Sermon for Bible Sunday - October 29th 2023. Celebrating the Bible and lives in marriage and ministry

A Sermon preached at St Cyr, Stinchcombe, October 29th 2023. 

Rev'd Andrew Hill, Associate Priest

A Joint Benefice service for Bible Sunday, presided by Rev'd Canon Frances Wookey to also celebrate fifty years of marriage and 25 years since ordination.

(Readings and Intercessions are further down the page) 

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and Redeemer, Amen.

We take turns, but many months ago, I had the task of choosing the readings for each Sunday and for today, there were either ordinary time readings, or, Bible Sunday. Which isn’t something we always mark in our churches, even though we do look at the Bible on a fairly regular basis, I promise.

 

At that point, I didn’t know who would be preaching today or that we would also be celebrating with Frances and Roger, for their fiftieth wedding anniversary and Frances’s 25^th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood.

 

So it’s fitting to be marking all of these occasions today.

 

Roger and Frances were married in 1973 at Christchurch, Clifton in Bristol. As for many people, the last 50 years have been fairly eventful, but it’s wonderful they can celebrate today, giving thanks for each other for all the friends who've accompanied them on different parts of the journey.

 

Frances was ordained in Gloucester Cathedral, as deacon in October 1997 and priest in October 1998, being a curate in Gloucester, then as Vicar in Worcestershire, in and around Upton-upon-Severn. Roger was licensed as a Reader to the same benefice, as Frances became Vicar in 2001, and they have worked alongside one another ever since. They came to Cam with Stinchcombe on retirement in 2015.

 

Although it must be one of the most active retirements I’ve seen as they have been busy in our churches and helping out all over the Deanery where needed on most weekends and more.

 

They have been a blessing to us for 8 years now, with support and advice and a willingness to help whenever asked with humility and gentleness.

 

Of course, as ministers, the Bible is the foundation for their faith as well as ours, so it’s apt we that all of these things have come together now.

 

In fact, this village of Stinchcombe is part of the story of the Bible. It is generally thought to be the birthplace, at Melksham Court, of William Tyndale in 1494. He was the first person to translate the Bible from Latin into English.

 

At that time when any other language than Latin was forbidden by the church, so Tyndale went into exile in Europe to continue his work, and was eventually martyred in 1536. His work was completed by Coverdale three years later.

Tyndale once said, “I defy the pope and all his laws and, if God spares my life, before many years, I will cause the boy that drives the plow to know more of Scripture than thou dost.”

 

Much of Tyndale’s work was carried on into the King James Bible in 1611.

 

There is a monument above North Nibley to this extraordinary man, and the family was of the upper class, and also went by the name of Hychyns, a name well known in these parts, as our other Reader, Ken Hitchings will testify, as well as Tyndale using both alternately.

 

As many of you may know, the Bible is not one book but a collection of books and letters. There are 66 books which were selected at the Council of Rome in 382. The choice of books was refined over the next 20 years or so and they were all translated into Latin from the original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic languages. Chapter and verse numbers were added in about 1620, around the time of the reformation and the printing press.

 

These facts are condensed and abbreviated to save time as you could spend a lifetime studying the Bible and only scratch the surface.

 

Issues around translations and interpretation and gone on since the first scrolls were written and copied, and we should remember that no original scrolls exist today.

Nehemiah chapter 8, which we heard earlier is the story of the reading of the law to the people of Israel after their return from exile in Babylon.

 

Around 445 BC Nehemiah, arrived back in Jerusalem, sent by King Artaxerxes.

 

This was the second return; a few years before, Ezra had arrived. The people of Israel had been exiled in Babylon about 140 years earlier; Babylon was subsequently overturned as the regional superpower by the Medes and Persians (539 BC). Though the temple had been rebuilt and efforts to rebuild the nation had begun; the Book of Nehemiah tells us of the trials and tribulations he and other leaders faced.

 

The reading of the Law was a key moment for them as the people realised and reaffirmed their identity as God’s people, bound in a sacred covenant.  They probably heard the Book of Deuteronomy, which was written in Hebrew, but during exile, the everyday language used had changed to Aramaic so that most people wouldn’t have understood what heard, so it was translated and explained for them by the Levites.

 

Biblical translation and interpretation was clearly nothing new, as Tyndale found almost two thousand years later.

Nehemiah and the priests had prepared carefully for this event. With a wooden platform so Ezra could be seen.

These Levites would have had to study and discuss the text beforehand. The whole event had been planned as a centrepiece for the foundation of this renewed community. It was built around God’s word, and ‘they all listened attentively’ – for about six hours! 

In the same way, we place the reading of the Gospel just before the Eucharistic Prayer of Holy Communion. In some churches, the Gospel is carried into a central place among the people.

Our focus is then on the words, after which, a minister, who has been trained in the word will deliver a sermon or talk reflecting, explaining, interpreting or inspired by the word. In this way, our faith is explored and hopefully encouraged and deepened. Although I promise not to talk for 6 hours.

In Nehemiah, the Levites ‘gave an oral translation of God’s Law and explained it so that the people could understand it’ (verse 8). It was a complex audience. There were those who had become zealous for their faith in the hostile environment of the Babylonian Empire and those who had lost their way as they had been left behind leaderless.

 

Perhaps there was friction between the different groups. They all needed to hear God’s word for them.  

 

They were changed by what they heard, we are told that ‘when the people heard what the Law required, they were so moved that they began to cry’.

