for Sunday 15th February 2026
Today’s service is led by the Students from the Scottish College
Welcome and Introduction The Revd Andy Braunston
Hello, and welcome to worship. It’s good to share in worship with you and, this week, our worship is a little different with contributions from five of our students at the Scottish College where I help out as a volunteer tutor.
Last September we took the students to visit the Waldensian Church in Italy and this service reflects on the history and ministry of the Waldensians. There are strong links between the URC and the Waldensian – Methodist Church in Italy (since 1975 they have been united in a federal church structure which keeps their distinctive identities, but where they function as one denomination). There are also strong historic links between British Protestants and these Italian Protestants yet it is often the case we are surprised to find there are any Protestants in Italy or that the Waldensian church predates the Reformation by over 300 years!
Founded by Peter Waldo who became convinced of a desire to live in apostolic poverty and preach the Gospel they were, at first, welcomed by the Medieval Church authorities as a useful tool in the fight against heresy. Waldo’s refusal, however, to be part of the formal structures of the Church (such as a monastic order) and his insistence one did not need the Church’s authority to preach led to their excommunication. Waldo’s followers took refuge in largely inaccessible mountainous valleys then in the Duchy of Savoy – now on the border between France and Italy. They endured centuries of persecution, found an alliance with Calvin’s Geneva and carved out a difficult space to be themselves. Italian reunification, at first, led to a secular state allowing the Waldensians to flourish and spread throughout Italy but, under the Fascists, they found themselves seen as foreign as they worshipped in the French dialect of Occitan and so changed their worship language to Italian but were still seen as foreign. Now, in an age of greater tolerance, they are centred in Italy but with vibrant congregations in Argentina and Uruguay – thanks to Italian emigration. They work in partnership with other Protestant Churches and, in particular, with the Methodists with whom they united in 1975. They are beneficiaries of the 8 in 1000 church tax where Italian citizens can nominate a religious body to receive their 0.8% tax and millions give their money to the Waldensians as they are transparent with their finances and use it only for social service and cultural work. We use, today, worship resources from the Waldensian church for the Sunday before Lent, and sing, mainly, Psalms which sustained the Waldensians for most of their long history. Let’s worship God together.
Call to Worship
Our help is in the name of God the Father, who created us,
of the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave his life for us,
and of the Holy Spirit, who renews us. Amen.
We sing the first 6 verses of Psalm 31.
Hymn Psalm 31 v 1 – 6
Sing Psalms version © 2003 The Psalmody Committee, The Free Church of Scotland unknown choir recorded by Connor Quigley and used with his kind permission.
In you I’ve taken refuge, LORD;
You are my shelter in distress.
O let me never be ashamed,
but save me
in your righteousness.
LORD, turn your ear
to hear my cry;
come quickly to deliver me,
and be my rock and firm defence,
my stronghold and security.
You are my fortress and my rock;
for your name’s sake
be my sure guide.
Preserve me from
the trap that’s set;
You are the refuge where I hide.
Redeem me, LORD, O God of truth;
my spirit I commit to you.
I hate all those who trust false gods;
I trust the LORD, for he is true.
Prayers of Approach, Confession and Grace
Our God, you are our strong rock, our fortress.
Come, defend our weak faith from all that would destroy it.
Defend the love you have willed to instil in us with your Holy Spirit. Defend the hope that Christ’s resurrection has kindled in us.
We thank you and praise you for the gift of Jesus Christ;
let him always guide us,
He who served you in acts of love and solidarity with human beings,
He who was obedient to you unto death, even death on a cross.
He has opened and continues to open the way for us,
He has given us the privilege of serving you
and the desire to serve our neighbour.
He has taught us not to stop at appearances, but to love with deeds,
even if this draws criticism and opposition, that is, the Cross.
For the life you have made triumphant in Christ Jesus, our salvation,
we joyfully sing your praises. Amen.
We prepare to confess our sin
by listening to how the Lord wants to be served:
Whatever you want people to do to you, do even so to them,
for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
But narrow is the gate and difficult is the road that leads to life,
and few find it.
Matthew 7, 12-14
Faced with God’s will, we confess our sin,
first in silence, then in common prayer:
Silent Confession
Let us pray:
Lord, how many situations remain blocked
because we choose the easy way out,
while the path that leads to peace and justice
is truly narrow and uncomfortable.
