ST CLEMENT CHURCH
FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY COMMUNITY SERVICE
Good morning
Today we are thinking about Mary, the mother of our Lord.
I remember being 14 with all its traumas … could I have responded as she did? Sadly, I don’t think so.
Could you?
My love to you all
Liz
Into your presence we come, God of Grace and Peace, who was, and is and ever shall be the eternal One.
Into fellowship we come, bound together in the love that died and rose again for us, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
We say together:
This is your day and we shall praise you!
This is your day and we shall declare your name!
This is your day, and we shall worship a risen Saviour and our King. Amen
Hymn: 161 For Mary, Mother of our Lord
Prayer of Confession
Father God, you are the one who leads us from darkness into light, from captivity into freedom, from anxiety into peace, from despair into joy.
Yet we long to break free, choosing independence, convinced of our own wisdom, forgetting your love and grace.
Forgive us, draw close to us, embrace us once again into your loving arms, and enable us to follow you in worship and grateful service each day of our lives. Amen
The Collect
Almighty God, who looked upon the lowliness of the Blessed Virgin Mary and chose her to be the mother of your only Son: grant that we who are redeemed by his blood may share with her in the glory of her eternal kingdom; 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
Readings:
Isaiah 61. 10 – 11
Galatians 4. 4 - 7
Hymn: 297 Lord Jesus Christ, you have come to us
Gospel: Luke 1. 46 - 55
(Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke Response: ‘Glory to you O Lord.’)
Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.
(This is the Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ)
Reflection
Today, as we did not celebrate the Festival or Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 15th August we are celebrating it today. So, today’s Gospel reading is Mary’s Song known as the Magnificat.
I wonder, has it ever occurred to you just how remarkable these words are?
Mary is about 14 years old; she is unmarried; she has had a visit from the angel Gabriel and now she’s expecting a baby and not just any baby! Think about it – what is the likely response if she tells anyone the circumstances of it all? She knows that she will be subjected to many cruel insinuations which will destroy her character, and that the highest honour that ever fell to a woman would, in the judgement of many, bring upon her the greatest possible dishonour.
We know that suspicions Joseph has and that it is only a revelation from God that removes them.
It is not so very long ago … in our lifetime … that to be unmarried and to have a baby was considered a real disgrace. Babies were often forcibly removed or the mother was made to agree to give the baby up. If you have ever watched ‘Long Lost Family’ you will have learned just how much heartache both the mother and the child often go through.
Even those mothers who kept their babies found they were subjected to severe criticism, contempt and often isolation and the children grew up with a ‘label round their necks.’
Imagine - you’re a peasant girl of about 14 years of age. A strange figure appears to you saying that you have been chosen to bear the Son of God. You are also told that your cousin, Elizabeth, who has never been able to have children and is now too old to have any, is expecting a baby, ‘for nothing will be impossible with God.’ What would your reaction be? Would you say what Mary says? “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be according to your word.”
After her strange visitation Mary sets off immediately for the Judean town up in the hills where Elizabeth lives. When she gets there and greets Elizabeth, Elizabeth’s reaction verifies everything Mary has been told. This is all the confirmation Mary needs. She sees clearly a most remarkable thing about God: He is about the course of all human history; the most important three decades of time are about to begin.
Where is God? He is busy with two obscure, humble women – one old and barren, one young and virginal. Mary is so moved by this vision of God, the lover of the lowly, that she breaks out in a song – a song that has become known as the Magnificat.
In Luke’s account, he stresses the faith of Elizabeth and Mary. The thing that seems to impress him most is their lowliness and cheerful humility. It seems that the only people whose souls can truly magnify the Lord – people like Elizabeth and Mary – are people who acknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the generosity of the magnificent God.
Mary sings about the God who saves not just souls, but embodied people. The God she celebrates is not content merely to point people towards heaven; God’s redemptive work begins here on earth. God fills the hungry not only with hope, but with food. Rather than being satisfied with comforting the lowly, Mary’s Lord lifts them up, granting them dignity and honour, a seat at the table and a voice in the conversation. At the same time, God shows strength by disrupting the world’s power structures, dethroning rulers and humbling the mighty.
Such saving acts are good news for the poor and lowly, but what does Mary’s song mean for the wealthy and the powerful? Is there nothing but judgement for them? Though judgement and salvation may seem like opposites, they go hand in hand. Those who stand in awe only of themselves and their own power will be judged. But, if the wealthy and powerful can only see it, by bringing them down – by emptying and humbling them – God is saving them. When they turn their gaze from themselves and their own accomplishments, when their awe is directed to God – then there is mercy for them, too.
When the arrogant are scattered and the powerful brought down, then every person has access to enough of the world’s resources, and no one has too much. Every person is treated with dignity and respect and no one uses power to harm.
Mary’s song magnifies the Saviour who loves the whole world with a love that makes creation whole. God’s saving judgement is for all of us, bringing us down from the pride that fills us with ourselves until we can’t see God or our neighbour, bringing us up from the shame that distorts our world view and convinces us that no one – not even God – could love us.
