Saturday 2 March 2024

Week beginning 25th February

Hymn: Abba Father

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiVrwVV3Liw


Psalm 22

This psalm was written somewhere around 4th century B.C.

Jesus knew the psalm as he was himself a Rabbi, He also knew that he had come to fulfill the scriptures so this psalm covered every thing he was feeling but also used it as part of prayer.


Each letter at the beginning of each word spells out Abba father

Take your time to pray over

Amazingly Beautiful. Blessed Almighty

Faithful. Alpha. Timeless. Holy. Eternal. Redeemer.

Father thank you that you love us and care for us teach us and train us. Father God we give you our praise, for we love you and want to learn from you, may your will be done Amen


Hymn: Father we love you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sXUltnS6n0


prayers

Heavenly, Abba, Father, your Son Jesus Christ has promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith: receive the prayers we offer. 
We pray for Christians throughout the World, especially where there is suffering, danger  and persecution; Lord,  hear our prayer.

We pray for all the peoples of the world and their leaders; countries in crisis; those countries where there are conflicts, Countries affected by acts of terrorisation. Countries ruled by corrupt and brutal leaders, Countries where people are starving. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for leaders, at both National and Local level, those who administer our laws; we pray for the police and all emergency services. We pray for all those who work in hospitals, care homes. We pray for all those who are caring for people who need help and friendship in their lives, We pray for those who have responsibility for the welfare of others.

We pray for our local community, for those who are sick, those who are suffering in mind body or spirit,

we pray for all those known to us and those only known to you heavenly Father who are grieving…….. wrap you loving comforting arms around them .

We pray for the distressed, the lonely, the homeless, the unloved, the unemployed,

We pray for those in need of a friend, those wanting someone to reach out to them, may we be guided by your prompting,

Father God comfort those in need of comfort and inspire those feeling disheartened. Strengthen those who feel weak, Father we pray for our families, our neighbours, and our friends. We pray for our brothers and sisters through out the world those worshipping in freedom and those meeting in secret, those in chains and being tortured saying your son’s holy name and believing in you. Abba, Father, unite us through the power of Your Holy Spirit fill every heart with peace, as we say together the prayer that Your Son our Lord Jesus Christ taught us.


Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name; Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. and forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.


In the gospel of Mark he records the desperation of Jesus. Christ knows what is to come.

But He wants to do His father’s (Daddy’s) will

Mark 14: 32 – 36

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’ 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’ he said to them. ‘Stay here and keep watch.’ 35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.’


Hymn Father God I wonder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMuvGb7KDE8


When St Paul wrote to the Church in Rome he addresses both men and women to be led by the Holy Spirit he also recognises the intimacy of God being Abba, Father taking on the words of Christ him self in using this title.

Romans 8: 12 – 17

12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.


Poem. Abba, Daddy, Father

https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/abba-daddy-father/

scroll down to find this beautiful thought provoking poem by Steve Gregory



In the dictionary; Abba, a title of reverence for bishops and patriarchs in the Coptic, Ethiopian Christian, and Syriac churches.

New Testament; an Aramaic word for father, used by Jesus and Paul to address God in a relation of personal intimacy.


At our Church on Tuesday evenings during lent we a looking Jesus and His prayers

and how to improve our own prayer times with God our heavenly Father last Tuesday we looked at God being called Daddy

What does the word daddy bring to mind. For some it is an infant word for dad for others it is loving closeness and Daddy is no different than dad.

My dear friend was abused by her earthly Dad so found it hard to call God Father. She spent a long time over this in prayer then one night and while she was sleeping she had a dream/revelation, God was walking with her in the country side and said to her “you see all this beauty around you I made that, I created you, I am your creator Father God.”

Abba as I said was Aramaic for father so Jesus was giving us a personal intimacy with God that no-one in the old testament had. The followers of Jesus wanted to understand how to pray to God as Jesus did so the Lords prayer starts with “Our Daddy”. But does that not seem disrespectful?

Preachers worship leaders even in our own prayers we may open our prayers with Holy God, Great Creator. O God. Lord and master, O most awesome. Almighty God. Only living God.

