17/10/21
News from the Benwell & Scotswood Team
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Dieric Bouts, The Meeting of Abraham and Melchizedek, 1464-67
St Peter's Church, Leuven
Dates for your diary
Sunday 24th Oct
4 churches 4 services:
St James 9.30am
St Margaret's 9.30am
Venerable Bede 10.30am
St John's 11am
Sunday 31st Oct
10.30am, All Saints Sunday (Experimental Service)
Venerable Bede, NE4 8AP
Tuesday 2nd Nov
All Souls' - day of prayer at St James
Sunday 21st Nov
10.30am, Confirmation service
Venerable Bede, NE4 8AP
News
Services in all 4 churches next Sunday -24th Oct
We now have services in all four churches once a month! Support your local church and join us next Sunday.
(The Venerable Bede service will still be at 10.30am in case anyone gets confused!)
St James 9.30am
St Margaret's 9.30am
Venerable Bede 10.30am
St John's 11am
All Saints' Sunday - team service 10.30am, 31st Oct
Venerable Bede
On Sunday 31st Oct we will celebrate All Saints day and the stories of all those who have gone before us.
We will make this service especially welcoming to anyone of any age or background and there will be songs, and activities. So why not invite someone who might be interested?
All Souls' Day - remembering those we have lost
St James, Tues 2nd Nov, 12-4pm
All Souls' day is when we remember and pray for those who have died. This year St James' will be open during the day for you to come and pray for those people and light a candle for them.
You will be able to add names to the remembrance list, at the end of the day we will hold a service to read their names aloud and especially pray for all those who we have lost during the pandemic. The clergy will also be available if you want to talk to someone.
Confirmations
Sunday 21st Nov, 10.30am, Venerable Bede
Confirmation is the next big step in faith, it's the chance to say ‘Yes’ to the promises we made at baptism, and declare our faith in Christ publicly.
To find out more about confirmation have a look here >
Bishop Mark Bryant, former Bishop of Jarrow, will be joining us for the service of baptism and confirmation.
If you would like to be confirmed (or baptised!) then come join our group over the coming weeks for confirmation preparation, either on Sunday after the service, or Tuesday at St James at 4.30pm.
Covid-19 update
No doubt you will have heard that covid restrictions are being relaxed. As case rates are still high in our area you won't see too much change just yet! But we do have plans to reintroduce activities.
Most importantly - please get your vaccine if you haven't yet! And stay at home if you develop covid symptoms. Find vaccine times and locations here >
Cornerstone Community Cafe open!
Wednesdays & Thursdays 10am - 2pm
62 Armstrong Road, NE4 7TU
Delicious affordable meals
Outdoor Seating
Dog Friendly
Kids Corner
Computer and Internet Access
Computer help
Food pantry and emergency foodbank
and a great pre-loved shop!
Worship Texts
Collect prayer
God our Father,
whose Son, the light unfailing,
has come from heaven to deliver the world
from the darkness of ignorance:
let these holy mysteries open the eyes of our understanding
that we may know the way of life,
and walk in it without stumbling;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Reading
Hebrews 5.1–10 Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not presume to take this honour, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was. So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’; as he says also in another place, ‘You are a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchizedek.’ In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.
Gospel
Mark 10.35–45 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ And he said to them, ‘What is it you want me to do for you?’ And they said to him, ‘Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?’ They replied, ‘We are able.’ Then Jesus said to them, ‘The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.’ When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. So Jesus called them and said to them, ‘You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.’
Sermon
The Revd Anne Marr.
We have just heard two readings:
The reading from Hebrews introduces a mysterious character called ‘Melchizedek’.
The story from Mark’s gospel tells of two disciples seeking favours from Jesus, which causes a row amongst the rest of them. Jesus intervenes!
What is the connection between these two readings? What unites them can be summarised in one key word: LOVE. Let’s explore the idea… both what it meant to the people of Jesus day and also how it affects us in our time.
Melchizedek is an unusual Hebrew name – only found twice in the Old Testament. In Genesis chapter 14, there is a long story about how Abraham rescues his nephew from captivity. Then out of nowhere, in verse 18, comes the mysterious Melchizedek described as ‘Priest of God Most High and King of Salem’. He brings bread and wine and blesses Abraham. ‘Melchizedek’ then disappears into history. Nothing at all is known about him – just a name and his appearance to Abraham. Melchizedek is the mysterious one from God who blesses Abraham - the great Father of the nation. It is a significant action.
His name has a special meaning in Hebrew: ‘My king is Righteousness’ (Melchi means ‘my king’ and Sedek means ‘Righteousness’).
Melchizedek is ‘Priest of God Most High and King of Salem’. He is both one with God and one with the people. Salem (the early name for Jerusalem) means peace.
In Hebrew culture, a priest is chosen by God and elected by people to bridge the gap between them - to offer sacrifices to God to atone for the sins which have broken the link of LOVE.
