Welcome to our service - 20 February
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. 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
Due the current lockdown the PCC have decided to suspended public worship for the foreseeable future. We are also unable to offer private prayer in the church building.
Please don’t hesitate to ring Alistair (07769 213 581) if you have any questions or would like support.
SERVICE
Opening
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
Blessed are those who have endured temptation;
they have stood the test and will receive the crown of life.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory.
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpkEeXWtWg0
Lead us, heavenly father, lead us
through this world’s tempestuous sea;
guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us –
You our only help and plea;
here possessing every blessing
if our God our father be.
2. Saviour, by your grace restore us
all our weaknesses are plain;
You have lived on earth before us,
You have felt our grief and pain:
tempted, taunted, yet undaunted,
from the depths you rose again.
3. Spirit of our God descending,
fill our hearts with holy peace;
love with every passion blending,
pleasure that can never cease:
thus provided, pardoned, guided,
ever shall our joys increase.
Words : James Edmeston © Jubilate Hymns
Music: Geraldine Latty © Kingsways Thankyou Music
CONFESSION
TSince we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, looking to Jesus in penitence and faith.
As we acknowledge our human frailty, we call to mind our sins of word, deed and omission, and confess them before God our Father.
Father eternal, giver of light and grace,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour, in what we have thought, in what we have said and done, through ignorance, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault. We have wounded your love, and marred your image in us. We are sorry and ashamed, and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past; and lead us out from darkness to walk as children of light. Amen.
ABSOLUTION
Almighty God,
who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver is from all our sins,
confirm and strengthen us in all goodness, and keep us in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
COLLECT
Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth
and made us in your own image:
teach us to discern your hand in all your works
and your likeness in all your children;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things,
now and for ever. Amen
SING: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zN0XfOTC8U
BE STILL AND KNOW that I am God,
Be still and know that I am God,
Be still and know that I am God.
I am the Lord that healeth thee … (etc.)
In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust … (etc.)
READINGS
Colossians 3:18-4:1 New International Version - UK
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.
Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favour, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favouritism.
Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
Matthew 19:1-12 New International Version - UK
When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.
Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, ‘Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?’
‘Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator “made them male and female,” and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh”? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.’
‘Why then,’ they asked, ‘did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?’
Jesus replied, ‘Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.’
The disciples said to him, ‘If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.’
Jesus replied, ‘Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given. For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others – and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.’
Thanks be to God.
TALK by Stuart Ibbotson
When I first looked at the passage from Colossians for today, I realised that I have many different types of relationships with other people. I have been married for nearly 37 years, which is well over half of my life. I am also a father of 3 children, all with their own partners, one of whom is to be married themselves next year. I am also a son, so have experienced another side of a relationship. I was also a very junior teacher at one point and finally the head of a small department. I also have some good friends. So, I have quite a bit of experience of the ups and downs that are attached to family and other relationships, although I must hastily add that the ups far outweigh the downs in both frequency and impact. We all have relationships of many types and each one comes with responsibilities and that is what Paul is writing to the Colossians about, it is not just about the three types of relationships that he highlights.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been looking at the book of Colossians. Paul has been writing to the ancient church about the identity of Jesus Christ, what took place on the cross and how this can lead to personal transformation. The book contains some of the deepest teachings about Christ that we can find anywhere.
As is normal with Paul, he begins to apply some of this more directly to everyday life as he goes along, as happens in today’s passage.
Paul picks areas that are so much a part of our everyday lives that they’re easy to overlook. He doesn’t keep this theology at some abstract level. He starts by applying it to normal relationships of the time. The place to start living our faith is not in some abstract area of our life. It’s with those who we already live with and work with and talk to every day of our life. The place to start is with the people that we interact with the most in our life.
I do want to look at the bigger picture of all three types of relationships that Paul describes: husband-wife, parent-child, and master-slave. When Paul talks about masters and slaves it can be shocking to us that he seems to accept that slavery seemed an acceptable thing, but I think we need to remind ourselves that the master-slave relationship he’s talking about is not the same as the one that existed in the Caribbean, US south and other parts of the world. There is no real parallel to any relationships that we have today, although unfortunately slavery still exists. Our work relationships are not anywhere close to the relationships that masters and slaves had back then, even if a boss might sometimes be a bully.
What Paul says here is applicable to every type of relationship we have.
It can be hard to live out our faith in the context of our relationships. That’s often the most difficult place to apply what Christ has done in our lives.
In this passage we get some sense of why relationships can sometimes be so challenging. Marriages weren’t normally started in Paul’s time out of the same sense of romantic love that is common today in many parts of the world. It is unlikely that anyone at the time would spot their future spouse across a crowded room as I did- what a romantic I am! It wouldn’t have been easy for some of the wives back then to submit to their husbands. It wouldn’t have been easy for some husbands to love their wives the way that Paul describes, or for some wives to love their husbands. My first slide is from part of a Christian couple’s Roman Sarcophagus- which seems to indicate a loving partnership- but why do we know it to be Christian- more on that later!
