Please use your imaginations this week. Put yourself in Peter’s sandals.You’ve been called away from a life of fishing by a man who has something about him. As you walk alongside this man extraordinary things happen day by day. You’ve been amazed, and sometimes terrified. He has walked on water and stilled a storm; healed people who were sick in body, mind or spirit; brought a girl back from the dead; given people sight and hearing who had none; and taught the crowds all kinds of things about God in parables, explaining them to you in private.You’ve become close to Jesus in relationship, while being in awe of him. You believe him to be holy, the promised Messiah who would set the people free. As soon as you told him this though, he began to speak about his demise, how he would be tortured and killed. You are disturbed by this.Six days later he calls you, James and John to go with him up a high mountain. You, James and John have become the inner circle of Jesus’s friends, the people he likes to have nearby at his quiet times when he sets himself apart to pray. He trusts you. He loves you. And you love and trust him.You have now climbed the mountain with Jesus, and reached a place of peace where you might rest. But this becomes a profound experience. You are given a momentous vision! Jesus’s face has been changed, and it’s glowing! His clothes are dazzling white! He’s talking to two people who you somehow know to be Moses and Elijah! The three of you are terrified!Without thinking, not knowing what to say, the words come out of your mouth: “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three temporary dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”Where did that come from?Then a bright cloud appears and overshadows you! Then a voice comes from the cloud! “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”Can you feel the fear, the adrenalin that’s running through Peter’s veins? Can you sense the cloud around you, like one of the sea frets we get here in Sheringham? Can you imagine the awesome voice written on your very soul which tells you that this is God’s beloved Son: to listen to Him?Suddenly everything’s back to normal, and you’re on your way back down the mountain. Wow! No two days are the same when you’re with Jesus!Only later when mulling these things over do you see the symbolism of everything Jesus said and did, and of this event. Everything is connected, right back to creation. On the sixth day, God created humankind.Holy people in the scriptures went up mountains to draw near to God, including Moses and Elijah, two key figures embedded in your cultural heritage. They represent the law and the prophets, the foundation of the faith in God you’ve been brought up with.Bright dazzling white clothes are connected with purity according to a Psalm (51:7) which says ,’Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.‘ And with God in a vision of Daniel (7:9) which says, ‘As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire.’Elijah was said to have gone up to heaven in a chariot of fire and horses of fire in a whirlwind. A pillar of fire by night guided Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness, with a pillar of cloud by day. God came to Moses in a dense cloud to speak to him. God called to Moses out of the cloud. The people lived in temporary dwellings - tents or booths, on their way to the promised land.Every year, 5 days after the day of atonement, there’s a week-long feast during which you live in tents or booths, remembering the time when God freed your people from slavery.God created humans who are mortal. We live in the temporary dwellings of our bodies, but with the potential for eternal life. God has constantly been guiding us in the right direction. He used people who gave us the law and prophetic words to save us from ourselves, but it wasn’t enough. Now God is here himself in the form of Jesus to teach us, and to make the ultimate sacrifice to show us the way. Maybe we will listen at last, and follow.Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever (Hebrews 13:8). I wonder whether we can make parallels between Peter’s experience and our lives here today?As we change our way of life and walk along with Jesus day by day, we never know where we will be taken or what might happen. As we spend time with Jesus in prayer, read the scriptures and learn more, we draw ever closer to God, and become ever more ready to serve, knowing that it’s not about us. It’s about our focus on Jesus, who is the way, the truth and the life.Paul reminds us that the ways of the world blind the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God... For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.As we climb the heights of faith, we see the light of Christ shine more and more brightly. We ourselves are transformed.As we come together to worship, after our confession and absolution, we remember the time when our Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed himself for us and freed us from the slavery of the deceptions of this world.We celebrate with the feast of the Eucharist.And we offer ourselves once again in service as we go in peace to love and serve the Lord.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.‘The mighty one, God the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.’ (Psalm 50:1)Hymn: Thou, whose Almighty word... 2 Kings 2:1-12; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6The sun of righteousness has dawned with healing in his wings. Let us come to the light of Christ, confessing our sins in penitence and faith: 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, you know the disorder of our sinful lives: set straight our crooked hearts, and bend our wills to love your goodness and your glory in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Mark 9:2-9Please see the message from the minister.Let us pray:We pray for all in St Peter’s Church as we serve in this parish;We pray for our world, that peace will reign on Earth and all of its creatures will thrive; We pray for our friends, families and neighbours - may we all share the love of Christ; We pray for people who are sick or suffering, that they will know God’s healing presence; We remember the departed, that all who mourn will be comforted.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: A man there lived in Galilee...Father of all, you have given us your Son to be the Saviour of the world. Welcome us as your children into your kingdom, to enjoy your presence forever. 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.
