Romans 10:1-13 NET [1] Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God on behalf of my fellow Israelites is for their salvation. [2] For I can testify that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not in line with the truth. [3] For ignoring the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking instead to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. [4] For Christ is the end of the law, with the result that there is righteousness for everyone who believes. [5] For Moses writes about the righteousness that is by the law: “The one who does these things will live by them.” [6] But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) [7] or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). [8] But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach), [9] because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. [11] For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” [12] For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. [13] For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
1 Noong unang panahon, nagsalita ang Diyos sa ating mga ninuno sa pamamagitan ng mga propeta sa iba’t ibang panahon at sa iba’t ibang paraan. 2 Ngunit sa mga huling araw na ito, nagsalita siya sa atin sa pamamagitan ng Anak. Siya ang hinirang ng Diyos na maging tagapagmana ng lahat ng bagay, at sa pamamagitan niya’y ginawa ng Diyos ang buong sanlibutan. 3 Ang Anak ang maningning na sinag ng kaluwalhatian ng Diyos at tunay na larawan ng kanyang kalikasan bilang Diyos. Siya ang nagpapanatili sa lahat ng bagay sa pamamagitan ng kanyang makapangyarihang salita. Matapos niya tayong linisin sa ating mga kasalanan, umupo siya sa kaitaasan sa kanan ng Diyos na makapangyarihan sa lahat. 4 Yamang siya ay higit pang dakila sa mga anghel, ang pangalan na kaniyang minana ay higit pa kaysa sa kanilang pangalan.
Things have changed and new things are in the making. After the end of May we saw the closing of the Christian School that operated on the site. We have worked tirelessly to effect a transition on the site to a new work for the benefit of the community and education. Watch this space but we have new leaseholders preparing to do just that.
The main purpose of the site is Christian Worship and throughout these times, the Sunday morning meeting and Wednesday evening meeting have continued. We have also upgraded the chapel building and looked again at our standing orders. As one does!
We have been pleased to welcome the Havers Community Church to worship each Sunday morning at 11am. This is a family service with a celebration of the Lord’s Table, children’s church, refreshments and, at the end of each month, a community lunch. All are most welcome.
We have also welcomed Bishops Stortford Vineyard Church and God Central Church Harlow each month to have a worship band lead event. Prayer and singing! The next meetings for Sunday evening worship are 27 October and 24 November between 5pm and 630pm with refreshments.
Takeley Congregational Church continues with its meetings of course but we have received real treasure here and realize we hold in trust a precious treasure. Our real, present and ultimate treasure is Jesus.
Matthew 13:44-53
New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised
44 ‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
45 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; 46 on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
47 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; 48 when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 ‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ 52 And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’ 53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he left that place.
Recently, I have been contemplating Matthew 7 with the guidance of Bonhoeffer’s Cost of Discipleship. To start at the end, we get the parable of the person building their house on the sand and the one building their house on the rock.
Daily Readings from Lectionary
Takeley Chapel 