They were struck by the gap between what they ought to have been and what they were, and grieved at how they’d fallen short.
But Nehemiah and Ezra tell them not to become obsessed with their sin but rather to enjoy and celebrate what the Lord had done for them. God’s word convicts us of sin, but much more, it brings grace and the knowledge of love and forgiveness. 

How confident are we in the power of God’s word to break through our selfishness and hard-heartedness and change our minds? And are we open to his words of blessing as well as his words of rebuke? Are there stories we can share together about how he’s spoken to us?  

It was as the people gathered around God’s word that they were bound together as a community. For us too, coming together around food and the Scriptures and sharing stories, hopes and fears can prove to be a restart moment.

The Bible transforms lives because it is the written word that leads us to the living Word: ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us’ as John says in the prologue to his Gospel (John 1.14).

 

As in Ezra and Nehemiah’s day, the word of God is central to understanding our place in the world and how to live. It shows us that it is the truth and grace of Jesus Christ that is the hope of our lives and the hope of the world. 

The Bible is a wonderful record of events, teaching and visions, but it contains things that are difficult to understand. The Levites took time and skill to explain the Law. We all need help from those who’ve gone before us, and in a culture where people don’t know or read the Bible as much as they once did, it’s even more important to ‘translate’ it in ways they can understand.

The Bible is central to our lives as Christians, but it can be contradictory and difficult. It can be mis-quoted, out of context, read too literally without context or interpreted to suit a political or cultural need. It can be used as a stick to judge and criticise or as a healing salve to cure broken hearts. It is inconsistent, but like a stick of rock,  It contains faith, hope, love and grace.

So today, lets give thanks for the Bible and for the lives of Frances and Roger.

In our Gospel today Jesus said, Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

And it is the words of Jesus, the spirit of his calling and ministry which keep inspiring me, of his love for the outcast, the stranger, the poor and the lost.

For we know that in the Bible, we are assured that Jesus and his words will never pass away but remain to guide us, always. Amen,

Readings

Nehemiah 8.1–4a[5–6] 8–12

¹all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. ²Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. ³He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 

⁴The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.[ ⁵And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. ⁶Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, ‘Amen, Amen’, lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.] ⁸So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. ¹⁰Then he said to them, ‘Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ ¹¹So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, ‘Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.’ ¹²And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

Psalm 119.9–16

9  How shall young people cleanse their way ♦︎
 to keep themselves according to your word?
10  With my whole heart have I sought you; ♦︎
   O let me not go astray from your commandments.
11  Your words have I hidden within my heart, ♦︎
   that I should not sin against you.
12  Blessed are you, O Lord; ♦︎
   O teach me your statutes.
13  With my lips have I been telling ♦︎
   of all the judgements of your mouth.
14  I have taken greater delight in the way of your testimonies ♦︎
   than in all manner of riches.
15  I will meditate on your commandments ♦︎
   and contemplate your ways.
16  My delight shall be in your statutes ♦︎
   and I will not forget your word.

Matthew 24.30–35

³⁰Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see “the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven” with power and great glory. ³¹And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁴Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. ³⁵Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Intercessions

With humble hearts, in the power of the Spirit and in union with Christ, let us pray to the Father.                                                 

As Christians worldwide gather today to Sunday worship, we ask God's blessing on the universal church and we pray in particular for bishops. synods, and all who lead the church. We give thanks for all have a calling in the church, ministers, helpers, PCC, churchwardens and all who worship.

We give thanks and pray especially today for the lives, marriage and ministry of Frances and Roger.

Lord, Bless with the Spirit's grace and presence all who lead and serve the church. Keep them steadfast in faith and united in love. That we may all prepare the way of Your kingdom through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Blessed Lord, you caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning. Help us to hear them. to read, mark them and inwardly digest them. That through patience and the comfort of Your Holy Word, we may embrace and forever holdfast the hope of everlasting life which You have given us in Jesus Christ.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer.

We pray for the world, all peoples and leaders of every nation.

We pray especially for Israel, Palestine and Gaza, for the Ukraine and Russia, and all places torn apart by war and violence. We pray for peace, that grace and love may prevail above all things.

We give thanks and pray for the natural world and the resources of the Earth. Make us wise and faithful stewards of your gifts. Guide us that we may maintain the fabric of our world for all generations to come.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

During black history month in the UK, we pray for an end to the evil of racism, for an end to the fear of the refugee, the stranger and people we don’t understand. We pray that God's will for all people may be done with every person made in God's image, able to enjoy life in all its fullness.

Compassionate God, who sent Jesus Christ to deliver us from all manner of injustices and inequalities create in us new hearts vision to see the image of God in every person, irrespective of background, race and ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. May we be generous in our love of others, as we work towards ending misunderstanding, creating communities of human flourishing.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

Finally, in a moment of silence, we bring before God, all situations and those in any kind of need which are in our hearts today.

Lord, Your Word is the strength we find when darkness threatens to overwhelm.  Lord Jesus, we pray for comfort and healing to all who came to you in distress, suffering or any kind of pain. We pray that you will meet all our needs with your love and compassion and lighten their darkness with the eternal flame of your Spirit. We give you thanks and praise for your presence in times of crisis and sickness. 

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer

We pray for all our dearly departed and loved ones who we see no more. We pray especially for all who have recently died and their loved ones who mourn.

Father, give a place of life and rest to those who have died in your peace; may we share with them in the glory of Jesus Christ, who died to save us all.

Lord, in your mercy: hear our prayer