We too hesitate before this path.
We too fear losing our privileges.
But when we look to Jesus, the way of your kingdom presents itself to us
as the way of true communion among human beings.
Our God, grant that we may take this path without hesitation,
and thus stop wondering how others can be of use to us,
and instead ask ourselves how we can be of use to others.
Free us from that calculating mentality that so impedes our journey.
Help us take the first step, as you did towards us. Amen.
Let us listen to the announcement of God’s grace: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
(Romans 8:1-2)
Since the Lord gave his life for our salvation, to all of you who seek his forgiveness, we proclaim that your sin is forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayer for Illumination
Lord, we stand before your Word;
open our hearts and minds so that we may listen to it with all our heart. You know us, you know our expectations and needs,
and we are confident that through your Word you will answer us.
Enable us to respond to your expectations;
remind us all that you invite us to the beautiful adventure of faith,
which transforms our lives and guides us to the fullness of life.
Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Waldensian Origins
Introduction
There is little in the historical records about Peter Waldo; he was a merchant in the city of Lyons who had a deep conversion experience causing him to provide for his wife and children and then travel to preach the good news and live in simple poverty as Christ and the apostles had done. He wasn’t alone in this approach; various Church reform movements were wedded to poverty and preaching – the Cathars (a sect that had Gnostic ideas) and also the Franciscans and Dominicans (which were more firmly Christian) all saw that the wealth of the medieval Church led to corruption and a failure to witness well.
At first the local bishop, and wider Church, warmed to Peter and his followers as they were good at keeping people Christian when otherwise they may have drifted into the heretical Cathar movement. The break with Rome came as Peter and his followers would not agree to be accountable to the Church through, for example, becoming part of a monastic order and through their insistence on preaching without getting permission from the church – probably local clergy who might be more ignorant about the Bible than they were. So Barbars (uncles) were trained in the Bible and sent on preaching missions. At first women could do this well but in medieval Europe women who travelled were often seen as prostitutes and it was not safe for them to work as missionaries. Instead, their role became one of support for the Barbas in housing them at colleges over the winter where they’d learn more of the Bible until their next preaching tour. Yvonne Hamilton, a second-year student at the Scottish College, reflects on this early stage of the Waldensian journey with a reconstructed Barba college behind her. First, we hear from Psalm 121 which Calvin always used to open worship.
Reading Psalm 121: 1 – 2
Psalm 121 is often associated with pilgrimage, faithful perseverance, and the assurance of God’s protection, which connects beautifully with the story of the Waldensians. It speaks of the ongoing call to live and preach the Gospel faithfully, even in the face of difficulty or danger.
I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Reflection Yvonne Hamilton
There is a quiet kind of courage that rises when someone chooses to live by faith rather than fear. In the midst of a comfortable life, something stirs. A hunger for truth, a longing for more than status or security. That longing, centuries ago, shaped the journey of a man who gave away his wealth and began to follow the way of Christ with empty hands and an open heart.
He wasn’t alone for long, others were drawn to this way of simplicity, Scripture, and shared life. They gathered not to build a new power, but to return to the heart of the Gospel. They wanted to live like Jesus and the first disciples, poor, yes, but rich in love and clarity. They studied together, often in hidden places. They trained not to climb ladders of success, but to carry a message they could not keep silent. And then, they were sent, walking village to village, offering not argument but presence.
This movement didn’t need buildings or titles. What they had was fire in their bones, a calling to speak hope into the ordinary. They lived the Word before they ever preached it. And when they did speak, it was not to impress, but to invite. Their voices carried a light into places where religion had grown cold or corrupted by control.
And women, so often silenced, found space among these people to teach, serve, and to lead. They too, carried the Gospel in their bodies and voices, not hidden away but woven into the mission. The Spirit was not concerned with rank or gender, but with availability and faithfulness.
But freedom always disrupts control. The fear of truth spoken freely stirred resistance. The threat was not violence, it was visibility. And so, the shadow of the Inquisition fell, trying to silence what could not be caged. Many paid a price, not for rebellion, but for obedience to a higher call.
And yet, their witness speaks even now.
Today, we live in different times, but the question remains the same. What do we do with truth once it awakens us? How do we live the Gospel when convenience pulls harder than conviction? Are we willing to follow Christ even when it costs us comfort, reputation, or belonging?
