o Lord, open our lips MONDAY and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.

o God, you are our God; eagerly we seek you; A PRAYER OF MANNASSEH our souls thirst for you.

Our flesh also faints for you, Lord almighty and God of our forebears. as in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. you who made heaven and earth in all their glory: All things tremble with awe at your presence, So would we gaze upon you in your holy place, before your great and mighty power. that we might behold your power and your glory. Immeasurable and unsearchable is your promised mercy, Your loving-kindness is better than life itself for you are God, Most High. and so our lips shall praise you. You are full of compassion,

We will bless you as long as we live long-suffering and very merciful, and lift up our hands in your name. and you relent at human suffering. from Pm/m 63 O God, according to your great goodness, you have promised forgiveness for repentance to those who have sinned against you.

The sins I have committed against you

are more in number than the sands of the sea.

I am not worthy to look up to the height of heaven, Blessed are you. God of compassion and mercy, because of the multitude of my iniquities. to you be praise and glory for ever. In the darkness of our sin, And now I bend the knee of my heart before you, your light breaks forth like the dawn imploring your kindness upon me. and your healing springs up for deliverance. As we rejoice in the gift of your saving health, I have sinned. O God. I have sinned, sustain us with your bountiful Spirit and I acknowledge my transgressions. and open our lips to sing your praise. Unworthy as I am, you will save me, Readings—Week beginning 1st Mar 2021 Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit: according to your great mercy. Blessed be God for ever. For all the host of heaven sings your praise, Mar 1 Ps 32 Jer. 7:21-end and your glory is for ever and ever. Mar 2 Ps 50 Jer. 8:1-15 Manasseh 10.2.4.6.70.90.9c.l1.12. 74b.15b

Mar 3 Ps 35 Jer. 8:18-9:11 Mar 4 Ps 34 Jer. 9:12-24 Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; Mar 5 Ps 41 Jer. 10:1-16 as it was in the beginning is now Mar 6 Ps 25 Jer. 10:17-25 A READING FROM THE PSALMS and shall be for ever. Amen.

A few notes on the readings are at the end. TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

THE SONG OF ZECHARIAH A SONG OF LAMENTATION A SONG OF ENTREATY A SONG OF HUMILITY

Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel. Hear my prayer, O Lord, Come, let us return to the Lord Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sor- and in your faithfulness give ear to my supplications; who has come to his people and set them free. row: answer me in your righteousness. who has torn us and will heal us. He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour. Which was brought upon me, Enter not into judgement with your servant, God has stricken us born of the house of his servant David. which the Lord inflicted for in your sight shall no one living be justi- and will bind up our wounds. Through his holy prophets God promised of old on the day of his fierce anger. fied. to save us from our enemies. After two days, he will revive us, from the hands of all that hate us. Remember my affliction and my bitterness, My spirit faints within me; the wormwood and the gall! and on the third day will raise us up, my heart within me is desolate. To show mercy to our ancestors. For these things I weep: that we may live in his presence. my eyes flow with tears: and to remember his holy covenant. I stretch out my hands to you; for a comforter is far from me, my soul gasps for you like a thirsty land. Let us strive to know the Lord; This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham: one to revive my courage: his appearing is as sure as the sunrise. to set us free from the hands of our enemies.

O Lord, make haste to answer me; free to worship him without fear. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, my spirit fails me; He will come to us like the showers, holy and righteous in his sight his mercies never come to an end: hide not your face from me all the days of our life. like the spring rains that water the earth. lest I be like those who go down to the Pit. They are new every morning: And you. child. great is your faithfulness. Let me hear of your loving-kindness 'O Ephraim, how shall I deal with you? shall be called the prophet of the Most High. in the morning, How shall I deal with you, 0 Judah? for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way. to give his people knowledge of salvation 'The Lord is my portion', says my soul. for in you I put my trust; 'therefore I will hope in him.' by the forgiveness of all their sins. show me the way I should walk in, 'Your love for me is like the morning mist, for I lift up my soul to you. The Lord is good to those who wait for him, like the dew that goes early away. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us. to the soul that seeks him. Teach me to do what pleases you, 'Therefore, I have hewn them by the prophets, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the for you are my God; It is good that we should wait quietly and my judgement goes forth as the light. shadow of death. let your kindly spirit lead me on a level path. and to guide our feet into the way of peace. for the salvation of the Lord. Luke 1.68-79 Revive me, O Lord, for your name's sake; 'For loyalty is my desire and not sacrifice, It is good to bear the yoke in our youth: and the knowledge of God to sit alone in silence when he has imposed it. for your righteousness' sake, Glory to the Father and to the Son bring me out of trouble. rather than burnt offerings.' and to the Holy Spirit; For the Lord will not reject for ever, Psalm 143.1.2,4,6-8,10.11 as it was in the beginning is now though he causes grief, he will have compassion, Hosea 6.1-6 and shall be for ever. Amen. Glory to the Father and to the Son Glory to the Father and to the Son According to the abundance of his steadfast love: and to the Holy Spirit; and to the Holy Spirit; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone. as it was in the beginning is now as it was in the beginning is now Lamentations 1. 12, 16a.b; 3.19.22- and shall be for ever. Amen. and shall be for ever. Amen. 28,31-33

