Advent Challenge Day 17

Luke 17

This is a very challenging passage, containing teaching that should affect every single breath we take and action we make. The conversation regarding faith, forgiveness, and service teaches us that to lead anyone astray would bring hell and damnation to us immediately. While it is easy to say that we forgive someone for harming us once, maybe even twice – but could we do it continuously, yet that is what Jesus demands of us.

Our call to service is often considered as serving God, but Jesus clearly shows us that we are called to serve each other, not considering it beneath us, but rather as a call directly from God. Could we do this, often without recognition or reward? Could we put others needs first, and not complain when we do? I think that this is one of the most challenging parts of being a Christian – but it isn’t an optional extra, it’s the very core of our call.

The grateful leper, a Samaritan, had returned to Jesus to thank him for his healing grace, recognising the source of the miracle. The other nine had vanished back to their lives, without comment or note of thanks. How often do we receive miracles or blessings from God – but accept it without thought of thanks?

The final coming, the end of days, the Apocalypse, the return of the Lord — call it what you will, but the end of life as we know it has fascinated philosophers, religious and political leaders, and even ordinary folk with next to no religious beliefs since the beginning of time, before even Jesus preached about it! When asked about the last days, Jesus described the different aspects of civilisation that would signal the end.

He compared the end of the world with the days before Noah and the Flood. Just as that people had turned their back on God, and lived to please themselves, so it would be again at the last days. Although this sounds familiar, the end days could come at any time – today, tomorrow, this week, next week, next month, next year, whenever! We need to live our Christian life as if it could be today, looking to bring others into God’s love NOW! We don’t have any time to waste.

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AccessNI Check process

Hi folks Please see the following pages for the process of getting our AccessNI accreditation for our Sunday School and GFS leaders and helpers. You will need to print out the pages and keep a special note of the long number provided to you by email and let me know as soon as possible. We require an Enhanced check for everyone - and use the PIN number 918066 as detailed on the first page. The second page details the forms of identification you will need to provide - one from the first group, and two from the second group. The quicker we can all get the checks completed, the sooner we can get everything back to normal and put this whole process behind us for another three years! If you can photograph yourself (by smartphone or tablet) and email (revdjohnny@gmail.com) or WhatsApp (07488371680) them to me, that'd be great. I will also be available at the Parish Hall on Monday evening from 7pm to 8pm to help you with anything you would like assistance with! If you need any help at all...

Back to the BCP!!

Hi folks It’s been a long time since the pandemic started and the lockdowns - and Covid hasn’t really gone away! I had the dubious honour of getting Covid for the second time just before Holy Week, giving me the chance to think about ministry direction, both my own and in the parish. One of the original responses to the pandemic was to limit our use of the hymn books and our Prayer Books. At the beginning I produced a service sheet with all the relevant liturgy - which we used in the car park and when we returned to the church. Our “temporary measure” lasted almost three years - and it’s time to move on! Our Book of Common Prayer contains our unique identity - in fact the word “Common” doesn’t mean ordinary but that it shows our unity - the liturgy we hold in “common”. We will be returning to our BCPs from this weekend, the Second Sunday of Easter. We will be using Morning Prayer Two - and we will guide us through the service. We look forward to seeing you in church or...

Second Sunday in Lent

Hi folks Another week has literally flown by - and we've already started the new month! This Sunday's readings include the best known passage in the Bible, John 3 - the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. In this passage, Jesus sums up the whole Gospel message of love, salvation and eternal life in one verse, known to us all as John 3:16. Is this the most important verse in our Holy Scriptures? Possibly, but join us on Sunday to discuss the passage, and how it fits into the Christian life as we know it. Our service is Holy Communion Two, and our readings and passages are listed on our service sheets attached. Our service will be streamed on Facebook (all being well) and shared afterwards on our page if you can't join us live. Blessings Johnny

Aghavea Parish Church

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