Updated: 7 hours 49 min ago
URC Daily Devotion Tuesday 21 January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion Tuesday 21 January 2025
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Tuesday 21 January 2025
St Luke 9: 51 - 56
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
Reflection
The opening words in this passage mark a turning point in Luke’s Gospel. We have come to the end of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and he is going to Jerusalem. In the Gospel the journey takes some time, about nine chapters.
The journey does not begin well. Jesus sends messengers ahead of them, they enter a Samaritan village who will not receive Jesus.
James and John chip in at this point, and they suggest that he should command fire to come down and consume the village. In 2 Kings 1 Elijah calls fire down upon fifty men sent to him by the King of Samaria (2 Kings 1:9-12), we may wonder if this is behind the thoughts of the disciples.
As we think about what James and John were saying, we may begin to wonder what they have learned, or rather failed to learn. Were they absent when Jesus told the disciples that they should love their enemies, do good to those who hate them, bless those who curse them, pray for those who ill-treat them (Luke 6:27,28). They do not seem to have taken in Jesus’ teaching about true greatness, where Jesus places a child in their midst, and John himself has been told that whoever is not against you is for you (Luke 9:46-50).
Jesus rejects the use of violence, and he rebukes the two disciples.
Jesus and his disciples are going to need hospitality, but when such hospitality is refused you do not threaten those who refuse with destruction.
It is interesting that in the Acts of the Apostles Philip goes to this region of Samaria. He proclaims the Messiah in the city and the people listen eagerly, the outcome is not destruction but joy (Acts 8:4-8).
As modern-day disciples of Jesus, there may be times when we face rejection, our response should not be one of bitterness but one of patience and forgiveness.
Prayer
Gracious God,
there are times when we face disagreement,
times when we feel rejected.
May we not be bitter and full of anger.
May we be patient,
and always ready to forgive others,
as Christ forgives us.
Amen. --> Today's writer The Revd Dr David Whiting, Retired Minister living in Sunderland Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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St Luke 9: 51 - 56
When the days drew near for Jesus to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
Reflection
The opening words in this passage mark a turning point in Luke’s Gospel. We have come to the end of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee and he is going to Jerusalem. In the Gospel the journey takes some time, about nine chapters.
The journey does not begin well. Jesus sends messengers ahead of them, they enter a Samaritan village who will not receive Jesus.
James and John chip in at this point, and they suggest that he should command fire to come down and consume the village. In 2 Kings 1 Elijah calls fire down upon fifty men sent to him by the King of Samaria (2 Kings 1:9-12), we may wonder if this is behind the thoughts of the disciples.
As we think about what James and John were saying, we may begin to wonder what they have learned, or rather failed to learn. Were they absent when Jesus told the disciples that they should love their enemies, do good to those who hate them, bless those who curse them, pray for those who ill-treat them (Luke 6:27,28). They do not seem to have taken in Jesus’ teaching about true greatness, where Jesus places a child in their midst, and John himself has been told that whoever is not against you is for you (Luke 9:46-50).
Jesus rejects the use of violence, and he rebukes the two disciples.
Jesus and his disciples are going to need hospitality, but when such hospitality is refused you do not threaten those who refuse with destruction.
It is interesting that in the Acts of the Apostles Philip goes to this region of Samaria. He proclaims the Messiah in the city and the people listen eagerly, the outcome is not destruction but joy (Acts 8:4-8).
As modern-day disciples of Jesus, there may be times when we face rejection, our response should not be one of bitterness but one of patience and forgiveness.
Prayer
Gracious God,
there are times when we face disagreement,
times when we feel rejected.
May we not be bitter and full of anger.
May we be patient,
and always ready to forgive others,
as Christ forgives us.
Amen. --> Today's writer The Revd Dr David Whiting, Retired Minister living in Sunderland Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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URC Daily Devotion Monday 20 January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion Monday 20 January 2025
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Monday 20 January 2025
--> Today's writer The Revd Roberta Ritson, minister at North Tyne Local Ecumenical Partnerships and Horsley Village Church Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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St Luke 9: 49 - 50
John answered, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.’
ReflectionWhat a short, punchy reading today: words of Jesus advocating the virtues of generosity and an open-mind. It’s acceptable for those regarded as ‘other’ to call upon his name. If they can restore health and balance to distressed people then leave them be.
What a rallying cry for inclusivity. There should be no more ‘us’ and ‘them’.
How well I remember the first lunchtime on my first day ever at the Scottish Episcopal Institute (where I undertook some of my training for URC ministry alongside the Scottish College). I’d dared to suggest that denominations might be an affront to Jesus. Surely we were all ‘humble learners in the school of Christ.’(1)
To feel comfortable in diverse worship situations is a sure way to arouse suspicion. “You’re denominationally unstable!”, exclaimed the tutor. Other people have said “You’re like someone with odd socks on. How can you readily take part in Anglican worship*?” (*alongside URC services and, earlier, Quaker meetings).
I’m all for odd socks. I also think it’s better to be ‘out’ than ‘in’ if conformity means betraying one’s core values and hard-earned life experience.
Our faith journeys are not necessarily linear. We learn and change.
And yet…. Many churches, including the URC, exercise great care in selecting and educating ministers, whether lay preachers, community workers or ministers of some other kind. There is a healthy tension between our dissenting tradition (‘all may be led by the Spirit…’ ) and well founded guidelines, rules some find smacking of control freakery.
Without a pastoral heart and selfless desire to serve, worship leaders and healers could do harm as well as good. They may have broken away from another group, never saying their farewells with gratitude. They may carry grudges and discontent. We must exercise great discernment.
One rule of thumb is to ask, is this one, claiming to act in the name of Jesus, able to listen deeply as well as to speak?
Prayer
A wise old bird sat in an oak,
the more he saw the less he spoke.
The more he spoke the less he heard.
Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?
Jesus, give us wisdom whenever we minister.
May our discernment also be shrewd and prayerful.
Teach us when to say ‘no’ as well as saying ‘yes’.
(1) Edgar G. Dunstan, section 1.2, Quaker Faith and Practice
--> Today's writer The Revd Roberta Ritson, minister at North Tyne Local Ecumenical Partnerships and Horsley Village Church Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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Sunday Worship 19 January 2025
96
Sunday Worship 19 January 2025
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Worship Services from the URC
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Order of Service
Below you will find the Order of Service, prayers, hymns and sermon for today's service. You can either simply read this or you can
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to listen to the service and sing along with the hymns. This will open up a new screen, at the bottom of the screen you will see a play symbol. Press that, then come back to this window so you can follow along with the service. Sunday Worship from the United Reformed Church
for Sunday 19 January 2025 - Epiphany 2
Today’s service is led by the Revd Matt Stone
Introduction & Call to Worship
Welcome to our worship for this Sunday! My name is Matt Stone; I’m a URC minister in Rotherham and Doncaster. I’m the chair of GEAR – the Group for Evangelism and Renewal in the URC. As we gather to worship I’m going to share some words from Psalm 36:5-9. I just encourage you to let the words not just be something you hear with your ears but something you meditate on and allow to sink deeply into our hearts.
Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Let’s join together to worship God with our first hymn.
Hymn God is Love: Let Heaven Adore Him
Timothy Rees (1922) © 1970 Hope Publishing Company OneLicence # A-734713 Sung by the virtual choir of Christ Church Pelham
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.
God who laid the earth's foundation, God who spread the heav'ns above,
God who breathes through all creation: God is Love, eternal Love.
God is Love; and love enfolds us, all the world in one embrace:
with unfailing grasp God hold us, ev'ry child of ev'ry race.
And when human hearts are breaking under sorrow's iron rod,
then we find that self-same aching deep within the heart of God.
God is Love; and though with blindness sin afflicts all human life,
God's eternal loving kindness guides us through our earthly strife.
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.
Prayers of Approach and Confession
Loving God,
we join with all of creation to worship and adore you.
We love you because you first loved us,
and we see your love so beautifully,
so powerfully, and so gloriously in Jesus Christ.
Forgive us, Lord, when we have lost sight of your love,
and have not loved as you love.
Open our eyes afresh to your love today,
and fill us anew with your Spirit,
that we may be transformed and live for you alone. Amen
We join in the words of the Lord’s Prayer:
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,
forever and ever. Amen.
Reading St John 2:1-11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
Hymn How Deep the Father’s Love For Us
Stuart Townend Copyright © 1995 Thankyou Music OneLicence # A-734713. sung by the choir of St James’ Cathedral, Chicago
How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure,
that He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss – the Father turns His face away,
as wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many folk to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders;
ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom;
but I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer;
but this I know with all my heart – His wounds have paid my ransom.
Sermon
For about fifteen years, the Boys’ Brigade was a huge part of our family’s life, because my dad was the captain of our church’s BB Company. And one of the things we used to do every year was get together with some of the other local BB companies and go on a camp. We used to cheat, because we used to sleep in church halls rather than tents, but (for the children, at least!) it used to be a really fun week. And one of my favourite memories of BB camps was going on treasure hunts. We used to be let off in teams of five or six with a leader in a big country park and we’d have to find clues, which in turn would lead us to the next clue, and the next clue, and so on, until eventually we found the chocolate treasure. Mr Wootton, the leader who designed the hunts, would plan each of the clues to be as cryptic as possible, at least as cryptic as you can get with 8-11 year olds!
Now why do I tell you this? Because in some ways John’s gospel is planned to be a kind of treasure hunt, with careful and sometimes cryptic clues laid out for us to follow. The word John uses for ‘clue’ is ‘sign’. He’s setting up a series of signposts to take us through the story, and these signposts tell us both who Jesus is and what Jesus is about.
When Jesus called Philip and Nathanael to follow him in John 1:51, Jesus reveals a startling truth: “I am telling you the truth: you will see heaven open and God's angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man” In other words, those who follow Jesus will see heaven and earth meet. They will see Jesus doing amazing things, heavenly things, God-like things. The signs or clues are the moments when that happens. They are significant, significant displays of power that point beyond themselves to deeper realities. They are moments when heaven is opened, when the transforming power of God’s love and Kingdom burst into the present world. The Jews believed that happened in the Temple, the place on earth where God lived. But Jesus shows us that he is the new Temple, that he is a person and a place where heaven and earth meet.
Now the first sign, the first clue is the story we’ve heard this morning, and like all of the signs, the story of the wedding at Cana is really a story of transformation. Whenever heaven and earth meet, something is transformed; something of God’s eternal Kingdom breaks through the cracks of our fading earthly world to surprise us, to give us a glimpse of what is ahead, to draw us in to the mystery of God’s plan and future. So what do we learn from it? We’re going to look at three parts of the story:
First of all, the Master of the Banquet (v.9)
Jesus and his mother, Mary, and some of the disciples have been invited to a wedding. 2000 years ago, weddings would have been even bigger affairs than they are now. The whole village, along with family from further afield, would get together and celebrate every day for a week or more. With this in mind, we realise what a huge disaster it was to run out of wine just a couple of days into the wedding! The party looks like it’s already over – and shame would have fallen on the couple, their family, and especially on the Master of the Banquet, who had the job of making sure that everyone had a great time.
The good news is: Jesus steps in to rescue the couple, the family and the master of the banquet from that shame. Now why would Jesus do that? Imagine for a moment that you are standing for political office, or that you’re an entrepreneur launching a new product, or a musician releasing your first major recording. In every case, you would choose your first public presentation with enormous care. Each detail would be carefully controlled so that every single thing you said or did would convey the message of what you are about. Why would Jesus then choose a wedding as his launch? Nobody’s dying. Nobody’s sick. Nobody’s starving. Why would his first miracle – his first sign – use supernatural power to create 800 bottles’ worth of the finest Chateau Cana?
I believe it’s because Jesus is saying that He is the true Master of the Banquet. God’s master plan is to bring joy and healing to a broken and shameful world – in the present, and in the future. That’s what Jesus is about. That is why Jesus has come.
Jesus is also looking ahead to His own wedding, which we can read about it in Revelation 21. We will be united with Jesus forever, and there will be an everlasting celebration. On that day, God, “will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples… he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth” (Isa. 25:6-8).
St Teresa of Avila was reputed to have said that the reality of heaven will be so astonishing, the joy so incredible, the fulfilment so amazing, that even the most miserable life will feel “like one night in a bad hotel.”
Jesus is all about transforming our suffering and shame into joy!
The second part of the story I want to focus on is: the water (v.6)
Jesus is going to bring transformation and joy. But how will he do it? Using these great jars of water that the Jews used for ceremonial washing – and that’s significant. The Jewish washing rituals vividly got across the idea that God is holy and perfect, but we are flawed and broken – and so we need to be washed clean if we are to connect with God. We can’t just walk into God’s presence. We need forgiveness, we need a fresh start.
Now most of us don’t like to admit that we are sinners. But deep down we know, don’t we, that something is not quite right. We don’t love others as we should. We put ourselves first. We can be addicted to bad attitudes or unhealthy behaviours.
Adolf Eichmann was one of the Nazi architects of the Holocaust and after the Second World War he fled to South America. But in 1960 he was caught and put on trial in Israel. He was tried, found guilty and executed. But during the trial they brought forward a witness, Yehiel De-Nur, who had seen Eichmann working in a concentration camp. When DeNur came to testify, he saw Eichmann in the glass booth and immediately he broke down in tears, he fell to the floor sobbing and there was pandemonium in the court. Sometime later DeNur was interviewed and asked why he broke down in tears: Was he overwhelmed with hatred or painful memories? DeNur said no – he said he was overcome by the realisation that Eichmann was not some demon but an ordinary human being. “I was afraid about myself… I saw that I am capable to do this… exactly like he.”
The Russian dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn put it like this: “Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either -- but right through every human heart -- and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained. And even in the best of all hearts, there remains ... an un-uprooted small corner of evil.”
The good news is that Jesus has come to help. He wants us to have eternal joy, and so he uses the ceremonial water jars to draw our attention to our need – to what’s stopping us from receiving joy. And then Jesus draws our attention to what he’s going to do about it, and that brings us to my third point:
Jesus’s conversation with Mary: “My hour has not yet come” (v.4)
When Jesus refers to his ‘hour’, he’s talking about his death on the cross. So what does that mean in the context of a wedding? Why does Jesus connect a request for wine with the hour of his death?
The author Timothy Keller suggests that Jesus is looking beyond his mother, beyond the bride and groom, and past the whole wedding scene. He’s seeing the great wedding feast of heaven, but He’s also thinking about what needs to happen first.
Surveys show that many people, including the non-religious, see Jesus as a good teacher or a role model – even if they don’t believe He’s God or see any significance in His death. The problem with that view is that Jesus did not come primarily to be a good role model – and I’m really glad He didn’t, because He’s too good, too perfect. It would be impossible for us to copy Jesus in our own strength. If we tried, we would just end up despairing. Like a high jumper looking at an impossibly high bar, Jesus’ standard is well beyond us.
But in this sign we see that He didn’t come to tell us how to save ourselves, how to achieve His standard… He came to save us Himself. If at a wedding of all places, at the start of his ministry, Jesus was thinking about his own death, then He was probably nearly always thinking about his death. Jesus’s death is the primary reason Jesus came. Jesus’ death didn’t just happen because the Jewish leaders had had enough of Him, and the Romans wanted to keep the peace. John’s Gospel makes it clear that Jesus gave up His life of His own accord, and it was the plan all along. In the very next chapter, Jesus says to Nicodemus, “the Son of Man must be lifted up [on the cross], so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”
In other words, Jesus came to wash us clean, to bring us forgiveness and to make us right before God so that we can receive the joy and fullness of life God wants us to have.
So to summarise:
Hymn The Love of God Comes Close
John L. Bell ; Author: Graham Maule © 1988, WGRG, Iona Community (admin. GIA Publications Inc.) OneLicence # A-734713 Sung by the Frodsham Methodist Church Cloud Choir and used with their kind permission.
The love of God comes close where stands an open door
to let the stranger in, to mingle rich and poor:
the love of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The peace of God comes close to those caught in the storm,
forgoing lives of ease to ease the lives forlorn:
the peace of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The joy of God comes close where faith encounters fears,
where heights and depths of life are found through smiles and tears:
the joy of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The grace of God comes close to those whose grace is spent,
when hearts are tired or sore and hope is bruised or bent:
the grace of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The Son of God comes close where people praise his name,
where bread and wine are blest and shared, as when he came:
the Son of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
Prayers of Intercession
Master of the banquet,
We thank you that you came to overcome our sin and shame,
and to lead us into eternal joy.
We pray today for ourselves, and for your Church across the world.
May we, as your people,
be filled with your kingdom joy,
and may it overflow from us to those around us.
Inspire and equip us to share your good news –
in word and in action - with those we meet this week.
In a moment of silence,
we now lift up to you others we know
who need your joy in the midst of suffering, sickness and despair.
(Silence)
We pray too for situations around our world
where your healing and hope are so desperately needed.
Bring your transformation we pray, Lord Jesus,
blessed to be a blessing, for the sake of your kingdom and glory. Amen
Offertory
Maybe Jesus didn’t set off for the wedding at Cana intending to save the day by the gift of turning water into wine. Maybe he thought he was just there to celebrate but, in response to His mother’s prompt, he saved the day and the embarrassment of the host! Often we give in unexpected ways in unexpected places – the surprise in finding our shoulder is a good place to cry on, the listening ear for pain we’d not anticipated, the gift to a charity that catches our eye. God, of course, planned the miracle at Cana and, of course, encourages us to both plan our giving and to be ready for the unexpected. Now, at this point in worship, we bring our gifts, the planned and the surprising, and give thanks for them and for all that they represent. We thank God for the giving direct to the bank and in the plate, for the gifts of time and talent and love and laughter. Let’s pray.
O God, may Your grace come close to those whose grace is spent.
Let our gifts give love when hearts are tired or sore and hope is bruised or bent. Through these gifts may Your will be done, and all know that Your grace is here to stay embracing those who walk Your way. Amen.
Hymn Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine
Fanny Crosby, Public Domain sung by members of the Northern Baptist Association
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
Perfect communion, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Saviour am happy and bless’d,
watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
Blessing
May Jesus fill your life with His transforming presence,
bringing you grace and mercy, love and joy,
each and every day.
And may the blessing of God,
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with each and every one of us,
today and always. Amen.
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Below you will find the Order of Service, prayers, hymns and sermon for today's service. You can either simply read this or you can
click here
to listen to the service and sing along with the hymns. This will open up a new screen, at the bottom of the screen you will see a play symbol. Press that, then come back to this window so you can follow along with the service. Sunday Worship from the United Reformed Church
for Sunday 19 January 2025 - Epiphany 2
Today’s service is led by the Revd Matt Stone
Introduction & Call to Worship
Welcome to our worship for this Sunday! My name is Matt Stone; I’m a URC minister in Rotherham and Doncaster. I’m the chair of GEAR – the Group for Evangelism and Renewal in the URC. As we gather to worship I’m going to share some words from Psalm 36:5-9. I just encourage you to let the words not just be something you hear with your ears but something you meditate on and allow to sink deeply into our hearts.
Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, your justice like the great deep. You, Lord, preserve both people and animals. How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.” Let’s join together to worship God with our first hymn.
Hymn God is Love: Let Heaven Adore Him
Timothy Rees (1922) © 1970 Hope Publishing Company OneLicence # A-734713 Sung by the virtual choir of Christ Church Pelham
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.
God who laid the earth's foundation, God who spread the heav'ns above,
God who breathes through all creation: God is Love, eternal Love.
God is Love; and love enfolds us, all the world in one embrace:
with unfailing grasp God hold us, ev'ry child of ev'ry race.
And when human hearts are breaking under sorrow's iron rod,
then we find that self-same aching deep within the heart of God.
God is Love; and though with blindness sin afflicts all human life,
God's eternal loving kindness guides us through our earthly strife.
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.
Prayers of Approach and Confession
Loving God,
we join with all of creation to worship and adore you.
We love you because you first loved us,
and we see your love so beautifully,
so powerfully, and so gloriously in Jesus Christ.
Forgive us, Lord, when we have lost sight of your love,
and have not loved as you love.
Open our eyes afresh to your love today,
and fill us anew with your Spirit,
that we may be transformed and live for you alone. Amen
We join in the words of the Lord’s Prayer:
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,
forever and ever. Amen.
Reading St John 2:1-11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
Hymn How Deep the Father’s Love For Us
Stuart Townend Copyright © 1995 Thankyou Music OneLicence # A-734713. sung by the choir of St James’ Cathedral, Chicago
How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure,
that He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss – the Father turns His face away,
as wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many folk to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders;
ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life I know that it is finished.
I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom;
but I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer;
but this I know with all my heart – His wounds have paid my ransom.
Sermon
For about fifteen years, the Boys’ Brigade was a huge part of our family’s life, because my dad was the captain of our church’s BB Company. And one of the things we used to do every year was get together with some of the other local BB companies and go on a camp. We used to cheat, because we used to sleep in church halls rather than tents, but (for the children, at least!) it used to be a really fun week. And one of my favourite memories of BB camps was going on treasure hunts. We used to be let off in teams of five or six with a leader in a big country park and we’d have to find clues, which in turn would lead us to the next clue, and the next clue, and so on, until eventually we found the chocolate treasure. Mr Wootton, the leader who designed the hunts, would plan each of the clues to be as cryptic as possible, at least as cryptic as you can get with 8-11 year olds!
Now why do I tell you this? Because in some ways John’s gospel is planned to be a kind of treasure hunt, with careful and sometimes cryptic clues laid out for us to follow. The word John uses for ‘clue’ is ‘sign’. He’s setting up a series of signposts to take us through the story, and these signposts tell us both who Jesus is and what Jesus is about.
When Jesus called Philip and Nathanael to follow him in John 1:51, Jesus reveals a startling truth: “I am telling you the truth: you will see heaven open and God's angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man” In other words, those who follow Jesus will see heaven and earth meet. They will see Jesus doing amazing things, heavenly things, God-like things. The signs or clues are the moments when that happens. They are significant, significant displays of power that point beyond themselves to deeper realities. They are moments when heaven is opened, when the transforming power of God’s love and Kingdom burst into the present world. The Jews believed that happened in the Temple, the place on earth where God lived. But Jesus shows us that he is the new Temple, that he is a person and a place where heaven and earth meet.
Now the first sign, the first clue is the story we’ve heard this morning, and like all of the signs, the story of the wedding at Cana is really a story of transformation. Whenever heaven and earth meet, something is transformed; something of God’s eternal Kingdom breaks through the cracks of our fading earthly world to surprise us, to give us a glimpse of what is ahead, to draw us in to the mystery of God’s plan and future. So what do we learn from it? We’re going to look at three parts of the story:
First of all, the Master of the Banquet (v.9)
Jesus and his mother, Mary, and some of the disciples have been invited to a wedding. 2000 years ago, weddings would have been even bigger affairs than they are now. The whole village, along with family from further afield, would get together and celebrate every day for a week or more. With this in mind, we realise what a huge disaster it was to run out of wine just a couple of days into the wedding! The party looks like it’s already over – and shame would have fallen on the couple, their family, and especially on the Master of the Banquet, who had the job of making sure that everyone had a great time.
The good news is: Jesus steps in to rescue the couple, the family and the master of the banquet from that shame. Now why would Jesus do that? Imagine for a moment that you are standing for political office, or that you’re an entrepreneur launching a new product, or a musician releasing your first major recording. In every case, you would choose your first public presentation with enormous care. Each detail would be carefully controlled so that every single thing you said or did would convey the message of what you are about. Why would Jesus then choose a wedding as his launch? Nobody’s dying. Nobody’s sick. Nobody’s starving. Why would his first miracle – his first sign – use supernatural power to create 800 bottles’ worth of the finest Chateau Cana?
I believe it’s because Jesus is saying that He is the true Master of the Banquet. God’s master plan is to bring joy and healing to a broken and shameful world – in the present, and in the future. That’s what Jesus is about. That is why Jesus has come.
Jesus is also looking ahead to His own wedding, which we can read about it in Revelation 21. We will be united with Jesus forever, and there will be an everlasting celebration. On that day, God, “will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples… he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth” (Isa. 25:6-8).
St Teresa of Avila was reputed to have said that the reality of heaven will be so astonishing, the joy so incredible, the fulfilment so amazing, that even the most miserable life will feel “like one night in a bad hotel.”
Jesus is all about transforming our suffering and shame into joy!
The second part of the story I want to focus on is: the water (v.6)
Jesus is going to bring transformation and joy. But how will he do it? Using these great jars of water that the Jews used for ceremonial washing – and that’s significant. The Jewish washing rituals vividly got across the idea that God is holy and perfect, but we are flawed and broken – and so we need to be washed clean if we are to connect with God. We can’t just walk into God’s presence. We need forgiveness, we need a fresh start.
Now most of us don’t like to admit that we are sinners. But deep down we know, don’t we, that something is not quite right. We don’t love others as we should. We put ourselves first. We can be addicted to bad attitudes or unhealthy behaviours.
Adolf Eichmann was one of the Nazi architects of the Holocaust and after the Second World War he fled to South America. But in 1960 he was caught and put on trial in Israel. He was tried, found guilty and executed. But during the trial they brought forward a witness, Yehiel De-Nur, who had seen Eichmann working in a concentration camp. When DeNur came to testify, he saw Eichmann in the glass booth and immediately he broke down in tears, he fell to the floor sobbing and there was pandemonium in the court. Sometime later DeNur was interviewed and asked why he broke down in tears: Was he overwhelmed with hatred or painful memories? DeNur said no – he said he was overcome by the realisation that Eichmann was not some demon but an ordinary human being. “I was afraid about myself… I saw that I am capable to do this… exactly like he.”
The Russian dissident Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn put it like this: “Gradually it was disclosed to me that the line separating good and evil passes not through states, nor between classes, nor between political parties either -- but right through every human heart -- and through all human hearts. This line shifts. Inside us, it oscillates with the years. And even within hearts overwhelmed by evil, one small bridgehead of good is retained. And even in the best of all hearts, there remains ... an un-uprooted small corner of evil.”
The good news is that Jesus has come to help. He wants us to have eternal joy, and so he uses the ceremonial water jars to draw our attention to our need – to what’s stopping us from receiving joy. And then Jesus draws our attention to what he’s going to do about it, and that brings us to my third point:
Jesus’s conversation with Mary: “My hour has not yet come” (v.4)
When Jesus refers to his ‘hour’, he’s talking about his death on the cross. So what does that mean in the context of a wedding? Why does Jesus connect a request for wine with the hour of his death?
The author Timothy Keller suggests that Jesus is looking beyond his mother, beyond the bride and groom, and past the whole wedding scene. He’s seeing the great wedding feast of heaven, but He’s also thinking about what needs to happen first.
Surveys show that many people, including the non-religious, see Jesus as a good teacher or a role model – even if they don’t believe He’s God or see any significance in His death. The problem with that view is that Jesus did not come primarily to be a good role model – and I’m really glad He didn’t, because He’s too good, too perfect. It would be impossible for us to copy Jesus in our own strength. If we tried, we would just end up despairing. Like a high jumper looking at an impossibly high bar, Jesus’ standard is well beyond us.
But in this sign we see that He didn’t come to tell us how to save ourselves, how to achieve His standard… He came to save us Himself. If at a wedding of all places, at the start of his ministry, Jesus was thinking about his own death, then He was probably nearly always thinking about his death. Jesus’s death is the primary reason Jesus came. Jesus’ death didn’t just happen because the Jewish leaders had had enough of Him, and the Romans wanted to keep the peace. John’s Gospel makes it clear that Jesus gave up His life of His own accord, and it was the plan all along. In the very next chapter, Jesus says to Nicodemus, “the Son of Man must be lifted up [on the cross], so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.”
In other words, Jesus came to wash us clean, to bring us forgiveness and to make us right before God so that we can receive the joy and fullness of life God wants us to have.
So to summarise:
- Jesus comes to bring joy because He’s the real Master of the banquet.
- Jesus uses the Jewish ceremonial washing jars to highlight what’s stopping us from receiving joy – we’ve sinned and cut ourselves off from God and we need cleansing, we need forgiveness, we need to come back to God.
- And Jesus looks ahead to His own death to show us that through His sacrifice He has cleansed us, He has forgiven us, and He has indeed brought us back to God.
Hymn The Love of God Comes Close
John L. Bell ; Author: Graham Maule © 1988, WGRG, Iona Community (admin. GIA Publications Inc.) OneLicence # A-734713 Sung by the Frodsham Methodist Church Cloud Choir and used with their kind permission.
The love of God comes close where stands an open door
to let the stranger in, to mingle rich and poor:
the love of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The peace of God comes close to those caught in the storm,
forgoing lives of ease to ease the lives forlorn:
the peace of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The joy of God comes close where faith encounters fears,
where heights and depths of life are found through smiles and tears:
the joy of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The grace of God comes close to those whose grace is spent,
when hearts are tired or sore and hope is bruised or bent:
the grace of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
The Son of God comes close where people praise his name,
where bread and wine are blest and shared, as when he came:
the Son of God is here to stay embracing those who walk his way.
Prayers of Intercession
Master of the banquet,
We thank you that you came to overcome our sin and shame,
and to lead us into eternal joy.
We pray today for ourselves, and for your Church across the world.
May we, as your people,
be filled with your kingdom joy,
and may it overflow from us to those around us.
Inspire and equip us to share your good news –
in word and in action - with those we meet this week.
In a moment of silence,
we now lift up to you others we know
who need your joy in the midst of suffering, sickness and despair.
(Silence)
We pray too for situations around our world
where your healing and hope are so desperately needed.
Bring your transformation we pray, Lord Jesus,
- to the injustice of our world
- to our politics and to those in positions of power
- to those facing violence, modern day slavery, oppression and persecution
blessed to be a blessing, for the sake of your kingdom and glory. Amen
Offertory
Maybe Jesus didn’t set off for the wedding at Cana intending to save the day by the gift of turning water into wine. Maybe he thought he was just there to celebrate but, in response to His mother’s prompt, he saved the day and the embarrassment of the host! Often we give in unexpected ways in unexpected places – the surprise in finding our shoulder is a good place to cry on, the listening ear for pain we’d not anticipated, the gift to a charity that catches our eye. God, of course, planned the miracle at Cana and, of course, encourages us to both plan our giving and to be ready for the unexpected. Now, at this point in worship, we bring our gifts, the planned and the surprising, and give thanks for them and for all that they represent. We thank God for the giving direct to the bank and in the plate, for the gifts of time and talent and love and laughter. Let’s pray.
O God, may Your grace come close to those whose grace is spent.
Let our gifts give love when hearts are tired or sore and hope is bruised or bent. Through these gifts may Your will be done, and all know that Your grace is here to stay embracing those who walk Your way. Amen.
Hymn Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine
Fanny Crosby, Public Domain sung by members of the Northern Baptist Association
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
Perfect communion, perfect delight, visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Saviour am happy and bless’d,
watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Saviour all the day long.
Blessing
May Jesus fill your life with His transforming presence,
bringing you grace and mercy, love and joy,
each and every day.
And may the blessing of God,
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
be with each and every one of us,
today and always. Amen.
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Sunday 19th January 2025
96
Sunday 19th January 2025
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Sunday 19 January 2025 Second Sunday after Epiphany
Psalm 65
the hills with joy are ringing, the valleys stand so thick with corn
that even they are singing.
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Psalm 65
1 To you our praise is due
in Zion, O God.
To you we pay our vows,
2 you who hear our prayer.
To you all flesh will come
3 with its burden of sin.
Too heavy for us, our offences,
but you wipe them away.
4 Blessed are those whom you choose and call
to dwell in your courts.
We are filled with the blessings of your house,
of your holy temple.
5 You keep your pledge with wonders,
O God our saviour,
the hope of all the earth
and of far distant isles.
6 You uphold the mountains with your strength,
you are girded with power.
7 You still the roaring of the seas,
(the roaring of their waves,)
and the tumult of the peoples.
8 The ends of the earth stand in awe
at the sight of your wonders.
The lands of sunrise and sunset
you fill with your joy.
9 You care for the earth, give it water;
you fill it with riches.
Your river in heaven brims over
to provide its grain.
And thus you provide for the earth;
10 you drench its furrows;
you level it, soften it with showers;
you bless its growth.
11 You crown the year with your goodness.
Abundance flows in your steps;
12 in the pastures of the wilderness it flows.
The hills are girded with joy,
13 the meadows covered with flocks,
the valleys are decked with wheat.
They shout for joy, yes they sing.
Reflection
This psalm has been taken up in a number of hymns across the years, particularly for harvest. For example by William Dix, a nineteenth-century Anglican, in Rejoice and Sing 53. Dix captured vv.12 and 13 in these lines:
Bright robes of gold the fields adorn,the hills with joy are ringing, the valleys stand so thick with corn
that even they are singing.
However, the psalm may have a more immediate message than harvest praise. Tomorrow is so-called Blue Monday, recognising a period of the year when the festive joy of December has receded, yet the weariness of winter still feels endless, featureless and hopeless. Days are dark and dismal and so, for many of us, are our spirits. How do we regain perspective, when a curtain of gloom covers the light? This psalm may offer some insights.
For the psalmist knew about the heavy burdens of sin and failure, about the roaring of the elements and ‘the tumult of the peoples’. Our own faults and frailties, the fierce power of storms and seas, and the anger and arrogance of people and nations – even these are answered by the pardon and peace, the tenderness and majesty of God (vv.3, 7). And even winter, grim and grasping, finds a place in the cycle of the year, whose meaning and destination are full with promise and joy (vv.12-13). The God we meet in prayer (vv.1-4) is ‘hope of the ends of the earth’, ruling over its seas, slopes and skies (vv.5-8). The same God rejoices to shape the seasons for plenty and for gladness (vv.9-13).
None of that takes all the blue out of Monday. But it does set this chilly hue in the rainbow of God’s faithfulness and generous purpose. We may go forward in safety and in hope.
Prayer
God of our prayers, God of great power, God of loving provision,
please help us to see the breadth and beauty of your work,
to know the gentle strength of your grace, even in dismal days,
to find your light, even when the world is dark,
and to trust your purpose, even when we cannot see it.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Revd John Proctor, retired minister, member at Downing Place URC, Cambridge
Copyright The Psalms: The Grail Translation, Inclusive Language Version, Collins, 2009. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.Want to change how you receive these emails? You can
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Saturday 18 January 2025
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Saturday 18 January 2025
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St Luke 9: 46 - 48
An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.’
Reflection
The URC Children’s and Youth Work theme for 2025 is “All Are Welcome”, so it was inevitable when I saw this reading in the Daily Devotions that I’d opt to write the reflection. I visited a church whilst on holiday some years ago and, when I casually mentioned my role in the URC, I was told “We don’t have any children and we’re not interested in having any children here”. I wonder whether that church is still open. If this reading is to be believed, we should remember that children are not only the Church of the future but are already the Church of today. And to extend Jesus’ meaning still further, to make children and those on the margins unwelcome in Jesus’ name is perhaps to make Jesus himself unwelcome. Scary thought!
Because it’s not always easy to recognise where we are truly welcome and where people may instead be left feeling like second-class citizens in God’s kingdom. We sometimes carry on oblivious, thinking ourselves to be open but actually vying to get our own voices heard and neglecting to see those around us who are equally valued by God. It’s a challenge to stop, look around us, and see who needs that welcome, that opportunity to have their voice heard, to teach and to learn together as an equal part of God’s family. The thing is, we might have to change the way we do things. Change? Never! But yes, we might have to change - to listen more patiently, to use more approachable vocabulary and more lively songs, even to play and be creative alongside, to be intentional about being intergenerational. But how exciting to know that, in so doing, we are welcoming Jesus in our midst.Prayer
Jesus, are you sure I’m not the greatest?
I do the flowers, I’m on the coffee rota.
I’ve been coming here for years, even have my own pew.
I’ve put plenty in the offertory..
I do my best.
Forgive me, Lord.
My best is not good enough when I don’t welcome all;
When I put them down or undervalue them;
When I fail to seek you in each individual, no matter who they are,
Renew me, O God, and help me change. Amen
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URC Daily Devotion Friday 17 January 2025
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URC Daily Devotion Friday 17 January 2025
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Friday 17 January 2025
St Luke 9: 43 - 45
While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, ‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.’ But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Reflection
I feel sorry for the disciples. There’d been healings, crowds and the odd miracle; now the long promised Messiah was here let’s get on with the revolution! Instead of joining in with it, Jesus doused their zeal. Glory, it seems, is not found at the palace but on the Cross. Power is seen not in armies or strength but in weakness and vulnerability. The popular leader will be betrayed and not ascend to the throne. No wonder the disciples couldn’t understand and go on to argue about who was the greatest amongst them. They’d just not understood.
There again in our world our leaders don’t understand it any better. We’ve had a resignation from an archbishop whose apology for past failures seems mealy mouthed. His Catholic counterpart endured far harsher safeguarding criticism but remained in office. We’ve seen other bishops scramble to say how they haven’t done anything wrong. Any sense of ministry as service, as a call to protect the vulnerable, speak the truth, or share the pain seems to be alien. Instead we see Church leaders act as politicians adept at handling power, dealing with pesky complaints, joking about their privileges, and generally seeking to avoid pain.
The leadership Jesus offers is different. Clearly there are good days with healings, adoring crowds, and the occasional miracle but there’s the hard work too. All his (and our) ministry is undertaken in the shadow of the Cross. It’s too easy for us to see the Cross as a sign of victory - first it’s a place of pain, disgrace, torture, and vulnerable weakness. Our redemption comes through that vulnerable weakness. More - the world’s healing is found there too. What, I wonder, would leadership look and feel like if those of us called to lead modelled this type of weakness? What I wonder would it look like if our leaders shared our pain? What, I wonder, would glory look like if it was seen in the dirt?
