Sunday 17th May 2020
All Saints Church, Childwall
READ: ‘Jesus promises the Holy Spirit’ – John 14v15-21
15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
REFLECT: Jesus is preparing his disciples for the fact that in the near future he is going to be leaving them physically. This though is not the type of goodbye where you are only left with the experiences and memories of the person that was once with you. Jesus says in verse 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” He doesn’t say this because he is going to return physically and be with the disciples. He says it because the Holy Spirit is going to be with them. The Holy Spirit who God sends will teach them all things and remind them of what Jesus has taught them. Why will they need reminding of what Jesus has taught them and told them? Having been with Jesus physically will the disciples not remember all their experiences clearly? We all know ourselves though that our memories fade and we forget some of what we have heard and seen and experienced in life. God knows this and that is why he sent his Holy Spirit to be our advocate and our counsellor. To lead us and guide us and teach us so that we can continue to be effective servants of Jesus. There are many people in this world though that do not accept him, because they do not see him or know him for themselves.
Our reading today starts with a challenge ‘If you love me, keep my commands”! If we love God then we are called to love others, with the type of love that God has for us, an unconditional love. As we do that by our words and more importantly by our actions we help others to know God for themselves. I have heard many people say to me over the years that before they became a Christian it was the life of someone else who was a Christian that drew them to God.
RESPOND: The first question to ask today is a very obvious one but nevertheless really crucial one and that is this: Do you know God for yourself? Do you know how much he loves you and how much he cares for you and how much he accepts you as you are? If you do know God then spend a few moments thanking him for all that he has done for you.
If you don’t know God that well or feel distant from him, or have never really committed your life to him then spend a few minutes reflecting on the fact that he knows everything about you and that he loves you and accepts you. Talk to God in prayer and tell him how you feel, ask him to help you with any struggles that you have, say sorry for all that has got in the way of having a relationship with him. Then ask him to help you and teach you and lead you to live as a follower of Jesus in all that you do.
PRAY: Dear God, help me to know you more and more every day. Help me to read your word and listen to your voice. Help me to be led by your spirit in all that I do. And help me Lord to live my life for you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
God our Father, whose Son Jesus Christ gives the water of eternal life: may we thirst for you, the spring of life and source of goodness, through him who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen.
Heavenly Father, we pray for our world at this time, for all those people who are working hard to try and develop a vaccine, for those working in the NHS, schools and social care, for all those who are suffering with illness or bereavement at this time. Lord may they all know your peace and your love. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Rev. Andrew Colmer (Vicar of All Saints Church, Childwall)
Dear Friends,
From this Sunday 17th May in addition to our Weekly Worship sheet and my midweek video message we will have an online service available on our church website. This will be accessible from 9am each Sunday, please simply go on to the home page and follow the link to Online services.
Thank you very much to those of you that have responded over this last week with financial gifts for the mission and ministry of All Saints. Depending on how long the lockdown lasts there will be further financial challenges ahead. Please will you prayerfully consider if you can give any further financial support to All Saints Church at this time. It may be a one-off gift or starting regular giving for the first time or changing your method of giving to standing order. If you want to respond in anyway please will you contact Ruth Scott our Church Administrator and please remember that if you are a UK tax payer the value of your gift will increase by 25% at no cost to you if you sign the form that Ruth can send you.
Ruth Scott Office Mob: 07550 080947 (working from home) email: office.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Some who usually contribute to the work of All Saints by Weekly Giving Envelopes have inquired as to whether they can continue to do this. If you would like to do this and are restricted in leaving the house, please contact Alison Kefford on 07748 334122 she will arrange with you to collect them safely.
Please can I encourage you to continue to pause every day at 12noon to pray for our nation our community our NHS workers our social care workers our teachers and all those that are working in key roles at this uncertain time. As we pray let us be encouraged that we are not alone we are praying as the church, the people of God not in our church building, but in our homes and in the community.
With my prayers for you all at this time. Andrew – Vicar of All Saints Childwall
All Saints Buddy Scheme – The aims of the scheme are to keep in touch with members of our church family and community who are isolated or vulnerable and to provide them with spiritual support and, if possible, practical support. If you are willing to be a ‘Buddy’ please text Mary Harrison on 07817 471857 with your name and phone number and she will give you further details. If you are self-isolating and would value some help or support or know someone else who would locally please also text or email Mary Harrison at mary.harrison32@virginmedia.com with details.
“Daily Hope” was launched 2 weeks ago. “It’s a free national phone-line aimed particularly at the over 75’s who don’t have access to the internet. The line will be available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044.
Callers will hear a special greeting from the Archbishop of Canterbury before being able to choose from a range of options, including Prayer During the Day and Night Prayer updated daily, from Common Worship, and a recording of the Church of England’s weekly national online service. A section called Hymn Line will also offer callers a small selection of hymns, updated daily. An option entitled ‘Hymns We Love’, provides a hymn and reflection and is based on an initiative by Connections, a group focused on this age group.
Christian Aid Week 10th to 16th May 2020
Thank you to those of you that have supported Christian Aid week. At the time of writing this we have almost reached our target of £500 for this year which is great. For over 70 years, Christian Aid has been standing with the poorest of our neighbours, with people of all faiths and none, to stand up for dignity, equality and justice. You can still support the vital work of Christian Aid this year by following the link below. To give you can use the All Saints Childwall Christian Aid Week Just Giving link below and then we can track how much we have given as a church; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/allsaintschildwallcaw
Or just give via the Christian Aid website, but if you are a UK tax payer don’t forget to Gift Aid it, that way they will get an extra 25% from the government. Unfortunately they aren’t receiving donations by post at the moment but you can donate by phoning: 020 7523 2269.
Please share all this information with other members of our church congregation and community.
All Saints Church, Childwall – Andrew Colmer – Vicar – Tel: 07305 842257