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen. On a Saturday any of the previous Songs of Praise (Canticles ) may be used.

READING/S FROM SCRIPTURE The PRAYERS O God, you claim us as your partners, respecting us, O Lord, you are our God: trusting us, A few moments for reflection we call upon you all day long. tussling with us. Lord, have mercy. Support us as we dare to be vulnerable with you, A SONG OF CHRIST THE SERVANT Rescue the weak and poor, encourage us deliver them from the power of the wicked. as we dare to take risks with you, Christ suffered for you. leaving you an example. Christ, have mercy. so together we can transform the world. that you should follow in his steps. Amen. He committed no sin. no guile was found on his lips. Lord, our souls wait for you, when he was reviled. he did not revile in turn. for our hope is in your word. Lord: When he suffered. he did not threaten. Lord, have mercy. help us to see in the groaning of creation but he trusted himself to God who judges justly. not death throes but birth pangs; Christ himself bore our sins in his body on the tree. help us to see in suffering a promise for the future, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. because it is c: cry against the humanity of the present. By his wounds. you have been healed. A few moments for quiet, lead or free prayer Help us to see in protest the dawn of justice, for you were straying like sheep. in the Cross the pathway to resurrection, but have now returned and in suffering the seeds of joy. to the shepherd and guardian of your souls. Amen. Optional Prayers 1 Peter 2.21 b-25 Rubern A/vel, Brazil

Almighty God, or you have given your only Son to be for us Trusting in the compassion of God, both a sacrifice for sin as our Saviour has taught us, so we pray: anu also an example of godly life: Our Father in heaven, give us grace A SONG OF THE JUSTIFIED hallowed be your name ... that we may always most thankfully receive his inestimable gifts, God reckons as righteous those who believe. and also daily endeavour to follow the blessed steps of his who believe in him who raised Jesus from the dead: most holy life; For Christ was handed over to death for our sins, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us bless the Lord: and raised to life for our justification. Amen. Thanks be to God. Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Christ we have gained access to the grace in which we stand, Lord Jesus Christ, and rejoice in our hope of the glory of God. you have taught us God proves his love for us: that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. we do also for you: Since we have been justified by his death. give us the will to be the servant of others how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath. as you were the servant of all. Therefore, and gave up your life and died for us, we exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. but are alive and reign, now and fer ever. in whom we have now received our reconciliation. Common worsinp: Services & Prayers for the Churcn of England, Amen. material from wtuch IS incltlded In this serwce, is copyright Romans 4.24.25; 5.1-5.8,9,11 © The Archbishops' Council, 2000

Our Readings this week… … ... Taste and see how good the LORD is!

The one who takes refuge in him is Psalms: 32, 50, 35, 34, 41 & 25 truly happy! TEAM When I was young the family car (and there were a lot of us) was a 1930’s Daimler that used to take the judge to the assizes – it was grand in every sense – huge settee in the back with space for foldout-out armchairs, and the chauffeur was in his own compartment behind sliding panels upfront with a telephone horn next to his ear to receive instructions – the speaking device was in the back which we ‘dare-not-touch’! Being a judge was important in scoiety. Ps50 starts with image of God the judge arriving and summoning all to his attention – this is not the grandeur of a car, but an absolutely cosmic drama in its setting from east to west with the rising and setting of the sun, and from heaven to earth vertically – vv1-5 God is the judge, and he has urgently summoned his people. His critique of his people is set out in vv7-15 – simply that by ritual offering of sacrifices their relational covenant is not fulfilled or satisfied, after all God says it all belongs to me