Prayer
God of weakness and tragedy,
God whose glory is found in the dirt of human life,
whose power is seen in vulnerability,
teach us to lead with integrity,
to reject power for its own sake,
and to seek only Your Kingdom
where the last are first, the hungry filled
and the rich sent empty away. Amen --> Today's writer The Revd Andy Braunston is the URC’s Minister for Digital Worship. He is a member of the Peedie Kirk URC in Kirkwall, Orkney Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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St Luke 9: 43 - 45
While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, ‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.’ But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Reflection
I feel sorry for the disciples. There’d been healings, crowds and the odd miracle; now the long promised Messiah was here let’s get on with the revolution! Instead of joining in with it, Jesus doused their zeal. Glory, it seems, is not found at the palace but on the Cross. Power is seen not in armies or strength but in weakness and vulnerability. The popular leader will be betrayed and not ascend to the throne. No wonder the disciples couldn’t understand and go on to argue about who was the greatest amongst them. They’d just not understood.
There again in our world our leaders don’t understand it any better. We’ve had a resignation from an archbishop whose apology for past failures seems mealy mouthed. His Catholic counterpart endured far harsher safeguarding criticism but remained in office. We’ve seen other bishops scramble to say how they haven’t done anything wrong. Any sense of ministry as service, as a call to protect the vulnerable, speak the truth, or share the pain seems to be alien. Instead we see Church leaders act as politicians adept at handling power, dealing with pesky complaints, joking about their privileges, and generally seeking to avoid pain.
The leadership Jesus offers is different. Clearly there are good days with healings, adoring crowds, and the occasional miracle but there’s the hard work too. All his (and our) ministry is undertaken in the shadow of the Cross. It’s too easy for us to see the Cross as a sign of victory - first it’s a place of pain, disgrace, torture, and vulnerable weakness. Our redemption comes through that vulnerable weakness. More - the world’s healing is found there too. What, I wonder, would leadership look and feel like if those of us called to lead modelled this type of weakness? What I wonder would it look like if our leaders shared our pain? What, I wonder, would glory look like if it was seen in the dirt?
Prayer
God of weakness and tragedy,
God whose glory is found in the dirt of human life,
whose power is seen in vulnerability,
teach us to lead with integrity,
to reject power for its own sake,
and to seek only Your Kingdom
where the last are first, the hungry filled
and the rich sent empty away. Amen --> Today's writer The Revd Andy Braunston is the URC’s Minister for Digital Worship. He is a member of the Peedie Kirk URC in Kirkwall, Orkney Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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URC Daily Devotion Thursday 16 January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion Thursday 16 January 2025
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Thursday 16 January 2025
St Luke 9: 37 - 43
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
Reflection
Let’s start with a naïve question : why did Jesus perform miracles?
Any miracle is an outpouring of God’s power and when Jesus performed miracles they were a sign of the arrival of God’s kingdom in him, revealing Jesus’ identity as the Christ, and also fulfilling Old Testament prophecy about the healing of the lame, sick and blind.
There is something about the way in which the miracles are related in the gospels which feels as though the power of God was present in Jesus in such a way that sometimes the discharge of power was inevitable, even uncontrolled. Rather like high voltage electricity arcing through space in a crackle of energy, the great power of God surged through Jesus. This could lead to healing even without Jesus’ conscious action – as when the woman with the haemorrhage touched Jesus’ cloak.
This might leave us feeling that miracles are very much a part of the life of Jesus, but have very little relevance to our lives.
But today’s miracle is an act of deep compassion by Jesus. The boy’s father begs Jesus to help, his disciples having failed to heal. As the boy is brought forward he again has a seizure and immediately, without any fuss, we are told that Jesus heals with a few simple words.
The boy needs help and healing – Jesus gives it. The people around are all amazed at the greatness of God.
Here is a story which can seem directly relevant to us, as the body of Christ. Where we see people in need, where others beg for help, where healing is required – then we should act with the compassion of Jesus. Where we can, we should be a conduit for God’s love and wholeness. When we do this, we are not only acting as decent human beings, or even showing that we are followers of Jesus, we are helping to open hearts around us to the greatness of God. This should challenge us to act.
Prayer
God who is love,
Through your power, shown in Jesus, a boy was healed.
By that same power, challenge us to act in your name,
So that your healing love may be seen at work in our day,
And Christ’s church may continue to reveal your glory.
So may we and all your children be made whole. Amen. --> Today's writer The Revd Ruth Whitehead, Minister Landsker Pastorate, Pembrokeshire. Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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St Luke 9: 37 - 43
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Jesus answered, ‘You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
Reflection
Let’s start with a naïve question : why did Jesus perform miracles?
Any miracle is an outpouring of God’s power and when Jesus performed miracles they were a sign of the arrival of God’s kingdom in him, revealing Jesus’ identity as the Christ, and also fulfilling Old Testament prophecy about the healing of the lame, sick and blind.
There is something about the way in which the miracles are related in the gospels which feels as though the power of God was present in Jesus in such a way that sometimes the discharge of power was inevitable, even uncontrolled. Rather like high voltage electricity arcing through space in a crackle of energy, the great power of God surged through Jesus. This could lead to healing even without Jesus’ conscious action – as when the woman with the haemorrhage touched Jesus’ cloak.
This might leave us feeling that miracles are very much a part of the life of Jesus, but have very little relevance to our lives.
But today’s miracle is an act of deep compassion by Jesus. The boy’s father begs Jesus to help, his disciples having failed to heal. As the boy is brought forward he again has a seizure and immediately, without any fuss, we are told that Jesus heals with a few simple words.
The boy needs help and healing – Jesus gives it. The people around are all amazed at the greatness of God.
Here is a story which can seem directly relevant to us, as the body of Christ. Where we see people in need, where others beg for help, where healing is required – then we should act with the compassion of Jesus. Where we can, we should be a conduit for God’s love and wholeness. When we do this, we are not only acting as decent human beings, or even showing that we are followers of Jesus, we are helping to open hearts around us to the greatness of God. This should challenge us to act.
Prayer
God who is love,
Through your power, shown in Jesus, a boy was healed.
By that same power, challenge us to act in your name,
So that your healing love may be seen at work in our day,
And Christ’s church may continue to reveal your glory.
So may we and all your children be made whole. Amen. --> Today's writer The Revd Ruth Whitehead, Minister Landsker Pastorate, Pembrokeshire. Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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URC Daily Devotion Wednesday 15 January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion Wednesday 15 January 2025
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Wednesday 15 January 2025
St Luke 9: 28 - 36
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and 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.
Reflection
One question among many that this passage asks of us, is, are we trying to remain? The disciples wanted to remain on the mountaintop. It was a place of wonder, of safety, and of joy, but Jesus made them come down off the mountain. His glory was hidden again, though its memory was in their hearts. The event and the occasion was good, but they all had to move on.
Do we try to hang on to past glories? Are we more comfortable remaining where we are, when what we should consider doing is moving on to a new place?
God reveals himself to us, just as he revealed himself to his disciples and we may be blessed with wondrous moments, but they are just that – moments. Not timeless, but fleeting. They inspire and excite,
but they are also meant to encourage us to move on.
Samuel Greg wrote these words in a hymn:
Stay, Master, stay upon this heavenly hill;
A little longer, let us linger still;
No, saith the Lord, the hour is past, we go;
Our home, our life, our duties lie below.
While here we kneel upon the mount of prayer,
The plough lies waiting in the furrow there.
Here we sought God that we might know his will;
There we must do it, serve him, seek him still.
The retired American Presbyterian pastor, Joseph Harvard III, describes it like this,
God gives us mountaintop experiences that are transformative. They change the way we see the world and ourselves. Business as usual is no longer possible after you have seen the vision of God’s good future revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
This teaches us a truth that while it is good to be on the mount, we must remember that we cannot remain there, that we have a duty to do, and that this duty is to carry out God's work in the world. But we should remember that we do not do this work alone. For we are empowered and accompanied by the very same God whose glory is revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
Prayer
We pray using words of a hymn written by Joseph Robinson,
How good, Lord, to be here!
Your glory fills the night;
Your face and garments, like the sun,
Shine with unborrowed light.
How good, Lord, to be here!
Yet we may not remain;
But since you bid us leave the mount
Come with us to the plain.
Amen. --> Today's writer
The Revd Martyn Neads, Minister, Mid Herts Pastorate Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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St Luke 9: 28 - 36
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and 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.
Reflection
One question among many that this passage asks of us, is, are we trying to remain? The disciples wanted to remain on the mountaintop. It was a place of wonder, of safety, and of joy, but Jesus made them come down off the mountain. His glory was hidden again, though its memory was in their hearts. The event and the occasion was good, but they all had to move on.
Do we try to hang on to past glories? Are we more comfortable remaining where we are, when what we should consider doing is moving on to a new place?
God reveals himself to us, just as he revealed himself to his disciples and we may be blessed with wondrous moments, but they are just that – moments. Not timeless, but fleeting. They inspire and excite,
but they are also meant to encourage us to move on.
Samuel Greg wrote these words in a hymn:
Stay, Master, stay upon this heavenly hill;
A little longer, let us linger still;
No, saith the Lord, the hour is past, we go;
Our home, our life, our duties lie below.
While here we kneel upon the mount of prayer,
The plough lies waiting in the furrow there.
Here we sought God that we might know his will;
There we must do it, serve him, seek him still.
The retired American Presbyterian pastor, Joseph Harvard III, describes it like this,
God gives us mountaintop experiences that are transformative. They change the way we see the world and ourselves. Business as usual is no longer possible after you have seen the vision of God’s good future revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
This teaches us a truth that while it is good to be on the mount, we must remember that we cannot remain there, that we have a duty to do, and that this duty is to carry out God's work in the world. But we should remember that we do not do this work alone. For we are empowered and accompanied by the very same God whose glory is revealed to us in Jesus Christ.
Prayer
We pray using words of a hymn written by Joseph Robinson,
How good, Lord, to be here!
Your glory fills the night;
Your face and garments, like the sun,
Shine with unborrowed light.
How good, Lord, to be here!
Yet we may not remain;
But since you bid us leave the mount
Come with us to the plain.
Amen. --> Today's writer
The Revd Martyn Neads, Minister, Mid Herts Pastorate Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can
Change Your Email Address
or
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URC Daily Devotion 14th January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion 14th January 2025
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Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ They answered, ‘John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.’
He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’
Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.’
Reflection
With the exception of the adherents of Messianic Judaism, most orthodox Jews today continue to await a human messiah who will usher in a messianic kingdom. Many Reformed Jews pray for a Messianic age of peace and prosperity accomplished by human good works.
Our reading today focuses on the truth of who Jesus claimed to be. Our Christian faith is based upon Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and the idea that the natural order can be overthrown by the miraculous.
There were some Jews who believed in the resurrection but this was assumed to be at the end of time when God would intervene on behalf of all his people - not in the middle of time. We also know that the many Messianic movements of the time - save the Christian movement - died out completely with the eclipse of the leader. The Church was different - even James, the brother of Jesus became leader of the church in Jerusalem with no thought of replacing Jesus. James was not hailed as the Messiah, nor as a replacement for Jesus because the tomb was empty!
Whilst in John’s Gospel in the “I am” sayings does Jesus specifically claim that he is God, the earlier Synoptic Gospels give many examples, in our Lord’s critique of the scribes’ allegation against him, of blasphemy - “only God can forgive sins”. Jesus claimed that “The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins.” (Mark 2.10; Matthew 18.20; Luke 12.10.) Jesus claimed lordship over the demons, sickness, the Sabbath, world judgement. He prophesied accurately. However in order to fulfil his ministry, in the prophecies in Daniel 7 and Psalm 110, and to die on the Cross, Jesus hid his true identity.
C.S. Lewis’ in “Mere Christianity” suggests just three options for Jesus’ claims - liar, lunatic, or God. This impels us to make the decision to follow the path of our Lord or not.
Prayer
“For I tell you this;
one loving blind desire for God alone is more valuable in itself,
more pleasing to God and to the saints,
more beneficial to your own growth,
and more helpful to your friends,
both living and dead,
than anything else you could do.”
(Anonymous, The Cloud of Unknowing)
--> Today's writer The Revd Ian Gow is a URC minister. Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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Tuesday 14 January 2025
St Luke 9: 18 - 27Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am?’ They answered, ‘John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered, ‘The Messiah of God.’
He sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, saying, ‘The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.’
Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.’
Reflection
With the exception of the adherents of Messianic Judaism, most orthodox Jews today continue to await a human messiah who will usher in a messianic kingdom. Many Reformed Jews pray for a Messianic age of peace and prosperity accomplished by human good works.
Our reading today focuses on the truth of who Jesus claimed to be. Our Christian faith is based upon Jesus’ resurrection from the dead and the idea that the natural order can be overthrown by the miraculous.
There were some Jews who believed in the resurrection but this was assumed to be at the end of time when God would intervene on behalf of all his people - not in the middle of time. We also know that the many Messianic movements of the time - save the Christian movement - died out completely with the eclipse of the leader. The Church was different - even James, the brother of Jesus became leader of the church in Jerusalem with no thought of replacing Jesus. James was not hailed as the Messiah, nor as a replacement for Jesus because the tomb was empty!
Whilst in John’s Gospel in the “I am” sayings does Jesus specifically claim that he is God, the earlier Synoptic Gospels give many examples, in our Lord’s critique of the scribes’ allegation against him, of blasphemy - “only God can forgive sins”. Jesus claimed that “The Son of Man has authority to forgive sins.” (Mark 2.10; Matthew 18.20; Luke 12.10.) Jesus claimed lordship over the demons, sickness, the Sabbath, world judgement. He prophesied accurately. However in order to fulfil his ministry, in the prophecies in Daniel 7 and Psalm 110, and to die on the Cross, Jesus hid his true identity.
C.S. Lewis’ in “Mere Christianity” suggests just three options for Jesus’ claims - liar, lunatic, or God. This impels us to make the decision to follow the path of our Lord or not.
Prayer
“For I tell you this;
one loving blind desire for God alone is more valuable in itself,
more pleasing to God and to the saints,
more beneficial to your own growth,
and more helpful to your friends,
both living and dead,
than anything else you could do.”
(Anonymous, The Cloud of Unknowing)
--> Today's writer The Revd Ian Gow is a URC minister. Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can
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or
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URC Daily Devotion 13th January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion 13th January 2025
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Daily Devotions from the URC
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On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.’ But he said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Reflection
Luke 9 began with the twelve sent on mission to heal and bear witness. We glimpsed fearful Herod, worried about Jesus. Stories of missionary blessing and bewildered tyrant; worlds are colliding as the realm of God breaks into the day.
Then, today’s text. Imagine the delight. The disciples must have been filled with the wonder, joy and maybe, being naughty, the pride at all they’ve done. Jesus wants a private debrief. But as God’s work is unfolding some things become unstoppable it seems. People are, in every way, hungry in this story. They long to listen. They want good news. They need to be healed. Is Jesus the one? Has the Messiah finally come? I notice that, as so often, Jesus responds to context. Private debrief forgotten, he gives himself fully to the needs of the crowd. It takes all day. Which is when the disciples get twitchy. They see problems and impossibilities; too many people, too few resources. Jesus is concocting a disaster and they ask him to stop: “Send the crowd away…”
But these are the same disciples who have shared the good news just days before. They’ve discovered the wonders of the ways God will work with them to change the world. The miracle that now unfolds is as much about hearts as about stomachs. Jesus invites the disciples back to where they were days before when they trusted that God was at work with them. The loaves and fish become more than enough because, in the hands of Jesus, blessings overflow. He invites his friends to trust him even as a new challenge engulfs them. He reminds them that what they bring is enough in God’s grace.
Where are we today? Perhaps we’ve plenty of signs of God’s blessing to cherish. Perhaps our day dawns daunting and dangerous. Perhaps something of both, interwoven. Hold on to this story of how God works with us, with what we bring, to work wonders. Keep trusting.
Prayer
God, when our gifts feel too small to make a difference, too fragile to survive, too worn, help us to offer them all the same. Then, in your wonderful ways, do with them and us what you will. Amen.
--> Today's writer The Revd Neil Thorogood, Thornbury URC and Trinity-Henleaze URC (Bristol) Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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Monday 13 January 2025
St Luke 9: 10 - 17On their return the apostles told Jesus all they had done. He took them with him and withdrew privately to a city called Bethsaida. When the crowds found out about it, they followed him; and he welcomed them, and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed to be cured. The day was drawing to a close, and the twelve came to him and said, ‘Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.’ But he said to them, ‘You give them something to eat.’ They said, ‘We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.’ For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, ‘Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.’ They did so and made them all sit down. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. And all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Reflection
Luke 9 began with the twelve sent on mission to heal and bear witness. We glimpsed fearful Herod, worried about Jesus. Stories of missionary blessing and bewildered tyrant; worlds are colliding as the realm of God breaks into the day.
Then, today’s text. Imagine the delight. The disciples must have been filled with the wonder, joy and maybe, being naughty, the pride at all they’ve done. Jesus wants a private debrief. But as God’s work is unfolding some things become unstoppable it seems. People are, in every way, hungry in this story. They long to listen. They want good news. They need to be healed. Is Jesus the one? Has the Messiah finally come? I notice that, as so often, Jesus responds to context. Private debrief forgotten, he gives himself fully to the needs of the crowd. It takes all day. Which is when the disciples get twitchy. They see problems and impossibilities; too many people, too few resources. Jesus is concocting a disaster and they ask him to stop: “Send the crowd away…”
But these are the same disciples who have shared the good news just days before. They’ve discovered the wonders of the ways God will work with them to change the world. The miracle that now unfolds is as much about hearts as about stomachs. Jesus invites the disciples back to where they were days before when they trusted that God was at work with them. The loaves and fish become more than enough because, in the hands of Jesus, blessings overflow. He invites his friends to trust him even as a new challenge engulfs them. He reminds them that what they bring is enough in God’s grace.
Where are we today? Perhaps we’ve plenty of signs of God’s blessing to cherish. Perhaps our day dawns daunting and dangerous. Perhaps something of both, interwoven. Hold on to this story of how God works with us, with what we bring, to work wonders. Keep trusting.
Prayer
God, when our gifts feel too small to make a difference, too fragile to survive, too worn, help us to offer them all the same. Then, in your wonderful ways, do with them and us what you will. Amen.
--> Today's writer The Revd Neil Thorogood, Thornbury URC and Trinity-Henleaze URC (Bristol) Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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Sunday Worship 12 January 2025
96
Sunday Worship 12 January 2025
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Worship Services from the URC
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Order of Service
Below you will find the Order of Service, prayers, hymns and sermon for today's service. You can either simply read this or you can
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for Sunday 12 January 2025 - The Baptism of the Lord
Today’s service is led by the Revd Andy Braunston
Welcome
Hello and welcome to worship. Today we mark Jesus’ baptism at the start of his ministry. We’ve very little material about Jesus’ childhood and so we jump, in our Sunday readings, from the visit of the Magi straight into his baptism and public ministry. We like to think of baptism as something the Church does yet, as we read today, it was a rite first offered by Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist. John was a fiery preacher who didn’t seem to get nuance. He told people what’s what; his condemnation of Herod for marrying his sister-in-law led to his death. He divided the wheat from the chaff so it’s surprising Jesus went to be baptised. We’ll think about why that might be the case, and we’ll ponder Isaiah’s beautiful words of assurance. So, let’s join together in worship.
