91Èȱ¬

Introduction:

Good Morning and welcome to Sunday Worship for this St David’s Day service. I’m the Reverend Canon Jarel Robinson-Brown, and I serve as Vicar of St German’s Church in Adamsdown, Cardiff. Our Preacher for this morning is Captain Canon Kathryn Stowers, Divisional Ecumenical Officer for the Salvation Army. Our singing is led by the 91Èȱ¬ National Chorus of Wales, and this morning’s worship comes from Tabernacle Welsh Baptist Church in the Hayes, Cardiff, where the first ever Songs of Praise was broadcast in 1961. And so it is fitting and a joy to be in this place as we each from different traditions come together in unity this morning to offer this service. Ìý

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Today, we praise Almighty God for the life and witness of St David – a monk and bishop of the sixth century - regarded for his kindness, compassion and love, particularly of the poor. He died, some traditions say, in the year 601 and is the Patron Saint of Wales. We begin our service with words said to have been spoken by St David on his deathbed:

Arglwyddi, frodyr a chwiorydd,

byddwch lawen

a chedwch eich ffydd a'ch cred,

a gwnewch y pethau bychain a welsoch ac a glywsoch gennyf i'.Ìý

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Lords, brothers and sisters,

be joyful

keep your faith and your creed

and do the little things that you have seen and heard me do.

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Our Opening Hymn is sung in Welsh Ìý- Calon Lan. It talks of the desire to have a pure and honest heart. Remembering St David’s words that we should be joyful, this first hymn is an embodiment of the joy we find in Jesus Christ.

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Hymn 1 –ÌýCalon Lan (Tune JOHN HUGHES, 1872-1914 / Words by Daniel James GWYROSYDD, 1848-1920)

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Collect:

David was canonised in the 12th Century, and his name is found in schools and villages all around Wales. Indeed, the shopping Centre opposite us now is called St Davids.

The church in Wales marks this day each year, and the Collect for St David’s Day says.

God our Father,

you gave Saint David to the people of Wales to uphold the faith:

Encouraged by his example, may we joyfully hold fast to the things which lead to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with you and the Holy Spirit be all honour and glory, now and for ever.

Amen.

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Reading introduction 1:

Our First Reading comes from the Epistle to the Hebrews: chapter 11 verses 8-16. It speaks of faith which is led not by sight, but by trust in God’s promises. We hear of those who came before us and who, through all the storms and uncertainties of life, kept the faith and continued their journey with God. Ìý

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Reading 1:

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going.ÌýBy faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.ÌýFor he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old—and Sarah herself was barren—because he considered him faithful who had promised.ÌýTherefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, ‘as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.’

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth,Ìýfor people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.ÌýIf they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return.ÌýBut as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

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Our next hymn speaks of the power of personal conversion, and of the God who seeks and saves – we sing, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. And we sing it to the tune of Abbot’s Leigh.

After which, our preacher Captain Kathryn Stowers, Divisional Ecumenical Officer for the Salvation Army and Canon of Newport Cathedral, will speak.

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Hymn 2 – Come thou fount (Tune ABBOT'S LEIGH / Words ROBERT ROBINSONÌý 1735-1790 )

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Reflection - Part 1:

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It is a privilege to take part in this service of unity. As a Salvation Army Captain, I also have the rare honour of being a canon in the Cathedral of Newport. This is part of my role as Ecumenical Officer and leading the Salvation Army in Newport.

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But I haven’t always served in South East Wales.

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As a Salvation Army officer, one of the mixed blessings is that we can be asked to move around the country fairly frequently.Ìý This brings the joy of always feeling like we’re on a new adventure but the experience sometimes of not putting down roots very deeply.Ìý There is no permanent home, rather a series of adopted residences and communities – we could describe ourselves as sojourners or pilgrims, ones who reside temporarily, who are passing through.Ìý This doesn’t mean we don’t feel at home, but we know some day we will always uproot and move on.Ìý

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This brings a sense of adventure and an opportunity to live in places and meet people I may never otherwise encounter.Ìý We spent five very happy years on Teesside. Whilst leading The Salvation Army in a village called Eston, we had a frequent visitor to our fellowship.Ìý A retired gentleman from Thessalonica, he loved visiting his daughter, who lived locally, and stayed for a couple of months at a time.Ìý When he turned up on a Sunday morning at the beginning of his extended holiday, he was greeted as an old friend by us all, but we knew he would only be with us temporarily – a sojourner.

