Brecon Beacons Pastorate

URC Daily Devotions
Worship for Palm Sunday 2021

URC audio service

The Rev’d Geoffrey Clarke

Opening Music

Introduction

Welcome to worship for Palm Sunday. Our service this morning commences with the celebration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and moves on to ponder his self-giving love as heard and seen within the Passion Gospel.

I am Geoffrey Clarke, Moderator of the East Midlands Synod of The United Reformed Church, (a Synod that embraces the counties and 127 churches of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes)

Call to Worship

People of God, on this wilderness journey, what will you eat?
The word of the Lord is our daily bread.
People of God, in this time of temptation, how will you live?
Our faith is in the faithfulness of God.
People of God, at this kingdom crossroad, whom will you serve?
We worship the Lord our God alone.

Reading St Mark 11: 1-11

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.”’ They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’ Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Hymn: All glory, laud and honour to thee, Redeemer King
Theodolf of Orléans 820, translated J M Neale 1851

All glory, laud, and honour
To Thee, Redeemer, King!
To Whom the lips of children
Made sweet Hosannas ring.

1: Thou art the King of Israel
Thou David's Royal Son,
Who in the LORD'S name comest,
The King and Blessèd One.

2: The company of Angels
Are praising Thee on high,
And mortal men, and all things
Created make reply.

3: To Thee before Thy Passion
They sang their hymns of praise;
To Thee now high exalted
Our melody we raise.

Prayers of Approach, Confession and Forgiveness

Loving God, at this time we remember that going up to Jerusalem cost Jesus his very life. So we come before you. conscious of the way religious words and holy phrases can slip so easily from our lazy lips and hardened hearts. What do we really know of your mountainous truth, your rock-hard integrity, the depth of your suffering for love of us all? Forgive us for the shallowness of our faith, and the timidity of our following: forgive us for the ready excuses we make for going our own way and claiming it as yours.

Turn us round again, we pray, by your Holy Spirit, active within us and among us. Show us how to be open again to your faithfulness and to your freedom, that we may live new lives and be again bearers of the seeds of the Kingdom of Jesus.

Here are words you may trust – words that merit full acceptance: Hear the Gospel word of grace: “Your sins are forgiven”. Thanks be to God.

Prayer of Illumination

Eternal God, whose word silences the shouts of the mighty:
Quiet within us every voice but your own.
Speak to us through the suffering and death of Jesus Christ
that by the power of the Holy Spirit
we may receive grace to show Christ’s love
in lives given to your service. Amen.

Hymn: Our Saviour, Christ, of Godly nature
The Rev’d Michael L Forster (born 1946)

Our Saviour, Christ,
of Godly nature
and equal in the Father's eyes,
refused to clutch his rightful glory
the way a miser grasps the prize.

2: Of all his heavenly
glory emptied,
his very self he freely gave,
to clothe himself in human nature
and wear the mantle of a slave.

3: Immortal God
for us made mortal,
the God-breathed Word
drew human breath,
then gave up even that to save us,
obedient to the very death.

4: From death to life
did God exalt him,
to heaven's joy and earth's acclaim;
on him, and him alone, bestowing
the Name above all other names.

5: That at the glorious
Name of Jesus
all nations shall acclaim his worth,
& every knee shall bow before him
above, below and on the earth.

6: Let every tongue
in earth and heaven
proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord,
who shows the glory of the Father,
our God for
evermore adored.

Reading: St Mark 14: 1 – 15: 47
The reading is interspersed with the hymn Christ, let us see by this most holy sign written by the Rev’d Michael Forster (born 1946) © 1995 Kevin Mayhew Ltd and sung by Iona Cameron.

St Mark 14: 1-25

Narrator: It was two days before the Passover and the festival
of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said,

Other: “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot
among the people.”

Narrator: While Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon
the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger,

Other: “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.”

Narrator: And they scolded her. But Jesus said,

Jesus: “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”

Narrator: Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him,

Other: “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

Narrator: So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,

Jesus: “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”

Narrator: So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said,

Jesus: “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”

Narrator: They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another,

Other: “Surely, not I?”

Narrator: He said to them,

Jesus: “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Humanity goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Humanity is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”

Narrator: While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said,

Jesus: “Take; this is my body.”

Narrator: Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them,

Jesus: “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Christ, let us see, by this most holy sign,
love’s highest cost revealed in bread and wine.
As you command, this also we will do,
living and giving all to honour you.

St Mark 14: 25-52

Narrator: When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. And Jesus said to them,

Jesus: “You will all become deserters; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

Narrator: Peter said to him,

Other: “Even though all become deserters, I will not.”

Narrator: Jesus said to him,

Jesus: “Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

Narrator: But he said vehemently,

Other: “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.”

Narrator: And all of them said the same. They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples,

Jesus: “Sit here while I pray.”

Narrator: He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. And said to them,

Jesus: “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”

Narrator: And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. He said,

Jesus: “Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.”

Narrator: He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter,

Jesus: “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Narrator: And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them,

Jesus: “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

Narrator: Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying,

Other: “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.”

Narrator: So when he came, he went up to him at once and said,

Other: “Rabbi!”

Narrator: and kissed him.

Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. But one of those who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to them,

Jesus: “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.”

Narrator: All of them deserted him and fled.
A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.

Christ, Lord of love, what treachery is this?
See how your friend betrays y ou with a kiss!
Change by your love all those who share his claim,
all who call hatred holy in your name.

St Mark 14: 53-72

Narrator: They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were assembled. Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree. Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying,

Other: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’”

Narrator: But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus,

Other: “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?”

Narrator: But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him,
Other: “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

Narrator: Jesus said,

Jesus: “I am; and ‘you will see the Son of Humanity seated at the right hand of the Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.’”

Narrator: Then the high priest tore his clothes and said,

Other: “Why do we still need witnesses? You have heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?”

Narrator: All of them condemned him as deserving death. Some
began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him,

Other: “Prophesy!”

Narrator: The guards also took him over and beat him. While
Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said,

Other: “You also were with Jesus, the man from Nazareth.”

Narrator: But he denied it, saying,

Other: “I do not know or understand what you are talking
about.”

Narrator: And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock
crowed. And the servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders,

Other: “This man is one of them.”

Narrator: But again he denied it. Then after a little while the
bystanders again said to Peter,

Other: “Certainly you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.”

Narrator: But he began to curse, and he swore an oath,

Other: “I do not know this man you are talking about.”

