Service of the Word

 Worship this coming Sunday the 16th of August is at 10.00am.  

All welcome. 

Matthew 15:28

Then Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.’ And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Notes on the Gospel for this coming Sunday: Matthew 15:10-28

The Canaanite woman's initial piteous cry for help was met by silence from the Lord. Her faith was further put to the test by his seeming heavy rebuff. A Gentile, she yet continued to call on him as 'Messiah' (Son of David) to help.  Jesus honoured that persistent expression of faith. Faith is the key to receiving the blessings of Christ, regardless of race, sex, colour or ability.

Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus walks on the water

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Notes on Gospel: Matthew 14:22-33

As the God of Israel showed his almighty power by dividing the Red Sea to save his people, so the man Jesus in this miracle shows his power as God over the elements of nature. No less today he looks for the implicit trust of his people as they are beset by the storms of life's events. While our faith might often waver, yet his hand will raise us up. We therefore trustingly await his reassuring, 'Peace, be still!'

A Baptism this Sunday, the 2nd of August - Praise the Lord

 

Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

There are six parables grouped together in this Sunday's gospel reading. The first two, the mustard seed and the yeast, deal with seemingly insignificant agents that actually achieve very powerful effects. The word of God works this way, both in the church and in the lives of individuals. The next two, concerning the hidden treasure and the fine pearl, describe two different people who, contrary to their expectations, find the kingdom of God in different ways. Both are willing to forget about everything else in their desire to obtain and keep it. The following fifth parable warns the hearer that there are eternal consequences connected with the way in which one receives the gospel of the kingdom. In the sixth parable we can see that those entrusted with proclaiming the kingdom have the old well-known and well-trusted treasure (i.e. Christ's teachings) but also have an ever new exciting evaluation of that treasure as they constantly find new means of applying it in new situations.

A Baptism this Sunday - Praise the Lord

  

Listening and Taking the Next Faithful Step

Our parish has two important meetings coming up this weekend; we're thinking about next steps after a period of uncertainty. We thank our visiting pastor and visiting Assistant Bishop for their insights and leadership.