of the Lord whirls the sands of the desert,

the Lord whirls the desert of Kadesh.

8 The voice of the Lord rends the terebinth trees,

and strips bare the forests:

in his temple all cry ‘Glory.’

9 The Lord sits enthroned above the water-flood:

the Lord sits enthroned as a king for ever.

10 The Lord will give strength to his people:

the Lord will give to his people the blessing of peace.

Second Reading:  Acts 19:1-7

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the inland regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?’ They replied, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ Then he said, ‘Into what then were you baptised?’ They answered, ‘Into John’s baptism.’ Paul said, ‘John baptised with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied – altogether there were about twelve of them.

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark 1:4-11.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

  John the baptiser appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptised you with water; but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.

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.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ST JAMES CHURCH

Sunday Bulletin

The Epiphany – 1 January 2012

A New Year’s resolution

At the beginning of the year the joy of the holy birth of Jesus and its associated celebrations still surround us.  This new life tracks well with the idea of a new year, perhaps a fresh start and the promise of, hopefully, better things to come.  At the end of the year we can look back and see what great things God has done in our lives and give thanks for the future, where these blessings can be expected to continue.  Some people of course make New Year’s resolutions at this time with the intent of making changes for the better in their lives.  This is certainly something to be encouraged.  Some people in the corporate world call these targets or action plans.  One business consultancy called them ‘smarter’ action plans, where the word smarter was an acronym for the characteristics of the plan, goal or objective, or even resolution.  Firstly, what it is you want to do must be specific and clear.  Secondly, you must be able to measure it, or determine whether you have reached the goal or not.  Thirdly, it must be appealing and agreeable to you.  If you don’t really want to make the change then you won’t do it.  Also, the goal must be realistic, something you can actually do or achieve.  It is no use trying to achieve what is totally impossible.  You also need a clear time-fame to work in, not just say ‘one day I will do it’.  You need to be able to evaluate your progress and see if the change is doing you, or you faith, any good.  Finally, there needs to be a time for review.  If you are successful, congratulate yourself and celebrate, if you are unsuccessful, then relook at your life and goals, re-evaluate, and start again.

While all this may be good organisational theory and helpful in some ways, I would like to suggest a simple resolution for the New Year.  My suggestion is to be conscious each day of your prayers and to consider the five finger prayer guide that we teach the children.  When you pray daily, include in your prayers praise to God.  Thank God for specific answer to prayer the previous day or for the prayers of others that you now have been answered. Spend some time asking God for forgiveness for those times when you have not lived up to the standards God expects of each of us.  Ask God for the wisdom and strength to face each day as it comes.  Pray for the needs of others, and finally, pray for your own needs.  Try it for a while and see if this is a New Year’s resolution that can be kept for the whole year.    Fr Clive

Sentence

God spoke of old by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.            Hebrews 1.1-2

Prayer of the day

God our Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the name of Jesus to be a sign of our salvation: may every tongue confess that he, who for our sake became obedient to the law, is both Lord and Christ, to your eternal glory; for he now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading:  Isaiah 6:1-6

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. ² For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. ³ Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

⁴  Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried on their nurses’ arms. ⁵ Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice,because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. ⁶ A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

 Psalm  72:1-7, 10-14

1 Give the king your judgement, O God:

and your righteousness to the son of a king,

2 That he may judge your people rightly:

and the poor of the land with equity.

3 Let the mountains be laden with peace

because of his righteousness:

and the hills also with prosperity for his people.

4 May he give justice to the poor among the people:

and rescue the children of the needy,

and crush the oppressor.

5 May he live while the sun endures:

and while the moon gives light, throughout all generations.

6 May he come down like rain upon the new-mown fields:

and as showers that water the earth.

7 In his time shall righteousness flourish:

and abundance of peace, till the moon shall be no more.

10 The kings of Tarshish and of the isles

shall bring tribute:

the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.

11 All kings shall fall down before him:

and all nations do him service.

12 He will deliver the needy when they cry:

and the poor that have no helper.

13 He will pity the helpless and the needy:

and save the lives of the poor.

14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence:

and their blood shall be precious in his sight.

