Daily Scripture So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God (Ephesians 2.19-22)Daily Reflection The purpose of a wall is to separate. The Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989, but since then the Israeli separation barrier has been constructed, and the Mexican wall aims to keep immigrants from infiltrating the USA.In the Jerusalem temple of Jesus’s day a wall separated Jews from Gentiles, and women from men. As well as actual walls of bricks and mortar there are the invisible but very real walls of prejudice and fear that separate people: walls of racism, religion, class, homophobia ...In Christ there are no outsiders. What Paul describes here is not a wall, but a ‘dwelling-place for God’, where all are equal, and all are accepted in love. Lord, show us how to break down the walls of hatred and fear and live together in your love. Revd Rosemary
Sunday 18th July8 am Holy Communion at St Nicholas led by Revd Rosemary Kobus van Wengen 10am Holy Communion at St George's led by osemary Kobus van Wengen & Revd David Commander
Daily Scripture We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you. (2 Corinthians 10 v 12-13) Daily Reflection How many times do we find that we compare ourselves to others? Do we make ourselves out to be better than the person next to us? And if we are in a position of authority or influence - how do we use that power? - do we use it to lord over others or to build others up? Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, reveals that his authority was given to him for a specific purpose - to build up others, not to bend people to his will, not to steamroller over anything that gets in the way of his personal preferences. Whatever your sphere of influence may be, evaluate how you use that authority day to day and use it to build one another up, not to tear each other down. Lyn Hayes ALM
Daily Scripture:O Lord, what are mortals that you should consider them; mere human beings, that you should take thought for them? (Psalm 144:3)Daily Reflection:We think the world is a big place; it certainly has huge variety, and many wonderful things to explore, and takes time to journey around. It’s a pretty awesome place! But when we see images of Earth from space, it looks small against the vastness of space as we journey around the sun – our star. Then think of how many stars we can see….so far away; and then of the stars we can only “see” by the use of technology; and then think of all the other galaxies that exist! All of them created at some time, and somehow.That same Creator thinks and cares about you! That is an awesome thought.Happy are the people whose blessing this is. Happy are the people who have the Lord for their God. (Psalm 144:16) Revd David
