3rd July 2022 All Saints Church, Childwall READ: Luke 10.1-11, 16-20
1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.5 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6 If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. 7 Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of
God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” 18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
REFLECT: We have an interesting passage here. Perhaps we have two interesting passages, one is the drama of the headline grabbing gifts the disciples discover from their travels, and the other is the lesser talked-about community they create together. When we focus on the rich gifts of demons submitting and Satan falling and so on, we might imagine that there lies our ultimate goal: to become superheroes of the faith. Less dramatic, but probably more useful, and kingdom-like, is the fact the disciples learned to trust each other, create community with folk, and do that without even a bag to carry or food to eat, let alone powers to cope with snakes and scorpions. Going on a road less travelled, one where we travel into the world with vulnerability and fragility, armed with only a message, is always going to be the harder way. But this tells us that it is the message itself that must speak. It is the ability to liberate and bring life that needs to speak, not a show of power. And that is harder, there is more invested in that message. In fact, everything of ourselves must be invested in that message.
Prior to starting theological college, I set off on a journey. The goal was to walk over 500 miles and complete the Camino de Santiago. For a few short weeks my lifestyle totally changed as I invested everything in reaching my destination. Unlike the 72, I set off alone but as I travelled, I experienced hospitality, community in action and the benefits of travelling light. Travelling light on the Camino Means travelling “Un-encumbered”. Un-Encumbered means not only the weight of the gear that you carry on your back, but the “baggage” that weighs you down personally, psychologically, or logistically. When I read Jesus’ words “Do not take a purse or bag or sandals…” I am reminded that I survived and thrived when I was forced to strip everything back and depend on only what I could carry. Out of necessity, pellegrinos (pilgrims) abandon the trappings and possessions that usually define their identities. In doing so, they form a new community. A community of equality, co-dependency and shared purpose. In this community we can glimpse the Kingdom of God. A kingdom that turns worldly values on their heads. A kingdom where less is more.
It is just you from here on in,
the real you,
without the protections of masks, and degrees,
and CV’s. Just you.
Lay down here, your bag
filled with charts and certificates,
of expertise and institutional wisdom. Lay it down.
This is just you.
Go into the world
as yourself.
Rely on the core of faith you have; the seed of love;
the kernel of hope.
Lay down the false securities the world brings; hide no longer behind authorised versions
and agreed statements,
creeds that have grown from centuries of history.
Go into the world
as yourself.
Just you,
and your relationship with me, and what you have learned there.
Go as yourself:
who you really are: raw and vulnerable, but real.
Really you.
And in that honesty, fragility,
humility,
trust,
preach the gospel.
Use words if necessary.
Live the Good News as you are. Really are.
(Poem taken from Spill the Beans issue 43)
RESPOND: Do we sometimes delay stepping out into the harvest field because we want to have all of our ducks in a row first? Do our possessions, buildings, institutions, and traditions help us or hinder us in our mission? Can we be too independent? How might we work towards becoming un-encumbered?
PRAY: Lord, send us out with the conviction of the disciples, not alone but together. Sharing as one body in your mission. Send us just as we are, send us with enthusiasm, send us to make a difference, send us to share and give of your rich blessing. Amen.
Helen Deegan [Curate] Church services
Sunday 3rd July – 9.15am – Service of the Word 11am – Holy Communion
6pm – Evening Worship. (in the church hall followed by tea & coffee)
Thursday 7th July – 10.45am – BCP Holy Communion
Sunday 10th July – 9.15am – Holy Communion 11am – Parade Service
4pm – Annual Jazz Service in the Churchyard – Please come with decorated umbrellas.
Monday 11th July – 12noon Service of Thanksgiving for Eileen Holland
News from former Curate Becca Phillips
We’d love for our All Saints family to be praying for us, and to visit if they like!!
After 7 years in Kings Lynn, Tim and Becca are moving to East London. For over a year now, a lot of Tim’s work has been in the London area, so they have been praying about a move. Becca is starting 2 part-time posts: Associate Minister, at Ascension Church, Custom House with a focus on discipleship and community engagement, and Chaplain with the Margaret Clitherow Trust, who work with Roma, Gypsy and Travelling communities. Both roles feel really right, and a nice change from full-time incumbency.
Tim continues to do his photography and videography, and we are excited to see what opportunities there will be for Tim to launch this in a much busier area! He also does some supporting acting on the side. Becca’s licensing is likely to be early October, so do get in touch with her if you’d like to come along!
They both remain so grateful for their time at All Saints and send lots of love.
We are looking for young musicians to join our Youth Worship Team Project.
We are currently hoping to build a Youth Worship Team, to perform possibly once a month in the future. The project will take time, the young musician’s confidence is paramount to us all, and we want them to succeed! This will be a gradual process as we slowly build the Young Musicians confidence.
Basically, any young person who can play an instrument or sing, is a pianist, guitarist or a drummer, or can play any other type of instrument all are most welcome. The Young Musicians will be supported by our Musical Director, Leader and musicians. If you would like to meet with us and maybe play something. We would happily arrange that. The kind of worship music we play is normally of the modern style of worship.
We look forward to hearing from you, For further information contact
John McLoughlin, on 0776 222 8339 or come and chat to us at the end of our 11am Sunday Service.
Bookworms – Our Church reading group has its next meeting on Monday 1st August at 7.30pm in the function room of the Childwall Abbey. We are looking at the book: The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce, a heartwarming novel about the potential strength of local community.
Morning Prayer – Monday and Friday at 8:00am – Common Worship Morning prayer service with words on screen. Optional Chat after the service. Meeting ID: 948 786 2454 Passcode: 4allsaints
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
Vestry Hour – every Tuesday 7pm – 8pm.
To book a Baptism or a Wedding or speak to a member of the clergy, 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.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8802380315?pwd=cGxQTnQ0QVRjU1gyUnBrYnJMMzZldz09
Please note joining ID. Meeting ID: 880 238 0315
Passcode: yt76bq
Weekly Prayer requests – Please pray for all those who are unwell at this time particularly praying for Stan Cowley, Alison Kefford, Shirley Rawlinson, Margaret Whitehead, Diane Deacon, Doris Springer, Sandra Ward and Nicoli Gray (Carole Turner’s daughter). We also pray for the bereaved family and friends of Norman Russell, Alan Woods, Norman Bell, John Wright, Eileen Holland and John Canavan.
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
