SUNDAY, 21ST SEPTEMBER 2008

We began this mornings service with Pam and Sally's All Age Presentation,they reminded us that with Jesus we have a second chance and he can help children to be good.

During this week many good things have happened to some of our members; Caroline Marshall (our Toddler Ministries Officer) got a new job, working for the Salvation Army at our Divisional Headquarters. Alex Smith and Eddie Maddison spent Friday collecting at the Ashford Post Office, something neither of them would normally feel able to do. Alex felt uplifted as people put their pennies in, one lady even took a photo of both of them, What will she do with it?

During This Time Tomorrow Tracey James shared how at 11am tomorrow she would be at her desk at Ashford Borough Council's benefits office.

We read the bible passage for today Luke 10:25-37, with actions. Emma led the sermon on "The Parable of the Good Samaritan".

A very well known story, but we tend to focus on the end with the Good Samaritan, we miss the the start, the original question. The man asking the question is well educated and has studied the scripture & the laws and listened to his leaders. In verses 26 & 27 when asked the question the expert in the law quoted the law in his reply (Deut 6:9 and Lev 9:18). In verse 29, Jesus wanted to show him that these words are to be acted on and not just quoted. Previously in chapter 9, Jesus explained the law and when we come to him, we become a new creation; the law takes on a whole new meaning. The Book of Wisdom says that a neighbour is a fellow Jew, not a sinner. The priest and the levite may have not wanted to become unclean on their way to worship. The book of wisdom also says if family is not nearby they can tend to the sick. So we cannot question why neither stopped.

The Samaritan did not just take pity but attended to his wounds and paid for him to be looked after. This Samaritan gave Holistic medicine, not just the physical but the spiritual.

Who is the Good Neighbour? In this situation it was the man who stopped to help!

Who is our neighbour? Anyone around us, forgetting our prejudices and helping all.

The priest and levite chose to do nothing, the Samaritan chose to help.

We are the neighbour, we cannot help everyone but we can help some. No task is too big with God's help. But we can help our next door neighbour or befriend the Big Issue guy! Something small is better than nothing. Instead of focusing on being able to nothing for everyone, look at doing something for someone.

Following the sermon we listened to a piece of music and thought about how we can help 'our neighbour' and if we needed it, the prayer team were on hand to pray with anyone.

Songs used in worship this morning were: Let everything that; Your Love is Amazing; In the secret, In the quiet place; We bow down and Before the Throne.