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St
Alban’s (Grand Cayman) & St Mary’s (Cayman Brac) | ||
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19
July 2009 Welcome
to
St
Alban's Anglican Church
Today's
Scripture: Jeremiah 23:1-6
Ephesians 2:11-end S. Mark 6:30-34, 53-end Today:
9:00 a.m. Matins: 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist;
6.00 p.m. Evening Prayer (Sam Haigh). This
Week: Wed- S. Mary Mag, 12.30 p.m. HC; Tues, Thurs-Fri 12.30 p.m.
Midday Prayers; Sat – S. James, Apostle 12.30 p.m. HC 6th Sunday after TrinityO God, who hast prepared for them that love thee such good things as pass man’s understanding; pour into our hearts such love toward thee, that we, loving thee above all things, may obtain thy promises which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen FAITH IN FOCUS: A GOD WHO CARES
One
of the most striking aspects of the gods of ancient peoples is that
they inspired fear. It’s a common feature in these ancient deities
that they had to be avenged. They were a moody lot. So it was quite
common for some enormous sacrifice to be made in order to appease
them and prevent them from venting their spleen on those who were
unfortunate enough to be their subjects and followers. When
Moses came back down the mountain it must have come as a relief to
the Hebrews to find out what sort of God they had made a deal with.
One who would keep them under his thumb or one who would let them
grow? People
who don’t believe in God often find it necessary to lampoon the
God they don’t believe in. So they invent a ludicrous image and
then proceed to knock it down with either sarcasm or humour. Christians
would probably be content with a God who as creator was responsible
for the wonderful world we live in and for the gift of life that we
all enjoy. Of course, having a God who was personally interested in
each of us would presumably be out of the question? Surely God has
got more important things to do than be concerned about me as an
individual with all my likes and dislikes, my wants and needs? So
when God speaks in today’s scripture about shepherding his flock
and taking care of them, and when Jesus feels sorry for his
listeners and takes pity on them for they’re like sheep without a
shepherd, what’s going on? Do I need to look again at the type of
God we’ve got?
WORD OF GOD He
took pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and
he began to teach them at some length. (Mark 6:34) WORD
FOR TODAY Shepherds
only lead sheep to where there is better food and water. As our true
shepherd, Jesus wants us to know how to get the most out of our days,
where to find happiness and where to enjoy the life that God intended
for us. I know my sheep, says Jesus, and they follow me.
(St Augustine) YOU
CAN TELL THE SIZE OF YOUR GOD by looking at the size of your worry
list. The longer your list, the smaller your God.
(Oliver Todd)
(Irv
Kupcinet) GOD
LOVES EACH OF US as if there were only one of us. (St Augustine) THIS
WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS
Mon: Ezk 10:1-9, 2 Cor 6:1 - 7:1, Luke 20:41 - 21:4 Tues: Ezk 11:14-end, 2 Cor 7:2-end, Luke 21:5-19 Wed (S. MARY MAGDALENE): Song of Sol 3: 1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:14-17, John 20:1-2, 11-18 Thurs: Ezk 12:17-end, 2 Cor 8:16 - 9:5, Luke21:29-end Fri: Ezk 13:1-16, 2 Cor 9:6-end, Luke 22:1-13 Sat (S. JAMES, Ap): Jeremiah 45:1-5, Acts 11:27 – 12:2, Matthew 20:20-28 NEXT
SUNDAY 2
Kings 4:42-end, Eph 3:14-end, S. John 6:1-21
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