Hazelwell Weekly Contact October 20th 2024
18 Oct 2024 • Weekly Notices
Hazelwell Methodist Communion
Led by Revd. Barbara Calvert
Please pray for
The residents of Bloomsbury Grove & Priory Road
Give thanks for Rupert and Andy and all who contribute to the music in our worship.
Many Thanks to all who attended our Harvest lunch on Sunday or made donations to support it. A final total of £450 was raised for our chosen charity Water Aid.
Thanks also for the large quantity of non-perishable foodstuff which was collected during the service for donation to the
Spearhead Trust Foodbank.
- Two weeks time – All Welcome
Poppies for Remembrance Day.
The Request of James and John (Mark 10:35-45)
35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”
39 “We can,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
In this passage, James and John request prominent positions in Jesus' glory, seeking status and power. Jesus responds by highlighting their misinterpretation of greatness in His kingdom.
He contrasts worldly views of authority with the call to serve: “Whoever wants to become great among you, must be your servant.” - reflects the radical redefinition of leadership that Jesus embodies. He emphasizes that true greatness comes from selflessness and sacrifice, ultimately modeling this in His own life.
Moreover, Jesus' reference to His mission—to give His life as a ransom for many—underscores the depth of His service. It invites us to reflect on how we define our aspirations and ambitions. Are we seeking recognition and power, or are we embracing the call to serve others with humility and love?
In our own lives, this passage challenges us to reconsider our motivations and to seek ways to serve those around us, fostering a spirit of community and support rather than competition and hierarchy. It calls us to embody the servant leadership that Jesus exemplifies, reminding us that in the kingdom of God, -
True greatness lies in the willingness to put others first.