We may not be called to the same literal poverty, but we are called to a posture of surrender, a poverty of spirit that trusts God more than systems, and Scripture more than status. The challenge is not simply to believe, but to live in a way that reflects the kingdom.
There are still “barbas” among us, those who walk quietly in the margins, who speak not for applause but out of faithfulness. And the Spirit is still raising voices, young and old, men and women, calling them not to power, but to love.
And we, too, must choose, in a world that prizes self-promotion, will we dare to walk a different road? In a time when truth is politicised and compassion seen as weakness, will we still carry the Gospel in word and in action?
God of the hidden way, You stir in us a longing for more. More truth, more love, more of You. Give us the courage to walk simply, to speak boldly, and to trust you deeply. When we are tempted by ease of silenced fear, remind us of those who came before, who walked with open hands and faithful hearts. Let their witness become our encouragement. And may we, too, become light in dark places. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
We sing a Gospel version of Psalm 121 written by Richard Smallwood.
Hymn Total Praise
Richard Smallwood (b 1948) after Psalm 121 © 1996 Universal Music OneLicence No
# A-734713 Sung by Michael Lining
Lord, I will lift
mine eyes to the hills,
knowing my help
is coming from You.
Your peace you give me
in time of the storm.
You are the
source of my strength.
You are the
strength of my life.
I lift my hands in total praise to you.
Amen, Amen, Amen, Amen
Becoming Reformed
Introduction
The Reformers of the 16th Century were very aware of the Catholic critique that they were inventing a new religion and so were concerned to show that they were going back to the roots of the faith as seen in the Bible and the early Church theologians and thinkers. At the time it was felt that the Waldensians were a group who had kept the faith pure since apostolic times; it was only much later that historians came to show their 11th Century origins. The desire to show that Protestantism was a pure return to the early Church led Calvin to explore theology with the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople (the latter being deposed for his rather Reformed outlook) and to the Waldensians in valleys not too far from Geneva. For the Reformed an alliance with the Waldensians gave them some historical ballast, for the Waldensians persecuted by the Catholic dukes of Savoy an alliance with the Reformed offered them a wider connection with the new religious movement of the Reformation and an alliance with a city which had also thrown off the Savoy duchy. So a group of persecuted proto-reformers voted to join the wider European reform movement giving it some historical legitimacy and giving them a much needed boost. They funded the first translation of the Bible into French – they spoke Occitan – but persecution came and John Milton’s poem,
Avenge, O Lord, thy slaughter’d saints,
whose bones Lie scatter’d on the Alpine mountains cold,
Ev’n them who kept thy truth so pure of old,
When all our fathers worshipp’d stocks and stones;
speaks of the persecution these newly reformed Waldensian saints faced. Margaret Higton, a final year student at the Scottish College will help our thinking, but first a reading from John’s Gospel.
Reading St John 1: 1 – 5
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Reflection Margaret Higton
When we think of the Reformation the first names that come to mind are
the greats of the 16th Century Luther, Calvin, Zwingli.
However, long before these great theologians God was already at work, stirring up small groups of believers to look deeper into scripture, literally
to read scripture as it was written, recording the Word of God.
One of the most remarkable of these small groups was the Waldensian church. Their story, or rather their lived reality, reminds us that becoming Reformed is not merely about embracing or adopting doctrines. It’s more about living a life of faith transformed by God’s Word and following a life faithful to Christ, even if that means enduring suffering and persecution.
As we have heard, the Waldensians began in the latter part of the 12th Century, when the wealthy merchant Waldo encountered the Scriptures in a new and different way. He used his wealth to have the Bible translated into the vernacular language of the people rather than the Latin of the clergy. This had a dramatic effect. For the first time people started to have a deeper relationship with scripture, a better understanding and specifically Waldo was captured by the simplicity of Christ’s call – “Repent and believe the gospel.”
Waldo gave his wealth away and became a wandering preacher of repentance, encouraging others to hear the Word of God. The people who gathered around Waldo shared the same conviction – Scripture is for every believer and not for the exclusivity of the clergy or scholars. This love for the Bible was the beginning, the seed of a Reformed identity, centuries before that point in history we know as ‘the Reformation’.
