The Anglican Parish of Alberton-O'Leary

The people of the Parish of Alberton-O'Leary help one another and the people in our community. Call on us if you need help. We are all neighbours in God's eyes. As a Christian community we strive to live out our baptismal covenant of proclaiming by word and example the good news of God in Christ, seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving neighbour as self, and working for justice, peace and dignity amoung all people. This we do, with God’s help.

Monday, March 10, 2014

The First Sunday of Lent

Temptation of Jesus in the Wilderness

Image cf. www.truthbook.com

Matthew 4: 1-11 Jesus' Temptation in the Wilderness
This time of testing showed that Jesus really was the Son of God, able to overcome the devil and his temptations. This temptation by the devil showed us that Jesus was human, and it gave Jesus the opportunity to reaffirm God's plan for his ministry. .Jesus' temptation was an important demonstration of his sinlessness. He could face temptation and not give in. Jesus wasn't tempted inside the Temple or at his baptism but in the wilderness where he was tired, alone, and hungry, and thus most vulnerable. The devil often tempts us when are under physical or emotional stress (for example, lonely, tired, weighing big decisions, or faced with uncertainty). But he also likes to tempt us through our strengths, where we are most susceptible to pride. We must guard at all times against his attacks. The devil's temptations focused on three crucial areas: (1) physical needs and desires (2) possessions and power and
(3) pride. But Jesus did not give in. Jesus was hungry and weak after 40 days of fasting, but he chose not to use his divine power to satisfy his natural desire for food. Food, hunger and eating are good, but the timing was wrong. Jesus was in the wilderness to fast, not to eat. We also may be tempted to satisfy a perfectly normal desire in a wrong way or at a wrong time ( sex before marriage, stealing food). God wants you to satisfy them in the right way at the right time. Jesus was able to resist all of the devil's temptations because he not only knew Scripture, but, he also obeyed it. Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us to follow God's desires rather than the devil's. Satan used Scripture to try to convince Jesus to sin! Study the Bible carefully, especially the broader contexts of specific verses, so that you understand God's principles for living and want he wants for your life. The devil offered the whole world to Jesus if he would only kneel down and worship him. Today the devil offers us the world by trying entice us with materialism and power. We can resist temptations the same way Jesus did. If you find yourself craving something that the world offers, quote Jesus' words to the devil: "You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him."

No comments:

Welcome to all!

Sunday services will alternate between St. Peter's and St. Luke's - please check our schedule to confirm location each Sunday.
*St. Peter's Alberton - 10:30am, alternating Sundays. Following the service join us for coffee fellowship in Church - all welcome! ( located at corner of Church & Main Streets )
*St. Luke's O'Leary - 10:30am, alternating Sundays.
( located at O'Leary Corner - Rte. 2 and Rte. 142 )
*Christ Church Kildare Capes - Summer Services during July and August. (confirm weekly with Blog for any change in schedule). Located at 17668 Rte. 12 in Kildare Capes.
*Holy Trinity Alma - Summer Special Service. Located in Alma at 40986 Rte. 2 Hwy (Western Rd.)

Parish Contact Information

Mailing Address: Box 152, Alberton, PE C0B 1B0

902-831-2873 - Rev. Ann Bush, Priest-in-charge

email: blogs62@hotmail.com

902-497-0102 - Debbie Travers, C0-Parish Warden

902-853-3744 - Dennis Rix, Co-Parish Warden

902-853-3971 - Tracey Wood,Parish Secretary

email: jim.traceywood@gmail.com

902-853-3782 - Cyndi Rix, St. Lukes Hall

902-436-0366 - Jan Cox, Lay Reader
902-853-3535 - Kathryn Curtis, Bulletins

email: katied935@gmail.com
902-628-3180 - Carter Jeffery, Parish Blog
email: carterjeffery61@gmail.com /

Remember the Important Things in Life

Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions--and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else--the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first--the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

cf. http://www.pagetutor.com/jokebreak/263.html

( Thanks to LayReader David Crocker for relating this story in his sermon on Nov. 4, 2012 )

What is life suppose to be like?

Colossians 3:12-17

This scripture reading gives a beautiful description.

King James Version (KJV)

¹²Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

¹³Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

¹⁴And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

¹⁵And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

¹⁷And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Our Parish Rectors -

1859-1886 The Rev. R.W. Dyer

1886-1889 The Rev. C.E. McKenzie

1889-1899 The Rev. J.W. Forbes

1900-1903 The Rev. D. Davies

1905-1909 The Rev. R.M. Fenton

1910-1911 The Rev. C.H. Tolmay

1911-1913 The Rev. J.A. Winfield

1914-1916 The Rev. F.G. Gosden

1917-1921 The Rev. E.P. Wood

1921-1923 The Rev. G.T. Spriggs

1923-1925 The Rev. G.F. Seymour

1926-1927 The Rev. R.H. Holmes

1928-1939 The Rev. W.J. Phillips

1939-1943 The Rev. S.J. Davies

1943-1949 The Rev. J.W. Nowe

1949-1956 The Rev. J.R. McMahon

1957-1958 The Rev. C.J. Riley

1959-1965 The Rev. M.R. Ness

1965-1967 The Rev. E.L. Linton

1968-1969 The Rev. W.J. Phillips

1969-1972 The Rev. J. Yetman, D.S.L.

1972-1973 The Rev. W.J. Phillips

1973-1981 The Rev. T.G. Mitchell

1982-1992 The Rev. J.M. Ferguson

1993-1996 The Rev. M. Oulton

1997-2002 The Rev. Fran Boutilier

2003-2005 The Rev. Simon Davis

2007-2008 The Rev. Cathy Pharo

2009-2016 The Rev. Andrew Mortimer

2016-2018 Priest-in-charge Rev. D. Fagan

2018-Present Priest-in-charge Rev. Ann Bush

**Note – some of these ministers came from, or went on to serve, in other Island Parishes.

The Anglican Parish of Alberton-O'Leary

Burying Time Capsule

Monday, March 10, 2014

The First Sunday of Lent

No comments:

Post a Comment