Sunday 21 March 2021

LENT 5
THE ANOINTING AT BETHANY

In the Christian Year, the Fifth Sunday of Lent is often known as Passion Sunday, coming from the Latin passio, and meaning 'to suffer.'  From now on, our attention falls on the Cross - that 'wondrous Cross' on which, as Isaac Watts says in his beautiful Passiontide hymn, 'the Prince of Glory died.'

On his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus (now branded an outlaw) came to Bethany, a short distance from the city.  While receiving hospitality, most likely in the home of Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus, something sensational happened.  Mary's heart overflowed with love and devotion, her loyalty to Jesus revealed by the pouring of a pound of extremely precious ointment over Jesus's feet, which she then wiped with her hair, filling the whole house with its fragrance.

Judas Iscariot questioned her action, denouncing it as sheer waste, and protesting that this costly perfume might have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor.  Jesus silenced Judas by reminding him that there would always be opportunity to give money to the poor, but any kindness to Jesus had to be shown now, for he would shortly be on the Cross.  "The poor you have always among you, but you will not always have me."  (St. John 12: 8)

In the culture of the time, this was a scandalous action. On marriage, a girl's hair was tightly bound, and never again would she be seen in public with her long locks flowing.  In 1st century Palestine this was the sign of an immoral woman.  Yet Mary never gave this a thought.  She ignored the taboos of her day and wiped Jesus's feet with her hair.

What we see here is the unselfconscious nature of love and devotion.  Many today are extremely self-conscious about their Christian faith and its expression,  Many are coy about revealing their faith in public, and would hesitate to declare it in such an open, uninhibited manner.  We are often told that all religions, particularly the Christian brand, belong to the private sphere and have no place in public life.  Religious inclinations are deemed to be personal, and must therefore be kept hidden.

As a result of this pressure to expel religion from the public sphere, we may be self-conscious, even guilty and apologetic about our faith, and have concurred with the widely-held view that religious expression is a purely personal matter.

Mary never subscribed to this view.  She seemed untroubled by her actions, showing us how loyalty to Jesus Christ may have a certain unselfconsciousness about it, indeed even a certain extravagance or recklessness.  Mary loved Jesus so much that she let her conscience dictate her actions, not the court of public opinion.

As we come closer to the Cross of Jesus, with all its suffering and shame, we may ask ourselves if Mary is an example we would wish to follow.  Or in this secular, irreligious age, does public opinion hold us firmly in its grip?

O God, as we remember the anointing of Jesus at Bethany, help us to give him only our costliest gifts, and to show him our love and devotion according to conscience and conviction, and never according to public opinion; through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

A PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK

O God, as we come to Passiontide,
we confess how guilty we are of the very sins 
that drove Jesus to the Cross....
Help us to nail to your dear Son's Cross
the devious thoughts of the mind,
the wrong desires of the heart,
the cruel words of the tongue,
and the ill-employment of our ways,
that we may grow again in grace,
and much more into the likeness of him
who by his death and precious blood
has redeemed the world,
Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

PRAYERS FOR PASSIONTIDE

O God, by the death and resurrection
of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ,
you have delivered and saved mankind.
Grant that the Church, which is his body,
may glory in his Cross alone,
and that your people may acknowledge Christ
in their lives, as with their lips....
Lord, hear our prayer.

O God, in whose will is our peace:
as we live in a world sore wounded,
where so many innocent still suffer,
grant to us and to people everywhere
a genuine desire for lasting peace
and the courage to attain it,
that by the reconciling power of the Cross,
the perfect day may come
when none shall hurt or destroy....
Lord, hear our prayer.

O God, for our salvation's sake,
your Son suffered ridicule and rejection.
We pray for all who find themselves
standing where he once stood:
all who suffer for the sake of conscience,
and for their Christian witness,
whose vision of the world, like that of Christ,
is seen through insult and injury.
May those who are persecuted today
put their trust in your power to save,
and may the Cross become for them
a sign of hope, a sign of release....
Lord, hear our prayer.

O God, whose blessed Son entered into glory
but only by the shameful way of the Cross:
as Passiontide begins, we now pray for those
who are compelled to bear heavy burdens,
in their hearts, and in their lives,
remembering before you those known to us
and loved by us who need our prayers
and your blessing at this time....
Strengthen them by your Holy Spirit
to face their burden courageously,
to accept it hopefully and cheerfully,
and to carry it patiently at all times,
for Jesus Christ's sake....
Lord, hear our prayer.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the 
beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May Christ enable us to grow in grace,
and to take up our cross and follow him.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 14 March 2021

LENT 4
MOTHERING SUNDAY

The origins of Mothering Sunday are obscure and open to different explanations.  The consensus is that Mothering Sunday, midway through the penitential season of Lent, started in the 16th century as a religious festival, with no connection to mothers or motherhood.  

It became a tradition that, on the fourth Sunday of Lent, people would return to their "mother church," perhaps the family church or the one in which they were baptised, for a special thanksgiving service.  This meant that families were reunited as adults returned to the towns and villages in which they had been brought up.  In other words, Mothering Sunday was a day of pilgrimage.

In time, a further development took place, when young people, often working in large country houses as domestic servants, were given the day off, and an opportunity to reunite with their loved ones, as well as attend their "mother church."  Whatever the origins of Mothering Sunday, even though celebrated as Mother's Day, it has no connection with the American festival of that name, inspired by Anna Maria Jarvis's efforts to establish Mother's Day in 1913.

Mothering Sunday is also known as Refreshment Sunday, because on that day, midway through Lent, the strict fasting rules were relaxed, and the eating of some food permitted.  The origins of Mothering Sunday, however, are still the subject of enquiry.

What might we think about on Mothering Sunday?

Firstly, before Jesus was arrested and put to death on the Cross (which is what Lent is leading up to), Jesus gave his disciples one final command:  "Love one another," he said.  "Love one another, as I have loved you."  What Jesus asked of his followers was that love, not self, would be the motive behind everything they did.  Jesus insisted that love must be the driving-force of all that we do, and that we must always strive to secure the wellbeing of others, before seeking our own satisfaction.  Today, on Mothering Sunday, we may think carefully about the divine command to "love one another."   One observer has said that our age is "utterly disrespectful and heartless," where self comes first and where aggression, rather than compassion, is so dominant  We need to rediscover the significance of this great commandment and how to apply it in a 21st century context.

