Scripture:'Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.' (Luke 6 20-21 & 23-24) Reflection:Jesus has an uncanny knack of turning all that you hold dear, upside down!! He presents a totally different standard of living, in fact, the opposite of the world’s standard. He says that the poorer you are, the more blessings you will receive. Indeed, the teachings of Jesus can only be described as radical. We must always remember that Jesus came for the last, the least and the lost. He came to bring glad tidings to the poor and freedom to the oppressed. He provided hope for the hopeless and taught the people the importance of faith. Then He asked them to be servant of all if they wanted to be the greatest. In short, He wants all followers to be like Him and to walk in His path. What then can we do this week for the last, the least and the lost? Lyn Hayes
10 am Holy Communion at St Nicholas
Scripture & Reflection: Sunday 6<sup>th</sup> February and for the week ahead:Scripture: "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5, v4-5)Reflection:When you are fishing to feed your family and not for pleasure, the pressure is on. Simon and his friends had been fishing all night and caught nothing - they were exhausted and disappointed. I'm sure I would have just gone home to bed and been miserable. It must have been a huge effort for them to agree to Jesus' request to go back out and try again. But try again they did, and fish started jumping into their nets - enough to fill many boats! Perhaps you are struggling with something today, and are feeling like Simon - you've had enough! God, for whom nothing is impossible, encourages you to try again - but this time hand in hand with Him. Pray the prayer that Jesus prayed - ' Father, not my will, but your will be done', and wade in once more with renewed hope. The fish will be plentiful. Vicki Young
Scripture:‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but I will not be dominated by anything. ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’, and God will put an end to both. (1 Corinthians 6.12-20) Reflection:St Paul quotes what was being said two thousand years ago but is very much the way of today’s world – personal freedom to be and to do what we like. Yes, I accept that my society must have laws, and that there are moral laws, but am I not free to choose my own morality and my own way of life?Yes, says Paul, we are free – Jewish followers of Jesus are free from all those rigid laws, such as kosher foods. They are freed from all those divisive categories, slave or free, man or woman, Greek or Jew (and the list has kept growing as we become aware of just how many ways we box people up). But your choices need to take into account whether they are ‘beneficial’.When I make my choices or assert my freedom, how much do I consider the effect on others? David Harmsworth
