10AM Sunday 11Feb24 Parish Communion for Racial Justice from St Helen’s, Wheathampstead
4 Three Only Travel dou Le 3 Not didn’t think it would done you Said Good On [Laughter] You [Laughter] H H H All You Right BL T You H H Uh good morning h and a very warm uh welcome uh to everyone who’s here it’s fabulous to have you with us as we worship together in including those of you who are joining us either live online or watching the recording later we’re delighted to have all of you with
Us uh last week we were uh thinking about one of our values that we welcome care for and value all people uh and today uh in keeping with the whole of the rest of the Church of England the Anglican communion uh we’re thinking about racial Justice Sunday uh since
1995 church has together in Britain and Ireland have made it their aim to deliberately take action against racism in all its forms so during the service we will give thanks to God for all human diversity we remember and lament those whose voices have been overlooked those whose stories are not heard and those
Who are marginalized because of race and we encourage the positive awareness and work to end racism Injustice and ignorance so I’m going to encourage us all uh if you’re able to to stand for an opening response and then our first hymn In revelation we have a wonderful
Picture of all people from all tribes gathered together around the Throne of God so we stand Before the Throne of God with countless crowds from every nation and race and tribe and language blessing and glory and wisdom Thanksgiving and honor power and might be to our god forever and ever Amen Glor S Mer Mer The prophet Hosea encourages us to return to our god to hold fast to love and Justice and to wait on God can I invite you to sit or kneel as we say sorry to God for the ways we’ve let him down this is a threefold confession so
Uh we say Lord Lord have mercy Christ have mercy Lord have mercy we use each of those responses three times as we go through Untamed God you are the wind and the wisdom when we try to domesticate your Holy Spirit Lord have mercy when we ignore your invitation or
Block access to your table of Grace Christ have mercy when we let fear bind us and misguide US Lord have mercy generous God you open yourself in love to all people when we draw limits around this to exclude or control access Lord have mercy when we speak to diminish another’s
Dignity Christ have mercy when we act in fear and obstruct your way of Love Lord have mercy faithful God you call us to Faith and unity when trust is eroded and we so division Lord have mercy when abundance is replaced by austerity Christ have mercy when we allow despair to cut us
Off from Hope Lord have mercy May the Trinity of Love bind up our wounds challenge our complacency lead us to freedom and abundance for the sake of peace and Harmony as our creator ordained it Amen GL GL highest glor glory to God GL GL Highest Mighty GL GL to God glory to God the highest glor glory to God GL to Highest Jesus CHR Mery Reive glor glory to God glory to godest glor glory to God glory to God Jesus Christ Glory Glor glory to glory to glor glory to God glory to God I invite you to stay standing as we pray this prayer which gathers our thoughts and collects them into one merciful god you are righteous and love Justice stir the hearts of your people that rejoicing in our diversity we may repent of the wrongs of the past and by
Your grace seek the peaceful Kingdom of your son Our Savior Jesus Christ amen we stay standing for Our Gospel reading which John is going to come and read for us oh there’s two readings so we’re going to sit for the first reading and then we’ll stand for the second
The Kings chapter 2 1 verses 1 to2 Elijah taken up to heaven when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind Elijah and Elisha were on their way from gilgal Elijah said to Elisha stay here the Lord has sent me to
Bethl but Elisha said as sure as the Lord lives and does you live I will not leave you so they went down to bethl the company of the prophets at bethl came out to Elisha and asked do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you
Today yes I know Elisha replied so be quiet then Elijah said to him stay here Elisha the Lord has sent me to Jericho and he replied as surely as the Lord lives and as you live I will not leave you so they went to Jericho the company of the prophets at
Jericho went up to Elijah and asked him do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today yes I know he replied so be quiet then Elijah said to him stay here the Lord has sent me to the Jordan and he replied as surely as the
Lord lives and as as you live I will not leave you so the two of them walked on 50 men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan Elijah took his cloak rolled it
Up and struck the water with it the water divided to the right and to the left and the two of them crossed over on dry ground when they had crossed Elijah said to Elisha tell me what can I do for you before I am taken from
You let me inherit a double portion of your spirit Elisha replied you have asked a difficult thing Elijah said yet if you see me when I am taken from you it will be yours otherwise it will not as they were walking along and talking together suddenly a chariot of
