26 July 2009

Welcome to  St Alban's Anglican Church       

Today's Scripture: 2 Kings 4:42-end        Eph 3:14-end              S. John 6:1-21

Today: 9:00 a.m. Matins: 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist;  St. Mary’s Holy Eucharist 7.30 p.m.

This Week: Tues, Thurs-Fri 12.30 p.m. Midday Prayers

7^th Sunday after Trinity

Lord of all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things; Graft in our hearts the love of thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

FAITH IN FOCUS: SHAPES AND PATTERNS

A famous scholar once wrote a book nearly 800 pages long after reading today’s gospel. When he read the account of the feeding of the 5,000 he noticed there was a shape or pattern to what Jesus did that was reflected elsewhere, particularly at the Last Supper. And then he went on to discover that this pattern would shape the liturgy for centuries to come.

He pointed out that there was a four-fold shape to the actions of Jesus: Jesus took bread, said a blessing, broke it and then gave it out to be distributed. He then looked at the account of the Last Supper and found that the same structure (this time with the wine too) underlay Jesus’ actions. When he went to St Paul’s writings he discovered that this pattern was there too: take, bless, break and give.

Because of this he was able to trace the way Christians had celebrated eucharist over the centuries. 1. We take bread and wine which are presented at the altar where they are prepared. Although this is usually referred to as the offertory, these gifts are not in fact offered until later in the eucharist. 2. When the gifts have been taken, a blessing is pronounced (the Eucharistic Prayer) praising and thanking God and asking that by the power of the Holy Spirit they may become the body and blood of Christ. 3. Shortly before communion the bread is broken in preparation for the eucharistic meal. 4. Finally, the bread and wine (the body and blood of Christ) is given to those who come forward to share communion.

Take, bless, break and give: actions of Jesus that would shape the liturgy for years to come. As the gifts are presented we are invited to bring our lives before God to be transformed; as the blessing is said we are encouraged to praise and thank God for his presence in our lives; as the bread is broken we renew our commitment to give ourselves to the very end in serving God; and as communion is given we are reminded that it is in giving ourselves to others that we become the very thing that we receive: the Body of Christ.

 

WORD OF GOD

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks and gave them to all who were sitting ready. (John 6:11)

 

WORD FOR TODAY

Whatever we think our needs are, however complicated our situation, God’s love for us can cover all things. There is no limit to God’s generosity, for even after 5,000 had been fed there were still twelve baskets of leftovers.

 

JAMES (July 25th)

When President Obama was campaigning, his catch-phrase was “Yes, we can”.

But there were two other men who made that phrase famous a long time ago: the apostles James and John. The two brothers and their mother asked Jesus for a good job in the new kingdom that they thought he was going to set up. Jesus asked them in return if they would be able to go through all the suffering and humiliation that awaited him. “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” was his question. Their answer: “Yes, we can”. And in the end they were right, for James was the first apostle to be martyred.

Maybe we can ask ourselves the same question about our own perseverance in faith. Like James, can we keep it up for life…?

 A SERVICE OF WORSHIP is primarily a service to God. When we realise this and act upon it, we make it a service to men. (Ralph W Sockman)

 

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS       

Mon: Ezek 14:12-end, 2 Cor 11:1-15, Luke 22:24-30

Tues: Ezek 18:1-20, 2 Cor 11:16-end, Luke 22:31-38

Wed: Ezek 18: 21-32, 2 Cor 12, Luke 22:39-46

Thurs: Ezek 20:1-20, 2 Cor 13, Luke22:47-62

Fri: Ezek 20:21-38, James 1:1-11, Luke 22:63-end

Sat : Ezek 24:15-end, James 1:12–end, Luke 23:1-12

NEXT SUNDAY: Exodus 16: 2-4, 9-15, Eph 4:1-16, S. John 6:24-35