MERSTHAM & GATTON GATTON & MERSTHAM anyway and so how can they give what is not theirs – however (vv14-15) offering a sacrifice of praise, and paying vows will bring all you need, your protection in trouble, and true worship. The judge’s accusation in vv16-22 is that his people religion’s is only lip deep – happy to talk the talk, but not walk the walk in en- tering fully into all that the sacrifice-system is there to help with in relating with God and his ways of life. This was a constant cry from the prophets – Hosea 6:6 sums God’s passion for this up well ‘I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know me.’. V23 draws the whole psalm together– God desires and deserves the love of our hearts, and our life and deeds to reflect his righteous ways. It is of note that following the cosmic inclu- sive scale of Ps50 and its critique of ritual sacrifice comes the very individual confession of David in Ps51, which draws the same conclusion ‘You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.’ - Lenten ponderances for all.

Jeremiah 7:21–10:25 Chapter 7 had laid out series of accusations against the wrongdoings and worship of false gods by God’s people. And now in v21 a strong sense of irony is found on the lips of the prophet. In the sacrificial system the whole burnt offering had to be consumed by the fire, and was not to be eaten by the worship- pers— God is so disappointed by his people that these offerings mean nothing to him so they may as well eat it. This is the theme of Ps50 (above) - these offer- ings/sacrifices are empty of commitment and meaning, so (v29) cut off your hair (a traditional action marking death) and mourn and lament at the death of this relationship. In following false gods the people had even entered the brutal and death-laden world of child sacrifice— Vv7:3—8:3 present a series of protestations against the pagan practices being carried out in the Valley of Hinnom running alongside Jerusalem—where the practice of child sacrifice to the god Molech was being practised (see panel on right)—and so Jeremiah wanted to rename it the Valley of Slaughter’. In Chs 8:4—9:26 is a whole series or prophecies; first (4-17) a condemnation of the blindness of the nation to their depravity again echoing their proclamation of ‘Peace, peace’ when there is none, and they will end subject to poisonous snakes, and the threat of cavalry from the north. In 8:16-9:11 the prophet takes up mourning himself in pain and sorrow—the ‘good’ times are gone—’the harvest is past, the summer is ended, we are not saved’ - only MOURNERS winter and destruction await— he poetically yearns to weep for the circumstances of The profession of women mourners is greatly his people—’O that my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, attested across the nations Ancient Near East, and so that I might weep day and night for the slain of my poor people!’. In a world where is still a practice in some countries of the middle no-one can be trusted he concludes with a desolate picture of a ruined Jerusalem east today. haunted by jackals. The prophet questions (9:12-16) if there are any wise to understand their circumstances Both in the home and accompanying the departed and God’s word into it—to even question what has happened to cause it. All that to their place of burial they would weep loudly, should have been rich as milk and honey will now be as wormwood and bitter water, chanting well-known laments. and they will be scattered among the nations. In Chapter 9:17 Jeremiah summons up this picture: And so (9:17) the people are called into mourning for their own death—and yet (v:23- 24) there is hope for those who choose the wisdom of God’s ways—to those who ‘call for the mourning women to come; boast only that they know God—who alone acts with steadfast love, justice and right- send for the skilled women to come; eousness on the face of the earth. 18 let them quickly raise a dirge over us, so that our eyes may run down with tears, In Ch10:1-16 again the nation is challenged with the matter that most disappointed God and our eyelids flow with water. with his people, and addressed by most of the prophets—that of idolatry, of turning to 19 For a sound of wailing is heard from Zion: other gods, made of metal and wood and stone—dead gods—who could not give, “How we are ruined! enter or share, the life and love he had for them—only the Lord is the true and living We are utterly shamed, God. V17 warns them to prepare for the exile to come ‘ a great commotion from the Female because we have left the land, north’ is on the way—and Jeremiah pleads for the people, and that he will stop the because they have cast down our dwellings.” aggressive nations, such as who have already annihilated the Northern Kingdom mourners on (Jacob). an Egyptian This is a stark and dramatic warning—what is at risk is the imminent death of the nation and its way of life, All this might make us wonder why we have Jeremiah at all! But if we linger with it we Tomb and its relationship with God, and the mourners have will discover that even today’s world it is easy to take other paths and find ourselves been called. denying God’s place and affirmation in our lives, and so gives opportunity to seek his wisdom and ways in all we are and do –again, a good Lenten discipline. Week starting 1st Mar 2021