We turn to the various narratives of the Christmas and Epiphany season over the next two weeks.

St Luke 1: 26 – 38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,  to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’  But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.  He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’  Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.  And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.  For nothing will be impossible with God.’  Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

Reflection

Have you ever felt God call you to do something and you have felt that you just don’t feel as though you are good enough or equipped enough for the task? You may have tried bargaining with God, suggesting others are better equipped to do the task or the role than you are.

Today our reading is the powerful reading of when the Angel Gabriel visits Mary. Mary was poor and young, two attributes that in the society of her day could disqualify her from being used by God for His plans. And yet, we read here of this young woman being chosen by God to carry and give birth to Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
I often think that the familiarity of some Biblical narratives means that we can overlook the power or the truth of the encounter. God didn’t, metaphorically speaking, dial the wrong number when He sent Gabriel to speak to Mary. God chose exactly who God wanted. God knew Mary for He had created her and made her in His image. Just as God has done for you and for me.

You may be reading this and feel the call of God to do something or serve in a particular way within your church, your community or the Synod you are part of. You may be listing all the excuses you want to use to respond to God. I hope we will all take from these familiar words for this Christmas time, something of the truth that when God calls God also equips. When God calls, He hasn’t dialled an incorrect number; He has called because He wants us to serve Him in the way He has called. May we learn from the example of Mary and say: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

Prayer

Loving God, who calls and who equips. 
May we follow the example of Mary 
and respond knowing 
that you will always be with us, 
May we recognise the gift 
that Jesus is to us and to the world. 
We offer our prayer through Jesus 
and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

 
Today’s service is led by the Revd Mark Rodgers

 
Welcome

Good day to you all, on this, the fourth Sunday of Advent. Is the anticipation building where you are? Are you ready yet, for Christ’s arrival into the world? Well, the wait is nearly over, but before it is, let us have at least one more service of preparation before we celebrate. Before our call to worship this would be a good time to light the fourth candle on the Advent wreath. 

God of love we light the candle of love, 
asking that the light it brings into our lives shines brighter and brighter, 
filling us with the hope and peace love brings. Amen.

Call to Worship

Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, 
you that led Joseph like a flock; 
Shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim, 
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your mighty strength 
and come to our salvation.
Turn us again, O God; 
show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

from Psalm 80

Sisters and brothers let us gather this morning in the presence of our shepherd, in anticipation of salvation, and to see the light through the darkness. Let us pray: Illuminating God be with us this day, shine your countenance on this service. Bless us with your love and give us hope in these uncertain times, Amen

Hymn     O come, O come, Emmanuel 
Latin 13th century translated by John M Neale (1818-1866) Public Domain, sung by a 150 Mass Voice Choir of various Church of South India Congregations and used with their kind permission.

O come, O come Emmanuel, 
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come thou Wisdom from on high
and order all things, far and nigh.
To us the path of knowledge show,
and cause us in her ways to go
 
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
 
O Come Desire of Nations bind
all peoples in one heart and mind
bid envy, strive, and quarrels cease
fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
 
Prayers of Adoration and Confession,  Assurance of Pardon

God of patience and kindness the world was dark and you gave it light,
the world was barren and you gave it life, the world was cruel and unjust and yet you still loved all that lived in it.
We praise you for coming close to us, 
for living among us, for being Emmanuel 
and giving us hope when we needed it.
But Lord, sometimes we know we can exhaust you;
we cannot express to you how we feel,
we cannot speak to you and we forget that we need you.
Sometimes we are like Joseph, good people, 
trying to do the best by others, 
but we get it wrong because we don’t listen,
relying on outside voices rather than your Word,
believing half-truths, and rumours,
rather than what you tell us to be true.
Forgive us our neglect of you.
Forgive us when you draw near to us and we turn our backs.
Help us to find your voice, your light, your presence 
through all the noise of this modern age.
We ask this in the name of your son, Emmanuel, 
who was born, was crucified, and rose again to be with us always. Amen

Declaration of Assurance

Sisters and brothers, Paul wrote to the early Church in Rome telling them that all people sin, all fall short of the glory of God, but all are made right in his sight, through Christ Jesus. Know and believe you are forgiven and you are loved. Amen

Prayer of Illumination

Lord you are from the lineage of David, 
who once hoped that his song would be favourable to you 
and whose words we use today.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen

Reading     Isaiah 7:10-16

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.” Then Isaiah said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

Hymn     Long Ago, Prophets Knew 
Fred Pratt Green (1903-2000) © 1971 Stainer & Bell Ltd OneLicence # A-734713

Long ago, prophets knew 
Christ would come, born a Jew, 
come to make all things new; 
bear his people’s burden, 
freely love and pardon. 
    
Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! 
Sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing! 
When he comes, when he comes, 
who will make him welcome?

God in time, God in man, 
this is God’s timeless plan: 
He will come, as a man, 
born himself of woman, 
God divinely human. 

Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! 
Sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing! 
When he comes, when he comes, 
who will make him welcome?

Mary hail! Though afraid,
she believed, she obeyed.
In her womb, God is laid:
till the time expected,
nurtured and protected,

Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! 
Sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing! 
When he comes, when he comes, 
who will make him welcome?

Journey ends! Where afar
Bethlem shines, like a star,
stable door stands ajar.
Unborn Son of Mary,
Saviour, do not tarry!
    
Ring, bells, ring, ring, ring! 
Sing, choirs, sing, sing, sing! 
Jesus comes! Jesus comes!
We will make him welcome!
 
Reading     St Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Sermon

This year the satirical quiz “Have I got News for You” celebrated its 35th birthday. The two captains, Ian Hislop and Paul Merton appeared on the ITV daytime programme “Loose Women” to publicise the fact and reminisce about their time together. One of the “loose women” asked Ian Hislop about his satirical magazine, “Private Eye” and how did he feel about the post office scandal, which he had written about in every issue, but had only gained traction after the ITV drama. Was he annoyed? No, he said. The ITV drama was excellent, and its success was in the way it humanised the whole scandal.

By telling the story from the victims’ point of view, the public and those in positions of authority could now see the impact of what had happened to real people. The heartache, the anxiety, the worry and the anger.

So how much of these do we recognise and connect with in today’s reading from Matthew? How much impact has this made on you today? One of the reasons it may not have had the same resonance as Mr Bates vs the Post Office is that we have heard it all before. For some of you in the congregation this could be 90 plus years of hearing the story of Jesus’ birth. The impact wears off slightly. The other reason may be that Matthew only dedicates seven verses to the whole story of the birth, and in that we hear about a pregnant virgin, a visitation from an angel and a prophecy that looks like it is being resurrected. Those three amazing elements in just seven verses vie for our attention, making it easy not to realise that this is about the people and the worry, anxiety, heartache and anger that fills the space that they inhabit.

In Matthew the story is from the point of view of Joseph whilst Luke concentrates on Mary. We can only presume that Mary tells Joseph the news of her visit from Gabriel and that she is going to carry the son of God, either straight away or when she gets back from visiting Elizabeth. Either way, this young girl must have been going through all sorts of emotions. Perhaps part of her reason to visit her cousin was to get away from it all, to seek counsel from her much older, more worldly wise relative. Perhaps some of her visit gave her chance to think how she would break the news! Perhaps she had to get used to the idea herself, as her future will now be different than what she imagined.

And what about Joseph? What must he be thinking? It’s not everyday you hear about a virgin getting pregnant. He must have been conflicted. Hurt and angry most possibly as he weighed up the fact that Mary might have been unfaithful. What should he do? Call it off publicly which would have come with a price for Mary, (death), or divorce quietly without a fuss? Being a righteous man he decided the latter. It isn’t until he himself is visited by an angel that he believes the reason for Mary’s pregnancy, but believing what has happened and understanding what has happened is different to coming to terms with what has happened. I’m sure we have all received news in one way or another that we understand, but it has taken a lot longer to come to terms with, be it a medical diagnosis, a death, a job vacancy rejection, or even the news of a baby. We understand all the reasons but we sometimes need to really think about it and process all the different emotions that come with that news.

It is easy to read the Bible and hear names and think of them as characters, but it is important to understand them as people, with everything that comes with being a human, otherwise the impact is lost on us and on the other human beings around us, all with their difficulties that might be going on at this time. It has taken me some time in my life to realise that although the overwhelming theme of this time of year is joy, for some the only positive they can take out of Christmas is hope. Hope that things get better, hope that doctors can help, hope the pain goes away, hope the memories don’t fade, hope the money doesn’t run out, hope the world is a better place for when the unborn child arrives. 

This is the same hope that is offered by Isaiah to the kingdom of Judah in the 8th century BC. Much of that hope is written about later in the book, but there is a glimpse of it in the passage we heard today. Isaiah is in a privileged position. He has access to the kings of the time, and as mentioned earlier, these figures really do feel like characters in a story rather than real people, but they did exist, they did have power over hundreds of thousands of people, and their actions had consequences on the lives of many, including those outside of Judah’s borders. And it is these consequences that Isaiah has been sent to warn about. King Ahaz is a man of little or no faith. He wants to do things his way and feels under threat from Judah’s neighbours, Israel and Syria who want Judah to enter into an alliance so that jointly all three can defend themselves from the mightier Assyria. Ahaz has other ideas, of course, and decides to reject this alliance and side with the Assyrians, becoming a vassal, or a puppet king. And so the people are afraid. God is laying out to Ahaz – walls and treaties are one thing, but faith is another.

