Advent Challenge Day 14

Luke 14

Jesus performs another healing on a Sabbath, this time at the house of a Pharisee, attended by the elders and religious leaders. Again, Jesus shames the leaders for their indignation despite their silence when questioned.

Jesus then shames his own followers when he learns that they would prefer to seek the best seats at banquets – by showing that He (as the Son of God) came to serve, not to be served, and urged his followers to embrace humility, seeking to serve others rather than lording over others.

The parable of the Great Banquet highlights the invitation to the Jewish people to come to the great feast that God had prepared, but shows their ignorance and stubbornness in turning down the call – so God (the master of the feast) opens the call to anyone who will come. Beware though, the invitation may call you to come as you are – but you will need to be dressed accordingly, coming prepared to meet the master with the correct attitude!

By this stage in his ministry, Jesus had attracted large crowds, and many followed him from town to town, marvelling in his teaching, preaching, miracles and healings. They were miraculously fed, they watched Jesus breaking the societal norms, showing love to one and all, regardless of their position in society. While it seemed that following Jesus would be easy, Jesus warns them that following him will incur great cost, and that we should be make sure we are prepared to pay the price before we start.

Even today, it seems that many people simply think that an hour on a Sunday, and possibly another midweek is the cost of being a Christian – but Jesus demands that we put him above all our interests and concerns, love him more than we even love ourselves, be prepared to lay down our lives if required, and to follow him wherever he leads us. To many, this price proved too dear, and many turned away – just as he had predicted in the parable of the sower and the seeds, where our faith is dependent on the soil into which we allow the seed to develop.

Would we be prepared to give our all, to live solely for Jesus, and give up our earthly belongings for his sake? Could we even dare to answer this in our own hearts, let alone out loud to anyone else? Be prepared, it could be you!!

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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

Pray for Peace

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9 The Holy Land, the place sanctified by the presence of prophets, poets, and priests, crying out for justice, urging on towards hope, and seeking after peace, has been, and continues to be a place sacred to millions of people around the world. We have watched with horror the appalling violence that has been unleashed over the last few days around this sacred place. We have seen families devastated, communities shattered, and countless lives lost. We, as followers of Jesus are called in this time to pray. Pray for the end of hostilities, pray for the protection of the most vulnerable on both sides in Israel and Gaza, and pray for a recommitment to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. We also pray that God might grant comfort to the afflicted, healing to the broken, strength to the weak, and courage to those in authority to lay down the instruments of violence and destruction and stud

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 online via Fb

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