​Our service of Morning Prayer, Bulletin, & Reflection Questions this week can be found here:

​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

​
​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

The reading of Holy Scripture together as a community has been a central part of Christian worship throughout the Church’s long history, and it has deep roots within the spiritual and communal practices of Israel.

We read Holy Scripture together not simply to learn new information about God’s dealings with humanity in the past, but also to listen in faith to what the Living God is saying to us His people today. We listen to His Word to draw closer to Him, and to one another.

For the next five weeks, we will be engaging with the Scriptures in a more open-ended way: carving out some time for silent contemplation, as well as sharing some questions for further reflection, rather than having our usual Sermons.

After every Scripture Reading in the At-Home Morning Prayer service, we’re all invited to take a few moments (1-2 minutes) in silence to reflect upon the passage, and how God’s Spirit might be addressing us through it, as individuals or as a community.

In those moments, pay attention to any words, ideas, or images that stand out to you. In the silence afterwards, ask God to help you hear His heart for you today.

After the Gospel is read, and we’ve taken a moment to in silence to reflect upon it, review the Reflection Questions for the week that Pastor Rob has prepared to help us dig in a bit deeper. 

Our service of Morning Prayer, Bulletin, & Reflection Questions this week can be found here:

​
​And our Songs for this week can be found here:

Scripture Readings: 2 Samuel 18:5–9, 15, 31–33 | Psalm 130 | Ephesians 4:25–5:2 | John 6:35, 41–51 

An invitation for reflection on the Scriptures from Rev. Rob.
There are many ways that God can speak to us through Holy Scripture, including times of silence, quiet reflection, and sharing. Just as we did these last few weeks, I invite us to personally think about these questions arising from our Scripture readings. We’ll take 3-4 minutes together in silence for us to reflect on each question. You might find it helpful to write down your answers, but you don’t need to share your answers with anyone. For questions 1 & 3, those who feel comfortable doing so are invited to share their responses in a word or two, but even then, no one has to share unless they would like to.
 
1. What words, ideas, or images stood out to you as the Scripture passages were read? Why did they stand out? [If anyone feels able to share their response in a word or two here, please do].
 
2. Today’s reading from 2 Samuel gives us a glimpse of the turmoil of King David’s family: his son Absalom (whose name means “my father is peace”) led a rebellion against King David. At first he succeeded, driving David from Jerusalem, but the civil war ended with Absalom’s death in battle. Despite Absalom’s great betrayal, David still loved his son and was deeply grieved by the news of his death, even saying he wished he himself would have died instead of Absalom. Reflect on David’s experience and grief for a moment. In what ways might David’s story here be similar to God’s relationship with His rebellious people? In what ways is it different?
 
3 In our reading from Ephesians, St. Paul again describes the kind of life God’s children are to share: one of mutual kindness, forgiveness, integrity, and support, sharing the self-giving love Christ Jesus first offered to us. How does this way of life connect to our faith, and our purpose as a Church community? What might be some obstacles that keep us from following this way of life? [If anyone feels able to share their response in a word or two here, please do].
 
4. In our Gospel reading, Jesus responds to the doubts of His fellow Israelites by insisting that He is the gift of eternal life offered from God the Father. How has drawing close to Jesus and placing your trust in Him been a source of blessing to you? Take a moment and give thanks to God for any blessings that come to mind.

Beginning Sunday July 18, our Priest-in-Charge here at St. Luke's Gondola Point, Rev. Rob Montgomery, has been on holiday, and he will be returning to us next Sunday (Sunday August 15).

While he is away, we will continue to offer Morning Prayer services each week (both In-Person in the St. Luke's GP Hall, and here on our Parish website), led by our great Lay Reader team.

Also during this time, instead of our usual sermons we have been making use of some Reflection Questions each week to help us hear and respond to God's word to us in a different way.

Reading the Holy Scriptures together is a powerful and life-giving practice of the Church. Over the last few weeks, we have been sharing videos from the Bible Project to help us read the Holy Scriptures with a deeper understanding. 

