Patrick Comerford
We are continuing in Ordinary Time in the Church Calendar and today is the Sixth Sunday after Trinity (Trinity VI, 7 July 2024). Later this morning, I hope to take part in the Parish Eucharist in Saint Mary and Saint Giles Church, Stony Stratford, which is a ‘Teaching Mass’ this Sunday.
Before today begins, I am taking some quiet time this morning to give thanks, for reflection, prayer and reading in these ways:
1, today’s Gospel reading;
2, a reflection on the icons in the new iconostasis or icon stand in the Greek Orthodox Church in Stony Stratford;
3, a prayer from the USPG prayer diary in connection with this week’s USPG conference;
4, the Collects and Post-Communion prayer of the day.
Mark 6: 1-13 (NRSVUE):
1 He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2 On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offence at him. 4 Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honour, except in their hometown and among their own kin and in their own house.” 5 And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then he went about among the villages teaching. 7 He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff: no bread, no bag, no money in their belts, 9 but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13 They cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.
The Stony Stratford iconostasis 22: a closing reflection
The annual conference of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel) take place later this week at the High Leigh Conference Centre near Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire.
The conference them this year is ‘United Beyond Borders’, and I hope to reflect on the conference in this prayer diary on mornings later this week.
For the past three weeks, I have been reflecting the new iconostasis or icon screen in the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Ambrosios and Saint Stylianos in Stony Stratford. In my prayer diary over these three weeks, I have been looking at this new iconostasis, and the theological meaning and liturgical significance of its icons and decorations.
Before preparing to attend the USPG conference later this week, I am taking a little time to summarise my reflections on the new icon screen in Stony Stratford in recent weeks:
Introduction: Introducing the new iconostasis in the Greek Orthodox Church in Stony Stratford (15 June 2024)
1, The Royal Doors (16 June 2024)
2, Christ Pantocrator (17 June 2024)
3, The Theotokos or Virgin Mary (18 June 2024)
4, The Dormition of the Theotokos (19 June 2024)
5, Saint Stylianos (20 June 2024)
6, Saint John the Forerunner, or Saint John the Baptist (21 June 2024)
7, Saint Ambrose of Milan (22 June 2024)
8, ‘The Icon not made by Hands’ or ‘Mandylion’ (23 June 2024)
9, The Mystical Supper, Ο Δείπνος ο Μυστικός (24 June 2024)
10, The Ascension, Ἡ Ανάληψη του Ιησού (25 June 2024)
11, The Nativity (26 June 2024)
12, The Baptism of Christ, Ἡ Βαπτισις (27 June 2024)
13, Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem or Palm Sunday, Ἡ Βαϊοφόρος (28 June 2024)
14, The Raising of Lazarus, Ἡ Εγερση του Λαζάρου (29 June 2024)
15, The Crucifixion, Ἡ Σταύρωση (30 June 2024)
16, The Harrowing of Hell or the Resurrection, Ἡ Αναστασις (1 July 2024)
17, The Assurance of Thomas, Ἡ ψηλάφηση του Θωμά (2 July 2024)
18, Pentecost, Πεντηκοστή (3 July 2024)
19, The Transfiguration, Ἡ Μεταμόρφωσις (4 July 2024)
20, The Presentation, Ἡ Ὑπαπαντή (5 July 2024)
21, The Annunciation, Ἡ Ευαγγελισμός (6 July 2024)
Most of the icons in the screen are prints and reproductions. But in time, the hope is, they are going to be replaced by new and original icons commissioned for the church.
Some of these fresh new icons have arrived in the church in recent days, including icons of the Archangel Michael and the Archangel Gabriel, for fitting in the side doors or deacons’ doors of the screen, an icon of the Theotokos or Virgin Mary as the Panagia Pantanassa, and an icon of the patrons of the church, Saint Ambrosios and Saint Stylianos – an icon that may be unique in its style and composition, showing in one icon two saints who are not contemporaries yet who are the joint patrons of one church.
It is hoped that the new iconostasis in Stony Stratford will be blessed and dedicated later this years by Archbishop Nikitas (Lulias) of Thyateira and Great Britain, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
Today’s Prayers (Sunday 7 July 2024, Trinity VI):
The theme this week in ‘Pray With the World Church,’ the Prayer Diary of the Anglican mission agency USPG (United Society Partners in the Gospel), is ‘United Beyond Borders.’ This theme is introduced today with reflections on this week’s USPG conference by Rachael Anderson, Senior Communications and Engagement Manager, USPG:
bor·der (noun.) borders (plural noun)
1. a line separating two countries, administrative divisions, or other areas
2. the edge or boundary of something, or the part near it
This week, USPG staff, trustees, partners, and supporters will join for our annual conference entitled ‘United Beyond Borders’. As we prepare for the event I have found myself thinking in depth about the word border and what it means.
In this election year, and increasingly in the current political landscape, we hear so much about border controls – ‘there’s no more space’, “Our borders are closed’ or so the narrative goes. Failing to recognise the call of our Lord to welcome the stranger and provide nourishment to those in need (Matthew 25: 35).
It has also made me think about the people who are pushed to the edge of the borders, borders of society, a lonely and difficult place. How the exclusion of people who we feel ‘don’t belong’ is the opposite of the love that Jesus showed on so many occasions to the marginalised.
For the Church, the Anglican Communion and organisations such as USPG to continue to hold relevance in such an ever-changing and turbulent world we must seek the unity that reaches all, across all borders and shares the freedom we have in the love of Christ.
The USPG Prayer Diary today (Sunday 7 July 2024, Trinity VI) invites us to pray reflecting on these words:
Creator God,
you made us all in your image:
may we discern you in all that we see,
and serve you in all that we do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Collect:
Merciful God,
you have prepared for those who love you
such good things as pass our understanding:
pour into our hearts such love toward you
that we, loving you in all things and above all things,
may obtain your promises,
which exceed all that we can desire;
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.
Post Communion Prayer:
God of our pilgrimage,
you have led us to the living water:
refresh and sustain us
as we go forward on our journey,
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Additional Collect:
Creator God,
you made us all in your image:
may we discern you in all that we see,
and serve you in all that we do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Yesterday’s reflection
Continued tomorrow
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition copyright © 2021, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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