So, although he does not want a sign, or at least does not want to listen to what God has to say, God says it anyway! There will be a young female, who will give birth to a son and he will be Immanuel, “God is with us”. And by the time he is a toddler, both Israel and Syria will be deserted.
Hope. Someone from the line of David will save the country. And he will be Godly in his actions, unlike King Ahaz. Hope. But this isn’t specifically for Ahaz, this is for the people. Hope that they can hang onto that they will be free from fear, and worry and anxiety and cruelty and heartache. The human story that is even more invisible than what is read in Matthew, but ever so real. Real people, real suffering, but a real sense of hope that God brings, whether that be through a virgin or not.

God sent his son because he loves us, because he knows the darkness that we all can live in sometimes, and wanted His love to be the light we need, not only to be something to cling onto for the future, but to be a strength now, stronger than King Ahaz’s walls, and stronger than the emotions we can all feel, left to our own devices. So, rather than looking forward to Christmas day, be present in the now, feel God’s presence over the next three days, listen out for his voice, and be at peace knowing of the hope Christ will bring. Amen.   

Hymn     How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds 
John Newton (1725-1807) Public Domain Sung by a 125 Mass Voice Choir from various Church of South India Congregations and used with their kind permission.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear!
It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds, and drives away our fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole, and calms the troubled breast;
’tis manna to the hungry soul, and to the weary rest.

Dear name! The Rock on which I build, my shield and hiding-place,
my never-failing treasury, filled with boundless stores of grace.

Jesus, my Shepherd, Saviour, Friend, my Prophet, Priest and King,
my Lord, my Life, my Way, my End, accept the praise I bring.

I would thy boundless love proclaim with every fleeting breath;
so shall the music of thy name refresh my soul in death.
 
Prayers of Intercession

God of love, 
we come to you now with our thoughts for the world, 
our communities and churches and for each other.

We name to you today the worries we have for creation, 
the more extreme weather conditions 
and the effect this has on your people, our neighbours. 
Give us hope of realistic solutions. 
Help each of us to play our part in the healing process, 
and give help to those displaced or disadvantaged because of it.

Lord your name speaks out, God be with us.

Lord, we name to you our anxieties for what is happening in the world. The great damage on people’s lives through war and violence, 
the uncertainties of politics played out on our televisions 
and on social media, 
the hatred that is spouted towards people who are classed as “other”. Let your love shine through so victims and perpetrators can know peace.

Lord your name cries out, God be with us

Father, we hear so much about what is wrong about this country, 
but we know that there is so much good work going on in your name. 
But we are up against it, physically, economically and emotionally. 
Help us to be strong, help us to continue serving you 
and fighting for those most in need.

Lord you name shouts out, God be with us

God we think of those that we know, 
those of us in our church communities 
that find they cannot leave the house anymore and join us, 
those who we know in our neighbourhoods 
who are suffering at this time of year, 
the families that can’t afford Christmas 
and our friends and family 
who are not in the best state of health at the moment.

Lord your name reaches out, God be with us

Lord, be with all those who will be working unseen this Christmas time 
to keep us safe and healthy, 
all those travelling to see family and friends, 
and all those who have no one this year. 
In Christ’s name we ask this. Amen
And now we bring all our prayers together, 
gift wrapped in the word Jesus taught his disciples, saying, Our Father…

Offertory

Generous God
You gave the ultimate gift of your Son, 
given out of love for humankind, 
so that we may be close to you once more. 
Accept our gifts today, s
o that we can pass on that love to others, 
to bring the Good News to all that need it. Amen.

Hymn     Love Divine, All Loves Excelling 
Charles Wesley (1707-1788) Public Domain

Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven to earth come down,
Fix in us Your humble dwelling, all Your faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, You are all compassion boundless love that makes us whole,
visit us with Your salvation, enter every trembling heart.
 
Come, almighty to deliver, let us all Your grace receive;
suddenly return, and never, never more Your temples leave.
You we would be always blessing, serve You as Your hosts above,
pray, and praise You, without ceasing, glory in Your perfect love.

Finish then Your new creation, pure and sinless let us be;
Let us see Your great salvation, perfect in eternity:
changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before You, lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Blessing

May the blessing of God fall upon you.
May the Good News of Christ’s arrival flow from you,
and may the gifts of the Spirit 
be the best present you receive this week. Amen
 

St Matthew 12: 1 – 21

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.”

