Sunday 2nd January 2022 – Epiphany. All Saints Church, Childwall
Read: Matthew 2:1/12 – “ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: 6 “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Reflect: In 1895, Henry van Dyke wrote a short story entitled ‘The other Wise man’ in which a fourth man who has every intention of travelling with the Magi, fails to join up with them because he stops, en route to their rendezvous, to help a needy stranger in the desert. This fourth wise man [known as Artaban] continues his journey, trying to catch up with his colleagues and find the child destined to be a great king. He searches for the child/man for 33 years, but without success. On his travels he encounters many different situations in which people need help and in his efforts to assist them, he gives away the various presents originally intended for the child king. Eventually, Artaban arrives in Jerusalem on a dark day; a day on which a public execution is taking place. As he listens to the crowd’s version of the events leading up to this execution his spirit is stirred and he wonders if the man about to be executed could possibly be the king he had sought for so long. As he tries to reach the site of the execution, two things occur in quick succession. A young woman, a fellow countryman of Artaban’s, who is about to be sold into slavery for her father’s non-payment of a debt, breaks away from her guards and pleads for Artaban’s help. He gives the guards his very last possession to win the girl’s freedom. Suddenly, there is an earthquake and the stones from a nearby building fall and strike Artaban on the head. As Artaban lies dying, he feels that he has failed to achieve his life’s goal to find the king and to worship and serve him. But has he failed? The girl senses rather than hears something. Artaban seems to be in hushed conversation with someone! A calm radiance of wonder and joy spread across Artaban’s face as a long breath of relief passes gently from his lips.
Respond: Ponder this parable. Read Matthew 25:31/40 to learn what the girl thought she heard!
Like Artaban we will never see Jesus face to face this side of heaven, but are we as committed as Artaban in seeking to worship and serve him? How about consciously recommitting yourself as we enter 2022? Artaban’s acts of goodness and kindness on the journey were not made in an attempt to curry favour with Jesus; they were unselfconscious, sacrificial acts of humanity, love and mercy which ultimately earned the approval of Jesus. Are we genuinely and altruistically kind to those we come across on life’s journey?
Pray: Teach us, good Lord to serve you as you deserve. To give and not count the cost. To fight and not heed the wounds. To toil and not to seek for rest. To labour and not to ask for any reward except that of knowing that we do Your Will. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. [Ignatius of Loyola]
Bill Forster (Associate Minister at All Saints)
Covid restrictions – wearing masks in church for all services is a legal requirement again. Everyone over the age of 11 years old will now need to wear a mask in church. Please remember to wrap up well as we will have to ensure there is continued adequate ventilation in the church building.
Thank you, Andrew.
Please be aware that with rapidly increasing Covid infections we may have to change or cancel services at short notice.
Upcoming Services
Sunday 2nd January – 9.15am – Service of the word 11am – Holy Communion
Thursday 6th January – 10.45am- BCP Holy Communion (tea & coffee will not be served now) Sunday 9th January – 9.15am – Holy Communion 11am – Church Parade
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
Zoom Sunday Coffee – Every Sunday at 10.45am – Meeting ID: 842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaints https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
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 joining ID. Meeting ID: 880 238 0315 Passcode: yt76bq
Eve of Epiphany Evening Prayer.
On the evening of the Epiphany, Wednesday 5th January, Garry Critchley’s Small Group will be hosting a Zoom Evening Prayer at 7.30 pm and would be delighted if you will join us.
The details are 789 873 7449 Passcode: Newsman1
Vestry Hour – Tuesday’s, in Church, 7pm – 8pm
Please note that vestry hour will start again on Tuesday the 11th January not the 4th of January as previously advertised.
We are sorry to inform you, very sadly, Tony Ellison passed away last week. His funeral will take place at All Saints’ Church, on Monday 17th of January, at 10am. Please Join us in praying for Norma and the family at this difficult time.
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 for Adeyinka Olushonde. We also pray for the bereaved
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
family and friends of Avril Mason.
With our prayers for you all the beginning of the New Year
