7 March 2010

Welcome to  St Alban’s Anglican Church  

                                                                                

Today's Scripture: Isaiah 55: 1-9           1 Corinthians 10:1–13                          S. Luke 13: 1-9

Today: 9.00 a.m. Matins; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist; 6.00 p.m. EP ; 7.30 p.m. St Mary’s HC

This Week: Tues–Fri 12.30 p.m. Midday Prayers; Sat 10 a.m. Min of Word, HMP Northward

Next Sunday: 8.35 a.m. Matins; 9.00 a.m. Church Sch; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist; 6.00 p.m. EP

3^rd Sunday in Lent

We beseech thee, Almighty God, look upon the hearty desires of thy humble servants, and stretch forth the right hand of thy Majesty, to be our defence against all our enemies; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

FAITH IN FOCUS: LAST CHANCE SALOON?

I always meant to sort out that kitchen shelf and now that it’s crashed to the floor with all the crockery it’s too late. The same goes for that little chip in the windscreen that now looks like a spider’s web, and of course there’s that faulty old plug on the TV set which probably caused last night’s loud explosion during The Factor!

We love to put things off. Yes, we’ll get round to them some day but at the moment I’m a bit tired, a bit busy or a bit too distracted to do anything about them. There’s always tomorrow.

In today’s gospel, one of the most frightening episodes according to many people, Jesus issues a real warning. Don’t think that you can put off repentance until tomorrow because repentance is a “now-thing” and, what’s more, you never know what’s lurking around the corner. He reminds his listeners of two awful events that had just taken place in and around Jerusalem: a murderous attack on worshippers in the Temple, and a disaster that killed eighteen people when a building collapsed on them. Do you think these people had any idea they wouldn’t return home that day, says Jesus, and do you think they were more guilty than anyone else? Of course not. Then, he tells them, you too must repent now or you will perish like they did.

Is there something in your life that niggles at you? Something that you know you should do something about which will improve your quality of life with God and with others? Well, don’t worry about it; you can always do something about it tomorrow, after Easter, in the summer or in the run-up to Christmas…. Or perhaps not!

 

WORD OF GOD

Do you suppose that they were more guilty than all the other people living in Jerusalem? They were not, I tell you. But unless you repent you will all perish as they did. (Luke 13:4-5)

 

WORD FOR TODAY

We all think that we have plenty of time to get round to sorting out our lives and our relationship with God. But today’s gospel warns us that we never know what’s around the corner; besides, what’s so undesirable about God that we would we want to put off committing ourselves fully to him?

 

LENT YEAR C

Every Lent has five weeks which precede Holy Week in the run-up to the greatest of all feasts: Easter.

The third Sunday of Lent Year C sees the need for change here and now. There may be no chance to repent tomorrow. Repentance can never be put off. …

 

…The fourth Sunday of Lent gives us one of the most moving stories of forgiveness in the whole bible: the Prodigal Son. Repentance and forgiveness: we have 40 days to enjoy the grace of preparing for Christ’s resurrection and hearing his offer of eternal life.

 

PRIMARILY, GOD IS NOT BOUND to punish sin; he is bound to destroy sin. The only vengeance worth having on sin is to make the sinner himself its executioner. (George MacDonald)

 

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS

Mon: Gen 47: 1–27, Heb 4:14 – 5:10, John 7: 37-52

Tues: Gen 47:28 – 48.end, Heb 5:11 – 6:12, John 7:53 – 8:11

Wed: Gen 49:1-32, Heb 6: 13–end,  John 8: 12-30

Thurs: Gen 49:33 – 50.end, Heb 7: 1-10, John 8: 31-47

Fri : Exod 1: 1-14, Heb 7: 11-end, John 8: 48-end

Sat: Exod 1:22 – 2:10, Hebrews 8, John 9: 1-17

NEXT SUNDAY : Joshua 5: 9–12,  2 Corinthians 5: 16–end,  S. Luke 15: 1-3, 11b-end