The Archbishop has requested that we ring the bell every day at noon and say this Angelus prayer together
Angelus
God Bless the world
Give it wisdom at this time
Grant us relief and release
Be with those who are ill
And bless the carers fighting this pandemic
For Jesus Christ sake.
Amen
Eucharist readings for the week:
Monday 20th April
Acts 4:23-31 John 3:1-8
Psalm 22
Tuesday 21st April
Acts 4:32-37 John 3:7-15
Psalm 93
Wednesday 22nd April
Acts 5:17-26 John 3:16-21
Psalm 34:1-8
Thursday 23rd April
Acts 5:27-33 John 3:31-36
Psalm 34:15-22
Friday 24th April
Acts 5:34-42 John 6:1-15
Psalm 27:1-7,16-17
Saturday 25th April
Ecclesiasticus 51:13,23-30 Ephesians 4:7-16
Psalm 119:9-16 Mark 1:1-15
Reflection Day Thirty National Lockdown Saturday 25 April 2020
Acts 6:1-7 Psalm 33:1-5,17-21 John 6:16-21
Good day dear friends,
The Word is central to the church’s growth and congregational expectations and traditions (harmless in itself) has often being used to distract believers from what is required for effective proclamation of the Word. In the midst of great advance and numerical growth, the Jerusalem church faced the same problem. Luke notes the church’s continued statistical growth as the apostles faithfully taught and evangelized. This success led to a burden for the apostles in their administration, and the Grecian Jewish widows complained of being overlooked in the daily food distribution. The resulting complaints threatened to destroy the church’s unity, could potentially give rise to cultural tensions between the Hebrew and Greek speaking components of the church, and needed immediate amends.
Realising the urgency the twelve gathered the congregation, discussed the distraction form their main function, “the ministry of the word” and they set out to resolve the problem. The congregation elected seven men with good reputation (filled with the Holy Spirit) to take over this responsibility, which was confirmed by the twelve by praying over and laying hands on them. This division of labour is accompanied by a restatement of the apostles’ commitment to their calling namely: prayer and ministry of the Word of God. The congregation took ownership of the proposal and election and unity was restored. The proposed solution reveals the values that guided the decision: commitment to unity, to a holistic ministry and to growth by means of preaching and teaching. The decision-making process reflects equally important values for church order, decorum and administration.
Having weathered the threat, the church returns to its normal condition: growth. Luke’s combination of “spread” and “increased” echoes the Old Testament command that was incorporated into covenant promises about the people of God
And today our churches should be marked by the same conviction, that the ministry of the Word is essential for growth and that growth is the normal condition of the church.
Prayer is central to the church’s vitality and advance, as it was in Jesus’ ministry.
Moral, spiritual, practical, these should be the trademarks of all who serve on church structures of leadership. Only with such leadership will the real work of the church be done.
The outline of this hymn is: the call to praise, the cause for praise, and the conclusion. The call is directed toward the righteous, for whose praise to God is fitting. The cause for praise is twofold: The Lord is dependable in both word and work, and the Lord is just and loyal in dealing with His children. The conclusion is an expression of the joyful hope of the godly in the Lord. This psalm is a general hymn of praise. Its two primary themes are:
(1) God is the Lord of nature; and (2) He is Lord of history.
In biblical thought, these two realms are always interrelated; the Creator sovereignly rules over His total creation, over all creatures throughout time.
It contains and centres on the following:
- A Praise Preamble
- The Justification for Praise. (The Lord’s Sovereign Power and Providence in Natural History)
III. The Reaction to Praise (The Creator’s Sovereign Power & Sovereign Providence).
- A Prayer Finale.
Singing to entertain and outsourcing singing and worship to a professional group should not be done in the church. We should sing unto the Lord, all of us and gladly so.
The Word of God is “right” (pure), in a world full of uncertainly and this Word can be trusted. His Word is powerful and God’s hand in creation exhibits this great power.
The Word is Jesus Christ; it is Truth and right in all its dealings.
God sees everything at all times and discriminates between “them that fear Him” and those who do not. He watches over them, and “he” guards them from danger. His eye is, in fact, upon all men “To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.”
God delivered Joseph and his family in the great famine that struck that part of the known world. God showed Joseph how to provide, and they lived through the famine.
What follows, are the words of the church, expressing expectation, faith, and joy, by waiting for the Lord, coming in the flesh or in bringing salvation. We are cautioned to watch, and wait, for we know not when our Lord will return.
