2nd Sunday after the Epiphany
Hymn – Be still, for the presence of the Lord www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOCfPjLOvC4
1 Be still,
for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here;
come bow before him now
with reverence and fear:
in him no sin is found —
we stand on holy ground.
Be still,
for the presence of the Lord,
the Holy One, is here.
2 Be still,
for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around;
he burns with holy fire,
with splendour he is crowned:
how awesome is the sight —
our radiant King of light!
Be still,
for the glory of the Lord
is shining all around.
3 Be still,
for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place;
he comes to cleanse and heal,
to minister his grace:
no work too hard for him —
in faith receive from him.
Be still,
for the power of the Lord
is moving in this place.
David J. Evans (b. 1957)
Prayer
Come, let us worship the Lord who made us,
who knows our every thought before it is formed.
See the one from whom nothing is hidden – hear him speak.
Come, let us worship and listen.
Amen.
Creator God, how awesome you are!
Our lives were known to you before we came into being. Marvellous Lord, everything we do, think and say – you know about.
How awesome you are, glorious Lord.
Everywhere we go your hand is with us, always guiding and revealing your blessings – as we praise, listen and act.
Amen.
Lord, we come before you to say sorry. Sometimes we are so busy talking that we fail to listen to you. You speak in so many different ways, often through others, and we fail to listen to them as well.
Father God, we thank you that we don’t have to earn your forgiveness, but that you forgive us through Jesus Christ your son. It is by your grace alone that our sins are forgiven. Thanks be to God.
Amen
Readings
1 Samuel 3: 1-10 - Samuel’s Calling
3 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread.
2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his room; 3the lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ and he said, ‘Here I am!’ 5and ran to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call; lie down again.’ So he went and lay down. 6The Lord called again, ‘Samuel!’ Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ But he said, ‘I did not call, my son; lie down again.’ 7Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. And he got up and went to Eli, and said, ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy.9Therefore Eli said to Samuel, ‘Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.” ’ So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.’
John 1: 43-51 - Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow me.’ 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.’ 46Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.’ 47When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said of him, ‘Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!’ 48Nathanael asked him, ‘Where did you come to know me?’ Jesus answered, ‘I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you.’ 49Nathanael replied, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’ 50Jesus answered, ‘Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.’51And he said to him, ‘Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.’
Hymn – Master speak, they servant heareth www.youtube.com/watch?v=raPJHiezEhw
1 Master, speak! Thy servant heareth,
waiting for thy gracious word,
longing for thy voice that cheereth;
Master, let it now be heard.
I am listening, Lord, for thee;
what hast thou to say to me?
2 Speak to me by name, O Master,
let me know it is to me;
speak, that I may follow faster,
with a step more firm and free,
where the Shepherd leads the flock
in the shadow of the rock.
3 Master, speak! Though least and lowest,
let me not unheard depart;
Master, speak! For O thou knowest
all the yearning of my heart,
knowest all its truest need;
speak, and make me blest indeed.
4 Master, speak: and make me ready,
when thy voice is truly heard,
with obedience glad and steady
still to follow every word.
I am listening, Lord, for thee;
Master, speak! O speak to me!
Frances Ridley Havergal (1836–1879)
Reflection
I am writing this on the historically significant day that the American Congress is debating the impeachment of the President of the United States of America, in his last week in office. His tenure of this office has been marked by “fake news” and more recently, social media having to “fact check” his posts. There has long been question marks over the trustworthiness of politicians in general, but surely this must be a new low.
In society there are some people who will believe whatever they are told, or read in the newspaper or on social media, and there will be others who are sceptical and will believe nothing. Even in the current pandemic, there are still some people who think it is all some sort of conspiracy, but I imagine there are plenty of doctors and nurses who can testify to the truth of the situation. And now we have a vaccine, there are some who won’t take it for fear that it contains a micro-chip that will control our lives. Many want proof before they will believe anything they cannot see for themselves.
For the record, I think we all have a moral obligation to be vaccinated, not only to protect ourselves, but also to reduce the risk that we can pass the virus on to another person. It is not about selfish reasons, but supports living in community and taking responsibility for our actions which affect other people.
In our gospel reading, John records Jesus meeting Philip and then Nathanael. He says, simply, “Follow me”, but their responses are very different.
Philip immediately recognises Jesus as the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy, and is clearly excited and invigorated, and rushes to tell his friend Nathanael. Nathanael however, is sceptical about Jesus’ past, and doubts this fulfilment can be true. But Nathanael has his friend Philip to encourage him to “Come and see”.
If we can see what someone is trying to tell us, we are much more likely to consider it fully and arrive at a point of acceptance. In Nathanael’s case, he went with Philip to meet with Jesus, and an afternoon of conversation was enough to convince him to follow.