For us today, becoming or being Reformed starts in the very same place, with God’s word. Like the Waldensians, we too must live under the authority of Scripture. Allowing Scripture to shape our lives and our faith. We cannot become Reformed by following human traditions but rather become re-formed through the living Word of God.
To be Reformed is to realise and confess that Christ alone is our saviour. We are not saved by our own work, by our churches, by our own human efforts. The Waldensians held dearly to this truth and were persecuted even to death for it. What is our persecution? Is it apathy?
For us to demonstrate our Reformed understanding of Scripture requires us to rise above apathy, to declare and live a faith in the risen and ascended Christ, and to build our lives in Christ alone.
The journey the Waldensians took was not easy. They placed Scripture above the authority of the medieval church, were branded heretics, persecuted to death, families killed, homes burnt, driven into exile but they returned to their beloved valleys. They gathered in secret, whispered the scriptures in caves by candlelight and they taught their children the gospel stories. Their motto became Lux Lucet in Tenebris – “The light shines in the darkness”
In all of this journey we can see another mark of becoming Reformed, trusting the sovereignty of God even when persecuted. We are reminded, by the Waldensians journey, that living a faithful Christian life may bring hardships. Yet, it also reminds us that God preserves God’s people. The very survival of the Waldensians through centuries of persecution is indeed a testimony of the faithfulness of God.
When the Protestant Reformation of the 16th Century broke forth the Waldensians found fellowship with others and their Synod officially embraced the theology of the Reformed church. They found clarity in the doctrine of grace and walked their journey with fellow believers who also exalted the glory of God, trusting in God’s Word alone.
And so, we must also recognise that to be Reformed is a journey in fellowship with others, this is not only a personal journey but one we must take in community. We are called into fellowship with others who confess Christ, to walk that truth and to be, like the Waldensians, beacons of light in the darkness, lighting up lives which glorify our God.
Gracious God, our beacon of light and hope, we thank You for the light of Your Word, the light that shines in our darkness. Just as You sustained the Waldensians through their persecution, Keep us faithful to Christ alone. Teach us to love Your Scriptures, to repent our sins, and to believe with all our hearts and minds in the good news. Guide us to walk in Your ways with courage and faith, until that day when Christ returns in glory. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
We sing a verse from Psalm 27 with the Taize chant The Lord is My Light.
Hymn The Lord Is My Light, My Light and Salvation (Psalm 27:1)
GIA/Les Presses de Taizé OneLicence No # A-734713
Sung by the virtual choir of St Francis Church, West Bessacarr, Doncaster
The Lord is my light, my light and salvation, in God I trust, in God I trust.
The Glorious Return
Introduction
After the Reformation and wars of religion the Waldensians made an increasing number of links with European Protestants. In return for assistance in a war against France, the English and Dutch demanded religious freedom for the Waldensians from the Duke of Savoy who then allowed this provided they also fought for him against the French. This freedom allowed the Waldensians the right to return and live and worship in the valleys and 900 of them returned. Greater exposure to the European powers led to the growth of Enlightenment thought amongst the educated pastors; a religious revival amongst the laity led to tensions resulting in the adoption of a confession of faith. Wider exposure to rich Europeans who often visited the valleys when on their grand tours, led to greater awareness of the Waldensians and fund raising in Britian allowed money to be sent for them and their schools. Sadly, the older laws outlawing much of Waldensian life and culture were reimposed as foreign policy and alliances changed. We’ll listen to two readings and then hear a reflection from So Young Jung, a first-year student at the Scottish College.
Reading Galatians 6: 6 – 10
Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher. Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith.
Reading Psalm 126
When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced. Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.
Reflection So Young Jung
Dear friends, when I first came to the URC, three things truly surprised me.
First, it was the women in ministry. The warmth of a mother, combined with a gentle yet strong charisma in their pastoral leadership, was something I had rarely seen in the church tradition I came from. It was a shock, and at the same time it stirred a deep sense of reverence in me.
Second, it was the character of the denomination itself. The URC, born out of the union of different traditions, continues even today to wrestle with what true reformation means under Christ. This spirit of honest self examination and prayerful seeking reminded me that the church is alive, and it urged me to pray more deeply for our identity and our future.
Third, it was the service of ordinary members. I met people who, though small in number and sometimes frail in body, serve faithfully in their place. I remember elderly women leaning on their sticks, quietly praying for the church with steady faith. Their hidden devotion challenged me profoundly.
