St Ursula's Church
Berne, Switzerland

A Church of the Anglican Communion, welcoming all who seek the Lord Jesus Christ

St Ursula's Church, Berne
Tenth Sunday after Trinity - 16 August 2020


Greeting

Grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you
and also with you.

Opening Hymn: AM115 Dear Lord and Father of mankind


1 Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways;
re-clothe us in our rightful mind,
in purer lives thy service find,
in deeper reverence, praise,
In deeper reverence, praise.

2 In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word
rise up and follow thee,
rise up and follow thee.

3 O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with thee
the silence of eternity,
interpreted by love,
interpreted by love!

4 Drop thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of thy peace,
the beauty of thy peace.

5 Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm,
O still, small voice of calm.

J G Whittier

Preparation

Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Children's Song: For God so loved the world (John 3:16)

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son
that everyone who believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life, eternal life.
John three sixteen.

Prayers of Penitence

Our Lord Jesus Christ said:
The first commandment is this:
'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is the only Lord.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength.'

The second is this: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'
There is no other commandment greater than these.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Amen. Lord, have mercy.

God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son Jesus Christ
to save us from our sins,
to be our advocate in heaven,
and to bring us to eternal life.

Let us confess our sins in penitence and faith,
firmly resolved to keep God's commandments
and to live in love and peace with all.

Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
we have sinned against you and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed,
through negligence, through weakness,
through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us,
forgive us all that is past and grant
that we may serve you in newness of life
to the glory of your name. Amen.

Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent,
have mercy upon you, pardon and deliver you from all your sins,
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness,
and keep you in life eternal;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Gloria

Glory to God in the highest,
and peace to his people on earth.

Lord God, heavenly King,
almighty God and Father,
we worship you, we give you thanks,
we praise you for your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father:
receive our prayer.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit,
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Collect

Let your merciful ears, O Lord,
be open to the prayers of your humble servants;
and that they may obtain their petitions
make them to ask such things as shall please you;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

First Reading: Isaiah 56;1,6-8

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

1Thus says the Lord: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed. 6And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant – 7these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. 8Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.

Second Reading: Romans 11.1-2a,29-32

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.

1I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. 2God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, 31so they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they too may now receive mercy. 32For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all.

Gradual Hymn: AM113 Father, hear the prayer we offer


1 Father, hear the prayer we offer:
not for ease that prayer shall be,
but for strength that we may ever
live our lives courageously.

2 Not for ever in green pastures
do we ask our way to be;
but the steep and rugged pathway
may we tread rejoicingly.

3 Not for ever by still waters
would we idly rest and stay;
but would smite the living fountains
from the rocks along our way.

4 Be our strength in hours of weakness,
in our wanderings be our guide;
through endeavour, failure, danger,
Father, be thou at our side.

L M Willis

The Gospel - Matthew 15:21-28

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew
Glory to you, O Lord

21Jesus went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22A Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, 'Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.' 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, 'Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.' 24He answered, 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.' 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, 'Lord, help me.' 26He answered, 'It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.' 27She said, 'Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.' 28Then Jesus answered her, 'Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.' And her daughter was healed instantly.

This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ

Sermon - Revd Helen Marshall

Jesus and the Canaanite Woman

What kind of picture of Jesus do we have?

There are so many stories in the gospels which emphasise Jesus' compassion and gentleness towards the sick and vulnerable. Several times we are told he was 'moved to pity' as he looked with compassion on people in their different needs. We may think of Jesus touching and healing a leper; his compassion and forgiveness for the woman caught in adultery; the healing and hope he gave to the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, or his welcome of the despised tax collector, Zaccheus. Of course Jesus wasn't always meek and mild; he spoke some hard hitting words to the religious leaders and some very challenging words to his disciples, but at the same time he showed compassion to the marginalised, the sick and the broken.

So, today's gospel reading may come as something of a shock, because in this story, Jesus seems harsh, not towards some of the religious teachers for their unbending legalism and hardness of heart, but towards a vulnerable and desperate woman. The encounter between Jesus and the Canaanite woman may make us sit up and feel uncomfortable; What are we to make of it?