Since those earliest days, the Jewish nation looked towards the promised one from God – a new High Priest, or Messiah, to save them by offering a perfect sacrifice, and so restore the link of LOVE between God and people for all time. In Psalm 110 David refers to this promised one of God – of whom God says: ‘You are a priest for ever, in the order of Melchizedek.’
The only book in the NT which features Melchizedek is Hebrews. The writer refers to Melchizedek 10 times in total as he explains the identity of Jesus as being One with the people and One with God.
As we journey through October and November, we will listen to different passages from Hebrews – to help us focus our attention on what Jesus’ life and ministry was all about. To the writer of Hebrews there is one essential thing for everyone to know: – Jesus is the missing link between heaven and earth.
To the Greeks, who saw this world as a shadowy and imperfect copy of an unseen perfect world, Hebrews says: ‘All your lives you have been striving to get from the shadows to the truth. That is just what Jesus Christ can enable you to do.’
To the Jews, who longed to renew their bond with God, Hebrews says:
‘You are looking for that perfect sacrifice which will re-open the way to God, which your sins have closed; you will find it in Jesus Christ. He is the one designated by God - a high priest like Melchizedek’.
Hebrews tells us that Jesus is God’s chosen one – the beloved son – who has renewed our link with God – the source of all LOVE and life: the link which makes perfect that which was imperfect and which repairs the damage done by our sinful wanderings.
Only Love could bridge the gap – love out-poured on the cross. Like the mysterious Melchizedek, Jesus represents us to God and also represents God to us. Jesus is God’s chosen ‘go-between’ and has renewed the link – for all time…by giving his life. He, Jesus, is the ‘perfect sacrifice’.
The unfolded flag is a visual expression of the message.
So how does the message of Hebrews relate to the gospel story of James and John, who asked Jesus ‘Can we sit next to you in heaven?’
The brothers saw an opportunity – they imagined themselves bathed in the glory of God through their friendship with Jesus. Despite all Jesus’ efforts to prepare them for the coming events of the cross, they were more star-struck by the ultimate glory of victory than by the cost of the journey to get there.
Their behaviour caused a big row amongst the twelve, - Jesus had to intervene and spell out the stark message – that suffering and service is the only way to restore the link with God.
Closeness to Jesus doesn’t offer us a short-cut to joy – rather it invites us on a challenging journey through unfamiliar terrain; Jesus says:
‘Can you drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the pain that I will undergo?’ (The word ‘baptized’ here, means being submerged / overwhelmed / drowned.)
Yet again Jesus tries to help them understand the upside-down nature of the power of God – that only by surrendering power can true freedom and glory be found. He says: ‘Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.’ Love was the one way back… ‘the son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.’
God’s way is to turn power and authority upside down – love conquers sin, it overcomes fear and draws us into God’s presence in a way in which nothing else can. And pain is the price we pay for love.
We know this, whenever we lose someone precious to us, or if we have to leave our homeland, or suffer severe injury, or loss of things we value. Some here have experienced such losses in your attempts to flee oppression and find safety in a new land. Some have felt the pain of illness, or the pain of caring for someone you love; some suffer the pain of false accusation, or being ridiculed, or ignored. And as Covid restrictions lift, we all find ourselves in a different strange land. Each of us has some experience of pain – but hopefully also the joy of giving and receiving kindness, service and love.
Life’s journey is hard and painful – we may find ourselves in a foreign land – out of our comfort zone. Whichever ‘strange land’ we may be experiencing, we can be assured that Jesus understands. He has travelled there before us, he has prepared the way through it, and we have the company and support of the Holy Spirit to sustain us.
The one thing which distinguishes Christian belief from all the other world religions is the cross – here is the means through which God in Christ expends his eternal love for us all.
The cross is the painful outpouring of the love of God. The cross is for us the symbol of Love. Through the cross God connects with us – the unbreakable cord between heaven and earth – the silken thread of love which makes sense of our sufferings and brings us to new life.
Intercessions
Prayers for others:
Moira Taylor
Mehri Karami
Edith Hutchinson
Regine Hemminger
Grace Thomson
Peter Wilson
Liz Holliman
Joan Finley
James, Christina, Anastasia, and Xavier
Ali Zareie and his family
The Riches Family
Jill Sorley
Joyce Phillips
George Snowden
Claire Mozaffari
Herbert Agbeko
Edward Fraser
All those who are struggling at home or in hospital with Covid-19
Rest In Peace:
John MacIntyre
All who lost their lives from Covid 19
Baptisms:
Vienna Leigh Dale
Philippa Todd
Other intentions:
COP26 and the protection and restoration of our planet
Post Communion prayer
God our Father,
whose Son, the light unfailing,
has come from heaven to deliver the world
from the darkness of ignorance:
let these holy mysteries open the eyes of our understanding
that we may know the way of life,
and walk in it without stumbling;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.