Sunday 17 July 2022 is the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost.

The main scripture this week is about Jesus’ encounter with the sisters, Mary and Martha, as told by Luke in his Gospel at Luke 10:38-42.

This week’s service comes at end of a week-long children’s holiday club held in the Church, called Showstoppers. The service features two songs sung frequently in the club – both composed by Doug Horley – God Loves me and I’m gonna jump up and down. Our thanks go especially to Carol, Chris and Sarah from Out of the Box (Scotland) for leading the club and, in the process, providing masses of fun and inspiration for the children who attended and the volunteers – from St. James’ Church and also from St. Gerardine’s Church.

24 July 2022 is the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost and the main scripture today is Jesus’ teaching on “how to pray” from Luke’s Gospel (Luke 11:1-13).

Today’s main scripture reading from the Bible

Luke 11:1-13 (from The Message Bible translation)
Ask for What You Need
11 One day he was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said, “Master, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”

2-4 So he said, “When you pray, say,

Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.”

5-6 Then he said, “Imagine what would happen if you went to a friend in the middle of the night and said, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread. An old friend travelling through just showed up, and I don’t have a thing on hand.’

7 “The friend answers from his bed, ‘Don’t bother me. The door’s locked; my children are all down for the night; I can’t get up to give you anything.’

8 “But let me tell you, even if he won’t get up because he’s a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbours, he’ll finally get up and get you whatever you need.

9 “Here’s what I’m saying:

Ask and you’ll get;
Seek and you’ll find;
Knock and the door will open.

10-13 “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This is not a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your little boy asks for a serving of fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? If your little girl asks for an egg, do you trick her with a spider? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing—you’re at least decent to your own children. And don’t you think the Father who conceived you in love will give the Holy Spirit when you ask him?”

Sunday 10 July 2022 is the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and the main Bible text for today is the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

This is a well-known story. Some have described it as containing the essence of Christianity. Many diffferent interpretations are possible but Rev. Geoff McKee argues that context is everything and, by reading the passage in context, we can understand that the Gospel is not about following rules, as such, “it is life delivered through the mercy of God reflected in human kindness.”

Sunday 03 July 2022 is the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost.

The basis of this week’s sermon from Rev. Geoff McKee is from the New Testament – the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Church in Galatia: Galatians 6:1-16.

Paul had witnessed a dominant group of Christians imposing “their way or no way” on the others. Paul used his letter to challenge the circumcision party in the church to
think again: to stop thinking about themselves and to consider the others.

We need to be asking God to give us the courage to be true disciples. We know the “world outside” can be challenging – and yet others watch us as we try to witness to God through our words and actions. We need the wisdom to better reflect God’s actions of love and mercy, so that our families, our communities, and our countries might understand what God’s kingdom is all about. Part of that is making sure they know that “all are welcome”.