6th December 2020 All Saints Church, Childwall
READ Mark 1.1-8
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
“I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way”—
3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’”
4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
REFLECT:
Did you know that, according to Jesus, John the Baptist was the ‘Greatest man ever born’ (Luke 7:28). In his time, John was a major celebrity. He was amazingly popular and people from all over the Judean countryside went out to hear him preach. But they didn’t just listen-they responded. They confessed their sins and were baptized! Not only was John popular, he was also successful. For all his popularity and success, though, John was strikingly different from the average man. Many people respond to great popularity and success with a certain degree of pride and swagger. But from the beginning, John the Baptizer was different. Perhaps you have seen the slogan, “It’s not about me.” That was the root of John’s message. He preached about someone else, someone who would come after him whose sandal thongs John did not consider himself even worthy to tie. John wasn’t interested in the limelight. He wasn’t interested in the praise or admiration of others. He was interested in preparing the way for someone else, and he didn’t let personal ambition get in the way of doing his job well.
John’s ministry was a ministry of humility. Baptism is an expression of humility. The Son of God humbled himself to become one of us for our sakes. And the new life in Christ that is given to us by our Creator and Redeemer is a life of humility. It’s not about us. If it were about us, what would we do? How could we heal our own past, our present and our future? How could we redeem our own faults, sins, betrayals and rebellion? How can we secure our own futures or the futures of those we care about? Thank God, it’s not about us. It’s all about Jesus Christ, the Son of God incarnate for our sakes. He is the one who heals our personal history, redeems our every dark sin, secures our future and gives us deep peace and rest. Praise be to God that we can drop all our airs of superiority and pride, and humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God, because he is truly our all in all. So, reflecting on John’s example we must accept, that like him, all we can do is attempt to point the way; and invite others into relationship with Jesus.
RESPOND:
How are repentance and humility related?
How does personal ambition get in the way of the mission of the Church today?
PRAY (Collect for John the Baptist):
Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of thy Son our Saviour, by preaching of repentance: Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching; and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Adapted from an original article by J. Michael Feazell by Rev. Helen Deegan (Curate)
Dear Friends,
Church Services – Now that the National Lockdown has finished church buildings are allowed to be open for services. We are meeting as a PCC on Monday 7th December to look at the provision of services for December. The decisions that are made will be communicated clearly via our weekly sheet, website and midweek video message.
Church Services Online – You can access our Church Services online every week on our Church website. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
Rock Club Online Now!– Our youth and children’s worker Gypsey has developed online activities for Pebbles, Rock Club & Boulders. These can be accessed on our website: https://www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk/online-rock-club/
If you would like to be kept informed and receive specific emails detailing our Youth & Children’s Worship please can you let us know by emailing gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Evening Prayer every Sunday at 6pm – Every Sunday evening the Readers will be hosting a weekly service of Evening Prayer on Zoom at 6pm. During lockdown, we have not been able to enjoy Evening Prayer which for many of us was a wonderful way to end a Sunday. Even when we were able to open for morning services, due to the Covid security measures, we were unable to offer an evening service. A number of us are enjoying Morning Prayer via Zoom on a Monday and Friday mornings which Helen introduced when she joined us. Using the Zoom facility, the Readers will host Evening Prayer each Sunday at 6.00pm. The liturgy and the readings will all appear on the screen and there will be a short reflection on the New Testament passage which has been set for the day.
Please join us. Garry Critchley
Meeting ID: 789 873 7449 Passcode: Newsman1
For further details please contact me at garry.critchley@gmail.com 0151 722 9643
Advance Notice – CHRISTINGLE AT HOME – Join us on Sunday, December the 13th at 4 pm for our Christingle at home service in aid of the Children’s Society. Christingle is traditionally one of our best-attended services and we are not going to let the fact that we can’t gather in person stop us celebrating Jesus Christ as the Light of the World! Sign up early to receive your free Christingle pack, with everything you need to make your Christingles at home. Just add an orange!
Contact gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com to register your interest. We will be meeting on zoom to make our Christingles together and have fun learning about their meaning. Once our Christingles are ready, we will be able to join people all over the country worshipping God through the National Christingle Service. Donations to the Children’s Society can be made through our church’s online giving page
The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it! (John 1:15)
Weekly News – If you are aware of anyone who is not receiving all the weekly news that we are sending out please ask them to send me their email address so I can add them to our master email list.
Living in Isolation – C of E website – On the church of England website there are some excellent resources. At this time of increased restrictions affecting who we can be with and where we can go we can feel increasingly isolated. Please can I encourage you to have a look at the Church of England website and their reflection and resources called ‘Living in Isolation’.
This is an extract with the link to the page below. It is easy to say, “You are not alone; God is with you.” It is not easy to live with isolation from the warmth of human company. However, isolation is not really, or only, about how many other people are in the room or house with us. It has more to do with who is in our hearts and minds, and how we may reach beyond the confines of rooms and homes to connect with those we love. https://www.churchofengland.org/faith-action/mental-health-resources/supporting-good-mental-health/day-one-living-isolation
Weekly Prayer requests – If you would like other members of our church family to pray for you or a family member, please send me their names for this sheet, please ask permission from the person. Please pray for all those who are unwell at this time particularly praying for Bill Maitland.
Please pray for the bereaved family and friends of Alan McClelland who has sadly died.
All Saints Playgroup – Please support the work of All Saints Playgroup by purchasing a ‘Real Christmas Eve Box’ this year. the kits contain; The real message, goodies, reindeer food and a letter from Santa himself! They cost just £5:00 each. To order contact allsaintsplaygroup1@hotmail.co.uk. Or visit the playgroup facebook page https://www.facebook.com/All-Saints-Playgroup-107894217747755 for more information on this and other ways to get involved.