Call to Worship
With all of creation we come to worship and raise God a song on high! We glorify God’s unmeasured strength and unbounded love and raise God a song on high! At God’s voice the clouds come, the thunder roars and torrents fall, and we raise God a song on high! As creation quakes in God’s presence we know that the voice which sets the planets spinning also speaks, in gentle breath, with the peace which sustains us and so we raise God a song on high!
Hymn Summoned by the God Who Made Us
Delores Duffner OSB GIA Publications OneLicence # A-734713 Performed by Frodsham Methodist Church Cloud Choir accompanied by Andrew Ellams. Used with their kind permission.
Summoned by the God who made us rich in our diversity,
gathered in the name of Jesus, richer still in unity:
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being one in faith and love and praise.
Radiant risen from the water, robed in holiness and light,
male and female in God's image, male and female, God's delight:
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being one in faith and love and praise.
Trust the goodness of creation; trust the Spirit strong within.
Dare to dream the vision promised sprung from seed of what has been.
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being one in faith and love and praise.
Bring the hopes of ev'ry nation; bring the art of ev'ry race.
Weave a song of peace and justice; let it sound through time and space.
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being one in faith and love and praise.
Draw together at one table all the human family;
shape a circle ever wider and a people ever free.
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being one in faith and love and praise.
Prayers of Approach, Confession and Grace
You tell us, O Most High, not to be afraid, to trust in Your redemption, to hear You call us by name, and to know we’ll not be overwhelmed by flood nor consumed by flame. For these promises we thank you. You tell us, Eternal One, that we are precious in Your sight, that we are loved, that You formed and made us. For this gracious love we thank You.
Yet there are times, Lord Jesus, when we forget Your promises, when we ignore You standing at our side, and prefer to go our own way rather than trust in Yours. Forgive us, good Lord, and give us time to turn back, time not only to know Your love but to spread it, time not just to experience Your grace but to share it, time not just to rest in Your assurance but to help others to be safe.
Remind us, Most Holy Spirit, that we are created for glory, even as we are mix of saint and sinner, wheat and chaff, give us the grace to accept our forgiveness, to forgive others, and to forgive ourselves. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
You speak to us, O God, in ancient words and contemporary interpretation, in the majesty of creation, and in the minutia of our lives,
shine in our hearts and lives, that as we hear we may follow. Amen.
Reading Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight and honoured and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth - everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Hymn All on Earth and All in Heaven (Psalm 29)
Michael Morgan © 2011 Faith Alive Christian Resources OneLicence # A-734713 sung by the choir of the Mt Cross Lutheran Church Camarillo, California & used with their kind permission.
All on earth and all in heaven raise to God a song on high;
strength unmeasured love unbounded, God alone we glorify.
At God’s voice the clouds assemble thunder roars and torrents fall;
Earth shall quake before God’s presence, mountains tremble at God’s call
Trees shall bow in awe & wonder, bend their branches to the ground;
from God’s lips one word in anger wreaks destruction all around.
But the Word which sets in motion such travails can make them cease;
that same voice which tumult beckons in a gentler breath speaks peace.
Reading St Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Hymn Christ Is Our Light! The Bright and Morning Star
© Leith Fisher performed by Mr Gooch, Mr Muirhead and Ellie N from Strathallan School and used with their kind permission.
Christ is our light! The bright and morning star
covering with radiance all from near and far.
Christ be our light, shine on, shine on we pray
into our hearts, into our world today.
Christ is our love! Baptised that we may know
the love of God among us, swooping low.
Christ be our love, bring us to turn our face
and see in you the light of heaven’s embrace.
Christ is our joy! Transforming wedding guest!
Through water turned to wine the feast was blessed.
Christ be our joy; your glory let us see,
as your disciples did in Galilee.
Sermon
Our contemporary world is concerned with many things but, perhaps most deeply, with questions around identity and purpose. Who are we? What are we here for? How do we find meaning in life? These are questions that folk wrestle with seeking answers in social movements, politics and, sometimes, in faith. We may find meaning in identities based on how we love, where we were born or live, how we vote or how we live. And, in finding those identities we strive to find meaning. We’re tempted to think of all this as a modern phenomenon but, as our readings show, these concerns were ones which preoccupied the ancients too.
In our Isaiah passage the prophet addresses a bruised and battered, dislocated and despondent people. The Jews were living in exile with little hope of return. The people are reminded, after harsh words in the previous chapter, that they are precious in God’s sight – they may feel insignificant at the margins of a mighty empire but they are held in God’s own hand. The prophet reminds them that they belong to God and, despite their sins, cannot be separated out from God. Their identity is as God’s people, their purpose to glorify God and be a light to the nations; despite their sins and the prophet’s view that the exile was a divine punishment, they were loved and redeemed.
Psalm 29, which we sang in paraphrase form, is one that benefits from looking at various translations. The Psalm’s opening line might be addressed to “heavenly beings” to “sons of the mighty” or to “mighty ones”. The paraphraser in our sung version hedged his bets and rendered the line “all on earth and all in heaven” which covers bases nicely. Calvin thought the Psalm was addressed to haughty humans rather than the heavenly beings some versions have. Calvin thought the Psalm was a reminder to see beyond the forces and powers that control the world and to turn to God the world’s true sovereign. The Psalm, for Calvin, is addressed to those who see their identity as being based in wealth and power, who derive meaning from amassing riches; he saw it as a wakeup call to consider their true identity and purpose – in glorying and following God not amassing wealth and oppressing the poor.
Calvin’s reading is a good counter point to the powers and principalities that exist today – where haughty (normally men) accumulate wealth and power and behind systems used to keep them in power. The rise of Christian nationalism drove Mr Trump back to the White House (along with a Democratic Party that allowed itself to be portrayed as elitist whilst, multi-millionaire, Mr Trump was seen as ordinary!). Maybe Mr Trump and his followers need reminding that glorifying God is rather more than voting for a particular party. The powers of racism that swirl around us and infest politicians ever more eager to pander to the press barons also need reminding that God alone do we glorify. Those who follow God are always tempted to put other things before God – whether that was the temptation to worship idols and pagan Gods in the ancient near east or the temptation to compromise with the Nazi state in 1930s Germany. It might be the temptation to see right wing populists as divinely ordained or it might be the temptation to see Christianity as having nothing to do with secular concerns and only focused on the spiritual. Maybe the political thunderstorms and tempests of our own age are signs that God is at work just as the Psalmist saw God at work in nature’s unleashed power. The Psalm reminds us to speak truth to the mighty – the truth that only God is to be worshipped, only Jesus is Lord.
Which brings us to Jesus and his baptism. It’s a puzzling episode in some ways. John’s baptismal practice was about repentance, separating out the good from the evil, the wheat from the chaff. With John you’d know if you were good or evil - he made it very clear. So, we have to wonder why Jesus submitted to baptism from his cousin – a baptism that was about, according to John, turning away from evil and towards God.
In Luke’s gospel the baptism narrative comes after the genealogy but before the temptations. We skip over the genealogies as they are rather boring and repetitive. Unlike Matthew, Luke doesn’t include the women in the Messianic line. We’ve no idea of some of the men he names whilst some of the others were nasty characters. Abraham who pimped his wife and tried to murder his son is there. So is Judah, who tried to get out of his responsibilities to a woman he made pregnant. David the murdering rapist is there too. We can assume, therefore, that Jesus’ ancestors were a motley crew; a mixture of good and bad and, like us, something in-between. Jesus was born into a world of personal and systemic sin. He’d know this with those ancestors, with the occupation of Rome, with heartless taxation and injustice. His identity, therefore, included this list of ancestors as well as being a Jew living under cruel occupation.
His baptism shows he understood this; in submitting to baptism he identified with the world in all its fallenness and in all its glory – a world in need of redemption just like the Jews in Isaiah’s day.
Later, Jesus is driven to the wilderness to face temptation – something we come back to in Lent. In a world where sin is baked in, where oppression is part of our systems and structures, Jesus rejects the temptation to just make the best of things. Jesus cannot escape the tragic structure of the world – he’s Son of Adam, Son of God, after all. But he ensures he bends his will to God’s. By accepting John’s baptism, Jesus rejects John’s dualism of good versus evil, wheat or chat, saint or sinner and shows, as his genealogy shows, that life is complex. No wonder he was accused of being a glutton, a drunk, a friend of sinners, outcasts and collaborators. Jesus was part of an interconnected web – ancestors and friends, systems and structures, that he identified with, worked in, and redeemed.
In our own day we might ponder who we are and whose we are. We might wonder what makes us worthy. Like the Jewish exiles we may feel estranged in our culture which, at best, ignores us and, at worst, sees us (with good reason) as dangerous. We might be tempted to find our identity, and safety, in what our money can buy. The need to be secure is as important as it ever was. Employers transfer pension risks to the workers rather than bear it themselves, rent costs more than mortgages - yet one needs to earn a lot of get a mortgage. A move way from a unionised workforce means it’s easier than ever to lose one’s job. Mr Putin’s invasion of Ukraine shows how precarious things are not in faraway places but in countries very near us. Yet, we’ll only find true security in God; the Psalmist reminds us to ascribe God glory (and by implication that means not ascribing it elsewhere!). Over the floods and thunders, the waves and flames, God is there providing our identity and security, our place under the sun.
As Christians our prime identity is secured in our baptism. Jesus’ baptism served to identify with his mixed ancestry, his humanity in that time and place, and with God’s will. Ours serves to identify us as God’s and God’s alone. Despite our sins God loves us; our identity is assured in God’s promises. At baptism we were marked by and claimed for God; great promises were made – God keeps His! Let’s pray:
Eternal God, help us to ascribe You the glory that is Yours, not to pander to divine capriciousness – You have no need of our praise after all – but to remind us of our place, our need for security, and our duty to trust in, and serve, You. Remind us of our baptism, of promises made and forgiveness given, and remind us, O God, that we are no longer our own, but Yours. Amen.
Hymn When Jesus Came to Jordan
Fred Pratt Green © 1980 Hope Publishing Company OneLicence # A-734713. Sung by the choir of North Stoneham and Bassett Parish Church & used with their kind permission
When Jesus came to Jordan to be baptized by John,
He did not come for pardon, but as his Father's Son.
He came to share repentance with all who mourn their sins,
to speak the vital sentence with which good news begins.
He came to share temptation, our utmost woe and loss,
for us and our salvation to die upon the Cross.
So when the Dove descended on him, the Son of Man,
the hidden years had ended, the age of grace began.
Come, Holy Spirit, aid us to keep the vows we make,
this very day invade us, and every bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction, the gift we covet most:
to share the resurrection that leads to Pentecost.
Affirmation of Faith
We believe in the one and only God, Eternal Trinity, from whom, through whom and for whom all created things exist. God alone we worship; in God we put our trust.
We worship God, source and sustainer of creation, whom Jesus called Father, whose sons and daughters we are.
We worship God revealed in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God made flesh; who lived our human life, died for sinners on the cross; who was raised from the dead, and proclaimed by the apostles, Son of God; who lives eternally, as saviour and sovereign, coming in judgement and mercy, to bring us to eternal life.
We worship God, ever present in the Holy Spirit; who brings this Gospel to fruition, assures us of forgiveness, strengthens us to do God’s will, and makes us sisters and brothers of Jesus, sons and daughters of God.
We believe in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, united in heaven and on earth: on earth, the Body of Christ, empowered by the Spirit to glorify God and to serve humanity; in heaven, eternally one with the power, the wisdom and the love of God in Trinity.
We believe that, in the fullness of time, God will renew and gather in one
all things in heaven and on earth through Christ, and be perfectly honoured and adored. We rejoice in God who has given us being, who shares our humanity to bring us to glory, our source of prayer and power of praise; to whom be glory, praise and adoration, now and evermore. Amen.
Intercessions
We bring our prayers to God, the Eternal Trinity.
Eternal One, we pray for those who feel insecure; for refugees fleeing war, oppression and poverty, for those waiting for the next bomb to drop and cling to life, for those whose loves and lives attract anger and hate, for those meeting in secret to worship this day for fear of the powers. May we, through our gifts, faith, and life change the world.
Lord Jesus, we pray for those baptised this day, those making promises for themselves – often at great risk – and those parents making promises on their child’s behalf, remind them of Your faithfulness and love, prepare them for lives of discipleship that they, with us, through our gifts, faith, and life, we may change the world.
Most Holy Spirit, remind us to look beyond our own identities, our own searches for safety, our own riches and wealth, to see that it is God alone that we worship, God alone in whom we must trust, that through our gifts, faith, and life, we may, change the world.
Eternal Trinity of Love, we hold before you now, in the silence of our hearts, all who are in need….
May we, through our gifts, faith, and life change the world. As Jesus taught, so we pray…Our Father…
Offertory
Part of our identity as Christians involves giving. St Paul reminds us that God loves cheerful givers – though I’m sure grumpy ones are welcome too! Giving changes us, it reinforces our identity as being part of God’s people, and it changes the world. We give with love of our time, talents and treasurer; we give in many ways to many different people and causes. We may give in the plate in church or by standing order, we may give by remembering the Church in our wills. However we give, let’s give thanks for the ways in which such giving brings change:
Loving God, thank you for the gifts you shower up on us, and for the ways in which you provide for us to give; help us to remember that giving changes us – helping us control our selfish desires. Help us to remember that giving reminds us that we are Yours. Help us to remember the difference that our giving makes to the lives of others. Bless these gifts and all that is given in this placethat we may continue as Your people and, as we are changed, change the world. Amen.
Hymn The Silent Stars Shine Down On Us
Herman G Stuempfle (1923-2007) GIA Publications OneLicence # A-734713 Sung by Paul Coleman
The silent stars shine down on us with bright but sightless eye,
unmindful of our little earth, of us who live and die.
Are we but grains of stranded sand beside a cosmic sea
that lie unvalued and unseen in such immensity?
Creator of all stars you came to grace our transient race.
In Christ you spoke a word that broke the silences of space.
Still through that word you call our hearts to know that we are known,
to trust we do not walk through time unvalued and alone.
We see the star the wise men saw and hope again is stirred.
We track the footprints left in time by your incarnate Word.
We see them climb a lonely hill where Love is left to die –
the Love that formed the farthest star and hears the faintest cry.
O Christ, the bright & morning Star whose radiance does not fade,
whose glory filled the universe before the planets played:
come, heal our hearts of blinding doubt till faith shall end in sight.
Shine down upon our darkened earth and conquer sin’s long night.
Blessing
May the One who made the silent stars shine,
the One who understood his past, present, and future,
and the One who calls our hearts to follow,
shine upon you, allow you to understand your contexts,
and give you the grace to follow,
and the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be with you evermore. Amen.
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Below you will find the Order of Service, prayers, hymns and sermon for today's service. You can either simply read this or you can
click here
to listen to the service and sing along with the hymns. This will open up a new screen, at the bottom of the screen you will see a play symbol. Press that, then come back to this window so you can follow along with the service. Sunday Worship from the United Reformed Church
for Sunday 12 January 2025 - The Baptism of the Lord
Today’s service is led by the Revd Andy Braunston
Welcome
Hello and welcome to worship. Today we mark Jesus’ baptism at the start of his ministry. We’ve very little material about Jesus’ childhood and so we jump, in our Sunday readings, from the visit of the Magi straight into his baptism and public ministry. We like to think of baptism as something the Church does yet, as we read today, it was a rite first offered by Jesus’ cousin John the Baptist. John was a fiery preacher who didn’t seem to get nuance. He told people what’s what; his condemnation of Herod for marrying his sister-in-law led to his death. He divided the wheat from the chaff so it’s surprising Jesus went to be baptised. We’ll think about why that might be the case, and we’ll ponder Isaiah’s beautiful words of assurance. So, let’s join together in worship.
Call to Worship
With all of creation we come to worship and raise God a song on high! We glorify God’s unmeasured strength and unbounded love and raise God a song on high! At God’s voice the clouds come, the thunder roars and torrents fall, and we raise God a song on high! As creation quakes in God’s presence we know that the voice which sets the planets spinning also speaks, in gentle breath, with the peace which sustains us and so we raise God a song on high!
Hymn Summoned by the God Who Made Us
Delores Duffner OSB GIA Publications OneLicence # A-734713 Performed by Frodsham Methodist Church Cloud Choir accompanied by Andrew Ellams. Used with their kind permission.
Summoned by the God who made us rich in our diversity,
gathered in the name of Jesus, richer still in unity:
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being one in faith and love and praise.
Radiant risen from the water, robed in holiness and light,
male and female in God's image, male and female, God's delight:
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being one in faith and love and praise.
Trust the goodness of creation; trust the Spirit strong within.
Dare to dream the vision promised sprung from seed of what has been.
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being one in faith and love and praise.
Bring the hopes of ev'ry nation; bring the art of ev'ry race.
Weave a song of peace and justice; let it sound through time and space.
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being one in faith and love and praise.
Draw together at one table all the human family;
shape a circle ever wider and a people ever free.
Let us bring the gifts that differ and, in splendid, varied ways,
sing a new church into being one in faith and love and praise.
Prayers of Approach, Confession and Grace
You tell us, O Most High, not to be afraid, to trust in Your redemption, to hear You call us by name, and to know we’ll not be overwhelmed by flood nor consumed by flame. For these promises we thank you. You tell us, Eternal One, that we are precious in Your sight, that we are loved, that You formed and made us. For this gracious love we thank You.
Yet there are times, Lord Jesus, when we forget Your promises, when we ignore You standing at our side, and prefer to go our own way rather than trust in Yours. Forgive us, good Lord, and give us time to turn back, time not only to know Your love but to spread it, time not just to experience Your grace but to share it, time not just to rest in Your assurance but to help others to be safe.
Remind us, Most Holy Spirit, that we are created for glory, even as we are mix of saint and sinner, wheat and chaff, give us the grace to accept our forgiveness, to forgive others, and to forgive ourselves. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
You speak to us, O God, in ancient words and contemporary interpretation, in the majesty of creation, and in the minutia of our lives,
shine in our hearts and lives, that as we hear we may follow. Amen.
Reading Isaiah 43:1-7
But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight and honoured and I love you, I give people in return for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, "Give them up," and to the south, "Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth - everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
Hymn All on Earth and All in Heaven (Psalm 29)
Michael Morgan © 2011 Faith Alive Christian Resources OneLicence # A-734713 sung by the choir of the Mt Cross Lutheran Church Camarillo, California & used with their kind permission.
All on earth and all in heaven raise to God a song on high;
strength unmeasured love unbounded, God alone we glorify.
At God’s voice the clouds assemble thunder roars and torrents fall;
Earth shall quake before God’s presence, mountains tremble at God’s call
Trees shall bow in awe & wonder, bend their branches to the ground;
from God’s lips one word in anger wreaks destruction all around.
