Sunday 23 May 2021

THE DAY OF PENTECOST

(In Western Christianity, Pentecost was one of the days set aside for Baptism.  It is thought that the term Whit Sunday derives from the custom of the newly-baptised wearing white clothing, and by the white vestments worn
by the clergy on such occasions).

In Jewish culture, Pentecost was a great festival.  The word means 'fiftieth,' as it fell on the fiftieth day after the Passover.  Pentecost was an agricultural festival, and Jerusalem was packed with pilgrims from every part of the ancient world.  As Professor William Barclay points out: "Never was there a more international crowd in Jerusalem than at the time of Pentecost."

We can never say for certain precisely what happened on the Day of Pentecost.  The scene, vividly described in Acts 2: 1-13, is laden with symbolic language and powerful images.  The story suggests, however, that on the Day of Pentecost, the disciples, gathered together in one place, experienced the Spirit of God in a way they had never done before - and in such a profound way that onlookers thought they were drunk!  Whatever happened that day, the experience was a life-changing one.

Many would say that they have felt 'touched,'  'nudged' or 'inspired' by the Holy Spirit in their lives, in an unusual way and in a most unlikely place.  It has been said that it is more likely during worship that the Spirit makes its presence known most strongly.  Such was the experience of David Livingstone, who, feeling touched by the Spirit in a village church at Blantyre, resolved to take the Christian Gospel to the African continent.

It might well be that the disciples had gathered together in Jerusalem for worship.  Whatever the purpose of their coming together, the Spirit of God is a 'transforming' one.  On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples experienced a power so strong that it transformed a band of fearful men into fearless messengers of the Gospel.  Their lives were changed for ever, empowered by the Spirit of God, unseen as the wind, but not unknown in its effect.

In our age, where the Christian faith has flourished in some parts of the world, but rapidly declined in others, and when the Christian Church itself often seems more culture-driven than Christ-centred, the power of the Spirit is needed more than ever to rekindle the faith in the hearts of Jesus's disciples today, and to transform them into effective instruments of the kingdom.

Let it be our prayer that Pentecost will happen again, and keep on happening, thus transforming our lives, as it did the lives of Jesus's companions, and letting God breathe on us, in us, and through us, now and at all times.

"Through the Holy Spirit he has given us,
God's love has flooded our hearts."

Come, Holy Spirit, come,
and fill the hearts of your faithful people,
and kindle in us the fire of your love;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

O Holy Spirit of God,
  Spirit of truth, of light, of love,
by whom Jesus is made known to us
  and through whom the love of God
  is shed abroad in our hearts:
come upon us in the power of Pentecost,
  to renew in us such gifts and graces
  as will glorify God
and equip us for ministry and witness
  in the Church and in the world;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

From:  Frank Colquhoun, Contemporary Parish Prayers,
            London 1975, 66

PRAYERS FOR PENTECOST

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind:
come again in your cleansing power
and purge the world of pandemic and poverty,
of war, waste and want, and set your people 
free to flourish in human dignity and worth....

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind:
come again in your tongues of fire
and rekindle the faith of your people,
that your Church, here and in every place,
may grow in goodness and grace,
to the honour of your name....

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind:
come again in your healing power
and bind up the wounds of the sick,
the suffering, and the sorrowful,
and all for whom this day brings
no joy or radiant hope....

Spirit of God, unseen as the wind:
come again in your strength and might,
and purge our lives of every false spirit
and of everything else that offends you....
And when our day is done, lead us gently
into the joy of your heavenly presence....

All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
   Amen.

THE BLESSING

With unflagging zeal, aglow with the Spirit,
serve the Lord.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.
   Amen.

Sunday 16 May 2021

EASTER 7
THE LORD IS KING
The Sunday after Ascension Day.

The Ascension of Jesus Christ is celebrated on Ascension Day - the sixth Thursday after Easter Day.  In the Bible, this is vividly described by St. Luke (Acts 1: 1-11), and it marks both the end of Easter and the 'resurrection appearances.'  Indeed, the event we know as the Ascension signifies our Lord's departure from his disciples, and his 'ascending' into heaven to the glory of the Father.

By virtue of the Ascension, Jesus is now understood to be seated at the right hand of God.  This image is found in various places in the New Testament, particularly in the writings of St. Paul, and also in The Apostles' Creed, where it is said of Jesus that he "sitteth on the right hand of God, the Father Almighty."

This is picture-language, thought to derive from the custom of eastern kings to have their chief minister - "their right hand man" - standing or sitting to the right of them.  Strictly speaking, the rules of modern etiquette would place the guest of honour at a formal dinner to the right side of the host.  Jesus therefore has the first place, or the place of honour before God.

The Ascension is a profound mystery, and something that words cannot adequately describe.  Therefore, it is best illustrated in the Biblical text by picture-language or images.

