The first Sunday in Lent

REV SCOTT BLYTHE: WELCOME

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Worship from the Memorial Chapel at the University of Glasgow. I am the Reverend Scott Blythe, University Chaplain.

We gather this morning to mark the First Sunday of Lent, and to try to understand how the season of Lent might be a source of encouragement in tumultuous and disturbing times.

We begin with a hymn of gratitude to Jesus for the gift of himself to us, ‘We sing the praise of him who died’.

MUSIC: HYMN – WE SING THE PRAISE OF HIM WHO DIED (TUNE: WALTON (FULDA)

SCOTT: Joining me this morning is the Assistant Chaplain at Glasgow University’s Inter-Faith Chaplaincy, the Reverend Roz Lawson, who now leads us in prayer.

REV ROZ LAWSON: OPENING PRAYER

Loving God, Creator, Saviour, Inspirer,

As we draw our first breaths this morning

And awaken to a new day, the clamour of the world can drown out your steadying voice.

But we come to you afresh, living God.

You, who delight us with the snowdrops and the crocuses of spring,

You, who set in motion the spinning earth,

You, who breathe life into every human,

You, who draw each one of us back to yourself, our source of life.

Yes, you invite, but never compel:

We come in worship, Holy God.

Thank you for inviting us again on this journey through Lent,

That you hold us steady in the palm of your hand

That you place a reassuring hand on each anxious brow

So that, with mind and heart re-fuelled with hope and joy,

We might return your steady gaze of love.

Knowing that you are our refuge and rock

Knowing that you alone, Jesus, never fail us.

Through your Holy Spirit, help us to discern your voice,

And reject all that is counterfeit,

As we settle into new rhythms of grace and joy this Lent.

Guide us in our worship, through word and music this day.

In Jesus’ name we pray,

Amen.

SCOTT: Our scripture readings this morning are read for us by students at the university, and the first is from Psalm 91.

STUDENT: READING - Psalm 91: 1-2, 9-16

1 You who live in the shelter of the Most High,
who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
2 will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.’

9 Because you have made the Lord your refuge,
the Most High your dwelling-place,
10 no evil shall befall you,
no scourge come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder,
the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
14 Those who love me, I will deliver;
I will protect those who know my name.
15 When they call to me, I will answer them;
I will be with them in trouble,
I will rescue them and honour them.
16 With long life I will satisfy them,
and show them my salvation.

SCOTT: The choir will now sing a setting Jesu, The Very Thought Of Thee, by June Nixon.

MUSIC: JESU, THE VERY THOUGHT OF THEE (June Nixon)

ROZ: INTRODUCTION TO GOSPEL We’ll now hear the account of Jesus facing temptation in the wilderness, and how he responds. The reading is from the Gospel of St Luke, Chapter 4.

STUDENT: READING - Luke 4: 1-13

4Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. 3The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ 4Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.” ’

5 Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And the devil said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ 8Jesus answered him, ‘It is written,
“Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.” ’

9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written,
“He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you”,
11and
“On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’
12Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’ 13When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

MUSIC: I SAT UNDER HIS SHADOW (Bairstow)

SCOTT: REFLECTION 1

Lent is a season that many people don’t look forward to.

It’s a time that has become associated with the kind of self-imposed austerity that only makes most of us cross and short-tempered as we are missing the daily treats that we normally indulge in. Many may feel, too, with the challenges we all face as the tectonic plates of our society and our world shift beneath our feet, that life is offering us enough to cope with.

However, Lent is meant more as time for reflection on our lives of faith and on the choices we normally make, and to raise the prospect of new ways of living our lives.

In our reading from the gospel of St. Luke this morning we heard the famous passage of Jesus being tempted by the evil one. In that encounter we find Jesus being forced to consider usurping his divine power for selfish purposes and possibilities.

Each time, Jesus remains rooted to his divine purpose and service.