He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?  He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread—which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests.  Or haven’t you read in the Law that the priests on Sabbath duty in the temple desecrate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.  If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.  For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue,  and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?  How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

“Here is my servant whom I have chosen,
    the one I love, in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will proclaim justice to the nations.
He will not quarrel or cry out;
    no one will hear his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out,
till he has brought justice through to victory.
 In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Reflection

Palestine Action, founded in 2020,  became involved in Gaza war protests in the UK in the wake of the ongoing Gaza genocide.  It was proscribed as a terrorist group in July 2025 under the UK’s Terrorism Act, after some vandalism at RAF Brize Norton. Since then, over 1600 people, including the Rev’d Sue Parfitt – an 83 year old retired Anglican priest – have been arrested for waving signs saying ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’. In response, Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “The law doesn’t have an age limit, whether you’re 18 or 80. If you’re supporting proscribed organisations, then the law is going to be enforced.”
 
As I read today’s passage, images of folk arrested for protesting genocide came to mind. There’s a nuance to be considered and that I may not know the full reasons for Palestine Action being proscribed; I take the liberty of assuming that Ms Parfitt was, in effect, saying ‘genocide is not ok and I had to do something’.
 
Hungry disciples walked through grainfields, picking a few heads of grain and ate them. It was the sabbath and the Pharisees took the opportunity to highlight this lawbreaking.  In response, Jesus seemed to say there are times we should break the law for the greater good.  Offering precedent he recalled David and his disciples eating consecrated bread on the Sabbath and provided a tricky question himself.  He declared ‘it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath’
 
When our laws conflict with our ability to feed the hungry, heal the sick, or speak out about genocide, remember Jesus’ words: ‘it is lawful to do good’. And when those around us plot our death for doing so, we might want to follow Jesus’ lead, take his bravery, and withdraw to a place where we can feed and heal a larger crowd, or where we can make a louder statement, ‘proclaiming justice to the nations’.
 
Prayer
 
God of justice,
give us the eyes of compassion to see where hunger and suffering afflict your people,
grant us wisdom as we discern where laws offend your active love,
offer us the bravery to make a stand in the name of justice,
be with us as we face derision and hate,
and may we hope in your deep peace if doing what is good leads to our end.
This day, may we go in peace, to love and serve the Lord. Amen

St Matthew 11: 25 – 30

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Reflection

Alan Gaunt’s Communion hymn “‘Come to me’, says Jesus” set to the tune Glenfinlas, matches text and tune beautifully.  His hymn reflects one of the strands of this seminal passage: that divine truth is not hidden from those the world counts as simple and unlearned, whether child or adult.

The primary challenge of this scripture to all who pay heed, is the assertion that Jesus, as God’s beloved Son, is in perfect harmony with God’s will. This proves to be Jesus’ verdict on those in authority who have rejected him or failed to respond to his mission. And it is a pointer to essential characteristics of present and future disciples, – openness, innocence and vulnerability count for more in God’s kingdom than legal or academic prowess, or social standing. This is not to despise or belittle learning or authority, but to put it in proper perspective.  Clergy ‘tak tent’.

Alan Gaunt’s hymn acknowledges Christ’s offer in Scripture ‘come to me all you who are weary and burdened’.  So we sing ‘Come to me’, says Jesus ‘all who are distressed; take my yoke upon you, I will give you rest’. This mirrors Bonhoeffer’s heartfelt hymn ‘We turn to God when we are sorely pressed’. When illusions of control, position, and power are stripped away we become open to our dependency on God. It is then that we can exchange our burdens for the gentle guiding Christ offers us. ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ indeed.

Prayer

Gracious God
how much I need to accept
the offer of Christ’s peace in my life.
How difficult in the busyness of daily life
I find it to accept your gift.
Let your Spirit so work within me
that I accept your offer,
and  discern your guiding hand
at work in my life this Advent.
Amen

St Matthew 11: 20 – 24
 
Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.  “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.  But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.  But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”
 
Reflection
 
Biblical stories such as those of restoration to physical health of the unwell, or deceased, or some sort of unexpected provision, serve as parables of social reversal: the sick are restored, the hungry are fed, the outcasts are dignified. Miracles mustn’t be limited by magical thinking, to do so robs them of their powerful, subversive, edge.
 
Those of us living in the here-and-now need to be on the lookout for divine action, rooted, as always, in human cooperation that extends beyond the limits of magic. Examples can be found in movements for racial justice, climate activism, initiatives to right the wrongs done to LGBTQ+ people, the dismantling of embedded inequalities between sexes, social classes, and more.
 
The writer we call Matthew, and those (mainly enslaved people) who edited and transcribed his words for his Jewish audience, knew what would get their readers attention. In this short passage Matthew has Jesus coruscate the privileged and comfortable folk who refuse to let the radical inbreaking of the Gospel affect their daily lives. That which should change everything hasn’t changed them.
 