Second Reading:  Ephesians 3:1-12

This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for^* Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles – ²for surely you have already heard of the commission of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, ⁴a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ. ⁵In former generations this mystery^* was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: ⁶that is, the Gentiles have become fellow-heirs, members of the same body, and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

7  Of this gospel I have become a servant according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. ⁸Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹and to make everyone see^* what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in^* God who created all things; ¹⁰so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹²in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him.^*

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Matthew 2:1-12.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men^* from the East came to Jerusalem, ²asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising,^* and have come to pay him homage.’ ³When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah^* was to be born. ⁵They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: ⁶ “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd^* my people Israel.” ’

7  Then Herod secretly called for the wise men^* and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, ‘Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.’ ⁹When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising,^* until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped,^* they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure-chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

This is the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ST JAMES CHURCH

Sunday Bulletin

Christmas Day – 25 December 2011

Infant Holy

Jesus Christ, born in a stable.  Jesus Christ the son of God, Immanuel, God with us.  The angels sang to the shepherds as they quietly watched their flocks during one ordinary night that became a world changing night.  ‘Glory to God in the Highest, and peace to all people on earth’ they sang, the message of the first Christmas.  This message continues to be part of the Christian tradition and story from the very beginning.  Today we sing and remember, and rejoice, with the same words.  We praise God for his coming into the world to save the world.  We join with the angels singing praises to God and we still continue the cry for peace, justice and a more equitable way to share the world’s resources.  We pray that people will treat each other with dignity and respect.  Today we can be positive, and we can celebrate, and we can be optimistic about the future as we join with the angels in praise to God.

Christmas is a time when the Christian religion comes to the fore.  The shopping centres and the offices in which people work as well as the places where we live all show that it is Christmas through the decorations; the cribs, the shepherds, kings and angels the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, as well as the sheep, the donkey and the cattle.  These symbols offer an opportunity for us to begin to tell the story of Jesus and what it means for our lives personally.  Earlier in the year our Archbishop Roger said that we need to take our faith seriously and to promote it in the wider community otherwise another religion will do this very thing.  Let us rejoice in the holy birth and may it be a symbol to the wider community of the hopes and joys that our Christianity provides.

Fr Clive

Sentence

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, full of grace and truth.                John 1.1, 14

Prayer of the day

God Most High, whose eternal Word chose a dwelling among us, that we might live in your presence: grant us a spirit of wisdom to know how rich is the glory you have given us, and how great is the hope to which we are called in the Word made flesh; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

Filed under: pew sheet ]]> http://transfig.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/bulletin-25th-december-2011/feed/ 0 renaepearse http://transfig.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/bulletin-18th-december-2011/ http://transfig.wordpress.com/2011/12/17/bulletin-18th-december-2011/#comments Sat, 17 Dec 2011 09:26:24 +0000 renaepearse http://transfig.wordpress.com/?p=1316 ]]> ANGLICAN PARISH OF LAKELANDS

ST JAMES CHURCH

Sunday Bulletin

Fourth Sunday of Advent – 18 December 2011

Mary, mother of Jesus

  Mary had a choice; to accept the message delivered by the angel or to ignore, question and reject it.  To her credit, and our thankfulness, she accepted the message, in her words: ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your word’.  Here in this reply we see her obedience to God’s will, even though initially she was very perplexed and afraid.  Mary was obedient and realised the awesomeness of the situation in the realisation that she was favoured by God.  She is a wonderful example of turning her whole self over to God and accepting his will, even when there would be considerable personal cost.  I am sure that as events in the life of Jesus unfolded, she would have remembered the angel Gabriel’s visitation and his assurance to her to not be afraid for God is with her.

  When I look at Mary’s agreeing to follow what God had planned for her I see a mature wisdom, a wisdom that God knows best, and that it is best to go with it rather than to fight against it or to resist.  In the ‘Wisdom of Solomon’ (Ch 7, vv 22-23) there is a wonderful description of the nature of wisdom: There is in her a spirit that is intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, mobile, clear, unpolluted, distinct, invulnerable, loving the good, keen, irresistible, beneficent, humane, steadfast, sure, free from anxiety, all-powerful, overseeing all, and penetrating through all spirits that are intelligent, pure, and altogether subtle. And so we pray:  Thank you God for Mary, the mother of our Lord.  We praise you that in your wisdom you chose to transform history, to put down the proud, to lift up the oppressed and to redeem Israel through this young woman.  We thank you for her willingness to be used for your purposes in the salvation of the world.  Teach us to follow her example, in the name of Jesus the Christ, Emmanuel, God with us.  Amen.                                    Fr Clive

Sentence

This child will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

Luke 1.32-33

Prayer of the day

Gracious God, whose eternal Word took flesh among us when Mary placed her life at the service of your will: prepare our hearts for his coming again and keep us steadfast in hope, that we may be ready for the coming of his kingdom; for his sake, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, the king said to the prophet Nathan, ‘See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.’ Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.’

But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house of cedar?’ Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.

Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before me; your throne shall be established for ever.

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-27

1 Lord, I will sing for ever of your loving-kindnesses:

my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness

throughout all generations.

2 I have said of your loving-kindness that it is built for ever:

you have established your faithfulness in the heavens.

3 The Lord said ‘I have made a covenant with my chosen:

I have sworn an oath to my servant David.

4 ‘I will establish your line for ever:

and build up your throne for all generations.’

