A Spirit of Service

God wants us to be more than ordinary servants and in the lesson for today, James teaches us how to do this, including looking out for the vulnerable in our society and to be careful of the words we utter as the spoken word is very powerful.

Truly abiding in Jesus Christ requires a daily commitment on our part. This means that we have to choose Him above all else, allowing His presence to shape our thoughts, words and actions.

On Youth Sunday, we reflect on the importance of displaying wisdom, which should be shown by parents as well as children.

Jesus proclaimed that He is the Bread of Life and that whoever goes to him will never be hungry and whoever believes in Him shall never be thirsty. He calls us to have a personal relationship with Him and to surrender our lives to Him as this is the only path for the salvation of our souls.

As we celebrate Jamaica's Emancipendence, let us reflect on our past and look towards our future as we strive to build a better Jamaica.

Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking

In times of disaster or trouble, we should rely on God's protection and provision over our lives.

As we come to the end of child's month, let us strive to protect our children, whether they are ours or someone else's.

This message which is especially for men encourages them not to be afraid to display their vulnerability, and to reach out to other men who may be struggling mentally or physically.

In the parables of the Growing Seed and the Mustard Seed, we see that in the Kingdom of God growth may be slow. However, magnificent growth is accomplished if we exhibit patience and wait for God to reveal His Glory.

MENTAL HEALTH MONTH ESPECIALLY FOR MEN The month of June has been designated as a time to focus on the mental wellness of the male population. The experts have concluded that historically men have displayed an unwillingness to accept our weaknesses and to seek help for physical and other ailments. It has been suggested that due to the established role of man as the strength of the family, we have been embarrassed when feelings of weakness confront us and in response we try to “tough it out” by pretending that all is well. Psalm 130, while not being only for men, encourages us to cry out to the Lord for help unashamedly. “Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. “ This is a complete and contrite plea for help from the Almighty. But let us immediately recognize that the cry for help can be also communicated to each other. We, as a people, are the representation of the Lord and we have a duty to uphold each other continuously. The key to being mentally strong is to realize that our strength does not come from within us; it comes from God. “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust…” (Ps. 18:2). No matter what happens, put your faith in God and trust that He will take care of you. The conclusions of mental health experts, known as psychiatrists and psychologists, are very much in keeping with Biblical advice. In the case of us men, most of us have been socialized to pretend to be well, even when we need urgent assistance. Turning inward is not the way. Rather, that is when we need each other. The principle of neighbourliness extends beyond the material and may be even more urgent in mental circumstances. And so, our reference material, our Holy Bible, and our technical experts say to us as men, not to be embarrassed in our times of weakness. It is okay to experience challenges. In fact, the real show of strength is when we recognize our weaknesses. It is in these moments that we need to “let go and let God.” This is the recognition that we are not alone as we confront the challenges thrown up by life. The greater willingness of our female partners to seek help must be a lesson to us men. This is the indication that we are interdependent beings and in shoring each other up we are carrying out one of the most fundamental duties as designated by the Almighty. Let us encourage each other and serve each other as the greatest service to God. Denzil Wilks St. Philip’s Church

My Brothers and Sisters In observing June as Men’s month, the intention is to focus on our men and invite those who have not been attending church to return and be actively involved in the church's ministry. It is also to recognize the importance of our men in the church's life and its future growth. A study done in Switzerland in 2000 concluded that the religious practice of the father of the family determines the future attendance at, or absence from, church by the children. If a father does not go to church, no matter how faithful his wife’s devotions, only one child in 50 will become a regular worshipper. If a father does go regularly, regardless of the practice of the mother, between two-thirds and three-quarters of their children will become churchgoers (regular and irregular). If a father goes but irregularly to church, regardless of his wife’s devotion, between half and two-thirds of their offspring will attend church regularly or occasionally. A study from Hartford Seminary found that involved men are statistically correlated with church growth, health and harmony. Lack of male participation is associated with congregational decline. Let me therefore invite the men to exhibit an abiding faith, sacrificial love, and commitment in the life of the church and be a positive influence for others, especially young men and boys, so that they may commit themselves to the service of Christ and his Church. Men, the Lord is depending on us to grow the church. I ask your prayers for a speedy recovery after surgery. Patrick +

Sports, particularly track and field, can develop positive values and natural abilities, but should not prioritize winning at all costs. Athletes should showcase their talents with humility and respect, while coaches provide guidance and support.

The theme of worship is explored through the Ten Commandments, emphasizing our relationship with God and our duty to love our neighbours. For the remainder of the year, we are encouraged to draw closer to God through worship and demonstrate love through acts of kindness.

Father Pat reminds us that the Sabbath should not just be a day of relaxation, but also one where we honour God.

On this the first Sunday of Lent, let us seek to strenghthen our bond with God our Father through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Let us also remember that Lent is a time for renewal and introspection and also a time to prepare ourselves for the Easter season.

Dr. Lee reminds us that, just as our Lord Jesus Christ was more than an Ordinary Servant, we too, can follow His example and aspire to be more than Ordinary Servants of God.

No Ailment is Beyond the Healing Touch of Jesus Christ

We should always give thanks to God and praise His name for all the wondrous blessings He has bestowed on us.