This week’s Worship
14th November 2021 – Remembrance Sunday (2nd Sun.)
9:15 am Remembrance Family Worship, Croston
10:00 am Remembrance Worship, Bretherton, followed by
walk to the War memorial for 11am
10:45 am Remembrance Communion, Mawdesley
Afternoon Civic services
Croston
12 noon Community centre opens – items from the last 100 years
12:45 unveiling of commemorative quilt
1pm Parade to War memorial for Act of Remembrance,
return to Church for Worship
Mawdesley
2:30 pm Meet at 4 Lane Ends for Parade through village
3 pm Act of Remembrance at the War memorial
Wednesday 10 am Holy Communion Croston
Friday 9am Morning Prayer at Mawdesley
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Over the last 2 weeks our news has been dominated by the COP26 conference in Glasgow looking at what we can do as a world community to combat the climate change brought about humanity. If we don’t do anything the consequences will be horrific, the Gospel reading for this week makes reference to another horrifying event. In AD 70, around forty years after Jesus’ death, the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed. The Temple was a highly celebrated building, constructed by King Herod the Great, it was immense and supported by a massive stone platform, the largest ever built by human hands. The Temple was made from giant stones more than forty feet long and twelve feet wide. Josephus, a first-century Jewish writer, described the outward face of the Temple as covered in plates of gold which reflected the sunlight so strongly that people could not bear to look at it.
Despite its incredible construction, impressive strength and immense beauty, the Temple would be completely razed to the ground.
Jesus had been teaching in the Temple and, as he left with his disciples, one of them expressed great admiration at the building and the huge stones used in its construction. Jesus’ response must have stunned this disciple: “Not one stone will be left here upon another,” he predicted. Little could they know but he would be proved right. When the Jews revolted, the Romans responded with a horrific siege of Jerusalem that lasted around five months. Josephus claims that over a million people died of starvation, disease and violence, and the Temple was burnt and demolished.
When I stood on the Mount of Olives during my pilgrimage to the Holy Land I realised what an impressive view of the Temple in all its magnificence Jesus’ disciples must have had. No wonder they asked for more details about its destruction and when it would occur.
Jesus’ response appears somewhat puzzling. Rather than giving times and dates, he talks about other events such as wars, famines and earthquakes. Jesus was trying to make sure his disciples were prepared and ready for the reality of what was to come when he was no longer with them, such happenings were as the first painful twinges of labour – the necessary precursor to what is to come, rather than a sign that the end must be nigh.
Despite all the advances of our modern age, some things have not changed since Christ’s time. Wars and violence continue unabated and natural disasters and human tragedies still plague our world. This can cause us to question our faith as we wonder if God has forgotten about our world or is powerless to work in it. Jesus tells his followers that there is no need to worry, this is not because we need positive thinking, rather because he will be with us. Yes we will encounter strife, but at such times Jesus calls us to trust and stand firm as he abides with us. When times of testing come, Jesus promises to give us the strength that we need. This is not a case of enduring through thick and thin and pushing ourselves along, this is a reminder that we are never alone. Jesus likened the terrible events we face to labour pains which, although they are distressing, also point towards something better. God’s kingdom is on its way, and that is the kingdom that stands for ever.
With love & prayers. Michael (Rector)
Tel: 01772 600548, email: revmwoods@gmail.com
Next Sunday – Feast of Christ the King 21st November (3rd Sun.)
9:15 am Holy Communion, Croston
11:00 am Holy Communion, Bretherton
10:45 am Holy Communion, Mawdesley
Covid Guidance in church – please do remember:
- Do not come to church if you are feeling unwell or have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms in the past seven days
- Be mindful of those who may be less confident, especially those choosing to wear a mask
- Don’t forget Hands, Face Space guidance
Facebook & YouTube Online Worship
An Act of Worship from Blackburn Cathedral will be available every Sunday from 9am. You can view this on the Cathedral YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4GsctW6SLc or on their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/BlackburnCathedral
This week’s Church of England Remembrance Sunday online worship comes from All Saints’ Church, Northampton. The service, marking the centenary of the Royal British Legion, is led by Rev Oliver Coss.
You can watch the service from 9am Sunday.
https://www.facebook.com/thechurchofengland
Thank you for your support of the Food Bank
As the daylight hours get shorter and the nights colder and Christmas approaches and financial pressures increase more families are beginning to struggle and your donations are so important. At this time oy year Christmas goodies would be welcomed, especially children’s chocs. Donations can be left at all our churches.
The One Voice Community Choir with Bretherton School Choir
Concert in St. Michaels Church on Saturday 20th November 6pm
Tickets are just £5 for adults – children free.
There will be a raffle and refreshments available.
Tickets available from Kathryn 01772600768 or
email carversbrow@aol.com. Also available on the door.
Follow this link to get a sample of just how amazing the Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year 2019 are.
Don’t miss them when they come down by
the side of the River Yarrow here in Croston
to St. Michael & All Angels Church
The Collect
Almighty Father, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all: govern the hearts and minds of those in authority, and bring the families of the nations, divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin, to be subject to his just and gentle rule; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
First Reading
By means of a divinely inspired vision, Daniel perceives the imminence of an apocalyptic conflict that will lead to both the resurrection and the judgement of the dead.
Daniel 12.1-3
In the third year of King Cyrus a word was revealed to Daniel. ‘At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence.
But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.’
Second Reading
By contrasting Christ’s divine priesthood with mortal priests, those to whom the letter is addressed are reminded of, and called to respond to, God’s promise of eternal forgiveness.
Hebrews 10.11-14, 19-25
Every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins.
But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, ‘he sat down at the right hand of God’, and since then has been waiting ‘until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.’ For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.
Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.
And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
The Gospel
In the downfall of the old religious order that Jesus predicts, those following God’s true way must remain wary of fake prophets offering false hopes.
Mark 13.1-8
As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!’
Then Jesus asked him, ‘Do you see these great buildings?
Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.’
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ‘Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?’
Then Jesus began to say to them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumours of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines.
This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.’
Prayer after Communion
God of peace, whose Son Jesus Christ proclaimed the kingdom and restored the broken to wholeness of life: look with compassion on the anguish of the world, and by your healing power make whole both people and nations; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
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