Rector's Page
A warm welcome to The Ballydehob Union of Parishes
My name is Stephen McCann, as rector of the Ballydehob Union of Parishes, I do hope that we will have opportunities to meet in person, but by chance we have not had the opportunity to meet, let me tell you a bit about our parish. As followers of Jesus Christ, our desire is to build a community of Faith, Hope and Love by the way we educate, celebrate, and live as individual stewards of the many blessings of Almighty GOD.
Should you attend our Parish, you will find a mixed and varied congregation who participate in all sorts of parish and non-parish activities and functions. We come together to worship our Lord Jesus Christ in our two churches, Saint Matthew’s in Church Cross near Aughadown and Saint Matthias’ in Ballydehob.
We invite you to come and share in our beautiful worship of God through our services and ministries. Please do have a look at our web site, where hopefully you will find something of interest that sparks your thoughts further about our Lord.
If you have a special intention or want a prayer please feel free to ask. You can do this by contacting me,
With Best wishes and God’s Blessing, Rev. Stephen McCann
The Rectory
Church Road
Ballydehob
Co. Cork
Tel. (028) 37117
Email:
If you would like to see reflections written by the Rector you may find them here: http://tommystuppence.blogspot.com
If you would like to hear some of Steve's sermons online then please click here
Self Righteousness:
Self-righteousness means that according to one’s own thinking, one is right. It could be reasoned and often is, that: according to all “I” know about being right with the world, “I am a good person.” Some may even add, “I am better than most.”
This is a dangerous footing on life’s journey. If everything that is right about life solely is dependant upon one’s personal understanding, then one’s god is a very small god. Simply put, one’s god is as big as one’s brain, which averages about 3 pounds in weight.
The Bible explains that self-righteousness will be a person’s own downfall (Cf. Luke 18:9-14; John 15:5; Romans 2:17-24; Romans 10:3-4). All who confess God as Father and Jesus as Lord, are also called to develop a living, personal, relationship with God that guides them into His righteousness.
God’s Promises and Love for His children are eternal. “The steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.” (Psalm 103:17-18)
“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are” (Romans3:22). If we belong to Christ, we are the inheritors of all God has promised (Galatians 3:29). By Christ’s sacrifice, all who believe are the covenant children of God who receive His promised, everlasting, steadfast love, now and forever.
When we hear Jesus tell people who question him that “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Jesus encourages all who desire to live as God’s children to listen to His voice over and above oneself.
There are those who claims God does not speak to people anymore. Some argue that God used to speak to people in the distant past. Be assured, God is still speaking to us today. He speaks through His eternal Word. God is much more than an idea or an argument. God is a person who invites you into relationship (Revelation 3:20) and asks you to develop a lasting relationship with Him. Jesus, still speaks to all who chose to follow Him.
How does one develop such a personal relationship with God? Turn to God often in times of quite, soften your heart, humble yourself before Him, read and reflect on His Word and then wait patiently and listen (Psalm 27:14). He is still speaking and calling you into His care which is deeply rooted in the fruit of His Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Humility, Self-control. Against such as these, there is no law (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). This is true righteousness.