Today at our churches
St Leodegar's Church
Revd Roger Pullen took the Morning Praise service today at St Leodegar’s Church. We had 13 people attend the service today. Roger preached on Matthew 9 & 18, which contains accounts of Jesus breaking religious rules to offer grace and healing – rather than demanding perfect behaviour, Jesus actively seeks out outcasts, heals the sick, and even restores the dead to show God’s unconditional love. As God’s chosen people – we are all holy and dearly loved, so we should embrace ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We should bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances we may have against one another. We are called to forgive as the Lord forgives us. It is love, which binds these virtues all together in perfect unity.
St Stephen's Church
Revd Canon David Nason took our Holy Communion service today. The readings this week, and right up until advent, are about “what we do”, each a different aspect of our faith. Do we hear God’s calling? Do we have faith to follow Him? In today’s readings we looked at:
- Abram’s faith (at age of 75 God said to him “follow my words and I will lead you”). At age 100 God promises Abraham a son.
- Jewish laws require obedience to more than 600 rules and life was ticking boxes. Paul writes in Romans that it is not about ticking boxes but hearing the call and living in faith.
- Matthew proves that nobody is beyond redemption. Anyone can hear God’s call and have faith.
- The leader of synagogue comes to Jesus, having faith that Jesus can heal his daughter.
- The woman who suffered from bleeding had faith that Jesus could heal her.
How are we doing in pleasing God in will and deed?
Sunday School
Sunday School continued looking at Creation in Genesis, focusing on birds and sea creatures. They had a lot of fun. There was a selection of activities that the children could choose from: painting rocks to represent animals, having a race with paper ducks, mosaics of animals, and even bird watching in the garden.
Everyone enjoyed the feedback that the children gave on all the activities just before the end of the service. Lots of laughter!