But the Word which sets in motion such travails can make them cease;
that same voice which tumult beckons in a gentler breath speaks peace.
Reading St Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
As the people were filled with expectation and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water, but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Hymn Christ Is Our Light! The Bright and Morning Star
© Leith Fisher performed by Mr Gooch, Mr Muirhead and Ellie N from Strathallan School and used with their kind permission.
Christ is our light! The bright and morning star
covering with radiance all from near and far.
Christ be our light, shine on, shine on we pray
into our hearts, into our world today.
Christ is our love! Baptised that we may know
the love of God among us, swooping low.
Christ be our love, bring us to turn our face
and see in you the light of heaven’s embrace.
Christ is our joy! Transforming wedding guest!
Through water turned to wine the feast was blessed.
Christ be our joy; your glory let us see,
as your disciples did in Galilee.
Sermon
Our contemporary world is concerned with many things but, perhaps most deeply, with questions around identity and purpose. Who are we? What are we here for? How do we find meaning in life? These are questions that folk wrestle with seeking answers in social movements, politics and, sometimes, in faith. We may find meaning in identities based on how we love, where we were born or live, how we vote or how we live. And, in finding those identities we strive to find meaning. We’re tempted to think of all this as a modern phenomenon but, as our readings show, these concerns were ones which preoccupied the ancients too.
In our Isaiah passage the prophet addresses a bruised and battered, dislocated and despondent people. The Jews were living in exile with little hope of return. The people are reminded, after harsh words in the previous chapter, that they are precious in God’s sight – they may feel insignificant at the margins of a mighty empire but they are held in God’s own hand. The prophet reminds them that they belong to God and, despite their sins, cannot be separated out from God. Their identity is as God’s people, their purpose to glorify God and be a light to the nations; despite their sins and the prophet’s view that the exile was a divine punishment, they were loved and redeemed.
Psalm 29, which we sang in paraphrase form, is one that benefits from looking at various translations. The Psalm’s opening line might be addressed to “heavenly beings” to “sons of the mighty” or to “mighty ones”. The paraphraser in our sung version hedged his bets and rendered the line “all on earth and all in heaven” which covers bases nicely. Calvin thought the Psalm was addressed to haughty humans rather than the heavenly beings some versions have. Calvin thought the Psalm was a reminder to see beyond the forces and powers that control the world and to turn to God the world’s true sovereign. The Psalm, for Calvin, is addressed to those who see their identity as being based in wealth and power, who derive meaning from amassing riches; he saw it as a wakeup call to consider their true identity and purpose – in glorying and following God not amassing wealth and oppressing the poor.
Calvin’s reading is a good counter point to the powers and principalities that exist today – where haughty (normally men) accumulate wealth and power and behind systems used to keep them in power. The rise of Christian nationalism drove Mr Trump back to the White House (along with a Democratic Party that allowed itself to be portrayed as elitist whilst, multi-millionaire, Mr Trump was seen as ordinary!). Maybe Mr Trump and his followers need reminding that glorifying God is rather more than voting for a particular party. The powers of racism that swirl around us and infest politicians ever more eager to pander to the press barons also need reminding that God alone do we glorify. Those who follow God are always tempted to put other things before God – whether that was the temptation to worship idols and pagan Gods in the ancient near east or the temptation to compromise with the Nazi state in 1930s Germany. It might be the temptation to see right wing populists as divinely ordained or it might be the temptation to see Christianity as having nothing to do with secular concerns and only focused on the spiritual. Maybe the political thunderstorms and tempests of our own age are signs that God is at work just as the Psalmist saw God at work in nature’s unleashed power. The Psalm reminds us to speak truth to the mighty – the truth that only God is to be worshipped, only Jesus is Lord.
Which brings us to Jesus and his baptism. It’s a puzzling episode in some ways. John’s baptismal practice was about repentance, separating out the good from the evil, the wheat from the chaff. With John you’d know if you were good or evil - he made it very clear. So, we have to wonder why Jesus submitted to baptism from his cousin – a baptism that was about, according to John, turning away from evil and towards God.
In Luke’s gospel the baptism narrative comes after the genealogy but before the temptations. We skip over the genealogies as they are rather boring and repetitive. Unlike Matthew, Luke doesn’t include the women in the Messianic line. We’ve no idea of some of the men he names whilst some of the others were nasty characters. Abraham who pimped his wife and tried to murder his son is there. So is Judah, who tried to get out of his responsibilities to a woman he made pregnant. David the murdering rapist is there too. We can assume, therefore, that Jesus’ ancestors were a motley crew; a mixture of good and bad and, like us, something in-between. Jesus was born into a world of personal and systemic sin. He’d know this with those ancestors, with the occupation of Rome, with heartless taxation and injustice. His identity, therefore, included this list of ancestors as well as being a Jew living under cruel occupation.
His baptism shows he understood this; in submitting to baptism he identified with the world in all its fallenness and in all its glory – a world in need of redemption just like the Jews in Isaiah’s day.
Later, Jesus is driven to the wilderness to face temptation – something we come back to in Lent. In a world where sin is baked in, where oppression is part of our systems and structures, Jesus rejects the temptation to just make the best of things. Jesus cannot escape the tragic structure of the world – he’s Son of Adam, Son of God, after all. But he ensures he bends his will to God’s. By accepting John’s baptism, Jesus rejects John’s dualism of good versus evil, wheat or chat, saint or sinner and shows, as his genealogy shows, that life is complex. No wonder he was accused of being a glutton, a drunk, a friend of sinners, outcasts and collaborators. Jesus was part of an interconnected web – ancestors and friends, systems and structures, that he identified with, worked in, and redeemed.
In our own day we might ponder who we are and whose we are. We might wonder what makes us worthy. Like the Jewish exiles we may feel estranged in our culture which, at best, ignores us and, at worst, sees us (with good reason) as dangerous. We might be tempted to find our identity, and safety, in what our money can buy. The need to be secure is as important as it ever was. Employers transfer pension risks to the workers rather than bear it themselves, rent costs more than mortgages - yet one needs to earn a lot of get a mortgage. A move way from a unionised workforce means it’s easier than ever to lose one’s job. Mr Putin’s invasion of Ukraine shows how precarious things are not in faraway places but in countries very near us. Yet, we’ll only find true security in God; the Psalmist reminds us to ascribe God glory (and by implication that means not ascribing it elsewhere!). Over the floods and thunders, the waves and flames, God is there providing our identity and security, our place under the sun.
As Christians our prime identity is secured in our baptism. Jesus’ baptism served to identify with his mixed ancestry, his humanity in that time and place, and with God’s will. Ours serves to identify us as God’s and God’s alone. Despite our sins God loves us; our identity is assured in God’s promises. At baptism we were marked by and claimed for God; great promises were made – God keeps His! Let’s pray:
Eternal God, help us to ascribe You the glory that is Yours, not to pander to divine capriciousness – You have no need of our praise after all – but to remind us of our place, our need for security, and our duty to trust in, and serve, You. Remind us of our baptism, of promises made and forgiveness given, and remind us, O God, that we are no longer our own, but Yours. Amen.
Hymn When Jesus Came to Jordan
Fred Pratt Green © 1980 Hope Publishing Company OneLicence # A-734713. Sung by the choir of North Stoneham and Bassett Parish Church & used with their kind permission
When Jesus came to Jordan to be baptized by John,
He did not come for pardon, but as his Father's Son.
He came to share repentance with all who mourn their sins,
to speak the vital sentence with which good news begins.
He came to share temptation, our utmost woe and loss,
for us and our salvation to die upon the Cross.
So when the Dove descended on him, the Son of Man,
the hidden years had ended, the age of grace began.
Come, Holy Spirit, aid us to keep the vows we make,
this very day invade us, and every bondage break.
Come, give our lives direction, the gift we covet most:
to share the resurrection that leads to Pentecost.
Affirmation of Faith
We believe in the one and only God, Eternal Trinity, from whom, through whom and for whom all created things exist. God alone we worship; in God we put our trust.
We worship God, source and sustainer of creation, whom Jesus called Father, whose sons and daughters we are.
We worship God revealed in Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God made flesh; who lived our human life, died for sinners on the cross; who was raised from the dead, and proclaimed by the apostles, Son of God; who lives eternally, as saviour and sovereign, coming in judgement and mercy, to bring us to eternal life.
We worship God, ever present in the Holy Spirit; who brings this Gospel to fruition, assures us of forgiveness, strengthens us to do God’s will, and makes us sisters and brothers of Jesus, sons and daughters of God.
We believe in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, united in heaven and on earth: on earth, the Body of Christ, empowered by the Spirit to glorify God and to serve humanity; in heaven, eternally one with the power, the wisdom and the love of God in Trinity.
We believe that, in the fullness of time, God will renew and gather in one
all things in heaven and on earth through Christ, and be perfectly honoured and adored. We rejoice in God who has given us being, who shares our humanity to bring us to glory, our source of prayer and power of praise; to whom be glory, praise and adoration, now and evermore. Amen.
Intercessions
We bring our prayers to God, the Eternal Trinity.
Eternal One, we pray for those who feel insecure; for refugees fleeing war, oppression and poverty, for those waiting for the next bomb to drop and cling to life, for those whose loves and lives attract anger and hate, for those meeting in secret to worship this day for fear of the powers. May we, through our gifts, faith, and life change the world.
Lord Jesus, we pray for those baptised this day, those making promises for themselves – often at great risk – and those parents making promises on their child’s behalf, remind them of Your faithfulness and love, prepare them for lives of discipleship that they, with us, through our gifts, faith, and life, we may change the world.
Most Holy Spirit, remind us to look beyond our own identities, our own searches for safety, our own riches and wealth, to see that it is God alone that we worship, God alone in whom we must trust, that through our gifts, faith, and life, we may, change the world.
Eternal Trinity of Love, we hold before you now, in the silence of our hearts, all who are in need….
May we, through our gifts, faith, and life change the world. As Jesus taught, so we pray…Our Father…
Offertory
Part of our identity as Christians involves giving. St Paul reminds us that God loves cheerful givers – though I’m sure grumpy ones are welcome too! Giving changes us, it reinforces our identity as being part of God’s people, and it changes the world. We give with love of our time, talents and treasurer; we give in many ways to many different people and causes. We may give in the plate in church or by standing order, we may give by remembering the Church in our wills. However we give, let’s give thanks for the ways in which such giving brings change:
Loving God, thank you for the gifts you shower up on us, and for the ways in which you provide for us to give; help us to remember that giving changes us – helping us control our selfish desires. Help us to remember that giving reminds us that we are Yours. Help us to remember the difference that our giving makes to the lives of others. Bless these gifts and all that is given in this placethat we may continue as Your people and, as we are changed, change the world. Amen.
Hymn The Silent Stars Shine Down On Us
Herman G Stuempfle (1923-2007) GIA Publications OneLicence # A-734713 Sung by Paul Coleman
The silent stars shine down on us with bright but sightless eye,
unmindful of our little earth, of us who live and die.
Are we but grains of stranded sand beside a cosmic sea
that lie unvalued and unseen in such immensity?
Creator of all stars you came to grace our transient race.
In Christ you spoke a word that broke the silences of space.
Still through that word you call our hearts to know that we are known,
to trust we do not walk through time unvalued and alone.
We see the star the wise men saw and hope again is stirred.
We track the footprints left in time by your incarnate Word.
We see them climb a lonely hill where Love is left to die –
the Love that formed the farthest star and hears the faintest cry.
O Christ, the bright & morning Star whose radiance does not fade,
whose glory filled the universe before the planets played:
come, heal our hearts of blinding doubt till faith shall end in sight.
Shine down upon our darkened earth and conquer sin’s long night.
Blessing
May the One who made the silent stars shine,
the One who understood his past, present, and future,
and the One who calls our hearts to follow,
shine upon you, allow you to understand your contexts,
and give you the grace to follow,
and the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be with you evermore. Amen.
--> Where words are copyright reproduced and streamed under the terms of ONE LICENSE A-734713
PRS Limited Online Music Licence LE-0019762
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URC Daily Devotion 12th January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion 12th January 2025
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Sunday 12 January 2025
Baptism of the Lord
Psalm 64
Hear my voice, O God, as I complain,
guard my life from dread of the foe.
Hide me from the band of the wicked,
from the throng of those who do evil.
They sharpen their tongues like swords;
they aim bitter words like arrows
to shoot at the innocent from ambush,
shooting suddenly and recklessly.
They scheme their evil course;
they conspire to lay secret snares.
They say: "Who will see us?
Who can search out our crimes?"
He will search who searches the mind
and knows the depths of the heart.
God has shot them with his arrow
and dealt them sudden wounds.
Their own tongue has brought them to ruin
and all who see them mock.
Then all the world will fear;
they will tell what God has done.
They will understand God's deeds.
The just will rejoice in the Lord
and fly to him for refuge.
All the upright hearts will glory.
Reflection
It will be no surprise if this psalm is unfamiliar as it is never read out as part of the Revised Common Lectionary. And as all football fans will recognise it is a game of two halves!
At the beginning the Psalmist is asking for protection from God from those who would hurt them with their words and actions, their plots and schemes. Whoever is guilty of hurting them seems to be getting away with it. Sound familiar to today’s society? So often we hear about criminals “getting away with it”. But this is not the end of the story.
Having asked for support, the psalmist realises that God is present in their life and has heard their prayer. God sees what is in the hearts of those who hurt and will repay them. Their words will come back to bite them and their actions will have consequences. This will then encourage all who are mistreated to trust in God and fly to him for refuge. Those with pure hearts will praise God.
How often do we only see the first half of this psalm and cry out in despair at all the injustices we see in the world around us? And then how often do we get so overwhelmed that we can only cry out in silence? Is that then where we stop? Are we so exhausted that we cannot see a way forward? How can we move from devastation to exhortation? How do we see the light in a dark world?
Is this the reason we are given a candle at our Baptism so we can see the Light of the World in our world? May this light encourage us to move to part two of the Psalm where we can rejoice in the Lord and bring praise.
Prayer
Loving God, you are the light of the world, chasing away our darkness. Help us to put our trust in you that not only will you hear our cries, even in our silence, but that we will know that you are our refuge and strength and our ever present help in times of trouble. Then we will delight and praise your name. Amen.
--> Today's writer The Revd Ruth Watson, SCM MediaCityUK Church, Salford Quays Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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URC Daily Devotion Saturday 11th January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion Saturday 11th January 2025
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Saturday 11 January 2025
St Luke 9: 1 - 9
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere. Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, ‘John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he tried to see him.
Reflection
I’m not a great one for horror films. I love a police procedural or an action film but scary films? No thanks, I’m too much of a wimp. But one thing I know, in almost all genres of film, when the hero dispatches the baddy, it’s always worth making doubly sure that they’re really, really dead. Otherwise they’ll somehow come back to mess up your plans again.
Now, I’m not suggesting that Herod was a hero and John the Baptist the villain. But Herod must’ve been scared silly! He absolutely knew that John the Baptist was dead. He’d ordered it, seen the head on the plate and everything. There was nothing more that could’ve been done to ensure that John would not trouble him and his reign any further. Yet others were saying that John had come back to life.
In churches, we often try and deal with thorny and difficult issues. The role of young people (or, more often, where are the young people?), hearing, and responding to, the voices of children, Legacies of Slavery, safeguarding, lack of volunteers, an organist who is no longer able to keep up with the congregation… we have to meet these issues head on. We must deal with these issues with grace, humility - and finality. Making a half-hearted attempt to resolve them and breathing a sigh of relief that “it’s done” risks them coming back to haunt us and causing more hurt and disruption further down the line.
When responding to difficult situations we need to grasp the nettle and pull it up to make sure we get the roots, too (Jesus used a LOT of gardening metaphors so I feel I’m on safe ground here). Let us not be half-hearted in what we do. Let us be honest, forthright and seek God’s help.
Of course, I’m not suggesting we serve up the organist’s head on a platter. Or, at least, only as a last resort.
Prayer
God grant me the courage to change the things I can
The serenity to accept the things I can’t
And the wisdom to know the difference. Amen --> Today's writer Leo Roberts, Children and Youth Development Officer, North Western Synod Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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St Luke 9: 1 - 9
Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.’ They departed and went through the villages, bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere. Now Herod the ruler heard about all that had taken place, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the ancient prophets had arisen. Herod said, ‘John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?’ And he tried to see him.
Reflection
I’m not a great one for horror films. I love a police procedural or an action film but scary films? No thanks, I’m too much of a wimp. But one thing I know, in almost all genres of film, when the hero dispatches the baddy, it’s always worth making doubly sure that they’re really, really dead. Otherwise they’ll somehow come back to mess up your plans again.
Now, I’m not suggesting that Herod was a hero and John the Baptist the villain. But Herod must’ve been scared silly! He absolutely knew that John the Baptist was dead. He’d ordered it, seen the head on the plate and everything. There was nothing more that could’ve been done to ensure that John would not trouble him and his reign any further. Yet others were saying that John had come back to life.
In churches, we often try and deal with thorny and difficult issues. The role of young people (or, more often, where are the young people?), hearing, and responding to, the voices of children, Legacies of Slavery, safeguarding, lack of volunteers, an organist who is no longer able to keep up with the congregation… we have to meet these issues head on. We must deal with these issues with grace, humility - and finality. Making a half-hearted attempt to resolve them and breathing a sigh of relief that “it’s done” risks them coming back to haunt us and causing more hurt and disruption further down the line.
When responding to difficult situations we need to grasp the nettle and pull it up to make sure we get the roots, too (Jesus used a LOT of gardening metaphors so I feel I’m on safe ground here). Let us not be half-hearted in what we do. Let us be honest, forthright and seek God’s help.
Of course, I’m not suggesting we serve up the organist’s head on a platter. Or, at least, only as a last resort.
Prayer
God grant me the courage to change the things I can
The serenity to accept the things I can’t
And the wisdom to know the difference. Amen --> Today's writer Leo Roberts, Children and Youth Development Officer, North Western Synod Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can
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URC Daily Devotion 10th January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion 10th January 2025
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Friday 10th January 2025
St Luke 8: 40 - 56
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her haemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, ‘Who touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.’ When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.’ When Jesus heard this, he replied, ‘Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.’ When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, ‘Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, ‘Child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.
Reflection
The woman with a haemorrhage has suffered for twelve years. She comes in desperation, daring to enter the crowd in order to reach out to Jesus. When Jesus notes the healing, she comes to him and confesses. Jairus comes in desperation seeking healing for his twelve year old daughter.
What is remarkable about both events is that Jesus touched/ was touched by them. The Law stated that touching a bleeding woman and a corpse were prohibited. (By the time Jesus’ reached Jairus’ daughter she was dead – a corpse.) Jesus was willing to circumvent religious law to care for the woman and the girl. Jesus did not hesitate to take the hand of the child, commanding her to get up. Jesus did not reprimand the woman for touching his garment.
Both woman and girl were restored to the family of faith. Jesus called the woman, ‘daughter.’ Calling her ‘daughter ‘was bringing her back into the circle from which she had been excluded for twelve years. Having been raised from death the twelve year old girl/daughter was able to resume her life within her family and community. By his actions Jesus recognised the worth of both.