By saying that Tyre and Sidon would have repented, Matthew’s Jesus overturns the ethnic and moral hierarchies of his day. He dramatically reveals the complacency of the comfortable ‘insiders’ who exhibit less in the way of compassion or willingness to embrace Jesus’ enemy loving ways than those who don’t enjoy the privileges that they do. It’s not hard to see that we, so often, do the same.
 
In typical style Matthew casts Jesus in the role of a Hebrew prophet, a new Jeremiah or Amos, dramatically mourning the spiritual blindness of his people – in the same way he calls to us now: wake up sleeper – the world is changing – get involved.
 
Prayer 
 
God of the poor, the powerless,
and the peripheral,
You dwell in the margins.
You are found in the edge places,
the hard places, the uncomfortable places.
the places we don’t like to go.
Lead us to follow your call,
to turn away from complacency,
and toward your ways of boundary crossing love.
Help us to see it, to sense it,
to feel it in action, to get involved.
wake us up, God. Amen

St Matthew 11: 1 – 19
 
After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.  Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?  If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces.  Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:
 
‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’
 
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.  From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence, and violent people have been raiding it.  For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.  And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.  Whoever has ears, let them hear: “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:
 
‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
 
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”
 
Reflection
 
Broadly speaking, Matthew 11 and 12 are about how the current generation have rejected both John the Baptist’s message of repentance, and Jesus’ message of good news. As part of this, some followers of John relay a question from him to Jesus, essentially wanting confirmation that he is the long-awaited Messiah.
 
The evidence Jesus gives, of good news made real, is not just a message for John, but for all: “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”  The demonstrable in-breaking of God’s kingdom is self-evident. Jesus then affirms John’s ministry, aligning him with ‘the Elijah who was to come’. John’s role, Jesus asserts, has been pivotal in salvation history; he is the bridge between the prophets of old and the new covenant in Christ.
 
The crucial verse comes at v.15, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” This verse is problematic for those with hearing difficulties, but the central theme is whether those encounters with Jesus, or John, have been transformational, be they seen, heard, touched, represent moments of cleansing, or of release. The compelling argument is that to experience this salvation and yet not to respond is foolishness. The analogy given for this unrepentant and unbelieving generation are children in the marketplace. When John called for repentance, they piped a dance; when Jesus proclaimed good news, they played a dirge.
 
What then of this generation? When repentance is required, whether collectively or individually, do we paper over this with praise? When the good news is meant to be proclaimed with confidence, do we lament, blaming our inability to evangelise on our size or structures or demography? Jesus’ rebuke is clear. How seriously we will take it is up to us.
 
Prayer
 
Gracious Lord Jesus,
forgive our unbelief!
We hear your Word,
see your hand at work,
feel your presence,
rely on your cleansing love,
enjoy your freedom,
yet choose not to change.
Have faith in us,
and help us to have faith in ourselves, through you. Amen

St Matthew 10: 40 – 42
 
Jesus said: “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.  Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.  And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
 
Reflection
 
My neighbours are Muslims – Kurds from Turkey – and speak very little English.   Occasionally the doorbell will ring and Fatima will pass me a plate of food cooked on their barbecue. She wants nothing in return, though she is rather pleased when I resurrect my minimal Turkish sufficiently to say “tesekkur ederim”.  
 
I write this reflection as the news and social media teem with news of England flags suddenly appearing on flag posts and roundabouts. There’s nothing wrong with this per se, of course, but it currently feels tarnished with the undertones of a hostile welcome to those from overseas seeking sanctuary or a home in the UK.  By contrast, this reading from St Matthew reminds me that one of the foundations of our faith, and our Christian practice, is the holy habit of hospitality. 
 
Hospitality is the calling of every follower of Jesus. It is made clear here that you don’t even have to have a lot to share – even offering a cup of water is hospitality in the sight of God. Should our hospitality be directed only towards those of the same faith or ethnicity as us? No.  Paul reminds us that whenever we give hospitality to strangers we may be entertaining angels unawares. And in Leviticus we read, “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born.” 
 
Jesus calls us to counter the xenophobia and social isolation of the time, even if only in small ways. What could the equivalent be? Maybe a smile to the person sitting next to you on the bus, a friendly word in the queue for the supermarket checkout, a suspended coffee at your favourite coffee shop. Maybe taking the trouble to learn a few words of another language to share a greeting. Let’s claim God’s country back! 
 
Prayer
 
God of all,
help us to be a people of welcome, 
of hospitality, 
of generosity;
putting the needs of others before our own 
and seeing not strangers, but siblings we have yet to know. 
Let our reward be the building of relationship, 
the joy of a shared smile or seeing another thrive,
and the knowledge that in welcoming them, we welcome you. 
Amen 

St Matthew 10: 32 – 39

Jesus said: “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven.  But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.  For I have come to turn

“‘a man against his father,
    a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
  a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’

“Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.”

