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'My work station is my worship station' -聽Sunday Worship - 12 02 16
Mark: Good morning and welcome to the city of Manchester where we鈥檙e looking at how faith and work relate. Like most cities, this northern powerhouse is not only home to thriving businesses and entrepreneurs, but also to zero hour contract workers, asylum seekers [who cannot work], and an increasingly visible population of homeless people, many of whom come regularly to the soup kitchen outside the west door of Manchester cathedral.
Claire: The remarkable claim at the heart of the Christian faith is that God lived and worked with the poor and marginalised. 聽Jesus is spoken of as a carpenter 鈥� probably apprenticed in his earthly father, Joseph鈥檚, business. But this I know, says our opening hymn, 鈥榟e lived at Nazareth and Laboured鈥�. 聽
The Novelist, Dorothy L Sayers commented that鈥�.鈥橬o crooked table legs or ill-fitting drawers ever, I dare swear, came out of the carpenter鈥檚 shop at Nazareth.聽
When we do our work with excellence, we bring glory to God.聽
HYMN: I cannot tell how he whom angels worship
Claire: William Young Fullerton鈥檚 hymn, I cannot tell sung to the tune of Londonderry air from his native Northern Ireland.聽
Sunday Worship today is coming from St James and Emmanuel Church in Didsbury, South Manchester, but at the moment you find us in the medieval part of Manchester which today houses Chetham鈥檚 School of Music. It鈥檚 where I teach. 聽The school was established 鈥榝or the education of forty poor boys from honest families鈥�. Around it grew the world鈥檚 first industrial city, where abject poverty existed alongside the wealth generated by the flourishing textile industry. 聽Also founded on this site, though it鈥檚 since moved, was The Manchester Grammar School, where Mark teaches Religious Studies, Ethics and Philosophy聽
Mark: Chetham鈥檚 library is the oldest public library in the English-speaking world and it鈥檚 where, in the summer of 1845, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels began work on a draft of what would become the Communist Party Manifesto.
By day, the 24 year old Engels worked with the city鈥檚 merchant class in the family cotton business. After work, he documented instances of injury, injustice, and inequality here in the centre of the industrial revolution. Workers鈥� wages and conditions, and a lack of sanitation, led to widespread disease and heightened death rates. 聽In today鈥檚 world of globalised business, many workers still face exploitative conditions in new industrial and manufacturing centres in the developing world
And so we pray:Living God, deliver us from a world without justice and a future without mercy;in your mercy, establish justice, and in your justice, remember the mercy revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Lord.
BOTH: Amen
Claire: Some estimates suggest that with a 40 hour working week - including travel to and from work - the average person clocks up 80 鈥� 90 thousand hours in their lifetime. 聽It鈥檚 perhaps surprising then that when it comes to worship, relatively few hymns and songs are specifically about faith and work. A notable exception is A Workers Prayer by contemporary songwriter, Stuart Townend.
MUSIC: Before You I Kneel
LIVE IN DIDSBURY:聽
Claire: Before you I kneel.
We are now in St James and Emmanuel Church in Didsbury with The Kantos Chamber Choir and a congregation who have joined us from various churches in Manchester.
Claire: Our first reading is sometimes called Jesus鈥� Nazareth Manifesto. 聽It鈥檚 from Luke chapter 4 and recounts Jesus reading from the prophet Isaiah鈥檚 words鈥︹��.聽
Reader 1 (Luke 4:18-19)
18 鈥淭he Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord鈥檚 favour.鈥�
Claire: After reading this, Jesus controversially added: 鈥淭oday this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing鈥�. Fulfillment wasn鈥檛 to come 鈥� it was present in front of their very eyes. This message that the poor will hear good news and captives will be freed, echoes Israel鈥檚 practice of cancelling debt and liberating slaves every 50 years. And it comes to life in a story told later in Luke鈥檚 gospel 鈥� that of Zacchaeus, inspired to refund those 聽he鈥檇 defrauded, at once unburdening them of debt and freeing him from the grip of greed. 聽This is Luke Chapter 19, starting at the first verse:聽
Reading 2: Luke 19:1-10聽
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, 鈥淶acchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.鈥� 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, 鈥淗e has gone to be the guest of a sinner.鈥�8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 鈥淟ook, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.鈥�9 Jesus said to him, 鈥淭oday salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.鈥�
Claire: 聽Jericho - a prime location for traffic and trade in its dates, palms, and balsam from Jerusalem to the East. As chief tax collector, Zacchaeus is at the top of a collection pyramid, taking a cut from those working under him. Some irony then, that his name means 鈥榬ighteous鈥� and 鈥榰pright鈥�. Jesus鈥� reputation as friend of tax collectors and sinners is not helped by inviting himself to dine at Zacchaeus鈥� house.