Narrator: At that moment the cock crowed for the second time.
Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him,

Jesus: “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three
times.”

Narrator: And he broke down and wept.

Christ, by your friends in daily life denied,
bruised by the fall which follows sinful pride,
you, only you, can pardon and restore,
reach out your wounded hand to us once more.

St Mark 15: 1-15

Narrator: As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate asked him,

Other: “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Narrator: He answered him,

Jesus: “You say so.”

Narrator: Then the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again,

Other: “Have you no answer? See how many charges they bring against you.”

Narrator: But Jesus made no further reply, so that Pilate was amazed. Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked. Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according to his custom. Then he answered them,

Other: “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”

Narrator: For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate spoke to them again,

Other: “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”

Narrator: They shouted back,

Other: “Crucify him!”

Narrator: Pilate asked them,

Other: “Why, what evil has he done?”

Narrator: But they shouted all the more,

Other: “Crucify him!”

Narrator: So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified.

Christ, Priest and Victim, this is now your hour,
victim of priests’ and princes’ lust for pow’r;
help us destroy the gods of pow’r and pride,
and stand with you among the crucified.

St Mark 15: 16-39

Narrator: Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began saluting him,

Other: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

Narrator: They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh; but he did not take it.

And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them, casting lots to decide what each should take. It was nine o clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read,

Other: “The King of the Jews.”

Narrator: And with him they crucified two bandits, one on
his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying,
Other: “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself, and come down from the cross!”

Narrator: In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes, were also mocking him among themselves and saying,

Other: “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may see and believe.”

Narrator: Those who were crucified with him also taunted him. When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o”clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice,

Jesus: “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?”

Narrator: which means,

Jesus: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Narrator: When some of the bystanders heard it, they said,

Other: “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.”

Narrator: And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying,

Other: “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.”

Narrator: Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said,

Other: “Truly this man was God’s Son!”

Christ who has shared your people’s darkest fears,
Father who knows bereavement’s bitter tears,
Spirit of love, with healing in your breath,
hold and unite us at the time of death.

St Mark 14: 40-47

Narrator: There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

Father and Spirit of the dying Son,
still undivided, Three for ever One,
grant at life’s end that, trusting in your grace,
we may surrender to your love's embrace.

Reflection

The late Fred Kaan, United Reformed Church hymnwriter and minister, was surprised that among his many hymns one that continued to be sung was his Palm Sunday hymn. Lyrically it was by no means his most theologically profound and the Companion to Rejoice and Sing suggests that “it is not a hymn for those who need to remain dignified”. The first line, despite its simplicity, affirms what today’s gospel readings proclaim:
We have a king who rides a donkey

and its fifth verse declares,

Servant-king is Jesus.

The kingship of the “servant-king” is in stark contrast to the power sought and held by all too many. Martin Luther, writing over five hundred years ago, reflected on leadership. He could so easily have been writing it today. I quote:

"In the world there are many who seek only their own advantage, honour, and power. This never makes for good government. For such people have little interest in the country and the nation; they think that they alone must be feted and honoured. They are unwilling to endure peril, ingratitude, contempt and disgrace; or when they do encounter such things, they grow furious and foolish, begin to rage, and turn everything topsides-turvy. They are determined to avenge themselves and to carry their point even though everything is ruined and the government collapses. These people are not fit to rule."

There may be longed-for comfort and reassurance in the Palm Sunday image of our faith being “feted and honoured” on the streets and resembling that of a victory procession. Palm Sunday is a welcome opportunity to assert the hope that, in the words of Philippians 2, at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth (Philippians 2: 10). But Palm Sunday celebrated in isolation from the unfolding story of Holy Week is escapism, albeit a tempting and welcome one! We do well to remember Kaan’s affirmation that we have a king who rides a donkey … servant-king is Jesus! If we cling too tightly to the notion that Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem was recognition of his kingship and power we do well to remember his mode of transport. Riding a donkey is not an affirmation of glory! I’d suggest that rather than being a cavalcade of royal cars this is akin to Jesus being given a lift into town in Del Boy's three-wheeled Reliant Regal Supervan!

Ours is a servant-king. And, ultimately, this is seen in the Passion Gospel – in the Crucified King. It should come as no surprise to any of us that the One acclaimed on Palm Sunday is subjected, just days later, to betrayal and denial by those closest to him. Acclamation is changed to derision as the hosanna-hymn morphs to the chorus of contempt.

Today is an opportunity for us to reflect on what kind of God we glimpse in the servant-king and, at the same time, to consider in which crowd we stand. We claim our lives are subject to God’s reign and rule and yet also betray and deny God all too readily when the going gets tough.

It is vital – and life-giving – for us to ensure that the focus is first and foremost not on ourselves but on our servant-king. His reign saves us. Luther recognised the features of bad leaders - those he describes as seeking only their own advantage, honour, and power and that they alone must be feted and honoured. There is a world of difference between such embodiments of power and privilege and the Crucified servant-king. Let the words of Philippians 2 challenge us all:

Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death – even death on a cross.

I conclude with words by Sam Wells, in his latest book, A Cross in the Heart of God:

Passiontide is a story not so much about conventional notions of power such as military dictatorship, religious authority or terrorist violence, but about a power that’s at the same time far greater and more intimate than any of them – God’s enduring love for the whole world, and God’s intense love for us, Christ’s intimate friends. (A Cross in the Heart of God, Samuel Wells. © Samuel Wells 2020.)

In short, we have a king who rides a donkey … servant-king is Jesus

Intercessions

Let us pray.

God of Palm Sunday streets and Calvary’s hill, cheering crowds and weeping ones, we offer our prayers for the streets and hills, crowds and individuals in our own time:

We pray for those for whom the crowds cheer and the red carpet is laid out, monarchs and presidents, prime ministers and politicians, whether their power is bequeathed or bestowed by vote, in democracies and in dictatorships: recalling Luther’s words, may they lead and govern as servants, not seeking their own advantage, honour and power but in the interests of all, and with a commitment that embraces the wellbeing of the least and the lowest.

We pray for those who live in places where human rights and basic dignity are denied; those who are powerless and oppressed, enslaved or ignored. May they be upheld by the enduring love of God – and may that love be embodied in the care and concern of us all in praying and working tirelessly for a world in which all are valued and honoured.