Release International is one of All Saints World Mission Partners. It does an exceptional work throughout the world. Release International is an inter-denominational Christian ministry working through local church partners in more than 25 countries, helping persecuted Christians prayerfully, pastorally and practically. Their ministry is based on Hebrews 13 v 3: ‘Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.’
Bear Grylls Chief Scout said “Release International is a truly humbling and inspiring charity, seeking out, supporting and protecting some of the bravest and most vulnerable men, women and children who are being persecuted for their faith. Your support means so much. Thank You.”
Please visit their website to learn about their ministry and to be able to pray for them.
https://releaseinternational.org/ Many thanks Delia Owen.
16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence is a global campaign. This year it takes place from 25th November (International Day for the elimination of violence against women) to 10th December (International Human Rights Day). In the UK, Mothers’ Union and Tearfund are just two of many organisations involved in the campaign. National Domestic Violence Helpline (UK):- 0808 2000 247
For more information and/or prayers for the 16 Days please contact Sue Watterson (Mothers Union branch leader) suewatterson@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 428 8406 mob:07707901279
Boys’ Brigade
75th anniversary badges
The Boys’ Brigade are celebrating 75 years at All Saints’ and, to mark this milestone,the guys have had a commemorative badge struck.
If you’d like to get hold
of one (…because it’s never too
early to think about Christmas
presents!), be sure to check
out the flyer or email the team:
35Liverpool@boys-brigade.org.uk
Parish Christmas Postcard – We have not be able to deliver our Parish newsletter Contact this year.
If you normally deliver Contact and are willing and able to deliver a Christmas postcard during December to your usual delivery road please will you let Ruth Scott know: office.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
We will need extra people to deliver Christmas postcards. If you are willing to help with this please will you email Ruth Scott. Thank you!
Access to church hall – If you are a key holder and need access to the church hall for resources or equipment for your organisation please will you speak to Peter Kefford and book your time in with him.
It would be helpful to do this on a Friday afternoon as our All Saints Playgroup will not be in again until Monday morning and we need to keep the building Covid secure. Thank you very much. Andrew
Christmas Message – Patricia and John Britland Horne wish everyone a very happy Christmas and 2021. We support Guide Dogs for the Blind, so we hope you will excuse the lack of a Christmas card!
NEW – FELLOWSHIP GROUP – It has been difficult to connect with other members of the church family during these challenging times. The national guidelines encourage us not to stay and talk when attending church, masks make it difficult to see and hear each other and small group meetings in homes are not allowed. One of the ways some small groups have found helpful to connect is via zoom. If you are not part of a small group and would like to get to know other members of the church please consider joining us.
The aim is to grow in faith and friendship with a small group of people using zoom. The first group will be held at 8pm every Monday. If you would like to take part please contact Mary Harrison. mary.harrison32@virginmedia.com
Deanery 24-7 Advent PRAYER – During the first week in December, Liverpool South Deanery will be contributing to the 24-7 prayer movement. We will be praying for the Light of Christ to impact our world. The main focus is to welcome the Presence of God into our lives in worship. We aim to do this by praying continuously, as a community, for a whole week. If you can spare half an hour, between 29th and November and the 6th of December, please sign up to cover a slot. Unfortunately, we cannot meet in person to pray together, however, there is no limit to the number of people who can sign up for each slot. Pray alone, pray as a household, join a friend on the phone or gather as a group on Zoom. Prayer resources will be available from the Liverpool South Deanery website www.liverpoolsouthdeanery.org.uk/prayer You can sign up for your slot in the Virtual Prayer Room here https://www.24-7prayer.com/signup/cb46c4 Join the movement transforming the world through prayer, mission & justice.
Daily Hope – free phoneline
This Advent and Christmas, in conjunction with the Church of England’s Comfort and Joy campaign, DailyHope will continue to offer all the national services as well as Comfort and Joy’s special reflections. In addition, BBC Songs of Praise’s Pam Rhodes offers listeners an introduction to some of her favourite carols; as well as a special festive series of ‘Christmas at Home on the Phone’.
Pastoral visiting – Current Government guidelines mean that we cannot visit people and go inside their homes or sit out in their gardens for a chat. Any face to face visiting will have to happen from the front gate, and with the colder and wetter weather will need to be brief so people don’t get cold. If you would value a chat or know anyone who would also appreciate a chat please let Helen or me know, our phone numbers and email addresses are at the bottom of this sheet, Thank You.
WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING – Weekly prayer meeting Thursday 6.30pm on Zoom. Why not join a group of us at All Saints that pray regularly. It lasts 40 minutes, you can pray, sit and listen or just contemplate.
Zoom Meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79853782379?pwd=NEloclhRVEJST3RFeUdUVEowSWJRUT09
Meeting ID: 798 5378 2379 Password: 7VUQh6 Aidan Holmes
Zoom Sunday coffee – Every Sunday 11.15am for 40 mins – remember to bring your own coffee!
Zoom Coffee – every Sunday at 11.15am Meeting ID: 842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaints
With our prayers for you all at this time
Andrew Colmer – Vicar – Tel: 07305 842257 – vicar.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Helen Deegan – Curate – Tel: 07984 933467 – curate.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Gypsey Tait – Youth & Children’s Worker – Tel: 07961 793435 –gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Bill Forster – Associate Minister – william.forster1@btinternet.com