Children at the time had very few rights. They were legally viewed as the father’s property, little better than slaves. The father had almost unlimited power to do as he pleased with his children. It would be a tough thing for a child to live out his or her faith given the rights of the father at that time. However, my second slide is from another sarcophagus of a child or children who were clearly loved.
Slaves had even fewer rights. My third slide is of a Roman master punishing a slave. They were seen as possessions, not people. Paul spends a lot of time talking about how a slave could live out his or her faith as a follower of Christ despite their position in life. It was just a part of the reality of that time. Paul didn’t aim to turn the world upside down, although these teachings did sow the seeds that eventually led to dismantling an unjust social structure, although we human beings are unfortunately very good at coming up with new social structures and hierarchies. Paul was aiming to teach the people how to live faithfully in whatever situation in which they found themselves.
In the gospel reading this morning Jesus spoke to his listeners about marriage, but what he says is deserving of many talks so I do not intend to dwell on it here as I feel to do so would do it injustice.
Paul didn’t aim to dismantle the social structure of the time. He did, however, radically adjust the social structure for followers of Christ.
(Fourth slide) I already mentioned the disparity that existed between men and almost everyone else in Paul’s time. In the society of the time wives, children, and slaves had responsibilities. Husbands, fathers, and masters had rights, but they didn’t have obligations toward their wives, children, and slaves. In fact, under the law a Roman woman remained her father’s property, even after marriage. In the household codes that were around at that time, there was nothing about the duties of the more privileged partner in the relationship. It was one of the things that made being a Christian so different from virtually everyone else in the Roman world, and why so may found it a quite bizarre way to live.
But what Paul does is something radical for the time. He turns notions and ideas on their heads and outlines the duties of a husband, father, and a master. It would have been shocking for the males of that time to learn of their responsibilities to love and to serve others, not just to treat them as chattels. Paul taught the men that they have obligations to those who, in that society, were rarely given any rights.
Let’s look at what Paul said about marriage. To wives, he said “submit”. That certainly wouldn’t have been shocking in that day, it would have been expected. It certainly is hard to read today for many of us. We could have a lot of a lot of debates about whether wives today are still called to submit to their husbands, and what that means. But it is clear that when Paul writes about submission, he does not mean subservience. It means that we move beyond self-absorption and become focused on how we can love and serve others.
Paul then says something that would have been surprising to the readers. He says in V19, “Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.” What the message is saying is “Husbands, go all out in love for your wives. Don’t take advantage of them.” Husbands were never told how to treat their wives previously. Paul says that the way that a husband can live out their faith in their marriages is to become a servant, a lover, of his wife. It’s about putting her first and caring for her.
Paul talks about the parent-child relationship. It would have been surprising for a parent to read in V21, “Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”
That advice isn’t surprising today. It’s not radical anymore. Back then, it was saying to the person in control, “It’s not about your rights. You have a responsibilities to treat them well.”
The same with masters and slaves. Paul says in Ch4 V1, “Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.”
Let’s make this real today. There are all kinds of relationships we have where we have the upper hand. We might be a parent or bosses at work. We may have greater financial control in some of our relationships.
Living our faith means that we go out of our way for those who are vulnerable in all of our relationships. It means treating those who would otherwise be vulnerable as well as we possibly can.
Seven times in this passage, Paul makes reference to how our relationship with God affects our relationships with each other. He talks about how treating others well honours God, delights God. He talks about seeing past the person and seeing how what we’re doing is an act of worship to God Himself. Our relationships are important to God. There is a divine dimension to every one of our relationships because God is either honoured or dishonoured by what we do.
Paul wrote to slaves and helped them see past their situations. He reminded them that their real master was God. He talked about an inheritance. This would have seemed remarkable as slaves weren’t allowed to receive an inheritance at that time, they had to be made legally free first if this was to be a possibility. Paul says, “It doesn’t matter what society says about you. Society won’t give you an inheritance. It looks down on you. But God doesn’t. God has promised you an inheritance that nobody can take away.” Slaves were viewed in that society as being little better than animated machines. Paul urges the masters to treat the slaves as responsible human beings, independent and capable.
In every one of our relationships, we have the opportunity to see the image of God in the other person and to treat them in a way that brings glory to God. This is the challenge of taking our faith home.
How might this be put into practice. For some of us, we need to go home and to apologize to someone for how we’ve acted toward them. We maybe haven’t treated them with the type of respect or honour that brings glory to God. One of the best things that we could do would be to go to them and acknowledge this, and to ask their forgiveness.
Some of us may need to focus on a relationship that we have. It’s always tempting to think the problem is with the other person. It might be time to look at what we’re bringing to the relationship. It may not be all our fault, but we can begin to live faithfully no matter how the other person chooses to respond.