Reflecting on Jesus’ actions causes me to wonder how our callings ask us to cross thresholds we might not have crossed before? How are we asked to honour the spirit of the religious expectations? Where are we called beyond those expectations to act in ways that people can be restored to wholeness and embraced within God’s community?
As we reflect, perhaps we can ask ourselves these questions: Who is quietly edging toward us, pulling at our garments, seeking care, asking for healing and peace? Who is pushing through the crowd in desperation, seeking our help because in us they see God? Whose whole life has been shaped by pain and is now asking for help? Where can our offerings of support be the path to healing?
Prayer
Listening God, open our eyes and our ears to those who are seeking restoration to community and wholeness. Give us courage to act for their healing. Give us courage to love unconditionally.
Listening God, when we are the one who is in pain, bring us the person who stops, listens, and offers hope.
God, help us remember we are named as ‘beloved’ within the family of faith. Give us courage to voice that love within and outside of our churches. Amen.
--> Today's writer The Revd Martha McInnes, Minister, Cardiff and Penarth URCs Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can
Change Your Email Address
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St Luke 8: 40 - 56
Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying. As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her haemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, ‘Who touched me?’ When all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.’ When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader’s house to say, ‘Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.’ When Jesus heard this, he replied, ‘Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.’ When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, ‘Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.’ And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, ‘Child, get up!’ Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.
Reflection
The woman with a haemorrhage has suffered for twelve years. She comes in desperation, daring to enter the crowd in order to reach out to Jesus. When Jesus notes the healing, she comes to him and confesses. Jairus comes in desperation seeking healing for his twelve year old daughter.
What is remarkable about both events is that Jesus touched/ was touched by them. The Law stated that touching a bleeding woman and a corpse were prohibited. (By the time Jesus’ reached Jairus’ daughter she was dead – a corpse.) Jesus was willing to circumvent religious law to care for the woman and the girl. Jesus did not hesitate to take the hand of the child, commanding her to get up. Jesus did not reprimand the woman for touching his garment.
Both woman and girl were restored to the family of faith. Jesus called the woman, ‘daughter.’ Calling her ‘daughter ‘was bringing her back into the circle from which she had been excluded for twelve years. Having been raised from death the twelve year old girl/daughter was able to resume her life within her family and community. By his actions Jesus recognised the worth of both.
Reflecting on Jesus’ actions causes me to wonder how our callings ask us to cross thresholds we might not have crossed before? How are we asked to honour the spirit of the religious expectations? Where are we called beyond those expectations to act in ways that people can be restored to wholeness and embraced within God’s community?
As we reflect, perhaps we can ask ourselves these questions: Who is quietly edging toward us, pulling at our garments, seeking care, asking for healing and peace? Who is pushing through the crowd in desperation, seeking our help because in us they see God? Whose whole life has been shaped by pain and is now asking for help? Where can our offerings of support be the path to healing?
Prayer
Listening God, open our eyes and our ears to those who are seeking restoration to community and wholeness. Give us courage to act for their healing. Give us courage to love unconditionally.
Listening God, when we are the one who is in pain, bring us the person who stops, listens, and offers hope.
God, help us remember we are named as ‘beloved’ within the family of faith. Give us courage to voice that love within and outside of our churches. Amen.
--> Today's writer The Revd Martha McInnes, Minister, Cardiff and Penarth URCs Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can
Change Your Email Address
or
Unsubscribe
URC Daily Devotion 9 January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion 9 January 2025
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9 January 2025
St Luke 8: 26 - 39
Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As Jesus stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me’— for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.)
Jesus then asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Legion’; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.
Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesusto leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
Reflection
I used to think images of a team of devils inside someone of little use to a modern congregation. Then I listened to someone who had suffered long periods of depression and she said the best way she could explain what it was like was that she felt she had been invaded by devils. She longed for them to be removed so she could be her real self again. We sense the same with physical illness. If only the cancer tumour could be removed, surely I could get back to being normal again. Our innate sense of who we were made to be has been invaded and insulted. We rejoice with those who are set free, while very aware that not everyone has that privilege.
The real punchline of the story is not, however, the healing. Now freed, Legion would love to join Jesus’ group and waft along with them. His joy would be complete. Jesus forbids it. Instead, Legion has to stay amidst his own people and work out appropriate ways of witnessing to them.
This is a wonderful passage for a chaplain to meditate on. Chaplaincy is too often an unsung and under-resourced ministry, as if we think ministries based in church buildings are always more important. But chaplains go where people in need are – which is everywhere people are - and have to find a way to witness to the love of God in Christ amongst them. Like Legion they have to surmount unhelpful assumptions about motive and method, they have to earn the chance to be taken seriously, they have to judge when it is right to mention the work of God.
And not just chaplains. Spare a prayer for those carrying heavy burdens in small churches because instead of going to worship somewhere else with more support, they feel profoundly called to witness where they are.
Prayer
Lord Jesus
Your commands are not always what we want to hear.
We think we could map an easier path through life.
But just as we gratefully receive your freedoms
and healings of body and soul,
make us willing to accept what you call us to do with our privileges.
We pray for those of the faithful who today will find their calling hard,
the people they encounter cold and their energy exhausted. Amen
--> Today's writer John Ellis, Leader of Kent and East Sussex Synod Area Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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St Luke 8: 26 - 39
Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. As Jesus stepped out on land, a man of the city who had demons met him. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell down before him and shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me’— for Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many times it had seized him; he was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the wilds.)
Jesus then asked him, ‘What is your name?’ He said, ‘Legion’; for many demons had entered him. They begged him not to order them to go back into the abyss.
Now there on the hillside a large herd of swine was feeding; and the demons begged Jesus to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.
When the swineherds saw what had happened, they ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. Those who had seen it told them how the one who had been possessed by demons had been healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesusto leave them; for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.’ So he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.
Reflection
I used to think images of a team of devils inside someone of little use to a modern congregation. Then I listened to someone who had suffered long periods of depression and she said the best way she could explain what it was like was that she felt she had been invaded by devils. She longed for them to be removed so she could be her real self again. We sense the same with physical illness. If only the cancer tumour could be removed, surely I could get back to being normal again. Our innate sense of who we were made to be has been invaded and insulted. We rejoice with those who are set free, while very aware that not everyone has that privilege.
The real punchline of the story is not, however, the healing. Now freed, Legion would love to join Jesus’ group and waft along with them. His joy would be complete. Jesus forbids it. Instead, Legion has to stay amidst his own people and work out appropriate ways of witnessing to them.
This is a wonderful passage for a chaplain to meditate on. Chaplaincy is too often an unsung and under-resourced ministry, as if we think ministries based in church buildings are always more important. But chaplains go where people in need are – which is everywhere people are - and have to find a way to witness to the love of God in Christ amongst them. Like Legion they have to surmount unhelpful assumptions about motive and method, they have to earn the chance to be taken seriously, they have to judge when it is right to mention the work of God.
And not just chaplains. Spare a prayer for those carrying heavy burdens in small churches because instead of going to worship somewhere else with more support, they feel profoundly called to witness where they are.
Prayer
Lord Jesus
Your commands are not always what we want to hear.
We think we could map an easier path through life.
But just as we gratefully receive your freedoms
and healings of body and soul,
make us willing to accept what you call us to do with our privileges.
We pray for those of the faithful who today will find their calling hard,
the people they encounter cold and their energy exhausted. Amen
--> Today's writer John Ellis, Leader of Kent and East Sussex Synod Area Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can
Change Your Email Address
or
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URC Daily Devotion 8 January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion 8 January 2025
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8 January 2025
St Luke 8: 22 - 25
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side of the lake.’ So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A gale swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?’
Reflection
They were all in danger, and it was all Jesus’s fault. At least, that must have been how it appeared to the disciples. After all it had been Jesus’s idea to take a boat trip to the other side of the lake, and look where that had got them.
It had got them into danger. When you’ve read or heard this familiar story so many times it’s a challenge to take seriously the idea that they were in real danger. Our eyes skip down to Jesus calming the storm, which is usually the title given to this episode anyway. So our eyes tend to skip over the Gospel writer’s clear statement that the boat was filling with water ‘and they were in danger.’
The disciples needed no convincing of the reality of the threat. They were shouting at Jesus that they were all going to die, to perish. Jesus, on the other hand, and perhaps to their considerable frustration and annoyance, seemed more concerned that their faith might die than that they might drown.
As many other disciples have discovered in the years since that Galilean boating incident, following Jesus does not guarantee that your life proceeds smoothly. In fact, doing what Jesus says to do as you journey through this world, one which often lives by other opposing and competing values, potentially exposes you to inconvenience, opposition, and loss. In today’s world, for some Christians doing what Jesus says to do actually puts you in danger of death.
We should take that seriously, just as we should take seriously that God, who has been made known to us in Jesus, has both the power and intention to bring us through such experiences to a place of calm and safety.
Prayer
O God, strengthen my faith,
so that I both seek to do what Jesus says to do,
and am able to cope with the consequences when they come.
Strengthen and save those today
whose faithful following exposes them
to inconvenience, opposition, and loss –
and even to the danger of death. Amen.
--> Today's writer The Revd Dr Trevor Jamison, Minister, St Columba’s United Reformed Church, North Shields Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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St Luke 8: 22 - 25
One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side of the lake.’ So they put out, and while they were sailing he fell asleep. A gale swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger. They went to him and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, ‘Where is your faith?’ They were afraid and amazed, and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?’
Reflection
They were all in danger, and it was all Jesus’s fault. At least, that must have been how it appeared to the disciples. After all it had been Jesus’s idea to take a boat trip to the other side of the lake, and look where that had got them.
It had got them into danger. When you’ve read or heard this familiar story so many times it’s a challenge to take seriously the idea that they were in real danger. Our eyes skip down to Jesus calming the storm, which is usually the title given to this episode anyway. So our eyes tend to skip over the Gospel writer’s clear statement that the boat was filling with water ‘and they were in danger.’
The disciples needed no convincing of the reality of the threat. They were shouting at Jesus that they were all going to die, to perish. Jesus, on the other hand, and perhaps to their considerable frustration and annoyance, seemed more concerned that their faith might die than that they might drown.
As many other disciples have discovered in the years since that Galilean boating incident, following Jesus does not guarantee that your life proceeds smoothly. In fact, doing what Jesus says to do as you journey through this world, one which often lives by other opposing and competing values, potentially exposes you to inconvenience, opposition, and loss. In today’s world, for some Christians doing what Jesus says to do actually puts you in danger of death.
We should take that seriously, just as we should take seriously that God, who has been made known to us in Jesus, has both the power and intention to bring us through such experiences to a place of calm and safety.
Prayer
O God, strengthen my faith,
so that I both seek to do what Jesus says to do,
and am able to cope with the consequences when they come.
Strengthen and save those today
whose faithful following exposes them
to inconvenience, opposition, and loss –
and even to the danger of death. Amen.
--> Today's writer The Revd Dr Trevor Jamison, Minister, St Columba’s United Reformed Church, North Shields Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can
Change Your Email Address
or
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URC Daily Devotion 7 January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion 7 January 2025
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7 January 2025
St Luke 8: 19 - 21
Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ But he said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’
Reflection
As you read this, we are both celebrating yesterday’s feast of Epiphany, the revelation of the truth of Jesus to the world. You are likely in the throes of winter whilst I’m in the throes of summer. Wherever we are, no matter who we are, no matter what we or others think we are, we who read this devotion have a huge thing in common. We’re related to Jesus. Not the kind of blood relatives we think of as relations, yet related. We’re related by believing in God in Jesus and doing what we’re called to do.
This gorgeous little moment in Luke comes in a section about what it means to do God’s will by understanding God through Jesus and doing what we are called to pay attention to. The chapter starts with women helping God’s message by funding Jesus in his travelling. As he travels, Jesus tells parables; in Luke a few verses ago, the parable of the sower shows that it’s ready ground which takes the good news, then, that light should be revealed – the good news seen. It’s a little task list of: support the messenger, prepare to receive, show the God task done. This passage is not Jesus rejecting his birth family, it is that when we all take on the Holy task of receiving God and sharing that love, we are all related, connected as closely as family.
So? That God familial connection helps us through. Though many of us know the pain from those who chose a different path, we who choose the Jesus path get strength and hope to carry on doing the God-tasks we do. Knowing we’re not alone is huge. It gives us oomph and courage to do the really hard stuff. Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, all the relations we are, hello. We’re in this together.
Prayers
Amazing God,
it can be hard for us to imagine
that via you, we humans are an us.
Let us accept the graciousness of that
whether it makes sense or not.
Only you can connect us with each other
and your eternal power in one fell swoop.
We praise you, thank you
and ask you to put us to your work.
We’re ready.
Amen and Amen.
--> Today's writer The Revd Elizabeth Gray-King, Retired, Melbourne Australia Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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St Luke 8: 19 - 21
Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ But he said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’
Reflection
As you read this, we are both celebrating yesterday’s feast of Epiphany, the revelation of the truth of Jesus to the world. You are likely in the throes of winter whilst I’m in the throes of summer. Wherever we are, no matter who we are, no matter what we or others think we are, we who read this devotion have a huge thing in common. We’re related to Jesus. Not the kind of blood relatives we think of as relations, yet related. We’re related by believing in God in Jesus and doing what we’re called to do.
This gorgeous little moment in Luke comes in a section about what it means to do God’s will by understanding God through Jesus and doing what we are called to pay attention to. The chapter starts with women helping God’s message by funding Jesus in his travelling. As he travels, Jesus tells parables; in Luke a few verses ago, the parable of the sower shows that it’s ready ground which takes the good news, then, that light should be revealed – the good news seen. It’s a little task list of: support the messenger, prepare to receive, show the God task done. This passage is not Jesus rejecting his birth family, it is that when we all take on the Holy task of receiving God and sharing that love, we are all related, connected as closely as family.
So? That God familial connection helps us through. Though many of us know the pain from those who chose a different path, we who choose the Jesus path get strength and hope to carry on doing the God-tasks we do. Knowing we’re not alone is huge. It gives us oomph and courage to do the really hard stuff. Brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, all the relations we are, hello. We’re in this together.
Prayers
Amazing God,
it can be hard for us to imagine
that via you, we humans are an us.
Let us accept the graciousness of that
whether it makes sense or not.
Only you can connect us with each other
and your eternal power in one fell swoop.
We praise you, thank you
and ask you to put us to your work.
We’re ready.
Amen and Amen.
--> Today's writer The Revd Elizabeth Gray-King, Retired, Melbourne Australia Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
Want to change how you receive these emails? You can
Change Your Email Address
or
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Daily Devotion for 6th January 2025
96
Daily Devotion for 6th January 2025
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Monday 6 January 2025
St Luke 8: 16 - 18
‘No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.’
Reflection
God’s light… God’s love is what I consider this passage to be about. The lighting of a lamp, for me, represents the igniting of God’s love within us; once we receive God’s love, it never dims and never really goes away, always shining brightly. God’s light reflects HIS love in a way that nothing else can match. By speaking words of faith, positivity and joy, we shine and radiate God’s light in how we live and how we behave.
It is this same light that is powerful enough for people to turn their lives to Christ when a person is ready to receive HIM. It is this same light that regardless of what we go through, doesn’t leave us bitter or resentful in the long term, but helps us forgive and move forward, despite the impact of devastating news or sad events.
This wonderful light can’t be hidden and it will be disclosed. People will discern by our actions and ‘shine’ that we are actually different (not better than anyone else) but are kind, loving, generous and forgiving.
The final part of the passage ‘for those who have, more will be given’ calls to mind, that those who turn towards the light, will keep growing and getting to new depths of faith. However, in some circumstances and for those who do not open their hearts to the light or are closed off to God’s love, teaching and guidance.. sadness and darkness can take over as can doubt and cynicism i.e. the less than positive parts of our world; this can engulf us. It can lead us to a different path altogether, one that serves us little good.. only to draw more negativity towards us; the consequences of this can lead to a spiral that is difficult to come back from and that affects us mentally, emotionally and physically.
So the lesson is that we must let our light and love shine…. always.
Prayer
God of light; God of love
Help us; guide us when life is hard and cruel,
to face into your light and focus on our blessings..
as this is the only way to radiate your love.
Teach us to grow and to glow
and in this way to always ensure
we are a blessing to the many who live in darkness.
So that they too can be a blessing to others. Amen --> Today's writer Alexandra Priddy, Elder and Children’s Church Leader, Trinity Mill Hill United Reformed Church Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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St Luke 8: 16 - 18
‘No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.’
Reflection
God’s light… God’s love is what I consider this passage to be about. The lighting of a lamp, for me, represents the igniting of God’s love within us; once we receive God’s love, it never dims and never really goes away, always shining brightly. God’s light reflects HIS love in a way that nothing else can match. By speaking words of faith, positivity and joy, we shine and radiate God’s light in how we live and how we behave.
It is this same light that is powerful enough for people to turn their lives to Christ when a person is ready to receive HIM. It is this same light that regardless of what we go through, doesn’t leave us bitter or resentful in the long term, but helps us forgive and move forward, despite the impact of devastating news or sad events.
This wonderful light can’t be hidden and it will be disclosed. People will discern by our actions and ‘shine’ that we are actually different (not better than anyone else) but are kind, loving, generous and forgiving.
The final part of the passage ‘for those who have, more will be given’ calls to mind, that those who turn towards the light, will keep growing and getting to new depths of faith. However, in some circumstances and for those who do not open their hearts to the light or are closed off to God’s love, teaching and guidance.. sadness and darkness can take over as can doubt and cynicism i.e. the less than positive parts of our world; this can engulf us. It can lead us to a different path altogether, one that serves us little good.. only to draw more negativity towards us; the consequences of this can lead to a spiral that is difficult to come back from and that affects us mentally, emotionally and physically.
So the lesson is that we must let our light and love shine…. always.
Prayer
God of light; God of love
Help us; guide us when life is hard and cruel,
to face into your light and focus on our blessings..
as this is the only way to radiate your love.
Teach us to grow and to glow
and in this way to always ensure
we are a blessing to the many who live in darkness.
So that they too can be a blessing to others. Amen --> Today's writer Alexandra Priddy, Elder and Children’s Church Leader, Trinity Mill Hill United Reformed Church Copyright New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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Sunday Worship 5 January 2025
96
Sunday Worship 5 January 2025
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Worship Services from the URC
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Order of Service
Below you will find the Order of Service, prayers, hymns and sermon for today's service. You can either simply read this or you can
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to listen to the service and sing along with the hymns. This will open up a new screen, at the bottom of the screen you will see a play symbol. Press that, then come back to this window so you can follow along with the service. Sunday Worship from the United Reformed Church
for Sunday 5th January 2025 - Epiphany
Today’s service is led by the Revd Andy Braunston
Welcome
We explore, in worship today, themes of light shining in the darkness, mysterious visitors bringing the Holy Family even more mysterious gifts, and consider how a people struggling in exile and defeat were enlightened with God’s glorious light. My name is Andy Braunston and I am the United Reformed Church’s Minister for Digital Worship. Living in Orkney, off Scotland’s far north coast I know a thing or two about living in darkness in these short winter days but, there again, I know something of living in the light as, in June, it doesn’t really get dark. Our readings explore themes of light and dark as we focus on Jesus whose light radiates in the gloom of our world. Let’s worship God together.
