Lent is a period full of symbolism. At its outset, we are reminded of our own mortality on Ash Wednesday. In some churches the crucifixes are covered with veils.The liturgical use of the colour purple calls to mind the purple robe that soldiers placed on Jesus shortly before the crucifixion.And for forty days we take a sacrificial action to recall the 40 days spent by Jesus in the desert. Although, if we’re looking at the 40 days specified in the Bible, then we’re probably not talking about a precise period of time.It’s unlikely that the writers of the Gospels ever intended us to take this number quite so literally. A literal view of scripture can often lead you down a wrong path. It is even possible to argue that this reading from Luke contains a warning about literal interpretations of scripture. The devil tries to use a literal view of scripture to convince Jesus that if he throws Himself from the highest tower then the angels will catch him.So, if we’re not taking the 40 days as a literal passage of time, what else can it mean?In Hebrew imagery, the number 40 represents a period of transformation, renewal or change.What we are doing, therefore, in this Gospel story is looking at the nature of Jesus’s testing rather than at its length of time. By using the term ’40 days’, Luke is using Jewish numerical teaching to make a point. We’re given an understanding of how this period spent in prayer represents the great events that will come afterwards.The story of Christ in the desert isn’t the only time that we have the number 40 making an appearance in the Bible.The whole world is subjected to 40 days and nights of torrential rain during the flood in Genesis.The Hebrews in Exodus spend 40 years wandering in the Sinai Peninsula in a time of testing when they had to put their trust in God.Moses and Elijah, those two hugely significant prophets whom the disciples see alongside Jesus at the Transfiguration both spent 40 days fasting in the deserts.Prior to the invasion of Canaan, spies sent by the Israelites spend 40 days in enemy lands.Goliath taunts the Israelite army for 40 days. The whole army is tested and fails the test of courage.Ninevah is given 40 days to repent after it is visited by the prophet Jonah.Deborah helps bring peace to Israel for ’40 years’.According to the book of Kings Solomon reigned for 40 years.The section of the temple before the inner sanctuary was 40 cubits in length.And Jesus spends 40 days with the disciples after the resurrection.When we put this Gospel story into connection with other books of the Bible, we begin to get a much bigger picture. That we are told how Jesus retreats into the wilderness for 40 days tells us about how connected he is to all the scripture that had gone before him. Jesus is, after all, the culmination of God’s promise to all people.Jesus’s time in the wilderness represents his own preparations for the mission he is about to embark on – the salvation of all people who ever were or shall be. According to Luke, Jesus returns from the desert “filled with the power of the Spirit”. In other words, this desert place has been a site of good things.Amen.Rev. Iain GrantAssistant Curate
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.‘He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge’. (Psalm 91:4)Hymn: Father, hear the prayer we offer...Deuteronomy 26: 1-11; Romans 10: 8b-13The Spirit of the Lord fills the world and knows our every word and deed. 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: Heavenly Father, your Son battled with the powers of darkness, and grew closer to you in the desert: help us to use these days to grow in wisdom and prayerthat we may witness to your saving love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Luke 4:1-13Please see the Message from the Minister.Let us join in prayer, asking for the light of the Lord to be known to everyone:We pray for the members of St Peter’s Church, that we will grow in faith and service;We pray for our planet, that all people will thrive and work together in peace;We pray for our friends, families and neighbours - that we may build relationships;We pray for people who are sick or suffering, for God’s healing touch to be known;We pray for the departed, that all who mourn will be comforted.Let us pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.Hymn: Just as I am, without one plea...May Christ’s holy, healing, enabling Spirit be with us and guide us on our way at every change and turn; 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.
We come once again to the season of Lent, remembering the 40 days and nights that Jesus spent in the wilderness, wrestling with his internal demons before beginning his public ministry. He fasted during this time so traditionally Lent has become a time for Christians to fast or give up certain foods. This is a spiritual discipline but not for everyone.Isaiah says that fasting can be hypocrisy. It is no good fasting if we are not sharing our food with the hungry, providing shelter to the homeless, clothing the naked or turning away from those around us who need us. The Pharisees who were the part of the Sanhedrin, the court of the time, were very concerned with obeying the numerous Jewish laws but lacked compassion, mercy and love. They resented Jesus as they saw him as a threat to their power as he taught and showed love, mercy and forgiveness.In our Gospel Reading the Sanhedrin bring a woman to Jesus at dawn who has been caught in the act of adultery (they have not brought the man!) They were trying to test Jesus, who taught love, mercy and forgiveness. How would he respond to the law that required she be stoned to death? During their exchange Jesus bends down and writes in the sand twice. What does he write? Various theories have been put forward, here are three of them:Jesus wrote the names of the Pharisees, as it says in Jeremiah: 17: ‘Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water.’Jesus mirrored Moses who spent 40 days on Mount Sinai before receiving the 10 Commandments written on tablets by the finger of God (Exodus 31). Jesus came to fulfil the law by bringing new commandments to love God who loves us and to love one another. A new covenant.Jesus wrote the word ‘forgiveness’.Jesus asked anyone without sin to throw the first stone and one by one the members of the Sanhedrin walked away. Jesus did not condemn the woman. He would have had great compassion as he knew her heart and her story. However, he did not condone her actions but told her to go and not sin again. She was forgiven and could start afresh.What word could we write in the sand? Can we commit to reflecting, studying and putting into action just one word this Lent? If able, we could go and write it on the beach and symbolically commit it to the sea to take it into the world.Angela Stewart (lay minister)
We keep a few moments of silence as we prepare ourselves to stand before Almighty God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.‘O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.’ (Psalm 51:15)Hymn: Guide me, O Thou Great Redeemer...Isaiah 58:1-12Let us come to the Lord, who is full of compassion, and acknowledge our sins: Father eternal, giver of light and grace, we have sinned against you and against our neighbour, in what we have thought, in what we have said and done: through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We have wounded your love, and marred your image in us. We are sorry and ashamed, and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light. Amen.May Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and keep us in life eternal: through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for the day: Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing that you have made and forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may receive from you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; 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.John 8:1-11Please see the message from the minister.Let us kneel before God in prayer, asking for his cleansing love to be known to all people. We pray for St Peter’s Church, that your will be done, and for our work to be blessed; We pray for our world, that all of its creatures will thrive, and for peace everywhere;We pray for our friends, families and community, that we may share in the love of Christ; We pray for people who are sick or suffering, that they will know healing and strength; We remember the departed, and pray for all who mourn.Let us join in the words of the Lord’s prayer, whoever and wherever we are: 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: Amazing Grace...May Christ give us grace to grow in holiness, to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him. 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.
