Welcome to our Sunday Worship, on the Feast Day of St Thomas the Apostle. Our services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' Church, and 11.00 am at St Thomas'.
If you're unable to be with us in person, the Gospel, a short reflection and a prayer are shown below so that you can worship from home.
Our first hymn this morning is "Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go"
The Collect for St Thomas' Day
Almighty and eternal God, who, for the firmer foundation of our faith, allowed your holy apostle Thomas to doubt the resurrection of your Son till word and sight convinced him: grant to us, who have not seen, that we also may believe and so confess Christ as our Lord and our God; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Today's Gospel
Luke 10:1-11, 16-20 Jesus sends out the Seventy Two
The Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, `Peace to this house!' And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the labourer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, `The kingdom of God has come near to you.' But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, `Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.'
"Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!" He said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Reflection
I recently attended the Archdeacon’s visitation at Christ Church in Ashton to be sworn in as a Churchwarden again, along with Neil Crook. We were accompanied by Reverend Christine Steel and we all agreed that it was good to see so many people there again in person for this important service.
In his service, Archdeacon David Sharples reminded us about our duty to not only look after the day to day things that are essential to maintain our churches and keep them functioning, but also the importance of encouraging the growth of our church and the need to spread the good news of Jesus and the kingdom of God.
He gave an illustrative story about a churchwarden who was also a member of a local rotary club, and who, after many years’ service, was being recognised for his contribution to the rotary club. In particular the role he had played over many years of encouraging other new members to join the club so that it would thrive in years to come and carry on the good works for charity. He had invited the vicar from his church to the event and on the way home the vicar asked, “How many people have you invited to come to church over the years?”
He of course realised that the answer was none. I wonder how many of us have invited someone to church recently?
If not - why not? Are we frightened? Are we afraid of people and how they may react if we start talking about our beliefs and faith? Or afraid that by talking to people about God we may be challenged and not have all the answers? Afraid that we are not ourselves equipped with the level of knowledge that we should have about the bible? Or are we just afraid that we might fail to get the message across, to convince people of God’s love?
However, Jesus tells his followers – Do not be afraid. A message so important that he repeats it time and time again in the Gospels because He knows that fear comes easy to us, as easy as breathing. As he sent the seventy out ahead of him, he didn’t pull his punches; He told them, “you will be like lambs amidst wolves.” He also instructed them to go ill equipped for their mission. He even warned them that there would be some who would scorn them and reject their message. But again, He reassured them; do not be afraid. Neither should we be.
Evangelism may not be ‘a piece of cake’, but we should remember that Jesus will be alongside encouraging us. He is whispering to us, ‘do not be afraid to spread the good news of Jesus risen’. For, if we stay focused on our relationship with God, we too may rejoice that our names are written on the palm of His hand. Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and everlasting Father,
We give you thanks for sending your Son Jesus to be amongst us and teach us.
Give us the courage to actively confess our faith,
And help us to spread your word to enlighten those who have yet to become followers.
Let us go out in our daily lives and share your message of peace to all we encounter.
We ask this in the name of your son Jesus our saviour and redeemer.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "You Shall Go Out With Joy (The Trees of the Field)"
Notices
This afternoon, 4 pm at St Thomas' Church, we have our Confirmation Service with Bishop Mark. Candidates from both of our churches and from St John the Baptist Hey will take the next step on their Christian journey. All are most welcome to join us, but if you can't be there in person, please hold them in your prayers.