We pray for the Church: for our worship, witness and service, particularly in these challenging times. We pray for our shared endeavour to cry, “Hosanna” – our attempts to connect the faith and conviction of the Church with the needs and fears of those around us. Save us from a false piety and an obsession with self-interest, rescue us from despair and tune our hearts to sing your praise. Tune our hearts to an awareness of your presence on our streets as well as sanctuaries, in humble service as well as joyous recognition. Enable us to lay down the cloaks of our lives at the feet of the servant-king so that when the singing ceases our service persists.

We pray for all for whom the desolation and grief of the Cross bear a painful resemblance to their own experience. For all facing the challenge of Covid-19 and all key workers, NHS and care home staff, and any and all putting their lives at risk for the good of the rest of us by ensuring essential services continue.

And as we contemplate the amazing love of God, made manifest in the Crucified One, we pray for all in agony and grief. Those who suffer: the vast company of those who know mental, physical or emotional pain. We hold before God in prayer those whose names and needs weigh heavily on our own hearts.

Finally, we pray for ourselves: that we may realise afresh the amazing love of God and find the help, strength and peace we need for lives lived to God’s glory.

In the name of the servant-king, Amen.

Hymn: My song is love unknown
Samuel Crossman (1624 – 1683)

My song is love unknown,
my Saviour’s love to me;
love to the loveless shown,
that they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
my Lord should take
frail flesh, and die?

2 He came from His blest throne
salvation to bestow;
but folk made strange,
and none the
longed-for Christ would know:
but oh, my friend,
my friend indeed,
who at my need
His life did spend.

3 Sometimes they strew His way,
and His sweet praises sing;
resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
then “Crucify!”
is all their breath,
and for His death
they thirst and cry.

4: Why what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight.
Sweet injuries! yet they at these
themselves displease
and ‘gainst him rise.

5 They rise and needs will have
my dear Lord made away;
a murderer they save,
the Prince of life they slay.
Yet cheerful He
to suffering goes,
that He His foes
from thence might free.

6 In life, no house, no home
my Lord on earth might have;
in death, no friendly tomb,
but what a stranger gave.
What may I say?
Heav’n was His home;
but mine the tomb
wherein He lay.

7 Here might I stay and sing,
no story so divine;
never was love, dear King,
never was grief like Thine.
This is my friend,
in whose sweet praise
I all my days
could gladly spend.

Blessing

May the cry of “Hosanna”
lift our spirits and warm our hearts
and the cry of “Crucify”
ever remind us of our calling to carry our cross.
And the blessing of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
remain with you, now and always. Amen.

Closing Music

Sources and thanks

Liturgical Prelude by George Oldroyd (organ of The Spire Church, Farnham – 2020)
Trumpet Voluntary in D by John Baston (organ of Basilica Santo Spirito, Florence, Italy – 2016)

Both pieces played by, and received, with thanks, from Brian Cotterill http://briancotterill.webs.com

Prayers of Approach, Confession and Forgiveness (© John Harvey, in Eggs and Ashes, compiled by Ruth Burgess & Chris Polhill, © 2004 Ruth Burgess & Chris Polhill/Wild Goose Publications.)
Prayer of Illumination (Reprinted from Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church, USA. © 1993 John Knox Press.)

All glory, laud and honour to thee, Redeemer King - Theodolf of Orléans 820, translated J M Neale 1851. Sung by Grace Community Church - Sun Valley, California
Our Saviour, Christ, of Godly nature - The Rev’d Michael L Forster (born 1946) based on Philippians 2: 6–11 © 1997 Kevin Mayhew Ltd. Sung by Alive Church Lincoln Music Team, led by Howard Williams
Christ, let us see by this most holy sign - the Rev’d Michael Forster (born 1946) © 1995 Kevin Mayhew Ltd and sung by Iona Cameron.
My song is love unknown - Samuel Crossman (1624 – 1683). Sung by Truro Cathedral Choir

Thanks to Myra Rose, the Rev’d Gordon Smith and Lesley Thompson for reading the Passion narrative. Also thanks to Walt Johnson, Mandy Hibbert, Glynis Purland, Alison Jiggins for reading other spoken parts of the service.



Where words are copyright reproduced under the terms of Barrhead URC’s CCLI licence number 1064776,
Some material reprinted, and streamed, with permission under ONE LICENSE A-734713 All rights reserved.
PRS Limited Online Music Licence LE-0019762

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March 28th 2021 Palm Sunday

Call to worship

He will walk
a little in front of us
towards Jerusalem.

He will not be scared
though we are apprehensive.

If we try to discourage him,
he will recognise the devil in our voice,
and he will tell us as much
in no uncertain terms.

Then he will go on again, in faith
to Jerusalem

Make way, make way for Jesus
Behold, your king is here, meek and humble and riding on a donkey
Make way, make way for Jesus
Prepare the way of the Lord

HYMN: All glory, laud and honour

1 All glory, laud and honour
To thee, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children
Made sweet hosannas ring!
Thou art the King of Israel,
Thou David's royal Son,
Who in the Lord's name comest,
The King and BlessËd One.

2 The company of angels
Are praising thee on high,
And we with all creation
In chorus make reply:
The people of the Hebrews
With palms before thee went;
Our praise and prayer and anthems
Before thee we present.

3 To thee, before thy passion
They sang their hymns of praise;
To thee, now high exalted,
Our melody we raise:
Thou didst accept their praises;
Accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest,
Thou good and gracious King.

Gloria, laus et honor, Theodulf of Orleans (c.750-821) translated by John M Neale (1818-1866)



Prayers

Loving God, we remember that on this day your Son entered Jerusalem surrounded by praising, cheering crowds. We want to follow their example and shout our praises and hosannas. We long for the day when the powers of evil will be lessened, and we begin to see your Kingdom coming in all its glory. So, we praise you and worship you.

Yet we recognise that we are human and fickle. Our hearts may be in the right place, yet so often our courage falters when we have to stand against the majority. We can praise and worship you on Sunday, yet, faced with a different majority view on Friday, join in the calls for crucifixion.

Lord Jesus, you are aware of our fickleness. At the time of your greatest trial, you were betrayed, denied and deserted by your most trusted friends. You knew what it was to undergo fear and doubt about what lay ahead. So, we ask you to forgive us where we have failed you
o by our desire to preserve our lives rather than follow you….
o for our fickle nature which can turn from devotion to indifference or even hate in the blink of an eye
o for following the temptation of an easy life rather than a faithful life.

