Sermon for Sunday 13th December 2009

I’ve been worried about a number of things lately. Pressures at work, apparent forthcoming changes in the NHS which will have a direct impact on my job, a general feeling of doom and gloom following the economic downturn can make many of us fear for the future. This has been intensified this week with the rather grim news for many people following the Chancellor’s pre budget report. It will no doubt lead to more concerns for many people. It’s very easy to get caught up in that sense of doom and gloom and whilst many of our worries can be genuine, I am mindful that some of us get into the habit of worrying and I for one am learning that worrying is not very productive.

I read a story recently about a man who was always worried. If he wasn't worrying about what had happened in the past, or what was happening now in the present, or misfortunes that might possibly happen in the future, then he was worried that he couldn't remember what it was that he ought to be worrying about! But no situation was ever made better by worrying about it.

In fact, worry may distract us from working out what we could do to make things better. So worrying isn't just a waste of time, it's a actually a misuse of time. But how are we going to stop worrying? The answer, says St Paul, is to pray: 'Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.'

Of course we should face up to the things we're worrying about, and analyse them. It's very easy to be generally worried about everything, with­out ever defining exactly what the problem is. When we know what it is that we’re afraid of, we should take hold of the problem, and place it into God's hands. Then trust God to look after it. I was telling my a good friend recently that I was worried about my children’s future – particularly with regards to their future employment prospects, the rising cost of housing and the forecasts for the state of the economy. My friend candidly reminded me that I am not responsible for everybody and everything. That's not my job; that's God's job.

Time and time again the Bible tells us that If, through prayer, we ask God to take charge of the future, he'll give us the strength to learn how deal with them or to endure the many difficulties we face. That's the sort of God he is: what the psalm calls 'the God of our salvation'.

You may recall Jesus parable about the birds and the Lilly of the fields.

He reminds us that we shouldn’t worry about what we will eat or drink or wear but instead strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. He ends the parable with these words:

‘So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

In today's Episistle , Paul's coming to the end of his letter to the Philippians.

He always wrote in Greek. Where we might write 'Yours sincerely', or 'All the best', the Greeks wrote, and still write, 'Rejoice'.For Paul, this wasn't just a conventional greeting. He wishes them not just ordinary joy, but he tells them to 'Rejoice in the Lord'. Then they'll know that, as Mother Julian of Norwich put it, 'all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well'. If we can truly know that, then we can be joyful no matter how dark the clouds seem overhead, because if we can just acknowledge that God is working in all situations we can let his sunlight shine through again.

Then Paul gives us a little lesson in prayer:

'In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.'

He divides our requests into two types: prayer for other people, and supplication for ourselves. One response to this might be for each of us to make a list of the people we need to pray for. We could try to imagine their feelings at present. Then lovingly ask God to give them what they most need.

Finally ask God for what we need ourselves. Of course it is only natural that we would pray for individual things but there are times when we should simply invite God to ‘let His will be done’. Remember Jesus words ‘your father knows your needs before you ask him…’

But Paul says that alongside our requests must always go thanksgiving: thankfulness for what God has already given us, which puts everything else into perspective.

Despite our relative prosperity, all of us here today entered this church this morning carrying some anxious thoughts with us, and perhaps some serious worries on our minds.  Are you today distracted by concerns for your job, your health, the health of a loved one, concerns for members of your family, your finances or a combination of these or other factors?

One of our former pastoral assistants, the late Ruth Morris, used to often say ‘Take it to the Lord in prayer’ – those are the words inscribed on the table by the entrance to the door –‘Take it to the Lord in prayer’. That’s not to say that are worries will just disappear but through Christ we can know that we are not journeying alone but that the Holy Spirit is working with us and for us.

Not just during the times when we are swimming along nicely but in during the sticky difficult times that we all experience.

In Advent we think about the coming of Jesus at Christmas, at the end of the world, and at our death. We should think about these things with joy and trust, not worrying about them. When we’ve handed over our worries to God, asked him for what we need, and thanked him for what he's given already, we will know that he is always ready to give us his peace. Today, whatever our worries, lets take them to the Lord in prayer so that we can begin to enjoy 'The peace of God, which surpasses all under­standing, which will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus’.

Amen

© Renos Pittarides December 2009