Thought of the Week - 22nd January 2025
'For God chose us in him before the creation of the world
to be holy and blameless in his sight.’ [Ephesians 1:4]
Hello everyone! We hope you have had a good and safe week.
There is a saying, that when America sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold. What happens in America has a huge effect on what happens in the world. The 47 president of the United States of America has been sworn in and taken office. We pray that President Trump and his administration will govern the country with equity and conduct themselves with righteousness.
After 15 months and 46,000 deaths, a cease fire has at last been agreed between Israel and Hamas. Please pray that the ceasefire lasts and that humanitarian aid can now enter Gaza and Lebanon in sufficient quantity to ease the suffering of the people.
In our church services on Sunday February 2, we shall be focussing on ‘Safeguarding’. This is a hugely important area of church work and responsibility, and so we will be looking at how we can all work together to make our churches a safer place for everyone. Sue Witney, our Parish Safeguarding Officer will be at all services to answer questions. If you can’t be at the services, but have safeguarding concerns, please contact Sue via the Parish Office.
May God bless you and your loved ones in the week ahead.
Good News for this Week
AWESOMELY GOOD NEWS!
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfilment to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
In him we were also chosen, […] in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.
When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
The letter to the Ephesians is believed to have been written by Apostle Paul while he was in prison in Rome (around AD 62). This 14 verse opening section has been called one of the most beautiful passages in the Bible. In the original Greek text it can be read as a single exuberant sentence.
What does it teach us about our Father? Our Father’s motivation is love: in love, he predestined us for adoption through Jesus Christ (v.5). Our Father is lavish and extravagant towards us: He has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing (v.3), he has freely given us his glorious grace (v.6), he has lavished the riches of his grace on us (v.8).
What can we learn about ourselves? Before God created the world, he chose us to be holy and blameless in his sight (v.4). Now pause and allow that to sink in … you were part of God’s plan before He created the world! We are adopted as God’s children through Christ (v.5). We are redeemed and forgiven in Christ (v.7). We are sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit (v.13) and our inheritance is guaranteed (v.14). The moment we believe, God seals us with his Holy Spirit and all of these amazing statements come true – and all because of Jesus.
We even learn God’s big plan: to unite every single thing in heaven and on earth under Christ (v.10). If you’ve ever wondered what God’s plan is – where everything is headed - this is it – everything in all Creation living in perfect harmony under Christ. It is not a secret - it is plainly written for all to read.
God has chosen us because he loves us. We are His CHOSEN (v.3), ADOPTED (v.4), REDEEMED (v.7), FORGIVEN (v.7), SEALED by the Holy Spirit (v.13) CHILDREN (v.5). As His children, the way we live our lives will reflect on our Father, so let us live our lives so that we bring praise and glory to God in all that we do.
Bible Readings: Sunday 26th January 2025
IN YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK
- God's peace and justice in all war-torn places of the world, but especially in Ukraine and Sudan
- The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas; that it will last
- The bereaved, thinking especially of the families and friends of Valerie Charlton
- The sick, in mind, body or spirit, especially Stewart Stacey and Terry Grourk
- The homeless
- School children and staff of our parish schools
- God to guide the right person to apply for the position of Vicar of Wargrave with Knowl Hill
- President Trump
Our Next Services
| 26th January | 2nd February | 9th February | |
| Third Sunday of Epiphany | Candlemas | ||
| St Mary's | 9.45am Holy Communion | 8am BCP Holy Communion 9.45am Morning Worship | 9.45am Holy Communion |
| St Peter's | 11.15am Holy Communion | ||
| St Paul's | 11.15am Holy Communion |