Amazing Grace
Earth Angels
the NB Anglican by Ana Watts
Who are members of the IN group?
Bishop Salmon’s Lenten Bible
Study will begin on the 1st Sunday in Lent, March 1st,
2009. This study will be done by the whole Diocese of Fredericton. In the Parish
of Central Kings, the study will be conducted during the Sunday service in place
of the weekly sermon. This will give us the opportunity to have times of
learning and reflection together during the season of Lent.
Lent 1, March 1st
Genesis 9:8-17
God made a covenant with Noah. Never again a flood to destroy all living creatures. God made
the covenant. God is faithful.
1 Peter 3:18-22
For Christ died for our sins once and for all. He, the just, suffered for the unjust, to bring us to God.
Mark 1:9-15
The time has come, repent and believe the Gospel.
As we reflect about the circumstances in the Diocese of Fredericton, and our congregations, we stand on the firm foundation of one who is faithful, who came to us, who died for our sins – a love and grace that will not let us go.
What is God asking of us as we think of our Mission for the 21st century? What do we need to repent of? Let go? What risks do we need to take?
Lent 2 March 8th
Genesis 17:1-7,15-16
Abraham was 99. God said “I make this covenant, and I make it with you, you shall be the father of a host of nations ... as for Sarah your wife, I will bless her and give you a son by her.
Romans 4:13-25
The promise was made on the ground of faith, in order that it might be a matter of sheer grace, and that it might be valid for all of Abraham’s posterity.
Mark 8:31-38
But Jesus rebuked Peter, “Away with you Satan”, he said, “You think as men think, not as God thinks.
Looking at the incredible promises of God on our behalf and his sheer grace, how is he asking us as disciples to think as we prepare the Diocese and our congregations for Mission in the 21scentury. Try to think of what God may have in store for us.
Lent 3 March 15th
Exodus 20: 1-17
The Ten Commandments are another sign of God’s faithfulness and his covenant. In Christ the law is fulfilled not rejected.
1 Corinthians 18:25
The doctrine of the cross is sheer folly to those on the way to ruin, but to us who are on the way to salvation, it is the power of God. ... God has made the wisdom of the world look foolish.
John 2:13-22
He upset the tables of the money changers scattering their coins. He then turned on the dealers in pigeons “Take them out he said, you must not turn my father’s house into a market.” If Jesus
came in our churches today what would he say to us about the way we live and our stewardship of His grace, money, buildings, gifts etc? How do they contrast to the wisdom of the world, if at all?
What does He want us to do? What vision for our Mission in His name?
Lent 4 March 22nd
Numbers 21:4-9
On the way they grew impatient and spoke against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us up from Egypt to die in the desert ...? So Moses made a bronze serpent and erected it as a standard ... so they could look on the bronze serpent and recover.
Ephesians 2:1-10
And in union with Christ Jesus he raised us up and enthroned us with him in heavenly realms, so that he might display in ages to come how immense are the resources of his grace ...
John 3:14-21
This Son of Man must be lifted up as the serpent was lifted up by Moses in the wilderness so that everyone who has faith in him may in him possess eternal life.
Honestly talk about the struggles we face with businesses and people moving, the struggles of maintaining small rural churches, the burden falling on a few ... Are we holding up Christ for strength and discernment as we claim our Mission for the 21st century?
Lent 5 March 29th
Jeremiah 31:31-34
The time is coming when I will make a new covenant with Israel and Judah ... I will set my law within them and write it upon their hearts ... I will forgive their wrong doings and remember their sin no more.
Hebrews 5:5-10
Because of his humble submission his prayer was heard, son though he was, he learned obedience in the school of suffering, and, once perfected, became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him ...
John 12:20-33
Palm Sunday April 5th
I recommend that the Passion Narrative be read aloud as it is in church, and those hearing it see if they can translate the people’s looking for a Savior and King to get rid of the Romans into how we might take the Church and use it to our own purposes and needs? Do we value outward
things too much? Since salvation is only going to come through the cross what do we have to do in order to be faithful in our Mission?