Sunday Worship 29 December 2024
Today’s service is led by the Revd Phil Nevard
Introduction
Welcome in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! I’m Rev’d Phil Nevard, a URC minister in South Cambridgeshire. The Sunday immediately after Christmas can sometimes feel a bit “after the Lord Mayor’s show. But however much we are flagging, God isn’t; however jaded we might be with carols and Christmas, God isn’t. God welcomes a new day and another chance to draw close to you that you might draw close to them. In the time it has taken us to celebrate Jesus’ birth, he’s grown into a 12yr old lad and is asking questions in the Temple. So we’ve some catching up to do! We gather to worship God.
Prayer of approach
It may feel like the bleak mid-winter, frosty wind make moan …
but we have come to worship and our hearts are wanned.
Our spirits are lifted by the presence of God’s Spirit.
Our joy is brightened as we hear the call of Christ.
Our fellowship is strengthened as we gather in His name.
In the bleak mid-winter, we gather to worship God.
Our God, heaven cannot hold Him nor earth contain …
Our God who created the universe cannot be tamed.
Our God who sustains life itself is beyond the reach of mere words.
Our God who is alpha and omega, beginning and end,
is bigger than we can imagine.
In the bleak mid-winter, we gather to worship God.
Enough for him whom cherubim worship night and day –
a breast full of milk and a manger full of hay.
That awesome powerful creator God is born a helpless babe.
The God whom heaven cannot hold is cradled in a mother’s arms.
The God whom earth cannot contain is seen and heard and touched.
In the bleak mid-winter, we gather to worship God.
What can I give him, poor as I am? Some money for the offertory?
An hour of my time on Sunday morning?
A few good deeds to keep my conscience clear?
Obedience, faith, belief … he wants more than that, He wants my heart.
In the bleak mid-winter, we gather to worship God.
Hymn In the Bleak Midwinter
Christina Georgina Rossetti (c. 1872) Public Domain Sung and Performed by Walton Salvation Army and used with their kind permission.
In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone:
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for him whom cherubim worship night and day,
a breastful of milk and a mangerful of hay:
enough for him whom angels fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel which adore.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air,
but only his mother, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the Beloved with a kiss.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man I would do my part,
yet what I can I give him, give my heart.
Confession and Absolution
Too often we let our hearts grow cold and dark,
to match the weather, rather than face our transgressions.
In the cold dim winter God’s light is hard to see,
we long to hear God’s promise to unburden our hearts.
God calls us to repentance and offers us the light of Christ.
(moment of quiet)
God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Feel the warmth, feel the sensation of a melting heart; know that you are forgiven, know that you are restored. Thanks be to God
Prayer for illumination
Living God, help us so to hear your holy Word
that we may truly understand;
that, understanding, we may believe
and believing, we may follow in all faithfulness and obedience,
seeking your honour and glory in all that we do;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy wearing a linen ephod. His mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year, when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, ‘May the Lord repay you with children by this woman for the gift that she made to the Lord’; and then they would return to their home.
Music for Quiet Reflection Lord, Now Lettest (Nunc Dimittis)
arranged by Geoffrey Burgon and sung by the choir of St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney and used with their kind permission.
Reading St Luke 2:41-52
Now every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. Assuming that he was in the group of travellers, they went a day’s journey. Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. When his parents saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, ‘Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.’ He said to them, ‘Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he said to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in years, and in divine and human favour.
Hymn Child in the Manger
Mary MacDonald (1789-1872) translated L Macbean (1853-1931). Public Domain. Sung and performed by members of Dalgety Church and used with their kind permission.
Child in the manger, infant of Mary;
outcast and stranger, Lord of all;
Child who inherits all our transgressions,
all our demerits on Him fall.
Once the most holy Child of salvation
gently and lowly lived below;
now as our glorious mighty Redeemer,
see Him victorious o’er each foe.
Prophets foretold Him, infant of wonder;
angels behold Him on His throne;
worthy our Saviour of all our praises;
happy forever are His own.
Sermon
You might not be ready for Jesus to be twelve yet, I’m not sure I am! But here we are, four days on from Christmas Day, and Jesus is already a pretentious kid asking too many questions! There are people in the church who get deeply grumpy with the world for celebrating Christmas too early and then abandoning it on boxing day. WAIT! They say, wait a little longer, THEN we’ll do Christmas. But then when we do, before all the mice pies are gone, Jesus is twelve, and before Aunt Thelma has finally vacated the spare room and gone home, Jesus is grown up and being baptised in the Jordan! No time is spent enjoying Jesus as a baby!