Today’s Gospel is a very familiar one: “the storm at sea.” It was evening as the disciples went to the shore, got into their boats and sailed Capernaum. It would be dark soon and the disciples were anxious to get to Capernaum. As they began rowing, the skies grew increasingly cloudy and threatening and the wind kept getting stronger.
After rowing several miles, they saw a figure approaching them, walking on the water! How could this be? Was this real or were they hallucinating? Who could it be? And they became very afraid! As Jesus approached the boat, he simply said to them: “Do not be afraid” and if it was meant to dispel the fear of the disciples, it did not. He needed to for a second time say unto them: “It is I. There is no need to fear.”
The disciples were torn, afraid and uncertain about what to do. It was only onshore that Jesus again reassured them and they realised that it was truly, their “Lord and Teacher”, who stood before them.
Today, do you wish that you also would hear Jesus say to you: “Do not be afraid.” What are you worried and concerned about in your life? What are you afraid of? Life often presents us with situations and circumstances that cause us to be afraid, like an illness, a conflicted relationship, a fragile financial situation or a virus like COVID-19 as in right now.
Today, Jesus is saying to each of us: “Do not be afraid! Trust me! You are not alone! I am always with you!” Will we invite Jesus into the “boat” of our lives? It is our choice!
Let us pray:
Dear Lord You reminds us over and over in your Word that you are always with us. You tell us not to fear and you draw us close into your Presence. You’re the only place we find refuge in the storms that surround us you’re the only place we can find peace and strength. So we ask you for your words of truth and power to strengthen us in our inner being and lift our hearts to you. Thank you for your goodness, thank you that you know the way we take and you have a plan. We look to you today our Lord and Saviour, it’s your face we seek. Amen.
Oordenking dag Dertig Nasionale Lockdown Saterdag 25 April 2020
Handelinge 6:1-7 Psalm 33:1-5,17-21 Johannes 6:16-21
Goeie dag liewe vriende,
Die “Woord” is sentraal tot die kerk se groei en gemeentelike verwagtinge en tradisies(onskuldig) was dikwels gebruik om gelowiges te laat afdwaal van wat verwag word vir die effektiewe verkondiging van die woord. In ‘n tyd van groot vooruitgang en groei het die Jerusalem kerk dieselfde probleem gehad. Lukas verwys na die kerk se groei in getalle en statistieke soos die Apostels leer en evangeliseer. Hierdie sukses het gely tot ‘n las vir die Apostels in hul administrasie, en die Grieksprekende weduwees het gekla dat hul behoeftes oorsien word. Die aanklag het die kerk se eenheid bedreig en kon aanleiding gee tot kultuur spanning tussen Grieke en Hebreers en het onmiddelike regstelling vereis.
Die Apostels besef die dringendheid, roep die gemeente byeen, bespreek die afdwaling van die kerk se hoof taak en probeer dit oplos.
Die gemeente het sewe mans van goeie reputasie( Gevul met die Heilige Gees) verkies om hierdie taak oor te neem en dit was bevestig met gebed en die oplegging van hande deur die Apostels. Die verdeling van arbeid was vasgelê deur die bevestiging van die kerk en Apostels se hoof taak, naamlik “gebed en woordverkondiging.” Die gemeente het eienaarskap aanvaar vir die voorstel, verkiesing en die eenheid was herstel. Die voorgestelde oplossing openbaar die waardes wat die besluit gelei het: toewyding tot eenheid, ‘n gehele benadering tot bediening en groei by wyse van onderrig en prediking van die woord. Die besluitnemingsproses reflekteer die gelykheid aan waardes vir kerk orde, integriteit en administrasie.
Nadat die storm afgeweer was, het die kerk teruggekeer na normaal en gegroei. Lukas se kombinasie van “versprei” en “toeneem” is ‘n herhaaling van die Ou Testament opdrag, wat ingebou was in die verbonds belofte oor die mense van God. Vandag behoort ons kerk gemerk te word met dieselfde oortuiging, dat die bediening van die woord belangrik is vir groei en dat groei die normaale fokus van die kerk moet wees. Gebed is sentraal tot die kerk se meelewendheid en vooruitgang, soos dit was in Jesus se tyd en bediening. Morele, geestelike en praktiese leierskap moet die kenmerk van leiers wees wie op die strukture van die kerk dien. Slegs met die tipe leierskap sal die ware werk van die kerk gedoen word.
