2 November 2008

Welcome to St Alban’s Anglican Church

Today's Scripture (HC) : Micah 3: 5-end    1 Thess 2:9-13    S. Matthew 24:1-14

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. 

24^th Sunday After Trinity

O Lord, we beseech thee, absolve thy people from their offences; that through thy bountiful goodness we may all be delivered from the bands of those sins, which by our frailty we have committed: Grant this, O heavenly Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our blessed Lord and Saviour.

All Saints’ Day Collect

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. Amen.

FAITH IN FOCUS - WHAT IS A SAINT? from Rev Dr. Peter Toon

Let us focus here upon "all saints." There appears to be within the Christian traditions two ways of understanding what is a "saint."

 

First, there is the way which Paul the Apostle embraces in his Letters: here, a saint is a baptized, disciple of Jesus Christ, who is being sanctified (made holy) by the presence, work, gifts, fruit and virtues of the Holy Spirit, working in him and in the church. Here all active and consecrated disciples of Jesus, who are members of the church, are "saints." (See e.g., Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2) Obviously backsliding, apostate and nominal church members do not qualify for this description for they do not seek holiness.

 

 

The other way of understanding what is a "saint" is provided by Christian Tradition and is reflected in the naming of churches (e.g., St Augustine’s Church), in special days of commemoration (e.g., St Luke’s Day) and in patron saints of countries and cities (e.g., St George of England). Here the biblical description is both narrowed and intensified: the real "saint" is now a rare person who stands out from the rest of church members, and does so by his or her holiness, goodness and love for God and man.

 

WORD OF GOD

"We thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers." 1 Thess 2: 13

 

IT MUST BE A PROSPECT PLEASING to God himself to see his creation forever beautifying in his eyes, and drawing nearer him by greater degrees of resemblance.

(Joseph Addison)

 

A CHURCH IS A HOSPITAL for sinners, not a museum for saints. (L. L. Nash)

THE SAINTS are the sinners who keep on trying.

(Robert Louis Stevenson)

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS

Mon (All Souls): Daniel 1, Revelation 1, Matt 1: 18-end

Tues: Daniel 2: 1-24, Rev 2: 1-11, Matthew 2:1-15

Wed: Daniel 2: 25-end, Rev 2: 12-end, Matt 2:16-end

Thurs: Daniel 3: 1-18, Rev 3: 1-13, Matthew 3

Fri : Daniel 3:19-end, Rev 3: 14-end, Matthew 4:1-11

Sat: Daniel 4: 1-18, Revelation 4, Matthew 4:12-22

NEXT SUNDAY : Amos 5:18-24, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-end, S. Matthew 25:1-13