9 November 2008

Welcome to St Alban’s Anglican Church

We especially welcome Bishop Tim Klerekoper this morning

Today's Scripture (HC) : Amos 5: 18-24     1 Thess 4:13-end     S. Matthew 25:1-13

Today: 8.35 a.m. BCP Matins; 9.00a.m. Scripture Study; 9.15a.m. Holy Communion;

10.45 a.m. Civic Service of Remembrance (at Memorial Cross); 6.00 p.m. Evening Prayer

Wednesday: National DAY OF PRAYER, Prayers at Legislative Assembly 12-1p.m.;Tues, Thurs to Fri: Midday Prayer at St. Alban’s 12.30p.m. 25^th Sunday After Trinity

O God, who knowest us to be set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright; Grant to us such strength and protection, as may support us in all dangers, and carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Epiphany 4)

FAITH IN FOCUS: A HA’PETH OF TAR

A child at school said she didn’t like the five wise bridesmaids because they were mean and wouldn’t share their oil with the foolish ones.

Understandable enough, except it misses the point of Jesus’ parable. The story is really about wisdom and faithfulness. The foolish five could not have been complete strangers to the groom. They had to be friends. They had received the invitation; they had made preparations, though incompletely; they had turned up and were looking forward to the festivities. What they had not done was to think through the fact that they had been given a job to do. It could be argued that they had concentrated only on the hats and dresses, on the externals. Yet they did not have the wisdom to see that they were not equipped to do what was demanded of them. THEY COULDN’T PROVIDE LIGHT WHEN IT WAS NEEDED.

In our own journey with God we run the risk of coasting. We have been let into that wisdom which allows us to know and follow Jesus. But we can easily take things for granted. We can rely on a routine practice of our religion that loses the sparkle, the excitement and the privilege of being called by God. We’ve kept the lamps of our baptism, but our commitment is running low on oil and our wicks are looking decidedly worse for wear.

It’s not usually gross negligence that we’re guilty of. It’s more likely to be that we grow lax about our commitment and lazy in doing something about those things that God is actually calling us to prepare to do. We begin to take the pearl of our religion for granted and we put things off for another day. For the sake of a ha’peth of tar we can find ourselves drifting.

If we want to be at tomorrow’s wedding, today’s the last day for buying the oil.

WORD OF GOD

So stay awake because you do not know either the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:13)

 

WORD FOR TODAY

So near and yet so far! The big moment was just about to happen for five of the bridesmaids in today’s gospel, but they let themselves down by their own stupidity. At the last minute they lacked the staying power to see the job through to completion. In the next few weeks, leading up to Advent, we too are encouraged to cling to that wisdom of faith which will keep us alert and awake to see Christ whenever he comes to us.

 

DON’T COMPROMISE yourself. You are all you’ve got. (Janis Joplin)

THE DOOR OF A CHURCH or cathedral is a symbol of dedication and commitment; it faces inside and outside. So it is with the Christian; you’re either inside or out. There is no Christian life in-between on the doorstep.

(Anne-Marie Thomas)

 

MOST OF US serve our ideals by fits and starts. The person who makes a success of living is one who sees his goal steadily and aims for it unswervingly. That’s dedication. (Cecil B. DeMille)

 

THIS WEEK’S BIBLE READINGS

Mon: Daniel 4: 19-end, Revelation 5, Matt 4:23 - 5:12

Tues: Daniel 5: 1-12, Revelation 6, Matthew 5:13-20

Wed: Daniel 5: 13-end, Rev 7: 1-4, 9-end, Matt 5:21-37

Thurs: Daniel 6, Revelation 8, Matthew 5: 38-end

Fri : Daniel 7:1-14, Rev 9: 1-12, Matthew 6:1-18

Sat: Daniel 7: 15-end, Rev 9: 13-end, Matthew 6:19-end

NEXT SUNDAY (HOLY CONFIRMATION AND HOLY COMMUNION) :

Zephaniah 1:7,12-end, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, S. Matthew 25:14-30