Lord Jesus, who forgave Peter and the disciples, even Judas, forgive us now. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we may see you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly, day by day.

Hear the words of Jesus, “Your sins are forgiven’. Follow me.

So, as God’s forgiven and beloved people, let us join together in these familiar words….. Our Father,….

Reading

Mark 11:1-11. (New International Version)
Jesus comes to Jerusalem as king
11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, ‘Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, “Why are you doing this?” say, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.”’
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, ‘What are you doing, untying that colt?’ 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
‘Hosanna!’
‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’
10 ‘Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!’
‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

This is such a familiar reading, we tend to focus on it during the Sunday before Easter each year as Jesus approaches the end of his earthly mission, and prepares 12 men to continue …yes 12 men to continue to spread the message and mission of God, now through the life and after next week the resurrection of Jesus Christ! No media – well not as we would understand it, no telegraph, phones, or computers. Just twelve men who had been with this man for three years of their lives.

One of the things that I like to do with readings that are so familiar to us, in an effort to experience them in a new way is to imagine myself into the story. I sometimes use the Jewish Midrash way of doing this. I have a piece of paper in front of me, at the top I write the reading reference, I then divide the page into three columns but not to the bottom of the page.
Reading

What do I hear?

Where am I?
What do I see?

Where is God, then and now?

I think that this gives you the idea, it certainly helps me.

So for me… I may well be in the background, observing the crowds, listening to the word Hosanna being shouted. Hosanna comes from the Hebrew and means ‘save’. Did the crowd want to avoid violence, or did they want the violence to increase in order to end the Roman Empire. It fascinates me to wonder and explore it really is one of the ways I learn about what and why I feel and believe what I do.

But moving on. In the early 1580s, or so the story goes, Walter Raleigh, the dashing and well-dressed adventurer and poet, lay down his coat over a puddle so that Queen
Elizabeth I could walk over it without getting her royal feet damp.

Is that a true story? Historians think probably not. But I’m not sure that really matters. Something about that flamboyant gesture is so compelling that even today it remains an essential anecdote about the Tudors, offering an enticing insight into the relationship between the Queen and a dashing gentleman at court.

What is it about laying down a coat that tells us so much about the relationship between the two people involved?

Your coat is really quite important. A coat provides warmth and protection. For Walter Raleigh it might also have been expensive and stylish too – a status symbol. His laying down something precious for his Queen was a public statement of the high regard in which he held her.

In our Gospel reading today we see not just one person laying down a coat, but crowds of people laying down their cloaks in the road as Jesus rides through on a donkey into Jerusalem. Even the disciples put their cloaks over the donkey for Jesus to sit on.

There are lots of different players in this scene that Mark paints for us. There are the disciples who go on their strange mission to borrow a donkey; there are the donkey owners who for some reason agree to lend their colt to total strangers; there are the crowds of people singing and laying down cloaks and palm leaves. And at the centre of all this action is Jesus, surrounded by people who are celebrating his triumphant journey into Jerusalem. Each one of them making a gesture of submission and praise in his honour. This is a cacophony of worship.

All of this, of course, is fulfilling the promise in Zechariah 9:9:
“Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”

There are two narratives at play here on Palm Sunday, summed up in this prophesy from Zechariah; one is that Jesus is King, righteous and victorious. In contrast to this, there is a more subversive narrative; Jesus is lowly. He is riding on a humble donkey, not exactly a status symbol.

The Jewish crowds celebrating Jesus’ arrival would have been praying for a messiah for the here and now, to overthrow Roman rule and to bring justice and peace. They might even have expected war and violence. But the donkey is an animal that historically symbolises peace. Jesus is not coming to establish power in the ways that people expected; through wrath and vengeance and violence. Jesus is subverting what power looks like.

Of course, we know what happens next in the events of Holy Week. We know that the crowds will turn against Jesus, and that God’s love, grace and mercy will not be revealed through a military display or through bringing down the Roman Empire. Instead, God’s great act of love will see his Son scorned and rejected and crucified.
Jesus demonstrates love and power through humility and frailty.

And yet, we also know how this whole story ends. We know that in the power of the cross comes the promise of eternal life. We know that God’s love cannot be extinguished or diminished. Palm Sunday isn’t a false promise, Jesus’ last hurrah before crucifixion. Instead, Palm Sunday is a foretaste of the glorious morning of resurrection, and a preview of the new heaven and new earth that is still to come.

The lowly subversion of power that we see in Jesus on the donkey is a power far greater than the violent oppressive power of any empire.

The events of Palm Sunday remind us of the role we have to play in all of this. We are called to worship Jesus even when this puts us at odds with the narratives the world gives us about power and strength.

Perhaps the challenge for us this Palm Sunday is this reminder that God subverts what we think of as important. We live in a world that tells us that wealth, security, power, status and beauty are what we should be worshipping.

As we join the crowds of people welcoming in a lowly messiah on a donkey, is it time for us to put some of this aside?

As we journey together to the end of Lent, some of us will have given up things we love and will be looking forward to having them again. That first bite of chocolate or glass of wine are just around the corner! However, maybe today God is asking you to give up other things, perhaps more long term.

What is distracting your attention from Jesus? Lay it down at his feet. What is it that you have put your worth in? Lay it down at the feet of Jesus. What is it that is telling you you’re not good enough? Lay it down at his feet.

Just like the owners of the donkey giving up a precious animal or the crowds of people laying down their own cloaks for Jesus, we too are called to lay down things that are precious to us at the feet of Jesus.

What is God asking you to lay down today?

This may sound like a great effort, but be encouraged: the people praising Jesus by laying down their cloaks on that first Palm Sunday rejoiced on impulse, moved by the beauty and majesty of Christ. We too are invited to enter in Jesus’ presence. To be moved by his beauty and his majesty so that our hearts are stirred into action.

This Holy Week, as we journey to the cross and beyond to resurrection, my prayer for each one of us is that we might experience in ourselves this heartfelt celebration of Christ, singing in our own way: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

SONG: Meekness and majesty

1 Meekness and majesty,
Manhood and Deity,
In perfect harmony,
The Man who is God.
Lord of eternity
Dwells in humanity,
Kneels in humility
And washes our feet.
O what a mystery,
Meekness and majesty.
Bow down and worship
For this is your God,
This is your God.

