14 March 2010

Welcome to  St Alban’s Anglican Church  

                                                                                

Today's Scripture: Joshua 5: 8-12         2 Corinthians 5:16–end S. Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-end

Today: 8.35 a.m. Matins; 9.00 a.m. Church School; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist; 6.00 p.m. EP.

This Week: Tues–Fri 12.30 p.m. Midday Prayers; Fri (S. Joseph) 5.00 p.m. Holy Communion

Next Sunday: 8.35 a.m. Matins; 9.00 a.m. Church Sch; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist; 6.00 p.m. EP

4th Sunday in Lent (Mothering Sunday)

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

FAITH IN FOCUS: PARTY MOOD

When the prodigal son came home they held a party to celebrate the fact that he was part of the fold once more. But there was an empty seat at the party; the older brother refused to come and take part.

The liturgy, and especially the Eucharist, is the continuation of that party and festivity. We celebrate the fact that in Jesus Christ we have been redeemed and forgiven, that we are already experiencing a share in the eternal life that God has promised us and that one day we will enjoy seeing God face to face in the never-ending celebration of bliss and happiness in heaven. In the meantime we eat and drink the body and blood of Jesus Christ that was given up and shed for us so that sins may be forgiven.

As you sit in your pew in church, are there any empty seats? Who belongs in those seats? It’s tempting to say that they are older brothers’ seats, people who have had some sort of gripe with the church and have decided to give Sunday worship a wide berth. To an extent this is true. We are a fallible group of people and we’re quite capable of failing each other at crucial times, and of even putting off people to the extent that they no longer darken our doors. What would happen if we reached out to family and neighbours, to friends who feel that the Church has failed them? Is it worth taking the risk of inviting them to the feast, or should we just write them off as a dead loss? Would it shock us if they said yes?

 

WORD OF GOD

It was only right that we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found. (Luke 15:32)

 

WORD FOR TODAY

We take it for granted that God will forgive us if we ask for pardon. We sometimes find it harder for other people to be forgiven and we think that they are getting off lightly. But do we ever think of “rejoicing” in the fact of forgiveness? Or is it just a given thing?

 

DREAM HUSBAND? (March 19th)

Mary could be certain that her child was from God, but Joseph only had to believe it because of what he was told in a dream. And when things started to go from bad to worse, Joseph must have had his doubts that God really was in control. After all, he was only human.

But Joseph was a man of faith, a just, hardworking and honest man. He was Jesus’ role model as he grew up.

 

 NOTHING WORTH DOING is completed in our lifetime; therefore, we are saved by hope. Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history; therefore, we are saved by faith. Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone; therefore, we are saved by love. No virtuous act is quite as virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own; therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness. (Reinhold Niebuhr)

 

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS

Mon: Exod 2: 11–22, Heb 9: 1–14, John 9: 18-end

Tues: Exod 2:23 – 3:20, Heb 9: 15–end, John 10: 1–10

Wed: Exod 4:1-23, Heb 10: 1–18, John 10: 11-21

Thurs: Exod 4:27 – 6:1, Heb 10: 19-25, John 10: 22-end

Fri (S. JOSEPH): 2 Sam 7: 4-16, Rom 4: 13-18, Matt 1: 18-end

Sat: Exod 7:8–end, Hebrews 11: 1-16, John 11: 17-27

NEXT SUNDAY : Isaiah 43: 16–21,  Philippians 3: 4b–14,  S. John 12: 1-8