27 December 2009

Welcome to  St Alban’s Anglican Church      

Today's Scripture: Exodus 33:7-11a                 1 John 1                       S. John 21: 19b-end

Today: 9.00 a.m. Matins; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist; 6.00 p.m. EP;

This Week: Mon Holy Innocents’ Day: 12.30 p.m HC; Tues – Thurs: 12.30 pm Midday Prayers.  Fri (CIRCUMCISION & NAMING OF CHRIST) 12.30 p.m. HC; Sat Prison Ministry 10 a.m. Next Sunday 9.00 a.m. Matins; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist

S. John, Apostle & Evangelist

Merciful Lord, we beseech thee to cast thy bright beams of light upon thy Church, that it being enlightened by the doctrine of thy blessed Apostle and Evangelist Saint John may so walk in the light of thy truth, that it may at length attain to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 FAITH IN FOCUS: JUST LIKE YOU

 God became a human being so that he could show human beings how to become like God. Jesus is God's way to be a man or woman.

Although we love to dwell on the Christmas scene, and there's no harm in that, it's actually what Jesus did as an adult that makes a difference to our lives. For it was his way of life and his teaching that offer us the chance of living our lives to the full. Instead of leaving us with a catalogue of regulations, Jesus told us to serve God and treat our neighbour in the same way that we would like to be treated ourselves.

 The birth of any baby sets our thoughts on the future. What will become of the child? What lies in store for them in their family life and eventual career? What sort of a person will they be? Similarly, the Bethlehem scene already hints at the future. For the newborn child will be responsible for the falling and the rising of many, we are told. This is because whether we choose to follow Jesus or not has cosmic consequences: it affects not only our life here on earth, how we live and the people we try to become, but also our future state of happiness in eternity. The manger contains a promise: those who follow this baby will see the face of God.

 So Christmas summons each one of us to give birth too, to bring Christ to others. Our glory is to stand before the world as a son or daughter of God, sharing the same nature as God's Son Jesus. We are called to love what is most deeply human in each other and in ourselves, and to see God's living Son made flesh and reflected in those whose lives we touch. For they are just like us. And just like God!

 

GOD'S MOBILE TEXT

One of our younger parishioners received a text 'from God' on her mobile this week and she wondered if any of our older parishioners could make head or tail of it – (first six out of ten parts):

1.             no1 b4 me.srsly

 

2.             dnt wrshp pix/idols

 

3.             no omg's

 

4.             no wrk on w/end (sat 4 now; sun l8r)

 

5.             prnts ok-ur m&d r cool

 

6.             dnt kill ppl

  

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS

HOLY INNOCENTS: Jeremiah 31: 15–17, 1 Corinthians 1: 26–29, Matthew 2: 13-18

Tues: Jonah 1, Colossians 1: 1–14, John  1:1–18

Wed: Jonah 2, Colossians 1: 15-23, John 1: 19-28

Thurs: Jonah 3 & 4, Coloss 1:24 – 2:7, John 1: 19-28

CIRCUMCISION : Numbers 6: 22–end, Galatians 4: 4-7, Luke 3: 15-21

Sat: Ruth 1, Colossians 2: 8-end, John 1: 35-42

NEXT SUNDAY : Jeremiah 31: 7-14, Ephesians 1: 3-14,  S. John 1: 10-18