19 You spoke once in a vision:

and said to your faithful one,

20 ‘I have set a youth above a warrior:

I have exalted a young man out of the people.

21 ‘I have found my servant David:

and anointed him with my holy oil.

22 ‘My hand shall uphold him:

and my arm shall strengthen him.

23 ‘No enemy shall deceive him:

nor shall the wicked hurt him.

24 ‘I will crush his adversaries before him:

and strike down those that hate him.

25 ‘My faithfulness and loving-kindness shall be with him:

and through my name his head shall be lifted high.

26 ‘I will set the hand of his dominion upon the Western Sea:

and his right hand shall stretch to the streams of Mesopotamia.

27 ‘He will call to me “You are my Father:

my God, and the Rock of my salvation.”

Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27

Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith – to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom^* be the glory for ever! Amen.

For the word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke 1:26-38.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’ But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

This is the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ST JAMES CHURCH

Sunday Bulletin

Third Sunday of Advent – 11 December 2011

The coming Servant

There is some wonderful poetry and beauty in the book of Isaiah.  It seems to transcend time and has become inspirational both for the people to whom it was written, and to us, as we look back over history and see God’s work in redeeming Israel and our world.  We can see the relationship between the suffering servant and Jesus, and we can see the relationship between the coming servant and Jesus, as described in today’s reading.  “The spirit of the Lord is upon me, he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to release the prisoners,” is precisely the quote that Jesus first uses to describe the exact nature of his ministry.  In each case, as Richard Rohr points out, his work is moving outside of polite and proper limits and boundaries to reunite things that have been marginalised or excluded by society: the poor, the imprisoned, the blind, the downtrodden.  His ministry is not to gather the so-called good into a private country club but to reach out to those on the edge and on the bottom, those who are ‘last’ to tell them they are, in fact, ‘first!’  That is almost the very job description of the Holy Spirit, and therefore Jesus.

While we may be preparing for a rich and joyous Christmas there are many, like the groups of people Isaiah and Jesus mention, who may find this Christmas hard to take, who may not have enough to eat or who are threatened by further hurt, violence and marginalisation. We pray that unjust structures and prejudices may be broken down so that all may experience the joy of the Christmas celebration.  May we help where we can to spread a more inclusive and sharing message to others about the true meaning of Christmas.

Fr Clive

Sentence

Bind up the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, the day of vengeance of our God.                  Isaiah 61.1-2

Prayer of the day

Eternal God, you sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of your Son: grant us wisdom to see your purpose and openness to hear your will, that we too may prepare the way for Christ who is coming in power and glory to establish his rule of peace and justice; through Jesus Christ our Judge and our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion – to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. ⁴ They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.

For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing;^* I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.⁹ Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. ¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ¹¹ For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 126

1 When the Lord turned again the fortunes of Zion:

then were we like those restored to life.

2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter:

and our tongue with singing.

3 Then said they among the heathen:

‘The Lord has done great things for them.’

4 Truly the Lord has done great things for us:

and therefore we rejoiced.

5 Turn again our fortunes, O Lord:

as the streams return to the dry south.

6 Those who sow in tears:

shall reap with songs of joy.

7 They that go out weeping, bearing the seed:

shall come again in gladness,

bringing their sheaves with them.

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters,to respect those who labour among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint-hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

Beloved, pray for us.

Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

For the word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John 1:6-8, 19-28.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light.

This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, ‘I am not the Messiah.’ And they asked him, ‘What then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ Then they said to him, ‘Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?’ He said, ‘I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Make straight the way of the Lord” ’, as the prophet Isaiah said.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. They asked him, ‘Why then are you baptising if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?’ John answered them, ‘I baptise with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.’ This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptising.

This is the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ST JAMES CHURCH

Sunday Bulletin

Second Sunday of Advent – 4 December 2011

Harmony and dissonance

  It can be a source of tension to be a Christian in the twenty-first century.  On the one hand there is the sense of great triumph and personal achievement through discovering the love of God, the grace of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit and living in that peace which passes all understanding.  There is the certainty and the comfort gained through our prayer, meditation and study with the strength it gives us to live each day.  On the other hand, there is the knowledge that we live in an imperfect world, that not all people share our faith, that there is a lot to be done in the world to achieve justice and mercy, a lot to be done in the world to ease human suffering and to address human need.  Here is the tension and the challenge: how can we do our part in bringing about the Kingdom of God?  There is a tension in the harmony that we desire and the dissonance of the world that needs to hear the message of the Gospel.

