REFLECTION: Luke 13:31-35 “On the way to Jerusalem”
Have you ever been on a road trip? Our reading for today is part of a road trip. Jesus and his disciples are on a journey. Their goal is Jerusalem where God meets with his people in the temple. Now, In those days, people used to mostly travel on foot. Walking from Galilee to Jerusalem must have taken a while. In fact, in Luke’s Gospel it takes 10 whole chapters. In our short reading, we come across the Pharisees and a powerful man named Herod but Jesus brushes away any distractions from them. On this journey, Jesus has his eyes firmly set on Jerusalem and what his mission there is.
The central verse in our reading has the image of a hen wanting to gather her chicks under her wings but the people of Jerusalem are ‘not willing’ (verse 34).
Jesus shows his love for Jerusalem
Jesus knows Jerusalem will kill him
Jesus still wants to protect and care for its people
But they keep running away from him
To think about: How will you respond to Jesus’s loving care? What are the things that may make you ‘not willing’?
HYMNS
TIS 28 God is our strength and refuge.
MP 465 Meekness and Majesty
TIS 432 Christ is made the sure foundation
TIS 594 Fight the good fight
MARIEN Will be bringing us the message this Sunday. Not having a curate is providing the opportunity for lay people to grow their ministry skills and we are grateful to Marien and others for stepping up in this way
BUILDING FUND UPDATE Since launching our appeal to raise the remaining $300,000 required for the building, we have now received $89,526. The building works are expected to finish in September but there will still be fencing, landscaping and some fit-out work to do after that. Ideally, we need to raise another $210,000 over the next six months, but as mentioned earlier, we can access some money interest free which we need to repay over the next 2 ½ years, so if you are able to contribute smaller amounts over this period, that is also greatly appreciated. Please join with us in asking our generous God for his provision. I also invite us all to consider prayerfully if there is some further support we can give to this project which will be a source of blessing for us and for many future generations
READINGS FOR NEXT SUNDAY 16th March: Isaiah 55. 1-9; Psalm 63.1-9; 1Corinthians 10. 1-13; Luke 13. 1-9
JUMBUNNA PRAYER DAYS Our Jumbunna region is holding three Prayer afternoons with the intention of praying for God’s blessing over our region and with a particular focus on the Hope 25 activities and the election of the New Archbishop. These will be held from 3pm to 6pm on Sunday 9th March at St Pauls Ringwood, Sunday 16th March at St Stephen’s and St Mary’s Mount Waverley, and Sunday 23rd March at St Paul’s Frankston. A team from St James’ will be leading the prayers at St Paul’s Frankston at 5pm.
BUILDING SITE - PLEASE NOTE The construction zone is now a secure area and no one is to enter past the temporary fencing without permission from the builder and all the proper safety gear and a site orientation.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS The Alpha course resumes this Wednesday and we start also the Hope 25 Lenten study which will be led by Marien and Jane. All are welcome for a 6:30pm shared meal in the hall followed by the studies at 7:30pm.
THIS WEEK WE PRAY FOR: St Barnabas' Glen Waverley; The Diocese of Melbourne; Mentone Girls' Grammar School; The Church of the Province of Central Africa; St Paul’s Pascoe Vale/ Oak Park–Pastoral Service; St Agnes’ Black Rock–Pastoral service; St Stephen’s and St Mary’s Mount Waverley – Jumbunna Prayer afternoon; Parish of Pascoe Vale/Oak Park–Pastoral service; Banyule Anglican Parish–Pastoral service; Bishop Genieve and all our Bishops in their ministry this week.
THIS WEEK WE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR: Anthony, Nisha, Mike, Cecil, Ruth, Eva, Charles, Nigel, Jen, Ted, Natasha, Patty, Melenny, Shereen, Lorraine, Rebecca, Ken, Jim, Monty, Noel, Ashleigh, Mervyn, Sophie, Ursula, Doreen & Tauren.
LAWN MOWING ROSTER: 15th March – Rusty
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