Of cause these are all the right way to come to God you may have your own words when you address or start your prayers. The last hymn you listened to used the words we are adopted into your family, you may like to listen to that song again after the benediction.

An adopted child is one who has grown in their mothers heart and not in the womb and a new baby grows in the heart of men. We too have been born from the heart of our Loving God there fore we can call him our Abba.

Lets take a closer look what is your image of the perfect earthly Dad? What are the things you would look for. Here are few things we came up with Loving, Caring, Patient, Protective, Provider, Encouraging, Listener, Approachable you may wish to add to this.

It is the way we address Abba, When we come before him with respect in reverence we use our words. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit becomes one of personal intimacy, for God covers every aspect of the perfect human Father with so much more than words can express.

Through Christ we are forgiven not chained to sin as a slave but free, free to gain the gift of eternal life.

St Paul puts it like this when he wrote to the churches in Galatia:


Galatians 4: 4 – 7

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.


Hymn: Abba Father

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiVrwVV3Liw


Prayer

Thank you Abba, for your love, for your forgiveness, Thank you for your son Jesus Christ our lord and saviour. Amen



May the love of the Father, the tenderness of the Son, and the strength of the Spirit empower you this day and always. Amen


Hymn: Father God I wonder

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPT8tzdC_sw


Week beginning 18th February

Hymn: God of grace and glory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSOvpH6FgUE

Prayer

Lord creator God pour your spirit into our lives; may we feel the peace of your presence.

Lord, living God grant to us your wisdom and courage in our Christian witness.

Lord, Loving God may we not anger you, nor bring you shame, may we never use your name in vain. May we never fail others or fail you keep us free from temptation. Grant us wisdom and courage to ever serve you our only creator living Loving Lord Amen




HYMN: Who Can Sound The Depths of Sorrow 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88VCX7bqKJo



Genesis 3:1 -24

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden  9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,“Cursed are you above all livestock   and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly   and you will eat dust  all the days of your life.15 And I will put enmity(deep rooted hatred) between you and the woman,  and between your offspring and hers; he will crush  your head,  and you will strike his heel.”16 To the woman he said,“I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;   with painful labour you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband,   and he will rule over you.”17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’“Cursed is the ground because of you;  through painful toil you will eat food from it    all the days of your life.18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,   and you will eat the plants of the field.19 By the sweat of your brow   you will eat your food until you return to the ground,  since from it you were taken; for dust you are  and to dust you will return.” 20 Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.21 The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. 22 And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.


Hymn: What a friend we have in Jesus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwi_qKVI8lQ


Since the Garden, God has been calling to us, “Where are you?”

Since the Garden, humans have been hiding in shame. Let’s stop hiding and bring our sins to light.


Prayer of Confession

Our God, you created the world and called it good.

You created man and woman in your image and called them very good.

But we have been deceived by half-truths and false promises.

We have tasted temptation and it is bitter in our mouths.

We thought our desire for forbidden fruit would bring us wisdom,

but it brought us only the curse of pain and death. Please cover us in your love.

Take away our sin. In the stillness we lay before you those things we have not done and should have done, the things we have left undone. the hurtful things we have said and done.

In your mercy, forgive us and restore our relationship with you, O Lord our God. Amen


Prayers of intercession

In February 2022 , when war in Ukraine began, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York wrote a prayer for the country and its people:

A Prayer for Ukraine

God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen

Archbishop Justin Welby. Archbishop Stephen Cottrell


Heavenly Father, your Son Jesus Christ has promised that you will hear us when we ask in faith: receive the prayers we offer. 
We pray for Christians throughout the World, especially where there is suffering, danger  and persecution; Lord,  hear our prayer.

We pray for all the peoples of the world and their leaders; countries in crisis; those countries where there are conflicts, Countries affected by acts of terrorism. Countries ruled by corrupt and brutal leaders, Countries where people are starving. Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for own leaders, at both National and Local level, those who administer our laws; the emergency services, all those who work in hospitals, care homes and the medical profession, all those who are caring for people who need help and friendship in their lives, We pray for those who have responsibility for the welfare of others.

