The Choir are heading off!
This year our choir members are singing in the wonderful York Minster. It’s an impressive location, steeped in history and a huge space, boasting fabulous acoustics – sing up, Choir, you can do it!
We’re enormously proud to have our Choir join the European Cathedral Singers which is led by our very own Director of Music, Martin van Bleek. They will be the resident Choir for the first week of August starting on Monday 31st July. And there’s maybe a teeny bit of pressure as this is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the North of England.
The choir were last there in 2017 and, once again, they will sing traditional Choral Evensongs each day at 5.30pm and on the final Sunday 6th August there are three service – a Matins, a Eucharist and a Choral Evensong.
“We lament with the people of Ukraine, and we pray for the innocent, the frightened and those who have lost loved ones, homes, and family.”
“We pray for those in Ukraine who suffer grievously, for all who take decisions around the world, and for the people and leaders of Russia too.”
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have asked for this Sunday 27th February to be a day of prayer for peace.
On Tuesday 1st March we can pray with the Diocese in Europe for the chaplaincy in Kyiv and the churches that serve Ukraine.
Join by visiting Diocese in Europe Youtube channel
On Ash Wednesday 2 March you can participate with the wider church in Pope Francis’s call for a day of prayer and fasting for peace.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid.
John 14.27
Invitation for Prayers Across Europe for Peace in Ukraine
The first Sunday in Advent was a beautiful service and we felt blessed to see the first candle lit.
We were lucky enough to enjoy our Advent Tea afterwards – albeit with strict distance rules and wearing of face masks. But the atmosphere was jolly, the spirits high and the food delicious – and many went home with a prize in the raffle! A lovely get together enjoyed by all. 
“Gloria in excelsis Deo” (Latin), “Glory to God in the highest” (English), the Angelic Hymn or simply the Gloria, different names but the same song. The Gloria is the third of the songs from the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel, although I have placed the Gloria at the end of our Advent reflections, as close to Christmas as possible. I know for the many the Gloria is not said or sung during Advent (or Lent). Advent is a penitentiary season and one of preparation for Christmas and the gift of Jesus. So here we are in Advent and I’m focusing on these words from Luke:
At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God’s praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him. (Luke 2:13-14, The Message)
I do so as a final preparation and in anticipation of our Christmas celebrations.
This song from Luke’s Gospel is different for other songs, it is sung by angels not humans. Mary sings the first; Zechariah the second; and finally Simeon sings the final song. Also the Gloria is sung to a group of shepherds in the fields outside of Bethlehem – shepherds were not seen as the most respectable of people. We recall, that Mary sings her song to Elizabeth; Zechariah sings his to Elizabeth and the crowd gathered for John’s naming; and Simeon sings when Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple.
The Gloria has been sung to many settings from Vivaldi, Handle and Saint-Saens through to the British composers William Walton, John Rutter and Karl Jenkins. There are literally hundreds of setting to the Gloria.
Below are the opening words of a French Carol, the composer unknown translated from French to English is by Bishop James Chadwick (1813-1882)
Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains. Refrain
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
This is a great song of celebration, Gloria, in excelsis Deo! A worthy end to this period of Advent preparation. It is surely a song of joy, of peace that is worthy to be shared so that many may join in the unending hymn, “Glory to God in the highest!” Amen, Amen.
The Fourth Week of Advent 2021
Collects for the fourth week of Advent
Eternal God, as Mary waited for the birth of your Son,
so we wait for his coming in glory; bring us through the birth pangs of this present age
to see, with her, our great salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord.
God our redeemer, who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son: grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour, so we may be ready to greet him when he comes again as our judge; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Words from the Psalms
Psalm 123 (1)
To you I lift up my eyes, • to you that are enthroned in the heavens.
Psalm 131 (1-3)
O Lord, my heart is not proud; • my eyes are not raised in haughty looks.
I do not occupy myself with great matters, • with things that are too high for me.
But I have quieted and stilled my soul, like a weaned child on its mother’s breast; •
so my soul is quieted within me.
Pause
Words from the prophet Isaiah Chapter 32
See, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice.
Each will be like a hiding-place from the wind, a covert from the tempest,
like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land.
Then the eyes of those who have sight will not be closed, and the ears of those who have hearing will listen.
The minds of the rash will have good judgement, and the tongues of stammerers will speak readily and distinctly.
A fool will no longer be called noble, nor a villain be said to be honourable. (32.1-5)
Pause
As the season of Advent comes to an end, the season where we have lifted up our hearts in praise and anticipation. Let us pause before our prayers of intercessions and hold the words of our readings, perhaps slowly reading them again.
We pray firstly for those closest to us, our immediate family and closest friends – for their health, needs, joys and fears.