Die uitleg van hierdie gesang is: die oproep tot lof; die oorsaak tot lof en die slot. Die oproep word verwys na die regverdiges, wie se lof aan God gepas is. Die oorsaak tot lof is tweevoudig: Die Here is betroubaar in beide woord en werk; en Die Here is regverdig en lojaal in hoe Hy met Sy kinders deel. Die slot is ‘n uitdrukking van die vreugdevolle hoop van die goddelikes in die Here. Hierdie psalm is ‘n algemene gesang van lof en die twee primêre temas hiervan is:
(1) God is die Here van natuur; en (2) Hy is die Here van geskiedenis.
In bybelse denke is hierdie twee altyd in verhouding: Die skepper regeer allen oor Sy hele skepping, en deur alle tye. Dit bevat en sentreer rondom die volgende:
- ‘n Lof Voorwoord
- Die regverdiging van Lof. (Die Here se Mag en Sy Voorsiening in geskiedenis)
III. Die reaksie tot Lof (Die Skepper se Mag en Voorsiening).
- ‘n Finale Gebed.
Sing om te vermaak en die toevertrouing daarvan tot ‘n professionele groep behoort nie in die kerk gedoen te word nie. Ons moet tot die Here sing, almal van ons en met blyheid.
Die woord van God is “Reg”(rein), in ‘n wêreld vol onsekerheid en hierdie woord kan vertrou word. Sy woord is magtig en God se hand in die skepping wys hierdie groot mag. Die woord is Jesus Christud, dit is Waarheid en reg in alles waarmee dit deel.
God sien alle dinge te alle tye en diskrimineer tussen hulle wie Hom vrees en hulle wie nie. Hy wag oor hulle en beskerm hulle teen gevare. Sy oë is op alle mense om hulle te red van die dood en hulle lewend te hou in tye van hongernood.
God het Josef en st familie gered van die hongernood in daardie deel van die wêreld. God het aan Josef gewys hoe om te voorsien en hulle het deur die hongernood geleef.
Wat volg is die woorde van die kerk, wat verwagting uitdruk en so ook geloof, vreuge en wie wag op die koms van die Here of in Sy tweede koms of deur Sy verlossing. Ons word gewaarsku om te wag op die Here, want ons weet nie wanneer Hy terug sal keer nie.
Vandag se evangelie is ‘n baie bekende een “ die storm op die see” Dit was aand toe die dissipels na die see gegaan, hul boot geneem en na Kapernaum geroei het. Dit sou binnekort donker word en hulle was angsbevange om in Kapernaum te kom. Soos hulle roei word die lug vol van swaar wolke en bedreiglik en die wind word sterker en sterker. Nadat hulle vir ‘n hele paar myl geroei het, sien hulle ‘n figuur wat hulle op die water nader en op die water loop. Hoe kan dit wees? Was dit waar of was hulle besig om te halusineer? Wie kan dit wees? En hulle het baie bang geword.
Soos Jesus die boot nader sê Hy eenvoudig vir hulle “Moenie bang wees nie” en as dit bedoel was om hul vrees te besweer het dit net die teenoorgestelde uitwerking gehad. Hy het nodig om vir ‘n tweede keer aan hulle te sê “Dit is ek, moenie bang wees nie”
Die dissipels was verskeurd, bang, onseker oor wat om te doen en dit was eers op die oewer dat Jesus hulle weer verseker en hulle besef dat dit hul Heer en Meester was.
Wens jy vandag om Jesus vir jou te hoor sê “ Moenie bang wees nie” Waaroor is jy bekommerd in jou lewe vandag? Waarvoor is jy bang? Die lewe bied dikwels aan ons uitdagings soos siekte, verhoudings in konflik, finansieële uitdagings en soos nou COVID-19.
Vandag sê Jesus aan elkeen van ons “ Moenie bang wees nie”, Vertrou My, Jy is nie alleen nie! Ek is altyd met jou! Sal ons Jesus in die bootjies van ons lewens innooi? Die keuse is ons s’n.
Laat ons bid:
Liewe Heer U herinner ons in U woord, dat U met ons is. U sê aan ons om nie bang te wees of te vrees nie, en U trek ons nader aan U teenwoordigheid. U is die enigste plek waar ons skuiling vind in die stroms rondom ons, en u is die enigste plek waar ons vreugde, vrede en krag vind. Ons vra na U woord van waarheid en krag om ons te versterk en ons harte te verlig tot U. Dankie vir U goedheid, dankie dat U ons weë ken en dat U ‘n plan het. Ons kyk na U vandag Here en Verlosser, dit is U gesig waarna ons soek. Amen.