2 Father's pure radiance,
Perfect in innocence,
Yet learns obedience
To death on a cross.
Suffering to give us life,
Conquering through sacrifice,
And as they crucify
Prays: 'Father forgive.'
Refrain

3 Wisdom unsearchable,
God the invisible,
Love indestructible
In frailty appears.
Lord of infinity,
Stooping so tenderly,
Lifts our humanity
To the heights of His throne.
Refrain

Graham Kendrick (born 1950)
© 1986 Thankyou Music/Adm. by worshiptogether.com songs excl. UK & Europe, adm. by Kingswaysongs, a division of David C Cook, www.kingswayworship.co.uk Used by permission.

Prayers

As we remember Jesus, entering into Jerusalem, we remember anyone for whom proclaiming their faith places their freedom and life in jeopardy. We pray for prisoners of conscience held in places throughout the world, seen as a threat to those who seek to hold on to their power and privilege.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We pray for your church. We are aware that the many people who make up Christ’s body have different viewpoints on things and so often our public stance on many matters reflects this. So often we are tempted to remain silent lest we upset anyone, or our statements are so inoffensive that we really say nothing at all. Help us as we seek to walk the fine line between church unity and standing in the name of Jesus to speak the truth to those who need to hear it.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

As we begin to experience more freedom as COVID cases decline, guide our goverments in deciding how quickly we should return to something like the life we knew. Grant them wisdom in reaching their decisions, taking all necessary views into consideration. We thank you that many have already received one or both vaccinations but pray that we will remember those who are still waiting or cannot be vaccinated when we add our voices to what should happen in the future

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

We remember before you members of our chapel families as well as our families, friends and acquaintances. We thank you for the lives of those who have died and pray for their families and friends who mourn them. We pray for those who are struggling with health issues, that they would know your healing presence with them.

Lord, in your mercy, hear your prayer

Finally, we pray for our chapels as they reach out into their communities. Help us see our mission in showing the love of Jesus as more than just getting people over our thresholds but working with others for a better world. Give us strength and courage when the temptation arises to seek an easier life or go along with the loudest or most popular voices.

Lord, in your mercy, hear your prayer

Hear all our prayers as we ask them in the name of Jesus our Saviour. Amen.

HYMN: Ride on, ride on, the time is right

1 Ride on, ride on, the time is right:
the roadside crowds scream with delight;
palm branches mark the pilgrim way
where beggars squat and children play.

2 Ride on, ride on your critics wait,
intrigue and rumour circulate;
new lies abound in word and jest
and truth becomes a suspect guest.

3 Ride on, ride on while well aware
that those who shout and wave and stare
are mortals, who with common breath,
can crave for life and lust for death.

4 Ride on, ride on, though blind with tears,
though dumb to speak and deaf to jeers.
Your path is clear, though few can tell
their garments pave the road to Hell.

5 Ride on, ride on, the room is let,
the wine matured, the saw is whet;
and dice your death-throes shall attend
though faith, not fate, dictates your end.

6 Ride on, ride on, God's love demands.
Justice and peace lie in your hands.
Evil and angel voices rhyme;
this is the man and this, the time.

John L Bell (born 1949) and Graham Maule (1958-2019)
© 1988, 1996 WGRG, c/o Iona Community, 21 Carlton Court, Glasgow, G5 9JP, Scotland. www.wildgoose.scot

Blessing and dismissal

He will walk
a little in front of us
into controversy

He will not be scared,
though we are apprehensive.

He will argue with the intelligent,
stop in their tracks the self-assured,
touch the scabby,
upset bank balances
by his outlandish behaviour in the sanctuary
and weep in public.

Then he will go on again,
in faith,
towards Jerusalem.

May the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with us now, through this Holy Week and evermore. Amen.

URC audio service 21-03-21


URC Daily Devotions
Worship for Sunday 21 March 2021
The Fifth Sunday of Lent

Peter Pay
Moderator of General Assembly

Opening Music

Introduction

Good morning. My name is Peter Pay. I am one of the two current moderators of General Assembly, a lay preacher and a member of Salisbury United Reformed Church.

Call to Worship

People of God, on this wilderness journey, what will you eat?
The word of the Lord is our daily bread.
People of God, in this time of temptation, how will you live?
Our faith is in the faithfulness of God.
People of God, at this kingdom crossroad, whom will you serve?
We worship the Lord our God alone.

Hymn O Praise Ye the Lord
H W Baker 1821 – 1877

O praise ye the Lord!
praise him in the height;
rejoice in His word
ye angels of light:
ye heavens, adore Him
by whom ye were made,
and worship before Him
in brightness arrayed.

2 O praise ye the Lord!
sing praise upon earth
in tuneful accord,
all ye of new birth:
praise him who hath brought you
his grace from above,
O praise him who taught you
to sing of his love.

3 O praise ye the Lord!
all things that give sound,
each jubilant chord
re-echo around:
loud organs, his glory
proclaim in deep tone,
and sweet harp, the story
of what He has done.

4 O praise ye the Lord!
thanksgiving and song
to him be outpoured
all ages along:
for love in creation,
for heaven restored,
for grace of salvation,
sing praise to the Lord!

Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving

Lord, we give you thanks for all you have given us, for the world you lovingly created, for showing us that we are welcome, that we are loved, that all are welcome, that all are loved all are included. We remember how our Lord Jesus gave himself for our salvation.

We are your people and you are our God. Help us to learn your ways, to love your creation and to show your love and inclusion to all. May your word be written in our hearts. Amen

The Lord's Prayer

Prayer of Illumination

Break open your word to us, O God,
that we may listen, understand and obey,
Amen.

Jeremiah 31. 31-34
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.

Reflection

Jeremiah is chiefly known for doom and gloom prophesies. However our passage today is quite the opposite. A message of hope.

I personally have had rather too many operations on my heart in recent years. At the start, the defibrillator in my pacemaker was there to control when my heart rhythms went astray. I then had two Ablations which were focussed on ‘writing new ways in my heart’. Trying to make it operate, to beat in a different way so the defibrillator would not be needed. This causes me to reflect on Jeremiah’s words with new meaning.

Humans do, sadly have in-built hardness in their hearts. Anger, Selfishness, greed, judgement, punishment seem to be instinctive- the way our hearts seem naturally to beat. Changing that beat is not easy it is innate and unconscious. God’s law is clear and helpful.