Three weeks ago, the video was part 1 of their "How To Read The Bible" series, called: "What is the Bible?"
Two weeks ago, the video was part 2, called: "The Story of the Bible."
Last week's video was part 3, called: "Literary Styles."
And this week's video is part 4, called: "Ancient Jewish Meditation Literature"

All are well worth watching, and together they provide a solid foundation for helping us understand both what the Bible is, and how we can read it more faithfully. These videos can all be found below: 

​Our All-Ages Song for this season can be found here:

Scripture Readings: 2 Samuel 11:26–12:13a | Psalm 51:1–12 | Ephesians 4:1–16 | John 6:24–35 

An invitation for reflection on the Scriptures from Rev. Rob.

There are many ways that God can speak to us through Holy Scripture, including times of silence, quiet reflection, and sharing. Just as we did these last few weeks, I invite us to personally think about these questions arising from our Scripture readings. We’ll take 3-4 minutes together in silence for us to reflect on each question. You might find it helpful to write down your answers, but you don’t need to share your answers with anyone. For questions 1 & 3, those who feel comfortable doing so are invited to share their responses in a word or two, but even then, no one has to share unless they would like to.
 
1. What words, ideas, or images stood out to you as the Scripture passages were read? Why did they stand out? [If anyone feels able to share their response in a word or two here, please do].
 
2. In response to King David’s acts of exploitation, adultery, and murder, the LORD sent the prophet Nathan to confront David, to expose the truth of his guilt, and to pronounce God’s just response. David repents (Psalm 51 is his prayer of confession), and the LORD spares his life, but the consequences of his sins cause all sorts of chaos in his family for years to come. Reflect on the impact that David’s ‘secret’ sins had on his wider community. How might the ways we live in ‘private’ have much wider consequences, either negatively or positively?
 
3. In our second reading, St. Paul claims that Christian maturity is not simply about private ‘spirituality’, but is really inseparable from the shared life of the wider Christian community. He emphasizes the vital importance of Christian unity, not only with each other, but with Christ Jesus Himself, promoting a tangible way of life that seeks to maintain these vital relationships (for instance: being led by humility, patience, gentleness, peace, truthfulness, and love). What are some of the specific ways that being a part of the Christian community (that is, a Church family) can help to us grow closer to God and to each other, and also to grow more like Jesus Christ our Saviour? [If anyone feels able to share their response in a word or two here, please do].
 
4. In our Gospel reading, Jesus challenges the crowd that was following after Him not to “work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (John 6:27). We too can often become preoccupied with things in life that truly do not matter when considered in light of the Kingdom of God. Instead, Jesus invites the crowd (and us!) to do the “work” of faithfully believing in Him, the one God has sent to bring eternal life to the world. What might God be asking us to let go of at this time? How might God be challenging us to trust in Jesus in a deeper way?

Scripture Readings: 2 Samuel 11:1–15 | Psalm 14 | Ephesians 3:14–21 | John 6:1–21

An invitation for reflection on the Scriptures from Rev. Rob.

​There are many ways that God can speak to us through Holy Scripture, including times of silence and quiet reflection. Just as we did last week, I invite us to personally think about these questions arising from our Scripture readings. We’ll take 3-4 minutes together in silence for us to reflect on each question. You might find it helpful to write down your answers, but you don’t need to share your answers with anyone. For question 3, those who feel comfortable doing so are invited to share their response in a word or two, but even then, no one has to share unless they would like to.
 
1. What words, ideas, or images stood out to you as the Scripture passages were read? Why did they stand out?
 
2. Today’s first reading tells the story of David’s fall: though he already had so much, he saw a beautiful woman that was not his wife, he took her for his own enjoyment, which led to shame, even more sins to cover it up, and disaster. This story follows a familiar pattern in the Bible, starting with Adam & Eve in the garden (Genesis Chapter 3); who already had paradise, but saw the beautiful forbidden fruit, took it for themselves, leading to shame, more sins, and disaster. We are all often tempted to think we don’t have what we truly need. Does this story bring to mind any past failures to resist temptations in our own lives? Can we remember times when we were able to resist temptations instead?
 
3. In our second reading St. Paul invites Christians, being strengthened by God’s Spirit, by faith in Jesus, and grounded in love, to consider the vast love of Christ and in Him be filled with God’s fullness. For St. Paul, understanding the love of God was the powerful source of life for Christians. Reflect for a moment on what it means for you (the real you, failures, warts, and all) to be loved by Jesus Christ enough for Him to die for you. What does this amazing truth stir up in your mind or heart? [If anyone feels able to share their response in a word or two here, please do].
 
