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ANGLICAN PARISH OF ATWELL/SUCCESS THE CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION Sunday Bulletin Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost– 25th October 2009
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Seeing with our ears
The Renault car company recently had quite a lot of publicity when it announced its plans for the future of its electric cars. The announcement was greeted with much excitement as ecologically minded people looked to the possibilities of an energy saving future. Strangely enough, there was one group of people who had some serious concerns about electric cars, these were people who were blind. As a spokesperson for this group put it, we relate to the outside world by sounds and if we are near a road and hear a car we know that one is there. If the car makes no sound, then we consider that we are in danger because if we attempt to cross a road and do not hear an electric car then we are in considerable danger.
There are similarities in today’s gospel passage with a blind Bartimaeus sitting by the side of the road. With his well developed other senses he realised Jesus was near and cried out to him. When Jesus called him to come forward he literally jumped at the opportunity leaving everything behind and totally confident of his safety in rushing to Jesus. Through his encounter with Jesus his ultimate desire was fulfilled, that is, to see again. What a simple yet astoundingly revelational story. Essentially this is blind faith in Jesus and it is such faith that receives its rewards.
An interesting way to approach this story is to read it from the perspective of the one who is blind. We usually see in our imagination what we think is happening in a story. In this case I invite you to not see the story but to hear it; to approach the story aurally, to hear the sounds and how they relate and to hear the sound of Jesus’ voice. To hear the emotion in the voices of both Bartimaeus and the dominant voices in the crowd, yet all these seem to become quiet and distant when sight is restored.
Fr Clive
Sentence
The redeemed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. Isaiah 51.11
Prayer of the day
O God, you give light to the blind and comfort to the sorrowing, and in your Son you have given us a High Priest who has offered the true sacrifice for us and yet can sympathise with us in our weakness: hear the cry of your people and lead us home to our true country, where with your Son and the Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:9-7
7 For thus says the Lord:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
“Save, O Lord, your people,
the remnant of Israel.”
8 See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
those with child and those in labour, together;
a great company, they shall return here.
9 With weeping they shall come,
and with consolations I will lead them back,
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path in which they shall not stumble;
for I have become a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.
For the word of the Lord; thanks be to God.
Psalm 126
1 When the Lord turned again the fortunes of Zion:
then were we like those restored to life.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter:
and our tongue with singing.
3 Then said they among the heathen:
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
4 Truly the Lord has done great things for us:
and therefore we rejoiced.
5 Turn again our fortunes, O Lord:
as the streams return to the dry south.
6 Those who sow in tears:
shall reap with songs of joy.
7 They that go out weeping, bearing the seed:
shall come again in gladness, bringing their sheaves with them.
Second Reading: Hebrews 7:21-28
21 but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind,
‘You are a priest forever’ ” 22 accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; 24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
26 For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.
For the word of the Lord; thanks be to God.
The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to mark 10:46-52
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
46 They came to Jericho. As he and his disciples and a large crowd were leaving Jericho, Bartimaeus son of Timaeus, a blind beggar, was sitting by the roadside. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 Many sternly ordered him to be quiet, but he cried out even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 Jesus stood still and said, “Call him here.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart; get up, he is calling you.” 50 So throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 Then Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man said to him, “My teacher, let me see again.” 52 Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has made you well.” Immediately he regained his sight and followed him on the way.
This is the Gospel of the Lord:
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
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Intercessions This Parish: Fr Clive, Diane and Karen. Diocese: Archbishop Roger Herft, Bp Kay Goldsworthy, Parish of Kellerberrin. Mission Plan Prayer: Thank you, God, for small children learning to pray; stir the adults of church communities to fresh prayerfulness as an example to the young. Province: Parish of Revensthorpe, and Geraldton Grammar School, Principal, Chaplain, staff and students. Anglican Church: Archbishop Rowan Williams, Archbishop Phillip Aspinall; Diocese of Sydney, ABp Peter Jensen, Bishops, clergy and people. Anglican Community: Church in Sudan. Those in need:
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NOTICES
Today: We welcome Fr Clive McCallum to preside and preach.
Please stay for a cuppa after the service.
Readings Next Sunday, Twenty Second after Pentecost, All Saints (W), 1 Nov 2009.
Isa 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Rev 21:1-6a; john 11:32-44
Filed under: pew sheet
