Sunday 11th April 2021– Second Sunday of Easter All Saints Church, Childwall
READ: John 20:19/31
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
REFLECT: I want to focus on the first four verses of today’s Gospel reading which remind us of 6 key things which brought about transformation amongst Jesus’ disciples on that first Easter evening and since I am a great fan of alliteration my key things all begin with the letter ‘P’!
The transformation begins with the person and presence of Jesus bringing peace to the hearts of the very troubled and frightened disciples. Jesus goes on to give them new purpose as he recommissions them for service saying, ‘As the Father sent me so I send you.’ But how are they going to be able to fulfil Jesus’ new commission when they had let him down so badly? Certainly not in their own strength, which is why Jesus then gives them new power as he breathes on them saying, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’. And, as if that were not enough, Jesus makes a promise that they would have the authority to forgive sins in his name.
These men/women had all failed Jesus in various ways over these past few days. All of them had abandoned him at the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter had denied knowing him in the High Priest’s courtyard. Thomas [and probably others too] had [and maybe still] doubted his resurrection. Yet Jesus will not abandon them to their fears and sense of failure, he will not deny them before his Heavenly Father and he does not doubt their ability to continue his work!
Isn’t that encouraging for us who, in our own particular ways have all failed Jesus? Maybe we been reluctant to admit to others that we believe in him and seek to follow Him? Perhaps we have doubted the truth of the Gospel from time to time? We may even have abandoned Him in order to pursue or possess other things at some point in our lives! If so, be encouraged that Jesus has not forsaken you. He wants us to recognise His presence with us, to receive His peace in our hearts, to find new purpose in our lives, to receive power from on high through His Holy Spirit, and to receive His promise of forgiveness for our sins. I guess all of that is summed up in the words at the end of today’s Gospel reading, ‘…. these [words] are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
RESPOND: Is the resurrection of Jesus real to you or is Easter simply a nice annual event heralding Spring? What difference does the fact that Jesus IS alive and can be known/experienced make to your daily life? Pray that you may know and experience the 6 ‘Ps’ those first disciples experienced in today’s passage.
PRAY: Heavenly Father, thank you for the resurrection of Jesus who is ‘the first fruits’ of a much greater eternal harvest including all who believe and trust in Him. Help us to live each day in His risen power.
Rev. Bill Forster[Associate Minister]
Dear Friends,
Church Services
Sunday 11th April – 9.30am & 11am – Service of the Word – Both services will be the same.
Thursday 15th April – 10.45am BCP Communion Service
Sunday 18th April – 9.30am & 11am – Service of the Word – Both services will be the same.
Social distancing measures will be in place and masks will still have to be worn.
Online Church Services – We are recording our Sunday morning service in church weekly. It will be uploaded to our website to be viewed each week soon after 11am. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
We will continue to record our Sunday services every week after Easter Sunday and upload them.
Morning Prayer–Common Worship Morning prayer service with words on screen. Optional Chat after the service. Meeting ID: 865 694 0214Passcode: mprayer
Evening Prayer – Every Sunday evening at 6pm led by the Readers. The liturgy and the readings will be on the screen and there will be a short reflection on the New Testament passage which has been set for the day. Please join us. Meeting ID: 789 873 7449 Passcode:Newsman1
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
Meeting ID: 798 5378 2379 Passcode: 7VUQh6
Zoom Sunday Coffee – Every Sunday at 10.45am – Meeting ID:842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaintshttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
A message from Bishop Paul on the death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
“First of all our prayers are with HM the Queen, and all her family, on the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. We pray that God’s love and strength will fill and surround her and them, and indeed all who mourn.Prince Philip was a strong individual, full of character and humour, who chose for the whole of his life to use that strength and character to serve and support – to support the Queen and to offer service to the nation as a whole. He accompanied the Queen many times on visits to Liverpool and our region over the years, on each occasion enriching and encouraging our communities here. We thank God for his life, and commend him now to the mercy of our Lord.”
We are invited to join us in remembering His Royal Highness, in prayer, with these words: God of our lives, we give thanks for the life of Prince Philip, for his love of our country, and for his devotion to duty. We entrust him now to your love and mercy, through our redeemer Jesus Christ. Amen.
You can access the national online condolence book, further information and prayer resources herehttps://www.churchofengland.org/remembering-his-royal-highness-prince-philip
Bookworms Quiz -The final quiz has now been completed. The answers will be sent out in the next couple of days. As lockdown is now easing and we are finding more opportunities to get out and meet people it seems the right time to draw to a close. Hopefully many of you readers will have found your brains stretched and an opportunity to chat to others. Let’s hope that it won’t be too long until we are able to meet together and discuss books in our Bookworms reading group. –Helen Ford.
Leprosy Mission – The Leprosy Mission have an Unconditional Appeal this year which focuses on their work in Mozambique. TLM hospitals are not only treating people suffering from leprosy but they are also treating people who have Covid 19. They are fully stretched on reduced resources. Please consider donating to TLM as all donations received by 24th April will be matched by the UK Government.
I would be happy to receive any donations (or collection boxes) to forward on or you could send a donation direct to – TLM, Goldhay Way, Orton Goldhay, Peterborough, PE2 5GZ Thank you so much – Sandra Dunn
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 praying for Nicoli Gray (Carole Turner’s daughter) David Miller, Eileen Miller and Hazel Watson.
Pastoral visiting – Any visiting will currently have to happen from the front gate. If you would value a visit or know anyone who would please let Helen or me know, our phone numbers and emails are below.
Weekly News – If you are aware of anyone who is not receiving all the weekly news that we are sending out please ask them to send me their email address so I can add them to our master email list. Thank you.
With our prayers for you all at this time
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
Adeyinka Olushonde – Ordinand –adeyinka.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
