Services this Sunday for The Alde Sandlings Benefice
Benefice Holy Communion – 10.30am at Aldeburgh Parish Church
Collect
Almighty and ever-living God,
clothed in majesty, whose beloved Son
was this day presented in the Temple,
in substance of our flesh:
grant that we may be presented to you
with pure and clean hearts,
by your Son Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
First Reading
Malachi 3.1-5
See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. Then I will draw near to you for judgement; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow, and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.
Second Reading
Hebrews 2.14-end
Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Gospel Reading
Luke 2.22-40
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’) and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’ There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
Post Communion
Lord, you fulfilled the hope of Simeon and Anna,
who lived to welcome the Messiah:
may we, who have received these gifts beyond words,
prepare to meet Christ Jesus
when he comes to bring us to eternal life;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Next Week
Sunday 6th February
Fourth Sunday before Lent
Sermon preached by The Revd James Marston at
Friston 23rd January 2022
Luke 4:14-21
There is much to say about this passage from Luke’s gospel. Not only the insight into Jesus’ ministry as an itinerant preacher out and about in the community, but also the passage highlights Jesus’ message – by now spreading around the countryside – that those who are at the bottom of society are the Spirit’s chosen recipients of the good news.
As the Gospel unfolds the poor will be identified as worthy hearers of the good news and the good news that Jesus proclaims, and thus the good news that Christians proclaim, must be good news to the poor, to the economically disadvantaged, and to the marginalized of our society.
We also hear in this passage that after getting a bit well known for his preaching and teaching, Jesus comes to Nazareth, the place where he grew up and knew well, and on the Sabbath day, Jesus does what he usually does, he goes to the synagogue.
But I am always intrigued by the fact that it is in this passage of Luke that we hear Jesus can read. We always assume that others can read, it is a skill set we think is automatic.
But, of course, for most of church history, for most of the two thousand years of keeping the faith, the faithful couldn’t read at all. The church used art to tell the story of Jesus, art, and music.
Since the reformation of course, we have all gradually learnt to read and the church has tended to concentrate on the written word to teach and, indeed, preach.
And sometimes I wonder, if this protestant emphasis on the sermon and written word took away some of the glory of how we express the faith. Words, can, all too often, be somewhat dry and dusty compared to the visual splendour of a painting or the power of a piece of music.
Would it be better to sit in silence for ten minutes and mediate on the image in the east window – I can’t help thinking it might be a good idea once in a while. Indeed, I’m convinced, there’s not nearly enough silence in the world or in our modern lives.
Nowadays that emphasis, I sense, is changing again with ever more varied expressions of church and a deeper understanding of how we engage and learn.
While this might sound a little bit of a hobby horse, or even an incoherent rant, I can’t get away from the fact that the epiphany moment in this passage comes from Jesus’s teaching which he begins with reading scripture. The eyes are fixed on Jesus in anticipation because he reads the bible then starts teaching.
And in our reading from 1 Corinthians, we hear of a church that needed St Paul to tell them that the diversity within the church community is not something to be tolerated, or regretted, or manipulated for one’s own advantage, but something to be received as the gift that it is. Indeed, Paul, I think, suggests that whatever strengthens the community of the church is to be sought, welcomed, and nurtured as God’s good gift.
Though the fact remains that few of our churches reflect the social, and economic diversity of the neighbourhoods around them. Our congregations are often very homogenous, and we are, sadly, are all too often far too comfortable with that.
Having said all this my challenge to you this week is not to rush around panicking about social diversity in our pews – but instead to go back to basics, and this is especially important in a time of vacancy.
Read one of the gospels. Read the scriptures that inspire our faith away from the short snippet we get in church. Contemplate the east window if you like. But work at faith, work at prayer, use this time of pause and reflection and see what epiphany moment God reveals to you.
Amen
NOTICES
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Church of England and Diocese Online Worship Church of England website https://www.churchofengland.org/ Church of England Facebook page Church of England YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/ St Edmundsbury Cathedral Facebook Page |
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Weekly Benefice Newsletter If you would like something added to the weekly newsletter that is relevant to the Benefice, please do let Claire know and we will do our best to include it the following week. All requests by 4pm on Thursday please |
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Pilgrims Together on Wednesdays The Pilgrims worship together every Wednesday. Friday 18th February 6.30pm Aldeburgh Parish Hall A potential long hoped and prayed for return to a face to face Pilgrim Worship and shared supper gathering. More details to follow.. Saturday 26th February online Zoom Pilgrim Fun Quiz from 7pm (please note change of date) Just for fun from the comfort of your own armchair…Please email Sue and Richard if you can provide a round: |
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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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Count the birds you see in your garden, balcony, or your |
