Daily ScriptureA dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. (Luke 22:24-27)Daily ReflectionWhat sort of a leader are you? You might think, you are not a leader, but most of us are, somewhere in our lives. As a parent, or a grandparent. As a member of a team, or at work. As a friend, or a neighbour. As the owner of a dog, or a horse (not so much a cat, they don’t recognise anyone as leader!). Do you roll up your sleeves and get stuck in, or stay detached? Do you ‘step up to the plate’? Do you take responsibility? Do you want to show others how it’s done? There are so many ways to lead: from the front, striding out, expecting others to follow. From the back, pushing people on. From the middle, in collaboration. But Jesus’ model of leadership is the very best; as we sing in one of our hymns, Jesus is the Servant King. Revd Ylva
Daily Scripture So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God (Ephesians 2.19-22)Daily Reflection The purpose of a wall is to separate. The Berlin Wall was torn down in 1989, but since then the Israeli separation barrier has been constructed, and the Mexican wall aims to keep immigrants from infiltrating the USA.In the Jerusalem temple of Jesus’s day a wall separated Jews from Gentiles, and women from men. As well as actual walls of bricks and mortar there are the invisible but very real walls of prejudice and fear that separate people: walls of racism, religion, class, homophobia ...In Christ there are no outsiders. What Paul describes here is not a wall, but a ‘dwelling-place for God’, where all are equal, and all are accepted in love. Lord, show us how to break down the walls of hatred and fear and live together in your love. Revd Rosemary
Sunday 18th July8 am Holy Communion at St Nicholas led by Revd Rosemary Kobus van Wengen 10am Holy Communion at St George's led by osemary Kobus van Wengen & Revd David Commander
Daily Scripture We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another, and compare themselves with one another, they do not show good sense. 13 We, however, will not boast beyond limits, but will keep within the field that God has assigned to us, to reach out even as far as you. (2 Corinthians 10 v 12-13) Daily Reflection How many times do we find that we compare ourselves to others? Do we make ourselves out to be better than the person next to us? And if we are in a position of authority or influence - how do we use that power? - do we use it to lord over others or to build others up? Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, reveals that his authority was given to him for a specific purpose - to build up others, not to bend people to his will, not to steamroller over anything that gets in the way of his personal preferences. Whatever your sphere of influence may be, evaluate how you use that authority day to day and use it to build one another up, not to tear each other down. Lyn Hayes ALM
