Youth in Action – the 40 Day Challenge.
Fr Michael and Sandra’s blog.
From Sandra
WeIl, it has been a long time since I have been in touch. Much has happened in this time, some happy, some sad, but all in the name of our Heavenly Father.
As Lent reared its head, I thought about what I could do to strengthen my relationship with God, to follow Him more closely, find time to reflect and ask for forgiveness. I thought about what I could give up as we are asked to fast to support our prayers. I decided my crisps and Lucozade should be the first thing to go. I have also given up red meat. It has proven quite hard to do as living through a year of lockdowns it feels like I have lost much already.
Living at work is the new terminology for working at home and now more than ever work is encroaching on my home life. I am sure that home schooling has not been easy either. Over the last few weeks I have worked long hours and over the weekends to get my work done and have struggled to find time for my family and for myself.
The other thing I have taken on is a walking challenge in aid of charity. I have to walk every day in March and must take at least 8,500 steps per day. The following link tells you about the challenge: #850stepchallenge . This number reflects the 850 million people in the world who have kidney disease. You may have guessed that the charity is Kidney Research UK. You can find out more about the charity here . Kidney World Day was on Thursday 11 March and I highlighted my walk and my JustGiving page to my colleagues at work and also to my friends and family. If you want to find out more about me and my challenge please see: JustGiving Page . My daily walk has allowed me to reflect on my life, my family and the environment that I have been provided with. It has also given me much alone time to. Something you don’t get much of when everyone is at home.
In giving myself to the challenge, I am also doing some almsgiving (the practice of giving money to others). This is also an important part of Lent. To give is much better than to receive – believe it or not – and there are many who are in need.
I hope you have thought long and hard about how you can deepen your relationship with God. Through prayers, reading the Bible, reading daily readings, in talks with others who are practicing Lent and also through quiet time listening to God.
As Easter rears its head over the horizon, I look forward to a new chapter and the hope that God brings each of us. I look forward to seeing you all very soon, when we can get together for our Youth In Action sessions. We must though, in the meantime, continue to follow the guidelines which are given by the Government to weave our paths out of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like to talk or share something with me, please e-mail me or phone me. If you do not have my contact details, please ask Father Michael.
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We are now half way through Lent, so time for a "how are we doing!" I must confess that, usually by now, all my good intentions have vanished but this year is so different in so very many ways. Amazingly it feels a bit like it's the Lenten discipline that's keeping me going. It is good to have a structure. For me it is anyway. I am finding it hard to do without music. There is always the temptation to switch it on but I enjoy the silence. Otherwise I am managing OK. At the moment I am trying hard not to be a clone of Victor Meldew so when I find myself grumbling under my breath at some slight, real or imagined, I just laugh at myself (some thing Victor never does!) The other thing that is very odd is not having services in church to go to (or to prepare for.) I am not sure what I feel about that, but it gives me more time.
Sandra and I have been wondering how you are doing? Is anyone doing the 40 Day challenge!
Fr Michael
Fr Michael and Sandra’s blog.
From Sandra
WeIl, it has been a long time since I have been in touch. Much has happened in this time, some happy, some sad, but all in the name of our Heavenly Father.
As Lent reared its head, I thought about what I could do to strengthen my relationship with God, to follow Him more closely, find time to reflect and ask for forgiveness. I thought about what I could give up as we are asked to fast to support our prayers. I decided my crisps and Lucozade should be the first thing to go. I have also given up red meat. It has proven quite hard to do as living through a year of lockdowns it feels like I have lost much already.
Living at work is the new terminology for working at home and now more than ever work is encroaching on my home life. I am sure that home schooling has not been easy either. Over the last few weeks I have worked long hours and over the weekends to get my work done and have struggled to find time for my family and for myself.
The other thing I have taken on is a walking challenge in aid of charity. I have to walk every day in March and must take at least 8,500 steps per day. The following link tells you about the challenge: #850stepchallenge . This number reflects the 850 million people in the world who have kidney disease. You may have guessed that the charity is Kidney Research UK. You can find out more about the charity here . Kidney World Day was on Thursday 11 March and I highlighted my walk and my JustGiving page to my colleagues at work and also to my friends and family. If you want to find out more about me and my challenge please see: JustGiving Page . My daily walk has allowed me to reflect on my life, my family and the environment that I have been provided with. It has also given me much alone time to. Something you don’t get much of when everyone is at home.
In giving myself to the challenge, I am also doing some almsgiving (the practice of giving money to others). This is also an important part of Lent. To give is much better than to receive – believe it or not – and there are many who are in need.
I hope you have thought long and hard about how you can deepen your relationship with God. Through prayers, reading the Bible, reading daily readings, in talks with others who are practicing Lent and also through quiet time listening to God.