We pray for our local community, for those who are sick, those who are suffering, those who grieve. We pray for the distressed, the lonely, the homeless, the unloved, the unemployed, We pray for those in need of a friend, those wanting someone to reach out to them with a caring and loving hand. We commend to your keeping, Father, ourselves and each other, our families, our neighbours, and our friends. Enable us by your Spirit to live in love for you and for one another. Help us all to reflect your love in the way we treat other people, so that your love spreads throughout the world.  Amen

In Deuteronomy chapter 8 Moses said from verse 1 to 3

1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.


Hymn: Lead us heavenly Father lead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpkEeXWtWg0



Matthew 4:1-11

1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted  by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands,   so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.


Hymn. Forty days and forty nights

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N29ZnwU4LM


What sorts of things are we tempted by? When I was diagnosed with diabetics I was given a booklet of how to control it, there were things I can eat and the amounts, and the consequences of making my sugar levels spike or plummet. It is very tempting to eat the wrong things because they are sweet.

When a student was training for the priesthood the Bishop talked about temptation the student boosted that he was never tempted and he could always do the right thing. Later that term he was invited to the bishops house for tea a great spread had been laid out. The bishop explained that he had an important phone call to make but to tuck in with the instructions “you can eat anything on the table but do not lift the cover off the cheese cover in the middle”. The young man took a plate and filled it with food, but after fifteen minutes the bishop had still not returned, the dish in the middle of the table was causing him a problem, after another five minutes the student could not resist taking a peak he only lifted the lid a small amount and to his horror a mouse ran out from under it. At that very moment the bishop returned and smiled at the embarrassed youth then talked with him about Adam and Eve’s temptation of not eating the forbidden fruit we read the out come to that earlier, And Christ's temptation and how Jesus answered Satan. We must remember that the devil is very active today he will do every thing he can to stop you from following Jesus and worshipping God. Therefore seek Christ, let him into your heart. God loves you, You are forgiven through the grace of Christ. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit that he may live within you His power will prompt, comfort, and strengthen you. Each day walk with him and pray to him.

In doing so your faith in Him will grow. May God bless you with His love. Amen

And as Jesus taught his disciples we now join with our brothers and sisters through the world

in saying the Lords Prayer (this is the prayer we use in our Church but please use the version

you would usually use

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy Name;

thy Kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever. Amen.


Matthew 4:12-17

12 When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali 14 to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah:15 “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,  the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles 16 the people living in darkness  have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”


Hymn. Seek the first the kingdom of God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsBpM9IcBts


Benediction

May the God of peace who raised Christ from the dead Strengthen your inner being for every good work. And may the blessing of God Almighty Father, Son and Holy Spirit Rest upon you and dwell within you This day and evermore. Amen.



Week beginning 11th February

 

Song: Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy Faithfulness (Tune: Faithfulness - 3vv & chorus) [with lyrics for congregations] (youtube.com)


Prayer:

Heavenly Father, With humble hearts, we come before You today, overflowing with gratitude for the precious gift of life You have bestowed upon us.

We thank You for the breath that fills our lungs, the beating of our hearts, and the intricate workings of our bodies.

In every sunrise that graces the horizon and every sunset that paints the sky, we see Your handiwork and marvel at Your infinite creativity.

Lord, we acknowledge that life is a precious and fragile gift, not to be taken for granted. Help us cherish each moment, embrace the opportunities that come our way, and live with purpose and intention.

May we seek Your guidance in every step and find joy in the simplest blessings.

Amen.

www.prayersaves.com

God of healing,
God of wholeness,
we bring our brokenness,
our sinfulness,
our fears
and despair,
and lay them at your feet.

God of healing,
God of wholeness,
we hold out hearts and hands,
minds and souls
to feel your touch,
and know the peace
that only you can bring.

God of healing,
God of wholeness,
this precious moment
in your presence and power
grant us faith and confidence
that here broken lives
are made whole.

