麻豆约拍

The Revd Katherine Hedderly Introduction聽

Good morning from London鈥檚 Square Mile. I鈥檓 standing outside the church of All Hallows by the Tower by the River Thames, next to the Tower of London, on the boundary of the City of London, and to the East, Tower Hamlets, one of the most deprived boroughs in the country.聽

It was here around 675 the then Bishop of London, Erkenwald gave land to his sister Ethelburgha, Abbess of Barking Abbey, to build a place of worship which became the first church on this site and the earliest Christian place of worship in the City of London. Bede describes Ethelburgha as "upright in life and constantly planning for the needs of her community鈥�.聽 Today the many historic Square Mile Churches are offering that same care for their community, which before the pandemic numbered over half a million people coming to the City each day.聽

As workers and visitors come back to the Square Mile, after these very challenging eighteen months, the churches are working hard to welcome them. Gone are the inidividualistic 鈥済et rich quick鈥� days of the 80s, although a lot of money is still made here which supports our national economy as well as bringing great wealth to individuals and to companies. Instead, the pandemic has given us all an awareness of how interdependent we are. Here in the City there is a renewed appreciation of this. At its heart is the spiritual life of prayer and worship of the Christian community. Along with their cultural and historic significance the churches, through the love of Christ, offer a place of peace, reflection, creativity and connection, where the bigger questions of life can be explored, and through them lives beyond the City are being transformed.聽

Opening hymn: City of God, how broad and far (Richmond)

Prayer (Katherine)聽

God of Life, as we reflect on the life of this City of London and all places of work, community and human endeavour, give us a renewed appreciation of our interconnectedness. As we seek to serve you in this place, show us how it is in serving others that we are drawn into your life of abundance and creativity, through the love and generosity of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.聽

Sarah Mullally, the 133rd Bishop of London, reflects on the continuity and faith of the City Churches.聽

Reflection 1: Bishop Sarah

鈥淗ere in the City of London, on the 31st July this year, the bells of the City Churches rang out. They rang to mark those who had died through Covid, and to give thanks for the life of our capital.聽
The day started with the ringing of Great Paul at St Paul鈥檚 Cathedral. It was then answered by the 12 Bow Bells over the following two hours. They were joined by others, including the bells of St Michael鈥檚 Cornhill, St Magnus the Martyr, near to the Monument, and St James Garlickhythe, Garlick Hill.聽聽
The bells symbolise something of the continuity of life and faith of the City Churches, which never fall silent. They remind us of the rhythm and presence of our Cathedral and churches, which give voice to the prayers of our communities, which share in the joy of marriage and birth, and which lament in the pain of our shared loss.
Our churches are ever present 鈥� sometime seen but often unseen. They step out and step into London with acts of compassion, and care for the homeless, hungry and those who struggle. Their reach goes beyond the City itself, and those who live here and work within its offices, supporting people in local areas right across London.聽 Providing water for life and seeking healing for the City and nation.聽The psalmist reminds us that Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain (Psalm 127). It is a humble city which has its hope in God. It is a humble city which we are told will prosper, and which will have peace within its walls.聽The City Churches, like their bells, speak up for justice, mercy and peace, for inclusion and welcome for all.

Choir: verses from Psalm 127 EITHER Anthony Caesar anthem, or chant Bible Reading 1: Revelation 22.1-5聽Read by Philip Dawson, Ordinand

A reading from the Revelation of St John, Chapter 22

Katherine
Nicholas Lyons has worked in the City for almost forty years and has extensive experience in the financial services industry, especially in insurance and is involved with a number of educational and charitable organisations. An Alderman and Sheriff-elect for the City of London he is deeply involved in its civic and commercial life and knows just how important it is for the life of the City to re-establish itself and for the ecosystem of the City to flourish.

Reflection 2: Nicholas Lyons (City 鈥� Civic and Commercial life)聽聽

At a Service of Reflection at St Pauls in June, the Civic City reconvened for the first time in 15 months, albeit masked, socially distanced and in limited numbers. Surrounded with beautiful architecture, music and words we were reminded of the vital part that our City churches play in providing context and contemplation in our busy existence. Praying together for lives and livelihoods lost and giving thanks for the extraordinary work of scientists and key workers reminded us of the power of community and the human need for social interaction.聽
The City is now poised to bounce back strongly, bringing bustle to our streets and offices. Protection from serious illness afforded by vaccination means we can stop sheltering and get on with living, helping small businesses and hospitality venues dependent on footfall and working to address the widening inequalities in our society. A strong national economy requires a thriving financial services industry, allocating capital to where it is needed most and helping businesses and individuals to mitigate financial risks as they go about their lives. This strong commercial purpose is mirrored by a strong social purpose too. The City of London Corporation together with the many Livery Companies and large and small City firms working in coordination with our City churches, contribute significant financial and human resources to reach people in the most deprived parts of London boroughs and beyond. We are ready to play our part in creating a hopeful future for all.聽聽

