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SUMMARY:Family Communion
DTSTART:20260125T100000Z
DTEND:20260125T111500Z
DTSTAMP:20260519T040958Z
UID:10200792026-01-25 10:00:00+00:00achurchnearyou
CATEGORIES:
DESCRIPTION:Family Communion for the Conversion of St Paul : celebrant the
  Revd Tola Badejo. \n\nFirst reading: Acts 9. 1–22\nGospel: Matthew 19. 
 27–30\n\n\nThe Third Sunday after Epiphany coincides this year with the 
 feast of the Conversion of St Paul\, when we remember the dramatic and cha
 llenging events described in Acts 9.  Just how challenging they are become
 s apparent if we put ourselves in the position of Ananias: Saul\, who went
  out of his way to persecute Christians\, to arrest them and take them to 
 be imprisoned in Jerusalem\; Saul\, who held the coats of the men who ston
 ed Stephen to death\, is rendered helpless\, and Ananias is told by God to
  go and minister to him. He is asked to put the idea of loving his enemy i
 nto practice in a way he could reasonably see as foolishly dangerous\, and
  yet he does it  - the story is about Saul becoming Paul\, but Ananias pla
 ys a crucial supporting role.\n\nCaravaggio's famous painting of the Conve
 rsion in Santa Maria del Popolo reflects another critical point (detail ab
 ove\; the whole image attached)\; he shows Saul/Paul with his arms flung o
 pen\, as though to embrace something he has hitherto resisted. In an earli
 er version\, however\, Saul is shielding his eyes\, as though the artist w
 as exploring different ways in which someone might respond to a truth they
  had struggled to recognise. The images pose many questions: did Saul's an
 ger stem from a pride that barred him from accepting the love of God\, and
  is his story in that sense a warning to us all?\n\nSaul has to set aside 
 many of the beliefs that had hitherto shaped his identity\; Ananias has to
  overcome entirely justifiable reluctance and fear. The Gospel takes up th
 e theme that discipleship has real costs\, but also promises its rewards.
GEO:0.037423;51.469833
LOCATION:Kidbrooke\, St Nicholas
URL:https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/671/service-and-events/events/10
 20079/
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