A Message

Numbers 11: 4- 6, 10-16,  24 - 29;  Psalm 124;  James 5:13 - 20;  Mark 9: 38 - 50 God our Redeemer, to an expectant and united Church you granted the gift of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Help us with the same Spirit in all our life and worship, to usher in justice, unity and peace in Church and society, so that we may expect great things from you and attempt great things for you (and in you may the elderly find consolation and the children their inspiration); through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. If Jesus was living in Sri Lanka today, and he had spoken the words of today's Gospel, on one side he would create confusion on the other he would have been arrested for inciting violence. Jesus' words were hard, it most of the time was.   I suppose that is why some left him saying these are hard sayings. However hard his sayings were, it was words of truth. And for most who are caught up with one kind of thinking, it is hard to accept. However hard his sayings were...

Life is God's gift to this world. First to a family, then to a community and then to the world. Today we are gathered as family, friends and community to remember, celebrate and give thanks to God who gives life. Today we remember with gratitude and thank God for lives of Rev. Canon John Isaac & Mrs. Kamala Isaac and their service. The two of them were God's gift to the church, the Diocese of Kurunegala and to Mowbray College respectively. It is 25 years but it is as though it was just yesterday. That’s what memories do, they keep people living in our hearts long, long after they have returned to their maker. Very specially when they are good people, when they impact our lives, when they leave their mark, in people's lives, in communities and in what they have been doing. That is because they were true and committed to their calling and vocation. Fr. John and Mrs. Isaac, or to me John Isaac uncle and aunty kamala, never disappointed the one who called them. Fr. John...

From the heard, the seen, the smelled, the shared, and discussed and the acted. This is our formation or ongoing formation in liturgy and ordained ministry. Formation starts at different points for different people, but there is no end. Formation is ongoing – it breaks and makes, learns and unlearns, equips and reequips, and reinvents you. With adequate formation a presbyter is equipped to celebrate the liturgy as the Presider. If not interested in formation, then the presbyter become a meagre reader of the liturgy F#1     Formation For the purpose of this theme our focus will be on the liturgy of the Eucharist.   Liturgy The work of people Liturgy is a communal activity. A celebration An expression of faith A response of God’s people to live a holy life.   What is common to all these responses is " people" .   They are the "people of God".   Who are the people of God? The laity includes children - youth, adults. Men and...

Amos 7:7 - 15 /  Psalm 85:8 - 13 /  Ephesians 1:3 - 14 /  Mark 6:14 - 29 God most high, you have given us in the Church a new Commandment through your only Begotten that love fulfills the law. May we love you with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength, and may we love our neighbour as ourselves and persevere in the truth through Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen. Truth is a virtue that is invaluable. It cannot be purchased. It is earned over a period of time, through a person’s character, behaviour and actions. When fear for truth is replaced by dishonesty, deceit and lies, truth is lost. Once lost it is hard to earn back.   Today’s Sri Lanka presents an environment where truth is lost. It has led to confusion, the abuse of people's rights, discrimination, and brings into question the functions of those who have been tasked to lead and govern us, the law enforcing officers and most often the judiciary too. But In truth we don’t have to look far, but right within...

Li ving God, your Only-Begotten our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the Eucharist as the memorial of Christ’s life, suffering, death, resurrection and session in glory. As we give thanks for having made us one body in Jesus our Lord by water and the Holy Spirit, renew in us that mystery in bread and wine taken, blessed, broken and shared together to proclaim your glory until the Lord comes, who with you and the Holy Spirit, is one God, forever and ever. Amen. Readings Exodus 24: 3 - 8  Psalm 116:12 - 13, 15 -18  Heb. 9:11 - 15 Mark 14:12 -16,22 - 26 Good Morning to you. Covid is asking us to do the opposite of all what we were doing. We said come together now maintain 1 meter distance, we told children not to use a phone and now it is thrust into their hands, we had gatehrings and now we cant gather as a group. In the same way  and when we are not able to travel from our homes and not able to join together at the Lords table, we are called to remember and celebrate the Institut...