Jesus is in the Gentile area of Tyre and Sidon when he is approached by the Canaanite woman, who shouts out, 'Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.' She is not a Jew, but she addresses Jesus with the Jewish Messianic title, Son of David, which is very striking on the lips of a Gentile. She recognises in some way that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah but she nevertheless hopes that this Jew will help her, a Gentile. So how does Jesus respond? To begin with he does not answer her at all. He ignores her. But she keeps on shouting and the disciples certainly view her as something of a nuisance. 'Send her away' they say. It may be by this that they meant 'please just give her whatever she wants quickly and get rid of her'.

Jesus responds by telling them that his mission is only to the lost sheep of Israel. We might be rather surprised by these words. Didn't Jesus come for everyone? For the whole world? Of course this is true and after Jesus' resurrection the message of God's love in Christ is understood more fully and preached more widely. But Jesus was a Jew, as David reminded us a few weeks ago; he was the Jewish Messiah and most of his earthly ministry was among his own people. Not just respectable Jews, of course, but also those who were poor, the disregarded outcasts, and those who were considered unclean. Nevertheless they were mostly Jews. When, earlier in Matthew's gospel, Jesus sends his disciples out on a mission to teach and to heal, he sends them only to the towns and villages of Israel. Jesus is occasionally approached by Gentiles and responds to their needs, as he does with the Roman centurion who asks him to heal his servant. More than that, Jesus commends the Roman centurion for his faith, as he does the Canaanite woman in our gospel reading today. However, particularly as recounted in Matthew's gospel, Jesus' primary concern in his earthly ministry seems to be to reach out to his own people, that they might then become salt and light to the world around them.

This is a continuation of the vision of OT: God calls the people of Israel and establishes his covenant with them. God chooses to work through a particular people, but this is not just for their own sake but for the whole world. This is God's strategy if you like; it's like ripples in a pond moving ever outwards. The OT focuses mostly on the relationship of God to the people of Israel, but yet it also holds out the vision that one day all peoples will come to worship the God of Israel. We see something of that in our reading this morning from the prophet Isaiah when we're told: 'foreigners that join themselves to the Lord...these I will bring to my holy mountain...for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.' Jesus takes up these very words when he rebukes the money changers in the temple. At the end of Matthew's gospel Jesus tells the disciples to 'go and make disciples of all nations' and that wider mission of course develops further after his resurrection. Nevertheless, Jesus' earthly ministry is mostly among his own people, the Jews.

Matthew emphasises that in our gospel reading this morning. When Jesus says to his disciples: 'I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel', he may be telling them that he should not at this present time be distracted from this primary task. But the Canaanite woman is not put off by Jesus' words. Maybe she senses already that in the long run his grace is for all. She is not deterred and pleads with Jesus again, kneeling at his feet and saying simply 'Lord, help me.'

At last Jesus answers the woman, but his response to her may again shock us: 'It is not fair,' he says, 'to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs.' Jesus uses the common abusive term Jews used for Gentiles, calling them 'dogs'. What I offer is for the 'children' (the Jews) and not to be thrown away on the 'dogs' (the Gentiles) he seems to be saying. Does Jesus really mean this? Is he using these insulting terms seriously? Some commentators point out that we cannot hear Jesus' tone of voice and that there may be something of a teasing nature in his words. Others suggest that he may be testing the woman to see how she responds.

We cannot be sure, but what we do know is that his seemingly harsh reply still does not put the woman off. 'Yes, Lord,' she says, 'yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.' Even if the food is primarily for the children, the dogs still get the crumbs. Similarly, even if I am not one of the children, but one of the dogs, let me benefit in some small way from your grace.

Jesus is very impressed, we're told, by the woman's faith and promises her daughter will be healed, which she is, immediately.

So how are we to understand this gospel story and what does it say to us?

