Epiphany 3
Almighty God,
whose Son revealed in signs and miracles
the wonder of your saving presence:
Renew your people with your heavenly grace,
and in all our weakness
sustain us by your mighty power;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 7: 29-31
Mark 1: 14-20
Last Thursday marked the beginning of the week of Christian Unity. In Kenmare, members of our three Churches met for a time of Praise, Prayer and Pizza in the Gateway Methodist – and we were additionally blessed by the presence of a number of our Ukrainian friends, who happily joined in the signing and the time of open prayer. Our togetherness was a real-life example of the unity we experience at a personal level.
But It did make me wonder if Christian Unity simply means once-a-year worship and prayer together outside the constraints of tradition or denomination. It must surely mean more than that. We need to stop using our energy on idle debating the differences between us – nothing is likely to result in change (at least in the short-medium term). Instead we must regard unity as a challenge – that in collectively accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, we are obliged to join in active service of His creation, using our combined resources to address the real problems of the World – and goodness knows there are plenty of them. Homeless families. Unwelcome refugees. Revenge exercised upon children. Self-serving political ‘leadership’. Prejudice against those who are ‘different’. And many others.
The prophet Isaiah spoke of His God-given message of the service asked of us in His name: to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captive, release to the prisoners. And by so doing proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.
So as we celebrate this week of Christian Unity, let us consider what service we could offer together, that we wouldn’t be capable of achieving on our own – the whole being much greater than the parts.
And then rather than talking about it, let’s make it happen.
Previous Posts
Praying Together 11th December 2022
Few of us will be called by God to do something earth-shattering. But we will all be called to fulfil His purpose in our lives.
Praying together 4th December 2022
It’s not how we serve between Christmas and New Year that matters, it’s how we serve between New Year and Christmas.
Praying Together 27th November 2022
Pause for a moment; for a change, a Meditation rather than a sermonette. Thanks to Clare Anglicans
Praying Together 20th November 2022
He will turn His face to Jerusalem, the theatre where His Destiny will be revealed – a destiny of suffering for the sake of unrequited love.
Praying Together 13th November 2022
So on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, it is right to keep silence for the fallen, in every sphere of life, but unless we resolve to remember them as we remember Jesus – every day of the year – it means little.
Praying Together 6th November 2022
Human structures, societies and cultures will always eventually crumble. God’s Kingdom is everlasting. And it’s free for the asking.
Praying together 30th October 2022
Luke 18: 9-14Ephesians 1:11-23 ‘Saint’ Defn. #1: a person acknowledged as holy or virtuous and regarded in Christian faith as being in heaven after death. Well, I’m not dead yet (or at least I wasn’t at the time of writing.) So that’s not me. ‘Saint’ Defn. #2: a very...
Praying Together 23rd October 2022
We don’t stop doing right because of the fear of becoming proud – and we don’t let past failure stop us from living in His house.
Praying Together 16th October 2022
2 Timothy 3:14 - 4:5 Are we there yet? (Title courtesy of Marjorie)Just stop for a moment. Take a look around. How did you get to where you are at this instant in time? Now have a look into yourself, your heart and mind, and reflect on your journey in faith –...
Praying Together 9th October 2022
Collect for Trinity 17 Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you: Teach us to offer ourselves to your service, that here we may have your peace, and in the world to come may see you face to face;through...
An Ordination at St Michael and All Angels, Waterville
On Thursday last, 29th September - the feast of Michaelmas - members of all four churches of our Union joined together to witness The Reverend Barbara Irrgang-Buckley being ordained Priest by the Bishop of Tuam Limerick and Killaloe, the Right Reverend Michael...
Praying Together 25th September 2022
Luke 16: 19-31 What will it take to convince you? With thanks to Anselm of Canterbury, and his inspiration Augustine of Hippo, there are two approaches to faith. (Excuse the Latin, but I had five years of it at school and I can’t help showing off sometimes as a...