Amen

www.faithandworship.com


Reading: Book of Lamentations, chapter 3: verses 19 to 26


Song: New every morning is the love

New Every Morning Is The Love (youtube.com)


Reading: Matthew’s gospel, chapter 20: verses 1 to 15


Reading: 1st letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 5: verses 12 to 24


Song: Help us to help each other

CH 523 'Help us to help each other, Lord' (youtube.com)


Prayer:

O God of peace, you have taught us that in Your returning we shall be saved. In quietness and in confidence you will be our strength and our salvation amongst a world of hurt, anguish, worry and fear. By the mighty power of Your spirit, lift us up as we pray to you for rest and reassurance in Your loving arms. May we always know that You are our God, and that Your grace can overcome any fear or worry we may have.

Heavenly Father, this world You created continues down a dark and lonely road, and the anxiety that constricts our minds continues to grow with it. Our focus has drifted away from You to constant worrying and self-doubt. We’re afraid of being a failure. We’re afraid of success, and the responsibilities of that. We’re afraid of criticism from others, and of myself. We’re afraid of being alone, and it haunts us. We’re even afraid of becoming a victim of crime, which can also make life debilitating for us. Bring our thoughts back to You, oh Mighty God! Please be the centre of our life, our Rock, our Fortress and my Salvation for evermore. Help us not to stray as the sheep of this world, but to focus our eyes and heart upon You.
You are the great All in All who sent your Son into the world for us because you love us.
We know you live within us as well as residing in your home in Heaven.
In every moment of our fear, come near us and give us courage as We face our fear as we then find we have nothing to fear after all.
In every moment of my doubt, come near us and give us your sure presence so we will have faith and hope.
In every moment of my insecurity, come near us and place your hand upon us so we will feel secure.
We honour you because you have given us your spirit to drive out all our fear, doubt, and insecurity.
We know, even in our moments of fear, doubt, and insecurity your love continues to pour over us.
Although we do not often have the right words to speak to you, we know you search our hearts when our words are feeble and weak.
We am grateful you understand us and love us in spite of our sinful nature.
Help us humbly show your love to the world.
To you we give all praise, honour, and glory.
All these things we humbly pray in the name of our most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, our Mighty God, and our Ever-present Holy Spirit upon whom we can rely.
Amen

https://prayerist.com/

Song: Through the night of doubt and sorrow

Through the Night of Doubt and Sorrow (Tune: Marching - 6vv) [with lyrics for congregations] (youtube.com)


The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.



What do we know about the book of Lamentations. It presents as a gloomy book, one from which I have not, as far as I can remember, read in a service before. Tradition has it to be written by Jeremiah, although some scholars believe each chapter to be written by different authors, and then combined into one book.

God does not speak in the book, and indeed, seems to be rarely mentioned. However, there is an implication of his presence in the fact that the first four chapters are written as acrostics. This means that successive verses begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet from Aleph to Tau. This is taken to imply a sense of totality or completeness. As we might say in English from A to Z, or as Jesus said in Greek, from Alpha to Omega. Chapters 1,2 and 4, all have 22 verses because of this. The eagle eyed amongst you will point out that chapter 3 has more verses that this. In fact it has 66 verses, and each group of 3 verses starts with the same letter. You will see that the translation in the pew bibles groups the verses in threes. Chapter 5 is not acrostic, but still has 22 verses, and thus the idea of completeness is still there.

The first 4 chapters are written is a rhythm, or metre, called Qinah. This is the rhythm of poems usually used as dirges in Hebrew tradition.

Obviously, neither the acrostic nature of the writing, nor the rhythm can easily be translated, and what would be obvious to a Hebrew reader, is totally lost on an English one.

The author presents overwhelming suffering and seems to believe that this is justified as a deserved result of sinning. However, nowhere does the writer blame God, instead, he is presented as righteous and just.

Chapter 3 is apparently the chink of light in this otherwise rather gloomy litany. It is considered that the people might benefit from this suffering, that it could be for their good. A better day could dawn for them. The writer has hope that a God of Great Love, compassion, faithfulness, and goodness, will bring salvation to those who wait quietly.

