Bulletin 5th July 2009

ANGLICAN PARISH OF ATWELL/SUCCESS THE CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION Sunday Bulletin Fifth Sunday after Pentecost–  5th July 2009

The Mission of Jesus and his Disciples

It really is remarkable that Jesus was not recognised in his own home town.  It is also in some ways unfortunate that he was not able to perform signs and wonders in front of his local community and his family.  While they may have been secretly proud of what he had achieved, there was an element of doubt about the power and divinity of Jesus in Nazareth.  Sadly, this doubt and unbelief was counter productive to the community and, even when Jesus tried to perform miracles and healings to help his home town people, he was not able to due to their taking offence.  They could not believe that one of their own was the Christ, the Messiah.  This affirms Jesus as being truly human but at the same time it shows the power of unbelief, and the misfortune of those who show potential and ability that they are often rejected at home because people do not believe that their town could produce such special people.  This is sad because great people have to come from somewhere, and Nazareth was as good a place as any; even if it was just a typical Jewish town with ordinary people trying to make an honest living.

 

Not to be discouraged, Jesus went about his ministry calling the twelve disciples and going from village to village preaching, teaching and healing to any town that was receptive.  Those that were, were truly blessed, those that did not were simply passed by and the good news and healing was taken to a town where there was some faith and the ministry was well received.  We learn from this that we need to take opportunities when they arise, to be welcoming of Jesus, and to receive him with hospitality and faith.  The alternative is to miss out on some miraculous experience.  We also learn that the disciples carried with them only the barest essentials in possessions so that they could respond effectively to move to the places that they were called to for their ministry.

Fr Clive

 

Sentence

Of Jesus many said, ‘What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!’                              Mark 6.2

 

Prayer of the day

O Lord our God, you are always more ready to bestow your good gifts upon us than we are to seek them; and more willing to give than we desire or deserve: in our every need, grant us the first and best of all your gifts, the Spirit who makes us your children.  We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 Reading:  2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh.  For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.”  So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.  At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

 David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward.  And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

 

Psalm 48

1   Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised:
     in the city of our God.
2   High and beautiful is his holy hill:
     it is the joy of all the earth.
3   On Mount Zion, where godhead truly dwells, stands the city of the Great King:
     God is well known in her palaces as a sure defence.
4   For the kings of the earth assembled:
     they gathered together and came on;
5   They saw, they were struck dumb:
     they were astonished and fled in terror.
6   Trembling took hold on them, and anguish:
     as on a woman in her travail;
7   Like the breath of the east wind:
     that shatters the ships of Tarshish.
8   As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the Lord of hosts:
     in the city of our God, which God has established for ever.
9   We have called to mind your loving-kindness, O God:
     in the midst of your temple.
10 As your name is great, O God, so also is your praise:
     even to the ends of the earth.
11 Your right hand is full of victory, let Zion’s hill rejoice:
     let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of your judgements.
12 Walk about Zion, go round about her, and count all her towers:
     consider well her ramparts, pass through her palaces;
13 That you may tell those who come after that such is God:
     our God for ever and ever, and he will guide us eternally.

Second Reading:  2 Corinthians 12:2-10

 I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven–whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows.  And I know that such a person–whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows–  was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat.  On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses.  But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me,  even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated.  Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me,  but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

      

Gospel:   Mark 6:1-13

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.  On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands!  Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Then Jesus said to them, “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.”  And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them.  And he was amazed at their unbelief.
Then he went about among the villages teaching. He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.  He ordered them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts;  but to wear sandals and not to put on two tunics.  He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place.  If any place will not welcome you and they refuse to hear you, as you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”  So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent.  They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.