Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield, Sunday 30th August 2020

Events of the week here in the Pape household. Last Monday was the last one where we will be tegularly looking after our granddaughter all day. Today is a Bank Holiday and then she starts school, something she is really looking forward to. Actually we got a second day this week and doughter, son-in-law and her got a new pet, a Spaniel puppy.

Good news is that we are out of the additional lock down restrictions from this coming Wednesday. So just the same as the rest of the country now. I shall be restricting myself to well within those guidelines all the same.

Here at Holy Trinity we continued with our services on YouTube. It was good to see that Vicar Mike is back after taking sickness leave, he had a short messege to say hello and thank you for the prayers and support.

It’s hello to one but leave for another, Music leader Val is starting her maternity leave, her final thing with us for the time being was to lead this weeks service. She is looking large and healthy.

The sermon series on One Another concluded with a Bev, a licenced lay preacher, preaching on Forbear One Another. Forbear, translated as Bear with in the NIV Bible that our church uses, is a word about the paying and settling of debts. Some one who is owed can forbear, releasing a creditor from debt or put off the repayment of debt if the creditor has difficulty paying. The reading was taken from Colossians 3:12-17:

¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:12-17 NIV UK

The reason for Paul’s letter to the Colossians was that teachers had brought in extra teachings, off centre teaching causing divisions. The sermon had three points:

• Get the gear: What we wear marks us out for who we are. Some professions have a uniform that marks out nurses or air stewards. God’s clothing marks us out as God’s. It compromises compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These are now weak things but strengths giving a willingness to waive our rights.
• You must forgive: Because you are forgiven, it all comes from God. It is about passing the love of God on.
• Unity: There are no different levels of Christianity, we all saved by grace. we have to go all out for unity. Verses 13 and 14 in the Message ttranslation says: “dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” Grow yourself a thankful heart.

Put on we are to put things on in the same way that we get dressed. It will look good on us and it fits because it is designed for us by God. Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, that is what we are supposed to look like.

---

Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.