Secondly, we may remember and give thanks today for the unfailing love of God himself, whose mercies endure for ever, and are new every morning.  The love of God is expressed in many ways: in the beauty of the earth, the air, the sky and the sea; in the blessings of family life; in the joy of friends; in the face of a new-born animal or child; and in "all things bright and beautiful" in God's garden of creation.  Today, on Mothering Sunday, we may carefully reflect on the love of God himself - a love supremely revealed in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Timothy Rees (1874-1939), a Welsh clergyman, penned these opening lines of a well-known hymn:

"God is love: let heaven adore him;
 God is love: let earth rejoice."

Today, let us rejoice that God is love, and that on a Cross, we see how God loves us to the uttermost.

Mothering Sunday is now a popular social festival.  As we recall Mothering Sunday in its original context, however, let this day be a celebration, not only of motherhood and family life, but a celebration of love - both human and divine.

Gracious God, as we celebrate Mothering Sunday, 
help us to remember and give thanks for the love
which, from our birth, over and around us lies; and 
for your love, revealed in the world around us, and
supremely in him who is the King of love, our Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ.   Amen.

PRAYERS FOR MOTHERING SUNDAY

Heavenly Father, we thank you for making us 
in our baptism members of your worldwide family 
the Church, and for our brothers and sisters in 
every land who love the Lord Jesus.  Keep us
loyal to one another, faithful to our promises, and
busy in your service, for Jesus Christ's sake.   Amen.

From:  Frank Colquhoun, Contemporary Parish Prayers,
                         London 1975, 38

God of compassion,
whose Son Jesus Christ, the child of Mary,
shared the life of a home in Nazareth,
and on the cross
  drew the whole human family to himself:
strengthen us in our daily living
that in joy and in sorrow
we may know the power of your presence
to bind together and to heal;
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.

O Lord our God, as at this time we recall 
the precious sufferings of your Son upon
the cross, bless all those who suffer today,
or are in any kind of affliction; and give to
each healing and wholeness, and the gift
of life in all its fullness; through him whose
love never falters or fades, Jesus Christ our
Lord, alive for evermore.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness,
to deny yourselves,
take up your cross, and follow him;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 7 March 2021

LENT 3
OUR MERCIFUL GOD

One frustration of modern life is the massive growth in bureaucracy.  Over the years, rules and regulations have multiplied in such a way that many now believe our liberties are increasingly curtailed, if not permanently endangered.

The same circumstances prevailed in Jesus's day.  Like our culture, his was riddled with 'red tape', and a litany of rules and regulations, ranging from the worship of God to the materials from which clothing had to be made.  Jewish law was laden with rules that were a burden, a 'yoke' to the ordinary citizen.  The regulations governing the Sabbath were particularly strict.  No work was to be undertaken, and every effort had to be made to keep the Sabbath sacrosanct.

In St. Luke's Gospel (13: 10-17), we find Jesus in a synagogue.  By this time in his ministry, the authorities were seeking to trap him at the first opportunity, and they did not need to wait long to do so.  Jesus healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath, who had suffered from a back ailment for eighteen years.  By doing this, Jesus had undertaken a form of work, thereby breaching the strict legal code that forbade all work on the holiest of days.  The watching crowd rejoiced, but the authorities cringed.

This incident reveals God as a God of 'mercy.'  There are certain circumstances that call for a 'merciful,' rather than a strictly legalistic approach.  There are times when kindness, compassion and understanding must take priority over the demands of a moral or legal code, and when human beings must be treated as people who bear God's image, deserving dignity and worth.  

If Jesus Christ (as we believe) embodies the nature and character of God, then our God is 'merciful' in his dealings with his people.  This was grasped by Old Testament writers, such as the author of Psalm 103, who affirmed that: 'The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.'  In an age where systems of regulation are said to dehumanise, Jesus provides a picture of a God whose 'mercy' surpasses all the restrictions that even the finest minds have devised.

In 2016, Pope Francis wrote a little book with the title, The Name of God Is Mercy, in which he shared anecdotes about God's grace and love at work in the lives of his parishioners in Argentina, and in the lives of others known to him personally.  His conclusion is that we must see 'mercy' as "the first attribute of God," and that God "does not want anyone to be lost."

As we move further into Lent, we may think carefully about 'mercy' and its application today in appropriate circumstances, and so be among the 'merciful' whom our Lord has promised a blessing.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Merciful God, in whom we live and move
and have our being: as we pass through 
these holy days of Lent, take this world 
into your care and keeping:  bless your
Church with a rekindled faith, and the nations
with your peace; take our lives, and let them
be consecrated to your service; and at this
time of pandemic, bring healing, health and
wholeness to all of us; and when our days
are over and our work done, lead us through
the heavenly gate to live with you for ever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

A PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK

Most merciful God and Father,
give us true repentance for our sins.
Open our eyes to recognize the truth about ourselves;
so that acknowledging our faults,
our weaknesses and our failures,
we may receive your forgiveness
and find in your love the encouragement
to make a new beginning;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

From: Frank Colquhoun, Contemporary Parish Prayers,
           London 1975, 36

A PRAYER FOR LENT

Thanks be to thee, O Lord Christ,
for all the benefits that thou hast given us;
for all the pains and insults which thou
hast borne for us.

O most merciful redeemer,
friend and brother,
may we know thee more clearly,
love thee more dearly,
and follow thee more nearly;
for thine own sake.   Amen.

Richard of Chichester 1197-1253

THE BLESSING

May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself;
may the power of the Lord Jesus
strengthen us in his service;
may the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our souls;
and may the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with us and abide with us always.   Amen.

Sunday 28 February 2021

LENT 2
WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

These days the question of identity has assumed a new significance.  There has arisen in recent years a new emphasis on national identity, while personal identity, and the need to prove who we are, is crucial in protecting our security.  It is said that identity theft has grown into something akin to a national industry.