Fire and Horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind Elisha saw this and cried out my father my father the H chariots and Horsemen of Israel and Elisha saw him no more then he took hold of His Garment and tore it in
Two this is the word of the Lord thanks be to God you may stand for the gospel hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to mark Glory To You Lord after six days Jesus Took Peter James and John with him and led them up a high mountain where they were all
Alone there he was transfixed before them his clothes became dazzling white whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them and there appeared before him El elah and Moses who were talking with Jesus Peter said to Jesus Rabbi it is good for us to be here let us put up three shelters one
For you one for Moses and one for Elijah he didn’t really know what to say they were so frightened when a cloud appeared and covered them and a voice came from the cloud this is my son whom I love listen to him suddenly when they looked around
They no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus this is the gospel of the Lord to you please do have a seat May the words of my lips and the thoughts of all our hearts be now and always acceptable in your sight oh Lord our strength and Our Redeemer Amen in
1998 I attended the Lambeth conference a gathering every 10 years of all the Bishops of the Anglican communion together with their spouses the conference meets late July early August and on August the 6th that particular conference the Feast of the Transfiguration in the cycle of prayer all of us gathered in this
Conference for a special Eucharist to celebrate the festival it’s interesting isn’t it the events that have an impact on you but this particular occasion was one of the most moving occasions I’ve been privileged to experience August the 6th is also the anniversary of the dropping of the atom bomb on Hiroshima and the
Celebrants for this particular service were the jaanese Bishops and the preacher was the daughter of the wartime Bishop of Singapore who later became Bishop of Birmingham Leonard Wilson the Japanese had taken him into captivity in shangi prison on trumped up charges and there they taught tortured
Him and his body carried the scars right through the rest of his life but it is reported that such was the depth of his love of Christ that he continued in prison to offer Ministry and that Japanese people became Christians despite his experience he was a person known for his great kindness and
Hope he supported for example the ordination of women he was opposed to criminal charges being against those who were Gay and the first thing the Japanese Bishops did at that Lambo Eucharist which stays with me throughout my life was to confess their guilt and that of the Japanese people for all that had happened in the war and I remember sitting there and thinking would we British ever accept
And confess our responsibility for so many things that challenge all of us sharing as we do a common responsibility for our corporate life in this community and Nation we’re not good at it and for those who this morning in the theme of this service who sought to find home and
Welcome coming to this country found instead notices in Windows making it clear that these colored people were were not welcome and there were churches yes churches that also made it clear they did not welcome these people joining in with them even today I’m told that there are still individuals from the wind Rush
Whose status in this nation has not yet been sorted out one of the joys of how our village is changing is the reality that we have become a multiethnic and diverse community in culture and in life this is also true of our nation actually it’s been true all the way
Through British imperialism has gone and we have to let go of it some of the Discrimination people have experienced is rooted in our failure in our British culture to move on and away from our Imperial past the irony is of course is that human life as we know it had its origins in
Africa the continent we dominated during the height of our power it is also the continent from which human life as we’ve come to know and experience it first emerged thousands of years ago now what helps us to live well in this time of change both for our community and our
Nation it’s different isn’t it for all of us but I’ve always always found St Mark a challenge in the midst of change Mark has the same vision that we find in the letter to Hebrews in the New Testament you remember the quote let us run with perseverance the race that he set before
Us looking to Jesus the Pioneer and perfector of our faith and in mark in a short statement of the experience of the Transfiguration ends with the disciples alone with Jesus no one else with them anymore but as the text says only Jesus only Jesus wonderful though Moses and Elijah
Are and that’s a wonderful story isn’t it from the Old Testament this morning of Elijah being whisked off in a great Chariot and Elisha watching as he went wonderful though these stories are of God’s loving Mercy in our Salvation it’s moved on with the coming of Jesus the disciples are about to enter
