Welcome to our service - 13 February
Racial Justice Sunday
This service sheet can be used individually or with households.
We would encourage you to say (or even sing) hymns and songs out loud.
Prayers, other liturgy or readings can be said out loud or silently, corporately or individually.
If you are able, we would also like invite you to join us for our main Sunday service, 10am, live on Zoom and in church. Even if you have never been to St Gabriel’s before we would love you to join you. Please get in touch with the vicar Alistair (vicar@saintgs.co.uk) and he will send you the Zoom details.
Notices
Please don’t hesitate to ring Alistair (07769 213 581) if you have any questions or would like support.
SERVICE
Racial Justice Sunday is for all churches to reflect on the importance of racial justice, to give thanks for the gifts and beauty of human diversity, and to commit to end racism and acts of discrimination. It is, however, more than an annual reminder of the Church’s commitment to the task of anti-racism. In the words of Richard Reddie from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, this Sunday represents “a call for Christians to engage in the righteous struggle for racial justice because racial justice is everyone’s business”.
The gospel calls all Christians continually to confront the idolatry of racism and the evils in our world and to proclaim justice and mercy as we seek to walk with our God (Micah 6:8). Our worship unites us to Christ, transforms us in Word and Sacrament, and sends us out into the world to uphold the dignity of all in Christ. Racism and racial discrimination are issues of justice because they deny basic human dignity to men and women made in God’s image. Wherever and whenever we treat another “as lesser, or other, our theology fails to celebrate the dramatic nature of our transformation as people who find their primary identity in Christ. In Christ, our differences are not simply erased but rather embraced, valuing the unique ways we each reflect the image of God”(From Lament to Action, p. 7–8).
Opening
Alleluia, alleluia.
The word of the Lord endures for ever.
The word of the Lord is the good news announced to you.
Alleluia, alleluia.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQeIGbKqiw8
And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Saviour's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
that Thou, my God,
shouldst die for me!
2 'Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies;
who can explore His strange design?
In vain the first-born seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
'Tis mercy all let earth adore,
let angel minds inquire no more.
3 He left His Father's throne above -
so free, so infinite His grace -
emptied Himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam's helpless race.
'Tis mercy all, immense and free;
for, O my God, it found out me!
4 Long my imprisoned spirit lay
fast bound in sin and nature's night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray -
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
5 No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach the eternal throne,
and claim the crown,
through Christ, my own.
Charles Wesley (1707-88)
CONFESSION
We have wilfully misused your gifts of creation;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have seen the ill-treatment of others and have not gone to their aid;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have condoned evil and dishonesty and failed to strive for justice;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have heard the good news of Christ, but have failed to share it with others; Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
We have not loved you with all our heart, nor our neighbours as ourselves;
Lord, be merciful:
forgive us our sin.
ABSOLUTION
May the Father of all mercies
cleanse us from our sins,
and restore us in his image
to the praise and glory of his name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
GLORIA
Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.
Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.
For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father.
Amen.
COLLECT
Merciful God,
you are righteous and love justice:
stir the hearts of your people that,
rejoicing in our diversity,
we may repent of the wrongs of the past,
and, by your grace, seek the peaceable kingdom of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
PRAYER FOR RACIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY
God of compassion,
who sent Jesus Christ
to deliver us from all manner of injustices and inequalities,
create in us new hearts and enlarged visions
to see your image in every person
irrespective of background, race and ethnicity.
May we be generous in our love of others
as we work towards ending misunderstanding, racism and injustice; creating communities of human flourishing,
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZugvUQ4m90U
Be still,
for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here;
come bow before Him now
with reverence and fear:
in Him no sin is found -
we stand on holy ground.
Be still,
for the presence of the Lord
the Holy One, is here.
2 . Be still,
for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around;
He burns with holy fire,
with splendour He is crowned:
How awesome is the sight -
our radiant King of light!
Be still,
for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.
3. Be still,
for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place:
He comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister His grace -
no work too hard for Him.
In faith receive from Him.
Be still,
for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.
David J Evans (c) 1986 Thankyou Music
READINGS
Colossians 3:1-17 New International Version – UK
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
John 3:1-8 New International Version - UK
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.’
Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’
‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’
Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.” The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’
This is the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
TALK by Alistair Stevenson
Do you know that your life, as a believer, is hidden with Christ in God? That means your life and future is secure. This is the extraordinary truth of the gospel. If you put your faith and trust in Jesus, he promises that you will appear with him in glory. This is a future hope that we can cling onto in this life. But the present reality can feel very different. And so Paul says ‘put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature’.
Every successful sports person, actor, high court judge or brain surgeon will tell you of a time when like the reality of the future they may have hoped for, felt like a far-off dream. That to achieve the goal would require hours of training, learning, repetition, and likely some major lifestyle changes along the way.
Similarly, when you sit down to do a puzzle, you look at the picture on the front of the box. It’s fairly obvious what the final puzzle is going to look like. But then you open up the box and tip out 1000 or 2000 pieces and realise it’s going to take some time and effort to create the picture.
Paul is trying to express something similar in our passage today. Our future is secure. The picture of what that looks like may be unclear, but we realise that we are actually involved in piecing together each part of the puzzle. However, the guide is not a picture on a box, but the person of Jesus who also sits alongside us and helps us put each piece into its place. One after another the picture is slowly formed. We can start to piece the puzzle together in this life but we know that it will only truly be formed in the life to come.
As Christians we know that it is by grace that we are saved. It is a gift from God, given to us and all who put their faith and trust in Jesus. And when we do so, Paul says, our salvation is secure. However, Paul doesn’t just want to leave us there. There is hope in this life to find freedom and salvation by putting to death our earthly nature.
For Paul and the New Testament writers, eternal life in Jesus isn’t simply a quantity of life after death, but also a quality of life that starts now and grows over a lifetime of following Jesus - continuing into eternity. That’s what Pauls means when he encourages us to set our hearts and minds on things above. Turn the sail of your life boat towards Jesus and as you do so let the wind of the Spirit guide you along. Turn your values, and affection, and love, actions and desires towards Christ. Where is the trajectory of your soul? Is a set of things above or on earthly things?
An eternity of freedom and salvation with Jesus starts today. Today we put to death our earthly nature and step into a resurrected life. This is spiritual formation - the process by which we are formed into a person where ‘the peace of Christ rules in our hearts’.
As has been said, ‘Observe the postage stamp; its usefulness depends on the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.’ ‘Stickability’ is a key to the Christian life.
When I was growing up as a teenager in Durham, I played roller hockey. Much like ice hockey but played in a sports hall with inline roller blades. I absolutely loved it. But, as with ice hockey you need loads of equipment to keep you safe. It’s a contact sport and so you have to wear shoulder pads, elbow pads, these massive padded shorts, shin guards, gloves and of course a helmet with a visor. I would keep it all in a massive bag and it absolutely stank. Before training or a match I would need to put on all this equipment and it would take a fair amount of time. But once it was all on, I was ready. Having played, it would then feel pretty great removing it all and suddenly feeling free and able to move properly again. Plus, I was a lot less smelly.
The analogy of taking off and putting on clothing is often used by Paul and he uses it here again in our passage. He describes how we must rid ourselves of certain things and instead clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Putting off our old self was, for the New Testament writers, about becoming free. Sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language were all a form of enslavement and bondage. The therapeutic word for this kind of enslavement is compulsion, defined as “a very strong feeling of wanting to do something repeatedly that is difficult to control.” Compulsion, left unchecked, turns into addiction, which is a form of slavery to desire.
For many westerners the word oppression is increasingly used to describe any external authority or constraint that keeps us from doing what we want and becoming who we want to be. Just to be very clear, there is in our world today external authority that is oppressive, toxic and cruel. North Korea, systemic racism, class oppression, misogyny amongst many many others. There is a time and place to oppose external authority. But the problem isn’t external authority in itself but the abuse of it.
As Christians however, the very nature of following Jesus and to find freedom in him, is to choose to submit - to place ourselves under the external authority of our King. We do this because we believe that, similar to parenting a child, the authority of Jesus helps us to put to death, as Paul describes here our earthly nature – the things that damage us - and cloth ourselves instead with the values of the Kingdom.