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This weekend we celebrate the feast day of our patron saint, Dewi, David.Ìý He travelled, preaching the gospel, evangelising and establishing new churches around Wales, and according to some traditions, further afield as well. David didn’t set down permanent roots, but travelled from place to place, sharing the gospel and inspiring new worshipping communities, around Wales, and according to some traditions, further afield as well.

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In our reading, the writer to the Hebrews reflects on their heroes of the faith, their cloud of witnesses. Today we have heard about Abraham, who was called to leave his home and travel to another land – the land promised to his descendants. The promise was not fulfilled in his time, it did not become his home. But he, by faith, waited on the promise of his eternal home. He was a sojourner, a temporary resident, on his way to his permanent home.

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91Èȱ¬ is so important.Ìý A place we can close our door and feel safe, a place where we can set aside the outside world, a place where we can take off our outside selves and relax.Ìý In this world, so many do not have the luxury of home, of safety, of being able to feel secure.Ìý So many are victims of circumstance, refugees, survivors of human trafficking and abuse, enslaved by dependency to drugs on alcohol, dispossessed and isolated. In search of a home.Ìý

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The Salvation Army works with those experiencing homelessness to achieve this dream of home.Ìý Our work provides support for as long as an individual needs it after achieving their own home.Ìý In this initiative the housing comes first and support wraps around the practical provision.Ìý 91Èȱ¬ is more than a roof over your head – it is a place of safety and security – physically, emotionally, spiritually – and our support helps break down whatever barriers may prevent a person settling in to their own home long-term.

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We, who may have a safe and secure home, can support those who are sojourners through circumstances beyond their control. We have so much that we take for granted, and making the smallest effort for others can make the biggest difference to those most vulnerable, and can help us appreciate what we have.

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Hymn intro:

Standing in this Baptist Chapel pulpit, I am surrounded by beautiful stained glass windows. ÌýAnd in our next hymn, Glory to thee, O God, for all thy saints in light – we hear words which speak of those who, like these stained glass windows, allowed the light of Christ to shine through them and lighten up our world.

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Hymn 3 –ÌýGlory to thee, O God, for all thy saints in light (Tune HAREWOOD / Words H. C. A. GAUNT 1902-1983)

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Reading introduction 2:

In our Second Reading, which comes from St Matthew’s Gospel chapter 16 verses 24-27, Jesus has just told his disciples that he is going to Jerusalem to lay down his life for them. And he is challenging them as what their response to his message will be in their life. Ìý

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Reading 2:

Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.ÌýFor those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.ÌýFor what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? ‘For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.

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Reflection - Part 2:

In our second reading, Jesus made it clear that if we are to follow him, truly follow him, we are to ‘give up our own way’ as one translation puts it, take up our cross and follow him.Ìý Lay aside the things that pre-occupy us, the things we hold a little too tightly, be that possessions, attitudes, prejudices, pre-occupations, even relationships.Ìý Anything that weighs us down and makes it hard for us to travel lightly – or that would stop us bearing the burden of the cross.Ìý It is in understanding true self denial that we can understand the fullest blessings that come from following Christ with our whole beings.ÌýÌý

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Abraham knew this – that he was to leave all that he knew, lay down the things that seemed safe and secure, and take his family on a journey, and yet he never saw the reward – in this life.Ìý

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David, our own patron saint, knew from a young age that he was to be a sojourner, that he would have no permanent home, that he would live lightly and not know physical comfort.Ìý Both lived, hoping and praying that the Lord, whom they loved and followed, would welcome them to their heavenly home and reward.