The mother of the Messiah has experienced God’s blessing. But, her blessing, like ours, is a cross-shaped blessing that brings true freedom, the priceless gift of God’s salvation.
What a mighty faith Mary had – may we have such a faith.
Amen
Our declaration of faith
Do you believe and trust in God the Father, source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son, who took our human nature, died for us and rose again?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world?
We believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the Church.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen
Hymn: Sing we of the blessed Mother
Our Intercessions
Heavenly Father, mindful of the words of Isaiah to ‘greatly rejoice in the LORD,’ we quietly gather our thoughts and prayers with hope and humbly call on you to help us in our time of need.
Give wisdom and heavenly grace to all those who serve your Church in this diocese, this country and across the world, that by their service, faith may abound and your kingdom increase.
We especially pray for our own much – loved Reverend Di and Father David.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Father, in our prayers today we remember Mary, the mother of our Lord, who so willingly responded to the words of your messenger. May we, in our own way, answer the call that you put to each one of us, each day.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Creator God, your Son entered creation that all might be made new.
Look in mercy on your broken world and speak to all people that they may hear the message of peace. Guide those who speak out for justice and mercy and face the wrath of undemocratic leaders and governments.
We pray for King Charles, Queen Camilla and the royal family; for our government and the Heads of State in the rest of the world. Sharpen their consciences and give them courage to make wise decisions, making wrongs right and meeting the needs of all who suffer.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we pray for all in Ukraine who just wish to live in their own free, democratic country where with their own culture. We pray for peace in the Middle East and in all other countries and areas where warfare and dangerous turmoil are destroying communities.
We pray for world-wide peace where countries and communities can live in safety without fear of attack from others.
We pray for and end to violent reactions to situations with which people do not agree; for an end to knife crime, bullying and not feeling or being safe out in the street or inside one’s own home.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord God, we thank you for the gifts you have given us – individually and collectively. Help us to use them to further your Kingdom here on earth.
Eyes to see and perceive; ears to hear and listen; hands to work and create; minds to think and to innovate; memories to remember and learn from; hearts to love and to worship.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we confess that we have not always followed your Words. There have been moments when we chose other options; we chose to join in gossip and not speak out on behalf of the misunderstood.
We chose to take sides with the strong because we feared the consequences of being found alongside the weak.
We fired back a text in anger; we hit ‘send’ on an email in the heat of the moment; we spoke a harsh word of judgement and we regret the fact that what has been said cannot be taken back. We allowed pride to get the better of us.
We ask your forgiveness and mercy, Lord.
We thank you that you do not treat us as our sins deserve and your love and your Word permit a new start.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord God, we pray for our community: for teachers, lecturers, their pupils and students as they begin a new year of education and study; for healthcare and social workers in their mission to improve the wellbeing of those who are sick and in poor circumstances; for those in the armed forces as they prepare for their next challenges in an ever-increasing dangerous world; for volunteers, carers and those who undertake work for which they are not paid; for the church today and in the coming weeks as we discern your will and continue to work towards a closer working relationship with St Allen.
Lord, guide and inspire our community in all we do, this week and in the weeks to come.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Loving God, we bring before you all those who need our prayers today; those who are suffering in body, mind or spirit; those who are lonely or afraid; those for whom there is darkness with no glimmer of light. May your loving kindness enfold them and give them courage to face whatever may be ahead.
We especially bring before you: Ken and Reverend Di, Sabie, May, Susan, Daphne and David, Dot, Pam and David, Mary, Michael and Patricia, Alison and Rob, Jeremy, Anita and Stephen, Callum and Elaine, Barbara, Roger and Helen, Lorrie, Jeanette and David, Kate, Katharine, Margaret, Sue and Martin, those known to each of us and those who have no one to pray for them.
Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer
Lord, we pray for those kept fresh in our memory and for those long forgotten; for all who shared our homes, our places of work and our church life; for all who shaped our lives.
We pray for the recently departed asking that they may all find rest in your Heavenly Kingdom as we commend them to your safe keeping for ever.
We remember those whose year’s mind occurs at this time: Bill Wyatt, Lesley Clemens, Father Keith Elvin, Cecily Drew and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 11.
Lord in your mercy: hear our prayer
Almighty God, as we move into another week, deliver our eyes from tears, our feet from stumbling and walk with us on our journey of faith as we try to follow in the steps of your Beloved Son.
Rejoicing in the fellowship of St Clement, St Andrew, St Allen and all the saints.
Merciful Father: accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
We say together:
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
The Peace
Jesus says to his disciples, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your hearts be troubled or afraid.’
The peace of the Lord be always with us.
Hymn: 186 Tell out my soul
The Blessing
May the grace of God uphold us,
the peace of God surround us,
the love of God flow from us and the strength of God protect
and bring us safely through this day.
Amen