Call to Worship
In the gloom of our world, when all seems desperate and dangerous: we arise and shine for our light has come! In the hopeless situations that surround us, the news that terrifies, the nations at war, and truth itself is silenced: we arise and shine for our light has come! When gifts have strings attached, when estrangement is part of life, and when dangerous leaders tempt us to despair: we arise and shine for our light has come! So, we arise and shine, for the glory of the Lord is upon us; our hearts will thrill and rejoice as the work of Christmas continues – to shine the Lord’s light in our darkened world.
Hymn O Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
John S. B. Monsell (1863) Public Domain BBC Songs of Praise
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
bow down before him, his glory proclaim;
with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
kneel and adore him: the Lord is his name.
Low at his feet lay thy burden of carefulness:
high on his heart he will bear it for thee,
comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.
Fear not to enter his courts in the slenderness
of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine:
truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
these are the offerings to lay on his shrine.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
bow down before him, his glory proclaim;
with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
kneel and adore him: the Lord is his name.
Prayers of Approach, Confession, and Grace
We come to worship You, O God, with obedience and humility,
as we adore Your most holy name.
We lay our burdens at Your feet, not just for our own good,
but to allow space for You to guide our steps;
that we may relieve the world’s pain.
As we come and see the beauty of Your holiness,
we become conscious of the ugliness of our sin;
we love the gloom more than the light,
the sorrow more than the joy, lies more than truth.
We are conscious of our slender wealth
against the riches of Your grace.
Give us time, O God, to appreciate Your tender love,
to live Your beautiful truth,
and make our lives temples to Your glory.
Give us the grace to forgive others when they hurt us,
the beauty to forgive ourselves and leave our guilt behind,
and the faith to trust in Your forgiveness
which changes and challenges us. Amen.
Introduction
Our reading from Isaiah is set during the exile of the Jewish people in Babylon. It was a time of great gloom and despondency when the very future of the Jews as an independent nation was in grave doubt. Yet, in the midst of the gloom, there’s news of recovery – a recovery that would bring nations and their rulers to pay tribute to Israel and bring costly gifts. Our Gospel reading tells of the mysterious visitors “from the East” who bring costly gifts to a peasant child believing him to be a king. Pagan outsiders perceive what God is up to long before those who should have know what was going on. Let’s pray and then we’ll hear ancient and contemporary words as we think about those readings and how we might find them useful now.
Prayer for Illumination
Come with speedy support O Spirit, to give us songs for sighing, that, as we hear You in ancient and contemporary words, You might turn our gloom into light, and remind us that we are precious in Your sight. Amen
Reading Isaiah 60:1-6
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together; they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses' arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you; the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.
Hymn Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
James Montgomery (1821) Public Domain Sung by Lythan and Phil Nevard and used with their kind permission.
Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;
to take away transgression, and rule in equity.
He comes with succour speedy to those who suffer wrong;
to help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned & dying, are precious in his sight.
He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;
love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in his path to birth.
Before him on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,
and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.
Kings shall fall down before Him and gold and incense bring;
all nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing;
for He shall have dominion o’er river, sea, and shore,
far as the eagle’s pinion, or dove’s light wing can soar.
O'er every foe victorious, he on his throne shall rest,
from age to age more glorious, all-blessing and all-blest.
The tide of time shall never his covenant remove.
His name shall stand for ever: that name to us is Love.
Reading St Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Sermon
Imagine a people without a land, a nation whose capital lay in ruins and a tribe deported to a faraway country which didn’t understand their language, faith, rituals or identity. Imagine the pain, dislocation, grief and stress. This was the situation of the Jewish people as the final chapters of the book we now call Isaiah were written. The political and religious elite had been deported to Babylon and their homeland, temple, houses, fields, and trades were left in ruin. How could they sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? Of course, these ancient tragedies have a contemporary ring as Palestinians exist without their own land, with their heritage, faiths, and very existence threatened by an expansionist Israeli state. History repeats itself as few listen.
The writer of those prophecies from Isaiah, though, does not offer comfort for the bad times but hope in a different future. A future where the poverty of defeat and deportation would be replaced with the nations bringing their riches – all that gold and frankincense – to Israel. Kings would, instead of laughing, pay homage. The nations that once dominated Israel would now pay homage to it. The sea to the west and the lands to the east will pour in their wealth. No wonder the writer told the readers to arise for their light had come.
The light, however, wasn’t for Israel alone. This isn’t a passage where Israel can laugh at the poor benighted pagans as they come to bring homage. Instead, Israel’s light has a purpose – nations would come to the light, kings to Israel’s dawn. Throughout the Old Testament God uses the most unlikely people – often pagans – to achieve his purposes. There’s Ruth the pagan woman in Jesus’ lineage, there’s Rehab the sex worker who sided with God’s people – also in Jesus’ genealogy. Then there’s Cyrus the pagan ruler who freed the Jewish people. It took some time for the biblical writers to understand but God was God of all the nations not just of Israel. There’s a growing awareness of it in various Old Testament texts – after all, humanity was to be blessed through God’s covenant with Abraham and Israel saw itself as a light to the gentiles. For Christians it’s when this text is paired with our passage from St Matthew’s Gospel that we can see these themes more clearly.
In our Gospel passage we see pagan priests come to worship the new-born Jewish king. We know very little about the magi – the name itself might mean “Persian priest or sorcerer”. By the time of Darius the Great the term magi was used to denote a Zoroastrian priest or earlier Iranian religions. They were thought to practice magic – by which was meant astronomy, astrology and alchemy. They were thought to have esoteric knowledge. Now we might see them as astrologers, but they were more than that; they not only discerned meaning in the stars they were seekers after wisdom – even wisdom beyond their own faith.
We are used to the term “kings” from the Psalm which we sang, in part, in the hymn Hail to the Lord’s Anointed and which we’ll sing in We Three Kings later on. Yet the term “king” isn’t in the Matthew passage. “Wise Men” is a rather sanctified version of magi – which should probably be translated as sorcerer or magician. Maybe that’s a bit too Harry Potter like for contemporary tastes. Yet these pagan priests came to acknowledge the Light of the World. Herod’s people, who should have known what was going on, hadn’t got a clue. The pagan outsiders did. Matthew, instead of having pagan nations coming to pay tribute to Israel, has pagan priests worshipping the Jewish messiah. Instead of the riches of east and west pouring into Israel, the sorcerers bring valuable gifts full of meaning: gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, myrrh for a sacrifice. No doubt the gifts were useful during the Holy Family’s own exile.
Even in his infancy, Jesus was for all people – Jew and gentile. Jesus draws all people to him – sorcerers from the East, the Syrophoenician woman from the north, Egyptians from the South met him in exile, Romans from the West listened to him and, of course, Jews from all around followed him. This is the moment when the Light of the World is revealed to humanity. In Jesus Matthew sees fulfilment of the ancient destiny of the Jewish people to be a light to the nations. Through Jesus God invites all to bathe in the light, to change the world, and to feast together.
So, what might we do with these readings now? We live in a world which isn’t always bathed in light. In these gloomy days of winter, it’s easy to think of situations of gloom and evil in our world: the war in Ukraine drags on and we’ve no idea how Mr Trump will seek to change things. Israel still pummels Gaza, makes delivery of aid nearly impossible, and some members of the Israeli Cabinet are determined to annexe at least part of Gaza for colonization; again Mr Trump’s intentions are not clear but he’s appointed people to high office who seem to uncritically support Israel’s ambitions. In Europe we’re faced with populist leaders seeking to emulate dictators and undermine the rule of law - just as the EU, and ourselves, seek to make life for refugees more and more difficult and demeaning. God’s light might be exposing the evil rather than helping us avoid it. God’s light might be seen more in the bedraggled folk trying to cross the Channel than in the churches quietly singing their hymns and avoiding the realities of the world. Like Herod’s priests many of our religious leaders go along with the status quo hoping to deflect attention from the Church’s manifold failures; best not criticise in case the press are unleashed to examine our faults!
And yet the light shines from the vulnerable baby. Strength is seen in weakness. Truth is seen on the edge. The light, strength, and truth of Jesus is there, of course to comfort, but not to offer cheap grace. The light, strength and truth that Jesus shows the world is there to change it. So, this Epiphany as we think of the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt we must also think of those on the move seeking safety and security and learn to help them. As we recoil from Herod’s murderous rage we think of contemporary tyrants who don’t care for their people and murder and maim more than Herod ever did and learn to oppose them. As we think of the light coming into the world, we realise the light is there not just for us in our cosy religiosity but for all to be led into truth. The light shines in our gloomy places to expose corruption and injustice. The light reminds us to shine too. God’s grace not only reaches out with love, not only serves as light to lead and expose, but also demands that we act, we lead, we expose so that the light of the world is, again, embodied in us. Let’s pray
Light of the world, expose the hidden places of our societies, the corruption in high office, the murderous rage of tyrants, the injustice hiding in plain sight, the hatred and racism bubbling below the surface spilling up when dangerous men cease power. And help us, O God, to see more clearly in Your light, that we might act, lead, and serve as lights which shine on You even as You shine on us. Amen.
Hymn The First Nowell
Anonymous (1833) Public Domain Recorded live by Sunday 7pm Choir at St. Francis de Sales Church in Ajax, Ontario, Canada and used with their kind permission.
The first Noel the angels did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay.
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
They lookéd up and saw a star
shining in the east, beyond them far
and to the earth it gave great light
and so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
And by the light of that same star
three Wise Men came from country far
to seek for a King was their intent
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Affirmation of Faith
In the beginning God spoke and there was light. In the fullness of time Mary spoke and Jesus, the light of the world was born. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit spoke as fire, as light in the darkness. As God’s people we seek to speak as those who live in the light; to expose the evil that hides in the gloom. Through works of love and mercy we speak truth and shine in the night.
Intercessions
Light of the World we bring You our prayers for our world dwelling in gloom and despondency. Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
We pray for the world at war,
or if not at war busy preparing for it.
We pray for the people of Ukraine wondering what the New Year brings,
for the people of Gaza living ever in fear,
for the people of Israel dreaming of security,
for the people of Lebanon living on a knife edge,
for the people of Syria living with a loathed government,
and for all who live with bellicose leaders,
insecurity, and crushing poverty.
Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
We pray for the world in turmoil,
Creation itself overheating due to human excess;
we pray for nations plagued by plastic,
for the rich who won’t change their ways,
for the poor who can’t change theirs.
We pray for those who lead our world
that your light will transform their hearts and minds,
that we may flourish and not perish.
Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
We pray for the nations,
for people looking to blame the poor for the problems of the rich,
for those who idolise despots and dictators,
for those who defend democracy and our institutions,
and for all who seek to make the world kinder and gentler.
Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
We pray for the Church, a place where light is supposed to shine,
where people are supposed to be safe,
and where the Gospel is supposed to be shared with all.
Forgive us where we have failed, Good Lord,
give us the energy to reform,
to choose leaders who work with not over others,
and who will call us back to Your light.
Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
We pray for those we know and love who are in any kind of need….
And we pray for those we don’t know and those we find it hard to love….
Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
As we wait for Your light to shine, Your Kingdom to come,
we join with Jesus as we pray…Our Father…
Offertory
This week, perhaps more than any other, we think of gifts and giving. In times past gifts were given at Epiphany not Christmas – in memory of the gold, frankincense, and myrrh given by the wise ones. We may not have such exotic gifts to give but we have ones just as valuable; our time, our talents and our treasure. We give in so many ways and God blessed that giving and uses it to make a difference in our world. Let’s pray:
Giver of all good gifts,
we thank you for the gifts given in this congregation;
gifts of time, of talent and of treasure.
Help us to use Your gifts wisely, that Your people will flourish,
Your light shine and our world be made whole. Amen.
Hymn As with Gladness Men of Old
W Chatterton Dix (1861) Public Domain sung by the virtual choir of the Parish of Burbage with Aston Flamville.
As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold;
as with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright,
so, most gracious Lord, may we ever more be led to thee.
As with joyful steps they sped, Saviour, to thy lowly bed,
there to bend the knee before Thee whom Heav’n & Earth adore,
so may we with willing feet ever seek thy mercy seat.
As they offered gifts most rare at thy cradle rude and bare,
so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to thee, our heav’nly King.
Holy Jesus, ev’ry day keep us in the narrow way,
and when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last
where they need no star to guide, where no clouds thy glory hide.
In the heav’nly country bright, need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown, Thou its sun, which goes not down;
there forever may we sing Alleluias to our King.
Holy Communion
In the beginning You spoke, Eternal One, and there was light.
You called a people as Your own to be a light to the nations.
Through precious law and audacious prophet,
You called Your people, again and again,
to follow you, seek justice, and pursue righteousness.
Hardness of heart, grumbling, and faithlessness
made Your people turn away from Your light,
and so, in the gloom they were dispersed in exile,
learning to sing Your song in a strange land.
In the gloom, however,
You shone and called Your people home,
to rebuild and repair, and shine again.
But the powers of the ages overshadowed that light,
spreading the gloom of invasion and oppression.
Yet, in the fullness of time Your light shone
on a simple peasant girl who dared to say ‘yes’.
In the darkness of night Mary gave birth to Jesus,
and laid him to rest in a borrowed manger.
Adored by shepherds, acknowledged by pagan priests,
sent by murderous rage into exile to live as a refugee,
He is the Light of the World who enlightens all who follow him.
When he returned to His own land he preached, taught, and healed,
showing God’s love and life to those on the edge;
he healed the sick, lifted up the oppressed, treated women as equals,
and even welcomed the despised to follow Him,
and so he was criticised,
and so he was betrayed,
and so he was tortured,
and so he was killed.
Yet You, Eternal One, did not let Him linger in the grave,
but raised Him to new life,
letting people find Him in unexpected places with unexpected people.
And now, we come to find Him here at this table,
for we remember the night when Jesus was betrayed,
when, in the simplicity of a meal,
He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His friends saying
‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in memory of me.’
After supper He took the cup of wine, said the ancient blessing,
and, giving the cup to His disciples, said:
‘take this all of you and drink from it, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, Do this, whenever you drink it, in memory of me.’
Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen! Christ will come again!
Come now, Holy Spirit, upon these gifts of bread and wine
and set them apart from all common use, that they may be for us
the communion with the body and blood of Christ.
Gather us up into the heavenly places,
that as we eat and drink, these your gifts of creation,
we may see Jesus Himself, risen and ascended,
present here for our spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.
As we show forth Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross,
We are united with Him and with the whole Church
on earth and in heaven.
Renew us as we present our sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and let us rejoice at the promise of His coming again in glory.
And so, we offer You, Eternal One,
our pain and our praise, our light and our darkness,
through Jesus, with Jesus, in Jesus, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
knowing that all honour and glory is Yours, forever and ever, Amen.
These are the holy gifts of God, lights in the gloom,
for God’s holy people that we may shine as the sun.
Music for Communion Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy
Congregational Singing at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington DC.
Prayer after Communion
We thank You for all your gifts, Eternal God,
golden gifts that enrich us,
mysterious gifts which draw us near to You,
and even bitter gifts that are unwanted and unbidden.
Give us the grace to use all Your gifts,
that Your light will shine in the gloom,
and the world be made whole. Amen.
Hymn We Three Kings
John H. Hopkins (1857) Public Domain performed by the Mediaeval Babes
We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field & fountain, moor & mountain, following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a babe on Bethlehem's plain, gold we bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God most high.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Blessing
Now the song of the angels is stilled, the star in the sky is gone,
the wise ones are home, and the shepherds are back with their flock.
Now the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost, to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations, to bring peace
and to make music from the heart.
And may God give you the strength to undertake the work of Christmas
shining divine light into the gloomy places of our world.
And the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be with you all evermore, Amen.
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Below you will find the Order of Service, prayers, hymns and sermon for today's service. You can either simply read this or you can
click here
to listen to the service and sing along with the hymns. This will open up a new screen, at the bottom of the screen you will see a play symbol. Press that, then come back to this window so you can follow along with the service. Sunday Worship from the United Reformed Church
for Sunday 5th January 2025 - Epiphany
Today’s service is led by the Revd Andy Braunston
Welcome
We explore, in worship today, themes of light shining in the darkness, mysterious visitors bringing the Holy Family even more mysterious gifts, and consider how a people struggling in exile and defeat were enlightened with God’s glorious light. My name is Andy Braunston and I am the United Reformed Church’s Minister for Digital Worship. Living in Orkney, off Scotland’s far north coast I know a thing or two about living in darkness in these short winter days but, there again, I know something of living in the light as, in June, it doesn’t really get dark. Our readings explore themes of light and dark as we focus on Jesus whose light radiates in the gloom of our world. Let’s worship God together.
Call to Worship
In the gloom of our world, when all seems desperate and dangerous: we arise and shine for our light has come! In the hopeless situations that surround us, the news that terrifies, the nations at war, and truth itself is silenced: we arise and shine for our light has come! When gifts have strings attached, when estrangement is part of life, and when dangerous leaders tempt us to despair: we arise and shine for our light has come! So, we arise and shine, for the glory of the Lord is upon us; our hearts will thrill and rejoice as the work of Christmas continues – to shine the Lord’s light in our darkened world.
Hymn O Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness
John S. B. Monsell (1863) Public Domain BBC Songs of Praise
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
bow down before him, his glory proclaim;
with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
kneel and adore him: the Lord is his name.
Low at his feet lay thy burden of carefulness:
high on his heart he will bear it for thee,
comfort thy sorrows, and answer thy prayerfulness,
guiding thy steps as may best for thee be.
Fear not to enter his courts in the slenderness
of the poor wealth thou wouldst reckon as thine:
truth in its beauty, and love in its tenderness,
these are the offerings to lay on his shrine.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness;
bow down before him, his glory proclaim;
with gold of obedience, and incense of lowliness,
kneel and adore him: the Lord is his name.
Prayers of Approach, Confession, and Grace
We come to worship You, O God, with obedience and humility,
as we adore Your most holy name.
We lay our burdens at Your feet, not just for our own good,
but to allow space for You to guide our steps;
that we may relieve the world’s pain.
As we come and see the beauty of Your holiness,
we become conscious of the ugliness of our sin;
we love the gloom more than the light,
the sorrow more than the joy, lies more than truth.
We are conscious of our slender wealth
against the riches of Your grace.
Give us time, O God, to appreciate Your tender love,
to live Your beautiful truth,
and make our lives temples to Your glory.
Give us the grace to forgive others when they hurt us,
the beauty to forgive ourselves and leave our guilt behind,
and the faith to trust in Your forgiveness
which changes and challenges us. Amen.