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.‘Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.’ (Psalm 24:9,10)Hymn: Thou, whose Almighty word...Hebrews 2:14-18 The Spirit of the Lord fills the world and knows our every word and deed. Let us then open ourselves to the Lord and confess our sins in penitence and faith: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: Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: make your home among us, and present us pure and holy to your heavenly Father, your God, and our God. Amen.Luke 2:22-40Please see the Message from the Minister.Let us join in prayer, asking for the light of the Lord 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 the love of our Lord, and that in unity Christians everywhere may be starlight beams of his love in the world.We pray for our planet, that lessons will be learned so that the Earth and all of its creatures will thrive, and that all people will work together in peace.We pray for our friends, families and neighbours - that we may all share the love of Christ and build relationships.We pray for people who are sick or suffering, and for those on our hearts and minds today, that they will know our Lord’s healing presence.We pray for the departed, remembering all who mourn.Let us pray for the coming of God’s kingdom in the prayer that Jesus taught Peter and all of 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: Purify my heart, let me be as gold and precious silver...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.
This is the last Sunday of Epiphany (Revelation) as we come to the end of the Christmas Season. It was traditionally the Sunday when the Church blessed its candles for the year ahead, known as Candlemas and celebrated by the lighting of candles.A candle is a simple commodity but even the smallest candle lights up the darkness. Advent candles reminded us that the patriarchs and prophets prepared the way for Jesus, the light of the world. So the Christmas season begins and ends with candles.In our Gospel Reading Luke tells of the Presentation of the baby Jesus and Purification of Mary in the Temple. This was a Jewish requirement of the law 40 days after the birth of a first born male to offer him to God and to give thanks.Just as with the 5 Advent Candles we could think about each of the 5 characters in the story as candles of light as we move forward out of Epiphany.Simeon was righteous and devout and the Holy Spirit was on him. It had been revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah and he had been waiting. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts on this day, held the baby Jesus and spoke the words known as the Nunc Dimittus meaning ‘now you let depart’. He was able to let go of his life, knowing he had seen the Messiah. He expressed thanks and left us his song! Jesus’ father and mother were speechless with surprise at his words.Anna a prophetess, had been waiting around the temple in the dark for 60 years, worshipping, fasting and praying. When nothing made sense, when each day seemed the same. She now sees the light! When we are in the dark and we do not see the light we need faith and trust to know it’s there. Coming up to the Holy Family she gives thanks to God, recognises and prophesies about the child who will bring light to the world.Mary lets go of her baby because the first born belongs to God. To love is to let go to allow the person to be free. At his arrest and crucifixion Mary had to let Jesus go. She pondered things in her heart. Mary had been visited by an angel, the shepherds, the Magi ! Simeon blesses Mary and tells her that a sword will piece her heart.Joseph had to let go of his own perceptions, follow dreams and visions, take on a child who was not his, trusting in God’s revelations of light.Jesus enters the temple as a babe in arms and his spirit brings in the light of revelation. According to the Hebrew covenant, the temple was where God could be found but under the new covenant of Christ our bodies become temples of the Holy Spirit. We too meet with Jesus in our hearts where he dwells if we let him in. He let go of his divinity to share in our humanity to bring light and revelation to our darkness. Jesus brings the new covenant to love God and one another. The Temple was seen as the place where God’s feet are present but now Christ has his feet in us and his hands and mouth too! Our challenge is to let go of our own understanding, to trust in the Lord and encourage one another in our temples. As Quakers put it, to see that of God in everyone.Let us let go of our own perceptions, wills and desires and take the mystery of the Christmas story with its visions, dreams, angels and stars with us into the year, as we leave Christmas behind. If we meet with and recognise Jesus as Simeon, Anna, Mary and Joseph did, like them we will receive spiritual gifts enabling us to perceive the light that shines in the darkness. Malachi foretold: ‘Suddenly, out of the blue, the Leader you’ve been looking for will enter his Temple, the Messenger of the Covenant, he will be like the strongest lye soap at the laundry, cleansing and purifying’. Angela Stewart (Lay Minister)
