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St
Alban’s (Grand Cayman) & St Mary’s (Cayman Brac) | |
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9
May 2010 Welcome
to
St
Alban’s Anglican Church
Today's
Scripture: Acts
16: 9-15
Revelation 21: 10, 22 – 22:5
S. John 14: 23-29 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: Tues-Fri 12.30 p.m. Midday Prayers;
Thurs – ASCENSION DAY 5 p.m. HC Next
Sunday: 8.35 a.m.
Matins; 9.00a.m. Ch School; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist ; 6.00 p.m. EP 5th
Sunday after Easter
O
Lord, from whom all good things do come; Grant to us thy humble
servants, that by thy holy inspiration we may think those things
that be good, and by thy merciful guiding may perform the same;
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
FAITH IN FOCUS: PARTING GIFT In today’s gospel Jesus gives his disciples a parting gift, a gift that he says the world cannot give: peace. To have faith in Jesus and be possessed by the Holy Spirit means that we enjoy the peace of Christ. Of course, in everyday talk, peace usually means the end of war (which often is not peace but simply truce) or the idea of peace and quiet, when we are not troubled and are allowed just to “chill out” or have a few moments to ourselves. But the peace that Jesus offers us is that deep-down sense of wellbeing that comes from knowing that we are loved by God, have been called to be God’s children in baptism and are permanently held in the hand of a God who will never let us be lost, unless we absolutely insist on it. Christian peace brings calmness. However, the peace we enjoy is not a static thing; it’s something active and dynamic. Consequently we have to work at keeping this peace alive, which is what Jesus meant when he said “Blessed are the peacemakers”. We have to work with the Holy Spirit to keep our relationship with God alive and active and then we have to work for unity among ourselves so that the gift of peace may be a reality in our communities. Some people can have a false sense of security. Others can have a false sense of peace. If our peace is just built on not being troubled by others, not having worries about our job, our family or our finances, then we are simply enjoying freedom from anxiety. If, however, our peace is built on our relationship with God, on our trust in his promises to us and the confidence that his always keeps his word, then we enjoy that peace of Christ which the world cannot give. And this is what we wish each other at every Mass when we turn to each other and say, “Peace be with you”. WORD OF GOD Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you, a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you. (John 14:27) WORD FOR TODAY A life of faith is a life of challenge. But it also brings peace, not a peace that is simply being free from bother, but a peace that allows us to know deep down that we are known and loved by God and that ultimately we will see God face to face. FIVE OF THE BEST 1. Put into chronological order: David, Cain, Paul, Moses and Noah. 2. Is Santa Claus in the Old Testament or the New Testament? 3. Which tribe did Moses belong to? 4. Who was the oldest person in the bible? 5. What is the shortest verse in the bible? SLACKEN THE STRINGS of a violin and the music is spoiled; as Christians slack in their duty, they spoil the sweet music of peace in their souls; as the fire goes out, the peace cools. (Thomas Watson) MAN IS NOT AT PEACE with his fellow man because he is not at peace with himself. He is not at peace with himself, because he is not at peace with God. (Thomas Merton) THIS
WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS
Mon:
Num
16:1-35, Luke 6: 27-38, 1 Pet 4: 1-11 Tues:
Num 16: 36–end, Lk 6: 39-end, 1 Pet 4: 12–end Wed: Num 17: 1-11, Luke 7:
1–10, Col 2:20 – 3:4 ASCENSION
DAY: Acts 1: 1-11,
Ephes 1: 15–end, Luke 24: 44-end Fri:
Num 20: 1–13, Luke 7:11-17, 1 John 1:1 – 2:6 Sat: Num 21: 4-9, Luke 7: 18-35, 1 John 2: 7-17 NEXT SUNDAY : Acts 16: 16-34, Revelation 22: 12–14, 16-17, 20-end, S. John 17: 20–end | ||
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