In St. Matthew's Gospel (16: 13-20), the question of Jesus's identity is taken up with all due seriousness.  Jesus was in the northern town of Caesarea Philippi, and at this point in his ministry, the Cross loomed and his time was short.  The problem Jesus now faced was one of 
identity.  Was there anyone who understood him?  Was there anyone who recognised him and saw the true nature of his work and person?

Jesus chose to put the question of his identity to the test, and at Caesarea Philippi asked his followers who people thought he was.  "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"  They said he was seen as John the Baptist; or Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.  Then Jesus turned to the disciples.  "And you, who do you say that I am?"  Perhaps after a stunned silence, Simon Peter provided the answer.  "You are the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of the living God!"

In these thoughtful days of Lent, we too may reflect on Jesus's identity.  We could acknowledge Jesus as a gifted preacher, a brilliant teacher, a charismatic leader, a storyteller, and a miracle worker.  We could also see Jesus as a bit of a rebel or a renegade, as well as a man of high moral and religious principles.  Can we say with St. Paul that God was in Christ?  Do we recognise Jesus of Nazareth as a human being who embodied the mind and character of God?  Or do we dismiss him as a folk hero, well-suited to our celebrity-driven culture?

The Christian faith depends on how we perceive Jesus's identity.  The way we live as Christians depends on whether we see Jesus as someone of passing importance or eternal significance.  If we accept Jesus as a mere mortal and nothing more, Christianity is reduced to an attractive social and moral creed.

Who is Jesus Christ?  This is a question we must answer, and we must make up our own minds.  We may know what others have said about Jesus.  We may have read the great books, listened to the great preachers, and studied  the Gospels carefully and critically, and so feel confident in our knowledge and understanding.  But Jesus still demands a verdict as to his identity, just as he demanded one from the disciples at Caesarea Philippi.

As we move further into Lent, let us ponder Jesus's question in our minds.  "And you, who do you say that I am?"  Perhaps it is only through our experience of Jesus
in the world, and in our own lives, that we can say with Simon Peter that he is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, the One who makes God real and present among us.

Who is Jesus Christ?  How would you answer that question?

O God, our heavenly Father, help us in this 
Lenten season to re-discover the true identity 
of Jesus, and to see him not as a mere mortal,
but as the Messiah, your anointed one; in whose
name we pray.   Amen.

PRAYERS FOR LENT

Almighty and merciful God,
you are more ready to hear than we to pray,
and you give more
than either we desire or deserve.
Pour down upon us
the abundance of your mercy.
Forgive us those things
of which our conscience is afraid,
and grant us those good things
which we are not worthy to ask,
save through the merits and mediation
of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Saviour.   Amen.

Holy God,
bring us to the cross of Jesus,
that we may find salvation.
Help us to know our sins and to repent of them.
Give us your pardon and peace in our hearts;
and on the day of judgement,
show us your mercy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
             Edinburgh 1994, 459-60

A PRAYER FOR THIS WEEK

O God, as we pass through Lent and look at
all that is amiss around us, grant to the world
your peace; to our nation, your blessing; to
the needy, your compassion; to the sick, the
suffering, and the sorrowing, your healing;
and to us and to all your people that love
divine which never falters or fades; through
Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May the grace of Christ attend us,
the love of God surround us,
the Holy Spirit keep us,
this Lent and always.   Amen.

Sunday 21 February 2021

LENT 1
TEMPTATION IN THE WILDERNESS

The First Sunday of Lent traditionally explores the theme of 'temptation,' recalling the story in St. Matthew's Gospel (1: 11), where Jesus spent forty days and forty nights in the wilderness, and when he was 'tempted' by the devil.

Temptation is a powerful force in society, and one with which we are all familiar.  It has been defined as a luring force which entices someone to do something wrong or unwise.  We use this word in every-day speech, in phrases such as "money is always a temptation," or "the menu contained tasty temptations," or "the temptations of the city were overwhelming."  In a religious context, 'temptation' is the strong, seductive inclination to sin and to do what is explicitly forbidden.

According to the Biblical narrative, Jesus was led by the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  This wilderness was hostile territory, situated between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.  The Biblical scholar, George Adam Smith, who had crossed it, described it as a vast area of yellow sand, with hills resembling dust-heaps, and rocks bare and jagged - glowing and shimmering with heat like a vast furnace.  It was in this environment that Jesus was 'tempted' or 'tested' by the devil over a six-week period of inner struggle.

Jesus was tempted firstly to turn stones into bread, and thereby bribe people to follow him.  When Jesus refused, the devil came to him again, urged him to go up to the pinnacle of the Temple on Mount Zion, leap down, and land unscathed in the valley beneath.  Jesus refused to gather followers by performing a stunt.  Finally, the devil offered Jesus all the nations of the world, if only he gave up the worship of God to do the tempter homage.  Once again, the tempter was rebuked and silenced.

There is a clear message for us in this story.  We should always be aware that "eternal vigilance is the price of freedom."  In the Christian life there is no immunity from 'temptation' or 'testing'.  There is nothing that can inoculate the Christian soul against assault from the tempter.  There are Christians who believe that they should be above and beyond this, and that 'temptation' is a sign of weakness.  Jesus himself never reached that stage:  All through his ministry, Jesus had to wrestle with the tempter.

At Caesarea Philippi, the tempter came to Jesus again, when Peter tried in vain to talk him out of going to the Cross, while in the lonely Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus had to fight a battle with temptation, when the tempter tried to dissuade him from doing God's will, and take a chance to escape the horrors of Calvary.

This is indeed good news for us.  Because Jesus was tempted in all things, as we are, yet remained obedient and without sin, so he can help us in our struggle when 'temptation' confronts us.  When life brings its 'temptations', we may be certain that Jesus has been in the same predicament - to resist or to succumb.

May his victory over the tempter encourage us when we are caught between 'resistance' and 'surrender,' enabling us to foil the tempter's power and keep ourselves in God's way!

