Our Gospel reading is taken from Matthew, Chapter 10 verses 24-39. In these verses we are left in no doubt what it means to be a disciple, or follower, of Christ. The call to follow Jesus is a call to share his suffering, the suffering that comes our way as a result of serving the mission of Christ.Jesus clearly states, ‘whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me’. Jesus suffered on the cross and in doing so took on our supposed crosses, our problems and burdens, as his own. Jesus’ cross is unique, borne not on his own account but for ‘us’ and for ‘the whole world’. We are but followers of the one Lord Jesus who poured out his life for us.The suffering Jesus speaks of is the suffering that comes as the by-product of living intentionally as his disciple. That may be the ridicule or rejection we face when speaking about our faith in the High Street or Sports Centre, or evening within our own families. We will not be recognised by Jesus as his disciples if we refuse to witness to him in the public square or family home. We are left in no doubt that Jesus must reign above everything else in our lives, above everything else we hold dear.There is also a great challenge laid before us. Jesus, ‘meek and mild’ is a myth. Jesus declares that he hasn’t come to bring peace but a sword. Disciples of Christ are expected to mobilise and follow Jesus into the courts, the debating chambers, political forums and social media channels to expose, ridicule and disarm the coercive, self-serving, idolatrous forces that have free reign across the world. We must expect that when powerful vested interests are challenged, they will abuse, threaten and seek to silence those who call them to account.Finally, the manner of Jesus’ own living and dying presents perhaps the most difficult way in which Jesus’ disciples must suffer. We are expected to emulate the love, life and service we find in Jesus Christ. But love exacts a cost; it can tear our hearts in pieces; it can bring the pain of rejection. But even when we’re rejected, subjected to abuse and hardship, we’re to act to absorb the hostility and not to pass it on, and to call down God’s Spirit so that we can be forgiving and help to break the downward spiral of hate and evil.We are not promised protection from the pain - emotional, physical and intellectual - that comes from following a crucified king. But we are promised freedom from fear. We’re not offered deliverance from pain, but we do believe that dying to self is the necessary cost of coming alive.Given all that is going on in the world today, the cost of discipleship is, and will continue to be, as demanding as ever. But remember, it is nothing compared to the suffering of our Lord Jesus, suffering he gladly bore for you and for me and for the whole world.Every blessing,Christian
Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.Hymn: All my hope on God is founded ...Romans 5:1-8Let us draw near to ask our Father for forgiveness: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.The Lord is good; his steadfast love endures for ever, and his faithfulness to all generations.Prayer for the day: God of truth, help us to keep your law of love and to walk in ways of wisdom, that we may find true life in Jesus Christ your Son. Amen.Matthew 9:35-10:23Jesus said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ Does he mean us?Please see the message from the vicar.Bless the Lord my soul, and bless God’s holy name; bless the Lord my soul, who leads us into life.Let us join in prayer asking for God’s empowering love to impact the Church, the world, our neighbours, families and friends, and all people who are sick or suffering. We pray for the departed, including Rose Farrow and Margaret Goody, and we ask that all who mourn will be comforted. Lord of the Church, hear our prayer, and make us one in heart and mind to serve you with joy forever. Amen.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: Have faith in God, my heart, trust and be unafraid ...May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
On Monday, many shops and retail outlets will re-open as part of the Government’s exit from lockdown. Indeed, the Government formally announced on Friday evening that churches could also re-open for ‘individual private prayer’ the next morning. Roughly 15 hours notice was certainly not enough for most churches to complete the required risk assessments, re-organise their buildings, purchase recommended PPE and sanitiser whilst also achieving wider compliance with ‘COVID secure’ public health and government regulations, as well as their own liability insurance.Some Church leaders and Churchwardens may be feeling ‘harassed and helpless’ as wide-ranging announcements affecting their communities and buildings are being made. Zoos have been told they can re-open from Monday. Despite feelings of happiness and relief at the news, the vast majority say they won’t be ready until July and wished they’d been given more notice of what was going to be announced.Church communities, such as St Peter’s, will seek to allow access to buildings for individuals to come and say their private prayers as soon as is practical, feasible and above all else, safe. We will make public announcements with further details in due course.In the time it takes our church communities to prepare for a restricted re-opening of buildings, please keep us all in your prayers. Please keep all faith communities in your prayers and all World-faith leaders, as we all seek to support the people entrusted to our care. Let us help each other to remember that nobody should feel ‘harassed and helpless’ when surrounded by God’s love, as we follow the example of Jesus’ leadership and as we embrace the power of the Holy Spirit.Remember that although many people love church buildings, they are buildings! Symbols of God’s love in the local community; places of gathering for significant events and worship; prayer-soaked walls that provide hope and comfort; but buildings nevertheless.The truth is that you, the people, God’s people, are the Church of God. You have been praying in many different and difficult places during lockdown and God heard every prayer. Keep praying for each other, for your neighbours, for those in need, for those who have suffered and lost their lives because of Coronavirus.Soon, we look forward to welcoming you, the Church, back to our building. Rest in the love of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and be assured of my prayers as we move forward, safely and prayerfully, together.Every blessing, Christian
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.Hymn: O Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness...2 Corinthians 13:11-13As sisters and brothers in God’s family, we come to ask our Father for forgiveness: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: Holy God, faithful and unchanging: enlarge our minds with the knowledge of your truth, and draw us more deeply into the mystery of your love, that we may truly worship you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.Matthew 28:16-20Please see the message from the vicar.One of the symbols used for the Trinity is a triangle in a circle, to represent the one God we worship as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.Let us include the movement for equality as we join in prayer asking for God’s empowering love to impact the Church, the world, our neighbours, families and friends, and all people who are sick or suffering. We pray for the departed, including Rosina Farrow, and remembering George Floyd, and we ask that all who mourn will be comforted. Lord of the Church, hear our prayer, and make us one in heart and mind to serve you wth joy forever. Amen.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: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! ...May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.Jesus said, ‘Receive the Spirit: as the Father sent me, so I send you.’ Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