Reflection

These words sound harsh to our ears, because we don’t imagine Jesus being someone who turns “man against his father….” yet Tim Keller once put it this way: “To stay away from Christianity because part of the Bible is offensive assumes if there is a God he wouldn’t have any views that upset you.” 

Throughout history we have seen this very thing – people have turned against each other because of their belief in Jesus – becoming a Christian doesn’t always bring peace and harmony, it brings conflict. I come from a family that is not only un-churched but my father is very antagonistic towards people of faith and my sister thinks “it is all nonsense”. I frequently sit through endless conversations where they verbally persecute the very faith that I hold as the core of my being and it hurts.  It also makes me confrontational and they then feel very vindicated in saying that my anger and hurt prove that Christians are no better than anyone else and how we are lying, cheating hypocrites.  Then I feel like I have failed Jesus and feel ashamed. I have plenty of friends, however, who I can share this with and none of them sit in judgement of me.  When I describe the latest encounter, they empathise,  pray for me, and remind me that I stood up for Jesus. My allegiance was, and is always, to Jesus first and foremost; I learnt a very long time ago, when I was still a little girl, that if you idolise your parents, they can leave a gaping hole of a wound where your heart should be.  The only one who was able to heal that pain is Jesus;  I realised that God was my true and perfect parent who created, loved and called me.  God calls you too –  but we are each responsible for responding to that call for ourselves.

Prayer

Calling God
You didn’t promise us peace, an easy road
or a life without conflict.
Help us when that conflict arises 
between ourselves and our families and friends, 
so that we remember to always place you 
at the centre and first in our lives,
recognising that our spiritual home 
and Heavenly Parent God are eternal not temporal.
Remind us of the call that we have chosen to respond to.
Amen.

 
Today’s service is led by the Revd Catherine McFie

 
Introduction

Hello and welcome to worship. My name is Catherine McFie and at the time of recording this service I am approaching the end of my current ministry in Liverpool. I have been called to the Ecumenical post on the Isle of Man and all going well when you are listening to this service I will be one week into that new ministry. There is much to be thankful for as I reflect on my time in Liverpool and there is much to look forward to as I embark on a new journey in a different place and with different people.  It is a privilege to share worship with you and I pray that wherever you are and whenever you are listening, God’s Spirit will bless our time together.  So let us worship God. 

Call to Worship

In this season of Advent can you imagine a world that is different: a world where everyone has hope, a world where we live in peace with our neighbours, a world where we give joyful thanks to God, despite everything, a world where people know that they are loved by God,  can you imagine what that would be like?

Transforming God, as we come in praise and worship
open our hearts to the work of your Spirit
that we may be transformed 
and so in turn we become your transformers. Amen.

Hymn     Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
Rusty Edwards (born 1955) © 1987 Hope Publishing Company. OneLicence No. # A-734713. Sung by Heather Jordan from the St George in the Pines Anglican Church, Banff, Canada

Praise the One who breaks the darkness with a liberating light.
Praise the One who frees the prisoners turning blindness into sight.
Praise the One who preached the Gospel healing every dread disease.
Calming storms and feeding thousands with the very bread of peace.

Praise the One who blessed the children with a strong yet gentle word.
Praise the One who drove out demons with a piercing two-edged sword.
Praise the One who rings cool water to the desert’s burning sand.
From this well comes living water quenching thirst in every land.
 
Praise the one true love incarnate: Christ who suffered in our place.
Jesus died and rose for many that we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness seeing what our God has done.
Praise the one redeeming glory. Praise the One who makes us one.

Prayers of Approach and Confession

Amazing God, we thank you for another new day 
and the opportunities it holds to serve you
we thank you that we can come together to worship you, 
learn from your Word and grow as disciples.
We thank you for your faithfulness, despite our wandering;
we thank you for your unfailing love.
We thank you for Jesus and that through his life, death 
and resurrection we are reconciled with you. 
we thank you for the Holy Spirit living in us and working through us
Triune God, we bring you our praise and worship. 

Gracious and loving God, 
sometimes following your ways is not easy,
forgive us for the times when we have ignored our neighbour’s need,
forgive us for the words we have spoken that have hurt and divided,
forgive us for not trusting in your promises or standing up for our faith.
Lord in our imperfection we come seeking forgiveness, 
knowing that only you can help us be more faithful disciples. 

(silence)

Gracious God, your heart is full of mercy.
In Jesus Christ we are forgiven.
Let us return to you with joy in our hearts.
Thanks be to God,  Amen.

Hymn     People Look East
Eleanor Farjeon (1881-1965) Unknown Copyright OneLicence No. # A-734713 Sung by Chris Brunelle and used with his kind permission.
 