I am a parent and am very aware of how my relationship with my offspring has changed over time. When they were young, we operated to a set of ‘house rules’. They understood what was expected of them and of us, I guess a sort of covenant’. We tried to instil a set of values and principles for their lives. As they grew up, we accepted that they were free to make their own choices and hoped that what we had ‘taught’ was still ‘written in their hearts’. And if they went astray, we continued to love and forgive.

In a similar way, our relationship with God has developed over time. We continue to need God’s word, need His Law to be written on our hearts so that they may automatically beat in a different way. A way of Love forgiveness generosity inclusion.

As our journey of faith continues, Gods ways will I trust, become more and more written in our hearts. In the meantime, we cling to those words ‘for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more’ Thanks be to God

Prayer of Confession

Lord, we know there is hardness in our hearts.
We find it hard to forgive
Hard to love others especially those who need it most
Hard to give freely
Hard to live as you would wish.
Write your ways on our hearts that we may serve you more fully.
Amen

Assurance of pardon

Lord we give thanks that you will indeed forgive our iniquity and will remember our sin no more. Amen

Hymn: Now the green blade Rises
John McCleod Campbell Crum

Now the green blade rises,
from the buried grain,
wheat that in dark earth
many days has lain;
Love lives again,
that with the dead has been:
Love has come again like
wheat that springeth green.

2: In the grave they laid Him,
Love who they had slain,
thinking that never He would wake again,
Laid in the earth
like grain that sleeps unseen:
Love has come again like wheat
that springeth green.

3 Forth He came at Easter,
like the risen grain,
He had for three days
in the grave had lain;
quick from the dead
the risen Christ is seen:
Love has come again like wheat
that springeth green.

4 When our hearts are wintry, grieving, or in pain,
where His touch can call us
back to life again,
fields of our hearts
that dead and bare have been:
Love has come again like
wheat that springeth green.

St John 12. 20-33
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.

“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

Reflection

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

It is a powerful analogy in our passage today, it works at different levels
I will explore this with you as we approach Holy week- which is, for me the most important week in the Christian calendar.

Any gardener will tell you (as my wife frequently does), choosing the right time and place to plant your seeds is a key decision. You prepare the soil, fertilise, till. You look for the right time. But once sown, you have less control. The germination process has started and cannot be reversed.

Timing is everything!

On other occasions, Jesus had said ‘my time is not yet come’ for example changing water into wine. Now He announces ‘My time is come’

Jesus planted himself deliberately.
Jesus is in control of his career path

He could so easily have carried on being popular Healing & teaching into old age. But He would have been a footnote in history

By going to Jerusalem He choose the place and the time- Palm Sunday.
He did not have to go but by going He started an inevitable process.
For Jesus once He had launched the final process, there was also no going back. Jesus chose his path He was not the victim He initiated, He provoked, He challenged, He was willing to let it happen, He refused escape routes. Just look at His interactions with Judas and in the Garden of Gethsemane.

He knows this is the Key moment- His destiny It is a hard road. It is not a soft option. Seed must die to grow. Once germinated, it is no longer what it was.

Once risen He was no longer the same. He was Glorified
So Jesus deliberately gave Himself to be sowed that the harvest might be our salvation.

The number of his followers multiplied after his death. Many others died in His service. His death marked the start of others in turn sowing the seeds of salvation in others and working to reap God’s harvest. As the ‘whole people of God’ we are also part of that same continuum. We too are like wheat seeds, we must plant and be planted to be transformed. We are the source of continuation and growth. We are called to take the chance by offering to serve, accepting His call, being willing to fail.We are called to bring Him further harvest through our lives and our witness. We sow the seed in our churches, in our families, amongst our friends, at our work. Wherever we are.

We sow by our example, teaching, preaching, serving, visiting, caring, giving, praying.

We all have the germ of His spirit in us. It is our choice whether we allow it to germinate and grow or stays dormant. To keep or to share the Good News.

Our choice- are we willing to offer ourselves? Amen

Hymn From Heaven You Came Helpless Babe
Graham Kendrick (b. 1950

From heaven you came,
helpless babe,
Entered our world,
your glory veiled;
Not to be served but to serve,
And gave your life
that we might live.

This is our God, the Servant King,
He calls us now to follow him,
To bring our lives as a daily offering
Of worship to the Servant King.

2: There in the garden of tears,
My heavy load he chose to bear;
His heart with sorrow was torn,
'Yet not my will but yours,' he said.

3: Come, see his hands and his feet,
The scars that speak of sacrifice,
Hands that flung stars into space
To cruel nails surrendered.

4: So let us learn how to serve,
And in our lives enthrone him;
Each other's needs to prefer,
For it is Christ we're serving.

Affirmation of Faith

As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world—
which some seek to control, but which others view with despair—
we declare with joy and trust: our world belongs to God!

From the beginning, through all the crises of our times,
until His Kingdom fully comes, God keeps covenant forever.
our world belongs to God!
We rejoice in the goodness of God, renounce the works of darkness,
and dedicate ourselves to holy living, for our world belongs to God!

As committed disciples, called to faithful obedience, and set free for joyful praise, we offer our hearts and lives to do God's work in his world, for our world belongs to God!

With tempered impatience, eager to see injustice ended, we expect the Day of the Lord. And we are confident that the light which shines in the present darkness will fill the earth when Christ appears for our world belongs to God!

Prayers of Intercession

Lord, there is so much on our hearts that we wish to share with you, so much we would wish to bring before you.

Concerns of health, bereavement, economic struggles and social tensions.

We live in a world of greed of selfishness, a world of exploitation, repression, extremes of wealth and poverty. So many facing injustice, cruelty, exclusion. A world being destroyed by the emissions we create. Nations struggling to live in peace with one another.

May they all feel your presence in their times of need and Lord, Show us what we can do to sow the seeds of your love in these places.

Offertory

Giving is a key part of our spiritual lives as Christians. For many of us it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to get to church – yet there are still bills to pay – the M and M contributions which pay for our church’s ministers and organisation, utility bills and all the regular outgoings that our churches have. Similarly, charities across these islands have struggled as Charity Shops have been closed and street collections have been difficult. It’s always the poor who struggle most when times are bad. So many of us have continued to give sacrificially through the last year knowing that it takes more than a pandemic to diminish our spiritual lives. And so we give thanks

Loving God,
we thank you for the gifts you give us,
and for the ability to return some of these gifts to you.
Bless those who tend to our church’s money,
renew us during this time of trial,
that as we emerge, like the risen grain,
we may attend more completely
to worship and witness, evangelism and service,
that your Kingdom may come.
Amen.