(Silent prayer)
God of creation, God of Salvation Hear the prayers of our hearts
We pray for our extended family and friends who we might not see each week –
for their love and concern, for their wellbeing.
(Silent prayer)
God of creation, God of Salvation Hear the prayers of our hearts
We pray for those who we only have contact with infrequently –
for a blessing this Advent-time
(Silent prayer)
God of creation, God of Salvation Hear the prayers of our hearts
We pray for this world and its people – for the needs of this week and the future.
(Silent prayer)
God of creation, God of Salvation
Who speaks to us through thunder and whisper, who loves us as if there were but one of us to love Hear the prayers of our hearts
(Adapted from Prayers for Advent 1 John Birch)
Lord, as Christmas draws ever closer free us from being self-absorbed and self-centred. Instead fill us with eagerness and generosity of heart. Like Mary, may we too go out in loving service of others and with the angels have our hearts filled with joy as we go out into the world.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our thanks to Barry and Ann Sugden for the musical accompaniment. Many of use will remember with gratitude their musical input to our weekly worship during the Lockdowns and beyond. Thank you for your contribution to this time of reflection.
Gloria sung to Cwm Rhondda
Please follow the link below for the music
Glory be to God in heaven
songs of joy and peace we bring.
Thankful hearts and voices raising,
to creations Lord we sing.
Lord we thank you, Lord we bless you.
Glory be to God our King!
Glory be to Christ our King!
Lamb of God, who on your shoulders
Bore the load of this worlds sin.
Only Son of God the Father,
You have brought us peace within.
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Now your glorious reign begins,
Now your glorious reign begins!
You, O Son of God, are holy,
You we praise with one accord,
none in heaven or earth is like you,
only you are Christ the Lord,
With the Father and the Spirit,
ever worshipped and adored,
ever worshipped and adored.
A Loving Benediction
Be people of love.
Let love live in your heart and share the love of Christ with all you meet.
Share love by loving those you see regularly. Start by loving your community.
Share love by loving those you do not know. How do your actions affect the rest of God’s creation?
Share love by praying for our world.
In this Advent season, we need to see, feel, and share love.
As you go out into the wonder of God’s creations, share love, joy, peace, and hope with those you meet. Amen. (Liturgylink.net)
You may wish the finish this time of reflective prayer sitting silently and enjoying a peaceful moment or two. You may also think about listening to some music that has touched you or a favourite hymn or song. Enjoy these moments! God bless!
Derek Akker
(Derek is a retired Anglican Parish Priest and a member of the congregations of All Saints & St James)
Collects – © Common Worship, The Archbishops Council, 2000
Parish of Kirklees Valley, Bury, (All Saints, Elton & St James, Woolfold)
In the Diocese of Manchester
CCLI Licence Number 1243418 Church Copyright and Streaming Licence
Image: Advent wreaths in Austria-
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 – Wkimedia Commons
Advent marks the beginning of the Church year – it means arrival or coming and is the four week season that leads up to Christmas. It is a time for reflection and joyful expectation as we await the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.The use of a wreath is a longstanding tradition tied to Advent and the lead up to the Christmas season. The wreath itself is made of evergreens and symbolises life. As it is in a circle it represents God’s unending love, the eternity of God and the everlasting life we find in Christ. A candle is lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas Day.
The first candle is the Prophesy Candle in remembrance of the prophets: 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. (Isaiah 7:14)
The second candle is the Bethlehem Candle representing love: “This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).
The third candle is the Shepherd’s Candle representing joy: In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:8–11).
The fourth candle is the Angel’s Candle representing peace: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’ (Luke 2:13–14).
On Christmas Eve the Christ Candle is lit representing the life of Christ come into the world.
On Sunday 28th November at 7.30pm we hold our traditional Advent Carol Service. The service begins in a darkened church. The light spreads slowly and reassuringly as the choir sings and candles are lit. The growing light symbolises hope: Jesus is the light of the world. The service includes readings, congregational carols and music sung by the choir. This service will be live streamed.
Advent marks the beginning of the Church year – it means arrival or coming and is the four week season that leads up to Christmas. It is a time for reflection and joyful expectation as we await the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
The use of a wreath is a longstanding tradition tied to Advent and the lead up to the Christmas season. The wreath itself is made of evergreens and symbolises life. As it is in a circle it represents God’s unending love, the eternity of God and the everlasting life we find in Christ. A candle is lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas Day.
The first candle is the Prophesy Candle in remembrance of the prophets: 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. (Isaiah 7:14)
The second candle is the Bethlehem Candle representing love: “This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12).
The third candle is the Shepherd’s Candle representing joy: In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:8–11).
