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31st August 2008 - 10am Service
Trinity 15
31st August 2008 - 6.30pm Service
Education Sunday
7th September 2008 - 8, 9 and 10.30am Services
“Called to Journey” (Green)
14th September 2008 - 10am Service
“Holy Cross Day” (Red)
21st September 2008 - 10am Service
“Marriage Sunday” (White)
28th September 2008 - 10am Service
Trinity 19 (Green)
28th September 2008 - 6.30pm Service
Harvest Evensong (Green)
5th October 2008-
10.30am Service Family Harvest Festival
5th October 2008
3pm Pet Service
12th October 2008 10am Service Trinity 21
19th October 2008
10am Service Trinity 22
26th October
10am Service Last after Trinity (Green)
26th October 2008
6.30pm Service All Souls Memorial Service (Purple)
2nd November 2008 10.30am Service Family Service, All Saints (White)
9th November 2008 8am and 10.15am Services
Remembrance Sunday Service (Red)
Readings for : 31st August 2008
10am Service – Trinity 15
Exodus 3:1-15
Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law
Jethro, the priest of Midian; he led his flock beyond the wilderness, and
came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the LORD appeared to
him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing,
yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, "I must turn aside and look at
this great sight, and see why the bush is not burned up." When the LORD saw
that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses,
Moses!" And he said, "Here I am." Then he said, "Come no closer! Remove the
sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy
ground." He said further, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." And Moses hid his face, for he was
afraid to look at God.
Then the LORD said, "I have observed the misery of my people who are in
Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I
know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the
Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a
land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the
Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. The
cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians
oppress them. So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the
Israelites, out of Egypt." But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go
to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?" He said, "I will be with
you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you
have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this
mountain."
But Moses said to God, "If I come to the Israelites and say to them, 'The
God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his
name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, "I AM Who I AM." He
said further, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to
you.'" God also said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'The
LORD, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and
the God of Jacob, has sent me to you': This is my name forever, and this my
title for all generations."
Romans 12:9-21
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold
fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one
another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the
Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with
those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one
another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be
wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for
what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends
on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave
room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will
repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they
are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap
burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil
with good.
Matthew 16:21-28
Jesus began to show his disciples that he must
go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and
chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it,
Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get
behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your
mind not on divine things but on human things."
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them
deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to
save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will
find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but
forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?
"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father,
and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you,
there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the
Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
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Readings for : 31st August 2008
6.30pm Service – Education Sunday
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Matthew 18:1-6
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and
asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell
you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will
never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like
this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. But
if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would
be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be
drowned in the depths of the sea.
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Readings for : 7th September 2008
8, 9 and 10.30am Services - “Called to Journey” (Green)
Isaiah 43:1-5 (8, 9 and 10.30am services)
But now, this is what the LORD says — he who
created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour;
I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the
east
and gather you from the west.
Matthew 9:35-38 (8 and 9am services only)
Jesus went through all the towns and villages,
teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and
healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had
compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep
without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful
but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out
workers into his harvest field."
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Readings for : 14th September 2008,
10am Service - “Holy Cross Day” (Red)
Numbers 21:4-9
They travelled from Mount Hor along the route to
the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;
they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us
up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water!
And we detest this miserable food!"
Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many
Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke
against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes
away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is
bitten can look at it and live." So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up
on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze
snake, he lived.
Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ
Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited, but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form, he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death--even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name
that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
John 3:13-17
No one has ever gone into heaven except the one
who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in
the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes
in him may have eternal life.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send
his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through
him.
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Readings for : 21st September 2008,
10am Service - “Marriage Sunday” (White)
Song of Solomon 8:6-7
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is
as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like
blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers
cannot wash it away. If one were to give all the wealth of his house for
love, it would be utterly scorned.
Colossians 3:12-17
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Bear with one another and, if one
of you has a grievance against the other, forgive each other; just as the
Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe
yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. And whatever you do, in
word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks
to God the Father through him.
John 15:9-12
As the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. If you
keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept My
Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to
you, that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love
one another as I have loved you.
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Readings for : 28th September 2008,
10am Service – Trinity 19 (Green)
Exodus 17:1-7
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites
journeyed by stages, as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but
there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarrelled with
Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you
quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?" But the people thirsted there
for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you
bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with
thirst?" So Moses cried out to the Lord, "What shall I do with this people?
They are almost ready to stone me." The Lord said to Moses, "Go on ahead of
the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your
hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing
there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will
come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of
the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the
Israelites quarrelled and tested the Lord, saying, "Is the Lord among us or
not?"