The call of the new life as they passed through the trauma of C Jesus crucifixion only Jesus the text says and what holds us together with our sisters and brothers from so many histories and our life step by step into the challenge of the new life in Jesus
Alone looking unto Jesus enables us to come to terms with our own life and the way we have responded to run the race even when the costs were were high we look to Jesus and the deep meaning of Love which faces the cost and leaves no one on the
Outside even in the face of cultural exclusion and the demands of a hierarchical social order and culture in the end and for our sake it cost him his life and that opened the door to a new and lifegiving future a journey we travel in our hearts and Minds through this coming Lenton
Season across all the diversity of human life and experience it is the love of God as we have seen it at work in Christ Jesus that holds us all together now I also remember taking my team in Chelmsford when I was there for a few days away to
Do some team building Endor it in a recently transformed Christian Center and also at this Center at that time were 30 to 40 teenage black young men and women with their pastors my team had the joy of spending an evening with their team leaders they were young theologically acute and well
Trained and pioneering in Ministry in South London and we saw in each other gifts we needed their Liberty and vision our order and tradition they said so much to learn have we not from one another across the different life stories from which we come these are the experiences that dig
Themselves into my heart as I try and see how we can respond to the challenges of our time and I’m convinced that Mark and the letter to the Hebrew writer is right only Jesus and we do so together as we try and keep Pace with Jesus for he only
Holds us all the time in the bond of love and joy and hope and friends can I say gently to myself and to all of us this morning this is why we have to work hard hard to enable the church to reflect the diverse and changing face of our
Community and dare we say it we still have a journey to travel we have so much to learn from and discover across the colorful range of human experience in this place and elsewhere and in this we are called to trust in God and follow Jesus who was wonderful not only to all
Ages but all life experiences in the social cauldron of Palestine in his time in traveling this way we will be following in the footsteps of multitudes of the Saints who’ve traveled that way in their lives in the past God will go with us as we seek to engage with this
Journey and enjoy and flourish in the community of which we are all a part amen thank you John at recognizing that we are all on a journey we’re going to uh respond uh to uh What uh uh Bishop John has said what the words of scripture say to us H and
So as God’s people we stand in the shadow of the prophets the prophets who cry out for justice and peace and God calls us today to be a people of reconciliation to a world in need throughout history courageous women and men have taken the risk of standing up
And speaking for the the Lo the last the least the lost and the lowest and that work involves risking ourselves for the sake of God’s love and moving beyond ourselves in order to seek and serve Christ in one another if you’re able to can I invite
You to stand as we respond to God’s call be a part of the work of ministry the work and Ministry of racial Justice and Reconciliation there are number of questions that are going to appear on screen I encourage you to answer with me with the help of God I
Will will you persevere in prayer and fellowship with the help of God I will will you proclaim the good news of reconciliation in both word and deed with the help of God I will will you acknowledge and address the prejudices that keep you from loving all God’s
Children with the help of God I will will you strive to see Christ in all persons and value those with whom you disagree with the help of God I will will you seek to mend what is broken by human sin and greed with the help of God I
Will will you strive to speak words that liberate and heal and break the bonds of Silence with the help of God I will will you seek the perfect love which casts out all fear with the help of God I will will you work towards dismantling
Sin of the sin of abuse of power with the help of God I will May almighty God Empower all of us to continue his work of reconciliation give to each one of us the courage to overcome fears and embody love give us Grace to to grow in self-awareness and personal integrity
And to strengthen us to seek the unity that is in Christ that we may Rejoice with All God’s Children as Disciples of God’s son amen amen we’re going to continue with our prayers of intercession so I invite you to sit on here as Simon leads us in our
Prayers welcoming God last week we heard about the first of our Parish values that we welcome value and care for all on this racial Justice Sunday we are reminded of the great diversity in your worldwide church and among our fellow Britain give us the grace to rise above our