Today I want us to reflect on those who were never at the centre of power, yet who faithfully walked the way of the Lord – the Waldensians, and especially the women among them. The Waldensian Church has preached the gospel since 1174. Even before the Reformation they were called pre-reformers. They longed for nothing but Scripture and the will of God. Remarkably, they even appointed women as preachers and evangelists. Though in later centuries the structures of church and society silenced their voices, their passion for the gospel never went out. Even in persecution, they shared the Word in secret, memorised Scripture, and risked everything for God.
The apostle Paul writes: “Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9) God did not forget their tears.
In 1689, after years of exile, 900 Waldensian believers crossed the Alps and returned home in what has been remembered as their Glorious Return. It was surely like the confession of Psalm 126: “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” (Psalm 126:1)
Dear friends, let me ask you this: Who are you in your homes, in your workplaces, and in the Church? Do you sometimes see yourself as too small, too weak, or too insignificant? Do you hesitate to serve because you fear ridicule, or because you fear failure? Remember this: God has placed you where you are. Small is enough. Weak is enough. Few is enough. This faith is not only for individuals, but also for our churches and for our denomination.
The URC, too, faces many challenges today, and yet, like a small but unquenchable flame, it seeks to hold fast to its reforming identity and to live out the kingdom of God in our time. The small offerings we bring – whether as individuals, as congregations, or as a denomination – can become a great light in the hands of God.
Let us pray.
Jesus says: “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden.” Like the Waldensians, scattered and despised, like the women who kept faith alive in hidden places, Lord, we believe that you will surely use even our smallest offerings today to build your kingdom and bring restoration. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
We sing Psalm 126 to the American folk tune Wayfaring Stranger.
Hymn When God First Brought us Back from Exile
Carl P Daw Jr after Psalm 126 © Hope Publishing Co OneLicence No # A-734713
sung by the St. Cecilia Choir of Trinity Lutheran Church, Reading, Pennsylvania, USA
When God first brought us back from exile,
we were as dazed as those who dream.
Then were our mouths brimming with laughter;
joy from our lips gushed like a stream.
The godless cried in envious wonder,
“Look what the Lord has done for them!”
Indeed our God has greatly blessed us;
rejoice and sing, Jerusalem!
2 Once more, O Lord, restore your people;
come with your saving help again,
as to the brook beds in the desert
you bring the sweet, reviving rain.
Let those who sow with tears and sighing
sing as they reap and joy proclaim;
may those who weep when seed is scattered
gather their sheaves and praise your Name.
Freedom
Introduction
In 1848 the King of Sardinia, in whose territory the Waldensians now were, legislated for freedom of assembly and a parliamentary monarchy. Civil rights were given to both Jews and Waldensians. As a result, various Protestant missions started to evangelise in Italy – notably Methodists and Baptists. At the same time Italian migration away from Italy led to Waldensian communities forming overseas and, a little later, Italian unification led to missionary cooperation between the Waldensians and other groups, most notably the Methodists. After a reading, where we hear of freedom granted to Paul and Silas, Eilidh Young, a final year student at the Scottish College reflects on freedom.
Reading Acts 16: 23-34
After they had given them a severe flogging, they threw them into prison and ordered the jailer to keep them securely. Following these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, ‘Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.’ The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ They answered, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.
Reflection Eilidh Young
Through Mel Gibson, William Wallace famously said that our enemies may ‘take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom’. But what is freedom for us as Christians? Throughout history Christians have been persecuted in one way or another for what we believe.
It’s not just about freedom for the physical body, but also about intellectual freedom (to decide what and how to believe) and a spiritual freedom that offers an inner release from constraints like ego, fear, sin and guilt. We seek freedom to be able to believe in the Jesus we recognise and not being dictated to by others about what we should and should not believe – yes there is a place for Christian teaching, but ultimately what we believe comes down to what we, as individuals, understand about Jesus and what he did for us.
In our reading, Paul and Silas were in prison – they had been beaten and their bodies physically restrained, but they were spiritually free through their belief in and their relationship with Jesus – how else could they be praying and singing hymns to God? Even after the earthquake offered their physical freedom, they did not leave because Paul saw an opportunity to share the gospel with their jailer!
I’m sure Paul shared that true spiritual freedom comes from knowing Jesus and obeying His Word. In John chapter 8, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free….. If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Freedom from sin and shame is only found in Jesus.