Firstly, as I said earlier, we have to see this story in the context of Jesus' earthly ministry. Matthew certainly emphasises that Jesus saw his mission as primarily to his own people. At the same time, Jesus was continually breaking down barriers and moving boundaries, welcoming, not only the respectable Jews, but the poor, the unclean, the marginalised and outcasts into the kingdom. But there is also the implication that one day the Gentiles too will be welcomed in and 'the first will be last and the last will be first.' Jesus' earthly ministry was only one phase of his mission, which he began mostly among his own people; after his death and resurrection his followers began to understand more fully that God's grace is for all; Jew and Gentile. Paul, especially in his letter to the Romans, ch 9-11, grapples with the painful question that many of his own people reject Jesus as the Messiah; nevertheless, he concludes God has not given up on them and affirms that God's purpose is to be merciful to all, as we heard in our reading from Romans this morning. Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, men and women are all welcome as children at God's table.

Of course, at the time, the disciples, and the Canaanite woman herself, couldn't see the full picture. However, one of the striking things about this story is the way the woman does not give up, but keeps on asking Jesus, keeps on trusting he will help her, despite several negative and very unpromising replies. This can speak to us. We, ourselves, often do not understand God's purposes and we cannot see the full picture, but we are encouraged not to give up.

When we pray and seek God's grace, we may sometimes feel, like the Canaanite woman, that there is simply no answer to our cries for help. We feel ignored. At other times we may feel that there is an answer but it is a hard one, it is one we don't really understand. It may even seem harsh. Do we give up on God in anger? The Canaanite woman didn't do that. She trusted she would receive mercy and grace in the end. She trusted in his mercy, even when she couldn't initially see any signs of it. This can be an inspiration and an encouragement to us not to give up, but to keep seeking God's grace and help even when the way seems dark and bleak and we cannot really understand what is happening.

As well as encouraging us not to give up, perhaps this story also reminds us that we do not have a 'right' to God's grace because of our own status, it is a gift. I wonder if any of you have noticed that, unlikely as it may seem, we use some of the words adapted from this difficult gospel story in our communion service? One of the prayers before communion has the words 'we are not worthy to gather up the crumbs under your table, but you are the same Lord whose nature is always to have mercy.'

That prayer adapts the words of the woman in our gospel story that even the dogs get to eat the crumbs under the table. In that prayer we describe ourselves as being even less worthy than the dogs in that we have no right even to the crumbs that fall from the table. Not a very positive image! I remember one woman in my first parish who really hated these words, and refused to say them because she felt they were demeaning and insulting. But the point of these words is not to make us feel bad about ourselves, even less to make us feel like dogs. We are invited to the Lord's table as his beloved children, but this prayer reminds us that we do not have a place at the table by 'right' whoever we are. Jew, Gentile, rich, poor, respectable Christian, criminal, saint or Archbishop, we are all invited to the table because of God's grace and mercy, not because of our own worthiness.

So let us pray and not give up. And let us come to God as his children to be fed, confident in his welcoming love, not because of our own status or goodness, but because of his abundant and freely given grace offered to all.

Revd Helen Marshall

Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is,
seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

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

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you promised through your Son Jesus Christ to hear us when we pray in faith.
Strengthen our bishops Robert and David, and our archdeacon Adele in the service of Christ. We give thanks for Helen and David and for Archana and pray that you would equip them with strength, good health and joy in their ministry here at St Ursula's. May we be united in your truth and live together in love. We thank you for our fellowship of people from many nations and pray for your blessing as we keep learning to grow together in love. As Peter was, let our fellowship be bold to proclaim Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Bless and guide our rulers and give wisdom to all who govern. Direct them to work for peace and justice, to show respect to all people, to welcome foreigners, fight racism in all its forms and seek the common good. We pray for countries where there is strife, unrest, war and division. May we see real change and peace in Lebanon and help for its people as they are faced with the huge task of cleaning up and rebuilding the damage which was done by the explosion. Be with all who have lost loved ones and grant healing to the injured. We remember the situation in Yemen where especially children and their families are in dire need.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Give grace to us, our families near and far, our friends, and all our neighbors. Help us to serve Christ in one another. As schools are starting again we pray for the children and their teachers that they may be protected and are able to enjoy each other's company and learn together.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for ourselves, guide us to be responsible for the environment, for this beautiful world you have created. May we do all in our power to protect and preserve it. Give the necessary resources to A Rocha for the work they are doing to make changes before it is too late.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