Limitations look to Jesus and value and care for everyone we encounter Lord in your mercy here our prayer healing God we pray for King Charles and for other members of the royal family suffering ill health we hold before you others known to us who are experiencing anxiety about their
Health or any other aspect of their lives grant them all peace and comfort in their difficulties Lord in your mercy here our prayer God of All Peoples we pray for all victims of racial hatred and discrimination dispel the arrogance and animosity that shatter the unity of your church and fill your faithful people
With your Truth and Love Lord in your mercy here our prayer God of Freedom we pray for our nation and all the nations of the world free us from division disunity and distrust in our common life awaken compassion and urgency in those in authority and give them a vision of your Justice and
Peace Lord in your mercy here our prayer God of compassion we pray for all who have lost hope Pour Your Love on the lost the least and the suffering and bring reconciliation and holess where there is division sickness and sorrow Lord in your mercy here our prayer God of
Eternity we remember before you all who have died by acts of violence war and hatred and honor the faithful in every generation who have worked tirelessly for justice and the equality of All Peoples Lord in your mercy here our prayer god of love we we pray for ourselves awaken in US compassion and
Humility as we seek and serve Christ in all people help us to be instruments of reconciliation in our world and use us for the work of your kingdom Lord in your mercy here our prayer loving God with jesus’ help Inspire us to transfigure your world filling it with justice peace and Harmony merciful
Father accept these prayers for the sake of your son Our Savior Jesus Christ amen thank you Simon uh we’re going to share a sign of God’s peace and Reconciliation amongst ourselves so if you’re able to I invite you to stand together we make up the body of Christ
We Are All One in spirit because we’re baptized into one body God calls us to pursue all that makes for peace and builds up our common life so I say the Peace of the Lord be always with you and also with you can I invite you to share
A sign of God’s peace with one another Of course peace be with all of you who are gathered at home uh joining us in our worship H do take a moment to pray for the Peace of your loved ones or share peace with them if they are with you uh we’re going to take an offering
During our next hymn uh which is uh Jesus Christ is Waiting Amus J The Will GL GL the stre My Will J Uh we stay standing for our Eucharistic prayer I’m going to move behind the communion table and I’m hoping the camera is going to follow me oh I think we might have a oh the camera is working great thank you to the tech team so the Lord be with you and also
With you lift up your hearts let us give thanks to the Lord Our God it is right to give thanks and praise it is right to praise you father Lord of all creation in your love you made us for yourself when we turned away you did not reject us but came to meet
Us in your son you embraced us as your children and welcomed us to sit and eat with you in Christ you shared our life that we might live in him and he in us he opened his arms upon the cross and made for all the perfect sacrifice for
Sin on the night he was Betrayed at supper with his friends he took bread and gave you thanks he broke it and gave it to them saying take eat this is my body which is given for you do this in remembrance of me Father we do this in remembrance of
Him his body is the bread of life at the end of supper taking the cup of wine he gave you thanks and said said drink this all of you this is my blood of the New Covenant which is shed for you for the Forgiveness of sins do this in remembrance of
Me Father we do this in remembrance of him his blood is shed for all as we Proclaim his death and celebrate his rising in glory send your holy spirit that this bread and this wine may be to us the body and blood of your dear son as we eat and drink these
Holy gifts make us one in Christ Our Risen Lord with your whole church throughout the world we offer you this sacrifice of praise and lift our voice to join the Eternal song of Heaven H glor Would you like to sit or kneel as we continue in our prayers as our savior taught us so we pray Our Father in heaven Hallowed be your name your kingdom come your will be done on Earth as in heaven give us today our daily bread forgive us our sins as
We forgive those who sin against us lead us not into temptation but Deliver Us from Evil for the kingdom the power and the glory are yours now and forever amen we break this bread to share in the body of Christ though we are many we are one
Body because we all share in one Bread to all God Mer the world Mery on Mery oh God you take the SE of The [Applause] God welcomes all to his table we’re all on a journey together to become the people he has called us to be so all are welcome to receive here if you’re used to receiving bread or wine in a bread and wine in another church you’re welcome to do so here if you’d