Holy God, righteous and merciful, 
when temptation urges us to do something wrong
or unwise, may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
tempted as we are in all things, yet without sin,
help us to resist that subtle voice, that luring charm,
that cunning force, and foil the tempter's power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

PRAYERS FOR LENT

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
your Son battled with the powers of darkness, 
and grew closer to you in the desert:
help us to use these days to grow in wisdom
   and prayer
that we may witness to your saving love
in Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Gracious God, rich in mercy,
as we enter this holy season of Lent,
   of your goodness, give us;
   of your love, inspire us;
   by your Spirit, guide us;
and in your mercy, keep us
   now and always;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

God be with us in this season;
forgive our sins, restore our souls,
   and renew our lives.

And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among us this Lent, and remain with us
   always.   Amen.

Wednesday 17 February 2021

ASH WEDNESDAY
THE BEGINNING OF LENT

"Rend you hearts and not your garments,
and turn back to the Lord your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
long-suffering and ever constant."

"Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven 
     is upon you."

This is Ash Wednesday, a Christian observance that marks the beginning of the Lenten season.  During Lent, Christians prepare themselves the heart for the solemn remembrance of Jesus' s death on the Cross.

The Lenten season has always been associated with the
expression of penitence, or repentance.  In the Bible, we
read that penitents covered their faces in ashes and tore
their garments as a sign of their contrition.  This custom is strange to our minds, but is well-attested in Scripture, and particularly in the Old Testament.  Furthermore, early in St. Mark's Gospel (1: 15), Jesus's "inaugural address" is seen as a clarion call to repentance.

In a sermon in Glasgow Cathedral in 1984, the preacher
raised the subject of repentance, and stressed the need 
for Christians to be aware of their sins and shortcomings, and seek God's grace and forgiveness.  He also argued that people today may be so self-assured  that they now believe there is nothing of which they need to repent.

Today, on Ash Wednesday, we may think seriously about all that is amiss in our lives, and ask for God's forgiveness, lest we become like those who, trusting in their own self-righteousness, are convinced that they have nothing of which to be ashamed, and therefore have no need for repentance.

"If you have behaved badly, repent, make what amends
you can and address yourself to the task of behaving better next time."  (Aldous Huxley)

PRAYERS FOR ASH WEDNESDAY

Almighty and everlasting God,
you hate nothing that you have made
and forgive the sins of all those who are truly penitent:
create and make in us new and contrite hearts
that we, worthily lamenting our sins
and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may receive from you, the God of all mercy,
perfect remission and forgiveness;
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.

Almighty God,
you have given your only Son to be for us
both a sacrifice for sin
and also an example of godly life:
give us grace
that we may always be truly thankful
for his sacrifice upon the Cross,
and also daily endeavour
to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

From:   Common Worship (Church of England),
             London 2000, 392 (adapted)

THE BLESSING

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

Sunday 14 February 2021

THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT
THE TRANSFIGURATION

With recent snowfall, the Arran hills are truly a sight to behold.  Formed through glaciation, these rugged peaks, separated by beautiful valleys cut into the rock, stand out on the landscape, especially at this time of year when the snow is illuminated by a blazing sun. 

In St. Matthew's Gospel (17:1-8), we have what has been called "a mountaintop experience."  Jesus and his three disciples, Peter, James, and John, went up a mountain (Mount Sinai?) to pray.  Once there, Jesus underwent a spiritual experience, so intense that his whole appearance altered.

We are told that his face shone like the sun, and that his clothes became a brilliant white.  Rays of light engulfed him, so blinding that Peter, James and John fell on their knees.  On top of that mountain Jesus was completely transformed, or transfigured, by becoming clothed with the radiance of God himself.  This led him to come down the mountain and carry on God's work of healing with new energy and resilience.

When we become clothed with the divine light, when we are transformed and transfigured through faith in Christ, we too take on a radiant and serene nature - something through which we can bring light to others, as well as ourselves, in our dark moments.  During this pandemic, countless professionals have brought a radiance, a serenity and a new sense of hope in the most difficult of circumstances, giving much-needed healing and wholeness to broken lives.

Psychologists tell us that a radiant person is a healthy one.  The one who 'shines,' who shows joy and vitality, and faces life with a radiant attitude of mind, is said to be a healthy soul, and an inspiration to others.  William James, the American philosopher, psychologist and physician (Harvard University), argued in his famous book, The Varieties of Religious Experience, that some religious (Christian) people are irrepressibly happy - the 'healthy-minded' - while others not so gifted are the 'morbid-minded' or 'sick souls.'  The 'healthy-minded,' he claims, have a radiance that is second to none.  Not all people have this gift, but by faith in God through Jesus Christ we may, as we grow in holiness, acquire this radiance and serenity.

As we approach Lent, which begins this week on Ash Wednesday, may we be so transformed and transfigured that we shine as beacons of light in an age that so urgently needs it, and continue God's healing work with new energy
and resilience.

O God, as your Son, our Saviour Christ, was transfigured on a mountaintop, after which he shone with your glory, so may we be changed into his glorious likeness, and shine with the radiance that comes only from you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

PRAYERS AS WE APPROACH LENT

Almighty and ever-living God,
by whose grace we come to this new day,
your holy day, your gift to us:
as we approach the season of Lent,
help us to search our hearts
and examine our ways,
that we may truly be your people,
seeking first your kingdom
and working and praying for its coming;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Most holy and most righteous God,
before whom our lives are laid open:
as we approach the season of Lent
rescue us from the chaos of sin,
and through the death of your dear Son
bring us healing and make us whole
in Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

A PRAYER FOR THIS PRESENT TIME

God of life, and God of love,
your Son brought healing to the sick
and hope to the despairing.
We pray for all who are sick,
for those who suffer pain, or loneliness, 
or isolation, or grief of heart.
Give them strength and comfort
and the assurance of your presence;
and surround them with your healing love
   and saving grace....

At this time of mass vaccination,
bless those who share with Christ
a healing, and a caring ministry:
surgeons, doctors, nurses, researchers,
and all those in the scientific, medical,
caring and frontline professions.