One of the lessons of the Ascension is that we now have a friend in heaven, who is our advocate and representative, and who, in God's presence, continues to pray with us and for us.  Though Jesus is now "with honour and glory crowned," and occupies the highest place before God, he has not forgotten or abandoned us.  As Professor William Barclay puts it: "He is still mighty and powerful to help, and in his exalted royalty, he has not forgotten his own."
He is no longer bound by the limits of time and space, and may touch our lives at any time and in any place.

On this Sunday after Ascension Day, let this be a comfort and a blessing.  For though we pass through many dark valleys, whether a pandemic or some other crisis, international, national or personal, we have a precious friend in God's presence, who, as our great high priest, continues to uphold his people and to plead their case.

This is surely something for which to rejoice and give thanks!

"Christ has entered into heaven itself, to
appear now before God on our behalf."

Gracious God, you raised your Son our Saviour Christ to heaven's highest place, that he might reign supreme over all things: we confess that we have failed to live as we ought, under Christ's most just and gentle rule; that we have broken his commandments, disobeyed his word, rejected his truth, ignored his voice, and chosen to follow our own path, rather than the way of life revealed to us in Jesus Christ.  For the sake of your dear Son, eternal God, forgive us, renew us and restore us; and may our lives as well as our lips acknowledge Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, to the glory of your name.
  Amen.

PRAYERS FOR THIS WEEK

May Christ the King
rule the peoples of this world,
that all may live in harmony and peace....
May Christ the King
rule the hearts of those who lead us,
that they may govern wisely and well....
May Christ the King
rule the Church its its mission to mankind,
turning minds towards the Gospel....
May Christ the King
rule in the lives of those in need,
that they may find wholeness and true gain....
May Christ the King
rule our lives at this time of pandemic,
that we may trust only in him....
May Christ the King
rule those working for a better world,
that their efforts may be fulfilled....
This we ask for his name's sake.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May Christ the King make us faithful
and strong to do his will,
and bring us to reign with him in glory.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   
Amen.

Sunday 9 May 2021

EASTER 6
ON BEING CHOSEN

There are some things in life we do not choose: these things are chosen for us.  We may have an occupation we never intended to have, but we were chosen or 'headhunted' for it.  A brilliant singer or instrumentalist may not have performed in London's Royal Albert Hall by choice, but were chosen for this special occasion.  There are certain things in life that are chosen for us.

This is the message of St. John's Gospel (15: 9-17), where Jesus makes it clear that his disciples have not chosen him: he has chosen them.  Similarly, we did not choose God.  It was God who, in his goodness and grace, chose us.  From this passage, we discover that we are chosen for many reasons, and we will consider three of these.

We are chosen for joy.
No matter how hard the Christian life, and no matter how much it involves 'blood, toil, tears and sweat' (Churchill), the Christian way ought to be a joyful one.  There should always be an obvious joy in doing God's work.  A dull, dismal and depressing Christian is a contradiction in terms.  Christians are meant to be people of joy who do God's business cheerfully.  A former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Donald Coggan, puts this point in his little book, The Heart of the Christian Faith, when he states that Christianity is a faith that throbs with joy at its core.  God in Christ has redeemed
us and has renewed humanity - something that should make us cheerful, radiant people.  We are chosen to be joyful.

We are chosen to love.
As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are sent out into the world to be advertisements for our faith.  This means that we are called to love one another, always seeking one another's good through acts of compassion and kindness.  Sometimes we live as if we are called to compete, to quarrel and to cause as much havoc as possible.  During this pandemic, we have been called to rearrange our lives round many rules and regulations that have held us in their grip.  The Christian lives by one rule - the rule of love.  By so doing, we reflect the very nature of God himself.  We are chosen to love our neighbours, which, at its most extreme, means laying down our life for them.  This is what Jesus did.  He fulfilled the command he gave to us.

We are chosen to be friends.
We are chosen to be friends - friends of God, and friends of Jesus Christ.  Jesus says that his disciples are no longer slaves or servants but friends: God's friends, Christ's friends.  This means that we have a close, intimate contact with God never before thought possible.  No longer do we need to gaze at God from a distance, or simply catch a brief glimpse of him, as we might do a monarch passing by on some state occasion.  Through Jesus Christ we are God's friends and his friends, and neither is a stranger any more.

As we come to The Sixth Sunday of Easter, we may remind ourselves that we are people, chosen and precious in God's sight, and called to do God's work cheerfully, to love another earnestly, and to be a faithful friend of Jesus Christ, who is no longer a stranger, but our companion on the way!

Gracious God, as we come to each new day, with its opportunities of pleasing you, remind us of how you have chosen us, and of how we must be people of joy, people who love, and people committed to be your friends; through him who has given us access into your living presence, your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ.   Amen.

PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK

Gracious God, source of all life and love,
we ask your blessing on our world, our nation,
our community, and especially on ourselves,
with so many anxious and fearful of the future,
remembering the people of India, where the virus
has quickly spread, and where so many suffer....
Enfold us and surround us with your presence;
and may your saving power be at work among us
and among your people everywhere;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all all power belongs
in heaven and on earth: send your blessing  on
those elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament,
and in public office in other parts of the country,
that Christ may be the inspiration of their motives
and encourage them to serve honestly and faithfully.
Preserve us as a people from all that demeans us,
and raise us to the righteousness of serving your will;
through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign Lord and Saviour.  
  Amen.

THE BLESSING

The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
make us perfect in every good work to do his will;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 2 May 2021

EASTER 5
ABIDING IN CHRIST

Due to the marvels of modern technology, keeping in touch with people these days should, in theory at least, be much easier than it was in previous generations.  We can now send and receive signals from space, and even from other planets - completely unthinkable to our forebears.  During this pandemic, when face-to-face meetings have not been possible, new means of communication have flourished, especially the use of Zoom or video links, for professional as well as personal purposes.

In St. John's Gospel (15: 1-8 )much is said about 'abiding in Christ.'  This may sound like a reference to some profound mystical experience, open only to the privileged few, when in fact it refers to something that anyone can do, if they set their hearts and minds to it.  At its simplest, 'abiding in Christ' means keeping in touch with the risen Lord and Saviour, referred to in the Biblical passage as 'the true vine.'  Just as branches are unable to bear ripe fruit if they become detached from the vine, the source of their energy and vitality, so Christian disciples are unable to 'bear fruit' if they become detached from Jesus Christ.

When the joy of Easter begins to fade, it is easy to wrap up Jesus once more in the pages of the Bible, and think of him as a figure of history.  To do so is to misunderstand the meaning of the resurrection.  The resurrection affirms that Jesus Christ is not someone who belongs to the past, but is a living and a powerful force in the present.  As such, Christians are called to keep in contact with him - the way, the truth and the life - so that they live or 'abide' in Christ, and he in them.

This might mean a brief prayer in the morning, before the busyness of the day begins.  It might mean a period of silence, on a hillside or at the seashore, in which to listen for the still, small voice in the calm around us.  It could simply mean the quiet reading of a psalm or hymn, or other act of devotion, before the day unfolds.  Indeed, it has been said that "before we do our daily duties, we ought to do our daily devotions."  If we take this seriously, everything that we do in a day becomes an offering of love, as well as of duty.

As we come to The Fifth Sunday of Easter, we may remind ourselves of the need to 'abide in Christ,' so that Christ abides in us; and that by keeping in contact with him, we may bring glory to God, and reveal a Christ-like character to everyone around us.  Only when we keep in contact with Christ, the true vine, can we be effective and attractive disciples.  Let us resolve to do this each day, and experience his love which is new every morning!

Most gracious God, as we recall how your Son, our Saviour Christ, is the true vine, help us by your Spirit to keep in contact with him, so that we may abide in him, and he in us, now and all the days of our life; in whose name we pray.
   Amen.

PRAYERS FOR THIS WEEK

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we, your unworthy servants,
give you most humble and hearty thanks
for all your goodness and loving kindness
to us and to all people.

We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world
by our Lord Jesus Christ;
who died on the Cross
and was raised by your power
to bring salvation to the world....

As we continue to celebrate Eastertide,
may Christ's risen presence come to this world,
to heal its brokenness, to purge it of hate and division,
and to restore its dignity and natural beauty....

As we continue to celebrate Eastertide,
may Christ's risen presence come to your Church,
that all who profess and call themselves Christians
may honour our Saviour with their lives,
as well as with their lips....

As we continue to celebrate Eastertide,
may Christ's risen presence come to our country,
especially at this time of election to the Scottish Parliament,
that his life may be the inspiration of our leaders,
and that he may call us to cast our vote wisely,
in accordance with our civic duty....

As we continue to celebrate Eastertide,
may Christ's risen presence come to those who are sick,
to those who suffer pain or loneliness or grief of heart,
to those who still suffer from this virus (India),
and to those whom we quietly name in our hearts;
that his love may embrace them, his power sustain them,
and his peace possess them, now and always....

O God, the protector of all who trust in you:
we remember, and give thanks
for those gone before us in the faith,
who now see Christ face to face....
May his risen presence bring us,
in the fullness of time,
with your people of every age,
to the joy of your heavenly presence;
where, with you, Father, and the Holy Spirit,
he is alive and reigns, in time and in all eternity.  
  Amen.

THE BLESSING

The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
make you perfect in every good work to do his will;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you, and remain with you always.   Amen.

