Reading Genesis 3.17-18 And to the man God said, ‘Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree about which I commanded you, “You shall not eat of it”, cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. Reflection We all live with the consequences of failure. We fail to get jobs. We fail to be patient with our loved ones. We fail to do everything we say we’re going to do in that flash of enthusiasm. As individuals we might be aware of how we measure up against others, of relationships that have gone wrong, or of our bodies failing. On the news, we see failure on a global scale – conflict, famine, injustice, poverty. Failure is the wallpaper of life. It hangs in the background, slowly building the scenery of our days. How can we live, surrounded as we are by failure? We can’t shy away from it, or try and escape it, or live in constant fear of it. Otherwise, we’ll live narrow lives, motivated by running away from failure rather than running towards full, exciting, hopeful lives. So, failure. We’d better learn to live with it. Challenge Think of an area of failure that you are living with. Is there a way you can live with it “better” – to be less afraid of it?
<i><b><br>God of tenderness and compassion,<br>as we journey through this season of Lent,<br>may we turn wholeheartedly to you<br>and learn to walk in your way of self-giving love.<br>Amen.</b></i>
<b><i>Take time out this Sunday and spend time in church.</i></b><b><i>Set yourself up for the more sombre and reflective season </i></b><b><i>of Lent next week.</i></b><b><i>Services throughout the Ramsbottom & Edenfield Team Ministry on Sunday 19th February</i></b><b><i>Edenfield Parish Church - Holy Communion at 9.30am</i></b><b><i>St <a></a>Paul’s - Morning Worship at 11.00am</i></b><b><i>St Andrew’s - Holy Communion at 11.00am</i></b>
Ramsbottom & Edenfield Team Ministry St Philip’s Church, Stubbins 22nd February Ash Wednesday service at 7.00pm
