28 February 2010

Welcome to  St Alban’s Anglican Church  

Today's Scripture: Genesis 15: 1-12, 17-18      Philippians 3:17 – 4:1                S. Luke 13: 31-end

Today: 8.35 a.m. Matins; 9.00 a.m. Church School; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist; 6.00 p.m. EP

This Week: Midday Prayers suspended

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

2^nd Sunday in Lent

Almighty God, who seest that we have no power of ourselves to help ourselves; Keep us both outwardly in our bodies, and inwardly in our souls; that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

FAITH IN FOCUS: HANGING ON

There’s an air of anxiety in our scripture readings today. God shows Abram (before he became Abraham) that he will stand at the top of a lineage with many descendents and that he will take possession of the land. But Abram is still worried about the future: “My Lord, how am I to know that I shall inherit it?” And God has to reassure Abram, to keep him persevering in faith.

Today’s Gospel records some Pharisees, seemingly ones that are sympathetic to Jesus in their fear of what Herod might do to him, being similarly worried about the future (his, rather than their own).

The same is true with Peter, James and John. We read two Sundays ago that Jesus gives them a real boost to the their faith by letting them see him being transfigured on the mountain top, talking with Moses and Elijah…a sure sign that he is from God. But Peter, like Abram, is worried that things won’t always be like this and so he tries to get three booths or tents set up to preserve the atmosphere of the moment.

No matter how strong our faith is, we still have moments when we wonder what it’s all about, whether we can cope with present difficulties and how we will match up to the demands of the future. Of course, that’s what faith is all about. If faith were a manual of answers, an instruction book that couldn’t fail, then it would no longer be faith

So Lent isn’t just about sin. It’s also about faith, promise, perseverance, hope, dreams, compassion , trust, reconciliation and renewal.

 

WORD OF GOD

“O Lord GOD” Abram said, “How am I to know that I shall inherit this land?” (Genesis 15:8)

 

WORD FOR TODAY

Faith wouldn’t be faith if the route were signposted with certainties. It demands abandonment to and trust in God’s promises.

 

DO NOT DEPEND on the hope of results. You may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect…. In the end, it is the reality of personal relationship that saves everything. (Thomas Merton)

 FIVE OF THE BEST

1.             Where in the bible would you find “the wages of sin is death”?

2.             Can you name four of Jesus’ parables?

3.             Put into chronological order: Church, Temple, Tabernacle, Synagogue.

4.             What does alleluia mean: glory, hosanna, praise the Lord or thanks be to God?

5.             In which book of the New Testament would you expect to find “justification by faith alone”?

 

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS

Mon: Gen 43:16–end, Hebrews 1, John 6: 41-51

Tues: Gen 44: 1–17, Hebrews 2: 1-9, John 6: 52-59

Wed: Gen 44:18-end, Heb 2: 10–end,  John 6: 60-end

Thurs: Gen 45: 1-15, Heb 3: 1-6, John 7: 1-13

Fri : Gen 45: 16-end, Heb 3: 7-end, John 7: 14-24

Sat: Gen 46: 1-7, 28-end, Heb 4: 1-13, John 7: 25-36

NEXT SUNDAY : Isaiah 55: 1–9,  1 Corinthians 10: 1–13,  S. Luke 13: 1-9