Hymn God is working His purpose out
Arthur Campbell Ainger (1894)

God is working His purpose out,
as year succeeds to year;
God is working His purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be:
when the earth shall be filled
with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

2 From utmost east to utmost west,
where human feet have trod,
by the mouth of many messengers
goes forth the voice of God:
“Give ear to me, ye continents,
ye isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled
with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.”

3 All we can do is nothing worth unless God blesses the deed.
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide till God gives life to the seed.
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time, the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

Blessing

May God’s word indeed be written in all our hearts
and may we offer ourselves as seeds to be sown
so that the harvest may continue
and that our lives may indeed be fruitful.
And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us now and evermore. Amen

Closing Music

Sources and thanks

Lobt Gott Ihr Christen (“Praise God ye Christians”) by Johann Gottfried Walther (organ of The Spire Church, Farnham – 2020)
Toccata in Seven by John Rutter (organ of All Saints’, Odiham – 2020)

Both pieces played by, and received, with thanks, from Brian Cotterill http://briancotterill.webs.com

O Praise Ye the Lord - H W Baker 1821 – 1877 - Sung by the Harvard University Choir
Now the green blade Rises - John McCleod Campbell Crum - Sung by the Smoke Fairies.
From Heaven You Came Helpless Babe - Graham Kendrick (b. 1950)© 1983 Thankyou Music - Sung by Graham Kendrick from the album The Best of Graham Kendrick
God is working His purpose out - Arthur Campbell Ainger (1894) - Sung on BBC’s Songs of Praise

Thanks to Gunhild Wilcock, Steve Lee, Sylvia Nutt, Kirsty Knott, Dan Morrell and Antony Denman for reading various spoken parts of the service.
Where words are copyright reproduced under the terms of Barrhead URC’s CCLI licence number 1064776,
Some material reprinted, and streamed, with permission under ONE LICENSE A-734713 All rights reserved.
PRS Limited Online Music Licence LE-0019762

