Sunday 14th February 2021 – Sunday before Lent All Saints Church, Childwall
READ: Mark 9:2/9 2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) 7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what ‘rising from the dead’ meant.
REFLECT: The disciples had been following Jesus for a while by now and they had been learning more from him and about him. Their understanding of Jesus was growing. They had begun by recognising him as a rabbi [teacher], someone worth listening to and sharing their lives with. Then they recognised him as a prophet and then as a worker of miracles and most recently, one of their number, Peter, had declared that he believed Jesus to be the long awaited Messiah. This process of revelation had been gradual.
In today’s reading things take a giant leap forward for 3 of Jesus’ disciples, [Peter, James and John who would be key leaders in the Church in the future] as Jesus invites them to draw aside and spend time with him on a nearby mountain. What happens there staggers the disciples as they become part of a totally unexpected scene. As Jesus stands before them he is ‘transfigured’; his whole appearance changes and his clothes become dazzling white. It is as if the glory of God, which is part of his divine nature, bursts forth for them to see. As if that was not enough, they see two other men, whom they recognise as Moses and Elijah, standing alongside Jesus and talking to him. In fear, Peter responds in typically impetuous manner; he doesn’t know what to say or do so, instead of staying silent and still he speaks and suggests something inappropriate to the sacred moment! Then a cloud covers them and they hear the voice of God, ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’
Now they know that Jesus is much more than a teacher, a prophet, a miracle worker, or even the Messiah; he is the beloved Son of God to whom they must listen [obey], so they must have been doubly surprised when, on the way down the mountain, Jesus tells them to keep what they had witnessed to themselves until he had risen from the dead! Peter never forgot this wonderful event and he quotes it in 2 Peter 1:16/18 as evidence that he has not been preaching stories he had learned from someone else, but from first hand experience.
RESPOND: How has your understanding of Jesus changed down the years? Are you able to speak to others about your own, first hand, experience of Jesus?
Whenever I read this passage I find myself wondering how the other disciples felt about being left behind. Were they glad to be spared the climb or annoyed to be left out of the invitation? Fortunately, we are all invited to draw aside and spend time alone with Jesus every day. We don’t need to climb a mountain to do so, but we do need to make some effort! What wonderful revelations are we missing out on if we don’t? Why not use this Lent to start or make a fresh start drawing aside daily with Jesus. Why not use the ‘Live Lent resources to help you?
PRAY: Holy God, help us to draw aside and spend time with you that we too might see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ. May we, who are your children, shine with your glory and reflect his life in word and deed that all the world may know his power to change and save. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Rev. Bill Forster[Associate Minister]
Dear Friends,
Services in church – All services in church are currently suspended until further notice. Funeral services are still happening at All Saints with a limit of 30 mourners set by government guidelines.
Church Services Online – We are recording our Sunday morning service in church weekly. It will be uploaded to our website to be viewed each week soon after 11am. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
Evening Prayer – Healing Service this Sunday at 6pm – The Sunday Evening Healing service was a time of Worship appreciated by many people when we were able to meet in Church. The Readers have adapted the liturgy we use and have made it suitable for the Zoom services currently on offer. The first of these Healing services will be held on Sunday 14th February at 6pm, you will be very welcome andplease let your friends know. Please join us. Garry Critchley Meeting ID: 789 873 7449 Passcode: Newsman1
Rock Club Online! – Our youth & children’s worker Gypsey has developed online activities for Pebbles, Rock Club & Boulders. Available on our website: https://www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk/online-rock-club/
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
Ash Wednesday – Garry Critchley’s Small Group are hosting a service of Evening Prayer on Wednesday 17th Feb at 7.30pm on Zoom. Please join us. The details are as follows: 789 873 7449 Passcode: Newsman1
#Live Lent – If you would like to join the Lent course that is being run centrally on Zoom it is starting on Tuesday 23rd February at 7.30pm. It will meet weekly for 1 hour with an opportunity for discussion and further study based on the Archbishop’s Lent book ‘Living his Story’. There will be a short video each week along with discussion and opportunity for questions. Please email Andrew if you intend to join.
Zoom Details: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9487862454?pwd=M1BITWV3U0xBN1h5WTF4eGJseWlrUT09
Meeting ID: 948 786 2454 Passcode: 4allsaints
All Saints Buddy Scheme – If you are self-isolating and would value some support or a regular chat or know someone else who would, please text or email Mary Harrison atmary.harrison32@virginmedia.com with details.
Bookworms Quiz The first of our lockdown book quizzes has just been completed and the answers sent out. The next quiz will be sent out in the next few days. Everyone who had a copy of the first one will automatically get this second one. If anyone else would like to give it a try please contact Helen Ford (h.h.ford@btinternet.com or 0151 428 9153) You can have either an online copy or a printed paper copy delivered to your door. You don’t have to be an online wizard. You just do it on your own in your own time. You can go back to it as many times as you like to puzzle out the more difficult questions – but don’t worry, there’s plenty of easy ones too!
Fairtrade Fortnight – Climate, Fairtrade and You – February 22nd –March 7th 2021
This year Fairtrade are focussing on how the changes in the world’s climate is posing an immediate threat to farmers and workers in countries around the world who produce many everyday items that we find in our supermarkets. Bananas, coffee beans and cocoa beans to make chocolate are just a few examples. By choosing products bearing the Fairtrade symbol is one way of standing with these farmers and workers, their communities and their families as they face this crisis.
Please sign up to find out more and how you can help to support them at: www.fairtrade.org.uk/fortnight.
Put Jesus back into Easter with the Real Easter Egg – Due to the pandemic, it is more important than ever that we find ways to share the Easter story in 2021. The Real Easter Egg is a proven way to do this.
Supermarkets have decided not to stock the Real Easter Egg this year so if you would like to order one then please see the attached flyer. The Real Easter Egg is the first and only Fairtrade chocolate Easter Egg to explain the Christian understanding of Easter on the pack. It is also plastic free and supports charity and development projects (For more information visit www.realeasteregg.co.uk).
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. Thank you.
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 Bill Maitland, Nicoli Gray (Carole Turner’s daughter) David Miller and Eileen Miller and Jenni Delea. Please pray for the bereaved family and friends of Peter Watson (Ruth Scott’s Father).We know that many of you are reaching out in to your communities as well as your church families – this is fantastic! We’re also aware that many people are looking for ways to help others during this time and it might just be that ‘Give a Gift’ provides a practical way to do so.
There is much need across the city and churches are doing wonderful things in response. We hope this message is seen as an opportunity and encouragement as one of many good things happening in Liverpool. We fully understand if this isn’t something you would be considering at the moment, however we would love for your church to keep us in your prayers as we reach young people and support those in Youth Ministry.
Kate Yates – Centre Director – Liverpool Youth for Christ
Pastoral visiting – Current Government guidelines mean that we cannot visit people and go inside their homes. Any face to face visiting will have to happen from the front gate. If you would value a chat or know anyone who would appreciate a visit please let Helen or me know, our phone numbers and email addresses are below.
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.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79853782379?pwd=NEloclhRVEJST3RFeUdUVEowSWJRUT09
Meeting ID: 798 5378 2379 Password: 7VUQh6 Aidan Holmes
Zoom Sunday coffee – NEW TIME! – Every Sunday at 10.15am – remember to bring your own coffee!
Zoom Coffee – every Sunday at 10.15am Meeting ID: 842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaintshttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
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