And the jailer responded, seeing a greater freedom than he currently enjoyed. Under Roman law, if his prisoners escaped, the jailer would have had to face their sentence, so any opportunity for ‘freedom’ would have been appealing at that stage. Yet, I’m sure his response was not just face value as he would have seen the persecution of Christians and know that joining them would not necessarily keep him safe.
Paul would have been clear that our freedom can only come through Jesus, as the Saviour of the world: and that he came to free the world from sin, and to offer us access to a place where there are no restrictions. A place where we can meet with God in all his or her forms and know that we are chosen and forgiven. That spiritual freedom through Jesus restores our relationship with God, because it breaks the power of sin, and provides an opportunity for lasting peace and purpose.
It is likely that Paul went on to explain that our freedom gives us the opportunity to demonstrate God’s love to others through acts of service. This allows us to show how Jesus has changed us. He said:
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
We can reflect our freedom by our service to others. That is why the Bible so often reminds us to care for the less fortunate because in doing so, we honour God by reflecting God’s love, grace, and kindness to them. However much God loves you and me, that love is the same for those who find themselves struggling, in need, in despair – they really need to now that God’s love is there for them and our ‘freedom’ demands that we share it! Not because we want a pat on the back from Jesus for doing so, but because we want to share with others, the freedom that God has given us.
We are able to love freely because we have received the unconditional love of God – a love that changes us – gives us a security to allow ourselves the freedom to love selflessly – just like Jesus.
From what we have learned about the Waldensians, it seems that while they faced significant physical restrictions throughout their existence, they retained a spiritual and intellectual freedom that their enemies did not recognise, or could not quench. They had a thirst for education that allowed them to read the Scriptures and to debate and understand what they taught, with the freedom within their own community to freedom to make up their own minds about their beliefs and not to ever submit to a human authority. They made a choice to accept the physical privations and restrictions because their understanding and belief in God was their driving force. And they were driven to share God’s love for others clearly addressing Christ’s command to love their neighbour – sharing the gospel and the love of Christ when opportunity came their way.
Holy One, we pray that you will help us to understand more clearly
the freedom that you have given us through Jesus’ sacrifice.
That we will be able to accept what that freedom really means
and learn to live in service to you and all those around us.
Give us the confidence to accept that freedom
and to step out in Jesus’ name to share the gospel
with all who need to hear it
and to live our lives in a way that shows others we are different –
less burdened by this world, with a compassion for others
and a sureness in what we know about you and your love for this world.
We bring this request to you through your Son, Jesus Christ,
who died so we might know you more fully. Amen
We sing some of Isaac Watts’ paraphrase of Psalm 146 to a contemporary tune.
Hymn I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath
Isaac Watts, later altered by John Wesley, after Psalm 146 Public Domain
Sung by the Church of the Resurrection Worship Collective, Church of the Resurrection United Methodist Church, Kansas City, Missouri
I’ll praise my maker
while I have breath,
and when my voice is gone
I’ll praise in death,
praise shall employ my,
my nobler powers;
my praise will raise above
this darkened hour.
2 The Lord gives eyesight
to heal the blind;
The Lord supports
my fading mind;
God helps the stranger
who’s in distress,
and grants this prisoner
my sweet release.
3 I’ll praise my maker while I have breath,
and when my voice is gone I’ll praise in death,
praise shall employ my, my nobler powers;
my praise will raise above this darkened hour.
The Contemporary Waldensian Church
Introduction
The contemporary Waldensian church has much to teach us; it strives for good relations with the Catholic Church despite nearly a millennia of persecution, it rejoices in a secular republic seeing the darker side of religiously founded states, it has a gritty determination for dialogue at its encounter centre Agape up in the mountains which is a place where, over decades, differing groups have come to debate and discern a whole range of social issues. They were an early adopter of women’s ordination back in the late 1960s and have formed a federal union with the Methodists. They were early accepters of same sex unions and undertake radical social services using the money from the Church tax to do many wonderful things – in particular using their own experience of persecution and being strangers in strange lands to help migrants. Each of their churches reserves a seat, dressed with red women’s clothing, to give a visible reminder of the women who are beaten and killed by male violence. This is a tiny church with a big punch. Our final reflection comes from first year student Ann Sinclair, but first a reading from Matthew’s Gospel.