Sunday 25 April 2021

EASTER 4
FAITH AND RISK

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is commonly called Good Shepherd Sunday.  

One of the loveliest images in the Bible is the picture of God as a 'shepherd.' and in Psalm 23 this image finds its powerful, poetic and popular expression.  'The Lord is my shepherd' is arguably the most loved of the Psalms, with its strong pastoral overtones.  And in the New Testament, in St. John's Gospel (10. 11), Jesus makes the bold claim that he is the 'good shepherd.'  In a rural area like our own, this 'shepherd imagery' is one we may easily identify with.

In St. John's Gospel (21: 15-19), Jesus assigned a special role to Peter, and told him to go and be a shepherd to our Lord's people.  In other words, Peter was appointed to be a great shepherd of Christ's flock, and in the end to die for them.  This must have come as a surprise to the others - for Peter had previously denied his Master three times, though Jesus now gave him a chance to affirm his loyalty three times.  

Throughout the ministry of Jesus, Peter had not always
distinguished himself as a potential shepherd of Christ's
flock.  He often thought, spoke and acted without thinking.  He tended to act on impulse, and earned the rebuke of Jesus on several occasions.  He must have seemed a most unreliable, unpredictable character: one who meant well, but whose life was scarred with personal failures and who didn't always get things right.

For Jesus, the choice of Peter as a 'shepherd' of the 
sheep must have involved risk.  Jesus knew Peter's 
weaknesses, but this did not deter him from choosing
Peter to 'feed the sheep.'  This was a great act of faith on Jesus's part.  

Can we separate risk from faith?  It has been said that 
every act of faith involves an element of risk, and that 
many great Christians of the past and present have, in 
expressing their faith, exposed themselves to enormous
risk in doing so.  Countless Christians have practised their faith, often at great risk to their reputation, to their integrity, and even to their life.  Those persecuted today for their faith inhabit a world of constant risk, and so it might be said that faith and risk cannot easily be separated.

When Jesus appointed the unpredictable Peter to go and be a 'shepherd' to Christ's flock, he inevitably took a great act of faith that involved risk.  His character was hardly one that would make him a natural Christian leader.  Yet Jesus's action transformed the impulsive Peter into an excellent ambassador for the Gospel.

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, it is worth reminding ourselves that faith often means risk-taking, and that  both the Church and the post-pandemic world will need 
the risk-takers to mould it, manage and maintain it.

"O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel
before the Lord our Maker.  For He is our God; and 
we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of 
His hand."

O Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd of your flock:
as we commit our lives to your guidance and protection,
grant that we may not fear the dangers of the way, nor
the dangers of this day, but faithfully follow wherever
you lead, and fulfil our journey in your strength, and
with trustful hearts; for your name's sake.   Amen.

A PRAYER OF CONFESSION

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and
strayed from your ways like lost sheep.  We have followed
too much the devices and desires of our own hearts.  We
have left undone those things which we ought to have done,
and we have done those things which we ought not to have
done, and there is no health in us.
   Have mercy upon us, O Lord.
   Pardon and deliver us from all our sins.
   Confirm and strengthen us in all goodness;
   and bring us to everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

From:   New Every Morning (New Edition),
            London 1982, 106

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Lord God Almighty, whose Son Jesus Christ is the Good
Shepherd of your people:
   may he lead your Church in faith, hope and love;
   may he lead the nations in harmony and peace;
   may he lead this country in the right paths;
   may he lead our community in compassion and care;
   may he lead the weary to lie down in your pastures;
   may he lead the sick, the suffering and the sorrowing
    to the still, quiet waters of healing and calm;
and may he lead us all to your heavenly kingdom,
   where, with your people of every age,
   our dwelling-place shall be;
all for his name's sake.   Amen.

THE BENEDICTION

The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
make us perfect in every good work to do his will;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 18 April 2021

EASTER 3
THE STRANGER ON THE SHORE

First released in 1961, Stranger on the Shore by Acker Bilk, a haunting, clarinet-led melody by the 'master of the clarinet,' was the UK's best selling single in 1962.  The melody evokes in the mind the picture of a magnificent sunset, with someone standing alone on a beach, gazing up at the sheer beauty of it all, and awestruck by the glorious colours lighting up the sky.

In St. John's Gospel (21: 1-14), we have a story about "a stranger on the shore."  After the death and resurrection of Jesus, some of his disciples returned to their previous occupation as fishermen.  One night, while out fishing on a boat on the Sea of Tiberias,  the trip was a complete failure: they caught nothing.  When morning came, however, "a stranger on the shore" told them to cast their net to the right-hand side (starboard) of their vessel, and they would be assured of a large catch.

