20th September 2020 All Saints Church, Childwall
READ Matthew 20: 1-16 – The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3 “About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. “He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13 “But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
REFLECT: I remember as a student in Leicester working from early morning all day for a Circus that had arrived in town. Along with other students we helped to erect the Big Top and set up all the internal seating. We were all paid £10 as agreed for the whole day. It was the most physical day’s work I have ever done. If somebody had been paid the same but had only worked for a few hours I would have been very unhappy and felt that it was completely unfair.
This is exactly what happened in this parable that Jesus told. The workers who had toiled all day were paid exactly the same as those that had done far less work and they grumbled against the Landowner.
We need to focus on the Landowner who represents God if we are to fully understand this parable and not the workers. Really we should rename this parable as the ‘Parable of the Generous Landowner’. A Landowner who continued to go to the market place throughout the day in order to give labourers work. A Landowner who recognised that everyone needs enough money to live on and introduces the first living wage – a day’s wage whether for 1 hours work or 10 hours work. This wouldn’t be a popular or profitable way to run a business but this parable is about the Kingdom of God and therefore its message is about the generosity of God and not money. Whether we have served God all our lives or just for a few years or even have come to faith recently and have only just started to serve God the message is the same. We all belong to the Kingdom of God, and we are all treated equally.
RESPOND: Which worker do you identify most with in this Parable? Do you sometimes find it hard to accept generosity that is shown to you? Do you ever find it difficult to believe that God really does accept you? Or maybe you grumble over lack of sufficient recognition and feel that you deserve more.
The daily ‘wages’ that God gives us as his believers is not in monetary terms or in recognition or status but in terms of forgiveness, life and personal salvation.
PRAY: Father God Thank you that you are a loving and generous God. Thank you that you daily seek out those people who are not yet part of your kingdom. Help me to accept your generosity and realise that your love is for the whole world and all of mankind. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Andrew Colmer (Vicar of All Saints, Childwall)
Dear Friends,
Services in Church – We are OPEN this Sunday and will be having 2 morning services.
The first service will start at 9.30am and the second service will start at 11am.
The plan is to have 2 services at the same times on 27th September as well. Both services will be the same and last about 40mins. Children are very welcome at either service. This week at the 11am service there will be one baptism as well, but this will not increase the service length dramatically.
For both services please could we ask you to start arriving from 30mins before the service. This is to ensure that there is a regular flow of people arriving and we don’t have a problem with queues. Everyone attending will need to wear a face mask, gel hands on arrival and sign in. Children will need to stay with parents at all times please. The creche cannot be open and the pew bags have had to be removed. After the service you will be directed to leave from the front of church. Once outside please keep 2m apart. I am sorry that this is all necessary, but it ensures the safety of everyone attending.
Thursday Communion service – Our Thursday Communion service is now taking place each week at 10.45am. There will be no shared cup and wafers only which I will distribute with tongs whilst wearing a mask. Everyone will need to wear face masks, gel hands on arrival and sign in.
Youth & Children’s Work – Gypsey Tait – Youth & Children’s worker – Tel: 07961793435
Toast – Reminder that ToAST youth group (years 9-13) will be meeting on Sunday evening via Zoom at 6.30-8pm. Please let us know if you can attend by emailing gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com.
Harvest – It will come as no surprise that we are not able to collect gifts of food this year for harvest. Many families still need food particularly at this challenging time. Please could I ask you to donate the same amount that you would have spent on Harvest gifts to ‘South Liverpool Foodbank’.
You can donate directly on their website, this link will take you straight to their donation page:
https://slfoodbank.enthuse.com/Donate#!/ Thank you!
Tearfund Big Quiz Night scheduled for Saturday November 14th – Please put this date in your diary, further details will be communicated nearer the time.
Children’s Society Boxes – If you have been collecting for the Children’s Society over the last year please will you bring your collecting box to church and place in the box at the back of church. Please remember to write your name on it so it can be returned to you once it has been emptied. Thank you, Delia Owen
Church rotas – If you are a Sidesperson and you are willing and available to be back on duty on your regular Sunday please will you let me know. Our plan going forward is to increase the size of the usualSidesperson teams with those people who have recently been on duty in church. We need much bigger teams on duty every time we have a service to ensure that all our Covid-secure guidelines are covered. Weekly Prayer requests – If you would like other members of our church family to pray for you or afamily member, please send me their names for this sheet, please ask permission from the person. We pray for all those who are unwell at this time particularly for Alan McClelland.
WEEKLY PRAYER MEETING – 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.
Zoom Meeting: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79853782379?pwd=NEloclhRVEJST3RFeUdUVEowSWJRUT09
Meeting ID: 798 5378 2379 Password: 7VUQh6 Aidan Holmes
Zoom coffee – Please note change of time to 11.15am for 40 mins – remember to bring your own coffee! Details for Zoom coffee are as follows:
Zoom Coffee – every Sunday at 11.15am Meeting ID: 842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaints
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