The stories surrounding Jesus’ birth in the gospels are not the same as the “Baby’s First Years” books that we might keep as parents, or if they are, they are like the third child’s book where you never bothered to record anything! Our youngest can still get very cross that we have no idea what her first word was. She found that out when she asked us separately and we each gave a different made-up answer! We were royally rumbled!
The stories surrounding Jesus’ birth in the gospels, however you view them, are very carefully crafted to set the scene for Jesus’ ministry and to connect his life and mission to the broader narrative of Israel’s history. The birth of the Jesus to a virgin or young maiden draws on Isaiah 7:14; the place of Jesus’ birth draws on Micah 5:2; the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt evokes Hosea 11:1; the slaughter of the innocents evokes Jeremiah 31:15; the role of John the Baptist evokes Isaiah 40:3; the theme of light and darkness evokes Isaiah 9:2; the Davidic family tree evokes Samuel 7:12-13.
So we shouldn’t be surprised that here we have Jesus as a young boy in the temple growing in wisdom and in divine and human favour, just as Samuel was described as a young boy in the temple growing in stature and in favour with the LORD and with the people. Luke is inviting the reader to put these two stories together and allow them to speak to us.
So let’s have a go at doing just that. I’ll highlight the traditional three things that occur to me.
Firstly, both of these stories have faithful mothers – Hannah and Mary. Both of them, in some sense, gave their first-born to God. Sometimes world-views have changed so much since biblical times that it is difficult to draw direct lessons. I think most of us would struggle to understand what it might mean to give your child to God. We are steeped in the idea that our children will make their own minds up and chart their own paths through life. But try this on for size. I wonder whether both Mary and Hannah are both trusting God with their children, in the sense that God will love and guide and cherish them as God has every generation, but that they are also both trusting the next generation with God.
The story of Samuel is told very much at a time when the old guard is dying out – Eli is on his last legs. This story abut Jesus also features an elderly generation who might consider themselves to be on their last legs. Simeon is quite open about it, “Now I have seen this boy I can depart in peace.” The shape of worship and how the nation understands faith in God will now be shaped by a new generation. There is something grace-filled about handing on a baton, something faith-filled and hope-filled. Samuel might only be 7 or 8yrs old Jesus is only 12. Hannah and Mary trust God with them, but also trust them with God.
Secondly, I’m not sure how we’d deal with either of these two kids today. I suspect we might think something was wrong, or that they were a bit weird or even creepy. Our world does not encourage intense religious devotion at an early age. We might think it was a bit unhealthy, over-zealous or that they had been indoctrinated by some dangerously radical sect. For children, we might consider them to be a bit obsessively over-consumed by religious devotion.
I wonder, though, whether their stories might be an opportunity for us to look back over our own journeys of faith. For Samuel, the beginning was not really a choice he made – his mum made it for him! I suspect there is a generation where that rings true… “I was dragged to church as a kid!” For some people that led to a rejection of church as soon as possible, for others it was an experience of something on which they then built their own choices and faith-commitments, like Samuel did. I suspect Samuel’s calling unfolded gradually whereas Jesus was clear about who he was and what God’s calling for his life was very early on. Jesus was in the temple by his own choice, it wasn’t his parents’ doing, they had no idea where he was!
Maybe as we approach yet another new year it’s a good time to reflect on your own spiritual journey. Whether you feel like you are still discovering your calling or whether you have known it for a long time, God’s timing and purpose are unique for each person. Where do you think God might be leading you next?
Thirdly, the whole growing in wisdom and favour thing. Whatever 2025 holds for you, may it hold this! May you be a wiser person at the end of 2025. That probably needs to come with small print, because wisdom is often gained through hardship and pain. Our faith will not offer us a pain and hardship-free 2025, but it might offer us a greater depth of wisdom and understanding, especially if that pain and hardship is borne as we are part of a faithful, worshipping community of God’s people.
May you also gain favour with God and with people in 2025. Again, some small print! Even a cursory knowledge of the lives of Samuel and Jesus will tell us that “gaining favour with people” did not mean being fawning and ingratiating! Far from it! I suspect what it means for them and us is that we might increasingly live our lives in such a way that we leave a trace of grace wherever we go, the aroma of God, the flavour of hope… that kind of life is attractive and compelling.
