May 10/09 Easter & Mother's Day
Good Morning and Welcome to the all who have come to worship with us today on this the 5th Sunday of Easter and the celebration of Women Sunday.
Many thanks goes out to the women of the parish who worked diligently to prepare and execute our annual Spring Tea. A special thanks goes to all those who so kindly filled in and helped out till the end. It was very much appreciated.
Opening
Let us enter into prayer, giving thanks for the health and well being of all Gods creatures, remembering today our Mothers and all nurturing women who contribute to the fellowship of Motherhood.
Throughout history and at present, there have been and are now, valiant women, generous, gifted, who have given of themselves for the benefit of others, with little or no recompense. Today we celebrate, honour and mourn the role and place of women in this world as we pray to God, who created women as well as men and give thanks. Amen
The Collect today reminds us of the magnitude of Jesus, and the greatness but simplistic commandments he wishes us to follow, live and love one another. Showing us the character of God, as one of truth and love. Amen.
Sharing
Luke has constructed the Book of Acts for many purposes; in today’s reading, it is to expand the message of Jesus through the word of God from Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. Actually, this is the main directive of Acts which begins in Acts 1: verse 8 when Jesus gives the gift of the Holy Spirit to his companions, and sends them out to continue his work. Phillip, becomes a witness of Jesus to a black eunuch, who would have been an outcast, known as a half man , and denied access to any Holy Place.
His Baptism and acceptance of Jesus, indicates the continued outward movement of Christianity into new territory and a new understanding of life. It asks the question: who is worthy to be Baptised`` and being baptised, do we now live the committed life of the followers of Jesus, to love and do unto others as we would have them do unto us…………..or will we be fence sitters. Amen
Sharing:
It has been said, The Psalms are a School of Prayer. They do not tell how to make prayers effective, but are a lesson in how to find God and live in union with God. Psalm 22 illustrates a wide range of emotions, yearning, fear and destinies. This Psalm exhibit’s a drama. We are taken on a pilgrimage from sorrow to joy, from desolation to hope. There is an inevitable miracle of grace, a shift from lament to praise. Jesus was forsaken, but we never will be. Gods plan for humanity, the earth and the universe will be carried out because of the obedience of Jesus and the powerful Grace of God. Amen
It has been said, The Psalms are a School of Prayer. They do not tell how to make prayers effective, but are a lesson in how to find God and live in union with God. Psalm 22 illustrates a wide range of emotions, yearning, fear and destinies. This Psalm exhibit’s a drama. We are taken on a pilgrimage from sorrow to joy, from desolation to hope. There is an inevitable miracle of grace, a shift from lament to praise. Jesus was forsaken, but we never will be. Gods plan for humanity, the earth and the universe will be carried out because of the obedience of Jesus and the powerful Grace of God. Amen
Sharing:
William Sloane Coffin summed up claims of John to mean, "The opposite of love is not hate ; the opposite of love is fear."
William Sloane Coffin summed up claims of John to mean, "The opposite of love is not hate ; the opposite of love is fear."
If God is understood as the God of power, demand or justice, then we approach God with fear, in this life and in the next.
But, if God is understood as a God of love, perfect love, then we approach God with confidence. We have two choices to live life
On the basis of the God we choose, God of fear, or God of love. There is a difference between those who abide / live in God and those who do not: abiding or living in God provides the link between humans and God. John worries about the Christian faith paying more homage to the theory of love & truth without attending to the crucified Jesus who was and is both loving and true. Amen
Thank You for coming . Let us depart in peace, In the name of the Lord.
Amen.
