The Cayman Islands are within the ancient
Episcopal Jurisdiction
of
The Bishop of London granted him by the Crown in 1634
St Alban’s (Grand Cayman) & St
Mary’s (Cayman Brac)
Church & Office - 461 Shedden Road
P O Box 719, Grand Cayman KY1-1103, CAYMAN ISLANDS
Tel (345) 949 2757 : Fax (345)
949 0619
www.churchofenglandcayman.com
rector@churchofenglandcayman.com
7 August 2011
Welcome
to St Alban’s Anglican Church
Today's
Scripture: 1 Kings 19: 9-18 Romans
10: 5-15
S. Matthew 14: 22-33
Today: 9.00
a.m. Matins; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist; 6.00 p.m. EP.
This
Week: Tues – Fri 12.30 p.m. Prayers; Sat 10 a.m. Prison Ministry (HMP
Northward)
Next Sunday: 9.00
a.m. Matins; 9.30 a.m. Holy Eucharist; 6p.m. EP.
7th
Sunday after Trinity
Lord of
all power and might, who art the author and giver of all good things: Graft in
our hearts the love of thy name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with
all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ
our Lord.
FAITH
IN FOCUS: WALKING ON WATER
From time to time God calls each of us to walk on
water. Physically, of course, it’s impossible, but symbolically it’s something
we have to do to prove our faith in Jesus. Not that these occasions are simply
all in the mind; they are very real and demand that same leap out of the boat
and into the water that Peter had to do on Lake Galilee.
By walking on water we mean that sometimes things
are demanded of us that require a superhuman effort, that seem absolutely
impossible by human standards or that just appear to be plain foolhardy or
beyond what anyone could ever expect of us. But it is at these moments that we
show whether our faith in Jesus is just words or whether, when necessary, we
can translate it into action.
Walking on water is not always a headline grabbing
event. Does the car mechanic have the guts to put his faith first and not ring
the vehicles or give false test certificates just to earn a bit more? Does the
husband away on business have the strength of character not to get involved
with the woman eyeing him up on the other side of the bar? Does the young
widowed mother of three have what it takes to carry on doing her best for her
children when life seems to keep slapping her in the face? Does the criminal have
the moral fibre to admit guilt and accept the consequences of the law? Is your
faith strong enough to stand poor preaching, indifferent worship or inadequate
pastoral care? Do you walk on water in the face of friends and family who mock
you for trying to be a Christian in a world that has little time for God?
Fortunately these walking on water incidents don’t
happen to us every day. But by being faithful in the small things of life we
train ourselves for when our faith is tested at its roots. Peter eventually
sank beneath the waves, not because of the storm but because he was all-show
and little faith. Whatever storms come our way we know that God will never let
us drown, but we can be sure that he will give us plenty of opportunity to get
our feet wet.