Rather receive a blessing please keep your head bowed and your hands down and I’ll be pleased to offer that for you we’ve got communion served in one point behind us at the uh High alter rail but if your Mobility is restricted we’re delighted to bring communion to you
Where you’re sat and we have got some gluten-free Wafers AV available for those who need them God’s holy gifts for God’s holy people Jesus Christ is holy Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father St All I I For All Ch Oh all PR H On [Laughter] M I Having been fed and nurtured and nourished at the Lord’s table let us pray in silence blessed God help us whom you have fed and satisfied in this Eucharist to hunger and thirst for what is Right help us who have rejoiced and been glad to stand with those who are persecuted and
Reviled help us who have glimpsed the life of Heaven to strive for the cause of right and for the coming of the kingdom of Jesus Christ Christ who is alive and Reigns now and forever Amen We join together praying almighty God we thank you for feeding us with the body and blood of your son Jesus Christ through him we offer you our souls and bodies to be a Living Sacrifice send us out in the power of your spirit to live
And work to your praise and glory amen Amen well as John alluded to in his sermon we are at the uh coming towards the start of the period of Lent leading up to and preparing us for Holy Week and Easter and so there are lots of things uh to be thought about I wonder if you’ve thought about your own personal
Devotions as we go towards uh uh go through lent uh but before we get to lent itself we’ve got our pancake party uh which is is on uh Tuesday it’s for all generations uh so uh however young or however old you are all are welcome uh if you’ve got family members who
Don’t normally come to church they are welcome as well we want this to be for the whole Community as part of our vision for being a church for all generations and all people uh so do come along to that that’s at 5:00 at St Helen school um and you can email the church
Office or phone the church office to book a place H then of course we have the start of Lent which is on Ash Wednesday and we have a service here in church at 8:00 p.m. uh to which all are welcome and that will involve uh the very romantic
Valentine’s Day thing of imposing ashes upon one another’s foreheads uh so uh so do join us for that um uh perhaps after you’ve been out from an early romantic meal or something and then during Lent we’ve got lent groups who are studying what looks like a fantastic course
Called God has no favorites um uh so even though you might have thought that you were one of his favorites actually it turns out that we all are um so there are some forms at the back of church uh and it’s not too late to join one of
Those study groups that meet on different days of the week and then uh during Lent uh we’ve got a Celtic uh Retreat Day uh which runs uh on the which is on the Saturday the 16th of March at from at 10: till 3: at St Mary’s kingsborne green uh We’ve
Organized for an amazing visiting speaker to come and join us uh for that day uh so we’d really encourage you to join us on that if you can do uh a retreat day involves um some teaching some silence uh some refreshment H um and a chance to really uh dedicate some
Time to drawing closer to God uh so please do put that in your diary if it’s not already it’s uh an interesting coincidence that uh today on the day that we Mark uh racial Justice Sunday is also the Sunday uh that the restoration of the garab memorial has been completed
Uh so you will have noticed for the last few weeks there’s been scaffolding uh on one side of the church just around the corner um uh the 17th century Monument to uh some of the Gad family has been uh lovingly cleaned H and it really I have
To say I was um taken back when I saw uh the finished restoration as to the difference it had made uh so do go around the corner and have a look at uh the Gad Memorial which has now uh shown in some of its former glory as we see it with brighter
Colors uh I think that’s all of our notices so uh I’m going to invite us all to stand H As we sing together Hills of the north rejoice Sing in Rightousness he bring Salvation The to To and the Might Jesus The last couple of lines of that hymn say that in Jesus all shall be blessed all shall find their rest as we come towards the end of our service can we find our rest best in Christ can we be filled with that peace that he offers
Us may the Lord bless you may the Lord keep you upright and dignified may the Lord provoke you to walk in the shoes of Others May the image of God be made whole by your beautiful being living fully into its calling may we all Journey towards
Justice and the kingdom of God Made Real for all our sakes and the blessing of God Almighty the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit be amongst us and all whom we love and care for now and always Amen go in peace to love and serve and share the Lord in the Name of Christ Amen All Oh [Applause] H The I Oh Morning there