Philippians 2:1-13
If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any
sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, make my joy complete: be
of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one
mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard
others as better than yourselves. Let each of you look not to your own
interests, but to the interests of others. Let the same mind be in you that
was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard
equality with God
as something to be exploited, but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in
human form, he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death -- even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name
that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my
presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with
fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both
to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Matthew 21:23-32
When Jesus entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the
people came to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you
doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" Jesus said to them, "I
will also ask you one question; if you tell me the answer, then I will also
tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come
from heaven, or was it of human origin?" And they argued with one another,
"If we say, `From heaven,' he will say to us, `Why then did you not believe
him?' But if we say, `Of human origin,' we are afraid of the crowd; for all
regard John as a prophet." So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he
said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these
things.
"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, `Son,
go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, `I will not'; but later he
changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same;
and he answered, `I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the
will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I
tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom
of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and
you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed
him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe
him."
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Readings for : 28th September 2008
6.30pm Harvest Evensong (Green)
The Psalm, 100 :
1 Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness and
come
before his presence with a song.
2 Know this: The Lord himself is God; he himself has made us and we are his;
we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
3 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; give
thanks to
him and call upon his name.
4 For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his faithfulness
endures
from age to age.
First Reading : Philippians 4.4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness
be
known to everyone. The Lord is near.
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your
hearts
and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is
just,
whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is
any
excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things.
Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and
seen
in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Second Reading : John 6.25-35
When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, the crowd said to him,
'Rabbi, when did you come here?' Jesus answered them, 'Very truly, I tell
you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate
your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the
food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For
it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.' Then they said to Jesus,
'What must we do to perform the works of God?' Jesus answered them, 'This is
the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.' So they said to
him, 'What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and
believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in
the wilderness; as it is written, "He gave them bread from heaven to eat."'
Then Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave
you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread
from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and
gives life to the world.' They said to him, 'Sir, give us this bread
always.' Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me
will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'
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Readings for : 5th October 2008
10.30am Family Harvest Festival
Isaiah 61:1-4
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to
bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and
to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He
has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favour has
come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who
mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing
instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their
righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for
his own glory. They will rebuild the ancient ruins, repairing cities
destroyed long ago. They will revive them, though they have been deserted
for many generations.
Luke 10:25-37
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he
asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"What is written in the Law?" Jesus replied. "How do you read it?" He
answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your
neighbour as yourself.'"
"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my
neighbour?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to
Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his
clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to
be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the
other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed
by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man
was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged
his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey,
took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver
coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I
return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into
the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told
him, "Go and do likewise."
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Readings for : 5th October 2008
3pm Pet Service
A reading from Genesis 1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, God said, “Let the
waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the
earth across the dome of the sky.” So God created the great sea monsters and
every living creature that moves, of every kind, with which the waters
swarm, and every winged bird of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in
the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and
there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, “Let the earth bring forth
living creatures of every kind: cattle and creeping things and wild animals
of the earth of every kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals of the
earth of every kind, and the cattle of every kind, and everything that
creeps upon the ground of every kind. And God saw that it was good.
A Reading from Psalm 104
The moon keeps track of the seasons, the sun is in charge of each day. When
it's dark and night takes over, all the forest creatures come out. The young
lions roar for their prey, clamouring to God for their supper. When the sun
comes up, they vanish, lazily stretched out in their dens. What a wildly
wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth
overflow with your wonderful creations.
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Readings for : 12th October 2008
10am Service – Trinity 21
Exodus 32:1-14
When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the
people gathered around Aaron, and said to him, "Come, make gods for us, who
shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the
land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him." Aaron said to them,
"Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives, your sons, and
your daughters, and bring them to me." So all the people took off the gold
rings from their ears, and brought them to Aaron. He took the gold from
them, formed it in a mold, and cast an image of a calf; and they said,
"These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of
Egypt!" When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made
proclamation and said, "Tomorrow shall be a festival to the LORD." They rose
early the next day, and offered burnt offerings and brought sacrifices of
well-being; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to revel.
The LORD said to Moses, "Go down at once! Your people, whom you brought up
out of the land of Egypt, have acted perversely; they have been quick to
turn aside from the way that I commanded them; they have cast for themselves
an image of a calf, and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said,
`These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of
Egypt!'" The LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, how stiff-necked
they are. Now let me alone, so that my wrath may burn hot against them and I
may consume them; and of you I will make a great nation."
But Moses implored the LORD his God, and said, "O LORD, why does your wrath
burn hot against your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt with
great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, `It was
with evil intent that he brought them out to kill them in the mountains, and
to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce wrath;
change your mind and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember Abraham,
Isaac, and Israel, your servants, how you swore to them by your own self,
saying to them, `I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven,
and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and
they shall inherit it forever.'" And the LORD changed his mind about the
disaster that he planned to bring on his people.
