Rev Chris update 29th August

Dear all,

As many of you will know I was licensed to St Paul’s on Tuesday evening by Bishop Rose and I look forward to the sharing of my ministry across the two churches. I mentioned in a previous update how that affects Sunday morning services but here it is again as a reminder (this takes effect from October);

8am Holy Communion – will now be 2nd and 4th Sundays

10am services;

1st Sunday – Holy Communion

2nd Sunday – Oasis

3rd Sunday – Oasis Communion

4th Sunday – Morning Worship
5th Sunday – Holy Communion

The Services & Events page will keep you updated of what is coming week by week. I am also working with Katie, our Parish Administrator, to redesign the weekly update in the near future – watch this space.

Brian Davison has asked me to pass on a message about the Men’s Breakfast that he organised on a regular basis. After eight years of doing so he feels that the time has come to step down – if anyone wishes to take over then please contact him on 01622 759278.

In the meantime, the world stage has some significant issues that I am sure we are all aware of. On the positive side there has been the start of the Paralympics in Japan. On the negative front there has been the major earthquake disaster in Haiti and, of course, the dreadful events unfolding in Afghanistan – there are no easy answers to such tragedies but perhaps the Paralympics reminds us that national boundaries are secondary to our common humanity, in all its diversity. I think I can be bold enough to say that that is how God views things.

Luke 10:25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

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 was attacked by 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 travelled, 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, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii 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.”

Blessings,

Rev Chris