5th September 2021 Trinity 14 All Saints Church, Childwall
READ: James 2 v1-17 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonoured the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbour as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favouritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. 12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
REFLECT: We know in our minds that God loves everyone, but do we believe this in our hearts enough so that we show it with our actions? James highlights the critical gap that can exist between head and heart. He is writing to Christians who he is challenging because they are showing favouritism to people who are wealthy and have a high standing in society. This bias towards the rich is rebuked strongly by James, in fact he tells them that they have become ‘judges with evil thoughts’ (v4). The challenge that James presents is: “Are you a friend of the world or a friend of God?” Friends of the world show a preference for the powerful and wealthy, neglecting those struggling to make a living. Whereas friends of God suffer with those who suffer and seek an end to the causes of their suffering.
Throughout the book of James the rich are criticised for their desire and quest for wealth which often results in damage to other members of the same community. He warns them in chapter 5 that their increase in wealth has only come by them taking advantage of someone else. The challenge for all of us is that if we grow wealthier, greed and self-centeredness is more likely to take a hold making a person more and more friendly with the world and less and less able to be a friend of God. As believers in Christ we are called to be different and for our actions and our words to demonstrate God’s love to all people. In particular though we should have a bias to those in need. As v15-16 says: Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
RESPOND: When was the last time you responded practically to the physical needs of someone? Words of comfort or support can often be well received, but God calls all of us to be people of action as well. James challenges us to consider how we will live out our faith together, in ways that reflect God’s mercy and benefit the marginalized. What do we do as a Christian community for the marginalized of Liverpool? Is our faith obvious beyond the walls of our church building to our Parish and beyond?
PRAY: Father God, For all that we have, help us to be truly thankful. Give us your love and compassion for those in need in our society. Help us to be responsive to their needs and to give as you have given to us. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
Rev Andrew Colmer (Vicar of All Saints, Childwall)
Church Services
Sunday 5th September– 9.15am – Service of the Word 11am – Service with Holy Communion
Thursday 9th September – 10.45am BCP Holy Communion
Sunday 12th September – 9.15am – Service with Holy Communion 11am – Service of the Word
Zoom Sunday Coffee – Every Sunday at 10.45am – Meeting ID:842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaintshttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
Online Church Services – We are continuing to record our Sunday morning service in church. It will be uploaded to our website to be viewed each week soon after 11am. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
Morning Prayer– Monday and Friday at 8:00am – Common Worship Morning prayer service with words on screen. Optional Chat after the service. Meeting ID: 865 694 0214 Passcode: mprayer
Evening Prayer – Sunday evening at 6pm – please note new Zoom details below. 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: 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 new joining ID. Meeting ID: 880 238 0315 Passcode: yt76bq
HELP NEEDED FROM SEPTEMBER
Could you be on duty at any of the following times?
Sunday evening Service
To enable our Sunday Evening Service to restart in our church building we need more people to be willing to be on duty. We are particularly short of people to be on car park duty – could you help?
We also need more people to be on duty as part of our side person teams on a rota – could you help?
If you would be willing to serve in any of these ways please speak to Barbara Critchley one of our Wardens or email her on: barbara.critchley24@gmail.com
CHAT IS BACK
Starting Wednesday September 8th. In church hall 2-4pm.
CHAT stands for Craft- Hobbies – Art – Tea coffee and cake. We meet in church hall on the 2nd Wednesday in every month. It’s a time to have a drink and a chat with others and if you want to there is Craft e.g. Making cards etc. or you can bring your own Hobby e.g. Knitting,crocheting, things to make or do Art work and there is always tea coffee and cake. Everyone is welcome to come, and we would love to see you even just for tea and chat. We can make a man space if you would like us to, ring me with your ideas. Margaret Thwaite 727 3334, Wendy Taylor, Sue Watterson and Dilys Macaulay.
MOTHERS’ UNION
I am delighted to announce that the first meeting of our new session in the church hall
will be on Tuesday 14th September at 2pm.
Sue Watterson, Branch Leader suewatterson@hotmail.co.uk 07707901279
VESTRY HOUR RETURNS – FROM TUESDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER
If you would like to enquire about a Baptism or a Wedding or speak to us about anything else, please come to Vestry Hour which is held in the church on Tuesday evenings between 7pm and 8pm, no appointment is necessary. Please use the small door to the left of the building for access – there is a path from the white gates nearest the Abbey pub. You do not need to knock; just come in, take a seat and you will be seen privately in turn.
Pastoral visiting – 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 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, Patricia Horne, Margaret Whitehead and Alan Kirk.
We also pray for the bereaved family and friends of Gladys Lucass and Alma Canavan.
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
