20 January 2008

Welcome to St Alban’s Anglican Church 

Today's Scripture (HC) : Isaiah 49: 1-7    1 Corinthians 1: 1-9    S. John 1: 29-42

Today's Liturgy: 8.35 a.m. BCP Matins; 9.00a.m. Scripture Study; 9.30 a.m. Holy Communion; EP 6.00 p.m. ; Keswick Convention opening 7.30 p.m. at FBC

This Week: Mon to Fri: Keswick Lunchtime Studies 12-12.50 (speaker from 12.20) at Elmslie; Friday 12.30 HC (S. Alban’s)

Septuagesima

O Lord, we beseech thee favourably to hear the prayers of thy people; that we, who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by thy goodness, for the glory of thy Name; through Jesus Christ our Saviour, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

FAITH IN FOCUS: THE LAMB OF GOD

When John the Baptist called Jesus the "Lamb of God" what did his hearers think he was talking about? To us it seems such a strange thing to say. Was it any less strange for the people on the banks of the River Jordan?

Those who knew about the scriptures would think of two things. They would remember some mysterious passages in the prophecies of Isaiah, and their minds would also go back to the Exodus and its annual celebration at Passover.

At one stage in their history the Jews were deported to Iraq, to Babylon, close to Baghdad. Their hopes seemed dashed as for about fifty years they were separated from Jerusalem and the proper practice of their religion. At that time Isaiah begins to talk about a mysterious "suffering servant" who would take on the troubles of the people and ultimately save them by giving his own life.

The Jews in today’s gospel might have been back home in Jerusalem but once more they were under army occupation, this time by the Romans. When John points Jesus out as the "Lamb of God" his hearers would have made the connection with the "suffering servant" of Isaiah. Some would have hoped for a revolutionary leader to overthrow the Romans, but others would remember the perfect disciple of God who proclaims the true faith in the midst of errors, who suffers to atone for the sins of the people and who is ultimately glorified by God.

Of course, not everyone would have immediately taken all this in. But every Jew would have made the connection with the Exodus and the Passover. For the lamb was the animal by which the people were saved from Egyptian slavery and brought into the Promised Land. It was with the blood of the lamb that sacrifices were made daily in the Temple and at the annual celebration of Passover it was a lamb that was eaten. The lamb was a central spiritual symbol.

So when John the Baptist called Jesus the "Lamb of God" it started to ring bells for his hearers. Who was this man? What did he want? What would he do?

Little did they suspect. And little did they know.

WORD OF GOD

Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

(John 1:29)

WORD FOR TODAY

John the Baptist not only saw Jesus but recognised him as the Lamb of God. Christ promises to be with us all our days in the faces of those we come into contact with. We see all these people, but how do we recognise the Lamb of God?

WORDS FOR WORSHIP

May God the Father make you a light for the nations and a beacon of faith in the midst of his people. Amen.

May Jesus Christ show you the way that leads to salvation and happiness, to justice and peace. Amen.

May the Holy Spirit come upon you with the fire of his love and inspire you to proclaim the Good News to the ends of the earth. Amen.

And may almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

WHEN WE ARE ABLE to be like a lamb, willing to share our seemingly insignificant attributes, the shepherd, the Lamb of God, is able to take those offerings and, in ways beyond our comprehension, turn them into things that are beautiful in their value to others. All that is asked of us as a lamb is that we be willing to endure with humility exposing our inner selves when we give what we have on the outside. (Ken Turley)

OCTAVE FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY (January 17th -25th )

"In order to unite with one another, we must love one another; in order to love one another, we must know one another; in order to know one another, we must go and meet one another."

These words, known as the "Testament of Cardinal Mercier", are the impetus for the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The 2008 Week of Prayer, which this year is the centenary for some, has as its theme "Pray without Ceasing".

"This emphasises that life in Christian community is possible only through a life of prayer. Further, it shows that prayer is an integral part of the life of Christians precisely as they seek to manifest the unity which is given them in Christ - a unity which is not limited to doctrinal agreements and formal statements, but finds expression in the things that make for peace, in concrete actions which express and build up their unity in Christ and with one another." (Pope Benedict)

BESIDES PERSONAL SIN and personal redemption there is social sin and social redemption (the sin of the world). It is not only individuals who are broken. The unity of the whole human family is broken because of sin. People are alienated from one another and from God. Jesus (the Lamb of God) came to bring us back to one another and to our heavenly Father. He came to gather together the new People of God, made up not just of the tribes of Israel but of all peoples of the world. (Flor McCarthy)

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS:

Mon: Genesis 6:11 - 7:10, Matt 24:1-14, 1 Cor 6: 1-11

Tues: Gen 7:11-end, Matthew 24:15-28, 1 Cor 6:12-end

Wed: Gen 8:1-14, Matthew 24:29-end, 1 Cor 7:1-24

Thu: Gen 8:15 - 9:7, Matthew 25:1-13, 1 Cor 7: 25-end

CONVERSION OF S. PAUL: Jer 1:4-10, Acts 9:1-22, Matt 19: 27-end

Sat : Gen 11:1-9, Matthew 25: 31-end, 1 Cor 9: 1-14

NEXT SUNDAY (SEXAGESIMA): Isaiah 9:1-4, 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, S. Matthew 4: 12-23