Bible Reading 2: Matthew 5.13-16聽Read by member of Congregation at All Hallows by the Tower聽

聽Choir: The Lord is my light 鈥� Taize

Link (Katherine)聽
From the heart of the City, through their partners, the churches of the Square Mile are helping to bring hope and transformation to those experiencing poverty and disadvantage not far away. In a moment Denise Bentley of the First Love Foundation shares Tabatha鈥檚 story but first Luke Watson of Youth organisation XLP describes their work supporting young people.
鈥僉uke Watson (XLP 鈥� Youth Charity)聽聽XLP works in nine London boroughs, all surrounding the City. We work to keep young people in schools and out of gangs. We work to give them the types of opportunities that most people working in the City take for granted. And we work to bring them a sense of hope and a future, to be salt and light, where life can often feel bland or bleak.聽What we do is not complicated 鈥� but it does take dedication and it takes time. We know that trust is low in many of the communities where we work 鈥� and understandably so 鈥� but if a young person can build trust with a youth worker, a trusted adult, or a mentor from one of our corporate partners in the City, they start to believe something different about themselves and their futures. If they start to believe that there is a positive future ahead of them, they start making the changes to reach it.聽聽With an office based here out of All Hallows church on London Wall, this gives us the perfect opportunity to build bridges and partnerships with other City Churches as well as with the affluence of the City. Surrounding this wealth, is social, emotional as well as financial poverty.聽 These are the areas hit hardest by the pandemic, by poverty, by knife crime and gang culture.
Not only do we raise support from one of the wealthiest areas in the country, we also draw on volunteers to mentor, tutor and volunteer to help young people on the estates. We take young people to offices in the City, to broaden their horizons and offer opportunities in places that would otherwise be hard to reach.聽
Jesus鈥� vision of salt and light was not just for Christians, it is for the whole of society, the whole of humanity, and the whole of creation.

Choir: The Lord is my light 鈥� Taize鈥�

Denise Bentley (First Love Foundation 鈥� Tower Hamlets Foodbank)聽

Although every crisis is different, the journey, the approach is always the same.聽 Take Tabatha.聽 Tabatha is a great example of what transformation looks like.聽
Tabatha and her family fled domestic abuse and were living in a refuge when she was referred into our Love Summer holiday hunger programme (in Tower Hamlets).聽
Isolated, in their crisis, First Love became their village. We showed love, provided person-centered holistic support, alongside expert advice to help restore income.
Tabatha regained her voice, independence and the hope and belief that she could rebuild her life.
Today, she would tell you their lives have been completely transformed.聽 She鈥檚 living in a house with a garden, the kind she鈥檇 always dreamed about.聽
Impacted by the love and support we showed, at what she would now look back and describe as the darkest times of her life, she is about to train as an advisor to provide support to women who are also experiencing domestic abuse.聽
As a Christian charity, faith and social justice sit at the very centre of each action we take.聽
Choir: Here in this place, new light is shining 鈥� Marty Haugen聽Link (Katherine)One of the ways in which the churches of the Square Mile have been welcoming City workers back has been through our historical and cultural offering. A series of summer guided walks through the churches in the company of the best of guides like historian Tom Holland, Neil McGregor, former director of the National Gallery and the British Museum, and composer Bob Chilcott, complete with choral scholars from St Stephen Walbrook, opened people鈥檚 eyes to discover the treasures that are just a step away from their offices.聽
Nick Mottershead is the newly appointed Priest in Charge of St Sepulchre, the Musicians鈥� Church, where the community combines the beauty of music in worship, with hands on practical help. Through their work with the Hygiene Bank they connect the local companies with those on the street experiencing hygiene poverty. He leads our prayers with colleague Tessa Bosworth who has recently been ordained.聽Prayers 鈥� (Nick Mottershead & Tessa Bosworth) 鈥� with sung prayer response?聽
Let us pray,
God of love, we pray for those in our communities who are vulnerable, marginalised, or oppressed. May we be good neighbours offering support so that their needs may be met, and their voices heard. Be close to those living in poverty and with those whose work is to help them.

