Dear Friends
Today, 20th March, is the vernal equinox, the day in spring when we have twelve hours of light and of darkness: it is a day of equality, of balance. And in our modern, technologised world none much cares of its significance: it is a day like any other.
Let us open our eyes. Nature around us is rejoicing as life teems: trees are bringing blossom, flowers are blooming, birds call out in song. Our faith does not abandon the Creation which God has called good but delights in it. And as an abundance of life returns after the winter an archangel is sent from heaven to herald the return of Life.
An angel chieftain was sent from heaven to say “Hail!” unto the Theotokos.
And beholding Thee, O Lord, taking bodily form, he stood rapt in wonder, and with bodiless voice cried aloud to her in this wise:
Hail, thou, through whom joy shall shine forth; Hail, thou, through whom the curse shall be destroyed.
Hail, thou restoration of fallen Adam; Hail, thou, redemption of the tears of Eve.
Hail, thou height untrodden by human minds; Hail, thou depth hard to scan, even for angels’ eyes.
Hail, thou that art a kingly throne; Hail, thou that holdest the Upholder of all.
Hail, thou star that showed the Sun; Hail, womb of the Divine Incarnation.
Hail, thou through whom Creation is renewed; Hail, thou through whom the Creator becomes a babe.
Hail, O Bride without bridegroom!
— Akathist Hymn, Α
For the Archangel Gabriel, beholding the Lord Himself—the Creator of heaven and earth, our great God and Saviour—become incarnate for the sake of the creatures whom He loves, cries out in hymn to the one called to be His throne. And, in one of the most beautiful of hymns, the Church poetically attempts to describe the mystery.
Awed by the beauty of thy virginity and the exceeding radiance of thy purity, Gabriel stood amazed and cried to thee, O Mother of God: What praise may I offer thee, that is worthy of thy beauty? By what name shall I call thee? I am lost and bewildered. But I shall greet thee, as I was commanded: Hail! Thou that art full of grace.
And we too are called to cry out in wonder before the magnitude of this mystery. For the entire history of the Church from the patriarch Abraham is leading to this moment, for one who is capable of saying in all purity and in love, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, not only does life return in spring but Life Himself is incarnate. And in our hymn, the Apolytikion, of the Annunciation we sing,
Today is the beginning of our salvation, and the manifestation of the mystery from the ages; for the Son of God becometh the Son of the Virgin, and Gabriel proclaimeth grace. Wherefore, do we shout with him to the Theotokos: Hail, O full of grace! The Lord is with thee.
For this is not the salvation of our race, the Cross brings about our reconciliation with God and the Resurrection is the assurance of Victory, but Today is the beginning: the Satan is now on borrowed time, his oppression of our race has been called out and Christ begins His assault. Let us join ourselves to this offensive, let us rejoice not only that Christ is borne in the Theotokos but that He be borne in us that we may bear Christ to the world, bear Light into darkness, bear Life into death.
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Sermon
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, one God, Amen.
I am sick and in need of healing, outside society and I feel alone. And yet four men carry me to be near the Lord. He is surrounded, the room is packed, but they do not allow anything to prevent them from their purpose and I am borne to His feet. And the Lord beholds their faithfulness. I have done nothing worthy, nothing good, nothing of faith: yet when the Lord sees their faith He says to me, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”
And elation is tempered with unbelief, joy with incredulity, delight with scepticism, “So now what?” I say to myself. “Is this it, the totality of the Christian life? To come before Christ and be forgiven?” I am grateful but perplexed. But He has a plan for me. I have done nothing good but He plans for me to glorify His Kingdom, to allow His grace to work through me. And He commands me to do the impossible—not suggests nor requests, He commands me—“I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home.”
And lying on my pallet, having received forgiveness not for my own sake but for the sake of the faithfulness of the four men, I am at a point of crisis, of decision. Will I accept the forgiveness and return to my former ways or will I accept the command of my Saviour and do the impossible?
Read this Sermon, A point of crisis, of decision.
Archive of Past Sermons.
Services this week
Friday 21st March
Discussion on the Prophecy of Isaiah, 8 pm
Online only
Saturday 22nd March
Great Vespers, 6.30 pm
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford
Sunday 23rd March
Matins and Divine Liturgy, 9 am
At 3rd URC Scout Hall, Chandlers Ford
Online session is via Google Meet: please get in contact for the details.
Please join us: all are welcome, come and see.
Attending Church
We meet at 3rd URC Scout HQ, Kings Rd, Chandlers Ford SO53 2EY. The Scout hall is behind and to the left of the URC Church. Come and See.
Can I help you?
I am here for you, you need only ask. Is there a way I can support your life of faith? Get in touch.
Can you help the parish?
Yes, absolutely. Offer yourselves to the Lord: pray! Make available to him all your talents and ask him how he would like you to use them — listen for his reply.
Your prayers!
With love in Christ
Fr Alexander
[email protected]