(All our songs this morning are from Singing the Faith (StF) numbers will be given where available)
Welcome to our Sunday Service, today shared on paper across our circuit and with the congregation at Wilsden Trinity Church a Local Ecumenical Partnership where Methodist and URC worship & witness together and led by Brian Gamble one of our Circuit Local Preachers.
Click on the blue links to follow them for bible readings and associated links
Song – StF 36 – There’s a quiet understanding
We praise you, O God, because you are the creator, the source of everything that is. When we look around us and see your wonderful creation we are sometimes overwhelmed by the complexity and immensity if it all. As scientists make new discoveries about the universe our sense of your greatness increases accordingly.
We thank you for all that you have provided for us, for our comfort, our convenience, our freedom to live and worship as we please. But most of all we thank you for our salvation through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and the Holy Spirit who lives within us, inspiring and guiding us as we try to live by your example.
Forgive us, Lord, when we don’t listen to your guidance but try to go back to the way things were; when we fail to see new opportunities when they arise; when we hold on to familiar ways because we have always done it like that; when we hold the gospel message to ourselves instead of sharing it with others.
Lord, may we truly listen to your inspiration so that your will may be done on earth and in heaven.
Amen
Gospel Reading
In this gospel reading we heard about Jesus going into the land of Gerasa where he performed a healing miracle. Healing is what we expect from Jesus, his ministry was filled with healing miracles. Today I want us to focus on the fact that Jesus had left Galilee and gone into an area of ten towns, known as the Decapolis, where the residents had adopted the Greek culture, and, like the Greeks, they worshipped many gods such as Zeus and Apollo, rather than the one true God.
Jesus had gone to a place of different beliefs and culture. This is surely confirmation that he believed all people, not just the Jews, but all people were worthy to receive the word of God and his healing presence.
Song – StF 416 – There’s a wideness in God’s mercy
Epistle Reading
Paul reminds us here that all people are equal, made in God’s image and all worthy of equal recognition
In Bradford we have a wonderful mixture of cultures. All people who came here to improve their way of life. In the 1950’s, after the war, many came from eastern Europe. Later, from the 60’s on, people came from South Asia, mainly Pakistan. They came for different reasons, but it was usually to escape from tyranny or poverty in their country of birth. When they came, they were made welcome because our industry was in need of labour, and they were regarded as hard-working people.
There have been times when the presence of these newcomers has not been popular. Most of us will remember the riots of 1995 and 2001. Over the last twenty five years, however, peaceful acceptance has been restored and those who were born here play an important part in our city.
Many people are wanting desperately to come to this country and taking huge risks to get here but usually they are not seen as welcome newcomers nowadays.
Today is designated as Sanctuary Sunday.
Historically sanctuary means the space around the altar. Literally the word means a sacred place. Sometimes the area where we worship is known as the sanctuary.
The idea that persecuted persons should be given a place of refuge is ancient, motivated by the inbuilt trait of human kindness. It’s a universal idea which appears in many religious traditions. “Cities of refuge” are described in the Book of Numbers and also in Deuteronomy. Gradually the concept of sanctuary developed into a recognised place. A place of safety, a place of refuge, a place of relaxation.
Do you know the song ‘Somewhere’, from West Side Story, better known as ‘There’s a place for us’. Can you remember what Maria and Tony were longing for? They wanted peace and quiet and open air.
Time together, time to learn, time to care. A way of forgiving, a new way of living.
This is what millions of people are still searching for today and will be searching for tomorrow.
A place. A place for those who are displaced. All over the world there are thousands, probably millions, no one knows the real number, of people who have been displaced from their homes. Sometimes because of wars but others by more subtle means, by persecution or poverty. These are the things which don’t make the headlines but nevertheless are just as real.
People are searching for a place. A place for those who are unplaced. The also ran’s, who haven’t won a prize, who have been forgotten in the celebrations of those who are successful. Because of circumstances beyond their control, their upbringing, their lack of education, lack of employment they feel that there is no place for them in our society.
A while ago HSBC had an advert which showed a young person going round in circles. The commentary was, “No home – no address, no address – no bank account, no bank account – no job, no job – no home, no home – no address”. A circle with no way out, and a vicious circle which is becoming more common in our wealthy country as prices rise exponentially.
People need a place where they are recognised for the people they are, where they won’t be made to feel inferior, where they can feel safe.
People are searching for a place. A place which has been misplaced or lost. The illness of Dementia is close to my heart. People who suffer from this cruel illness find that they have misplaced their lives. They can’t remember so many things that they become lost. There is now a concerted effort to create Dementia friendly communities where the effects of Dementia are recognised and understood. A place where sufferers will be safe.
The displaced, the unplaced, the misplaced. All these very different people are searching for a place of sanctuary.
We sometimes forget that, in his early life, Jesus was a refugee. His family fled to Egypt from the persecution of Herod, and they spent a few years there until it was safe to return to their homeland. Another aspect of life which Jesus experienced himself.
Sixteen years ago, Bradford was one of the first places in the UK to become recognised as a City of Sanctuary. Last year we were recognised as the UK City of Culture. The slogan chosen for that was ‘Our time, our place’.
If we are honest we find it difficult to make space in our sanctuary for people who don’t fit into our lifestyle, who we find unsavoury. Those who use obscene language, or are dirty and smelly, or use drugs, or have special needs or simply whose lifestyle is different to ours. It takes a conscious effort to welcome these people, to recognise that they are God’s children too.
At the Last Supper there was a place for all, a place for disciples who believed, as well as for Thomas who doubted. There was a place for Peter, the ‘rock’ who would crumble when challenged and for Judas who valued you at thirty pieces of silver. There was enough room for them all.
So Displaced, Misplaced, Unplaced let’s be genuine in our desire to support a sanctuary, a place for all God’s people.
Song – StF 409 – Let us build a house where love can dwell
Spend some time in prayer. Thinking of everyone who may be in need of sanctuary in one way or another.
Song – StF 693 – Beauty for brokenness
May God’s word feed us and his Spirit lead us into the week and the life to come.