Choir: Ubi caritas (Taize)

God of life, we pray for faith and spiritual growth throughout our cities and towns as people return to their offices and other places of work. Encourage them to have understanding and compassion for each other as they navigate new ways of working, and particularly for leaders as they support and guide their teams. We also pray that the corporate world would seek more and more to care for our created world though social initiatives and a more equitable sharing of resources.
God of wisdom, we pray for our young people returning to school, college and university. Grant them renewed enthusiasm for their studies, for peace of mind as they start the new term, and inspiration as they look ahead to their futures.聽

Choir: Ubi caritas (Taize)

God of peace, we pray for all those suffering in places of conflict, and environments of fear and instability. We pray especially for the people of Afghanistan - both those who are fleeing to find safety and for those who have stayed, thinking also of British Nationals and their Afghan associates who fear for their own safety. Give strength and courage to those whose families have been separated. We pray also for the many organisations seeking to provide help and support to the country at this time.Response聽God of friendship, we are interdependent, one of another.聽 Remind us of the gift of others in our own lives, especially those we have come to notice and appreciate more through the pandemic. Make us a people who live to bless others. Dependent on you, may we trust you, more and more. Through our prayer, actions, in our daily lives, and in our places of worship may we reflect a vision of your heavenly city for all people.聽

Choir: Ubi caritas (Taize)

Lord鈥檚 Prayer (everyone)

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.聽 And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever.聽Amen.聽

MUSIC: The River of the water of life 鈥� Malcolm Archer (3鈥�30)聽

鈥僐eflection (Katherine)聽

The Latin motto of the City of London is Domine dirige nos - Lord, guide us.聽 You can see it on the coat of arms all around the Square Mile.聽
As we minister and witness to the love of Christ here in the City and beyond, we remember God鈥檚 faithfulness through other challenging times in the City鈥檚 history, as it survived plague and fire, and Blitz, and we seek God鈥檚 guidance for this time.聽聽
Just a few days ago it was the 355th anniversary of the Great Fire of London of 1666. Out of that disaster the work of Sir Christopher Wren rose in the rebuilding of over 50 churches as well as St Paul鈥檚 Cathedral. We will celebrate his life on the three hundredth anniversary of his death in the Wren300 Festival in 2023.聽 This church of All Hallows like many of the City Churches had its central nave and East Window blown out in the Blitz. The City has come through equally challenging times before.聽 And this week Extinction Rebellion have been in the City one more reminding us of the pressing concerns we all face around global warming and the environment.聽
Today it is not so much the fabric of the buildings but the care for our lives together that鈥檚 being rebuilt and repaired.聽 There鈥檚 still much uncertainty but everyone expects a degree of change, and quite what the City will be like going forward with hybrid working on the minds of many, remains to be seen. But as people come back to work there鈥檚 a greater focus on their well-being, their mental health, with more flexible working patterns. There鈥檚 a desire for the Square Mile to be a place of inclusivity, and diversity, more sustainable and an attractive place for all to work in, live and visit, whilst the wealth generation must still go on. We鈥檙e more aware of how what we do is important for someone else鈥檚 livelihood and well-being.聽
Jesus warns us not to lose our saltiness, not to hide the light of the Gospel but to put it on the lampstand for all to see.聽 In a conversation with a business leader this week he was keen to bring his Christian faith into all that he was doing supporting businesses as they shape their ethical framework and working practices, here and around the world. At this time the life and faith of the church is called to be confident in the public square.
The City reaches across the globe but it is also like a village.聽 For those who live and work here it has a sense of community. As the pace begins to quicken with people returning to their offices, as well as working with our partners, we will be seeking to work with those 鈥榟idden workers鈥� who became more visible in the quieter times; the maintenance staff, the cleaners, construction workers, the security guards. It is only when the needs of all are met that we can truly say we are 鈥榣iving together鈥�, interdependent on one another, not just existing side by side.聽聽The vision of God鈥檚 heavenly City, that we aspire to, is of a place of restoration and healing and wellbeing and fruitfulness for all; healing for the local, healing for the nations.聽
As the Square Mile gets busier, this is the time for us to reset our vision and the vision of this City to be a productive, compassionate, and healing environment for all.聽聽
Lord guide us to be all that you call us to be and direct and sustain your community living faithfully in this place. Make Christ our sure foundation and rebuild your City with the living stones of your love.

Hymn 鈥� Ye that know the Lord is gracious聽

Bishop Sarah leads a prayer for the City鈥�

Prayer for the City & Blessing (+Sarah)聽聽Almighty God, we thank you for the City of which we are part;聽For those who share with us in its life,And for all who serve its various interests.Help us as we have the opportunity,To make our contribution to the City and learn to be good neighbours,That by love we serve one another.For the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.
May the Lord bless you and keep you,May the lord make his face to shine upon you,And be gracious to you.May the lord lift up his countenance upon you聽and give you peace.Amen.

Organ Voluntary

Please note:

This script cannot exactly reflect the transmission. It may include editorial notes prepared by the producer, and minor spelling and other errors.

It may contain gaps to be filled in at the time so that prayers may reflect the needs of the world, and changes may also be made at the last minute for timing reasons, or to reflect current events.