12th September 2021 Trinity 15 All Saints Church, Childwall
READ: James 3 v1-12 – Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
REFLECT:
I am sure there has been a time within your own family or circle of friends when a child has said something that has caused others to be shocked or surprised. It may be an inappropriate expression or a derogatory term or swear word. Usually an adult present responds by saying, “who have you heard that from!” Then the realisation sinks in, that the child in question has heard the words they have just used from them.
Our passage today reminds us clearly of the power of the tongue and the words that we utter. The words that we speak can have a big impact! They can encourage or discourage, they can help or harm, they can build up or pull down. Can we tame the tongue then? James makes it clear that we can’t, but he does give us a very helpful illustration at the end of this passage. In verse 11 he says “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” In other words what we take in, what words we read, what we hear and see will have a direct impact on what comes out of our mouths!
In Matthew 15 v18 Jesus says, “The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from their heart”
The challenge to all of us, is what is in our hearts.
Last week I was reflecting on the fact that there is often a gap between our heads and our hearts. It strikes me that our tongues can be a stumbling block tripping us up regularly. We gather in church weekly on Sundays and Thursdays and worship God together using our tongues to sing praise and read his word. How do we use our tongues the rest of the week though? There is a challenge that comes in verse 9 which says, ‘With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.’ James is encouraging us to check our words and our language and how we speak and communicate to others.
RESPOND: How much wiser and more Christlike might we all be if we were to listen more and talk less? Spend some time on your own reflecting on your own life. Are you a talker or a listener? Do you need to listen more and talk less? Are you feeding regularly on God’s word so that his words can become your words? Proverbs 15 v23 reminds us ‘A word in season, how good it is!’
PRAY: In the words of Psalm 19 v 14
“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Amen.
Rev Andrew Colmer (Vicar of All Saints, Childwall)
Church Services
Sunday 12th September – 9.15am – Service with Holy Communion 11am – Service of the Word
12.30pm – Baptism Service 6pm – Service of Holy Communion and prayers for healing (in the Church Hall)
Thursday 16th September – 10.45am BCP Holy Communion
Sunday 19th September– 9.15am – Service of the Word 11am – Service with Holy Communion
Zoom Sunday Coffee – Every Sunday at 10.45am – Meeting ID:842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaintshttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
Online Church Services – We are continuing to record our Sunday morning service in church. It will be uploaded to our website to be viewed each week soon after 11am. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
Morning Prayer– Monday and Friday at 8:00am – Common Worship Morning prayer service with words on screen. Optional Chat after the service. Meeting ID: 865 694 0214 Passcode: mprayer
Evening Service – Sunday evening at 6pm – From Sunday 12thSeptember we will be holding our evening service in our Church Hall. This week it is a service of Communion with prayers for healing.
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 https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8802380315?pwd=cGxQTnQ0QVRjU1gyUnBrYnJMMzZldz09
Please note new joining ID. Meeting ID: 880 238 0315 Passcode: yt76bq
MOTHERS’ UNION
The first meeting of our branch at All Saints Church, Childwall is at 2pm on Tuesday 14th September in the church hall. The main part of the meeting will be a service when we will look back over the last eighteen months in an ‘Act of Reflection and Remembrance’. Andrew, our vicar, will be joining us and there will be tea and biscuits.
Mothers’ Union is an international charity with over 4 million members in 84 countries. At Childwall, we are just one small branch in this global movement You are welcome to join us as we look back with sadness – and gladness. The Mothers’ Union motto for 2021 is ‘Looking forward with hope and confidence’. May this be so for all of us. Sue Watterson. Branch leader. 07707901279 suewatterson@hotmail.co.uk
VESTRY HOUR is back – every Tuesday in Church
If you would like to enquire about a Baptism or a Wedding or speak to us about anything else, please come to Vestry Hour which is held in the church on Tuesday evenings between 7pm and 8pm, no appointment is necessary. If you need a school form completing we will be doing this by appointments like we did last year. Further details about days and times for appointments will be advertised soon.
Please use the small door to the left of the building for access – there is a path from the white gates nearest the Abbey pub. You do not need to knock; just come in, take a seat and you will be seen privately in turn.
Pastoral visiting – If you would value a visit or know anyone who would please let Helen or me know, our phone numbers and emails are below.
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 Nicoli Gray (Carole Turner’s daughter), David Miller, Patricia Horne, Margaret Whitehead, Alan Kirk and Louise Kenny.
We also pray for the bereaved family and friends of Gladys Lucass and Alma Canavan.
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
Adeyinka Olushonde – Ordinand – adeyinka.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
