Sunday 21st March 2021 – 5th Sunday of Lent
All Saints Church, Childwall
READ: Matthew 28: 16-20 The Great Commission
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
REFLECT: This Great Commission starts with the fact that one person is missing. It is not the 12 disciples anymore but the 11 disciples. This statement is a stark reminder of Judas’s betrayal. Some of those 11 disciples though are unsure themselves, but they still all come to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. There seems to be doubts in the minds of some and it is into this situation that Jesus speaks directly. He tells them that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. It is precisely because of this authority that he now gives them what we know as the Great Commission. A commission that is based on His authority, His power and His enabling not their own!
When you are given a task or responsibility it is a sign that someone has confidence and trust in you. This Great Commission is not about the disciples or us having confidence in our own ability though. It is about us trusting what Jesus said, that he has all authority! In other words,‘Go’ because of the authority I have.
The disciples have witnessed first-hand the ministry of Jesus. They have heard his teachings, they have seen his miracles, they have seen numerous people being healed and restored. They have witnessed his death and his resurrection. They are now being told to go and bear witness to all they have seen and heard.
I believe these words were not just for those first disciples, but that we were meant by God to hear these words too, to receive the same commission that Jesus himself shared with his friends so long ago.
A commission that starts with the small but powerful word ‘Go’. The word go is about starting, beginning, moving. It is a word that implies action and movement and ultimately change. It is not simply a command to go to another place but it is a command to go and do something very specific. “Go and make disciples of all nations!”
Wherever God has placed us, where we live, where we work, where we socialise there are many people who do not know Jesus for themselves yet. I use the word ‘yet’ because I do believe that people come to faith. God often works in their lives and touches their heart and mind. It is very often other people who know Jesus for themselves that then help them by their witness and their words to come into a real living relationship with Jesus.
RESPOND: The Live Lent booklet and App has recently reminded us that many people who do not think of themselves as Christians are often reluctant to go into a church building. I believe God calls each of us to ‘Go’ and meet others where they are at. It can be much easier to share our Christian story with people on a walk, at the school gate, in a coffee shop, in our home or garden or digitally by text or other means.
When was the last time you told someone something of your Christian story? Does your Christian faith regularly influence your conversations and your actions? Pray to God this week for opportunities to talk to others about your faith and see what happens!
PRAY: Heavenly Father, help me this week by my words and my actions to ‘Go’ where you direct me. To speak openly about my faith and to helpothers become disciples of Christ. Amen
Rev. Andrew Colmer Vicar of All Saints Church, Childwall
Dear Friends,
Church building re-opening for services at Easter
Thursday 1st April – Maundy Thursday 10.45am BCP Communion service
Friday 2nd April – Good Friday 12noon – 3pm Church building will be open for personal reflection and prayer. Come when you can and leave when you need to.
Sunday 4th April – Easter Sunday 9.30am All Age Communion Service 11am – All Age Communion Service.
Social distancing will still be in place and masks will still have to be worn.
Regular services in church will continue after Easter on Thursday mornings and Sunday mornings.
Services in church – All services in church are currently suspended until Easter Sunday.
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
Sunday School Online – Rock Club and Pebbles on Zoom on Sundays 10am – 10.40am. Please contact Gypsey if you would like to join us: gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com or text Tel: 07961 793435
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
#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
Bookworms Quiz. The third book quiz has now been issued. If you haven’t already received a copy and would like to give it a try please contact us and we’ll let you have it either by email or a paper copy delivered to your door. It’s not competitive – no winners or prizes. Just enjoy doing it on your own or with family members or phone a friend. You might even do a bit of research to find the answers! Helen Ford. 0151 428 9153 or h.h.ford@btinternet.com
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:7VUQh6 https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79853782379?pwd=NEloclhRVEJST3RFeUdUVEowSWJRUT09
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.
Leprosy Mission – The Leprosy Mission have an Unconditional Appeal this year which focuses on their work in Mozambique. TLM hospitals are not only treating people suffering from leprosy but they are also treating people who have Covid 19. They are fully stretched on reduced resources. Please consider donating to TLM as all donations received by 24th April will be matched by the UK Government.
I would be happy to receive any donations (or collection boxes) to forward on or you could send a donation direct to – TLM, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, PE2 5GZ Thank you so much – Sandra Dunn
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).
Easter poetry Evening
On Easter Saturday evening I will be hosting an Easter Poetry eveningon Zoom. If you have written an Easter Poem or have a favourite one you would like to read please contact me. It would be great if the children would like to be involved. Thank you Garry. garry.critchley@gmail.com.
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, Eileen Miller and Hazel Watson. Please pray for the bereaved family and friends of Peter Watson (Ruth Scott’s Father).
Pastoral visiting – 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
Adeyinka Olushonde – Ordinand –adeyinka.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