Reading St Matthew 13: 24-30; 36-43
Jesus put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn…Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
Reflection Ann Sinclair
Throughout world history there have always been hostile power struggles. Ancient stories tell of mighty armies crossing seas and continents to seize lands and capture people and are chronicled through cave paintings, parchments and tablets while in later centuries works of art offer us dramatic visual facsimiles of such power struggles.
The Old Testament gives us glimpses of the power struggles the Israelites faced and at times instigated. From escaping years of slavery in Egypt and the pursuing Egyptians to the captivity of the people of Israel and Judah by the Assyrians (2 Kings 15 & 17) and later the Babylonians and the peoples forced displacement. Only a remnant of the people of the Kingdom of Israel were allowed to return to their homelands. (2 Chronicles 32-36). ‘When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem it was like a dream!’ (Psalm 126)
Hostile power struggles continued. Alexander the Great led the Greek armies in an invasion of the Middle East followed by the mighty Roman Empire with the Israelites again oppressed and dominated.
However, light can be exposed in the dark times of the wider history of the world. For the Israelites and despite their often turning away from the Lord, the Lord guided and protected them with patience and grace. For example, the Lord provided direction to guide them and manna to feed them on their journey to the Promised Land.
However, power struggles and evil don’t just relate to nations and armies but also the lives of individuals. In the Battle of Socoh against their formidable enemy the Philistines, the shepherd boy David stepped up to represent the Israelites in their fight and faced the giant Goliath. David carried only his sling and five stones. David faced Goliath saying: ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel whom you have defied.’ (1 Samuel 17: 45) and David killed Goliath. The individual and seemingly almost insignificant against the powerful perhaps raises the argument that it does not always need to be the size of power to succeed in conquering evil.
Hostile power struggles continue across the world today. There have always been binary oppositions in life, evil has always and does intertwine with good, the two are interwoven both communally and individually in every facet of life. Faith and belief in God doesn’t always come up with prompt and easy answers. God has and does understand the pain and he suffering through the evil of the world. The people then and now long for God to act but it is in God’s time.
As separating the tares from the wheat takes patience. God is patient and acted in giving His Son Jesus Christ…the light of the world. Followers are called to be patient, to persevere for a slow growth in the spiritual battle through faith and learning.
This is the story of the Waldensians that continues in the contemporary Waldensian Church. Their story, just as the parable of the wheat and the tares illustrates, their patience and perseverance throughout their history and actions. The Waldensian Church is a small church however it stands among and collaborates other denominations, in particular with the Methodist and the Evangelical Baptist Christian Union along with wider global institutions…separate churches that work together yet retain their individuality.
On the recent visit to Torre Pellice in Northern Italy there were signs in the Waldensian churches of the peoples’ actions bringing highly emotive symbols of hostile power struggles to the forefront of their worship. In the churches a red jacket, red hat and red shoes were placed on a pew to remind the congregation of the evil inflicted on women abuse and murder and called for prayers and support; in another church the lists of names of those killed in the Gaza Strip in the latest war between Israel and the Hamas Brigades hung around the walls…a shocking sight but one that brought the reality home of the destruction that has been inflicted. The Waldensians’ actions stretch out to all those suffering – welcoming and supporting all refugees; commitment to social care and welfare through children’s centres and for those with disabilities; homes for the elderly and the simple fellowship across language barriers with those we met. It has been said that for a small church the Waldensians pack a punch beyond their weight and they do through their experiences of immense suffering and in faith have put themselves first and foremost at the service of God in the hope of a different world.
Loving God, we come humbly into Your presence
knowing You are always with us
no matter what we are going through in joy or sorrow;
open our ears to Your words;
our minds to understanding and patience to follow You
with perseverance on our journey with You.
Loving God, fill us with Your grace and peace.
We offer these prayers in the name of Your Son,
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
Our final hymn comes from a slightly earlier tradition than ours, and is Luther’s A Mighty Fortress is Our God. A hymn that, in these more ecumenical times, appears in Catholic hymnbooks and has been sung by Protestants for centuries to give strength to weary spirits.
Hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Martin Luther reflecting on Psalm 46 Public Domain
sung by the group All About Worship Guitar and used with their kind permission.
A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper He, amid the flood
of mortal ills prevailing:
for still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and pow’r are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.