We pray for those in need: the homeless, those who had to flee their country and have to live in precarious circumstances. Direct the individuals and groups who work to alleviate their suffering. We pray especially for the groups we as a church support:

For the refugees in Egypt, for the deaf and blind in Jordan, for educational programs in Zambia and South Africa, for Partners working in various countries, for those without a fixed home and for the immigrants right here in Berne.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Comfort and heal all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. We name those known to us out loud or in our hearts......... Give them courage and hope in their troubles and bring them the joy of your salvation

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Hear us as we remember those who have died in the faith of Christ.... According to your promise, grant us with them a share in your kingdom.

Lord in your mercy
Hear our prayer.

Rejoicing in the fellowship of all your saints, we commend ourselves and the whole creation to your unfailing love.
Merciful Father
Accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen

The Peace

We are the body of Christ.
In the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.
Let us then pursue all that makes for peace
and builds up our common life.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you.

Offertory Hymn: AM117 Praise to the Holiest in the height


1 Praise to the Holiest in the height,
and in the depth be praise:
in all his words most wonderful,
most sure in all his ways.

2 O loving wisdom of our God!
When all was sin and shame,
a second Adam to the fight
and to the rescue came.

3 O wisest love! that flesh and blood,
which did in Adam fail,
should strive afresh against the foe,
should strive and should prevail;

4 and that a higher gift than grace
should flesh and blood refine,
God's presence and his very self,
and essence all-divine.

5 O generous love! That he, who smote
in Man for man the foe,
the double agony in Man
for man should undergo;

6 and in the garden secretly,
and on the cross on high,
should teach his brethren, and inspire
to suffer and to die.

7 Praise to the Holiest in the height,
and in the depth be praise:
in all his words most wonderful,
most sure in all his ways.

J H Newman

The Lord's Prayer

As our Saviour has taught us, so we pray

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours now and for ever.
Amen.

The General Thanksgiving

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,
we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks
for all your goodness and loving-kindness
to us and to all whom you have made.
We bless you for our creation, preservation,
and all the blessings of this life;
but above all for your immeasurable love
in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;
for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.
And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies,
that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise,s
not only with our lips, but in our lives,
by giving up ourselves to your service,
and by walking before you
in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be honour and glory throughout all ages.
Amen.

Closing Prayer

God of our pilgrimage,
you have willed that the gate of mercy
should stand open for those who trust in you:
look upon us with your favour
that we who follow the path of your will
may never wander from the way of life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Final Hymn: HON642 The God of Abraham praise


1 The God of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above,
ancient of everlasting days,
and God of Love;
Jehovah, great I AM!
by earth and Heaven confessed;
I bow and bless the sacred name
forever blest.

2 The God of Abraham praise,
at whose supreme command
from earth we rise, and seek the joys
at His right hand;
we all on earth forsake,
its wisdom, fame, and power;
and Him our only portion make,
our shield and tower.

3 The God of Abraham praise,
whose all sufficient grace
shall guide us all our happy days,
In all our ways:
he is our faithful friend;
he calls our gracious God;
and he shall save us to the end,
through Jesus' blood.

4 He by himself has sworn -
we on His oath depend -
we shall, on eagles' wings upborne,
to Heaven ascend:
we shall behold his face,
we shall his power adore,
and sing the wonders of His grace
for evermore.

5 The whole triumphant host
Give thanks to God on high;
"Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,"
they ever cry.
Hail, Abraham's God, and ours!
We join the heavenly throng,
and celebrate with all our powers
in endless song.

Thomas Olivers

Blessing and Dismissal

The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds
in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be with you
and remain with you now and always. Amen.

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ. Amen.


We hope that you enjoyed the online service and
it helps you feel connected to us all in St Ursula's.
Our finances have also been impacted by the closure of our premises
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HD - Page last modified 14 August 2020