For those able to join us by Zoom at 11.00 am the joining details are as follows
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 354 035 1038
Passcode: 717837
Ian will also be taking the service at Maesyronnen at 2pm - which will use much of the same material. The 11.00 service will be recorded and the recording will be up later on Sunday or Monday morning.
We are going to offer worship on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday - more details as to timings in the next few days.
Just a reminder also that the final session of our Lent Bible Study meets on Monday at 7.30pm - same joining details.
Sunday 21st March 2021
Call to worship
Let us meet with the Lord, let us follow the Christ, let us be filled with the Spirit,
Today and everyday. Amen.
HYMN: God is love
1 God is Love: let heav'n adore him;
God is Love: let earth rejoice;
let creation sing before him,
and exalt him with one voice.
He who laid the earth's foundation,
he who spread the heav'ns above,
he who breathes through all creation,
he is Love, eternal Love.
2 God is Love: and he enfoldeth
all the world in one embrace;
with unfailing grasp he holdeth
every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking
under sorrow's iron rod,
then they find that selfsame aching
deep within the heart of God.
2 God is Love: and is enfolding
all the world in one embrace;
his unfailing grasp is holding
every child of every race.
And when human hearts are breaking
under sorrow's iron rod,
that same sorrow, that same aching
wrings with pain the heart of God.
3 God is Love, and though with blindness
sin afflicts and clouds the will,
God's eternal loving-kindness
holds us fast and guides us still.
Sin and death and hell shall never
o'er us final triumph gain;
God is Love, so Love for ever
o'er the universe must reign.
Timothy Rees (1874-1939)
Opening Prayers
Everlasting God, we come before you today, just as we are. We come with the things that weigh us down. We come with the parts of ourselves we would prefer to hide.
Our regrets, our fears, our shame.
You know every part of us and yet you call us by name, just as we are. You welcome us in as part of your family. So, we come.
We come to seek your light, your peace, your wholeness, your hope.
You call us to share your love with the world. To sow hope and build bridges, especially at this time of physical separation and distance.
We pray that you will strengthen us to be your people of light.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Let us now say the Lord’s Prayer
Readings:
Jeremiah 31 v 31-34
31 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband,[g] says the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the Lord’, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.
John 12 v 20-33
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘we would like to see Jesus.’ 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.24 Very truly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me.
27 ‘Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, save me from this hour”? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!’
Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, ‘This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.32 And I, when I am lifted up[f] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.’33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
I have not met many famous people. The only notable person I have ever queued up to see is the American theologian and pastor Brian Maclaren and that was to get his new book signed. The idea of going up to some of the support team and asking to see and speak to the keynote speaker off my own bat would not be something that I would ordinarily consider doing.
Here we have some people, almost certainly men, who are described by John as Greeks, who want to see Jesus. I suspect that they are almost certainly people sympathetic to the Jewish faith (God fearers) if not actually converts as Jerusalem in Passover week was no place for tourists who had no religious business there.
We are not told whether they actually got their wish. They may be used by John as a means of moving the story on or to make a distinction between the faith of these foreigners compared to the religious authorities in Jerusalem. The scene is set for one of Jesus’s discourses which are such a feature of John, especially in the last week. We’ve already noted that John has a tendency to use material based on the life of Jesus but not necessarily in the right order.
John does not have a passion scene in the garden, moving from the entry to the arrest seamlessly. This is Jesus’s moment of crisis, where he humanly contemplates the horror of what is to come and ponders whether he might escape it momentarily. In keeping with the picture that John’s Gospel paints of Jesus, this is only fleeting, followed by a firm restatement of his purpose and mission – the salvation of the world.
That’s not really my main focus for today, though. Ever since I began thinking about the readings for today’s service, the phrase ‘We want to see Jesus’ has been running through my head. If someone wants to see Jesus today, how do we show them? (inviting them to go and have a chat with the minister, is not a valid answer for the purposes of this sermon!).
One obvious answer is to point them to the Scriptures. After all, this is how the stories of Jesus have been handed down. I think it’s fair to say that the Gospels are not always easy to understand and while the Holy Spirit can help, there’s a nagging thought in my mind that something more is needed. In any case, the early church managed quite well without the written gospels and I suspect that if we were really trying to show someone Jesus, we’d want to show something of Jesus alive in the world today through the Holy Spirit. This is where it becomes tricky because it means that we have to get involved.
Most of us are familiar with the image of the body of Christ. We use it frequently especially during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I do wonder, though, whether we spend more time applying it to relationships within and between churches and denominations. There’s nothing wrong with that but I wonder, especially during the self-examination of Lent whether it would be equally helpful to imagine how we as the body of Christ might look at, relate to and act towards the world that God made and which God loves.
Reading the Gospel accounts, there was an attractiveness about Jesus which drew people to him. He showed his love to the world, even when he was holding up its shortcomings and failures. Ultimately that love for the world took him to the cross, in the hope that this love would continue to draw people to follow him.
Over the last few weeks in our Lenten Bible Study, we have been considering climate change and global heating and what our response to this should be. The question is, as the Body of Christ, how should we consider this and act accordingly? We may not agree on the answer, and any consensus may mean people making concessions, but I do not think, as the body of Christ that we can avoid having this discussion. There are many other concerns happening in the world that we cannot close our eyes to if we are serious about our role as co-creators with God shaping a renewed, transformed and better world. The state is empire and will always put its energies into preserving its own interests and power. it suited its purposes to enlist the assistance of the church in times past, but those days are no more.
Of course, this will not be popular. Jesus was lifted up, executed as a blasphemer, a heretic and a threat to the power of the Roman Empire. If he had just existed as a loving and caring healer and teacher, he might have been dismissed as just another eccentric Rabbi, but he demanded transformation which required sacrifice and faced people who were doing quite well out of empire with the challenge of the Kingdom of God.
Like many organisations, the pandemic has spurred the United Reformed Church to take a long hard look at itself. Questions are now being asked about our structure, presence and purpose. Of course, there are many factors which are driving this, but I would hope that what comes out in the end is a renewed understanding of our part in the body of Christ, not just in organisational terms but also how we look at the world as part of the body of Christ. This process is just getting under way and we will have a part to play in due course, but I wonder whether this is an opportunity to re-evaluate the life we have together and how we might show our closeness to Christ to those around us, not in a narrow, moralistic way but in a wider way that embraces the communities and world around us,
The reality is that many of us are tired, wanting the security of what we knew before lockdown and dubious that we have the energy for this transformation. The good news is that we do not have to transform ourselves – that is the divine task through the Holy Spirit. All we need to do is to allow this to happen. Paul exhorted the church at Rome:
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Nonconformism to the pattern of this world is wider than just the normal things we associate with it but extends to the values of greed and power which we see exhibited so often in our society. In challenging these and demonstrating that there is another way, we allow people to see Jesus in a similar manner to how he was seen in 1st Century Palestine.
If we seek to imitate Jesus, we may well get the same reaction from those who see this as a threat. There is a narrative taking shape in this country that those in power and the media will seek to defend at all costs especially against all those who are seen as ‘not one of us’. At some stage, Christians may well come up against this and we should be aware of this possibility. We will not all engage in this renewed vision to the same extent but prayer is always important for those who are facing the consequences of following Christ most acutely.
This Lent, may we use the days we have left before Easter to continue examining our lives, allowing God to continue the transformation within us and enabling us to show people Jesus in our individual and communal lives. Amen.
HYMN: May the mind of Christ my saviour
1 May the mind of Christ my Saviour
live in me from day to day,
by his love and power controlling
all I do or say.
2 May the word of God dwell richly
in my heart from hour to hour,
so that all may see I triumph
only through his power.
3 May the peace of God my Father
rule my life in everything,
that I may be calm to comfort
sick and sorrowing.
4 May the love of Jesus fill me,
as the waters fill the sea;
him exalting, self abasing-
this is victory.
5 May I run the race before me,
strong and brave to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus
as I onward go.
Kate Barclay Wilkinson (1859-1928)
Prayers for others
Lord God,
We are all part of your family. We are all bound together in a love that will never cease or grow tired. We offer you our prayers for your creation, for our siblings across the world in need of your hope and comfort.
We pray for those living in the midst of conflict, wondering if home will ever feel safe again. For those worried about loved ones who have gone to fight. For those sacrificing everything to protect their families and ensure their safety. We offer a prayer for peace, remembering that this must begin with us.
Leader: Lord of all hope
All: Shine your light in the darkness
We pray for victims of abuse of all kinds. For those who do not feel safe in the place they should call home. For victims of bullying in the workplace, who feel unable to speak up for fear of losing their job. For those trapped in toxic relationships and friendships. We give thanks for those who seek to provide freedom and a listening ear to victims of abuse, and we pray for the strength and compassion to provide the same in any way we can.
Leader: Lord of all hope
All: Shine your light in the darkness
We pray for those living in poverty, or without a safe place to call their own. For the families struggling to feed their children. For those forced to live on the streets, with even fewer places to go in this time of increased restrictions. For our siblings across the world whose countries are facing the worst of the climate crisis, and enduring the food and water shortages that often come with the extreme conditions.
Leader: Lord of all hope
All: Shine your light in the darkness
In a moment of silence, we bring before you those known to us, who are in need of your loving presence at this time:
[Silence]
Loving God, gather up the names spoken into the silence, and accept all of the prayers we offer today. It is easy to feel like our offerings are small, that the love we share doesn’t go far, but we know that, in you, our small acts can spread far and wide. May we be bearers of your light in this world.
In Jesus’ name, we pray
Amen.
HYMN: Lord, thy church on earth is seeking
1 Lord, thy church on earth is seeking
thy renewal from above;
teach us all the art of speaking
with the accent of thy love.
We would heed thy great commission:
go ye into every place?
preach, baptise, fulfil my mission,
serve with love and share my grace.
2 Freedom give to those in bondage,
lift the burdens caused by sin.
Give new hope, new strength and courage,
grant release from fears within:
light for darkness; joy for sorrow;
love for hatred; peace for strife.
These and countless blessings follow
as the Spirit gives new life.
3 In the streets of every city
where the bruised and lonely dwell,
let us show the Saviour's pity,
let us of his mercy tell.
In all lands and with all races
let us serve, and seek to bring
all the world to render praises,
Christ, to thee, Redeemer, King.
Hugh Sherlock (1905-1998)
© Successor to Hugh Sherlock/administered by The Trustees for Methodist Church Purposes
Blessing
May the fulness of Jesus fill us as we leave this act of worship so that we may be the body of Christ in God’s world. And the blessing of God, Creator, Saviour and Guide be with us and all God’s beloved people made in the divine image, now and evermore, Amen.

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