8 June 2008

Welcome to St Alban’s Anglican Church 

Today's Scripture (HC) : Hosea 5:15 - 6:6     Romans 4:13-25     S. John 3: 1-8

Today's Liturgy: 8.35 a.m. BCP Matins;   9.00a.m. Short Scripture Study Prep;    9.30a.m. Holy Baptism and Holy Communion ;   EP 6.00 p.m. 

Tues, Thurs, Fri 12.30 p.m. Midday Prayer. Wed. S. Barnabas’ Day, 12.30 p.m. HC

We warmly welcome Annabel Louise and Robert Alexander into membership of the Lord’s family.

3^rd After Trinity

O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom thou hast given an hearty desire to pray, may by thy mighty aid be defended and comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

TEN COMMANDMENTS FOR CHILDREN

1. Do not treat anyone or anything as if they were God.

2. Do not worship statues, pop idols or celebrities.

3. Be careful about how you use God’s name.

4. Keep Sunday special.

 

5. Honour your father and mother.

6. Keep your marriage promises.

7. Do not murder anyone.

8. Do not steal.

9. Do not lie.

10. Do not be jealous of what others have.

FAITH IN FOCUS: WHO’S IN?

Lots of people were annoyed when Jesus called Matthew to be one of his disciples. For Matthew was a tax collector, someone who earned commission on the amount of taxes he could reap for the occupying Roman regime. The more he exacted the more he kept, so the temptation was to overcharge.

This gave the Pharisees chance to let rip when they saw the sort of people Jesus was having dinner with. Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners? And Jesus’ reply is famous: what he wants is mercy not sacrifice, since he has come not to call "the righteous" but sinners.

Groucho Marx once said that he would never belong to a club that was prepared to have someone like him as a member. He might as well have been talking about the Church. For when we have finished singing our hymns, saying our prayers and making our sacrifices, Jesus tells us that what matters is the way we show mercy to those around us. That’s why the Church, like Groucho Marx’s club, is not full of "saints" but of sinners. Mercifully!

WORD OF GOD

I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God, rather than burnt offerings. (Hosea 6:6)

I THINK IT’S IMPORTANT to realise that faith is not about a good feeling. If we only pursue our life as disciples or followers of Jesus because we feel good inside we may as well give up. That’s just sentimentality and it’s rampant in a very hedonistic age. It’s all about who, in the end, you are going to put your money on, who in the end is Lord. It’s not about a nice feeling; it’s about a decision as to what is really important in life.

(John Bell)

WORDS FOR WORSHIP

Let us pray for those being baptised into the Church today that they may enjoy the comfort of the faith and may bring their own God-given skills and talents to enrich our communities.

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS:

Mon: Judg 8: 22-end, Luke 15: 1-10, Rom 11: 25-end

Tues: Judg 9:1-21, Luke 15:11-end, Rom 12: 1-8

S. BARNABAS: Job 29:11-16, Acts 11:19-end, S. John 15:12-17

Thurs: Judg 11: 1-11, Luke 16:19-end, Rom 13:1-7

Fri : Judg 11:29-end, Luke 17:1-10, Rom 13:8-end

Sat : Judg 12:1-7, Luke 17: 11-19, Rom 14:1-12

NEXT SUNDAY : Exodus 19:2-8a, Romans 5:1-8, S. Matthew 9:35 - 10:8[9-23]