11th October 2020 All Saints Church, Childwall
READ: Luke 12: v13-21 – The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 A man in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide with me the property our father left us.” 14 Jesus answered him, “Friend, who gave me the right to judge or to divide the property between you two?” 15 And he went on to say to them all, “Watch out and guard yourselves from every kind of greed; because your true life is not made up of the things you own, no matter how rich you may be.” 16 Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a rich man who had land which bore good crops. 17 He began to think to himself, ‘I don’t have a place to keep all my crops. What can I do? 18 This is what I will do,’ he told himself; ‘I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, where I will store the grain and all my other goods. 19 Then I will say to myself, Lucky man! You have all the good things you need for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!’ 20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night you will have to give up your life; then who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?’” 21 And Jesus concluded, “This is how it is with those who pile up riches for themselves but are not rich in God’s sight.”
REFLECT:
It is sad when a loved one dies in a family and the inheritance that they leave to their descendants causes division and disagreement. We have Jesus confronted by such an issue by one brother who’s father has recently died and by the sound of it is not getting what he sees as a fair share of his inheritance from his own brother. He wants Jesus to intervene and to tell his brother to divide his Father’s estate. Jesus doesn’t pass judgement though but instead speaks into the heart of the problem which is greed. He warns them to watch out and guard themselves from every kind of greed because he knows the grip that it can have on people and the damage that it can do.
To make the point Jesus goes on to tell a parable about a Rich Fool. A man who becomes rich because of the success of his farming empire, but is foolish because all he can focus on is the accumulation of his own possessions and wealth. He already has big barns to store all his harvest but is so caught up with his own success that he thinks nothing of pulling those barns down and building even bigger ones.
His attitude is of self-importance and looking after number one! There is no hint in this parable at all, that the rich man feels he has got more than he needs. Nor is there any hint of him thinking of others who could benefit from his success and excess harvest. The parable finishes with the rich man being told by God that he would die that very night. The poignant question that God asks of him is “who will get all these things you have kept for yourself?” Finally there is a stark warning from God which is for all of us. If you accumulate riches for yourself you are not rich in God’s eyes!
RESPOND:
Do we see all that we have as belonging to us? Or do we recognise that before God we have a responsibility to share our wealth? When I was a teenager and the collection plate would be brought forward in church I was always very struck by the words that were used in prayer over the money that had been given. “All things come from you O God and of your own do we give you”
Are you accumulating your wealth and possessions? Often we can do it without giving it much thought.
The challenge for each of us is this. What am I doing to further God’s kingdom here on earth? Do I give regularly from my income to enable the mission and ministry of God to grow?
PRAY: Father God, Thank you for all that I have and all that you have blessed me with. Help me to realise that its ownership is only temporary. Help me to be generous and not greedy, compassionate and not conceited, thankful and not thoughtless. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Andrew Colmer (Vicar of All Saints, Childwall)
Dear Friends,
Church is OPEN this Sunday and we will be having two Services of the Word at 9.30am & 11am.
With current Covid 19 levels increasing rapidly in Liverpool please stay at home if you have any Covid symptoms or a cough or cold of any type. You can still join us in worship online via our website.
Both Sunday services will be the same and last 35mins. Children are very welcome at either service.
Please start arriving from 30mins before the service. You 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. Inside church and afterwards outside please keep 2m apart at all times.
Thank you to all of you that have come to the services and have been so positive and helpful and have sat in the pews that you have been asked to. It is essential that we fill up each aisle from the front so as no one is walking past anybody else. At the end of each service please remain in your pews until directed to leave.
I am sorry that this is all necessary, but it ensures the safety of everyone attending and those on duty.
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.
APCM – Our Annual Parochial Church Meeting is planned for Monday19th October in the evening.
Wardens & PCC nominations – nomination forms for Wardens and Deputy Wardens and PCC members are displayed at the front of church to the right of the Vestry door. We have 6 vacancies for our PCC this year. Please prayerfully consider whether you could serve on All Saints PCC at this time.
Rock Club Online Now!– Our new youth and children’s worker Gypseyhas developed new online activities for Pebbles, Rock Club & Boulders.These can be accessed on our website: https://www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk/online-rock-club/ Thank you Gypsey for all you work on this!
If you would like to be kept informed and receive specific emails detailing our Youth & Children’s Worship please can you let us know by emailing gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com Once Gypsey has your details, we will add you to our new mailing list specifically for our Youth & Children’s work.
Please pray for Gypsey as she plans and develops our online provision for our Children and Young People.
On the Trail: In search of hope! – This month’s community activity is brought to us by Scripture Union. On the Trail: In search of hope! is a treasure hunt for children and families that uses a series of films to create conversation and help crack a code. You will need your phone or tablet with you as videos are accessed by scanning four QR codeshidden in the church grounds. Look for the posters on the notice boards and gates for further instructions on how to get started. Can you find all the clues?
The resource is fun, interactive and engages children in exploring, walking and talking about their experiences and what they are looking forward to. No booking is necessary. The trail can be accessed throughout October at any time apart from Sunday mornings, when the church building is being used for services. Please act responsibly and follow government guidance on social distancing.
On the Trail is a community resource so please tell your friends. All are welcome.
Thank you Helen for putting this together for us all to use!
Pastoral visiting – Current Government guidelines mean that we cannot visit people and go inside their homes or sit out in their gardens for a chat. Any face to face visiting will have to happen from the front gate, and with the colder and wetter weather will need to be brief. If you would value a chat or know anyone who would also appreciate a chat please let Helen or me know, our phone numbers and email addresses are at the bottom of this sheet.
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.
CARE FOR THE FAMILY – AUTUMN EVENTS Online – Free to view – DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY.
Care for the Family events are always very good value, well presented, enjoyable, amusing, and tackle real issues in all aspects of family and other relationships. They are practical. You will not regret listening.
Please see the attached separate flyer. Thank you.
Christmas starts with Christ! – “2020 was a year unlike any other. To protect lives our society was put on hold. This autumn it is more important than ever that, as we make our journey towards Christmas, we find ways to share the story of the birth of Jesus, our Light and our Hope. The Real Advent Calendar is a proven way to do this.” (Meaningful Chocolate Company). It is a fun way for parents, grandparents, Godparents and friends to share the Christmas story. Please see the attached separate flyer. Thank you.
All Saints Playgroup – All Saints’ Playgroup have a limited number of spaces available for 2 – 4yr olds.
To book a place for after half term please get in touch ASAP.
At Playgroup we empower children to be leaders of their own discoveries. We strive to engage, support, enhance and challenge them as they grow and develop.
To find out more please follow us on Instagram @all_saints_playgroupand Facebook All Saints’ Playgroup and email us to arrange a Covidcompliant outdoor visit. allsaintsplaygroup1@hotmail.co.uk
Harvest Sunday 11th October – 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#!/ Collection boxes are alsoavailable in church. Thank you!
Tearfund Big Quiz Night scheduled for Saturday November 14th – Please put this date in your diary.
Children’s Society Boxes –Please bring your collecting box to church and place in the box at the back of church. Please write your name on it so it can be returned to you. Thank you, Delia Owen
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.
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
Gypsey Tait – Youth & Children’s Worker – Tel: 07961 793435 –gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Bill Forster – Associate Minister – william.forster1@btinternet.com