Use their sympathy and skill
for the relief of suffering,
the conquest of disease,
and the restoration of health,
and crown their efforts
with true and lasting success;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   
   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
             Edinburgh 1994, 486 (adapted)

THE BLESSING

Grace, mercy, and peace,
from God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be among us, and remain with us always.
   Amen.

Sunday 7 February 2021

NOTHING VENTURED, NOTHING GAINED

Captain Sir Tom Moore captured the hearts of countless people with his fundraising walk, taking in one hundred laps of his garden during the first lockdown.  Having hoped to raise a modest sum for NHS charities, the total exceeded £30 million, and his passing last week has bereft us of a man hailed as "a true inspiration to all of us."

When we think of "inspiration,", we regard this as something we wait for; something we need to acquire before embarking on some project.  We believe that without a measure of mental, physical, intellectual stimulus, no creativity or innovation is possible.  We must be inspired first, and wait for the right moment before we venture forth.

In the Old Testament, in the Book of Ecclesiastes (11: 4), there is a verse that reads: "Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap."  This text is a reminder that there are certain things that must be done, whether "inspiration" is there or not.  Too often we look for, and find excuses, to put off until tomorrow what we know in our hearts we ought to have done today.  We are masters of the art of postponing something until we feel "inspired" to do it.  If we habitually do this, we will end up doing nothing.  We will be like the farmer who looks out, and decides that the weather is not right for his daily duties - and so we postpone until we feel sufficiently inspired," and believe that the conditions are right for taking action.

In a wider context, this text warns us is that if we choose to wait until we are absolutely certain as to what God wants us to do, and until we feel "inspired" and the conditions seem right, we could well wait for a long time.  We have Christian duties to fulfil, and we cannot postpone this process until we believe the time is right, and when we feel "inspired" and "motivated."  In some circumstances, the time to act is now.

All through the ministry of Jesus, we see our Lord preaching, teaching and healing at every opportunity.  Jesus did not postpone significant events in his ministry until he felt "inspired," and when the time was right for action.  When the opportunity arose, Jesus responded immediately, whether or not it was the right moment.  If he had waited until conditions were perfect, he could well have waited a long time.

If we are honest, we do tend to delay duties in our daily living, until we are certain that the right moment has arrived.  Like the farmer in the Book of Ecclesiastes, we often prefer to put off something until circumstances are
much more favourable, and when we feel more "inspired," more motivated, more stimulated to apply our effort to it.

As we remember and pay tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore and his hugely successful fundraising project, we may wonder what would have happened had he delayed his walk until he felt more "inspired" to do it, and when he thought that conditions were better for doing so.  He may never have got started.

"Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap."

This is a warning that we cannot always wait until we feel "inspired" and conditions are perfect.  There are things we must do, and we must do them now, and not postpone them to a later date.  After all, as the old saying so aptly puts it: "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

Gracious God, in the journey of life, help us
never to postpone until tomorrow what we 
can easily do today; and enable us by your
Spirit to respond to every duty without delay;
after the example of your Son, our Saviour
Jesus Christ.   Amen.

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
from you alone come everlasting joy and peace.
Fill us with joy in your promises,
and send us out to be bearers of your peace;
through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
             Edinburgh 1994, 23

PRAYERS FOR THE COMING WEEK

Heavenly Father,
be with us in every experience of life.
When we neglect you,
remind us of your presence;
when we are frightened,
give us courage;
when we are tempted,
give us power to resist;
when we are anxious and worried,
give us peace;
when we are weary in service,
give us energy and zeal;
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

Set free, O Lord, the souls of your servants
from all restlessness and anxiety.
Give us your peace and power,
and so keep us that,
in all perplexity and distress,
we may abide in you,
upheld by your strength
and stayed on the rock of your faithfulness;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
             Edinburgh 1994, 30, 466

A PRAYER IN A PANDEMIC

Keep us, good Lord,
in this time of uncertainty and distress,
under the shadow of your mercy
within the orbit of your love:
sustain the anxious, support the fearful,
heal the sick, help the afflicted,
comfort the carers, console the bereaved,
and raise up all those who are brought low;
that they and we may know you
as a timely help in trouble,
and that nothing can separate us
from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.   Amen.

We remember in our prayers today all those affected
by the tragic events in Kilmarnock, and we ask for God's 
healing power and peace at this time, and in the days to 
come.

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.   Amen.

Sunday 31 January 2021

THOUGHTS ON CANDLEMAS

The festival of Candlemas falls on 2nd February every year.  According to an old tradition, this is officially the end of the Christmas season, the day on which nativity plays should be taken down, and other festive ornaments put away.  

In the early Christian Church, Candlemas was a great festival of light, proclaiming Christ as light of the world.  The tradition developed whereby beeswax candles were blessed for use in churches and private homes throughout the year.  Some early historians refer to The Feast of Lighted Candles, and in some churches today there is still a procession of candles to mark this occasion in the Christian Year.

In Jesus's day, when a woman had borne a child, she was
declared 'ritually unclean' for forty days - eighty days if the child was a girl.  The mother could continue with her household duties and daily business, but could not enter the Temple or share in religious ceremonies.  At the end of this period, she had to take a lamb to the Temple as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon as a sin offering.  This was an expensive gift, and the law stated that if she could not afford a lamb, she could bring two pigeons instead.  Thus St. Luke (2: 21-24) tells us that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem to "present him to the Lord", and to make the required sacrifice.

To the modern mind, this is a peculiar ceremony.  We would never declare a new mother 'ritually unclean,' nor would we insist that she take her newborn child to the Church or some other holy place "to be presented to the Lord," and dedicated to the Lord's service.  Yet behind this practice is the conviction that every child is a gift of God.  Indeed, Professor William Barclay has said of this custom that it teaches us that "Of all God's gifts there is none for which we shall be so answerable as the gift of a child."

It has also been suggested that behind this custom is the solid conviction that human life is sacred, and not to be regarded lightly or as a mere commodity.  This is arguably in contrast to our age, where human life is often seen as cheap and expendable, with no hint of it being a God-given gift.