The fourth candle is the Angel’s Candle representing peace: And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’ (Luke 2:13–14).
On Christmas Eve the Christ Candle is lit representing the life of Christ come into the world.
At 2.30pm this Sunday, our All Saints service will take the form of a Choral Evensong. Led by Rev. Dr. Mattijs Ploeger, this beautiful service offers worship through traditional text and music.
Our choir will once again be robed and will be singing the Magnificant and Nunc Dimittis as well as responses and a sung psalm. The Choir will also sing an anthem. Led by Music Director Martin van Bleek with Christina Edelen playing the organ. Please note, there is no Holy Communion.
Choral Evensong is a popular service as it offers passages of beautiful spoken liturgy, moments of contemplative silence as well as anthems, psalm(s) and Canticles (ie the Magnificat and the Nunc Dimittis).
Coemgen of Glendalough (his old Irish name)
During this period of Celtic history, the term ‘saint’ was given to someone who was seen to be wise and a good Christian, a holy person. Upon their deaths the title saint was given to many Celtic nuns, monks, priests and bishops. It is hardly surprising that there are many saints who we known little about other than they probably took a certain path, spoke of Christ and sought to draw others to become followers of Jesus Christ, their Saviour. Along this journey they stopped and with others founded religious houses and when this was done sometimes found solitude in the life his own desert place.
Coemgen or to give him his more commonly known name, Kevin, was one such saint. But why should we stop, think of, commemorate Kevin of Coemgen? After all we know very little about him, he is one of the many who lived and died professing the faith and wanting to draw others to Christ. Yes, that is true but he is more than that. Are we not surrounded by a great crowd of witnesses (Hebrews12:1), do we not celebrate All Saints annually of November 1st? Is not Kevin one of the great crowd of witnesses? Kevin and his successors held the candle of faith across the centuries, a simple faith that held Christ as Lord. Glendalough became one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland.
There is still a church dedicated to St Kevin in the Glendalough area. It was built by the local community in the mid 19th century. It is a measure of the faith of the community that this work took place during awful years of the Irish Famine. The simple style of the church reflects the Celtic Monastic heritage.
Mass is celebrated each day.
There is also the Anglican Church of St John with weekly Sunday worship.
Glendalough, the glen of two lakes is one of the most beautiful areas in Ireland. Situated in the mountains of County Wicklow. Kevin established a monastery in the sixth century. The monastery city became one of the most significant religious centres in Europe. Kevin, like Declan needed solitude later in life and he created his own desert within Glendalough.
Visit the web sites Welcome to http://www.Glendalough.ie
or
As we share a time of prayerful reflection let us hold all those who we know as the ‘great crowd of witnesses’ and who have drawn us to Christ and helped form our faith and spirituality.
+ In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God our saviour,
look on this wounded world
in pity and in power;
hold us fast to your promises of peace
won for us by your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
(Common Worship Collect for Trinity 3)
The Word of the Lord
(Verses from the readings set for Trinity 3)
Psalm 107 (1-3,31,32)
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is gracious,
for his steadfast love endures for ever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say this,
those he redeemed from the hand of the enemy,
And gathered out of the lands from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his goodness
and the wonders he does for his children.
Let them exalt him in the congregation of the people
and praise him in the council of the elders.
Pause
Mark (4.35-41)
. . . when evening had come, he (Jesus) said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’ And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, ‘Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?’
Pause and let us be at peace and still as we hold and give thanks for ‘great crowd of witnesses’ who have walked before us:
Circle us Lord, with the arms of your presence, Keep peace within and all fear without; Your light to cheer and illumine the darkness,
Circle us Lord, in the arms of your love.
Circle us Lord, with the arms of your presence, Keep love within and all evil without; Your voice bring calm in all places of violence,
Circle us Lord, in the arms of your love.
Circle us Lord, with the arms of your presence, Keep joy within and all worries without; Your word inspire us and make us courageous,
Circle us Lord, in the arms of your love.
Circle us Lord, with the arms of your presence, Keep hope within and all suffering without; Your touch to heal us and bring us to wholeness,
Circle us Lord, in the arms of your love. (John Birch)
Lord, bless our journey through this coming week. May the pace be steady, paths made safe, no obstacles impede, and conversations with fellow travellers be fruitful and uplifting. Lord, bless our journey through this coming week (John Birch)
O God, whose beauty is beyond our imagining
and whose power we cannot comprehend:
show us your glory as far as we can grasp it,
and shield us from knowing more than we can bear
until we may look upon you without fear;
through Jesus Christ our Saviour.