Jesus taught that it was harder for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. That life does not consist of the abundance of our possessions 鈥� 鈥榳hat can one give in exchange for one鈥檚 soul?鈥� He asked. A rich young ruler who is obedient to the law in every other respect, is told that he lacks one thing 鈥� to sell all he has, give to the poor, and become a disciple. He leaves Jesus deflated, unable to let go of mammon鈥檚 grip.
Zacchaeus鈥� conversion is from greed to generosity. In giving away half of his possessions and paying back those he鈥檚 cheated four times the amount鈥︹��a form of blindness that used people and loved money, is cured.
Mark: Jesus had met enough tax collectors to see how irresistible wealth was to them. He鈥檇 called his disciple Matthew away from the tax booth. So one question I鈥檓 left with is, why does he leave Zaccheus in place collecting taxes for Rome? Is he now to try to deal justly in that grey world rife with corruption and collusion? In this tax booth at least, the sizeable slices of profiteering are no longer being pocketed. Hardly the revolutionary refusal to pay taxes to Caesar that many were looking for, but Jesus leaves Jericho a fairer place in which to live. With the reform of its chief tax collector, in a modest way, Jesus brings good news to the poor of Jericho. And for Zacchaeus鈥� part, his sight is restored 鈥� he sees people where he one saw profit 鈥� he鈥檚 restored and reconnected to his community.聽
Being part of today鈥檚 globalized economy has some parallels with doing business in the Roman Empire. 聽Whether we鈥檙e an employer, an employee or a consumer, we鈥檙e part of a system which provides great opportunities but also has 鈥� in many places - vast inequalities. 聽Like Zacchaeus, we might ask what does it mean for us to have integrity and, in however modest a way, to bring good news to the poor 鈥� in other words, to promote Kingdom values in our workplaces and society.
Salvation, says Jesus, looks like a crooked tax collector paying back those he鈥檚 defrauded. 聽Jesus came to seek and save the lost. And for Zacchaeus, being found, meant reconnecting as a Son of Abraham with his community. He discovers that to lose your life in generosity, is to find it. 聽
Claire: Francis Ridley Havergal was an outstanding woman of the early Victorian period who has a Girls College in Toronto named after her. 聽 She was a talented singer, pianist, and writer, but she鈥檚 perhaps most remembered for a hymn which offers to God the whole of life 鈥� our time, health, education, work, and wealth. Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee.
MUSIC: Take My Life and Let It Be聽Claire: For over twenty five years, Dr Richard Higginson has directed the Centre for Faith in Business at Ridley Hall in Cambridge. Through workshops, an annual conference, research and publications, Faith in Business looks at how Christian faith and values can become part of the business ethic. In his book - Faith, Hope and the Global Economy 鈥� Richard argues that faith can be an enormous power for good in the workplace.
Mark met Richard earlier this week and they discussed the fact that Jesus had left Zacchaeus in post as Jericho鈥檚 chief tax collector 鈥� rather than calling him away from this work as he had done with Matthew. This led to the question: Does the church tends to think that remaining in the secular workplace is somehow a less holy calling than ordination?聽
Interview with Richard Higginson
Richard: I鈥檓 happy when people resist the temptation to train for the ministry and stay in the secular world serving God in a very demanding but fulfilling context. Some Christians are called to be 鈥榓 mole within the system鈥� and I think Zacchaeus was called to be 鈥榓 mole within the system鈥� 鈥� to reform the system from within. This is what some Christians can do鈥�other Christians can lead a company with excellent corporate values鈥�..some Christians may have to resign on a matter of principle if their company is involved in 鈥榤is-doing鈥�.
Mark: Tell us about the Jetta Toy Company.
Richard: It treats its employees better than most companies in the region. The Christian man who runs it 鈥揟 S Wong 鈥� has managed to improve standards within the toy manufacturing industry as a whole in China too.聽
Mark: In these times of political and economic change, what resources does Christian hope provide us with?
Richard: Generally the Christian faith provides us with a big story within which our lives make sense. Specifically it鈥檚 inspiring people to create alternative business models that do not make profit the 鈥榖e all and end all鈥� of everything 鈥� they are fundamentally concerned with alleviating poverty or ensuring sustainability or doing good in one way or another. It鈥檚 not just Christians involved in these alternative business models but my experience is that 鈥� around the world 鈥� a lot of Christians are involved in them.