The festival of Candlemas has given rise to many traditions over the centuries.  It does, however, commemorate the time when Jesus was "presented in the Temple" and acclaimed the light of the nations, and when his mother Mary was pronounced 'ritually clean' forty days after giving birth to her son.  Further to this, the peculiar customs of Candlemas remind us that the life of a child, indeed every life, is a gift of God and ought to be treated as such.

Do we see human life as a gift of God, and invested with divine significance?  Or do we dismiss it lightly as a mere commodity to do with as we wish?

Jesus said: "I am the light of the world.
Those who follow me shall not walk in darkness,
but shall have the light of life."

Gracious God, our strength and our salvation,
without whose light we walk in darkness and in error:
at this time of Candlemas we confess that we have
sinned against you and against one another
in what we have done, and in what we have not done.
We acknowledge our failure in pure in holy living,
and all else that is amiss in our lives,
for which we seek your forgiveness....
Pardon our past mistakes, we pray,
and deliver us from our present folly.
And at this time of Candlemas,
help us to live each moment of our day
in the clear, shining light of your love,
revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.   
  Amen.

PRAYERS FOR CANDLEMAS

Almighty and ever-living God,
whose beloved Son
was this day presented in the Temple:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

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.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
FOR CANDLEMAS

Almighty God, sovereign Lord,
the God of faithfulness, light and love:

Remember, O Lord, at this time of Candlemas
your holy Church, here and throughout the world,
that you may grant to your Church today
the faith of her apostles, the hope of her martyrs,
and the light of Jesus Christ, her glorified Lord....

Remember, O Lord, at this time of Candlemas
the nations of the world, and our own nation,
that they may learn all that belongs to their peace,
always guided by Jesus Christ, the world's true light....

Remember, O Lord, at this time of Candlemas
those who are sick, those who suffer pain or loneliness
or grief of heart, those for whom this pandemic has brought
and brings unimaginable sorrow, and those whom we name
before you silently, but in faith and sincerity of love....
Grace them with your presence,
guide them by your light,
grant them your peace....

All this we ask through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who lives to make intercession for us,
now and for ever.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May the love of the Father enfold us,
the wisdom of the Son enlighten us,
the fire of the Spirit inflame us;
and may the blessing of God rest upon us
and abide with us, now and for ever.   Amen.

Sunday 24 January 2021

CHRISTIANITY AND CULTURE

In normal circumstances, the Burns Supper season would now have been in full swing, with a host of Immortal Memories delivered by some of our finest speakers.  His poetry would also have been recited with passion, and his best-loved songs granted another airing.  Haggis, tatties and neeps would have been on the menu, with a little 'John Barleycorn' to aid digestion.  Whether our interest in the Bard's works is much or minimal, they are deeply ingrained in the soul of our culture.

Writing to the Philippian Church (Philippians 4:8), St. Paul concludes his letter with these words:

"And now, my friends, all that is true,
all that is noble, all that is just and pure,
all that is lovable and attractive -
whatever is excellent and admirable,
fill your thoughts with these things."

These words have been hailed as 'a charter for excellence,' in that they list the necessary virtues for a sound and solid Christian culture.  It has been argued that if modern culture was founded on these things, the third-rate, of which there is so much, would quickly disappear, only to be replaced by the best, the noblest, the highest standards in everything.

In the context of his time, St. Paul wanted the Philippian Christians to set their minds on the right things, and pursue excellence at all times.  These words are as relevant today as they were when they were first written.  As Christians, we should be seeking to create a culture where truth, goodness, beauty and purity flourish and abound, and where all that is lovable and attractive motivates our thinking and our living.

Do the apostle's words describe the culture we are living in?  Or have we gone in the opposite direction?

Quentin Letts, the non-fiction author and journalist, wrote a book in 2009 called Bog-Standard Britain.  His argument is that the culture we live in today is the outcome of one thing: mediocrity.  Mediocrity, he asserts, has infected every area of life, and in this remorseless process, truth has been compromised, beauty has faded, excellence has withered, and our culture has suffered accordingly.  There has taken place a general lowering of standards in everything, fuelled by the media and accepted widely without complaint.  Our "cultural dignity" has been stripped away.

Whether or not we agree, it does appear that we are content to tolerate the 'bog-standard,' and accept a culture far removed from St. Paul's defence of excellence.

"And now, my friends, all that is true,
all that is noble, all that is just and pure,
all that is lovable and attractive -
whatever is excellent and admirable,
fill your thoughts with these things."

As we recall the life and work of Robert Burns and his impact on our culture, let us strive, by God's grace, to take these Biblical words to heart, and apply them a way that we play our own part in shaping a healthy culture: a culture based only on the noblest and the best, in which the tawdry and the trash have no place.  Let us restore a sense of "cultural dignity" to modern society, and aim for excellence at all times, in all things and in every place.

"Only the steadfast pursuit of excellence can stem the drift into hopeless mediocrity."
(Colin Morris)

God of mercy, God of grace,
we confess that in thought, word and deed
we have fallen short of your glory
and of what you require of us.
We have filled our minds with many thoughts,
often disregarding what is true and noble,
what is just and pure, what is excellent and virtuous.
We have preferred to follow our own thinking,
our own desires, our own pleasures,
through which we have lost our way....

God of faithfulness and love,
assure us of your grace and forgiveness,
  that our minds may be cleansed
  and our hearts strengthened 
  to live more nearly as we ought;
and by the power of your Holy Spirit,
help us to pursue excellence in all things;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Almighty God, 
source of all truth, and goodness and beauty:
as we mark the life and work of Robert Burns,
we pray for all those who today
shape the thoughts and stir the emotions of others,
as poets, writers and journalists,
as broadcasters, artists and musicians.
Inspire them only in what is true,
noble, pure, lovely and gracious,
that they may inspire in us
a fuller dedication of ourselves
in your worship, and in your service....

Almighty God,
the God of all creativity:
we ask your blessing on our culture,
that only the highest standards 
may flourish and abound.
Preserve us from all that is degrading,
dishonest and demeaning,
and in all our cultural activities,
help us to see your hand at work;
to the glory of your name....