(Common Worship Post Communion Prayer for Trinity 3)
Let us draw into our circle of prayer our:
Family
Friends
Local church and its leaders
wider community
widening our circle to include:
those in government and positions of authority
those who are oppressed
those who are hungry and homeless
those who are ill
those facing death
Merciful Father, accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
The Lords Prayer
+ In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The blessing of the God of life be with us in our journeying. The blessing of the risen Christ be with us in our following. The blessing of the Holy Spirit be with us in our questioning. The blessing of the heavenly host be with us in our worshipping. Bless, O God, each hour, each day, that we shall walk with you. (John Birch)
(*John’s prayers are from ‘God beside us’ pages 18, 21 and 26)
Rev Derek Akker
Photo of Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland
And this is great news for us! Our wonderful volunteers stepped forwards today and hot tea and biscuits were served after the service. Big smiles and chatter once again filled the room as we met after the service – keeping a suitable social distance, of course! It was also a happy moment to be able to sing hymns once again. We endeavour to keep safe but keep spirits high as we move towards a more relaxed but safe church.
Pentecost 2021
Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,
ignite in us your holy fire;
strengthen your children with the gift of faith,
revive your Church with the breath of love,
and renew the face of the earth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Collect for Pentecost Sunday)
‘I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.’ (Ezekiel 37.14)
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones,
Now hear the word of the Lord!
The toe bone’s connected to the foot bone,
The foot bone’s connected to the ankle bone,
The ankle bone’s connected to the leg bone,
Now hear the word of the Lord!
And leg, knee, thigh . . . you get the idea!
The Valley of Dry Bones from the prophet Ezekiel which inspired the Spiritual ‘Dem dry bones’ perhaps sums up how many of us may have felt during the last 12-15 months or so. The Covid19 pandemic has been hard and will have affected us in many ways and for some they will have been painful and left us in a very dry place, to say the least.
You can find the words of Ezekiel at the end of the prayerful reflection
Here are the closing words from Ezekiel:
I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act, says the Lord.
In my teens, in the North West of England we were alive to the sounds coming out from Manchester, Liverpool and all points in between. They were far from dry and we felt so alive to the sounds.
Love, love, love. . .
There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung
Nothing you can say, but you can learn how to play the game
It’s easy
Nothing you can make that can’t be made
No one you can save that can’t be saved
Nothing you can do, but you can learn how to be you in time
It’s easy
All you need is love . . .
(the Beatles – Magical Mystery Tour – 1967)
Music with its many genres can lift us, can move us from dry places. Music is one of the ways we are transported and find new vistas. It touches our mind and our body, sometimes we cannot stop the rhythm, we tap our feet, click our fingers and hum aloud. Is that not like the movement of the Spirit? I read recently of someone’s first visit to a church and the musician started to play ‘All you need is Love’. What happened next, he described as a Pentecost event, the people started to sway, and joining in:
All You Need Is Love
As we reflect on the words of Ezekiel and also that we are celebrating Pentecost and the gifts of the Spirit let us move forward and embrace the words ‘All you need is Love’, when we experience the love of God it is a transforming moment.
The love of the Spirit within us. The love within begins a healing process, touches and reminds us, God loves me, I am worthy. Then, as a whole person, a loved person we go out to heal the world.
From the personal we move outward. What are the issues of our society? We respond with food banks and grain banks. This is important care and it also demands us to ask why are there such needs? Knowing the needs are created by social structures and values, we then seek in the political realm the healing of the brokenness of society. This is the movement of the spirit in our time. (George Hermanson)
Sing out loud:
Love, love, love. . .
There’s nothing you can do that can’t be done
Nothing you can sing that can’t be sung
Other tunes and words are available but sing out loud and act and re-act to God’s Spirit of love within us. Amen
Let us pause and recall a piece of music, a song that touches our hearts and makes us want to sing out aloud. If you have the music easily available play it.
Let now pause for a moment and bring our prayers to the Lord.
The Lord’s Prayer
Almighty God, Your holy Spirit,
was present from the beginning,
was present in the message of the prophets,
and in the words and mission of Jesus,
and is present in the church empowered by Your Spirit,
Gracious Lord, we give thanks that:
The Spirit came
and your Church was born,
in wind and fire
and words of power.
The Spirit came
blowing fear aside,
and in its place
weak hearts were stronger.
The Spirit came
as your word foretold,
with dreams and signs,
visions and wonders.
The Spirit came
and is here today,
to feed the hearts
of a world that hungers.
Blessing
May the Spirit
who hovered over the waters when the world was created,
breath into us the life the Spirit gives
May the Spirit
who set the Church on fire upon the Day of Pentecost
bring the world alive with the love of the risen Christ.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
be among us and those whom we love now and always. Amen
Reflection by Rev Derek Akker