So, now I’ve added the small-print, I’m very much aware that this might sound like “May you live in interesting times” but…
As we pack away Christmas and head into 2025, may you grow in wisdom and may you grow in favour with God and among all God’s people. Amen
Hymn All Poor Ones and Humble
Based on a traditional Welsh Carol v1 translated by Kathene E Roberts, v 2 translated by T Penar Davies. Sung by an unknown Church Quartet © 1928 Oxford University Press OneLicence # A-734713
All poor ones and humble and all those who stumble,
come hastening and feel not afraid,
for Jesus our treasure, with love past all measure,
in lowly poor manger was laid.
Though wise men who found him laid rich gifts around him
yet oxen they gave him their hay,
and Jesus in beauty accepted their duty, contented in manger he lay.
Then haste we to show him the praises we owe him,
our service he ne’er can despise,
whose love still is able to show us that stable,
where softly in manger he lies.
Or Christ Child will lead us The Good Shepherd feed us,
And with us abide till his day.
Then hatred he’ll banish; Then sorrow will vanish,
And death and despair flee away.
And he shall reign ever, And nothing shall sever
From us the great love of our King;
His peace and his pity shall bless his fair city;
and praises we ever shall sing.
Then haste we to show him the praises we owe him,
our service he ne’er can despise,
whose love still is able to show us that stable,
where softly in manger he lies.
Nunc Dimittis
Now Lord you let your servant go in peace:
Your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared in the sight of every people:
a light to reveal you to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.
Glory to the father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Church offertory is rarely a plate or a bag passed from person to person these days. It is more likely to be a much more invisible digital bank transfer set to some automatic schedule which is harder for us to notice. What we give to God through the life of our church has always been more than what’s in a bag or on a plate – it’s all of our acts of service in and through the life of this congregation. So let us give thanks for all of that.
Loving God, You give to us without counting the cost,
You give to us beyond human measure. Accept these and all our gifts to be used in your service each and every day. Amen.
Prayers of Intercession
Loving and Eternal God,
We give thanks for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came to dwell among us, bringing light and hope to our world. As we reflect on the story of Jesus in the temple, we are reminded of His wisdom, His sense of purpose, and His deep connection with You, even from a young age.
We pray today for all children and young people, that they may grow in wisdom and stature, and in favour with You and with others. May their homes and communities be places where they are nurtured and encouraged to explore their faith and discover the calling You have placed on their lives. We lift before You parents, guardians, and all who care for children, asking that You grant them the patience, love, and wisdom to guide them faithfully.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for the Church, that it may be a place where all are welcome, where questions are embraced, and where the teachings of Jesus are lived out in our words and actions. Help us to be a community that supports one another in our journeys of faith, and that reaches out to those in need, reflecting the love and compassion of Christ in all we do.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We pray for those who are lost, confused, or searching for meaning in their lives. Just as Mary and Joseph searched anxiously for Jesus, we ask that You guide all who are seeking, that they may find their way to You. May we, as Your people, be ready to offer comfort, direction, and hope to those who are struggling.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We remember before You those who are in need today—those who are sick, lonely, grieving, or burdened by the challenges of life. (pause to add names and situations that rest heavy on YOUR heart) As we carry them in our hearts, we ask for Your healing presence to surround them. May they feel the peace that comes from knowing they are loved and held by You, even in the midst of their difficulties.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Finally, Lord, we pray for ourselves, that like Jesus, we may grow in our understanding of Your will for our lives. As we stand at the threshold of a new year, help us to be attentive to Your voice, to seek Your wisdom in all that we do, and to be faithful in our calling as Your disciples.
Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
We offer these prayers, those spoken formally out loud
and those whispered in the quietness of our hearts
in the name of Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen.
Hymn Ring a Bell for Peace
Marian Collihole © 1972 Stainer and Bell OneLicence # A-734713 Played by Cheryl Jackson and sung by Crystal Schau of the Music Team of Transcona Memorial United Church.
Ring a bell for peace,for the babe born on this night,
ring a bell through the country and the town;
ring a bell for peace, come and see the wondrous light,
ring a bell, ring it merry up and down.
Blow a horn for joy, for the babe born in the hay,
blow a horn through the country and the town;
blow a horn for joy, come and hear what people say,
blow a horn, blow it merry up and down.
Play a flute for hope, for the babe now fast asleep,
play a flute through the country and the town;
play a flute for hope, see the shepherds leave their sheep,
play a flute, play it merry up and down.
Beat the drum for faith, for the babe beneath the star,
beat the drum through the country and the town;
beat the drum for faith, come and play both near and far,
beat the drum, beat it merry up and down.
Blessing
Loving God,
as we go out into your world,
may we know your presence with us
in all the pressures and potential of the coming week.
Help us to leave traces of grace
wherever we are and whatever we do. Amen.