Almighty God,
Father of all mercies:
come in the fullness of your might
to heal the broken-hearted,
to bind up the wounds of the injured,
to ease the pain of the suffering,
to fill the loneliness of the bereaved,
and to bring hope to those in need.
Be to all a refuge and strength
in time of trouble, and bring relief
from affliction and distress....

Almighty God,
whom we trust not for this world alone:
we praise you for those who have died
in the faith of Christ, and are now
and for ever at rest in him....
Keep us in constant fellowship with them,
and bring us also at the last
to the life that knows no age,
and the reward that passes not away....

All this we ask through
our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

God the Father,
God the Son,
God the Holy Spirit,
bless, preserve, and keep us,
this day and for ever.   Amen.

Sunday 17 January 2021

THE MARRIAGE FEAST

One of the casualties of the Coronavirus pandemic has been the marriage service.  More in disappointment than anger, many couples have postponed their wedding service to a later date, allowing them to have the long and lavish day they had been hoping and planning for.  Some have gone ahead and held their service under severe restrictions, but a significant majority has seen the virus as 'the unwelcome guest' and made alternative arrangements.

According to St. John's Gospel (2: 1-12), Jesus was a guest at a wedding feast or reception in Cana-in-Galilee.  We are also told that his mother and his disciples were among the guests.  It has been suggested that their presence might indicate that this was a family wedding, and the newly-weds were related to Jesus.  The fact that Mary seems to have played a part in arranging the proceedings would strengthen this view, though we can only speculate.

During the celebrations, disaster struck - not a virus, but the running out of the wine.  In the culture of that time, the giving of hospitality was a sacred duty, and for the wine to run out at such a moment would be an enormous embarrassment for the host, and a shock for the couple and their guests.  In the panic, Mary approached Jesus and urged him to do something about it.  By means unknown, he 'saved the situation' by providing 120 gallons of wine, which, according to Professor A.M. Hunter, "is not an act of human prudence, still less of Divine Providence." *

What are we to make of this today?  In this 'sign,' in the well-known story of the 'changing of the water into wine,' Jesus may in effect be saying: "This is the meaning of my whole ministry: it is a changing of water into wine." *

In other words, Jesus's ministry is one of transformation, of bringing out the best in people and situations, and of showing how he makes all things new, and of demonstrating God's power - even in the most desperate of circumstances.  In this 'sign,', we see Jesus as the one who transforms for the better every person and every situation, a fact we may keep firmly in mind as we pass through our own dark moments and difficult days.

The story of the wedding reception is so much more than the turning of water into wine.  It is a story of Jesus demonstrating God's power, and of how he transforms the worst into the best, and the best into the better!

*Quoted in A.M. Hunter, According to John, SCM Press Ltd., 1968, 76

"My help comes only from the Lord,
maker of heaven and earth."

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.

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

God of love and power,
We pray for your Church in this parish
and throughout the world,
that, through the courage and faith of your people,
your word may be preached and lived....
We pray for the Queen and those in authority,
that, in the fulfilling of their duties,
they may be guided by your Spirit
and upheld by your grace....
We pray for our community, our country,
and the nations of the world,
that, following the ways of truth and justice,
they may be free from bitterness and strife,
and by the power of your love, live in peace....
We pray for all who are in trouble,
that those who are sick may be cared for,
those who are lonely sustained,
those who are oppressed strengthened,
those who mourn comforted,
and that those who are close to death
may know their risen Lord....

We give thanks
for those who have died in the faith,
especially those known to us,
who have entered into the joy and peace
of your nearer presence.
Grant that we may follow their example,
and come to share with them
the glory of everlasting life,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who with the Father and the Holy Spirit
is worshipped and glorified for ever.   Amen.

From:   Common Order (Church of Scotland),
             Edinburgh 1994, 519, 31-32

THE BLESSING

May God, who is the ground of hope,
fill us with all joy and peace
as we lead the life of faith
until, by the power of the Holy Spirit,
we overflow with hope.

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

Sunday 10 January 2021

THE CHILD GREW

The Twelve Days of Christmas are well and truly over, and we now move forward in the Christian Year, as we do in the calendar year.

Of Jesus's early years, we know virtually nothing, apart from an incident recorded in St. Luke's Gospel when he was twelve years old (2:41-52).  At the age of twelve, a Jewish boy became a man, or, more correctly, a 'son of the law,' taking on the duties that Jewish law required.

At the age of twelve, Jesus was taken by his parents to the Passover Festival in Jerusalem for this ceremony, where something awful happened.  When his parents returned to Nazareth, the boy Jesus lingered in the city.  After returning to Jerusalem, and following a three-day search, Joseph and Mary found Jesus in the Temple, discussing the weighty issues of the day with religious and political leaders.  Here was the young Jesus at the great debates - a listener and a learner among the learned.

St. Luke (2:40) tells us that as the child grew, he matured in body, mind and spirit.  He increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and his fellow human beings.  The babe of Bethlehem did not remain an infant.

As Christian disciples, we cannot stay at Bethlehem.  We cannot idolise the Christ child, lying in a manger, proclaimed by angels, and visited by wise men.  We cannot let the sentimental side of the manger scene rule our Christian thinking and our Christian witness.  As 'the child grew' - mentally, physically, spiritually, socially - we must grow with him, and let his life and example shape our lives, and inspire our Christian thought and action.

We are still in the early days of this new year.  This year will have its challenges for all of us.  We can, however, face them with confidence and courage, certain that Christ has plans for the Church, for the nation and for the world.  But we will never find out what these plans are if we remain at Bethlehem, and keep looking back to Jesus's birth and to the strange circumstances surrounding it.  As it has rightly been said, "we do not worship a baby god."

The child grew - mentally, physically, spiritually, socially - and we must grow with him.  By making Christ's maturity our maturity, Christ's wisdom our wisdom, Christ's compassion our compassion, we will come close to
discerning his will for us, and to fulfilling it in the way he asks of us.

