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St
Alban’s (Grand Cayman) & St Mary’s (Cayman Brac) |
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1
November 2009 Welcome
to
St
Alban's Anglican Church
Today's Scripture: Isaiah 25: 6-9 Revelation 21: 1-6a S. John 11: 32-44 Today:
8.35 a.m. Matins; 9.00 a.m. Church School; 9.30 a.m. BCP Holy
Eucharist;
6.00 p.m. Evening Prayer. This Week: Tues – Thurs:
12.30 pm Midday Prayers. Fri:
Commencement Day; Next Week: Sunday 8th November
8.30 a.m. Matins; 9.00 a.m. Church School; 9.20 a.m.
Holy Eucharist; 11 a.m.
Civic Service of Remembrance All
Saints’ Day
O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for them that unfeignedly love thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord. FAITH
IN FOCUS: BLESSED EXISTENCE? It’s
not how we live that makes us saints. It’s how Christ lived for
us, how he died and rose again for us. So today’s feast is about
focussing on what Christ has done and the fact that we are already
called saints by him due to our baptism and faith. We are
incorporated into the holy people that are his Church. We’ve
already taken our place in the line of God’s saints. As
such, we seem to have
all the same problems that non-believers have. We mourn, we suffer
and we find it hard to make ends meet just like everyone else.
It’s exactly what Jesus told us in the Beatitudes: saints are
those who mourn, who hunger and thirst for justice, who are abused
and persecuted. In
a world that looks for instant gratification, whether it’s
fifty-nine minute dry cleaning or drive-through fast food
restaurants, the feast of All Saints teaches us a lesson in
perseverance. Through the Spirit, God is fashioning us slowly into
the saints we are intended to be, as long as we let him. This means
that we bear whatever crosses come our way, secure in the belief
that we are promised the life that God has prepared for us from the
beginning of time. But letting God mould us into saints takes a
lifetime of maturing, a lot of patience and much starting over
again. As
we make this journey to our heavenly home we have the inspiration of
those who have already completed their journey and now enjoy God’s
glory in God’s holy city, what we call the heavenly Jerusalem. We
hope that one day we will meet up with them there to share their joy
and see God face to face. In the meantime we celebrate today’s
feast, thanking God for what Christ has done for us and asking that
we may become more and more responsive to the Spirit who prompts us
to grow in holiness.
Firstly,
you will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow
yourself to be held in someone’s hand. Secondly, you will experience
a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become
a better pencil. Thirdly,
I will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. Fourthly, the
most important part of you will always be what’s inside. And
finally, on every surface you are used you must leave your mark. No
matter what the condition, you must continue to write.” THE
CHALLENGE OF THE SAINTS of the twenty-first century is to begin again
to comprehend the sacred in the ten thousand things of our world; to
reverence what we have come to view as ordinary and devoid of spirit. (Edward
Hays) THIS
WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS Mon: Isaiah 1: 1–20, Matt 1: 18-end, Rev 1 Tues: Isaiah 1: 21-end, Matt 2: 1-15, Rev 2:1-11 Wed: Isa 2:1–11, Matt 2: 16-end, Rev 2: 12–end Thurs: Isa 2:12–end, Matt 3, Rev 3: 1-13 Fri: Isa 3: 1–15, Matt 4: 1–11, Rev 3:14–end Sat : Isa 4:2 – 5:7, Matt 4: 12-22, Rev 4 NEXT
SUNDAY – 9.20 AM HC : Jonah
3: 1-5, 10, Hebrews 9: 24–end, S. Mark 1: 14-20 | |
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