14th November 2021 – 2nd Sunday before Advent All Saints Church, Childwall
READ John Ch 15 v9-17:
9 ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands,
you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told
you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: love each
other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s
friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: love each other.
REFLECT:
How do we know that God loves us? How do we know that Jesus loves us? Yes, the Bible tells us that he
does, but where is the proof, how do we know? We often say that ‘actions speak louder than words’!
The proof is Jesus himself! God sent Jesus his only Son to this world to be its Saviour. Why did he do that,
because God loves the world so much. Sending his only son knowing that he would suffer and be killed
was the ultimate act of love.
This love of the Father is so powerful, and Jesus shares that love with us. His love is an example to us all, he gave up his life willingly so that we could have a life and a relationship with God. As John records earlier in his Gospel, Jesus says “I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.”
God calls us to love this world and all people as he loves it. He has shown us through Jesus how to love,
Jesus encourages us to remain in his love. How do we do that? Jesus says keep my commands, and if we
do we will remain in his love.
These words imply that our relationship with Jesus can change. If we don’t talk to him regularly in prayer or read his word the Bible and put it into practice, or have regular fellowship with other Christians then our relationship with him will be affected.
Our passage today finishes with Jesus saying to each one of us. “This is my command: Love each other”!
It is one thing to love someone that we have fallen in love with, but to be told to love EVEYONE that is not easy! Jesus knows that, and that is why he reminds us that he loves us as the Father loves him. We love because we have first been loved!
The nature of Christian love is radically different. The love God showed toward Jesus he showed toward his disciples so they could show it to each other. When they love in this way, their love changes and has divine qualities. It is not just an emotional feeling of love, but a clear decision to put others first before yourself. This kind of love enables real justice to happen in the world.
David Wilkerson the famous American Evangelist said: “Love is not only something you feel, it is something that you do.”
RESPOND:
Take some time to think and reflect on the words that Jesus says to you. He says “I Love You”! Do you sometimes feel like you don’t deserve his love because you feel unworthy and let him down? Take time today and this week to read the Bible regularly, to pray and take time to be quiet with God. Allow God to speak to you and remind you how much he loves you. Ask God to help you to love others as he loves you.
PRAY:
Dear God, Thank you that your love was so great that you sent your one and only Son Jesus to be the Saviour of this world. Help me to accept your love and help me to love others. Keep me close to you and help me to follow your commands and share your love with all those that I meet. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Rev Andrew Colmer (Vicar of All Saints Church, Childwall)
Church Services at All Saints
Sunday 14th November – Remembrance Sunday – 9.15am – Service of Holy Communion with act of Remembrance 10.55am – Parade Service with act of Remembrance Please note earlier time of 10.55am 4pm – Service of Remembrance for the bereaved in Church (followed by tea & coffee)
Please note there will be no 6pm evening service in the hall on this Sunday.
Thursday 18th November – 10.45am BCP Holy Communion
Sunday 21st November – 9.15am – Service of the Word 11am – Holy Communion 6pm – Evening service (in the Church Hall with tea & coffee afterwards)
Thursday 25th November – 10.45am BCP Holy Communion followed by tea & coffee
Christmas card delivery to all Parish roads – Can you help?
We will be delivering a Christmas postcard with details of Services at All Saints over the Christmas period to every home in the parish but we could do with some help! If you used to deliver Contact and are willing and able to deliver the Christmas Postcard during December to your usual delivery road, please could you let Ruth Scott know: office.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com.
If you have previously delivered Contact and are unable to do so for any reason, it would be much appreciated if you could confirm this with Ruth so that we know how many roads we have left to cover.
If you would be willing to deliver Christmas Postcards to any roads that still need to be covered because the usual person is unable to do so, please would you also get in touch with Ruth. THANK YOU.
Zoom Sunday Coffee – Every Sunday at 10.45am – Meeting ID: 842 767 1496
Password: 4allsaints https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
Online Church Services – We are continuing to record our Sunday morning service in church. It will be uploaded to our website to be viewed each week soon after 11am. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
Morning Prayer- Monday and Friday at 8:00am – Common Worship Morning prayer service with words on screen. Optional Chat after the service. Meeting ID: 865 694 0214 Passcode: mprayer
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 https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8802380315?pwd=cGxQTnQ0QVRjU1gyUnBrYnJMMzZldz09
Please note joining ID. Meeting ID: 880 238 0315 Passcode: yt76bq
Storytime – Mondays from 10am – 11.30am
Storytime is a group for pre-school children run by volunteers from All Saints and meets every Monday during term time in the church hall. It starts with a story and involves lots of fun, crafts, teddies and action songs. It costs £2 per family which is entirely used to cover running costs, snacks, rent and craft items.
VESTRY HOUR – every Tuesday in Church from 7pm – 8pm
If you would like to book a Baptism or a Wedding or speak to us about anything else, please come to Vestry Hour which is held in the church every Tuesday, no appointment is necessary. Please use the wooden door to the left of the tower. You do not need to knock; just come in, take a seat and you will be seen privately in turn.
Pram Club – Thursdays from 1.30pm – 3pm
We run every Thursday for pre-school children during term time with a cost of £2 per family. Why not come along and join in the fun? Refreshments served for both children and adults.
School Forms – Primary School Applications
If you need a Primary School form completing, please email me to make an appointment. Thank you, Andrew
Men’s Night – Friday 26th November from 7.30pm in the function room at Childwall Abbey
Please come and join us for a social evening, a good opportunity to catch up and chat and also a great way to get to know each other better. I will also be sharing about some practical areas of church life that you can get involved in. Look forward to seeing you there. Andrew
Lighting of Community Christmas Tree at the Church Hall – Saturday 4th December
6pm-7pm – FREE hot scouse with vegetarian option provided by Hope University
Community Choir will be singing during the evening
7pm – Turning on of the Community Christmas Tree on the Church Hall roof.
Please invite your family, friends and neighbours to come.
The Church hall car park will be closed for the event, please walk or park elsewhere.
If you are able to help setting up before the event or being a steward on the night please speak to Andrew
Christmas Afternoon Tea – Saturday 18th December in the Church Hall
This event will be for older members of our church and community.
The Community Choir will be singing at this event.
If you would be willing to be involved and help on the day please speak to Andrew More details will be publicised soon.
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 Nicoli Gray (Carole Turner’s daughter), David Miller, Patricia Horne, Margaret Whitehead, Alan Kirk, Louise Kenny and Charlotte Fitzsimon. We also pray for the bereaved family and friends of John Hill and Avril Mason.
Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Online Shoebox
Build a Shoebox Online at shoeboxonline.org. uk To learn more visit samaritans-purse.org.uk/occ
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 Bill Forster – Associate Minister – william.forster1@btinternet.com Adeyinka Olushonde – Ordinand – adeyinka.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Dave, Emma & Joshua Moore
are coming across to Liverpool on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st November and would love to see you.
Dave Moore will be speaking at the 9.15am & 11am Sunday morning services at All Saint’s.
There will be an opportunity to meet more informally in a home setting to share their plans about working in Papua New Guinea and to have time for questions and prayer together.
Chris and Sue Watterson from All Saint’s Childwall have offered to host an event at their house in Woolton on Saturday 20th November from 19.30-21.00
Click here for more information and to book
Dave and Angela Wilkinson from Christ Church Liverpool will be hosting an event with the same content at their home in Calderstones on Sunday 21st November from 15.00-16.30 Click here for more information and to book
There will be another date to connect on Zoom if you would have liked to have come but can’t make these dates. If so please do let Dave know.