This tension has been about for some time.  We encounter two contrasting voices in the readings today.  Out of the wilderness are two voices crying, the first calls; ‘comfort, O comfort my people’ as says Isaiah, the second is the voice of John the Baptist shouting ‘prepare the way of the Lord’.  The prophets of old warned the people to repent, to turn back to God.  They warned that unless Israel acted like the people of God they were created to be, God’s protection would not hold.  John the Baptist also calls on the people to repent, and to be ready to meet the Lord.  To reach the point of comfort the word of God needs to be taken seriously.  Here we see the desire to be in that place of harmony, yet if the world is not prepared properly the dissonance will prevail.  So let us pray that we may do what we are called to do to prepare the way of the Lord, and may we have God’s peace and comfort.

Fr Clive

Sentence

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. For the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together.       Luke 3.4; Isaiah 40.5a

Prayer of the day

Merciful God, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

A voice cries out: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.  Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”  A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field.  The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass.  The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.  Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”  See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.  He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep.

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

1 O Lord, you were gracious to your land:

you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2 You forgave the iniquity of your people:

and covered all their sin.

8 I will hear what the Lord God will speak:

for he will speak peace to his people,

to his faithful ones, whose hearts are turned to him.

9 Truly his salvation is near to those that fear him:

and his glory shall dwell in our land.

10 Mercy and truth are met together:

righteousness and peace have kissed each other;

11 Truth shall flourish out of the earth:

and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

12 The Lord will also give us all that is good:

and our land shall yield its plenty.

13 For righteousness shall go before him:

and tread the path before his feet.

Second Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.  The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness,  waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire?  But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.

For the word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark 1:1-8.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ “

John the baptiser appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptised by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.  Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.  He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals.  I have baptised you with water; but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

ST JAMES CHURCH

Sunday Bulletin

First Sunday of Advent – 27 November 2011

Advent

It is quite a funny thing that Advent seems to creep up on us and arrive unexpectantly.  While we are beginning to gear up for the end of the calendar year and prepare for Christmas in the wider community, in the church the new year begins in silence and without fanfare.  It is interesting that one of the Advent themes is the second coming of Christ and we are told that this will be like a thief in the night and certainly at an unexpected time.  The reason for the ‘purple’ times in the church calendar is for a clearing away of what is not important, and a time to prepare spiritually for a celebration.  The heights of jubilation in celebration can be enhanced by a proper and appropriate time of preparation and cleansing.  In the church we celebrate the season of Advent as one of waiting and expectation, and while we are doing this, we can reflect on what is important in our lives.

To be surprised when advent starts and to be surprised that there is not a great deal of publicity and press only is to reinforce one of the main Advent messages; that of being alert or keeping awake. The disciples must watch always and be alert for the signs and the expectation of the second coming.  We are also clearly told that we will not know the time when this is to happen; not even Jesus knew this. This simply reinforces that we must watch, wait, be alert and to continue in hope.  Julian of Norwich had a message very apt for the beginning of Advent: “For by the great deed that our Lord shall do He shall save his word in all things and He shall make well all that is not well – though how it shall be done no creature below Christ knows or shall know until it is done”.  So keep watching and waiting strengthened by Christian hope.

Fr Clive

Sentence

‘Heaven and earth will pass away,’ says the Lord, ‘but my words will not pass away.’

                          Mark 13.31

Prayer of the day

Eternal God, through long generations you prepared a way for the coming of your Son, and by your Spirit you still bring light to illumine our paths: renew us in faith and hope that we may welcome Christ to rule our thoughts and claim our love; to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence -as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil – to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those who wait for him. You meet those who gladly do right, those who remember you in your ways.  But you were angry, and we sinned; because you hid yourself we transgressed. We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.  There is no one who calls on your name, or attempts to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have delivered  us into the hand of our iniquity.  Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.  Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord, and do not remember iniquity for ever. Now consider, we are all your people.

For the word of the Lord:  Thanks be to God.

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

1 Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, you that led Joseph like a flock:

you that are enthroned upon the cherubim,

shine out in glory;

2 Before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh:

stir up your power, and come to save us.

3 Restore us again, O Lord of hosts:

show us the light of your countenance,

and we shall be saved.

4 O Lord God of hosts:

how long will you be angry at your people’s prayer?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears:

and given them tears to drink in good measure.

6 You have made us the victim of our neighbours:

and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

7 Restore us again, O Lord of hosts:

show us the light of your countenance,

and we shall be saved.

17 Let your power rest on the man at your right hand:

on that son of man whom you made so strong for yourself.

18 And so we shall not turn back from you:

give us life, and we will call upon your name.

19 Restore us again, O Lord of hosts:

show us the light of your countenance,

and we shall be saved.

Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 1:1-9

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,

To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind – just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you – so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the word of the Lord: Thanks be to God.

The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark 13:24-37.

Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

‘But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,  and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in clouds” with great power and glory. Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

‘But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake – for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.’

This is the Gospel of the Lord: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.