Timothy Keller, the pastor and theologian from New York writes ‘that freedom is not what the culture tells us. Real freedom comes from a strategic loss of some freedoms in order to gain others. It is not the absence of constraints but it is choosing the right constraints and the right freedoms to lose.’
The greatest example of this is love. And it is how Paul sums up the passage: ‘over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.’ Is there a greater constraint than a loving relationship? To gain intimacy, we have to give up autonomy.
When I commit to being a life-long friend, I do so recognising that this relationship is only possible through giving up and giving away of what might be seen as my individual freedoms, desires and rights.
Jesus said himself “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16.25).
So how do we lose our life and find it in Christ?
Paul, writing another letter to church in Galatians said:
“A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
When we continue to sow, day in, day out, into the Spirit - through compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with each other and forgiving (extraordinary like Jesus forgave us) - we sow with love and we plant something deep in the very core of our being which, over time, takes root and bears the fruit of a Christlike character.
I don’t know if you have ever been driving somewhere, and you become so deep in thought or conversation with another person in the car that when you refocus you can’t quite remember the last 5 minutes of the road. It’s like you suddenly remember that you’re driving and wonder if you’ve actually been driving safely all this time. In this way, Catherine and I were once driving to friends and having got into a really interesting conversation, only to realise that I’d driven in completely the wrong direction towards where they used to live - because I’d driven there so many times before.
John Mark Comer writes this: ‘Every thought, every desire we follow, every choice we make is an investment in our future, in the kind of people we want to become. How do you grow a forest? One seed at a time. How do you grow a life? One tiny, unglamorous decision at a time.”
Like a route that we have driven many times before, our regular decisions and habits form us and shape us and become second nature. So much so that we do them without even thinking.
And what does Paul suggest is the result of regularly clothing ourselves with Christ. The result is the peace of Christ ruling our hearts. Christ peace rules – it has authority, it guides all our decisions, it has supremacy over everything else. This shalom, wholeness peace not only transforms our own lives, it transforms the lives of those around us. It is a peace that reflects the image of the creator where, Paul says, there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. On this Racial Justice Sunday, the significance of this can't be understated. Racism and racial discrimination are issues of justice because they deny basic human dignity to men and women made in God’s image.
Finally, Paul concludes this section saying this: “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
If you wanted a summary of what our church gatherings should look like, here is a pretty good one. Yes - it’s not a full picture but it’s close. My hope and prayer is that, as a body of believers called to this church in Greystones, that the message of Christ - that his words - would dwell in us richly. Dwelling implies that the words of Jesus take residence in our lives, that they settle and inhibit every aspect of us. We need to say to our hearts and lives: ‘words of Jesus - make yourself at home. Take off your shoes, put the kettle on, help yourself to what’s in the fridge, watch whatever you want on the TV, stay the night or 3 or forever’. We are called to be a church who follow the ways and words of Jesus and allow them to take up residence in our lives.
I would encourage you now to re-read the passage from Colossians.
Firstly, use verses 5 – 9 in a time of confession - asking for the forgiveness of Christ over areas of your life where you are prompted by these verses.
Secondly, slowly read verses 12 – 14. Think about each virtue in turn and imagine being clothed by Jesus with each one. Which virtue do you need more of. How are you going to ‘put it on’ today?
Finally, rest in the peace of Christ and let it rule over you. Amen.
THE APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth
I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand
of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen
O LORD, HEAR MY PRAYER,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
When I call answer me.
O Lord, hear my prayer,
O Lord, hear my prayer:
Come and listen to me.
Jacques Berthier/Taizé.
Copyright © 1982 Ateliers et Presses de Taize (France).
PRAYERS - written by Linda Chambers
Paul writes in Colossians - “Here there is no Greek or Jew … slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all.” Today is Racial Justice Sunday. I’m using a prayer suggested for this occasion:
“God of compassion, who sent Jesus Christ to deliver us from all manner of injustices and inequalities, create in us new hearts and enlarged visions to see your image in every person irrespective of background, race and ethnicity. May we be generous in our love of others as we work towards ending misunderstanding, racism and injustice; creating communities of human flourishing, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen”
Dear Lord, we remember today the little Moroccan boy trapped in the well and pray for his family and friends in their pain and loss. Thank you for the huge rescue effort and the whole community coming together in prayerful support and later shared grief.