Claire: If you'd like to explore the issues that Richard has raised further, there are now materials for prayer and group discussion available on the Sunday Worship web pages. Under the title The Pearl of Great Value, we鈥檒l be using these resources in our programmes through Lent. 聽They relate to the Archbishop of Canterbury鈥檚 Lent Book, Dethroning Mammon and they draw on his experience in business and the church as he explores the tensions arising in a society where money is not seen as a means to improve people鈥檚 lives but as an end in itself.聽
I remember Bear Grills choosing this next hymn 鈥� Lord of all hopefulness - on Songs of Praise and saying that, 鈥渨hen I go to church and I hear that, it feeds me to hear that this Lord of all hopefulness is with us at the start of the day and through our business, when we鈥檙e running around and we鈥檙e facing dangers.鈥�
The hymn鈥檚 author, Joyce Torrens, later wrote a newspaper column featuring Mrs Miniver, a plucky and sensible middle class English woman which was turned into a film and won the Oscar for best picture in 1942. It featured the hardships endured and overcome by an English family during the Blitz, and was thought by many to have helped win American public support for entry into the war against Hitler. Today we can take heart that in times of war and peace, work and rest, the God of all hopefulness is present.
MUSIC: Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy
Mark: Homily聽
Music: Blessed are the Pure in Heart verse 1聽Mark: As we come before God, we鈥檙e conscious that in what we have thought and said and done this past week, we have sinned against him and against our neighbour, and so bring to the Lord our sins and weaknesses, and ask for his mercy and forgiveness.
ALL: 聽Almighty God,to whom all hearts are open,all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden:cleanse the thoughts of our heartsby the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,that we may perfectly love you,and worthily magnify your holy name;through Christ our Lord. 聽Amen.
Claire: It鈥檚 known that stress, depression or anxiety account for millions of working days lost every year, due to work-related ill health. 聽So we pray for those facing the pressures, risks, dilemmas and targets of the modern workplace.
Lord Jesus, you said 鈥楥ome to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest鈥�. 鈥楶eace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.鈥� Teach us to pray that we as Christians in the workplace may know your rest and your peace with our fellow workers.聽
Mark: Out of gratitude help us to give you our work; may we always strive to do our best and help others do theirs. We give you our minds; may our thoughts and creativity support others and glorify you. Give us grace to seek first your kingdom and its righteousness in times of need and plenty, in times of sickness and health, in our trials and our joys. We give you our relationships; may our interactions be a light to the world.
MUSIC: Blessed are the pure in heart 鈥� verse 2聽
Mark: This past week the Daily Service at a quarter to ten on Radio 4 Long Wave explored the theme of 鈥榝aith and work鈥�, looking at 鈥榝aith in 聽financial institutions, in the police force, in parliament and on the railways. Today we鈥檝e focused on business, but we remember all those seeking to be salt and light in their workplaces across a wide range of sectors.
Claire: God of all creation,聽Who calls humankind to be wise stewards of the natural world, we pray for your common grace to be seen across all sectors of employment in our nation. Give courage, wisdom, and a love of justice to those working in the Police and the legal professions. And to all those working in the emergency services, grant energy, safety, and practical judgment.
Mark: We pray for those in the health and leisure industry, tourism, agriculture, retail, media and the creative arts. May their endeavour, creative vision and service of others inspire and renew those seeking food and rest.
Claire: We pray for all involved in education. Give them a desire for excellence that they may equip others to fulfill all of the potential you have given them. 聽And for those in healthcare 鈥� that they may be dedicated to those they serve, treating them with care and dignity, regardless of their age or background.
Mark: We pray for carers and those in the social services, aid workers, homeless shelter managers, and all who work in the charity and voluntary sector. May they know your Spirit鈥檚 power in their loving service and work. Give them wisdom and insight, especially in the face of so many financial constraints.聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽聽Claire: We also pray for those seeking employment, that they would know God鈥檚 love and guidance and find opportunities to use their skills and talents in the service of others.聽
Mark: For all of us heading back to our jobs this week, may we discover new ways to reveal your love, find clear minds to focus on all we need to achieve, and wisdom to overcome difficulties and find solutions. We put our trust in you, our father God, and in your son, our saviour Jesus Christ,
MUSIC: Blessed are the pure in heart 鈥� verse 3
Claire: Let鈥檚 pray together the prayer that Jesus taught us鈥�
ALL: Our Father in Heaven,Hallowed be Your name,Your kingdom come,Your will be done on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread,And forgive us our sinsAs we forgive those who sin against us,And lead us not into temptation,But deliver us from evil;For the kingdom, the power,And the glory are Yours,Now and forever, Amen.
Mark: Charles Wesley wrote over 6000 hymns, while his brother John travelled over 250000 miles on horseback to preach up to six times a day across England and Wales. He urged that there be 鈥淣o half Christians,鈥� and said that he himself had 鈥渄etermined, through His grace, to be all devoted to God, to give Him all my soul, my body, and my substance.鈥� Charles expressed that desire for whole life discipleship in this hymn: O thou who camest from above.
MUSIC: O thou who camest from above
Claire: God, you are everything to us,giving us life,filling us with love,and setting us free from sinthat we might live in you.聽Accept the work of our hands and minds this week,take our lives,give us your peaceand renew us in the service of Jesus and of our neighbour,聽
ALL: Amen聽