As the child grew, let us resolve in this new year to grow with him!

"The Lord will give strength to his
people; the Lord will bless his people
with peace."

Holy God, righteous and merciful,
as we acknowledge your majesty
and sovereign rule over all things,
we confess that we have failed
to obey your commandments,
and have fallen short of your glory....
We are unworthy of your gifts,
and undeserving of your grace
and favour to us....
In your love and mercy, forgive us;
and in this coming year
help us to change our ways,
and to find life's true purpose
in doing your will;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

A GENERAL PRAYER

God of the morning, God of the new day,
our refuge, our rock, our everlasting hope:
We pray for the Church in this parish
and throughout the world,
that your people may be a beacon
of light and hope and love
in a troubled and uncertain world....
We pray for our country, our community,
and for the nations of the world,
that by the power of your Spirit
they may live in harmony and peace....
We pray for those in need
and for all who suffer at this time,
that the sick may be cared for,
the lonely and the isolated sustained,
and the sorrowing comforted....
We pray for all affected by this virus,
that your healing hand may touch them,
and that those who lovingly tend them
may bring healing and wholeness....
All this we ask through Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Saviour.   Amen.

A PRAYER FOR OURSELVES

Almighty God,
whose dear Son grew 
in wisdom and stature,
and in favour with you
and his fellow human beings:
give us grace in this new year
to grow with him in wisdom,
that he may always be to us
the pattern we follow,
the redeemer we trust,
the master we serve,
and the friend to whom we turn;
in whose name we pray.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

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

Sunday 3 January 2021

     "The Lord God has been our refuge
throughout all generations: from everlasting
     to everlasting, he is our God."

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

There can be few of us who approach the New Year without giving thought to the year that has ended.  Some will reflect on 2020 and find something for which to be grateful.  The majority, however, will see last year as an annus horribilis - a year overwhelmed by the Coronavirus pandemic and best consigned to history.  There will also be those for whom the past year has been one of personal failure and disappointment, who will be hoping that 2021 is a much happier year for all of us.

"Blessed are those who are given the opportunity of a new beginning!"  These words could well have come from the lips of Jesus.  In fact, they come from the pen of the
late Dr. Denis Duncan, a Church of Scotland minister, who
became a gifted author, counsellor and spiritual writer, with a fine reputation in the "ministry of print."  His words speak of a blessing on those who are given the opportunity of a new beginning, the chance of a fresh start in life.

This is exactly what a New Year is about.  God, in his unfailing providence, has given a new chapter in life to each of us.  We do not know where this New Year will take us, nor do we know what the pathway ahead will bring.  What we do know is that this coming year is God's gift to us - and an opportunity to give thanks for the grace of a new beginning. 

This does not mean that we have to forget the past, and erase the experience of 2020 from our minds.  The past remains part of our life's rich tapestry, and will no doubt contribute much to how we shape the future. To dismiss it from memory would be a great loss, and there must be some valuable lessons we can take with us into the future.

That said, however, we have been blessed with the gift of another year, with its possibilities and opportunities, and we ought to accept it with enthusiasm, and with the confidence of those who profess Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

"Blessed are those who are given the opportunity of a new
beginning!"  That blessing belongs to us, so let us make 2021 a time of new beginnings, weaving our way through it with a lively faith, and with that inner peace which only God in Christ can give.

With every blessing and best wish to you all in 2021!


THE FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
A PRAYER

O God, our help in ages past,
and our hope for the years to come:
all praise and glory be to you,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
for safely bringing us in your love
to the gate of this new year....
Forgive us the wrong we have done
in the year now ended; and set us free
from guilt and despair, and from all that
hinders our communion with you....
And as we enter the gate of another year,
help us to commit ourselves into your care
and to rededicate our lives in your service;
through him, who is the First and the Last,
the Beginning and the End of all things,
your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.   Amen.

A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

God of new beginnings,
whose years never fail
and whose mercy is everlasting:
we give thanks for the blessings
of the year now ended; and as we begin
this new year of our life's journey,
we praise you for the possibilities
and for the opportunities before us;
but most of all, for the assurance
that Christ the Saviour is with us,
our companion on the way.
Give us grace
   to learn from the errors of the past,
   to face the challenges of the present,
   and to renew our hope for the future,
as we now go forth in faith,
   and in the name of Christ the Lord.   Amen.

THE BLESSING

May God bless the coming year,
giving us in his mercy:
   time for the task,
   peace for the pathway,
   courage for the challenges,
   and love to the last.
And the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be upon us, and remain with us always.   Amen.

Friday 1 January 2021

NEW YEAR'S DAY

The Christmas and New Year period is traditionally one of giving and receiving gifts.  The present health emergency has perhaps meant more online purchases than through shopping expeditions, but the giving and receiving of gifts has continued without interruption.

Throughout our lives, God has given us countless gifts, freely to enjoy.  One of these is the precious gift of time.  That beautiful passage from the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament reminds us that time is a divine blessing, and that God has made everything to suit its time.

As we come to New Year's Day, and to another chapter in our life's story, we may remind ourselves that time is God's gift to us, and that whatever this year may or may not bring, it still remains a gift from our Creator.  The question arises: how are we going to use this gift?  Are we going to spend this year in a way that honours God and brings good to people?  Or are we going to fritter it away and forsake the opportunities it brings?

As we make New Year resolutions, let us resolve to make the very best of the time available, trusting in the One who makes all things new - Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.  For he is the light that shines on our path, and our constant companion on the way!

A happy, peaceful New Year's Day to you all!

A NEW YEAR'S DAY PRAYER

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
whose years never fail,
and whose mercies are new each returning day:
let the radiance of your Spirit renew our lives,
warming our hearts and giving light to our minds;
that we may pass the coming year
in joyful obedience and firm faith;
through him who is the beginning and the end,
your Son Christ our Lord.   Amen.

From:   The Promise Of His Glory,
              London 1991, 354

THE BLESSING

May God bless the coming year,
giving us in his mercy
   time for the task,
   peace for the pathway,
   courage for the challenges,
and love to the last.   Amen.