Sunday 28th February 2021 – 2nd Sunday of Lent All Saints Church, Childwall
READ: 2 Corinthians ch 5 v 14-2
14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
REFLECT: In a courtroom if a witness gives a compelling statement, then people are convinced that what they are saying is true. The witness has people’s attention and everyone is drawn in to listen and to takeseriously what they have said. Christ’s love is compelling, it gets our attention, it draws us in, it causes us to respond. God’s love for our world is so great that he sent Jesus his only son to be its Saviour. Jesus freely gave his life for you and for me and for all people. What an act of love that was! It is an act that we can’t ignore or push to one side, because Jesus took our place and took the burden of our sins on his shoulders.
When we do respond to God’s love for us and accept Jesus as our Saviour then the way that we see other people and the world changes. We know what it is like to be forgiven ourselves and have a relationship with God, reconciled to him through Jesus who gave his life for us. This love that we have experienced we are compelled to share with others, why? Because we know that God wants to bring all people into a living relationship with him. He wants people to admit their sin and be reconciled to him.
We all know what it can be like when we have a damaged relationship with someone, until we speak and we both say sorry and put things right, reconciliation can never happen. We are reminded and encouraged by the great truth that is in this passage today in verse 17: ‘Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!’
When we do respond to God and put our relationship right with him then we become part of his message of reconciliation, as verse 20 says: ‘We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.’
RESPOND: What is your relationship with God like? Have you taken that step of faith and become reconciled to God? Are there relationships with others that you have got that are broken or damaged that need to be repaired? God loves you and when you accept that love then it overflows to other people through you.
Spend some time with God reflecting on your own relationship with him. Give to him any relationships that are damaged and ask for his help to put them right.
PRAY: Loving Lord, please fill me with your love to such an extent that it overflows from me and touches other people, drawing them to you. Amen
Rev. Andrew Colmer Vicar of All Saints Church, Childwall
Dear Friends,
Services in church – All services in church are currently suspended until further notice. Funeral services are still happening at All Saints with a limit of 30 mourners set by government guidelines.
Church Services Online – We are recording our Sunday morning service in church weekly. It will be uploaded to our website to be viewed each week soon after 11am. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
Evening Prayer – Every Sunday evening at 6pm the Readers will be hosting a weekly service of Evening Prayer on Zoom at 6pm. The liturgy and the readings will be 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
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.
Aidan Holmes. Meeting ID:798 5378 2379 Passcode:7VUQh6https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79853782379?pwd=NEloclhRVEJST3RFeUdUVEowSWJRUT09
#LiveLent Prayer space – Friday-Tuesday 9pm on Zoom. A space for collective, silent prayer focusing on the themes of the #LiveLent course. Cameras and microphones will be switched off to minimise distractions and enable you to pray in the way which you feel most comfortable.
Helen Deegan. Meeting ID: 724 0532 7716 Passcode: prayers1
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/72405327716?pwd=MFl6cGI3VmJ2cDJEM1BCVll2UlFRQT09
Rock Club Online! – Our youth & children’s worker Gypsey has developed online activities for Pebbles, Rock Club & Boulders. Available 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
#LiveLent course – If you would like to join the Lent course that is being run centrally on Zoom it is taking place on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm. Please join us any week you can make it. It will meet weekly for 1 hour with an opportunity for discussion and further study based on the Archbishop’s Lent book ‘Living his Story’. There will be a short video each week along with discussion and opportunity for questions.
Meeting ID: 948 786 2454 Passcode: 4allsaints
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9487862454?pwd=M1BITWV3U0xBN1h5WTF4eGJseWlrUT09
All Saints Buddy Scheme – If you are self-isolating and would value some support or a regular chat or know someone else who would, please email Mary Harrison at mary.harrison32@virginmedia.com with details.
Fairtrade Fortnight – Climate, Fairtrade and You – February 22nd –March 7th 2021
This year Fairtrade are focussing on how the changes in the world’s climate is posing an immediate threat to farmers and workers in countries around the world who produce many everyday items that we find in our supermarkets. Bananas, coffee beans and cocoa beans to make chocolate are just a few examples. By choosing products bearing the Fairtrade symbol is one way of standing with these farmers and workers, their communities and their families as they face this crisis.
Please sign up to find out more and how you can help to support them at: www.fairtrade.org.uk/fortnight.
Put Jesus back into Easter with the Real Easter Egg – Due to the pandemic, it is more important than ever that we find ways to share the Easter story in 2021. The Real Easter Egg is a proven way to do this.
Supermarkets have decided not to stock the Real Easter Egg this year. The Real Easter Egg is the first and only Fairtrade chocolate Easter Egg to explain the Christian understanding of Easter on the pack. It is also plastic free and supports charity and development projects (For more info visit www.realeasteregg.co.uk).
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. Thank you.
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, Nicoli Gray (Carole Turner’s daughter) David Miller and Eileen Miller and Jenni Delea. Please pray for the bereaved family and friends of Peter Watson (Ruth Scott’s Father).
Pastoral visiting – Current Government guidelines mean that we cannot visit people and go inside their homes. Any face-to-face visiting will have to happen from the front gate. If you would value a chat or know anyone who would appreciate a visit please let Helen or me know, our phone numbers and email addresses are below.
Tea@4- Weekdays at 4pm. Pop in for a natter. Bring your own tea and biscuits!
Meeting ID: 753 2429 1267 Passcode: teatimehttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/75324291267?pwd=WmdnY1B3WUtRdHdVVkJQdXJGRE1Ldz09
Zoom Sunday coffee – Every Sunday at 10.15am – remember to bring your own coffee!
Meeting ID: 842 767 1496 Password:4allsaintshttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
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