Some of us may need to take the difficult step of forgiving someone who has wronged us. Taking our faith home may mean forgiving someone, not because they deserve it, but because Christ forgave us when we didn’t deserve it. Human nature generally makes this a difficult task, but with the help of the Holy Spirit we can do so.
This is where living our faith can be the hardest, in our day-to-day interactions with those we know best. But it’s exactly the place for us to start.
Oh, and how do we know that the first sarcophagus that I showed was of a Christian couple? When we see the full picture on the final slide, we see all sorts of stories from the bible- mainly from the New Testament. This couple had surrounded themselves in life with the teachings from the Bible and wanted to remind people after they died how important their faith was. I like to think that theirs was a loving two-way relationship, where each gave generously of themselves, just as Jesus gave everything on the cross for each and every one of us.
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
Lord, we thank you for all your gifts in creation and the wonder and beauty of the world with the promise of spring to come. Thank you for all who seek to bring in your kingdom by striving for justice, peace and liberty around the world. Please help us as individuals and as a church to cooperate with you in bringing in your kingdom in our own locality, city, region.
LORD GOD, LET YOUR KINGDOM COME
We pray for Fairtrade Fortnight starting on Monday, highlighting the growing challenges that climate change brings to so many vulnerable people groups. We pray for the online events being prepared to aid us in our understanding of these issues. Encourage us in our own commitment to justice, in the choices we make and in the priorities we set ourselves.
We pray for farmers and producers across the world already seeing the huge impact of climate change on their food production, livestock and traditional way of life. Please sustain them as they cope with drought, crop disease, floods, heat waves.
We pray that world leaders will respond to the climate emergency with real commitment and substantial investment. Help them to keep in focus the end goal while working out crucial steps to reach it in their own countries.
LORD GOD, LET YOUR KINGDOM COME
Lord, we pray for all the weary medical and support staff on the Covid wards at present. Grant them renewed strength and energy for their many tasks. Bring healing and wholeness to patients struggling with the disease. Thank you for the application and dedication of those developing and trialling the different vaccines. Protect NHS staff and volunteers as they administer the vaccine with all the complexities that involves. Please dispel misinformation currently circulating and encourage ethnic communities in particular to accept the vaccine.
Lord, we pray for our country’s leaders, scientists and medical advisors who continue to bear such a burden of responsibility at this time. We pray especially for wisdom and clarity for the Prime Minister due to present his lockdown review on Monday. And we pray for those for whom Covid restrictions are especially challenging because of their living conditions, lack of earnings, health problems or disability.
LORD GOD, LET YOUR KINGDOM COME
Lord, we thank you for St. Gabriel’s, for Alistair and Catherine’s leadership, for our regular members and those who have recently joined us on zoom. Guide and bless those involved with the Alpha Course, the Prayer Course and those planning future services and events. We pray for our local churches, especially All Saints as we develop our mission partnership with them. And we ask your blessing on Mark Brown as he begins his ministry there as Vicar.
Lord, we lift before you those of our fellowship who have lost a loved one during this past year from Covid or other causes. Comfort and sustain them in their grief. We pray for any we know awaiting treatment or surgery, those recovering from operations or injuries, often having to cope with the highs and lows of recovery. Grant them patience and hope.
LORD GOD, LET YOUR KINGDOM COME
Finally, Lord, as we reflect on the past week, we place in your hands our unfinished tasks, our unsolved problems and our unfulfilled hopes. And as we continue through the season of Lent, help us to trust you and to recognise where you are at work in our daily lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. 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=9SzM5lTyIjc
Jesus, stand among us
at the meeting of our lives,
be our sweet agreement
at the meeting of our eyes;
O Jesus, we love You, so we gather here,
join our hearts in unity
and take away our fear.
2. So to You we're gathering
out of each and every land,
Christ the love between us
at the joining of our hands;
O Jesus, we love You,
so we gather here,
join our hearts in unity
and take away our fear.
3.Jesus stand among us
at the breaking of the bread;
join us as one body
as we worship You, our Head.
O Jesus, we love You,
so we gather here;
join our hearts in unity
and take away our fear
Graham Kendrick
© 1977 Make Way Music/Thankyou 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=DXDGE_lRI0E
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
O my soul,
worship His holy name.
Sing like never before,
O my soul.
I'll worship Your holy name.
The sun comes up,
it's a new day dawning.
It's time to sing Your song again.
Whatever may pass,
and whatever lies before me,
let me be singing
when the evening comes.
Bless the Lord, O my soul….
You're rich in love,
and You're slow to anger,
your name is great,
and Your heart is kind.
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
ten thousand reasons
for my heart to find.
Bless the Lord, O my soul….
And on that day
when my strength is failing,
the end draws near
and my time has come,
still my soul will sing
your praise unending
ten thousand years
and then forevermore.
Bless the Lord, O my soul….
© Matt Redman & Jonas Myrin
FINAL 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 upon you and remain with you always. Amen