Though it appears that two of the disciples may have recognised the stranger at this stage, the disciples did as he had told them, and the outcome far exceeded their expectations.  The net was full of fish of all shapes and sizes, and they couldn't haul it in.  Simon Peter had to drag the loaded net from the boat to the shore, no doubt a slow, tedious and exhausting process.

The "stranger on the shore" turned out to be Jesus.  When they came ashore, the disciples saw a charcoal fire, with fish laid on it, and some bread.  While they were having breakfast, they made their great discovery - "they knew it was the Lord."  No longer was the stranger a mystery.  He was none other than the risen Lord in person!

One of the points that John is making in this story is that Jesus often comes to us, disguised as a stranger. His presence isn't always immediately obvious, but just as the risen Christ appeared to his disciples as "the stranger on the shore," so he may well come among us today as the stranger in the street, the stranger in the hospital, the stranger on the bus or train, and even the stranger in the Church!  During this pandemic, we may have been in the company of Christ, who often comes disguised as a stranger, without us realising it.

In our lives, we meet many people whom we regard as "strangers."  They may cross our path in some way, but we may never see them again.  In so doing, we may have encountered the spirit of Jesus without realising it.  We may have been in the presence of Jesus and in the company of Jesus, totally oblivious to the fact that the  "stranger" in our midst could be the risen Lord and Saviour.

In his Gospel, John would have us believe that Jesus often comes to us, disguised as a stranger, just as he appeared to his disciples a third time as "the stranger on the shore."

"By the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
God has given us new birth into a living hope."

O Lord our God, as your dear Son, our Saviour Christ,
came to his disciples at Tiberias, disguised as a stranger
on the seashore, so teach us to see his face in every
stranger we meet; and to absorb their Christ-like virtues
into our hearts and into our lives; for his name's sake.   Amen.

A PRAYER FOR EASTERTIDE

Lord our God, as we celebrate with joy
  the resurrection of Jesus our Saviour,
help us to make the Easter faith
  a deeper reality in our lives;
that we may know something more of the peace
  he bequeathed to his disciples,
and lay hold of the victory
  he won for us over sin and death,
rejoicing in the hope of the life immortal
  which is ours in him,
  our Redeemer and our Lord.   Amen.

From:   Frank Colquhoun, Contemporary Parish Prayers,
            London 1975, 56

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, set your blessing on us
as we begin this day together.
Confirm us in the truth
by which we rightly live;
confront us with the truth
from which we wrongly turn.
We ask not for what we want
but for what you know we need,
as we offer this day and ourselves
for you and to you;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
             Edinburgh 1994, 519

THE BLESSING

The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
make us perfect in every good work to do his will;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Duke of Edinburgh Commemoration

​HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH
10.6.1921 – 9.4.201

At Kirkmichael and Straiton Churches on Sunday, 11th April 2021, the Minister paid the following tribute to the life and work of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, who had passed away peacefully on the previous Friday:

“Our service today, for The Second Sunday of Easter, follows the death of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (Prince Philip) at Windsor Castle on Friday morning. The Duke was the longest-serving royal consort in British history, and earned the affection of generations here, in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth and throughout the world. In seven decades, he made a huge contribution to the Queen’s reign, and was utterly loyal in his duty to support her, while at the same time carving out a career for himself, in his own particular, and sometimes controversial style, in the absence of a formal constitutional role.

The Duke’s contribution to public life was an extremely wide-ranging one, being associated with some 800 organisations and charities. One of the most significant successes must be the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, now active in 130 countries, and bringing millions of young people to realise their potential. He was a passionate environmentalist and one who sought reconciliation among world faiths, long before this gained the prominence that it has today, and in this respect he was much ahead of his time. The Duke was also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy.

Much has been said about the Duke, and more will be said in the days to come. There will be an ongoing reassessment of his contribution to public life, and his legacy will be defined in different ways. As a man who disliked fuss, it suffices us to say with the Archbishop of Canterbury (Justin Welby) that: “He constantly put the interests of others ahead of his own, and, in so doing, provided an outstanding example of Christian service.”

At a much more personal level, we remember in our prayers HM The Queen, her family and friends, and all those who were touched by the Duke’s strong personality; and we pray that his spirit of determination, and devotion to duty will inspire us in the reshaping and rebuilding of a post-pandemic world.

I now close with a lovely verse from The Psalm of Life by the poet Longfellow:

Lives of great men all remind us
we can make ourselves sublime;
and departing, leave behind us
footprints in the sands of time.
​
May he now rest in peace, and in the everlasting arms of Almighty God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AMEN.”

A moment for quiet reflection….


