19th June 2022 All Saints Church, Childwall
Read: Galatians 3:23 – 4:7 – “Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and
heirs according to the promise.
What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to son-ship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.”
Reflect: Some years ago, people I know adopted two children, let’s call them Janet and John. The children were aged 5 and 7 and up to that point had been Wards of Court, under the guardianship of the Law, and in the care of various Foster parents. I do not know all the details of their past, but they had not had a good experience of fatherhood.
Following their adoption the children became full members of the family and they began to enjoy all the privileges and responsibilities of their new status. They began to call their adoptive parents ‘Mum’ and ‘Dad’, but it took time for them to believe and understand their new relationship fully. They needed to learn to trust in the love of their new parents and their words and promises. Janet and John brought lots of ‘baggage’ with them from their past and tried and tested the patience of their new parents on more than one occasion! However, they slowly learned that their new parents were trustworthy and dependable. Once they truly knew this they began to blossom and flourish as never before!
There are strong spiritual parallels with the true story above and what St Paul is trying to tell the Galatian Church [and us]. They [and we] were, at one point in our lives, ‘under the Law’ i.e. the Law of Moses and ‘in slavery’ to the negative forces of sin, but through faith in Christ God offers us a new start; He adopts us and gives us a whole new identity as His children. We become part of a larger family. We become heirs to His many riches. We receive gifts and responsibilities. Too good to be true? No! But my guess is that just as it took Janet and John time to adjust and grow into their new status, so it takes us time to fully appreciate that we are children of God, in general, and that we ourselves are a child of God, in particular. It takes us time to know and to learn to trust God as ‘’Abba’ [which is akin to ‘Daddy’]. God is my and your Heavenly Father. He has adopted us and He loves us with an everlasting love, despite our ‘baggage’! What an amazing thought that is! What a great truth to hold on to amidst life’s trials and testing!
Respond: Have you reached that point where, by the Spirit’s power, you can call God ‘Abba’ [Daddy]? Or do you think of God as distant and condemnatory? Are you unsure of His love for you personally? On this Fathers’ Day thank God for your own Father [if you can] and thank God that He is your Heavenly Father. Ask God to give you a new sense of security and wonder in your status as His child.
Pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for all Fathers who have lovingly fulfilled their roles and ask for healing in the lives of those children who have not had the blessing of a good Father. Help me Father to grasp the wonder of Your love for me and to blossom and flourish in the light of it. Amen
Bill Forster (Associate Minister at All Saints)
Church services
Sunday 19th June – 9.15am – Service of the Word 11am – Holy Communion
6pm – Holy Communion with prayers for healing. (in the church hall followed by tea & coffee)
Wednesday 22nd June – 2pm – Funeral of Norman Bell
Thursday 23rd June – 10.45am – BCP Holy Communion 1.15pm – Funeral of John Wright
Alan Woods – There is still no date for Alan’s funeral at All Saints. Once a date is confirmed, the details will be on this weekly sheet. Please pray for Alan’s sisters and his family at this time.
Sunday 26th June – 9.15am – Holy Communion 11am – Service of the Word with Baptism
12.30pm – Baptism Service 6pm – Evening Worship in the Church hall followed by tea & coffee.
Youth Confirmation Service – Monday 20th June at 7.30pm at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral Reminder to all Young People being confirmed please arrive at the Cathedral no later than 7pm. Please pray for our 8 young people from All Saints who are being confirmed at this service.
Alan Woods – There is still no date for Alan’s funeral at All Saints. Once a date is confirmed, the details will be on this weekly sheet. Please pray for Alan’s sisters and his family at this time.
Accommodation needed for Ukrainian family
Does anyone have the space to host a mother and father and their 2 boys from Ukraine?
This is a placement through the Red Cross and will take approximately 1 month for the administration to be completed. If you are able to help please ring Julie Fadden for further details on Mob: 07795 635887
Bookworms – Our Church reading group has its next meeting on Monday 1st August at 7.30pm in the function room of the Childwall Abbey. We are looking at the book: The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce, a heartwarming novel about the potential strength of local community.
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
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
Vestry Hour – every Tuesday 7pm – 8pm.
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.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8802380315?pwd=cGxQTnQ0QVRjU1gyUnBrYnJMMzZldz09
Please note joining ID. Meeting ID: 880 238 0315
Passcode: yt76bq
Weekly Prayer requests – Please pray for all those who are unwell at this time particularly praying for Stan Cowley, Alison Kefford, Sue Holden, Shirley Rawlinson, Margaret Whitehead, Diane Deacon and Doris Springer. We also pray for the bereaved family and friends of Gary McCoy, Norman Russell, Alan Woods, Norman Bell and John Wright.
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@gmail.com