The story of the calling of Samuel is a Sunday School favourite. Samuel is open to God’s calling, but doesn’t recognise it for what it is. But why would he, if “he did not yet know the Lord”? Like Nathanael, Samuel needed his friend to reveal God’s presence to him. Samuel goes to await God’s renewed call with a new understanding of how he should respond, and this time, his reply is “Speak, for your servant is listening”. And Samuel enters into that special conversation with God.
These readings remind us of the importance of finding time to speak with God, to enter into conversation, to make the time to be still and to listen, and to grow in that special relationship which God offers to each of us. In writing this reflection, I find myself in the position of “physician, heal thyself”, as I always struggle to find that time to be still in God’s presence. There are always so many things to do, that it is easy to fail to be. But how are we going to get to know God better without spending time with him?
In both of these stories, Nathanael and Samuel had to rely on others who had already accepted God into their lives to encourage them and lead them to God. That is our mission as a church, to encourage others to get to know God.
The concept of fellowship in our churches is a very important one, not only for its social benefits, but for our spiritual development. Part of our role as Christians is to converse with each other as a means of sharing our faith and our experiences, and to encourage others to place their trust in God. That is something really important that we are missing whilst our churches are closed. Nathanael was encouraged by Philip despite his scepticism, Samuel was encouraged by Eli despite his lack of understanding. God also wants us to share our faith with others, and to encourage them to meet with the divine. This can happen as easily around a table at a coffee morning, as it does in the middle of my sermon!!!!
Eli and Philip accepted God’s presence and brought others to faith through their encouragement. Samuel and Nathanael did not recognise God, but came to know him through shared fellowship and conversations. Eli was a priest, but Philip had only just come to faith. We all have a role to play in encouraging others to share in the good news of Jesus. We just need to have the courage to invite them with the words, “Come and see”.
Amen
Hymn – Have you heard God’s voice www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCLvz-LHyeQ
1 Have you heard God’s voice; has your heart been stirred?
Are you still prepared to follow?
Have you made a choice to remain and serve,
though the way be rough and narrow?
Will you walk the path that will cost you much
and embrace the pain and sorrow?
Will you trust in One who entrusts to you
the disciples of tomorrow?
2 Will you use your voice; will you not sit down
when the multitudes are silent?
Will you make a choice to stand your ground
when the crowds are turning violent?
3 In your city streets will you be God’s heart?
Will you listen to the voiceless?
Will you stop and eat, and when friendships start,
will you share your faith with the faithless?
4 Will you watch the news with the eyes of faith
and believe it could be different?
Will you share your views using words of grace?
Will you leave a thoughtful imprint?
We will walk the path that will cost us much
and embrace the pain and sorrow.
We will trust in One who entrusts to us
the disciples of tomorrow.
Jacqueline G. Jones
Intercessions & Lords Prayer
Come and see, and join in praying for the people of the world waiting to hear good news.
Loving God, we pray for the states of America to be united in the days and weeks ahead.
We pray for an end to violence, for wisdom and protection for President-elect Joe Biden and all who will take office in a few days’ time. We pray for the police force and those entrusted with keeping the law and peace.
Lord, hear our prayer and draw us all closer to you.
We pray for those around the world at the mercy of extreme weather conditions.
We pray for the people of Japan, of Indonesia, especially those rescue workers who died trying to save others, for those bereaved in the plane crash.
Lord, hear our prayer and draw us all closer to you.
We pray for all who are pushed to their limits at work and at home, for Intensive Care Staff, for all in the emergency services, for GP's, teachers and school staff, for parents and students, for all whose mental health is at breaking point. And we pray for one another as we respond to the restrictions locally and nationally.
We pray for those whose businesses are closed, whose shops are locked up, whose rooms have no guests, for those whose money is running out, for those on the brink of despair.
Lord, hear our prayer and draw us all closer to you.
We pray for your church, entrusted with the good news of Jesus, and charged with serving all those in need. We pray for one another as we seek to share our faith and our hope in Jesus Christ.
Lord, hear our prayer and draw us all closer to you.
We pray for our families and friends, and for all those in need at this present time:-
We pray for the churches in our Circuit, this week for Midsomer Norton, and their minister, Stephen Robinson
Amen
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Hymn – When we walk with the Lord www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IDJQivWjdc
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1 |
When we walk with the Lord |
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Trust and obey, |
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2 |
Not a shadow can rise, |
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3 |
Not a burden we bear, |
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4 |
But we never can prove |
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5 |
Then in fellowship sweet
John Henry Sammis (1846-1919) |
Blessing
Lord, help us to recognise your voice in the world, and to encourage others that they may hear you too.
And the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you, now and forever more. Amen
Revd Martin Slocombe
CCLI Licence 354889