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Jesus calls us, similarly, to lay down what is dear to us, ‘give up our own way’ and trust that we will gain a greater reward by taking up our cross and following him.

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For St David that involved an ascetic life. He ate simple food, and drank only water. Indeed, he would pray in cold water. Whilst that may not be what we need to do, there is a call to hear Jesus’ voice, and this could be by doing the little things, as St David said.

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But the thing that encourages me the most is that we do have a home, a place prepared for us. Abraham knew it, David knew it and Jesus promised it – ‘a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God’. A place where home and rest are assured – not in this life, but a better place, a heavenly homeland, where they, and we, will be at one with our Lord and Creator.

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Charles Wesley, in one of his most loved hymns, gives us a glimpse of what he saw as this city ‘designed and built by God’:

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ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý Finish, then, thy new creation;

Pure and spotless let us be;

Let us see thy great salvation

Perfectly restored in thee;

Changed from glory into glory

Till in Heav'n we take our place,

Till we cast our crowns before thee,

Lost in wonder, love, and praise!ÌýÌý

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This is the hope and prayer of all sojourers, pilgrims, that we will be changed and find ourselves lost in the wonder, love and praise of our Saviour when our pilgrimage is complete and we arrive home.Ìý

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And we will now affirm this as we sing ‘Love Divine, All Loves Excelling’.

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Hymn 4 – Love Divine All Loves Excelling ( Tune Blaenwern / Words CHARLES WESLEY 1707-1788)

Prayers of Intercession and Lord’s Prayer:

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Our prayer of intercession has a response in Welsh.

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Arglwydd yn dy drugaredd,

gwrando ein gweddi.

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Which in English is:

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Lord in your mercy,

Hear our prayer.

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Spirit of God, make us open to others in listening, generous to others in giving and sensitive to others in praying, as we bring before you now those people and situations that are on our hearts, trusting that you hear us and use our prayers in the mystery of healing.

Arglwydd yn dy drugaredd,

gwrando ein gweddi.

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We thank you, Lord, for St David and all the saints who brought your light to

these islands and who were a living example of your love. Lord, draw us down into the depths of your love for us. As we rise to the surface, may we bring our love for others into this broken world.

Arglwydd yn dy drugaredd,

gwrando ein gweddi.

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We place in the depths of your love all who are victims – those who suffer poverty, famine, conflict, homelessness, cruelty and abuse. Dear Lord, dismantle the political and social structures that support such suffering. Dismantle the disposition of the human heart that allows it.

Arglwydd yn dy drugaredd,

gwrando ein gweddi.

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We place into your hands our families and friends, our community and our

church. We pray that where there is conflict, we will be bearers of healing and that all our relationships will be marked by peace.

Arglwydd yn dy drugaredd,

gwrando ein gweddi.

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We place into your hands those we know who are experiencing a time of trouble or illness. Touch with your love all those who are on our hearts today – we remember especially Pope Francis, and those who care for him, asking for your healing touch to enfold him.

Arglwydd yn dy drugaredd,

gwrando ein gweddi.

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Lord, make us a channel of your blessing. We offer our prayers knowing not how you will use them, but trusting absolutely that through them we may be a part of your redeeming and healing work in the world. Humbly we offer them - in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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And now the Prayer the Lord Jesus taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name,
thy Kingdom come,

thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

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Hymn link:

Perhaps one of the most well-loved of Welsh Hymns tunes is Cwm Rhondda – composed by John Hughes. ÌýWe end our service with words written by the great Welsh hymn writer, Ann Griffiths. It speaks of the greatness of Jesus, and in the last verse encourages us to wait in his love all the days of my life.

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Hymn 5 –ÌýWele'n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd (Tune Cwm Rhondda by JOHN HUGHES, 1873-1932)

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Closing:

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Thank you all for joining us for Sunday Worship this morning. As we turn to the rest of our day, we pray that the inspiration of St David, and all the Saints of God will inspire and guide us throughout the coming week and month ahead.

BlessingÌý

May almighty God,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

Bless you and keep you – now and always.

Amen.

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Playout: William Matthias: Postlude

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