People, look east. The time is near
of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

Furrows, be glad. Though earth is bare,
one more seed is planted there:
Give up your strength the seed to nourish,
that in course the flower may flourish.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Rose, is on the way.

Stars, keep the watch. When night is dim
One more light the bowl shall brim,
Shining beyond the frosty weather,
Bright as sun and moon together.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the star, is on the way.

Angels, announce with shouts of mirth
Christ who brings new life to earth.
Set every peak and valley humming
With the word, the Lord is coming.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the Lord, is on the way.

Prayer of Illumination

Lord, as we listen to your word read and preached, 
open our ears that we may hear your Word anew.
Open our hearts that we may respond to the promptings of your Spirit.
May what we learn blossom within us so that we are transformed.
In Jesus name we pray.  Amen 

Reading     Isaiah 35:1 – 10

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus  it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord,
the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. He will come with vengeance, with terrible recompense. He will come and save you.’ Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,  the grass shall become reeds and rushes. A highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Holy Way; the unclean shall not travel on it, but it shall be for God’s people;  no traveller, not even fools, shall go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Hymn     From All That Dwell Below the Skies 
Isaac Watts (1674-1748) Public Domain. Unknown Singer at the First Presbyterian Church of Saginaw.

From all that dwell below the skies
let the creator’s praise arise:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Let the redeemer’s name be sung,
through every land, by every tongue:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

In ev’ry land begin the song;
to every land the strains belong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
In cheerful sound all voices raise
and fill the world with joyful praise.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
 
Eternal are thy mercies, Lord;
eternal truth attends thy word: 
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thy praise shall sound from shore to shore,
till suns shall rise and set no more: 
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Reading     St Luke 1:46b – 55

Mary said:  ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Sermon 

Isaiah chapter 35 is a wee bit of a surprise. The preceding chapter is not an easy read and paints a picture of destruction and then without a break and without an explanation we suddenly have a picture of restoration and hope. While some scholars debate the placement of this chapter and question if it is a later addition to the book I wonder if these words are exactly where God intended them to be. God knows that there is only so much destruction and judgement that a people can take before losing hope completely so this surprising change of focus would have been like a breath of fresh air, and would have given the people something to cling on to, something that speaks of a better place, a different time, a new life compared to their current experience. 

At the heart of the image painted by the words is a journey through the wilderness, a journey of returning to the promised land. The original journey out of Egypt was fraught with trials and challenges but this return journey will be one of rejoicing as the wilderness blossoms and flourishes with life. 
As we read through the verses of this chapter, we can see that this is not just simply about an exile people returning to their homeland, but this is about physical, spiritual and ecological restoration. 

The wilderness that was once a place of fear or struggle or suffering is now a place where people can see the glory of God in the flowers that bloom. The land that was once barren is now so fertile it is compared to Lebanon and Sharon, places known for their natural beauty and rich vegetation. The human voice no longer cries out in lament but sings in praise. Water that was scares now flows in streams and gathers in pools and where there is water there is life. Lions and other dangerous animals are no longer a threat to travellers. 

Towards the end of our reading, we are introduced a highway through the desert, the Holy Way. This represents the future and hope for a people who are struggling with their faith in exile. In this future, on this road, it is not possible to go astray, and those who take this road will rejoice in their homecoming. 

We hear echoes of this future in our reading from Luke’s gospel as Mary sings out her praise to God. Every time I read these words I am in awe of Mary. Despite all the drama that is going on her life she understands more than many of the people we met in the bible. Mary recognises that what God has asked her to be part of is not something that will simply make her life complicated for a time, but it is something that is changing the future for everyone. The future is not one that people are expecting because now the future is one in which the promises of the past become reality, where the voice of the disenfranchised is heard and justice and equality shape how things are done. 

In Isaiah there is the promise of restoration and in Luke the transformation process has begun. God’s kingdom in now a reality on earth, and Mary recognises that this baby she is carrying has a key role to play in this new future. The fact that God has involved her in bringing this change about, the fact that God’s hand is and will be at work in the world, the fact that this future is underpinned by God’s love and mercy, is it any wonder that Mary’s voice is raised in praise and worship to God. 

As I have looked at these two passages I have been struggling with the difference between restoration and transformation because I see elements of both in each passage. The desert will be transformed by crocuses, but the people will be restored to Jerusalem. Maybe true restoration is only possible through transformation, as long as our hearts follow the ways of the world then the process of restoration is never complete. 

