We light the 4th candle today for Mary, the mother of Jesus. Today we think about the visitation by Gabriel announcing the good news of the coming of the long awaited Messiah.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy SpiritGod is creation
bring us through the birth pangs of this present age
to see, with her, our great salvation
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Old Testament Reading: 2 Samuel 7v 1-11, 16 Read by Margaret.
New Revised Standard Version
God’s Covenant with David
7 Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” 3 Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” 8 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house.
16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.
The Gospel Reading: Luke 1:26-38 read by Elisabeth
Alleluia alleluia
I am the light of the world says the Lord
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.
Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke
Glory to you, O Lord
Luke 1:26-38
New Revised Standard Version
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.”29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?”35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born[c] will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ
The Sermon
“Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with
God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. “ Luke 1:30-31.
This account is given to us by Luke. Luke was a doctor and
used to giving reports. His gospel starts with…
Since many have undertaken to
set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us,
just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were
eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating
everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you,
most excellent Theophilus.
His gospel is only one of two that give us any general details of Jesus birth and Luke is very careful to record this down right- in Luke we get the Nativity story- starting from the angel appearing to Zechariah and promising him and his older wife, a son who would be the forerunner of the Messiah- preparing the way for him- John the Baptist.
And then the Annunciation- the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary announcing the entrance into our humanity of God himself, as the Son through her. The only other gospel which records this is Matthew albeit in a briefer way.
And although the Nativity story is obviously important, so
too is the underlying theme of a promise fulfilled by God. Albeit centuries
after it was made.
Our first reading is from the 2nd book of Samuel which took place in the time of the prophet Nathan. Nathan was the prophet in King David’s time. David wanted to build God a permanent dwelling place but God spoke to him through Nathan, saying that he had never desired a permanent dwelling place otherwise he would have spoken so to previous leaders. God did say however, that in David’s time, there would be only plans made but the house of God would be built by his son, Solomon.
Yet this building of houses was reciprocal – God would not only have a house built by David’s descendant, but also God would build David a house. The word “House” in Hebrew also meant temple and dynasty. God’s house would be the resplendent temple built in the reign of King Solomon and the house of David would be his dynasty.
The promise made by God, to establish the kingdom of David forever, was made true, was fulfilled… by the birth of Jesus- a direct descendant of King David.
To be able to fulfil his promise made so long ago to King David, God chose Mary for one of the most important acts of obedience God has ever asked of anyone.
But I also think he chose her for her resilience. This task-this being the mother of the promised Messiah would also test her to her limits. She would suffer much pain in her heart, she would be ridiculed by her
peers and even her fiancé would become doubtful of her love- even to the point of leaving her. Her own son would be rejected and murdered on a cross.
From both our Old and New Testament readings , there are lessons for us today.
King David was told he could not build God’s dwelling place- the magnificent temple- that was for his son to create. Accepting God’s answer of no, takes as much faith as saying yes. Although this must have been very trying and disappointing for David, in God’s greater plan, David was earmarked
for something very special.
Had Mary not obeyed- had not submitted to God’s greater plan, then where would the world’s salvation be?
So how do we bring this fulfilment of promise and the obedience of Mary to this time of 2020?
Have a look at this modern icon of Mary called “Our Lady of the Pandemic” by the Reverend Cecile Schnyder.
It is the front of a Christmas card from Bishop Christopher.
Inside there is a short poem by Elisabeth Coleridge entitled “I saw a Stable”…
I saw a stable, low and very bare
A little child in a manger.
The oxen knew Him, had Him in their care,
To men he was a stranger.
The safety of the world was lying there.
And the world’s danger.
Bishop Christopher says…
Celebrating Christmas in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic
calls us to reflect, as the poet does, upon the safety and danger of the world.
In Coleridge’s poem, we witness the Christ Child at his most vulnerable, and in
those which have been built out of necessity across the world over these last
a most fragile setting. The stable is a makeshift hospital ward, not unlike
months. And yet, therein lies our safety; in the saving power of Jesus Christ-
overcomes them.
God in our midst, born of Mary- who enters the dangers of the world and
The maternal care of Mary, depicted in the icon “Our Lady of
the Pandemic”, calls to mind all those who care for the vulnerable and pray for
their deliverance, trusting as she did, in “God’s” promise. Amen.
Let us declare our faith in God.
We believe in God the Father,
from whom every family
in heaven and on earth is named.
We believe in God the Son,
who lives in our hearts through faith,
and fills us with his love.
We believe in God the Holy Spirit,
who strengthens us
with power from on high.
We believe in one God;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayers led by
Let us pray to the Lord:
At the end of the prayers we say…
Merciful Father
Accept these prayers
For the sake of your Son
Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
The Peace
In the tender mercy of our God,
the dayspring from on high shall break upon us,
to give light to those who dwell in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The peace of the Lord be always with you
and also with you
God, in our midst, promise keeper, Light in our darkness.
Welcome to our Communion Service. Find us on Zoom.us: Meeting ID: 835 8280 0223 Password: 520477 Or: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83582800223?pwd=RVNHRUdIWkk0QVhiZDVoZ09sZ0x5dz09 We meet in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen Alleluia Christ is Risen He is Risen indeed Alleluia Hymn Love Divine All Loves Excelling https://youtu.be/JGGcqhKShQ8 Father God, we come to you because you turn doubt into hope, tears into laughter and fear into fearlessness. We come to you because on this Sunday and on every other day, we can say, ‘Jesus is alive!’ Amen . We Say Sorry to God Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and confess to you our weakness and unbelief. We have lived by our own strength, and not by the power of your resurrection. In your mercy, forgive us. Lord, hear us and help us. We have lived by the light of our own eye...
Welcome to TRINITY SUNDAY Join us on Zoom at 10:15 am Sunday the 7th of June. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83582800223?pwd=RVNHRUdIWkk0QVhiZDVoZ09sZ0x5dz09 Meeting ID: 835 8280 0223 Password: 520477 We meet in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today is Trinity Sunday where we celebrate One God yet three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. One true great God. Song: How great is our God - https://youtu.be/d5rjyDPWAdk As the words say….The Godhead 3 in 1, Father Spirit and Son. Last week we celebrated Pentecost- the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Disciples- the birth of the church. The Holy Spirit empowering the church to go forth on mission to tell God’s story. Jesus said ( From Matthew 28 v 19-20) " Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey eve...
