27 January 2008

Welcome to St Alban’s Anglican Church 

Today's Scripture (HC) : Isaiah 9: 1-4   1 Corinthians 1: 10-18   S. Matthew 4: 12-23

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. ;

This Week: Mon to Fri: Midday Prayers 12.30 p.m.; Saturday 12.30 HC (Feast of the Presentation - Christmas 40 days end).

Sexagesima

O Lord God, who seest that we put not our trust in any thing that we do; Mercifully grant that by thy power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

FAITH IN FOCUS: FISHING

If you follow me, it’s people you’ll catch, says Jesus in today’s gospel. We all agree that we want to follow Jesus and come closer to God. But why are we so shy about fishing for others? Why do we find it hard to try and bring others to Christ?

Is it a cultural thing? Have we bought into the great deception that it’s not the done thing to parade our faith on our sleeve? Yet if our faith is the single most important thing about our whole lives, how can we think of wearing it in our pocket? If our Christian belief is the one thing that makes sense of our existence, that provides us with the wherewithal to cope with what life throws at us, then how can we think of keeping it to ourselves and not trying to get others to experience it?

Don’t talk about religion or politics, the saying goes. But if religion is about the ultimate meaning of life and politics is about how we organise it, then not to talk about either of them condemns us to the pleasantries of surface-living. Yet life’s issues are deeper than talking about the weather, and faith’s issues touch the core of reality.

Could it be that we’re afraid of talking to others about our faith because we think we will be shown to be lacking? Is it because we feel ashamed and embarrassed because religious people are often caricatured as cranks in the media? Is it because we don’t want to disturb people? Would we not disturb someone whose coat was on fire? Would we never tell a crying child that the toy needs to be switched on before it will work properly?

If we’re not prepared to lead people towards God, then who is? And yet leading people to God is part of our "contract". To be a follower of Christ implies that we too proclaim the good news to the ends of the earth. Or at the very least to the ends of our street. If we talk to others and they begin to ask us questions that we can’t answer, then it’s a simple task to put them in touch with those who can. We’re not expected to be geniuses or oracles. We’re not expected to become experts on all matters of faith and religion.

But we are expected to do a bit of fishing.

WORD OF GOD

Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they left their nets at once and followed him. (Matthew 4:19-20)

WORD FOR TODAY

The disciples followed Jesus "at once". They left what they were doing. What keeps us from more closely following Jesus in our lives? What important things do we think we need to do before we can get round to giving him our whole attention?

WORDS FOR WORSHIP

Let us pray for the Church that it may attract men and women to the good news of the gospel and may support them as they strive to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Lord, in your loving mercy: Hear and grant our prayer!

Let us pray for those who have never heard of the promises of Christ, for those who seek direction in their lives and for those who are searching for God. Lord, in your ...

Let us pray for those who are preparing to follow Christ in public ministry, especially for those who are training for the diaconate, the priesthood or the religious life. Lord, in your ...

Let us pray for ourselves, that we may be faithful to our baptismal promises to follow Jesus by loving God and serving our neighbour in all their needs. Lord, in your ...

AQUINAS (January 28th)

St Thomas Aquinas was a 13th century Dominican friar. Famous as one of the Church’s leading philosophers and theologians, he spent much of his time studying, writing and teaching. But he was also a great man of contemplation, as this brief prayer of his shows:

"Grant me, O Lord my God, a mind to know you, a heart to seek you, wisdom to find you, conduct pleasing to you, faithful perseverance in waiting for you, and a hope of finally embracing you."

Amen.

TOO MANY CHRISTIANS are no longer fishers of men; instead they have become keepers of the aquarium. (Paul Harvey)

NEVER RECOMMEND anything unless you can show a little sample. (Thoreau)

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS:

Mon: Genesis 11:27 - 12:9, Matt 26:1-16, 1 Cor 9: 15-end

Tues: Gen 13:2-end, Matthew 26:17-35, 1 Cor 10:1-13

Wed: Gen 14, Matthew 26:36-46, 1 Cor 10:14 - 11:1

Thur: Gen 15, Matthew 26:47-56, 1 Cor 11: 2-16

Fri: Gen 16, Matthew 26:57-end, Hebrews 4: 11-end

Sat (PRESENTATION OF CHRIST) : Mal 3:1-5, Heb 2: 14-end, S. Luke 2: 22-40

NEXT SUNDAY (QUINQUAGESIMA): Exodus 24:12-end, 2 Peter 1:16-end, S. Matthew 17: 1-9