Lent is a time when we are called to reflect and consider our personal lives. During these six weeks, people of Christian faith metaphorically move steadily towards Jerusalem with Jesus and the disciples. In this time, we are called to consider our lives, and where necessary to make new choices, choices that will hopefully enrich our lives further. It is a time for new direction.

The dramatic and painful story of Jesus’ self-giving is the motivation for those who try to follow him during Lent. But the tradition of self-examination also connects us with an energising and creative human impulse which we all share. It prompts us to look into our inner life, and try to take an objective view of our habits, values and relationships.

I was very lucky in my early years of ministry to be surrounded by some magnificent examples of faithful people. One such person was Sr. Isobel Smythe. Isobel was a Catholic Sister of Notre Dame and she worked in the West End of Glasgow seeking to deepen interfaith relationships in the Woodlands Community, an area of the city with a rich mix of ethnicities and faiths.

Every year, Isobel made a point of seeing Lent as a time for new direction, and new choices. She didn’t really like the negative association of giving things up. So, instead each year, Isobel would start something new through Lent. One year, she started to learn the penny whistle. On another, she taught herself to juggle.

These activities may not appear on the surface to have anything to do with the traditional images of Lenten self-denial, but by adopting them, Isobel was opening herself up to learning and contemplation, reaching a deeper understanding of herself. Through that she deepened her relationship with God.

In the six weeks, she really embraced the opportunity of starting upon something new. Lent was not a period to suffer in – rather, it was a time for reflection and development.

Thanks to Isobel, I too, have grown to appreciate the potential of Lent. Therefore, each Lent, I make a big effort to see it as a time for me to consider deeply my own living of faith. I do my best to really take stock and to ask myself some deep questions:

What might be life-giving in my journey of faith in the years to come?

Is there anything I need to let go of - a burden I have been carrying around for too long?

Is there something I can have some fun learning more about, renewing my motivation to embrace fulfilling opportunities?

For Christians, it’s time to face again the fear and suffering of Christ and his disciples in Jerusalem – what does it mean for your faith?

For all of us, it’s time to ask the question – Have we something that we need to consider changing, for life to be fuller, more truthful, and more loving?

Now we sing to the well-loved tune Coe Fen, contemporary words by hymnwriter Dominic Grant;

‘O Watcher in the wilderness, O Lord of bush and flame, 

you meet us when we least expect, and summon us by name.’

MUSIC: HYMN - O WATCHER IN THE WILDERNESS (TUNE: COE FEN)

ROZ: REFLECTION 2

This Lent, how will you find ways to connect with God, to embrace new life-giving spiritual practices, to make enriching choices? What are some practical steps that we can take at this time of journeying?

I immediately recognise that when we invite people to take on a challenge, to add something new into their lives, or even to drop burdens from their lives, that this can be met with resistance. And I feel that resistance within myself, too – because our lives today are so often full to the brim. Our diaries are full. Our headspace is limited. It can feel as if we simply cannot squeeze yet another thing in.

And, I confess that I have no desire to learn to juggle, or to play the penny whistle!
But, what if we take the opportunity to start with something small, which is life-giving for us? Could you pick one manageable thing? For example, could you write in a journal each morning one thing for which you are grateful? Or, could you commit to getting better sleep by going to bed earlier each night? Is there a new instrument, or recipe, or walking route, or craft, that you have been meaning to try?

It can be easy for the introverts like me to look inwards and choose solitary spiritual practices and ways of reflecting. But Lent is also a time when those in the Christian community look outwards, seeking God through connections with friends, family, and community; looking for ways, at a time when we can feel helpless, to make even a small difference. You could decide with a community of friends to pray a particular prayer at a given time each day. For example, members of the Northumbria Community, a scattered Christian community, pray the Lord’s Prayer each day at noon.

Personally, I’m looking forward this year to the return of a resource called “40 Acts”, which is a programme curated by the Christian charity, Stewardship. They offer ideas for innovative daily challenges during Lent, each designed to increase our radical generosity to those around us. Their suggestions in previous years included:

Donating to a foodbank collection point

Writing a kind note to a colleague

Buying chocolate for those around you

Giving blood

Listening to someone generously.