As Easter rears its head over the horizon, I look forward to a new chapter and the hope that God brings each of us. I look forward to seeing you all very soon, when we can get together for our Youth In Action sessions. We must though, in the meantime, continue to follow the guidelines which are given by the Government to weave our paths out of the current COVID-19 pandemic.
If you would like to talk or share something with me, please e-mail me or phone me. If you do not have my contact details, please ask Father Michael.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We are now half way through Lent, so time for a "how are we doing!" I must confess that, usually by now, all my good intentions have vanished but this year is so different in so very many ways. Amazingly it feels a bit like it's the Lenten discipline that's keeping me going. It is good to have a structure. For me it is anyway. I am finding it hard to do without music. There is always the temptation to switch it on but I enjoy the silence. Otherwise I am managing OK. At the moment I am trying hard not to be a clone of Victor Meldew so when I find myself grumbling under my breath at some slight, real or imagined, I just laugh at myself (some thing Victor never does!) The other thing that is very odd is not having services in church to go to (or to prepare for.) I am not sure what I feel about that, but it gives me more time.
Sandra and I have been wondering how you are doing? Is anyone doing the 40 Day challenge!
Fr Michael
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Youth in Action Co-ordinators are Fr Michael and Sandra St Louis Kandapah.
We are assisted by Enoch Mesigwa. We would like to keep in touch with you but do we have your email? |
Who we are!Youth in Action
A group for young adults Youth in Action is a group for young adults (those attending Secondary School and beyond) that has been running at All Souls for many years. There are no criteria for membership. Anyone is welcome to join. When we meet We would usually meet, but not always, on the second and third Sunday of the month in the larger section of the church hall. We leave the church after prayer at the beginning of the service, with the crèche and the Sunday School. We would normally return to church at the Peace. Sometimes we meet at other times for social events and outings. During lock down we are keeping in touch the best ways we can. How it is different from Sunday School. Because the group is more mature, the “lessons” will be more demanding than Sunday School in terms of participation and challenge. Members will be expected to contribute, listen and support one another. Topics will be chosen that are important to young adults and they will invited to suggest them. The Bible will used to inform the discussions and the group will become more familiar with looking up passages and with studying and discussing the scriptures in greater depth. What to expect We begin with a short prayer and a discussion about how the week has been. The topic will then be introduced. We close the discussion with a prayer preparing us for Holy Communion. Other Sundays We only meet two Sundays in the month but the group will be encouraged on the other Sundays to engage fully in church life as young adults, using their gifts for ministry, such as welcome, reading, serving, taking the notices, counting the collection and so on. On some Sundays in the year Youth in Action will lead the service, including preaching and leading intercessions. Confirmation. Most members of the group will already be baptised and have done the First Communion Course during their time in Sunday School. At this stage they will be encouraged to step forward for Confirmation. Attendance at Youth in Action will be regarded as preparation for Confirmation. |
An Introduction to the Structure of the BiblePart 1: The first five books of the Bible Aka the Torah (the Law), the Pentateuch.
The books are: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Their place in the Synagogue and the Church. The authors/sources: J (the Yahwist); E (the Elohist); P (the Priests); D (the Deuteronomist). J - The Yahwist call God Yahweh (I am who I am.) See EXODUS 3: 13-15 (Moses and the burning bush – note also the anthropomorphic nature of God. The oldest stories. E - The Elohist calls God Elohim (God most high.) Avoids describing God in an anthropomorphic way. Emphasis on his transcendence. P - The Priestly source also calls God Elohim and has an interest in rather tedious details about rituals and the Law. Lacks the excitement and vigour of J and P. D - The Deuteronomist wrote the Book of Deuteronomy at a time of crisis and spiritual renewal ( the discovery of this book is described in 2 KINGS 22: 8-10.) Moses is in Moab, the place where he dies and is looking back and forward. The Pentateuch ends with the death of Moses on Mount Nebo, with Israel on the verge of entering the Promised Land. Roughly speaking: Genesis and Exodus: J and E Last part of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers : P Deuteronomy: D When was it written/ completed : Post Exile but some traditions much earlier, including oral tradition. Some of the sources adapted and adopted from other Middle Eastern religious traditions eg the flood. The content: from Creation to the death of Moses. The historical narrative and the exposition of the law intertwined. The story of the giving of the law in history. We call this salvation history because the Law in OT times and the Cross in NT times is what makes us right with God - ie saves us. The themes of the Pentateuch are: the promise (see GENESIS 12: 1-4), the election (see GENESIS 12: 6-9), the covenant (see GENESIS 15: 1-18 AND 17:9), the Law (see EXODUS 20 onwards.) Biblical Criticism: From 19th Century, looking at Bible from a historical, literary, textual, form - from every angle; bringing modern scientific/academic research techniques to objectively analyse what we read in the Bible. |