LET US PRAY

This prayer is adapted from a prayer by the Moderator
of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Almighty and ever-living God,
you are forever, from everlasting to everlasting,
and in you alone do we put our trust.
We give thanks for the life and service
of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,
acknowledging his contribution to public life,
and his unfailing support to HM The Queen
during all the years of her reign.
May the Queen and her family find the peace
that comes from knowing you,
and which passes all our understanding;
through him who, by his life and death and resurrection,
offers us hope instead of despair, and life instead of death,
your Son, Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

God grant to the living, grace;
to the departed, rest;
to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth,
and all mankind, peace and concord;
and to us, and all his servants
life everlasting.

And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you, and remain with you always. AMEN.

Sunday 11 April 2021

EASTER 2
THOMAS THE TWIN

If Judas Iscariot will always be remembered as the disciple who betrayed Jesus, Thomas the Twin will always be known as the one who refused to believe that Jesus had been raised from the dead, until Jesus's wounds had been revealed to him.

His story is a well-known one.  Later on that day on which Jesus had been raised, Thomas wasn't with the disciples when they gathered behind locked doors, fearing that the Jewish authorities would now come after them with a vengeance.  His whereabouts are unknown, though it has been suggested that, in his grief over Jesus's death, Thomas wanted to be left alone.  A week later, Thomas was with the disciples when they met again, and when Jesus came and stood among them, giving them his blessing: "Peace be with you!"

At this point, Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds and see the marks of the crucifixion for himself.  We are uncertain as to whether Thomas did exactly as Jesus had directed, but what we do know is that Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" - words of uninhibited adoration, acknowledging the figure now before him as the Jesus he had known.

It may be said in Thomas's defence that he had one outstanding virtue.  He absolutely refused to say that he understood something when clearly he did not.  There is what has been called "an uncompromising honesty" about him, in that Thomas would never suppress his doubts to please the majority, pretending that they did not exist.  He was not the kind of person to accept a story at face value, least of all the sensational claim that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead.  In this respect, we can admire his integrity.

During the pandemic, a mass of information has come to us from a huge variety of sources.  Prior to this health emergency, we were living in an age where all kinds of information bombarded us on a daily basis, and this has continued throughout, and will continue in the post-Covid period.  We are fed so much data on so many subjects that it is difficult to distinguish between truth and theory. We could easily absorb everything we read and hear, without giving thought to its plausibility.  We could suspend sound judgment and accept the whole at face value.

It has been said that Thomas represented "the awkward squad" among the disciples, with his questioning and hesitation to accept what he did not fully understand - the Resurrection being something he felt too good to be true.  Nevertheless, there was "an uncompromising honesty" about Thomas which must be appreciated and admired.  In an age of so much information and misinformation, we ought to see Thomas as one who inspires us not to glibly accept what has not been thought out, but to reach our conclusions only after rigorous scrutiny.

It is often through such scrutiny that doubts are transformed into certainties.

A PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK

Most gracious God, in this world of so much information,
give us grace to discern what is true and what is false,
and by the power of your Holy Spirit, help us to look at
our doubts, cautiously and carefully, that as we review
them, we may find our minds enlightened, and be led
into all truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen. 

A PRAYER IN MOMENTS OF DOUBT

Risen Master, help us, like your apostle Thomas, to be 
honest enough  to admit our doubts and not to affect a
faith we do not possess; and enable us, like him, so to
experience your living presence and power that our 
doubts may be dissolved and we may inherit the
blessing promised to those who have not seen you 
and yet trust in you, our Lord and our God.   Amen.

From:   Frank Colquhoun, Contemporary Parish Prayers,
             London 1975, 83

A PRAYER FOR THOSE IN NEED

Mighty and merciful God,
your Son brought healing to the sick,
and hope to the despairing.
We commend to your generous goodness
all those who are in any way
afflicted or distressed,
in mind, body, or circumstances.
Comfort and relieve them
according to their individual needs,;
give them patience under their sufferings,
and a happy release out of all their afflictions;
through Jesus Christ, our risen Saviour and Lord.   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
             Edinburgh 1994, 501  (Adapted)

THE BLESSING

The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
make us perfect in every good work to do his will;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 4 April 2021

EASTER DAY
THE END OF THE BEGINNING

For the people of his time, the crucifixion must have meant the end of Jesus.  Crucifixion was a Roman, not a Jewish means of execution, and arguably it was the most barbaric. Few condemned to death in this way could ever hope to survive, even for a short time, so when Jesus died in the afternoon of Good Friday, the people must have thought that they had seen and heard the last of him.  

For those of that outlook, the resurrection was far too good to be true.  The story of the empty tomb was so staggering it simply could not be true.  It must be a hoax or contrived to assuage the grief of Jesus's followers.  Thus, in St. Matthew's Gospel (28:11-15), we find that when some of the guards at the tomb came with this story to the Jewish authorities, the powers-that-be were deeply disturbed, and resolved to lay it to rest.