On this third Sunday of Advent as we prepare to welcome Christ into the world as a newborn baby, two questions come to my mind to challenge us.  The first is where to we see transformation taking place in our communities or in the wider world? If transformation has begun as Mary’s song suggests then there must be signs of this transformation in our world. When I read about crocus blossoming in the desert, I thought about the poppies that came to life on the battle fields of France and Belgium after World War 1 transforming the landscape. In one of my churches, they have a welcome space which is open for a couple of hours once a week. When I visited recently it was great to see how the small group of men who attend regularly have transformed from strangers to people who share what is happening in their lives and encourage and support each other. Transformation happens when barriers are broken down, where people feel valued, where there is a common cause to support and where actions are driven by love.  The second question is harder but just as important – what are we doing to transform the world around us? Mary transformed the world by being willing to be Jesus’ mother, to carry him in her womb, go through childbirth and love and care for him until he was an adult. So how is God asking us to help transform the world today? How are we using our time and talents in kingdom building? How are we being transformed by the Spirit so we can be more faithful and willing disciples? What has us raising our voice to God in praise because of what God is doing in our communities? 

Isaiah describes a future that speaks of spiritual, physical and ecological renewal. Mary’s song tells us that God has already started this renewal through transformation. When I look at the community around me, as I listen to the news I know that work still needs to be done so as we prepare for Christmas let us take some time and answer these two questions and let us be as willing as Mary to do our part in transforming the world into a place that lives by the values of the kingdom of God. Amen.  

Hymn     Heaven Shall Not Wait
John L Bell (born 1949) and Graham Maule (1958-2019) © 1987 WGRG, c/o Iona Community OneLicence No. # A-734713  Performed by Ruth and Joy Everingham © 2020 and used with their kind permission.

Heaven shall not wait for the poor to lose their patience,  
the scorned to smile, the despised to find a friend:  
Jesus is Lord; he has championed the unwanted;  
in him injustice confronts its timely end.  

Heaven shall not wait for the rich to share their fortunes,  
the proud to fall, the elite to tend the least:
Jesus is Lord;  he has shown the master’s privilege –
to kneel and wash servants’ feet before they feast. 

Heaven shall not wait for the dawn of great ideas,  
thoughts of compassion divorced from cries of pain:  
Jesus is Lord; he has married word and action;  
his cross and company make his purpose plain.
 
Heaven shall not wait for triumphant hallelujahs,
when earth has passed and we reach another shore:
Jesus is Lord;  in our present imperfection:
his power and love are for now and then for evermore.
 
Prayers of Intercession

In our prayers today there will be space to voice your own concerns. We will end each section with Lord in your mercy, if you could reply, hear our prayers.

Transforming God, 
we come before you now with our prayers for others. 
We long to see your kingdom grow, 
and yet there is much pain, hatred and conflict 
that we can struggle to see your vision of a better world. 
As we come together in prayer, open our hearts to the need around us
and help us bring these things before you. 
Lord in your mercy hear our prayers

We pray for people and places who are affected the most because of the climate crisis …
(pause)

Lord in your mercy hear our prayers

We pray for those whose voice is ignored or simply not heard …
(pause)
Lord in your mercy hear our prayers

We pray for those who face racism, prejudice, hatred daily ….
(pause)
Lord in your mercy hear our prayers

We pray for those who are trying to make a positive difference in reducing inequality and injustice ….
(pause)
Lord in your mercy hear our prayers

We pray for places of conflict, of political unrest, of danger….
(pause)
Lord in your mercy hear our prayers

God of hope, we offer up our prayers in the name of Jesus as we pray together the words he taught us saying: Our Father…

Offertory Prayer

With joyful hearts let us prepare to offer to God the first fruits of our labours so that God’s work can continue to transform our communities. 

Generous and gracious God, 
We thank you for all that you have freely given us.
With thankful and joyful hearts, we bring you our offering, 
of money time and talents. 
Use these gifts to your glory, 
Transforming us and our communities into places 
where your name is glorified 
and your kingdom values shape our life together. 
In Jesus name we pray.  Amen. 

Hymn     Tell Out My Soul
Timothy Dudley-Smith (1926-2024) from Luke 1 vs46-55 © administered by Oxford University Press in Europe OneLicence No # A-734713 BBC Songs of Praise

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings, give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of his word;
in God my Saviour shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his Name!
Make known his might, the deeds his arm has done;
his mercy sure, from age to age the same;
his holy Name, the Lord, the Mighty One.
 
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of his might!
Powers and dominions lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills are put to flight,
the hungry fed, the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul, the glories of his word!
Firm is his promise, and his mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul, the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children and for evermore.
 
Blessing / Sending out

Lord, as we leave this time of worship 
and go out into our communities
open our eyes to your work around us
open our ears to your calling on our time and talents
may we be ready to be agents of transformation. 
As we go, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
The love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit, 
Be with us today, tomorrow, and always.  Amen. 

Saturday 13 December 2025