A Prayer for Ukraine
God of peace and justice,
We pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace,
for wisdom, discernment, and compassion to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear,
that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen.
Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell
Services this Sunday for The Alde Sandlings Benefice
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Aldeburgh |
10.30am |
Holy Communion |
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6.00pm |
Evening Prayer |
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Aldringham |
11.00am |
Morning Prayer |
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Friston |
9.00am |
Morning Prayer |
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Knodishall |
9.00am |
Morning Prayer |
Message from Revd James Marston
Dear All,
As we approach Easter – a time for our worshiping community to come together in prayer and in celebration – we first mark the 40 days of Lent – a period in which we remember Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness fasting and praying.
Lent is also a time we observe in order to come closer to God through prayer, study, devotional practices and other spiritual disciplines.
As part of our Lent offering in the benefice we will be offering a fairly gentle study and discussion course based on the passion of Jesus Christ according to St Mark.
This will take place in the vestry of Aldeburgh church and in the home of Jill Brown, who has kindly offered to host an evening session through the Lenten period.
The dates and times are as follows:
Wednesday’s 11am, Aldeburgh church Vestry –
hosted by Rev’d James – beginning on March 2
Thursdays 7pm, Onemana, Alde House Drive, Aldeburgh, IP15 5EE –
hosted by Jill Brown – beginning on March 3
These sessions are open to all in the benefice and are also an opportunity to get to know one another a bit better and reform friendships. I’m hoping they’ll be quite fun and relaxed as we study together. Do bring a bible and turn up as you wish.
In the meantime, we mark the beginning of lent with a Holy Communion service with ashing at Aldeburgh Church at 10am on March 2. As our church elder Julian Worster is providing the ash please put any Palm Sunday crosses you might have in his letterbox at 41, Alde Drive, Aldeburgh if you can.
James
Collect
Almighty Father,
whose Son was revealed in majesty
before he suffered death upon the cross:
give us grace to perceive his glory,
that we may be strengthened to suffer with him
and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
First Reading
Exodus 34.29-end
Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them. Afterwards all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face; but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
Second Reading
2 Corinthians 3.12-4.2
Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practise cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
Gospel Reading
Luke 9.28-36
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter, John, and James, went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Post Communion
Holy God, we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ:
may we who are partakers at his table
reflect his life in word and deed,
that all the world may know his power to change and save.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Next Week
Sunday 6th March
First Sunday of Lent
Sermon preached by The Revd James Marston at
Aldeburgh 20th February 2022
Luke 8: 22-25
May I speak in the name of the living God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
As some of you know I am a fan of the poet John Betjeman. I’ve quoted him before and find his craftsmanship with words, though not currently fashionable among the intelligentsia, comforting and often apposite.
Indeed, last night as I rode out Storm Eunice in the rectory – and I’m sure you’ll be unsurprised to know I took the precaution of putting my little blue car safely in the garage – I came across his poem “Blame it on the vicar”
Betjeman writes
When things go wrong it’s rather tame
To find we are ourselves to blame,
It gets the trouble over quicker
To go and blame things on the Vicar.
Betjeman goes on
The Vicar should be all pretence
And never, never give offence.
To preach on Sunday is his task
And lend his mower when we ask
And in his car to give us lifts
And when we quarrel, heal the rifts.
And when we’re rude he should be meek
And always turn the other cheek.
He should be neat and nicely dressed
With polished shoes and trousers pressed.
I make no comment though I have to admit to being rather amused by Sir John’s insight.
Of course, in his other church poems Betjeman speaks eloquently of primroses in churchyards, the mysterious godhead as well as the glowing coals of the faithful in their accustomed pews.
Betjeman may not be cutting edge by 21st century standards but his poetry still strikes a powerful chord, still holds a mirror up to the human condition, still inspires and makes us think, still reminds us who we are.
Today’s gospel reading from Luke, so apt following yesterday’s storm, reminds us too of a few universal truths.
Firstly, that God commands the winds and waves. That creation itself, the world around us, is in God’s hands and it is he who has dominion not us. That it was God who created the heavens and the earth around us is a powerful statement of our faith.
Indeed, this revelation also, perhaps, points us away from our overinflated sense of self, especially when we consider at any length our own tiny place in creation.
Secondly, this passage reminds us who Jesus is. God incarnate and among us. The story of the calming of the storm comes amid a series of healings and miracles that all point towards who Jesus is – something extraordinary and something new.
Indeed, this passage comes straight after an incident in which Jesus’s family turn up to see him and Jesus, informed of their presence announces: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”
As well as a reminder that faith is a way of living and something we do rather than simply saying we have, this extraordinary statement about mother and brothers highlights a distinct break with the past, as well as reminding us that the claim of God on Jesus’ life was absolute, as it must be for us as we follow Him.
Finally, it seems to me, this incident reminds us that there is no half measures with faith. When we face danger or difficult times – which we all do from time to time – our initial reaction is often to try to solve the problem ourselves. Just like the disciples on the lake we turn to God when things go wrong rather than when they are going right.
We all too often call out for help and throw ourselves on the mercy of God when we come to the end of our own resources and when there’s nothing else that will help.
The calming of the storm questions the presence of faith in our lives – do we trust Him or don’t we? And if we do trust in God then we are not at the mercy of the storm.
My challenge to you this week is not to rush back to your bookshelves looking for reassurance from John Betjeman or to simply pay lip service to your faith, but to consider, as we approach lent, where you are on your journey.
Are you committed to your faith? Is your faith active or a little bit stuck? What do you need to do to develop your faith? How might you trust in God more deeply, and love him more nearly, day by day.
Let us pray
Almighty and eternal God, by your Holy Spirit you have revealed to us the gospel of your Son, Christ Jesus. Awaken our hearts that we may sincerely receive your Word.
Lead us to fear you and daily grow in faith, help us along the journey, be with us through the storms of life, guide us as we learn and deepen our love for you.
We ask this through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever.
Amen
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Church of England and Diocese Online Worship There are many online services you can view from the Church of England and our cathedral. Here are some links below. Church of England website https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/ Church of England Facebook page Church of England YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/ St Edmundsbury Cathedral Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/stedscathedral |
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David (at The Dolphin) and his wonderful team invite you to
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World Day of Prayer |
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Weekly Benefice Newsletter All requests by 4pm on Thursday please |
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Food Banks at the East of England Co-op Foodbanks provide a valuable service to those in need in our communities. The Aldeburgh Co-op and Solar in Leiston are doing a grand job in collecting food donations, which are collected regularly and distributed. So please look out for the various collection baskets. The Trussel Trust Organisation Food banks in our network have seen an increase in the number of food parcels given out over the last year due to Coronavirus, so any donations are much appreciated. You can find out which items your local food bank is most in need of by entering your postcode here – https://www.trusselltrust.org/give-food/ |
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Pilgrims Together on Wednesdays The Pilgrims worship together every Wednesday.
Contact the Pilgrims for the links etc pilgrimstogether473@gmail.com
As you are also aware Storm Eunice prevented us from meeting f2f last Friday. We will try again on Friday 18th March and Friday 22nd April. So, we look forward to and pray ahead to Friday 18th March as our first indoor Pilgrims worship since the first Covid lockdown rather than last Friday!! More information to follow nearer the time. |
