14 September 2008

Welcome to St Alban’s Anglican Church 

Today's Scripture (HC) : Numbers 21: 4-9    Philippians 2:6-11    S. John 3:13-17

Today's Liturgy: 8.35 a.m. BCP Matins;   9.00a.m. Scripture Study;   9.30a.m. Holy Communion;   6.00 p.m. EP

Tues to Fri: Midday Prayer 12.30p.m. 

Holy Cross Day

Almighty God, who in the passion of thy blessed Son hast made an instrument of painful death to be for us the means of life and peace: grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer for his sake; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

FAITH IN FOCUS: DOWNSIZING

Downsizing is a new word that comes from the business world. It means reducing the number of staff or premises in order to get better profits, to increase the quality of service or affect the overall efficiency of the enterprise. The key word when it comes to downsizing is improvement. By downsizing, things should get better.

You could argue that Jesus downsized. Although he was God he did not cling to his divinity but emptied himself of all the glory and became a human being just like us. But Jesus took it the absolute limits. Not only did he come among us here on earth but he chose to make himself weak in order that he might be strong. He went without the trappings of his status in order to bring about an improvement in the status of men and women. And he did this even to the point of giving up his own life by death on a cross.

The feast of the Triumph of the Cross is a paradox. We celebrate something that at first sight seems to be a defeat. But our focus does not stop at the cross as an instrument of execution like the modern-day noose, electric chair or hypodermic syringe. We go further because it’s not simply the wood of the cross that is the focus of this feast but what it actually signifies.

It’s known as the triumph or the exaltation of the cross since it recalls that the tree of human defeat has become the tree of victory; where life was lost even greater life has been restored. So we look upon the cross as a symbol of victory rather than defeat, of life rather than death. By dying on the cross Jesus opened the way to fullness of life for those who live in the way he proposes, and this fullness of life extends beyond the grave.

The Triumph of the Cross invites us to downsize too. We are urged to purge ourselves of all unnecessary trappings in the way we live, and live simply on all levels, mindful of those who do not have the luxury of living the sort of existences that we take for granted.

To celebrate today’s feast is to thank God for giving his only Son, even to the point of death. And it’s also a reminder that we have to carry our daily cross, to live a radically re-orientated life, and to downsize.

WORD OF GOD

Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8)

BLESSING OF TEACHERS (New School Year)

Lord God, you enlighten our minds with the light of your truth and you sent your Son Jesus to learn from his parents, and then teach by his own life and example. Bless our teachers. May they share their knowledge and talents with patience, generosity and kindness. Grant them the skill to bring wisdom to eager minds and to encourage those who are flagging. May their reward be to know Christ, their own teacher, as the way, the truth and the life, for ever and ever. Amen.

IT IS A SOBER TRUTH that people who live only to amuse themselves work harder at the task than most people do at earning their daily bread.

(Hannah More)

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS

Mon: 1 Kings 21, Acts 21:37 - 22:21, Mark 14: 1-11

Tues: 1 Kings 22: 1-28, Acts 22:22 - 23:11, Mark 14:12-25

Wed: 1 Kings 22: 29-45, Acts 23: 12-end, Mark 14:26-42

Thurs: 2 Kings 1:2-17, Acts 24:1-23, Mark 14: 43-52

Fri : 2 Kings 2:1-18, Acts 24:24 - 25:12, Mark 14:53-65

Sat : 2 Kings 4: 1-37, Acts 25: 13-end, Mark 14:66-end

NEXT SUNDAY (S. MATTHEW. Ap) : Proverbs 3:13-18, 2 Corinthians 4:1-6, S. Matthew 9:9-13