Introduction
Our reading from Isaiah is set during the exile of the Jewish people in Babylon. It was a time of great gloom and despondency when the very future of the Jews as an independent nation was in grave doubt. Yet, in the midst of the gloom, there’s news of recovery – a recovery that would bring nations and their rulers to pay tribute to Israel and bring costly gifts. Our Gospel reading tells of the mysterious visitors “from the East” who bring costly gifts to a peasant child believing him to be a king. Pagan outsiders perceive what God is up to long before those who should have know what was going on. Let’s pray and then we’ll hear ancient and contemporary words as we think about those readings and how we might find them useful now.
Prayer for Illumination
Come with speedy support O Spirit, to give us songs for sighing, that, as we hear You in ancient and contemporary words, You might turn our gloom into light, and remind us that we are precious in Your sight. Amen
Reading Isaiah 60:1-6
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and thick darkness the peoples, but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together; they come to you; your sons shall come from far away, and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses' arms. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you; the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense and shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.
Hymn Hail to the Lord’s Anointed
James Montgomery (1821) Public Domain Sung by Lythan and Phil Nevard and used with their kind permission.
Hail to the Lord's Anointed, great David's greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, his reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;
to take away transgression, and rule in equity.
He comes with succour speedy to those who suffer wrong;
to help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong;
to give them songs for sighing, their darkness turn to light,
whose souls, condemned & dying, are precious in his sight.
He shall come down like showers upon the fruitful earth;
love, joy, and hope, like flowers, spring in his path to birth.
Before him on the mountains, shall peace, the herald, go,
and righteousness, in fountains, from hill to valley flow.
Kings shall fall down before Him and gold and incense bring;
all nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing;
for He shall have dominion o’er river, sea, and shore,
far as the eagle’s pinion, or dove’s light wing can soar.
O'er every foe victorious, he on his throne shall rest,
from age to age more glorious, all-blessing and all-blest.
The tide of time shall never his covenant remove.
His name shall stand for ever: that name to us is Love.
Reading St Matthew 2:1-12
In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet: 'And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'" Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Sermon
Imagine a people without a land, a nation whose capital lay in ruins and a tribe deported to a faraway country which didn’t understand their language, faith, rituals or identity. Imagine the pain, dislocation, grief and stress. This was the situation of the Jewish people as the final chapters of the book we now call Isaiah were written. The political and religious elite had been deported to Babylon and their homeland, temple, houses, fields, and trades were left in ruin. How could they sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? Of course, these ancient tragedies have a contemporary ring as Palestinians exist without their own land, with their heritage, faiths, and very existence threatened by an expansionist Israeli state. History repeats itself as few listen.
The writer of those prophecies from Isaiah, though, does not offer comfort for the bad times but hope in a different future. A future where the poverty of defeat and deportation would be replaced with the nations bringing their riches – all that gold and frankincense – to Israel. Kings would, instead of laughing, pay homage. The nations that once dominated Israel would now pay homage to it. The sea to the west and the lands to the east will pour in their wealth. No wonder the writer told the readers to arise for their light had come.
The light, however, wasn’t for Israel alone. This isn’t a passage where Israel can laugh at the poor benighted pagans as they come to bring homage. Instead, Israel’s light has a purpose – nations would come to the light, kings to Israel’s dawn. Throughout the Old Testament God uses the most unlikely people – often pagans – to achieve his purposes. There’s Ruth the pagan woman in Jesus’ lineage, there’s Rehab the sex worker who sided with God’s people – also in Jesus’ genealogy. Then there’s Cyrus the pagan ruler who freed the Jewish people. It took some time for the biblical writers to understand but God was God of all the nations not just of Israel. There’s a growing awareness of it in various Old Testament texts – after all, humanity was to be blessed through God’s covenant with Abraham and Israel saw itself as a light to the gentiles. For Christians it’s when this text is paired with our passage from St Matthew’s Gospel that we can see these themes more clearly.
In our Gospel passage we see pagan priests come to worship the new-born Jewish king. We know very little about the magi – the name itself might mean “Persian priest or sorcerer”. By the time of Darius the Great the term magi was used to denote a Zoroastrian priest or earlier Iranian religions. They were thought to practice magic – by which was meant astronomy, astrology and alchemy. They were thought to have esoteric knowledge. Now we might see them as astrologers, but they were more than that; they not only discerned meaning in the stars they were seekers after wisdom – even wisdom beyond their own faith.
We are used to the term “kings” from the Psalm which we sang, in part, in the hymn Hail to the Lord’s Anointed and which we’ll sing in We Three Kings later on. Yet the term “king” isn’t in the Matthew passage. “Wise Men” is a rather sanctified version of magi – which should probably be translated as sorcerer or magician. Maybe that’s a bit too Harry Potter like for contemporary tastes. Yet these pagan priests came to acknowledge the Light of the World. Herod’s people, who should have known what was going on, hadn’t got a clue. The pagan outsiders did. Matthew, instead of having pagan nations coming to pay tribute to Israel, has pagan priests worshipping the Jewish messiah. Instead of the riches of east and west pouring into Israel, the sorcerers bring valuable gifts full of meaning: gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, myrrh for a sacrifice. No doubt the gifts were useful during the Holy Family’s own exile.
Even in his infancy, Jesus was for all people – Jew and gentile. Jesus draws all people to him – sorcerers from the East, the Syrophoenician woman from the north, Egyptians from the South met him in exile, Romans from the West listened to him and, of course, Jews from all around followed him. This is the moment when the Light of the World is revealed to humanity. In Jesus Matthew sees fulfilment of the ancient destiny of the Jewish people to be a light to the nations. Through Jesus God invites all to bathe in the light, to change the world, and to feast together.
So, what might we do with these readings now? We live in a world which isn’t always bathed in light. In these gloomy days of winter, it’s easy to think of situations of gloom and evil in our world: the war in Ukraine drags on and we’ve no idea how Mr Trump will seek to change things. Israel still pummels Gaza, makes delivery of aid nearly impossible, and some members of the Israeli Cabinet are determined to annexe at least part of Gaza for colonization; again Mr Trump’s intentions are not clear but he’s appointed people to high office who seem to uncritically support Israel’s ambitions. In Europe we’re faced with populist leaders seeking to emulate dictators and undermine the rule of law - just as the EU, and ourselves, seek to make life for refugees more and more difficult and demeaning. God’s light might be exposing the evil rather than helping us avoid it. God’s light might be seen more in the bedraggled folk trying to cross the Channel than in the churches quietly singing their hymns and avoiding the realities of the world. Like Herod’s priests many of our religious leaders go along with the status quo hoping to deflect attention from the Church’s manifold failures; best not criticise in case the press are unleashed to examine our faults!
And yet the light shines from the vulnerable baby. Strength is seen in weakness. Truth is seen on the edge. The light, strength, and truth of Jesus is there, of course to comfort, but not to offer cheap grace. The light, strength and truth that Jesus shows the world is there to change it. So, this Epiphany as we think of the Holy Family fleeing to Egypt we must also think of those on the move seeking safety and security and learn to help them. As we recoil from Herod’s murderous rage we think of contemporary tyrants who don’t care for their people and murder and maim more than Herod ever did and learn to oppose them. As we think of the light coming into the world, we realise the light is there not just for us in our cosy religiosity but for all to be led into truth. The light shines in our gloomy places to expose corruption and injustice. The light reminds us to shine too. God’s grace not only reaches out with love, not only serves as light to lead and expose, but also demands that we act, we lead, we expose so that the light of the world is, again, embodied in us. Let’s pray
Light of the world, expose the hidden places of our societies, the corruption in high office, the murderous rage of tyrants, the injustice hiding in plain sight, the hatred and racism bubbling below the surface spilling up when dangerous men cease power. And help us, O God, to see more clearly in Your light, that we might act, lead, and serve as lights which shine on You even as You shine on us. Amen.
Hymn The First Nowell
Anonymous (1833) Public Domain Recorded live by Sunday 7pm Choir at St. Francis de Sales Church in Ajax, Ontario, Canada and used with their kind permission.
The first Noel the angels did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay.
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
They lookéd up and saw a star
shining in the east, beyond them far
and to the earth it gave great light
and so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
And by the light of that same star
three Wise Men came from country far
to seek for a King was their intent
and to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel
Born is the King of Israel
Affirmation of Faith
In the beginning God spoke and there was light. In the fullness of time Mary spoke and Jesus, the light of the world was born. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit spoke as fire, as light in the darkness. As God’s people we seek to speak as those who live in the light; to expose the evil that hides in the gloom. Through works of love and mercy we speak truth and shine in the night.
Intercessions
Light of the World we bring You our prayers for our world dwelling in gloom and despondency. Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
We pray for the world at war,
or if not at war busy preparing for it.
We pray for the people of Ukraine wondering what the New Year brings,
for the people of Gaza living ever in fear,
for the people of Israel dreaming of security,
for the people of Lebanon living on a knife edge,
for the people of Syria living with a loathed government,
and for all who live with bellicose leaders,
insecurity, and crushing poverty.
Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
We pray for the world in turmoil,
Creation itself overheating due to human excess;
we pray for nations plagued by plastic,
for the rich who won’t change their ways,
for the poor who can’t change theirs.
We pray for those who lead our world
that your light will transform their hearts and minds,
that we may flourish and not perish.
Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
We pray for the nations,
for people looking to blame the poor for the problems of the rich,
for those who idolise despots and dictators,
for those who defend democracy and our institutions,
and for all who seek to make the world kinder and gentler.
Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
We pray for the Church, a place where light is supposed to shine,
where people are supposed to be safe,
and where the Gospel is supposed to be shared with all.
Forgive us where we have failed, Good Lord,
give us the energy to reform,
to choose leaders who work with not over others,
and who will call us back to Your light.
Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
We pray for those we know and love who are in any kind of need….
And we pray for those we don’t know and those we find it hard to love….
Lighten our darkness, Lord we pray.
As we wait for Your light to shine, Your Kingdom to come,
we join with Jesus as we pray…Our Father…
Offertory
This week, perhaps more than any other, we think of gifts and giving. In times past gifts were given at Epiphany not Christmas – in memory of the gold, frankincense, and myrrh given by the wise ones. We may not have such exotic gifts to give but we have ones just as valuable; our time, our talents and our treasure. We give in so many ways and God blessed that giving and uses it to make a difference in our world. Let’s pray:
Giver of all good gifts,
we thank you for the gifts given in this congregation;
gifts of time, of talent and of treasure.
Help us to use Your gifts wisely, that Your people will flourish,
Your light shine and our world be made whole. Amen.
Hymn As with Gladness Men of Old
W Chatterton Dix (1861) Public Domain sung by the virtual choir of the Parish of Burbage with Aston Flamville.
As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold;
as with joy they hailed its light, leading onward, beaming bright,
so, most gracious Lord, may we ever more be led to thee.
As with joyful steps they sped, Saviour, to thy lowly bed,
there to bend the knee before Thee whom Heav’n & Earth adore,
so may we with willing feet ever seek thy mercy seat.
As they offered gifts most rare at thy cradle rude and bare,
so may we with holy joy, pure and free from sin’s alloy,
all our costliest treasures bring, Christ, to thee, our heav’nly King.
Holy Jesus, ev’ry day keep us in the narrow way,
and when earthly things are past, bring our ransomed souls at last
where they need no star to guide, where no clouds thy glory hide.
In the heav’nly country bright, need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown, Thou its sun, which goes not down;
there forever may we sing Alleluias to our King.
Holy Communion
In the beginning You spoke, Eternal One, and there was light.
You called a people as Your own to be a light to the nations.
Through precious law and audacious prophet,
You called Your people, again and again,
to follow you, seek justice, and pursue righteousness.
Hardness of heart, grumbling, and faithlessness
made Your people turn away from Your light,
and so, in the gloom they were dispersed in exile,
learning to sing Your song in a strange land.
In the gloom, however,
You shone and called Your people home,
to rebuild and repair, and shine again.
But the powers of the ages overshadowed that light,
spreading the gloom of invasion and oppression.
Yet, in the fullness of time Your light shone
on a simple peasant girl who dared to say ‘yes’.
In the darkness of night Mary gave birth to Jesus,
and laid him to rest in a borrowed manger.
Adored by shepherds, acknowledged by pagan priests,
sent by murderous rage into exile to live as a refugee,
He is the Light of the World who enlightens all who follow him.
When he returned to His own land he preached, taught, and healed,
showing God’s love and life to those on the edge;
he healed the sick, lifted up the oppressed, treated women as equals,
and even welcomed the despised to follow Him,
and so he was criticised,
and so he was betrayed,
and so he was tortured,
and so he was killed.
Yet You, Eternal One, did not let Him linger in the grave,
but raised Him to new life,
letting people find Him in unexpected places with unexpected people.
And now, we come to find Him here at this table,
for we remember the night when Jesus was betrayed,
when, in the simplicity of a meal,
He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His friends saying
‘This is my body which is for you. Do this in memory of me.’
After supper He took the cup of wine, said the ancient blessing,
and, giving the cup to His disciples, said:
‘take this all of you and drink from it, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, Do this, whenever you drink it, in memory of me.’
Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith:
Christ has died. Christ is risen! Christ will come again!
Come now, Holy Spirit, upon these gifts of bread and wine
and set them apart from all common use, that they may be for us
the communion with the body and blood of Christ.
Gather us up into the heavenly places,
that as we eat and drink, these your gifts of creation,
we may see Jesus Himself, risen and ascended,
present here for our spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.
As we show forth Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross,
We are united with Him and with the whole Church
on earth and in heaven.
Renew us as we present our sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and let us rejoice at the promise of His coming again in glory.
And so, we offer You, Eternal One,
our pain and our praise, our light and our darkness,
through Jesus, with Jesus, in Jesus, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
knowing that all honour and glory is Yours, forever and ever, Amen.
These are the holy gifts of God, lights in the gloom,
for God’s holy people that we may shine as the sun.
Music for Communion Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy
Congregational Singing at Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington DC.
Prayer after Communion
We thank You for all your gifts, Eternal God,
golden gifts that enrich us,
mysterious gifts which draw us near to You,
and even bitter gifts that are unwanted and unbidden.
Give us the grace to use all Your gifts,
that Your light will shine in the gloom,
and the world be made whole. Amen.
Hymn We Three Kings
John H. Hopkins (1857) Public Domain performed by the Mediaeval Babes
We three kings of Orient are; bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field & fountain, moor & mountain, following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Born a babe on Bethlehem's plain, gold we bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never, over us all to reign.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Frankincense to offer have I; incense owns a deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God most high.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Glorious now behold him arise; King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies.
O star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to thy perfect light.
Blessing
Now the song of the angels is stilled, the star in the sky is gone,
the wise ones are home, and the shepherds are back with their flock.
Now the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost, to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations, to bring peace
and to make music from the heart.
And may God give you the strength to undertake the work of Christmas
shining divine light into the gloomy places of our world.
And the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
be with you all evermore, Amen.
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URC Daily Devotion 5th January 2025
96
URC Daily Devotion 5th January 2025
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Sunday 5 January 2025 Epiphany Psalm 63
O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for your have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.
Those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down to the depths of the earth.
They shall be put into the power of the sword
and left as the prey of the jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
(all that swear by him shall be blessed,)
for the mouth of liars shall be silenced.
Reflection
Have you ever been really thirsty?
We can thirst for water on a hot day or after a long walk. We can also thirst for meaning, healing, forgiveness, love and joy.
Sometimes when God seems absent I feel like the Psalmist – I thirst for God’s presence like one thirsts for water in the wilderness. Being thirsty when there is no water is a horrible feeling. Longing for God’s presence when God seems far away is equally distressing. But even as it is agonising to be thirsty it breaks open my soul and deep calls to deep. My thirst reveals my innermost longing which is to be assured of God’s loving presence. In the wilderness I realise how much God’s love means to me.
Meditating on Psalm 63 I become aware, too, of Jesus experiencing thirst on the cross. Jesus knew the agony of physical thirst for water when your body is parched. He knew, too, the anguish of feeling cut off from God. He felt the thirst for communion with God as deeply as any of us can feel it. The thirsting and longing for God pierced his soul.
As I continue meditating on our human thirst for God and to know his loving presence with us I am led to see that God thirsts, too. God desires communion with us as much – or even more – as we long to commune with him. God thirsts for us to turn toward him, and not to abandon him. God longs for us to trust him and to notice his presence around and within us. God thirsts for us to know how much he loves us.
This gives me comfort and fills my soul with awe, joy and wonder – that my God should seek me as much as I seek him.
Prayer
God of life,
when I feel far from you and you far from me
when my soul and body thirst for your presence
and life-giving touch;
Remind me that you long for me, too,
and you desire to bless me and show me your love.
Quench my thirst and bless me, Lord.
“For my heart is restless until it finds its rest in you.”
Amen. (last line - St Augustine, paraphrase) --> --> --> Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter Podcast Share This on Facebook Tweet this Forward to a Friend --> Today's writer The Revd Camilla Veitch, Minister in the URC Shropshire Pastorate Copyright The Psalms: The Grail Translation, Inclusive Language Version, Collins, 2009. Copyright Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.
For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for your have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.
Those who seek to destroy my life
shall go down to the depths of the earth.
They shall be put into the power of the sword
and left as the prey of the jackals.
But the king shall rejoice in God;
(all that swear by him shall be blessed,)
for the mouth of liars shall be silenced.
Reflection
Have you ever been really thirsty?
We can thirst for water on a hot day or after a long walk. We can also thirst for meaning, healing, forgiveness, love and joy.
Sometimes when God seems absent I feel like the Psalmist – I thirst for God’s presence like one thirsts for water in the wilderness. Being thirsty when there is no water is a horrible feeling. Longing for God’s presence when God seems far away is equally distressing. But even as it is agonising to be thirsty it breaks open my soul and deep calls to deep. My thirst reveals my innermost longing which is to be assured of God’s loving presence. In the wilderness I realise how much God’s love means to me.
Meditating on Psalm 63 I become aware, too, of Jesus experiencing thirst on the cross. Jesus knew the agony of physical thirst for water when your body is parched. He knew, too, the anguish of feeling cut off from God. He felt the thirst for communion with God as deeply as any of us can feel it. The thirsting and longing for God pierced his soul.
As I continue meditating on our human thirst for God and to know his loving presence with us I am led to see that God thirsts, too. God desires communion with us as much – or even more – as we long to commune with him. God thirsts for us to turn toward him, and not to abandon him. God longs for us to trust him and to notice his presence around and within us. God thirsts for us to know how much he loves us.
This gives me comfort and fills my soul with awe, joy and wonder – that my God should seek me as much as I seek him.
Prayer
God of life,
when I feel far from you and you far from me
when my soul and body thirst for your presence
and life-giving touch;
Remind me that you long for me, too,
and you desire to bless me and show me your love.
Quench my thirst and bless me, Lord.
“For my heart is restless until it finds its rest in you.”
Amen. (last line - St Augustine, paraphrase) --> --> --> Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter Podcast Share This on Facebook Tweet this Forward to a Friend --> Today's writer The Revd Camilla Veitch, Minister in the URC Shropshire Pastorate Copyright The Psalms: The Grail Translation, Inclusive Language Version, Collins, 2009. Copyright Copyright © 2025 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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