In response to the 'empty tomb' rumour, they hatched a devious plan, bribing the guards at the tomb to say that while they slept, Jesus's disciples came and stole the body.  In their frantic attempts to eliminate Jesus, the authorities used all kinds of tactics: treachery to capture him, illegality to try him, and slander to charge him before Pilate.  Now they resorted to bribery to cover up the truth about him, and to smother for good the incredible tale that Jesus had been raised from the dead.

In the two thousand years following, others have sought to do likewise, striving hard to eliminate Jesus from human consciousness.  Some Biblical scholars have even attempted to prove that Jesus never existed, and that the supposed knowledge we have of him is only human invention. 

The fact remains: it is those who have tried to eliminate Jesus who are now forgotten, while the One who was crucified on Good Friday and raised from the dead on Easter Day has never been forgotten.  All through history, the risen Christ of Easter has made his presence known, both in lives and in the course of events.  Even in the Covid world of today, Jesus is said by many to have been present, especially among the suffering and the sorrowing, and in every circumstance of our time, revealing the power of the love of God for us all - a love that is ultimately stronger than death itself.

When Jesus died, many must have thought that this was the end of him.  They were wrong.  It was only the end of the beginning.  That is why we rejoice with glad and thankful hearts!

A happy, healthy Easter to you all!

Lord of all life and power,
who through the mighty resurrection of your Son
overcame the old order of sin and death
to make all things new in him:
grant that we, being dead to sin
and alive to you in Jesus Christ,
may reign with him in glory;
to whom with you and the Holy Spirit
be praise and honour, glory and might,
now and in all eternity.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

The God of peace,
who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus,
that great shepherd of the sheep,
make us perfect in every good work to do his will;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us this Eastertide,
and remain with us always.   Amen.​

Saturday 3 April 2021 

EASTER EVE

​On this day, Jesus's body lay in the tomb until the resurrection.  Jewish law stated that even the body of a criminal must be buried that day.  None of Jesus's relatives could claim the body, as they were all Galileans and did not possess a tomb in Jerusalem.  At this point, the wealthy, and possibly influential Joseph of Arimathea intervened.  He asked Pilate for the body, after which he treated it and cared for it, and placed it in a rock tomb.  Today, we remember all those who have lost their lives during this pandemic - whatever the reason - and also their families, friends and loved ones, whom we prayerfully commend to God's care, in the faith that, through Jesus Christ, "death has no more dominion over them."

(A moment for quiet reflection)

O God, as we come to Easter Eve and think of Jesus in the tomb, grant that we may pass with him through the grave and gate of death, and be reborn to life in joy and everlasting praise; through him who died, was buried, and rose again for us, the same Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.   Amen.

Friday 2 April 2021

A THOUGHT FOR GOOD FRIDAY

"Christ Jesus humbled himself for us; and in obedience
accepted death, even death on a Cross."

Following his arrest and trial, Jesus was on this day found guilty of treason and sentenced to death by crucifixion, arguably the most barbaric means of execution devised by the Roman authorities.  At three in the afternoon, at Golgotha (the place of the skull), Jesus died.

This Passiontide, the world is still in the grip of Coronavirus.  For the last year, we have been living under restrictions to try and limit the spread of this disease, and at this moment we are emerging from a second national lockdown.  As we do so, however, extreme caution is still called for, as a third wave is sweeping across Europe, and warnings have been given that it may impact on us.

Since last year, however, unprecedented progress has been
made with the production of vaccines, and with their rolling out across the world in specially-appointed vaccination centres.  The most brilliant minds have created in ten months what would normally take ten years, and we must give thanks for the scientific endeavour which has made this possible, and given hope in a Covid-ridden age. 

There is another virus which has infected this world, and is known by many names, the traditional name being sin.  Sin means that human nature, while benevolent, is fundamentally flawed and not what it ought to be.  As human beings, we are not what God wills us to be, because sin causes us to 'miss the mark,' and think, speak and act in ways that are far from ideal.  Human effort cannot reverse this condition - this can only be done by God's initiative.

While scientists, researchers and others have brought hope to a Covid-ridden world, God has provided the vaccine for the virus of human sin.  Out of love for us and for the world, God gave the vaccine in the person of his Son Jesus Christ.  On the Cross, God took upon himself the sin of the world, and thus provided the remedy for the human condition.  Jesus Christ is God's vaccine, and remains so in the sinful world of our day.

"Inscribed upon the Cross we see
 in shining letters, 'God is love';
 he bears our sins upon the tree;
 he brings us mercy from above."

Thomas Kelly (1769-1855)

O Lord our God, as we come this day before the Cross, with all its suffering and shame, help us to see Jesus Christ as the answer to this world's sin; and by the power of the Holy Spirit, may he ever be for us the example we follow, the master we serve, and the friend to whom we turn, now and all the days of our life.   Amen.