2 Did we in
our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right Man on our side,
the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name,
from age to age the same,
and He must win the battle.
3 And though this world,
with devils filled,
should threaten to undo us,
we will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us;
the prince of darkness grim,
we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
for lo, his doom is sure,
one little word shall fell him.
4 That word above
all earthly pow’rs,
no thanks to them abideth;
the Spirit and the gifts
are ours through Him
who with us sideth;
Let goods and kindred go,
this mortal life also;
the body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His Kingdom is forever.
Offertory
We have heard today of the faith and suffering of our fellow Christians in the Waldensian church who, time and again, had to decide between their faith or their homes, land, and goods. Thankfully we don’t have to make such choices today but know of many who do. The faith that sustained the Waldensians, and sustains our fellow believers and ourselves, is a faith founded on giving – God’s emptying of Himself, Jesus’ giving of Himself over to torture and death, and the Spirit’s continued giving of gifts to the Church. Such Godly giving elicits in us a response of praise and gratitude. We give in so many ways, of our time, our talents and also of our treasure. And so we give thanks for all that is given our churches, and the difference such giving makes. Let us pray.
God of every good gift,
we thank You for Your self-emptying love
which sustained our forebears in faith and sustains us now.
Bless all the gifts given in our churches,
may they be used to alleviate suffering, sustain ministry
and welcome your coming Kingdom. Amen.
Intercessions
We bring our prayers to God, who knows our needs, inspires us to act, and loves us fiercely.
O Most High, we pray for the Church throughout the world.
We ask for strength in places of persecution,
wisdom in places of indifference,
and the humility to see where we need reform
and where our witness is hindered by wealth, selfishness and scandal.
Give us grace where we work for union,
Where we understand that, together,
you show how creative difference can be.
pause
Living Lord Jesus, we lift our world before You,
the world for which You lived and died.
We remember women abused and beaten by men;
we remember places of war, persecution, and migration;
we remember those not granted rights nor dignity,
and we ask for Your grace to change;
change for ourselves and our world.
We ask for Your strength to persevere,
and to hold fast to our faith,
which sustains and encourages us,
as it has sustained and encouraged our forebears.
pause
Most Holy Spirit, You guide the Church
often in spite of our efforts to go our own way!
Help us to learn from how You lead our sisters and brothers
in other traditions and other lands.
Continue, we pray to bless our siblings
in the Waldensian Evangelical Church
as they continue to discern their mission in an increasingly secular age;
help us to learn from their radical commitment to social service,
to being a prophetic sign in difficult times,
to living a dynamic unity, and to bearing witness to a faith
that has sustained them through a millennia of persecution.
Help us to see our mission, our church, through your eyes,
that we may hear, understand and obey.
pause
Eternal Trinity of love,
We pray for those we love and worry about…
pause
And we pray for those we struggle to love….
pause
Accept all our prayers, spoken and unspoken,
remind us that we are united with You,
with the Church throughout the world,
with believers down the ages,
and with those still to come. Amen.
Our final hymn is a contemporary rendering of Psalm 150.
Hymn Sing Praise to the Lord You People of Grace (after Psalm 150)
Martin E Leckebusch © 2006, Kevin Mayhew OneLicence No # A-734713
Sung by the Resurrection Lutheran Church, Maumee, OH, choir
Sing praise to the Lord,
you people of grace;
fill heaven with the songs
that sound from this place;
since you are God’s servants
and meet in his name,
his wonders declare
and his glory proclaim.
Halle! Hallelujah!
Halle! Halle! Hallelujah!
Halle! Hallelujah!
Halle! Halle! Hallelujah!
2 His greatness exceeds
what words can explain,
and his is the power
no force can restrain;
with fanfares of horns
and crescendos of strings
raise anthems to honour
the King of all kings.
3 Where music is made,
let rhythms abound:
let cymbals and drums
add weight to the sound;
with dance that is graceful
and words that are clear,
bring joy to the God
you adore and revere.
4 Yield all that you are to worship the Lord
see life as a psalm, each moment a chord;
let harmonies flourish and melodies soar
let all that has breath praise the Lord evermore.
Blessing
The God of peace equip you with every good thing to do the divine will,
working in you that which is pleasing in God’s sight, through Jesus Christ;
to God be glory forever and ever. Amen.