We pray for communities around the world struggling with major concerns such as conflict, drought, flooding, poverty … We lift up to you, Lord, those displaced from their homes, villages, workplaces, who find themselves refugees in their own country - communities in Syria, Iraq, Myanmar, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa … Please help them as they try to survive in makeshift accommodation, scrape a living and establish new communities.
Paul writes in Colossians: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus”. We pray this for ourselves and for our mission partners. We remember Tom and Gemma now in Uganda. Please help them to build closer relationships with their colleagues at the hospital and as they begin their individual projects in the coming weeks. May they grow into a deeper relationship with you and show them how best to help the community around them.
We lift before you David and Helen in Manchester. Give David strength and patience for his work with the young people in school, energy for Helen with her counselling course and protection for their two young children.
Thank you, Lord, for our local schools. We pray for a much-needed break during half term for all the staff as they regroup and re-energise. Protect our young people out and about in the city and in our parks and recreation areas, especially Bingham Park. Bless those who provide for our various needs through the local shops, businesses and Doctors’ surgery.
Thank you, Lord, for our café church last Sunday and the reminder that we are all connected to the one Body through Christ. We pray for all those who shared in the baptism service and especially for Freya and her parents. Thank you for Sam and the Sunday youth group. Encourage them as they grow into a community together - and in their understanding of the Christian faith. Bless and equip all those involved with church maintenance and technology, refreshments, flower arrangements, preparation for services ...
As we make daily choices about how to live our lives, may we set our hearts and minds on things above not on earthly things. And as your chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe us with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Finally, as we enter a new week with all its potential ups and downs, we commend to you those we know in pain or distress – and may the peace of Christ rule in our hearts. AMEN
LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO1G-o7Yj-c
Beauty for brokenness,
hope for despair,
Lord in Your suff'ring world
this is our prayer.
Bread for the children,
justice, joy, peace,
sunrise to sunset
Your Kingdom increase.
2. Shelter for fragile lives,
cures for their ills,
work for the craftsmen,
trade for their skills.
Land for the dispossessed,
rights for the weak,
voices to plead the cause
of those who can't speak.
God of the poor,
friend of the weak,
give us compassion we pray.
Melt our cold hearts,
let tears fall like rain.
Come change our love
from a spark to a flame.
3. Refuge from cruel wars,
havens from fear,
cities for sanctu'ry,
freedoms to share.
Peace to the killing fields,
scorched earth to green,
Christ for the bitterness,
His cross for the pain.
4. Rest for the ravaged earth,
oceans and streams,
plundered and poisoned,
our future, our dreams.
Lord end our madness,
carelessness, greed.
Make us content with
the things that we need.
God of the poor….
5. Lighten our darkness,
breathe on this flame,
until Your justice burns
brightly again;
until the nations
learn of Your ways,
seek Your salvation
and bring You their praise.
God of the poor…………….
Words and Music: Graham Kendrick
(Copyright © 1993 Make Way Music)
OFFERTORY - Take a moment to consider how you are going to continue to give to the life of the church and support other aid agencies and mission organisations.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power,
the glory, the splendour, and the majesty;
for everything in heaven and on earth is yours.
All things come from you, and of your own do we give you.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvMeTWAiUz8
Lord, the light of your love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness shining,
Jesus Light of the world shine upon us,
Set us free by the truth You now bring us,
Shine on me, shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory,
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire,
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word Lord
And let there be light.
2. Lord, I come to Your awesome presence
From the shadows into Your radiance,
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, shine...
3. As we gaze on Your kingly brightness
So our faces display Your likeness,
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story,
Shine on me, shine on me.
Shine Jesus, shine...
Graham Kendrick (c) 1987 Make Way Music/Thankyou Music
FINAL BLESSING:
The blessing of God the Father,
who made from one every nation that occupies the earth;
of God the Son, who bought us for God from every tribe and language and people and nation; and of God the Spirit,
who brings us together in unity,
be with you and remain with you always. Amen.