Shipley Church Self-ServiceSunday 30th August 2020Thought for the Week – Get thee behind me, SatanWhen Jesus predicted to his disciples that he was to die and afterwards be raised to life, Peter instinctively replied, “Surely not. This will never happen to you, Lord!” But Jesus reproves him for dissuading him from his eventual destiny with the words, “Get thee behind me, Satan” – the very same words with which Jesus responded to Satan when he was originally tempted by him in the desert. (Matthew 4:1-10) The context here is that Jesus recognised Satan to be working through his own followers, (Judas, too, was persuaded to betray Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane). Though Peter loved Jesus and didn’t want to see him die, he was suggesting that he would not be raised from the dead, and thus was unwittingly opposed to the will of God. (Matthew 16:21-27) Devil’s Dyke on the South Downs is described in local folklore as the work of the Devil. He is supposed to have started digging a trench 300ft deep one night to allow the sea to flood the many Christian churches of the Sussex Weald. But he mistook an old lady’s candle and the sound of a cock crowing for the approach of dawn, and fled before he could complete the job. The last shovel of earth he threw over his shoulder fell into the sea, forming the Isle of Wight! The defeat of the Devil’s work was achieved through Jesus’ death.HymnThe Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is her new creation, by water and the word; From heav’n he came and sought her to be his holy bride, With his own blood he bought her, and for her life he died.PrayersWe pray for God’s great mercy to guide us to his will, to make our minds steadfast, and to strengthen us against temptation and shield us against our foes.Note: The Readings set for today can be downloaded from the top right hand corner of this page
Shipley Church Self-ServiceSunday 23rd August 2020Thought for the Week – Peter declares Jesus to be the MessiahIn today’s Gospel reading Jesus asks a question of his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” The crowds that followed him had many answers, but Simon Peter responded by affirming Jesus’ true identity as the Son of God. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, he said. To which Jesus replied, “Peter, on this rock I will build my church”. It is an affecting and very human moment. This passage is one of the most discussed passages of the New Testament. (Matthew 16: 13-20) Some interpret “the rock” to be humanity’s choice in being able to accept and embrace the kingdom of God (the apostolic doctrine itself), as instanced by Peter’s own conviction. The second approach suggests Peter himself is the foundation-stone of the church, to whom Jesus gives his authority to become first among the apostles, and to spread the gospel by developing the early Christian church. To truly believe is to allow the character and the will of God to shine through us. This power was given in a special sense to Peter.Hymn for Today - Take my life, and let it beTake my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord to Thee; Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise.Prayers for TodayWe pray that, as we are all familiar with Jesus telling his disciples he is the way, the truth, and the life, we might live in the knowledge of Him, and believe with certainty that he will lead us along the right path, and be the ultimate fulfilment of our lives here on earth. Note: The Gospel and Readings for today can be downloaded from the top right of this page
Shipley Church Self-ServiceSunday 16th August 2020Thought for the Week – My soul doth magnify the LordThe Magnificat, known also as the “Song of Mary”, has been celebrated in art, music and poetry throughout the centuries. Mary’s song of joy and adoration communicates beautifully her wonder and humble acceptance at being chosen to give birth to the promised Messiah. Can we ourselves approach God with anything like Mary’s acceptance and level of sanctity as the mother of Jesus? Today we celebrate the Feast of St Mary the Virgin in whose name our church is dedicated – our patronal festival. Out of around 16,500 churches in the Church of England, the most common dedications are to St Mary (2,368), All Saints (1,467), and St Peter (1,327). Around the time our church in Shipley was built in 1140 AD, the veneration of saints, particularly the Blessed Virgin Mary, had been a feature of life in the middle ages. It then found expression in the solemn dedication of churches as buildings set apart for Christian worship. People believed their patron saint would intervene with the Almighty on their behalf for their spiritual well-being as well as protection from everyday hazards such as childbirth, travel, hunger, and shelter. St Ambrose once said, “Let Mary’s soul be in us to glorify the Lord; let her spirit be in us that we may rejoice in God our Saviour”. (Luke 1: 39-56)HymnTell out, my soul, the greatness of the LordTell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord: Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice; Tender to me the promise of his word; In God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.PrayersWe pray this wonderful prayer, Mary’s Magnificat, may provide for us and for all who receive God’s word a message of hope. We look for the same purity of heart and humility as was manifested in the Mother of our Lord, our Patron Saint.The Gospel and Readings for today can be downloaded from the top right of this page
Shipley Church Self-ServiceSunday 9th August 2020Thought for the Week – Jesus walking on waterIt was a spectacular and unforgettable event when Jesus walked on the Sea of Galilee to re-join his disciples who had departed ahead of him in a small boat. When he reached them, the storm they had been caught in subsided, and his disciples who had feared for their lives, then worshiped him as the true Son of God. (Matthew 14: 22-33) What are our fears and doubts that need to be calmed, today? When a frightening encounter occurs, people often turn to God, as Peter did and cried “Lord, save me!” Today’s Covid19 pandemic breeds fear, as did the plagues and epidemics of the past – Spanish flu of 1918 that claimed more lives than those killed in the Great War, SARS in 2002, Ebola in 2014, and HIV/Aids in the 1980’s. But amidst the fear and uncertainty, these crises have spawned an outpouring of mass volunteerism and self-sacrifice; often we dread the difficult experiences of life such as illness, the loss of loved ones, financial hardship etc., only to discover that they can bring Jesus closer to us. Today’s Gospel reading is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. A flock of gulls can sit serenely and securely upon the waves, but it is not for us to walk on water. Jesus, though, proved himself to be in command of the elements, and thus revealed himself to us through his disciples who recognised him and responded with a confession of faith in Jesus as God. Hymn for the DayEternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm doth bind the restless wave, Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep; O hear us when we cry to thee For those in peril on the sea.PrayersWe pray, God will calm our fears and be at our side through the nights of doubt and sorrow. If sometimes we are unable to perceive his presence, he may possibly even be walking on water, while quietly choosing what is best for us. Note: The Readings set for today can be downloaded from the top right corner of this page.
