20th February 2022 All Saints Church, Childwall
Read: Luke 8:22/25 – “22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”
Reflect: Do you know the old Sunday School chorus, ‘With Jesus in the boat you can smile at the storm ….’? Well, Jesus’ disciples weren’t smiling at this storm. Indeed, they were terrified and remember that a number of them were seasoned fishermen, well used to Lake Galilee! It’s good to know that even Jesus’ closest disciples were afraid at times. How do they react? ‘Master! Master! We are going to drown!’ Mark adds, that the disciples said, ‘Don’t you care?’
Have you ever felt like that? Overwhelmed by the storms of life? At the end of your tether? Thinking that there is no future and that God doesn’t care? Frightened though they are, the disciples turn to Jesus. The children’s song may be a simplistic in its suggestion that we should be able to smile at life’s storms, but it is right in encouraging us to have confidence in Jesus. I think that sometimes/often we act as though we have forgotten that Jesus IS with us/alongside us as we pass through life’s trials! Let me ask you; who do you turn to in life’s storms, when the going gets tough? Do you rely on your own strength and determination? OK but to some degree, but we are not always strong enough. Family and friends? Good, but some situations are beyond even them. Drink? Drugs? Which have never solved any problem! Is Jesus our first thought or our last resort?
It is clear from the passage that the disciples were completely amazed by what Jesus did! They approach Jesus more out of fear than out of faith; indeed, Jesus comments on their lack of faith! But is that fair? Should the disciples have had more confidence than they did have? Well, yes they should [and so should we]; Jesus had called them to follow him and become ‘fishers of men’ not to become food for the fishes! But even so, Jesus answers their call for help in a way they could not have imagined; He calms the storm with a word of command. Then the disciples seem more afraid of Jesus than they were of the storm! ‘Who is this man?’
It seems they have woken Jesus more in hope than in expectation! I wonder if our prayers and calls for help are a bit like that – we hope that Jesus can help, but are not sure that He will help? And yet, maybe our faith should be firmer and more confident than those first disciples. Why? Because we know what they did not know; we have the advantage of being able to read all the accounts of the miracles and healings, the resurrection etc. which they were only beginning to experience. The disciples asked, ‘Who is this man?’ How we answer that question will inevitably affect our expectation of Jesus and the confidence with which we will approach God, in prayer. My life experience tells me that crying out to Jesus in times of trouble is NOT a panacea to dispel life’s ills, disappointments and troubles, nor a magic wand with which to instantaneously wave our problems away. Crying out to Jesus IS, however, taking Jesus’ promises of His presence and His love for us seriously. ‘With Jesus in the boat we can smile at the storm?’ Not necessarily, but we can know that He is in the boat with us, that He does care for us and will not forsake us.
Respond: Bring before God the situations, people and circumstances which are troubling you at this point in your life. If possible read or sing the hymn, ‘Father I place into your hands.’
Pray: Heavenly Father, help us to be so confident in your love and concern for us that bringing our worries and troubles to You will be our first thought not our last resort. Help us to trust You to bring good out of any circumstance we may face, no matter how long that may take. Amen
Bill Forster (Associate Minister at All Saints)
Church services
Sunday 20th February – 9.15am – Service of the Word 11am – Holy Communion
6pm – Evening Worship (in the Church hall) Thursday 24th February – 10.45am- BCP Holy Communion
Sunday 27th February 9.15am – Holy Communion 11am – Baptism Service. 12.30pm – Baptism Service 6pm – Evening Worship (in the Church Hall)
Funeral of Brian Morris – Wednesday 23rd February at 3pm in Church
Morning Prayer – Monday and Friday at 8:00am – Common Worship Morning prayer service with words on screen. Optional Chat after the service. Meeting ID: 948 786 2454 Passcode: 4allsaints
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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
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https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8802380315?pwd=cGxQTnQ0QVRjU1gyUnBrYnJMMzZldz09
Please note joining ID. Meeting ID: 880 238 0315
Living in Love & Faith – Session 3 on Thursday 3rd March at 8pm in the function room at Childwall Abbey.
VESTRY HOUR – every Tuesday in Church from 7pm – 8pm
If you would like to book a Baptism or a Wedding or speak to a member of the clergy, please come to Vestry Hour which is held in the church every Tuesday, no appointment is necessary. Please use the wooden door to the left of the tower. You do not need to knock; just come in, take a seat and you will be seen privately in turn.
Fairtrade Fortnight 21st February – 6th March
The focus for this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight is climate change & the increasing problems this poses for farmers and workers within the Fairtrade community. The Fairtrade organisation is helping farmers become more resilient to climate change whilst giving consumers, retailers & traders the opportunity to reduce their carbon footprint. When shopping look out for the Fairtrade logo on bananas, tea, coffee, flowers, chocolate items & cotton goods knowing that you will be financially supporting farmers, their families & communities in some of the poorest countries in the world today.
I now have the Spring 2022 Traidcraft catalogue and will be placing an order in March for anyone wanting to buy fair trade Easter items, also the usual coffee, jams, tea, biscuits etc. The Traidcraft catalogue can be viewed on line or if anyone would like me to post the catalogue through their door I can be messaged or they can contact me on 07895452761 or 0151 722 0771. Thanking you Brenda Shone.
Live Lent: Embracing Justice is the Church of England’s theme for Lent 2022.
For each day of Lent, this booklet for adults offers a daily Bible reading, a short reflection and a prayer, as well as a practical challenge. Each week follows a different thread through the many stories of justice in the Bible to explore how God works with humanity to bring justice, wholeness and salvation to all.
The booklet is available at the back of church for a donation of £2
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. Their names will stay on the sheet for 4 weeks. Please pray for all those who are unwell at this time particularly praying for Adeyinka Olushonde and Charlotte Fitzsimon. We also pray for the bereaved family and friends of Tony Ellison, Brian Morris & Graham McCulloch.
With our prayers for you all at this time
Passcode: yt76bq
Andrew Colmer – Vicar – Tel: 07305 842257 – vicar.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com Helen Deegan – Curate – Tel: 07984 933467 – curate.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com Bill Forster – Associate Minister – william.forster1@btinternet.com Adeyinka Olushonde – Ordinand – adeyinka.allsaintschildwall@alisonkefford