4. In the Gospel reading today, starting with only one boy’s little lunch, Jesus miraculously provides more than enough food for thousands of hungry people. Throughout Scripture and history, God has done amazing, seemingly impossible things through His people, providing in ways no one could have imagined when it seemed there wasn’t enough. What are the concerns on our hearts today that we can bring before the LORD? What tempts us to think we don’t have what we need (as individuals and as a Church), and will we choose to bring these needs to Jesus, trusting in His love for us, even if He may respond in ways we cannot yet imagine? 

Scripture Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1–14a | Psalm 89:20–37 | Ephesians 2:11–22 | Mark 6:30–34, 53–56 

An invitation for reflection on the Scriptures from Rev. Rob.

There are many ways that God can speak to us through Holy Scripture, including times of silence and quiet reflection. This week, I invite us to personally think about these questions arising from our Scripture readings. We’ll take 2-3 minutes together in silence for us to reflect on each question. You might find it helpful to write down your answers, but you don’t need to share your answers with anyone. In the weeks to come, those who feel comfortable with doing so will be invited to share some short answers, but even then, no one has to share unless they would like to.

_____________________________
 
1. What words, ideas, or images stood out to you as the Scripture passages were read? Why did they stand out?
 

2. David desired to make a literal house (that is, a Temple) for the LORD, but instead God promised to establish David’s house (that is, a ruling family) through one of David’s descendants. This is the hope of God’s chosen Messiah, fulfilled in Jesus. Can you recall a time when it seemed that God redirected or adjusted your expectations and plans? If so, what was the result?
 

3. St. Paul speaks of Christian communities themselves as being the true holy temple; their shared lives as a “space” for the Living God to actively dwell in, bound together and built upon Jesus Christ Himself. These communities are made up of believing Israelites and people from all other nations, united to God and to each other in and by the Risen Lord Jesus. How do you see this special kind of community (that is, very different people bound together by Jesus) at work among us? What might we do to nurture this even more?


4. In the Gospel reading, Jesus invites His apostles to retreat and rest by themselves after their time of intense ministry, yet He also has compassion on the crowds (made up of Jews from Galilee, and also Gentiles from Gennesaret) who were drawn to Him in need of God’s healing, help, and hope.
Can you recognize ways that our Church community can be sources of spiritual strength for us, and also help connect others with the compassion and healing love of Jesus?
 

5. Our current Parish Mission Statement is: “To build on our Foundation so that the whole family may grow into oneness on Christ.” How might our Scripture readings this week help us think about our Mission Statement in new ways? What might words like “build”, “Foundation”, “whole family”, “oneness” mean in light of these readings?

 
1) The first chapter of Genesis powerfully portrays Almighty God creating all that exists, setting it in order, and calling it good. God then creates a community of humans to embody His divine image together, setting them the task of reflecting God’s goodness, and overseeing God’s good world on His behalf. Though the story of Genesis, and the rest of Scripture, goes on to recount humanity’s distortion of this divine image and rejection of this task, Genesis offers us this glimpse into God’s intentions for us. What might a community that truly bears God’s image look like? Why/how might we come to know this?
 
2) The truth of the Trinity (that the One Almighty God has always existed as Three divine Persons: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) though definitely mysterious, has many important and vital implications for Christians. One truth that it teaches us, which stands at the centre of Christian faith, is that when we encounter Jesus Christ, we are not merely seeing a man sent from God, but God Himself become human “for our sake, and for our redemption” (as the Nicaean Creed proclaims). If Jesus Christ truly embodies God Almighty, if He reveals to us the very heart of the Trinity, then what are some of the ideas and pictures of God that we have to set aside? Why?
 
3) In Matthew, we hear the Risen Jesus send out His disciples into the world in order to make more disciples from every nation… baptizing them into God’s name and family, teaching them to follow everything He has taught us, empowered by His promise to be with us through the Holy Spirit to the very end. As we think about our life together at St. Luke’s, and in our wider community, what steps might we need to take in order to be faithful to Christ’s mission?