Sunday 28 March 2021

LENT 6
PALM SUNDAY
A TALE OF THE UNEXPECTED

Tales of the Unexpected was a British television series aired between 1979 and 1988.  The series consisted of a standalone episode, adapted from short stories by Roald Dahl, each one with a narrative that had an unexpected twist ending.  The stories varied in content, but the common factor was a surprise ending.

The vivid story of Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem on the first Palm Sunday, as recorded in St. Matthew's Gospel (21: 1-11), is without doubt a tale of the unexpected.  It was Passover time in Jerusalem, and both the city and the surrounding district were crammed with pilgrims drawn from every place.  As Professor William Barclay says, Jesus entered into a city "surging with people keyed up with religious expectations," and thus into an atmosphere highly charged with emotion.

The scene was one of a royal welcome and Jesus was received by the crowd like a king.  The people spread their cloaks on the road.  They cut down palm branches (symbols of greatness and victory, often depicted on coins and important buildings) and waved them in the way that as we would wave flags at a royal visitor today.  They shouted 'Hosanna!,' which meant 'Save now!' - a cry for help from oppressed people for their rescue and release.  Jesus was welcomed into the holy city as a royal personage and hailed as the liberator, saviour and king of his people.

This is, however, a tale of the unexpected.  Within days the whole mood of the city had changed.  The loud 'Hosannas' soon became shouts of 'Crucify!'  The cheering turned to jeering, the merriment to mockery, the exaltation to execution.  The trappings of royalty were replaced by an instrument of torture, and the one hailed as a king was now condemned as a criminal.  He came in peace, not in might, and rode on a donkey to press this point.  He came not to destroy but to save; not to condemn but to help; not to use the force of arms, but only the power of sacrificial love.  Jesus did not turn out to be the Messiah, the Anointed Son of God, whom the people had longed for.  The regal reception of Palm Sunday quickly became the rousing rabble of Good Friday.

In this tale of the unexpected, the people failed to understand the nature of his kingship.  They thought Jesus had come to claim the kingship of the throne: that he would put Israel's enemies to rout, liberate the Jews from Roman rule, and claim the throne of the nation.  Jesus's notion of kingship was radically different.  He came to claim the kingship of the heart; and the triumphal entry on Palm Sunday was a final opportunity for people to open their hearts to him, to acknowledge him as saviour and king, and to commit themselves to walking in his way, which was God's way.  Bitter disappointment turned to hate: the only throne for Jesus was a Cross, and the only crown a crown of thorns.

This is not a story of something Jesus did once.  This tale of the unexpected is something Jesus has done all through history, and continues to do today.  Jesus comes and comes again to claim the kingship of the heart: to harness our love, our loyalty and our obedience.  This same Jesus invites us to surrender our very selves to his rule, and to follow in his way, which is God's way.  He does so, often in surprising ways and at the least expected of moments.  The truth remains that Jesus comes to our bruised and battered world, and stands knocking at the door of human hearts, bidding us to acknowledge his rule in our lives.

Are we going to ask Jesus in and invite him to remain with us forever?  Or, like many in that fickle crowd on Palm Sunday, are we going to bar the door and reject him?  This tale of the unexpected demands a decision from us!

Most gracious God, as your dear Son entered the holy city on that first Palm Sunday, where he was to suffer and die for our sake, so may our hearts be the place he would enter now, that we may give ourselves to his rule, and 
enthrone him in our lives as saviour and king; in whose name we pray.  
   Amen.

PRAYERS FOR PALM SUNDAY

Lord Jesus Christ,
on the first Palm Sunday
you entered the rebellious city
where you were to die.
Enter our hearts, we pray,
and subdue them to yourself.
And as your disciples blessed your coming
and spread garments and branches in your way,
make us ready to lay at your feet
all that we have and are,
that we too may bless your coming
in the name of the Lord.   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
             Edinburgh 1994, 664

Lord Jesus Christ,
you came to our world as the King of kings
and as Lord of lords,
yet also the servant of all.
As we come to Palm Sunday
and closer to the Cross of Christ,
help us to understand
that real strength lies in weakness,
true greatness in humility,
and perfect freedom in your service
and in the service of others;
to the glory of your name.   Amen.

A PRAYER OF COMMEMORATION
ON THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF 
THE FIRST LOCKDOWN

Almighty God, from whose love in Christ
we cannot be parted, either by death or by life:
we remember quietly, and with reverence,
those taken from us in this year of pandemic,
especially any known to us and loved by us
whose memory we will treasure forever....
As we acknowledge the great community of love
into which you have brought us, so keep us
faithful till death, and bring us at the last,
with your saints, into your heavenly presence,
to receive from you the crown of eternal life;
through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all, this Passiontide
and for evermore.   Amen.