Can we identify with this writer? Do we experience gloom? Do we ever wonder whether it is all worth it? Have we ever despaired? Certainly I have been in such a dark place. Although I have to say I never felt the need, or had the ability, to write an acrostic poem of 26 verses to express my feelings. In particular, the X and Z verses might be difficult to compose, I don’t see how xylophones or zebras would form part of such a poem; perhaps xenophobia or zero might be more use.

The message of this book is that whatever the gloom, however much we might doubt, deep though the mire might be, if we wait, God will free us. The message of Jesus in the new testament is that whenever we have a problem, Jesus has already experienced that problem, that God understands it because he has been there, that he is suffering it with us, and that hew will free us from it.

Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians in one of the earliest books in the new testament. Probably written about 50 A.D. , it was written by Paul to the church in Thessalonica. As is usual with Paul’s letters, he addresses a number of issues which were directed at the church there, namely;

Relationships among Christians

Mourning those who have died

Preparing for God's arrival

How Christians should behave


The passage we read is about this last section. How Christians should behave towards each other, and to others. In general, we are urged to behave in a way which encourage, which builds up. Those who are senior to us in the faith, and work hard among us putting us right should be held in high regard, and encouraged in their work. Those who we find to be weaker in the faith should be encouraged. We should live in peace, and be patient. We should be kind to everyone. Quite a list. A big ask as we might say today; but this is what is necessary to help people not to sink into the sort of gloom that the writer of Lamentations had experienced.

Perhaps Paul had received a message that people in the church were wondering whether it was all worth it. Perhaps there was infighting, one-upmanship or some sort of class system within the fellowship, where people were suggesting that for some reason they were better than others. Perhaps people were saying of the leaders “Who are they to tell me what to do?” Why are they better than us?” Perhaps some were like Marvin in the Hitch-hikers’ guide to the Galaxy. Marvin was a perpetually gloomy Robot who was convinced that whatever he did it was to no effect, that nothing was worth it, that everything was going to end badly.

He would say things like “Don’t try to engage with my enthusiasm, I haven’t got one!”. When asked “How’s life Marvin?” He would respond, “Very good, if you like being me, which I don’t.”

Such people need encouragement, they need building up “edifying” is the old fashioned word for it.

The people are also urged to pray, to give thanks in all circumstances, to hold on to the good, to avoid evil.


This brings to mind a story from an old fashioned harvest service, where the children were expected to bring their gifts to the front of the church during the service. Each child had been taught a verse of scripture to repeat while handing over the gift. One child came up with a box of 6 large oranges but would neither hand over the fruit, not repeat his verse. Eventually, the minister asked him what the verse was. Clinging to his fruit, the boy replied “Hold fast to that which is good!”


The story of the labourers in the vineyard can be interpreted in different ways. Some people see it as setting an ideal for people here on earth. That all should have sufficient for their needs as long as they give what they are able. This is sometimes expressed in the form “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” This is commonly attributed to Karl Marx. However, similar ideas can be found in a document called “The Guildford covenant of 1639”, this does not come from Surrey, but from Guildford Connecticut, now in the U.S.A. Even further back, a similar idea is expressed in Acts, chapter 4.

Perhaps, this can be understood in terms of Matthew’s account of John saying that the kingdom of God is at hand, or near.

However, many of Matthew’s accounts of Jesus’ words seem to be addressing the idea of the Kingdom of Heaven in a more spiritual sense.

Using this idea, this parable can be seen as people being invited to do the Lord’s work, and their reward for this service. Some people might think that it is only fair that those who have worked harder, or longer, would get a better place in heaven; that those of us who have been “lifelong Christians” are somehow better that those who have experienced what are sometimes called “Deathbed conversions”. Whatever we think, the moral of this parable is that it is for God to decide. That we can rely on him to be just and fair in his dealings, just as the author of Lamentations revealed to us. That we are all to build each other up, whatever our background, just as Paul urged the church in Thessalonica


The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.


Song: Through all the changing scenes of life

Through all the changing scenes of life (youtube.com)