Perhaps you might find some inspiration in prayer, and by attending to what draws you.

But in all this, I am conscious that for some, the experience of wilderness rather than enrichment may be where you find yourself this Lent. Perhaps survival is your priority. In Luke’s rendering of the story, Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. This in itself gives us some searching questions about God which we don’t have time to explore here. However, Jesus remains in that uncomfortable place, and doesn’t try to circumvent it. So, if you’re currently experiencing one of the periods in life that feels like a dry desert, perhaps today you need to hear again the promise of God in our reading from Psalm 91. God is your refuge and shelter even if it doesn’t feel like that today. You are accompanied, even in the difficult places, by the One who watches over you.

So, however you begin this period of Lent, as you reflect and experiment, journey and grow, may you find:

a creativity and a contemplation

a re-direction and a restoration

a deepening despite the desert

a longing satisfied by Love

and a faith which leads to flourishing.

And God will be with you.

MUSIC: ANTHEM – GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD (Bob Chilcott)

INTERCESSORY PRAYERS WITH SUNG RESPONSES

SUNG RESPONSE (LONG): LORD IN YOUR MERCY, HEAR OUR PRAYER (Comp: Katy Lavinia Cooper)

SCOTT: Loving God, We bring our prayers for our troubled world before you.

STUDENT:

We pray for those places which are blighted by violence and war;

thinking especially this morning of Ukraine, of the Middle East, of Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We pray for wisdom, kindness and honesty amongst world leaders, and for all international efforts to bring peace founded on justice;

We pray for families who are displaced and grieving; and for those who are homeless and hungry.

We pray for the future of our planet, that we might care for it as you intended, and protect it from destruction by acquisitive power and greed.

SCOTT: O God, who hold all life in your hands, we pray for the world church as it seeks to advocate for reconciliation and to restore peace between neighbours.

SUNG RESPONSE (SHORT): LORD IN YOUR MERCY, HEAR OUR PRAYER

ROZ: Loving Jesus, We bring our more local concerns for our own country and communities to you.

STUDENT 2:

We pray for those who struggle to heat their homes and feed their families.

We pray for the sick, and for spouses and children who continue to care for family members who no longer can recall their names.

We pray for communities where drugs and knife-crime create fear and despair.

ROZ: O Christ, who sought to restore relationships wherever you wandered,
give us courage to follow your example of gentleness and justice, that our communities might be places of welcome and nurture.

SUNG RESPONSE (SHORT): LORD IN YOUR MERCY, HEAR OUR PRAYER

SCOTT: Holy Spirit, You live deep within each of us, seeking to inspire, to motivate and transform our lives.

STUDENT 3:

We bring to you those who have recently been bereaved and those who continue to mourn for long-passed loved ones.

We pray that your light might accompany and guide those in the darkness of grief, to new beginnings.

SCOTT: In the silence of this place, we lay before you our deepest needs and anxieties today.

O Trinity, whose being is of love, we offer these our prayers asking that we might be moved to aid those in need and that we may continue to offer compassion to one another, bringing healing and hope. Amen.

SUNG RESPONSE (LONG): LORD IN YOUR MERCY, HEAR OUR PRAYER

ROZ: We bring our service to a close with a hymn expressing our trust in the generosity and faithfulness of God: ‘The God of Abraham praise, who reigns enthroned above.’

MUSIC: HYMN – THE GOD OF ABRAHAM PRAISE (TUNE: LEONI)

SCOTT: BLESSING

Deep peace of the running wave to you

Deep peace of the flowing air to you

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you

Deep peace of the shining stars to you

Deep peace of the gentle night to you

Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you.

And go now in God’s name,

And may the blessing of the Creator, the Son and the Holy Spirit

Rest upon you all and all whom you love,

This day and forever more. Amen.

MUSIC: ORGAN VOLUNTARY : Fantasia in C minor, BWV 562, J S Bach