Philippians 4:1-9
My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand
firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes,
and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have
struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the
rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness
be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,
whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is
any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these
things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and
heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Matthew 22:1-14
Once more Jesus spoke to the people in parables, saying: "The kingdom of
heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He
sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet,
but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, `Tell those who
have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat
calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding
banquet.' But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another
to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and
killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those
murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, `The wedding
is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main
streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' Those slaves
went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and
bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was
not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, `Friend, how did you get in
here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to
the attendants, `Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer
darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are
called, but few are chosen."
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Readings for : 19th October 2008
10am Service – Trinity 22
Exodus 33:12-23
Moses said to the LORD, "See, you have said to me, `Bring up this people';
but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said,
`I know you by name, and you have also found favour in my sight.' Now if I
have found favour in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you
and find favour in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your
people." He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest."
And he said to him, "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from
here. For how shall it be known that I have found favour in your sight, I
and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I
and your people, from every people on the face of the earth." The LORD said
to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found
favour in my sight, and I know you by name." Moses said, "Show me your
glory, I pray." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you,
and will proclaim before you the name, `The LORD'; and I will be gracious to
whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live."
And the LORD continued, "See, there is a place by me where you shall stand
on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the
rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will
take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be
seen."
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers,
constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and
labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we
know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, because
our message of the gospel came to you not in word only, but also in power
and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind
of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators
of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word
with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all
the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has
sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place
your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about
it. For the people of those regions report about us what kind of welcome we
had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and
true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the
dead-- Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath that is coming.
Matthew 22:15-22
The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap Jesus in what he said. So they sent
their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know
that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and
show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. Tell
us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?"
But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why are you putting me to the test,
you hypocrites? Show me the coin used for the tax." And they brought him a
denarius. Then he said to them, "Whose head is this, and whose title?" They
answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the
emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God the things that are
God's." When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went
away.
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Readings for : 26th October 2008
10am Service – Last after Trinity (Green)
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah,
which is opposite Jericho, and the LORD showed him the whole land: Gilead as
far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of
Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain-- that is, the
valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees-- as far as Zoar. The LORD said to
him, "This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob,
saying, `I will give it to your descendants'; I have let you see it with
your eyes, but you shall not cross over there." Then Moses, the servant of
the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, at the LORD's command. He was
buried in a valley in the land of Moab, opposite Beth-peor, but no one knows
his burial place to this day. Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he
died; his sight was unimpaired and his vigor had not abated. The Israelites
wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days; then the period of
mourning for Moses was ended.
Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid
his hands on him; and the Israelites obeyed him, doing as the LORD had
commanded Moses.
Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD
knew face to face. He was unequalled for all the signs and wonders that the
LORD sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his
servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the
terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all
Israel.
1 Thessalonians 2:1-8
You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in
vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at
Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the
gospel of God in spite of great opposition. For our appeal does not spring
from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved
by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not
to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts. As you know and
as God is our witness, we never came with words of flattery or with a
pretext for greed; nor did we seek praise from mortals, whether from you or
from others, though we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we
were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So
deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only
the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear
to us.
Matthew 22:34-46
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they
gathered together, and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test
him. "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to
him, "`You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all
your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first
commandment. And a second is like it: `You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this
question: "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to
him, "The son of David." He said to them, "How is it then that David by the
Spirit calls him Lord, saying,
`The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies
under your feet"'?
If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" No one was able to
give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more
questions.
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Readings for : 26th October 2008
6.30pm All Souls Memorial Service (Purple)
1 Corinthians 15:51-57
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be
changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For
the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be
changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and
the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the
imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is
written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O
death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death
is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 14:1-7
Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in
me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have
told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and
prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that
you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."
Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we
know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through me.
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Readings for : 2nd November 2008
10.30am Family Service, All Saints (White)
1 John 3:1-3
See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of
God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that
it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has
not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will
be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him
purify themselves, just as he is pure.
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down,
his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. "Blessed are the
meek, for they will inherit the earth. "Blessed are those who hunger and
thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. "Blessed are the
merciful, for they will receive mercy. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for
they will see God. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called
children of God. "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness'
sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people
revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely
on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for
in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
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Readings for : 9th November 2008
Remembrance Sunday Service (Red)
8am Service only : 1 Thessalonians 4:13-end
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or
to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died
and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who
have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you
that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will
certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself
will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the
archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise
first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will
be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
8 and 10.15am Services - There is only ONE reading, at 10.15 :
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he sat down
his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed
are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for
they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they
will receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute
you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice
and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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