Alistair shares from Malachi 3:1-4 and Luke 1:68-79, 3:1-6 as part of KNEC Church Online.

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“Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be

made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

(Luke 3:5-6)

“We are in a world pregnant with hope, and we live in the expectation of the coming of God’s kingdom on earth. As we wait, we also work, cry, pray, ache; we are the midwives of another world”.

(Shane Claiborne, Common Prayer)

Alistair shares from Luke 21:25-36 and Jeremiah 33:14-16 on the First Sunday of Advent 2021

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“It is not that we are waiting for God, but that God is waiting for us”.

“The Second Coming of Christ is what will happen when we Christians finally accept that the First Coming was the Only Coming and start to cooperate with its divine presence”.

John Dominic Crossan, God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now (2007)

Alistair shares from Mark 13:1-8 on Remembrance Sunday 2021

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“In (any) troubling context, it’s easy to despair.  Or to grow numb.  Or to let exhaustion win.  But it’s precisely now, now when the world around us feels the most apocalyptic, that we have to respond with resilient, healing love.  It’s precisely now, when systemic evil and age old brokenness threaten to bring us to ruin that we have to “hold each other tight” and allow the veil to part, the walls to fall.  What’s happening, Jesus promises at the end of this week’s Gospel reading, is not death, but birth.  Something is struggling to be born.  Yes, the birth pangs hurt.  They hurt so appallingly much.  But God is our midwife, and what God births will never lead to desolation.  Yes, we are called to bear witness in the ruins, but rest assured: these birth pangs will end in joy.”

Debie Thomas - https://www.journeywithjesus.net/essays/2010-not-one-stone

Alistair shares from the Book of Ruth and Mark 12:38-44.

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O God, loving Father of all

You care for the poor, the widow and the orphan

You have given us a wonderful home in which to live

Help us all to find that home

And to be willing to make it home for all.

In Jesus name

Amen.

Alistair shares from 1 Samuel 8:1-18 and Mark 10:46-52 as part of KNEC Church Online

Alistair shares from Hebrews 5:1-10 and Mark 10:35-45 as part of KNEC Church Online.

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O Lord

You came not to be served but to serve.

You came to reveal love in all its fullness.

Raise us up in your love we pray.

Show us how to receive your love and service.

And where led to, show us how to serve in response to your great love.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Alistair shares from Amos 5:6-7, 10-15 and Mark 10:17-31 as part of KNEC Church Online 2021.

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Jesus said, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age ….. and in the age to come eternal life” (Mark 10:29-30).

Alistair shares from Matthew 9:38-50 on Harvest Sunday 2021 as part of KNEC Church Online.

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Can we?:

Recycle more and landfill less

Compost organic materials

Use less fossil fuels especially petrol and gas

Use renewable energy like solar and wind

Walk or cycle and drive less

Reduce water waste

Only buy the food we need

Eat less meat and dairy

Use energy efficient light bulbs and appliances

Not leave appliances on ‘standby’

Air dry washing

Fly less or not at all

Buy pre-loved items

Share items

Plant more trees

Affirmation

We join with the earth and with each other

To bring new life to the land

We join with the earth and with each other

To celebrate the seas

We join with the earth and with each other

To recreate the human community

We join with the earth and with each other

We join together as expressions

(UN Environmental Sabbath Programme )

Alistair shares from Mark 9:38-50 as part of KNEC Church Online 2021

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QUESTION:

What are the stumbling blocks that we might put in the way of people on the journey of faith?

It might be the rules we put in place.

It might be our lack of welcome to others.

It might be our refusal to include outsiders.

PRAYER:

Let us pray

God of infinite and unfailing love,

Forgive us for the times we’ve prevented ourselves and other people from discovering your boundless grace and mercy.

Show us the way, the way to open up your reign to more and more of the people you already love and have forgiven.

In Jesus name. Amen.

Alistair shares from James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a and Mark 9:30-37 as part of KNEC Church Online 19 September 2021

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Submit yourselves, then, to God (James 3:7)

WHEN WE SAY YES:

Deeds done in humility

Pure Wisdom

Peace-loving

Considerate

Submissive

Full of mercy and good fruit

Impartial

Sincere

Takes last place

Serves all

Welcomes children

WHEN WE SAY NO:

Envy

Selfish Ambition

Earthly

Unspiritual

Demonic

Disorder

Every evil practice

Covetting

Quarrelling and fighting

Killing